The lack of competitive or cooperative multiplayer modes, decent AI, and sense of fair play will keep you away like everyone kept away from Ice-man in the movie.

If you think about this game too much, then playing it can be disheartening, as it takes the feeling that you're completely wasting your time and really drives it home. However, some of the simple little mini-games are oddly addicting.

The new perspective works excellently and the added buildings and units are welcome. It's a shame some of the old problems, like the unconvincing AI, are still around, but the intricate economy and unusual siege play make it stand out.

Loaded with style, what could have easily been a top-tier game suffers from sluggish controls, repetitive gameplay and a hopelessly generic storyline.

Worth a bash if you can rent or borrow it from a friend.

A decent game to play if you're obsessed with the adventures of the family Parr, but it could have used a lot more polish and whimsy where it counts.

By and large, Shaun White Snowboarding is a fresh take on the genre. By adding a welcome dose of exploration to the tough-love simulation aspects of Amped, it presents a vision of the sport that is much closer to reality than the sparkly fantasies that have characterized snowboarding games since SSX.

The stylus aspects were better left out, fun is barricaded by a need to complete Adventure mode, and the overall vibe is even more painfully sugarcoated today than it was a decade ago.

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

This is the wartime equivalent of a slow year's "Madden" update, with only the most basic changes and additions to justify a purchase. And with only the most bare bone offline multiplayer offering, even a bad edition of "Madden" has more to offer.

While PSP owners get a polished looking racer, Ridge Racer DS looks more like a relic from earlier days of gaming, and plays like one too.

Actual play is a letdown. Moving between alleyways and tropical isles, you'll endlessly hack away at zombies, natives, vultures, villagers, and guards, each a carbon copy of the next. Sadly, such brain-dead enemies prove little challenge, overwhelming through sheer numbers, not ingenuity.

The paper-thin kid's game with all the heart-pounding first-person shooter action of a "Diagnosis Murder" episode.

The formula has merit, but if Square expects to launch a dynasty, it should have escorted the game out the door armed with more than a white belt and Etch-A-Sketch graphics engine.

Ultimately, The Shadow of Aku's excellent controls, just-right fighting action, humor, and easy-on-the-eyes visuals do the Samurai Jack license proud.

Worlds' unappealing characters, boring gameplay and woeful presentation make it one that probably even the hardcore should skip.

If games like "Midnight Club" and "Smugglers Run" are your cup of tea, then this way well fit snugly into your PS2 collection.

There's some mindless fun on offer here, but in terms of depth and replay value, Alter Echo simply doesn't cut the mustard.

Sim Tower is over a decade old, and looks it. But if you're looking for something a little more cerebral to play on your GBA (or your DS, for that matter), Tower perfectly captures the timeless, relaxing fun of building something vast and complicated, and sitting back and watching it work.

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.

This isn't a story-driven RPG and it isn't a pure action game. But if you can appreciate the way Diablo fused the two genres, and if you don't mind the distinct anime artwork, Crimson Tears is a real gem.

Freeform, subtle, complex, rather dry, and just the tiniest bit (appropriately enough) oppressive, Republic: The Revolution is likely to sharply divide gamers.

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.

It turns out that pinball controls don't make for a very good platform game.

You've never played anything like this, which may make it worth checking out for many gamers. Just be prepared for fits of frustration and an unnecessary microphone mechanic. Odama may win the battle of innovation, but it also loses the war for being considered a great game.

One notable disappointing absence in this game is any of the female wrestlers - come on, THQ, let's not be all macho about this!

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. But it's still sitting there in our DS's slot, waiting for the next time we have ten minutes of downtime.

Let's be honest, who looks to party games for stunning originality, cutting-edge presentation, and engrossing single-player modes? It's Mario. He parties. So will you.

A decent game to play if you're obsessed with the adventures of the family Parr, but it could have used a lot more polish and whimsy where it counts.

Ignoring the lackluster controls and bad animation, there's a decent action/adventure experience in Headhunter: Redemption, with a lengthy quest punctuated with plenty of gunplay and occasionally interesting puzzles.

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.

Empires provides equal portions of action and strategy, and dishes out an adventure that will gleefully eat up huge chunks of players' time.

If you can get past the irritating introductory cutscenes and if you don't mind all-pervading cuteness, there's a depth available to plumb, and fans of micro-management will be in heaven.

