This game is appropriate for young animal lovers ages 8-11, and while it is educational, it makes up for that by also being fun. There are a few annoyances, but overall it is a good value.

While the game features some new innovation that we’ll be seeing in upcoming games you do have to wonder about the value the game brings as the single player side of the game is a bit on the short side and the multiplayer is a bit on the generic side.

A solid first-person shooter that tries out a few new ideas and offers a compelling single-player story. But now that the shock and amazement of finally getting to play it has warn off we're left with a game that is a lot of fun ... but probably not worth the decade-long wait.

Not great, but okay. There's nothing really new or exciting in this game, unless you want a gift for your major-history-buff dad. Other than that, this is probably a title best left to all the hard-core strategy gamers out there.

Street Fighter Alpha Anthology isn’t going to make a believer out of you if you already hate the series, but it is a welcome addition to the library of any fighting game fan.

Liberty City Stories is a great PSP game that didn't need to be ported to the PlayStation 2. If you're in the market for a Grand Theft Auto game on Sony's current generation console it's better you stick with Vice City or San Andreas.

City Life adds a new social element to the traditional sim game. It takes some clever planning to keep your city’s populace from destroying each other, but the implementation feels just a bit heavy-handed. The rest of the package is high caliber, except for some questionable taste in music.

The HDR lighting really shines here and offers an impressive recreation of realistic lighting.

Beginners and intermediate Texas Hold ‘Em players will love the custom avatars, multiple unique AI, and the chance to play against digital renditions of poker superstars. Experienced players will want to skip Stacked with Daniel Negreanu and head over to their favorite online poker site.

Rockstar Games Presents Tabel Tennis may seem like an unlikely sports game, but it ends up being one of the best playing games of the year.

The gameplay is definitely not worth the $59.99 price tag of a next generation title.

X-Men: the Official Game for DS is the same licensing travesty we’ve seen so many times before.

Sadly, the lack of a discernable plot, limited character selection, some bugs(enemies walking through barriers, jumping off the screen only to appear on the other side), and boring basic level play lead this game down a bad road.

Z-Axis tries to capture the intense, ethically-charged feel of the X-Men films, but ends up with an average brawler and little replay value.

Garfield and his Nine Lives offers a simple and entertaining platforming experience that is sure to make the kids happy. There are a couple combat quirks and the graphics have a few hitches, but it doesn't spoil the product. Game Factory has done its job and fashioned a fun little game, no more, no less.

An original, attractive world full of interesting beings to kill. Just oozes interesting ideas we’ll see more of in the future. Path-finding and networking bugs add a fly to the ointment.

A good first step into the world of episodic content, the game is not perfect but Emergence is a decent way to re-start this franchise and kick off this new type of gameplay.

Bottom line: Over the Hedge was fun for tweens, but better for the bottom end of the ESRB rating.

While it lacks the portable entertainment value of the GBA version, so does it also lack the tears of frustration that can result with kids who don't deal well with unresponsive controls.

A great improvement over the intriguing (but flawed) original. Spellforce 2 does achieve a good blend of RTS and RPG gameplay, and has gone far toward finding that perfect balance.

The concepts behind the gameplay aren't exactly original, but their use and execution makes up for any stolen ideas. What the developers have done is unexpected: they've taken an excuse to make a truly forgettable game, and instead produced a quality product that keeps the player playing, and occasionally makes them laugh as well.

All in all I hesitate to recommend this game, even for kids.

Overall the game is an enjoyable experience, and while the ending left me wanting for the next game in the series to see how things wind up for Zoe, April and 'The Prophet' (the 3rd playable character who begins to undergo a life altering change in beliefs right as the game ends), I just don't know if I'm willing to spend another 20 hours playing a game that I might feel angry about when I finished.

This vehicular action/MMO hybrid may be a tad ahead of its time. Grind-core audiences have too many combat variables; pulp action audiences have too many RPG-growth elements.

This stand-alone expansion delivers extended gameplay and adds nuclear strategies to one of the most detailed WWII games on the market. Great for fans of the series who wanted just a few more years to complete their world conquests.

A disappointing PSP game that is hurt by poor controls, a lazy camera, and some strange editing decisions!

Eets is exactly the type of game I wish the major video game companies would work on. It features a simple concept that is both fun and addictive, plus offers a large community creating new puzzles for you to solve as I write this.

It's nothing that screams next gen and the game can be rather easy in spots and frustrating at others. Blazing Angels Squadrons of World War II is impressive looking on the Xbox but not on the Xbox 360.

Capcom Classic Collection Remix features some of Capcom's greatest games (Strider), some of their worst (Avengers), some that have been completely forgotten (Street Fighter), and one that makes absolutely no sense what so ever (Quiz & Dragons).

Thankfully Electronic Arts has managed to do the impossible and make a fun game out of one of the best movies of all time.

Oblivion has the audio to match the graphics. Outside of the orchestral score Bethesda Softworks went all out with the voice over talent bringing Patrick Stewart, Sean Bean, and Terrance Stamp to give voices to their characters.

The sheer number of things to do and modes to play is epic, an honor previously reserved only for top-tier console titles and never even considered on a handheld.

