The sound effects fail to evoke any emotion, and don't really live up what is going on visually. The announcers do a decent job of portraying the game but don't particularly stand out either.

A big part of what made the PC version be so great was the whole atmosphere; you felt like you were in Chicago in the 1930s. Unfortunately, the visual inedibility of the Xbox version takes a good chunk of this feeling.

The actual gameplay is pretty solid throughout, the visuals are excellent and the rest of the presentation isn't too shabby. That said, it doesn't do anything principally different and online play could have been implemented better.

Its portrayal of the card game is fun in its own away and pretty accurate, as well. If the whole monster fighting thing eluded you, chances are that Duel Masters isn't going to change your mind.

It’s the perfect game to play when you only have a few minutes to spare, but don’t expect a very deep game.

Obscure doesn't attempt to do anything different. Hydravision is comfortable with crafting a respectable survival horror game and Obscure fits that profile well.

Does a pretty good job of interactively portraying the card game, but it doesn’t do much to woo newcomers to the series.

The audio is equally delightful. The cheerful music complements the jovial sound effects very well. The voice acting is purposely sharp, though it is hardly annoying.

The game changes a few of the things Harry fans have come to expect from the games, and though aimed at a younger audience, Harry fans will find a lot to like in the game.

A charming platformer. While its relative simplicity was appreciated on the PSP, it feels a little underwhelming on the PlayStation 2.

A good dungeon crawler. The game does have some annoyances and you can argue that the gameplay isn’t deep but fans of the genre will be satisfied. The stylish presentation and multiplayer mode really help round out the package.

Despite its flaws, Afro Samurai is a well done hack-and-slash adventure.

Probably a perfect example a cartoon-licensed title. The underpinning gameplay is decent but the game uses the license to really spruce things up. Creating the many items and Gizmos in the game is quite fun, just like the rest of the game.

The sound effects definitely help the audio package since they are in tact and quite forceful.

The underpinning gameplay is decent but the game uses the license to really spruce things up. Creating the many items and Gizmos in the game is quite fun, just like the rest of the game.

With Quantum of Solace, Treyarch absolutely nailed the James Bond experience.

The mixture of action, stealth, and minigames will keep your attention for the game’s direction. The solid gameplay is made better because of the excellent presentation.

Cars is not the most complex racing game around, but it manages to capture the Pixar spirit very well. Aside from this, it’s an enjoyable game with solid gameplay and a great presentation.

The production values are outstanding.

A big part of what made the PC version be so great was the whole atmosphere; you felt like you were in Chicago in the 1930s. Unfortunately, the visual inedibility of the PS2 version takes a good chunk of this feeling.

The background music is fitting for an action game, and the rest of the audio is made up of powerful sound effects and pretty crisp voice clips.

All in all, Smarty Pants is a very fun trivia game for the Wii. It has great topics, many questions and good (if light) use of the Wii Remote.

Cars is not the most complex racing game around, but it manages to capture the Pixar spirit very well. Aside from this, it’s an enjoyable game with solid gameplay and a great presentation.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a solid heist game and a solid co-op game. The premise is very interesting but some of the core gameplay isn’t as polished as some of the other shooters you’ll find this holiday season.

The Bee Movie Game is obviously aimed at younger players and those who are interested in the movie. But even older gamers will find plenty of humor and solid gameplay to enjoy in the game.

Despite its flaws, Afro Samurai is a well done hack-and-slash adventure.

The Croteam-developed games developed a sense on tension because it was a bit tougher. Here, you are given much ammo to destroy the enemies so it becomes even more of a shoot-a-thon.

Overall, Quantum of Solace is sure to please fans of the movie, series, or those looking for a solid action game on the Nintendo DS.

The single-player modes are marred by questionable AI which removes much of the intensity and in effect, fun, of playing the game.

With Quantum of Solace, Treyarch absolutely nailed the James Bond experience.

The motion-sensitive controls work very well and the graphical upgrade is appreciated.

The game falls short in too many spots and it is a major disappointment on the overall. This game left me feeling bad.

The game sports a good story and solid gameplay with unique abilities for the different characters. It’s more enjoyable than the first game and good filler until the second The Incredibles film.

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground does a great job of bringing the Proving Ground experience to the Wii and PS2. The game is a port of the next-generation versions and includes many of the same environments, goals, characters, etc.

A fundamentally solid game that does a good job of integrating the material of the film with solid gameplay. The presentation is especially impressive for a portable game.

The game's soundtrack has that typical upbeat music found in so many kid-marketed games. Though it is slightly repetitive and a bit annoying after a while, it does fit the game well.

