It's not for everyone, of course, but for those looking to shed some weight or strengthen muscles, including your heart and mind, this title is an extraordinary one worth spending time with.

It's more dense and difficult than most other handheld strategy titles, and the 24 campaign missions provide a variety of surprises and pleasures.

The single-player experience is great on its own, which explains the success of the PS2 version, but with the addition of a powerful and customisable multiplayer mode, PC owners are in for a treat.

Its plot is dramatic and ambitious, its gameplay involving, and it features some absolutely fantastic locations.

A great sequel...It is, however, hard going and less proficient gamers may find it too difficult and a chore to get through, even on the normal setting.

This deliciously brutal slice of RTS gaming is a hugely enjoyable Middle Ages romp.

An excellent merging of two popular properties, this is one "kiddie" game that you shouldn't overlook just because it has the Disney name stamped on the side.

Though the offline game will only satisfy the most hardcore four-wheeling fan, the online racing makes up for most faults.

You have to sort of force yourself to play in the beginning. Putting in that time pays off in the end, though, much like some of those art-house flicks that go from head scratcher to heartstring tugger in just a couple of hours.

A great game to play with friends online or off, but here's hoping the next iteration gives us more to do with the D.

That co-op feature makes this among the best kids games out there, because parents and kids can directly play together.

The most creative and cathartic button masher since cult favorite "Gunstar Heroes."

It's not without its flaws -- a lack of tactical depth and disappointing multiplayer are chief among them -- but it's gripping and spectacular to play, and certainly one of the better Star Wars games on the market.

A great game...But it misses out on the magic four stars because of the sheer difficulty that will undoubtedly throw certain people into spitting fits and hissing rages.

Merely another bike sim that does not quite make the grade. Lacking intrinsic excitement, its appeal will not last beyond the time it takes to complete.

What makes it great is the fantastic level design and AI, the solid cut-scenes and storyline, the inventive character abilities and the fact that the designers have squeezed so much into it.

Puts a futuristic twist in the high tech tale but is its storyline constructed like a Chicken Royale or a piece of nouvelle cuisine?

None of the other games come close to this one in terms of gee-whiz frills and bonus content. But ASB 2004 doesn't really get the job done on the field.

There's a lot of action to play through, it's fun to get to grips with and looks great, so if you love the Mario Brothers "plumb" for this one.

Mastering Ridge Racer 7 feels more like a mathematical exercise than a game. Technophiles may love it for exactly that reason, but other audiences may wonder where the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat have gone.

It shares too many of "NBA Live's" problems, but still has great depth and plays a decent game of basketball. One of these years, EA is going to properly fix Live, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Fans of the Pro Skater series will be both pleased and disappointed to hear that very little has changed in 2X.

Though it's good, it's overshadowed by the mighty SSX Tricky and Tony Hawk's - don't buy it until you've bored with these two.

A huge improvement over the original PlayStation version.

Long-term appeal is dependent on having a suitably committed group of friends to play with. You'll need at least three players for a satisfying game, and four is much better.

One of those rare games where the ratio of time spent to the cost of the game makes for some of the most efficient entertainment this side of "Oblivion" or "Civilization IV."

More than anything else, Big Red One is all about throwing players into war individually, and letting them feel the despair, noise, and thrill of coming out the other side alive.

A great game to play with friends online or off, but here's hoping the next iteration gives us more to do with the D.

It's the perfect counter to the allegation that video games all rot your brain, and a tight, carefully designed experience to boot.

Even the addition of online multiplayer gaming doesn't do enough to overcome a sense of sameness, continuing problems with the combat system, and the absence of involving mission goals.

GP4 is worth a look, offering a rock-solid racing experience against some well-crafted AI, but it doesn't add anything significantly new.

If all the many mini-games in this release seem less than scintillating, at least a couple work fairly well, and the basic DDR engine is as fun and challenging as ever.

While the game's is an improvement over the 2004 edition, it's still not quite up to snuff.

Displays almost Zelda-like creativeness in its monsters and environments.

Nintendo Labo is every bit as imaginative as the games that made the company a household name.

Despite its frustrating lack of modes and features, I freely admit that I have had a blast playing Super Street Fighter V. It’s a genuinely fun fighting game that has a bright future. But its troubled present gives this mighty combatant a black eye.

It's ultimately disappointing that the best Sony could do with their advanced hardware is a poor man's version of a Game Boy game ["Advance Wars"]. But, hey, at least you can play it online.

Truckloads of fun. The adventures in SAIS may be strange, but they are wonderfully entertaining and thoroughly addictive.

