One clear advantage of the PSP version is the multiplayer support. This is the only version of SSX that allows for multiplayer games aside from split screen.

While both halves of this schizophrenic shooter play very differently, they share many of the same general qualities: they're solid, immersive, and pretty, but suffer from a severe lack of originality.

Serious Sam II is packed with simplistic, repetitive shooting. It's not for players who want to think, or even do more than twitch. But for anyone longing for a good old-fashioned shooter with a few modern capabilities, this is the game.

This B-grade game isn't going to win any awards, but as far as movie-related video games go, it's one of the better entries.

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.

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.

This is a strange instance where an expansion is actually better suited for new players than returning vets.

Black & White 2 shows a crystal-clear understanding of what makes games cool. If only it showed as good a comprehension of what makes games... well, games.

A great experience, although it suffers from a lack of innovation. Gameplay is all too familiar, and the new additions feel quite superficial. Having the best part hidden away as an unlockable doesn't help matters.

Imperfects, as a pure one-on-one fighter, is better than the clumsy home console versions. It provides some entertaining and authentic-looking super-hero combat that Marvel fans will enjoy.

Is it going to challenge for dominance in video game hoops in general? Not a chance; but it is the best example of handheld B-ball released thus far.

NBA Live 2006 isn't the perfect game for serious NBA fans who dig stat-tracking more than slam-dunking. It is, however, a great game for someone searching for a good looking, fun and portable game of basketball.

It's an ingenious mix of resource management, micromanagement, action, RPG elements, tactics, strategy, innovation, and good old-fashioned D&D atmosphere.

While flawed, Blitzkrieg II makes a good single player wargame because it successful models the cold ruthlessness of war and the importance of using reinforcements wisely.

The auto-target feature for the bungun is way too helpful and intrusive. The double-jump looks and feels absolutely wrong. Most of all, the overall game is just a little too unchallenging, a little bit rote, and a little too, well, immature.

While a few frustrating missions and some obnoxious wingmen dampen the fun somewhat, Heroes of the Pacific is a genuinely entertaining game for those who dig WWII aviation but don't feel quite like diving into a hardcore sim.

Lack of originality notwithstanding, gamers in search of an above average stealth action game experience with a good story and couple of minor innovations won't be disappointed with Cold War.

Though you are bound to find yourself marveling at the innovative use of the DS hardware and the creativity of the puzzles, the core adventure is simply way too short -- six hours at best.

Online play is something that PlayStation 2 owners have been requesting ever since it debuted on the Xbox and it has finally arrived. Offering both head-to-head play as well as a ranking mode, it's a nice way to find an opponent in the wee hours of the night.

With a diverse selection of top-notch games, an incredibly creative "sketchbook" front end, and plenty of unlockable extras, the Capcom Classics Collection is an appealing choice for any retro-gamer.

Enough of the original's dark charm has survived to make even Carnate Island vets want to settle a spell in Baltimore. Or die trying.

A wholly successful attempt to create a fully character-based game. It's fun and engrossing, and more than strong enough to stand against darker, more difficult games aimed to please a jaded, older audience.

If you liked the previous Spider-Man outings but wanted more fluidity and flash, you're gonna dig this game. If you're only so-so on your Spider-Man fandom and care more about a solid, intuitive experience than comic-styled minutia, you're still gonna dig this game.

The term 'movie game' has been overused, but this unique offering comes closer than most.

Graphically it's a generation behind its peers, and the control system betrays its Xbox roots, but if you can put up with that you're pretty much guaranteed a good time.

It's a schizophrenic game that tests poorly as both a brawler and a fighter. 80 percent of the game is too easy, and the balance is cheap and simply not fun.

Everything a fan could have hoped for. More stuff, more variation, and more satisfaction. Sure, it's essentially Katamari Damacy: The Remix, but this is one case where the alternate version equals and in many cases exceeds the original.

With a more detailed and challenging storyline, Genji could have been right up on the top tier with the titles that inspired it. As is, this is an entertaining, beautiful experience for any fan of swords and samurai.

In short, the people that should love the franchise mode may be put off by the performance. In addition to the sluggish menus, load times are too frequent and too long. Portable games should be fast and accessible, and Madden isn't.

Unfortunately, one of X-Men Legends II's greatest strengths is also its greatest weakness. There is virtually nothing different about the actual gameplay.

