This is decent but minimal new content that you'll want mainly because you're sick of the few maps you were given in the original game.

The technical issues are frustrating to be sure, but Brain Age is a surprisingly engaging puzzle non-game.

A sensational story-led RPG, giving fans of the role-playing genre just what they need to enjoy the ride it takes you on.

A well-crafted game with some incredible graphics, but it gets old very quickly.

If you own the PlayStation version of MLS Game Night or any of the ISS Pro Evolution games, then it's not worth investing here as there's nothing spectacularly new and the game hardly pushes the PS2 to its full potential.

Although Shaun Sullivan's game does almost everything right, simulation speed moves at approximately the same pace as continental drift.

Blitz: The League is functional, fun, *!#$ed-up fantasy football with enough humor, style, and faux "edge" to keep even the least gridiron-minded among us entertained with its raunchy excess.

There really is just too much here to form one coherent game.

The water effects and movement of the waves are brilliant and great at capturing the feel of the waves as you balance precariously on them or pull yourself over them to get to the next breaker out there.

Obviously, the full season is the mode most fans will run for, but the other modes are the icing on the cake that keep you coming back for more after you've won the championship, and their absence here is disappointing.

Due to good physics modeling, sharp AI, and spot-on controls, no amount of wonky pitches and fiery players, watery stadiums, and moronic (if hilarious) commentary can detract from the solid gameplay.

FlatOut 2 is fun, if only for a little while.

If you're content playing pretty much the same game in pretty much the same place with pretty much the same toys, GRAW2 is a good way to recapture the same fun you were having a year ago. And you'll get the cool new multiplayer mode thrown into the bargain.

The new modes feel more streamlined and the varied song selection works well, as well as complementing the original collection.

These niggles aside, there’s no argument about Knockout Kings 2002 being the most exciting, addictive and authentic boxing game on PS2.

The game does really offer some great gaming moments, addictive hard-to-put down levels and some great boss fights.

Due to good physics modeling, sharp AI, and spot-on controls, no amount of wonky pitches and fiery players, watery stadiums, and moronic (if hilarious) commentary can detract from the solid gameplay.

The controls for getting Spidey to do all these wonderful things are finicky and inaccurate at times, making our hero a trouble to handle in places where walls are electrified or there are dangers like harmful mist or falling rubble to avoid.

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.

The very definition of a "pick up and play" video game, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 strikes a comfortable balance between bite-sized gameplay and respectable longevity. It could use some tighter controls and a multiplayer mode, but it's a competent addition to the DS' line of puzzlers.

An exhilarating special ops action game, with finely crafted missions and amazing graphics. For anyone who loved the "shock and awe" of the movie, the bloody action and non-stop shooting, this game will provide the same kind of visceral thrill, and then some.

Unless you've got friends willing to pass as potential victims, it's about a day's worth of cheap thrills. But those seeking a suitable multiplayer scrap should find themselves in good shape with this one.

Online play is something that PlayStation 2 owners have been requesting ever since it debuted on the Xbox and it has finally arrived. Offering both head-to-head play as well as a ranking mode, it's a nice way to find an opponent in the wee hours of the night.

The Room is definitely smaller and more sparsely appointed digs than its predecessors... but it's still in one hell of a neighborhood.

There is a lot of strategy hidden in this classic 2D fighter. No matter how long you play, it always seems like there's time for one more round.

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.

The game is at its best when it is most imaginative, and even after the novelty of the outstanding setting fades, you'll find fathoms of depth in the ship combat and trading systems - especially once you find a regular group of sea-dogs to join.

It's certainly a deep, well-made blast from the past, but its pacing issues can't be easily discounted.

So the Gradius Collection, with games free from alteration, is just about perfect. You might not like such demanding shooters as these, but the presentation is top notch and the gameplay enduring.

The Dot-hack universe's mysterious unfolding plot really leaves one with a desire to explore, to learn the increasingly strange (and perhaps sinister) truth behind the game's thick stew of metaphysics and technical mumbo-jumbo.

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.

A game that has so seriously squashed the competition that it's almost laughable.

The flight model, graphics engine and overall design clearly represent an ambitious and genre-changing attempt, yet the corner-cutting cheapens the otherwise superlative effort.

Who'd have expected a bunch of little colored blocks to re-energize the old George Lucas entertainment machine, just as it seemed to be winding down?

If Dominator is a Greatest Hits package, however, where is Crash mode? That's like Michael Jackson releasing a Best Of without 'Beat It'.

While the size of the game and the sheer inventiveness of the many levels are admirable, such problems with core elements of the engine make play unfulfilling.

