Ultimately, we can't deny that this game is incredibly fun. The tables are gorgeous, and it's a fantastic way to breathe life back into a seemingly dead arcade genre. We just wish that The Who was there singing us through the game as we go for the high score.

With endless hours of online multiplayer and constant leaderboard score tracking, this beautiful remake takes the cake for classic re-releases and will have you grinding for hours.

Wreckateer nails what Kinect play ought to be. You feel utterly ridiculous flapping your arms around, but it's fun rather than frustrating.

Whether or not you're a fan of Nintendo's latest handheld console, if you love Kingdom Hearts, this is a must-have title that's filled with fantastic gameplay, an intriguing story, and beautiful visuals.

Between the wonderfully acted story and the tight car and gunplay, Sleeping Dogs is an exceptional open-world crime drama that ups the ante for cinematic story presentations -- and execution moves -- in games.

The mix of ideas at play in Darksiders 2 could have turned out to be a disaster, but Vigil stitches it all together expertly. From the corrupted idyll of The Forge Lands, to the twilit expanses of The Land of the Dead, to the thin, broken line between Heaven and Hell, Death's grand adventure ranks among the best we've seen or will see in 2012.

Persona 4 Arena is as eccentric and Japanese as it gets. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a JPRG will love the game even if fighting games aren't their forte.

The real strength of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is how expertly High Moon leverages the characters and mythology to create a cinematic shooter that stands on the strength of its design and gameplay, rather than leaning on its license as a crutch.

It's just as solid as its console partners, it looks beautiful, and takes advantage of the Vita's controls in unique ways that don't negatively impact the core of the platforming gameplay. It serves as a wonderful reminder that you can never have enough Sackboy in your life.

By playing it safe, FIFA Soccer 13 lacks innovation but this latest installment has helped keep the series at the forefront of video realism that you're pretty darn close from watching a live match, which is something you can't say about other sporting video games.

NBA 2K13-building on the successful and delightful NBA 2K12-remains a fantastic basketball simulator. With a robust My Player mode, already-great online multiplayer and gameplay that just won't quit, it's clear why 2K is the only name in the basketball video game market.

The expansion adds more wonderful charm to the game while not exactly taking the huge risks that we've seen in past expansions, and that's okay. As a returning player, there's plenty to do to keep me busy thanks to all of the end game content, and there will be more to come when Blizzard implements the game's upcoming 10 and 25 man raid encounters.

This will be the best $19.99 you've spent all year.

Even if you never played the original, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is turn-based tactics and management at its finest, and a perfect introduction to the genre...It's an exceptionally solid return for the series, and one that every turn-based tactics fan should experience.

While it has a few quirks here and there, Dishonored delivers on almost every admirably/crazily ambitious promise made by its creators. Its impeccably crafted gameplay and exquisitely haunting and detailed world stand in loving tribute to all of the iconic and acclaimed franchises that inspired it, and yet it still has a soul and style all its own.

I'm the type of guy who actually goes for Sunday drives. Weird, I know, but it's true. As such, Forza Horizon felt like it was developed just for me. It may not be the perfect title for the F1 fans looking for a classic racing simulator, but for anyone who has ever turned their head as a Lamborghini whips past them on the interstate; this game needs to be played.

Masterstroke of fun, and does a good job moving the series in the right direction. It offers fresh new tracks for everyone to enjoy, and is far more accessible for everyone than ever before.

I loved The Unfinished Swan. It's the sort of experience that requires us to further refine the definition of the term "video game." While there are certainly elements of play here, I don't think that Swan qualifies as such. Instead, it slides in along the likes of Goodnight Moon and the Shel Silverstein library as the latest modern classic in the realm of children's fiction.

Few risks are taken and most of the improvements over previous games amount to surface-level boosts to the presentation, but that also helps to make for a seamless transition from one studio to the next. As much as Halo 4 makes it clear that this is a franchise that needs to grow and evolve, 343 also gets a pass this time for playing it safe and serving the fans.

Criterion Games brings the fire here in this Frankenstein's monster amalgamation of Burnout and Need for Speed. The buttery smooth controls, multitude of unlockable rides/upgrades, and ever-alluring draw of besting your friends' times, not to mention the forward-thinking CloudCompete, come together to offer one of the finest arcade racing experiences out there.

