It's hard to argue with graphics and sounds of this quality.

The seamless amalgamation of all things '80s into the mix lets the creative team go wild with the vocal work and provide an outstanding retro soundtrack.

It seamlessly combines real-time and turn-based gameplay, gives the player ultimate control of their experience, and provides a level of depth that verges on bottomless.

A cinematic and thrilling experience. The ability to take part in the last century’s most defining and destructive war through the perspective of three different sides is quite engaging.

The wonderful artificial intelligence and level design combine to keep you glued to your screen...A true tour de force.

This game is pure, unadulterated fun.

It summons into an already great game compelling storytelling elements, excellent graphical variety, solid strategy, and extremely high polish and production value.

Smooth mechanics of this game...manifest as gorgeous graphics, intuitive and responsive controls, and a physics system that does an exceptional job of simulating all wheel drive on all sorts of hellish terrain.

One of those memorable titles that people will be talking about for years to come. Its impressive graphics, gripping storyline, and fun use of Bullet-Time action elevates the game to the current standard that most others should aspire to.

Massive non-linear playing fields, astoundingly intelligent enemies and a gorgeous setting make Far Cry a solid hit that sets the bar higher for the games that will follow it.

Beautiful graphics, a unique storytelling methodology and some very well-designed missions make "Ground Control" a winner in almost every category.

Dynamix's final release serves as a mark of excellence in action-based strategy, open-ended gameplay, good graphics, and pure fun, with only a few stability issues and level design flaws offsetting an otherwise solid effort.

Smart gameplay blends with furious action to produce an experience that can only be described as "Metal Gear Solid" Goes Barbarian!

It doesn’t set any new standards, but it’s great fun in both the single- and multiplayer sides of the house.

Apart from striking the perfect balance between historical fact and romanticized fiction, they've managed to capture the essence of what makes the city building series fun and turn it into a game that feels almost wholly different from "Caesar III "and "Pharaoh."

The real attraction, however, is the Xbox Live component, which is so original and compelling that even staunch critics of the first title may want to give Splinter Cell another opportunity.

It's got frenzied action, a thoughtful storyline, and gameplay that will swallow you whole.

While there are some interface concerns that all versions of this game seem to suffer from, on the whole it's pretty darned awesome.

Manages to do what few sequels can--retain all of the good things in the original and improve on them, while still incorporating new features and gameplay elements never before seen.

The graphics are of unprecedented quality, and the gameplay is well implemented, balanced, addictive, and bug-free.

Earth 2150 has without a doubt escaped the dull shadow of its predecessor to emerge as a well-crafted, highly complex and beautiful game.

Smart in its game design, a brilliant melding of software and hardware, this is a game which achieves what all games shoot for, but so few manage, to transport you somewhere better, if only for a few moments.

"So this is what 'Metal Gear Solid' was trying to do." The level of immersion that this title provides is simply unparalleled in console gaming, and that is what makes the gameplay so spectacular.

One of the best adventure games I've ever played. The near-perfectly crafted combination of story, gameplay, graphics and audio makes it utterly enchanting.

Above all, the NPC interaction and voice acting are the best in any game to date. This game is possibly the best investment an RPG fan can presently make, and will prove entertaining for countless gaming hours.

The best baseball game that’s hit the PC in a very long time. It’s pretty, it’s smart and it’s packing a deep pool of gameplay options that’ll keep you going well after this year’s World Series is put to rest.

The graphics, audio and multiplayer components are astonishingly good, while the highly competent yet unspectacular single-player gameplay lags a bit behind.

Brilliantly designed, the waves and riders are appropriately the highlights, as the animations are smooth for both, and every wave's approach is unique enough to keep you entertained for as long as the increasingly sprawling levels of the Tony Hawk games.

The sequel is a complete game rather than just a multiplayer vehicle.

The combat system is deep, varied and insanely addictive thanks to dozens of fantastic techniques and plenty of memorable enemies. The adventure is superb and the number of collectibles and hidden items keep the gameplay fresh.

That dazzling indulgence for your eyes, coupled with the all-consuming sound effects, make this such an enjoyable world to just wander through, never mind the gameplay! And yet, one must mind the gameplay, because incredible design and story work were put into the action, and you're going to have your work cut out for you.

Awesome and addicting in everyway, it's also only the second game for Windows 95 that was worth playing at all (the other being "Ultima Online").

Instead of merely giving out a few major embellishments -- and there are those -- Ensemble went a number of steps further by enhancing nearly every aspect of the game.

If Nippon Ichi’s last three releases can be considered a trilogy, then Phantom Brave is without a doubt "The Empire Strikes Back" of the series.

With superb graphics, sound, and music, as well as immersive and challenging gameplay, Rage has really done its job in making sure that this title has no real weaknesses. The plot development and cinematics are simply in a class by themselves.

