Ico is one of those rare titles that you don't so much play as experience. Many adventure games boast this same interactivity and immersiveness, but with its careful blending of genres, delicate balancing act between a story of growing love and mounting horror, and a brilliant system that also incorporates tense moments of action, Ico really lives up to its claims.

If you ignore the sub-par audiovisual effects, you will find a decent and engrossing intellectual challenge underneath it all, which particularly exciting in human-to-human competition.

Fans of city building titles will truly enjoy Trade Empires, and it will even woo some dissenters of the genre with its inventive take upon historical civilizations. However, unimpressive graphics and a lack of configurable options or a storyline hold it back from being a true gem.

The action is fast-paced and well-staged, and you really become absorbed in the virtual world of the famous arachnid. But two major deficiencies -- in the control system and the camera work -- almost succeed in ruining this title.

While its short length and lack of character development leave much to be desired, the multiplayer feature more than makes up for the diminished gameplay, adding to the replay value.

Only the most desperate sled-junky should bother with Arctic Thunder. Clearly inferior to its ancestor, this jerky ride suffers from terrible frame rates, sub-par sound, twitchy controls and mindless, repetitive gameplay.

While a part of the gameplay is absorbing, and the graphics and puzzles are noteworthy, there is no lasting impression communicated, so you never really care much about the outcome.

While the multiplayer mode's forgettable, and there's not a ton of replay value, the first run through the story is surprisingly long, and filled to the brim with some of the most amazing scenery conceived outside of a Toy Story film.

What really makes this game rise above its mediocre brethren is not merely the flashy graphics or mildly dramatic storyline. Far Gate stands out amongst a host of independent titles as being one of the few that shows a dramatic effort towards entertainment rather than a quick profit.

Looks infinitely better than its ancestors, but plays pretty much the same.

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

Its superb graphics, open-ended nature, and compelling storyline make it a title that many flight sim junkies will not want to miss. While I found the learning curve a bit too steep, the controls somewhat cumbersome, and the save-game system annoying.

Ultimately an entertaining title, but one with enough quirks to prevent it from attaining true RPG greatness.

While there are a few glaring problems, most notably with the poorly implemented multiplayer features, plain jane graphics, and lackluster AI, XGIII Extreme G Racing is still fun to play.

It has the eye-popping graphics of the PS2 version of "Madden 2001," but it uses a poor interface, has modest AI, and doesn't provide enough new features to differentiate it from last year's offering.

With gameplay oozing off of this disk like gravy out of Refrigerator Perry's hot beef sandwich, fans of the gridiron will lose themselves in hours of rapture and may very well forget to eat or sleep.

Despite some weakness rooted to the genre, Conquest's solid graphics, gameplay, and AI make it a title with enough reasons for RTS fans to join the fight.

The title of this game is ironically accurate, as I have not encountered a platform side-scroller this lightweight in years. There is simply nothing to recommend.

Only those who are willing to take the time to be bogged down in the minutia of running the lives and future of an entire virtual village should look seriously at this RTS title.

It is not sufficiently realistic to be a true flight simulator, and at the same time, lacks enough arcade elements to be considered merely a shooter.

As a finished title, it falls short. Basic graphics, a limited storyline, and non-existent sound and music make it seem as though the game is still in production.

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.

Its graphics, sound, and interface are excellent, but sadly deficiencies still exist in its artificial intelligence and its linear gameplay which is devoid of a skirmish mode or of a precise system of attack control.

It is indeed fun to control unusual units in battle, but the focus on micromanagement can become a bit more demanding than most players want for their entertainment dollars.

Its combination of global conquest and economic elements results in an entertaining experience that can keep players consistently coming back for more.

Remember to start on the outside of the turn, cut to the inside and then tromp on the accelerator when you're past the half way; that should keep your speed as high as possible on the your way to the nearest retailer. Trust me, the traffic ticket would be worth it.

None of the facets of this release are particularly outstanding, and in particular you have to cope with the rather odd camera movement and the passivity of just watching when your actual caper is carried out.

A triumph of mediocrity.