A fun, fast paced shooter with lots of multiplayer action. It is not, however, the be all and end all of gaming that the hype machine has unfailingly claimed.

With The Urbz, EA has trimmed down the general Sims formula, removing more in-depth options along the way, but, in doing so, they've also cut away the very captivating essence of the franchise.

Challenging games are becoming an endangered species in the MMORG genre; several of the latest releases seem to cater to the lowest common denominator of the gaming community. EverQuest II reverses that trend.

Most of the game is nicely done, but the bad AI kills what could’ve been a real must-buy.

The poorly designed power shot idea is enough to force any buyer of this game to ship their copy on a one-way trip to hell.

Wild, desperate battles, a cohesive storyline resplendent with authentic characters, stunning visuals, and a superb soundtrack—Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault is one of the best shooters on the market.

Few games hit the shelves with as much panache and style, and as an entertaining romp through an original world it excels.

If you value your intelligence, do not play Elf. It will actually lower your I.Q. and possibly send the human race back in the evolutionary chain about 3,000 years...Elf is probably the worst game for GBA, or any other system for that matter. In fact, this title cannot really been seen as a game because it is so awful. Lifeless animation, one musical track, zero sound effects, and horrible game play concepts actually insult the worst video games ever made.

A faithful compilation that remains true to its roots and won't disappoint videogame archeologists.

Possibly the best PS2 game to date...No other title that has come out or is coming out this year for any system will match the good-natured fun Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal gives you.

Killzone's cool features such as enemies recognizing the threat of a grenade and running from it, secondary fire modes on weapons and the ability to play offline against bots in some creative forms of multiplayer would normally make a game fun, but most of these details are overshadowed by buggy graphics and monotonous sound.

Guilty Gear Isuka is to 4 player fighters as "Half-Life" is to first person shooters-a benchmark that every game in the genre should follow.

Receiving this game as a Christmas present is worse than getting a lump of coal. The bogged down play control, the tasteless graphics, and weak game play concepts make the The Polar Express a title that should be avoided at all costs.

This game will probably please the young fans of the television show for its easy pick up and play attitude. However, the game forces players into playing the same level over and over with little variation. And there is just way too much bottle cap collecting.

Nothing short of impressive. It spans all three films and, not only relates the story that we already know, but also spins a new one too. There are no real areas of weakness here.

All in all, Lord of the Rings: The Third Age is steeped in high (if utterly borrowed) production values and serves as a perfectly solid RPG.

Not that Texas Hold'em Poker does anything wrong, there just is not a lot of content.

The game play suffers tremendously from lack of variation and any type of depth.

A good game that would have been great if not for the disappointingly absurd A.I. and unpolished gameplay.

The amount of things to do in the cities of Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas is absolutely staggering... In my opinion there’s no excuse to not have a “save anywhere” feature included.

Sound is almost embarrassingly unremarkable.

With nothing truly new or original to be offered, many hardcore gamers may be put off, but if you're looking for light-hearted or semi-quick gaming sessions GTA: Advance is perfect.

The online aspect is extremely well done and probably makes Dead or Alive Ultimate one of the best Xbox Live games currently available. This, plus the addition of over 100 unlockable costumes, a huge gallery, and other goodies, definitely makes this the ultimate Dead or Alive game.

One of the funniest and most entertaining games to have hit the market in quite a while. If you like Monty Python, if you just love to laugh, or if you follow role-playing games in general, then you should definitely take a look.

Again, true flight enthusiasts will balk at the lack of takeoff/landing phases and since there is no multiplayer, Ace Combat 5 can't be recommended for anyone but airplane lovers.

OutRun fan boys rejoice—everyone else proceed with caution.

This blue lizard offers way more than a certain purple dragon at over half the cost. Scaler's high speed may remind some of a certain other blue creature, but since he is only making revivals of his earlier days, why not try a game with a totally next-generation look and feel, but without all those camera glitches?

Featuring some of the best visuals and voice acting currently on the market, it will please anyone looking for an aesthetically pleasing game.

All in all, Neo Contra plays like any 2D action game that goes vertical: less than it should. The game carries the name Contra, but the similarities in where it would count end there.

Be warned this game is for true "Turtle" believers, younger children, and maybe the die-hard 2D fanatic. If you do not fall into one or more of these categories, I'd advise you to look elsewhere for your on-the-go action fix.

Forgoes the spunk of its predecessor in a vain attempt to update and build a franchise, and brings mediocrity to an all time record by managing to be absolutely average in every aspect except plot—where it manages to be different and be dismal.

Along with the recently released "Shadowhearts," Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is a breath of fresh air. It has a unique premise, great game play, and high production values. Then there is the gripping storyline, the most important part of any RPG.

