[It's] like my relationship with broccoli. Playing it was definitely not love at first fight, but after a while, you warm up to it...an in-depth wargaming experience.

Zen-state gamers who just want to cruise around and blow stuff up will need all their hands -- or at the very least, two of them -- on deck for this peculiar mix of navy action, splinter-theory weirdness and no-nonsense ship design.

War of the Ring's primary flaw is that it fails to really make use of its license. Remove the LOTR backdrop and names, and you could be playing any generic fantasy RTS game. It's missing the dramatic scope of the books.

Also aggravating is the half-assed presentation. Cutscenes are crap, and voiceovers are all delivered by stand-ins instead of authentic actors. Even Paulie sounds like he's being voiced by someone's roommate.

By modern standards, it's decidedly lacking, but it's still a classic.

A game that is jack of all trades, but master of none. It's fun to play at first, but tends to get fairly tedious when you realise it's rather limited - when you realise you can't change your ship, actually take on any missions, or do anything of any real interest.

The combat difficulty level is forgiving, and the game guides you through the puzzles with helpful clues and hints from the other characters. Less experienced gamers -- who, let's face it, are really the ones the game is aimed at -- will find its light touch very rewarding.

The path of progression can get a little dry, despite the depth of combat. Interacting with objects in the environment and strategy-laden boss battles help spice things up, but there are also times when you may realize this isn't the most fun game in the world.

Most of the massive problems that have plagued next-gen versions of Live have receeded, leaving a game that's fun, accessible, and while flawed, full of enough personality.

Looks and plays almost exactly like the new addition to the High Heat series of a year ago.

Faults aside, the adventurous out there will thoroughly enjoy the level design - it's a blast!

Comes over as something of a guilty pleasure. Objectively, it's not a good game at all -- it's ill-suited to its platform, repetitive to the extreme, too easy, presented with little flair, and a mere shadow of the best that both Pokemon and dungeon crawlers in general have to offer.

Even the most polished, glitzy pool game would just be another pool game if it didn't bring some new challenge, so the fact that online play is included here counts as a large counterbalance to its presentation failings.

It's a little limited, primitive-looking (not in a Triassic way...) and short-in-scale for us.

The RC-racing theme has been done better by other games, the trick levels feel bolted on rather than being integral to gameplay, and they're also very limited.

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.

A fun time, in spite (or because) of its ludicrous story and cutscenes, which you won't find in any other serious racer.

The computer players take ages moving, and if you add more than one opponent for extra tactical depth, the problem is multiplied.

If this version of Need for Speed: Carbon either looked or handled better, it might have been a worthwhile contender. But this lazy port simply doesn't have what it takes to bring the Need for Speed franchise to the Wii.

A welcome change of pace for horror games. It's tightly focused, suspenseful, and fosters a strong sense of personality.

A more challenging economic system would add a lot to the game and make it more replay-friendly. But as a step up from a lightweight like Glory of the Roman Empire, CivCity is engrossing enough to command a couple weeks of play time.

The combat difficulty level is forgiving, and the game guides you through the puzzles with helpful clues and hints from the other characters. Less experienced gamers -- who, let's face it, are really the ones the game is aimed at -- will find its light touch very rewarding.

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.

If you have enough patience to explore the maps, can deal with the awkward controls, and don't mind reloading games frequently when you can't spot hidden dangers, then Eidos' latest release is one of the best strategic games around for PS2.

The combat difficulty level is forgiving, and the game guides you through the puzzles with helpful clues and hints from the other characters. Less experienced gamers -- who, let's face it, are really the ones the game is aimed at -- will find its light touch very rewarding.

When taken in isolation, Black Thorn is a competent, if somewhat uninspiring, add-on. When taken in context, it's overpriced, old-fashioned, and has been released with exquisitely bad timing.

This one gets messy, real messy.

If it's a strategic challenge you're after, Lost Souls might well be the game for you, and we don't hesitate before recommending it for anyone with the pang for tactics.

Whatever your platform preference, the gameplay is still absolutely spot-on, the graphics aren't yet dated enough to make a difference and you can rock-out to some lethal guitar while you're at it!

Sadly, the AI, combat, and graphics issues keep Lupin the Third: Treasure of the Sorcerer King from joining the classic ranks, but the main character's sense of humor and general style make the game worth a look.