Neopets tries to be the cute alternative to your basic dungeon hack, but thanks to some questionable development choices, a sluggish combat system and some truly boring level designs, it's a hard game to recommend to anybody.

Daxter isn't just a great platformer with amazing graphics and sound, it's one of the best playing games you can get on the PSP. You can look around all you want, but there's no reason to; Daxter is the new king of 3D portable platforming games.

Although it might look like your standard racing game, Pursuit Force is unlike any other game on the market. Its speed and energy is unparalleled on the PSP, making this one of the most exciting games you ever will play.

With so man other quality DS puzzle games out, only the Pokemon faithful should pick this one up.

Black starts out as one of the most promising and fun games of recent memory, only to let us down with a thin story line and so-so game play.

24: The Game manages to duplicate the shows frantic pace and distinct look while providing an interesting story fans will want to experience. Unfortunately it also features some bad control and terrible driving missions. But who said Jack's day was going to be perfect?

Black is hurt by its simple game play, short story and crummy ending, but that doesn't mean it's not worth experiencing at least once.

An incredible 4X space-based strategy title, sure to cause sleepless nights and groggy mornings. For those with “one-more-turn syndrome”, this one will consume your world.

I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with this game. One the one hand, the people playing RFO are awesome. On the other, the game itself is not so great. It lags, there are bugs, and its definitely not a game you can just pick up and play. I, however, am addicted.

State of Emergency is messier than the day after a riot. New gamers will be turned off by the trial and error game play while fans of the original won't recognize this mission-based sequel. Either way, just avoid this completely average PlayStation 2 game!

The Feel the Magic series needs to be a little less shallow before I’ll consider a third date, but I wouldn’t turn it down completely.

Forget Darkstalkers, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max is the must-own fighting game on the PSP. In many ways this is the best version of the game yet, despite having a few quirks associated with the system's D-pad.

If you've never played any of the games in the series then you may want to try this one out, if not there are plenty of better DS titles out there.

The physics, graphics, and sounds are state-of-the-art, but the always hard to please Dave has a bone to pick.

If you can get over the game's sluggish controls and short story mode you will still be left with a game that is no fun to play. With uninspired mini games that with either bore you or frustrate you, Ape Escape Academy is one school you might not want to apply to.

It looks the same and plays the same, but once you've started chasing down those cute monkeys you won't want to put down the control. Ape Escape 3 gets nearly every element right, it's just not very ambitious in its goals.

The concepts and ideas are great, but the real time portion is in need of some improvements.

It's really a shame that a game like this suffers from the old bad port syndrome of stuttering graphics. The single player experience isn't too bad though but there's nothing here over the PC version that would make it a must buy for the 360.

Easily one of the most cinematic games released on any platform. The graphics and sound grab you from the first mission and carry you through to the end of the game. The only thing that is really holding the game back is the buggy/laggy multiplayer which will hopefully be fixed soon.

Regardless of how it looks or sounds, American Wasteland just feels like a step backwards from previous Tony Hawk games.

It's rare to see a quality console-to-portable translation, but Vicarious Visions pulls it off with flying colors. A fresh new art style, mildly intriguing story, rock-solid classic modes and a stellar multiplayer component launch American Sk8land to superstardom on the DS.

Gun for the Xbox 360 plays well enough, and is a lot of fun, but simply not woth the money. No improvement in graphic quality on the 360 makes the PS2 or Xbox version a better buy.

The game has its fair share of aggravating glitches, but manages to simulate the feel of the show and offer up a substantial crime scene experience at the same time.

Like a great hip hop song, True Crime: New York City retreads a bunch of tried and true tricks to come up with a new concoction that you just can’t help but like.

Aside from some repetition and a few minor technical flaws, Sonic Rush delivers a wholly satisfying old-school experience, kicked into extreme overdrive.

The horrid framerate and numerous bugs make this game like tap dancing in a minefield, but the game itself is deep, with a quality narrative, superb voice acting and rich gameplay.

As with many movie games, Narnia has a large helping of content but a rushed interface. Controls are slow and a bit unresponsive, and the inability to pause during menu management is confusing.

It would have been great to see some of the puzzles fleshed out more and some better fighting mechanics, but the game is what it is.

What would happen if you combined the best aspects of resource management with the personal relationships facet of the ever popular TheSims style of games? Activision has done just that with TheMovies, and as we learned, it’s a winning combination.

Despite a couple minor complaints and a steep learning curve, Fireteam Bravo is easily the best game of its type on the PSP.

Gun is a fun little game of Cowboys and Indians worth checking out if you're a fan of this era, but don't expect more than a few hours of gameplay.

The game is at least a must-rent for all gamers and games with younger children will probably want to add the game to their permanent collection.

A great little galaxy-exploring game, perfect for lunch breaks. It’s fast-paced, random, and quite addictive.

Despite having a strong legacy to build upon, this game somehow manages to somewhat disappoint. In fact, it may be time to let the entire WW II, FPS genre die with dignity.

A run-of-the-mill fighting game that will only appeal to kids that simply can't get enough of the Shrek franchise, and even they will find that Super Slam doesn't offer much by way of long-term playability.

