While most shooters nowadays have you dodging through a hailstorm of bullets, the enemies in R-Type make you think a bit more. There a definitive patterns and ways to dispatch every creature in the game, learn them, and you don't find yourself in tight situations.

Even though I finished one character in under three hours only dying a few times when I met bosses, an average gamer can spend 10-12 hours completing each character.

Now that it's over, however, it's obvious that the game will disappoint people looking for an RPG on the 360 that's truly on the level of Final Fantasy.

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.

I daresay that NHL 2003 is a step down from last year’s installment in terms of fun and playability. All told, while it might be comparing apples and oranges to a degree, I enjoyed playing the PC version of NHL 2002 much more.

The AI-controlled team mates are shockingly ineffective. They have the power; they have the abilities. Why can’t they take matters into their own hands more often, then?

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.

Supposing that anyone of a mature age does have the patience to endure the yelling and whining of little girls (in English AND Japanese!!), a serious strategist won't be happy with this one.

Then there's stuff that's just disgraceful to Asian people in general. For instance, Li Mei looks like she's a drug-addled prostitute. And this is before she gets punched in the face.

If you like to play, you’ll find great teaching utilities to improve your game, as well as a powerful system to challenge you. If you have no interest in chess whatsoever, steer clear.

A game that has “only above average” written all over it.

When I started playing the game I wanted to call everyone I knew and tell them how much this game rocked. I wanted to grab people by the ear, sit them down and have them watch me fight a battle and yell out, "You see that! THAT'S why I play games, baby!"

Play this to understand where Final Fantasy, which has done so much for gaming in general, has come from. Play this to appreciate how good things were even back then, even if they aren't really the same. But if you want what you had before, save your cash. Time and gaming has moved on - even if I haven't fully.

If you are like me, you will be playing this one for the entire summer and break it out every once and a while to impress friends. Those with little music talent will find this title a good rental; only then will you know if it’s worth the purchase.

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

The main issues that would sway a WWE fan away from this game would be the underachieving roster, the unpromising story mode, and the hair-pulling AI.

I have to say that I personally liked this better than "VF4," but they were both a bit disappointing overall.

"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.

With some better graphics and sound this could have really been an impressive title.

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.

Literate, funny storytelling is at a premium in gaming these days, so it’s really good to see developers making a real effort to make their audience laugh – even if they have to rely on semi-frequent potty humour to get the yuks.

While the series hasn't changed drastically in its 9 year history, the latest Metal Slug is still, for some inexplicable reason, hard to put down. How many series can you say that about?

For some reason, I could not tear myself away from playing this game...I got through the game in about six hours under the normal mode.

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.

With the inclusion of the chapter system and the longer days, there is an absolute guarantee that A Wonderful Life will keep gamers captivated for countless hours.

We've been playing games almost exactly like this (though not nearly as pretty) ever since the PlayStation/Nintendo 64 days. While the graphics and audio are just above average, compared to its contemporaries, Sphinx is a rather anachronistic play experience that falls short when seen next to some of the more brilliant and innovative platformers (e.g. "Jak II") around today.

I found the gameplay elements in Head On to get stale, even with the infrastructure gameplay in place.

Another major complaint I have about the control that bears mentioning is that the machinations one must go through to flip or spin are extremely annoying at best.

A fun yet still quite flawed title. Had the loading times, glaring issues with AI, and that cut scene issue been fixed, this could have been an A title.

Fun for a while, losing some steam when the boredom and insipidness of fetch questing kicks in. It's decent for an RPG, but nothing spectacular.

The true tell-tale sign of a great RPG compared to a good RPG is how you feel after completion. With other great RPG's over the years, I had a true connection with the characters and was always a bit saddened once my adventure came to a halt. In this case I felt nothing.

Resurrection of Evil even failed to match the atmosphere of the previous title and is little more than eye-candy without any flavor. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one.

Little more than a full-price expansion set. Nevertheless, with fifteen to twenty hours of gameplay and cooperative play, there is plenty to like.

