The combat system is extremely unintuitive and, like the rest of the game, sacrifices most of the actual gameplay for cinematic moments.

It’s also extremely disappointing to see EA do such a sloppy job on a port to Xbox. There is no excuse for any game being ported from Playstation 2 to have slow-down on Xbox when there is none in the PS2 version.

The new abilities, such as deflecting arrows, are a welcome addition, but what the series could really use is a combat system that involved more than pressing two buttons in random combinations, a system that has worked well for the previous games in the series but has finally become stale.

Buy this sucker. It's got "diamond in the rough" written all over it.

Despite the game’s flaws – and it does have them – track building and racing is surprisingly fun and addictive. You might find yourself hooked. I was.

At times Soldiers plays more like a 3rd person action RPG, but that’s not a bad thing. I originally felt that Soldiers does both RTS and action RPG at the same time, only neither one very well. That would be unfair as the nuances of this game reflect the uncompromising nature of Codemasters’ philosophy on gaming and the creative ingenuity of 1C.

For all the Yu-Gi-Oh fans out there, it is 10 out of 10, but unfortunately, not everybody is.

Has a great engine, and it’s easily the best superhero game ever...The real problem is that the further you get in the story mode, the less fun Spider-Man 2 becomes.

Not only the very best super hero game ever made, but it is also the very best movie based game ever made.

A wonderful idea bogged down by lousy execution.

The game play is engaging if you’re willing to work through some control issues. I only wish the multiplayer mode was better and more popular.

This is an arcade blast based on timing and violence, and it’s a ton of fun if you don’t approach sports games as simulations of the real thing. This is a videogame in every sense of the phrase.

This is an arcade blast based on timing and violence, and it’s a ton of fun if you don’t approach sports games as simulations of the real thing. This is a videogame in every sense of the phrase.

Give this game a chance. Yes, it's got the Acclaim name on it, and the engine is less refined than others. However, the incredible cast alone is with the price of admission, and the game itself is fun enough.

MTV MG3 is a way to try your hand at mixing and sampling without spending thousands on synthesizer equipment, and find out how difficult it is to make a solid three-minute track.

Most importantly, the Master Class is hard as hell--but if you wish to be at all proficient at this game, the Master Class is required. This is where most people fall off the bridge—yours truly included.

Solid vehicle controls, great physics, good graphics, not even Hollywood voice actors can save Driv3r. This game is mediocrity in every sense of the word, and it’s all the designers’ fault.

A potentially great game released in what looks, sounds, and plays like the game never left beta stages.

It's odd that a series I regard so highly would be repackaged into a huge mess of a port. It's a shame that the game arrived to Nintendo's platform in such poor form.

It’s truly amazing to see these more impressive graphical representations maximizing this system’s potential.

Powerdrome doesn't really stand out on its own but instead follows an essentially generic formula. If you are already a devout fan of futuristic racing titles, this competitively priced game may just be for you.

If you were a little put off by "Battlefield Vietnam," you may find Joint Operations more to your liking, as I found myself frequently thinking that this game captured the feel of the Vietnamese conflict better than BFV.

The movement is torture, but does it really matter whether or not you get exactly where you need to go, since you don't have to worry much about the hordes of wolf guys and lizard dudes the game will constantly throw at you?

Its shady camera and controls (both of which are downright angering at times) make this a strictly a rental at first.

If not for the impressive sound and the sheer intensity of fighting a seemingly endless supply of terrorists, this game would have no redeeming qualities.

It’s definitely not for children and it’s not intended for those with a low threshold for frustration, but come on. Who doesn’t love making people’s heads explode?

It's definitely not for children and it's not intended for those with a low threshold for frustration, but come on. Who doesn't love making people's heads explode?

The absence of any multiplayer component is disappointing, sure, but I’d much rather have the option of picking up Burning Horizon for a reduced price, deciding if I like the game, and purchasing the online enabled original if I do.

All in all Microsoft owes a hearty thanks to GMX Studios for producing such a fine add-on. If you felt let down as I was or if you feel that you’ve tired out CFS3, you’ll find this add-on pack to be exactly what you need.

A giant leap ahead of its predecessor. It looks and feels much better than the original.

Sufficiently dark and creepy to keep gamers on edge and entertained throughout the duration. Even more important and notable is the fact that yes, The Suffering is a port of an Xbox game and yes, it’s actually a decent port.

You have to have some serious hardware to play Four Swords Adventures the way it's supposed to be played, but if you can manage that, you'll find it's one of the better reasons to own both a Gamecube and a GBA.

