Certain classic enemies have also been upgraded, such as the imps, which now stare players down with glaring eyes before pouncing on them.

The monsters are determined to destroy the characters' home world, so players will need to perfect various combos and team attacks in order to survive.

Hands down the most playable, enjoyable golf game released to date.

Hands down the most playable, enjoyable golf game released to date.

As the passionate announcer exclaims during the opening sequence, "the soul still burns," though neither as fiercely nor as brightly as longtime fans may have hoped for.

With 200 items to unlock, eight different modes, and Link as a playable character, Namco has certainly delivered an impressive package for fighting game fans. Yet if players look closely, they’ll see the package is wrapped using recycled paper tied together with frayed twine that has a few too many loose ends for such an important sequel.

The changes aren’t substantially different from Madden NFL 2003, and the excitement level has diminished since the release of "NCAA Football 2004," a game that offers better commentary, more diverse modes, and simply more "energy" than this chapter in the long-running Madden series.

While Knights of the Old Republic is entirely addictive, there are some small complaints. There are no beasts to ride or vehicles to use as transportation while traveling across planet surfaces, the party is limited to three at any given time, and there's no multiplayer support.

Dynasty Mode is the main selling point and it is a lot of fun, especially the recruiting. After getting wrapped up in the Dynasty Mode you might even forget about Madden, at least for a short time.

It is a testament of WarioWare, Inc.'s game design that the action never grows stale despite the simplicity of controls, the straightforward objectives, and the hyperactive style of play.

More interiors in Vice City would be welcome, but the city is huge with plenty of unique terrain. It's a little disappointing that jetliners and more planes aren't available, but the thrill of flying the Hunter and going on multiple Vigilante missions makes up for it.

Aria of Sorrow comes the closest of the three Game Boy Advance titles to replicating the look and feel of Castlevania on the original PlayStation, and one-ups it by the inclusion of the addictive soul collecting.

It’s not a title that has you playing for weeks on end, but it will be pulled off the shelf more often than you initially thought, if only to experience the fluid control and opportunity to trash talk opponents while initiating some of the most outlandish moves ever witnessed in a hoops game.

Camelot Software obviously knows the importance of not trying to fix something that is already working on all cylinders, but to enhance its performance by adding just the right amount of grease to its working parts.

Like its PlayStation predecessor, players can customize the difficulty level, game speed, and other options, or they can challenge a friend in two different ways: via Game Link Cable or on the same system.

A great looking and playing game that is ultimately hampered by a limited selection of songs.

Wind Waker's style of play may not be the breath of fresh air players were expecting from the move to GameCube, and the islands seem much too small, but the change in scenery is a nonetheless refreshing one that is sure to surprise players in how well the game works in its current visual style.

Knowledgeable soccer fans looking for realism that makes the sport a worldwide phenomenon will embrace the fluidity of gameplay and extraordinary ability to customize players and teams to their own liking.

Where Rayman 3 succeeds, however, is in borrowing an wide assortment of proven concepts from past platform games, injecting them with a whimsical sense of humor, and creating tough but doable challenges sure to make younger gamers wince and older players smile with knowing respect.

Above all else, Freelancer is a fun, enjoyable experience that both veteran and novice players can quickly get into -- even those who have never mastered the art of dogfighting in space with a joystick.

While it is still reasonable to expect a game released in 2003 to feature complete freedom of flight, Panzer Dragoon Orta is perhaps the finest example of its type on any console released to date.

A must-have title that, if nothing else, represents the missing "link" of Nintendo classics destined to appear on the color handheld.

The four-button (as opposed to six-button) control scheme takes some getting used to, but the game captures the spirit, the fun, the intensity, the depth, and the overall look and sound of the original remarkably well.

While the enemy selection could have been more diverse, and the camera angles more intuitive, the quality of the environments, control, and music is high enough to live with some of the shortcomings.

With its cast of cute characters, vibrant graphics, and appealing sound effects, Super Monkey Ball Jr. feels right at home on Game Boy Advance, even despite the sometimes hairy controls. It's a great title to take on the road or to enjoy with a group of friends.

EA's "NHL 2003" is a solid game, but 2K3 is a gem. The intelligent play of the computer players in 2K3 -- unparalleled by any past or present -- makes NHL 2K3 the best hockey video game to date.

Roughly a four- to eight-hour journey. MF offers replay value through uncovering all the hidden areas and clearing the game within a time limit, but with such an engaging character and appealing theme, players will need little convincing for a return trip.

The story line is based on real-world politics, making the missions seem even more daring. This is one of the few games to elicit a feeling of suspense without resorting to shock techniques found in survival horror titles like "Resident Evil."

