Outdated graphics, an unfriendly (but ultimately bearable) control scheme and a shockingly bad (i.e. incomplete) localization make Ultimate Battle 22 the lesser alternative to “Budokai."

No, Mobile Light Force 2”doesn’t come anywhere near the overhead 2D shooting perfection that is Treasure’s one-two hit combination of “Ikaruga” (GameCube) and “Radiant Silvergun” (Sega Saturn).

Worth replaying a thousand times over just to experience the balance of eye-candy, time-tested gameplay and soothing-without-grating music/sound effects.

Too short, its puzzles are laughably easy, it's too expensive for the limited replay value it offers and it doesn't break any new ground for the survival horror genre.

Worth a rental just to gawk in awe at how the Japanese perceive the people and culture living in the red states of the United States of America (AKA Bush country).

THQ is selling "WWE Crush Hour" for a mere twenty bucks, which is an accurate reflection of the game’s all-around mediocrity in graphics, sound and playability.

Gorgeous visuals (slowdown notwithstanding), a killer Franchise mode, adequate commentary, smart A.I. decisions and a mid-game save option (yes!) compensate for WSB 2K3's small amount of pitches (compared to "High Heat 2004"), awkward replays, average control and stat tracking that still can't touch 3DO's baseball sim.

Features the most dramatic and gameplay-enhancing improvements yet seen in this series.

Rough, outlandish and a hell of a lot of fun.

Easily the best Soccer game out there for any platform and even moreso one of the BEST sports games on the market. This is "FOOTBALL" the way it's meant to be.

As good as the control and visual re-enactment of the real-life planes come across in Aero Elite, AM2 and Sega drop the ball somewhat when the players become proficient armchair pilots and start itching for new challenges beyond those of the Training missions.

It feels like a port of the series rather than a whole new engine.

Scores major points with its new graphics engine (gorgeous), two-man commentary (perfect) and revamped pitcher/batter interfaces (serviceable).

Cel shading has never been as underplayed and better used in a PS2 game as in this one, and even the English dub and J-pop tunes fit like a glove with The 2nd Runner's anime-inspired universe.

A deeper, more challenging and ultimately more rewarding driving experience than "Auto Modellista” (PS2) or “Apex” (XBox).

The ultimate “MGS” fan’s dream come true. And, with Solid Snake now front and center throughout the proceedings (Snake Tales anyone?), this “MGS” sequel can be enjoyed the way it was meant to: with as little Raiden as possible!

Good graphics, solid controls, decent sound (including purposefully-campy English dialogue) and mucho replayability (especially from its two-player mode) make Wrath of Heaven the best Tenchu game of the trilogy.

The fielding, hitting and baserunning still play second-fiddle to the intimidating pitcher interface though.

Deeper-than-a-Bible-sermon battle commands, philosophical in nature, cinematic by choice and at times infuriatingly self-absorbed (non-interactive 45 min. cutscenes??!!), Monolith Software’s first chapter in what will be a multi-chapter episodic RPG arc has to be admired, reviled and thoroughly experienced from start to finish.

A valiant attempt at creating a serene and relaxed scavenger hunt.

Playing this is the closest videogames have come to perfectly re-enacting the mind duel between pitcher and batter.

Good-looking stuff even if what most gamers will recall from their time with Dragon Quarter is being blinded by the darkness and a PSOne-sponsored shade of the color brown.

It’s no "Wind Waker" (then again, what is?) but, in its own quiet and subtle way, developer Level-5’s dungeon-clearing RPG is as amusing and polished an entry into the genre as anything Miyamoto has designed for the past two generations of Nintendo consoles.

Strictly for fanboys, PS2 library completists or masochists in search for a higher-than-normal threshold of pain in their interactive diet.

From stiff control to appalling graphics and horrible English voice-overs, Disaster Report is a small-scale disaster in and of itself... It’s surprisingly fun to play despite its numerous flaws.

Epic in scope but technically flawed (particularly in its framey and load-happy PS2 incarnation), Vexx is begging for a much-improved sequel.

By being forced to set-up a premise that MIGHT evolve into something interesting in the long haul, ".hack's" storyline drags and plays second-fiddle to average-at-best (and done better elsewhere), random-dungeon clearing RPG fodder.

If they can continue this pattern we just might have the best soccer game next year.