Almost everything in Black Mirror II deserves an A. The graphics, the music, the acting, the plot, the script, the interface. Even many of the puzzles are well thought out. If only the game had let me solve them. Without something to challenge the mind, however, it's all just cable TV. Which is why, despite its many sterling qualities, I'm giving Black Mirror II an overall B.

Yes, it is a quality game with high-end graphics and superb voice-acting, but it also seems to be pretty much 'by-the-numbers' let's get this finished and hope we get better distribution and make more money than we did with Dreamcatcher so we can move on to our next project type of game.

The City That Dares Not Sleep is certainly the second best entry in Season 3 (The Tomb of Sammun-Mak remains the clear standout).

For those who've been living on the former planet Pluto and just got back, I will inform you that Beyond the Alley of the Dolls is pretty much a standard third-person (or persons) 3D adventure, albeit adapted for consoles, takes five or so hours to complete and has all-around stellar production values - music, graphics, interface, you name it.

Unfortunately, the first chapter is more exposition than game.

Everything in the game is top-notch, except, of course, for the puzzles.

But, as usual, it's all expertly crafted and written and still highly amusing.

About the only thing I'd knock crackers off Jolly's overall score for is its not quite top-drawer cartoon style.

I am still ticked off at Telltale for deviously dumbing down the puzzles in all their games, but the quality, inventiveness and cleverness on display in this episode are undeniable

The Whispered World is about half a terrific game and half a mess. But since the most important parts, the puzzling, graphics and exploring, are all well done I'm going to ignore the stuff I cared less for and award the game an overall grade of A minus.

After playing so many mediocre games from the big publishers, DF3 was a welcome treat. If you like adventure games, you must get this one.

The 3D graphics are still cartoonily swell, if still a bit on the overly pastelish, blocky side. The duo's sarcastic dialog is as caustic and hilarious as ever. The villains and other NPCs are still deliciously loony. The one headline new wrinkle is that this season Max has been granted "Psi" powers. Of course, you have to trundle around "earning" them via gameplay, but they should add a welcome new dimension to the episodes.

For all its faults, Again is an innovative adventure game worth playing and a sequel – which is hinted at – would be more than welcome.

While some may say developer 2K Marin has let Bioshock 2 fall into the dreaded sophomore slump, I don’t necessarily think that’s true. It had to be unnerving to try to top such a runaway bestseller of a new property.

Despite my problems with 'earlier' versions, Max and the Magic Marker has a lot more polish than I'd expect from a casual game, but not nearly as much as I'd expect from a commercially sold unit.

The solution to this problem might be corrected by better choices, including more Star Trek-like non-violent solutions and away mission problems, and a less obnoxiously difficult equipment upgrade system, which might give captains the will to live in this world.

A solid "A" for innovation and delivering it in the highest professional manner.

Like all of the Jump Start products, Escape From Adventure Island is a quality product that would be a welcome addition to any family’s library of Wii games.

An innocuous game with each case taking from 1- 2 hours to complete. It stays true to the spirit of the show and the price is a steal at $9.99.

While The ABC Murders does not possess the depth of plot or crisp dialogue of the full-length Christie mysteries published by The Adventure Company (Murder on the Orient Express, Evil Under the Sun, And Then There Were None), it is an impressive opening salvo in what one hopes will be an ongoing series of games on the DS.

It's unlikely to win any awards, but it is fun and satisfying to play.

This is a very modest game with big ambitions. I don't think I've played a game since Portal which is such few things to complain about. It costs $20 and you should be playing it right now.

But even with all of these positive attributes, not to mention the other hallmarks of the series – the fabulous soundtrack, the suspenseful timed ending, the plot twists, the historical research, the phone calls to Nancy’s friend and boyfriend – I found the game very underwhelming.

Offering lots of replay value and an experience the family can share, Jump Start Pet Rescue will be a welcome addition to your children’s game library.

What makes this game such a pleasure to play is that it is simply a lot of fun. The puzzles are challenging, but not to a frustrating level; the suspects are funny and well-scripted; the plot moves quickly and holds interest; and the length is adequate. In some ways, I almost enjoy this series better than the original PC adventures because it is a more solid product, with no tedious chores or timed sequences to hinder enjoyment.

As hard as this game tries to break out of the mold of similar titles, it still falls into a repetitive cycle that eventually makes it boring. It’s simply not challenging enough to keep you captivated, and after hunting for the same items in the same environment for the third time, you’ll start longing for something more.

Still Life 2, despite its many faults, draws you in, puts you through the ringer and then spits you out like a wad of used gum at the end. I can't say it's a great game -- too flawed and at times annoying for that -- but it does deliver the goods.

“The Bogey Man” is fun, funny and again beautifully made. I can indeed easily see how a W&G fan who has no discernible interest in adventure games might love it. Episode four was of a piece with its three previous installments, although a bit less surprising, a bit less engrossing. One could almost hear the game designers yawning.

