Buy with the knowledge that even the multiplayer mode can’t save some environments from growing stale.

As far as sequels go, Fight for NY is to "Vendetta" what "The Empire Strikes Back" was to "Star Wars."

A movie feature allows you to create short films, right down to the last camera angle, with your Sims as the cast. There are no overarching goals in the game, but that doesn't prevent it from being fun.

The best side-scrolling action game for $30 this side of buying $30 worth of live crabs. That means buy it.

The line "Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules" has never been so fully embodied by a video game.

The line "Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules" has never been so fully embodied by a video game.

While playing, we began to wonder whether it would be cooler if the bad guys won? We tried joining forces with them, but died each time. Way to be cliquey, guys.

Once you get sucked into Franchise Mode, you very well might not make it out.

While the game is open-ended, the method of playing it is not. You can't roam vast maps as freely as you can in "Grand Theft Auto." Still, Albion is a big, and, thanks to the stellar graphics, a beautiful place to wander.

High-def heads will benefit from the 480p progressive scan support. The rest of you will just have to keep squinting and hating people who own nice TVs.

The line "Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules" has never been so fully embodied by a video game.

The only tantalizing thing about Takedown is our warning to stay the hell away.

The only tantalizing thing about Takedown is our warning to stay the hell away.

The large number of cut scenes seems a little distracting at first, but once you get used to them, they add a lot of depth to the game.

You should buy it even if driving games rank somewhere between stepping on Legos barefoot and Saddam on your list of dislikes.

If you get three other players involved and a nice warm bottle of Mad Dog or a fifth of Ripple for the discerning 'neck, you’re looking at days of game play.

The large number of cut scenes seems a little distracting at first, but once you get used to them, they add a lot of depth to the game.

The large number of cut scenes seems a little distracting at first, but once you get used to them, they add a lot of depth to the game.

You should buy it even if driving games rank somewhere between stepping on Legos barefoot and Saddam on your list of dislikes.

While the hand-to-hand stuff won't win any awards, the deep selection of vehicles (from pickup trucks to high-tech battle tanks) and the frenetic pace of the game more than make up for it.

While the hand-to-hand stuff won't win any awards, the deep selection of vehicles (from pickup trucks to high-tech battle tanks) and the frenetic pace of the game more than make up for it.

While the hand-to-hand stuff won't win any awards, the deep selection of vehicles (from pickup trucks to high-tech battle tanks) and the frenetic pace of the game more than make up for it.

After each race you feel underwhelmed. There are no "wow factor" moments.

This edition costs only $30, but you essentially get one game, with a lot of variants, for the money. If you want to go retro, you should pick up "Midway Arcade Treasures" for more 2-D bang for less buck.

At times, the game is more complicated than it needs to be (e.g., top scorer sets the rules, minigames within the game), but there are 20 episodes with over 60 girls displaying their tidbits, many of which are quite tantalizing.

Online support for PS2 and Xbox plus multiple race modes will keep you on the track for days.

Whether you're reeling in a king mackerel in Alaska or a peacock bass in the Amazon, there's still not enough spice to make up for the fact that you're fishing.

After each race you feel underwhelmed. There are no "wow factor" moments.

Instead of going with a standard driver, we created a homicidal redneck with the Create-a-Driver option. Well, all we really did was rebuild Dale Jarrett with his old mustache. He just didn't look right without it.

Whether you're reeling in a king mackerel in Alaska or a peacock bass in the Amazon, there's still not enough spice to make up for the fact that you're fishing.

After each race you feel underwhelmed. There are no "wow factor" moments.

At times, the game is more complicated than it needs to be (e.g., top scorer sets the rules, minigames within the game), but there are 20 episodes with over 60 girls displaying their tidbits, many of which are quite tantalizing.

Flat-out weird does not begin to describe this highly addictive title. You become so attached to your herds that it kind of hurts when you lose a Pikmin or two to drowning or carnivorous giant beetles. It's like losing a child. A fat, little purple child with a flower budding out of his forehead.

If you get three other players involved and a nice warm bottle of Mad Dog or a fifth of Ripple for the discerning 'neck, you’re looking at days of game play.