While the story is decent and the graphics impressive, the overall level of frustration is too much in this game, ruining what would be an otherwise excellent game.

A person who loves the Books and/or the Movies should enjoy this game. Their love of all things Harry Potter will get beyond the game's few shortcomings.

If some of the A.I. flaws are corrected the enemy presence is beefed up in a sequel it would be a near perfect experience, but as it stands this game is still a blast. They have succeeded in creating an immersive, fun, and most importantly original game that is easy to pick up and play.

Innovative gameplay, rich story, and near flawless visuals.

As lighthearted as this title is, it will mercilessly test everything you have as a gamer, and it will rest in your library quite a while before you beat it on your own and test out the extras.

Deadly Shadows has real problems with collision detection. I’ve found myself stuck in midair several times, when I accidentally slipped off a ledge and got caught between it and the building it was attached to.

From monster books on the loose, to rascally pixies, to angry ghosts, there’s no shortage of content. On this point alone, I could recommend the game.

The combat system is not only intuitive and very fluid but is chock-full of "Did you see that?!" moments, and not only takes the hardcore feel of the original title but expands upon it with additional weapons, attacks, and techniques.

But since the majority of the time you’re playing the game you’ll be slowly walking from point A to point B completing mandatory fetch quests, the game’s solid RPG foundation collapses under the weight of its own failed potential.

The biggest problem that the Xbox version has is that it, like Hitman: Contracts, is a remarkably buggy product that bears unmistakable signs of being rushed out the door.

The atmosphere is somewhat ruined by lackluster music, sometimes shoddy level design, and repetitive battles, but if you don’t overdose on the game, you’ll have a lot of fun.

True Crime lacks the open-ended feel of "GTA" by having heavily scripted missions, yet the story and production are head and shoulders above "GTA’s."

It’s actually not a bad introduction to strategy games, and it may keep those starving for some tactics busy for a few hours. But the enemy AI, clunky controls and camera, and lack of real variety in the game make it worth not one penny more than the price tag.

It’s filled with those fantastic Outlaw Golf-esque characters, except somehow with even less charm than the freaks that made up the cast of that game.

This game should be packed in free with cases of beer, since it seems to play best when you’ve got a few drinks in you.

The game is often too easy because of its own innovations, as they aren't streamlined enough to really work as they should.

The repetition is quite high, but it plays almost identically to Dynasty Warriors, so it might be a good addition. Still, the total number of levels is rather low, so you can run through a character’s story in less than an hour.

The graphics are good, but the slowdown hampers the gameplay too often. Besides that, everything is so repetitive that it makes the game a bit of a pain to play through after a short time.

It’s obviously slapped together for a quick buck, but it isn’t worth yours. With poor gameplay and underpar production values, you won’t be seeing this title praised by anyone.

Incredibly well done. It may even be considered better than "Disgaea," at least on the game-play side.

Mediocre at best. The game just has way too much lag and load time to be truly enjoyable.

There is simply no reason why buttons cannot be remapped or menus cannot be fully traversable with a mouse click. Controls should be just as tight and responsive as they are on a console pad.

The only glaring flaw throughout the entire title is the lack of a damage system that has actual consequences; meanwhile the rest of the game may as well serve as the benchmark that future rally racing game designers should aspire to.

The best in a limited line of Western shooters.

It isn’t the savior of the Western genre that it could have been, but given the circumstances, I think it’s amazing that the product turned out to be this good. The graphics aren’t amazing but they have style, and the dialogue has that Rockstar “twang” to it that makes it a good game, but not a classic.

It’s the most fun I’ve had without getting naked.

Overall this game is actually well done and can be considered pretty fun, aside from the repetition, especially if you can find friends to play with, but it is also not aimed at the older audiences.

If you’re feeling patient and want a massive adventure then BD is worth a look. If you have "Sacred" in your library, keep playing till you get to level 50 and then see how you feel.

The mediocrity and leniency of the game makes it a nice diversion for the kiddies, which also shows innovation and promise; but in its current state, it is lacking for anyone looking for a substantial gaming experience.

Overall, from a scale of Pat Sajak to Bob Barker, this game is Alex Trebek without the mustache: sharp-looking, packed with features, witty, and fun, but with just a little something missing.

The game keeps the repetition to a minimum, mixing whips, swords, and guns into the Onimusha equation. I just couldn’t drop the controller until the very last minute before I had to go to class.

It looks and feels somewhat like a game in the series, but in the end is miles away from touching the real Serious Sam games.

Sudden Impact is just a slightly damaged version of the game we’ve been playing since the waning days of Sega’s Dreamcast.

