Wonderful and genuinely absorbing.

Although the controls can still be difficult to manage at first, Starfleet Command III is worth the effort.

On the negative side, Republic Commando is extremely short, and extremely brutal.

This is an enjoyable game, to be sure, but if you’re trying to choose a GTA title where you had none, this definitely isn’t the one to start with.

There’s a hell of a lot of work here that doesn’t add up to a tremendously great game. I think games like this really serve as an example of how important it is to pay attention to the gameplay. Games need a good control feel, it’s as simple as that.

A pure joy to play.

Just about every gamer I know could benefit from a bit more physical activity and this is a fun way to do it.

The storyline itself isn’t the greatest, but it is very well done compared to what this genre of game usually sees and the high quality graphics back that story up very well.

With a combination of stunning graphics, high-octane action and sweet multiplayer gameplay, NHL Hitz 20-02 comes off as one of those rare titles most PS2 owners will not want to miss.

The only drawbacks to this title are its relatively high difficulty later in the game and the fact that it really hasn’t changed at all since the original Armored Core.

There are a number of issues that make the game more difficult to play than it should be including an unfriendly interface and lack of instruction book that at least shows the game's capabilities.

Once again delivers solid gameplay mechanics mixed in with numerous unlockable features and plenty of racing potential.

Manages to blend all the right elements of control, graphics and sound into a package that fits in the palm of your hand while acting like a game fit for a console.

The reason the score isn’t higher is because in the second mission of the game I found the subject matter of race not too politically correct for the times we live in. Other than that, this game is as pretty and fun as those vivacious saloon gals that I love so much.

The graphics were amazing and the smooth controls made me really feel like I was in control of a very agile, very large machine, but the poor voice acting, the annoying main character, and the very short length of the game takes this out of the realm of a must-buy.

The sheer amount of things you can do in ASB 2004 guarantees you’ll be playing this one faithfully until the next season and maybe even after that.

If you can get past the limiting nature of Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django's defining gimmick, then its well worth owning if you're hankerin' for an action RPG on your GBA.

It doesn’t do much right in the way of modes, but what it does do correctly it has nearly perfected.

A solid game that will appeal more to those who play multiplayer games. Although the single player modes aren’t bad, the simple gameplay won’t be able to compete with other soccer games on the market.

If you’re waiting for the next generation of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, wait for the next version.

Just average. Although it has some nice original features, I could never get over the strange controls.

Extremely engaging and challenging. The control system for pulling off tricks was intuitive and was picked up quickly but some of the challenges were frustrating.

Using Greek mythology as its base, Titan’s Quest takes a solid, balanced, and low risk gameplay approach. Although it’s not going to redefine a game genre, RPG fans will be more then satisfied.

The unique racing experience offered here stands out from the pack of futuristic titles with high-speed action and gorgeous graphics.

What I got was DDR with the EyeToy thrown in as an afterthought. It’s still worth a try if you’re a DDR fan or have an EyeToy and want to try something a little different, but Dance Dance Revolution Extreme just doesn’t live up to its name.

A solid game that will have lasting appeal.

Tough call, but I do know that there's more then enough here for pure fans of Tony Hawk games.

It has strong multiplayer capability with the PSP’s wireless functionality, and a satisfying single player game.

This game is for the serious and possibly hard core soccer fan. Everyone else should just take a seat in the stands and enjoy the action from afar and let the pros go to work.

With eye-popping graphics and outrageous sound effects, Alone in the Dark excels at being creepy.

Instead of walking you through a calmly paced, occasionally tense New York from the film, you'll have all sorts of ways to smash and crash your way through this game.

A title most gamers will probably want to leave at the store. However, if you're a serious fan of music and all the design that goes into it, this may be one of the better PS2 titles you could buy.

Mostly, this game is just another semi-realistic FPS.

A fun game chock full of interesting new elements and unlockable goodies, but it would drive any serious baseball fan absolutely batty, so I’d say if you’re into the in-depth, detailed gameplay you should give this one a swing and a miss.

While Ape Escape 3 provides for an entertaining time, its age is showing through, even with the charming sheen a large army of monkeys helps create.