EA's latest is a touch harder, comes with a reworked swing system that's a great compromise between finesse and simplicity, and includes a smooth new career mode. What's not to like?

Go to faraway lands, meet strange orcs... and kill them. Microsoft proves that real-time strategy can be done right on consoles.

The action is superb, with silky smooth combos, lots of movement options, and intuitive control. The graphics are still tops on the market. The quest is fulfilling and varied.

It's a fun, attractive, and challenging solo adventure that satisfyingly concludes the longstanding series with a memorable finale.

One of the major gripes about Frantix is the control; not that it's bad, but rather that it's awkward and inappropriate for timed challenges.

King of Swing is defined by its gimmick. Enjoy the unique control system and you'll find the game a pleasant and diverting play. If you're left cold by it, you'll quickly tire of the game's one-trick-pony style.

Battalion Wars' only real flaw is that it's short. 20 missions plus bonuses contained in four campaigns is what you get.

It's not overly deep or terribly long, but for anyone looking for simple, cartoonish blood and brutality, this is very definitely the place.

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.

Nightlife makes a challenging game more challenging and an amusing game all the more amusing.

And most importantly, the mixture of blistering speed, edge-of-the-seat thrills and explosive crashes works just as well as it ever did. The Burnout series gets better and better every time.

What's amazing is that Criterion was able to create such a tight control scheme, when other PSP racing games have felt floaty and flaky. By any standard, Burnout's control is rock solid. It's possible to dodge right though the same small spaces that entice players on the console game.

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.

The hard-core realism and punishing difficulty that earned this franchise its rabid fan base has been diluted, and what's left is a hardcore strategic series that's trying awfully hard to be a little more run and gun. It doesn't quite work.

It's more dense and difficult than most other handheld strategy titles, and the 24 campaign missions provide a variety of surprises and pleasures.

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.

Flawed but on the right track. If anything, it just needs some tweaking to make it easier and a little friendlier to players new to the concept of hitting arrows in time with a beat.

The controls and performance are too unreliable for non-baseball fans to make this a hit a la Mario Kart, and true fans just won't be satisfied by the troublesome fielding.

The graphics and gameplay form a vicious duo, and the story mode is like the craft manager to ensure victory.

Big Mutha Truckers 2 isn't horrible, but the game-play is merely average compared to other mission-based arcade racers. And while it tries to be funny with its racy dialogue and stereotypical characters, it fails more often than it succeeds.

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.

An intriguing idea, but it deserves a better game than this.

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

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.

It's even less successful as an adventure game because it's so superficial, small, and indistinct. There are very few memorable characters, although everyone has his or her own name.

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.

So if you're looking for a traditional gaming experience, you're likely to find Nintendogs lacking in gameplay and variety. Those with more open minds stand a better chance of being captured by its undeniable charm.

So if you're looking for a traditional gaming experience, you're likely to find Nintendogs lacking in gameplay and variety. Those with more open minds stand a better chance of being captured by its undeniable charm.

So if you're looking for a traditional gaming experience, you're likely to find Nintendogs lacking in gameplay and variety. Those with more open minds stand a better chance of being captured by its undeniable charm.

The endless combat may smack of War Machines Week on The History Channel, but the contentious, jaunty chatter between friendly (and enemy) characters is pure Cartoon Network. Move out!

Stylish, solid, and unique... and on the upper difficulty levels, it's hard as hell. It gives a gothic boost to the first-person shooter genre, and a definite shot in the arm to the criminally underrepresented western video game.

Dungeon Siege II hasn't improved significantly in the story or visuals department, but it's got deeper play mechanics, and the party management has been tweaked to allow for the level of hands-on interaction the player's comfortable with. It's also an incontrovertibly vast game.

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.

If you're going into Sigma Star Saga looking for the next R-Type or Thunder Force, you'll be sorely disappointed. But if you want a good, solid GBA game that brings something new to the table, it's a shoo-in.

Stylish, solid, and unique... and on the upper difficulty levels, it's hard as hell. It gives a gothic boost to the first-person shooter genre, and a definite shot in the arm to the criminally underrepresented western video game.

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

Recent releases have seen plenty of tweaks, but they merely nudged the gameplay. This year's implementation of a quarterback's cone of vision really changes things by rethinking the foundations of passing the ball.

