Somewhat linear, but boasts a lot of eye candy and solid gameplay. This is a good title in solo play, but much better in cooperative game play.

The variety of missions varies from great to funny to tedious.

It's only a few steps up from the first Crazy Taxi.

Last year's iteration was great, but the three new tables give the PS3 and Xbox 360 version the edge. If you don't already own Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection for another console, don't hesitate to buy it now.

It gives you an absolutely enemy-free island to play around and raise your new baby chicken, covered in new, fun trials, creatures, and spells. I have to admit that I am a little disappointed in the lack of content, though.

One of the best games of the year on any system.

Most of the things that made the first game so great has been taken out to make the Warrior Within a darker combat oriented game.

It not only possesses all the things we love about the adventure genre but it redefines it to the point that its interactive storytelling really does gives us hope that there are gamers that appreciate substance in their games.

Basketball in its most realistic, exciting, and entertaining form. The controls and seamless player interactions make NBA 2K8 an instant showstopper – deep gameplay and high replay value provide the longevity you’ve come to expect (and demand) from 2K Sports.

There are a few moments where you might be left scratching your head about AI decisions, and the audio can be off target, on occasion, but this is the best looking Madden game to date and the new elements really give players the opportunity to learn and grow in the game.

Even though the combat has some minor issues, there is still a lot of depth and engaging gameplay to be experienced in DISSIDIA.

With World Adventures, the Sims 3 receives one of its greatest expansions. If you’re a fan of the original, there’s little doubt that you’ll want this in your collection.

With it’s mixing of genres and brilliant story, Shenmue II is an unforgettable experience.

This is a beautiful game that is easy to pick up and play and should be accessible to anyone in the family. The game may falter in terms of replayability, but the levels have been designed to bring a true emotional feeling to the game through the use of lighting and music.

The main problem with this game is that it is extremely unreliable when players try to connect to the multiplayer service. This is a shame because this is where the majority of player’s time will be spent. Hopefully this flaw will be fixed as this game is a blast to play!

This game can get hard really quick. If players do not pay attention to all of the in game menus, tips, and book they will be left without a clue on what to do.

While it is pricey, the new world you get to explore adds more RPG gaming goodness and enough quests to make this yet another juicy chapter in this already lengthy epic.

A nice package with solid upgrades and great new lands to explore. Echoes of Faydwer does what an expansion should, right down the line.

The game’s battle system allows for some truly ‘tactical’ confrontation, in which you can win (assuming you play well) when out numbered and out leveled.

Sadly, there wasn’t much effort put into the graphics--which would have made this the leading baseball title available--but there is always next year’s High Heat to look forward too.

This game is for the hack and slash fan who enjoys a lot of action with their RPG titles vs. a lot of story and character stuff which is a definite 180 turn from the MMORPG style that EQ is commonly known for.

To the diehard fans, those who love soccer and/or can't go through a year without playing the latest FIFA, this is a must-buy.

Surprisingly, the game’s controls are not at all complicated to figure out, in fact, they‘re a dream come true.

One of those truly original games that, while a tad liberal in the innovation department, manages to keep you entertained all the way through thanks to one of the best battle systems ever to grace an RPG..., a Now and Then, Here and There-esque anime-influenced presentation, and some of the most challenging moments a hardcore RPG gamer could hope for.

A beautifully composed role-playing game that is delightfully unique experience for those who appreciate a game that’s wildly imaginative.

Rugby fans, EA Sports have finally given us a great game worthy of the hard-hitting European sport. EA Sports Rugby 06 not only looks like a realistic game of rugby but it also plays like a dream.

With a bevy of options, some tweaking to the kicking mechanics (almost to the point where you think you are playing golf with the kicker’s leg), and all the other accoutrements in the game modes, EA’s NCAA Football 07 is a joyful gridiron game.

What self-respecting Tolkien fan can be without this title? While the game does have a few stumbling points, this is a well-done RTS that enables players to experience the turmoil of the fantasy world, or just to create their own legacy within this fantastic realm.

If you own an Xbox and want a truly unique game that is not overly violent then Phantom Dust is just what your doctor ordered!

A great port of the PC game, offering robust online play and an intuitive control scheme.

It is graphically very nice, has solid sound and has addicting gameplay. Much fun to be had here, with the entertainment factors far outweighing the few flaws the game has.

With over a hundred goodies to unlock, a franchise mode to die for and plenty of raw action, sports fans will not be disappointed.

