Now with the loss of those overachieving looks and through the passage of time, no amount of bonus missions or unlockables can make up for the lack of engaging gameplay.

The complex inventory and quick enemies might have you screaming, but most of the time it’s in a good way.

I had a hard time pulling myself away from the RoC mode, even though my instincts were telling me I was tired of playing it. It has that kind of affect on you, even though it's only a slightly above average race engine.

What was once a somewhat promising game, has easily become one of the worst of the year...Right up there with "Rise of the Robots" and "Shaq Fu." Stay away.

A great, easy to pick up action game that will feature numerous hours of play online.

With AI that is light years ahead of EA Sports, a simulation experience that's second to none, and a fun - if somewhat fickle - online experience with Xbox, the serious hockey gamer should only look at one title this year.

Challenging and sometimes overwhelming.

While a great collectible, the Sonic Mega Collection is still full of games that most of us fans still probably own in one form or another and it is also a bit too similar to "Sonic Jam."

I was fairly impressed by Faceoff’s presentation, player models, and intuitive controls. However the weak animations and sub par franchise mode in the game keep Faceoff from achieving greatness.

Quirky, frightening, addicting.

Ratchet and Clank might have some of the most impressive environments yet in a game of this type.

If you're looking for solid, addictive gameplay, lots of customizing, good graphics and interesting audio, this underdog might surprise you.

Terrible gameplay, terrible animation, terrible AI, the addition of new modes that actually detract from the original, revamped controls that manage to both suck and blow at the same time – if given a choice between playing the GBA version again or eating the cartridge, plastic and all, I’d be firing up my microwave and looking for a plate.

With great gameplay, varied missions and solid controls, Defender is another Midway classic tuned for a new generation of gamers.

The greatest next-generation wrestling game on the market and completely makes up for the control issues that THQ foisted upon us last year in "Just Bring It."

I don’t think they're ready to make a playoffs run… this year.

Puts the word sequel to shame. Rockstar Games has really taken the time to put together a game that not only fits in perfectly in the GTA universe, but ups the ante for itself and others as well.

Shenmue II's story is really what makes the game so enjoyable, and the plot is about as epic as they come...It has a few annoying flaws, but overall, it's my pick as the best Xbox adventure game of the year.

Lack of online play, so-so visuals, and familiar gameplay doesn’t really bode well in the end.

Recaptures what made gaming so magical when we were younger, simple gameplay combined with very addictive game concepts.

It could be the best 50 (game only), 90 (game + 1 gun), or even 120 (game + 2 guns) dollars well spent, depending on your appetite.

Even if you aren't interested in the online portion, Activision and Neversoft have still nailed down another extremely solid sequel to the Tony Hawk franchise.

If you enjoy the first few levels and the repetitiveness of the gameplay and the jokes keep you laughing, you might enjoy the whole thing.

"Polished" is the best way to describe THPS4 for the Xbox. The visuals, the sounds, the gameplay, the interface, everything is about as good as it is going to get in this generation...I really feel the series has plateaued.

Go ahead and pick your favorite system and help yourself to another dose of the best skating game franchise on the planet.

With great gameplay, varied missions and solid controls, Defender is another Midway classic tuned for a new generation of gamers.

A mind-bendingly tough game that you simply cannot put down.

All of that may appeal to very young kids of roughly the same age as Barney's fans, but playing the game is another matter. Any child old enough to hold a controller has outgrown the concepts here.