Some games, like San Francisco Rush 2049 play perfectly on the Xbox and Hydro Thunder is still fun after all these years. Other games just don't feel or play as good as it use to thanks to the awkward control scheme.

Explorers of Darkness doesn't provide the intense challenge or genuine sense of accomplishment that some of the other Mystery Dungeon titles are known for, and adult players might find the whole thing a little cutesy.

The problem is that while the moves are smooth, the response time of some punches can be somewhat delayed (shades of "Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing") before they make an actual contact.

While not the best of the best, it still ranks above average in terms of interest and playability.

Spyhunter may be a throwback to that original arcade game, but this old friend never looked so good, or was as welcomed.

It’s hard to really push for this one when it’s being released in the exact same weeks as other momentous AAA titles. It hurts to say it, but I don’t think this one is going to stay at the top of the stack; not to mention a six-hour gameplay time.

Considering the extent to which one can create an interactive adventure on the PlayStation 2 console system, RPG Maker 3 is a stalwart adventure that does a fine job of not only putting creation tools in the hands of gamers, but making them easy to use.

Technically it's not innovative, but it IS very polished, challenging, addictive, and features more action than 99% of the movie and TV-licensed games available. A must-buy for AmiYumi fans.

It may not have the totally outrageous antics of NFL Blitz, or NHL Hitz, but it does thrive on contact, speed and transition.

The addition of the FPS style of play, RPG style leveling up, and the RTS style for the commander was probably one of the neatest things I’ve seen done in this kind of game, and adds a unique and fun element in along with the ability for the commander to actually give orders and grant requests for promotions or gold loans.

A mixed bag that goes from simple (and a tad frustrating) to thoughtfully compelling in the combat.

Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier is the game that tries to reinvent the wheel yet loses a wheel in the process.

It is simple to play, but incredibly deep in its execution. It’s mystical, often perplexing, and more disturbing than pleasant. Think of it as an interactive fairy tale, and you’ll find it much less stupefying and maybe even a bit marvelous.

Somehow, THQ has managed to pull of an interesting feat--designing a game that takes a different approach to the snowboarding genre and that is actually quite fun.

A pretty decent stealth-action game. While there are a number of cool gizmos and action-packed sequences true to the Mission: Impossible theme, its imperfections will leave gamers just a bit disappointed.

The writing weighs down the gameplay, too many cutscenes slow the course through it, and a linear path will drive some gameplayers right up a wall.

With all the right elements to make a stellar racing game, Star Wars Racer Revenge fails to inspire true excitement or bring something wholly different.

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.

Aside from the shoddy graphics and the occasional twitch, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter will manage to draw you right in with its engaging storyline, solid controls and plenty of extras (you got to love a game that offers a gag reel).

The presentation sucks, but games are ultimately about something more than that. They’re about the entertainment value, and if you’re a fan of chess or don’t yet know how to play, Chessmaster is great game to have on your DS.

A nice mix of strategy, options and not-too-difficult play make this an enjoyable family game.

One of the most creative and original games to come out in recent months, most notably because it does not rely on any single preset established genre and yet it is still a very appealing title.

This is a single-player title that would do well to introduce newer players to the genre, but will give veterans a nice old-school experience.

The game has its moments, but ultimately its repetitive gameplay will see this game collecting dust after a few weeks except for those gamers demanding to unlock everything.

Fans of the Zelda series, as well as anyone who’s keen on free-roaming adventure games, will be in handheld heaven.

The game suffers from sluggish game play and perceived slow controller response issues.

Will give younger players a lot of replay time, but it is not a title for older gamers.

Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is a “more of the same” sequel, but its still-addictive gameplay presents a problem: if you buy it, you’re out $40. But if you choose to rent it, you’ll likely spend more in the long run since the game is hard to give up.

The graphics are great and the hits are believable. The action can get really intense making for edge-of-your-seat fights.

This is not an action-packed title, which will keep players on the edge of their seats, but it is a complete railroad experience. From designing routes to the intricacies of guiding a monster steam locomotive down the tracks, this title is on schedule to provide a solid simulation-gaming experience.

The tried and true gameplay, excellent controls, detailed graphics and online play add up to a great package for gamers. However the difficulty and dated look of some of the graphics and sound effects will have non-SNK fans looking elsewhere for their fighting fix.

A very nice implementation of classic Frogger. Great for younger players, this is a good product in a sea of recent mediocrity.

