Ultimately, the power-ups and new block groups are the only things that expand TiQal's experience, and they're artificially spaced as unlockables within single-player.

Overall Dark Sector is a good investment if you’re just looking for some good mostly mindless fun.

Overall Dark Sector is a good investment if you’re just looking for some good mostly mindless fun.

Aftermath is better suited to players who are new to the survival-horror series and want better odds of finishing the game with minimizing the feeling of helplessness and dread.

While Viking isn't a total disappointment, the biggest problem here is a matter of the game feeling wholly and entirely unfinished.

While Viking isn't a total disappointment, the biggest problem here is a matter of the game feeling wholly and entirely unfinished.

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is simply a fun game to play.

That said, Condemned 2 is still a heck of an experience that should be played by any who are fans of survival horror type games.

If you’ve picked up any of the previous SingStar games on the PS2, then you’ll know exactly what to expect with this latest release.

Out of Bounds is proof positive that even a simple concept can be turned into an enjoyable game experience for any fans of golf games or even just casual players looking for some fun online play. Tee up.

Vegas 2 is easily the best in the long line of Rainbow Six games, and comes very highly recommended for any first person shooter fan looking for a challenge.

Vegas 2 is easily the best in the long line of Rainbow Six games, and comes very highly recommended for any first person shooter fan looking for a challenge.

All in all, XIII Century: Death or Glory is a must for the real-time strategy enthusiast.

That said, Condemned 2 is still a heck of an experience that should be played by any who are fans of survival horror type games.

If you’ve played this on the PSP, there’s no reason at all to pick it up on the PS2. Even if you haven’t played it before, it’s hard to recommend.

If you've got a few like minded friends to play with you, this is some of the best fun you can have with your Wii yet. Single players will be left scratching their heads wondering what the hubbub is really all about.

Right now, the game feels dated. It still has the formula that made the game popular in the first place, but that formula is just starting to show its wrinkles.

The glitches and poor level design don’t quite ruin a game that should have been so much more than the sum of its parts. Still, there’s some fun to be had here with a weekend rental.

The glitches and poor level design don’t quite ruin a game that should have been so much more than the sum of its parts. Still, there’s some fun to be had here with a weekend rental.

At only twenty dollars, this is likely the greatest gaming value of the year and one of the best PSP games to date.

If you're a fan of the series, more than likely you've already played a version on a home console. Save yourself the money, play that, and purchase a set of DVDs instead. Trust me, it'll last longer.

Even with all its problems, Frontlines is a game that can be still be fun to play if you give it a bit of time.

While the game is a budget title that still doesn’t excuse its myriad flaws and failings.

Big Willy Unleashed is an interesting title to play, but it lacks the longevity of other sandbox titles like it.

Denied Ops suffers from abysmal graphics, awful audio, and incredibly low production values.

Denied Ops suffers from abysmal graphics, awful audio, and incredibly low production values.

Still, there are those that may like the mix of genres and what can be done with the result, and so Black Plague finishes the tale began in Overture, and finishes it well.

Playing Lost Odyssey is like running into an old friend that you haven’t seen in ages. They may be a little more rotund around the edges, a little balder up high, and a little more wrinkled around the eyes, but they still have that spirit and life to them that shows you that the good old days are never that far away.

Conflict: Denied Ops is not a thinking man’s title. It’s a game where you can just play and run and shoot things and grunt.

Sadly, a fun game gets annoying due to omniscient AI and nebulous level design.

Sadly, a fun game gets annoying due to omniscient AI and nebulous level design.

While the overall design and extras are decent, without a consistent feel to its controls, My Horse & Me isn't worth saddling up.

Whether you crave adventure in itself or seek a twist on the genre, The Experiment just about fits the bill.

The game does a pretty good job at being fun, but when it comes to a good tycoon experience, it falls short.

While this game was once top of the line it hasn’t aged well nor has it been given a new coat of paint to make it more visually appealing.

Omega Five is definitely worth a look, one of the best Xbox Live Arcade games released to date.

Simple controls, linear gameplay, a basic (yet confusing storyline) equates to an experience that may please the casual hack and slash gamer.

There’s not too much to the game besides the few modes, and though the character selection screen is certainly filled with choices, it’ll still be quite obvious that you’re playing in the same modes over and over again.

The result is a title that gives a tactical experience leaving a lot to be desired. There are just too many issues to recommend it to people who just want a deep tactical game, even for fans of the genre.

MvA doesn’t do anything wrong per se, it’s just not the game that’s going to bring new fans over to the sport of motocross.

MvA doesn’t do anything wrong per se, it’s just not the game that’s going to bring new fans over to the sport of motocross.

Untamed is a perfect example of a franchise paying heed to a platform almost out of muscle memory more so than anything else.

Untamed isn’t a game worthy of adding to your collection unless you are a die-hard MX or ATV fan.

While it is impressive how much of the gameplay nuances of the home versions have made it into this handheld cartridge, there simply isn’t enough gameplay to keep you interested for very long.

This title isn’t altogether terrible, but gives you no incentive to make you want to keep playing.

I plan to sink my copy into a bucket of concrete and plunge it into the deepest part of the ocean, after dropping it in a vat of carbolic acid.

So, the game does deliver its promise – upgrading a classic sports game while keeping the original gameplay intact – but it does it in such a way that introduces new problems and irritations.

All this amounts to Mass Effect being much more of a lover than a fighter: a beacon as a sci-fi storytelling, heavily cinematic experience whose brilliance only brings light to the relatively predictable, plain combat that runs in parallel.

Like the protagonist Kane, it’s decent but has too many flaws for comfort.

