The new game makes good on the potential of its predecessor by delivering a much more intense, more challenging, and ultimately more satisfying experience, and it throws in a surprisingly involving and well-produced story for good measure.

Though it too often strays into an underdeveloped and unsatisfying combat system, when it sticks to adventure, it's quite successful.

It's not quite as unlimited as its subtitle might suggest, and it's got a pervasively aimless feel, but Test Drive Unlimited still succeeds by creating a fun, leisurely world to drive in.

Despite its many positive attributes, its most important element--gameplay--simply doesn't seem to be advancing quite as quickly as it should.

Its tactical focus and total absence of resource gathering or base building make the learning curve a little twisty for tank-rush types. However, the authenticity and atmosphere bring the Second World War to life in impressive fashion.

Though it lacks the base-building and economic concerns of its ancestor, Rebelstar delivers in a big way with a lengthy, engaging campaign married to an elegant turn-based combat system.

It's because of its accessible nature that Magic Online is undoubtedly the best software representation of Magic: The Gathering released thus far--quite possibly surpassing the physical card game in many respects.

Despite the game's flaws, it's still as addictive as ever, and you'll find yourself playing it for hours on end.

The original version is every bit as good, if not better than this new release, so only those PS2 owners who don't also own a Dreamcast will find this game worthwhile.

It's a great introduction for first-time smugglers, but those already familiar with the series won't find much new here.

Extraction Point offers up about five more hours of the intense F.E.A.R. gameplay, but that's pretty much it.

The overall experience ended up being very familiar to Age and real-time strategy veterans, though that didn't stop it from being fun and engaging.

Though it isn't totally remarkable from a technical standpoint, Pirates is an endearing and well-thought-out game.

Both a very good side-scrolling shoot-'em-up and a spectacular follow-up to the original game, but, like so many other similar games on the GBA, it doesn't really bring anything new to the genre.

While State of Emergency's arcadelike objectives and somewhat simplistic fighting system can make it feel a little shallow, the game's technical strengths, satisfying displays of comically overblown violence, and budget price make it worth a look.

It's a leisurely paced, all-encompassing, mentally challenging experience. If you enjoyed "Myst," you'll thoroughly enjoy Riven.

Die-hard fans of the series newcomers alike will find a lot to like in the game. But most anyone else would consider Earth 2150: Lost Souls to be essentially just a rehash.

There's very little that's truly new in Tiger Woods 07, but it's still a very good game.

Battlestations: Midway strikes just the right balance between action and strategy to create a game that's as unique as it is enjoyable.

Those looking for a quick fishing fix without getting dirty will be more than pleased with this offering.

Isn't an excellent game, but it's very good.

With additions like a frighteningly deep franchise mode and online play, SlugFest's already option-laden package gets even deeper this year, though some of these additions are better suited for the game than others.

Ultimately, Madden NFL 06 is a highly playable game of football, but in comparison with the leaps forward the franchise has made in previous years, 06 feels like a false start.

A good game that has a few problems--which range from minor control issues to placement of challenge points--but none of them are substantial enough to ruin the overall experience.

While the PC version of GRAW offers the most impressive and expansive campaign, the extreme system requirements and multiplayer headaches make this tactical shooter feel rougher around the edges than it should.

The gameplay is simple enough for beginners to enjoy, which should please those turned off by "Fire Pro Wrestling," but there's also enough advanced strategy to keep you occupied long after landing all five championships.

DR:NE has better visuals, more tracks, improved gameplay, and enough secrets to induce a gaming fugue state in all who dare to play it.

Improvements to the game's turn-based combat engine, graphics, and its still-captivating plot ensure that fans of story-driven role-playing games and the Xenosaga series itself will still find much to appreciate about Episode II.

Tomb Raider: Legend is a very good action adventure game on the GameCube, which makes it all the more disappointing that it ends so quickly.

It's not the ultimate track and field game by any means, but if you read on, you'll find out just how close Konami's latest effort comes.

In terms of gameplay, it's a by-the-book entry in an established genre, but its American perspective and a successful sense of humor set it apart from the pack.

Could have been ported over a lot more gracefully. Yet this is such an unusual, intriguing, and shocking game that despite the rough translation, it still makes for a one-of-a-kind experience on the PC.

It should satisfy players who don't care about all the miscellaneous nuances of the sport, or who aren't looking to immerse themselves in a complicated franchise mode.

