Nippon Ichi has done the impossible with Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories – taking a successful game and improving it on every count for the sequel. The battle system was tweaked in just the right ways, the graphics and sound were improved, and the new story is deep and faithful to the style of the series without copying too much from Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. The result is what will probably be best game of 2006.

I don't want to see anyone play this badly built junk even once, let alone own it for the "joy" of multiple playthroughs. The single player experience was so bad I refused to even try the online mode. I don't want to see anyone else go through the pain of being tempted with such an immersive experience just to have it ripped away by the shortcomings of whoever was responsible for these game-breaking glitches.

The core game is still in there in Command, but it's buried under layers of gimmicky interfaces and an atrocious framework.

A rather horrible game. Something this simple being so poorly designed is asinine.

If you're a fan of Final Fantasy VII, do yourself a favor, pretend that this doesn't exist and hope that if a remake ever does happen, that it gets done under the care of someone else.

This was clearly rushed to market, and obviously not worth your time. The only question that remains is, "Would this actually have been any better if they did have more time?" My guess is that it probably wouldn't improve by much.

Dead Rising is one of those games you seriously have to ready for, because if you play with the intention of getting the best possible ending, you WILL be busy. If you’re just looking to smash the undead, you definitely won’t get the full enjoyment of what this game has to offer.

NCAA Football 07 for the Xbox 360 adds a layer of high definition polish to a franchise that was beginning to feel a bit to familiar year-to-year on the Xbox and PlayStation 2.

The core gameplay is enjoyable enough, and would be more so if it weren't for the run marking bug, but there is little about the game that makes it seem designed for a handheld platform.

Even if you’re sick of FPSs, check it out anyway, because this is definitely not the time to turn your back on a game like this. Prey is a twisted take on the genre that shouldn't be ignored, that is, if you're not prone to motion sickness.

Impossible puzzles, terrible graphics and sound, and a counterintuitive interface suck all the fun out of this otherwise entertaining hobby.

Seems like a quick money grab from Rockstar.

It doesn't have as much as its esteemed cousin, Brain Age, but what it does offer is fun. You will quickly find a favorite game, and spend some exasperating moments trying to best your top score.

You’ll pick away at the Quest mode, play the Challenge mode a few times here and there, and maybe you’ll take part in a multiplayer game or two; all will pique your interest in a matter of a few weeks. But still, a few weeks is a lot more than most titles these days can speak of.

An impressively solid computer AI and overall gameplay makes Stacked possibly the best Texas Hold’em game, and possibly one of the best teaching tools on the market.

There might not be any online multiplayer, but Freedom makes sure that the player never runs out of things to do. And where else can you find cats who cook for you?

There are glitches upon glitches in the online version of this game, infesting the very area of the game that would have made it the finest in its class. Sometimes you cannot access the online mode. Sometimes, upon accessing it, you find your transmission games (games via email) frozen forever. You can play around the glitches until your FC becomes unplayable.

New Super Mario Bros might not be QUITE as good as some review sites might lead you to believe, but there is no denying that this is a damn fine game: the game play is there, that familiar Nintendo charm is dominant throughout the entire game, the sounds are good, and it's definitely got personality. The good far outweighs the bad.

A top quality Civil War military strategy game. Its brutal realism and tough tactics make it a must own for a strategy gamer who is getting sick of the same old fare being hawked out by other companies.

LostMagic is a solid offering for handheld fans clamoring for a good roleplaying game. A weak storyline and some other minor problems keep this from being a classic along the lines of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, but the large variety of spells and monsters and WiFi multiplayer support should keep players entertained for many hours.

It's the kind of game that made me feel disappointed it was over. If all games that were just polished versions of older games like Atelier Iris 2 is, then I'd never want for an original game again.

What a horrible, horrible waste. The game had it all. Slick presentation, a decent, yet completely predictable story, fun gameplay, and even branching to add levels of replayability. And then someone cast that all aside because of their stupid need to have their own version of the final trench run mission, combined with the fact that they have no idea how to create a good boss.

