IGN

It's not very often that a real-time strategy title comes along and changes the way you think about the genre. World in Conflict is one of those, not because all of the ideas are totally new, but because they're all put together in such a successful way. This game is unlike most real-time war-games for its tactical nature and reliance on teamwork. Because of this, the multiplayer is one of the best experiences on the market.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 was the game that really set the franchise apart from anything before it. It's likely that if there's a sequel to skate, it will be the iteration that defines the franchise. But as a brand new IP, based on an idea that could have completely blown up in EA's face, skate is an amazingly complete experience. Those who choose to relax and skate leisurely -- looking for cool lines and taking on the occasional challenge -- will likely find the most enjoyment. Though there are a few technical issues that can become frustrating (curse you load times!), the end product is a blast.

At one point, Lair looked like one of the most promising titles coming to the PS3, but the final version -- even with its interesting story, occasionally impressive graphics and amazing score -- falls well short of anything you should be playing.

Heavenly Sword comes very close to being great, but nearly every element of its design falls short in one way or another. The combo system is quite good, though it has a few holes (like no specific block button). The battles quickly become very repetitive due to a lack of interesting enemies and the "arena" battles that frequently pause your progress.

The single player campaign isn't super long (10+ hours), but it's designed to have you go through it again and try for better stats. If you own a PS3 and haven't played GRAW 2 before, you owe it to yourself to pick the title up. The controls are easy to get into, the graphics look great, and there's a load of multiplayer options. You're looking at a fun romp through the horror of war.

Blue Dragon is not the most original RPG as far as design goes. Nor is it the first "must have" RPG on a Microsoft console. The pacing through the first half of the game is far too slow to stay engaging for all but the hardcore JRPG fan and the story is not nearly as epic as the multiple disc, 50+ hour game implies. But for those needing a solid traditional role-playing experience on Xbox 360, Blue Dragon will fit the bill.

Madden NFL 08 on PS3 is not a great game. It is a shadow of its cousin on 360. Though the feature set is identical, the drop to an unstable 30fps hurts considerably. The visuals and the gameplay suffer. If you are a real Madden nut and think you can fight through the framerate issues, Madden is an overall good game. It just doesn't run very well. If you only own a PS3 and live for Sundays, then there really is no other choice than to give Madden 08 a shot.

While GRAW 2's single-player suffers from some frustrating AI issues, it does have some worthwhile multiplayer modes. It can be an enjoyable game, and it's got some entertaining gun and reflex movement mechanics, but it's not all that memorable an experience. The added features for the PC version are certainly appreciated, and the more punishing level of difficulty definitely heightens the intensity of battle, but the AI problems really hinder the potential benefits.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword makes an already phenomenal game even better. The new espionage elements and the Apostolic Palace work together to make the game's diplomatic system more interesting and a lot more flexible in terms of projecting your will on your enemies without resorting to open warfare.

Vampire Rain was a concept that looked great on paper. A stealth game with vampires? Excellent! Unfortunately, the end result is an abomination of a videogame that doesn't even deserve a rental. Stay far away from this one--though if you get close, the enemies probably won't even see you.