As the franchise continues to grow and improve, with a casual game series, Nancy Drew Dossiers, also gaining popularity, now is the time to get on board with the ubiquitous teen detective and her international crime solving.

I found the game as refreshing as a bucket of ice water on a sweltering evening. The animation and still art is better. The story is top notch. The music and voice work is as good as it always was (excellent).

TGP! is an improved LSD trip through the same cracked territory, but with a longer, better story and overall craftier puzzle design.

Like its two predecessors, Muzzled! is an exemplary offering.

Great care has been taken to provide both a back-story and depth to the character. The music is appropriately eerie and the voice-actors excellent. The animated flashbacks and present-day scenes in the game are the final link that elevate TCM above casual status.

Telltale Games more than most developers does a remarkable job of recreating the worlds of its franchises.

MumboJumbo Games has delivered another winning Samantha Swift adventure. If you are a fan of casual games and have not tried this series, I highly recommend starting now.

Pick it up and I think you will soon be drawn into its rich plot, fun characters and puzzles, and great art and soun

The puzzling, while appropriately zany, is not terribly difficult, and the game at times nears "interactive story" levels. There are, however, just enough true brain ticklers to keep you, Wallace and Gromit on your toes.

Emerald City Confidential is in so many particulars a standout game. The concept, the story, the art, the acting, even the rather jazzy interface all get A's. But the puzzles. What a disappointment.

The deranged fiends at Bethesda have built a landmark game, and I think you’d be crazy not to play the damned thing.

Although I relished my time in Fable 2 -- really, I did -- the half-baked marriage crap nearly killed the game for me.

This game was beautifully done, fun to play, and gorgeous to look at. With only a few minor quibbles such as the darkness and the movements into 3rd person, I really loved this game

Overall, this is a pleasant and mostly simple game that is nevertheless entertaining and clever. The hunt-and-find part does get repetitive, as it is wont to do, but the mini-games and the storyline keep things interesting.

So if you like a fanciful game, with meaty puzzles, a fun cast of characters and a playing time that is easily 15+ hours - if you don’t cheat and consult a walkthrough - then Everlight of Magic and Power should be just your cup of tea.

All in all, I was surprised by how enjoyable Unsolved Crimes was to play. While I want to be careful not to oversell this modest game, the fact is that it can be a fun little package of murder to carry around with you.

Though not long, I thought the game was of a satisfying length. The same is true of the difficulty. Not hard, but no walk in the park either.

The best way to think of Time Hollow is to enjoy it as interactive storytelling. If you’re comfortable with that, you’ll probably have a great time with the game, as I did.

It is professionally done with good graphics, good voice acting and challenging puzzles.

The game as improved by condensing code which reduced inventory and graphic location loading times, reduced crashes (greater stability), and made the combat more fluid and responsive.

It is truly a work of Art which stimulates the senses, evokes your emotions and leaves you thinking. But it has that one fatal flaw which mars the whole experience.

In summary, I found Sinking Island to be excellent and enjoyed it immensely.

Overall, despite its faults, Homestar Ruiner is a pretty enjoyable game, a lighthearted cartoon romp with a great sense of humor and an original flavor.

It's clear that the people at Her Interactive love making these games - and as a result, it's hard for the player not to love them, too.

As adventure games go, it is almost a sci-fi opus and it is intriguing to think that only a miniscule portion of the Perryverse has been plumbed.

On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 1 exists in somewhere in the hinterland between casual game and serious RPG, and it’s a very comfortable position indeed. As a palate-cleanser between playing larger games, or simply as an opportunity to experience Penny Arcade in a fresh way, it’s easy to recommend the game.

Most importantly, though, is that the game is fun. It keeps you thinking, throws you a good number of curves, and for the most part is challenging but fair.

The plot this time is loaded with not so surprising reversals and twists. As Sam & Max veterans we have learned by now to expect the unexpected. Perhaps we have become jaded. Like Max, we like it that way.

The line between casual and adventure game has been mightily blurred, if not almost entirely erased, and there’s no going back.

So what we have is a professionally made game with all the right pieces in all the right places, but with enough imperfection to prevent an “A” rating.

Probably the most important aspect of this game is the theme. Because there is a quite unexpected reveal at the end of the game I will not reveal the theme. All I will say is that this game will challenge you and some people might not like it for this reason.

The adventure chapters have a wonderfully classic feeling to them, and the action chapters are challenging and fun.

The Lost Crown stands head and shoulders above most of the adventure game offerings that have come our way over the last few years and frankly I was saddened when it finally ended.

Rhem 3 is a perfect sequel to Rhem and Rhem 2. The quality and gameplay from game to game is seamless. If you liked the previous games, then you will like this one.

I am very impressed that Sam & Max have kept living up to the high standards we have come to expect. The story is fresh, enjoyable and funny. Everything about the production is professional and well done.

Professor Layton, like many of those other titles, has a level of polish and confidence that simply draws you in. It’s diverting in every way a video game should be. If you own a DS, you owe it to yourself to grab this title.