A ton of work has gone into this game from top to bottom, and it stands as a real testament to the developers who didn't want to just coattail this one into the books. Nearly every system and aspect of the game has been tweaked or overhauled, and it certainly shows in the final product.

Epic Mickey 2 once again pays heartfelt tribute to animation history, and does it with style and sincerity. As with the original game, anyone who loves Disney, Mickey Mouse, or just animation history in general will find something to enjoy here, and the fact that the game is a superb platformer and co-op title is icing on the cake.

Engaging, visually stunning, and a whole lot of fun to play.

One thing that is nailed down tight is the visual style. Every area in Arx Fatalis is extremely atmospheric, and in a nod to the backstory, just feels right.

Perhaps the best thing about MLB Slugfest 20-03 is how well all the different elements come together to create a game that is both recognizably baseball and something you've never played before. The "extreme" additions work exceedingly well in the baseball setting.

The result could be the best "Star Trek" game ever -- maybe not in terms of pure strategic or simulation gameplay, but certainly in terms of being true to its license.

Buildings are built noticeably faster now. Especially huge projects like the airport. Now there is a random damage element courtesy of the elements themselves, occasional storms will pass through and they can put a final nail in your faltering economy, or at least slow down a burgeoning one (this feature is optional).

Addictive, brilliant, and fun. It has an intuitive interface, charmingly simplistic graphics, and the relaxing yet relentless pacing that always denotes a Sid Meier game.

The onscreen heads-up display is a miracle of design, everything is easy to read, and a foldout cardboard keyboard layout makes sure everything is easy to do. Still, the game is extremely challenging, perhaps too difficult too fast.

The intense strategic gameplay alone makes it one of the better RTS titles released in recent years.

It features a tighter back story, a more streamlined and interactive combat model, the ability to play the game the way you want to play, and best of all, does so in an easy to understand, even friendly manner.

It's one of the best sports games on the PS2, and it's definitely the best college game around.

Although the game has a story, plot has never been the strong point of any platformer. In the case of "Klonoa" it's more saccharine than usual and indulges in the same plodding mumbo-jumbo found in console RPGs.

The gameplay is surprisingly tight.

While the graphics aren't especially mind-blowing, they complement the game's overall feel and make the unbelievable story that much more appealing.

While there's room for improvement in terms of graphics and sound, it easily makes up for it in realism.

One of those rare titles that benefit from being played loud. All the background noise (or lack thereof) will play with your mind to the point that you'll be taking frequent breaks to collect yourself.

A great flight sim that won't bog you down with complex controls.

Not only adds more stuff to the Sims canon, it improves and more importantly expands the game in subtle but far-reaching ways.

The latest version of EA's yearly hit isn't the quantum leap ahead of last year's, but it's improved enough to keep it at the top, drinking from the virtual Cup.

Mission objectives are varied and quite satisfying, the graphics shine, and tons of replay value is provided.

It's not cutting-edge, but this gritty, violent, and incredibly dark adventure into the occult is just the thing for horror fans looking for something smart and very off beat.

A perfect complement to Maximo's music is its sound effects. Everything from sword and shield clashes to more subtle ambient noises are excellent.

While the gameplay is still overly derivative of games like "Colony Wars" and "Wing Commander," and doesn't quite capture the "Star Wars" feel in the same way the "Rogue Squadron" games do, it's a massive step in the right direction.

Disgaea's loose, unorthodox gameplay, plus its tongue-in-cheek attitude, is just what the genre needs.

It has enough useful, new features to make it a worthy addition to the family, including the tremendous inclusion of Internet play and a fully fleshed-out career mode.

It blends the genre lines seamlessly in a fast-paced game that is both fun and challenging. The new story line and gameplay improvements will appeal to fans of the original and it also does a good job of bringing newcomers up to speed.

From the moment DMX's "Party Up" plays in the background, you'll realize this is not your father's golf game. The action is fast, the commentary is rife with dry humor, and the desire to personalize your character is too good to pass up.

Gamers looking for a vast, expansive trick system like the one in the "Tony Hawk" games might find their wings clipped in Downhill Domination, but the responsive physics and no-rules mayhem work surprisingly well. It's fast -- perhaps a little too fast.

Though there are a few interface and gameplay quirks, "Shadow Magic" is immensely satisfying. Whether you're new to these games or a grizzled veteran, Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic"will keep you playing late into the night.

Painkiller is pure adrenaline. If you don't feel the rush while playing this game, you're probably dead.

