This isn't merely an evolution of the franchise -- this is Unreal with the dial turned up to 11.

Although it doesn't have the breadth of its competitors, it makes up for it with exciting combat and easy-going gameplay... not to mention the sheer exuberance of its setting.

Ridiculously addictive. A hallmark of a good game is that it makes what would be mundane interesting. In EQ you can happily play for hours just trying to gain enough experience to get to the next level.

By building gameplay around non-lethal weapons, they've honored not only the police they're modeling, but the power of guns.

When Midnight Club II frustrates, you'll want to snap the disc in half and feed the pieces to the nearby watchers... But when Midnight Club II is fun, it takes you by the throat in such a manner it's impossible to stop playing.

The incredible number of tricks to execute, along with the ten huge levels, the level editor, all the hidden characters and sections to unlock, and some highly entertaining multiplayer modes mean you'll easily get your money's worth out of the game before it becomes even remotely boring.

For the most part, Double Agent is like slipping on a comfortable pair of shoes. There aren't really any new gadgets, although some of the old ones have evolved.

Kudos to id and Bethesda for managing to make an old game feel new again. That’s not easy to do, and while its multiplayer stumbles, Doom will leave you exhausted from its intensity, sick from its brutality, and yearning for more when you complete its 13-hour campaign. If you like your shooters fast and deadly, Hell is pretty heavenly.

More ambitious and interesting than its predecessors, the game offers the same excellent action-packed gameplay, even if it does suffer from several of the same drawbacks.

A cheaply made, cost-effective sequel to "FFX" that reuses the graphics, characters, enemies, and areas to create a mostly new gameplay experience. You might love it, you might really, really hate it - or, like us, you might be torn... [Import]

Nod's stealth, the GDI's heavy tanks, and alien bugs all come together and blow up as a sort of mac-and-cheese RTS that tastes awesome in that safe, you've-been-here-before-a-hundred-times way.

Signature company staples -- hordes of enemies, screens filled to bursting with explosive sprites, and a fiendish difficulty setting -- underscore a stunning, bite-sized seven-episode morsel.

We played with hardcore and casual rockers alike, all of which had loads of fun regardless of what songs we were playing. Whether you want a good time with friends or a tense battle of the bands, Guitar Hero: World Tour offers an unparalleled experience. Just check your ego at the door.

An extremely entertaining RPG and one I see myself returning to over and over, even after some 60 hours clocked.

Its level of realism, convincing detail and great multiplayer make it one of the best military FPS games on the market.

Possibly the biggest strike against Giants, though, is that much of the gameplay is, well, kind of boring.

The graphics on Tropico are rich; you can almost smell the sea air while you're a mouse-click from arresting a political adversary.

It captures the atmosphere of the Aliens and Predator films perfectly, from the spot-on sound effects right through to the genuine feeling of actually being one of the starring species (pretentious as that may sound).

This is almost certainly the best release in the history of the NHL series and one of the most authentic action-oriented sports games currently on the market.

Extreme mode might be horribly named, but it's a great addition. Online, it's excellent, and the only things that move faster than MotoGP's visuals are the real bikes themselves.

It's not a totally new slant on the genre, but a very slick refinement... Don't leave the girls of Dead or Alive 4 waiting; you'll regret it in more ways than one.

Gameplay is probably the most unremarkable aspect to Kingdom Hearts. The real-time combat consists of mashing the X button repeatedly as your one and only attack move, and also using magic once and a while.

Even with its slight problems, it's a great racing game with solid looking graphics and fantastic cars to drive through some stunning cities.

Playing Fable is like flying business class for the first time; it's a familiar experience that's of higher quality than you're used to. Just don't get too content, because you might be landing sooner than you'd like.

The judgment ring makes even buying herbs at the shop entertaining, and the linear story jazzed up with a number of side-quests will keep your interest throughout.

This is almost certainly the best release in the history of the NHL series and one of the most authentic action-oriented sports games currently on the market.

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.

A spooky and enthralling FPS, [but] the lack of multiplayer is somewhat like jumping into a Ferrari, then sticking to the speed limit.

If you're looking to make a long-term commitment to a strategy role-playing game, then Sacred Stones is as wise an investment as you can make.

Every one of the revolutionary changes has been carefully calculated to walk the fine line between serious sim and nostalgic trip back to childhood...we have to give Monopoly Tycoon a full recommendation.

At its core, Tony Hawk's Underground is still the best skateboarding game out there and it's much more than "Tony Hawk 4" ever was. That being said, while some of the new features are great, others just aren't up to the level of quality that we've come to expect from Neversoft.

It's great news that Champions of Norrath's rich world, filled with smoothly progressing danger and engaging action, is an excellent title for fans of the genre, both online and off.

Hardcore space simmers are likely to be disappointed with its lack of depth and unusual controls, but where they see shallowness and unrealism, others will see easy learning curves and familiarity.

Get past the slightly dated presentation and you'll find a game that's as involving as the best current RPGs.

