Speaking of modes, Karaoke Revolution Country really outdoes itself in this department as the game features a handful of solo and multiplayer game modes, and mini-games (including a silly voice-controlled beach volleyball diversion). For example, single-player options include a QuickPlay mode (pick a song and venue and get to it), Karaoke (no scoring), and Medley (select the number of sequential songs to sing through).

It may be a little too hard for some and the learning curve is definitely steep, but this is a game that's worth the effort.

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.

Rarely does an expansion (or companion, in the case of the PS2 and GameCube) see content integrated so well into an existing game. After a few minutes playing Pets, you'll feel as if the animals have always been a part of your gaming life.

The movie creation tools are undoubtedly improved by the additions.

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.

An innovative, challenging game that can run on a low spec PC.

By and large, Shaun White Snowboarding is a fresh take on the genre. By adding a welcome dose of exploration to the tough-love simulation aspects of Amped, it presents a vision of the sport that is much closer to reality than the sparkly fantasies that have characterized snowboarding games since SSX.

With the more realistic animations and televisual camerawork, together with the new passing and shooting techniques and individual star skills, EA can be proud of the fact that it is the best game in the competition.

Despite its few flaws, though, Resident Evil 7 is a terrific, terrifying experience with sickening visuals and wonderful gunplay. It’s the best entry in the series in more than a decade and a must-play for anyone who’s ever loved the franchise. No matter how scared the game made me while playing alone at 2 a.m., I always wanted to keep moving forward, which is exactly what you want from a survival-horror 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.

Infected does get repetitive, there's no denying that. But the sheer action and stress-factor of clearing out mission areas, and the bloody, cartoonish joy of Bruce Campbell-ing your way through legions of splattering zombies to a Rawk soundtrack is probably more than you expected from a zombie-centric game in the first place.

While the hardcore will likely turn up their noses, preferring the likes of "Everquest," "Star Wars Galaxies" or "Final Fantasy Online," those who simply want an easier and more instantly gratifying entry into the massively multiplayer arena will find Frontiers to be a perfect fit.

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.

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.

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 game is at its best when it is most imaginative, and even after the novelty of the outstanding setting fades, you'll find fathoms of depth in the ship combat and trading systems - especially once you find a regular group of sea-dogs to join.

As a standalone experience, University doesn't quite live up to The Sims 2's high grade point average. New stuff like pranks and streaking actually aren't that much fun and the whole experience feels like a lot of work... As an expansion pack to the main game, this is a terrific product.

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.

Don't buy it hoping for a wonderful solo experience: Buy it because you want to spend hours fragging your buds on Xbox Live or working through a uniquely implemented cooperative campaign. It ain't perfect, but it's sure to please.

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.

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.

Younger players out there will get a kick out of the solid controls and bright environments, while more advanced players can appreciate the challenge and depth of the included boost system.

It doesn't offer the same mission or weapon variety as its big brothers, but its portability and wireless multiplayer more than make up for those shortcomings. And like its counterpart on the PlayStation 2, it's one of the best first-person shooters for the PSP to date.

With the slightly worn graphics engine and the advances of EA's "NCAA" -- notably the analog throwing and batting -- it's impossible to call The Show the best baseball title on the market. It is, however, a wonderfully well-built game that has all manner of detail to please every conceivable baseball fan.

Although Codename Panzers doesn't do anything particularly new, it's polished, presented beautifully, and positively bursting with lasting appeal.

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

Adding cop chases back to the franchise, retaining the free-roaming world setup from "Underground," and introducing the Speedbreaker are all welcome items.