You're looking at a solid 30 hours' worth of game play, more if you actually master the special VFX powers Viewtiful uses to control the flow of time.

Progressive Scan support makes the graphics pop off the screens of compatible TVs.

Even though the cartoony graphics are like classic arcade games, the controls remain remarkably sharp.

Once you get sucked into Franchise Mode, you very well might not make it out.

Once you get sucked into Franchise Mode, you very well might not make it out.

Once you get sucked into Franchise Mode, you very well might not make it out.

The feel of the flippers translate well into the game, letting you practice stalls and precision shots...Overall, it's a solid simulation of the real thing. Then again, the real thing only costs a quarter to play.

Once you tap into Xbox Live, you'd better get yourself an IV drip so you don't have to leave the couch…and a bedpan might be a good idea.

Most of the levels will give you the heebie-jeebies. Even if you didn't have to worry about ambushes by Imps and commando zombies, the dark environments should be enough to creep you out. The game is pure science fiction, but the structures and equipment seem plausible.

All told, Galleon provides the standard 30 to 40 hours of game play, a little less if you keep exploration to a minimum.

Catwoman's whip allows you to destroy objects and lash your prey with an effortless grace that would make a Bangkok dominatrix burn with jealousy.

The biggest advancement is the VIP system, which studies your habits on the field and develops a profile based on how you play the game.

The graphics are fantastic, particularly in the later stages, when some of the epic battle scenes are rivaled only by what goes on in your local trailer park.

Catwoman's whip allows you to destroy objects and lash your prey with an effortless grace that would make a Bangkok dominatrix burn with jealousy.

The biggest advancement is the VIP system, which studies your habits on the field and develops a profile based on how you play the game.

Besides the normal cat-like abilities, you can also initiate a feral, berserker mode that ups the damage of your attacks. Catwoman's whip allows you to destroy objects and lash your prey with an effortless grace that would make a Bangkok dominatrix burn with jealousy.

An ultra in-depth Dynasty Mode and online capabilities will keep you playing until NCAA 2006, or at least until the new Madden comes out.

An ultra in-depth Dynasty Mode and online capabilities will keep you playing until NCAA 2006, or at least until the new Madden comes out.

An ultra in-depth Dynasty Mode and online capabilities will keep you playing until NCAA 2006, or at least until the new Madden comes out.

Athens is Dance Mat compatible, which opens up the potential for some ridiculous four-way group competition. Unfortunately, Olympic events are intrinsically boring.

Capcom updated the combat system from the original game to make the movements seem more authentic. It also added the ability to kill your opponents in a single counterattack finishing move. This doesn't add to the game, but it makes waxing anyone who gets in your way laughably easy.

Between the massive boss encounters and hours of swinging around Manhattan, you’re in for at least a week of play.

Between the massive boss encounters and hours of swinging around Manhattan, you're in for at least a week of play.

Between the massive boss encounters and hours of swinging around Manhattan, you're in for at least a week of play.

Support for both PS2 Online and Xbox Live 3.0 and a deep franchise mode extend the shelf life of the game well beyond the Home Run Derby and Quickplay options.

Support for both PS2 Online and Xbox Live 3.0 and a deep franchise mode extend the shelf life of the game well beyond the Home Run Derby and Quickplay options.

Hours to complete: That depends on how long you can deal with mediocrity.

Hours to complete: That depends on how long you can deal with mediocrity.

The upgrades seem to number in the hundreds and require you to navigate multitudes of menus. Whether you look at this as challenging or soul-crushing should give you an idea of whether you should buy the game.

The creators seem to have focused more on blending cinematic elements and story arc than on controls and action. Still, it's a solid all-around title that pushes games in a different direction and serves as a vivid reminder that living in America is way better than living in Chechnya.

Not for the timid, Psi-Ops features some flat-out nasty moments. Sneak up on enemies to drain their minds of psi energy and pop open their heads. Set some poor bastard on fire and he'll run around screaming.

Not for the timid, Psi-Ops features some flat-out nasty moments. Sneak up on enemies to drain their minds of psi energy and pop open their heads. Set some poor bastard on fire and he'll run around screaming.

Though it's a great title in the Zelda franchise, the action is hindered by all the extra equipment necessary to get the most out of it.

