IGN

• WII
• 7.1 / 10
• États-Unis

This year’s Tiger Woods effort isn’t a letdown because of a lack of fluid controls or borderline broken swing tracking which – arguably – was the case last year. This time around it’s a compilation of issues that remain in Tiger’s overall Wii effort, as the game has improved only slightly over 07, and still feels like the PS2 version with a Wii-mote add-on. Golf is one of the easiest concepts to sell on Wii, and for some reason Tiger is the black sheep two versions running because it lacks any of the attention that its companion Wii games are getting from EA. There’s no Mii implementation, no online, no Party Mode or Wii-exclusive mini-game content, and nothing that really shows that EA is dedicating any thought, time, or effort into the franchise on Nintendo’s system that – quite frankly – is built perfectly for an amazing golf experience. If you’re comparing Tiger 07 to 08, of course 08 is the better experience, but it’s still a far cry from what the franchise is capable of on Wii, and it’s pretty obvious that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 was a back-burner title for Nintendo’s console this year. In a perfect world, Tiger Woods 08 would automatically be sent out to all 07 owners free of charge as a version upgrade, as it’s pretty much the same game minus all the "launch-itis" flaws. We'd recommend this one to avid golf fans, but at this point it’d be a far better move to just wait for 09, 10, or beyond. Tiger is a perfect franchise for Wii; EA just needs to be notified.

• PSP
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

It's too bad that GRAW 2 fans get what essentially boils down to GRAW-lite. You aren't in control of friendly forces, nor do you need your drones or a lot of the other weapons. The level of tension over the story is tuned way down thanks to your regeneration ability and the high level of stupidity that the AI demonstrates. Multiplayer, if you can call it that, is basic and unimpressive. While the story material is interesting as a fill in between the original and GRAW 2, the PSP version is one that only hardcore fans will like, and only for the short amount of time it takes them to defeat the game.

• X360
• 4.7 / 10
• États-Unis

At the end of the day not many people will want to spend more than an hour with Space Giraffe. Maybe if the gameplay were more endearing to the casual gamer, or if the visuals didn’t make half of the people who play the game foam at the mouth, or perhaps if the levels weren’t designed to cheat the player, then maybe, just maybe Space Giraffe would have been as cool as its designers had hoped. As it stands this game is most definitely not giraffetastic. But it does have J Allard’s face in it, that has to count for something.

• PC
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

Aside from the dark atmosphere, there’s not a whole lot to say in the positive about Dead Reefs. It’s a dull story that takes an unpredictably fantastic turn at the end that doesn’t fit with the rest of the standard mystery presentation. Add to that some boring animations and terrible camera work and you’re on your way to a below average game. But worst of all is the unforgivable sin of the keyboard only control scheme. It’s painfully awkward and drives any small enjoyment in the game’s dark atmosphere into the murk.

• X360
• 9.7 / 10
• États-Unis

There is art here, despite what many would say isn't possible with games, from Roger Ebert to game designers like Hideo Kojima. But it's in BioShock--it's in the gorgeously realized, watery halls of Rapture. It's in a Little Sister's expression of thanks when you choose to save her, or the utter silence if you harvest instead. It's in the way the characters develop, in the testimonials of the recording boxes you pick up along the way. It's in the way the narrative is structured, and the way it blends so seamlessly with the action. Irrational had a clear vision with this game, something pulled off with remarkable precision in every department. They didn't just deliver something that's fun to play, a criterion so often cited as the benchmark of what makes a game worthwhile. BioShock stands as a monolithic example of the convergence of entertaining gameplay and an irresistibly sinister, engrossing storyline that encompasses a host of multifaceted characters. This is an essential gaming experience.

• X360
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• PSP
• 7.7 / 10
• États-Unis

In the grand scheme of things, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is a fun fighting game, with some pretty sweet features. The music is surprisingly good, especially the theme for the main menu. It sounds precisely like a good ninja tune should sound, and we were content with that. Also, there's a fair share of detail put into the graphical presentation of the game - minor things you wouldn't notice at first glance, like the way Ino's strikes cause flower petals to fill the space around her, or the nearly mystical fluidity that Tenten displays as she flips through the air. There are a lot of good things in Ultimate Ninja Heroes, but its weaknesses, including the aforementioned poor load times and limited character control, really drag it down. However, if you're a fan of the Naruto universe, or you just want a stylish, simple fighting game to try out, give this one a spin. As for me... Associate Editor Jutsu!