Besides the occasional inability to actually grab things as a monster, I can't really find anything detrimental in Rampage: Total Destruction. The true party game, it's that simple dose of pure fun that we really shouldn't move too far away from too often.

It's interesting to watch your progress after a couple of weeks of daily play. Who knew that math could be this much fun?

This is one of those games that while beatable on a weekend rental, is solid enough that the excess of strangeness means you'll probably have an enjoyable time with it, and crack a smile while playing through at least once.

Odama is the third-best console game that involves rolling a giant ball over people. This is not the faint praise that it would initially seem to be, but neither is it the best of recommendations.

A huge disappointment.

Kingdom Hearts 2 will be looked upon as one of the "must play" games on the Playstation 2, and while not perfect, original, or surprising, it IS very well put together, very polished, and it is very fun to play. [JPN Import]

I'm hooked, however, and I'm willing to join in the mania with a motto of my own-- "Vive le difference."

Not only is the best game I've played this year...it probably just cracked my top 15 games of all time.

If all you really wanted out of life was to be able to roll up new objects and read what someone writes about them when they've been given the go-ahead to be as wacky as possible, Me & My Katamari might be enough to keep you satiated.

Sadly, this Sim game doesn't have much lasting value.

An incredibly solid RPG. The sheer variety of gameplay elements available, paths you can take, and quests in the game make it well worth a purchase. There is no reason why any RPG aficionado should not own this title.

I’m no expert, but I’m sure that Tetris improves children’s spatial skills or something. Getting a game together on wifi can be a pain, and most people will have a mode or two that they can’t stand, but overall, it’s nice to see how well Tetris has aged.

Too many of my experiences with this game were about boredom and annoyance.

Daxter is a game designed from the ground up for the PSP and it shows. The handy save anywhere feature allows for gaming on the go while the length of each of Daxter's levels is suitable for a bus ride to school or work. Daxter’s graphics and gameplay are unmatched on the PSP and contribute to what is a truly exceptional game.

An incredibly solid game. Unfortunately, it lacks just a little bit in the AI department to make it a shining example of a perfect game, but it does begin the justification of owning a 360.

Now we can only hope that Nintendo starts following the unofficial naming convention for the system and changes the title of at least one of the next-generation RPGs to the only logical choice - Pokémon Darmstadtium.

"Gun-porn" turns out to be the most accurate descriptor anyone slapped onto the game. I mean, how many times can you rewatch the same bit of pr0n before you're completely unstimulated by it? It's intense for the first experience, but completely diminishing returns every time after that.

The game never truly matches the intensity of the show itself though, mostly because it's placed between seasons of the show which have already aired, so you know from the beginning that certain characters are going to be ok, even when their lives are supposedly threatened.

I think most people will find Generation of Chaos too tough to get into and end up overwhelmed by the amount of things they can do before they ever get settled into their own style of play.

MLB 06: The Show is not only the best PSP baseball game, but also, in this reviewer's opinion tops many console franchises. The level of depth, the exceptional presentation, attention to detail, and high quality visuals add up to basically everything a baseball fan's gaming fantasy come true.

Old-schoolers who cut their teeth on the original Bros. have a lot to enjoy in Super Princess Peach, while new players will find an excellent and challenging introduction into one of gaming's most venerable and popular genres.

The graphics are dull and lifeless, the sound is awful, and the gameplay has been completely ruined, and if that's not enough to deter you from purchasing the game, EA's blatant disrespect for the great sport of boxing and its colorful history should do the trick.

Perhaps if Sega spent more time refining the control scheme rather than coming up with a title screen design where AiAi encourages you to fondle his heart-shaped butt, they would have produced another classic in this quirky and otherwise fun series.

If you like customizing big robots, you're going to be happy with this one. I realize that's a niche, but it's a niche I'm part of.

Fight Night is a far bigger improvement on Round 2 than Round 2 was on the original. I'd have bought it for the changes in punching and style options alone, much less the vastly improved graphics, sound, and other fringe benefits.

Grandia III is one of those games that you enjoy enough while you play, but afterwards, you can’t remember for the life of you why. Everything in this game has been done before better elsewhere.

