A bit light on the detective work and more about pointing and clicking until something is discovered and following basic logic. I'm not sure it would even be possible to make that much better of a CSI videogame- the medium is more the hindrance than the game itself.

There are times when the story of KotOR II seems head and shoulders above that of the first game, and other times it just chugs along like a bad novel. Luckily there are far more highlights than lowlights...Sorry "Fable," this is the RPG of the year on the Xbox.

While the bike selections are lengthy, the customization is shoddy at best, and the gameplay will have players reminiscing of "Grand Theft Auto" a bit too much. When you can play "GTA" why play this?

A great game with absolutely stunning visuals, intriguing gameplay, and a cool story, but it may not be everybody's cup of tea in terms of its new dank look or hard-edged feel.

The game's not perfect but it is leaps and bounds above what we've come to expect from current casino games.

While the game does deliver on a lot of the essentials of hunting, it also lacks in certain areas as well. The controls feel unresponsive, and the overall pacing of the game is sluggish. The animal A.I. isn’t great, and the graphics are down right ugly.

There is some fun to be had both in single player and multiplayer game modes, but there aren't a lot of areas that Rogue Agent separates itself from the competition.

The Party Mode is a welcome addition and support for up to 16 player tournaments online makes Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2 arguably the best game of the long running series. It's more of the same, but that's a good thing in our book.

The weight of the ball does give the game a more loose feel than we would consider ideal, but all in all this is a budget title that turns out to be well worth it.

These types of games do become repetitive and this certainly applies here as well, but thanks to a strong story written by NY Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore, Demon Stone has a lot more going for it than most titles in the genre.

It is essentially the same game as last year operating with a few notable tweaks, but still delivers a rock-solid college basketball experience. Gamers who want to take their skills online will definitely need to snatch this one up.

The online play and custom soundtrack options are in place, the gameplay is spot-on, the graphics are some of the best you will find in any genre, and the ESPN presentation is the cherry on top.

A perfect example of how attention to detail can make an average game much more than the norm. First-person shooters are nothing new, and even though Finest Hour doesn't really introduce any groundbreaking aspects into the gaming world it does show just how well crafted a video game can be, blurring the line between gaming and cinema.

The multiplayer maps are gorgeous but tend to be too large for small team battles. Ghost Recon 2 is one of the best shooters of 2004 and a worthy successor to the previous games in the series.

Crash "N' Burn will frustrate the hell out of you since it demands so much more from its competitors than nearly every other arcade-type extreme racer.

The battles between the creatures feel slow, and border on boring. The intensity that should be felt from fighting as a giant lizard wasn't felt, and that is a shame.

We don't yet think Eidos has ironed out all the wrinkles, but we definitely think they are taking the series in the right direction, as Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood is a straight-up, screw the WWE brawler that gamers with a few screws loose will enjoy.

Taking things into consideration, in an industry where videogames based on film licenses generally fail to match the level of quality, King Arthur does surprisingly well in conveying much of the film’s storytelling and cinematic features.

If Blinx 2 were a house, it would be considered "cozy." By that I mean it is a relatively nice and well put together home, but it isn't quite what most people would want in that it may fall a bit short at accommodating for ones needs as well as desires.

Those who grew up playing these games and have forgotten how bad they look will be reminded, but will still enjoy the simplicity of the gameplay, coupled with a severe hand-eye coordination workout.

Even though the game may get a bit repetitive in time, the fantastic controls and overall solid programming are worth a look.

Poor combat mechanics coupled with simplistic controls is where Fight Club begins to fall apart. A weak storyline that feels more like bits and pieces from a larger story told through still images rather than animated scenes takes so much more away from the game then they add, making the process of playing through Fight Club more of an exercise in futility than entertaining.

Despite its simplicity, Hot Wheels: Stunt Track Challenge is still surprisingly fun to play, but it definitely it not a challenge in any sense of the word.

The visuals are amazing and the audio production is stunning. One word for the multiplayer game modes…perfection.

The game felt easier just because of the fact that it holds your hand throughout the journey, and acts like a set of training wheels until the end. That doesn't mean the game isn't fun though.