What this game lacks on a strategic side, it makes up for with its aggressive side. This game is a sweet addition to the tradition of Blitz titles.

Unfortunately, the only thing I can say that really held true for my gameplay experience is that THAW didn't stand out to me.

They did a great job of setting the timer on some missions to the point where you will either succeed by a few seconds or lose by a few seconds.

Although not the best motocross title currently available, MTX Mototrax puts together a respectable experience that most fans of motocross should enjoy.

The PS2 version of UT is like caffeine-free diet Mountain Dew -- the taste is there, but what’s the point? The game AI provides a solid single player experience, but without acceptable multiplayer the game is lacking what really made it great on the PC.

The graphics are solid and set the right tone, the story line will keep you playing to the end, and the gameplay will keep your Spidey sense tingling.

Black can be summed up in one phrase. One dimensional. It plays like a great action movie, with a few problems, and literally doesn't give you anything but that.

Any game that's voiced by Christopher Walken, features 50 rap and heavy metal songs and sneaks in a playable Snoop Dogg has got to be oozing with cool. Not only is True Crime: Streets of LA truly hip, it's a blast to play, managing to blend the cinematic feel of an immersive movie with some of the best elements of shooting, driving and fighting games.

There’s little depth, but it’s a decent tradeoff for the ease of play that only EQOA: Frontiers offers.

Monster Rancher 3 rocks. That’s all that needs to be said. However, just to clarify, this game has really satisfying gameplay that should please even the most jaded gamer.

I haven't enjoyed a naval simulator this much since "Silent Hunter II." A great title!

A solid dungeon hack, but after four years of the same, the formula is wearing a bit thin. Return to Arm’s biggest failure is that it feels too much like an expansion pack instead of a shiny, brand new game.

No matter how you look at it, "SimCity 3000 Unlimited" is a city full of fun.

Whether you like horror games or not, there’s no denying that The Suffering is a tight and polished package all-around. It’s also a bit different from the typical survival horror games, so action aficionados have something to look forward to as well.

You will find that it is a much better and more realistic game if you play against another human instead of the computer.

With the little additions, I’d say that this is definitely the version to own, as it simply has that much more to offer.

You are restricted to only the ability to connect two Xboxes! This means that the only way to play four players over Live! is to have two people at each location. Talk about disappointing.

The gameplay is inherently slow by design so those of us that have short attention spans should be wary. If you like the TV series however, Law & Order: Justice Is Served offers an entirely new way to enjoy the show.

With outstanding graphics and well executed audio features helping to increase the game’s appeal, those who enjoy "Halo’s" style of action wouldn’t want to pass up Brute Force.

Be careful should you choose to pick this up, it has a nasty habit of making addicts out of your family members that normally don’t care for games.

The gameplay is so enjoyable and engrossing.

Relatively unique in the fact that it makes clear use of the Hanseatic League and has many references to the history of that large organization, this title still fails to present worthwhile gameplay, leaving the character to shuttle supplies from town to town, without much reward or entertainment value.

The bikes in this game perform much like real motocross bikes, something that isn’t too spectacular if you’re a fan of more fantastical racing games.

A nice little sim, with only a few flaws keeping it from reaching that higher echelon of sim titles.

The product retains all the pluses, ease of use and beauty noted by my colleague reviewer a few years back, and a lot more. It's all here, the authenticity, controls, the dramatic vistas, and now there're products and passengers to give more substance to the experience of learning about, driving and collecting great engines and their rolling stock.

Yes, I was surprised that the Xbox had this as a launch game, but after experiencing its easy controls and beautiful graphics, my opinion was changed.

Simple, with a tight design, this title is well worth playing.

Most importantly, last year’s control scheme has been reworked to now offer extremely responsive and fluid control of your fighters.

With the colorful commentary and hard hitting action, those who plan on using the multiplayer modes won’t want to miss it.

Perfect for gamers who are looking for frantic and intense action in their first-person shooter. Simplistic? Sure, but it’s fun all the same.

A solid turn based strategy game that is surprisingly well designed.

If your old DDR game needs a song update along with some new features, give it a shot.

You will find yourself fighting the controls never really finding a comfort zone. Once you manage to work within the limitations of the controller, you will find the second exception. The online play is a bit laggy and unstable.