For the most part they offered multiple new ways to approach each situation, but I just felt that had the control scheme been adjusted to reflect these new changes, this game could’ve been much better.

The sprites are all there, the frenetic control schemes, but in this package is also a solid interface that allows players to easily navigate for instructions, to set up multiplayer sessions and to embark on an entertaining trip down memory lane.

Band Hero takes the musical genre one step further, and demonstrates its viability on handheld platforms. It might be some time before it replaces the console versions, however. A better guitar, and a more serious dedication to rewarding gameplay would really draw the crowds.

The modes, over 100 unlockable lures, unlockable characters, and more realistic gameplay definitely make it a good fishing title.

Overkill is a high-octane thrill ride from beginning to end... or in other words, fun.

MX Superfly is the best motocross game currently out for the Gamecube, and arguably any 128bit system, so a recommendation is inevitable.

Some people might not mind things like password saves and really enjoy 2D side-scrolling platformers, and I highly recommend this game to those people.

Doesn’t fully capture the experience of the excellent PC version, yet that doesn’t mean gamers won’t have a blast playing through the game’s fun missions.

1) It's a blast to play. 2) There are a ton of extra items to collect and lots of hidden (albeit small) areas to explore. 3) The multiplayer mode is very explosive (in other words, it rocks).

Lego Batman is a good game. The main problem is that the developers haven't bothered to fix many of the complaints that many people have had with their previous games.

The microphone sensitivity may be adequate for the mass marketing of the game, but these microphones are not that good.

When its all said and done, this game has a very arcade feel to it, and aside from unlocking new levels and helicopters, and getting the best grade on each mission, there really isn't a lot of depth. But that is not always a bad thing.

Looks good, plays well, but lacks the darkness and depth that defines the title character.

A wonderful ode to the old school racing games of yesteryear and fans of the racing genre will be quite pleased and entertained by its intensity.

Good, and in some ways great, but it's too realistic to be true to the series. These new elements shouldn't be scrapped for the next edition, just revised.

Even though the controls are tight and responsive, you’ll be left wondering why your character didn’t pull off a move that you entered. Button mashing will probably work fine for most players, instead of trying to work on a particular move.

The FPS elements are stock and the levels have a feeling of guiding you through the game because the maze of ruins you encounter will only allow you to go in one continuous direction. Still, the controls are easy to learn and the game does have its share of heart-start moments.

If you can get past the games somewhat rough exterior and uninspired aural accompaniment than you’ll be in store for a thoroughly enjoyable game that will be played for years to come.

If only the battle system, so integral to the enjoyment of a game, wasn't so blasé, Shadow Hearts could have easily jumped up into one of the best surprise games of the year.

This game was made for fans of Ben 10, by fans of Ben 10, those who don't know the rich and varied backstory will be left scratching their heads with the plot but those who know will be rewarded with a strong title.

Assault on Dark Athena is a great deal for players, as it gives those PS3 owners who missed out on the phenomenal Escape from Butcher Bay the chance to check it out in HD, with a host of perks. However, based solely on the strength of these perks, it’s a bit harder to recommend for those who played through Riddick’s first console game.

Props for the implementation of the voice command controls.

A game that seems to have some strong ties to the arcade look and sound, but manages to overcome that with some depth of gameplay.

The excitement of playing the game for the first time, its replay value, and satisfying driving and racing styles are completely intact.

This game is extremely fun and entertaining, but a couple of points had to go due to some camera and graphics issues which couldn’t be overlooked.

There is a lot of solid game play here, great challenges and a persistent online world that is as intriguing as it is inviting.

A fun game if you enjoy hunting or hunting titles, but it probably won’t have enough to bring the casual player into it and keep them hooked for the long run … like myself.

Like any good fighting game, Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 thrives on multiplayer action. It stumbles in a few areas, and is certainly one of the more repetitive fighters released this year. But it's also a really good game that, when played with others, can be very addictive.

This is a decent expansion, but it is not a must-have one.

When a game is as much to play as the first Lumines then it’s hard to accept limited imitations packaged as new editions.

This Nintendo DS version isn't anywhere near the quality (or originality) of the console versions, but if you can accept it as a good racing game and not another version of GRID, you'll enjoy it very much.

Gamers new and old school, Namco Museum Battle Collection is the closest you’ll get to finding a time machine and going back to the days when games were simple but still downright addictive.

The free-form style of play keeps things fresh but don’t go into this one expecting to be blown away.

