A very playable, semi-educational tactical shooter sure to keep any Counter-Strike or Tom Clancy games player occupied for at least a short while.

As a purchase, its replay value is a bit dubious, but for the skilled shooter, and even the casual action/adventure enthusiast, it's a terrifyingly amusing look at the world of low-budget horror flicks.

Warrior's Code is better looking and sounding than the original, but it doesn't really play any differently. It's still a long slog through thousands of enemies without many distinguishing characteristics.

Its more realistic graphics, short-but-helpful training videos, a nifty career mode, new multiplayer additions, and lots of other tweaks make it the best in the series thus far.

No matter the console, Meet the Robinsons is a darn good video game. The game is smart, vast, and really does offer something for everyone.

It falls short in a few areas, and the missing tilt-sensor is a disappointment, but puzzle fans with patience and those into heavy metals would still do well to give this one a roll.

In choosing to take their inspiration from such a strong game ["RollerCoaster Tycoon"], the developers have invited comparison with it, and, perhaps inevitably, it's a little wanting in that context.

It's too hard to steal bases against the computer and throw computer stealers out. Computer batters are far too patient at the plate... It is worth checking out.

Even in its familiarity, it brings unique style and an incontrovertible Japanese creep to a game market too often overrun with generic zombies and mutants, and too often rooted in the soulless present.

Sonic Rivals feels a little like a mini-game to a bigger game. We expected more content than this. The cards are utterly useless in their attempt to milk replay out of the title, and seemed thrown in at the last minute.

Tak 2's biggest flaw is that we've seen it all before. It's not a bad game, and is certainly a lot better than its predecessor, but it really doesn't do anything particularly well.

Something that every fan of horror gaming in general--and the original Alone in the Dark series in particular--should check out.

Most games will have you shaking your head (if not cursing) at the fielding. That's a huge letdown when the pitching and batting interaction is as strong as that of MLB 2K6. Inside Edge is such a fantastic addition that fans have to see it in action.

Many of the missions in the game are just re-hashed from Star Wars games of the past, and though they are epic, they're not very exciting anymore.

Sappy, sure, but the enthusiasm is infectious and ultimately effective.

If storyline's more your thing, Drakengard's action is backed up with a plot that's significantly deeper than your run-of-the-mill action game, and the button-mashing gameplay is hearty and sincere.

Where Mega Man Battle Network fails is that it can too often venture into the realms of monotony with a relatively unexciting setting that may be a bit too ingrained by Pokemon culture to stand out.

A pulpy, good time. Just don't expect to come back after completion for any particularly inspired level design or captivating combat.

Stands pretty well on its own merits, especially considering the slightly reduced price tag.

We love the ambition in this take on the Big Apple, but sometimes the inexpert mechanics just can't be ignored.

The next-gen graphics were exponentially more impressive when fired up side-by-side with the normal Xbox version -- which has so little detail by comparison it's shocking.

A great idea that suffers from lack of execution. Finding out your brain power from a video game is genius; doing so by reading maze layouts or running from flashlights isn't.

It's visually stunning with a decently thought-out control system, and reasonably balanced mission scenarios. It only falls down where it tries to be too clever with its simple approach, taking away control where players might prefer to keep it.

It's puzzling and disappointing that the single-player game seems as neglected as it does, but it's a basically solid, pretty package with some new diversions for veterans. Enter the ring knowing it's a "v1.5" rather than a true "2.0," and you won't feel sucker-punched.

Is Harry Potter a good game? No, not particularly. The story's vague and badly realized; the characters aren't especially likeable, and the tasks you're given are tedious and involve a lot of plodding about Hogwarts. But does it capture the feel of the franchise? Absolutely, and if you really get involved in the game you'll forgive it its flaws.

A pleasant surprise. The characters are amusing and a little different, the game is smoothly produced, and while it's somewhat derivative, it's still a lot of fun.

Continuing a short but respected series, the game does little to broaden the genre, but at least it performs with style and solid mechanics.

A solid, easy platformer that's colorful, fun, and full of variety. Kids and casual players should love it, but hardcore players may gulp it all down too fast and be left hungry for more.

This is one fantastically exciting shooter with a richly detailed game environment and varied gameplay.

