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.

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."

It doesn't quite work. Although it's hard to see how the controls could be improved, at the same it's not hard to see that improvements are necessary if console real-time strategy games are ever going to be an easy alternative to those on the PC.

Most of the attraction was the aliens, though it was difficult to restrain the urge to lift them out of the genre-bound confines of Earth 2160 and into the groundbreaking RTS they deserve.

Most games will have you shaking your head (if not cursing) at the fielding. That's a huge letdown when the pitching and batting interaction is as strong as that of MLB 2K6. Inside Edge is such a fantastic addition that fans have to see it in action.

The solo adventure is often captivating, however, and the ancient Chinese atmosphere often overshadows the fact that you're playing the same old action-oriented RPG one more time.

What's here is engaging and contains a compelling, in-depth story to complement the gameplay.

It's designed to be played through multiple times, and won't show anywhere near the whole of its plot or locations first time out.

Once you're past the technical hurdles (and the brutal realization of just how easy it is to die in a swordfight or sea battle), Pirates of the Caribbean is an absolutely beautiful looking, freeform RPG adventure. But it is really suited for experienced, patient gamers.

Although the brain-dead enemy AI remains unchanged, Athena Sword is a worthy expansion.

You can get through the game in probably about five or six hours, and there's not much incentive to replay it. This march to glory might be short, and it's sometimes awfully low-rent.

Though you are bound to find yourself marveling at the innovative use of the DS hardware and the creativity of the puzzles, the core adventure is simply way too short -- six hours at best.

Despite the somewhat deceptive advertising, there isn't that much alien blasting and army building, so if you were more interested in the RTS element, or expect a little more depth from your strategy games, you're better off looking elsewhere.

The sequel is a better game in every way, but the original was so successful at combining extreme sports stunts with real basketball that there was little room left for improvement.

It proves a suitable fix for bloodthirsty gamers, yet hardly the remorselessly addictive diversion many had been hoping for.

A solid game that leans towards the easy side. The only real flaws are an iffy camera and iffier reading of its potential audience. It's still the best interactive thing to happen to the Shrek universe thus far.

The controls for getting Spidey to do all these wonderful things are finicky and inaccurate at times, making our hero a trouble to handle in places where walls are electrified or there are dangers like harmful mist or falling rubble to avoid.

Freeform, subtle, complex, rather dry, and just the tiniest bit (appropriately enough) oppressive, Republic: The Revolution is likely to sharply divide gamers.

The stylus aspects were better left out, fun is barricaded by a need to complete Adventure mode, and the overall vibe is even more painfully sugarcoated today than it was a decade ago.

A classic shoot 'em up, plain and simple, and it's a damn good one.

This isn't a story-driven RPG and it isn't a pure action game. But if you can appreciate the way Diablo fused the two genres, and if you don't mind the distinct anime artwork, Crimson Tears is a real gem.

A huge improvement over the original PlayStation version.

While the control system is straightforward to pick up, it can also be ultimately frustrating - in fact, annoying enough to take a sparkle off the otherwise solid and enjoyable gameplay.

A fun time, in spite (or because) of its ludicrous story and cutscenes, which you won't find in any other serious racer.

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.

Full of overt and covert nods to the classic, Pitfall: The Lost Expedition is a worthy, entertaining successor to the proud, creaking lineage.

An absolute must for fans of the series - it's as engrossing and complex as the best of Anne McCaffrey's novels, and as a stand-alone story, it's fun and well worth it.

It's terribly challenging and terribly addicting, although its longevity can certainly be questioned due to the design of the campaign game.