Glyphyx bit off a little more than it could chew, as the bugs and hiccups show. Still, the developer dishes out a thrilling tale with varied gameplay that will keep you immersed through the end.

A nice execution of admittedly old ideas, Men of Valor features exhilirating action, storytelling that takes risks, and convincing team AI.

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.

An excellent merging of two popular properties, this is one "kiddie" game that you shouldn't overlook just because it has the Disney name stamped on the side.

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.

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

A nice execution of admittedly old ideas, Men of Valor features exhilirating action, storytelling that takes risks, and convincing team AI.

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.

All of these details get wound into a very straightforward game world that is absolutely packed with quests and other things to do. In most MMOs, characters spend their first 10 or 20 levels looking for enough things to do to earn better powers and weapons. Here, a ceaseless barrage of possible tasks begins with the orientation area (on the Isle of Refuge) and continues deep into the game.

Admittedly there isn't a great variety of action-adventures on Xbox, but Buffy's fast-paced and entertaining gameplay puts it head and (rather shapely) shoulders above its limited competition.

Sure, the graphics and physics haven't changed, and this year's release beats you over the head with in-game advertising, but the enhanced career mode, online play, and other additions are more than worth the price of admission.

With great looks, a clever multi-layer mechanic, and well devised sides, one wonders why Electronic Arts would release a game this good at a time this bad.

For all its frustrations, though, Civilization VI remains incredibly addictive.

Whether it's a licensed track by Moby or Timo Maas, or a Bemani original such as Genom Screams or the Shining Polaris, the selections vary in style, speed, and genre.

Mortal Kombat excels at offering plenty of great extras to compensate for its lukewarm gameplay.

Put into perspective and it being an ambitious "hit the ground running" success by Namco, Tekken Advance is a stunning achievement for GBA and deserves the praise lavished on it.

While Gladius isn't going to convert haters of RPGs or turn-based strategy, it's got the same hard-to-define addictive hook as its older peers, "FFT" and "Tactics Ogre."

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 biggest improvement in STUN: DG is subtle but critical: the interface has been greatly cleaned up and streamlined. With one exception, the interface is now intuitive, consistent and quirk-free.

At the end of the day, though, it's the same meal you've eaten before -- albeit with lots of garnish, a prettier server, and some extra helpings of dessert. Those are all great things if you're hungry, but don't do a whole lot of good if you're already feeling a bit full from Ninja Gaiden's cooking.

Get through the initial stages of frustration and you'll realise what an incredibly title Men of Courage really is. Missions are far more involving, objectives much more focused.

Even more surprisingly, the enemies evidently know that you know you're supposed to save certain persons and -- right buggers that they are -- actually go out of their way to bring harm to your would-be charges!

The graphics and sound are as solid as the strategy. They didn't quite match the card game's distinctive art style, but most avid players will be able to identify each creature at a glance.

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.

Fans of the first two games will either love or hate the new plot-based objectives, although combat remains the beautiful, almost artful experience it always has been.

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.

Yeah, sure, you've been here before, but you've never seen the view from up here. Fortuantely, the game holds up once your boots are on the ground as well.

As it is I hereby award this game a Silver award for taking risks, partly delivering them and for being a game with plenty of scope and depth that takes a lot of getting to grips with.

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.

The most creative and cathartic button masher since cult favorite "Gunstar Heroes."

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

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.

With versatile server options allowing operators with a dedicated machine to run a variety of servers, the potential is there for massive success over the net. We're more than happy to recommend it to you heartily.

While Gladius isn't going to convert haters of RPGs or turn-based strategy, it's got the same hard-to-define addictive hook as its older peers, "FFT" and "Tactics Ogre." The battles are fairly brief and the next goal is always reasonably close at hand, so it's hard to resist the lure of "just one more" brawl before quitting.

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.

It's hard to pin down why it's great in a few words or bullet points, but once you play it -- and play it you should -- the quality will be evident.

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.

Despite its lack of big upgrades and unsatisfying track list, this is still a blast to play with friends. If video games intend, in part, to deliver fantasy, then Rock Band is, once again, a resounding success. You play this game, you feel like a rock star. It’s that simple.

Have your driving your way, while still getting enough substance and structure that doesn't feel like a mere test drive.

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.

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

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.

It's fast, action-packed, and exciting, and has no significant flaws aside from its lack of originality and crazy plot.

The sound is great, and with a Dolby Digital system you'll hear fire shoot from the exhaust across the rear channels every time you lift off the gas. Shame Microsoft went for the cheap option with the music, though.

Great narrative experiences don't come around often, and while SOMA lacks the gameplay oomph to keep you glued to the screen, it handily accomplishes what it sets out to do: freak you out.

Worms 3D's new engine isn't a necessary improvement on the classic and enduring 2D game, but the upgrade works, even if it makes the controls a little more cumbersome. It still has the tone, humour and playability that is synonymous with Worms.

With plenty of teams to play and extras to unlock, it's good value for money, and as a multiplayer game it will be hours of fun.

If you’re just in it for the solo games — and let’s face it, Uncharted is at its best when it’s just you and Mr. Drake clinging to things together — the Collection is a fine choice.

If you've been watching jealously as your 360-owning friends tackle the Locust, here's your chance to pick up the complete package.

Even more impressive than the original, offering richer gameplay, deformable terrain, real-time lighting, new zoom capability, and a host of other improvements that puts TMP at the top of the crowded RTS genre.