It's adequate-looking, sounds OK, makes a passable attempt at humor, has a decent selection of weapons, a nice set of multiplayer options, and puts up a reasonable challenge. But it doesn't excel in any of these areas.

Dance Factory is a clever concept, though it doesn't quite hit the bullseye. Its feature set would really do better on a machine with a built-in hard drive, so you could burn tracks to it instead of endlessly swapping out CDs. That said, it's still impressive what the game does with the PS2's memory and technology -- poor graphics notwithstanding.

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

Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is a passable hybrid of a console action game with a PC real-time strategy game. And while it's not terribly good at either genre, it's interesting enough as a combination.

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

A fun basketball title, but this isn't one of those "must-have" years, unless All-Star Weekend is something you absolutely can't live without. EA just didn't bring its "A"-game for '05.

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.

It's the Ramen Noodles of racing games - not bad on its own, but needs something to spice it up to make it a proper meal.

Terminator 3: The Redemption is more interested in being a playable movie than a real game. There's little to no choice for players, who just have to sit back and shoot everything.

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.

Even with a thin (even irritating) story and relatively short play time, Pac N Roll is fun in small doses.

Its general lack of lasting appeal and minor flaws are counterbalanced with slick controls, a challenging level of difficulty, and some out-of-the-ordinary gameplay mechanics.

The non-stop, thumb-numbing combat you suddenly find yourself engaged in seems weirdly at odds with the deliberate emotional build of the cinematics, throwing into stark relief the differences between the original and current game-visions, but the experience nevertheless holds together.

It's worth noting if you've still got your N64 hooked up, there's not enough new and exciting here to make it worth the purchase.

A solid game that leans towards the easy side. The only real flaws are an iffy camera and iffier reading of its potential audience. It's still the best interactive thing to happen to the Shrek universe thus far.

Unfortunately, the control isn't anywhere near at tight as the previous PS2 games, and you'll often find yourself overcompensating and weaving around the track. It doesn't ruin the game, but it makes it harder than it was designed to be.

As with the previous episodes, all the comedy and the gargantuan amount of options hang together well.

It's simply too frenetic in spots for some tastes. Still, that's a fairly minor quibble with what is undoubtedly one of the more enjoyable strategy offerings of the year thus far.

Pure action-junkies may lose patience with Primal (if the prolonged, "enforced tutorial" beginning doesn't outright kill them), but those who like to sit back and soak in atmosphere are in for one hell -- one Hell -- of a moody ride.

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.

Don't buy it expecting a complete remodel -- it's just a fresh coat of paint on an old frame.

Both movie fans and general gamers should get a few hours of fun out of it, and frustration is kept at a minimum -- preventing you from becoming an irate pirate.

The DS game supports the touch screen for mini-map movement as well as weapon selection, but suffers from a lower resolution and a restricted display area. The PSP game looks much prettier, but requires more button presses to navigate.

If you just want to experience the visceral knockout quality of a good arcade-punching match, then UFC is exactly what you need.

The computer cheats in a rather spectacular fashion, particularly in movie mode.

Just plain fun - nothing more, nothing less.

It doesn't really share too much with the original arcade title.

There's a lot of twisted humor to warm the hearts of players.

You'll need a high level of tolerance for boneheaded design choices, but there's plenty of fun to be had. Psi-Ops has all the right ideas, but it trips itself up in the execution.

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.

The lack of a mid-game save aside, PoA is great fun to play - not only does it have the necessary hook to keep you interested in what happens next, but it manages to perfectly reproduce the atmosphere of the Apes films.

The learning curve is considerable. Beginners are sure to be put off by the sheer volume of information presented. The game's interface -- all icons and indicators -- will also be uncomfortable for casual enthusiasts.

It's a solid first-wave title, while the awesome 3D engine and multiplayer game makes it a truly new experience in the portable arena. Let's just hope the next legend that SOE tells has more surprises.

Without patience and some dedication, this could be a quick ticket to frustration. But that's also what makes the game appealing, because for those who are up to it, there's a serious challenge in store.

I appreciate that developer Vicarious Visions has tried to steer Skylanders in a new direction, and there’s certainly plenty to do here. But I’m not sure the future of Skylanders lies in mediocre kart racing, and unfortunately, there’s just too much of that in Skylanders SuperChargers. Hopefully the next entry will get the series back on track.

