Takes the vibe and style of the previous two games and ramps up the speed to even higher levels.

But what really takes Madden forward are the great extras, which this year include a Two-Minute Drill mini-game, create-a-player, -team, or –league modes, Coach’s Challenge, and more.

A wild and weird game that will captivate you with its innocence and innovation.

Like "Mario Party," " Bust-A-Groove," and even "Tetris" and assorted Tetris-clones, Samba De Amigo forces you to have a good time despite the fact that you don't want to caught dead shaking a pair of plastic maracas in front of your friends.

It’s a testament to the thought and heart that went behind Chrono Trigger that, despite a new loading problem, the game is still more fun than most of its present-day competition.

This is what a PlayStation to Nintendo 64 conversion should be - enhancing the original to make the most of the new host machine.

The best online game on the Dreamcast and will likely keep you awake for days straight.

EA Sports has crafted one of the best hockey games around, with stunning, realistic graphics and rock-solid game play.

Without a doubt the best flight sim available for a next-gen system. Ace Combat 04 shatters the competition.

A great FPS. The most serious problem we have with the game is stability – we lost all of our save games at one point, and experienced random freezes fairly frequently.

The sounds of Max Payne double the intensity of the game. From the beginning monotone opening to the deadpan, and deadly noirish conversations that Max has with the enemies, the game is a treat for the ears as well as the eyes.

You could easily be playing this game for 60-70 hours. That’s absolutely insane for a platform game – but every single hour’s a fun one. If you own a Dreamcast, SA2 is one of the system’s essential titles.

It gets boring fast, and you have to love wrestling to begin with, but if you are a fan, this is a cool game to have.

Some really sick stuff. The imagery and grotesque design of the enemies is disturbing, and the grainy film stock adds an element of brutal realism to an already upsetting game. Needless to say, we loved it...Not only disturbing and scary, it’s actually a lot of fun.

Either too easy or too hard, depending on the setting. You will seethe with frustration on the highest difficulty setting, and easily outscore opponents on the easiest setting. There is no in-between, which makes a great game really frustrating.

Thanks to both CD's being full of gameplay rather than superfluous full motion video sequences, it will take quite a while for even the most avid gamer to make his or her way through to the fulfilling conclusion. It's time well spent.

A monster facial to the arcade hoops competition. Bow down suckas - there’s a new champ on the court. Once NUFX works out the kinks, it’ll be unstoppable.

Graphics are very impressive; this is one area that R4 totally rules over Gran Turismo. The effects and graphics are nothing short of mind-boggling.

The frame rate is pretty bad and arenas are generic, but player models look detailed, at least.

All in all, this is an absolutely top class package.

Amazingly enough the four-window split screen mode works incredibly well, with each portion of the screen running in high resolution and at super high speeds.

While on the highest difficulty the realism is still a little overwhelming, there are many driving aids to keep you on the track and keep the game fun.

It soon becomes a tedious exercise in reversals and grappling, but until you master your technique to that point, it's a great game.

"Mario Kart's" (at least the original one, anyway) biggest strength was its multiplayer mode and of course DKR does what Nintendo did but better.

Every target is superbly animated and detailed - walker droids walk with consummate ease, meteors float around ominously, end of level bosses look as imposing as they're supposed to...it's all great.

It’s a slick, smart, very Golden-Eye-ish game and will certainly appeal to a mixed crossover audience that wants action, espionage, and a movie-feel to their game.

An instant classic.

Where the game takes a steep drop from the PS2 version is in the controls - and this is totally because of the cumbersome design of the GameCube controller...[But it's] still a giant orange ball of fun.

The best Advance multiplayer game to date (and you only need one cartridge), Bomberman blows up the competition when it comes to fun.

Another addictive dungeon romp. Kiss your free time and hordes of demon butt goodbye.

Of the three, this version of Tricky has the best controls and graphics. That makes this the best version available.

It's refreshing to see a quasi-RPG game that doesn't go for the high-brow, rules-specific combat of RPG's - but if you're looking for an RPG with more clout, stick to "Final Fantasy X."

There’s so much to do, so many secrets to find, and so many objectives to complete that this game will not be finished in a weekend – this is one of those rare games that will take a lifetime to play.

The kudos system, overall structure, and addictive qualities of this game easily transcend any minor flaws.

You either love it because you loved the first one, or would rather play something more traditional in the fighting genre.

Shaping up to be the most fun version of Mechwarrior yet.

There's not a lot holding DOA3 back from becoming X-Box Game of the Year: it's that good. Every time you pop this disc in you're instantly amazed by the leaps and bounds that the X-Box engine has achieved.