There's an awful lot of linear, shooting-gallery tedium you have to plod through to get to the good stuff.

Pleasantly enough, Syndicate also takes a big step away from last year’s troubled Assassin’s Creed Unity by removing every whiff of online connected hooey. You’ll no longer be noodged to spend extra money, visit websites, or invite friends to activate missions. This is a solo game, and it’s perfectly content to be one.

Though it’s not the best game in either series, Paper Jam delivers enough well-executed turn-based combat to please fans of both Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi. It’s unfortunate that the writing and humor aren’t quite up to snuff, but fast-forward through the dialogue and you’ll soon find yourself staring at another gang of bad guys just asking for a fire flower to the face. That’s a jam worth playing.

Donkey Konga is fun. It is a surreal kind of fun that you can't have in an arcade...This is the solidest, sturdiest, most accessible rhythm-game-that-requires-a-special-controller to yet be released. [JPN Import]

Despite Justice For All's flaws, the game really does offer a rather goofy series of brain-bending challenges. There's a wonderful sense of accomplishment to be had when, during the courtroom scenes, the stupid psyche-lock system is abandoned and players, using only their wits, tear the heart out of a witnesses' testimony.

But for those that love simple, arcade shooters that blister thumbs and leave permanent marks in your D-pad, this is the pinnacle of the genre. It's great, quick fun that can be played for five minutes just as easily as five hours, and the animation contains huge amusement value.

Not a bad game, but fans hoping for a successor to the "Virtua Tennis" series will likely be a bit disappointed. This game just isn't as much fun or as well put together as the venerable tennis series.

With the new swing and throw systems we had a better time here than in any other recent baseball sim, and got more attached to created players than that old digital Nomar. MVP 06 NCAA Baseball proves that an excellent ball game is exactly that, no matter who's on the cover.

A disjointed storyline that seems more driven by gratuitous cameos than compelling gameplay won't please everyone, but die-hard Disney fans won't mind.

A solid, straightforward first-person shooter. It manages to stumble, gasping and grinning, from the no-man's land of "adequate" and into the green zone of "good," mostly due to the assorted flairs and presentational touches that make all the difference.

The Ship's mixture of intrigue, subtlety, and cunning makes it the perfect recipe for gamers bored with same-old same-old multiplayer shooters, but it does tend to show its indie roots a little too clearly here and there.

Combined with the fun dogfighting and smart stylus control, this is better action than we deserve in a portable.

Dedicated Sim City players are probably saying, "Yes, of course I need that level of detail!", and that's why City Life isn't going to appeal to them too much. But plenty of folks will be glad of a little more abstraction and a little less overwhelming detail.

Those last few major battles will only take five years from your life from battlefield stress syndrome. Six, tops.

The graphics and gameplay form a vicious duo, and the story mode is like the craft manager to ensure victory.

The Gamecube version presents the microgames as the kitschy things they are by placing them on a multiplayer pedestal. Sitting on a sofa with friends, when it's not apparent what you're supposed to do, a certain kind of unique frustration arises. [JPN Import]

While a few frustrating missions and some obnoxious wingmen dampen the fun somewhat, Heroes of the Pacific is a genuinely entertaining game for those who dig WWII aviation but don't feel quite like diving into a hardcore sim.

If there were a more advanced game behind the excellent writing, The Bard's Tale could have been one of the highest rated RPGs this year. The Bard's sarky one-liners, foul mouth, and rampant chauvinism make every cutscene and conversation entertaining and frequently laugh-out-loud funny.

Despite controls that take some getting used to, it translates very well to the PSP and proves a truly classic game can withstand the test of time.

Misses out on a Highly Recommended award is that it suffers from seemingly unfinished game elements and it's not really a major step-up from the last 32-bit Smackdown.

The best game of the series...a hugely addictive game with a twisting, intense storyline that would make J.R.R. Tolkien proud.

Once the greater story starts, you'll face some great combat (the "Area 42" assault), moments of pure oddness (like making a brainwashed politician B.S. his way through a public speech), great little period touches, and some cool bits of humor from the alien who thinks he's Nicholson.

Its linearity and concentration on stealth is quite a contrast to the open freedom of the GTA games. Its explicit violence can be gimmicky, but it fits so well with the theme that nobody could (or should, at any rate,) call it gratuitous.

Battalion Wars' only real flaw is that it's short. 20 missions plus bonuses contained in four campaigns is what you get.

It does right by the arcade sports genre in that respect, and has great control to boot. What it's lacking in other respects, however -- stats, modes, and variety -- keeps Super Mario Strikers from pulling off the hat-trick.

