An amazing technical achievement on the PSP, and is leaps and bounds better then last years Blazin' Trails. However you can't help but feel like you're playing a ho-hum console game that will leave you wanting more of almost everything.

This is the best comic-book beat-em-up from Activision to date, with a huge list of characters to choose from, many villains to defeat, and the ability to go at it solo or with friends.

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam isn't quite a classic, due to its simplistic nature and its slightly buggy interface.

When you boil it right down, Reloaded is just a great compilation, plain and simple.

With nothing new in story, gameplay, or looks, Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2 eventually suffers the same fate as the previous games before it- it just gets too old, too damn quick.

The graphics are basically ripped from the previous release on the GBA with some slap dash 3D affects thrown in. Top it off with a cliche storyline, and melodramatic characters that need to stick to day time television and you have a formula destined for failure.

The freshness of the self-referential humor, the EXCELLENT music, and the juxtaposed watercolor/pixilated graphics certainly make Contact an experience. The somewhat boring and repetitive combat, coupled with the somewhat boring, repetitive line of quests dampen that experience somewhat, however.

Most of the games are fun, but not all of them are winners, and the presentation isn't as blown-out crazy as the forthcoming Hot PXL or the Wario Ware games.

If you have a fascination with the Old West or even remotely liked last year's release of Gun, then Gun Showdown should be added almost immediately to your game collection. Its gameplay is still riveting and awfully bloody, just the way I like it, and the presentation has been handled well. Grab yourself a dusty hat and hit the trails.

Despite the fact little has changed, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 is one of the most playable golf games you'll stumble across, and it does justice to the PSP.

Clubhouse Games is an example of substance over style, and I love it. While the games won't win any awards for graphic achievement or soundtrack, they're still quite fun to play.

A mother of a rush job, with no pure heart poured into the presentation, the gameplay, or even the testing process.

An odd overall package. You have a story mode that isn't much fun (but also isn't entirely devoid of entertainment), and a collection of mini games that actually aren't that mini at all. Is it worth $40? Maybe. If you're a fan of Risk, casual-style minigames, and challenging, oldschool action.

The game does try to differ with unique modes, including Story and Score Attack, but with the faulted gameplay and the basic presentation, the game never really gets over the rainbow.

After the games drought of summer it's nice to finally have a reason to power up the ol' PSP again.

A little more development time to polish some control quirks and hide away 20 or so super-difficult levels for the intrepid, and March of the Minis would have been a much more memorable DS release.

The general game isn't any fun because there's no personality and the AI hunts down too many shots for its own good. The graphics deliver, but the sound needs some work, especially with the stiff commentary. And you guys need to touch up your multiplayer as well...it's shoddy.

What the game has for you in presentation, it can't make up for in lackluster gameplay and big problems.

Diehards might scoff at the games simplicity and low difficulty throughout the adventure setting, but in that case, they're missing the point. Slimes are just really happy guys, and their entire world is built around keeping you smiling, just like them. This game comes in just shy of perfect, and if the tank battles would have held their pace, Dragon Quest Heroes could have easily been the single DS game to buy this fall.

Three games that deliver a pretty good value. Sadly, that's about it for this package. There's no extra music galleries, no mini-games, not even the ability to play with upgraded visuals. It is kind of bare-bones in that regard, and that may turn off those who look for everything in a collection.

Being a hardcore Pokemaniac, it really hurts to see yet another Pokemon game succumb to mediocrity.

Being a hardcore Pokemaniac, it really hurts to see yet another Pokemon game succumb to mediocrity.

A nice twist on the theme that makes the game more interesting to play than Koei's worn-out efforts, but you still can't help but feel more could have been done with enemy AI, camera adjustment, and multiplayer.

A fantastic sequel. If it had online play and cleared up its long loading issues, it'd be a sure-fire five-star winner. As is, though, it'll have to do just being a great sequel and fun for all ages.

A nice bounce-back for the brand and a return to simpler, more fun times. It's a great game with multiplayer, and the single player mode can be entertaining if you don't mind the lack of true competition.

The game has longevity to burn, especially for Mega Man veterans.

