You might not enjoy looking back on the repetitive track design and poor graphics, but you won't recoil in shock or anything. It's more likely that you won't be able to remember anything about this game at all.

So Wreckless, while being a graphical tour de force, and a superb showcase title for the polygon-pushing potential of the Xbox, is one of those games that's all talk and no trousers.

The limited AI and by-the-numbers level design completely backfire. And while quick kills form combos that pay off in cash, little is done with the system. Even the multiplayer feels tacked on.

Many of the tracks and events have simply been lifted from earlier entries, and the controls aren't reliable enough to consistently deliver the elation that characterized the best SSX titles.

Fans should rejoice at having the chance to play both Kain and Raziel, with faster deeper combat leading to the story resolution many have longed for. It's not perfect, but Defiance is easily the best of the series.

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.

Yes, the game has its faults, but like the show, Double or Nothing succeeds on the quality of its writing, and complements the TV show very well.

Stylish, solid, and unique... and on the upper difficulty levels, it's hard as hell. It gives a gothic boost to the first-person shooter genre, and a definite shot in the arm to the criminally underrepresented western video game.

Lacking base-building, deep resource control, and combat micromanagement, Nemesis of the Roman Empire seems to be rather sparsely featured. Even considering the unique supply line modeling, other RTS games have a great deal more to offer.

Online or offline, as a campaign or a freeform scenario, Caesar IV is an inviting game, easy to like and hard to stop playing. It's got a fairly forgiving learning curve, and it will rarely plunge you into the sort of economic death spirals that can make other city builders so discouraging.

Simple gameplay, but like all good games of this genre, it’s oh-so frustrating at times.

The core gameplay, while striking less of an impact than in its heyday, is still a solid, addicting experience. The instantly accessible gameplay and well-crafted balance between arcade feel and realism make it a recommendable online game.

There's an awful lot of linear, shooting-gallery tedium you have to plod through to get to the good stuff.

Long time fans of the game will grumble about its flaws, while new players will be put off by the lack of direction in Quest mode. In the end, it's a game that suffers from "jack of all trades, master of none" syndrome.

If they had done something about the AI and given more feedback during pausing, there's a fair old chance that The Art of War would have upped its score to win our Highly Recommended accolade.

As many improvements as the game's developers have made over its predecessors, I only wish they had gone the extra mile and made this game into the top-notch title it could have been.

Perhaps the most competent boxing game we've come across in a long while, if not ever. It manages to be a worthy film tie-in that remains supremely playable and strangely compulsive.

As engaging as the game can be, the action has a tendency to seemingly last forever at times, forcing you retire early just for the sake of a breather.

None of the other games come close to this one in terms of gee-whiz frills and bonus content. But ASB 2004 doesn't really get the job done on the field.

The Live stuff definitely adds a new wrinkle to the yearly football competition. For Xbox owners interested in online play, Fever has a huge advantage over Madden, which is unfortunately single-player only on Microsoft's platform.

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.

FlatOut 2 is fun, if only for a little while.

The volleyball is actually quite good, but it's far too limited and all the other nonsense just gets in the way.

A pulpy, good time. Just don't expect to come back after completion for any particularly inspired level design or captivating combat.

What Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb amounts to is lots of riddles, lots of combat, too many deathtraps and jumping puzzles, and a decent, if contrived story.

Doesn't really have any significant flaws beyond the odd moment of frustration and the occasional gimmicky voodoo power. It's beautifully presented, full of imagination, and delightfully off-the-wall.

It ultimately lacks the long-term appeal of EA's offering.

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.