There's plenty of reason to keep playing once the main story is finished, aside from the perpetual quest to better your challenge mission scores.

The number of unlockables is overwhelming. It will take days upon days of gameplay time to unlock everything this game has to offer.

The Metal Slug package should be purchased by the most hardcore of fans only.

Almost everything that Dungeon Siege did well, DS2 does better (the anemic and frustrating Save Game system notwithstanding).

After a couple of hours, the boring and repetitive game will strike you like a sack of knobs to the face.

This compilation really is quite disappointing. Though Sonic CD is quite nice, and it is worthy of a play-through, that's the one and only game worth looking at in this.

Geist is intriguing enough as the sum of its parts to elicit forgiveness for its shooting gameplay.

Flaws aside, Advent Rising is still, at the end of the day, an enjoyable romp through a galaxy full of noble aliens, implacable enemies, burning space ships and furious action, and in my book, that’s a win.

No different from previous versions in terms of having much more pre-existing content than new, but the features introduced in this version make it worth a serious consideration from football game fans.

Those who enjoy this will find hours of play experimenting with new and unique designs in versus and boss battle modes, but the casual gamer will likely find it too involved, too narrow, and just too weird to give it a shot.

To the average gamer, it may seem like Makai Kingdom doesn't know what it wants to be, but to the strategy RPG fan it's exactly what it should be.

The actual tennis engine is extremely well put together, thus giving tennis purists a reason to pick the game up.

Because Nanostray is not a particularly bad game, it is somewhat disappointing that the game felt so half-assed. The retro gameplay with a modern twist is charming and entertaining, but right before the time it becomes a must-buy, the ending credits appear.

Darwinia will remind you that videogames can be an art form as well as great entertainment.

A remarkably polished bargain title with limited scope. Like a visit from a distant relative, it's fun for a while but tends to overstay its welcome.

For Xbox owners, this version is especially enticing since the graphical bugs of NCAA Football 2005 are fixed. It's a bit disappointing, though, that the game feels like it's not living up to its potential.

Originality in the storyline and art design boost Killer 7 from being one of the bunch to a game worth taking a look at, and maybe one that will set a precedent for others to come in the same line.

The first FPS game for the PSP, and it's a great start. Although this game isn’t perfect, it does prove that a handheld can handle an FPS game…it just doesn’t prove it can handle it well.

The addictive gameplay is good enough to play for a quick five-minute round or a gaming session that can last for hours. Once the player becomes adjusted to using the stylus, the addictive qualities will shine through, especially when there are so many things to unlock.

If you are looking for an out of the ordinary RPG for your GBA, Riviera will definitely fit the bill. Atlus, once again, has continued their legacy of making entertaining but slightly different games.

The game is bogged down by a slew of issues that simply negate any true aspirations to master this game.

Even with unlockable content and the film's actors lending their voices, the game is just too linear to be enjoyed.

A brainy winner, at once mindlessly entertaining and intelligently designed.

Overall then, despite its simplistic gameplay (and ill balanced multiplayer), Conker: Live and Reloaded is a game that can easily win a gamer over with its bawdy humor and lovingly crafted design.

Though the gameplay in general consists of nothing drastically new, the style and narrative flair that oozes from this game really do deserve attention from the gaming public.

The ability to play as a non-human Ak’Kan is interesting, but other MMOs have already gone there, and those games don’t lock you into playing just that race for any other character that you make on that server- the developers really need to figure out a way to let me make different raced characters in my other character slots and not make it an all-or-nothing affair.

If you played the GBA versions of "Wolverine's Revenge," "Prince of Persia," "Splinter Cell," or even "Bruce Lee," there really isn't a reason to play this game as it is a rehashed use of their gameplay engines.

While normally, this game wouldn’t be anything of particular interest, on an action-starved, multiplayer-deprived handheld, for some this may just be worth buying for anyone who is somewhat interested.

It looks, feels and plays like historical Kirby installments. However, while it looks and plays well, it is incredibly short.

The best thing we can say about Area 51is that it is “good enough”- a label that ultimately makes for a forgettable game.

Marvelous.

It offers a less linear approach than many other titles and is fun enough to play through at least once, maybe twice given the various difficulty levels.

Variety of play and replay value is not enough to make us overlook the aspects that are problematic, like the difficulties in locating and defending some of your cities.

