Not the deepest and not the hardest in the genre, but the overall composition and camp factor will keep you playing.

Battlestations: Pacific speaks to the ten-year-old in me who pored over illustrated coffee-table books about WWII weaponry and watched “Victory at Sea” instead of “Sesame Street.” For a military-porn aficionado like myself, Battlestations: Pacific is like heaven, despite some of its rather glaring flaws.

The concept is there in spades; it’s the execution that doesn’t go the distance.

Unless you can look past the AI, control, and gameplay flaws, playing through a season will become impossible because after a few games you just lose interest.

The multitude of gameplay options also makes this one of the most customizable racing/driving games available.

Simple, accessible fun for everyone, including all your non-gamer friends and family. Perfect entertainment for the upcoming party-packed season.

Despite the fact that there are a few blemishes on the overall playability for each of the two titles, this classic compilation should earn a spot in the library of those looking for a fun filled look at how videogames were played back in the day.

I found it to be a great-looking game that has some fun challenges—but more often than not ended up being unbalanced and frustrating.

For every moment that Tomb Raider: Underworld shined, there were two or three where I was extremely disappointed. The fact that it feels at spots like a big movie broken up by interactive segments, rather than a deep game with cutscenes to give you a brief respite from the action, was one of the biggest offenses.

Does a great job recreating the epic lightsaber duels that most of us have come to love, but the big question is will gamers be willing to play through the first few mundane missions in order to get to that point? Initially I would have said no, but I was drawn to keep playing regardless of how bad I felt the visuals were, and even as the framerate chugged along at a snail's pace.

Fresh, fun, and completely unique. While the story pushing the events of the game wasn't quite solid enough, and we weren't always sure as to the current mission, the gameplay throughout is still solid.

Reflex isn’t quite where it should be, but it’s getting better. Here’s hoping that the next one is a more polished, cherry ride, because fans deserve that—and the franchise will certainly garner a much bigger user base if that can be accomplished.

Takes the FPS genre back to its roots. You feel once again like playing the 1993’s Doom shareware edition, now in full 3D.

The game was actually humorous and fun, and the introduction of two players is an unbelievable welcome to the series. However, the overall experience winds up being repetitious by the end, and rather short.

The next-gen quotient could have been higher (the online area is fairly weak), as Top Spin 2 sometimes seems like a slightly better version of the original. A bit more thought put into the gameplay definition of “next-gen” would have paid large dividends.

Overall the same game that we’ve enjoyed for the past four years. New features like Crease Control, ProControl, and On-The-Fly Coaching are welcome additions, but this isn’t really a "next-gen" game.

Even though you’ll use your mind instead of your trigger finger, you’re still killing Nazis—never a bad thing!

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.

It’s very Diablo-like in its playability, in that it often throws a lot of opposition at you, but with a full complement of minions and a powerful weapon, you’ll usually cut through them nicely.

Ultimately, it’s Worms’ lack of features that is its downfall. There’s a semblance of a map editor, but there’s no real user control. Why can’t I place my own objects or shape my own terrain? Why do I have to let the computer do it? And why don’t I have access to weapons that past Worms installments have had?

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.

If you just want or need a college basketball game that’s fun for quick one-on-one couch battles in your dorm room, NCAA Basketball 10 is a decent option that’s easy to pick up and play, and it’s authentic enough to feel like a real game. If you’re looking for a deeper experience though, NCAA Basketball 10 isn’t going to take you too far into the post season.

PopCap and Square Enix have managed to find just the right amount to take from each of their strengths to make a game that’s easily accessible and instantly addictive.

A tough one to master, but progressively rewarding for those that stick to their guns.

The game's single player is short, clocking in at about 4 or 5 hours, but when you factor in the ability to play the game cooperatively with a friend from a completely new vantage point this gives it some much needed depth.

A somewhat dated gameplay engine shows its age on the 360 hardware...Better looking than the regular Xbox version, but not by leaps and bounds.

No matter how you slice it, the lack of an official pro license (in a sport where the following of the pro level is strong) for this year's MVP holds this title back a bit.

Though familiar, it's still really addictive, and with all the character, track and mode options, it stays fresh for a very long time.

An intense and fun shooter that will sadly be overlooked by most gamers. The main negative aspect of kill.switch is the longevity; basically there is none. The game can be completed in 5 hours or less even in the hard difficulty level and there are no real extras or multiplayer elements to give it legs.

Some very fun moments arise in the various tournament offerings. Hits in the game make "Madden" look like its players are playing patty cake with each other. Controls could have been handled a bit better but what we have is acceptable.

Roll The Maw’s gameplay, visuals and audio together and you have one very tasty yumyum, not to mention one of the better original IP’s to hit Xbox Live Arcade in awhile.