Forgoes the spunk of its predecessor in a vain attempt to update and build a franchise, and brings mediocrity to an all time record by managing to be absolutely average in every aspect except plot-where it manages to be different and be dismal.

Laid back and all encompassing arcade action it may not be (yet), but it is obviously striving to reach those player accessible goals—while not abandoning its nurtured and honed simulation attributes in the hopes of becoming the perfect soccer experience.

All the versions of this game are great, and now the GameCube version is not the ugly duckling like in other years. Now GC owners have a great soccer game to add to their library, and overall one of the most fun and popular sports games around.

Most players will be happy to know that all the games' control schemes are mapped out pretty well on the Xbox's controller.

It isn't exactly revolutionary, but there are some key moments in the game that just had me grinning from ear to ear.

It’s a highly recommended compilation for old timers (myself included), but maybe newbies will not appreciate the games as much.

Heck, I could have watched 12 hours of The Weather Channel and had more fun and seen better graphics. The real downer is that the only segment of the war left for a third game is Dana Sterling’s story, known the world over to be the most melodramatic and least exciting chunk of the Robotech mythos.

Perhaps the single greatest addition to Deception is the revolutionary online versus mode. So far the servers are amazingly free of lag, which would all but kill this timing-sensitive game.

Despite its shortcomings, THUG 2 offers no shortage of content and anyone who’s ever fallen off of a board will keep coming back for more.

A very boring game. There is not enough substance on each game board. Trying to take the pinball video game genre in a different direction is a noble step, but at the same time, you cannot remove things that define pinball games and make them fun.

The only positive aspect for those that have played the game, and feel the same as I do, is that Neversoft has officially announced that their next installment will go in a new direction with hopes of revitalizing the franchise.

Pales in the face of the competition. There is very little to unlock, XBox Live play is merely functional and lacks features, and there are very few extras.

I really like how the different characters are voiced, and the individual casting is spot on.

Not only is it the best RPG I’ve played this year; it is a serious contender for Game of the Year in my opinion.

The replay value on offer in Shark Tale is very low. Once you pass through the entire game you probably won’t want to go back and experience it again, unless you’re a fanatic follower of the movie.

Yourself!Fitness is definitely treading uncharted territory as a fitness game that primarily targets a female audience. responDesign's goal is to develop "Games that are good for you" and they've succeeded here. Those gamers yearning for something different and who are not afraid of breaking a sweat should grab Yourself!Fitness and get physical.

The quirky sounds you can add to your bongos are a humorous touch and should be good for a few laughs.

Primarily for hardcore strategy fans but, thanks to the great tutorial, it's still accessible enough for the casual gamer interested in delving further into the world of armchair generals. The game play is steeped in depth and can sometimes be overwhelming, but that’s a good feature—trust me.

Super hero games have a particularly bad reputation among most gamers. For every rare decent licensed game there are always a slew along the lines of the abysmal Aquaman Now that I’ve succeeded in sending shivers down your spine, I am pleased to announce that X-Men Legends most definitely does not suck.

Rather than feeling built, Katamari Damacy presents itself as crafted, as though all of the design team members felt a deep personal attachment to the title.

It's a nice title with a good story, especially for GameCube owners who have played the limited number of outstanding games the Cube has to offer and might be looking for what else is out there.

A visually stunning game that will keep many Star Wars fans happy for many hours. My biggest complaint is that once you’re not in the various crafts the game can be a little boring and you find yourself dreaming the AT-ATS.

Star Wars: Battlefront IS a network multiplayer game—you perhaps shouldn't expect it to be anything else.

EA Big did more than just nip-and-tuck with the sequel, creating a deeper and more satisfying experience. The improved graphics, hefty roster of fighters and unlockables, and involving game play mask the frustrating flaws found within.

Its tight controls, unique economic system, and challenging enemy AI make Dawn of War an RTS experience that will redefine the genre. Plus, there is still so much additional 40,000 back-story that this game didn’t even touch on that the potential for unique and interesting add-ons is simply mind-boggling.

The replay value can be summed up in one word: Multiplayer. This is where Tiger Woods 2005 truly shines. Two great golfing players will have matches go down to one mistake, or one lucky shot, which will add to the tension and the desire to do better.

The graphics are extraordinarily fast, accurate, and clear for a GBA game.

With all of the different game modes it has to offer, NHL 2005 will keep you entertained for an extremely long time.

Better gameplay, more characters, better story, and a nice budget price tag. I just wish they could improve those visuals a little more.

While The Sims 2 delivers great graphics, wonderful music, and a ton of new features and objects; I have to say the minimum requirements should be higher. I have more RAM than it suggests but still feel I need a beefier video card to get rid of the slight glitches that seem to occur while changing views.

