Review: Mega Man Star Force (DS)
Star Force is simply a glorified rehash of everything from the Battle Network series, with a few very minor differences.
Review: Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (DS)
The bottom line for these latest iterations is that they're really not all that different from the originals, which works both to the game's benefit, but also detracts from the overall experience. If you've somehow missed out on the craze all these years, the Pokemon games are fairly simple RPGs with a heavy emphasis on collecting the titular creatures.
Review: Aedis Eclipse (PSP)
Overall, Aedis Eclipse has a lot of potential, it just gets weighed down under its own sloppy interface and under-explained complexities. Those willing to spend hours learning all of the game's nuances will find a very deep strategy-RPG that should last quite a few hours. Unfortunately, for everyone else, it's just too much.
Review: Winx - Join the Club (PSP)
I have never seen a game where it has been so transparent that even the developers probably loathed the product they were making. If you have a daughter that is a fan of the series, she probably doesn't need videogames to dumb her down any further.
Review: Pocket Pool (PSP)
In addition to the crappy porn, the game also includes the option to play against friends on a wifi connection. If you have friends that actually want to take advantage of this feature, you probably shouldn't be friends with them.
Review: ProStroke Golf (PSP)
The career mode, usually the main attraction in games like this, is also poor in its implementation. Your options are limited to playing match after match with little else to do.
Review: Gundam Crossfire (PS3)
I really can't think of much nice to say about Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire, a manga-inspired giant-robot fighting trainwreck of a PS3 game. It reminds me of a 500-pound cousin asking how she looks in her five-sizes-too-small prom dress.
Review: Barnyard (Wii)
Unfortunately, many objectives fall into the fetch quest category, and the long runs required for some of these quests becomes tedious quickly.
Review: Dragonball Z BT2 (Wii)
Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is a game that will appeal mostly to fans of Dragon Ball Z, with its huge cast and expansive story. However, anyone looking for a fun, easy-to-learn fighter would do good to check this out as well.
Review: Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (Wii)
Most players can appreciate it for its comedic presentation and interesting weapons and levels, but there's just not enough depth in the gameplay itself to warrant much replay.
Review: Xiaolin Showdown (PSP)
Its presentation is right on for the source material, but the shortcomings of its gameplay and its general lack of originality will be a big turn off for anyone else.
Review: Xiaolin Showdown (DS)
It has a few interesting features in the way of branching skill trees and minigame-style Showdowns, but a combat system that never feels very immersive brings the experience down.
Review: My Frogger Toy Trials (DS)
My Frogger is another solid entry in a series that has been running strong for a quarter of a century now. The story feels somewhat tacked on, but the core gameplay is every bit as good as the past titles.
Review: Company of Heroes (PC)
Before you write off the WWII setting as over-used, give this a try. It's easily one of the most immersive strategy games of this, or any other, year.
Review: Winx (DS)
If you have a daughter that wants this game, buy her Grand Theft Auto, a bottle of Jack, and a hunting knife instead. It will ruin her childhood a lot less.
Review: Need For Speed Carbon (Wii)
The tacked-on Wii controls and lack of online multiplayer hurt, but Carbon is still a fun racing title that should please anyone who's a fan of the genre.
Review: Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
It would have been extremely easy to use Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the gang in some sort of half-cooked adventure platformer, so the decision to make a flight combat game is admirable in and of itself.
Review: Need For Speed Carbon (360, PS3)
Need For Speed: Carbon, the series' second next-gen entry, continues that tradition with the same high-speed action you've come to expect as well as a number of new features. Unfortunately, not all of these additions are necessarily for the better.
Review: Dragon Ball Z - BT2 (PS2)
Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is a game that will appeal mostly to fans of Dragon Ball Z, with its huge cast and expansive story. However, anyone looking for a fun, easy-to-learn fighter would do good to check this out as well.
Review: Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
So, is FFXII worthy of bearing the lofty title of a Final Fantasy game? Absolutely. FFXII is simply one of the best RPGs in years, and frankly one of the last great games of this generation.
Review: ATV Offroad Fury Pro (PSP)
Despite a few blemishes, ATV Offroad Fury Pro is really a great choice for racing fans looking for something on the go. It has a huge variety of modes and unlockable content, and the abilities to make custom tracks and play online only help extend the game's lifespan.
Review: ATV Offroad Fury 4 (PS2)
The fourth iteration of this often overlooked series offers the same great high-flying racing action that the series is known for along with a wide variety of modes that should keep players occupied for months.