One word of warning--if you’re only interesting in running around and shooting bad guys stay far, far away from this game. It’s impossible to run through this game like Rambo. You will die.

With some weapons, like the sniper rifle, you can't move at all if it's equipped. This is all the more frustrating after playing games like "Splinter Cell" where it's pulled off with aplomb.

Once you have access to multiple Forges (they're connected by magic portals), it's easy to get lost in the endless curving hallways.

With the lack of an online death match mode, playing cooperative missions via EA Online (only in the PlayStation 2 version) turns out to be the jewel in EoN's crown. For gamers and Bond fans, this is infinitely superior to nothing.

Really a nice game that continues to surprise and delight the more you play.

It offers up some solid improvement but doesn't stray too far from what made it so loved to begin with. It's not the groundbreaking title that the original was, but it's an excellent follow-up that delivers as promised.

Even though it lacks the cooperative multiplayer feature, Halo: Combat Evolved retains the sharp graphics, heated action, and vehicle-based exploration that made the original such an awesome game.

Certainly the most mature and well-balanced of Goodman's titles, and it succeeds more often than not.

An original game with a well-developed theme and a lot to do. If the fighting and voice acting had received a little more attention, this would surely be a five-star game. As it is, some gamers might have trouble taking the game seriously.

This is a simple, laid-back game, but you'll be surprised at just how rewarding it is to create railroads and watch towns grow.

SimCity 4 isn't a perfect game. It has a difficult learning curve, so the poor documentation and limited tutorials might frustrate players. And the gameplay suffers from some pacing and balance flaws.

All of it looks fantastic. If you can get past its silly "Pokemon with fairies" premise, Zanzarah will provide you with a fun, long, and challenging quest.

The game's plot doesn't come together in any grand way, nor does it need to. The plot's just a latticework for the excellent, challenging missions.

As shocking, unsettling, and addictively compelling as a viewing of HBO's "The Sopranos." It's just that brilliant of a game. Capiche?

A solid and extremely fun game that will probably be overlooked by many in favor of more high-profile titles. It's a shame really, because Moonbase Commander's simple focus and gameplay is an excellent example of substance over style.

The combination of Freestyle Control, improved AI, and super graphics have elevated this veteran's game by leaps and bounds.

If you can get past the terrible documentation and very steep learning curve, Galactic Civilizations will be not only enjoyable but also addictive.

It's a worthy title and Hitman 2: Silent Assasin places slightly above the rest of the pack.

The entrancing music and compellingly complex but accessible gameplay are still unparalleled, making minutes transform into hours as your nights are dominated by the story of your civilization.

A substantial leap was made in multiplayer support. The classic Free For All and Duel matches are back, but the new star of the online show is the objective-based Siege mode, which pits Rebel and Imperial forces against each other in re-creations of several classic "Star Wars" battles.

A little unmanageable when large opposing forces enter toe-to-toe melee combat. The front line becomes a clanging, tangled, dying mass of soldiers, and no player micromanagement is going to save them.

The wide variety of gameplay elements creates an intoxicating mix that will leave players yearning for more. And this is the game's primary issue. Just when you become fully immersed in all the game has to offer, it ends.

Paradigm has managed to give the series a true upgrade while retaining the excitement of the original right down to some pretty snazzy remakes of the Peter Gunn theme.

While not terribly complex, the racing itself makes for excellent fun, and the intricacies and unlockable features are more than enough here to keep you coming back for more.

GT3's soundtrack is a mixed bag. Some of it is boring-yet-harmless original music that is surprisingly jazzy. The list of licensed songs is the real disappointment.

While it does not have the seemingly endless replay value of the original, the tighter gameplay works well for a more straightforward gaming experience.

From the first tutorial moments to its satisfying special collector's reward, The Simpsons: Hit & Run drips with humor and excellent voice-acting by the original cast members. The missions can get a bit repetitive, but the car-and-driver gameplay is the best seen in television-inspired games.

The gorgeous graphics, great sound and level design, and innovative gameplay make this one of the best shooters of the year. It's also a very good reason to upgrade your video card.

Two words for Eurocom and THQ, though, concerning the next installment in the franchise: more Tutankhamen.

Its humorous tone and extremely satisfying random destruction really make it worth playing.

While it isn't as intuitive as the best games in the genre, its underlying complexity is such that you could play for days and only begin to scratch the surface of what it has to offer.

