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.