I found with the limitless possibilities for strategy coupled with the multiplayer capability to be a game with a pretty decent shelf life.

For those that love the game, enjoy the behind-the-scenes management, embrace the mental challenge, like the statistical bombardment, and thrive on situational strategy, this is the game for you.

Draglade has a really unique premise that will keep players attention for a while, especially with the multiplayer aspects.

Sacred 2 is a solid game that offers PS3 owners a quality dungeon-crawling game that it was lacking. However, just be prepared to get your hands dirty if you really want to fully understand everything in the game.

For those that love the game, enjoy the behind-the-scenes management, embrace the mental challenge, like the statistical bombardment, and thrive on situational strategy, this is the game for you.

With a lengthy yet entertaining campaign mode, Rainbow Six: Lockdown manages to pull off the best Rainbow Six game on the GameCube.

For simulation fans and hardcore railroad simulation fans, Railroad Pioneer will fit right in with your collection. Who knows, maybe the Pioneer can become the new Tycoon?

Graphically, this is a remarkable program...The action can be very unrealistic, just in terms of physical reality, and that is a major drawback.

A game with this much humor should put a smile on anyone’s face. But the smile could fade away with some of the gameplay limitations.

This is a game that is somewhat eerie and evolving, but the mood is broken by the interface and even the sightjack feature, while an intriguing concept, detracts from the mood.

If you’re still one of the die-hard wrestling junkies who just can get enough then you will fall in love with Total Extreme Wrestling 2008. You will probably find just the right combination of insane stories, unusual angles and hardcore matches to let you create your ultimate wrestling fantasy.

If there is a drawback to the game it lies in that the AI is not overly strong. Considering that the enemy is engaged in a firefight of enormous proportions, running straight into a gun, or standing immobile with backs to the approaching shooter seems a little ridiculous.

The biggest problem with WMMA is the lack of fighters, organizations, and content in the database. It becomes a big problem when all your biggest fighters have all faced off against each other and the only thing left to do is throw them in there with weaker opponents just to be able to fill a card.

One of those innocuous little programs that can entertain for minutes or hours. It has range of play, solid animation and sound, and high-flying action.

Not as much of a Blitz game as it is as a lenient version of Madden. You've got fewer rules, harder hits, and the ability to tackle a guy for no reason other than to mess up his play.

A significant improvement over the first, Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 is one of the best original (non-port) RPGs released for the DS platform. Naruto fans will definitely be engrossed by the story and anime-inspired scenarios, but this is also a quality role-playing game that RPG fans will want to check out.

With literally hundreds of quests to take on and a number of characters to recruit along the way, Radiant Mythology will keep gamers really busy.

In spite of the minor issues, diehard Kirby fans shouldn’t stop themselves from inhaling Super Star Ultra.

Not the best version of this really great game.

If the game was a little bit longer (it takes less than ten hours to beat), had less repetition, and the controls were just slightly more refined, this game would have been a whole lot better.

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.

A surprisingly delightful action-RPG. It is, by no means, the most original or most exotic game on the Nintendo Wii, but for a console that is looking for its next big title to lure its gamers back, Spectrobes: Origins is a great pick-up for any gamer.

It’s more puzzle game than shooter that should keep either audience busy playing through all 88 stages. It doesn’t have the same hook that other puzzles games have but it should have enough to justify the low price point.

I don't usually embrace clones, but Van Helsing is a unique exception. It's got most of what you love about "Devil May Cry," give or take a few elements.

It’s not new, it’s not innovative, but hey – it still works.

The solid presentation, excellent voice acting, easy to use controls and original story line will have Law & Order fans looking to overrule all objections. However the repetitive responses to questions, questionable warrant system and lack of personalization might have other gamers looking to overturn the jury’s verdict.

The camera is terrible. It jumps around more than a group of moshers at a punk-rock concert. As enemies surround the area and you retaliate, the camera jerks in various directions. Sometimes it will zoom out for no apparent reason.

989 Studios's best release yet, but is still not quite perfect.

While this is better than last year’s version, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 shows that Yukes still have a long way to go to take full advantage of the Wii’s features. The added online functionality is a step in the right direction, so one can only expect things to get better from here on out for the series.

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.

You will find comfort in using the mute button.

Travellers Tales did a pretty good job of getting the most out of this license and there is enough stuff to do, that you'll be coming back to it.

While it is a lot prettier than the other console versions, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 for the Xbox 360 feels like a rushed production that plays well enough but still not up to the standards of the new console.