Episode One is the work of a team at the top of its game, and its level design, pace, visual style, and audio are practically beyond reproach.

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

With High Treason, Act of War has become one of the most flexible multiplayer RTSs since "Rise of Nations." It's also still the best "Command & Conquer: Generals" clone since, well, "Command & Conquer: Generals."

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

Though all the elements are familiar, IO has polished them up and the end result is like a favorite dish: You know what it tastes like, but you're still looking forward to eating it.

In the spirit of generosity, we'll offer that there's about 30 minutes of entertainment to be had.

For fans of the comic, Rogue Trooper is a satisfactory effort, but it's a hard sell for the rest of us. The average gameplay and short length make it good for a weekend rental, but the weak multiplayer and absence of replay value mean it's not worth adding to your permanent collection.

The biggest failing of Heroes V, which you can almost anticipate from its emphasis on looking so good, is that it's stingy with information.

Monster Hunter is certainly an acquired taste. But if you can appreciate the appeal of crafting, if RPGs aren't just about you leveling something, and if you're willing to try something completely different, you're in for a long, open-ended treat.

It's ultimately disappointing that the best Sony could do with their advanced hardware is a poor man's version of a Game Boy game ["Advance Wars"]. But, hey, at least you can play it online.

Despite controls that take some getting used to, it translates very well to the PSP and proves a truly classic game can withstand the test of time.

In the spirit of generosity, we'll offer that there's about 30 minutes of entertainment to be had.

There's simply not that much to say. After all, it's freakin' ping pong.

And while the game generally looks and sounds just fine, you'll come away thinking about the interminably dull dialogue passages and unconvincing characters.

Like many games of this style, there is some vague, half-guilty pleasure in the mechanical repetitiveness of the game's combat. But ultimately, X-Men is in the time-honored tradition of licensed games -- rushed, derivative, and well worth avoiding.

Like many games of this style, there is some vague, half-guilty pleasure in the mechanical repetitiveness of the game's combat. But ultimately, X-Men is in the time-honored tradition of licensed games -- rushed, derivative, and well worth avoiding.

Like many games of this style, there is some vague, half-guilty pleasure in the mechanical repetitiveness of the game's combat. But ultimately, X-Men is in the time-honored tradition of licensed games -- rushed, derivative, and well worth avoiding.

Like many games of this style, there is some vague, half-guilty pleasure in the mechanical repetitiveness of the game's combat. But ultimately, X-Men is in the time-honored tradition of licensed games -- rushed, derivative, and well worth avoiding.

Like many games of this style, there is some vague, half-guilty pleasure in the mechanical repetitiveness of the game's combat. But ultimately, X-Men is in the time-honored tradition of licensed games -- rushed, derivative, and well worth avoiding.

And while the game generally looks and sounds just fine, you'll come away thinking about the interminably dull dialogue passages and unconvincing characters.

The new additions -- in particular the power-ups -- struggle to justify their inclusion, but they also keep the game from feeling like too much of a retread. It's unlikely that anyone will put this at the top of his or her list of favorite Mario games.

It's generous, detailed, and brainy. If you want cheap thrills, there are some great real-time strategy games out there -- this isn't one of them. But if you want something from the other end of the spectrum that plays unlike anything else, this is the game for you.

While it has its flaws, it's paced well, full of action, and managed to keep us smiling all the way to the end. With a tweak here and a polish there, Ritual could really be onto something good. Bring on part two.

Genre-hopping games can be notoriously difficult, but with Spellforce 2, Phenomic has hit the nail... well, not quite on the head, but certainly in its general vicinity

A demanding and gratifying shooter that brings a new level of seriousness to the Ghost Recon franchise. And, perhaps more importantly, restores it to the good graces of PC owners. Provided they've got the horsepower.

Committed Guild Wars players will probably have bought it already -- if you haven't taken the plunge yet, it's the perfect opportunity to try this unique and beautiful game.

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.