This time around, however, the puzzles are a little too organic. Or, rather, a little too literal. Mostly based on farm chores, they quickly become ... well, chores for the player as well.

Still uses the same sucky navigation system/interface. No real surprise. Ubisoft was obviously trying to recoup their expenses from Uru Online and didn't want to spend any more time on development then they had to.

Streko Graphics put great care into developing this little graphical gem and I feel that even with the frustrations I had with a few of its puzzles and the occasional cursor issue, I found Aura to be a thoroughly entertaining escape from the day to day humdrum of work and classes.

The puzzles have the potential to cause extreme frustration even with the most patient of gamers. Using the internet as the backbone for the game may not be ideal as, sooner or later, the websites will come down and the game server will no longer be sending emails to players.

Ultimately frustrating.

The game has two great general strengths. The first is a simply spectacular presentation and attention to detail. Despite the grim environments depicted, this is one of the best-looking XBox titles I've seen. The details are breathtaking.

Players tired of lugging around AK-47s, Uzis and rocket launchers in the cookie-cutter shooter assembly line should hop into Garrett's shoes. It's a slower game, a deeper game, a more cerebral game. If another is released, which is probably too much to hope for, I'd steal it...ahem, I mean, buy it, in a heartbeat.

I found this game to be a little on the slow side, as well as frustrating from time to time…hey, let’s face it…when you have been on the path for a while and fifty clicks later…ahhh look…more path! It can get a little tedious.

As for me, I had a surprisingly good time helping Maya struggle to bring all of the events back into the bosom of the benevolent gods. Tight story, excellent puzzles, attractive graphics -- what else could we grouchy adventure game players ask for?

While not perfect, the virtues of the game overwhelm its minor shortcomings like a tsunami over tinkertoys.

I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome which was a very unconventional ending – this one will leave you with your jaw dropped and mentally revising the interwoven parts of the story for a while.

Not only is it a wonderful effort, but it is also one of those rare games where the sequel is better than the original.

I walked away with a lacking plot, some silly graphics, and a less than satisfying gaming experience. While this game is not a turkey and definitely worth a look, The Far Realm proves that it is not all that far away from its original.

The game itself is a delight. It is comparable to "Myst" in that it uses a sideshow technique to further movement.

As an X-Files game - directed to fans of the show - it should receive an ‘A’ as it features everything an X-Files episode would and the player gets to participate.

The worst news is that, by the end of the game, the creators of Jack the Ripper betray their game’s best feature: its story. The game’s conclusion is a utter boondoggle, meaning all of the information you’ve so painstakingly gathered means absolutely nothing.

I waited several days after finishing the game before writing this review, so that the initial enthusiasm would subside and I could be objective. Now I can honestly say that with Fatal Frame 2 we are presented with what is probably the scariest, most haunting and most unsettling of survival horror games!

Everything in the game feels well thought-out. The interface works like a charm, and the controls are easy to master.

One big graphical and phonetic experience. If you like to solve logic-based puzzles and didn’t play hooky during your math lessons then this game really is a must. But be aware; besides your own calculation skills, this game requires quite some capacity from your computer and video card as well.

A triumph. It’s at the same time a real 3D game and a crackerjack pure adventure. High levels of craftsmanship and designer TLC are evident throughout the game. Playing it is like falling into an exciting movie thriller. [Grade = A+]

Be a good parent and plop them down with a paperback version of The Hobbit and allow Middle-Earth to exist in their imagination rather than as a lesser version of "Super Mario World."

Neither a pure adventure, nor a pure RPG in the sense of "Final Fantasy" or "Warcraft." It is an astonishing synthesis of the two, taking the story and puzzle elements of the adventure and the graphic flexibility of the RPG. Adding in a dash of online gaming, and Cyan might just have created a game that will appeal to gamers from all genres. This could be the first true blockbuster, cross-genre game.

Despite some minor issues here and there, this is a MUST have for any adventure lovers.

Those looking for a true and original real-time strategy challenge will be very disappointed with War of the Ring. Those looking for a game that truly captures the atmosphere of the Lord of the Rings trilogy will also be equally disappointed.

Virtually unplayable.

I found Ariane to be a tad fidgety when standing in one place and while other characters are speaking to her. Her abundance of mannerisms proved rather distracting to me, particularly at first. Fewer would have been better.

The puzzles are a monotonous nightmare accompanied by hordes of zombies that make your finger numb by the repeated clicking on the left mouse button to kill them. Almost 85% of the puzzles involve finding a key to unlock a door, chest, or anything that could be locked.

While The Haunted Mansion can not be classified as a children’s game, it does have a genial, yet spooky feel about it and is easily accessible by both novice and veteran gamers.