Still Life doesn't start with a bang; rather, it consistently builds towards an interesting and eventful finale, only to let the player down in the end.

Metal Slug 5 is the obviously superior version, and in all honesty it would have been better were it just $20 for that alone, but this is still a good deal.

Strategy fans will fall in love with Fire Emblem.

The music is just as quirky as the gameplay.

This is really a gem of a game that, while short, is a steal at a release price of $30. Like a good bourbon, it goes down smooth but is over all too quickly, but this isn’t a reason to marginalize it.

Even the audio is a bit underdone, and gunfire doesn’t sound different in enclosed spaces from how it sounds out in the open and helicopters may become nearly inaudible depending on which direction Sterling faces.

And yet, for all that I find wrong with this game, namely the lazy copy n’ paste treatment RotS has received, I still loved playing it. I could not put it down.

The true disaster here is the likelihood that nobody will really play Enthusia. "Gran Turismo 4's" massive popularity is destined to overshadow it even though both games rank at the top of the genre.

Once you hit that first chip in eagle, you will be hooked, and you might even forget all about the lack of online play.

The main single player does have a weak story line, but the multiplayer is a total riot.

Unfortunately, in the case of Laser Squad Nemesis, the developers inexplicably chose to turn their back on the 21st century in regards to its online componant, a step backwards that hobbles what might have otherwise been a compelling title.

The character creation flexibility is a real strong point in an overall solid title, one that I hope other developers take note of.

The game play may very well what saves Empire Earth 2 from being a mediocre title. The added “little things” give it a different feel than other games in an already highly populated genre.

The new levels are all simply great and have some genuinely scary moments (thankfully, since the original was never scary). However, nothing much else has been improved.

Not even worthy of a rental. Just stay away.

Shooting down a chopper with a rocket or launching a RPG right into a guy's chest just never gets old.

The stealth gameplay has been done better countless times, and the combat is just plain bad.

The game, while pretty, really took a nose dive in the gameplay department. Looks can't save a crappy game, and that is proven once again here.

Stronghold 2 isn’t poorly developed; it’s just a combination of bugs and a bad front end that keep Stronghold 2 from being a must buy title.

Proves that innovation is alive and well. RPG fans should play it just to experiment with the refreshing attunement system, and anyone interested in a well written – though reading intensive – story will find the $30 price tag attractive.

The lack of an inventory, the streamlined nature of the game (approximately twenty hours of play), and the real-time combat may be off-putting to some.

However, if you're craving narrative depth, sound reasoning, and believable motivation to sit firmly behind your violent malevolence, you might want to hold off for something better.

An absolute blast to play. It nails the street-racing scene perfectly, melding it with some stunning visuals and sound, and gives it all a nitrous boost in the form of some top notch gameplay.

Resurrection of Evil really is, despite its disappointments, a “must have” title for any Doom III fan.

Doom 3 doesn't just scare you; it mortifies you, just before it breaks your glasses, gives you a stern beating, and steals your lunch money.

It's addictive, simple and fun. It's pretty, it sounds excellent and it will run on almost any system that has played a game in the past four years.

Chaos Theory can be defined as mild revolution. It brings freshness to the series without alienating what made it good in the first place. Only calculated risks were taken here.

For even a huge fan of the series like myself, you can't consider Dynasty Warriors 5 anything more than a letdown.

More action packed than the GBA version of "Terminator 3," it's faster paced than "Baldur's Gate," and offers the same level of variety as "Boktai."

The gameplay isn't extraordinary by any means. The graphics, while solid, are not memorable, and the audio falls into a similar category.

A mild revolution. It brings freshness to the series without making a great deal of changes. Only calculated risks where taken here.

While Groove Games' nameless soldier won't dethrone Master Chief anytime soon, an online sortie every now and then could be just what the field doctor ordered.

Encouraging this sub-par budget mentality in the gaming world is only going to breed more.

The analog stick is a bit confusing. During gameplay, it’s used to rotate the camera while on your board, and used to control the player when you’re off the board. During WiFi play, you can’t rotate the camera at all because it’s only used for controlling your character. This becomes quite confusing.

For all the good that can be said about the game’s graphics, sound, and generally fun ride, the biggest pitfall is that this ride ends far too shortly, clocking in with a playtime of no more than 6 to 8 hours.

