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.