Once you've mastered the ship-to-ship battles, captured a few towns and messed around with the simple trading system, you'll have seen the majority of what it has to offer...If you fancy a few hours of easy-going fun on the high seas, give it a try.

Crash Purple doesn't come anywhere near the superb mayhem of "WarioWare," while the platform segments are poorly developed and feel like an afterthought.

A fun time, in spite (or because) of its ludicrous story and cutscenes, which you won't find in any other serious racer.

It's too bad that the entertainment value is still skewed by the lame arena battles, but overall this is a much more viable diversion than the original Full Auto.

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

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.

So while there isn't all that much on the menu, the fast-paced and simple gameplay can't fail to raise a smile, at least for the first few plays. Most will set it aside after that, but it's priced at a decidedly value-conscious $20 -- less than the cost of a good steak.

The low system specs are a nice deal and The Sims Pet Stories is a well implemented gateway into the Sims world, but EA has definitely skimped on the full gateway functionality by not allowing Stories to play with other releases in the series. In other words, if you really get hooked, be ready to cough up for the full-sized version.

While the courses are fairly long, there are not enough racers to make it eventful or as interesting as it could have been, providing periods where things are just plain dull.

A completely over the top, politically incorrect title, laden with sexual innuendo, creative environments and one incredibly detailed trick system.

An entirely enjoyable experience. It's not ultra-weighty gaming, and that's a good thing. It's easy to get into, easy to control, and easy to enjoy.

While the cars could use a greater sense of mass, it's smooth racing with a decent framerate even when things on the track get hairy (and this is when they're most fun).

This is essentially a stylish "Day After" dumb-and-gunner, with even less brainpower required than "Dark Alliance," and it's safe to say that if you enjoyed that game, this will have some appeal for you.

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.

Even with its too-standard approach, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is still one of the best treatments given to anime-based games we've seen in a long time.

Requiring only five to seven hours to finish, and having virtually no replay value, only the most dedicated fans should own Batman Begins.

The inaccuracy of the swing and shot placement turns into a severe handicap for the game. True Swing Golf is passively entertaining, but won't suck anyone in as quickly or for as long as "Hot Shots" is able to.

This tongue-in-cheek attitude won't hamper the experience, mind you; it just serves to further distinguish Geist from the competition.

If you're envying all the fun your buddies are having with their 360s and Advanced Warfighter, you're better off staying with "Halo 2" and the recent "Far Cry: Instincts" than springing for this -- you'll be in for a disappointment.

It's a pity the game is so linear, because the game does look great, atmospherically set in the style of the Thief series, and the character is gloriously evil, thoroughly powerful and malefic.

The levels don't display anything like the creativity of past Time Crisis games, and although shooting up the place with automatic weapons is fun, it won't keep you coming back for more.

The snarky gargoyles and twisted art design certainly merit the attention. But even a handful of decent jokes weren't enough to complete the illusion that this is a truly updated release, rather than a ten year old game with a nice coat of varnish.

The bugs. Yes, Far Gate comes complete with a few choice ones, our favourite being the one that will, without warning or ceremony, drop you to the desktop without even an error message.

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

Good fun while you're playing it, but most of the time... you aren't.

It's a great little game -- chock full of humor, gameplay twists, and top-notch voice work that's closer to what film fans love Bruce Campbell for: It's not grade A, but it makes up for it in personality.

While the plot and motivation spazzes out all over the place, linking the narratives of the animated series and the contemporary movie (literally highlighting different ages and generations), the gameplay is consistently solid.

OK, we admit it: Rumble Roses isn't the deepest thing going, even for a fighting game. But it's an entertaining and eye-catching spectacle of male-oinker-oriented wrestling fun. Plus, it's populated by some of the best-looking, most meticulously modeled virtual girls ever designed.

Okay for a quick blast with its pick-up-and-play controls and simplistic physics, but just as you start getting into it, you begin to realise there isn't really an awful lot more.

The game mechanics are so badly crippled that it probably doesn't even deserve to be called a strategy game.

Experienced urban architects longing to delve deeply into Rome's characteristic social and economic structures will be fully disappointed by Glory's simplicity.

In the same league as the disposable horror flicks that fill video shelves and late-night cable. It's not particularly frightening, but good atmosphere and short-lived twitch satisfaction is enough to sustain interest for a while.

