There's no next generation oomph that sneaks up and slaps you on the face like that little bald orange man from the old Tango drink ads, no real sense of feeling justified for making that step up from 32- to 128-bit.

An artistic triumph, Star Wars Battlefront poses a difficult question: Do features make a game? If they do, this one’s got problems. Stand Battlefront next to most other multiplayer-oriented shooters and you’ll find it lacking in variety and depth. But none of those other shooters let me blast Slave-1 out of the sky from the Millennium Falcon, or take out an AT-ST with a well-timed thermal pod, or block ten laser blasts and force push a stormtrooper into a pool of lava.

One of the oddest things about Network Transmission is the game's learning curve that bucks convention by starting out frustratingly difficult and getting progressively easier.

A fun game, and the inclusion of a character driven -oh ho - plot to be the right direction for the genre to go. But it’s not for anyone who is either looking for the next-generation visual thrill of its competition, or heavy realism.

Once you've mastered the ship-to-ship battles, captured a few towns and messed around with the simple trading system, you'll have seen the majority of what it has to offer...If you fancy a few hours of easy-going fun on the high seas, give it a try.

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.

There's so much to have a go at and so much detail and addictive gameplay that fans of the series won't be disappointed - in fact you may just think that it's fang-tastic!

If you can forgive the unimaginative AI and time-intensive design, Omega Strain stands as an accomplished shooter.

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."

Delivers more of their established brand of imaginative gameplay rather than attempts at innovative technology.

All of this adds up to a game that is, by turns, compelling and frustrating, innovative and derivative. At the final bell, there is little in qualitative terms to separate Ecks vs. Sever and "Doom."

The fantastically realistic physics engine makes this the game that F1 purists will want to own, but the control and graphics frustrations will likely result in them not enjoying their time spent with this game.

If realism is really your gig, Fever is not the best choice, with Sega's "NFL 2K3" having more balanced gameplay.

This is essentially a stylish "Day After" dumb-and-gunner, with even less brainpower required than "Dark Alliance," and it's safe to say that if you enjoyed that game, this will have some appeal for you.

Fun for a while, and the customization is quite compelling at first, but before long the innate repetition, linearity, and ultimate emptiness really begin to grate.

Age of Empires III would be a damn fine RTS if it came out five years ago. Instead, it's some impressive modern technology and bold gameplay ideas unfortunately saddled by an outdated take on the genre.

Tak 2's biggest flaw is that we've seen it all before. It's not a bad game, and is certainly a lot better than its predecessor, but it really doesn't do anything particularly well.

It has a lot to live up to, and although it does manage it on several counts, the frustration from its down points tends to grate just a little raw on fractured nerves.

Although the single-player game is mixed, Xbox Live addicts will find much to enjoy with Clone Wars - enough that it'll probably justify its purchase price alone.

Gamers who liked the idea of, say, "Twisted Metal Black," but found the execution too quick and snappy to be satisfying, should check out Road Kill, a decidedly more kinetic follower.

We buy video games to play them, not simply marvel at what they can do. Its technological advancements and sheer scope may indeed be incredible, but No Man’s Sky’s repetitive world and gameplay are decidedly less than stellar.

No, it doesn't have the depth of its PC granddaddy, but barring a handful of unfortunate issues, it's perfectly good at what it does: pass the time.

Another minor issue is that while Nikki is death while on the stealthy offensive, she's not much good if the combat suddenly gets up-close... the moral of the story, we suppose, being don't let the enemy get close to begin with.

Considering its wallet-friendly $40 price point, Sword Coast Legends’s core campaign is easily good enough to warrant a recommendation — provided you’re content with a rather leisurely, low-stress stroll through the Forgotten Realms.

Another minor issue is that while Nikki is death while on the stealthy offensive, she's not much good if the combat suddenly gets up-close... the moral of the story, we suppose, being don't let the enemy get close to begin with.

OK, we admit it: Rumble Roses isn't the deepest thing going, even for a fighting game. But it's an entertaining and eye-catching spectacle of male-oinker-oriented wrestling fun. Plus, it's populated by some of the best-looking, most meticulously modeled virtual girls ever designed.

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.

While it doesn't necessarily capture the imagination to the extent that "Half Life" did, it does pack a pretty good punch.