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.