It’s not a must-play gem due to too many easily noticeable flaws, but Yakuza’s positives greatly outstrip any negatives. And if you’re a fan of a good story, look no further.

Ultimate mode would test even the best players to their limits. I say this because the entry price is $39.99, which is deserved, but not appropriate for those who’ll get frustrated just trying to make it through the first level. But if you’ve ever had late-night liaisons with a lady dressed in black leather and cracking a whip, then you’ve probably already bought it.

It’s a fantastic game, to be sure, but it’s catering to a very specific set of gamers.

Just a completely average game.

There is a potentially interesting game here, but more often than not, its gimmicks lose their appeal and then you’re just left with a sub-standard and less enjoyable "Burnout."

Dark Resurrection is so great, that many will argue that it's the best Tekken game ever – and I’d agree. It plays tighter than "Tekken 5" (because it's based on the updated Dark Resurrection arcade update), and it has tons of features not found in the home release.

For those that have played it before, it remains as engaging as ever.

I could mention other issues; like the fact that the whole game barely takes 3 hours to complete, the inclusion of a lame 2-D bonus game, or the lack of any sort of multiplayer features; but to complain any further would just be beating a very dead horse.

For roughly fifteen dollars, you get 20 board games on a single blue-backed disc. That's a great value, assuming you're into board games and have a couple friends nearby.

If you’re looking for a good “pick up and play” soccer game for the PSP, WTS 06 is a good option. However, if you’re looking for a little more depth, the lack of club teams, customization, and mini-games is hard to look past when FIFA 06 is sitting on the shelves right next to it.

But the bad is just too prevalent: poor upgrade system, mediocre graphics and sound, and in general, it just feels like an arcade game trying to be a simulator.

As someone that's pretty much bored to tears with the FPS genre, I personally found Urban Chaos to be a breath of fresh air.

Unless you're totally averse to 2-D graphics, you definitely need to add Street Fighter Alpha Anthology to your game library.

The way Konami has transformed Ashley Wood's artwork into a highly-navigable, multimedia presentation is is nothing short of awesome.

Considering that the biggest problems with this compilation are that the games are exceedingly difficult and don't offer a two-player mode, I'd say Konami has put together a winner with Gradius Collection. If you enjoy old school shmups; the kinds with spaceships; you'll feel right at home here.

Don’t think of it as a sequel to San Andreas; think of it as an inexpensive way to pass the time while waiting for GTA to appear on the PlayStation 3.

It’s well worth playing for stealth aficionados, and the PS2 version might be the lesser version, but it’s still quite acceptable.

It's a reasonable amount of fun at a budget price, but as Martin Brody might say, "I think we're gonna need a better game."

As a total package, Field Commander is easily one of the best turn-based strategy games ever produced. That's no surprise, since it's basically a knock-off of Nintendo's "Advance Wars."

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, but you enjoyed "Exit" or some of the older (not the new crappy 3D) "Worms" titles, you’re sure to enjoy the simple yet engaging gameplay that Lemmings has to offer.

If you’re looking for a great X-Men game, consider the enjoyable Legends series. The generic, thrown together experience known as X-Men: The Official Game is not what you’re looking for.

There are just too many other, better racers on the PS2 that you should play even before OutRun 2006 comes to mind.

Good for what it is... a simple, arcade style racer that retains the core concepts of the original OutRun arcade game while incorporating many necessary gameplay and audio-visual enhancements.

It's got a few noticeable errors, especially when it comes to repetitive gampelay, no drastic enhancements, and erratic enemy AI. But it's extraordinarily pretty, the controls are nearly flawless and quite accessible, and the fun factor remains high throughout.

In the end, you’ll probably make it through Las Vegas, San Francisco, and London, but after that, if you’re still playing, you’re either immensely bored or far more enamored with the game than I was.

2006 FIFA World Cup is more robust than the typical World Cup videogame, but even then, its feature set is far below that of FIFA 06.

All told, WRC: World Rally Championship doesn't break any new ground, but it is, nevertheless, a solid rally racer.

The best in the entire series. Still, some aspects are scuffed up enough that it is quite as legendary as it could be and I'm not yet convinced that Lara is a truly compelling character.

Having the menus laid out in different rooms of the school may seem like a good idea on paper, but it’s a chore to navigate, and it’s easy to miss stuff.

In the offing, 2K Games has made a comprehensive, deep baseball sim that just isn't much fun to watch.

From Russia With Love is a perfect example of how not to port a game from the PS2 to PSP. It does absolutely nothing new and a host of things much worse.

An excellent, fun, and whimsical game that once again proves how well Disney and Final Fantasy can play together.