It's unfortunate that some elements of "NBA Street's" sense of style was lost in the translation between basketball and football, and the lack of a consistently enjoyable single-player mode is a problem for sure, but the game's excellent multiplayer component and its great level of graphical polish ultimately make NFL Street a game well worth playing for any fan of the arcade football genre.

The game's relative ease combined with a very short length prevents Sly Cooper from becoming the next big platformer. But it's great while it lasts.

A great-looking and fantastic-sounding game, though, unfortunately, it's on the short side.

Certainly, the updates it does include make it a richer game of football than Madden NFL 06, but it's hard not to look at the game on PC as something of an afterthought in the grand scheme of Madden's release calendar.

Easily the best chess program for the seasoned chess player, and, if you can work through its occasionally clumsy interface, it may well be the best overall chess program for any pawn pusher.

Isn't the perfect program for hardcore chess aficionados. However, if you're looking for a good chess program that's packed with a plethora of features and all the bells and whistles, you'll be very happy with Chessmaster 10th Edition.

It may not look as nice as the PS2 version, but for all intents and purposes it feels identical.

The game's twisted sense of humor and tendency toward overindulgence make it that much more enjoyable. If you're looking for a fun, pick-up-and-play shooter, and don't mind a lot of senseless brutality, Urban Chaos is the game for you.

The formula still works just fine, and with support for eight players using only one copy of the game, this is a fine choice for anyone interested in a strong multiplayer game.

Open Tee isn't really any more or less accessible than Tiger, but the playful visual style will likely appeal more to those with no interest in real-world golf, and established Hot Shots fans will definitely find this to be their preferred game.

A good return to the roots of the series. It doesn't do anything new or different, but it has a great blend of action and adventure that will always keep you moving and interested. The problem is that it moves a bit too fast, and it's all over way too soon.

Crackdown creates an exciting open world and gives you a lot of interesting abilities, but there isn't enough main-game content to truly take advantage of the game's strengths.

While the gameplay isn't quite as unusual as the premise, S.W.I.N.E. is a solid real-time strategy game with plenty of humor, all wrapped up in a beautiful shell.

RayStorm is easily the best shooter currently available on the PlayStation (we're reserving judgment on "Xevious 3D" until we see the home version).

While Starfighter could have used a little more polish in both departments, the game presents a compelling story, excellent presentation, and gameplay that will surely satisfy fans of LucasArts' N64 shooters.

A lengthy enough endeavor for shooter fans of a mildly forgiving disposition.

Once you dig into Transformers' gameplay, you'll find a surprisingly intense combat model that's pretty tough but also rewarding once you get a handle on it.

The developers have done a commendable job both of translating mouse-and-keyboard controls to the Xbox's stock controller and of not sacrificing the finer points of Commandos 2's extremely challenging gameplay.

The game's incredible visuals and sound, its offbeat sense of humor, and, most importantly, its legitimate affection toward one of the greatest boxing franchises ever made truly make it a game worth playing for anyone who has loved and appreciated the Punch-Out!! series.

Dynasty Warriors 2's beat-'em-up gameplay is simple enough to make it easy to get in to, and the game is interesting enough to keep you entertained for a while.

City Life combines the fun of a city-building game with the challenge of a financial simulation, though it requires patience and perseverance to master.

If not for some of the glaring bugs, Frontier would have delivered a truly excellent sequel to a beloved franchise.

The smart control scheme virtually eliminates the control problems inherent in RTS console games, and the varied mission objectives keep the game engaging all the way through.

A little patience and a lot of practice is likely to produce some highly addictive results, even for those who felt overwhelmed and frustrated by Grigsby's earlier efforts such as "Pacific War" and "War in Russia."

There's very little that's truly new in Tiger Woods 07, but it's still a very good game.

The expansion to last year's excellent shooter differs very little from its predecessor, in terms of plot, and heaps on more of the same tense tactical combat we've come to expect from the franchise.

Players looking for a detailed flight simulation will enjoy Thunderstrike's tactical gameplay, but fans of visceral action will find its strike-and-hide gameplay requirements a bit too rigid.

Despite some flaws with its strategic game, Shattered Union is a fun, turn-based wargame that anyone can pick up and enjoy.

If you want wild off-road racing, 4x4 EVO 2 usually delivers, warts and all.

Thanks to a slick presentation, diverse gameplay, and overwhelming customization options, the game certainly comes close.

Penumbra is loaded with creepy psychological horror that really gets under your skin.

It won't keep you entertained forever, but if you can get around its lack of length, Cannon Spike delivers.

Resident Evil 4's strong gameplay somehow manages to survive, despite a lazy porting job that will leave some PC owners wondering what all the fuss was about.