In fact, for serious fans, I’d say the greatest credit to this title is that I couldn’t discern any flaw or difference between it and the Gradius arcade versions.

It gets very, very low marks for 'tossing down with the rest of the boys' and taking part in the cliché and amorality that most Star Trek games aspire to.

The combination of racing and challenges makes Toy Story Racer a must-have for kart racing fans. With all the different challenges to complete and the different characters to unlock, you will have many fun hours of gameplay.

With its strong point on quantity, Dave Mirra’s Freestyle BMX 2 fails on the quality of rider control and in distinct graphics.

Could have been better in many areas but still gives a solid performance. It's not cutting edge or innovative but fans of this genre will be satisfied.

There's also this undeniable feeling of satisfaction that overcomes you when you wade through a hail of bullets to obliterate enemies, and that in itself just might be what Metal Slug 3 is all about: providing brief flashes of old school gaming nirvana that's hard to find anywhere else nowadays.

The game does have the most realistic feeling of pitching and changing speeds that I have ever seen and it is chock full of options. If you are not concerned with graphics, you should enjoy this game.

A lack of variety and challenge however stand in the way of this game being a resounding success.

Fans of Rayman will love this latest release in the series; all others should rent it or hold on to your money for "Jax2."

The huge amount of available roadway and varied collection of opponents will keep you racing for a good long time, but if you’re not a dedicated racing junkie then there’s not much here to catch your attention.

What really drags this game down is the fact that it uses, reuses, and re-reuses the maps – sending you back through the same dungeons over and over again to collect this key or open that new passage.

Aquila has an intuitive interface that keeps you heading toward the enemy, blazing away. With four different craft configurations and a variety of weapons with which to fight the enemy, there’s plenty to blaze away with.

The gameplay is a dream. It's logical, well thought out, rarely requires any button mashing, and has a great tutorial that for the most part, walks you through the entire thing.

I'd highly recommend Wario ware, Inc. Mega Party Game$! as a buy for anyone who's into Tetris like fun or has children or a wife who may be looking for some idle fun.

Without a well-developed plot to lure you on and with redundant combat exercises to challenge and improve your ability, this is one Action title that may be best to pass on.

Able to capture the style of gameplay that has achieved past glory for the series, graphics respectable for next generation consoles have been included taking the experience to the next level.

The controls in V-Rally 3 are frustrating, having less to do with real world physics and more to do with turning my childhood RC racer into a full blown rally car.

Fun, if not deep, compelling, if not always thrilling, humorous, if not always hilarious, but make no mistake, it's always entertaining.

I liked the game sometimes and other times I despised it. Then again, maybe that is what they were shooting for.

While the physics are far from perfect, it’s a combination of strong multiplayer gameplay and excellent graphics that make this a title worth getting, if only just so.

The slow start and heaver tilt toward exploration may turn off some who need a steady dose of action, but for the rest of us find Suikoden V worth the time.

While Emerald is hardly a massive change to the series, it's still varied just enough to keep things interesting for any long-time players, and there's certainly no reason for new players not to start with it.

A solid game that will appeal to those who wanted more from Jedi Outcast. It isn't going to blaze any new trails however so make sure you align your expectations before purchasing.

A well-selected assortment of gaming classics that could easily eat up weeks of your free time and is definitely worth a buy for any arcade gamer buff.

I suppose that my favorite feature is the lack of performance issues thanks to the Xbox's more than ample hardware.

If your stomach is strong and the "Evil Dead" movies are your thing, this should be right up your alley.

Fans of the movie can’t go wrong here, and likewise, fans of free-roaming, non-linear action titles have a lot to love here as well. It might not be an offer you can outright refuse, but it comes pretty close.

Yakuza isn’t the cleanest title I’ve ever seen, but it is well executed and fun. I’d call this game an unqualified success.

Cinematically seamless, you'll only get thrown out of the gameplay by pre-rendered cutscenes, because everything else is handled in the game engine.

Only slightly different, Another Age fails in the fact that it is nearly a cookie-cutter copy of the original game. If the original was excellent to begin with, why not play it again?