Even if you are not a fan of the sport at the collegiate level, at the core of MVP '06 lies the same game of baseball, maybe in its purest and most competitive form, which we all love and enjoy.

It's Max Payne without the bullet-time, the control, the atmosphere, or the fun. Avoid at all costs. Don't even try to get it to have a good laugh - you'll still end up apologizing to yourself.

It's almost unbelievable to me that some very small problems, all related to the nature of the system the game chose to appear on, can turn a mediocre but charming game into a mess with little play value, but that's certainly what happened with Ape Escape Academy.

Truly a textbook case of how one major flaw can bring down an otherwise outstanding game.

25 to Life is the kind of hideous trash that damages gaming's reputation, resulting in the genesis of the Jack Thompsons of the world. I need to go play Pokemon or something, to get this awful taste out of my mouth.

Unleashed has numerous severe issues; however, the core of the game can still be very fun, especially if you are a fan of dirt racing, or at least have watched a few races at a real track.

The character’s irrational beliefs make the story impenetrable, and the rest of the game doesn’t hold up well in the face of the PS2’s RPG library.

It has a pleasing look and feel, and it’s simple but forces some cognizant thought to play it.

Dead or Alive 4 has enough new content in it to set it apart, and although the gameplay itself is liberally borrowed from the previous title, it also remains the same solid fighting engine and definitely doesn't feel like a rehash as much as it does a resemblance.

The dynamic strategic campaign is also a welcome addition and works well. However, where the game’s strength should lie is in the tactical mode, yet this is disappointingly weak, particularly in single-player mode.

Fritz 9 is ideal for players interested in seriously developing their chess games, but fails to do much for the casual player or players new to the game.

If you're looking for an excellent wrestling experience and you don't want to be leashed to a television, Smackdown vs Raw 2006 has just obsolesced all your other options.

If you're looking for a Gauntlet game in the tradition of the original, you can find "Midway Arcade Treasures" for cheap. If you want one more like the recent N64 releases or Dark Legacy, this is the only game in town.

This is a package that contains a large number of fun, classic games that play well enough to pass for whatever qualifies as "accurate" in our aging minds.

The gorgeous visuals and often-fun puzzles of 80 Days drown underneath the crushing weight of bad design; the poor controls, questionable physics, and repetitive (ad nauseum) elements all hinder what could have been a great gaming experience.

Although Space Station Sim offers up a unique experience and is the only game that gives you the opportunity to actually manage a space station and the astronauts who inhabit it, it doesn't offer the sort of excitement and intensity you'd expect.

If this is your first chance to play Final Fantasy IV, it's not to be missed, but if you already own the PlayStation port or the original SNES version, think about it twice or even three times.

It doesn't perfectly replicate the poker experience enough to immerse you in the game, but if you are a poker fan, WCP2 should definitely be a title to consider, with its 14 different variants, online capability, and decent replay value.

It's a good title for kids. It controls well, the levels are interesting, and the references to Pac Man 25 years ago are respectful.

With few novel twists on basic platformer elements and passable visuals, Pac-Man World 3’s only shot at investing Pac-Man with the charm of a Ratchet or a Clank rests with its story. It disappoints severely on that count.

Grab the codes off GameFAQs, unlock all the tables, and enjoy.

A game that has decent replay value and a difficulty that will keep you engaged for quite a while. The missions are interesting and varied, and have many alternate ways to complete them.

The final "silver lining" to this entire affair is its price: as a low-cost title, it's absolutely worth your money. TopWare has released this far below the current average for a new PC title, a practice I wish more publishers would adopt.

PoPoLoCrois could probably have used more time in development to smooth over the loading issues and other minor bugs, but if you're in the market for a PSP RPG, it's pretty hard to do better right now.

An engaging narrative that actually inspires an urge to read all the text, fun and evolving combat, and a smooth coat of presentational polish make Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time a compelling package.

The graphics need to be overhauled, the missions need to be more diverse, and I would definitely like to see a deeper diplomatic side to the game. The bottom line, however, is that if you like strategy and micromanaging a lot, you should give this a try, but if you are easily bored, you'd probably want to pass on this title.

If you need a quick sword-and-sandals fix and want to fight epic battles in real-time and on a detailed 3D landscape, then Legion Arena might just be for you.

Whether you're supposed to chuckle at the writing or take Tre's quest at earnest face value, either way, it's not too much fun to play.

It's a clinic in movie tie-in game making, with broad appeal, interesting gameplay, and stellar presentation.

The graphics were amazing, and the story unfolded in a quick, action-packed manner.

Feels more like a tacked-on "fix" for some issues than a true expansion.

Supersonic Warriors 2 is one of those games that, at first glance, seem not worth bothering with; however, once you learn how it works and put it through its paces, it's extremely satisfying.

In a post-apocalyptic GBA market saturated with reason after reason to "just buy a Nintendo DS, already," Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: Kaznapped! is a surprisingly solid breath of fresh air.