Gamers who enjoy a more action oriented RTS title without a lot to worry about other than fighting and capturing strategic areas will definitely have a great time with it, regardless of having an in depth knowledge of the Warhammer universe prior to picking it up.

It plays very well on the PS3 with intuitive controls, solid graphics, and streamlined game mechanics that ensure entertainment value.

The target lock system, time shifting controls, excellent sound effects and smooth controls were a pleasure to this gamer.

For those who missed out on FlatOut 2 for the original Xbox, FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage for the Xbox 360 is a wonderful upgraded port that not only looks great but handles beautifully as well.

The melee combat is a unique system that works amazingly well in one on one combat. The disturbing and unsettling storyline will also please anyone looking for a “survival” horror game for the 360.

Matrix did a great job in taking a board game style and incorporating it into a 3-D presentation. The building of your squad and Titans is a blast, and adds to the addictive quality and replay value of the game.

The incredible graphics, tight controls and excellent music/sound effects are more than enough to warrant having this game.

Although it doesn't bring any particularly new concepts to the table, DDR Ultramix 2 is a very solid game, offering the great features of its predecessor coupled with a good mix of songs.

The games real draw is its character customization and ally development via fusing and negotiating with enemies.

Mercury Meltdown is not only a great sequel, but a solid puzzle game. The gameplay is easy to understand, and the difficulty slowly builds so you never feel like you can’t handle what’s ahead.

Perhaps the most puzzling thing of all is what happens when an enemy gets really, really confused. Most commonly you'll see them walk into a wall or some other barrier.

Thus far the DS has been met with innovation from the adventure, simulation, puzzle, and mind-teaser genres, but this is the first action game that has made a serious impact on Nintendo’s handheld.

Great graphics, great audio and a great plot more then offset the only "good" controls.

While it’s certainly not for everyone, Front Mission provides awesome tactical combat and enough customization options to keep even the most hardcore gamers busy.

While it doesn’t really innovate the genre any, the story for this game really pushes the players to continue playing so they can see what happens in the end.

First and foremost, Tiger Woods 07 offers the best swing controls in the league. No game released thus far can compare.

Few DS games are as interesting, as satisfying, or just as fun as Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. Whether you’re a PQ fan or a newcomer to the series, this one will suck you in and keep you happily addicted for months to come.

The game AI is quite good, and regardless of the difficulty level you select, you will find this to be a challenging game.

The program has a small learning curve but once you get the basics down, you will be surprised at the ease of use. If you like music, want to try your hand at remixing old classics or new tunes into “original” songs, then it really doesn’t get much better than this.

It is nice to finally have nearly all of the features back and playing them on the Xbox 360. All of the new features and additions make this a game that will be played for hours on end.

If you enjoyed any of the Hearts of Iron games then you will love this expansion pack. Just like the other games it has huge replay value and you definitely get a lot of "bang" for your buck.

The computer AI will always provide you with a nice challenge.

Boxing at its best. Many games have tried to capture the arcade essence of the Punch-Out!! series, and all of them have failed. But nearly 20 years later, the king is back and is better than ever.

Easy controls, and the ability to go in and play through the light cycle circuit as a game totally separate from the story driven FPS part was great and will help to increase replay value overall for many people. The enemies, weapons, leveling up system, downloading and just overall presentation of the game were spectacular in my opinion.

Better than last year’s counterpart, Trauma Center: New Blood is all-around improved. If you’re looking for a quirky game this holiday, I suggest picking up New Blood for the co-op multiplayer component alone.

There is plenty to do with the 27 single-player missions and the plethora of multiplayer options, especially the new co-op feature. This is one game that will not leave your PC for quite some time.

Reel Deal is the real deal. It has a ton of games to play and endless hours of entertainment. You can become a whale (big time player) and really assert your prestige. I like this title and for the price it simply has my vote.

It would have been easy to throw out a repeat of last year’s title considering there is no competition, but it is nice to see that EA Sports has actually improved the game. Well done, and a lot of fun.

By far, the most intense soccer title the PS2 has produced so far.

Utterly charming, downright cute and one seriously enjoyable game that players of all ages can enjoy. As far as sequels go, this one doesn’t reinvent but the new content is worth the purchase price and even more so if you missed it the first time around.

With a fantastic story and numerous puzzles to keep you thinking, this DS game will keep you and your Stylus very busy and you will love it for that reason. Even if you missed the first game, picking this one up is a no-brainer.

A true tactical strategy game with enough combat scenarios and a great multiplayer feature fans of this genre will like.

The Simpsons’ universe is so well conceived in Hit & Run that you can’t help but feel charmed by the atmosphere.

