For those who think "SSX" is too simplified and that "ESPN X-Games Snowboarding" is too difficult, Cool Boarders 2001 is a perfect compromise.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer: Zero is not without its flaws, but the game's unique battle system and realistic sense of speed make it one of the most entertaining racing games on the PlayStation 2.

Kingdom of Sky is best-suited to existing EverQuest II fans, but those fans will find new adventure, advancement, and PVP combat in this expansion.

So enough with the puzzle bosses! And fix the loading times! And get rid of the idiotic jumping puzzles! Make more levels like the orphanage! Please.

The implementation isn't quite seamless, and it can be frustrating at times, but the touch screen features do give you a few more ways to interact with enemies and environments. As a result, Double Trouble takes a much more puzzle-focused approach to the standard side-scrolling beat-'em-up formula.

The only real complaint that can be lodged against this port of the game is that its camera is zoomed in too close to the action.

Those looking for a game with lots of challenge and a distinct sense of style would do well to check out Shinobi.

Lunar may not have modern aesthetics, but its gameplay and story are among the best of any RPG of any era.

Complexity and accessibility are rarely so well-balanced in a strategy game.

Basically an enhanced version of F1 2002, giving you the opportunity to create your own driver and take him through all four of the previous F1A racing seasons that occurred between 1999 and 2002.

Still lacks some of the finer details of the sport as well as some features that are being offered by the competition, most notably online play.

Given that "Hitman 2" was such a huge improvement on the original, it's inherently somewhat disappointing that the new Hitman: Contracts is really just a rehash. It's more of the same, replete with everything that was good and everything that wasn't so good about the 2002 game.

The wholly original cut-and-paste visual style of Amped 3--combined with the manic, increasingly crazy energy of the story mode--make it easier to forgive the oft-repetitive and occasionally plain gameplay.

This unique marriage of the puzzle and adventure genres isn't for everyone, but those of you out there who like solving puzzles while hopping around will definitely get your money's worth.

The best BMX game on the market.

Completely linear and will take you 15 to 20 hours to finish...The story has at least a couple of fine twists, and Kain is as memorable of a main character as they come.

Ideas aside, however, Breakdown's underlying game design is unable to bear the weight of its own innovation, so it's really just a pretty good action game that you can't help but feel could have been so much more.

NCAA Football 07 doesn't have the bells and whistles of the console game; instead, it just plays a solid game of collegiate pigskin.

Despite its problems, Pro Race Driver usually does a fine job of integrating storytelling and dramatic, varied racing, rightfully putting the spotlight on both men and machines.

If you think the idea of a game about driving around in a machine-gun-toting car while completely ignoring traffic laws and blowing away anything in your path sounds like fun, then you'll get it out of RoadKill.

A fun, strategic game that doesn't ram reality down your throat.

The good news is that the game plays an enjoyable match of soccer, makes decent use of the handheld's second screen, and boasts the same high level of presentation that we've come to expect from EA Sports in recent years.

Given that "Hitman 2" was such a huge improvement on the original, it's inherently somewhat disappointing that the new Hitman: Contracts is really just a rehash. It's more of the same, replete with everything that was good and everything that wasn't so good about the 2002 game.

Even though the wingman mechanics and canyon races don't quite pan out, it's still a stylish and enjoyable street racer.

Has a lot of personality and some interesting city-building gameplay, but is weighed down by a few problems not found in some of the previous games of this type.

While it's a diamond in the rough in its initial release form, there's enough depth and breadth here that there's no doubt at all that Lock On is destined for greatness.

Less challenging but more accessible than the original Xbox version, and in the end, just as good.

Sniper Elite offers a lengthy single-player game full of tense and rewarding moments, but it requires a lot of patience to truly enjoy.

Thanks to its rock-solid execution, Thrillville delivers an enjoyable batch of minigames in a lighthearted theme park environment.

The end result is a much more action-packed experience that might be a little too straightforward in spots, but it does make for a solid action game.

MotoGP 4 is a late entry into a very crowded field of racing games for the PlayStation 2. The core gameplay is still as fun and flexible as ever, and the addition of online play is a welcome, if very tardy, one. Despite being slightly out-of-date, MotoGP 4 is still a good way to get your racing fix.

If you're into racing and, perhaps more importantly, into trying to find bargains to squeeze more horsepower or handling out of a custom-built ride, you'll probably find it easy to look past MCO's shortcomings and immerse yourself in its wild, weird world.

The only 4x4 racing game to date that truly offers a sense of the freedom -- and the chaos -- found in real-life off-road racing.

If you've never liked light-gun games, it won't change your mind. But, if you've grown tired of the genre, Time Crisis 3 might just bring you back in.