The computer AI is also much improved over the console version. The hunters can be quite cunning at times. Just when you think you’ve gotten away from a group, they split up and outflank you.

An overall better game than "Hitman 2," though as a series some of the concepts are becoming a bit worn out.

The killing can become repetitive, but the large variety of weapons helps keep some of the stagnant game play fresh.

By no means a bad game, Out Of the Park Baseball is just not quite as clutch in game-winning situations as you might like, but anyone who loves the game of baseball should give it a try.

The story is interesting, without getting too laden with metaphysical theory, the action is blistering, the sound is creepy, the graphics sharp and clear (with a few minor slowdowns when multiple multiple enemies attack), and the multiplayer fun and varied.

Be warned though, in order to properly play the game you’ll need a Dual Shock caliber gamepad and plenty of patience to overcome its trying difficulty curve.

People who have never played a collectable card game due to the prohibitive costs of acquiring the cards may also find enjoyment out of this, as it provides the chance to play the games without having to spend ludicrous amounts of cash on cards.

A mediocre game, through and through.

The brief but constant loading times tend to slow things down a bit and a lot of the unlockables are pretty worthless, but its solid gameplay, spot-on character models, and bumpin’ soundtrack make NBA Ballers one of the best games of its kind to be released in recent memory.

Without a doubt the best boxing game ever made for any platform. A few touches here and there will no doubt bring perfection. As it is, it’s a knockout!

If they can tweak the secondary graphics and add more music and custom soundtracks they will have the ultimate boxing game.

Most of the time the gameplay never crests much higher than mediocre.

The game’s modest modes of play, underwhelming presentation, and ill-conceived points system are a far cry from the series’ glory days, but the gameplay is solid and the courses can be a lot of fun under the right circumstances.

A fun game. I can’t find much fault with the time I spent with it. But its overall feel is less than stellar. The game will crawl along at even medium resolutions and the pathfinding seriously hampers you at times.

If you’re a hard-core gamer looking for an action-packed challenge then go elsewhere. EP is designed for a mainstream audience and with a short play time you’ll probably wish you picked up "Tomb Raider 17" instead.

A good game worthy of a sequel to build off of the concept of run-for-cover game play. Not too many shooters promote this sort of tactical thinking.

I really enjoyed this game, as evidenced by the 40 hours I spent playing it in the first 5 days I had it.

Its massive world, open-ended feel, deep arsenal, vast array of quests, epic story, good graphics/sound and addictive combat adds up to a game worth buying.

And there is no better battle for souls than in multiplayer, which I would say can be the heart of the game. There aren’t that many modes of play, but it can last a few hours with fellow friends.

If I were to decide between Rainbow Six 3 and "SOCOM II," I would choose the latter simply because the online play is so much more solid and the lag time from the mic isn’t quite as bad as it is in Rainbow Six 3.

Mediocre in every sense of the word.

Overall, Crytek has done a nearly flawless job in crafting the single player campaign. The combat is extremely fun and exciting, as well as addicting. The level design is fantastic, and the pacing is never too slow.

The pace and style are a little slower than I’d like, the dialogue is on the corny side, and there were, for me at least, a number of performance issues.

The single player is good, but the multiplayer is awe-inspiring.

Acclaim did make some nice improvements to this series this year, but they could not match the great strides that EA has made with "MVP." MVP's pitching and batting system is simply better, and its gameplay is a lot more fun.

Just another Yu-Gi-Oh! Game. For fans, that might mean something. The rest of us should give these games a pass.

Onslaught alone makes this game a must by for all the fans out there. If you are an online gamer and looking for the very best death match game out there today, there is no better, more polished game out there.

But the game’s shoddy visual presentation, rampant recycling and annoying lack of online voice chat are glaring shortcomings that are hard to overlook. Overall, Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm just doesn’t bring anything new to the table or do much to attract new recruits.

An admirable but stilted tilt on the age-old FPS genre. It attempts to do so many things and, perhaps purely through the power of statistics, actually nails a few.

There’s a certain, “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt” feel to the game and what’s going to determine the long-term success of the game how much the mod community endorses the game.

I enjoyed the system’s blocking and Nitoh-Ryu, but the slowdowns really bother me. The game is also relatively short with ten chapters – I beat it within five hours, and it is very repetitive.

A mélange of disappointment and elation. The gameplay, graphics, and overall experience all present a grabbag of experiences, some good, some bad.

The single player mode is one of the worst attempts at a Bomberman adventure yet, and the multiplayer mode is fun but still sits below the bar set by multiple Bomberman titles that have released over the years.