It's not a terribly big budget epic; it's like that smaller, incredibly well-done indie movie that raises the bar with a great core concept and striking attention to detail throughout.

Innovative role-playing on the XBox that continues forth on PC. The control system is a little difficult to handle, however, and doesn’t quiet fit the gameplay mechanics.

The controls and poor AI is where this game falls apart and characters like Wolverine are rendered useless while Iron Man, Storm and Magneto are a tad more fun to play.

Its unique and highly addictive gameplay will entertain you for hours.

It’s short, the movies are long and can’t be skipped, and the difficulty takes a dive at the end of the second hour. These are reasons to avoid a game. At the same time I love Onimusha, and Genji is essentially that game with a new name and face.

There’s no doubt about, Madden NFL 06 for the PSP is portable football you can’t afford to be without. Yes we’ve seen Madden on the GBA and most recently on the Nintendo DS but with PS2 connectivity, sharp visuals and solid gameplay this is by far the best handheld version.

Great simulation gameplay; even better arcade-style gameplay; an excellent soundtrack; updated graphics; and a number of tweaks and additional game modes that would make the guy this game is based on (what’s his name again?) proud.

I really liked that you can play with both the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants; these two teams make for a great combination.

This is one of the best games I have ever played on a computer. I find myself "missing it" when I am not able to play it.

Those who haven't played the previous games will be awestruck by how much depth the game has, and how much it takes to get the hang of each function.

Novice players will find this one to be forgiving and experienced players should find enough tweaking to be found to make this enjoyable and not too easy.

The game-play potentially could have been very good, if it wasn't for the clumsy design. The bad collision is just bad programming, and should not have made it to the finished product.

The lineup of Marvel characters is pretty impressive but does nothing to save Rise of the Imperfects from the problematic gameplay issues.

If you are itching for a good real-time strategy game, with heavy action elements, for the Xbox, then look no further then Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes.

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.

You don't have to be a fan of the comic book to enjoy this unique and wonderfully addictive game that manages to cram in all the things you could ask for in an action RPG.

The quick reaction time that Ryu has when you press a button is simply amazing and truly feels like you are playing with a ninja.

There are things to nitpick, but as a whole, the game is excellent and a joy to play. It is steeping with realism and challenge.

A fighting game that had all the makings of a truly stellar fighter but with so many flaws it manages to knock itself out before the fight even ends.

Not any different from the first game but it is, by far, the most engrossing X-Men game a fan could ever ask for.

The gameplay could have been more challenging, and the course in the Rivals mode could have been real courses from the past, but these are small quibbles. It's a great game, as always.

The beautiful graphics and excellent voice-over work help transport players into the Ages of Myst.

Frantix is light on concept, lush on eye candy, but overall a simple game that will not have you playing until the wee hours but may have you picking it up when you have 10 minutes to spare.

The touchscreen sequences for Venom are well done and use that feature of the DS to the gamer’s advantage. But the Spidey sequences under-use the touch screen, and the sound can be a little tinny at times, when heard through the DS speaker.

A shorter, linear-style action/adventure, but its varied gameplay makes it a clear-cut winner. Tak fans are going to be thrilled with everything but the length – the younger crowd probably won’t be bothered by it that at all.

The unfriendly bits clearly out weigh the good ones. Which is sad because it looks like there was real potential here with the decent graphics, too bad the overall experience left me feeling a bit drab.

Even though the action does get a little repetitive, DK King of Swing is a worthy play if you're looking for something a little different.

The platform action is very good and engrossing. The location of save checkpoints is problematic at times, and the race levels are frustrating and can block progress for some players even on the easy level.

Being able to change characters in real-time is old news; having an important reason to do so – that's something you don't see every day.

A few annoying control issues do indeed hurt the flow of the game, and also puts a damper on your desire to keep playing.

The humor and characters are appealing, and the gameplay, while not too easy, isn't so hard that the kids can't play.

The lack of direction is what really kills the game, though. With the generous health points, numerous save spots and easy to defeat enemies, this would seem like a game targeted toward kids, but the lack of more detailed information on the gameplay isn't kid-friendly.

A little bit of "Final Fight" and "Devil May Cry," and an even littler bit of "Prince of Persia," Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is a must-have for MK fans. It's repetitive – what did you expect? You fight the same enemies repeatedly.