The game is severely crippled by awkward controls, inexplicable design decisions, and arcade-like sequences that reveals way too much about how to breeze though the twelve brief missions.

Mothers and fathers concerned that their impressionable offspring are being perverted by dalliances with Liberty City and Max Payne will open their arms to Parappa and his wholesome morals.

Neo Contra isn't as true to the original games as fans might wish, but nevertheless, it's a good attempt at recapturing the original's magic and a respectable action game in its own right.

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.

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

If they had done something about the AI and given more feedback during pausing, there's a fair old chance that The Art of War would have upped its score to win our Highly Recommended accolade.

Best of all, your character is no longer the somebody-please-talk-to-me newbie that he was in the first episode; it's no coincidence you've made it this far, and as a bulked-up character in your own right, it can now fall to you, as quests, to take other virtual newbies under your wing.

There's no denying that "IL-2 Sturmovik" is a great sim and therefore Forgotten Battles is a great sim by extension. As a sequel, however, it's a bit underwhelming.

Gamers who liked the idea of, say, "Twisted Metal Black," but found the execution too quick and snappy to be satisfying, should check out Road Kill, a decidedly more kinetic follower.

The game's short length and near nonexistent replay value means it's hard to justify recommending beyond a rental or picking up at a reduced price.

Fast and frantic gameplay.

Commendable, lacking only in more targeting controls and somewhat dull first impressions. Its gameplay quality will depend greatly on a large enough supply of well-mannered group members.

Pretty much what you'd expect from another sequel. No more, no less.

A ripping good time.

It is fair to say that had Legends of Wrestling possessed the wealth of options present in the aforementioned "Smackdown," it would be the ultimate wrestlefest.

The hands-off battles and overall lack of challenge make this game feel somewhat like a very long, yet entertaining book that's totally lacking a climax.

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.

If you own the Dreamcast version, then there's far too much overlap to warrant owning this as well.

To sum up my feelings about Flanker 2.0, consider this. "Flanker 1" has been on my hard drive for getting on for 4 years. I doubt very much whether Flanker 2.0 will remain on my system for 4 months.

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

One part hockey, one part soccer and one part pure fantasy, Quidditch World Cup may not have the draw or the depth of Madden, but it is still plenty of fun to play.

If you're coming to Sword of the Stars from titles like "Galactic Civilizations," things may seem stripped down... but "focused" is a more accurate way to look at it.

Disappointingly, the presentation isn't updated as much as we'd expect. GBA owners are accustomed to better visuals, and the music remains painfully strident.

You get to impale, slash, fry, freeze and shatter zombies (all with a reliable and smooth camera that smartly scales and keeps track of the action), stomp on vermin in search of wine and money, watch the barmaid all but fall out of her blouse, and track down the scum-buckets who ripped you off in the first place.

One thing that has not changed is the game's unparalleled sense of atmosphere...But its faults cannot be overlooked, and though supremely entertaining, it has failed to carry the baton that its prequel held so loftily.

Going at it with other players in Open Warfare is definitely enjoyable, but going solo against the computer is rather mundane.

Some sort of tutorial mode covering all the new features would have been nice, but all-in-all, what's here is a good little time-waster. If you're looking for a break from the mundane, give it a spin.

Certain key footballers like Beckham, Owen, Carlos or Figo have been designated as star players, granting them extra abilities like speed, strike power, free kick magic or skill on the ball. This prevents most of the matches ending too predictably.

Is SpyHunter a fun, playable game? Definitely. Is it an improvement over the last one? Sure, but it's still too "samey" overall, and it's certainly a better success on the single-player front.

A satisfactory update to the franchise, but still has yet to really hit its stride on the next-gen platforms. It took the FIFA team years to get it right on the PS2. Let's hope we don't have to wait quite so long for this FIFA to reach its amazing potential.

Despite the lack of visual polish, we still had a good time dashing through the game, largely because of the fast-paced combo system.

One of the most innovative and enjoyable titles of 2000.

Its pretty-but-oldish look fits perfectly with its gothic subject matter, and its random room generation gives it some good bang-for-your-buck replay.

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.