IGN

Battle for Middle-earth II is proof that EA was serious about getting back into the good graces of serious RTS fans. There's a lot to experience with this entry into the series including three new factions, a redesigned base building mode, some awesome new powers, terrific improvements to the engine, a tighter campaign mode, and both skirmish and War of the Ring.

Fight Night Round 3 is a great sports title, but negligible improvements in the career mode and idiotic computer AI hold the game back from true greatness. Removing the HUD, in combination with visible emotion, creates a more instinctive boxing experience, especially when moving in for the knockout. There are some strange choices in the presentation department, like the lack of rankings, but the outstanding graphics and sound effects create a great in-game experience, which is what counts.

If you're hoping to enjoy this game because you really like Star Wars, you'll probably be satisfied for quite a while. As I said, the game is remarkably faithful to the brand. If, on the other hand, your interest in the Star Wars property takes a back seat to your desire for a solid strategy experience, the few innovations aren't going to be enough to overcome the repetitive nature of the fights.

It's fun and constantly challenging, and it's both beautiful and it delivers an alluring soundtrack of slow chill techno. There are some minor shortcomings, however. Reloaded would benefit greatly from each level blending into one another without load times. This would maintain the wonderfully surreal vibe and keep players totally immersed without interruption. Reloaded also ramps up too leisurely; an immense amount of levels come your way before you actually feel like you've gotten anywhere.

DOA4 is a move in the right direction for the series in the long run, even if, in the short run, the changes to the counter system, blocks, throws and the ground game are a little annoying at first. The fighting is now deeper and more sophisticated, and while it may not seem so at first, there is a solution to every attack.

Two Thrones is great. The story is cool, the heroes are likable, the weak are pitiable, the villains are bastards, the major plot points are exciting, the art is grand, the sound is wonderful...and then the gameplay comes. The established Prince platforming is terrific! The new emphasis on acrobatics as a means to extend combat (and vice versa) is exactly where the series needs to go, too. But there can't be so much light without touches of darkness.

It's got great weapons and excellent sound effects with visuals that, at times, are just as good. If you're looking for one of the best Xbox 360 multiplayer experiences at launch, look no further than this title.

King Kong is a short but memorable game packed with high-level artistic aesthetics and production values. If you have a stereo system, be sure to play Kong through it. It sounds incredible! Visually, the Xbox 360 and PC versions look best, as shown in the normal mapping, superb lighting, and extra geometry. Despite the shortness and a handful of scripting errors, Peter Jackson's King Kong is in many ways a huge step forward in level design and presentation, it's beautiful and, most importantly, it's fun.

Desert of Flames is a sure hit for high-level players. There's so much content here for the 45+ crowd that you could easily fill out the rest of your levels just on the Isle of Ro. Low level players can safely hold off on the expansion until they find themselves bumping their heads on the current game's level cap. The Arabian theme is quite effective and adds a little variety to the overall experience, both in terms of looks and content.

As always with Ridge Racer, it's really a love-it-or-hate-it relationship with the drifting technique as basic physics -- and reality, for that matter -- are pretty much thrown out the window. Isaac Newton would choke on his apple if he saw this game. For what RR6 is trying to do, it succeeds -- it's just not trying to do too much.