The main problem with "The Nightmare Child" is that without an engrossing story to move you along, the task of taking out loads of enemies becomes tedious quickly.

Variety in mission types and two different worlds in which to fight keeps "Air Combat" from getting stale, and the easy controls make flying toy missions a simple pleasure.

The graphics are stunning and the season mode will keep you busy for quite a while.

Overall, "ConQuest Online" is a satisfying online CCG that is likely to improve over time as future expansion packs introduce awesome new pieces.

Solid characters, cool environments, tight control, and a funny storyline, Fur Fighters comes highly recommended.

Gather your friends around and get over yourselves; you are about to have fun playing tennis.

The gameplay gets a little repetitive, but fans of "Pharaoh" will definitely have fun with Cleopatra.

Hardcore fighting fans will find depth within these hallowed halls, and casual brawlers will find the controls forgiving and fun.

Despite a host of flaws, "Soulbringer" is an addictive game that patient gamers are sure to enjoy.

Although graphically underwhelming and gifted with an annoyingly repetitive soundtrack, the depth, balance, and customization make Warlord's Battlecry a keeper.

It doesn't measure up to "Rainbow Six" for gameplay, and the controls are complex, but Hidden and Dangerous can give you a fun run for the money.

With its spectacular graphics, awesome sound, and easy-to-use interface, "DR2" is a perfect example of how to make a great 3D real-time strategy game, but the gameplay may be too familiar for gamers who have grown tired of the genre.

It seems to be nearly devoid of any sort of fun whatsoever.

Control in this game (using the term game loosely since it suggests fun) is akin to peeling "hair" off of a wet bar of soap - it's slippery work, and almost as difficult to do as it is to figure out why you're doing it in the first place.

Anyone looking for a classic AD&D gaming experience to hold them over until "Baldur's Gate II" arrives should definitely check out Icewind Dale.

With insane amounts of selectable characters and play options, what can possibly be done to top it?

Anyone who ever considered an action/RPG should run straight to the store and sell their souls for Diablo II.

He may be a pink puffball, but he's also an enemy-eating, power-stealing, fire-breathing bad ass.

Cheesy voice-acting by minor characters is the only real flaw here.

One major problem to be aware of is that the game crashes occasionally.

Hardcore fans are going to be on automatic and get it right away, but it's a tough situation for the average fighting fan.

Oddly enough, the AI is probably the best part of the strategic game.

Its powerful story, great cast of characters, gorgeous graphics, and one of the most inventive battle systems in a long time all work together to create an instant classic.

A fantastic title that suffers graphically on the console, but still retains everything else that made it so special.

If you've ever wanted to be a monster fighting for its soul, or if you've ever had designs of creating your own RPG, then let "Vampire" seduce you to the dark side.

Start with an intense action/strategy game, add a remarkably easy-to-use interface, and wrap it in one of the most impressive 3D engines ever seen in a computer game, and you've got "Ground Control."

"MDK2"'s style of gameplay doesn't lend itself well to multiplay, so the replay value is slim, but the single-player experience is guaranteed to suck hours away from your life.

With all the gadgets and alternative goals thrown in, "Perfect Dark" is more than just a straight-up blastfest; It's a futuristic spy-thriller that also happens to be the best multiplayer shooter on the console market.

You like nice graphics? Go and buy it. Otherwise, stick with your current copy of "SimCity 3000"... and save your kopeks for the new crop of exciting releases scheduled to hit stores in the next couple of months.

It's large, it's intense, it's huge, and it looks and sounds great. Vagrant Story is a true classic action/RPG in every sense that will hook you in from the start and never let go.

Bursting with awesome extras, Excitebike 64 should be more fun, but it just manages to be okay.

The missions themselves begin to feel repetitive and some can be overly challenging... Still, with over 25 levels and internet multiplay through Microsoft's Gaming Zone, StarLancer is a great space combat game.

RoK has slightly more stringent hardware requirements than the original EverQuest, simply because the new continent is much more visually complex, with its more detailed textures and animated environment.

A very entertaining "thinking person's shooter" that provides more of the same to fans of the original release. It's tough to learn, but rewards you with an immersive, fun experience.

If you can get past the fact that it's all Porsche this time around, Porsche Unleashed is a classy game with a lot of depth at its core.

RR64 has all the bouncing, sliding, and action of the original classic, which is all just old hat. The new cars, new tracks, and somewhat improved graphics can't get this game beyond its quirky and outdated controls.

