A series of linear lightsaber swing-a-thons tied together by badly-edited clips from a yet-to-be-released movie and recycled John Williams music (with horrendous voice-acting to boot), Revenge of the Sith is the worst SW game since 1999's "The Phantom Menace" (ouch).

Konami’s handful of ideas to make driving sims better (VGS displays, Enthusia Life mode, etc.) are worth sampling despite a handful of odd decisions by the programmers (losing Enthu points to a rear end crasher??!!).

Despite forcing players to spend what seems like an eternity unlocking 90% of the good stuff at the start Hot Shots Golf Open Tee is a winner.

Control issues, lagging response time and a rushed-to-market feel water-down what should have been the best soccer game on PSP.

Despite unresponsive controls and average graphics riddled with a jerky frame-rate (elements that would normally kill any racing game’s enjoyment) Blazin’ Trails delivers a surmountable and fun but challenging struggle for first place.

It has enough gameplay modes to last a while, plus the pitching/batting mechanisms are variable enough to make the pitcher/batter duels a little bit unpredictable.

A deep, mature, and original plot, beautiful cel-shaded textures and plenty of hidden extras (like optional bosses, treasures, etc.) make Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga one of the greatest role-playing experiences on the PlayStation 2 to date.

Highly recommended for anyone with a sense of humor (that excludes you George Lucas... out, out, OUT!

The improved graphics make this the best-looking DW installment to date. Too bad the tweaks to the time-tested gameplay (smarter bodyguards, more balanced weaponry, etc.) and handful of new gameplay modes (Bridge Melee) are beginning to show more desperation than innovation or creativity.

Extensive loading times aside (understandable given the insane amount of animation frames on display) Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower does the classic 2D fighting genre justice.

Despite a few rough edges (blurred textures, loading pauses galore, etc.) this is easily the best licensed golf simulation ever released on a portable console.

The only requirements needed to have a blast playing Ridge Racer on PSP are (a) a pulse, (b) the skill to be competitive in a driving videogame (not everyone’s cup of tea) and (c) some historical perspective of what this series has meant to Sony in both sales and as a measuring stick of its then-new systems’ power.

What the hell is happening to the Sega that I knew and loved through the Genesis, Saturn and Dreamcast eras?

Fans of previous Metal Gear stealth adventures will have to adjust their tolerance level to ‘HIGH’ to deal with MGA’s insanely hard and complex new turn-based card system.

Still shots don’t do justice to its clean interface and pretty graphics justice; Lumines has to be seen, played and heard to be fully appreciated.

Untold Legends’ lengthy single-player campaign and multiplayer options compensate somewhat for its underwhelming sound, forgettable story and mindless hack-and-slash gameplay.

It also carries the baggage of dated graphics, cumbersome controls and scavenger hunt mentality that was all the rage (get it?) back in 1999.

Unleashed duplicates the look and feel of its big console counterpart remarkably well, so much so that owning both versions of the game would be foolish.

The bite-sized pace of the shrunken battlefields’ brawls robs DW’s gameplay of the urgency and hardcore struggle that characterized its console predecessors.

A handful of new gameplay tweaks, new hovercraft racing classes and a PSP-worthy visual overhaul make WipeOut Pure the best installment in the series since 1996â??s "WipeOut XL."

Not even support for the handheld’s online network and some decent graphics will be enough to entice anyone to overlook the poorly-implemented controls and minimal sounds in this first-generation disaster.

Multi-console owners should consider the Xbox version of Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (or either of the original Gamecube versions) over this slowdown-riddled and slow-to-load PS2 port.

The atmosphere isn’t scary or dreadful enough to instill fear in players, and the brevity of the experience is only matched by its lack of originality.

A looser and slightly more free-wheeling soccer experience than the so-sim-oriented-it-hurts "FIFA Soccer" PSP game.

Despite online support and being the only hockey game on the PSP Gretzky NHL’s sloppy controls, lackluster sound and choppy frame-rate make it a less-than-stellar representation of the sport it recreates.