It is utterly rife with quality in all areas, as the graphics, sound, music and gameplay all mesh in near-perfect unison to create one of the single most immersive and addictive adventure offerings, ever.

Freedom Force oozes polish and personality from every pixel.

This is, by far, the best installment in theMadden series and despite the higher price tag is worth purchasing.

So many small nuances coalesce here to make this game one of the most rewarding flight experiences since the generation of "TIE Fighter" and "Wing Commander IV."

It is refreshing to see the DS stand up and do some things that can't be done on the GBA, allowing it to stand out as its own system rather than being used to play GBA titles on.

The best fighter for any console system. What else needs to be said?

Smart gameplay couples with intelligent AI to make sure you're kept on your toes at all times through this deep, stealthy shooter.

An immensely playable and entertaining game that easily overpowers its few niggling flaws with its style, its spirit, and most importantly, its unswerving dedication to fun.

It's a button-masher in the best sense of the term, and even people not normally interested in fighting games should check it out. While its raison d'être is multiplayer, soloists can't ask much more.

Loaded with graphical goodies and flush with many more racing modes than one would normally expect, Moto GP offers an exception experience for two wheeled racing.

Master of Orion 2 is just INTENSE! I absolutely loved this game and if you liked the original Master of Orion I think you will too.

Very well designed and polished to near perfection. Its complex storyline keeps the gamer hooked from beginning to end, and the movies provide enough eye candy to give your corneas cavities. In every way, this is a beautiful, beautiful game.

The new owner's box adds astonishing depth and replayability to a franchise mode that is already dangerously addictive, while the playmaker controls only serve to better immerse the player in the experience.

It represents the first perfect translation of another medium, be it film, television or another form of entertainment, to a computer game.

It could be compared to "Morrowind" in its depth and scope, but the real people that fill the town squares and gathering halls give Final Fantasy XI a living soul that Bethesda’s hallmark title never had.

A thoroughly absorbing title, complete with a suspenseful script, top-notch production values, the perfect balance of action and adventuring, puzzles that are intelligently integrated into the plot, and big dollops of atmosphere.

Alone, the vivid colors and lighting effects are incredible, but pop in the expansion pak and Rayman's world comes to life in cartoonishly bright tones. We're treated to a luscious feast of sharp textures, cartoonish and colorful characters, and appealing indoor and outdoor environments. Given the limited capabilities of the N64 version of Rayman 2 compared to its PC counterpart, one simply has to marvel at the results.

A revolutionary step forward in role-playing games...Any fan of the RPG genre should not be caught dead without a copy of Neverwinter Nights on his or her PC.

Quake 4 really delivered on all fronts for me in terms of purely frenetic gameplay. I jumped at the cutscenes, I cried out expletives when I was getting owned by the Strogg, I gasped when the storyline took a major plot twist, and I was moved by the stunningly beautiful graphics.

Long, packed with value and excellently executed, armchair tacticians will appreciate the deep character design, while RPG enthusiasts will be surprised to find an extremely well developed storyline with branching paths backing the tactical focus.

The Sims puts forth the closest, most amusing rendering of digital life gamers have ever seen.

With great story, action, and adventure, presented with beautiful graphics and audio and an intuitive control scheme, this carefully crafted science fiction title fosters genuine caring about what goes on, making it an absolute pleasure to play.

My own addiction to the gameplay here is unceasing, as there is always some little tweak I want to add to make my custom park just a little bit better.

Even without the jaw dropping visuals of "Final Fantasy" or "Knights of the Old Republic," the deceptively deep but instantly accessible gameplay proves that Star Ocean can hang with the big boys as more than just a niche title, but as a top-tier franchise.

Rejecting pressure from pseudo-sophisticated snobs who want to graft on artificial complexities that have been so trendy in recent computer action titles, Doom 3 is a far cry from the pattern of the latest shooters, and to me, that’s a real blessing.

Alien scum in the final version of DN3D are still tricky devils ducking for cover, teleporting in and out, lying in ambush, and even laying traps in later episodes. However, the monsters are still stupid enough to walk into a tripbomb so overall intelligence isn't perfect.

Anybody who even kind of liked "Jagged Alliance" or its sequel should have already left by now for the store to pick up a copy.

If you were a fan of GTA then you'll love the non-linear run-and-gun style of play that is made available. On the other hand, if you prefer the Tom Clancy series, you will find yourself at home with the constant attention to detail and possibility for tactical maneuvering.

If you're a fan of EA's classic "Seal Team" or loved the semi-realism offered in Zombie's great "Spec Ops," then Rainbow Six will give you a serious case of the gamer's giddies.