The combination of multiple sensory inputs allows for a very believable environment and is the primary draw of the game.

An incredibly fun and addictive addition to the Civilization franchise. Civilization IV brings back everything that makes this series great, and adds enough innovation to keep things fresh and approachable for both veteran and newcomer.

In a Land Far Far Away is where this title needs to stay. Despite good graphics and decent game play, the latest installment in this inexhaustible franchise leaves much to be desired.

A watered down port of an already weak console fighter clone, Shrek Superslam on the DS offers nothing new and a number of frustrations and disappointments to boot.

Activision has churned out another Shrek licensed title, with all the sophomoric charm of the films but a tired gameplay concept. There's a certain degree of variety, between story and multiplayer modes, but it all comes up short when the player realizes there's nothing here to hold interest.

With a lengthy story, exciting multiplayer modes, and plenty of white-knuckle action, Liberty City Stories offers just about everything you could want from a Grand Theft Auto game.

The more logical subject matter and double the screen room resulted in a solid game, filled with Metroid homage and tight pinball mechanics.

It may not have the productions of "Resident Evil," but Call of Cthulhu is easily one of the scariest video games ever made. It's also a great story full of mystery, intrigue, and a few twists and turns you won't see coming!

As with most expansion packs, Endangered Species breaths fresh life into a title that may have gotten stale on your hard drive. Fans of the original game will enjoy the newly expanded library of animals and objects when updating their zoos.

American Wasteland doesn’t quite live up to the promises made by its creator, something that ultimately ends up hurting this seventh Tony Hawk installment. After all these years of teaching couch potatoes how to skate, the good folks at Neversoft have finally released a game that you might as well skate past.

While a bit on the short side, Stubbs is an example of the innovation we need to see more of in the gaming industry. It's not a perfect game but it is certainly one of the funniest, entertaining games to come out in the last year or two.

While FEAR introduces some spectacular visual improvements, artificial intelligence, and an awesome new melee combat system the game is lacking the varied environments and game plays modes that would put it in the pantheon of great FPS games.

The Star and the Crescent aims to be a detailed simulation of the Arab-Israeli wars down to the individual vehicle level. It succeeds, but at the cost of being so complex very few gamers will want to invest the time to learn it.

A surprising game, not just because it's one of the best games based on a movie, but because it manages to raise the bar on a genre that has been stuck in mud for over a decade.

A game that is a little more fun to play than it sounds simply due to the easy and fun game play. Unfortunately the graphics and story are weak. Also the same easy game play that makes it fun also makes this title quickly find its way to the bottom of your entertainment center drawer.

One of the standout RPG's for the year, if you like Final Fantasy style RPG's you need to own both of these titles.

Probably the best example of an old-school shooter. It does all of the old tricks just right and adds a bit of spice for good measure, but gamers looking for a fresh experience will be left a little cold.

Long on style and short on substance.

Fans of the boardgame, especially those unable to easily find opponents, will have a lot to like here. And while the single-player game lacks the punch of facing off against real people, it does allow players to hone their Diplomacy skills and take their game to the next level.

All in all, Breeders Cup gives a nice introduction to the sport of horse racing, but only those willing to truly dive in and concern themselves with the more complex aspects of the game will be satisfied. Those that just want to climb onto the back of a horse and race will be left wanting more of a challenge.

While it's got some good graphics and some good options, gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.

Ultimate Spider-Man did a lot to improve on its predecessors, but it still isn't as deep as it could've been. The story was good if incredibly brief, and Venom injects some replay value, but it feels like the last pages of this book are mere pencil sketches, much less inked and colored.

The game is simple, fun, and safe for the whole family. It may not be game of the year, but it certainly is worth a look from strategy buffs.

I enjoyed the time I spent with Fable: The Lost Chapters, but when the final credits ran I found myself asking, “Is that it?” The game was just lacking something.

The look and feel of the game is what draws you in but ultimately it is the shallow game play that makes the game a slight chore to play, coupled with the lack of extra content and you have a game that really is over before it feels like it should be over.

With the huge selection of playable Marvel mutants and the horde of extra goodies, X-Men Legends II is another solid and enjoyable action-RPG entry into the comic-book genre.

A second shot of adrenaline that complements the original game, Legends II improves upon all the things that made the first Legends great. Voice work is a tad on the corny side, but the cooperative mode and RPG depth just below the beat-em-up surface make this game a real winner.

Action packed gameplay? Check! Hardcore heavy metal soundtrack? Check! A great online mode that keeps you coming back for more? Check! A seriously steep learning curve? Check!

Follows the plot to the letter and serves up its own unique style of gameplay, but the controls need some polish. Like the console releases it has a short lifespan and little to no replay value afterwards, but it’s still plenty of hectic fun while it lasts.

After a throw-away attempt on the DS, Warthog has constructed a passable platformer with the Animaniacs franchise. You won't find anything fresh or spectacular, but the gameplay is competent and the show has (finally) been recreated with some decent accuracy.

Decent gameplay, a solid dynasty mode, and an improved physics engine more than make up for poor team creation and few major enhancements as NHL 06 goes "five hole" on the competition.