While fans of the last installment may at first be disappointed in the apparent lack of notable new features and improvements, there are plenty of additions to be enjoyed after mastering the new options and levels.

Better than "GoldenEye 007" in every aspect, making it the best first-person shooter at the time of its release. With much deeper Solo Missions and a completely customizable Combat Simulator, Perfect Dark definitely was worth the wait.

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.

From the eight professional-style radio stations to the variety of mission objectives and hidden goodies, GTA III is packed with high production values and oozing with addictive gameplay.

The animation on each Marine you encounter is remarkable, possessing almost endless moving parts and distinct facial features, while the lighting, textures, and massive landscapes prove Halo and the Xbox to be without equal on the console market.

So if you appreciate ingenuity, realistic settings, loads of cool weapons, and some of the best artificial intelligence ever witnessed in a first-person shooter, let alone a console shooter, GoldenEye 007 is an essential addition to your N64 game library.

While the backgrounds are 2D, they are rich and diverse and those spot explosions, though pixilated, feature high quality light sourcing.

It isn't everyday that you come across a game that totally revolutionizes an entire genre, but Half-Life has done just that.

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.

Is it really that realistic? The answer to that is a plain "YES." When you have a PlayStation steering wheel, you could practice for your real-life driver's license with this game.

Looks beautiful, plays precisely, and has a complex, detailed plot that will tax your brain and maybe even have you questioning the greater truths of life. If that's not a game that qualifies for a perfect score, then no game possibly can.

A diversely beautiful and deadly environment filled with amazing characters and a myriad of possibilities. For any fan of the original, this is a must have – it's just too good to pass up.

The game's targeting system has also been adjusted. Using triggers and both analog sticks (a la "Manhunt"), players take more complete control of C.J., and can have him run and strafe, change targets, and shoot in almost any direction, even while moving in another.

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.

Once you get past the incredible visuals, you realize that this is just a prettier version of "Gran Turismo 2," which is in no way a bad thing.

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

The second game on the system to REQUIRE the use of the Expansion Pak accessory for high-resolution graphics and enhanced visual effects.

This is such a fast paced game and there is so much action at any given time on the screen that keeping up could give you a slight case of carpal tunnel syndrome!

While camera problems are nothing new, Devil May Cry's biggest flaw is that it ends too quickly. Thus, its biggest strength is also its biggest weakness: the fast-paced nature of the game makes it easier to finish.

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.

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.

It is an incredible and very addictive game; once you start playing you won't want to stop... You will want to play Civilization II over and over, as every game is different.

After "DOOM" revolutionized first-person shooters, Quake raised the bar and set standards featuring improved visuals in a 3D environment, excellent controls, numerous monsters and a vast online experience.

An extraordinary adventure game. With its great story, beautiful artwork and fabulous voice acting, you'll be missing out by not giving this game a whirl.

The amount of quality that's been pumped into this title is simply astonishing.

If you're looking for an action RPG with medieval roots and influences, dark and moody settings, and unique game play, then run to your nearest retailer and pick up a copy of Diablo!

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.

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.

As the first true 3D platform game, the game does everything right. Super Mario 64 is a masterpiece in the truest sense of the word.

I only wish something new and exciting could have been added. Gran Turismo 2 is an impressive game, just not an impressive sequel.

A wonderful piece of fighting goodness that may very well be the best 2D fighting game created to date. The sheer amount of depth found within is staggering.

A surprise hit that contains a massive amount of depth (more apparent upon further exploration) and is a blast to play.

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

Simply one of those titles that makes you say "Wow." You'll have to pick your jaw up off the floor when you experience it for the first time. It is a rare gem; an awesome feat of programming, graphical design, and sound production, all wrapped around superb gameplay. It deserves the highest praise.

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."

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.

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.

Amazingly, the game exceeds both its Super NES and Nintendo 64 ancestors, making it a serious contender for the best kart-racer yet released.

Anyone even remotely interested in the world of 2D side-scrollers or the Castlevania series should pick this up – it's a must have.

Features even more unique and detailed texture maps as well as dashingly gorgeous course design with tons of trackside stuff to distract you as you blaze around the tracks.

Playing the game is a lot of laughs, and is the perfect pick me up after a long day playing intensely dramatic games.

It is full of new ideas, updates, and fun content that flesh out the SSX concept completely.

The enemies are repetitive, the puzzles are simple, and players aren't given much freedom to explore, but what is here is fun to play -- thanks to an interesting story, excellent sound effects, and well-animated visuals.

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.

Manages to do what many similar takes on the great conflict have failed to do -- take the events of the battle and present them with epic grandeur yet keep them simple to play without getting bogged down with too many rules.

The more I played this game, the more I liked it. I found it relaxing and challenging at the same time, and my level of interest has been maintained over the past few weeks, especially because of all the new add-ons that Maxis is serving up at their website.

Faulty cams aside, Banjo-Kazooie is the best 3D platformer since "Mario 64," and we can only wonder what miraculous game Rare will produce next. This is one of the few must-buy games on the Nintendo 64.

There's plenty of exploration and discovery here along with large and nasty looking boss creatures, and it caters nicely to the explorers out there.

Ingeniously designed, Advance Wars manages to be both in-depth, and instantly accessible, simply because it presents the game in easily manageable chunks.