Visually stunning, loaded with cameos and dripping with both Square and Disney nostalgia, Kingdom Hearts will grab you from the opening to the end.

In a market full of dull sequels, here's a follow-up that shows how expansion should be done.

The controls are perfect, the gameplay is paced just right and the ESPN brand sucks the player in like no other sports title can.

With its amazing sound work, stunning musical score and easy to use control scheme, about the only thing you can complain about in this release is the length.

With a heavy dash of "Thief," a sprinkling of "Deus Ex," the essence of Bond and a huge dollop of comedy, the game comes to vibrant life, with each of its parts working in terrific synergy.

Prettier, deeper, lengthier, and more challenging than any other dungeon crawler out there, Champions of Norrath is the definitive game for hack-n-slash aficionados.

Every scene literally drips with well-crafted atmosphere, and many are so memorable they will stay with you for days after you finish.

After playing "Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit" for months on end, I had developed an image in my mind of how video game policemen were supposed to act. Driver shattered that image.

It is so well crafted that it transcends my usual blocks, and is arguably the most fun I think I’ve ever had playing this style of game. It’s beautiful, it’s easy to use, difficult to master, and extremely replayable.

Stunning enhancements to the visuals and sound aside, the new tricks, game variations and collection of extras is more than one would expect from a sequel.

An absolutely inspired and enchanting title. Playing puts you into a deep trance, and you just cannot quit. Transfixed by mesmerizing visuals and music, you are sucked into a unending web of block matching mania.

Operation Flashpoint essentially has the playability that people were hoping to find in "World War II Online," with twice the excitement and challenge.

A towering aggregation of everything that's good about strategy gaming.

F.E.A.R. has by far the best tactical combat I have ever experienced, and has super-high production values throughout. The sense of dread never lets up throughout the game.

Those who saw Call of Duty's multiplayer as being too similar to "Quake" or "Counter-Strike" should be impressed with United Offensive, which plays like "Day of Defeat" and "Battlefield 1942" with better graphics.

With some character issues from the first game still unresolved, and due to the short duration of play and unintelligent enemies, AVP2 is stopped short of being truly stellar. However, this is one of the best action titles of the year.

Yes it's expensive, and it has some serious problems that need immediate attention, but it can't be denied that Ultima Online is a unique, intriguing, thoroughly enjoyable gaming experience -- once you learn how to play, and accept it for what it is.

Siren has a few basic problems that keep it from being truly exceptional, but its groundbreaking mechanics and brilliant execution of fear make it something survival horror fans won’t want to miss.

The gameplay is gleefully wrought with complexity. However, hardcore strategists will surely find this title simplistic.

It’s certainly worth playing through twice — a concept that seems to have been forgotten these days, even as the quest for the gaming equivalent of the everlasting-gobstopper has been joined.

While SoF II won't contend for Game of the Year, it's worth its price tag for both its combat-heavy single-player campaign as well as its robust multiplayer package, highlighted by the random map generator.

If you can get a group of mates together over Xbox Live, Wolfenstein should provide a constant and gratifying supply of entertainment well into the future.

While there are still a few glitches in the camera work, and not every segment is brilliant, this title contains enough moments of unrequited fun to keep you coming back for more.

One of the most realistic and captivating starship simulations ever made.

While a great number of real-time strategy games are currently demonstrating a great level of technical accomplishment, seldom do they rise to the level of vigor demonstrated here.

The sound and music don't particularly damage this offering, but could have been a lot better considering the quality put into the gameplay and graphics.

Valve has proved quite effectively that solid level design and an embarrassment of style will outshine all the fanciest smoke and mirrors that today’s cutting-edge technologies have to offer.

This game, however, is not for the lighthearted or for those with no flight experience, as even on the easiest of settings pilots will find it very difficult to keep enemies in their sights long enough to shoot them down.

Taking the best elements of first-person shooters that preceded it, what we have here is a magnificent homage to the genre rather than an attempt to introduce significant novelty or redefine its boundaries...Clearly superior to its predecessor.

The retractable library research toolbar notwithstanding, there’s no single feature that makes Thrones and Patriots a must have, but if you enjoyed the original title, the precise strokes in this expansion only add to the enjoyment of an already superlative RTS experience.

For the first time, real-time strategy concepts like resource building and army management feel at home on a console.

The campaign is a bit short even by today's standards, but has phenomenal replayability and enough bonus content to keep you busy for quite some time.

A multimedia feast for the senses and a compelling interactive movie. As an action-adventure game, it doesn't offer much of a challenge beyond furthering the story, but it is certainly a story worth experiencing.

Grandia II happily dwells in a genre where its players will sacrifice a bit of visual quality for a compelling story and excellent combat and character mechanics. Luckily, these are delivered in spades.