Xyanide's unique take on the shmup genre and the fact that it's not only fun, but the only one of its kind make it very approachable.

With a few improvements over the first game and the lack of online play, this title might not have what it takes to go head-to-head with better Xbox racing games like Forza or Project Gotham Racing but it's a nice alternative to the more serious racing game.

The graphics are wonderful, the action is quick and can be tense, and the game can be enjoyed in short spurts of time. This is a racer that fans of the genre should check out.

Even when completed, you can go back and play it over accepting different missions and/or playing with a different style.

The game has a good feel to it, and while you do use an awful lot of moves in the game (more as you advance) you will eventually find a nice groove and be able to get things done. The targeting for the guns does stink, though.

A game I can recommend to any parent. Not only does the game feature a good lesson in moderation it also is a pretty decent game. Fans of the show will absolutely love it and even kids that don’t watch the show should enjoy the action.

The timer may be problematic for some children, but kids who thrive on competition will have a blast.

The graphics are based on the same engine as before and thus have shown little improvement since the last iteration of the franchise. This is an expansion but not an overly long one.

It’s an old-school brawler with all the right moves and players despite the awkward 360 controller scheme and the seriously flawed online multiplayer mode. Really, consider this $10 or 800 points well spent.

Players will feel a real sense of accomplishment upon completing each one. However, there isn’t anything else to do in this game, and once the puzzles are solved, there is no going back and replaying.

Given the right direction, FlatOut could one day compete, maybe even overtake, the games that inspired its creation. But first it’s got a lot of growing up to do.

A grand collection of inspired mini-games.

While catching the spirit of the movie’s anti-hero, Otis, you are able to explore and have his kind of fun — without the life-learning lesson at the end. It’s just silly fun ... for fun’s sake.

The mini-games are a varied assortment, and feature randomization. However, the game is too short and too easy for older players.

It is open-ended, has humor, and looks visually pleasing. Before you buy it though, make sure you watch the movie.

There's nothing very super about Super Monkey Ball Adventure and that's thanks to a poorly conceived story mode that takes us away from the familiar elements we love the most.

Decent controls, cool (but repetitive) vehicles, and appropriate gameplay guidelines are this game’s strongest features. The lack of track variety, however, doesn’t give the player much to do.

After more than 10 years of arcade mastery (and 10 years of dreaming of an arcade-perfect portable adaptation), Namco has finally brought the game to a handheld powerful enough to reproduce Tekken’s unrivaled fighting engine.

This expansion is as fun as its predecessor, and that’s saying a lot. All the new stuff fits in seamlessly with the existing game, and manages to incorporate new features with the old in a way that offers a change in scenery, but doesn’t distract from the original intent of the game.

CivCity follows an old model for a city builder. If you are a fan of the Pharaoh series, you may find a home here with CivCity: Rome. It focuses around the economy rather than any type of military action.

While some gamers may see the simplicity as a downside, others may enjoy the fact that it's mindless. I'm on the fence – I enjoy deep gameplay, but sometimes if the game is fun I don't want to be bothered with finding keys or jumping over pits. Painkiller is just plain fun.

What little fun comes in short bursts and is hindered by its awful controls and uninteresting single-player campaign mode.

I see a lot of re-playability here and I would recommend this game to any FPS fan especially those on a budget.

The reputation system and the underground trade feature had the potential to work exceptionally well with the action gameplay of Miami Vice. But the short play time, confusing AI, and the lack of aim functionality when in motion makes this title only worth renting.

A non-traditional RPG that comes out feeling traditional. The exploration, pre-enemy encounter elements give the game an instant hook to newcomers.

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.

I really enjoyed how the interface from Madden 06 on the Xbox 360 is carried over, as well as the play calling, because it makes things much simpler and allows you to get into the action of the game at a much quicker pace.

The unfortunate choice to leave out mini-games, the great Campus Legend mode and some extra goodies is upsetting but what we have here is a football game that doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the college football scene.

Blade Dancer doesn’t stray from the tired formula of classic Japanese role-playing games when it comes to the storytelling and cast of characters.

It’s repetitive, and a lot like the other Dragonball Z games out there. But if you love them, you’ll enjoy this – and if you haven’t played the series before, Super DBZ is an easy way to enter.

Monster House draws inspiration from the myriad array of Mature rated survival horror games all while keeping it rated E10+. It’s a fun, scary romp that’s perfect for fans of the movie and tykes that like goosebumps.