Run, jump, zap and boost. The game plays out in quite a simple fashion and you'll find yourself rearing to beat your friends' high scores.

For those who don’t care about the game’s look, but simply want to play with a remote friend or not have to bother with the rules/dealing minutia, Duels of the Planeswalkers will probably be a great buy.

But even with such strong, complex multiplayer support, we can’t give Frontlines: Fuel of War a complete nod without a single player experience somehow equaling modern, fifty man mayhem via Live.

The game provides a stiff challenge throughout, which may turn off some youngsters that are initially attracted to its cutesy style.

Those looking for the most realistic graphics and the most thorough baseball history lesson really can’t go wrong with All-Star Baseball 2005.

If you’re more aligned with Bridge than you are with Go Fish, and don’t mind Lady Luck dropping into the pot every now and again, Culdcept Saga may just be the console game departure that you’ve been craving.

Plenty of depth and variety in the gameplay thanks in part to the varied control schemes and advent of the new relationship functionality. The new cooking features are a fun addition as well.

Keep in mind that QUAKE 4 for the PC laughs at most computers, but runs virtually without a hitch on the Xbox 360; a no-brainer when taking into account the price of admission for this level of PC-quality gaming.

Darkwatch may have a few things that keep it from breaking new ground, but it does have key ingredients such as aggressive AI, tight controls and an interesting storyline that go hand in hand with the deep multiplayer experience that should lead to the game's appeal with its audience.

Taito has meticulously crafted each progressive level in Exit to be a mindbender, thus ruling out all possibilities of this title being a pushover. Throw in the fact that there are a staggering 220 levels in Exit, and you can easily see why puzzle freaks like us are clamoring over Mr. ESC and his hip antics.

While Dead Samurai’s gameplay could have used a bit more Dawn for it to truly shine, the visuals and overall presentation value makes this unique, indy-produced IP easily worth its 800-point asking price.

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.

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.

The game is a lot of fun, and even though you can play with unlimited continues, Game Achievement challenges are fairly interesting – although a few are very difficult, if not impossible.

EALA R&D'd a new control scheme which does pretty well overall. There’s also a fairly fleshed-out Live arena, a custom Xbox 360 gauntlet mode and the ability to play this title without having to jump it with "Tiberium Wars." All of this– at a price that won’t scare away the RTS n00b– makes this wrath worth enduring.

While Koei has done a fantastic job in bringing DW4 over from the PS2 it would be nice to see the Xbox used a bit more towards its capacity.

If you're a fan of the original Assault Heroes game and you've been itching for more, Assault Heroes 2 is perfect for you. For everyone else, though, it's a tough call. The game adds a few new extras here and there, but it seems a little weak as far as sequels go.

Fast paced action, with a fast-paced storyline that ends much too soon. The game feels like an unbalanced mix of realistic combat and shooting gallery mechanics.

I was surprised at how much I liked this game. Hand it to Raven Software for building a movie-based game as a game first and then worrying about the tie-in later.

Real World Golf is stout enough in basic gameplay mechanics to make the entire package worth it, especially if you're and avid golf fan.

Yes, Droplitz is an easy game that’s not all that easy.

The single player mission is a walk in the park, but it’s worth playing a second time on the hardest difficulty, forget the length. If the single player mode is a breeze then multiplayer would feel like a tornado.

While some elements are fantastically executed and the main campaign is quite compelling, there just isn't enough innovation or diversity in the multiplayer or beyond the story to pry people away from its behemoth of a competitor.

Despite its retrograde interface and game design, Sam & Max Save the World still manages to please the old school gamers in us who have loved this wacky duo for years now.

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

A far different game than "Black Arrow" with a lighter attitude and more emphasis on fun than modern combat realism. If "Black Arrow" was a bit too hardcore for you, then Rainbow Six: Lockown should probably be the next FPS in your collection.

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.

Crave substituted in for graphics at the expense of engaging game play, realistic audio, and any other creative ingenuity that could have been used in creating this game.

An extremely stylistic experiment with a well-tailored story and high production values that offers us a glimpse of what lies ahead in gaming, but overwhelmingly shows that we still have a long way to go.

The hack and slash excellence of Dead Rising 2 returns with the added flavor of photography. It is a win/win situation.

The game may have quite a steep learning curve to overcome, which may turn away a handful of potential fans, but those that are able to work beyond the game's initial challenges may find themselves quickly hooked on a style of gameplay that stimulates the mind rather than the senses.

EA Bright Light did about as good a job as a team can do when working with the classic games of many of our childhoods. It’s a delicate job, but HFGN pulls off classic-board gaming with aplomb, while at the same time adding more video game-centric modes to each title.

A solid arcade racer; perhaps the best that has been released on a console. But only you will know for sure if $60 is a worthy asking price for such a simple game.

Each WSoP game has more for the player to do, but there’s not much to label as innovative. Hey, it’s poker...how innovative can it be?