American Sk8land is a better game, but only marginally so it isn't really worth the price of admission unless you're a hardcore Tony Hawk fan.

Definitely aimed at the younger audiences, The Incredibles is an adequate but unremarkable action game on its own. The license certainly does help thanks to Pixar's unique charm and the game includes a variety of movie footage and trailers to please fans of the film.

When it comes down to it, King of Fighters: Maximum Impact isn’t a particularly memorable fighting game on its own merits.

NBA Live 07 includes a few new modes and features that will surely satisfy fans of the franchise. The novelty of seeing NBA Live on the portable has faded, but the gameplay is still good enough to make the game worthwhile.

It’s definitely recommended if you didn’t pick up the game for current-generation consoles.

Fantastic 4 offers four characters, a repertoire of moves, and compelling level design that culminate in an engaging game. The production values are good, thanks in no small part to the authentic voice acting.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. The combination of standard action-platforming, more traditional puzzle-based platforming and on-rails races that you’ll experience with the different characters provides just enough variety and challenge for the game’s target market. If your child is a fan of the movie, you’ll want to pick up the game.

It’s an acquired taste, but if you enjoy strategy RPGs and like the Lord of the Rings franchise, you’ll find more to like than not in the game.

The gameplay has been made more accessible but nonetheless engaging for the handheld, and the presentation, particularly the sound, is great. The PSP is not perfectly suited for first person shooters, but this is about as good as it can get.

The production values are outstanding.

The PC version of the game was changed for the worse; the console versions are recommended due to their more accurate control scheme and level variety.

The game sports a good story and solid gameplay with unique abilities for the different characters. It's more enjoyable than the first game and good filler until the second The Incredibles film.

Like "Shrek 2" before it, your overall enjoyment of the game will have much to do with your willingness to accept its target audience but at the very least you will find that Shark Tale simply isn’t a rushed, sure-money title.

As its core, NBA 09: The Inside is a solid basketball game.

Sony’s NBA 08 is a solid basketball game and a noticeable improvement from last year’s game. The Replay Mode is very fun and the character customization elements are quite fun, but the actual gameplay isn’t as tight as its competitors. The lack of a franchise mode hurts the game, too.

The gameplay is pretty undemanding but fundamentally sound; the different characters manage the spice the game up a bit, as well. The game would be rated higher if the length was a touch longer; it clocks in at just over 5 hours.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows plays like an enhanced version of Spider-Man 3 with a pretty cool story backing it up.

Spider-Man 3, while not a radical departure from the excellent foundation laid by its prequel, will amaze Spider-Man and action games fans alike. The sequel fixes the major complaints of the first game (generally the repetitive nature of side missions) and polishes everything up.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. The combination of standard action-platforming, more traditional puzzle-based platforming and on-rails races that you’ll experience with the different characters provides just enough variety and challenge for the game’s target market. If your child is a fan of the movie, you’ll want to pick up the game.

A pretty standard platform game but its fidelity to the console version is excellent so bravo to Krome Studios and Halfbrick Studios.

Overall, Monsters vs. Aliens is a solid videogame adaptation from the movie. The combination of standard action-platforming, more traditional puzzle-based platforming and on-rails races that you’ll experience with the different characters provides just enough variety and challenge for the game’s target market. If your child is a fan of the movie, you’ll want to pick up the game.

Stacked with Daniel Negreanu succeeds largely because it comes very close to recreating an actual game of poker. The presentation could have used some fine-tuning but the interface is solid enough. Although not perfect, Stacked is about as close as you’re going to get to a real game of Texas hold’em on your PlayStation 2.

WTF: Work Time Fun won’t keep you occupied for days but if you have a few minutes you want to kill every now and then, you’ll want to have the game in the library.

Obscure doesn’t attempt to do anything different. Hydravision is comfortable with crafting a respectable survival horror game and Obscure fits that profile well.

The Life shows potential and there is definitely room for improvement. It shows that sports games can have decent story modes. The actual gameplay in the game pales in comparison to other, more refined PS2 basketball games.

Fantastic 4 offers four characters, a repertoire of moves, and compelling level design that culminate in an engaging game. The production values are good, thanks in no small part to the authentic voice acting. The bonuses are a cool addition to the game as well.

None of these changes fundamentally change the game, though. They are nice additions, sure, but hardly worth $30.

A respectable GBA entry but nothing out of the ordinary. Vicarious Visions usually pulls through with their GBA games and Shark Tale is no different… it just doesn't try to wow you.

Definitely aimed at the younger audiences, The Incredibles is an adequate but unremarkable action game on its own. The license certainly does help thanks to Pixar's unique charm and the game includes a variety of movie footage and trailers to please fans of the film.

