Despite its admirable music and noteworthy play control, Pac 3 is too bland for the common gamer to take notice. It's pleasant for a while, but you'll quickly grow tired of it.

One heck of a game that rises above its genre as something everyone can play.

At its worst, Shadow is a solid platformer with enough fun to keep hardcore Sonic fans in one place for a few days. At its best, it's an engaging gameplay experience that isn't jaded by its otherwise glaring storyline-related setbacks.

It would almost be a extraordinary game to play if only it weren't for the game's bouncy difficulty levels, slightly sluggish gameplay when groups of enemies are present and the requirement of all players having separate game cards.

But what about all those who can't get online? Sadly you're out of luck, because the single player is fairly repetitive and the cheap computer players don't help it.

Unlike the AI, the graphics and sound are pretty good.

On paper, Narnia could have been so much more, but the predictable and often annoying gameplay mechanics, combined with unpolished presentations and weak sound effects take away from the overall experience.

A short game. It has its flaws, but it can be an enjoyable title, if only for a little while, and the price is a little cheaper than other titles coming out this holiday season.

Simply put, there's just not much substance. Almost everything there is to experience can be found in the first couple of levels, and what little is added to the game later on certainly doesn't make it worth a play-through, much less a purchase.

If pinball play isn't your cup of tea, you may get bored or even frustrated before you get accomplished enough to unlock new tables. The bottom line is that if you are a fan of Metroid and even causally like to play pinball, you will become quickly addicted to aiding Samus in her quest to kick alien ass.

A must for hardcore Mario buffs, as well as those GameCube owners dying to get on the Dance Dance bandwagon.

If you can't sit down with three other friends, don't bother, but I'll tell you right now this kicks the pants out of "Mario Kart: Double Dash!!" - yes, you heard me.

I cannot recommend this game due to its poor graphics, side scrolling glitches, bizarre gameplay, and mediocre ... well, everything.

Underneath the less than stellar presentation, is a game that pulls off is a complex, tactical, and worthwhile adventure.

A very engaging experience packed with fun and interesting characters and puzzles that really make you think.

It's dramatic and overdone in typical Burton style. You can continue where you last saved or simply quit, but I'd recommend letting Jack die at least once just so that you can witness how cool it looks.

It seems Konami could have made better use of the touch screen feature on the DS, and also taken a few more liberties with innovative game play.

While it can get repetitive at times, Trauma Center is an incredibly fun and unique game experience that offers some of the fastest paced stylus action out there.

If the graphics were reverted to the Game Boy look, people wouldn't notice the difference.

Remember the 30 day time limit in the original Pikmin and how amazingly stressful that was? Well picture that and multiply it by five. I almost felt like I was baby sitting and not getting paid. Boring, frustrating gameplay that will leave you in tears of anger.

A fun game that's worth a play through but is brought down by a lack of variety in the game play.

Fans of any Disney Princess will adore the game, provided that they are newer to the world of video games.

It contains solid gameplay, which involves a great amount of tactical decision-making.

Players will wonder what could have been had Nintendo and Namco implemented a deeper single player experience. Where's the season mode? Thankfully multiplayer exhibitions greatly extend the game's life.

This is one of the most addictive games I've played in recent years.

Apart from virtually every aspect of gaming that Ultimate Destruction pulls off beautifully, the pure raw fun to be had with this title alone makes it worth a purchase. There's madcap enjoyment to be had here the kind of which you'd find in "Super Smash Bros. Melee."

You can't help but fall in love with the little critters. Nintendogs is entertaining, innovative, and packs quite a bit of staying power thanks to all the great unlockables in the game. Believe me, when you get it, you'll fall in love with this incredible, complex game and the little furry pal that goes with it. [JPN Import]

Dual Strike has a lot to offer, and it looks and sounds better than ever. The game has the same traditional look as before but from a more isotopic perspective, which gives a nice 3D sppearance.

To somebody used to reflex-hungry games like Wario Ware or the videogame crack equivalent Meteos, Kim Possible 3 is nothing more than a platformer which could be very solid had the controls been tightened up and the audio enhanced before release. To a Kim Possible fan, however, it becomes an extension of the television show and takes on a interactive element unable to be experienced passively.