The game has incredible graphics and sound, as well as clever AI that doesn't require you to baby-sit each squad member.

The game does a great job of combining stealth elements (centered on Riddick's ability to hear his target's heartbeat as well as see in the dark) with all-out, guns-blazing action.

The game is all about firepower. Rescuing tied-up hostages will get you power-up weapons like flamethrowers, heavy machine guns and a ground-hugging Iron Lizard missile.

Carry out your finest work in shadowy places and dole out dagger lobotomies with little chance of being penalized. It's almost as good as being a U.S. president or Hall of Fame running back!

Carry out your finest work in shadowy places and dole out dagger lobotomies with little chance of being penalized. It's almost as good as being a U.S. president or Hall of Fame running back!

From the lush environments down to the rust on Optimus Prime’s fender, the graphics in Transformers are outstanding.

The tempo of the battle sometimes swings according to the level of each army's morale. Chip away at your enemy's self-esteem by ramming three feet of steel through their guts. Then tell your own troops to buck up. Try complimenting them on their weight loss.

The convoluted control scheme outlined in the manual leads you believe you can pull of coolly calculated combinations (isn't alliteration fun!), but the action quickly devolves into button-mashing confusion.

The convoluted control scheme outlined in the manual leads you believe you can pull of coolly calculated combinations (isn't alliteration fun!), but the action quickly devolves into button-mashing confusion.

A chunky online component will keep you coming back for more than just the 40 or so hours of solo game play.

Everything from the official team rosters to the detailed fields and even to the smoke bombs set off in the grandstands at Wembley Stadium keep your head in the game.

Everything from the official team rosters to the detailed fields and even to the smoke bombs set off in the grandstands at Wembley Stadium keep your head in the game.

Unlocking new skins for the more than 40 available cars on the 90-plus tracks will keep you busy.

Everything from the official team rosters to the detailed fields and even to the smoke bombs set off in the grandstands at Wembley Stadium keep your head in the game.

Odds are this game will complete you. Spending hour after hour earning points to gain new abilities becomes a kind of subhuman mania.

You’ll get at least 40 or 50 hours of game play, and that’s before you get to the mini-puzzles.

You can duke it out in one weight class in the Champion Road mode, but it’s more fun watching flyweights pepper lumbering hulks with a couple of kicks, take ’em down and elbow them into oblivion.

Elaborate levels and the multiple paths you can take to solve them go a long way in making you forget about the lack of narrative element.

Elaborate levels and the multiple paths you can take to solve them go a long way in making you forget about the lack of narrative element.

Elaborate levels and the multiple paths you can take to solve them go a long way in making you forget about the lack of narrative element.

Painkiller sports some of the best graphics to come down the PC pipe all year. The bosses (the hammer-wielding Saphathoraél in particular) all look incredible.

The player renderings are nothing short of unbelievable. We don’t know how many polygons they used to make every sneering taunt and celebration come to life, but we can assure you, it’s somewhere between a lot and a shitload.

Sadly, Fight Night has left out back-alley options like fixing fights, in-fight cannibalism or even a seemingly drunk Larry Merchant doddering about the ring during the post-fight interviews. There’s always next year.

Sadly, Fight Night has left out back-alley options like fixing fights, in-fight cannibalism or even a seemingly drunk Larry Merchant doddering about the ring during the post-fight interviews. There's always next year.

The player renderings are nothing short of unbelievable. We don't know how many polygons they used to make every sneering taunt and celebration come to life, but we can assure you, it's somewhere between a lot and a shitload.

Or you can simply hoard all the good weapons and med packs for yourself and watch your fellow players wither, die and come back to pseudo-life as flesh-eating zombies.

Final Fantasy XI far outstrips "Everquest's" addictiveness in the multiplayer online role-playing realm.

Vast new levels, a pleasantly murky story line and an even greater emphasis on stealth will string you along for days.

Slick targeting systems let you lock onto enemies and blast away from every angle: Hug walls, perform evasive maneuvers and slide across the floor all while emptying your guns on your foes.

Vast new levels, a pleasantly murky story line and an even greater emphasis on stealth will string you along for days.

Despite the numerous missions on the disc, you can zip through the entire game in an afternoon.