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.

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

Seems to split its aim between hardcore "Matrix" fans and experienced gamers; if you find yourself with a foot in both camps, you may well find this one of the most faithful movie-to-game experiences in recent memory.

It turns out that pinball controls don't make for a very good platform game.

You've never played anything like this, which may make it worth checking out for many gamers. Just be prepared for fits of frustration and an unnecessary microphone mechanic. Odama may win the battle of innovation, but it also loses the war for being considered a great game.

One notable disappointing absence in this game is any of the female wrestlers - come on, THQ, let's not be all macho about this!

Something of a guilty pleasure. Objectively, it's not a good game at all -- it's ill-suited to its platform, repetitive to the extreme, too easy, presented with little flair, and a mere shadow of the best that both Pokemon and dungeon crawlers in general have to offer. But it's still sitting there in our DS's slot, waiting for the next time we have ten minutes of downtime.

Let's be honest, who looks to party games for stunning originality, cutting-edge presentation, and engrossing single-player modes? It's Mario. He parties. So will you.

A decent game to play if you're obsessed with the adventures of the family Parr, but it could have used a lot more polish and whimsy where it counts.

Ignoring the lackluster controls and bad animation, there's a decent action/adventure experience in Headhunter: Redemption, with a lengthy quest punctuated with plenty of gunplay and occasionally interesting puzzles.

It's puzzling and disappointing that the single-player game seems as neglected as it does, but it's a basically solid, pretty package with some new diversions for veterans. Enter the ring knowing it's a "v1.5" rather than a true "2.0," and you won't feel sucker-punched.

Empires provides equal portions of action and strategy, and dishes out an adventure that will gleefully eat up huge chunks of players' time.

If you can get past the irritating introductory cutscenes and if you don't mind all-pervading cuteness, there's a depth available to plumb, and fans of micro-management will be in heaven.

While it might pass as a cheerfully violent diversion if your copy of "Thief" or "MGS" is on loan to a mate, its innate problems and lack of innovation are going to leave it fighting for attention.

Micromanagement bogs things down just when your village is becoming interesting and productive. That a game has barriers or limits isn't a bad thing; that the barrier appears at the same point as the game becomes appealing is unfortunate.

Only the Sabotage online mode, where teams attempt to interrogate rivals for parts of a six-number code, stands out as unique. One mode won't win the war, much less our gaming money for the month.

Suffers from a distinct lack of character. Nothing here really draws the player in, and as a result, the whole experience feels more like an exercise than the entertaining diversion a game should be.

For a game that manages to capture the look and personality of Viewtiful Joe, Red Hot Rumble is strangely demanding and uncompromising.

Only the Sabotage online mode, where teams attempt to interrogate rivals for parts of a six-number code, stands out as unique. One mode won't win the war, much less our gaming money for the month.

If you've never played the Battle Network games before, the latest version is a fine way to introduce yourself to the series, but you'd do just as well with one of the older titles -- after all, they're cheaper and offer about the same experience.

It actually emphasizes the "S" in RTS by de-emphasizing the ho-hum tank rush mentality and encouraging strategic and tactical thinking.

Its short length, bland storyline and by-the-numbers gameplay aren't going to win over the new, more demanding generation of gamers.

Too much micro-management to contend with and an exorbitant amount of time to...are the primary stumbling blocks.

The locations are truly stunning, especially in Venice and New Zealand and the pounding music score perfectly complements the daredevil speed of the races.

It's rare that something that truly strives for originality, and even rarer that it succeeds with any degree of success. Project Nomads does so in spades. Bravo!

Its simple, entertaining mix of humour and management is addictive in the short-term, and it'll make a perfect impulse buy for those looking for something a little bit different.

Cap that off with a tournament-style four-player option that runs through competitive versions of a selection of the mini-games, and you're looking at a package that's an easy recommendation for gaming families.

Offers an interesting combination of an established universe with a different game genre.