The uniqueness of the game, the sound, graphics and the ability to control a little Sim life hooked me almost immediately.

Could this game be any slower?

But the frustrations of the game, including its limited replay value and annoying sound and controls, keep this game from being a "must-own" for all action addicts.

A challenging game that tells a good story (if you get the best ending that is). Lots of replay value and let's not forget huge full screen bosses.

Sound in GT2 is again top notch. The cars sound real, down to minute changes in tone after you make high-powered modifications.

Torment's graphics and sound are paradise. Gorgeous, hand-drawn backgrounds look sumptuous, even if they're overcome with dark, moody, colors.

It's somehow not quite as fun as "Gettysburg."

But what separates UT from Quake 3 is its glossy presentation...Audio in UT is also superb.

Donkey Kong stands tall over other similar-minded action titles. It's one of those Rare games that makes you remember why you liked video games so much in the first place.

Regardless of whether Rayman is climbing, swinging, or hovering like a helicopter, the control never once loses its smooth, seamless feel. Rayman 2 brings the same kind of fun that you will find in other great games of the genre, while at the same time creating its own identity and following.

SC isn't easy to get into. Its drawbacks hit you immediately. But after that rocky start, the background art, ingeniously devised monsters, simple interface, and clever combat and magic systems make this a tough RPG to toss aside.

It does create an eerie sense of tension and excitement. This is probably as close as you want to get to real battle.

It's about time Nintendo 64 gamers got a chance to survive the horror. Capcom finally brings the PlayStation classic to the Nintendo 64, and they've done the impossible. The problem is that the N64 isn't quite the best place for this evil to take residence.

It's twisted fun for a while, but then it starts to get old.

Control is also nearly-perfect... The transparent controls allow you to concentrate on racing and blasting your opponents, and so the races are faster, more fluid and more fun.

Whether you've played the original or not, Freespace 2 takes its place among the greatest space-flight sims of all-time.

Extraordinary.

FFVI will engage the player with its story and character development, but it will also test the same player's patience with its horrendously slow response during battles. [FFVI review]

With an enormous world to explore, a great variety of puzzles, and a whole lot of humor, Grandia is sure to please any RPG fan who hungers for hours of immersing gameplay and puzzle solving.

Fun, addictive, and exciting -- you couldn't ask for more in a game. Tony Hawk may not have the graphic flair of the Dreamcast, but it goes to prove that looks aren't everything.

Practice makes perfect, and Wipeout makes you scream. [The control] takes some time, but you'll be able to corner hairpins faster than a debutante on prom night.

Without a doubt the best looking fighting game ever, with nuances like muscle rippling, facial expressions of pain, fear, and anger, and caustic lighting effects that dazzle the eyes.

Involving and exciting characters, storylines, and battles keep you glued to your seat - and keep you from noticing the many hours you spend playing this amazing game.

Excellent graphics, superb story, addictive gameplay, and a simple interface combine to blast 3D real-time strategy into the vastness of space.

Never has a game gripped my attention so completely, it was able to throw me from my chair while trying to dodge an attack, lean forward to be one inch from the screen, or throw my mouse off the table in an effort to get away from an enemy.

It's just the kind of game for people that thought NBA Hangtime, Open Ice, and WWF Arcade were as real as they need in a sports game.

And the game always feels centered. It has a persuasive, persistent style and each of the missions has a distinct focus. I've played eight so far, and not one felt routine or incomplete. This adds up to fun, and Hidden & Dangerous is beautifully, sonically, tensely fun…for as long as it works.

Its cool story line, kick-ass muscle cars, and high-speed action make it a ride you won't want to miss.

Enormously fun golfing with a variety of modes to satisfy everyone from the weekend golfer to the maniacal miniature-putthead. You couldn't ask for a better tee time than Mario Golf.

For Pokemon fans, this is a wonderful game; for everyone else, it's likely a waste of time.

Kingdoms manages to present a lot of pretty scenery, rousing sound effects, and dynamite music, but it omits a foundation in adequate controls and unit AI. And without that, all the good looks in the world fall flat.

A remarkable game: immersive, challenging, beautifully designed. Unlike a lot of the other eye-candy out there, it has both steak and sizzle. The level designs contain some of the most breathtaking sights ever seen in a computer game and they are filled with cunning enemies just waiting to sink their steel claws into your smoking carcass.

