The best $20 you'll spend all year. It truly defies description; it's one of those games that is so simple that it almost sounds boring, yet is nearly impossible to put down once you’ve picked it up.

To my surprise, skate. ended up being a surprisingly good game... perhaps the most enjoyable game I have played thus far on my 360.

For an expansion pack, Yuri's is unmatched in it's level of depth.

Despite it's flaws, Guitar Hero 3 has it where it counts, which is a quality-and-quantity song list, tons of unlockables, challenge, and online play. It seems that every other day I am discovering a new "OMG, this is my favorite song!" track.

A serviceable entry in the Castlevania series. While it's not going to ever contend for best game of all time, and while it also isn't even the best Castlevania on the DS, it's certainly better than a lot of other things out there.

The game is fun the first time through, all though damn frustrating at times.

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.

I have never been able to make a character that fit so closely to my exacting specifications as I have in City of Heroes.

If you can get past all this, it’s a magnificent game and easily the most solid Pokémon game yet.

With games like Far Cry Instincts and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, it's quite obvious that developers are just now starting to truly take advantage of the Xbox, and it's kind of sad to see it go so soon.

The originality in this series is pretty much gone. On the other hand, those who pick up this game as their first Onimusha title will most likely come away with being very pleased with what they play.

The incredible graphics and the sense of grandeur that comes along for the ride bolster the game's average gameplay, and save it from being something mediocre. If you don't buy into the hype, you're probably going to find it enjoyable for the most part...although you will cringe. [Import]

There's a lot of repetition in the levels, and the fact that Astro Boy's weaponry is for all intents and purposes unlimited, the game is a bit on the easy side.

Where the first AVP omitted continuity within the three stories, AVP2 intermix each storyline together. This makes playing each character dynamic and fluid.

Each world is full of colors, whether it be lush green environments of a jungle, or the sandy feeling you get in the desert, each world is chock full of beautiful and vibrant colors that jump out at you more than Mexican jumping beans.

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.

It's a LONG role-playing game, but that's not necessarily a good quality when it becomes more of a chore than a hobby.

Dynasty mode will be a draw for those who have an interest in the management side of hockey. That aside, ESPN NHL Hockey is simply the better game in just about every respect.

Combined with slightly above-average aesthetics and the chance to go through the game again as a different twin, The Sacred Stones is a solid and worthy diversion for the tactical fan.

I have to point out that it is a rare thing indeed for a game to grab me the way Hot Shots Golf 3 did and hold onto me for three entire YEARS, especially considering the fact that it is a golf game.

As far was wrestling games go, it gets no better than this. With the new additions to the roster and the modified gameplay, fans of the series will not be disappointed, so don’t believe HCTP is the just the same old song and dance, because simply put, this is where it’s at.

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.

One of those rare games that is complete in every aspect. The content and the technique is nearly perfect, and it molds flawlessly into a genuinely entertaining experience.

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.

As a $30 puzzle magazine, Professor Layton leaves quite a bit to be desired.

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.

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

But should this game be placed above "Everquest"? Should it be played instead of "City of Heroes"? In the opinion of this reviewer, the answer to both of those questions is no, unless one happens to be a life-long fan of everything Final Fantasy.

Those who missed the open-ended questing in "Tribunal" will be pleasantly surprised, and those who wanted to try something new will have the werewolf to play with.

If you can get past all this, it’s a magnificent game and easily the most solid Pokémon game yet.

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.

The glaring clipping error kept the game from true greatness, as did the minor glitches in the rag doll system and the difficulty modes.

Even though I'm not blown away by the gameplay or even the different modes of play, I can definitely see a fair amount of replay value in this game.

An audio experience that shouldn’t be passed up, especially if you are a fan of the series or survival horror in general. It is a shame the controls are difficult and the game is so short, or all would have been wonderful.

The most realistic and polished boxing game that has ever been created. However, at the same time, it doesn't compel me to really appreciate the sport more. While it does force you to learn more about boxing in order to win at high levels.

Much like "Sword of Mana," Mario Golf: Advance Tour is a good game that is partially done in by really, really bad AI.

The best game I've played this year.

The graphics and animations are the best I have yet to see in a RTS, and the in-game effects are powerful. Just get ready to laugh like a maniac at what the units say during the game.

The additions alone make it worth picking up, and, at the end of the day, it still manages to tell a hell of a story. After all, isn’t that what really counts?

The premise behind Viva Piñata is solid, but irritating gameplay and sound issues hindered the overall execution. What could have been a true classic ends up being a remarkably average game.

If you play platformers, you absolutely must buy this game. Meanwhile, watch as Maximo cuts the generic "jump and run" genre right in half.

The dungeons in the game are far too tedious and aggravating for me to ever want to go through them again. Even beyond all that, though, Xenogears remains one of my favorite games ever because of its unsurpassed story and characters, and I think that says something.

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

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.

The stealth portions offer up the really tense moments of this game.

Remarkably deep when it comes to gameplay... Beware of the load times, though, they can be bad.

Last year, I was absolutely incensed by "NBA Live 2004." The game that became the gold standard for basketball games back in 1995 had thrown up a brick...Another year, and I find myself looking back at my NBA Live 2004 review a lot...to cut and paste text for this year's review. They fixed virtually nothing; it’s practically same game.