It's a youthful and entertaining way to fill some time; I happily played through it while doing laundry the other day and found that time just flew by.

Alhough the story mode levels are rather uninspired and the puzzles disasters, the tons of collectables and interesting (to say the least) storyline, paralleling characters in the show, will keep any young girl gamer who is a fan of the show more or less satisfied.

While there are only eight levels and gameplay could be more polished (such as improved enemies and a worthwhile Multiplayer mode), Nanostray still offers everything you could expect from a shooter.

A subpar racing game. I had a somewhat fun time blazing through Story Mode, but with a lack of tracks, no real reason to play the other modes, and the fact that you'll get bored of it in less than an hour, it's hard to recommend this game.

With Killer 7, Mr. Suda has taken the classic adventure genre, injected it with an incredible amount of hallucinogens, and put his own stamp on Capcom's classic design philosophy. It's a mad world in there; are you mad enough to enter?

I love Meteos. I didn't think a puzzle game would ever burn itself into my retinas to the degree Tetris did, but I was wrong. I find myself waking up and dreaming of rockets blasting off or lining up three different colored tiles on floors while I walk. It's a disease, but it's one that I'm glad I paid for the privilege to catch.

On one hand, you have gorgeous visuals, tense action-paced music, and a hefty single player mode (8 levels which should take you around 30 minutes to an hour each). However, the other side of the coin features linear missions, sloppy controls, framerate issues and an overall buggy design.

A great experience for a niche crowd, but you'll just have to figure out for yourself whether or not you're part of that niche.

And while playing with another person is a little livelier, the atrocious camera will soon make things more frustrating than fun.

For those of you waiting for the first real and complete usage of the DS system's capabilities (read: Yoshi's Touch n' Go), look no further than Kirby Canvas Curse.

This is easily one of the finest and most refined GBA games to date (maybe one of the last, too). It contains a narrative that takes the audience seriously (yet provides good comic relief) and a superb cast of characters.

Tops the original in terms of intuitive gameplay, graphics and sound... but the basic formula hasn't changed a bit. Which is good, it probably doesn't need to be changed.

Donkey Konga 2's main mode Street Performance is just as fun as the original's, even though it has no good music what-so-ever (well, not counting the REM songs).

All of this wonderful single player and multiplayer comes polished in an aforementioned pastel graphical environment at which you can't help but smile.

I admit the series is beginning to run dry in the gameplay innovation, but at its core Pokémon Emerald is still a solid RPG with pretty graphics, an overall well made game.

It's too frustrating for an eleven year old and too mindless for anyone older, so it's hard to tell exactly who this game is for or even why it was made in the first place.

If you’re a fan of brain teasers, then the game’s 100 puzzles are definitely worth the price of admission (even though it is a little steep). If, on the other hand, you tend to enjoy the more traditional puzzle games that involve making falling objects disappear, you might want to skip Polarium.

Combine the lack of utilization of the DS’ unique capabilities and any improvements over the original with sloppy graphics, horrid controls, and a dreadful save feature, and the Rayman name begins a steady decline into mediocrity with this title.

Aesthetically, the game carries over the same visual style seen in Yoshi’s Island except that now the colors are more solid and the environment less sketchy.

If you want a Pokémon knock-off that's good, go for "Pokémon Snap" or those great party games in Pokémon Coliseum, as those are at least enjoyable. Pokémon Dash is really only for those who like a racer that's fun for about an hour.

Though the enemies are very repetitive, you'll at least let off some stress while you literally beat the stuffing out them.

Its simplistic, but addictive gameplay will have you playing long after everything is unlocked. Despite a missed opportunity for multiplayer, Wario Ware Touched! beautifully shows off the potential of the Nintendo DS.

While this addition to the Star Fox universe is a blast, it is just too short. Added to that problem are others such as shoddy voice work and horrible sound mixing.

Feels too much like the average cart racer. And the fact that you take hold of a plane rather then a cart is entertaining, but still doesn't feel any different, and has just as many boundries (and some odd ones at that).