Quake 4 might not be broken, but it sure is boring, and if it is boring, then fix it. Id should save their tech demos for clients and think about how they can evolve their gameplay experience, not their rendering capabilities.

If anything, it has to be respected for being a filtered and extremely direct version of the Diablo-in-space formula. It may not be great or awe-inspiring, but when you need to hit things for pleasure, there it is.

If you enjoy arcade-like vehicle response, solid background music, and simplistic racing controls with heavy emphasis on air and abusive nitrous, then this title will meet all of your needs and more. If you're looking for something to replace "Forza" or "Gran Turismo," please look elsewhere.

I tried my best to not to compare Perfect Dark Zero to "Halo" because in most ways, they are two completely different games offering two divergent experiences. I will say, however, that "Halo" is a far more polished game.

The single-player experience is worth the price of admission alone and must be seen to be believed.

Despite the dated graphics and AI, the presentation is otherwise quite good, and to top it all off, the game is pretty enjoyable.

It's a good title for kids. It controls well, the levels are interesting, and the references to Pac Man 25 years ago are respectful.

This release, however, is a merely average Prince of Persia clone with a bad movie sewn onto it. It may be worth investigation if you need your next wall-running fix, but don't come with high expectations.

An extremely lengthy, deep, and beautiful strategy experience. From the very start, you'll find yourself drawn in and playing for quite a long time.

Its gameplay mechanics are at best, boring, and at worst, snooze-worthy. If you enjoy Neopets, you may want to give this one a tentative rent, but that’s the most that I can suggest to anyone.

I'd gladly pay full price for Condemned because of its ambience and atmosphere and scares. I haven't experienced a game that freaked me out this much in a long time, and that alone makes this title praiseworthy.

Neversoft needs to seriously look at what they've done right with THAW (larger environments and skating mechanics) and strip away the fat to return Tony Hawk back to what made it great: a clean, fast, and compelling sports game for those of us who aren't so much into "sports."

Sk8land is the best attempt yet to convert the old boy of skateboarding to a portable.

Saying this game looks nearly photorealistic is no understatement, as throughout most of the race, it could pass as just that.

The problem is that it should have been done better. This is the Xbox 360 dammit, show it some respect and put some effort into your ports people.

A game that has a mature storyline, bloody, and gritty action and some wide-open fun in a scary game world.

My biggest complaint about FIFA is its name. It simply isn’t a FIFA game, it should simply be called World Cup 06 or something that accurately describes it and distinguishes it from the game that EA wants you to believe it is when you’re buying it.

A completely average experience that ends up being more work than fun.

For those of you who are looking for a racing game that does not require Skip Barber's Driving School to understand, MW will prove to be a good fit.

Those of you who have grown accustomed to the bonus features and covet the additional accoutrements that EA has been delivering for years will be sorely discouraged by the stripped-down feeling you will get from playing through this title's limited modes.

Wild ARMS Alter Code: F contains too many technical and presentation missteps to be considered a classic worthy of the hallowed halls of RPG Valhalla, but coasting along on story and style alone takes it far.

It's nice to see a publisher put in a little extra effort with the presentation of their product, which is rare these days.

Average; nothing special but no glaring shortcomings either; any charm might be lost to fans outside of the genre.

There's also a powerful shot of nostalgia for folks who grew up on NES "Dragon Warrior," as the menus are patterned after that style - and yet as usable and slick as anything you'll find in an RPG. All told, Dragon Quest VIII is one of those rare games that can be fairly called a masterpiece.

It's a good title for kids. It controls well, the levels are interesting, and the references to Pac Man 25 years ago are respectful.

The new ideas they've had work surprisingly well - sure, the hero has a gun, but it's a gun that works fluidly and effectively. The only problem is that the rest of the game has been dressed up in an attitude that really doesn't fit the franchise in the least, and then further marred by graphical inadequacy and unpleasant sound.

By no means is it a life-changing experience, but you could do much worse than exploring the dreary world of Æon’s future. Yet another semi-decent movie game? No one’s more surprised than me.

Most Wanted has all the makings of a great game, but its otherwise solid gameplay is tarnished by the lack of an online segment.

The races are graphically astounding and the online play is a great addition, but given the lack of gameplay modes, repetition is bound to set in.

At the end of the day, a Harry Potter game should evoke the magic and wonder that the books or recent movies do. Instead, this just wrapped the look and feel of the Harry Potter world around a rather unpolished children's action game, not even seeming to care about the real reasons the Harry Potter series is so well-established.

So what exactly do I love about True Crime: New York City? It's not the story, but more the system: it lets you get out there, get your hands dirty amongst the unwashed masses in any way you see fit, and doesn't let any of your actions (for the most part, anyway) completely ruin the outcome.

Heroes hasn't stood the test of time, but if you ever thought "Lunar" was fun after 1996, this game will be a classic in your eyes.

