Although the controls are responsive, they’re far from easy to learn (even harder to master), especially if you’re just getting into the pool of extreme sports.

Where Madden 2003 really isn’t anything special is the sound department.

I’m going to assign Madden 2003 the same score that I gave "Madden 2002." The changes are nice, but none of them mark a truly great leap over last year’s game.

A very good game – not explosive, it won’t turn the gaming world on its head. But it is incredibly easy to pick-up and play.

A solid "racing" game with good entertainment value. It has solid pick-up and play control, wide-open levels, good graphics and multiplayer options, and the return of FMV!

Microsoft needs to balance out its AI challenge level, correct some gameplay issues and boost its features in NFL Fever 2004 if it ever wants any chance of beating out the Madden and NFL 2K series.

It has a great idea in terms of graphical presentation and plotline, but it throws it all away through poor gameplay design.

Not a single element of this turn-based strategy title comes across as even remotely interesting.

It has tons of replayability and lots of fun, even if it might take a while to grasp the control and get used to the speed issue.

The arcade action is a nice diversion (and fun) for half hour stretches but any long-term involvement is not likely – it’s just not deep enough. And the speed issues…

MoK’s AI swings between moments of brilliance and shear stupidity like a pendulum. The difficulty and game length make this game one of the shortest adventure games in recent memory.

Aside from the inexcusable loading times that totally drag down the Totaled gameplay experience and a short single-player mode, the game’s multiplayer action, decent control scheme and level design make Totaled a better than average title for destruction derby fans not seen in a video games since, well, "Demolition Derby."

If "The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind" were stripped of its depth, its open-ended gameplay, its plethora of quests and overarching story, and its hardcore role-playing game mystique, Enclave would be the result, an often entertaining but equally often frustrating game.

It has tons of replayability and lots of fun, even if it might take a while to grasp the control and get used to the speed issue.

That's not to say it's not enjoyable or that it's a bad game – it is very easy to pick up and play for enjoyment in short spurts – it's just average. If you want the definitive Crazy Taxi game, this is it.

I hate to sound like an EA Sports poster boy, but NCAA is a must-have for any sports gamer.

One area the game is really stellar is the challenge given by the CPU artificial intelligence. This game pushes you and makes you sweat to win, especially when it comes to contests against ranked opponents and when squaring off in a rivalry game.

From the tip of the shiny helmets to the grass-wedged cleats, NCAA Football 2003 is a marvel to behold.

While not as complicated as some of Shrapnel’s other games (a good thing) it’s a particularly slow affair.

With the engrossing single-player missions, stellar multiplayer, and the incredibly detailed world editor, WC3 is my early choice for PC Game of the Year.

The biggest flaws that cripple BL: QOTD worse than a dragon punch to the face is the unmanageable control scheme of Bruce Lee during battles due in large part to the horrifically designed fixed camera mechanism.

Don’t bother with Rock Manager unless you’re a huge music industry fan.

Where it succeeds, MIBII is a solid, if a bit difficult, shooter. Where it fails, MIBII feels more like a demo than a finished product.

The visuals are excellent, with the interactive backgrounds looking great and reacting perfectly.

A solid racer with good graphics and control, a well-integrated trick system, and provides a challenge. There are some downsides – lack of shortcuts, no stat modification, occasional frustrating AI – but they aren’t enough to sink the experience.

The drone-like guests don’t offer any spice, there are no real pressing concerns like fire or floods, and boredom is your greatest challenge.

There’s no denying that the visuals are perhaps some of the best yet seen for a PlayStation 2 baseball game.

Everything about it is done right. Control is easy to grasp, the audio, graphic, and level designs are top shelf, the storytelling is head and shoulders above most other games, and the Insanity Meter ads a sick twist – it gets the adrenaline pumping.