Although it's far from perfect, Star Ocean: The Second Story is a remarkably expansive game with a complex, immersive plot and highly compelling characters.

If you can forgive World Driver Championship's speed problems, you'll find a deep, addictive racing experience. It's not nearly as polished as the PlayStation's racing gem, Gran Turismo, but it's as close as N64 owners can get without buying a PlayStation.

There's a list of other games that surpass Lunar in quality, style and substance. Even if you're a fan of the Sega CD version, you will find Lunar Silver Star Story Complete only worth a nostalgic rental spin..and nothing more.

Probably the single most annoying element, however, is the interface: a maze of endless menus. Let's just race already!

Alpha 3 truly excels with its plethora of extra play-modes.

Hardcore "Bust A Groove" fans will probably like the sequel more than neophyte PlayStation dancers, who they might get more out of the original.

The bar for online gaming has not so much been raised as obliterated. For once, a game lives up to its expectations.

Between the hot cars and tracks, in-depth Tournament mode, and thrilling cop chases, this excellent racer's got depth and style to spare. It's worth every cent.

An intensely addictive combo of wild arcade racing and fun platform-style exploration … the joy of exploring all its cool tracks will make you feel like a kid in a candy store.

One of SH's coolest features is its excellent Dual Shock support: The controller beats like a heart, thumping harder when you're close to death, and its responsiveness keeps you in command.

An action-packed espionage thriller, Syphon Filter’s intense gameplay combines with tight control and a slick style to deliver the PlayStation’s best third-person action game.

Its brilliance is in a seamless and convincing storytelling that begins with the opening cinematic and never stops unfolding, developing, and engaging. With each new expansion, each contact, crisis, and step closer to ultimate resolution, Alpha Centauri is a hell of a yarn.

Even the single-player mode is fun, but the Party really starts when the players interact with each other while competing in this hilarious game.

A gorgeous rendition of the old Castlevania tale. Castlevania’s a 3D platform spectacle that definitely warrants a good look from N64 owners everywhere--you won’t find better hauntings than this one.

It’s a huge, sprawling, wonderfully involved game that makes you feel as though you’ve read a fantasy trilogy by game’s end.

It lacks pizzazz and will quickly become wearisome to shooting fans. Still, first-timers and action addicts won't want to miss out on its tight combat and horrific fun.

Not only is Thief an anti-shooter, it's also like an RPG without the trappings of levels, skills, and experience points. That's how it feels-again, as though I'm actually doing something.

This is Zelda supreme. It's fun. One hitch, however, is that the skill level gets progressively harder - so hard that casual gamers might give up rather quickly.

Lara's latest riveting adventure plays like her others, and if you're a fan, you'll be instantly hooked. The control and severity of the puzzles will drive you insane at times--but no one said it would be easy.

A masterpiece of epic proportions, the "Saving Private Ryan" of first-person shooters.

Instantly engaging and packed with an awesome four-player mode, F-Zero X delivers high-powered racing with that immaculate Nintendo touch.

Everything from the story line to the sword-slashing gameplay is both fun and captivating, launching Musashi into the realm of outstanding PlayStation RPGs with "Final Fantasy VII" and "Breath of Fire III."

A very strong contender for PlayStation game of the year. Its "rowdy rowdy" gameplay will keep your head spinning for days.

Wipeout 64 has everything a futuristic racer needs: A healthy variety of tracks, slickly designed craft, weapons, numerous game modes, hidden goodies, and speed, speed, SPEED! This is a must-have for every N64 gamer's library!

Corridor-shooter gamers in general should be pleased with Blood II, but bloodthirsty fans of the original game may be disappointed. Spilling Blood is still a thrill, but it was more fun the first time around.

Few RPGs provide so deft a balance between the wandering monster-slaying and the NPC interaction phases of role-playing.

The rarest of things: a video game with looks, brains, and heart.

A relentlessly slow plot, plodding dialogue, and the unfortunate fumble of the robot interfaces's potential keeps Xenogears out of that stratosphere enjoyed by its far superior cousin, "Final Fantasy VII."

And for some bizarre reason, scoring a "critical hit" on enemies instantly increases your capacity to take damage. Dramatic as hell, but ludicrous. Shogo should bring a smile to any anime fan's face, but even the Japanimationally challenged will find a solid, slick shooter with tons of replayability.

Parasite Eve will leave you thrilled, chilled, and a little hungry, but it’s well worth the price of admission.