God of War should be played by everyone on the planet. Why? Because if you do not like God of War, you do not like video games. Plain and simple.

The overly cryptic and many-layered interface, particularly the combat and leveling systems might well appeal to the more hard-core gamers out there. However, this facet of the game is so very difficult to learn even the basics of, that it may drive away the casual gamer—quite a strange choice for a game that’s doubtless counting on broad fan appeal for its bread and butter.

Dragon Ball Z Sagas is completely broken.

As a game by itself, Metal Gear Acid is alright. But as a Metal Gear game of the series, I much rather prefer the intense action of a third person real time adventure game.

Whether you’re stuck in a waiting room at the doctor’s office or looking for a way to pass the time in that boring econ class you’re stuck in, Lumines provides some of the most fulfilling gameplay sessions ever engineered on a handheld.

One of those games that will definitely get better as sequels are created.

Including the original Narc as an unlockable extra is a definite bonus but, in the end, lackluster gameplay and a glitch ridden presentation make this latest iteration of Narc difficult to recommend-even at its reduced $19.99USD price point.

Sound effect glitches, endless enemy spawning and strange enemy placement, repetitive enemy types, and the always-entertaining getting-shot-at-through-walls feature inflict quite a degree of damage on Nemesis Strike's other more noble attempts.

Despite some shady collision detection, disappearing corpses and enemies walking unchanging lines, seemingly oblivious to your presence and the death of nearby comrades, Future Perfect is a solid package offering a huge amount of Easter Eggs and content with a great sense of humor, both online and off, that will keep you coming back.

Future Perfect has 'it' where it counts: great characters, a funny story, and incredibly varied environments.

The shoot-'em-up action is nonstop, and the character acting is hilarious. The varied modes allow for almost infinite replay value.

An incredibly polished package that veterans and newcomers alike will quickly fall in love with.

If you’re an RTS vet who’s played everything out there, you’ll enjoy what Act of War: Direct Action has to offer. It introduces the small changes it needs to make it seem fresh, and Dale Brown’s tech thriller story line keeps you entertained throughout.

An entertaining, easy-going action-oriented RPG that doesn’t reinvent the gaming wheel—but rather cel-shades it beautifully.

Despite graphical plus points, Worms Forts: Under Siege! suffers the pains incurred through fundamental flaws that impact the gameplay quality and the overall experience a gamer can have.

Although it rigidly adheres to the gameplay mechanics of its spiritual forebears, it does successfully weave an interesting story, in an unusual and graphically lush setting.

For fans of the Mega Man legacy, this is an absolute must-buy.

As a game of tactics, it fails completely. As an action game, it doesn't deliver any thrills or sense of style. Ghost Recon 2 simply fails at everything.

Tremendous fun. The graphics, sound, story, and customization are top-notch. Most importantly, however, the gameplay is amazing.

So, even if you are weary of the WWII theme, don’t be so disillusioned by the overabundance of WWII games that you let this one elude you.

The one major downside seems to be that the character's moves list is fairly limited, so it does not take very long to get accustomed to each one.

While I thoroughly enjoyed Rave Master: Special Attack Force on GBA for its simplistic play control and Ranking mode, Rave Master for GameCube didn't quite measure up to the Rave-olution.

No, it’s not perfect and isn’t innovative, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It is a good romp of a FPS, quick and dirty, with a good blend of play styles and game elements.

Certainly not one that will turn heads or be remembered by anyone, other than fans of the series, after a few weeks. Wait for the bargain bin.

The half-decent and fairly challenging gameplay is offset by shoddy graphics, horrible sound, poor voice acting, and shallow character design.

Don’t be turned off by the Jedi-free element to this game. Republic Commando proves that the Star Wars universe has a lot more to offer, and ideas at LucasArts are still abundant.

Definitely one of the best games on the PS2. With excellent gameplay and graphics, Capcom has greatly raised the bar in the action genre.

The title’s reliance on the same ol’, same ol’ mission types, however, hurts this score.

If you're looking for a great single-player experience, a deep multiplayer mode, or a game where tactics and strategy are more than thinly veiled aesthetics, then this game is for you. Even if you're tired of WW2 shooters, Brothers in Arms delivers so many innovations that the game still seems fresh.

A fun diversion for fans of either the iconic comic book character or the shooter genre in general.