Sidetracked is a hard sell due to it just being so weird. Strange gameplay styles and psychedelia combine to make a game that is at once compelling and borderline offensive in its ways.

For me, it doesn’t get much better than this. Sure, it is a port, but a damn good one that will keep me busy for quite some time.

For the casual gamer, you may want to steer clear of this as the learning curve is nearly as frustrating as golfing in real life.

Between the plotting, level design, and gameplay, Tomb Raider: Legend does an admirable job of rescuing the franchise. Crystal Dynamics have torn down the franchise, consulted with the creator, and rebuilt it from the ground up as something significantly different…Something great.

For the casual gamer, you may want to steer clear of this as the learning curve is nearly as frustrating as golfing in real life.

If you only have the Xbox 360 as your console, MLB 2K6 does play a fairly solid game of baseball, provided you have all your sliders in place. But for me, the best baseball game again this year is still 989's "MLB 06: The Show."

I just hope both companies come up with something big when making the transition to next-gen, as this genre needs a shot in the arm…but please no performance enhancing substances.

It’s too pretentious too ignore, too unforgiving to be intuitive, and too flawed to be truly realistic.

Probably the clearest way I can describe this game is by saying that I had a really tough time finding the motivation to play through it even though its core story is incredibly short (there are sub-missions and stuff, and the multiplayer, but the single player main story is only about 5 hours).

I just hope both companies come up with something big when making the transition to next-gen, as this genre needs a shot in the arm…but please no performance enhancing substances.

Given the title's wide appeal, featuring numerous characters and scenarios close to the hearts of many, and given how it ties this to simple yet addictive gameplay backed by mostly solid game design, there's no denying Kingdom Hearts II satisfies in a way few games can.

The weak song choice and length of the songs kill the game for casual fans or those trying to find out what it’s all about.

It's far from the best or most innovative action RPG, but as PSP owners seeking their action RPG fix don't have a lot to choose from, it’s certainly better than nothing.

Rumble Roses XX is not a terrible game, or as some may think, video game porn. Beneath the surface there is a pretty good fighting game hiding underneath.

And despite how nifty the enhanced Empire mode may sound, the emphasis on the same old gameplay renders it a bonus for those that have enjoyed past titles and a non-factor for everyone else.

The lack of control and visibility, the lack of responsiveness of player controlled characters and silly artificial intelligence made it impossible to even stomach the game long enough to get past the same level that was included in the demo.

It also receives high marks for the sheer amount of games made available--20 in all--at a suggested MSRP of $30 makes this game worthy of attention to the casual PSP gamer, and a must-have for any classic/retro gamer looking for a game that will get a lot of playtime on their PSP.

A perfect fit for the PSP. It’s puzzle based so you don’t have to worry about control issues. The screen is super wide so you can see more of the map than normal and the game has no real continuity involved so you can pick it up and play a game without having to remember where you were at.

The depth of The Godfather while you rise through the ranks is incredible...What EA did well is incorporating the Godfather story line along with yours, versus having you control one of the main characters. This opens up the gameplay immensely and allows you to unfold the Godfather story at your own pace.

Overall the game is very good, the story is intriguing with enough twists and political intrigue to keep most anyone glued to their TV while playing this game.

Unless you’re performing some mad experiment to actually bore someone to death, I’d definitely stay away from this one.

In the end, if you love to sing, if you love country music, and there is a tear in your beer, then by all means, mosey on down to your local gaming shop and pick up your copy of Karaoke Country. It is the best thing to happen to country music since Hee-Haw!

Metal Gear Acid 2 is over the top, with its visuals and substance. Fans of the original will like the new additions and expansiveness over the first, but there isn’t enough here to draw haters of the first game to try it.

If you don’t mind the style and feel of RPGs of days gone by, but with a unique twist thanks to the touch screen options, then Tao’s Adventure will happily fill the empty void in your DS library when it comes to genre.

The depth of The Godfather while you rise through the ranks is incredible...What EA did well is incorporating the Godfather story line along with yours, versus having you control one of the main characters. This opens up the gameplay immensely and allows you to unfold the Godfather story at your own pace.

The game will provide you with more content than you can possibly handle, and is one of the few games on the market today that’s actually worth the full $60 price tag.

With six different modes of play and plenty of multiplayer options the replay value of Tetris DS is through the roof.

It provides an adult style of gameplay with but set in a non-adult world that most parents could find little to complain about. However, for the older gamers out there, Neopets won’t serve as more than a passing distraction at best.

While complicated at first, the completely customizable schemes work extremely well. Nearly every control parameter can be adjusted and tweaked, and it would be difficult to not find a method that works.

I get the impression that far too much effort was put into locking up a great soundtrack.

If I had to hold one thing against Daxter (and Ready at Dawn) it’s that they raised the bar so high that it’s probably going to be a while before there is another PSP title that reaches this level of quality.

