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.