As a first-person shooter, it doesn't quite reach the level of a "Quake" or "Half-Life," but neither is the correct measuring stick, since the gameplay here falls somewhere in between the two.

Throughout the entire campaign, you can't help but feel that this is a comic book come to life.

Despite all the things Jango can do, control is streamlined and intuitive... A rock-solid action title that should keep Fett fans very happy.

While it is disappointing to see yet another rally game ignore most elements that makes rally racing great, the shallow, but exciting, racing is sure to deliver enough thrills for any driver.

A solid story, sharp graphics, excellent audio, great gameplay, vehicles, super weapons, a variety of environments, and topnotch multiplayer action (not to mention the ability to blow up walls) all make this revolution something to shout about.

The only warning you need: Watch out for bugs that range from slight inconveniences to ones that completely stunt your progress.

But what it does have is a visceral feeling of destruction few other games possess.

The thrill of careening around turns surrounded by dozens of competitors? Check. A great simulation of the long road to victory? Check. Spectacularly destructive wipeouts? Check, just no fire.

Rides the line between story and "freedom" well.

The customizable difficulty settings make for an entertaining arcade racer, while the detailed career mode and tuning garage give gearheads plenty to tinker with. Ratbag has produced another outstanding sprint car simulator.

Factor in the ability to play the Summer Leagues and NBDL, and the game's shortcomings seem minimal.

An accurate F1 simulation while remaining accessible to the more laid-back player. However, it's still more a simulation than an arcadelike racing game.

The new single-player levels are challenging without being impossible and break new gameplay ground without abandoning the things that made the original great.

So the engine is clunky and the pathfinding is bad. Ultimately that doesn't matter much. This is a great RPG.

Crashing through flaming glass hoops while pulling off death-defying aerial stunts at 98 mph makes it a hard game to turn off once you've perfected it, and a thoroughly addictive two-player mode will help you get there.

It's insanely gorgeous... Beautiful graphics, fantastically designed maps, and slight changes in gameplay.

Taken together, the new touches are nice, but the graphics are one area where SOCOM II can't yet compete with its PC cousins.

A well-crafted game that's strictly for those who get off on blood, nastiness, and the darker side of the psyche. You know who you are.

Makes for surreal fun with a strangely addictive quality, and, if anything, it has seemingly endless potential. Like the stand-alone versions of the game, The Sims Online is what you make of it.

An invaluable addition to an already great game. The driving missions are a fun and sometimes useful diversion. But the real winner here is how you can more easily deal with their traffic problems.

While the structure and sidequests are a little too hard core and not as good as we would've hoped for in the first true "Final Fantasy" sequel, Final Fantasy X-2 is a great game nonetheless.

Crowded races and difficult tracks unforgiving of the smallest mistake require dedication, concentration, high-end equipment, and lots of practice. Aside from these barriers to entry, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season looks and plays beautifully.

If you can ignore the acting or enjoy it for camp, the rest of Gothic II is an incredible experience.

A good and stylish mix of the factual and the fanciful.

An undeniably polished game. It will offer you months and months of new things to do and experience.

An incredibly attractive game with a vast world to explore and countless hours of entertainment in store for those willing to make the investment. But we warn you: those who venture to Vana'diel may not be coming back.

While Final Fantasy XI doesn't currently offer quite as much variety and depth as competing games --especially on the PC -- its superb graphics, sound, and dedicated community make it a match for the competition.

The level of player interaction and attention to detail rivals that of "Morrowind" and easily surpasses the "Baldur's Gate" series.

Anyone looking for a great hack-and-slash adventure will be more than satisfied with Onimusha 2. You still have to put up with funky camera angles, but the overall control is more than sufficient to get you though this 10-hour-plus trek.

One of the more interesting and entertaining strategy titles to come along in quite some time.

Precisely more of the same. It's bigger, stronger, and deeper. Even the flaws are repeated, as party members still need a lot of hand-holding.

The inclusion of online racing and the frenetic pace of the races will leave players with a dirt-eating grin.

Immediate enough to attract casual hockey fans, or even those who don't care for or know anything about the sport. It also provides a deep level of simulation and customization for those who know and love their hockey.

Quick, responsive controls do well to round out the positives here, but the time spent refining the countering-a-grapple system make Shut Your Mouth considerably more balanced and playable than some previous installments.

