It's a shame that the initial cooperative multiplayer scheme for Rise of the Kasai was dropped as it could have elevated a solid sequel into an exceptional one.

Despite its kiddy appearance and theme, it's far too frustrating and unhelpful to recommend for a youngster. Or anyone that hasn't exhausted the many better options, for that matter.

Each iteration of the Medal of Honor series has been better than the last, and Rising Sun is no exception. It would have been nice to see EA take a few risks and break formula, but the game's a great war shooter nonetheless.

Is Harry Potter a good game? No, not particularly. The story's vague and badly realized; the characters aren't especially likeable, and the tasks you're given are tedious and involve a lot of plodding about Hogwarts. But does it capture the feel of the franchise? Absolutely, and if you really get involved in the game you'll forgive it its flaws.

The perfect game for obsessive fans of the comic franchise, those who never tire of senseless violence, and activists looking for scapegoats, but it simply doesn't have enough to offer anyone else.

If you just want to experience the visceral knockout quality of a good arcade-punching match, then UFC is exactly what you need.

One part hockey, one part soccer and one part pure fantasy, Quidditch World Cup may not have the draw or the depth of Madden, but it is still plenty of fun to play.

It's not the prettiest game going, but its reliance on tense, cinch-your-belt strategy with limited forces is a welcome break from the near-mindless tank- (or in this case, monster-) rush blues.

If you're coming to Sword of the Stars from titles like "Galactic Civilizations," things may seem stripped down... but "focused" is a more accurate way to look at it.

The simple truth is that Juiced is behind the curve. The racing isn't bad, but the game places emphasis on the wrong reward system.

The game can be repetitive and frustrating, and the graphics won't leave you breathless, but there's a ton of free-form gameplay to be had for those who dig the series.

The auto-target feature for the bungun is way too helpful and intrusive. The double-jump looks and feels absolutely wrong. Most of all, the overall game is just a little too unchallenging, a little bit rote, and a little too, well, immature.

This game lacks Batman's attitude, Green Lantern's gadgets, The Flash's quickness, and Superman's strength. It's a mediocre action-RPG through and through.

Completing the (sometimes difficult) challenges can be rewarding, but as it is this will probably only be of passing interest to Gamecube owners.

This take on the Hogwarts crew is purely by the numbers, not at all emblematic of the magic wielded by the characters within.

Approach this sharp blade with caution, because it's likely to turn on you before mastery comes.

At the core of any racing game should be the feeling of fast movement, and the Gameube version just doesn't seem to deliver in this regard.

Big brains are certainly desirable, but big price tags are a different matter, and Wii Degree's standard $49.99 asking price is a little hard to stomach. While the game is tons of fun, there's just a handful of minigames and not much else, which puts it in a different class to other full-priced options.

A mediocre medley.

A solid, rather than remarkable, title with some intriguing spins on the established formula.

The camera, for one, can be quite erratic and gets frustratingly inadequate when you only have the option to centre it behind Bats.

On the one hand it has a terrific atmosphere and a style that fans of the movie will most likely adore... Yet on the other it is exceedingly frustrating thanks to the lack of an in-mission save feature.

Scratch below the surface, however, and the game reveals its suspect paint job with the actual degree of variation in gameplay terms proving very limited.

One part hockey, one part soccer and one part pure fantasy, Quidditch World Cup may not have the draw or the depth of Madden, but it is still plenty of fun to play.

Some sort of tutorial mode covering all the new features would have been nice, but all-in-all, what's here is a good little time-waster. If you're looking for a break from the mundane, give it a spin.

This game lacks Batman's attitude, Green Lantern's gadgets, The Flash's quickness, and Superman's strength. It's a mediocre action-RPG through and through.

While the symbol-drawing controls and cunning elemental system are deep and enjoyable, the rest of the game drags it down to a level of tedium from which even the competent multiplayer can't rescue it.

The package, then, is balls-out fine. It's a bumpy court to play on at times, but one that's ultimately rewarding.