Utterly immersive in its use of character attachment and amnesiac story-telling, it is a game that will honestly give you the sweats...It's all about replacing your shorts every half-hour or so.

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

The perfect sequel. It gives us more of what we want while not changing the heart of the gameplay too much.

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 first rate story line as well as visual and audio effects make Thief quite an immersive gaming experience. It is a subtle yet captivating game that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Nothing has been sacrificed and the quality and expertise of the Neversoft designers, coders and artists shine through in grand fashion.

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.

The possibilities of this real-time strategy game seem nearly endless and it definitely is on my short list of personal "game of the year" nominees. If the music and sound isn't spectacular (which it's not), it's my opinion that most strategy gamers will focus on the game's stellar gameplay and forgive any minor shortcomings, the largest of which is possibly the lack of a zoom or map rotation feature.

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.

What fantastic level design! It is impeccable and superb.

With his latest title, it isn't so much that Sid Meier has done it again, but rather he's done more. And more of a good thing it is indeed. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is an excellent sequel to "Civilization" and "Civilization II."

What really propels Wave Race 64 into great status, though, is its gameplay. Minute inputs make all the difference: controlling a jet-ski in Wave Race 64 is an art as well as a precise science, but it's fun too.

Each character, visual graphic, mini-game and every ounce of story has a depth so amplified that it will keep players engrossed for months.

The game engine, story, graphics and sound are so realistic that the addiction won't let you go for a second!

The only real problem with Parappa is concerning the depth as this title really does not allow much variation and Sony have only included six fairly short levels.

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.

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.

Myth: The Fallen Lords is a masterpiece in the realtime strategy genre.

When you factor in the Fantasy Mode, Madden Challenges, and crisp gameplay with the same control scheme as found in past Madden games, you have a winner.

Interacting with characters is where your charisma and party's reputation really pays off.

It's a short ride, but one that's filled with wondrous images, an engrossing story and solid, thoroughly entertaining gameplay.

As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing like this in the genre, much less among the space sims released in 1999. Is it an all-time classic? Probably not, but it's damn close.

Graphically speaking, this game is an excellent bit of "eye-candy"... The only real problem with the game is that it is occasionally hard to understand what is required to complete some missions.

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

The CG-movies are some of the most horrific ever seen in any form of media, and that includes horror movies, as well... a must have for any adult PS2 owner.

It is a truly captivating and mesmerizing experience that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of people – especially those interested in grandiose architecture.

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

DOA2 has a fun engine that is more accessible than most other fighters out there, and this is both a blessing and a curse. The reversal factor of the game makes one quickly feel like they know what they're doing, but it also is so easy that it can sometimes seem to overpower the game.

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.

Definitely not the kind of game everyone will appreciate and, in fact, may be unplayable after five minutes for some gamers.

In the end, I just couldn't get into Jedi Knight. Maybe it was because I'm not a big Star Wars fanatic that I found it quite boring and uninspired, but there was nothing here that grasped my interest.

One of the most important aspects to Resident Evil is the music and sound effects – both of which are nothing short of captivating and involving. The horror sounds and shills of zombies and hounds will keep the hair on the back of your neck full staff and your butt on the edge of your seat.

Torment's sub-quest structure is probably the biggest attraction for me. These are the best kinds of quests: multiple solutions, the best usually being the peaceful, conversational type and rewarding with experience points.

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.

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.

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.

Where the original had lots of hack-'em-up action, this one replaces it with a puzzle (flipping and moving blocks into their appropriate locations). And they're hard – don't be surprised if you find yourself stuck for hours in one room.

Gameplay seldom strays from long-established RPG convention, but Golden Sun incorporates some of the best elements of classics such as the Final Fantasy, Phantasy Star, and even Legend of Zelda series, in its own distinct and unified style.

With the ability to store up to eight different quests, and a quest time that will require at least 12-15 hours to complete, fans are in for a genuine treat.

So impressive to watch that you'll have to keep one hand firmly below your chin to keep it from falling to the floor.

Nintendo has done it again. Mario Golf takes the sport and makes it more entertaining while retaining realism. Both golf fans and non-golf fans alike will find the game highly enjoyable.

Intelligence, control, and gameplay are all the best in the business. The only disappointments are the lack of real players and teams and the need for a better TV-style presentation.

While some 2D games suffer from growing pains in the process of moving to the third dimension, Rayman's world has remained tightly focused. The result is a platform game that allows for full three-dimensional movement without being bogged down with excess dead space or find-the-key "puzzles" that seem to haunt other 3D titles.

An exceptional game and one that stays with you long after you've switched off the power button.

One of the most enjoyable 3D platform games to swing onto the PlayStation in quite some time. It's also one of the most innovative.

It shouldn't be confined to live under the shadow of the ["Metal Gear Solid"] because it is much more action-oriented in design. The bottom line is that Syphon Filter is an excellent slab of gaming goodness.

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.

Mixing elements of empire building, resource management, life simulation, survival and brawling with complex strategies and tactics in a gorgeous fantasy setting seems too good to be true.

It offers impressive (albeit repetitive) audio, superb graphics and animation to go along with exciting gameplay and fans of both arcade and simulation-style sports games should be able to find some aspect to enjoy.