A Hero's Tail does a good job at starting to expand Spyro's world in a few new directions with additional playable characters, but it's just a start.

Attitude is exactly what this game lacks, along with a little bit of soul.

Boring and slow moving populated by horribly done artificial intelligence. Players bet stupidly and play some of the worst hands available. Steer clear of this one.

Sure there are some inconsistencies in the gameplay, but I was able to enjoy the game anyways because of its style and accurate reflection of the original film.

With very few good puzzle games to be found on the Xbox, Ultra Bust-A-Move climbs to the top in a hurry. It has everything that fans of the genre look for: addictive gameplay, easy controls, and decent visuals.

Poor gameplay, mediocre visuals and audio add up to something that never should have been brought to the Xbox, no matter what the price of the game.

A solid RPG experience for anyone even remotely interested in Tolkien's famed trilogy. Newbies will be able to easily navigate the various menus and execute battle commands with ease, and RPG vets will find plenty of depth in the amount of weapons and abilities that each character possesses.

All the titles are direct emulations so the sense of nostalgia is amazing and old-school gamers will dig the inclusion of Game Gear titles, unlockable Genesis games, and a few extras.

A great pickup for anyone who enjoys the horror/survival genre but is finding the majority of the recent releases too repetitive. Tecmo offers fans a creative twist that they insist doesn't even belong in the genre all together.

The overall look of the movie was transferred over well, but the wacky controls and the repetitive gameplay hold this title back.

While SpongeBob Squarepants: The Movie doesn't break any new ground and won't win any game of the year awards it is a solid single player game that will keep youngsters and maybe even people into their 20's busy for at least twelve hours.

Chessmaster isn't for all Xbox'ers, but it is highly recommended for anybody event remotely interested in learning how to play chess or wanting to become a better player.

The extreme difficulty of Team Ninja games, combined with jaw-dropping visuals and technically sound gameplay programming is what makes them so special. DOAU is a masterpiece for the reasons aforementioned, but also due to the fact that they did something that only one other developer has done so far - put 3D fighting online on the Xbox.

A sluggish and repetitive combat system and overly simplistic RPG elements leave The Bard's Tale wondering exactly what type of game it is. It does have plenty of hilarious moments, but ironically many of the aspects that the game pokes fun at in relation to other RPGs, it suffers from as well.

Bicycle Casino isn't up to current Xbox software standards, but it does offer online play, mediocre network code, and is also an exclusive on our beloved system.

Straight console junkies may find it a bit vapid, but the rest of the world’s gamers- those of us who have gamed in arcades before, will most likely find OutRun 2 invigorating.

What I didn't expect was how awesome the online component of this game is. All of the matches were lag free and there are more game modes and gameplay options than a good portion of the Live games out there.

Those that take a chance on Otogi 2 will find a unique and beautiful hack-n-slash title that sprinkles in plenty of variation thanks to some limited RPG-like upgrades, diverse playable characters, and a challenging story mode.

The mixture of varied and well executed gameplay, along with tolerable graphics make for basic yet entertaining action that even grandma can enjoy, well, at least until she has a photosensitive seizure.

There's not a whole lot of innovation here, but the storyline is very cool and the authenticity is stellar.

The inclusion of a four-player mode is the only improvement over last years turtle offerings. If there had been more time spent tweaking the turtles fighting moves, working on the wacky controls, and focusing more on fun, this could have been an enjoyable experience.

The beauty of KUF: The Crusaders is the simplicity of the action gameplay, even though it looks very complex and overwhelming on the screen. The control set is easy to use, yet competent when it comes time to battle the seemingly endless amounts of enemies.

It is very evident, however, that the BloodRayne series has come along way, flexing much better visuals, deeper gameplay, and a smoother overall look and feel thanks to the Infernal engine.

Does a fairly decent job at offering younger gamers (and the young at heart) a bit of fun through a wide variety of mission objectives, tons of vehicles, and humongous, streaming worlds. Even though it is imaginative in areas, it doesn’t offer the seasoned action-platform gamer anything innovative or extraordinary over what Mario, Sonic, Crash, et. al. have been doing for quite some time.

