Where NBA Live offends most is sadly in its gameplay. A reviewer could literally fill an entire page of notes with criticisms of this nature.

The current-gen NBA 2K7 is a really good basketball title that looks great and plays even better. At $30, it's well worth picking up, even if it isn't a huge step up from last year's title.

It is once again the most solid, realistic, and kick-butt hoops game on the market. Really, the only debate is which version to get. If money's no object, pick it up on 360; it's easily the cream of the crop.

If you're a casual player looking to throw down like your favorite superstars, or you really loved last year's game, NBA Live is still the pick of the litter. More refined, strategy-minded tastes are again urged to go with the 2K series.

The current-gen NBA 2K7 is a really good basketball title that looks great and plays even better. At $30, it's well worth picking up, even if it isn't a huge step up from last year's title.

The game manages to achieve near perfection on every level, from technical to story to gameplay, and presents the player with an enticing world that is impossible to ignore. Even after completing the adventure, you'll be drawn back if only to take in the world.

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.

Rocket Slime has a unique charm and gratifyingly relaxed gameplay, while its clever tank battle scheme gives this meringue-lite RPG some real weight.

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.

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.

In Company of Heroes, destruction is a component of the game in a way that we haven't seen since "X-Com" let us root out sectoids by bringing down entire farmhouses.

Its enthusiasm is infectious and irresistible. Here's to hoping LucasArts keeps the spirit alive with, dare we hope, a "Lego Indiana Jones."

It's just as much fun now as it was ten or twenty years ago, and that's enough for us to crown it one of the most worthwhile multiplayer PSP games around. If you have friends, and at least some of them have PSPs, you need this game. It's that simple.

The story may be unique, but the overall game design, as represented by the combat model, is one characterized by laziness masked as tradition. It's accepted that survival horror has lame combat, boss battles and fetch quests, so Rule of Rose has all those things, too.

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 idea of a pirate RPG with naval combat and basic economic functions is such a good one, but here it's largely obscured by the awkward interface, strange design decisions, and poor attention to detail.

Its enthusiasm is infectious and irresistible.

Its enthusiasm is infectious and irresistible.

Its control system is weak, the gameplay mechanics are basic and repetitive and The Rock is woefully underused.

Drive Unlimited has blurred the line between single and multiplayer gaming almost out of existence.

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

The LocoRoco world works perfectly. There are few examples of out of the box game design that are so well put together.

Its control system is weak, the gameplay mechanics are basic and repetitive and The Rock is woefully underused.

Its gameplay sacrifices and slightly stale taste make it no match for "Tekken: Dark Resurrection."

American role-playing veterans who aren't absolutely dying to do turn-based battles on their shiny new console are advised to wait for a true RPG killer app on 360 -- however long that's going to take.

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.

Its uncompromising design could be perceived as lazy and frustrating or inspired, bold, and nostalgic, depending on your point of view.

Series fans -- and while it's a fine game, it's unlikely to appeal much to anyone else -- will lap it up, happy that such a well-loved saga is coming to a satisfying conclusion. What more could you ask?

Single-player won't occupy you for long -- the daft AI and total lack of variety will see to that. Live play will keep you smiling for a little while, but the sad truth is that Act Zero is totally inadequate. Treat it like it's one of the bombs getting flung around the map and run the other way.

If you're not having fun, you just plain don't like tactical RPGs.

Despite all the murder and mayhem, one of the biggest aspects of Saints Row isn't how many thugs you can cap, but the deep level of customization.

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

EA's challenge is not to simplify their simulation or stop adding detail, but to integrate those features so well that players can simply marvel at how advanced the game has become. The Superstar revisions are a step in the right direction, since they allow players to focus on the entire game one player at a time, but otherwise that's just not the case.

EA's challenge is not to simplify their simulation or stop adding detail, but to integrate those features so well that players can simply marvel at how advanced the game has become. The Superstar revisions are a step in the right direction, since they allow players to focus on the entire game one player at a time, but otherwise that's just not the case.

EA's challenge is not to simplify their simulation or stop adding detail, but to integrate those features so well that players can simply marvel at how advanced the game has become. The Superstar revisions are a step in the right direction, since they allow players to focus on the entire game one player at a time, but otherwise that's just not the case.

EA's challenge is not to simplify their simulation or stop adding detail, but to integrate those features so well that players can simply marvel at how advanced the game has become. The Superstar revisions are a step in the right direction, since they allow players to focus on the entire game one player at a time, but otherwise that's just not the case.

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.

Cerberus doesn't come close to capturing the timeless appeal of FFVII, although if you're desperate for more insight into Vincent's background you'll probably struggle through it.

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.

As good as the combat is, Darkstar One is too simplistic to evolve into a real classic. It's a great look back at a fading genre, but lacking a stronger story and economic system, it's not likely to foster a major revival.

The spaced out save points create a wonderfully rare sense of dread. You'll want to stock up on inventory and weapons before attempting a particularly difficult passage. And you're not always secure whether you're going to make it. This is where Dead Rising's sandbox zombie killing comes into its own.

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.

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

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

The adventure boldly promised by the title is lacking, leaving only a half-hearted tale that's trailing dozens of frustrated players and broken controllers in its wake.

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

There's no fighter on the system that even vaguely competes. Sure, "Street Fighter" was nice to have, but this feels like it belongs on the PSP, while Capcom's game never escaped the feeling of "port."