But it's also rather short, and with only the license setting it apart from every other generic platformer on the market, there's no reason to buy when a simple rental will suffice.

But it's also rather short, and with only the license setting it apart from every other generic platformer on the market, there's no reason to buy when a simple rental will suffice.

I get the impression that far too much effort was put into locking up a great soundtrack.

But it's also rather short, and with only the license setting it apart from every other generic platformer on the market, there's no reason to buy when a simple rental will suffice.

But it's also rather short, and with only the license setting it apart from every other generic platformer on the market, there's no reason to buy when a simple rental will suffice.

Even those seasoned RTS gamers may think twice about this game based purely on its awful driving implementation.

The game feels rushed. In spite of its obvious issues and glitches, GRAW is still a fantastic game. The presentation is incredibly realistic, dramatic and intense. The gameplay feels natural and smooth and the controls are very intuitive.

The battle system is entertaining, and the emphasis on the Judgment Ring ensures that things never get too monotonous. But despite being filled with loads of quirky characters and scenarios, the overall plot doesn't come together like one would hope, and the frustrations of a high encounter rate and unclear design don’t help to rectify the situation.

The career mode is pretty frustrating, which is unfortunate because it's the main draw of a college game for me. The whole interface is too damn confusing, and there's not a word about it in the printed manual.

The fast paced and varied gameplay, intense soundtrack and attractive visuals should satisfy those looking for a something new and a bit different on their PSP.

The animations are excellent, smooth and great to look at. Combined with a combat system that's just as smooth, Dawn of Dreams is nicely polished fun.

The game is fast, crazy, gorgeous, and with the new modes for online play, a ton of time can be eaten up online and offline as well.

The redeeming fact is that the game is always there to be had at a moment's notice while on the go. There's so much content that there's always some new officer to unlock or new ability to acquire even if the basic gameplay remains the same throughout.

There's something intrinsically tiring about having to help SpongeBob set his alarm and turn in his homework, and the platforming and puzzle solving required to fulfill these objectives isn't that noteworthy or exciting itself. With both tedious missions and tedious gameplay, it's a rather boring game.

The only complaint that anyone could have about the game is that sometimes the battles can get so amazingly big that it is very easy to lose track of what one is doing.

While BLACK doesn’t add to the genre in terms of innovation, it is an experience that will suck you in and won’t let go until you’ve finished the game.

If you're not hung up on PvP and crafting, and prefer to engage in quests over exploration, there's a good chance this game will definitely appeal to you.

As a game, 24 The Game is absolutely horrible, an unfinished, barely playable, multigenre wreck. But judged as a lost season of 24, the game fares notably better. In this sense, 24 The Game is simultaneously one of the best and worst licensed titles to hit in some time.

The button mashing is so boring, the dialogue so conspicuously profane and inane and the presentation so blocky and dull that the only motivating factor in playing is the promise of unlocking the original Final Fight.

This is a no brainer for gamers over 25 who remember a better time, as well as the others who may not get what us geezers have been talking about all this time when we say, "Back in my day, my RPG titles were full of substance with wonderful hand drawn art."

Like a cowboy at a punk concert, it’s awkward and really doesn’t belong.

The game of baseball is represented perfectly in MLB 06: The Show, and not only is this a candidate for best baseball game of the year, but possibly best sports game as well.

The game of baseball is represented perfectly in MLB 06: The Show, and not only is this a candidate for best baseball game of the year, but possibly best sports game as well.

While BLACK doesn't add to the genre in terms of innovation, it is an experience that will suck you in and won't let go until you've finished the game.

Like a cowboy at a punk concert, it's awkward and really doesn't belong.

For the younger girls out there that are used to playing trash games like Care Bears, Barbie, or the countless movie knock-off games, this game will be a Godsend.

The PSP version seems more forgiving than the PS2 version when it comes to collisions with other drivers.

One of the best jRPGs out now. It breaks every rule, goes back to the roots of the genre, and incorporates battle and customization systems that far exceed anything else the genre’s thrown to gamers so far.

Sure, it is not perfect, takes a step back on the career mode, but does provide many satisfying hours of boxing action.

Full Auto isn't quite the Xbox 360 showpiece as expected originally, but it has a certain addictive quality to it that sets it apart from your typical arcade racing game.

The story isn't all that noteworthy, especially given the amount of cinematics the player is forced to sit through, but it gets the job done. And sure, the battle system is fun, but as the game develops, it grows more annoying, frustrating, and tedious, requiring a fair amount of dedication and patience to work through.

The clumsy combat engine and the somewhat frustrating platforming elements keep Getting Up from being nothing more than an average video game.

Even though The Rub Rabbits is leaps and bounds over its predecessor, and weaves a unique tale with amazing style and grace...playing the game will give any Feel the Magic vet a fit of deja vu.

Tales of Legendia is a pretty disappointing addition to a series of RPG’s that has managed to grow stale in the past few years.