For Potter fans of all ages, Chamber of Secrets is a must-have.

A wonderful year-end treat that offers ingenious level design and a ton of gameplay.

It's a real treat to see footage of the original arcade Defender and listen to the thoughts of the man behind it and of the folks responsible for the new one.

Probably no other racing game this year will deliver as much heart-pounding fun.

A complete package that is both a solid adventure and a promising beginning for this Bandai series.

Perhaps unfulfilled potential and a hard-to-learn layout detract from the product's charm. Details be damned.

It'll nonetheless scare the living crap out of would-be heroes and haters alike. Diverging from tradition, this is the game that finally puts the gun survivor series on the map.

AI is greatly improved.

Just flat-out fun. It's not the most complex offering, but there's something to be said for a title that doesn't overreach and instead focuses on tight gameplay and enticing features.

It may not be the best-looking soccer game on the market, but Winning Eleven 6 is, hands down, the best to play.

May not be the perfect ninja sim, but it's a ton of fun, and that's far more important than some minor flaws.

Clearly, the 24/7 mode is the most impressive element, and it could've easily been its own release. All combined, it adds up to a very good game, due largely to the breakout star.

Die-hard console gamers may or may not appreciate the offbeat gameplay style, but there's no denying it'll grow the franchise's reputation as one of the most unusual series currently available for any platform.

Fans of classic horror and science fiction will enjoy it more than most, but the emphasis on action will win over gamers whose tastes are in tune with competitive games like "Twisted Metal" and lighter fighting game fare.

The wide selection of music ensures that it will have something for just about anyone, and the gameplay is challenging and incredibly addictive.

Although there aren't any online features or a training mode to teach newcomers the characteristics of soccer, the variety of game modes is astounding, and the gameplay is enthralling.

As a game, the technical problems affect gameplay to such a high degree that GTA: VC simply cannot be awarded a 5 out of 5 rating. Progress through the game can become a chore, something that never occurred in "GTA3."

Exquisite graphics and sublime gameplay...It's just a shame that not all the voice work is as good as it could have been. It's also too bad that the FF minigames have once again taken away any hope of fully appreciating the game's story.

If you can still hum the theme to "Gigantor" and the line "I'll form the head!" means anything to you, Robot Alchemic Drive was made for you.

Though it only takes five hours to beat, the overall package is so focused and addictive that most will want to play it more than once.

The add-in combines a new and intriguing story with plenty of varied gameplay to steal forty or fifty more hours of your life.

So many excellent ideas are incorporated into this last outing, you'll be feeling the title's influence on similar products years hence.

With a couple tweaks to the gameplay here and there, Sega could have a perennial powerhouse on its hands.

It's remarkable how skillfully so many different ideas are blended together into one game. It's equally impressive that it looks and sounds great, has no noticeable load time, tells a decent story, and doesn't saddle the player with restrictions on where to go and what to do.

With a great core story and plenty of incentive to replay, Fatal Frame 2 is a horror-themed title that anyone should consider playing. If you're brave enough, consider playing with the lights off.

Offers mesmerizing, high-speed racing and crazy bike-to-bike combat on zanier tracks. Play on extremely large TV screens may induce apparent-motion-related vomiting. Consider it yet another bonus feature.

Considering that some of the maps in the "Road to Rome" expansion were spectacular, it's hard to justify dropping $30 on another set of maps and some vehicles.

Simply put, Pride FC shines with details that will make any Pride fan or former match attendee misty eyed with nostalgia.

Every bit as good as the original. The campaigns are wonderfully crafted. There's a good challenging story with plenty of new gameplay.

A lot of game even if most of it is just potential.

The adventure is a first-class effort all the way and well worth the asking price. The newest additions to the toolset are also top notch.

An improvement on the original, and the new environments add a considerable level of depth. Fans of the series will also appreciate the tweaks to the character development system, like the two new classes and special abilities.

It's a great platformer with a lot of the strong, fun play mechanics that are simply missing from a lot of the PlayStation 2's platformers these days. However, if you played the first game, Ape Escape 2 won't be a shining gem but just a fond reminder of the first time you played this series.

A game that looks like it came from a major animation studio. The fluid movement in this game is no less impressive.

Frontline isn't perfect, though. For one thing there are the always-problematic control issues. A console system with its gamepad just can't replicate the tight controls offered by a mouse and keyboard.