Monster House is a game that I think will make your 7-12 year old fairly happy. As an adult I found that it could get a little repetitive, but my son has spent way more time playing and shows no signs of letting up.

This is a well-designed crawl through lots of rooms filled with items to pick up and enemies to blast. Sometimes the action can get a little tedious, but there is enough variety and things to do to keep interest until the end.

More than just an upgrade, NCAA Football 2007 is a complete revamp of the franchise bursting at the seams with accurate details and realistic gameplay.

A must-play for anyone who loves the movie. The Resident Evil-style gameplay – where everything is slower and stiffer – is likely to feel weird and clunky at first. But give it time and you'll see that this control style only adds to what is already a creepy experience.

The graphics are top notch as well, very clean and distinct. Items are easily recognizable and the line of sight is strong.

The single-player game is sorely lacking in several key areas, and the online game, while fun, does require a lot more effort on the player than say ... (insert favorite game here).

The weapons are balanced and the action is intense.

A decent adventure game for families and teens, but it’s not as good as other games in the series.

One of the worst games I have ever played. The gameplay is a total nightmare, there’s no music, and the objectives are redundant.

The controls and easy command selection allow anyone to enter the fray, while the ferocious battles will keep skilled players at bay.

It’s nice to have a streamlined, intuitive interface, but at the same time, part of the attraction for city-building games is the management aspect.

Stay away from this one at all costs.

The Legend of Jack Sparrow was very disappointing as a game and hurt the franchise’s appeal as a consequence.

If you absolutely need a new racing game for your portable, pick this up but do so knowing that the controls cripple the fun parts.

It's hard to recommend a game that's rough on the player. A fierce challenge is rarely turned away, but how can anyone – kids of all people – overcome the lack of a steady shooting mechanic? I honestly doubt that gamers of any age will be accepting of this flaw.

The single-player mode is where the game seems to stutter along with a few longer than necessary load times...The computer AI in the single-player mode does some crazy things that will have you frustrated and puzzled.

The game’s AI seems determined to make a race out of it, even if that means slowing down cars for no apparent reason, thereby undermining the inherent challenge.

Genie & the Amp makes good use of the DS touch screen, but it’s still something that could have been done via the buttons instead of the touch screen. The graphics do a good job of bringing the show’s ambience to the small screen and the music is right on the money.

Those looking for a realistic soccer simulation may wish to look elsewhere, but those looking for an entertaining skill-based arcade title that uses soccer as a backdrop will find this title both entertaining and challenging.

While its design flaws make the game rather frustrating to play, the real treat is in trashing the terrain and slamming you rider through a glass window.

Just too boring to recommend to anyone looking for a good car-combat game.

An addictive, slash-heavy (but not button-mash-heavy) fighting game that builds depth from an unfamiliar place: simplicity.

The game is addicting to me personally, and the hack-and-slash style is something I’ve always enjoyed going back to Diablo days. If that type of style appeals to you, then get this game.

If you overlook a few key areas you might find a game that offers something a little different than the standard turn-based strategy game.

Tomb Raider: Legend for the PSP is riddled with technical problems but it still managed to cram in all the great things we loved about the console version.

It’s fun and frustrating, slow but challenging, and only semi-realistic.

If I had to give advice to the development team, it would be to allow players more freedom in the off-season. Only allowing them two things to do between idiotic load screens is awful.

This is pretty much a standard Japanese RPG experience. Even if you have not played these types of games before, you will not have much of a learning curve here.

This is the best of its kind, but understand that the game uses a very repetitive formula. There was no way around that, not with a paddle, balls, and multi-colored blocks being your only gameplay pieces.

Get used to the interface and you will find a very deep game that should give you a new respect for the job of a NFL Head Coach.

A decent product that has a few adjustments that need to be made. I am sure that the next revisions of this game will definitely become a really great product that people will be waiting in line for every year like Madden and the NCAA football series.

The game is rather standard for the RTS genre, not offering much in terms of innovation, but rather trading off what already exists.

A wonderful, must-play action game.

The gameplay is there, but with the power of the PlayStation 2 there was potential to do a lot more. New features, new modes, new characters, or even updated graphics; Capcom could’ve given us a little more.

The interactive elements don't exactly move mountains, but the rest of the content and overall experience is a trip every Metal Gear Solid fan should take.

Last Raven is your last chance to experience the world of Armored Core on the PS2. Even if the MSRP weren't $29.99, you'd have a ridiculously hard time trying to find a more complete mobile suit package. The gameplay (battles), pre-gameplay (customization), flashy graphics, and adrenaline-filled soundtrack are some of the best this series has had to offer.