It's almost like "Myst" in the way you are dropped onto a planet with little to no information about where to go or what to do... Grade-A material from start to finish.

Niggling problems such as overly cheap AI still persist, but for the most part, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance manages to breathe new life into the gameplay while still retaining the Mortal Kombat feel.

The AI is a glaring problem in an otherwise great game.

After a few minutes swaggering around with these mechanical monstrosities, players can’t help but be floored by the intense pyrotechnics and raw power found within this game.

Perhaps the best and certainly the most unique thing about the game is Hotsuma’s thirsty-for-blood sword, which keeps the action at a brisk pace by forcing gamers to keep moving and keep killing.

The voice acting is almost infallible, and would be quite at home in any Saturday morning cartoon. That said, the writing is inconsistent.

Games feature furious battles over centrally located resources, enormously powerful mythological units wreaking havoc, and players competing for the favor of ancient gods. The result is fantastic, fun.

The graphics, sound, presentation, and depth are unrivaled thus far on PlayStation 2, putting the title on equal footing with "Madden NFL 2003" as the top sports games available on the system.

Follow-ups that come this quickly are not supposed to be this rewarding, which makes Vice City a remarkable achievement at a time when companies are all too willing to release so-called sequels with only a few tweaks and cosmetic changes.

Each game is short on substance but long on fun.

Pure Contra goodness. Most of the hallmarks that make the series great are here, including finger-frazzling gameplay, the indispensable two-player cooperative mode, constant shooting action, and giant bosses with well-hidden weak points.

The developers didn't tap into this system like they could have to offer new extras, four-player support, or more characters. In this regard Dark Alliance is a disappointment, but on the flip side, everything that made the PS2 game a hit has been faithfully ported over. Perhaps too faithfully.

Nintendo fans trying to fill the void left after the release of "Perfect Dark" will find TimeSplitters 2 to be the perfect fit.

The actual story line is perhaps the game's weakest point, as none of the levels seem tied together in any meaningful way other than the Quantum Leap-like aspect of assuming the role of a character who lives in the time period in order to retrieve the time crystal.

Offers a impressive amount of arcade-style fun bolstered by the number and variety of courses, challenging Hot Pursuit mode, and excellent lineup of vehicles.

It is the freedom players have to go about their missions however they desire, the single most important element preventing many good games from shooting up to the level of great ones.

Most importantly, NOLF 2 never takes itself too seriously. You'll be battling ninja's in an Ohio trailer park while a tornado approaches, avoiding neon super-soldier death rays, slaughtering mimes, and experiencing other outlandish predicaments.

An exciting game, it does have its shortcomings -- most notably the game being very short.

It is a title filled with such joyful exuberance, from the peppy soundtrack to Yoshi's adorable mutterings, that Nintendo fans cannot help but grin from ear to ear while playing.

Unlike most ultra-hard games, however, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts is thoroughly addictive, despite the fact that it does get frustrating.

Rather than simply adding three new campaigns and 18 additional scenarios, new civilization powers for all 23 cultures, from Ancient Greece's flaming arrows to Rebel Forces' cloaking, bring new excitement to many epochs with some interesting changes or enhancements to gameplay.

A title that will appeal to all but the most hardened of action fans, offering substantial reward for your time investment and a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment that few other games can provide.

It's like being able to play "Symphony of the Night" in the back seat of your parent's car, but with all new levels and some nifty new features.

Ultimately, what makes Animal Crossing stand out is its sense of personality.

Blowing away enemies and beasts on the small screen with a near perfect inventory and control system is rare for hand held systems

With better cut-scenes, more realistic driving physics, and a cinematic story, Mafia holds its own. While not as revolutionary as "GTA 3," it’s solid and oozes style.

There is a sense of teamwork involved in the multiplayer competition that makes the action far more rewarding than if it were merely a straightforward deathmatch against everyone else.

Hardly the groundbreaking title players have come to expect from the franchise, as it follows the blueprint of Super Mario 64 almost to the letter...Yet none of these issues take away from the fun most will have playing the game.

The title exudes a considerable amount of polish, possessing good texture work and splendid visual effects, with special mention needing to be made of the themed backgrounds in each of Story mode's worlds.

The tactical battle sequences have also been improved, giving players a wonderful war simulation promising months of gory action.

One of the best fighting titles to grace the PlayStation.

A huge play selection, terrific graphics, extensive gameplay modes (including the online options), and a new first-person view make Madden NFL 2003 one of the best football games available.

What makes the title so special is the constant rewards players receive from just participating in a single game.