The cheery 'bloop-de-bleep' repeated throughout the entire game is enough to make ears bleed.

The graphics and multiplayer options should've been weighed out more, but are made up for with excellent gameplay and decent Wi-Fi against a friend. If robot bashing is beating heavily anywhere in your body, it's time to settle in with a few rounds of this game. You won't be sorry.

While the graphics and sound are mostly pleasing and the numerous modes and events will keep you busy, I think the difficulty should've been adjusted, and online play should have been made a factor.

The inclusion of both a fighting game and a brawler is the best of both worlds, as players can switch off between the two and have hours of fun knocking people out. The Wi-Fi option is superb, allowing a friend to jump in the fun at anytime (provided they own a PSP and a copy of the game).

Loco Roco is an amazing game, quite possibly the most charming game I've ever played. It's the kind of game that will automatically make you happy while you play it. As a handheld title its ideal. Its only real drawback is that for many of us it might be over a little too soon.

A pound-a-thon that's still fun after all this time, and those who want a capable PSP fighting game with familiar rap and superstar personalities and lots of bone-crunching hits should take this game on over.

The game's design is superb and tight, and the challenge level will definitely be welcomed by those thirsting for something to push them to the next level.

Super Monkey Ball Adventure isn't really that fun. Travellers Tales didn't think the whole concept through, and as a result, the game suffers.

Exploring new gameplay elements the developers have breathed life into a series that could have been lost forever. The quirks that the game suffers from are more like hiccups in the attempt to create a classic title using an entirely new gameplay mechanic, the stylus.

There aren't nearly as many features as what's in the console versions, but, hey, at least what's here is stable.

From Software has insulted themsleves with this piss-poor development, a game that fails in every category. Graphics? Terrible. Music? Bleah. Gameplay? Unreasonable. Wi-Fi? Not even included to a good extent. Replayability? Hey, if you can handle playing past two levels, have at it.

An enjoyable RPG thanks to it's excellent, intense battles and the ability to actually create and take responsibility for your weapons, instead of just buying them from a shopkeeper.

The Dojo Mode, Ghost Mode, and Tekken Bowling are worth the price on their own, and the fighting looks and feels just like it always has.

Online play via infrastructure also feels a little broken, with some frustrating lags and glitches also coming into play during a game.

Juiced: Eliminator isn't bottom of the barrel, but it comes in at a distant third when the underground racing genre has already gone well into its life span, and that's not good news.

Sure, it's not the hottest-looking racing game out there, and it's got gameplay that has been done before in other games, but it has a bevy of bonuses to uncover, and very suitable options that would be perfect for you, especially if you were born to kick up mud with tires onto your sponsored jeans.

Fails to keep your attention for longer than a few meager hours. This is too bad, as this license has personality to spare that could've made this a must-own.

The cars handle alright, but on a tight turn at high speeds, they drift like crazy. As a result, you'll sometimes find yourself falling right off the track, or going into a distant second when all you want to do is keep up.

There are a few collectibles to unlock in the game, as well as a couple of mini-games that are worth a look, but, sadly, that means having to endure the main game and its unforgivable flaws. Ami and Yumi deserve better than this licensed garbage.

With intuitive mechanics, a nice array of game modes and its arcade style approach, World Tour Soccer 06 has certainly earned a place in the library of any soccer fan... and perhaps even in the collections of a few non-sporting nerds like myself.

There's no denying that Sudoku Gridmaster is a somewhat boring release, but its very clear in what it is and what it is attempting to accomplish, and I feel it accomplishes it quite well. I think it's a better Sudoku experience than what's included in "Brain Age", but that probably only really matters to those that are really into the puzzle.

Lara fans will love it, and those looking for some platforming fun on the go should invest, but everyone else is probably best off with just a rental or sticking to a superior console edition.

It's great for small bursts of play, and Survival is more fun than you might expect. It may not have the longevity of other DS titles, but for quick, easy arcade fun, this is one clone you may want to invest in.

Seeing as how it's $20, MGS:DGN is one of those "what the hell" purchases. Even if you're not a Metal Gear fan it's worth checking out, if for nothing else than to admire the slick art work and check out a confusing story that you might have missed.