While Skies of Arcadia is not a paramount of technical achievement, the substance is worth buying. Great story and great gameplay elements are the very meat of this title.

The lack of exploration (linear gameplay) and terrible sound effects really plagued the game. I also was not keen on the control and shady camera angles.

Basically, Devil May Cry 4 is just the Devil May Cry game from 7 years ago with a fresh coat of paint, and that is fine by me.

As glorified expansion packs go, however, it's certainly one of the best, and while the price does seem a bit high, it's still worth every penny.

Surprisingly deep, complex, and accessible, SimCity 4 is the pinnacle of simulation games.

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.)

As a quick game of nuclear holocaust, Defcon is good. As a not-so-quick game of diplomacy, Defcon is a very good game. However, given how successful the diplomacy meta game is, I can't help but feel that the inclusion of some more details, some more units, some more something, may have resulted in an even more intense game.

The create a driver mode is well executed, and is yet another way in which you can expand the replay value. The best NASCAR game available on the PS2, and one of the best racing games overall.

Flat out, Everything or Nothing will blow you away.

Why the jumping puzzles? They were annoying in 2D, in 3D they’re less fun. In a 3D First Person Shooter, they are lameness incarnate.

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 wonderful title and well worth a purchase. While the visuals leave much to be desired, the rest of the game is well packaged. This is adventure gaming at its finest and includes a wonderful control scheme innovation that should be used for future games.

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.

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.

Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria was tweaked where it shouldn't have been, and was left alone where it needed tweaks. It's still a fun time, but it's unquestionably a step down from its classic predecessor.

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.

If you are jaded from too many of the same old RTS games or even if you just want to play an innovative game for a change, then Darwinia is definitely one you should look into and with a demo readily available, there really isn’t a good reason to not give it a try.

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

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.

The two endings give you a overall thirst for more, and the quality of the storyline and gameplay simply astound.

Intuitive gameplay and nearly infinite replay value in the multiplayer mode make up for a lackluster single-player experience.

Truly a great game.

The voice acting is a wonderful complement to the in-game movies and there were many times when I was laughing out loud at the onscreen antics.

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.

Just another example of a PC to Console port that just doesn't cut the mustard.

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.

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.

The overall size of the maps, the idiocy of finding all the remaining units down to the last probe before moving on, and the sheer imbalance and poor tactics brought it down.

The six hours that I got out of the game were fun, but I was simply left wanting more.

The best squad-based tactical game available for the PC. If you liked "X-Com," this will probably fit the bill for you.

Hopefully, Activision will finally decide that this is the year to take off and reinvent the series; otherwise, I won’t need to play "Tony Hawk’s Underground 3"; I’ll have played it six times already.

Like a really hot looking Mercedes with only an AM radio, no cruise control, and cloth seats. It looks great, and it's fun to drive for a bit, but without all those sweet extras that are offered with virtually every other luxury sedan out there, it loses its charm rather quickly.

The most I can say for Bushido Blade is that, despite the fact that I bought this PSX title in mid-1998, when I was a fresh-faced young lad in my freshman year of high school, it STILL gets pulled down every few months for some more play. [Review Date: Sept 2005]

Definitely the lesser of the two major street basketball titles. A little more polish, a lot less loading, and we might have a showdown next year.

An excellent game in nearly every way and actually manages to be an improvement over the original.

Improved in just about every way imaginable, Hears of Iron 2 will not only satisfy the fans of the previous game, but is now set up in such a way to entice an even larger market segment into enjoying the title.

If you factor in the poor character models, horrendous draw distance, oft-mediocre voice acting, and incidental story, Spider-Man 2 comes down to a single gimmick: the excellent web slinging.

It is a shame as the game that I was actually able to play was really damned good, but the absurd overuse of cut scenes, terrible voices, and ridiculously clichéd storyline destroyed the potential that was within.

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.

One of those few games that anyone must have played in order to truly call themselves a hardcore gamer. However, if multiplayer is what you’re after, the PlayStation version might actually end up being more affordable in a few months than two copies of the GBA version.

An enjoyable sequel, but shows signs of deterioration. Sorry Tony, maybe it's time you put away your board and retire while you're still on top.

If you're hesitant to buy this game because you can't sing well, don't worry- the flexible judging level makes it easy for just about anyone to pick up this game. This is definitely a must-have title.

Don’t let the Championship Edition name fool you; this is very much the first true sequel to the series and features fresh and exciting gameplay to reset your retro Pac-Man fatigue.

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

Sadly, like many other previous WarioWare games, Smooth Moves doesn't have much replay value. Even though there are 200 mini games and about 20 different controller positions, there isn't much to do once you've completed the game.

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

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

In terms of a remake compared to the original, Final Fantasy V Advance manages to faithfully reproduce the experience of the original game. The biggest problem with that is that Final Fantasy V was never a great game in the first place.

Point blank…if you need a serious bare-knuckle fighting game in your collection, look no further. Def Jam: Fight for N.Y. is everything the hype boasts about and then some. Solid, diverse gameplay makes this title one of the best fighters this year.

While it may be dragged down somewhat by the brief running time, Tactics has the wonderful gameplay that makes it worth that replay or two.

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.