As much as in the original WarCraft and all the Blizzard games that followed, the player is placed in the story with a perfect perspective on each different race’s dreads and hopes.

It offers great tracks, real-world bikers, encouraging music, and a huge satisfaction factor.

It's a pity the single-player story mode isn't a little more engaging, because it's the only thing keeping Neverwinter from getting the maximum rating.

A dream come true for those who didn't think it was possible for a console title to approach the level of depth found in a PC role-playing game.

The game feels closest to 1980s arcade titles in terms of structure and fun.

Fun with impressive character development, replay, variety, and gore.

The many changes, both minor and major, will be a welcome addition to those who purchased the original, and for gamers who didn't, now's the time to get both.

Players with high-end systems will enjoy the scenery and gameplay more, but the pauses and stuttering framerate will annoy everyone.

For a game priced in the budget range, Baseball Mogul 2003 is one of the best bargains in the annals of sports management simulations.

It's a game dripping with atmosphere, literally, and ranks as one of the most impressive GameCube achievements in sound and visuals to date.

Definitely a title worth looking into for newcomers to the genre, since the learning curve is fairly small, while veteran RTS gamers will find quality gameplay with an emphasis on strategy.

Presentation is the area in which Dungeon Siege truly shines, surpassing the techniques of its third-person RPG forbearers by a quantum leap and rivaling the best efforts of contemporary 3D releases in other genres.

While it might not be quite as feature intensive on a technical level as the "The Chessmaster" series, it's an enjoyable, well-made chess simulation that provides the essential elements of the game and even manages to break some new ground.

With tons of new features and careful attention given to the original formula, the series remains one of the best in the genre.

Multiplayer fans will benefit the most, as the expansion offers new maps and a whole new environment for legalized mayhem.

Chances are the majority of players will try some of the single-player game, become frustrated or bored, and then move on to the outstanding multiplayer modes.

The meticulous planning may discourage the action fan, and the exorbitant storyline may initially dissuade the die-hard role-player, but both will find familiar elements and enjoyable new challenges in this well-built game.

Missions are well designed, elite squads carry out reasonably realistic actions, and the level of challenge is difficult but not overly daunting.

The pacing, the control, the animation, the look, the feel -- the Virtua Fighting itself has been polished to near perfection. The strength of the basic arcade game mode alone is enough to heartily recommend Virtua Fighter 4.

True to its word, a round of 18 holes can be played within 20 minutes, making the game extremely accessible for those who want some quick fun without getting bogged down in reading a series of meters or clicking through multiple menu screens before initiating a shot.

The level of detail and responsiveness to user feedback is what sets OOTP apart from most other computer text-based baseball games.

A game offering finely tuned level design, crystal-clear graphics, and a wave of free-roaming fun.

Its easy-to-learn gameplay will hook you, and its attractive audiovisual package will reel you in.

It’s all about action and reaction, which is almost becoming a dying breed as games move toward stealth, tactics, and exploration.

The use of bright colors and attractive character designs accent the uncluttered playfield to create an overall pleasing visual experience.

The single most endearing attribute of this title is its simplicity and ease of use, regardless of which aspect of the hobby enthralls you.

A remake of the 1991 release, and it makes a great game even better.

Anyone who enjoys frenzied shooting and zany physics will be very happy to own this one.

From its simple gameplay, addictive replay structure and bright graphics right down to its choice of male or female characters, Columns Crown is a superb puzzle package that just about everyone can fall in love with.

Although it doesn't bring anything new to the table, Sonic Advance is an enjoyable 2D platformer that will meet players' expectations.

A polished 2D fighting game that won't disappoint the core audience of Tekken fans, but one that's also accessible enough for those simply looking for a well-made fighting game to play on the go.

The sheer innovation of this new direction in gameplay shows the developers at Lionhead to be very creative thinkers and is worth the acquisition of the game by itself.

For first-person shooter fans, the ten hours you spend with Allied Assault will be most satisfactory. Nazis are fun and rewarding to kill, the missions offer diverse action, and the graphics are first rate.

While the options aren’t as extensive as those found in "Madden NFL 2002," and the graphics aren’t as optimized for the console as "NFL Fever’s," NFL 2K2 features the most complete presentation of any football game released to date.

The most visually impressive role-playing game yet released, with meticulous character models offering dynamic facial expressions and breathtaking cut-scenes seamlessly integrated into gameplay.

The game is preferable to the PS2 version as it has noticeably smoother frame rates and quicker load times, as well as the ability to Quick Save at any point.

While it would have been nice to see some new play mechanics introduced or more bosses to fight (only three are in the entire game), most will have a hard time putting the controller down.