If stunning, real-time rendered visuals and significantly improved functionality are any evidence, the third time is indeed the charm.

While it's certainly not furthered by the annoying and continuous verbal patter of characters who bark such idiotic redneck-isms as "Yee-haw," "Hushpuppy," and "Hold onto your butt," Redneck Racing is a blast of short-term fun.

In the end, though, the playing experience offers more than enough good, clean fun to offset its weak points.

The graphics are wretched, the interface is a mess, and the few rare excuses for new features feel like half-baked afterthoughts. This is one of the ugliest games I've seen in the last several years.

Remains a relatively shallow hackfest.

Bland and dull.

Though not as groundbreaking as the original X-COM was when it first appeared, Enforcer is a damn fun romp, nevertheless.

Fans of the earlier Heroes Of Might & Magic PC games, however, will be shocked at how dumbed-down their beloved strategy game has become on the PS2.

A game that is at once familiar, yet unique, this RPG from the folks who brought you the Rage Of Mages strategy RPGs is a strong, yet slightly flawed plate of gaming goodness.

With its shocking horror sequences, macabre pre-rendered backgrounds, and terrifying in-game ambience, RE3 will give PC gamers a shocking treat.

Suffers from Y.A.T.W. syndrome (Yours Against the World). ... at least give the computer opponents some pretense of fighting with one another instead of having some secret alliance to focus almost entirely on your units.

It is eminently replayable. There are so many options -- the island's physical characteristics, victory conditions, El Presidente's personality quirks -- that it never plays the same way twice.

If you're a nostalgia buff looking for a good party game, The $100,000 Pyramid isn't a bad choice, especially considering the 20-buck price. But be warned: it's not a particularly engrossing one-player game.

A deeply challenging and unforgiving game that rewards perseverance but leaves those looking only for a little diversion writhing in agony.

There is a feeling of tension derived from negotiating through the bee's nest of enemies, regardless of how stupid the AI may be at times or how bad the voice acting.

With 10 deliciously complex levels to work through as you alternately take turns controlling each character, MDK2: Armageddon delivers a formidable amount of gameplay depth.

I still find UO the most ambitious, flexible game design in the current field of MMRP games. I just wish the food were a little tastier after seven years of cooking.

But hey, if your party is good enough, Drew Carey himself may come over and hang for awhile. What a goal, eh?

A remarkable new mech combat/fighting game hybrid that -- while gorgeous to look at and often wickedly addictive to play -- offers a surprisingly fleeting overall gameplay experience.

I stand in awe of the vastness of its scope and the inventiveness of its design. However, it takes forever to learn, and one can't help getting frustrated along the way.

Besides all of the cosmetic and mechanical embellishments, BreakAway also improved the competency of the artificial intelligence, making Waterloo one of the most challenging historical war games to come out in a very long time.

The many cut-scene cinematics are first-rate, the settings (despite the herky-jerky animations) look wonderful, and the rich incidental music works seamlessly with the story.

This may be the only pinball game that requires seatbelts.

The design is visually engaging. The character and combat system are simple but with enough detail to give the player a sense of control. And the side quests keep things from getting too linear.

An old-school, first-person shooter -- and damn proud of it. That it also happens to be white-knuckle thrilling, spectacularly beautiful, and totally captivating is what makes it so special.

Despite its minor frustrations, Away Team is still one of the more enjoyable additions to the ever-growing library of Star Trek games.

Breaks RTS conventions the way the Taliban break Buddhist statues.

It's a great game in theory. But, in practice, it's the equivalent of the broken Buddha statues you find on the map.