A very good game overall. It could have used more interesting mini-games for replayability, and also more educational trivia, but the game itself is a hoot to play and will involve the whole family in the mystery. Much better than the last game, "The Secret of the Old Clock."

The game has charm. The look and sound are nicely done, but the game is just too short and does not present any major or innovative challenges.

I didn't expect a remake, but these are some bad-looking games. I mean it – compare 'em to the games of their era and you'll discover that graphic quality has been an issue from the beginning.

Terrific graphical elements play against gameplay that is simple to jump into and get to the business of battle. This game is entertaining and challenging.

Really easy to pick up and play. The controls are very easy and responsive. The mini puzzles that are presented to the gamers are easy enough to understand yet still provide a nice challenge.

An adrenaline rush so pure you’ll swear the race is real.

Yet another game to add to the list of brawlers we will inevitably forget.

Not only does it look amazing but it plays just as fluidly and as gorgeously as the big boys do so do yourself a favor and pick this one up right away.

Although not a completely revolutionized title, Burnout Revenge adds so much in terms of game mechanics, it has quickly become my favorite racing game of all time.

Ash is a great character and this is one of the better $19.99 games out there but without Bruce being on board the way he needs to be, the game is sorely lacking that special something.

The thing that is wrong with this game is that it is getting caught up in the technological limitations of the system.

Scooby-Doo Unmasked doesn’t re-invent the 3D platform-gaming genre but is a fun-filled, if not short, game that will make please fans of the cartoon.

You may have to work to unlock the bonus games and more difficult tracks, but there is something about this game that will compel you to do so, playing some of the levels over and over until you accomplish the deed to advance.

Still a bit of rather tasty eye candy, Desert of Flames takes the game further down that amazing graphical path it was already on. The combat changes are major and a bit of a risk, but they do make the game a bit more challenging and require more thought than merely running into combat and swinging a weapon or casting a spell.

Depths of Darkhollow adds a lot of new content to explore. Its also built on the long-lasting EverQuest interface. It handles well, but like any game there is a learning curve for new players.

It's easy enough to learn the moves, and the tutorials at the beginning are fantastic.

The awful camera and lack of diversity within each level is where the game really falls flat here. It's so bad that it gets in the way of the action and thus ruins the best platform bits in the game.

While the mystery aspect is pretty cool, the platforming is mundane. As this is the bulk of the game, it defines the game.

The game-play isn't any fun, mostly because of having to play the same area again and again, because Danny can't jump. He dies and the level has to be re-played. Not fun. Also, the levels have a sameness about them.

Power Ranger games for the GBA have been a lackluster bunch, but this game is better in terms of design, which makes it a bit more fun than its predecessors.

The online interface is a little cumbersome, and the game does have some load times. Get past that and you will be treated to a wonderful hockey experience that sparkles with smart AI, terrific control schemes and great action.

It feels pretty clunky for a fighting game, and only those die-hard One Piece fans will claw their way through this title.

NHL 06 has a lot going for it, but before the developers could design a multitude of great features, they first had to design a multitude of great control and gameplay mechanics. They had that covered, added the appropriate tweaks, and have taken the game to glory.

The game moves at a slower pace, with a lot of cutscenes and dialogue advanced to get players through to the action. The game does have charm though, and the battle is handled very well indeed.

Where Rebelstar Tactical Command really shines is in the wonderful way it supplies gamers with information in a lucid, logical and thought-provoking combat system.

Kids will tire quickly of this game, as there just isn't much to do except wander around from ledge to ledge, turning statues into people.

While we wish the graphics, enemy AI and sniper bits were better, the online multiplayer is great and there are some great missions later on in the game.

There is no denying EA when it comes to slick presentation, fluid gameplay, and topnotch animations, but its breakneck pace, and broken goalies will definitely take away some of its charm.

This is the most addictive and realistic hockey game this year. Sorry EA, but this one is clearly the winner this year.

This may not capture the fancy of hard-core gamers who like to battle mobs in real time, but relaxing into the pacing of the game provides a lightly entertaining experience.

I wasn’t expecting a revolution from a poker game, but it would’ve been nice to have at least one unique and/or standout feature outside of the create-a-player mode.

