I have a soft spot for games that actually bring something new to the table in an otherwise overpopulated market of rehashed ideas and half-assed sequels. It's refreshing to see, and even more enjoyable to play.

Probably the best game I had the pleasure to play this year. Combining a very simple concept with a good presentation and an addictive enough gameplay to keep me playing for years to come, the game has breathed a lot of fresh air into the otherwise stale gaming market.

Make no mistake, this is a dyed-in-the-wool mid-generation PS1 RPG with no aspirations to being anything more. But it does what it does astonishingly well, so much so that it becomes much greater than the sum of its parts.

It ain’t that same ol’ thing.

Racing is pretty intense, and once making your way to the later tracks, the computer controlled racers get pretty damn start, and so you’ll either have to start re-thinking your racing plan, or go back and redo your bike's attributes.

An incredibly accurate simulation as to what pet ownership is really like.

After playing online, say goodbye to your social life, and also the 12 mission single-player attempt.

It seems at long last, Suda 51 was finally able to take his vision for video gaming and put it in a form that's actually unquestionably fun to play.

For the hardcore gamer. There's quite a lot of quality and thought put behind it, and the best part is that the game's ending leads to very exciting idea of what must be in the third edition of the game.

An incredibly accurate simulation as to what pet ownership is really like.

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.

An enjoyable, but yet again, hack n’ slash fighting type game, but was balanced enough with the way you had to fight a boss that I didn’t mind the hack n’ slash as much.

By no means perfect, but the exciting gameplay and the multitude of features clearly overshadow any minor imperfections, making this a must-have game this season.

One of the most notable features of the new incarnation of the game is that you can finally make your own character. The options for customization are fairly limited, but having the ability to make your own character is a plus nonetheless.

If you prefer realism to fantasy, you will be more than happy with Amped. At a measly 20 bucks, this game is a steal. I will mention once again though: this game is very unforgiving.

There are the issues with clipping and shadows that you expect from a launch title, but the problems are never so bad that you have trouble figuring out what you’re looking at. It is a little strange, however, seeing the Matrix-style animations associated with the world of twilight. Overall, the game looks very nice, but nothing about it screams "next-generation."

An incredibly accurate simulation as to what pet ownership is really like.

Burnout is not flawless, but its few drawbacks (the short time limits, strict boundaries and lack of length) matter little in the end. Its wicked gameplay dominates the experience making Burnout a must play, even if you're not a fan of the genre.

The vastness of the story, the volume of things to do in combat, the art direction, and the realm combat all rolls up into a wonderful package.

What War of the Monsters lacks in story depth, it more than makes up for in presentation. One thing that the designers really took to heart was the B-movie atmosphere.

All things considered - the cheesiness of the story, the somewhat dim-witted AI in minigames, and the fact that there's only two or three original musical pieces in the whole game - this is one of the better ways to do a minigame collection on the DS.

In addition to the missions being dumbed down, the whole upgrade system that was on the PC is gone, and that's a severe disappointment.

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.

The only thing that really hurt the game was the lack of options and multiplayer functions.

I LOVE the fact that the engine works this good, and I would be perfectly fine with it being used for the next 3 or 4 games....but they shouldn't be charging $50.

A few other levels could have easily propelled this to Game of the Year status. If there was a way to incorporate a multiplayer aspect to the game, it could also have helped the longevity of the title.

Everything a great hockey game should be, but the presentation lacks the luster a license from Hockey Night in Canada should have had.

Had there not been a load of stability problems and random crashes, this game could have easily been of A quality. This baby is really an incredible war strategy otherwise.

Easily one of the most interesting, if not most fun, multiplayer games to grace the GameCube’s purple presence.

If you like the cel shading technique, prepare to be literally blown away...TDK does a splendid job with the color schemes, and most of the little effects compliment the main graphics perfectly.

The story mode, however, doesn’t make as much of an impact as one would expect it to, and the new gameplay elements end up being more of a hindrance than an improvement.

Graphically, Amplitude is as trippy as some of the songs it features.

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

It's good...but not great. As far as strategy RPG games, this pales in comparison to both "Disgaea" and "Final Fantasy Tactics."

A number of excellent minigames keep the game enjoyable long after finishing the main game.

While it is a little rough in the sound department, a few of the visuals are off, and it has slight limitations on how you can obtain your Pokemon, Colosseum is a worthy of a Pokemon fan’s time. This is the full-on console RPG many Pokemon fans have been clamoring for.

If you’re thin on patience or hate puzzle games, Mario vs. Donkey Kong will likely just frustrate you, and you’re better off looking elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for something to stretch both your brain and your reflexes, give Mario vs. Donkey Kong a try.

If you have enjoyed Harvest Moon games in the past, this version stays true to the formula.

It gets a solid four stars, but still is far from perfect.

Plays like a second rate Symphony of the Night unfortunately. Still a must though!

While trumped by Treasure's Ikaruga in popularity, Bangai-O remains one of the most innovative and genre-defiant experiences on the Dreamcast. It is a near-impeccable amalgam of concepts favored by some of gaming history's landmark titles, refined and reintroduced to the tune of a suitably bizarre story.

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.

CT Special Forces introduces few new ideas, but offers an impressive collection of everything good in 2D action platformers.

If you’re already a MMORPG fan, or are looking to get into them, this game is cream of the crop.

One hell of a game. Stop the IRS, end human slavery, and a dramatic final showdown with huge tentacles. Sounds like a recipe for some perveted anime, but it's nothing of the sort. Rather it's just one freakish and funny ride into the minds of Dave Grossman and Tim Schafer.

With its very tight storyline, great combination of features from several older games, challenging but not frustrating puzzles, good graphics and awesome sound: this game beats even "Wizardry 8" in its peer group.