There is a big flaw in this Operation, however, and it's control. Simply put, the simplicity and elegance of "Splinter Cell" is not to be found in the IMF.

Splendid stage architecture, superb puzzle planning, and, yes, even the odd snide remark give it way more charm than most competitors. Despite limited replay value and slight conceptual deja vu, the title will entertain all age groups.

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.

Had Freaky Flyers been a bit more focused, it could have easily been a top tier game, but as-is, the game simply spreads itself too thin.

A much-needed change of ammo in the way-overused gun barrel of 'survival horror.'

A refreshing breeze of fresh oily air in a stale market full of near identical racing games, and if you give it a try it’s likely you’ll be very pleasantly surprised.

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

More of the same from the Crash series, albeit wrapped up in nice new PS2 visuals. If you want innovation, try elsewhere.

Pretty to watch, but a real bore to play, and when it's not boring, it's frustrating. Not a good mix.

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.

This isn't a game of depth. This is quick football satisfaction and little else. Against a few friends over the weekend, Arena Football is an excellent diversion, but it won't replace "Madden" or even "NFL 2K5" until the weather turns cold again.

If the difficultly was a bit more consistent and mission parameters more forgiving, then Battlestar Galactica could have been a massive hit. As-is, the game is sure to please fans of the license, but those looking for something deeper will likely be disappointed.

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

It's a fun diversion with big, bold graphics, but somewhat repetitive and predictable gameplay.

While the control system is straightforward to pick up, it can also be ultimately frustrating - in fact, annoying enough to take a sparkle off the otherwise solid and enjoyable gameplay.

While the game's nod to realism (and somewhat stiff control) are less friendly to racing gamers overall, car-caressers will find much to amuse themselves.

Need For Speed’s solid driving and fantastic graphics are worth experiencing, but I wanted more darkness, more danger out of this game. I wanted consequences. Without it, we get an odd Need For Speed that presents a strangely empty, Disney-fied version of an “underworld” — one with guardrails on the sides of the road.

Whiplash's style takes it a long way; hell, any title with the power to make PETA smile and fume at the same time has got something going.

Doesn't stray terribly far from the formula, to both its credit and detriment.

Fans should be pleased enough with the game, but if you're not so familiar with the characters and mechanics, it'll be poor value for money.

A game that won't appeal to everyone; Calintz's girly ways alone may turn off a lot of people. However, if you're looking for an RPG with a great battle system, you'll definitely be a fan of Magna Carta: Tears of Blood.

Rarely does an expansion (or companion, in the case of the PS2 and GameCube) see content integrated so well into an existing game. After a few minutes playing Pets, you'll feel as if the animals have always been a part of your gaming life.

Seems to split its aim between hardcore "Matrix" fans and experienced gamers; if you find yourself with a foot in both camps, you may well find this one of the most faithful movie-to-game experiences in recent memory.

The game succeeds in terms of both story and combat quality, and even adds in some cool online functionality with battles and jewel trading. RPG enthusiasts will want to capture this game as soon as they can.

A fun time, in spite (or because) of its ludicrous story and cutscenes, which you won't find in any other serious racer.

Even if you do have a shiny new PSP to play with, you're better off picking up a copy of the original Ape Escape for the PlayStation. It'll control better, and be less than half the price.

Neither as disposed toward realism as the Namco "Ace Combat" series nor quite as "on the arcade-stick" as Sammy Studios' "Lethal Skies," AirForce Delta Strike is a basically solid, good-looking, and engaging campaign, albeit a repetitive, hitchy one.

While not offering anything special, it has the advantage of running on a low spec PC, and does not require the CD to be present while playing, thus making it ideal for laptop wargaming.

What makes Tomb Raider: The Prophecy so dreary is the level design.

With such awesome visuals, it's hard to comprehend why the clipping problems are so horrendous.

Younger players out there will get a kick out of the solid controls and bright environments, while more advanced players can appreciate the challenge and depth of the included boost system.

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 an uneven mix of the flashy, the goofy, the hectic, and the insipid -- that pretty much sums up the Custom Robo experience.

While the campaign mode doesn't offer as much arcade action and the new strategic additions actually lessen the overall space combat feel, there's still plenty here for Trek fans and non-Trekkies alike.

It plays conservatively and never hits the jackpot.

If you like the humour in the Farrelly films or if you're partial to "Tom and Jerry" cartoons you will love Stupid Invaders.