The plot is clever but the game seems to miss the mark when it comes to production value, I think with some better dialogue and voice work we may have had a sleeper hit.

It’s hard not to love a title that piles on all the game modes (including multiplayer) and makes the racing element actually fun.

Not breaking any grounds here; online is nice but it’s nothing original.

Due to control problems and pathfinding issues, Sudden Strike 3 is not perfect. However, the scale of the battles and intense firefights make it a marked improvement over its predecessors.

Been there, done that, and don’t want to do it again.

Ultimately, the game is too difficult and bizarre for its own good.

Octomania is fun but there isn't enough to it. Align some Octopi, form combos, repeat.

This is a nice enough game for adventure enthusiasts who are looking for an inexpensive game with lots of puzzles. The Egyptian setting is nicely done, too. A longer game time, plus more Egyptian history, would have been a good addition.

It’s a fun thrill ride that plays up the action well and throws you head first into some truly spectacular moments. Then again, weak boss battles and repetitive gameplay simply hold back what could have been an unforgettable action gem.

Dark Sector is engaging and addictive, but only the first time through. After beating the game, you will more than likely find yourself searching for a reason to work through the storyline again.

A good RTS game that is held up by performance and graphical issues.

The controls on Wii are forced and unnatural and hamper what is an otherwise solid game design.

The combat is a piece of cake since you don’t have to worry about a pressing some elaborate button combination to pull off your moves.

Sadly, Viking is one of those games that could have been great but thanks to repetitive hack-and-slash gameplay there is really not much here even Odin would approve.

Interestingly enough, the game adds new and downright entertaining game modes making this one of the most complete Naruto games on the PS2.

Its unique style and lighthearted charm set it apart in a genre increasingly filled with dark, somber epics.

A must-own masterpiece; Tecmo's best since Ninja Gaiden hit the Xbox.

Repetitive gameplay aside, the game’s few flaws don’t take away from the action or cool options. This is strictly for the fans.

The touch-screen controls aren't on par with MLB Fantasy All-Stars, but that's not as worrisome as the repetition. Other than that, kids should have a good time with Backyard Baseball '09.

I get what this game is - a quick casual game featuring zombies, but just because it is a casual game doesn't mean it has to be poorly executed. I hope there is a sequel and they address the glaring problems the game has.

The gameplay is easy and straightforward, there are no mind-numbing puzzles. It is also a short game. However, it’s fun enough while it lasts for those who like these types of stories.

Even without the Final Fantasy VII moniker, Crisis Core would still be a great action-RPG game on the PSP. However, the game actually adds to the original’s universe, making it a title that fans will definitely want to check out.

If you are a fan of the original game then this purchase is a no brainer, but many players will be disappointed with the lack of innovation.

The gameplay elements are great but it’s the creepy atmosphere and story that will keep you glued to your controller.

Much like its 80s predecessor, this compilation feels like it does not capture what made the 90s so dynamic a time in music.

A decent Worms game, but nothing more. The game lacks polish in many areas and doesn’t distinguish itself from previous versions. That said, the game is still fun, especially in multiplayer.

The game is simple to use and players of any age should be able to jump in and play. You can use the new swing meter or stick with the old-style method (meter).

The online isn’t perfect with lag and a lack of players to play with, but it sure can be fun when everything clicks.

Sega Superstars Tennis is a few stars short of Virtua Tennis quality. It’s got some of the right pieces (and some ugly deformed shapes called “mini-games” that should’ve been tossed aside) but none of them came together.

I was hoping for a seriously fun game, and while there were snippets of real enjoyment, the game has lulls that make you pine for some mini-games, and those lulls are the actual tennis portions of the game.

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 doesn’t strive to reinvent the franchise, and works mostly as a means of finishing off the story that began in the first game.

Sadly, Lost in Blue 3 has lost it’s charm or sense of adventure that made the first game so refreshingly appealing to Nintendo DS owners.

This chapter is the best so far of Episode Two. It does a great job of bridging the gap between the first several episodes, and the subsequent second half. The setup is wonderful.

I enjoyed the hour or so it took me to beat this game, but I don’t feel compelled to replay it.

Simply and entertaining, this game requires very little mental work but quick fingers and a decent sense of timing. It might be a little beyond the capabilities of younger players, but those from 8 or 9 and up should find this fun.

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.

It’s an impressive and completely absorbing handheld game that does hack-and-slash action right as well as provide a story true to the Final Fantasy brand. It has its share of problems but they pale compared to the overall package.

