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

While it fails to achieve the lofty status of greatest platform game of all time, still held by an overweight plumber, Banjo Kazooie is a close second, and that ain't half bad.

If playing games is more of a religion than a hobby to you, meet your new bible...System Shock 2 will scare the hell right out of you -- and you'll like it for that reason.

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.

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.

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.

This has become my favorite game of all time...If you're tired of wannabes, clones, and half-baked attempts at originality, play Thief: The Dark Project and get totally absorbed in the story, gameplay, and Garret himself.

Not only have I never played a better skateboarding title on the PSX, but I don't believe I've ever played a better skateboarding title ever, on any platform.

A rock-solid real-time strategy offering from folks that have a proven track record for providing historically accurate and fun strategy games. Its depth and long list of features will keep even the best empire builders and military strategists busy for months.

At its core, Final Fantasy X is just another chapter of the story we've all grown to love, but like a rare piece of literature, this story just gets better and better with each page you turn.

All of this is bundled with an intuitive Windows-style GUI, a painless point-and-tap process for connecting to online matches, and some of the nicest graphical wrapping gamers are going to see this Christmas.

It is, by all accounts, one of the best turn-based strategy games ever made and perhaps the best ever of its kind.

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

If you have the system to handle this game, and especially if you have a good 3D board, grab it right now, don't read another word. This is by far the best medieval warfare game I've ever played, and the added bonus that it happens to have a killer interface, a brilliant storyline, and dazzling graphics just adds a few more medals to Myth's already heavily adorned chest.

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.

Baldur's Gate is not a computer role-playing game...it is THE computer role-playing game.

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.

With the radar screen gone and the camouflage index, stamina gauge, inclusive healing system and a whole host of new gadgets in, the series is more tactical than ever.

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.

After a few hours of Pro Skater 2, you might even be tempted to check out deck prices at your local sports shop.

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.

The story is interesting, the Force Powers and weapons available are incredibly cool to use, and the opportunity to cut an opponent to shreds with a Lightsaber is the secret dream of any Jedi aspiring to heed the call of the Dark Side.

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.

The best RPG of 1999. Planescape Torment raises the bar past "Baldur's Gate" and sets new standards in terms of storyline, character progression, conversation and interaction.

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.

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

An amazing mix of fighting, puzzle-solving, and platform style action and adventure. The only PlayStation titles that come even remotely close to being this immersive and enjoyable in my experience is the "Resident Evil" family, but even they lack the sheer depth and playability of Raziel's quest.

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.