Linear, linear, linear - but action, action, action.

Lunar Legend rocks – a godsend for RPG fans, and especially Lunar fans. It’s a completely new story, and you can play it while your taking care of bid-ness, what more could you ask for?

As a flight simulator goes, this is as technical and detailed as it gets. For fans of warplanes and flight sims, you should look forward to getting this running on your highly advanced PC system.

Even with some shaky controls Brutal Legend is still a fun, humorous and entertaining game. Don’t disappoint the metal gods by missing it or tossing it aside only after a couple of hours. Like any good metal album it might take a couple of listens (plays) to really sink it.

A great game that will truly be appreciated by FPS purists like myself who remember the good old days where all you needed was a bunch of ammo, some nasty monsters, periodic powerups, and an itchy trigger finger to get you from the beginning of the stage to the end.

Even better than I expected, and I expected an addicting multiplayer game that everyone I introduced it to would enjoy. The controls and idea of the game are so simple that anyone can hop in and get into the groove within a couple rounds.

I won’t cookie-cut – the DS rendition of Spider-man 3 will undoubtedly provide more entertainment than its multi-million dollar big-screen counterpart. Activision should be commended on a job well done.

One good thing is that players will face little to no slow down even with a huge battle going on in the middle of the screen.

It’s an action packed romp that has all the trappings of the Megaten series, but a bit less of the doom and gloom the series is known for.

Even though the game has a good mix of real and arcade, it may still not be what the simulation fan is looking for in a baseball title. Newcomers to baseball may get a little frustrated with it as well.

The best extreme sports game available for Wii this Christmas.

The physical dynamics are very good, the ballparks look terrific, the play-by-play is superb and the game plays very well.

The safest purchase you'll have this year on the Xbox.

This is one of those rare games that keeps you so involved that hours go by in seemingly minutes.

A great game...The only things that slightly detract are the shortness of the overall game, and the sameness of many of the mini-games.

The game has a lot of cutscenes and load times interrupt the flow, but the story is intriguing enough to pull players through those moments.

Perhaps not as precise as using a mouse and keyboard, but the streamlined control system does do a great job of keeping the action consistent with a dual shock.

The geo-mod engine is actually used with the core gameplay with this game, to make it feel like it truly belongs in there. Nothing is more satisfying than taking out a bridge with a grenade and taking a few men with it, instead of trying to get each man one at a time.

One of the best squad-based shooters out there. The developers really knew what they were doing, making the game much easier to get into than most games of this kind. Seamlessness is key, and for the most part Brute Force has it.

Sure, this isn’t a ‘real’ Mega Man game but after so many traditional sequels it’s about time the franchise explores new directions.

The puzzle variety is large enough to keep you from getting bored, and with room for your character to expand you’ll be surprised at how much you actually play.

You will be able to control almost every single aspect of what went on during World War II campaigns to see if you have what it takes to be a good commander and stay alive.

With smooth controls, stellar graphics, a killer soundtrack and enough extreme challenges to make Tony Hawk jealous, this is a title sport gamers will love.

It's an add-on that is longer than most full games, well produced, with lots to do and see, new enemies and weapons, and it really sets the bar for any future downloadable content in this universe.

No other game combines rhythm and action so seamlessly, and the jamming soundtrack only helps you lose yourself in the battles. But with so few levels to play, and limited unlocks, there isn't much of a reason to replay the game other than to experience your favorite songs again.

If you have played a SOCOM game in the past, not much has changed, it's a tightly controlled game.

It’s fun, but it’s not technical basketball. A lot of explosive dunks, long threes, and overpowering defense keep the game exciting and accessible to everyone, but big fans of the sport of basketball may be a little disappointed.

Deadly Creatures should renew your interest in your Nintendo Wii if you’ve had a falling out recently with the lack of titles to play. It’s fun for all ages and packs a thrilling rollercoaster of a ride till you finally complete the storyline.

Agent 47 is a great character and the game is so original and fun that you will want to go back and try all sorts of wacky ways of eliminating your quarry.

Whether running with a group of warriors, or trekking alone, TR has a very nice pace that will keep players on their toes and checking their ammo supply.

An incredibly fun, beautiful 2D action title that's deep and accessible at the same time. While the Spyro name might make some wary, anyone who misses this one is really missing out.

The content is not too different from that of a PG-13 movie, with innuendo and plenty of adult jokes. The story mocks the genre as a whole, not just one particular group of characters.

It has one of the better battle systems in an RPG but could have used some revisions to spice up the gameplay a little.