Despite Justice For All's flaws, the game really does offer a rather goofy series of brain-bending challenges. There's a wonderful sense of accomplishment to be had when, during the courtroom scenes, the stupid psyche-lock system is abandoned and players, using only their wits, tear the heart out of a witnesses' testimony.

But for those that love simple, arcade shooters that blister thumbs and leave permanent marks in your D-pad, this is the pinnacle of the genre. It's great, quick fun that can be played for five minutes just as easily as five hours, and the animation contains huge amusement value.

Not a bad game, but fans hoping for a successor to the "Virtua Tennis" series will likely be a bit disappointed. This game just isn't as much fun or as well put together as the venerable tennis series.

With the new swing and throw systems we had a better time here than in any other recent baseball sim, and got more attached to created players than that old digital Nomar. MVP 06 NCAA Baseball proves that an excellent ball game is exactly that, no matter who's on the cover.

A disjointed storyline that seems more driven by gratuitous cameos than compelling gameplay won't please everyone, but die-hard Disney fans won't mind.

A solid, straightforward first-person shooter. It manages to stumble, gasping and grinning, from the no-man's land of "adequate" and into the green zone of "good," mostly due to the assorted flairs and presentational touches that make all the difference.

The Ship's mixture of intrigue, subtlety, and cunning makes it the perfect recipe for gamers bored with same-old same-old multiplayer shooters, but it does tend to show its indie roots a little too clearly here and there.

Combined with the fun dogfighting and smart stylus control, this is better action than we deserve in a portable.

Dedicated Sim City players are probably saying, "Yes, of course I need that level of detail!", and that's why City Life isn't going to appeal to them too much. But plenty of folks will be glad of a little more abstraction and a little less overwhelming detail.

Those last few major battles will only take five years from your life from battlefield stress syndrome. Six, tops.

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

The Gamecube version presents the microgames as the kitschy things they are by placing them on a multiplayer pedestal. Sitting on a sofa with friends, when it's not apparent what you're supposed to do, a certain kind of unique frustration arises. [JPN Import]

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.

If there were a more advanced game behind the excellent writing, The Bard's Tale could have been one of the highest rated RPGs this year. The Bard's sarky one-liners, foul mouth, and rampant chauvinism make every cutscene and conversation entertaining and frequently laugh-out-loud funny.

Despite controls that take some getting used to, it translates very well to the PSP and proves a truly classic game can withstand the test of time.

Misses out on a Highly Recommended award is that it suffers from seemingly unfinished game elements and it's not really a major step-up from the last 32-bit Smackdown.

The best game of the series...a hugely addictive game with a twisting, intense storyline that would make J.R.R. Tolkien proud.

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.

Its linearity and concentration on stealth is quite a contrast to the open freedom of the GTA games. Its explicit violence can be gimmicky, but it fits so well with the theme that nobody could (or should, at any rate,) call it gratuitous.

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

It does right by the arcade sports genre in that respect, and has great control to boot. What it's lacking in other respects, however -- stats, modes, and variety -- keeps Super Mario Strikers from pulling off the hat-trick.

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.

It's not the prettiest RPG out there, and it certainly isn't the best sounding, but it's got a massively long and interactive quest, plenty of land to explore, a number of interesting playable characters and a real dose of challenging gameplay.

The Room is definitely smaller and more sparsely appointed digs than its predecessors... but it's still in one hell of a neighborhood.

Although the single-player feels like a bit of an afterthought, the action-packed, entertaining and well-executed multiplayer is first-rate - and with the genre still so sparse, it's probably the best online racer you can buy on any console platform.

Firewatch is a fine way to spend a weekend. It’s one of those rare games that can be enjoyed with a friend or loved one simply spectating; it’s marathoning a few episodes of Lost. Terrific writing and voice work along with a gorgeous world outshine the game’s flaws and make for a game that sticks with you long after you’ve watched its closing credits.

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

In a refreshing change of pace, the story in Suikoden V is what kept us playing; typically it's the best reason to quit an RPG.