I recommend that former FIFA fans that have been turned off by the recent versions to check 2005 out - you may be surprised at how many gameplay and graphical elements that EA Canada nailed into the upper corner of the goal.

One of the best platformers currently available on the Xbox and the gameplay is surprisingly challenging and deep. The humor of the script is what keeps Tak 2 an enjoyable game to play through and is reminiscent of movies like "Toy Story" and "Monsters Inc."

Midway's selections are not only well thought out but they also perform as flawlessly as possible given the hardware and peripheral differences.

With just a bit better speed sense and a few additional games modes, Yager could be a top notch affair.

While the game does contain some exploration and adventure aspects, the core gameplay boils down to a never-ending series of mini games that become repetitive fairly quickly.

If someone, after reading this entire review still has an inkling of desire to purchase this title I suggest taking your head placing it on the frame of a door and having your pal slam the door repeatedly until any thought of Trigger Man has escaped. Simply put, this game is truly a new low for the gaming community.

A standard sci-fi shooter that only die-hard fans of the series will really appreciate. Even though the game features the use of Cyclone armor, and cameos from the anime series, there is just something missing from Invasion that makes it feel anything but Robotech.

With an excellent versus play, an addictive Puzzle mode, and a strategic chess mode, MK: Deception is chock full of solid gameplay. Add to this a decent campaign mode which is a necessity for cool unlocks, and you have yourself a certified console fighting classic.

As much as it pains me to say it, THUG 2 should be the swan song for the Tony Hawk series. While THUG 2 is arguably the best Tony Hawk game to date, the new features this year feel forced and really don't add much to the proven formula.

Some players, particularly the hardcore fans, may find the stripped down feel and presentation a cheap reflection of the franchise while others may find the more streamlined gameplay easier to jump into.

One of the best Crash titles to have been released since its earliest inception on home consoles, and it's creative use of combining past enemies as partners is what gives Twinsanity a new lease on life.

There are still a few minor issues that keep the overall impact of the game from really landing a solid knockout punch, but the game does provide boxing fans with an easy game to jump into without having to worry about spending 2 hours figuring out the controls. It’s pure Rocky fun.

The game isn’t that much different five-on-five style, but the inclusion of online play and cool new game modes puts it over the top. The Dunk Contest in itself is worth the price of admission.

Far above average car handling physics combined with true rally-style online racing allows CMR 05 to dominate last year's game. It's a tough game to beat for thirty bones. Some may complain about the floaty physics.

For those looking for a variety of online modes, great graphics, and technically accurate five-on-five play, ESPN 2K5 is the only way to go.

The arcade racing physics and handling engine by Rat Bag is about as sweet as the Lee's insignia orange paint.

It’s really difficult to gauge exactly what level of gamer Shark Tale was created for. The first few chapters are so ridiculously easy that you’d assume this would be a game just for kiddies. The difficulty level ramps up rather quickly and even experienced gamers will be challenged in later chapters.

Stands out because of a great gameplay setup that mixes a very strong combat system with the ability to level up characters during the game. While some of the game's action may become quite repetitive, it's also quite addictive.

Hardcore fans of the Dreamcast release of Headhunter will probably enjoy Redemption since it is a continuation of the same formula, but be prepared to struggle through some gameplay problems that keep it from tipping the needle above that mainstream level on the radar.

Aside from not having much replay value, and save for a few glitches visually and technically, Second Sight does everything an action game should - it entertains, excites, and makes you use your mind a bit.

A must have for fans of the films and a great multiplayer game for shooter fans as well. Battlefront does suffer a few design flaws that include a weak single-player section, poor AI at times, and a lack of an underlying continuity between battles.

The on-ice gameplay is some of the best hockey you’ll ever play in a videogame; the control is unmatched. Then, the game lays an egg when it comes to all around game modes and extras.

Sure, the game is more unrealistic than not, and it doesn’t look that pretty, but for outright console fun, the game is way up there. The combination of an endless supply of cool unlockables and semi-challenging gameplay is hard to discount, and makes it far easier to look past Tiger Woods PGA 2005’s flaws.