An addictive and enjoyable warfare simulation. While not entirely groundbreaking, Command & Conquer: Generals is one excellent game.

Not every new idea works, but it's refreshing to see a developer, especially one as conservative as Blizzard, branch out a little.

The marine single-player is exceptional and the multiplayer is very strong. The predator and alien single-player games just pale in comparison, but they don't detract from the other two.

The camera is sometimes unwieldy, and for some bizarre reason can only be rotated around Jak, not moved vertically, though there is a first-person view that lets you look around. Beyond that, however, Jak and Daxter is an excellent example of a 3D platformer.

Keeps a tight formation between fun and realism and is a great start to the year's run of PS2 air-combat games.

It provides simple, addictive gameplay for the novice with enough depth for all but the most spreadsheet-crazed war gamer.

A real treat... However, the occasional way-too-difficult mission leads to some frustrating repetition, and behaving while driving around so as not to blow the last leg of a driving mission can become slightly tedious.

A very addictive game that continues to surprise and delight the more you play. For the money, there's plenty to do, and best of all it lets you focus on what you find fun.

If you've grown accustomed to 16 on 16 battles in other shooters, nothing, we repeat, nothing, will prepare you for combat in Planetside.

As close to a full-blown sequel as we've seen to the original "Sims," and is sure to hold most gamers over until 2004. More immediately enjoyable than "The Sims: Online," it's the type of open-ended game you can intensely play over time or just spend a few hours with here and there.

A magnificent game.

[It] will likely prove as influential as all it's inspirations.

Some may say that Dark Alliance II is an average hack-'n'-slash outing with minimal replay value. We wish these critics the best with their crack habit.

Despite the absence of much role-playing, or perhaps because of it, Westwood has created a game that is quite a lot of fun to play. In fact, it's one of the few MMORPGs that is enjoyable even if you choose not to interact with any other players.

For Mortal Kombat fans, this is easily the best installment since "Mortal Kombat II."

It may not have the infinite replay value of some titles, but it has more intensity than most. If you only play through it once, you'll feel like you got your money's worth.

The new single-player mode may alter the experience for some, but the core gameplay still offers endless replay value if you just want to skate around while listening to an eclectic mix of punk, rock, and hip-hop.

We're certain a veteran shoot-'em-up enthusiast can blow through it in just two days. But you shouldn't write it off, either. For immediate thrills, not many rivals can match its sheer staying power and intensity.

The "extreme" additions work exceedingly well in the baseball setting. What could have been a shoddy title riding on a gimmick turned out to be one of the better arcade baseball games in recent memory.

The new challenge mode and sub-divisions further enhance the "Command & Conquer"-style of gameplay, and the increased features, tweaks, and improvements make it an essential purchase for fans of the series.

Niggling inconsistencies and slightly bland between-race presentation aside, Colin McRae Rally 3 is a beautiful, realistic, and smooth translation of rally racing. The tracks are gorgeous, challenging, and addictive.

The combination of stunning graphics and frenzied gameplay make Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner a must-have for anime RPG fans or, heck, anyone with a functioning pair of eyeballs.

But the exhilaration can quickly turn to frustration, perhaps hyperventilation, if you repeatedly fail some of the game's tougher missions.

If you have the determination to master the many nuances of motorcycle racing, you'll find that MotoGP3 delivers an exceptionally exhilarating ride. It's a game for enthusiasts, but a great game nonetheless.

The races are challenging and exciting, plus the management features give the game a considerable amount of depth. The game goes beyond its high concept and delivers a rather enjoyable hybrid of arcade and simulation-styled gameplay.

The attractive visuals ride the line between dark and cartoony with expressive characters. It's all tied together with its unique combat and restart schemes, which will either inspire you or drive you mad.

Setting PRD apart from other games in the genre, the AI is intelligent, responsive, and unforgiving. Seeing a group of opponents jockeying for position as they approach a bend is not uncommon. Players must earn every win, as the AI cars will take advantage of every mistake.

The renowned charm of Disney's characters, the stylistic panache of "Final Fantasy" folk, and a well-designed gameplay makes up for Kingdom Hearts' relatively few shortcomings.

The control scheme is bound to scare lots of people away before they see what it has to offer. And it has a lot to offer. It's not pretty, but it's deep.

What it lacks in compelling story, it more than makes up for in gameplay and character, and that's really where it counts.

The simplistic gameplay of the series is not lost but refined to create a challenge that is both undeniably fun and not entirely impossible.