The passing game is tremendously fun, and that's where the bulk of the action happens. The job of video game QB becomes a lot easier when you don't have to worry about complex coverages in the secondary.

This is the best version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 made. The control of the PSP however, hinders the title's gameplay and as such makes the game a must-buy only for those hardcore fighting game fans who must have every game available, or for those desperate for a fighting game fix on the PSP platform.

But the multiplayer modes suffer from severely limited interaction and only three maps for play. The most promising new feature becomes routine very quickly, so before you know it the latest experiment in Raccoon city is over.

There is no comparison; World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 is the best soccer game to date.

If you're itching for and old school game with some new play mechanics, I highly suggest giving Drill Dozer a spin.

Really the only nagging problems with the game are the simplistic graphics and the camera, which sometimes refuses to go where you want it. If you're looking for something different from the norm, I highly suggest giving Chibi-Robo a try.

Capcom goes above and beyond with the new Vile mode, an additional difficulty level, remixed music, a thirty minute animation, and the Mega Man Powered Up demo. Even better, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X carries an MSRP of $29.99, $10 less than most new PSP games.

An excellent game is now cheaper and better than it was when first released.

Even if you don’t know who these players are, don’t follow college sports, but you do want a great baseball experience, MVP 06 NCAA Baseball fills the void, at least until the big boys start the new season. At only 30 bucks, you would be a fool to pass this up.

A tutorial or "How to Play" movie would've gone a long way here. Instead newcomers are left fumbling in the dark, which tends to be more frustrating than fun.

Even if you don't know who these players are, don't follow college sports, but you do want a great baseball experience, MVP 06 NCAA Baseball fills the void, at least until the big boys start the new season. At only 30 bucks, you would be a fool to pass this up.

With only a small fraction of its forty-something mini-games playable to begin with, the higher difficulties and random game selection make the game a chore to play. Even if a player were to solely focus on the good or decent games, they would still be bored after thirty minutes.

With its charming sense of humor and great gameplay, Ape Escape 3 is probably the best Ape Escape yet. It is short though, easily beaten in the span of a rental.

Wild ARMs 4 seems to be the complete opposite of the standard RPG, as it's the gameplay, not the story, which kept me playing.

Enjoyment of the X Collection will hinge on whether you enjoyed these games in the first place, because there isn't much content to be found aside from art galleries. But fans of the series and those who like the sort of action Mega Man provides will be very happy.

An average game with some inventive ideas.

Enjoyment of the X Collection will hinge on whether you enjoyed these games in the first place, because there isn't much content to be found aside from art galleries. But fans of the series and those who like the sort of action Mega Man provides will be very happy.

I’m all for original games that tap the creative juices of its players. I even like music games. Unfortunately, Electroplankton serves up 30 minutes of decent fun, but then the party’s over. There simply isn’t enough to do, not enough options to explore, and the experience is cut short way too fast.

The end result is a Dead or Alive game that's arguably deeper, dizzyingly beautiful and a blast to play online when the damn thing isn't just locking up.

The gameplay and modes are identical to the PS2 version in every way I can think to evaluate them. The minigames are completely worthless, but they don’t really get in the way of the actual game so I’m going to pretend like they don’t exist and treat the game as if it was an exact PS2 port.

Seven Sorrows succeeded in bringing back the nostalgia of the arcade franchise, but the game just feels all too familiar for a present day purchase.

This should be an easy one for the PSP owner on your Christmas list. These games are classics and are now yours to behold and enjoy on the go.

Armed with the updated translation, and new abilities that we did not get in the original release, Final Fantasy IV is definitely a classic RPG worth picking up and playing through again or for the first time.

Seven Sorrows succeeded in bringing back the nostalgia of the arcade franchise, but the game just feels all too familiar for a present day purchase.

Animal Crossing: Wild World doesn’t do anything extraordinary, but it’s highly addicting nonetheless.

If AgeTec could have at least hidden or reduced the load times for battles, the game could have received a higher score.

Even with the Crash Mode being a let down, Burnout Legends is easily one of the best racers on the Nintendo DS. The fact that Criterion has put all the little nuances of the Burnout series in one little DS cart is amazing.

With a few technical issues aside, if you are a fan of Battlefield 2, you will still want to grab this expansion; if only for the new weapons, vehicles, and stuff to do.

The gameplay is solid enough, the audio is fantastic, and the visuals occasionally show off a bit of the next gen, but anyone even remotely interested in the movie needs to give the game a rental at the very least.

Despite a cast of over 30 characters, the part where each character uses the exact same moveset means things get tedious rather quickly.

The problem is that the 2D beat'em up parts and the clever touch-based puzzle parts are two separate beasts that just don't mesh well together.

While not really bringing anything too revolutionary to the table, the Ridge Racer 6 package is very close to being flawless.

While not as polished or well designed as we all hoped, Perfect Dark Zero is still worth a play-through, if only for the cool weapons and the enjoyable online battles.