A fun, fast-paced game of no-rules hockey that should appeal to fans of Midway's other action sports games.

Though the game isn't perfect, it is a wonderful accomplishment on the part of the developers, and it is simply very fun to play.

A good return to the roots of the series. It doesn't do anything new or different, but it has a great blend of action and adventure that will always keep you moving and interested. The problem is that it moves a bit too fast, and it's all over way too soon.

Great multiplayer gaming and added single-player depth make Hitz 2003 a pretty easy game to recommend.

Developer Shaun Sullivan's third release in this series continues to combine some of the depth of Out of the Park Baseball with the more straightforward play of Baseball Mogul, a design focus that somehow results in a captivating game that you won't confuse with either of its main influences.

The improvements that Champions: Return to Arms makes over its predecessors are modest, and after four years of roughly the same game, the fundamental formula is starting to feel a little tired.

A blast to play, although it may be a brief experience for some players.

Quite fun in its execution with a good two-player mode and the ability to replay each level to attain near perfect scores and increasingly higher rankings, Sheep offers a lot of bang for your puzzle-game buck.

Bionicle Heroes for the GBA is a slick run-and-gun shoot-'em-up.

Scurge: Hive is a solid action adventure with a slick presentation that should appeal to anyone who enjoys the Metroid style of play.

A much prettier, somewhat smarter but less-compelling game than the original.

Though not as expansive a collection as the title might suggest, Capcom Puzzle World is worth the price of admission for "Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo" alone.

Puts a unique twist on the current trend in skateboarding games. If you're a fan of the genre looking for something new, AirBlade fits the bill.

Most frustrating, though, is when the camera inverts your perspective after the execution of a zip line -- while it may seem as if nothing's amiss (as the subtle change in perspective will surely evade your notice), the controls will indeed be reversed, causing "up" to mean "down," and vice versa.

Patrician II successfully blends trading, city-building, and simple ship combat in a way that's constantly engaging.

This game is clearly aimed at hooking existing fans of the developing Kingdom Hearts series, and those fans will get the most value out of Chain of Memories.

While Summoner may not realize all of its lofty goals, it is still a good RPG with a solid storyline and an excitingly unconventional take on the RPG genre.

The rebounding game, which wasn't very strong to begin with, has taken a hit, as the control schemes for both rebounding and facing up on a player are utterly counterintuitive.

Essentially a collection of minigames tied together by the age-old story of unrequited love, Feel the Magic: XY/XX ends up providing an engaging experience that is more than the sum of its parts.

While it's not the best-looking or most technically impressive RPG out for the system, Breath of Fire is still a rock-solid game.

Because the air races found in MX vs. ATV Unleashed are so frustrating, one wonders why they even made it into the game in the first place, especially when you consider how fun the game is with two (or more) wheels on the ground.

The Live series in its current state is more akin to an aged veteran who's hung on too long (for instance, Patrick Ewing with the Supersonics in 2000), as opposed to a longtime superstar who's at the height of his game.

Crazy Machines is pretty similar to many other puzzle games on the PC, but the amount and quality of its content makes it worthwhile anyway.

Despite its frustratingly flawed gameplay, World Series Baseball 2K2 is the Dreamcast's best baseball game. Its graphics are top-notch, the gameplay options are plentiful, and its online play is a nice fringe benefit.

The gameplay hasn't changed dramatically, but better source material makes Lego Star Wars II a better game than its predecessor.

The Third Age molds Middle-earth into a traditional turn-based frame, and while the results aren't all that great, the game carries some pretty good features and should appeal to fans of the source material.

This budget-priced collection may not be as painstakingly accurate as Empire Interactive's Pro Pinball line, but the physics are good and so are the tables themselves.

The game often ends up feeling like a string of puzzles whose solutions are pretty obvious. Nevertheless, Full Spectrum Warrior is very good overall, and deserves credit for being something other than just another military-themed shooter or strategy game. It's just too bad that it isn't more involving.

Secrets of the Ark is a little too in love with itself, but this is still a first-rate traditional adventure with a great story and mostly commonsense puzzles.

Variety and customization are what people enjoy about the dungeon crawler genre, and Shining Soul II offers both in abundance.

It's a successful look at the sweaty soap opera that is pro wrestling, although a few interface issues and complex mechanics make it a little unfriendly to wrestling newbies.

Flashpoint Germany updates the gameplay to modern-day standards, and the result is an excellent introductory wargame full of taut and exciting moments.