It doesn't advance the stealth genre in too many areas other than the aforementioned headset idea, but what's assembled here is such a strong core of atmosphere, gameplay, and overall tension that the game as a whole doesn't suffer as much for its linearity as it probably should.

It's a mix of Battlebots and Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, with guns. The only thing dragging it down is the monotony in the later levels where the fighting starts to feel a bit old and the personality starts to wear off.

X-2 comes off as a flashy expansion pack, and not the full fledged sequel promised. The mission-based approach will work for some, but to me, it comes off as a cheap excuse to skimp out on a proper narrative.

But if you're the type that will get a kick out of watching the fighters launch from the tubes on the titular ship (and those launches look a lot like they did on the TV show), and you long to put those one-eyed robots in their place, this game will entertain you enough to feed your nostalgic cravings even if none of the characters or even the robots look all that familiar.

A stand-out platformer that succeeds in its variety and fun. A few sub-par missions detract from its main platform aspects, but the tight gameplay and high-strung Ninja mascot slices a welcome niche in the platform genre.

The mission variety and complexity, with multi-tiered goals and mixtures of dog fighting, bombing and strafing, make Secret Weapons Over Normandy a long-lived, rewarding experience.

The mission variety and complexity, with multi-tiered goals and mixtures of dog fighting, bombing and strafing, make Secret Weapons Over Normandy a long-lived, rewarding experience.

There are definitely some hurdles you'll have to get over to enjoy this game, but there is certainly fun to be had. For me it was the strategic, puzzle-like single player mode, but for others it may be the ability to alter decks and play against online opponents.

Although this game may not be a hall-of-famer, it would easily win in a one-on-one grudge match against “99 bottles of beer on the wall.”

Fun, addictive and rewarding and it shouldn't have it's rich history held against it. It ranks right up there with any shooting game on Xbox Live.

The A.I., yet again, is guaranteed to cause a few controllers to be flung. While taking part in a group race or any kind, the CPU racers are entirely too dumb. They are wholly dedicated to driving their line no matter what it takes, and will take out a whole pack of racers due to some stupid decisions.

Kudos to Microsoft for trying something new, but if you are to continue this franchise next year, trying focusing on beating out the competition in options and just plain fun.

It's a mix of Battlebots and Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, with guns. The only thing dragging it down is the monotony in the later levels where the fighting starts to feel a bit old and the personality starts to wear off.

There are definitely some hurdles you'll have to get over to enjoy this game, but there is certainly fun to be had. For me it was the strategic, puzzle-like single player mode, but for others it may be the ability to alter decks and play against online opponents.

The only real disappointment I can point out is that it’s obvious that Microsoft chose to focus on online this year, more so than features.

I, like many others, get tired of the same old weapons and the same old shooting sequences with the only delta being changing environments.

The mission variety and complexity, with multi-tiered goals and mixtures of dog fighting, bombing and strafing, make Secret Weapons Over Normandy a long-lived, rewarding experience.

It's a mix of Battlebots and Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, with guns. The only thing dragging it down is the monotony in the later levels where the fighting starts to feel a bit old and the personality starts to wear off.

Unless you're just dying to play something other than "SOCOM II" online with your PS2 you won't be missing much if you pass up Fire Warrior, even if you're a Warhammer diehard.

Fire Warrior also breaks the cardinal rule of licensed games: There's hardly any feel for Warhammer. The personality of the universe doesn’t make its way into the game very often.

Nintendo has implemented new play mechanics, added fantastic new character-specific weapons, and thrown in some amazing new tracks to make Mario Kart: Double Dash!! the best multiplayer experience currently available on the GameCube.

The best basketball game on the market today. The depth of the Legacy mode will keep you busy for months, and it provides the gameplay to match.

If it only comes off the shelf once in a while, or for small children, it's a much better deal than other party games out there going for $50.

The best basketball game on the market today. The depth of the Legacy mode will keep you busy for months, and it provides the gameplay to match.

The co-op online component is really the big selling point. That's not to say that the there isn't a compelling, if not addictive, single-play mode included.

If you have played the series before, prepared to be under whelmed as no real new tactics or specials have been added this year.

Despite the flagging pace towards the end, the presentation, engine and gameplay in Going Commando is tight as a drum, and Insomniac should be congratulated on a damn good game.

From the opening tip, literally, Final Four looks like a second-rate basketball game. No matter where you play, whether it's Comcast Center (home of the Terps) or the Carrier Dome (Syracuse), the opening intro looks like it's staged in a high school gymnasium.