Madden is fun, no question. It looks wonderful, and the visual improvements make it a more entertaining game both for players and spectators.

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.

While the plot and motivation spazzes out all over the place, linking the narratives of the animated series and the contemporary movie (literally highlighting different ages and generations), the gameplay is consistently solid.

Adding cop chases back to the franchise, retaining the free-roaming world setup from "Underground," and introducing the Speedbreaker are all welcome items.

It controls decently, has some good tracks, and looks and sounds like you'd hope a PSP racer would. The problem is that its main selling point -- the police dynamic -- is as much a negative as it is a positive, leaving it without a real means of distinguishing itself.

We love the ambition in this take on the Big Apple, but sometimes the inexpert mechanics just can't be ignored.

Some of the game's combat moves are very impressive, especially as you don't need to do anything particularly complex to pull them off.

It's vibrant and fast, easy to pick up, and as satisfying as a speeding hedgehog can possibly be in the long run.

For console-only gamers, Valve's masterpiece is the definition of innovation and an unequivocal must-buy.

A refreshingly good -- albeit a bit short -- movie-based game with a dose of ingenuity and plenty of memorable game-play moments for fans and action-adventure gamers alike.

From the creative track design to the expertly balanced difficulty levels, nearly everything about Mario Kart DS screams quality.

With GM mode, arguably the best season mode in wrestling, and expanded online play (four players in one match), it's basically impossible not to recommend Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 to any grappling gamers.

Don't expect challenging financial decisions or careful economic planning, but if all you want is to make your own movies, this game's awe-inspiringly varied toolset should not be missed.

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

It doesn't offer the same mission or weapon variety as its big brothers, but its portability and wireless multiplayer more than make up for those shortcomings. And like its counterpart on the PlayStation 2, it's one of the best first-person shooters for the PSP to date.

The quality story, strong voice acting, vast landscape, and competent combat make for an all round solid action-adventure experience.

This is great gaming, great art, and a great way to give yourself the creeps while fumbling around with the oddest virtual camera you've ever handled.

Comparing Lord of the Rings Tactics to "Metal Gear Solid" -- another turn-based, tactical PSP title with a famous franchise attached -- this game comes out on top in almost every way.

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

PlayStation2 owners should revel in the fact that Path of Neo looks and feels best on their console. While Sony's hardware generates a relatively smooth framerate, the Xbox suffers a real stuttering problem, and the PC has an absolutely terrible control set.

Hidden underneath the heroine's cute, sly smile is a solid helping of classic Rare goodness, just waiting to burst forth. Layer on the excellent combat system, beautiful visuals, and an orchestral score, and you've got a game well worth checking out.

Guitar Hero effortlessly tops the charts in terms of music/rhythm games -- and not just because the controller, gameplay, and song list are all flawless. It shoots to number one with a bullet because you actually feel and look cool playing it.

Gamers on the go will undoubtedly enjoy this huge game with seemingly endless variety.

For new players or rabid fanatics, Mario Party 7 is a respectable addition to the series. But for anyone expecting to have a great time with less than four people, this release can kill the party instead of starting it.

Curse of Darkness picks up after a few hours, but never really hits its stride -- despite nice bosses, cool abilities, and the large amount of real estate.

An overly liner, repetitive action game with very little personality.

It captures the thrills of the original, and spices up a few areas while adding some new things. Unfortunately, space battles drag down the total package; but at least it's trying something different.

There is one reason to look into this dim sequel: it packs in "Turtles in Time," the excellent four-player arcade release from over a decade back.