This series needs to get an overhaul bad. I think the developers have done just about everything they can with Lan at this time and they need to think of a new direction to take this game.

It definitely isn't a pretty game but when it comes to the shooting action Riot Response will not let you down.

The multiplayer doesn’t deliver any type of replay value that drives me back to playing Rise & Fall. The campaign is short and the difficulty level is on the basic side of the river.

I really did like how you only have to manage time in this game as it gives you a greater sense of urgency on the things that have to be done.

It’s a tough road ahead, but it’s one you won’t be able to resist, with many rewards and much satisfaction to be had.

The look is strong, the story is well done and has a nice consistency – even when you are surprised by a twist in the game, the sound is very nice and the game delivers in the entertainment department.

The storyline didn’t drive much excitement, or provide any motivation to solve the puzzles that were difficult at times. Only your interests in the works of Da Vinci keep you involved.

"NBA Street" with different moves and more ballers, minus the polished gameplay. The analog stick's heightened sensitivity is not as innovative as it is a refinement.

If you’re looking for a generic role-playing game that isn’t half-bad despite its dated gameplay then Astonishia Story might just be the PSP game you’ll want to buy.

Simply put, Race Car Driver 2006 is a racing fan’s dream come true and one of the deepest portable racing titles available thus far.

Consisting of Gradius I through IV, plus the illusive, never-before-played Gradius Gaiden (a game that was not released outside of Japan until now), Gradius Collection is by far the best handheld space shooter available for the PSP.

Despite the loss of its multiplayer mode and the not-so-pleasing visuals, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for the PS2 is still a satisfying and appealing game GTA fans will certainly enjoy.

A truly solid expansion that adds to the overall experience of the game, whether playing out in the game’s goal-driven ‘campaign’ or in the sandbox mode. The ability to really customize your own movie becomes a deeper experience with Stunts & Effects.

Almost a must-buy for fans of the film. Cars is a top-notch adventure/racing game with an unwieldy camera. It’s challenging, but the challenges won’t be enough to keep gamers – young or old – from beating it quickly.

If you have younger ones that liked the movie, or Pixar movies (even if they haven't seen the film), then Cars is probably a good and pretty safe purchase option which will keep them (and you) amused for a while.

Cars is a really solid racing game for the PlayStation Portable. What is a shame is that the game is extremely straightforward in its concept and execution which means that there isn’t a lot of variety other then just racing.

Cars is an incredibly boring, sometimes frustrating, waste of a good DS cartridge. Do your kid a favor and buy them Mario Kart DS instead. They may scream and holler a bit, but after they compare it to their friend’s copy of Cars they will thank you.

In the end Cars really isn't a bad game for the GBA. In fact it shows that with the right programmers the GBA can still put out good titles even if it's a game based on a movie. If the game wasn't over so soon and offered some additional gameplay modes then Cars would have been a top notch title for the GBA.

AND 1 Streetball mixes in a lot of what's good about street basketball but in the end the overall execution is plagued by glitches and weak controls that makes this one a real playa hater.

There are issues concerning the pace of the races, the lack of interactivity, and the less interesting Piston Cup competitions. But if you liked the movie and want to get your kicks on Route 66, check out Cars.

This is a good game for families in that it really does offer a lot for many different ages. While hard-core racing gamers won't get much out of it, everyone else will enjoy it.

This may be a game worth revisiting down the road, once the developers have had time to stabilize the client and address some of the design flaws. But for now, it is a pass.

The “tests’ are really short and you can be finished within several minutes, and it is this addictive and short natured game that will keep you coming back for more for hours on end.

Magnetica is no Tetris DS but it certainly is an addictively enjoyable Nintendo DS game puzzle fans will definitely want to have when they’re in the mood for a good portable puzzler.

There are a few things missing, and long-term gameplay in the scenario mode may be a little repetitious but City Life does a nice job of creating a city management sim that has its challenges, but is entertaining and enjoyable.

Episode One is a lot of fun, and it leads right into an even better looking episode.

STACKED is the best poker video game currently out on store shelves. That said, I am a little disappointed that the title didn’t go that extra mile in making itself a hit.

This is a game that is a baseball purist’s delight, only dampened by the complex interface and steep learning curve.

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.

More of a stealth game than anything else, Hitman: Blood Money serves up a familiar taste of assassin gameplay with new features to spice it up.

Agent 47 has a slew of new moves at his disposal this time around. Combine that with the notoriety system and accidental death feature and you have a solid experience.