Somehow, Fur Fighters manages to slip through the shackles that should be binding it to mediocrity, rising instead to become an engrosing game.

MechWarrior 4 has more types of BattleMechs, missions, and weapons than MechWarrior 3; the multiplayer competition is outstanding, the artificial intelligence is improved, and the graphics are generally splendid.

Right down to the familiar trapezoidal box, Tomb Raider Chronicles is completely lacking in significant innovation.

It has an intuitive interface and eliminates the time-consuming micromanagement within each city that made every other game in the series so drawn out.

As it stands, however, Championship Surfer should only be reserved for the die-hard surfing fanatics and PC owners who have an undeniable penchant for extreme sports.

Rewolf has managed to take an aging formula and prove that with enough pizzazz -- as well as some minor innovation -- what most people consider old hat can be just as entertaining as something made with all the latest ingredients.

If you are looking for an action title, but are getting tired of playing rehashes on the "Quake" formula, look no further than the generic assassin wearing a barcode on his head.

It never should have been released on the PC, in part because it exploits none of the features possible on computers, such as saving at will, better graphics and configurable controls.

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.

Virtual Pool 3 has it where it counts: high precision pool table action and awesome cool-and-confident A.I. opponents.

The combat and exploration never generate much excitement, though in certain areas, bad game design -- such as the illogical non-combat missions and the imbalanced enemies -- leads to considerable frustration.

While it is an unabashed ripoff and lacks any form of innovation compared to what has gone before, this is a competent dirt bike racing game, which despite its limitations can provide sustained enjoyment for a lot of motorcycle aficionados.

Though there are minor problems with the graphics system, control scheme and interface, the primary drawback is that an experienced player can fly though it in around three hours and thirty minutes.

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.

Though plagued by control and interface problems, the entertainment value suffers only some edgewise tarnish on an otherwise well polished piece of silver.

Not a collapsing ruin, and although it can be entertaining, it is missing the strong foundation needed to capture one's long-term interest.

Though the rendering jitters can get annoying, the improvements to the overall visuals combined with the wide explorative possibilities make Delta Force: Land Warrior a solid game for anyone who enjoys modern tactical warfare on the PC.

Brings a lot of interesting ideas to the table, including a nicely-done, TV-style presentation, as well as having mass quantities of incredibly customizable assistance. Unfortunately, it all becomes weighed down by cumbersome execution, whose faults are largely due to the unimpressive and questionable engine.

Despite a few minor control problems that crop up during battles, Sacrifice emerges unscathed with graphics, sound, gameplay and artificial intelligence that are all of extremely high caliber.

The physics of the game are almost impossible to overcome; and in the week plus that I tweaked around with the controls, I was never able to gain a mastery over my vehicle or the environment.

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

To paraphrase a writer from "Mystery Science Theater 3000," this game hurt me.

The new 3D graphical rendering engine and photorealistic environments help to breathe new life to the series, finally trading in the carbon copy backdrops for lifelike and truly beautiful settings.

Its interface is horrendously convoluted, its gameplay painfully tedious and sluggish, and its graphics are outdated.

Captures the essence of a war movie better than any other game I have played, with the possible exception of the original "Close Combat."

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."

Not only one of the best games that Westwood has ever created, but is easily one of the most entertaining, visceral, and tactically focused RTS products ever seen, and will likely be remembered as a true classic for years to come.

In the end this product will satisfy only fans absolutely desperate for driving in the dirt.