If you've got a PSP and a love of pure, twitch-your-brain games, you simply owe it to yourself to grab EEE; this literally is one of the best reasons to own a PSP.

For all of the welcome additions and sometimes appreciated changes to the games, Dawn of Souls has done little to alleviate the one major flaw with both titles and the series in general-- the level grind.

I was a bit disappointed in some of the bugs that existed in the title. At least once a game I noticed a flicker... It didn't hinder any gameplay, but it was noticeable... The bottom line here folks, is that Madden has once again set the bar high for its competitors and has flexed its digital muscles.

Interrogating enemies is a real treat and makes for a nice break between firefights. Add to the fierce gameplay the writing talents of Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti, and you have a real winner of a game.

The important thing to understand is that you’re getting exactly that, being the version that came out for the NES; you get nothing more and nothing less. More than any of the other NES re-releases, though, The Legend of Zelda is easily worth the $20 investment, despite the lack of updates and occasional slowdown.

Flourishes offline but falls apart when trying to take it Live.

Mark my words, just as "Grand Theft Auto III" was a glimpse into the future, so is Fable. Be a part of gaming history. Get the game, enjoy it for what it's worth and for the love of Master Chief... Take your time.

While the single player aspects were shallow and unrewarding, the multiplayer is a huge success.

A superbly designed game, which will provide plenty of entertainment value for its target audience, pre-teen children and their parents.

Madden with pageantry, that'd be a nice place to start when describing this game.

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.

Ikaruga is for that special breed of gamer, who knows gameplay is more important than graphics; and skill is more important than power-up's. Believe me when I say "misery never felt so good". The game is tough.

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.

As much as I loved the game, it still lacked that special "something" to make it a "10". It seemed many times (especially later in the game) that gameplay relied too heavy on two things: blocking and dunking.

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.

The game is great... once you make it past the first three levels. Those who like to jump in a game, and make their decision within minutes will be highly disappointed.

On that note, this is a great game for children. There is absolutely no objectionable content, and the games are all educational. This is definitely a great family title. I highly recommend Big Brain Academy.

I was both blown away and extremely disappointed by Echoes.

I have played this game online for months on end and it's probably the best $20 that I have spent on a Live title.

It's EXCELLENT fun with the flight stick, but it's also $130 plus tax for that bundle...it had better be that good. (Add a +1 onto the gameplay, replay, and overall score for the scores with the Flight Stick.)

I think this is probably the worst teammate AI I've seen in an FPS since "Daikatana." It's like every one of your followers are the Redshirt sidekicks from "Star Munchkin."

The best dance game on the market today, despite its imperfections.

Though the Xbox version has a very fun multiplayer mode, Ghost Recon has a lot to offer solo players even after the game's 15 missions are completed.

It's so good, it makes me want to go out and tailgate in the stadium parking lot of a Big Ten school.

The unlockables really make this a sound purchase.

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.

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.

If you want a game with complex play, this is the one. Like I said before, the twists will keep any gamer coming back for more.

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.

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

The controls are tight and responsive and only really pose a problem when trying to switch between different skills. Two skills can be assigned to face buttons on the controller, but switching to a third is a bit unwieldy, especially in the midst of battle.

Unfortunately, Panzer Dragoon Orta came up short, literally, with it's complete lack of actual gameplay. This game felt like more of a coin-op than an actual console game.

The story included was strong enough to keep me interested.

All in all this is a solidly built offline title that stalls and dies once you try and take it online.

The game is a bit convoluted at times and it takes a bit of patience to figure everything out, but once you do, the game really picks up. I know it is not a title for everyone, but for anyone who ever had dreams of running a big wrestling show, this is for you.

The best way for me to describe it is the same of everything you love about kart games rolled into one. There is nothing shockingly new here.

The gameplay is simple enough for casual gamers to like and filled with enough options for more serious strategy gamers to enjoy.

I'd recommend renting it, or at least trying it out to make sure you can adapt to the control scheme. If you can, then by all means, give this a whirl.

If this is the way EA is going to approach the development of their sports games, then perhaps the next college football game they release should be "NCAA Football 08." At least it would save me $50.

I think the story sucks, but the game is excellent. The thing about Final Fantasy VII is, whether you like it or hate it, the merits of the game can always be argued very strongly from either point.

As a more-than-casual gamer, I found myself having more fun with this collection than I have with some of the full priced new console games being released recently.

Let us get this straight; multiplayer will never excuse a short single player experience, no matter how exciting those short hours are. It is especially insulting when the game is just so well balanced, so well designed and so fun to play.

The level design makes it impossible to create any interesting variety in gameplay... The AI in Doom 3 creates a whole new level of stupid.

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

A blast for most of the first disc, and then quickly tapered off as the game pulled a "Xenogears," Disc 2 and turned into a movie with button presses. It’s not quite as bad as Xenogears, but still, when you have a story and dialogue that isn’t exactly going to knock your socks off, gameplay is what saves your game’s proverbial bacon.

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.

Ice Station Santa is a huge step in the right direction for the Sam and Max franchise.

Just as fun as the first. Almost exactly as much fun, come to think of it. The new features add something to the game, but the fact that we've been here, and done this before negates those new bonuses, so it's essentially a wash.

Definitely a fun rental, as long as you aren’t expecting it to be a hardcore flight sim. For airborne novices in particular, Secret Weapons is a blast, even if the difficulty is fairly light and the missions short.

Although this game is not the greatest golf game I have ever played, it is one of the deeper ones I have cracked. With a fun yet challenging offline mode and fun Xbox Live action, this game will be in my console for a few months.

This is the BEST version of Metal Gear Solid 2 you can buy, so if you didn't play through the game yet, well, go get this one.

The game is all about physics and speed. XG3 is jam packed with both.