The characters aren’t great but are satisfactory and animate rather way. Not much in the way of visuals, but the art style definitely serves the game.

NBA 07 isn’t a terribly broken game but the game does have quite obvious flaws. The decent but not excellent graphics and the rushed audio also really hurt the game.

A solid if unexciting WWII game on either platform. There’s little reason to pick up the game unless you blasted through "Call of Duty 3" and are looking for more.

Like the movie it’s based on, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t trying to radically change the genre or introduce innovative new features. It’s giving you great-looking robots that go off and fight other great-looking robots as you watch the resulting explosions.

Neither of its two main gameplay modes are the best in the industry, Drakengard does both well enough to be a pleasant experience.

The underlying gameplay in Conflict: Global Terror is pretty decent and enjoyable. If you're playing with three other players, the game is actually a lot of fun.

Ultimately, The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is a well put-together platformer, especially for younger gamers.

You can spend hours simply customizing your car, which will please the real tuners out there. The actual gameplay is solid, although the sense of speed and sometimes too realistic handling hurt the game a bit.

There are certainly worst ways to spend your money, but then again, there are much better games on the Xbox 360 lineup right now.

The physics are arcadey but work. You’ll notice the planes breaking in the order you would expect them to. The environments are pretty and the draw distance is extremely impressive.

Best $10 game of all time? Probably.

The game's soundtrack has that typical upbeat music found in so many kid-marketed games. Though it is slightly repetitive and a bit annoying after a while, it does fit the game well.

Only the most diehard Pokemon fans should ever consider picking this game up. The gameplay isn’t especially interesting, the game makes poor use of the Nintendo DS hardware, and the presentation is seriously outdated.

Definitely aimed at the younger audiences, The Incredibles is an adequate but unremarkable action game on its own. The license certainly does help thanks to Pixar's unique charm and the game includes a variety of movie footage and trailers to please fans of the film.

A solid wrestling game, built on top of a good game engine. The graphics are great, as well.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a fun platformer, definitely aimed at younger gamers and fans of the series.

Spider-Man 3 doesn’t reinvent the Spider-Man games or action games in general. But it’s hard to beat the feeling of swinging across Times Square, free diving down, and then saving yourself at the last minute.

The Bee Movie Game is obviously aimed at younger players and those who are interested in the movie. But even older gamers will find plenty of humor and solid gameplay to enjoy in the game.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a fun platformer, definitely aimed at younger gamers and fans of the series.

As an arcade version of hockey, it doesn’t really succeed in going all out. Nonetheless, despite a longing for more responsive gameplay, I enjoyed Gretzky NHL 06. If you’ve been a Gretzky NHL fan in the past, this version is the one to get.

Fantastic 4 offers four characters, a repertoire of moves, and compelling level design that culminate in an engaging game. The production values are good, thanks in no small part to the authentic voice acting.

A great puzzle game that is easy to play and difficult to master. While the game was obviously inspired by Lumines, the gameplay is different enough to make Gunpey interesting and challenging in its own right.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe, despite being aimed at a squarely younger audience, is a very fun game despite its simplicity. It doesn’t have the depth of something like say, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, but should provide plenty of fun for those looking for a simple brawler with characters from the Spider-Man universe.

Casual gamers may want to pick it up also since it is a rather fun party game and even non-gamers can learn the simple controls in a try or two.

The basic premise is very straightforward and isn’t likely to satisfy more than casual fans of the genre.

Older gamers will likely get bored with the repetitive gameplay that is seemingly void of any overarching sense of achievement. Younger fans will probably have fun going through the world, collecting items and seeing their favorite Neopets.

There is a lot of value in the game with a rather large single-player mode (about twelve hours) and co-op, four-player split-screen and Xbox Live support. While there are other FPS that do things better, Shadow Ops is a solid entry.

The mixture of action, stealth, and minigames will keep your attention for the game's direction. The solid gameplay is made better because of the excellent presentation.

The game’s soundtrack has that typical upbeat music found in so many kid-marketed games. Though it is slightly repetitive and a bit annoying after a while, it does fit the game well.

The mixture of action, stealth, and minigames will keep your attention for the game's direction. The solid gameplay is made better because of the excellent presentation.

A pretty decent port of its PS2 sibling. Unfortunately, the generally lackluster gameplay and sporadic framerate make it hard to recommend to anyone except those that must absolutely have a portable hockey game.

The coolest gadget is the 3DA camera which allows you to take a picture of someone and then emulate them perfectly.

Like the movie it’s based on, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t trying to radically change the genre or introduce innovative new features. It’s giving you great-looking robots that go off and fight other great-looking robots as you watch the resulting explosions.