Does a lot of things right, but sadly it is mainly for the purest of pure hardcore gamers, as Shattered Soldier’s steep learning curve and INCREDIBLY difficult gameplay, this probably will not please a mainstream gamer too much.

Wade's too easy to figure out, and it just doesn't have the staying power to be able to go toe-to-toe with the best of all time. It has the feel of the champ, but just doesn't have the heart of a champion.

Overpriced and underappreciated.

In the end, it's nothing but some nice 2D art strapped onto a mostly non-engaging story and a halfhearted attempt at a game. The gimmick to gameplay ratio is almost off the charts for this one.

I do see it shine at times with its immature, but cute humor; then I see how straightforward it can be in some parts and I quickly knock it down a few pegs.

Even with antiquated graphics and poor audio, the game was really a blast to play.

Just a couple steps away from being a great title.

It is relatively short (when you consider the 30 hour RPGs on GBA), and has no innovative features whatsoever. If you can get past that, it can be an enjoyable game, although nowhere near the caliber of other shooters fashioned in a traditional style (like "Gunbird 2").

Probably my favorite "new" feature is the DK Attack mode. This allows you to pick a level and try to complete it as fast as you can. DKC keeps track of scores of statistics, so it's nice to see if you (or someone else) can beat your time/score.

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.

This may be quite a challenge but it will keep you constantly coming back for more due to the fun factor as well as the extended replay value that’s present even with only 8 levels to progress through due to the strategy needed to be successful, be prepared to die quite frequently.

More RPGs could take a good lesson from the Wild Arms franchise, with the focus being on fun experiences while playing, instead of storylines that take up way too much brain power and taking the focus off of the gameplay.

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

One of the biggest downfalls of Knockout Kings is the mundane and boring audio track.

The pathetic attributes of this failed experiment are disgusting. Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter is a poor excuse for an RPG. It is an attempt at innovation, perhaps. But it can also be the lazy solution for a group of developers who didn't want to put in the time to make a quality RPG.

Card game fanatics who are willing to accept that victory or defeat is often out of their control will probably enjoy the game a great deal. However, those of you who wish to have a greater hand in your own fate will likely be frustrated by the sheer randomness of it all.

It's hardcore gameplay from beginning to nigh-impossible end...just the way it's supposed to be. When you beat a game, you're supposed to feel as if you've accomplished something.

Sure Street Fighter II is here, but if you’re a hardcore gamer, you probably already own at least one version of that. That means the number of actual, playable classics on this disc is reduced to just Final Fight, Forgotten Worlds, and Mercs. Do you really want to buy this disc just for those three?

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.

Given that this came out less than a year after KUF: C, this game feels like a mere expansion pack or a patch with a full game price tag. There's not a lot of development in regards to the characters or story.

It reeks of desperation and greed, as if Capcom just threw this together to make as much money as possible. They include the most obscenely difficult and unworkable version of Street Fighter 2 for one part of the package, throw in the forgotten spawn of the series for another, and top it off by including a lousy licensed anime movie instead of any other Street Fighter game.

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.

Due to the controlled nature of the game, the battles and leveling system are very tight and logical. It's the perfect game for a cold winter's day inside, and it can be played almost forever. If you want to know what the world “epic” means, then just go ahead and play Gladius.

The game just never...builds into anything more than an average video game experience.

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.

Seems like a quick money grab from Rockstar.

There's just no challenge there at all, the Chain Tactic system just allows you to buy a bunch of straightforward Attack techniques and stab the crap out of everyone.

The missions seem varied at first but then start to repeat with minor differences as the game progresses.

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a classic for every reason good games become classics. It's a brilliant answer for those who insist that nothing will ever be as good as Final Fantasy. Unfortunately, it's also out of print and exceptionally rare, so you'll end up paying top dollar for it. But hey, the way I see it, Lunar's rarity is just another finger pointing at its greatness. If you're lucky enough to find it, buy it then and there and I guarantee you won't want to part with it either.

There simply just isn't enough substance here to justify a purchase, even for the novice football player. If you're really looking for a football fix, just go ahead and buy "ESPN NFL 2K5" instead; you'll get a more complete package and the game will stand the test of time much, much better.