Beatmania US just isn't the game it should be, bottom line.

The disc may only have six or seven legitimate classics on it, but those six games truly are milestones that stand the test of time.

Despite the fact that you can beat it in as little as 12 hours (closer to 20-25 if you do everything), the game also feels artificially lengthened due to the tremendous amount of cross-town driving you’re forced to do.

Suikoden V by and large shines if you can get through the sticky parts in the beginning.

Portability is the game's strongest sale point. Deep down, Me & My Katamari may be the same old Katamari Damacy you've played on the PS2, but now you can play it anywhere.

If you’re not a diehard fan of Country, there’s not a chance in hell you’ll have a good time with this game – unless you’re singing a tune here and there at a party. Harmonix could have done a better job here.

For some wacky reason, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the first game. Perhaps it was because the concept of a strategy-based Metal Gear was no longer new to me. Perhaps it was because the levels were shorter. Perhaps it was because there are too many cards and too many options to pick from this time around.

Role-playing enthusiasts will probably deem it too underdeveloped for their tastes, but Neopets fanatics and younger players should come away satisfied.

Taken as the sum of its parts, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror isn't just one of the best games on the PSP; it's one of the best games to come out for any platform, period.

It’s an overall solid effort, but there are some aspects of the game that should have gotten a bit more work. Maybe next time.

It's just a really, really well-made platformer and probably one of the best to come along in quite some time.

Even for those who have played and beaten the original Snake Eater, there is enough completely original content in Subsistence to provide several dozen hours of offline entertainment, not to mention an online multiplayer feature with massive replay value.

The presentation is fairly good and it's free from the poor technical design that most movie cash-ins fall victim to.

Mega Man Powered Up is the way a classic game should be remade. Capcom updated the graphics and audio to today's standards, and also tacked on a number of new features that greatly lengthen the game's staying power, but they pretty much left the original gameplay alone.

It’s fun for a good while, but ultimately it needs more variety or an engaging multi-player component to make it enjoyable for more than a few hours.

It's fun, lengthy, beautiful, and really, really satisfying.

Even slightly improved AI would have made the game much more engaging, as would more effective bullets, varied mission objectives, and more freedom to carry whatever guns you wanted.

While the disparate elements of 24: The Game aren't stellar, they come together like peas and carrots when combined with the solid and engaging storyline.

What a letdown, considering that the version included with "Capcom Classics Collection" was arcade-perfect.

The scope of the game is too small (it can be finished in less than 10 hours), the mechanics are really basic and/or sloppy, and the graphics are nothing to get excited about.

If I was sitting in a dentist’s office, had ten minutes to kill, and someone handed me Street Supremacy, I’d be happy to play it; that way I could be numb for the pain of getting a cavity filled.

A solid package that offers the authentic gameplay, intricate controls, slick visuals, and unflappable commentary that MLB fans crave.

Racing games are supposed to be games of skill, not chance. Sonic Riders, despite all of its shortcuts and power-up items, feels like a game of chance. What's more, it's also a real pain in the ass to play.

This isn't one of those games that'd you'd pawn of for being an entirely wasted effort, but it doesn't really strive to lift itself above mediocrity.

It strikes a good balance between substance and flash, and does an excellent job of capturing the thrill of the fight.

The portable go-anywhere nature of the PSP game makes it easy to tolerate that version's rough spots. If you like boxing, either version should make you very happy.

It's unlike anything else you've played in recent memory.

Arena Football seems like a good idea on paper, but the execution of the idea is miserable.

Every aspect of the game; the gameplay, the graphics, the audio, and all of the various play options; just oozes "arcade" quality, except that this version of the game outshines the original arcade release in every conceivable way.

If you’re simply looking for the best handheld soccer game, FIFA 06 is the far better choice, due to better visuals more licensed teams, online play, mini-games, and the inclusion of commentary.

With wonderful aesthetics, some cool extra features, a budget price-point ($30 or so), and short loading times, Maverick Hunter X is one of the most pleasant experiences on the PSP.

The MVP engine truly is the best when it comes to portraying all of the subtle on-field nuances of the game and putting players in complete control over every aspect of play. The switch to college teams and players hasn't hurt the game's playability one bit.

Incredibly disappointing. Even if you were to find three friends with PSP’s and copies of the game, you could only play four games, which is a complete joke.

You simply can't deny the charm and light parody afforded by these monkeys. Besides, the action does get quite good near the end; the rest of the game just needs to catch up.

It's going to slip under the radar for most people, but it is worth the effort. It's a lot of fun to play due to the battle system and dungeon mechanics and even though it wanders too far into the realm of role-playing stereotypes at times, the plot and characters are reasonably enjoyable.