The production quality is good, the sounds of music, effects and voice talent are professionally done. The animation and graphic art are up to the Sam & Max standards of three dimensional excellence.

The developers put a lot of effort into the player experience and took a few risks trying to break the mold along the way.

The puzzles are harder without hints causing game players to say Duh for much longer. I loved the plot and I love Sam & Max.

This is the saga we’ve been waiting for. Thank you Momentum.

As good as this game is, there is room for improvement in several areas.

This would be a very good game, but it suffers from a fatal syndrome: it will inevitably be compared to the original source material.

If you’re looking for light entertainment and solid gameplay, Legend of the Crystal Skull is worth your dollar.

But if you’re the type of gamer who enjoys a good, logical mystery within a solid historical framework, I predict you’ll have hours of enjoyment with Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy.

In the end, we all play games because of the entertainment factor. Whether or not you’ll like this game depends on how important difficulty and challenge are to your enjoyment.

Basically if you liked the previous three adventures, you’ll love this one too. It’s almost identical in every way, and the plot even feels similar to previous titles.

Whether you're a nice guy or not and whether you tackle System Shock 2 beforehand or not (or (re)watch The Shining!), you owe it to yourself to own a copy of Bioshock.

I don’t want to oversell this low-budget PS2 action/adventure. However, it does have a lot going for it: putting the player in a dangerous yet unusually real situation, meaningful story choices, and lots of replay value. You might be surprised how much you end up enjoying Raw Danger.

Nancy Drew fans will NOT be disappointed in this latest installment.

How you react to Penumbra depends entirely on how, uh, adventurous you are feeling when you load the game up. If you are a hardcore traditionalist, you could quickly get turned off by the game's 3D engine, sluggish controls, occasional combat and drab environments. However, if you are open to a new experience and are willing to take the game as it is, you could have a spooky and rewarding gaming experience that could even stretch your idea of what an adventure game can be.

A great family game that gets everyone involved.

Brilliant story and characters, clever and challenging puzzles and a gripping pace, all presented almost perfectly.

Those who are only interested in Eye Candy or who are squeamish at the sight of blood should probably look elsewhere. But those who like a good story and lots of inventory based puzzles should enjoy it.

Not a perfect game. It suffers from patchy controls, dull and unremarkable locales and an ending that is a bit of a let down. But it also has some gorgeous 3D graphics, top notch voiceovers, music and dialogue, and an ultimately engrossing storyline which is well paced and will keep your interest piqued.

Despite its rough spots, GitS is a solid first outing for Cardboard Box Entertainment. By turns, it's quirky, funny, imaginative, macabre, silly (in a good way) and creepy, with a great showdown at the end. I mean, who could ask for anything more?

Consistently good B to B+ material and an excellent excuse to subscribe to GameTap.

Though the hotel is seedy Hotel Dusk Room 215 is one place you won’t want to check out of any time soon.

Cyan Worlds have brought two innovations to this game. One is the changeable world already mentioned. The other is an on-line multi-player game which actually changes with time. Put that all together and I must award an "A-" for the effort.

This game is throughly enjoyable and most adventurers, new and old, will savor the experience of meeting these new characters in what promises to be a quality series.

Situation: Comedy is a very good second episode in the new episodic adventure gaming genre. While the two hour play time is very pricey, the quality is good.

So we have a very atmospheric game with good storyline and puzzles. And it is retailing for only US$10. If you don't mind the dark story elements, then this game deserves a place on your shelf.

This is a solid adventure game with some other elements from the RPG genre, which will be embraced by all but the most traditional adventurer.

If you have read the book, you should still enjoy the game and appreciate both the faithfulness to its source material and the liberties taken with the material. If the game is your first exposure to MOTOE, then it is most likely inevitable that you will then want to read the book.

The music and voice acting are superb. I really liked Qara’s and Neeka’s voices. The performance was with a ton of attitude and personality.

The bottom line is that I was playing the game, enjoying the plot and the puzzles and occasionally thinking, “Wow, that was a funny line. So why aren't I laughing?” There is a Voice Director listed in the credits. Perhaps he can pull more out of the actor for the next episode.

The game reminded me of a graphic animated adventure, had arena-style, turn-based combat, and an interesting exploration system.

Despite its easiness, Okami is absolute fun to play, and its length and depth, as well as its superb gameplay and high replayability value, will ensure many an afternoon of total engrossment, trying to help Ammy and Issun fight the evil of all evils. It is indeed the best non-adventure, and one of the best overall games I’ve played in 2006.

The game looks gorgeous, tells an engaging story, has fantastic voiceovers and will have you in stitches at some of its many outrageously funny moments.

There is nothing in this game that you can point to and say that it was a breakthrough, but it is all consistent and consistently good. It is thoroughly enjoyable and doesn’t turn south on you half way through.

But there’s a very specific pleasure also to be found in an adventure game in which the plot is simply a thin tissue that connects a series of delightfully attractive and fun puzzles.