A fun family experience that tests showbiz and movie trivia, supporting it with solid clips and graphics. This is a party game and/or a family game that while it would appear to be a niche title, actually should have broad appeal.

Rent it for the story, and keep your antennas crossed for a gameplay-improved sequel.

Fans of the genre will enjoy the deep character customization as well as the satisfying tale that is as good as the console Wild ARMs games. It’s just too bad that XF is hindered by its few problems that hold it back.

Massive and daunting easily describe this game. Lost Empire: Immortal is not a game for the first-time turn-based strategy gamer, but rather for that niche that wants to micro-manage every nuance of a society and slowly (sometimes it feels agonizingly slow) build up to a point where you truly are the power in the universe.

Those parents who bought the Wii for there kids may get a kick out of it, and it is only $29.99, but it is old and dated and we deserve something much newer.

A technically weak port on the PS2, Size Matters is best left on the PSP.

This is a game that reaches a fun factor which few games dare even dream of. It is absolutely packed to the gills with content, and features enough improvements over its predecessor to make it the best installment in the series by far.

Like an overblown Hollywood action flick, Army of Two is an explosive good time that has its weaknesses here and there but it won’t stop you from enjoying the bullet-fueled action.

Army of Two has some great ideas and plays at its best in the multiplayer co-op mode. However, there are still some issues with the main game being a bit short and shallow. Still, the multiplayer elements are a great draw for fans of two-player action.

Rocketmen: Axis of Evil offers up some interesting concepts, but the muddled execution bogs it down.

The story will lure you in, the lack of load times will make the adventure seem seamless and the visual and aural treat will keep you in the game until you get to the very end.

The missions are amusing and fun and so are exploring your surroundings. This new edition also includes some new classes and co-op mini-games that make this game a real gem.

The Wii version succeeds with intuitive motion controls.

In terms of what it brings to the table, it’s a bunch of the same ole, same ole, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing since the series was very good to begin with.

While not exactly a training piece for Ninja Warrior, Ninja Reflex is amusing in the way it tests your hand-eye coordination. The fun is fair and the replay value is iffy.

This game is in the right direction with great style and production values, but ultimately the mini-games are too few and the game mechanics are severely under par – Your reflex should be to save your money.

The game has a high replay value and the career mode is deep, frustrating, invigorating, irritating and satisfying – all at the same time.

MLB ‘08: The Show is catered towards the stat freaks out there (me included) and it’ll grab a hold of you and never let go.

Although a few minor issues with the camera and player interaction were apparent, this game has definitely sparked my interested in the baseball genre of video games.

Shiren the Wanderer doesn’t coddle its players, but those willing to invest enough effort into the game are rewarded with a game that’s intricate, deep, and infinitely replayable.

Silent Hill Origins might be the weakest installment in the series, but it’s a testament to the quality of the franchise when the weakest entry is still this good.

There’s very little here to challenge a first grader and the memory games are just way too insulting. Brain Age still the intelligent choice so avoid this one at all costs.

Chicken Hunter may be a pastime for kids, but without any depth attached, not much time will pass before they're reaching for something else.

Once the game gets past the simple early stages the fast-paced action can be very hard to follow. Combining the different colored bubbles never seemed to work right and I was always running into enemies when I thought I hit them with a bubble.

The ideas are there, but they have too many issues to be considered a drawing point.

Upper-tier analog batting and pitching make for a unique and enjoyable baseball experience. The rest of the game is average with annoying technical issues and opponent/teammate AI that is, for the most part, dreadful.

Despite a sizable list of issues to be fixed and features to be added, 2K8 still provides a decent baseball simulation.

As a fan of the franchise, I have no doubt that 2K Sports will get this series right in the portable format but this year’s game isn’t it. Hopefully next year’s game will hit it out of the park.

There is fun in this title, but it isn't anything you can stand to sit down and play for a couple of hours. You just get too frustrated with the A.I.'s ability to get better hands and the long tournaments that take too much time to complete.

The Lost Crown: A Ghost-hunting Adventure is a good adventure game, but too many conventional elements and low production values keep it from being a great one.

Mabinogi is a great MMO for gamers who aren't looking to grind levels or raid 20 man dungeons for epic loots, but rather enjoy a colorful, online world that gives the player a sense of freedom when it comes to developing their character.

