A giant happy cosmic snowball of fun.

Also new, and welcome for those who don't favor the role-playing aspect, is the ability to ignore the character management with automated leveling up.

Also new, and welcome for those who don't favor the role-playing aspect, is the ability to ignore the character management with automated leveling up.

Also new, and welcome for those who don't favor the role-playing aspect, is the ability to ignore the character management with automated leveling up.

For once, believe the game's name and hype - this is an almost endlessly entertaining game with tons of fun and gratuitous destruction.

For once, believe the game's name and hype - this is an almost endlessly entertaining game with tons of fun and gratuitous destruction.

For once, believe the game's name and hype - this is an almost endlessly entertaining game with tons of fun and gratuitous destruction.

There's more humor and character development at the Web site than in the game, so if you are still curious, check out the Death Jr. Web site and maybe - maybe - rent it for a day or two.

An undeveloped but great take on first-person views makes this a strong rental but iffy purchase.

Though a little cheesy, it's a good way to create a customized home workout with menu suggestions and progress chart.

Live ammunition is a cute concept that doesn't grow tiresome because you need to strategize about which critters work best in different bounty-hunting situations.

This game gets high marks for the attention to detail in each scene, and the authentic feel of doing battle with other ships at sea.

I found the little things most impressive. Telephone lines ripple from the wind kicked up by passing alien gun ships. Even motes of dust meander into view as they casually flit through rays of sunshine.

Graphics are about as good as they're likely to get on the Xbox... But close-ups, particularly textures in some of the outdoor environments, are jarringly ugly when juxtaposed with the many areas of sheer beauty.

It's arguably the closest thing yet to virtual reality in a computer game.

Though a little cheesy, it's a good way to create a customized home workout with menu suggestions and progress chart.

Easily the best computer game of the year, The Sims 2 will not disappoint.

It's the personal interaction with the characters, the constant ethical decisions, that make Fable such an enjoyable game.

Unlike Hollywood horror movies that often get worse with each new sequel ("Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan," for example), Konami's scary Silent Hill series gets better -- and creepier -- with age.

Unlike Hollywood horror movies that often get worse with each new sequel ("Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan," for example), Konami's scary Silent Hill series gets better -- and creepier -- with age.

Though hard-core golfers might not appreciate exaggerated plaid pants on cartoon characters and sarcastic golfers, pretty much everyone else will get into the game's taunting, tricks and big hit effects and exaggerated character personalities.

Without a doubt, Doom 3 is the most visually appealing and best sounding PC game to date, but it doesn't bring anything new to the "3-D shooter" genre in terms of the game play, which is basically 1993's Doom all over again.

While new enemies and missions are introduced over time, the game's story never really builds into anything, so it gives you -- the player -- little incentive to finish the adventure.

While new enemies and missions are introduced over time, the game's story never really builds into anything, so it gives you -- the player -- little incentive to finish the adventure.

While new enemies and missions are introduced over time, the game's story never really builds into anything, so it gives you -- the player -- little incentive to finish the adventure.

While new enemies and missions are introduced over time, the game's story never really builds into anything, so it gives you -- the player -- little incentive to finish the adventure.

The biggest fault of the game is the controls scheme. Alternately pressing the X and O buttons for hours will not only result in cramped and blistered fingers, but a concentrated tiredness of the game.

There aren't enough save points so you might have to replay hours worth of the game if the adventuring party dies far from a save point. Despite this beef, Symphonia succeeds because of its deep battle system, stylish graphics and enormous game world.