I question if it goes too far to say this is the best single-player experience I've ever had on my GCN. No boring moments like "Metroid Prime," no extreme tedium like "Wind Waker." It's like a roller coaster that never goes up, only down.

With a wonderful mix of Four Swords style gameplay and a Wind Waker feel, the game takes a little something from everything and still manages to improve on it.

Yet at the bottom of it all it doesn't flash the most impressive gameplay, and certain missions can become tedious and so out of the norm they can become extremely frustrating.

A mildly amusing game that half-heartedly struggles to maintain the feel of its predecessor while still maintaining an air of uniqueness. It'll definitely serve to entertain, though those who haven't played the original game may be a little lost.

It just doesn't feel like the same series we've come to know, and follows the traits of similar action games of today, rather then the simple style to that of our yester years. It has its fair share of problems sure, but still remains fun.

Everything is nearly identical to what you played in Sands of Time, and in the case of combat, the bar has been raised. With a much more even balance of fighting and foot work, PoP fans should be pleased.

While the graphics (or lack thereof) may be a turn off, solid gameplay and storylines free from excessive details help keep Dawn of Souls from derailing like so many RPGs out there today.

THE must-own launch title. There are a couple of issues keeping it from being a definitive killer-app for the system, such as the problematic control scheme, but it’s as close as any of us could have hoped for, and certainly close enough to warrant a purchase.

With a high sense of speed, and a wide variety of gameplay, for the first time racing feels appropriate for the handheld scene. Aside from some frustrating traffic and driving issues, the graphics, controls, style and use of touch screen really brings out the best in this oft-mediocre driving series.

Aesthetic beauty aside, Feel the Magic is a clear-cut winner in this pond of first generation launch titles. It's a nice little challenge with a well-permeated concept, which will be something you, your friends and your family will be able to pick up and play at any given moment well into the DS's lifespan.

The fact that it was a card battle game, it could only hold attention for so long to where the system got repetitive, and fighting was a drag after the halfway point.

I want to go on about how perfect everything else in this game is, but you need to experience this for yourself. The title is an amped version of the original Metroid Prime, making an epic experience even better.

If you're looking for a quick, fun game that demands reflexes, has replay value by the bucket loads, and is a blast to play with friends, check it out.

From extremely cheap computer AI, lack of combo attacks, and boring same old, same old gameplay, in a way I have to say this title is just too old school.

Granted, Hal Laboratories and Flagship tried to shake things up with a multiplayer concept that ended up making it less accessible for lonely GBA owners, but it's still a great Kirby game.

Plainly put, this is one of the best games available on the Gamecube to date. Though not quite as challenging as Superstar Saga (or most RPG's in general), Paper Mario 2 manages to remain wholly engaging from beginning to end.

Like that hot popular girl in high school - gorgeous on the outside but no personality on the inside. Mario Pinball Land is just too generic, and though it has the Mushroom Kingdom cast supporting it the gameplay is fully capable of causing splitting headaches.

To be blunt, if you played this game to death on the Super Nintendo, there really is no convincing reason to revisit it on the GBA. The bonus levels don't give it enough of a rationale to verify a purchase. With no multiplayer and literally no replay value, you'll be done with this game within a day if you try.

Donkey Konga is a rare, fun, campy game that can cross gender lines and close age gaps. It is a great party game for 1 or 100 players, and the congas just look too damn cool to not get this game ASAP! [JPN Import]

The game mechanics are fairly simple and the controls respond well enough; though I did find the dash ability a tad sensitive, often dashing into a bottomless pit when my intention was just to jump over them. All the levels are a simple “make your way from left to right” fare where you are occasionally locked within a screen-width section of the level and must kill a set number of enemies before progressing.

From the big things to the little things like Move Tutors, new moves, and the ability to mix and match through literally hundreds of creatures, makes creating teams an endless task. Whether you're new to the series or been there from the beginning, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen will surely not disappoint.

