For fans with a taste of all things retro, picking it up for just 400 Microsoft points (or about $5) seems like a no-brainer.

Sadly, ET:QW looks like a good idea that wasn't properly fleshed out to meet that potential.

If you don't mind shelling out about twice as much as most other XBLA games for a fairly short tale, you'll likely find the game to be well worth the price of admission.

So, yes, the future does indeed looks bright for FIFA 09, but with UEFA EURO 2008 currently on the shelves, the future also happens to be right now.

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.

It's actually a pretty fun experience...IF you’re playing with a small group of close friends. Outside of this specific situation, though, the experience loses a lot of its initial interest.

So, if you can get past Iron Man's steep learning curve and a little bit of tarnish in the visual department, what are you left with? A game that's far from perfect, but still better than a lot of movie and comic book tie-ins that have come before.

It's amazing that a sequel that keeps the core gameplay concepts of its prior incarnations can do so much to change itself into something new. Cabs are awesome, as is the cellphones capabilities. But perhaps the biggest innovation is the notion that you can create a game that's as valid a piece of art as any book or movie. Is this our "Citizen Kane" moment?

Simple gameplay, great presentation and a finely tuned balance of luck and skill are the elements that made Lost Cities a hit with card- and board-game fans, and this version just makes all of that even better.

The graphics look cleaner, but more artificial. The create-a-player is functional, but nothing spectacular. Character development looks good on paper, but not in practice. The addition of combo minigames is interesting, but takes away more than it adds.

The microgames that are genuinely entertaining are few and far between, and, due to their nature, over far too quickly.

Battlezone is definitely one of those old games that has been vastly surpassed by present-day titles, but it still has the gameplay appeal to make it worth a look.

The game’s unique spin on a classic formula, coupled with a difficulty level sure to challenge even the most hardcore gamers, make the game an experience just waiting to scratch your itchy trigger finger.

The fast paced action and quick thinking gameplay make for an entertaining experience. Toss in a strong online co-op component, and there’s more than enough to dig its way out from the depths of mediocrity.

A great-looking but ultimately unfulfilling experience. There’s a lot of flash and flair, but not a whole lot of substance.

And while there’s little aside from the inclusion of the glaive in combat that could really be considered an innovation, it’s still something that can keep a solid hold of the player’s attention throughout.

The whole experience of Universe at War ends up being one big chore. If the single player is dull, and the multiplayer is broken, all you’ve got left is playing skirmish mode by yourself. And that will get old after a while anyway.

In general, there’s still a lot of entertainment in Viking, despite its need for more variety and its over-populated battles. Even at the lower “Normal” difficulty, it’s challenging. I just wish it had more inventive gameplay design across the whole game and pushed the player to have to think of more creative ways to get out of certain situations.

While the minigames and Superstar moves are fun, the core tennis controls lack any semblance of depth.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is definitely worth a look-see, but don’t expect much more excitement than the first time you plopped Lockdown into that fat, black console.

While the developers obviously tried to make the most of switching from a phone keypad to a game controller, they still missed the mark. The thumbstick on the Xbox 360 controller in particular is overly sensitive, causing the player to overshoot too easily. Racing the clock is hard enough, but losing time by moving back and forth between the right answer through no fault of your own is infuriating.

A weak plot, a subpar multiplayer and a relatively boring collection of games all add up make Bliss Island one place from which gamers will be eager to get rescued.

The kind of logical thinking it requires of you in the forensic mode is unheard of in action games.

Built upon a strong engine, but not doing much to keep up with the Joneses.

The game ranges from moments of great intense action to totally bland and repetitive sections. The developers present all of these cool things to do and then give the player very little control over doing them.

The best way to describe the gameplay in Rocketmen: Axis of Evil would be to call it the bastard child of "Flash Gordon" and "Smash TV."

Sure, the content isn’t exactly tailor made for an afterschool special, but it’s a great exaggeration of the hijinks and hard times that just about anyone can relate to. And thanks to Rockstar’s decision to give fans continuing education by expanding the game’s content, there’s plenty in place to please both Bullworth freshmen and alumni alike.

It might be time for the makers of MLB 2K8 to take a step back from adding bells and whistles, and put a little more concentration into the on-field action. In a lot of ways they’re headed in the right direction, but if the game itself is frustrating to play, all the cool features and classic players, and awesome mo-cap animations go to waste.