06 just doesn't do anything significant for the franchise, as it just adds some ancillary features that are neat to have but don't ultimately change the face of the game, leaving some of the most important (and, in some cases, most flawed) aspects of it practically in stasis.

An all-around solid game with some spectacular visuals and fun multiplayer modes.

The game's wide-open levels actually encourage players to explore, giving the series a fresh feel compared to past games and other World War II shooters. Unfortunately, a very brief campaign and no online multiplayer means the fun doesn't last long.

The first baseball management sim that is truly easy to use... [but] its glacierlike speed won't win it any friends.

It is an unforgiving and sometimes treacherously authentic game that minimizes the importance of top speed and accentuates such real world concepts as torque, grip, gravity and four-point suspension...Simply too intriguing to ignore completely.

Unfortunately, the PC version of the game doesn't have the same online support and tight control that made the Xbox version so great, but at $20 it's an acceptable alternative for racing fans.

A great-looking, generally solid action role-playing game that provides a few interesting gameplay innovations...But its combat system is also somewhat finicky and unrewarding, which is a significant problem for what's fundamentally a hack-and-slash RPG.

The game doesn't bring anything new to the this genre, but its rock-solid design and succulent visuals should be more than enough to satisfy Dragon Ball fans that are looking for some on-the-go butt-kicking.

Featuring excellent vehicle physics, impressive graphics, and huge, free-roaming environments, Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open is definitely worth a look for fans of racing games and fans of big-block trucks.

Solid in terms of gameplay and spectacular in the graphics department. However, the problems with its AI, the lack of zone defenses, the control issues, and the generally bland presentation keep it from achieving hoops simulation greatness.

The substantive raiding and questing additions are primarily for higher-level characters, and the player-versus-player implementation isn't totally polished yet, but the balance of the changes is a well-rounded expansion with offerings for players of all levels.

With its lengthy single-player campaign, well-integrated multiplayer, and full-featured level editor, Titan Quest is a robust package that nonetheless feels all too familiar.

If multiplayer is not a big factor for you, Rogue Spear's single-player game is certainly worth the price of admission. It's long and challenging, and it features a unique style of gameplay that mixes thoughtful planning with tense action.

The default difficulty of has been greatly toned down [from the Xbox version], making Dead to Rights a whole lot more accessible and slightly less nerve-wracking, though no less action-packed.

One of the better first-person shooters available on a console, and as such, fans of that genre and history buffs alike owe it to themselves to give it a shot.

Offers up a solid dose of good old-fashioned gameplay wrapped up in slick graphics and an innovative use of technology.

The most significant addition to this version of the game is a career mode that lets you create your own fighter, which adds plenty of stand-alone value to the sort of game that's previously been best suited to two players.

If you can tolerate its problems (inadequate camera options, its unreliable party-member AI), you'll find that Summoner is a game of hidden depth; a game with an interesting combat system, an intriguing story, and an enjoyable multiplayer mode to boot.

If nothing else, the experience should last you a while, thanks to the numerous play modes available in WrestleMania X8.

It isn't quite as great as fans of the series would like, but it still should be given a shot. It's also worth playing to those lonely for another vampire game or wanting a change of pace from all the first-person shooters.

It's hardly the next big thing in driving games, but it still manages to deliver the most authentic Pixar film experience to the video game medium of any previous attempt, and it's certainly one of the better kid-oriented games to come out this year.

The game's use of first-person shooting sequences and other unusual gameplay elements, such as the helicopter's cloaking device, makes Fire Blade an interesting and involving game to play.

The bad news is that the story's a bit uninspired, and the game itself doesn't last very long. Despite that, the experience is still sustained well by its character interactions and enjoyable combat, and it's a nice option for role-playing fans looking for something unique.

An enjoyable and stylish street racer that offers plenty of customization options and a few sweet gamebreaker features.

Tomb Raider: Legend offers a good mix of gunplay and puzzles; it also shows off the system's 3D capabilities.

Fans of the first Suikoden game will love the sequel - it improves on everything that had made the first game memorable. Suikoden II brings nothing new to the genre, but it executes well enough that no one will really care.

A cool piece of technology, and it definitely has the potential to be a lot of fun, especially in a crowd setting. If you're a fan of karaoke, or think that enough of the songs on the disc are appealing, you'll certainly have fun with the game.

Takes a little longer to get used to than your average motocross game, but the result is a deeper game that still has all the fun of a more arcadelike offering.

A good fighting game that offers a good variety of attacks and reversals, but the real stars are still the blood and fatality moves you'll see during each match.

For anyone looking for a "Puyo Puyo"-esque game with "Street Fighter" thrown in for good measure, this game will satisfy.

