Strikes a perfect balance between new and old and renders the two previous entries in the series almost completely obsolete in the process.

If you're not ready to commit to the PlayStation 2 yet, and you've grown weary of the levels in "Tony Hawk 2," then Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 is just the ticket.

More sophisticated players will likely find this 3D platformer to be too repetitive and easy.

If there's something that might hold you back from enjoying the game, it's the lighthearted and somewhat goofy story. However, the game doesn't take itself too seriously, so neither should you.

The ultimate version of the classic one-on-one fighting game.

It can be quite fun in parts, but other levels can merely be a chore to deal with while you make your way to the next.

With the addition of online play, Bomberman Online takes an old standard and makes it feel at least somewhat fresh again.

EA Sports decided to key on gameplay this time around, and in the process it has successfully propelled the game dangerously close to reality. This should sit well with anyone who truly appreciates the nuances, subtlety, and pace of the real-world sport.

Although the rebounding game is a bit improved, there are new presentation elements, and the new franchise mode adds quite a bit of replay value, NBA Live 2002 does not improve significantly on last year's version and seems to be falling behind competing hoops products.

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.

Slightly better-looking than its PS2 and GameCube counterparts, but that's it. Aside from a few graphical enhancements, the game is a virtual carbon copy of the PS2 and GameCube versions.

Doom may be a bit too dated and/or simplistic to draw you back in. However, if you appreciate the beauty of straightforward gameplay, happen to have a few feisty friends, and absolutely adore your GBA, Doom is an excellent choice.

The Art of Magic's uneven presentation is indicative of the game as a whole. The RPG elements don't get as much attention as they deserve, and the gameworld and characters are a mishmash of hackneyed, third-rate Tolkienesque fantasy.

It's also, inexplicably, the most popular online role-playing game in the world...It looks old, it plays poorly, and its opening levels are so frustrating that there's a good chance you'll never make it to the interesting stuff.

By abandoning almost all pretense of a coherent story, the designers have simply created a series of beautiful, interesting environments filled with some good puzzles.

While the game offers improved graphics, an expanded roster of players, and tightened gameplay, the changes made may not be enough to seduce fans of the original Virtua Tennis.

With revamped animation, new zone defenses, and improved AI...the most true-to-life simulation of the National Basketball League to date.

There's probably no single feature of Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX that could be considered exceptional, but that isn't a prerequisite for a game to be fun or addicting--and the PC version of Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX is both.

In the end, BV succeeds at what it set out to do--it puts you into the role of Batman. Every major aspect of the character is presented in some way in the game...it is one of those incredibly rare birds known as a good licensed game.

The age of the engine is apparent, and the presentation and gameplay simply aren't up to par with those of more modern surfing games.

If unadulterated speed and kaleidoscopic imagery sounds like fun, Ballistics is your ticket to paradise. But many racing fans may well find that paradise short-lived.

The high-speed supercars featured in the game feel lifeless, the courses seem entirely too convoluted, and the physics are unexciting.

Project Eden's superior blend of squad-based gameplay, ingenious puzzles, clever level design, and multiplayer modes creates an action-adventure game that challenges your brain more than your trigger finger.

While the violent nature of the game will surely turn some people off and kids simply shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it, GTA III is, quite simply, an incredible experience that shouldn't be missed by anyone mature enough to handle it.

Couple limited instant action options with no competitive or cooperative multiplayer modes, and Top Gun: Combat Zones lacks the value and longevity of better games in its field.

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.

It's unquestionably FS 2002's surprisingly glorious and massively modified visual presentation that makes this the finest civilian flight simulation ever to appear.

It's somewhat disappointing when, only three to four hours into the game, you've reached the final climactic battle.