The plot to Etherlords, the new fantasy strategy game from Nival and Fishtank, is such complete and utter cobblers.

Surprisingly, FIFA 2002 has a much more responsive control system than any previous version.

Only let down by AI deficiencies and some clipping issues, it's a healthy upgrade for the strategic shooter.

I did however find the resource maps and graphics to be confusing. When looking at the resource map you can't tell right away which industries are on or off. You can get this info from the map legend but think the map could have been a bit clearer.

Just don't be surprised when you find the game length to be dangerously close to the running time of an average Bond flick.

Super-serious types who regularly dust their Ninja Scroll collections might have problems with its goofy, irreverent tone, but pure gamers will find a lot of pure fun.

Not many games have walked the line between real-time strategy, stealth, and action this well, and fewer have done it with such variety and classy presentation.

The game itself is an uneven mishmash of fighting, driving, and shooting. Call it Grand Theft Goodfellas; if someone took Rockstar Games' popular Grand Theft Auto series, moved its setting to New York, and then sent it via the Wayback machine to post-World War II New York, the result would be The Godfather.

The Command & Conquer series has a history of churning out solid expansion packs, and Kane's Wrath is no exception. Each side gets its share of love, the new units are thoroughly welcome, and the $30 price tag won't strain tax-time budgets.

Killzone isn't able to fulfill its own potential in the end. More variety in the gameplay would make this the killer app it's ready to become.

As a musical creation app, this program has plenty of capabilities, but is lacking in the user interface department. As a videogame, MTV Music Generator 2 is about as boring as it gets.

It's not overly deep or terribly long, but for anyone looking for simple, cartoonish blood and brutality, this is very definitely the place.

While it doesn't have as complete a package as "Ghost Recon," it will satisfy those with tastes that run more to instant action, vehicle-based shooters.

Striking a balance between cinematic, story-based gaming and free-roaming fun is harder than most people realize, and True Crime manages to pull it off in a way that brings excitement, challenge, and even a few laughs here and there (some of the voice work, particularly that of one Mr. Walken, is priceless).

If you don't mind a lot of banging around, and are looking to expose your family to some musical challenges, Taiko: Drum Master is a good choice.

This kind of thing only works when you’re invested in the characters and plot, and with little emotional payoff, the branching narrative feels more like a fun gimmick than anything else...And despite its impressive vision, “gimmicky” is a pretty accurate description of Quantum Break. I give Remedy credit for having the stones to actually follow through on its promise of combining a TV show and a video game, and perhaps there’s indeed a future here. But in a world crammed to the gills with great shows and great games, an experience that does neither particularly well just isn’t worth your precious time.

Incorporates harsh violence, language, and imagery into a much darker, nastier action/horror title that takes its subject matter and protagonist seriously for a change...The Suffering offers a good mix of the violent, the visceral, and the visionary.

A definite step up from the Underground brand, but make no mistake: It's still yet another Tony Hawk game.

Overall, the first episode of this family-friendly adventure is engaging enough to keep you playing through its brief 90-minute run time. The cliffhanger is also a doozy that nicely sets up the next episode.

But with a friend, Dark Alliance II's polished, addictive and comparatively deep gameplay, along with much improved replay value, makes it one of the best cooperative games around.

We haven't been bowled over by most of the Wii-makes hitting shelves so far, but The Godfather is a definite exception. The controls and extra content more than make up for the fact that the game already looks visually dated.

Square Enix's attempts to modernize the title go a long way towards making it more enjoyable on the Nintendo DS, and it's a good game overall, but you'll still find that it lags behind more recent RPGs in some respects.

If you can pick it up second-hand or for a markdown on the retail cost, you certainly won't regret it.

Some of the time limits are so tight, and one tiny mistake is all it may take to send you back to the beginning, gnashing your teeth in frustration.

Great control and tracks would be for naught if the graphics engine couldn't keep up, but not to worry. MTX runs at a silky smooth framerate that grabs your collar and shakes hard.

Worthy of ranking alongside some of the best console racing games to date.

The biggest failing of Heroes V, which you can almost anticipate from its emphasis on looking so good, is that it's stingy with information.

The plot, graphics and general fun of discovery should be enough to keep you happy despite the fact that 12 hours is about all the time it'll take you to complete the game.

Striking a balance between cinematic, story-based gaming and free-roaming fun is harder than most people realize, and True Crime manages to pull it off in a way that brings excitement, challenge, and even a few laughs here and there (some of the voice work, particularly that of one Mr. Walken, is priceless).