Warlords is just the kind of expansion that a game as open-ended and infinitely replayable as Civilization IV needs: one that adds enough new stuff, while also changing up the basics so thoroughly, that you might as well be playing a whole new game.

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.

Only the most desperate deathmatch champion will get their money's worth out of this purgatorial port.

More than anything, playing Cloning Clyde will give you the sense that someone had an almost unnecessary amount of fun making this game.

Every fan of the genre should revel in the ability to enjoy Valkyrie Profile without giving blood on eBay. RPG newbies are encouraged to indulge as well, though with a warning: don't expect to find an equivalent any time soon.

Even with cuts made to the major game modes, NCAA 07 looks like a total triumph compared to the neutered Madden released last year for the Xbox 360. And it's definitely a fun, respectable game. But it needs to be more than that to really keep our attention.

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.

It's not a game that hums with careful design or thoughtful implementation. Nevertheless, if you can cope with its many flaws it'll reward you with a lengthy and addictive experience.

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

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

A polished and exciting ride, carefully calculated for 80 percent thrills and 20 percent brain teasers.

For those of you looking for a giant robot game that's distinct, exciting, deep, and eminently customizable, as long as you're willing to play with others, Chromehounds is what you've been waiting for.

You came here for the dumb summer shooter fun, you stuck around for the wet icky graphics and the "M.C. Eschertime!" Ten hours later -- or longer if you can hold out against multiplayer nausea -- you're going to have gotten just what you expect from a solid well-done shooter.

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.

To produce a console RTS game that equals its PC counterpart is no mean feat, and here Electronic Arts has even surpassed it slightly in some areas.

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

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.

Multiplayer is better, but it'd be the scurvy dog indeed that talked his friends into buying this cash-in.

Extras like a free, waypoint-based track editor add charm. The same thing goes for online car-swapping features. But between a Super Nintendo-era audio-library, limp-wristed vehicular duels, and snooze-inducing stages, it's too little, too late.

Extras like a free, waypoint-based track editor add charm. The same thing goes for online car-swapping features. But between a Super Nintendo-era audio-library, limp-wristed vehicular duels, and snooze-inducing stages, it's too little, too late.

It's not a game for footie purists by any means, but if you want a fast-paced and entertaining match -- and one you can play with friends who don't all need to own the disc -- this is it.

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."

What's here is engaging and contains a compelling, in-depth story to complement the gameplay.

Set on simulation, MotoGP 4 is a real challenge. It'll delight bike fans looking for a taste of the challenge and power from these awesome machines, and petrolhead types will be happy to overlook its shortcomings in the process.

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.

As-is, playing Urban Chaos feels a lot like listening to a hit pop song. It's fun to hear the first few times, but repetition has its limits.

This isn't a perfect collection by any stretch: Alpha 2 Gold's enhancements are negligible, and online and Alpha 3's great console modes are nowhere to be found. Still, Alpha Anthology is a lot of Street Fighter fun for around $30.

Twenty bones for a good read isn't a bad deal by any means -- especially one as well illustrated as this. Add in its extra features, and it's approaching a bargain.

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.

Had the single-player elements not been so overused, it might have been a breakthrough title. As-is, playing Urban Chaos feels a lot like listening to a hit pop song. It's fun to hear the first few times, but repetition has its limits.

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.

Even with those downsides, MotoGP is as demanding and impressive a racer as you're likely to get for the 360 this year. It's more lively and entertaining than the PS2's Tourist Trophy, while being just as technically impressive.

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.

The game's controls and user-interface are clean and intuitive: the analog stick and four face buttons are all that's needed to play, and the unobtrusive onscreen icons give you necessary information when you need it.

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.

Liberty City Stories sticks to the roots of the GTA series -- albeit to a fault. Seasoned GTA players won't find much new, but those who don't already own the game on PSP won't kick themselves for throwing down a 20-spot on this.

The movie creation tools are undoubtedly improved by the additions.

But what really makes Cars stand out from the pack is the excellent driving controls and physics created by Rainbow Studios.

The PSP is already blessed with great racing games, but what it doesn't have is a racer to satisfy those not interested in white-knuckle competition. Cars fills the niche perfectly.

Even if you're absolutely infatuated with the Cars premise, this is no way to show the love.

Big Brain Academy's biggest problem is its limited quantity of activities. Yes, we get that it's part of Nintendo's new "Touch Generations" line, and that it's only $20, and it's meant to be a quick diversion...but even the casual audience that's being targeted is going to get bored after a few days.

The music is the type of lame, new-age drivel that will lull you to sleep, and the graphics aren't more than a line of plain balls that fell off the Bust-A-Move truck...Magnetica is one of the most generic puzzle games to come down the conveyor belt.

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.

Episode One is the work of a team at the top of its game, and its level design, pace, visual style, and audio are practically beyond reproach.

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

With High Treason, Act of War has become one of the most flexible multiplayer RTSs since "Rise of Nations." It's also still the best "Command & Conquer: Generals" clone since, well, "Command & Conquer: Generals."

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

In the spirit of generosity, we'll offer that there's about 30 minutes of entertainment to be had.

For fans of the comic, Rogue Trooper is a satisfactory effort, but it's a hard sell for the rest of us. The average gameplay and short length make it good for a weekend rental, but the weak multiplayer and absence of replay value mean it's not worth adding to your permanent collection.