While it might pass as a cheerfully violent diversion if your copy of "Thief" or "MGS" is on loan to a mate, its innate problems and lack of innovation are going to leave it fighting for attention.

Micromanagement bogs things down just when your village is becoming interesting and productive. That a game has barriers or limits isn't a bad thing; that the barrier appears at the same point as the game becomes appealing is unfortunate.

Only the Sabotage online mode, where teams attempt to interrogate rivals for parts of a six-number code, stands out as unique. One mode won't win the war, much less our gaming money for the month.

Suffers from a distinct lack of character. Nothing here really draws the player in, and as a result, the whole experience feels more like an exercise than the entertaining diversion a game should be.

For a game that manages to capture the look and personality of Viewtiful Joe, Red Hot Rumble is strangely demanding and uncompromising.

Only the Sabotage online mode, where teams attempt to interrogate rivals for parts of a six-number code, stands out as unique. One mode won't win the war, much less our gaming money for the month.

If you've never played the Battle Network games before, the latest version is a fine way to introduce yourself to the series, but you'd do just as well with one of the older titles -- after all, they're cheaper and offer about the same experience.

It actually emphasizes the "S" in RTS by de-emphasizing the ho-hum tank rush mentality and encouraging strategic and tactical thinking.

Its short length, bland storyline and by-the-numbers gameplay aren't going to win over the new, more demanding generation of gamers.

Too much micro-management to contend with and an exorbitant amount of time to...are the primary stumbling blocks.

The locations are truly stunning, especially in Venice and New Zealand and the pounding music score perfectly complements the daredevil speed of the races.

It's rare that something that truly strives for originality, and even rarer that it succeeds with any degree of success. Project Nomads does so in spades. Bravo!

Its simple, entertaining mix of humour and management is addictive in the short-term, and it'll make a perfect impulse buy for those looking for something a little bit different.

Cap that off with a tournament-style four-player option that runs through competitive versions of a selection of the mini-games, and you're looking at a package that's an easy recommendation for gaming families.

Offers an interesting combination of an established universe with a different game genre.

It's hard to comment on what type of game Age of Sails 2 is, simply because most of it doesn't appear to function.

If you're a Larry fan from way back, Magna Cum Laude takes the series into a pleasing new direction. But it needs a greater variety of challenges to be more appealing.

It is as rough around the edges as its main character and most players will probably be put off after an initial bout of controller frustration. Those who stay with it will find an enjoyable and somewhat satisfying single-player experience, but nothing incredibly memorable.

A fine place to start for younger gamers. In that respect, the puzzles, side quests and overall presentation are just about right.

You know you're in for a hair-raising experience as soon as the race starts. Unfortunately, the hair that's rising will be on the back of your neck as you realize just how horrid the controls are.

Assuming you can stomach play sessions that are short by nature, Athens 2004 offers amusing thrills in spurts.

It definitely won't win the war for your Xbox 360 gaming dollar -- especially when the newly released "Dead Rising" does something similar but comes off infinitely fresher.

Although there's good ideas under the surface, King Arthur is boring, unpleasant, and just no fun.

There's not enough action/platformer fiber, and even the young'uns may find themselves longing for the mini-game galaxy of Neopets.com.

A little frustrating, a little predictable, but like many a Hollywood blockbuster, it's a thrill ride worth taking.

There's only so many tricks one can do on a bike cruising at 120mph. Variety is absolutely required, and there's not much in Speed Kings. And the trick control is not responsive enough.

Ultimately, Divided Ground is brought down by broken campaigns, a wealth of bugs, poor play balancing, lackluster AI and lack of a decent, printed manual.

You really need to get deep into it to appreciate the feel of the individual jets, and to experience some of the better missions.

Think of it as the medieval version of being an air traffic controller: hard to recommend to everyone, but if you're up for a challenge, and can handle all that micromanagement, give it a shot. Just be prepared to go take a long lie down in a darkened room when you're done.

The action is swift and challenging, but easy to control.

As a guilty pleasure, Tarzan Untamed is actually addictive and fun with some fantastic graphics and incredible sound effects, but the underlying game is rather weak.

A fine place to start for younger gamers. In that respect, the puzzles, side quests and overall presentation are just about right.