The addition of the style system, a concrete storyline and a slick new arsenal of moves makes this entry arguably the best in the series so far. However, don't be mistaken, Devil May Cry 3 is hard as hell.

Sure, there's a little blood and the replays really show off some of the sport's unforgiving brutality, but it's only enough to warrant the game a Teen rating from the ESRB so parent's shouldn't have to worry about their warping their children's fragile little minds with this one.

Outstanding visuals (the best yet on PS2), killer sound, kick-ass characters (new one’s as well as returning one’s), finely-tweaked gameplay (which still lags behind VF4 in depth but not replayability) and a truckload of extras (including the first three Tekken arcade games) make this the be-all, end-all installment of Tekken to date.

From graphics to cool weapons, and from in-depth online multiplayer options galore to the choice of using stealth or brawn to complete missions, Crystal Dynamics’ FPS shooter is just what the doctor ordered for the genre-deficient PS2.

The emphasis on improved graphics, realism and vehicle/track variety come at the expense of a missing online component, better AI for the CPU drones and the return of the dreaded license tests. The good overwhelmingly outweighs GT4’s handful of tolerable negatives though.

A mindless hack-and-slash experience with little to distinguish it from the many similar titles that preceded it, this rehash of last year’s "Castlevania: Lament of Innocence" engine is a good excuse to blow both steam and a free rental at Blockbuster.

A good game all-around and a great continuation of the planned six-part saga, Episode II still falls short of what you'd expect from a supposed epic.

Sega should have known better than to pick after Activision’s pile of rejects.

A terrible movie spawns a mediocre-at-best action game that compares poorly with both the motion picture it’s based on and the comic book that inspired them both.

Too bad the game’s bloody battles (starring Agrippa) far outpace its stealth segments (featuring Octavianus), resulting in an uneven experience that makes players anticipate half the game and loathe the other.

From generic level designs to Nina Williams’ busted right analog control, and from amateurish voice acting to an unbearable amount of never-ending loading pauses, this game is inexcusably poor and no fun to play whatsoever.

An absolute blast to play, especially with friends online or off. If you love action RPG's then I can't imagine you'd find a better one than this.

From its patchwork gameplay and its broken control scheme to its first-generation PlayStation 2 graphics and third-tier sound effects, nothing about this game is even worthy of a mention.

A poor man’s ".hack" clone with characters/sounds from the Virtua Fighter series poorly tacked-on for no reason other than name recognition.

When the smoke clears, it's just another third-person action game.

Suikoden IV’s unimpressive graphics, generic audio (except for the voice-overs), infuriating battle frequency and watered-down strategy (less party members = less variety of attack combos) aren’t going to cut it in 2005.

Gameplay aside, Mercenaries is loaded with tons of unlockables such as the ability to play as Indiana Jones, as well as opening up new vehicles and weapons (like the portable airstrike). Now how cool is that?

The online play is fantastic, the new wall moves add to the arcade feel and the music simply rocks. I highly recommend this game!

Hours of deep strategic gameplay, excellent music and interesting stories (particularly in "The Dual Darkness' chapter of the saga) make Growlanser Generations a keeper for RPG strategists in need of a noggin-shaking fix.

A textbook case of a videogame sequel done right.

MegaMan X8's return-to-basics approach makes for predictable but reasonably entertaining gameplay antics IF you're a diehard fan of Capcom's series.

Kuon has beautiful graphics and haunting sounds (including a choice of English or Japanese languages) that go to waste on a survival horror experience that isn’t the least bit original or frightening.

The ill-advised addition of needlessly graphic displays of violence, backtracking galore and contemporary music/voices take attention away from Warrior Within's excellent new combat maneuvers, still-outstanding environmental puzzles and lengthier quest. The PS2 version is also saddled with periodic bouts of slowdown and no online support whatsoever (sigh!).