The production values are excellent, and the simplistic gameplay is classic and at the core of so many old games as well as those new today.

There are just too many good war games out there right now for you to even bother with this one.

Older players will still have fun with Sly's outrageous dialog and funny plot, but may find the cartoonish look a little too much. The only downfall is it is simply too easy to satisfy the thirst of heavy gamers.

Sometimes it's so fast that it can get a bit draining. If it weren't for the cinematic feel of the game, and all the side attractions of the game, it might even seem to be a repeat of every other WWII FPS out there. The new levels and the game play changes in the multiplayer experience make up for the relatively short single player campaigns.

The slow down problem, the wonky character models, and horrible text, and the double tapped "A" jump button feature need a complete reworking.

A very good game, though it isn't revolutionary in any way. The real-time aging and alignment modifying is great, but the game doesn't take advantage of it.

The combat system is innovative and one of a kind. One might even make the claim that it is flawless. The value of this game is incredible.

It has its own share of glitches, but the voice acting and soundtrack were enough for me to keep coming back for more until I reached the end.

An incredibly deep empire/trade simulation made with fans of the genre in mind.

Great simply because it successfully combines the frantic pace of the RTS genre with the wide variety of popular modes available in first-person shooters.

The extremely slow pace, the blending of background into foreground, and the cheap audio samples all point to a bad game. My game even froze up while I was playing.

While Twonkies may be simple and easily figured out it is still offers a decent amount of fun to gamers.

If you want trigger-happy jungle thrills, go back and play the couple of jungle levels in "SOCOM II" with some of your own '60s music blaring in the background. That's much better.

The chills and suspense that is a trademark of Silent Hill is still there, but the new aspects can provide an interesting twist to people bored with the old Silent Hill format.

But, if you are looking to partake in a definitive step forward for the survival horror genre…I’m afraid that Silent Hill 4 does not take it.

Nintendo as of late have been the masters of repackaging their own products, and it pleases me to say that they have done well with Pokémon FireRed.

Nintendo as of late have been the masters of repackaging their own products, and it pleases me to say that they have done well with Pokémon LeafGreen.

Because of the rather boring combat system, it's a sad fact that Silent Hill 4 really isn't all that scary.

The game's crashes, smashes, and explosions really make you feel like you just inspired a 50-car pile up in the middle of a busy intersection.

There are still a wealth of unexplored plot ideas nestled in the game’s impressive back-story- too bad they decided to rush the actual game out the door in such an incomplete state.

It adds an invaluable community aspect to the game, which was badly desired by the AO faithful and includes a special new kind of epic battle that gives veteran players an entirely new challenge in the land of Rubi-Ka.

A solid space faring RPG with mind blowing graphics and addictive storyline. The game also spans two DVDs so keep your calendar open for a while.

Just short of being a masterpiece. The innovative battle system and nicely implemented terrain and weather settings make it entertaining and keep the battles feeling new and worthwhile. The character and item management is ultimately its only major fault…it is just TOO elaborate!

Fans of the series as a whole will enjoy it until "Dynasty Warriors V" comes out, but the casual gamer will be turned off by the fact that it is essentially the same game over and over again.

Trying to pass this disc off as a game is an insult to video games. If you want to see naked females, then rent a porno. If you want to play mini games, play "Mario Party" or "Wario Ware." If you want to play a trivia game, then play "You Don’t Know Jack" or "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Mixing all these elements into an Xbox game is ridiculous.

The only problem here is that we have no full-blown two-player co-op. Other than that, this game is packed to the gills and well worth your time.

It would have been nice to have an indicator on screen somewhere to let you know how good or bad you're doing; or if you even accomplished the goal of the match while it is in progress.

A technically functional first-person shooter that may prove to expand our expletive vocabulary and, in turn, will leave any seasoned gamer with a sour taste in their mouth.

There is too little of interest for people who don't care about the series, but fans may not mind spending a few hours with it.

A good choice if you're looking for something that is the complete opposite of the latest offerings of shoot'em, smash'em, kill'em brand of games.

Catwoman is fun for the first few levels, but it then falls into the unforgiving trap of repetition.

Overall, it’s the AI problem that really mars World Poker Championship.

Another area where Pandora Tomorrow is somewhat of a let down is in the absolute necessity of having to find humans to play with.

They took the defining game of not just this series but the genre itself and gave it a much deserved booster shot.

The Power Slide ability could just be the perfect ‘defining touch’ for your new character, and you might love the Spirit Cape. [Spec. Ed DVD]

The Chaotic Chronicle has its positive elements, but you don’t really get to them until after level twenty. The lower levels aren’t terrible, just dull.