From the big things to the little things like Move Tutors, new moves, and the ability to mix and match through literally hundreds of creatures, makes creating teams an endless task. Whether you're new to the series or been there from the beginning, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen will surely not disappoint.

Not enough work was put in to the GCN version, which only helps to hinder a game that is ultimately mediocre in its execution anyway.

The only aspect of this game that can be considered negative is the repetition - once all five pikmin types are unlocked there is very little in the way of variation - but the game is easily enough fun to obscure this fact.

Gameplay-wise, this is the closest I've played to "No Mercy" with enough new additions to make the matches more interesting. The story mode, the bread and butter for single player, is very good, although the lack of a branching story line does bring it down.

On the whole I probably enjoyed the first one more, simply because it came first and was a new experience. Some of the levels, though, make up for it, and bring you back to that level of excitement and tension which I don't feel any other game has ever matched.

This game, while not perfect, will even attract and hold non-RPG fans with its unique battle system, and interesting story. The game is a great, interesting, and fun experience.

A fantastic golfing title that competes with the big boys. It features five full courses and a host of mini-games that'll keep people busy for those long road-trips. My only complaint would be that it is far too easy.

A mixture of numerous ideas and seemingly unrelated modes that melds to form an exquisite game. Zelda is ever changing, and this iteration sees the dream of true connectivity come to fruition for Nintendo while bringing a fresh face to the series. [Import]

I’m torn here because Donkey Kong ’94 is one of my favorite games of all time, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong just isn’t as good.

The two-player mode adds no value to Space Raiders because there isn’t enough substance to the gameplay in the first place. There’s no sense of challenge and there is little fun since dodging and shooting at the same spot in a street is so undeveloped for games these days.

Climax Studios restricted themselves too much by maintaining this old style though; gorgeous environments fall short of their potential and elements to enhance gameplay were intentionally left out, and yet with more of a negative result than their exclusion from original games back in the day.

The quirky title utilizes the mini-game concept flawlessly and draws on humor and variety to maintain a fresh stride, and on these points it succeeds.

While it’s not a perfect port, R-Type III still plays like it was made for the GBA. The few shortcomings are forgivable since the immortal gameplay of the original hasn’t changed.

As a newcomer to the Harvest Moon experience, I was floored with the almost overwhelming amount of options and choices within the game. The simple and responsive controls make it very easy to play.

By far the best "Punch-Out" clone to ever grace the gaming world, but it’s certainly not perfect. It lacks the classic charm and replay value of "Punch-Out" and "Super Punch-Out," but that doesn’t mean it’s completely devoid of these qualities.

The hit or miss of long-range weapons is a back breaker, especially in the single player against a computer opponent that knows how to judge everything perfectly.

With all that’s fantastic about the game I can’t overlook that it needed more polish, and for that reason I wouldn’t say it’s a must-have for those that played the original or still have a copy.

If you want your games to be more accessible and action-oriented, then you'd be better off sticking with "Episode 1 & 2"...If you're looking for a new challenge, or you just want a solid and surprisingly deep strategy-RPG experience, Episode 3 is for you.

Lost Expedition suffers a bit because there isn’t much to make it stand out from other games in the genre, but it is still a fun ride for the ten hours it lasts and even includes the first two Pitfall games as a bonus.

From the particularly joyful vehicle chases, to your conniving ways of infiltrating, I am most gracious to you for giving me your secrets.

The only real knock against it is its length. Coming in at four hours just does not cut it. There are multiple endings the higher the completion percentage, and the original Metroid for comparisons sake, but the brevity of the adventure hurts an otherwise great title.

It’s not the worst game I’ve ever played in my life; in fact, it’s fairly decent, but it’s just so disappointing. Like all Nintendo gamers, I had high hopes for this game and we got a totally half-assed game.

Playing NFL Street made me re-realize why I hated "Madden" so much. Arcade football is just more fun, plain and simple. And, on top of that, it offers quite the extensive one player mode that will keep players busy for months.

A solid, fun military war game. The game is nice and challenging, whether in single player or multi-player. For those who like to play games with friends, and not just against them, the co-op mode is amazing and worth taking advantage of.