While Super Paper Mario obviously isn't "Super Mario Galaxy," and doesn't exactly exploit the Wii remote's gadgetry, it's got all the charm and gameplay expertise we expect from the Bros. Add in some fun mini-games, card collecting, and lots of exploration, and you have a title that's well worth your paper.

Even gamers who have played the "parent" game to death can find something to love in this promising -- if not entirely coordinated -- bundle of joy.

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.

Metroid Prime Hunters is simply amazing: It lives up to the pedigree of the series, the graphics are unbelievable, and it's the first truly excellent portable first-person shooter. It delivers in both single- and multiplayer in a way few games ever have.

If you're already a PSO vet, there's little reason beyond character-leveling to re-play the first episode, but for one and all, there is a new, engaging and entertaining experience here, provided you can pay the online piper.

The only flaw is that it didn't go the extra mile -- but with a series of this pedigree, that isn't much to complain about.

Aside from the chaining, the core combat system isn't worth getting too worked up about. It's still automated, requiring little more of the player than target selection. There aren't even tactical position bonuses or penalties, which is pretty weak. And forget the player-versus-player, at least in the game's current iteration.

Takes a step forward with a few new game modes and an interesting rival/buddy system, but the uneven graphics and performance hurt it. And on Xbox, as with all EA Sports games, the situation is worsened with no online play.

If you're a fan, there's no question about it - snap this one up without delay. With its snowy forests, ice-clad lakes, Nord villages and werewolves, Bloodmoon has plenty of new and interesting things to get your teeth into.

BOOM BLOX is so simple and its appeal so universal that we're hard pressed to think of another Wii game that can so effectively bring a room together... [it's] one of the most gratifying jump-in-and-play games you can get on the Nintendo Wii.

These animations are gorgeous to look at, from Reggie Bush doing his trademark summersault for six, or a Chad Johnson river dance after a score. This is because the game runs at a buttery smooth 60 frames per second...Madden 08 is simply superb. If you could only own one next-gen football, this is it.

It's just a shame that Sega chose to conform to the fighting game mold rather than breaking it with something totally extraordinary, because that's what it's going to take if we're ever going to see this genre back at the top of the video-game food chain.

This unique and head-bangingly challenging game is really not at all suited for the non-hardcore, and if you don't like games that require your entire mind and body as a sacrifice, you're likely to loathe and fear Ikaruga.

Without the guns, gadgets, and radars of modern-themed games, it's a much tenser experience, and the cunning level design and excellent sound effects really draw you into its world. The variable difficulty levels mean no one should get seriously stuck, but there's still plenty of challenge for those that want it.

Rife with action and bursting at the seams with bonus content, the title will also go down in history as one of the most intense products ever created for hobbyists' consumption.

A title that reveals how fresh its gameplay originally was by proving it still stands tall alongside the current contenders.

Be forewarned: your Street Fighter skills will be made irrelevant within roughly 10 seconds. Here, tactical forethought and impeccable timing count for way more than brute force.

Its enthusiasm is infectious and irresistible.

Bear in mind, if you're addicted to racking up your gamerscore, you might find F.E.A.R. a touch frustrating...F.E.A.R. makes you work for its accolades. But even so, this is an excellent port of a great game.

If you're looking for a harder and longer version of Brothers in Arms, Earned in Blood fits the bill -- although it can be hard to shake the feeling that you've trudged through these fields and villages before.

The Second Encounter is more refined in every way, if such a phrase can be used to describe a shooter that boasts alien rednecks with pumpkin heads and chainsaws as some of the lead villains.

Hot Date adds an obscene amount of voyeuristic addiction to an already proven immersive experience.

Like any expertly-crafted tale, you want to know what happens next and see more of the fascinating, seemingly alive world of Wonderland in its new, depraved form.

That break-the-mold game that longtime players of the franchise have been waiting for. And if you're already a street-rag reader, you have permission and reason to drool - just keep it off the AirFlow controller, please.

An excellent basketball game. It offers loads of gameplay, solid physics, unparalleled animations, and terrific graphics. It would be a bargain at $50, let alone the $20 it's selling for.

While it's not any kind of gameplay revolution, it's the best, most polished and creepiest of the series.

A sign that the series is grinding along nicely in a comfortable rut, biding its time with the same old technology and some minor gameplay changes.

While it's not without its own small issues, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle should be on the short-list of Switch games every player should own.

The objective of Far Cry 2 as a game is to get out of the way and let you experience the game world. And there is no other game world quite like this one: haunting, spectacular, meditative, explosive, violent, and serene, all at once, and all in a mere shooter.

Be forewarned: your Street Fighter skills will be made irrelevant within roughly 10 seconds. Here, tactical forethought and impeccable timing count for way more than brute force.

For the last two titles, the developers of Ratchet & Clank have done a wonderful job building full-featured multiplayer support into their games. Size Matters is arguably the best attempt to date. Although it only supports four players at a time, the maps and modes are meticulously built to wring the most out of multiplayer matches.