• PS2
• 7.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Madden NFL 08 is one of those titles that you feel had good intentions, but just didn't fully fulfill all of them the way it needed to. While the concept behind making the game more accessible to casual gamers is a laudable one, the actual implementation of the casual elements over the standard gameplay elements is somewhat lacking. The weapon system, which is obviously carried over from the newer consoles, doesn't deliver the kind of experience that you'd hope it would, and the adjustments to the older gameplay doesn't do enough to radically improve the title. While Madden 08 is still an enjoyable title, it isn't nearly as impressive as last year's game.

• PSP
• 7.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Madden NFL 08 is one of those titles that's almost one step forward and one step back. The game features the weapon system that is the primary focus of this year's title, but it doesn't particularly affect the gameplay. While the Superstar Challenge Mode and the condensed Franchise mode actually work well for the PSP, the loads of lag during multiplayer play is atrocious. It's a good game, but not as impressive as last year's title.

• PS3
• 8.3 / 10
• États-Unis

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.

• SNES
• WII
• 9.5 / 10
• États-Unis

• DS
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

Bratz Ponyz, for being a game that is based on the idea of horses wearing eye shadow and glitter, is actually not that bad. Its mini-game designs lack depth, but do contain some original ideas and unique uses of the DS microphone, while its colorful island game world is much larger and more impressive in scope than you'd guess going in. Young women who are fans of the Bratz brand, or fans of ponies, or fans of both, could do a lot worse than spending time with Bratz Ponyz on the DS – let's just hope the animals-replacing-humans concept stays reigned in and kept from getting too out of hand in future game releases.

• PC
• 9.7 / 10
• États-Unis

There is art here, despite what many would say isn't possible with games, from Roger Ebert to game designers like Hideo Kojima. But it's in BioShock--it's in the gorgeously realized, watery halls of Rapture. It's in a Little Sister's expression of thanks when you choose to save her, or the utter silence if you harvest instead. It's in the way the characters develop, in the testimonials of the recording boxes you pick up along the way. It's in the way the narrative is structured, and the way it blends so seamlessly with the action. Irrational had a clear vision with this game, something pulled off with remarkable precision in every department. They didn't just deliver something that's fun to play, a criterion so often cited as the benchmark of what makes a game worthwhile. BioShock stands as a monolithic example of the convergence of entertaining gameplay and an irresistibly sinister, engrossing storyline that encompasses a host of multifaceted characters. This is an essential gaming experience.

• X360
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classic's should stay in the past. For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it. There are no extras offered and the Achievements are junk. If you've never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed and Ecco's gameplay doesn't stand the test of time like Sonic's.

• WII
• 6.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Cratermaze just never finds that one key hook that makes it feel like a unique experience. And because it doesn't, it also doesn't leave you with much of an impression after you've finished -- it feels like you've just finished playing another Bomberman or Lode Runner from yesteryear, which it essentially is. If those are games you've found fun in the past, then you may want to consider Cratermaze, but most gamers will be perfectly fine letting it pass by.

• DS
• 7.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Last year’s Madden was plagued by a few game-breaking issues, while surrounded with a buggy – yet still enjoyable – experience. This year the presentation, options, and general effort is there for Madden 08, but the game suffers from some rough programming which can bog down the otherwise enjoyable experience. If it isn’t a pass bouncing off a receiver’s head it’s some random blocker that decides to not move this play, or a player-controlled blitzer that finds it necessary to run in place for a few seconds when he's supposed to be sprinting. If you can get over those issues though, there's still some great gameplay to be had. There are some decent animations, a few snippets of VO and low-quality MP3s of licensed music, as well as an extremely robust multiplayer mode. In the future we'd of course love to see drawn plays with the stylus, as well as a more in-depth friends system online (as it stands you simply select "random" or "friend play" and are connected automatically to any eligible player), but this is by far the most playable version of Madden we've seen on DS thus far.

• X360
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

• DS
• 5.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Mega Man Star Force is a game that appeals to the extremes. Battle Network loyalists will find what they love here, and gamers ignorant to the style and feel of Battle Network games could also find an RPG worth playing. But everyone else in between is going to be bored with the title. There's not enough of an RPG foundation to keep RPG purists' attention, there's not enough action to appeal to the mainstream gamer, and the linear feel of the game will leave most gamers feeling trapped (though there are sidequests here and there). The lack of innovation and change creates a vacuum which will trap most gamers in its wake. And with such a weak storyline which we’ve attempted not to spoil, there’s little reason to play in the first place, nonetheless keep playing. Unless you're confident this type of game is your cup of tea, your money is almost certainly better spent elsewhere. We were expecting innovation this time around, because this is a game we wanted to like. Unfortunately, we were left disappointed.