While the gameplay will likely be hit or miss depending on your genre preferences, it’s difficult to deny that Exit's interesting graphical style and presentation that make it one of the more memorable games to be released for the PSP.

It’s fun and all, but you really feel like there’s not much use to picking up this one if you already own Feel The Magic.

Sure you can play 3-player ad-hoc, but why pay for 3 copies of what basically amounts to each one of you getting the side of the cabinet with the busted controller?

Although Konami wasn’t able to include online play or the extended replay value of a franchise mode in their first handheld edition of the Winning Eleven franchise, it is by far the best soccer game on the handheld market. The great gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and high level of customization make Winning Eleven 9 for the PSP a justifiable purchase.

To conclude, there's no game here, limited staying power, and no real incentive for you to buy this game. In fact, it looks, feels, sounds, and plays like something a programming major might make in Flash. My recommendation: Trick your buddy into buying the game and borrow it once.

Despite the fact that I'd bet that my Game Boy Advance (let alone my Gamecube or my DS) is much faster and technologically sound than my Super Nintendo, this game's slowdown and terrible enemy clock speed make this way too easy.

It does too good of a job in simplifying the game to the point where it's barely worth playing.

An amazing gaming experience. It has something for everyone: fishing, bug hunting, philanthropy (i.e. donating fossils to the museum), epistolatory madness, costume design, music composition, empire building and much more.

Super Mario Strikers both surprised me and disappointed me at the same time: it looks good, it plays good, and it takes the dreadfully boring sport of soccer and makes it somewhat enjoyable.

College Hoops 2K6 does a great job of replicating the emotional roller coaster that is college basketball.

Partners in Time has its flaws and can get repetitive at times, but it certainly keeps you coming back for more, thanks to engaging gameplay and the unmistakable Mario charm.

It's a refreshing surprise that I think came out of no where this past holiday season.

Ultimately, Ridge Racer 6 is a lame duck racer. It comes off as far too simplistic and far too easy to ever be of any fun.

Both in terms of plot and in terms of battle engine, this could have been easily done in the 8-bit days. While certainly a workman's RPG, it's one best suited for those who want something like they were fifteen years ago.

While the combat is simplistic and the game doesn't take a lot of risks, it does make for a solid enough package that like Arc the Lad: Twilight of Spirits, is slightly better than the sum of its parts.

Not a bad addition to the ranks of dance games; it is simply as unpolished as one would expect from a company's first entry into the genre.

For every new innovation, solid gameplay design, and visual accomplishment, there’s another half-hour of gameplay that seems just like the last.

While it has some ups and downs, Mario Kart DS proves that Nintendo is coming online with a vengeance. Gear up, strap in, log on, and take off. It's gonna be one heck of a ride.

Where "WWF No Mercy" on the Nintendo 64 ruled as the best wrestling game, but WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 is the new standard.

It is not without its flaws, but it does make some attempts at innovation, which is more than I can say for most licensed games, if not most games period. It's too short for me to wholeheartedly advocate a full priced purchase.

Kim Possible: Kimmunicator is short on replay and originality, but it is still a solid platformer for the next generation of gamers. The variety of levels and moves makes it more enjoyable than many similar titles.

It is by far the most well rounded SOCOM game and delivers extended replay value both online and off.

The free-roaming feel of the Old West writ small, this is a game you can finish, complete, and conquer within the space of an average rental. But, on that count, rent this game!

A game based on a boring game, eh? Well, it's no surprise that this one will end up boring as well.

If you’ve gotten burned out on Karaoke Revolution games by the previous sequels, Karaoke Revolution Party will bring you back.

Overall, this game really surprised me. I had initially picked it up during a deep sale and didn't expect much but it turned out to be a lot of fun. The combat system is especially well done given how complex it is. Still it's a bit dragged down by the mangled plot scenes and the sharp increase in difficulty.

The folks at Harmonix have taken an idea, refined it, churned it, ground it, and forged it into a force of pure rock that few men could stand against. Maybe Dio, and quite possibly Yngwie or Clapton. But few men indeed.