More fun than frustration. Its beautiful environs and great combat system outweigh the less critical problems, and make the title a solid action-rooted RPG.

Tearaway Unfolded, like its mobile forebear, is an enchanting adventure. A bedrock of strong platforming mechanics supports a world that recalls The Wizard of Oz’s wide-eyed whimsy. Children will absolutely adore it, but even grown-up gamers with a taste for handcrafted, homespun style should follow the fold.

The new Gamecube-only version improves on the experience with much better graphics, although the same underlying gameplay remains relatively unchanged.

Legends is a compelling game for those who aren't fans of the license, but it's an absolute must-have for X-Men followers; the bigger the fan, the more you need this game.

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 combat sections of the game are great and you have so much freedom of movement with your on-screen, bearded lovely!

The package, then, is balls-out fine. It's a bumpy court to play on at times, but one that's ultimately rewarding.

But as Wii-makes go, Pets is as solid as the best of them, and in some ways perhaps better, by virtue of presenting loads of open-ended content with a powerful gaming interface.

It's not without its flaws -- a lack of tactical depth and disappointing multiplayer are chief among them -- but it's gripping and spectacular to play, and certainly one of the better Star Wars games on the market.

The game lacks the complicated character advancement common in the genre, but it's fast-paced, looks and sounds great, and will keep casual RPG and Lord of the Rings fans happy.

The Command & Conquer series has a history of churning out solid expansion packs, and Kane's Wrath is no exception. Each side gets its share of love, the new units are thoroughly welcome, and the $30 price tag won't strain tax-time budgets.

A rather short, but thrilling ride. The plot is linear and there's virtually no replay value, but it's a hugely compelling ride thanks to the pure visceral nature of the experience.

It's crushingly addictive, especially with the fascinating new possibilities offered by having your cities trade with each other for resources. Fix the stability, add some scenarios and we might be looking at a five star game.

The question here is whether the three new maps -- which are all based on American soil for the first time -- are any good, because really, that's all you're getting. Thankfully, they are. In fact, while one's decent, two are excellent.

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.

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.

Who'd have expected a bunch of little colored blocks to re-energize the old George Lucas entertainment machine, just as it seemed to be winding down?

Definitely hot stuff that hasn’t been burned too badly by the hands of time.

Despite the game's limited length and distinctly Japanese presentation, River City Ransom EX remains a winner overall. From a punchy, bleeping score to cheesy kung-fu sound effects and esoteric script, the game comes off as a killer blast from the past.

The difficulty level is impressively even, remaining challenging enough to hold the attention, but rarely crossing too far into frustration.

Like "Samba De Amigo," and countless other monkey games with silly controllers before it, Jungle Beat's a winner, albeit a short-lived one.

Okay, so it owes a fair amount to Midway's classic "NBA Jam" series, but it also takes the concept to a whole new dimension, building new depth into the quick-fire action.

Crams in all the elements you loved from the original and even adds an all-new single player mode. However, it's the multiplayer link-up mode that really makes this an essential purchase.

Well worth the investment for anyone who has yet to experience the Metal Gear franchise.

With its abundance of new features, LoD offers countless additional hours of delightful gameplay.

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.

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 bottom line is that there's no other real time strategy game that creates as grand and broad an experience as Supreme Commander. There's a wonderful amount of choice among different types of units, and buildings, and economic options, and map sizes.

The icing on the whole big RTS cake is a set of new battle.net options for clan support and ladder tournaments. It's hard to imagine how anyone who plays Warcraft III online can get by without having Frozen Throne.

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.

All told, this is a great package for the PSP that offers discrete slices of fun with every game.

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

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 fascinating strategy game mixed with a lot of tactical shooter elements. Additional online modes and some gameplay tweaks would have earned the game a higher rating, but as it stands, it's still a thoroughly entertaining and involving experience.

More than anything else, Big Red One is all about throwing players into war individually, and letting them feel the despair, noise, and thrill of coming out the other side alive.

You'll cry for training wheels at first, but the elation of mastering the game's techniques is its own reward. This is a great start to a Gran Turismo off-shoot.

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.

Unnoticeable at first, a number of subtleties emerge over extended play that should surprise and delight those bored with this dozing genre.

We have no problem at all with awarding Dark Cloud a Console Domain highly recommended award.

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.

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.

Just Cause 3 is an over-the-top blast that embraces the term “sandbox” more literally — and un-apologetically — than any other game in the genre. If you’re seeking substance and depth, wandering Fallout 4's RPG wasteland might be more your speed. If you want to ride a weapon of mass destruction like a hobby horse, however, you'll want to consider joining Just Cause 3's rebellion.

It's the co-op mode which really shines. Sadly, co-op must be entered through the menu rather than by plugging in an extra controller, but the mode is a total success regardless.

This is great gaming, great art, and a great way to give yourself the creeps while fumbling around with the oddest virtual camera you've ever handled.

The beauty of the WarChiefs expansion is that it's not just a lot of new content, but it's a lot of good new content that affects how the game plays. If you're a fan of Age of Empires III, you're going to be an even bigger fan once you've tried this expansion pack.

Nothing here warrants shelling out for the game if you played it on another console, but if you missed out (and you want to play it on the Wii instead of picking up a cut-priced last-gen copy of Two Thrones) it'll keep you busy for the 12 or 15 hours the campaign will take you.

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.

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.