While UM doesn't have the depth to go head-to-head with classic Aki titles from the days of Nintendo 64, it has done a great job of capturing the ludicrous fun of the show, with cel-shaded graphics and faithful character designs.

There are simply a huge number modes and options and game types to venture through in this game, so many that you'll likely never tire of things to try here.

A multiplayer component is absent and the AI is a little ridiculous at times; but like a good action film, Black hits you hard and fast, leaving an impact you won't soon forget.

It's not the most sophisticated of offerings. There's not much here other than the destruction -- the levels are repetitive, and most encounters play out similarly. Little differentiates the game's weapons, and the plot is threadbare.

Ion Storm seems absolutely dead set on making you scream with frustration for the long haul through the opening section of the game.

Striking a balance between cinematic, story-based gaming and free-roaming fun is harder than most people realize, and True Crime manages to pull it off in a way that brings excitement, challenge, and even a few laughs here and there (some of the voice work, particularly that of one Mr. Walken, is priceless).

While the hardcore will likely turn up their noses, preferring the likes of "Everquest," "Star Wars Galaxies" or "Final Fantasy Online," those who simply want an easier and more instantly gratifying entry into the massively multiplayer arena will find Frontiers to be a perfect fit.

One notable difference is that the frame rate is a lot better than it was in "Most Wanted." But the price you pay is graphics that are considerably worse. Carbon is missing atmosphere. You're still driving through the game strangely un-populated city, but it's got a lot less detail and ambient effects.

The players who'll get the most out of Return to Arms are those who didn't play the last game, and perhaps even gamers who haven't touched a hack-and-slash since "Gauntlet."

The story is solid, the looming sense of the unknown is engaging, and the sheer, mind-bullying fun of building up "psi-ence fictional" powers make Second Sight a rewarding game.

From the integrated, Ghost Recon-style info on your HUD to the third-person camera and voice command system, everything is designed to keep you right in the game with the squads on the front line. The strategy pays off, making EndWar a unique and challenging new weapon in the Tom Clancy arsenal.

It's terribly challenging and terribly addicting, although its longevity can certainly be questioned due to the design of the campaign game.

The Thing on its own stands as a slightly flawed, yet atmospheric and alluring action-adventure. Hardcore fans of the film, however, will have fewer complaints.

Incorporates harsh violence, language, and imagery into a much darker, nastier action/horror title that takes its subject matter and protagonist seriously for a change...The Suffering offers a good mix of the violent, the visceral, and the visionary.

There are very bad collision problems with the ball and the fielder. I can't explain how frustrating it is for a player to catch a ball that is seven feet away from his glove.

It's fast, action-packed, and exciting, and has no significant flaws aside from its lack of originality and crazy plot.

Props go to Electronic Arts for trying to improve the game for its next-gen incarnation and, mostly, succeeding. This newly made man upholds a very fine, if very violent, family tradition.

It's hard to pin down why it's great in a few words or bullet points, but once you play it -- and play it you should -- the quality will be evident.

Its instant accessibility, great overall presentation and tremendous historical feel make this game a secret worth spreading.

Gamers on the go will undoubtedly enjoy this huge game with seemingly endless variety.

This is a strange instance where an expansion is actually better suited for new players than returning vets.

A great game to play with friends online or off, but here's hoping the next iteration gives us more to do with the D.

Remember this is a die-hard, slow-paced, no-nonsense strategy title, and chances are you'd be better served with one of Koei's Dynasty games if you're not prepared to invest plenty of thought and patience into building an empire.

It's graphically excellent, varied and, above all, the racing is exciting.

The console games have more detail and are curiously a little more humorous than the PC version with some additional activities taking place, but even after all that, we enjoyed it immensely.

While Perimeter's gameplay doesn't always work perfectly, it's refreshing to play a strategy title that stands out from the crowd both in its concept and its graphics. If you're fed up with cookie-cutter RTS games, give it a try.

A thorough, solid, funny and raunchy wild-side take on the beach-movie sport of choice that offers great graphics, lowbrow humor, funny locales/extras, and -- gasp! -- a ton of real, no-kidding volleyball.

Long load times, poor planetside performance, repetitive grinding gameplay... Galaxies is still in shaky condition, and thanks to the likes of "Everquest II" and "World of Warcraft," the genre has advanced since its release.

That co-op feature makes this among the best kids games out there, because parents and kids can directly play together.

The quality story, strong voice acting, vast landscape, and competent combat make for an all round solid action-adventure experience.

There is a certain "been there, done that" feel that weighs everything down. That, plus a few significant design miscues, make for a game that comes up a wee bit short when compared to the often outstanding original.