This deceptively simple little golf game is packed with so much variety and gameplay that it belongs on everyone's "If you were stranded on a desert island..." list. And you don't even have to like golf.

Call of Duty: World at War is clearly one of the top games of this year, and a must have for any action gamer.

Don't expect challenging financial decisions or careful economic planning, but if all you want is to make your own movies, this game's awe-inspiringly varied toolset should not be missed.

It's at its best with a crowd of friends, but the single-player mode does have enough substance to make it a worthwhile purchase even if you don't anticipate much chance for group play. In short, it deserves to be a smash. Sorry.

An all-round fantastic experience. It's got enough building to keep god-sim fans happy, enough interaction to keep Sims-fanatics interested, and enough detail for even the management freaks to have a damn good time.

The designers at EA Pacific were able to bring us the contemporarily relevant content of C&C: Generals, with the fluidity and immersion-level we always hope to expect... and all this without any of the pansy-assed 'political correction' that dominates these days.

Captivating.

Needless to say, the story is strong, contains all the typical Bioware twists, turns and quality writing, and fans of power-D&D will have a lot to crow about.

The biggest, pervasive plus of Mercenaries is the raw, gleeful destruction options open to you. This is exactly the kind of stuff your parents don't like about video games.

It achieved something that is very rare in gaming: well-developed and believable characters. That, in itself, is no mean feat, but mix it with the game's delightful combat, varied design, and admirable coherence of style and creative vision, and you have something very special.

A uniquely relaxing and immersive world that hides surprising depth -- building a thriving garden isn't a matter of slavishly adhering to rules or keeping up with the busywork, although those things play their part.

Despite its long-ass title, this atmospheric, enhanced skin-crawler is one of the scariest and spookiest things to hit the Xbox.

The Fractured But Whole hits all the right notes from the show’s best episodes. The writing is some of the best you’ll find in a game, and it improves on “The Stick of Truth’s” combat and mechanics enough to make it well worth picking up.

For all the great things this game has going for it, longevity is its weakness. With only 14 real missions, each of which able to be completed in less then ten minutes, there's just not much game for your money.

Every aspect of the game feels polished and ready to go, whether it's the single-player story, the online multiplayer, the numerous unlockables, or the custom mapmaker. This is one of those rare Jack-of-all-trades that has actually mastered them all.

Tuners can go crazy creating a fully customized garage, and pure race fans can get off on the sense of speed.

It's common knowledge that Dame Nostalgia can be a cruel mistress. Her whip has lashed us more than we care to admit, and having our rose-tinted specs beaten off us one more time, especially in this instance, would be potentially devastating. Luckily, this version of Street Fighter is great. Storming, even.

Featuring similar hack and slash gameplay, which has an uncanny knack of being addictive due to its frustrating nature, Maximo is a title that may appeal more to old-school gamers.

Wickedly addictive -- just like the original -- and the wifi element works extremely well. It's an irresistible package, and a win for puzzle fans.

What it lacks is the elegance of the original design.

While single-player is slightly lacking in innovation, its release still marks one of the best entrants in Xbox's first-person shooter line-up, and an absolute must-buy for any action gamer or Live fanatics that haven't yet experienced it on PC.

The game offers unparalleled variety and choice in the actual gameplay. The non-intrusive design sets just as much of a precedent as did Deus Ex, which is a joy to realize. The game feels a bit short -- especially considering how much choice the player is given -- and the presentation values could have been polished up more, but it's an experience like no other.

The narrative missteps and overly complicated lore intrude on what should have been another shining moment for Master Chief; while it sets up an intriguing future, the campaign is an unqualified disappointment. But even the greatest of heroes stumbles, and Halo 5’s stellar online play is certainly strong enough to pick up the Chief and keep him moving.

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.

Dismissing the game out of hand is easy: the plot is silly, the standard enemies don't vary much, and the level design amounts to little more than battle venues linked together with bland, featureless corridors and the occasional crap puzzle. But that'd be missing the point completely, and it only takes one hit to see why. Nail an encounter just right, ripping through your enemies with all the ferocity of a tornado in a knife warehouse, and you'll understand.

Comic book fans will be enthralled with it, and so will anybody else looking for a cheerfully violent action-adventure. It may not be earth-shatteringly original, but it makes up for this by delivering plenty of earth shattering in other areas.

Committed Guild Wars players will probably have bought it already -- if you haven't taken the plunge yet, it's the perfect opportunity to try this unique and beautiful game.

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

Although Darkest Dungeon becomes fiercely addictive, that feeling eventually wears thin. You tick off quests one by one, but it’s a long way to completion, and few will have the patience to get there. There’s not much variety in enemy types, and the dungeons themselves are just abstracted strings of encounters. But while it’s got its hooks into you, Darkest Dungeon exerts a powerful pull.

Spore takes so many risks and introduces so many new concepts, it's far more than the sum of its parts; it's video game history in the making. Join in.

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.

Graphically, MotoGP is amazing. In terms of difficulty, this game will challenge even the most elite of console racers.

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