All Consoles

The Bottom Line: With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat.

Specs: Xbox 360 Pro System - Game console, DVD-ROM, 1 x IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

The Bottom Line: A handful of notable upgrades from the entry-level model, the 80GB PS3 is superb Blu-ray player and high-definition game console.

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, BD-ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

The Bottom Line: While Sony has cut a few corners to get its entry-level PlayStation 3 below $400, it's still a great game console and Blu-ray player for the money--so long as you can live without backward compatibility for PS2 games.

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, BD-ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

The Bottom Line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device.

Specs: Sony PSP Slim & Lite - Game console, Handheld, UMD (Universal Media Disc), 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated

The Bottom Line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device.

Specs: Sony PSP Star Wars Limited Edition Bundle - Game console, Handheld, UMD (Universal Media Disc), 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated

The Bottom Line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device.

Specs: Sony PSP Daxter Limited Edition Bundle - Game console, Handheld, UMD (Universal Media Disc), 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated

The Bottom Line: While it's neither a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners nor as feature-packed as the PS3, the Xbox 360 Elite's combination of top-notch gaming and digital media features make it the current game console of choice.

Specs: Xbox 360 Elite - Game console, DVD-ROM, 1 x IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

The Bottom Line: It lacks the graphical prowess and rich media features of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, but the Nintendo Wii's combination of unique motion-sensitive controllers and emphasis on fun gameplay make the ultra-affordable console hard to resist.

Specs: Nintendo Wii - Game console, Desktop, Nintendo Wii disc, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, IBM PowerPC, 512 MB

The Bottom Line: The high-end Sony PlayStation 3's larger hard drive and ability to play PS2 games makes it a worthwhile alternative to the cheaper model--so long as you're willing to wait several months for the more promising exclusive titles to hit store shelves. If backward compatibility is your top priority, this hard-to-find model may be worth the search.

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, BD-ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, IBM Cell 3.2 GHz, 256 MB XDR DRAM - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

The Bottom Line: The Atari Flashback 2 delivers a genuine Atari 2600 retro gaming experience at an unbeatable price.

Specs: Atari Flashback 2 - Game console