The lack of camera control is a travesty, especially since the right analog stick’s defensive dodges are redundant with the Sixaxis controller’s tilting functions.

The games repeat core mechanics too often, many solo games go on too long for good alternating multiplayer, and while it’s safe to say the Wii version is going to be the superior one, it doesn’t lend itself to extended play due to the repetition and possible physical strain.

Bionicle Heroes looks good, and has a decent license backing it, but completely fails to capture the magic that made the LEGO Star Wars games a hit. What you get instead is an average, boring shooter that’s only worth playing if you have a deep love for the source material.

Bionicle Heroes looks good, and has a decent license backing it, but completely fails to capture the magic that made the LEGO Star Wars games a hit. What you get instead is an average, boring shooter that’s only worth playing if you have a deep love for the source material.

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 definitely hits the mat with some great improvements, but it’s still predominantly the same game you’ve been playing for the last few years.

The Wii controls are integrated almost seamlessly into the gameplay, making for a port that’s actually better than the original and worth at least renting for vets of the series. There’s no second opinion needed on this one.

While the jump to a more unique style of game is a nice step forward for the Naruto license, bad design choices and by-the-numbers action keep the game from being that much better than previous titles in the franchise. It’s still fan service, if above average fan service, and doesn’t offer anything that will bring new players into the fold.

The battle system is fairly shallow; the dragon riding is plagued by bad collision and controls; the presentation isn’t up to Xbox 360 standards; and the story is merely decent.

NBA 07 does nothing to buck the disturbing trend of feature-light, bug-ridden next-gen sports games. If you need an NBA fix, try 2K’s games instead.

Bionicle Heroes looks good, and has a decent license backing it, but completely fails to capture the magic that made the LEGO Star Wars games a hit. What you get instead is an average, boring shooter that's only worth playing if you have a deep love for the source material.

The flaws are numerous, even in comparison to other launch games, but if you want to spend a mindless weekend full of fantastical hacking-and-slashing it’s not a terrible choice.

It’s challenging and polished, but it can also take a bit of getting used to.

The most well-rounded, entertaining, and error-free hoops offering this season. Plenty of modes and gameplay depth combine with stunning visuals and presentation to make NBA 2K7 this year’s king of the court and a must own for PS3-owning hoops fans.

Think of it as a way to spend some personal time with the girls from the fighting game. If that doesn’t interest you, and you don’t have a thing for well-endowed video game chicks, you’re probably out of luck.

If you can get into the bizarre and colorful candy-filled vibe, and you enjoy games that give you the freedom to play as you like, you’ll definitely be able to party with Viva Pinata.

For lack of a better phrase, the gameplay in Gears of War will keep you on the edge of your seat--primarily because the enemy AI is so impressive. Just like the Halo series, you’ll see the same four or five enemy types over and over, but their intelligence and ability to navigate the environment makes each battle feel completely fresh.

It has its moments, but overall, it’s a disappointing step sideways for one of the more revered franchises in the industry. The good news is that it’s the most in-depth multiplayer shooting experience on the consoles, making it a game still worth picking up.

A lot of the fluff that has plagued the series for the last couple years has been stripped away, revealing a game that fast, furious, and focused almost 100 percent on the play experience.

SOCOM vets might have trouble justifying another purchase when Combined Assault is so similar to the previous game, but this is still a solid shooter as long as you’re content to play almost exclusively online.

One of the shortest, sloppiest games of the year. With such amazing source material, it’s really disappointing that all we got after such a long wait was a half-baked beat-‘em-up with broken controls and sub-par presentation.

The sheer volume of what’s on offer here, combined with the true classics that are included on the disc, make the collection a must-buy for any retro fans or just those who can never get enough of one of the industry’s oldest companies.

The developers clearly worked hard to tweak what was already great, and made it superb. With more songs, more features, and more pure rock, Guitar Hero 2 is a must own for anyone with a PS2.

Lumines II improves on its predecessor by offering up the same great core gameplay and a ton of new modes and features that are sure to keep you busy.

It can be digested in small chunks making it perfect gaming for the on-the-go types, and there’s honestly no other handheld game like it.

Despite the massive size of its world and seemingly endless optional content, Final Fantasy XII feels like an unfinished, conflicted game. In the end, Square Enix’s developers seem to have fallen into the same trap the game’s waiting fans did - while the overall scope and ambition has gotten plenty of attention, the minute-to-minute play experience has been all but ignored.

Killzone: Liberation isn’t the greatest action title on the PSP, but it fills a huge void in the handheld’s library: a solid shooter. More importantly, it’s not just another direct port from the PS2.

Spend an hour or two with Power Stone Collection and you’ll wonder what the big deal is.

The addition of the extra vehicles and racing styles takes what was already a solid premise and brings it to the next level. It’s a definite must-play for racing fans who enjoy getting a little dirty.