The controls and performance are too unreliable for non-baseball fans to make this a hit a la Mario Kart, and true fans just won't be satisfied by the troublesome fielding.

It's not the prettiest RPG out there, and it certainly isn't the best sounding, but it's got a massively long and interactive quest, plenty of land to explore, a number of interesting playable characters and a real dose of challenging gameplay.

The Room is definitely smaller and more sparsely appointed digs than its predecessors... but it's still in one hell of a neighborhood.

Although the single-player feels like a bit of an afterthought, the action-packed, entertaining and well-executed multiplayer is first-rate - and with the genre still so sparse, it's probably the best online racer you can buy on any console platform.

Firewatch is a fine way to spend a weekend. It’s one of those rare games that can be enjoyed with a friend or loved one simply spectating; it’s marathoning a few episodes of Lost. Terrific writing and voice work along with a gorgeous world outshine the game’s flaws and make for a game that sticks with you long after you’ve watched its closing credits.

Nightlife makes a challenging game more challenging and an amusing game all the more amusing.

In a refreshing change of pace, the story in Suikoden V is what kept us playing; typically it's the best reason to quit an RPG.

Ultimately, the problem with Jak X is that the underlying game is utterly generic. Strip away all of the characters and you're left with a racing game that borrows from the genre, but doesn't give anything back.

Everyone wants to be an X-Wing pilot, don't they. It's one of the things that sets man apart from the animals.

Thankfully, the game's humor and action overcomes the technical glitches. The brain-crunching animations are so much fun that, coupled with the peoples' cries for help, it's easy to get lost in Punchbowl, even as you realize that there's not much there.

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.

Yakuza also features one of the worst stealth-based sequences in all of video game history.

Dialogue is fantastic. The script's professionally written. Foul language is common, yet used in the appropriate context. Weapons come off as carefully balanced, and won't disappoint.

An excellent expansion pack.

Despite the somewhat deceptive advertising, there isn't that much alien blasting and army building, so if you were more interested in the RTS element, or expect a little more depth from your strategy games, you're better off looking elsewhere.

There's plenty of depth to the gameplay, and there's tons of scenarios to play, plus the sandbox mode, so it ought to keep you going for ages.

Unfortunately, from the second outing onwards (Chicago), the levels are pretty samey.

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

It has an uncanny appreciation for the nuances of real tennis. It's smart and unforgiving.

Imagine a long-time Trekkie's glee at being given the opportunity to walk around the original 60s set with the cast; Renegade is the virtual equivalent for the C&C fan.

The game lacks the complicated character advancement common in the genre, but it's fast-paced, looks and sounds great, and will keep casual RPG and Lord of the Rings fans happy.

What it does best isn't the way it adds a creative, original third side to the classic two, nor the decent added campaign or the extra units all round. No, Forces of Corruption's best feature is exploding Ewoks.

There are few better multiplayer games in existence, and no better ones on Xbox Live Arcade. If your gaming habits ever include playing with others, online or off, Worms is utterly essential.

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.

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

Mortal Kombat excels at offering plenty of great extras to compensate for its lukewarm gameplay.

Enough of the original's dark charm has survived to make even Carnate Island vets want to settle a spell in Baltimore. Or die trying.

This is a very densely detailed college ball game, and one that you'll be hard pressed to drop, even when Madden shows its face later this year.

This is one of the best stories in gaming since "Planescape Torment," and Zoe is one of the best leads, male or female. Her tale is as gripping as it is beautifully presented.

A definite step up from the Underground brand, but make no mistake: It's still yet another Tony Hawk game. With Activision seemingly stuck on annual sequels and Neversoft's dedication to advancement, you'll see even more bugs than before.

While flawed, Blitzkrieg II makes a good single player wargame because it successful models the cold ruthlessness of war and the importance of using reinforcements wisely.

The question here is whether the three new maps -- which are all based on American soil for the first time -- are any good, because really, that's all you're getting. Thankfully, they are. In fact, while one's decent, two are excellent.

We can grouse about the same-ness of the textures and design, but in motion F.E.A.R. continues to impress. It sounds even better, with most of the shocks this time delivered through an excellent sound design.

Its heart is in the right place, but all the funny interrogation scenes can't make up for the fact that you're doing the same thing at the end of the game as you were in the beginning.

A game built on solid gameplay mechanics featuring fast-paced exploding action, that delivers nothing but fun.

A less than stellar port of that stellar [Dreamcast] game.

Despite some dated-looking visuals (it REALLY does look like PSO), Dot-hack is an impressive bit of high-concept work, and scores lots of points for its presentational excellence.