Just about everything good about the original has improved. The repetitive dungeon crawling, however, will not appeal to everyone.

MGS2 suffers in its story. I can't spoil it for you, but I can at least warn you to be prepared for a plot that frequently reaches levels of sheer absurdity.

Where sound does suffer is in the audio levels. There are times where dialog gets so drowned out by both the music and the sound effects you can't understand a single word a character's saying.

Perhaps the most significant expansion to "EverQuest," not only in terms of content, but also in how it has so thoroughly changed the game experience.

Delivers only so much replay value. But unlockable game modes and novel bonuses minimize such limitations. While far from perfect, Time Crisis 3 has been a long time coming, and brother, take it from us, this sucker's been worth the wait.

The best version of the game so far...It's also the best starting point for anyone who still hasn't gotten into the DDR phenomenon.

On the downside, deep as peripheral options are, the title doesn't feel like much of a step forward from its predecessor, "Hot Pursuit 2."

Given the open-ended nature of the series, most hard-core fans will enjoy investing their time here acquiring elusive ingredients and perfecting their hocus pocus, while casual fans will get a kick out of the chaos they can cause spending a few hours playing around with it.

As the wrestling game with the most depth, great playability, impressive visuals, and slick presentation, SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain delivers in all the categories WWE fans hold in high regard.

You get a capable, satisfying single-player game, access to many new prestige classes, a much higher level limit, and a wide assortment of new bits for the toolset. For the closet game designer, these additions alone are worth the price.

A challenging, yet rewarding experience that encourages players to explore every nook and cranny. New jacks might want to step back, but seasoned pros will find plenty of challenge.

Compared to the tight, challenging "Rainbow Six 3," which is also available on the PS2, there’s really nothing Jungle Storm can offer that you haven’t played before. At this point, the Ghost Recon series is definitely the weakest link in the Clancy chain.

The music and visuals are excellent. And you know what? So is the core play of the game. There's a lot of innovation here in SpellForce. Although parts of it are rough around the edges, there's too much good gameplay here to pass up.

A Teen-rated, sanitized version of one of America's defining moments. And perhaps this substance is what's lacking, because while Battlefield Vietnam is a capable game, it doesn't have quite have the impact that its predecessor.

Even without the attraction of variable online play, The Omega Strain would be a winner thanks to its tough, smart missions, and huge rewards system.

Its launch was technically sound, its production values are top-notch, and its focus on narrative is refreshing.

A fantastic RPG plagued by bugs and errors that point to either a rushed job or sloppy coding. The deep role-playing system is a successful translation of the pen-and-paper game it’s based on, and that’s no small feat.

Other problems, such as pathfinding issues will be painfully familiar to die-hard Sims fans. If a Sim places something like a pizza box in a narrow hallway, everyone will get stuck for hours of game time because they can’t step over it.

The trial-and-error nature of gameplay and the repeating loops of the plot require certain degrees of patience and repetition that not everyone will want to pony up. In our opinion, however, the game's well worth the effort.

It's a visceral experience that too often falls back on tired shooter clichés. But occasionally, it does rise above the mediocrity to deliver a truly compelling experience. That, coupled with the best graphics available.

It's what's on the field that counts, and even with some AI hiccups, the gameplay predominantly delivers. This is a solid, fun ball game. If the same forward leaps are made for the next outing, it will be batting cleanup.

Even with a scant few missteps, Psi-Ops is quite a ride. From the slick controls, to the surprisingly intelligent enemies, you’ll be compelled to play through to the end.

While non-fans probably won’t dig in as much, this is still an exceptional example of the side-scrolling shooter. It looks great, plays better than ever, and the addition of a two-player option gives it significant staying power.

The Euro-flavored plot and grounded situations help set it apart, and though the gameplay hasn't been watered-down in order to appeal to the casual gamer, it's still accessible enough to make it a worthwhile entry point for those less familiar with the genre.

The slow-burning story is fun, and the dedication to stealth results in game mechanics that easily surpass the competition. It's an essential purchase for anyone who values an atmosphere of great gameplay over body counts.

The career mode needs the same polish found in EA's other sports franchises, boxers would benefit from additional moves (like clinching) or individual ratings for specific punches, and some notable roster omissions might disappoint ardent fans (Holmes, Hagler, De La Hoya, Foreman, and others are MIA).