Namco seems to have a screwed-up distribution cycle with this game, so it might be a bit hard to find. And that's too bad, because Point Blank DS is one of the better third-party offerings out there, loaded with variety and insanity going hand in hand.

The number of options and bonus goodies that are available are nice, and the jam-packed action of the games themselves should enthrall fans of the series and gather up a flock of new ones along the way. This is simply a must-have retro collection that should keep you plenty busy until the PS3 Gradius that's been hinted at arrives.

But one can't help but find a slight disappointment in comparison to Brain Age, as it doesn't really allow us to expand our smarts like we want it to.

Another thumbs-up puzzle game for the Nintendo DS, remaining just as creative in its gameplay as it was years ago. It's just a shame that more wasn't done in terms of the presentation or play modes to really make it worth the full price.

Dino Master does have some innovation in its game ideas, but they're executed horribly in terms of the terrible presentation and even worse gameplay. It just never structures like it should, and that leaves this smelling like a big bad pile of dino doo-doo.

There are hundreds of ways to style your character at the beginning.

Think of it as paying homage to the turn-based strategy games that came before. Considering the great storyline, the superb voice acting, the graphics, mission creation, and mission downloading, you will never grow old of Field Commander.

Far too many of the NSMB levels are simply too short. Even in the final world, it feels as though you're hitting the midway restart point in seconds, and then crossing the finish line when the level was just hitting its stride.

Despite the game's shortcomings in terms of its presentation and play quirks, it still scores in one major category- multiplayer.

Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers is not the essential handheld fighting experience, and doesn't really deserve to be. Its control quirks and lack of anything in terms of long-term entertainment outside of the multiplayer fail to make this a must-buy.

Brain Age is a decently amusing distraction, but without the fun and variation of the minigames found in "Big Brain Academy" and with many questions about the actual impact the training has on your brain, its tough to recommend the software too highly.

Top Spin 2 does have some minor accomplishments to its credit, but it all comes crashing down due to the flawed gameplay experience and lacking overall features.

Super Black Bass Fishing may be budget-priced, but even at $20, it's an absolute stinker. The gameplay has no long-term value to redeem itself, and the presentation is a generic mess.

A good but still flawed affair in which you find yourself rooting on your tactics but wish you could do more with them, and in a smoother presentation.

There's no new weapons, no online play, and I don't even think there's any new sound sets for your team of worms. If you're new to the series or just want some strategic warfare on the go, Open Warfare is fantastic. Worms veterans beware, however.

The most hardcore Splinter Cell fan might want to try to overlook the game's problems for its new levels, I suppose. What's most upsetting is what could have been.

The Tower SP is a good concept for a sim title, and the game is fun enough, for sim fans. It's moderate fun-factor shows that a sequel brought up to 2006's standards for depth and challenge would be excellent.

I'm extremely impressed with the amount of care and attention that went into creating such a robust single and multiplayer package. It is a must-own for gamers even remotely interested in puzzle gaming.

Along with the great controls and the involving adventure that will keep you playing for hours at a time, the game also benefits from beautiful visuals that really bring out the best in the PSP.

Its new strategic elements and slightly cleaned up issues make it worth at least a look to the curious or the hack-n-slash fans. But those looking for a fully invested turn into the action scene may be a bit disappointed by the shortcomings at hand here, especially in the multiplayer.

I'm confident enough to say that any RPG fan is going to love Tales of Phantasia - it's a really just a damn good game.

It looks and sounds great, controls well, offers up a solid quest and good extras. It's getting the score that it is not because of its flaws, but just because it isn't better.

I wish MX Vs. ATV Unleashed: On the Edge wasn't such a punishment in terms of its loading time and its lapse in autosaving. Otherwise, what we'd have here is racing gold struck yet again for the PSP, with its manic style and its tight controls wrapped around a decent (in the "we've seen it before" sense) presentation.

Sega really stumbled into a brick wall with this game and it'll always be one of those titles that, when I look back on it, will be remembered as a missed opportunity to create something truly special.