From the aesthetic to the gameplay, RHEM 3 is as old-school of an adventure game as you're likely to find these days, which works for and against the game. Hardcore adventure fans will get the most out of it, while others will be turned away by the puzzles and lack of visual bells and whistles.

Puzzle Guzzle is a good buy for gamers of all skill levels who love puzzlers, but it is not for those who play puzzle games casually. PG is moderately hardcore and will take some time to learn; mastering it could take weeks or months.

Die-hard Lost fans should rent it, finish it for the ending, and be done with it.

Yes, it is a rhythm-based game, but it is also one of the more engaging and wonderfully unique titles to grace the PSP. It is addictive, it is delightful and it is a lot of fun to play.

Certainly a game most fighting fans will go back to. It could also be the first time young gamers discover the genre, and with its instantly-addictive gameplay, they're likely to stick with the genre from here on out.

What FreeTime offers is good stuff. The clubs are nice but the real benefit is linking neighborhoods and terrain modification.

Whether you own the first game or not, if you love pinball, this is a can’t-miss release.

SEGA Bass Fishing can still provide some mild entertainment, even if it is basically a Dreamcast game with Wii controls. Despite its fair share of flaws, it’s the best currently available fishing game on Wii.

A pretty simple brain game and certainly nothing new for the genre. If you don't have a brain game then this isn't a bad start; if you have other games in this vein, you may not need to pop this into your system.

While not compellingly original, Frontlines: Fuel of War is still a delightfully engaging shooter that is best enjoyed online where the action really thrives.

The action begins to feel repetitive far sooner than the non-stop carnage suggests it should. [May 2008, p.72]

The gameplay is clunky and underwhelming at best, but the story is so good that it boosts And Then There Were None out of the pits.

The Wii controls are absolutely atrocious and players will have a hard time swinging the reticule around during the on-foot action. Even flying your saucer or taking control of the impressive Big Willy mech is a tad awkward.

This is a nice enough game for the young crowd, and the gameplay is easy and not frustrating. The mini-games are a lot of fun, too.

The game is a value-priced title and for the most part, it shows, but this time the developers actually included some old-fashioned fun.

Surprisingly brilliant and utterly addictive, The Club is one of those games that are hard to put down offline or online.

I think this is a really fun, and simple minded game. Nothing like a "Bioshock" in terms of thinking and plot, but more like a 3rd person shooter that's got an arcade feel to it.

A relatively short game, SWORDS is imminently accessible by gamers of all ages.

I think more production needs to go into the sequel. They have created a decent foundation, but need to sharpen things up by making it a bit deeper and having those stories fleshed out some more.

Hardcore fans will probably enjoy it. Everyone else? Hold off a while, this game should be in the bargain bin very soon.

Need for Speed ProStreet grasped a hold of me and has yet to let go. The game is engaging, competitive, and challenging. Each car is suitable for the game, and every time I unlock a new one, I feel a desperate need to test it out.

FIFA Street 3 offers some nice improvements over previous FIFA Street games, but unfortunately is devoid of a time-investing career mode, making it one that you might get bored with before too long.

With the graphics firmly in place, and the gameplay simplified, this is a game that really should build the foundation for a major step into the limelight. FIFA Street 3 is fine, but lacks a robust variety of game modes, and thus suffers for it.

I have to say that the game, while rich in plot and story, lacks in visuals and sound, may be enjoyed by few. I would like to see the folks at Spiderweb software be given a big budget and let loose.

Command and Destroy is a half-decent effort that doesn't live up to the legacy created by the game it mimics. The technical issues might explain why Command and Conquer hasn't come to the latest generation of handhelds.

I expect most people will hate this game, but Barnyard Blast is a quirky throwback to the horror games of the late eighties. Those who played and cherished those games back then might find something to like about this scruffy, flawed little game.

New Zealand Story Revolution makes no concessions to the 20 years that have passed since the original hit arcades. It’s tough as nails, but the game’s fan base wouldn’t have it any other way.

The game is 800 Microsoft points, and it is really something that they should just give away. Bad graphics, controls, sound and multiplayer means a bad game and it should not have been.

Fans of the strategy gaming genre will find tactical challenges aplenty as both a single-player and multiplayer offering so there’s a lot to love about this title.

WipEout Pulse is, by far, one of the most enjoyable and addictive racing games to come along for the PSP this year. It’s a fast-paced, unforgiving and intense racing that will surely please fans of the racing game genre even with the lack of racetracks.