You will, however, find the console fans bickering about the sluggish play, friendly AI glitches, and the overall lack of excitement that surround this title.

My two biggest complaints are 1.) there are not enough quests in total and 2.) the choices you make do not affect the overall outcome of the story that much. Even though I truly enjoyed playing through Fable twice, I still can help but feel a little bit let down by the scope. This was an adventure that I didn't want to end, yet it did far too soon.

What the hardcore fighter genre is all about, and at a nifty price. Fix the lag online, and you have my sleeper hit of the season.

The negatives are too much to ignore: idiotic enemy A.I., lack of variety with missions, short lived gameplay, and iffy graphics, to name a few.

The absolute bare bones of an action game are present, but they are executed so poorly, that the game begins to near the line of being unplayable. The gameplay is very repetitive, the controls are clunky, visually it is just plain nasty, and the audio is laughable.

The lack of online support, weak multiplayer options, horrendous teammate A.I., and some buggy gameplay mechanics keep this title at strictly an above average level.

While there were definitely some changes to the game that I didn't care much for, such as the lack of radio/flashlight combo, perhaps the alterations were a good thing for the series overall.

Even EA haters will be anonymously purchasing Burnout 3: Takedown like it was underage porn contraband, not being able to deny its absolutely addictive offerings.

It's a fun game for fans of "Super Smash Brothers" and a fun game for fans of the 2D fighters of yesteryear.

Mindless fun like we have here is really meant to be enjoyed with another person, but unfortunately the co-op mode doesn't offer enough guts.

A bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing - masked behind pedestrian visuals, a mediocre soundtrack, and a rocky release to market with the whole 3DO debacle, is a racing game with absolutely incredible physics and handling and a fun career mode.

PFC’s generous amount of online text and training will make you proficient at landing big fish, but you have to want to sit down and get into a simulation of this nature.

The return of the online scoreboard is nice, but additional online features could have really helped push Deer Hunt 2005 Season into the next level of console hunting.

The work that fun labs did on the visuals and parts of the gameplay are commendable and show much promise, but the game is lacking in depth and soul.

Regarding clean-cut, vibrant visuals, ESPN 2K5 is by far the best looking hockey game to date and it's nice to have the adjustable zoom camera back.

While the controls need tweaking, and the pace of the game slowed at times, the missions and overall experience of flying these planes held some fun to it.

Once the buzz of seeing more than 60 girls topless wears off, this one might collect dust on the shelf, or under the bed, or wherever you hide your “adult entertainment” collection.

This is a great example of a game that simply settled. It offered a nice selection of game events, but when it came to things like visuals, sound, and overall experience, it felt like there could have been more.

Personally, I really enjoy the authenticity and realism involved with Madden's superior AI and gameplay feel. The hardcore Madden fans will love the subtle tweaks, fixes and upgrades throughout the entire game.

The best iteration of a classic ball and flipper game out there. Die hard pinball fans will be smart and either play or buy the real deal, so I can't recommend Pure Pinball to any of these freaks.

To sum it up, anybody who considers themselves a gamer should own a copy of Black Arrow; it's simply that good.

The story of Galleon is fantastic and does a great job of keeping a player's interest till the very end, and the gameplay, depending on your preferences, is a unique twist on an all too common platform. However, the graphics and audio feel as though the game was being designed for a lesser system than the Xbox, of which it is an exclusive.

The gameplay is horribly repetitive and dull, the controls are twitchy, the visuals are bland, and the audio is laughable.

The combat and user interface is nearly flawless and the high level Spirit Strikes are on par with the flamboyancy of the "Final Fantasy" series. The problem is that the story takes so long to get interesting that most gamers may become bored and not venture on.

Catwoman has all the sexual appeal as characters like Lara Croft but looks alone isn’t going to cut it in today’s highly competitive industry. The game is too simplistic and it shows.

ESPN NFL 2K5 has the best graphics that I have witnessed in a sports game to date... The V.I.P system is the coolest thing since controllers with shoulder buttons.