"Bland" pretty much sums up the entirety of Flow.

Even when compared to the available titles in the X360 library, HL2 blows most of them out of the water, thanks to its story, presentation and overall enjoyable cinematic quality.

No amount of racing through Times Square, cruising strip clubs, or laughing along with nutty narrative conceits eases the bruising frustration of the moment-to-moment True Crime: New York City experience.

It'll fulfill all your outlaw tuner desires, with the added bonus of not making you look like a complete fool when you take it for a spin.

When all is said and done, Narnia for the DS isn't a bad game, there's just little outstanding about it.

If you like the WWE, this is pretty much the most complete package you can find. There are some glitches, but the tuning of the gameplay, combined with new wrestling features, expansion of staple game modes, and addition of some cool new ones ensures that there's plenty of substance to go with the style.

Whether your interest in Narnia is religious, literary or both, little of the wonder that accompanies Lucy on her first trip through the wardrobe makes its way into this Xbox version of the journey.

The sheer expansiveness of the X3: Reunion universe will draw you back again and again, each time offering something new and exciting. You’ll never run out of goals to meet.

Incredibly short. We're talking Wario World short here, folks. Anyone with a modicum of basic platforming and video fighting skills can beat this game in a matter of hours.

A title that is only limited by two factors, your imagination and the ability of the title to match it.

There is essentially nothing about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that is any fun at all. I know this sounds harsh, but in my professional opinion, there is no excuse for a company like EA to have done such an uninspired and lackluster job with this franchise title.

Just feels like a small game that the developer attempted to draw out for an excessive period of time. It could've stood to be either a bit more succinct or injected with more variety.

In a sea of look-alike poker game clones, WCP2 stands out as the one that feels most like playing an actual game of poker against actual people, for better or worse.

Fireteam Bravo is stable, cerebral, and while it is admittedly problematic and somewhat generic, it is stable and simple enough that it's perfect when you've got a half hour to kill and a wifi connection nearby.

It looks awesome (even on the PS2!), uses cutscenes to its advantage, and didn’t forget to include great gameplay.

A fantastic-looking, smooth-playing, slickly-developed, adult-themed Wild, Wild West action game, which succeeds in most every area it enters.

Interested players new to the genre would likely enjoy Suikoden Tactics, except it comes off as a straight sequel to a mediocre RPG which was itself a sequel to three underappreciated RPGs – and this game is much more enjoyable if you know the mythos.

Since the first volume of Karaoke Revolution, the series has been known as a great party game for the PS2, and the addition of this title just enhances an already astounding series.

A quality title that doesn't necessarily stray from the proven groundwork laid down by its predecessors, but still manages to give you a good scare.

With overly long levels, it's built for road trips, but will quickly become played out within a few days. If you have to buy a Harry Potter game for the road, consider getting the DS rendition of Goblet of Fire.

On purpose or not, it's that unbalancing sensation of being a bit lost and of being put in jeopardy by superpower machinations you don't quite understand, that makes Operation Flashpoint: Elite worth a sliver of attention despite its age.

A satisfying approach to the visual aspects of world-building hints at the possibility of a more complex adventure, but Goblet never delivers. Wasting the amped-up drama of the Triwizard Tournament on simplistic tasks that are actually less enjoyable than the levels you have to complete to arrive at them, Goblet is a likely disappointment to Potterites young and old.

This is plain, simple fun for virtually anyone who wants to take a crack at it. Bust it out at your next shindig, and you will not be disappointed once things get going.

A fantastic-looking, smooth-playing, slickly-developed, adult-themed Wild, Wild West action game, which succeeds in most every area it enters.

As a karaoke game, Party is the best available, even if it's presented in the worst way possible - a way that, again, you might love if you own the "Best Of" collection for American Idol.

Whether it's the insane amounts of fighting that you can take part in, wielding Neo's incredible, almost god-like powers, or just having the opportunity to participate in the events of the movies, Path of Neo throws everything the Matrix has at you and more, and you'd be hard-pressed to not find something to love about this game.

Kameo has ideal combination of gameplay components culled from different genres; the elements were simply good on their own, but when combined together, they make for a great game.

Let's be perfectly frank here; games this good come out very rarely, and when they do it feels like a gift. Guitar Hero is the gift of a great game and the gift of music. It is the gift of rocking your walls clean off your house.

It's worth mentioning that the ending of the game is different from the ending of the movie, but arguably not for the better.

The sound design in The Mis-Edventures throughout the entire game is spot on and, of course, shares the style of the show.

The sound design in The Mis-Edventures throughout the entire game is spot on and, of course, shares the style of the show.

The sound design in The Mis-Edventures throughout the entire game is spot on and, of course, shares the style of the show.

But truly, this slightly-above mediocre release is not what Castlevania should be. The action needs to be tougher, tighter, less "me too" where "Devil May Cry" is concerned.