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."