Solid frame rates and superb level design make the game fun to play over and over. Throw in the astounding soundtrack as well as the future ability to download from Xbox Live and MX Superfly is a killer title.

An experience like no other. The gameplay isn’t revolutionary, but when all factors are brought together, the game will not disappoint those looking for a departure from the normal spy-like stealth action genre.

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.

It is the kind of title that can be enjoyed by a room full of people with just one person playing.

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

A welcome addition to this version is two-player, split-screen co-op. It lets a second player drop into the game at any time, thereby doubling the destructive potential.

Fanatical soccer fans who really missed the European tourney mode in "FIFA 2004" may want to pick this game up..."FIFA 2005" is slated to support Live, which makes the purchase a UEFA Euro 2004 that much harder to justify.

While the early difficulty and repetition made it seem like the fully-formed experience would be a grueling affair, Comic Jumper really grew on me as the levels passed. By the time I was dancing to get Pling-Pling the unicorn to heaven with Star laughing at me, the smile on my face was wide enough to forget any elements that may have detracted from the full experience.

The foundation for what will someday be unbelievable character models and environments, and the building blocks of spot-on football gameplay. If you are expecting more than that then you may want to hold onto that paper until "07."

It’s a unique game, both visually and in terms of gameplay, which is impressive considering how derivative it seems at first glance.

While the game world is a beautiful testament to a bygone era, the full experience just needs...more. You're all but guaranteed to enjoy many parts of this game, but the full experience just isn't there.

There are a few overly frustrating missions that will drive you absolutely nuts too. I found myself saying, "wow this is the sweetest game," during one mission and then, "jeeze, is this annoying," in another.

The racing system is good enough that you can forget all about the tricks and still have a great time. The controls for pulling off tricks are simple and easy, but yet allow for the extreme in all of us to enjoy this game.

I urge every Xboxer to at least rent this one in order to not only relive the past, but to experience the proper design and content for a videogame mix CD.

Very much an arcade shooter at heart, Revolver has that ability to be a title that can be picked up and played without getting sucked in for hours.

Retro fans will easily drop $20 to secure themselves a piece of gaming history while more casual fans will most likely better served giving Taito Legends a rental, but either way, it's money well spent.

While it is nice that gamers can control both Kain and Raziel for the first time ever, the compromise of the control scheme takes some of the unique aspects away from what fans have experienced in the previous games.

For the rest of the loony bracket heads out there—those that would never buy a retail version of a college basketball game but follow the tourney religiously—NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition is the best ten dollars that you could ever spend in the month of March.

This is one of those games that leaves you feeling like you’ve actually be there after the game is over, and even then you'll find yourself replaying the action in your head...preparing for the next time you pick up the controller.

Boss battles are fun, but the overall experience doesn't bring anything new to the genre of gaming.

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.

There may be some presentational issues that need to be ironed out, and the quest mode feels like an unneeded addition, but for the most part Universe belongs among the dancing elite.

The new dance pad changes the mechanics of dance games a bit for the better even if it is a bit frustrating at times to keep your bearings while on the mat. Bring a spare shirt too because the action is frenzied and sweat is an assurance.

It’s another one of those high-score hypodermic needles – you get addicted on getting a higher score so you keep repeating it over and over, working out new ideas for drone placement each time. It’s like a chess game at 100 mph, challenging and twitchy, all at the same time. On that point, Galaga Legions ranks up there with the best of them.

Pick up Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 if you are a huge fan of the series or need a fresh football fix. Everyone else would be better off snatching up a used copy of "FIFA 09" from the preowned rack.

When you get down to the nitty gritty it seems that the chit-chat is what makes the game and the whole “mech aspect” was more of an afterthought.

A minor upgrade from "ASB2003."

Only NFL Fever 2004 will give you the option of taking your game beyond your console and allowing you to participate in a virtual league like never before.

Those that love unique stories, settings, and characters will adore just tooling around in this mystical land, but those looking to give their reflexes a workout will be left wanting more.

So it plays better than last year, but not by much. AI problems and new defensive controls take the player out of the b-ball experience.

With one of the deepest character development games ever made and easy controls, the volleyball aspect of DOAX comes off without a hitch... Did I mention the "oh my God" looking graphics that will wow any console owner out there?

While the gameplay and level design is improved and it's a good looking game, the unsatisfying narrative, boring characters, and overly gimmicky morality system combine with forgettable multiplayer and strange mechanics decisions to deliver a sequel that succeeds more than its forebear, but fails to be more than a pretty good third person shooter during a lean time for the sub-genre.

LucasArts did a fine job making the closest thing to a replication of all the movies thrown into a video game. The gameplay is fantastic, the level design is overwhelming at times, and the graphics and sound make their own positive arguments.