We probably shouldn't be too surprised that Russia emphasizes repetitive action over character and style: it's just following lessons learned on the big screen.

The solo adventure is often captivating, however, and the ancient Chinese atmosphere often overshadows the fact that you're playing the same old action-oriented RPG one more time.

This expansion adds a lot more clutter, but at least it's interesting clutter. Sadly it doesn't fix some of the aspects of the game still arguably broken.

Fleeting fun.

A fast moving, initially addictive action game that soon becomes too repetitive and limiting to sustain a long involvement.

It's not nearly as fun to play as it is to watch in cutscene form. The game tries to emulate the vibe and humor of Psychonauts, but doesn't come close to that title's wit or personality.

To get anything out of it, you'll need to do a fair bit of thinking and studying. If you don't enjoy a program of mental weightlifting in your entertainment, steer clear.

While the final cocktail that is Rogue Agent breaks very little new ground, the eye powers and deathtraps are extremely welcome additions to the shooter arsenal.

Another minor issue is that while Nikki is death while on the stealthy offensive, she's not much good if the combat suddenly gets up-close... the moral of the story, we suppose, being don't let the enemy get close to begin with.

A solid fighter, but not a great one...The often weak graphics, unacceptable load times, and poor audio make this feel like a game that was rushed out the door.

Considering its wallet-friendly $40 price point, Sword Coast Legends’s core campaign is easily good enough to warrant a recommendation — provided you’re content with a rather leisurely, low-stress stroll through the Forgotten Realms.

Never before has the Jedi experience been this visceral and accessible at the same time, and Revenge of the Sith has something for hardcore fans and curious onlookers alike. The Force is strong with this one.

Unfortunately, Spider-Man might be able to temporarily slow down time, but there's nothing he can do about the irritating clock countdown in most levels. The age-old developer's trick of imposing an artificial deadline to extend longevity lives on in this game, and it's just as frustrating as ever.

More like a short story where you can count the characters and locations on one hand. It's not an ambitious project, but still has a fairly high entertainment value.

Provides a decent amount of enjoyment, but is let down in a number of crucial areas, particularly longevity, and its realism in certain areas.

The biggest problem with the game, though, is the AI - both the enemy's and your own units.

When Lifeline works, it works niftily... but when it doesn't, it actually isn't working at all.

The game is short, but the last chapter can be pretty challenging and the main boss fight is a serious pain in the, uhh, wrist.

It lacks any compelling features and gameplay decisions are trite, obvious, or both. Life is tedious enough without games like ER.

Unfortunately, we didn't quite get the sensation of frantic frustration and glory we usually do with pinball games.

While the final cocktail that is Rogue Agent breaks very little new ground, the eye powers and deathtraps are extremely welcome additions to the shooter arsenal.

It's solid-looking, but terribly tedious and irritatingly hard at points. In co-op, it's better, but it's a still a long way from being good.

It's just one extended chair wrecking, box-shoving session. And that's a house of pain, to be sure.

While the final cocktail that is Rogue Agent breaks very little new ground, the eye powers and deathtraps are extremely welcome additions to the shooter arsenal.

Its use of the DS touchscreen is innovative, despite its handful of control issues. Platformers don't always have to be walks in the park, and it's rare to have one challenge you this much mentally.

A mediocre sequel.

Although the time in between turns alone may push modern gamers' patience past the breaking point, Risk: Global Domination stays true to its heritage and the enhanced online capabilities will go a long way towards maintaining players' interest.

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

Gets the most important element right: it gives gamers a taste of being a stunt driver without losing touch of every game's ultimate goal: high in fun, low in frustration.

Never before has the Jedi experience been this visceral and accessible at the same time, and Revenge of the Sith has something for hardcore fans and curious onlookers alike. The Force is strong with this one.

If you're a Larry fan from way back, Magna Cum Laude takes the series into a pleasing new direction. But it needs a greater variety of challenges to be more appealing.

It's a shame that a better marriage of the imaginative and compelling mini-games of "Crash" and the interesting platforming segments from Spyro couldn't be found. If you're determined to pick up one of these games, Crash is a slightly better choice.

The bungled trick feature is really a disappointment, because the action-packed moto-racer hiding in Speed Kings would have been a fine thing on its own.