Recent releases have seen plenty of tweaks, but they merely nudged the gameplay. This year's implementation of a quarterback's cone of vision really changes things by rethinking the foundations of passing the ball.

Recent releases have seen plenty of tweaks, but they merely nudged the gameplay. This year's implementation of a quarterback's cone of vision really changes things by rethinking the foundations of passing the ball.

The AI issues are problematic but don't detract a tremendous amount from the overall experience -- and neither is a problem in multiplayer. There's much to like about Summit Strike, with the best thing being the price.

The flight model, graphics engine and overall design clearly represent an ambitious and genre-changing attempt, yet the corner-cutting cheapens the otherwise superlative effort.

Without a more dynamic AI and combat model, each event seems like a pale recreation of the last. Eventually, it's tough to remember why you're still fighting.

Darwinia deserves to be remembered as one of 2005's most creative games on any platform.

A respectable weekend time-waster. It's got enough going on to fill a late night or two, and not so much that many gamers will pine for it when it's gone.

A respectable weekend time-waster. It's got enough going on to fill a late night or two, and not so much that many gamers will pine for it when it's gone.

A respectable weekend time-waster. It's got enough going on to fill a late night or two, and not so much that many gamers will pine for it when it's gone.

It's not the most glitzy-looking coin in the haul, but it's finely milled, expertly crafted, and has just enough hidden nicks to give it Old World character and a sense of adventure. It's addictive, and you will lose hours of your life.

If its creepiness, truckload of style, and inventive concepts sound appealing, then by all means give it a shot. On the other hand, if you think the repetitive shooting, ho-hum puzzles, and inability to actively control your characters' movements will flip your smile upside down, then it might be best to avoid this in favor of another play through "Resident Evil 4" or "God of War."

If its creepiness, truckload of style, and inventive concepts sound appealing, then by all means give it a shot. On the other hand, if you think the repetitive shooting, ho-hum puzzles, and inability to actively control your characters' movements will flip your smile upside down, then it might be best to avoid this in favor of another play through "Resident Evil 4" or "God of War."

Unfortunately, no amount of tweaking will result in a set of buttons replacing an analog stick -- the end result is less than desirable.

With a good selection of single-player game styles, simple yet deep gameplay, and eye-watering speed, it's easily the best puzzler on the DS. It's addictive, well presented, and perfectly suited to portable play.

Despite its relative good looks, Dead to Rights: Reckoning is more an exercise in frustration than an enjoyable diversion. Not even the four player WiFi deathmatch mode is enough to save this one from the bowels of the budget bargain bin.

With a quality golf backbone to give purpose to the MMO portions, Shot Online's formula has the potential to be a hole in one, but this implementation turns it into more of a double bogey.

Weird, funny, immensely playable, and has that nigh-unclassifiable thing we can only call charm.

Once the greater story starts, you'll face some great combat (the "Area 42" assault), moments of pure oddness (like making a brainwashed politician B.S. his way through a public speech), great little period touches, and some cool bits of humor from the alien who thinks he's Nicholson.

With incredible communication tools, top-notch visuals, and a fantastic balance of vehicles and classes, EA has won the battle and the war of online team-based shooters.

The new additions on the DS blend in seamlessly with the original game and the end result is fantastic.

Rating such a schizophrenic beast is tough. But one thing's for sure: If you're in the mood for a retro-styled, light-hearted platform game, you'll love Conker. Equally, if you're looking for high-adrenaline Xbox Live thrills, it'll be right up your street.

Once the greater story starts, you'll face some great combat (the "Area 42" assault), moments of pure oddness (like making a brainwashed politician B.S. his way through a public speech), great little period touches, and some cool bits of humor from the alien who thinks he's Nicholson.

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

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

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

The simple truth is that Juiced is behind the curve. The racing isn't bad, but the game places emphasis on the wrong reward system.

The simple truth is that Juiced is behind the curve. The racing isn't bad, but the game places emphasis on the wrong reward system.

Who'd have thought such an unassuming little guy would be the star of one of the best Nintendo DS titles available, and easily one of the most innovative platformers you'll ever play?

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.

The simple truth is that Juiced is behind the curve. The racing isn't bad, but the game places emphasis on the wrong reward system.

By far the biggest game in the series. Gamers who aren't turned off by the nefarious and illegal activities will find this to be one of the most engrossing games ever produced.