Swashbucklers is a value title with very little value in it.

Godzilla: Unleashed is not a game I can see myself purposefully playing again.

While it is worth checking out Next Life merely for its intrigue, the slow pace and brain-numbing puzzles will leave most adventurers high and dry and barred from the continued storyline that might otherwise quench their thirsts.

Regardless - this is a classic example of a solid game suffering from poor execution.

Timeshift starts off with a bang, with impressive visuals and God-like powers at your fingertips. The bang, however, fails to last throughout the game, and you’ll constantly find it harder and harder to keep going.

It’s as simple as this; if you own a PS3, you need to get Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

Despite numerous faults, Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 is a decent sequel to a fabulous game by Ubisoft.

It is fun for the first few levels until you realize that it’s all the same and not particularly imaginative.

Do yourself a favor and avoid the pain.

So, while there are some minor hiccups from time to time, overall the game plays well, it’s fun, and it’s something FPS fans are going to enjoy for a long while.

Ultimately, Smackdown VS RAW 2008 is a lot of fun to play.

However, considering how affordable the previous versions get when the new titles hit the shelves, you’re better off picking up one of those games and saving your money.

As far as SvR 2008 is concerned, it makes for a decent rental but either of the previous entries of the series can just as well satisfy your wrestling fix.

Ultimately, Smackdown VS RAW 2008 is a lot of fun to play.

This one's a definite pass.

It is true that most conversions to a handheld system sacrifice significant game content from their original versions. In the case of Smackdown on the DS this is very much true.

Like the protagonist Kane, it’s decent but has too many flaws for comfort.

Tomb Raider Anniversary is still a great game. However, the Wii version is by far the worst version of that great game

When it comes down to it, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 continues the series’ tradition of creating true-to-the-anime experiences.

Contra 4 is meant for the hardcore old school crowd, and only for the hardcore old school crowd.

Nobody is going to be converted to this game series by this entry, it doesn’t offer anything phenomenal to gamers.

While Fantasy Wars may not set any new records or break the gameplay barrier, it is a solid turn-based war game with an addictive twist.

Swashbucklers doesn’t have anything that’s worth the purchase, and it can be looked over by most gamers.

Regardless, the game is still pretty good, except for the inability to distinguish easily between units and the steep learning curve, and so for those who enjoy strategy games, it’s a solid title overall.

If you're starved for strategy and like the idea of open-area, semi-persistent medieval battle scenes, Bladestorm might make sense. Unfortunately, you won't find rewarding, patient strategy, or dynamic action within.

If you're starved for strategy and like the idea of open-area, semi-persistent medieval battle scenes, Bladestorm might make sense. Unfortunately, you won't find rewarding, patient strategy, or dynamic action within.

It’s just simply not fun to play.

“Mario and Sonic at the Olympics” turned too quickly into “Player versus Mario and Sonic Olympics”, and the result is an unhappy gamer with a set of sore arms.

The typically anime characters are great for a laugh, and you occasionally learn a medical term or two with which to impress your girlfriend, but overall, playing LifeSigns is like being operated on by a chimpanzee without anesthetic.

In many ways, Forged Alliance is probably the game to pick up. An improved interface, a new race, and improved mechanics mean that it’s the better of the two titles (although playing as the original three races in skirmish and multiplayer require the original game).

Overall, the game is very enjoyable and a good attempt at bringing a new crowd onboard to the Xbox scene.

The biggest problem here is that this is a port from a Nintendo DS game that is nearly half the price, and the only addition is a few multiplayer modes.

The combination of fast gameplay, perks, a nice variety of maps and gametypes, and an excellent matchmaking system means CoD4 easily offers enough outstanding fragging fun to tear gamers away from Halo 3.

As far as first-person shooters go, this is one of the best on the market, and is something anyone that’s sure to interest anyone who has dabbled in the genre.

While Culpa Innata may not be the tiptop of its generation, it is a solid adventure title that promises to engage and entertain the player.

All in all, Hellgate: London isn’t the next revolution in Diablo-style gameplay.

Overall, Tabula Rasa is a very fun MMORPG.

Timeshift starts off with a bang, with impressive visuals and God-like powers at your fingertips. The bang, however, fails to last throughout the game, and you’ll constantly find it harder and harder to keep going.

Timeshift starts off with a bang, with impressive visuals and God-like powers at your fingertips. The bang, however, fails to last throughout the game, and you’ll constantly find it harder and harder to keep going.

Fans of the Virtua Fighter arcade series take for granted that playing a real person is necessary to truly take in the experience.

While it shines with striking décor and beautiful backdrops, Party Animals fails at engaging its audience and providing a solid game experience.

While it doesn't bring any major innovation to the franchise, Guitar Hero 3 is a solid successor and an excellent first outing of the franchise by Neversoft.

While it doesn't bring any major innovation to the franchise, Guitar Hero 3 is a solid successor and an excellent first outing of the franchise by Neversoft.

Painkiller: Overdose’s strengths are as simple as its gameplay - you get to use cool guns to kill cool monsters. However, due to a myriad of shortcomings, the mindless killing of hell spawned demons won’t hold your attention for long.

While Conan is still a decent game, it's likely better off as a rental.

While Conan is still a decent game, it's likely better off as a rental.

All of a sudden, the PS3 has got game, and Ratchet and Clank are leading the way.

Anniversary is still a fantastic game, and well worth playing, that is, if you haven’t already.

Whether your personal style is creating maps that will eventually lead to catastrophic locomotive destruction, or cruising around as a legitimate conductor to complete Waybills, TR will lure you into its reaches even if it is only for a while.