Long story short, what we have here is an intellectually stimulating maze-based puzzle game that's good for one or two days of play before it ends up on the shelf.

The hack n’ slash genre has evolved quite a bit over the years, so people have come to expect more out of a game like this.

Worth your $29.99? If you like the games on the "best" list above, sure. Otherwise, no.

The best poker video game available for home consoles. Sure, it'd be nice if the presentation were flashier, and if the game offered more configuration options, but the poker itself is damn near perfect. That's what matters most.

You'll probably want to pass on the PSP game if you've already had your fill of it on the PS2, since the content is mostly identical, but newcomers are encouraged to give it a try.

If you're looking for a fun game to pick up and play for a few minutes at a time, or if you've heard about the fun of Metroid Prime Pinball (review) but own a PSP instead of a Nintendo DS, you can't go wrong with Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb Collection.

The controls and camera need a little work and the supporting cast (as well as the Tokobots) could use some kind of personality outside of being cute and/or evil.

The basic mechanics and ideas are still fairly cool and I'm always a sucker for a good environmental puzzler with acrobatics aplenty. In that sense Two Thrones is good stuff, but the rest could use some brushing up.

Technical problems kill any value that Kinetic might have.

A surprisingly strong game that does so many of the fundamental things right. Smooth, colorful graphics, a respectable score, a working camera (I can't stress this enough), and a 15-20 hour action-adventure quest are good points for which almost any game should strive.

A solid remake of a classic game.

Yes, it is repetitive and somewhat light on content, and it doesn't really push the PSP's capabilities, but it is also fun and extremely charming (in a dark, twisted way). Anyone that has been looking for a fast-paced, not-too-complex zombie killing game should definitely check out Infected.

While not terribly original in terms of storytelling, Dragon Quest VIII offers enough variety in presentation and gameplay to make it worth playing, especially if you're fanatic about your Japanese RPGs.

While the actual races aren't that interesting, the cop chases are fantastic.

Racers such as Burnout Legends, Ridge Racer, and Midnight Club (other than the load times) are much better games, so there’s not much of a reason to pick up Most Wanted, though it’s not a bad game.

An entertaining adventure, but it is not a game for non-Potter fans. The visuals, music and voice acting are beautifully done, but the same can’t be said for the storyline, and controls.

A menagerie of all the elements of bad game design. It takes many more steps backwards than it does forwards, and awkward (even game-stopping) bugs will frustrate you if the embedded elements don't.

The good: it’ll take about 40 hours to beat, the character design is great, and RPG veterans will feel right at home with the gameplay. The bad: the dialog localization is poor, there’s a fair amount of backtracking, and the game does nothing new. The good does outweigh the bad, however.

If you’ve got a child or sibling under twelve with a good imagination, they might have a good time with Operation Spy. Anyone else will likely find the game uninteresting, especially since most of the content is locked.

The visuals, music and voice acting are beautifully done, but the same can’t be said for the storyline, and controls.

The best poker video game available for home consoles. Sure, it'd be nice if the presentation were flashier, and if the game offered more configuration options, but the poker itself is damn near perfect. That's what matters most.

Clearly the most impressive and important aspect of this game is its multi-player mode.

Though the experience may not be long, nor is it as epic as it's made out to be, what's there is genuinely entertaining most of the time and faithfully captures the rough-and-tough atmosphere of the frontier.

There’s simply no way to please everyone when it comes to a song list, but damned if Harmonix and Konami didn’t try.

Fatal Frame III really ties the entire series together and provides a good and complex plot with plenty of scares and frantic moments.

As a total package, Lord of the Rings: Tactics is impressive. It's a reasonably intricate strategy game in its own right, and, thanks to its slickly produced presentation, it's also one of the better video game adaptations of the films made to date.

Practically every Matrix moment has been tucked up this game’s sleeve. It may not a solid fighting game or as fluid as it could be, but Path of Neo will still satisfy the diehard Matrix fans, if there are any left.

Guitar Hero is everything a game should be -it’s innovative, it’s tons of fun, has tons of replay value, and it’s accessible to both new and experienced gamers.

Anyone nostalgic for the glory days of the Bond film franchise will love the inclusion of a classic film as well as the return of Sean Connery. However, it doesn’t try anything new, multi-player stinks, it’s too linear, and it’s too easy, so it’s not worth more than a rental.

The online is decent if you can stomach the gameplay enough to get into it; and the mini-games do offer some fun diversions. But “The Life” is undercut by poor fundamentals and the restrictive nature of the animations and controls.

Good for what it is: a repetitive arcade-inspired beat-'em-up based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series.