If you’re a die-hard adventure game nut then you can add an additional point to the score just because it’s an adventure game. For the rest of you out there just remember that sometimes being good enough isn’t that good.

Tactical combat in World War II with a realistic flair is Squad Assault: the Second Wave’s claim to fame.

ach game has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and both are fundamentally different, meaning that 2D-fighting fans should find something they love in either title.

While World Series of Poker offers some solid AI and nice multiplayer support, it ultimately can't play with the big dogs.

A game like this is meant to be shared. The best thing about Nightmare Troubadour is that, whether your friends are into it or not, there's a long list of battles that are waiting to be conquered. Or waiting to conquer you.

No NASCAR fan should go another day without experiencing Total Team Control's addictive magic. It's the ultimate simulation racer.

It looks a little stretched, but it was either that or a smaller picture with black bars. No question, I'll take the stretched version.

Not really changed since Moto GP but refreshing with radically different courses, the game is down to earth but loads of fun to play.

NASCAR 06: Total Team Control isn't able to surpass the overall greatness of last year's game but with all the new additions this is one is downright enjoyable and a step in the right direction for the series.

This is a good collection, but it's old. Not in the good, classical meaning of the word. Old as-in, repeat. It's been done before, and done well. There is no reason to have this unless you never touched the original Namco Museum.

Complements "DDR" in the same way that strawberry jam complements peanut butter and bread. Peanut butter is fine by itself. Mix it with some homemade jam and you may never eat one without the other again.

In spurts Dynasty Warriors Advance is a decent time-killer. I enjoy the game for five minutes here and there, 30 at most. It is not enjoyable to play if I force myself to stick around for any time period longer than that.

A truly well-crafted game that exemplifies what the term "family game" really means, a game that most ages can play and enjoy together. Kudos to Namco.

Sure we would like to see a different approach to the game's story mode but what's here is not only better but still way too much fun.

This game will get boring quickly because there is no depth.

Aside from the poor controls and the limited choices in racetracks, gamers will quickly get tired of the game's repetitiveness and lack of an interesting story.

187 Ride or Die leaves no aftertaste. Six months from now you won't be craving another bite.

With very little to laugh at in terms of good jokes and repetitive missions, gamers might want to skip this one altogether.

The camera can be a little obstinate at times, but the game is very easy to pick up and learn to play. The developers made certain that the joy of this title is in playing the game, not mired in trying to learn how to play it.

I find it very funny that the name of this game is entitled Beat Down, because this is exactly what the game is, it is a beat down to even attempt to play this game. Needless to say avoid this game like the plague.

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.

Pac ‘n Roll isn’t a flawless game by any means, but it does in fact offer a very unique and refreshing twist to one of the most beloved franchises in the industry’s history.

Much of what was decent about the flawed original isn't intact in a sequel that's not so gosh darn fun or funny.

Pure chaos at it's finest. The non-linear structure of the missions ensures that you can tear around the city all you want without having to settle down and take a mission, and the cool new moves at your disposal are a lot of fun to perform.

It's sparse moments of truly enjoyable fisticuffs just come too late in a game that tries too hard to be cool.

You will find yourself just goofing off in this game for a long time, collecting comic books, destroying various different properties, and doing a lot of other things because it is just fun to be a mean green wreaking machine.

I will defend this title to anyone who doesn't see it for its complete originality, creative gameplay and darn cute puppies. This is the game that will sell another million Nintendo DSs.

I will defend this title to anyone who doesn't see it for its complete originality, creative gameplay and darn cute puppies. This is the game that will sell another million Nintendo DSs.

I will defend this title to anyone who doesn't see it for its complete originality, creative gameplay and darn cute puppies. This is the game that will sell another million Nintendo DSs.

The number of options available in the game is incredible. The gameplay just works and will keep you going for hours upon hours.

The A.I. is better than average and will get tougher when you start getting to some of the hot games. A good selection of menus and helpful suggestions. The game teaches you as much as you are willing to learn.

The gameplay is well-designed and executed, and the multiplayer modes and mini-games increase the replayability. A great game for any family's library.

A good game for kids, and one which offers some good replayability, with the Trial mode of unlocked games.

This is yet another game tied to a popular kids show, and unfortunately it belongs to the vast majority of so-so products based on a famous license. Pass this one by.