The hits feel weighty, the career mode is filling, and the other goodies mix up the formula well. I played it so much I actually developed a callus on my left thumb from the analogue nub, which says a lot about how fun and addictive the experience can be. The controls are very close to being a dealbreaker, however.

If you like the genre the game is a no-brainer. If you're merely puzzle-curious, Exit would be an excellent game to test out your taste for it.

It's just as delightfully weird and soothing as it's ever been, and the numerous options will keep you hammering away on your virtual heart throughout the night. Dig right in and rub those rabbits!

It's a shame the somewhat barebones package doesn't give gamers more of an excuse to come back to the excellent soccer engine.

It's an enjoyable game that I'm glad that I own, but it didn't impress me enough that I felt the need to gush all over it. But kudos to Game Freak for coming up with something fresh in the platform genre, as simply conking bad guys on the head was getting tired.

It's a about as monotonous as watching actual golf on TV.

Toshio Iwai has captured this very special desire, our need to express ourselves... Silky smooth to the touch, Electroplankton tantalizes the senses. [JPN Import]

Extended Play could have been a little better in terms of its presentation and some of its title selections (why no Hydro Thunder?), but it's a good start for the series' portable run, and I hope that future chapters continue to bring us the best of Midway's gaming past.

A strategic card battler that's missing out on any fun, intuitive design, or, worst of all, a point. Stick to your "Advance Wars" and leave this battlefield empty.

The gameplay is a little tricky to get used to on the PSP, but once you get adjusted, you'll find yourself getting into the game's beautiful combat quite easily.

It's just a good, entertaining puzzle game that manages to somewhat stand out from its predecessors, and it's worth buying if you love the franchise or need a fun videogame to keep you busy.

It never feels limited, or that you've "done everything"; the game is designed in a such a dynamic and charming manner that while playing you're not only investing your efforts, but also being rewarded for coming back.

But the actual tennis is excellent and the various mini games are lots of fun, so if you absolutely love the Mario Tennis series and/or have a few friends that also own this game (because each player needs a copy), it's a decent purchase.

Dropping $20 on the DS or Game Boy cartridge would be a complete waste on your part, as you find yourself hosed by a game promising holiday cheer and instead visiting the reindeer stalls and giving you the content.

Then we come to the control, which is also shot up quite horrendously. The vehicular turning is pretty lofty at best, where you have to maintain an incredible sense of steering. This, combined with the so-called tactics for scoring takedowns on opponent vehicles, just leads to remarkably bad frustration.

Not a guarantee that it's a game for everyone, but rather a big fat A+ for Alphadream when it comes to Advanced Game Design. This game is the cream of the portable gaming crop, and you'll be really hard-ressed not to be taken in by at least one of it's plentiful charms.

A very solid release for the GBA and quite the stocking stuffer if all you have is the basic Nintendo handheld, but next time we get a release such as this, let's touch it up a little bit more.

Boring as hell and offering zero merits to its credit, Peter Jackson's King Kong is a complete letdown for the Nintendo DS. If Kong were actually around and played this game, he'd jump off the Empire State Building than tolerate another minute of this monkey poop.

To further add insult to this game, Super Sonic Warriors 2 just doesn't look all that impressive and the touch screen implementation is mediocre at best.

The game's change in tempo may turn off some players, but don't be fooled. This is still the genuine Viewtiful Joe article, especially in the face of the somewhat limp GameCube Red Hot Rumble release.

For $10, you get what you pay for- a budget version of "Bust-a-Move" that makes no attempts to be anything than what it is.

One big feature about the game is being able to customize your character with cool gear and good looks. There's quite a few models in here, including a familiar blood-sucking female named Bloodrayne that you can choose from (sadly, you can't use her powers here...sigh).

The sad part about Legend of Heroes is that it's over too quickly. I mean, there are several quality hours of questing here, and it moves along at such a pace that it's hardly ever considered boring, but once it ends, there's really no real reason to go through it again and again.

It has a few nagging issues that keep the welcome mat from being all wide open on the front doorstep, namely the lack of the block option or the ability to see the worlds around you. However, it is a rewarding adventure with an enriched battle system, mixed with upgradeable chi and adhoc/infrastructure support.