Two years after its predecessor conclusively proved it Ghost Recon 2 reaffirms it: the PS2 doesn't have the RAM to do justice to Red Storm's intense A.I. routines and team-based gameplay justice.

Despite carrying on the legacy of one of the greatest First-Person Shooters of our time, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent fails to match up to the N-64 classic in almost every department... well, as far as a fun factor goes.

The low price (under $20) and handful of AAA classics still manage to make this an appealing purchase proposition IF you can tolerate its noticeable shortcomings and/or have an appreciation for the industry's history.

Poker videogames need either brilliant Artificial Intelligence for offline single-player games or excellent online modes that factor in human fallibility for multiplayer competition. World Championship Poker lacks the former, and the latter isn’t up to the standard of online poker websites.

The shortness of the experience, reliance on a barely-improved gameplay formula, melodramatic storyline twists and stepped-up quality of its competitors (particularly Sam Fisher's "Splinter Cell" games from Ubi Soft) prevent us from scoring Snake Eater higher.

2005 is taking its first step to becoming one of the top games on the market by adding all the new features.

It's a flawed and shallow button masher (very few moves and no technique) but also visually alluring and reasonably entertaining for a second-tier fighting game.

Despite new licensed wrestlers, dozens of new songs and new additions meant to appeal to rural America’s prurient interests (i.e. porn stars as playable wrestlers) Backyard Wrestling 2’s bad graphics, poor collision detection and awful dialogue sink it into the pit of holiday expendability.

The most fun I have had playing online as far as the first person shooter genre goes. This is one of those games you will want to have for sure just to see how good online play can be!

This isn't a terrible or bad fighting game, just an uninspired one.

From fantastic special effects to authentic (though recycled) voices/music from the TV show, and from new useful moves (teleportation!) to a keen balance between overkill and authenticity to its source material in the graphics, this is it.

Emphasizes flashy visuals, corporate sponsorships and ease-of-use over the seedy aspects of street racing. The competitors’ AI goes from dumb to aggressive in the blink of a tail light too.

Too short and easy for grown-ups but just about right for the target audience of both the books and the Jim Carrey movie currently out in theaters.

Rumble Roses' knockout visuals, spot-on control and near-flawless execution of an outrageous premise flirt with greatness. Lack of depth, repetitive moves, and horrendous voice-overs hold back Konami's chances of giving "Smackdown! Vs. Raw" a run for its money.

Daxter's shtick notwithstanding (he hasn't made me laugh since the middle of last year's adventure) Jak 3 stands tall and proud as a testament of what polished gameplay and cutting-edge graphics can do when the host system's Emotion Engine is maximized.

Predictably competent.

The derivative visuals, unoriginal gameplay, bare-bones multiplayer mode and annoying BGM make this an amusing weekend rental, but that’s it.

No game is perfect, but I'll be damned if Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal isn't close as can be. There's something in here for everyone to enjoy, and at a mere $40 pricepoint, it's worth every penny.

Older gamers won’t be challenged in the least by Spyro’s new abilities or quests, but the whole game has a pleasant, Disney-like harmless vibe about it.

An entertaining but sporadically inept first-person shooter whose shortcomings (crummy frame-rate, lackluster AI, etc.) are slightly outweighed by the things it does get right (intense firefights, great atmosphere, good sound, etc.).

The cakewalk difficulty, absence of key characters from the book/movie and uneven control schemes (turn-based battles geared toward melee combat) overwhelm one’s gaming senses more than the detailed visuals (character animations are off though) and stellar audio.

While the single-player modes are merely OK is in its multiplayer and online modes that this third Offroad Fury game earns its worth.

If you love 2D fighters with loads of variety and customization and you have two or more friends handy to share in the chaos, Guilty Gear Isuka is made for you, but if you're looking for something with a deep single-player mode and online play, then you might want to pass on this one.

If you can live without its busted online brawls and missing wrestlers but love WWE matches then Smackdown! Vs. Raw is worth the fifty bucks.