Review: The Sims 2: Pets (PS2, Cube)
It adds a fair amount of content that should please series veterans and newcomers alike, most notably the ability to raise and train cats and dogs with the rest of your Sim family.
Review: Baten Kaitos Origins (Cube)
Whether or not you'll like Baten Kaitos Origins really rests on how much you're willing to put up with the card-based gameplay.
Review: Avatar (PSP)
The PSP version of Avatar is sure to please some fans of the show with its presentation, but the sluggish combat is so grating that only the most die-hard fans will bother finishing.
Review: Avatar (DS)
The DS version of Avatar is sure to please some fans of the show with its presentation, but the flawed battle system and difficult boss fights are sure to turn others off.
Review: Avatar (PS2, Cube)
Instead of settling for a simple action adventure, the game's developers decided to go for a full out hack-and-slash action-RPG, something not often seen in kid's games.
Review: Avatar (GBA)
The bottom line is that Avatar is simply another barely passable portable Zelda clone. Its party system is unique, but the control scheme ends up hurting more than helping.
Review: ProStroke Golf (PS2)
ProStroke Golf is an all around underwhelming experience. If you're looking for a realistic golf game, play Tiger Woods.
Review: Godfather Mob Wars (PSP)
In the end, Godfather: Mob Wars is a so-so port of the console titles. The lack of an open-ended game world and the lousy control scheme are disappointing, but the addition of the strategy based Mob Wars mode is a nice bonus.
Review: Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime (DS)
Rocket Slime really is a blast to play. It offers a lengthy quest that's packed with depth, personality, and above all, fun.
Review: Disgaea 2 (PS2)
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories is about as nerdy as games get. It's a strategy role-playing game with anime-style graphics, a Japanese pop soundtrack, and exploding penguins. Yes, you read that right. Exploding penguins.
Review: Rengoku II (PSP)
The gameplay itself boils down to a mindless third-person run and gun. It consists of going room to room, killing a handful of enemies, and then moving on to the next same-looking room. It's not fun. This game really sucks.
Review: Dirge of Cerebrus (PS2)
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerebrus
If Dirge was stripped of its FFVII setting, all you would be left with is a mediocre shooter with a few interesting ideas and a whole slew of problems
Review: Super Monkey Ball Adventure (Cube)
It simply spreads out the good stuff and crams a whole lot of useless filler in between. Imagine eating a tasty meal from Taco Bell, and then imagine eating a tasty meal from Taco Bell where you had to jog a mile after every bite.
Review: Deep Labyrinth (DS)
Deep Labyrinth is really only going to appeal to a small, dedicated group of gamers looking to relive the glory days of first-person dungeon crawls. For anyone else, the repetitive environments, RPG-lite gameplay, and lame story aren't going to be enough to satisfy.
Review: Barnyard (PS2, Cube)
The game is based off the recent Nickelodeon film, and follows the adventures of a group of farm animals who have the humanlike abilities to walk on two feet, talk with each other, use cell phones, and make vulgar thrusting motions.
Review: Barnyard (GBA)
The game's setting and story are based off the Nickelodeon movie of the same name, and for the most part, it gets the source material down. Whether that's a good thing is debatable.
Review: Chromehounds (360)
If you're looking for a good single-player game, don't buy Chromehounds. If you're looking for a fun, action-packed multiplayer game, don't buy Chromehounds.
Review: Monster House (PS2, Gamecube)
While the game does a good job of capturing the look and sound of the film, the fact remains that it's really nothing more than a young gamer's Resident Evil 4, sans the innovation, tight control scheme, and sense of adventure.
Review: Rogue Trooper (PS2, Xbox)
For how enjoyable the game is, it's really sad that Rogue Trooper's biggest drawback lies in its replay value. With the single-player game only lasting about five or six hours, it feels like the whole thing is over just as it's getting good.
Review: MLB Slugfest 2006 (PS2, Xbox)
In the two years since the last title in the series (MLB Slugfest: Loaded), sports games have advanced significantly, both graphically and in terms of gameplay. Unfortunately, Slugfest has not.
Review: Mega Man Battle Network 6 (GBA)
Newcomers might find the game's unique battle system entertaining, but the story starts off on such a juvenile note and develops so slowly, that all but the most patient gamers will give up after a few minutes.
Review: OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (PS2, Xbox)
If you never played the original Outrun 2SP, then the 2006 edition is definitely worth at least a rental. It's easy to learn and the Coast 2 Coast mode gives you a wide variety of gameplay that's enjoyable on a very basic level.