With full involvement by the Wachowski Brothers to produce new scenes, re-cut footage from the films and an all new ending to the trilogy to better suit a videogame (The directors actually pop up on the screen and tell you why they changed it!), any fan of the trilogy or games can appreciate a title like this.

I liked the game's attempts at innovation through the weapon system and the devil forging bits, but ultimately, you're just going to be mashing the X button nearly all the way through the game.

Anyone who has already played through one of its predecessors may as well leave this on the shelf.

Decidedly mediocre. Being able to play as a Jedi is definitely one of its strongest qualities, but it really doesn't make up for a really lackluster massive battlefield shooter.

The game definitely takes its place in the halls of infamy as one of the single most thrilling MMO experiences out there now. The raw catharsis of robbing banks, kidnapping innocents, and basically acting naughty in a virtual world while dressed up as the result of getting Jack Kirby and Stan Lee stoned-- there's little out there that beats it.

Its story is masterful, woven by an absolute master of the genre. However, the graphical flaws and awkward missteps keep this from being a truly great game.

Given the medium, that this is about as good as an FPS can be done on the PSP. (Aside from the retarded Tachikoma, and the ugly versions of the characters.) Which is to say, that nobody should ever, EVER make another FPS on the PSP. This game is proof of why it will never work.

And while I'm tempted to tell you that Link is unlockable deep within the game, he isn't. I know, you're sad, I'm sad, we're all sad. And sorry, still no nude codes for Ivy or the rest of the female cast. Freakin' perverts; go back to the Gamefaqs boards. Tira's practically a nude code herself, anyway.

Bringing to the table solid gameplay elements, great visuals, and even better sound makes this game the culmination of the World War 2 FPS experience.

They’ve taken out the puzzle elements, and most of the humor that made the series so endearing. What’s left is pretty much just a whole lot of shooting, and this can potentially alienate a huge portion of Ratchet fans.

My favorite aspect of the GTA franchise has always been the ability to experience and explore an entirely new world and that is one thing LCS is sorely lacking.

If you're going to buy a copy of the game and can meet its intimidating PC sys. requirements (128 mb video, need an Nvidia FX 5700 or better, or the Radeon equivalent), get that. Otherwise, the X-Box version is probably your next best bet.

There are many better DDR mixes out there, ones with actual challenge and ones where you can use better third-party mats. It's not that DDR Mario Mix is bad. It just doesn't take enough classic DDR elements and bogs the game down with too much extraneous junk.

The home city concept adds a new twist, making the game slightly more interested than it had been before.

It is a game unlike any other game out there, a truly unique and special experience. It blows ICO away in pretty much every aspect (technically, ICO's controls were better), for those of you considering this game on ICO's merits.

Although you won't get much replay value out of it, it's an awesome game to have on the shelf/in the CD folder for periodic replays. It doubles as an immensely fun two-player game as well- it's quite amusing to grab a buddy and go cranium-crunching.

Nothing spectacular here, but it'll do.

Breaking away from the stigma associated with the genre of movie-based games, The Warriors serves to set an example for what games based on films should be. The Warriors is a true homage to the original movie and a game that director Walter Hill, and any fan of the film should be proud of.

A top quality shooter. It is visually impressive, has some of the best AI this side of the Rio Grande, and does a damned good job on weapon management. Still, the steep system requirements will put a hamper on the regular public’s enjoyment and hold off all but the most advanced PCs.

Blitz: The League is its own universe now, and this Blitz far exceeds its NFL-based predecessors. I hope to hear from Midway and the likes of superstars Quentin Sands, Chad Longstreet, and Kwazi Mbutabe again very soon.

A very fun little game. If you can find someone to play this with, it gets even more entertaining.

If Capcom could just get some better scenario writers; someone to weed out the contradictions of their own storylines, and someone to make this a little less "out of left field" and a bit more logical progression towards the truth, this could be fun for a larger audience.

Visually, it's understandable that Zipper had to make some compromises in exchange for the larger levels. As a result, SOCOM 3 looks no better than previous installments to the series and in some areas less so.