Basically the same as the Star Wars Lego kits. You'll complete it in under a day, and then put it up on the shelf, never to be played with again.

Definitely belongs in that elite class of quirky games, like "Rez" and "Katamari Damacy," that should at least be experienced, if not part of any self-respecting gamer’s collection.

An extremely average first person shooter.

The best baseball experience out there in a market that is glutted with baseball titles. It offers the best balance of realistic gameplay, deep, deep, deep options and above all else, fun.

While this game is far from perfect, if you’re a fan of World Series Baseball or baseball games in general, this purchase is a no-brainer. In fact I’d go so far to say that ESPN Major League Baseball could be the game to beat "MVP Baseball" this season.

This is an incredibly short game... and short lived. I'm all for games that are a romp to play, and is classic "renter" material. But, for their flagship release; I question the integrity of Nintendo.

Mars Matrix may be REALLY FREAKING HARD, but it’s still a lot of fun. The alternate mode and the shop options will just keep on drawing you back. But if you can ignore the insane difficulty, you won’t regret purchasing a two-dimensional shooter for the Dreamcast.

The more rabid Tony Hawk fans should find more then enough here to come back and play through it again while the newbies get a great introduction to the series.

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.

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

The game was enjoyable for a few levels. Definitely not $40 worth of levels, though.

Unless you decide to blow huge amounts of cash on the nicest floor pads available (and I mean the top-of-the-line metal ones, not the excellent Ignition pads that RedOctane puts out), this game is unplayable except with a standard controller. And let’s face it, this game is Dance Dance Revolution, not Finger Tap Revolution.

Sloppy and uninspired.

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

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.

Very mediocre.

It's difficult to find a copy, but just as well. This game was forgotten by many, but it deserves all of it.

The best strategy game I have played this year. It offers just the right mix of features I'm looking for in a good game: great balance, easy to learn basic principles and a behavior that is tightly controlled by the developer.

Instead of the perfect, mind-blowing game it should have been, True Crime ends up being an unacceptably flawed title. If you've got infinite patience for random crashes and sloppy graphics, go ahead and pick this one up.

A rhythm game lives and dies by its music. Taiko Drum Master is packed with songs that you can find yourself playing for hours, and get a decent upper-body workout from too (hey, you try pounding through Oni mode for a couple hours without burning some calories).

Normally, FIFA 06 wouldn't be such a bad game, but I feel that it basically just feels like a launch title.

It is leagues beyond its predecessors and I found myself fully engrossed in it. Its sharp graphics, diverse weapons and level design, and high replay value make it a very strong title despite its weak AI and frustrating moments.

A decent game for those who love the genre, but this release isn’t quite sure exactly what it wants to be. While worth it for the dedicated RPG fan and Final Fantasy completists, it shows that Square Enix has a long way to go before they can dominate the handheld RPG market.

Easily one of the most unusual and beautiful adventure games released in the past few years.

Despite the cutesy idea, there is a pretty solid game buried inside of Lego Indiana Jones.

The graphics are good and the sound/voices are good, but the gameplay is sorely lacking. Between not knowing I could wall sneak because of the wonky activation of the A button and constantly losing my beans, I became increasingly frustrated with the game.

Going over this title as a whole, Stranglehold surely delivers in what it promises to bring; non-stop popcorn action. While some may see its length as inexcusable, I must give it credit for being a fun romp for the short time you’ll play it. I strongly suggest going the route I did by renting it and returning it when you beat it a few days later.

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

I can’t recommend this game enough. The GBA does not have too many great games, but add this one to the list. If you own a GBA and do not purchase this game after reading this review, it’s your loss.

It is better than its predecessor, but it hurts itself by trying to employ too many platforming elements.

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.

But since the game operates in 3rd person, and doesn't give you a cursor when you're using important weapons like the flamethrower, you can't aim. This totally sucks.

After a few moments into it, it’s likely you’ll forget about "Resident Evil" and its repetition.

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.

Stick to Star Wars, Mr. Holland.