And challenging it is: The Middle Ages were tough times and similarly, Lords of the Realm II is a tough game.

The graphics, the audio, the events (and everything else) are identical in both games, but only now, players control a farm girl instead of a farm boy and court future husbands instead of future wives.

Offers a refreshing and entertaining experience that successfully evokes a sense of what it might have been like to live a life of danger and adventure on the high seas.

If you think the idea of a game about driving around in a machine-gun-toting car while completely ignoring traffic laws and blowing away anything in your path sounds like fun, then you'll get it out of RoadKill.

Silent Hill 3 isn't so much about gameplay as it is about creating a disturbing world and immersing you in it, which is something it does very well.

A well-done game, filled with dangerous opponents and plenty of targets to shoot at, but it also doesn't fulfill its potential.

The PlayStation 2 version of Brothers in Arms doesn't quite measure up to the PC and Xbox versions. The game feels noticeably unpolished across the board, with muddier graphics, tinny sound effects, and, most egregiously, problems with the game balance.

Traveller's Tales delivers a short but inviting adventure that makes deft use of both of its almost arbitrary licenses.

It's a familiar formula, but Justice League Heroes offers something interesting by blending dungeon-crawling convention with comic book heroics.

Enjoyment of the game's dark subject matter is diluted slightly by some awkward controls and strange pacing, but there are still plenty of good chills to be had.

The game's primary goal is to distill roughly 38 hours of TV episodes into 15 or 20 hours of hands-on gameplay, and it succeeds at doing so.

This is probably one of the better kids' games to hit the market in a while, and that it's clever and charming enough to appeal to adults is a testament to that fact.

The novelty of watching a little Lego person version of Obi-Wan Kenobi duel it out with Darth Maul certainly accounts for a large portion of the game's appeal, but on its own merits it's a fairly fun, inventive little game.

Empires actually brings some much-needed depth to the aging Dynasty Warriors formula with a new strategy-oriented game mode.

A good racing game that--with a few tweaks-- could have easily been one of the greatest.

The game's wide-open levels actually encourage players to explore, giving the series a fresh feel compared to past games and other World War II shooters. Unfortunately, a very brief campaign and no online multiplayer means the fun doesn't last long.

It combines the level structure and characters from the Dreamcast game with many of the story elements from the Xbox game, and it does an effective job.

If you think the idea of a game about driving around in a machine-gun-toting car while completely ignoring traffic laws and blowing away anything in your path sounds like fun, then you'll get it out of RoadKill.

A surprisingly good interpretation of its console counterpart. The game's graphics, sound, and gameplay make it a perfect game to take with you anywhere.

Rails Across America's many weaknesses certainly don't totally dampen the fun of racing to see who can outbuild the competition.

Retails for more than the earlier expansion packs, but it offers a lot more. Though fans of Disciples II must be anxious for a true third installment in the series, for now, this is the closest thing they'll get.

MTX Mototrax offers a respectable challenge and fun, satisfying racing in one relatively cheap package.

It's been years since a game let you pour boiling oil on invading hordes, and Stronghold simulates castle sieges well enough to recommend it to those who are interested in the premise. But it's a hesitant recommendation, due to a poor interface and mediocre campaigns.

Helps make the Joint Operations experience an interesting and engaging one, though be prepared to face a noticeable learning curve and some frustrations at first.

The end result is a much more action-packed experience that might be a little too straightforward in spots, but it does make for a solid action game.

It's a familiar formula, but Justice League Heroes offers something interesting by blending dungeon-crawling convention with comic book heroics.

For better or for worse, NBA Live 06 looks and plays remarkably similar to its home-console cousins, even going so far as to include the new freestyle superstar control features.

The Godfather: The Don's Edition works a smattering of new content into the game with good results, but it's not quite worth another look if you've already played previous versions.

It's hardly the next big thing in driving games, but it still manages to deliver the most authentic Pixar film experience to the video game medium of any previous attempt, and it's certainly one of the better kid-oriented games to come out this year.

It's a familiar formula, but Justice League Heroes offers something interesting by blending dungeon-crawling convention with comic book heroics.

If you've got tons of free time to devote to racing, purchasing, and modifying scores of cars, this might be what you're looking for.

Certainly devotees to karaoke will enjoy the changes that Revolution Party has to offer. But if you're anything less than diehard, you'll probably feel like this game, for all its options, is still too much of the same.

Scrapland has just enough going for it to make it enjoyable to play through while you experience the whimsy and inherent goofiness of its quirky and unique world. It's the intangibles that ultimately save Scrapland from the junk heap.

Expands on the gameplay of the original, improves the production values all around, and is a generally better game that will please both fans of the original and anyone looking for an action-packed, RPG-style game for Nintendo's system.