The variety and timeless appeal of the blue hedgehog’s better games however, combined with the low price, make this a must-buy stocking stuffer for the Sega fanboy (or girl) in all of us.

Graphics and sound are saddled with an odd ‘cartoony’ vibe and powered by an outdated engine though.

A very pretty-sounding and good-looking shell of a cash cow for THQ and Pixar to make a few bucks off of the movie’s popularity. Sorry gang, no sale!

If The Bard’s Tale played as well as it pokes fun at hack-and-slash RPG clichés we’d be talking about a ‘10’ here. The repetitive combat and reliance on tried-and-true RPG conventions, sadly, bring down the score.

A lot of fun, offers great music but could use a more sensitive, less frustrating controller.

It’s hard to imagine how the single-player Ace Combat experience could get any better than in The Unsung War.

The programmers behind Neo Contra make some puzzling changes to the series’ classic formula that shoot the whole project to hell. It’s as if KCET ("Gradius V") wanted to destroy Contra instead of reviving it.

The linearity, repetitiveness, price and absence of a second player to share the experience with, however, dramatically drain Crisis Zone’s long-term appeal.

You know Konami has screwed-up royally when a 15 year-old beat’em up wipes the floor with their current batch of Turtles games.

Everything the original should have been two years ago but wasn’t: intense, gritty, ultra-violent, stylish and a lot of fun to play through... ONCE!

Controls like its SNK 2D predecessors but lacks meaningful gameplay modes (besides standard one’s) or stellar graphics that would make anyone but hardcore SNK fanboys (and girls!) take notice of its arrival.

If Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne does anything right, it's the game's uncanny ability to show rebellious and confused teenagers across the globe just how cool the devil really is.

Imagine a GTA-like gigantic world set in a cartoon-like Australian Outback universe, complete with mini-games and sidequests to distract from the main quest. That's what Ty 2 delivers for under twenty bucks.

Controls are tighter and provide more control of where the ball and team players can be moved than ever before. Spotty visuals (PS2 version) and a complicated Career mode, however, make FIFA Soccer 2005 a good secondary choice after "Winning Eleven 7."

Other than the VHS-quality bonus videos with the developers and the absence of "Moon Patrol" and "Stun Runner" this is Midway’s best compilation of classic videogames to date.

Ironically, Deception's Konquest mode that the developer has been pushing so much is the games only real weak point.

A steady stream of competent enhancements (especially online) and a return to the original franchise’s goal-based gameplay a fresh experience does not make. Story mode is just plain dumb, and the art design has been needlessly changed for the worse.

The pinpoint difficulty of the proceedings also limits the game’s appeal to either small children that will play anything or hardcore “Crash” fans from the PSOne era.

Competent but uninspired, Armored Core Nexus continues to cater to a dedicated following of PS2 owners that milk its customization features for all they’re worth.

A rock-solid Role-Playing Game with a moving story, believable characters, and loads of great humor that keep it from dragging you down...Hands-down the definitive role-playing experience for the PlayStation 2.

The game looks/sounds/controls remarkably well. Little children that saw the movie will be amused-enough to finish Shark Tale in a rental or two.

The good portions of Headhunter: Redemption (clean visuals, smart opponents, a lengthy and tough challenge, etc.) outweigh the bad one’s (needlessly troublesome controls, idiotic dialogue, inconsistent game design, etc.) by a very narrow margin.

Aside from some moments of fun online, Monster Hunter is a pretty boring game that is at the bottom of Capcom's ability.

This so-called RPG (cough- cough-) will be of interest only to young children without GameCube's, RPG newbies or beyond-hope Mega Man fanatics that must own all Mega Man branded items.

Light on story and depth but packed with tons of action (particularly in multiplayer), Legends is an X-Men fan’s dream come true and the best non-fighting game ever made featuring Marvel’s legendary team of superheroes.

The visuals are dated but everything else about Katamari Damacy is too wonderfully weird in its simplicity for anyone to explain.