Rallisport does more than just win over casual racing fans - it make an otherwise niche genre something fun and exciting - hey, Sony did it with golf and Hot Shots - Microsoft is just using a different set of drivers.

Not a game for everyone, but fans of 2D shooters and developer Treasure will definitely want to pick up a copy of Bangai-O.

From the clean lines of the characters to the neo-corporation look of the cities to the lightning-fast action and rail, wall, and banister grinding, Jet Set Radio is something you'll want in your future.

NFL2K2 is the easiest to play right out of the box, with appeal to newbies and players who don't have a ton of football experience. Madden is still the sim gamer's favorite, while NFL Fever is the flashy go-between that links all three games together.

Sam (sets itself apart) by it’s sense of humor and easy to learn controls. It’s also one of the brighter shooters, with lots of outside and aboveground levels mixed in with all of the dungeon crawling.

With the exception of the very tight turns in the game, it's as easy as shelling peanuts once you get a few practice rounds in.

The only problem Driver has is that the whole thing gets old pretty quickly.

It has great competitive factions, a large line-up of diverse skaters, and some of the most mind-blowing, thumb-numbing, breathtaking tricks yet seen on a console snowboarding game.

It's a great representation of how to handle a superhero in video game form, and surpasses other lame efforts like "Superman N64" and "Batman Forever" (remember that crap?).

The things that made Sonic a hit back in the old days make it a classic now - fast game play, interesting intricate levels, and detailed and colorful graphics.

If you thought that "Resident Evil" was scary, well let me just tell you Resident Evil is akin to Disney's Bambi compared to this... If you want a game that will surely help you soil your undies kids, than Silent Hill is what you want!

Despite its graphical limitations, statistical miscues and outdated rosters, this is still one of the best basketball games for the Playstation.

Most importantly, "Ground Control" doesn't let itself get weighed down with useless options and nerd-pleasing, making this a RTS almost anyone can enjoy.

Steeped in style, sleight in substance, and superior in overall satisfaction.

The fully three dimensional landscapes are stunning, and animation is equally so - units move around the area with superlative realism, and weaponry is as full of life as a piece of machinery can be.

Its solid visuals, imaginative tracks, tight control, and over-the-top physics model make it a winner in the arcade racing genre.

This is the best rally racing game on the Dreamcast, with good graphics, great control and physics, and a ton of options to add to the game's longevity.

Absolute magic for veterans, still won't raise an eyebrow for the uninitiated.

It's more evolutionary than revolutionary, really.

Great graphics, excellent sound, solid control, and lots of replayability. Eons of fun!

It's a great game with a historical significance that can't be ignored, and an action-packed reason to hang on to your PlayStation.

The only real criticism of this game is that it's an old title that we've seen in the home before. Still, though, this is a fantastic port, and the addition of net play adds a whole new dimension.

Takes the game in a new, and sometimes hilarious, direction. Revenge is a dish best served cold - we served it colder than others, but we still ate heartily.

Merely a good game that feels a bit old hat.

Shooter fans take note, this is one of the best of its kind on the machine, especially when connected to the Expansion Pak. Time Turok and roll…

A fantastic racer with great control and a large number of tracks and cars to choose from. Add in the multiplayer mode, and this is a game you really cannot afford to miss.

Relying too much on its past as other more advanced games pass it by, the series is fast becoming one for diehard fans only.

It’s like playing with Hot Wheels when you’ve grown up with Matchbox racers. Variety aside, there’s not much in the way of style.

We take off an extra half point for the high overall difficulty of the game, rendering it all but impossible to play for anyone but the most seasoned war simulation veterans. On the other hand, it is incredibly realistic.

It may be a bit heavy on the micro-management, but if you’re at all interested in the God game genre, you’ll be hooked on this game for a long time.

As good as "Tomb Raider 1" was, 2 is twice as good!

Imagine it this way – it's as if you're playing Tony Hawk in a minefield, and you'll lose your points if you tap a mine.

Whereas last year the controls seem looser than Madden’s, and therefore more intuitive and fun, this year they seem way too easy.

Hot Shots Golf 3 takes the game into a whole hilarious new direction - but the realism it loses may hinder real golf fans.

If you're a FIFA newbie and own nothing but a PSX, FIFA 2001 is by far the best soccer sim out there.

Rogue Squadron is right up there with the other great N64 space shooters such as "Star Fox 64" and...um...well, buy it anyway. Great stuff.

If you were looking for the ultimate NASCAR game, you’ve found it.

Once again the AI needs tuning and the graphics need optimizing. Otherwise, though, this game is still as fun on the PS2 as it is on the PSX, and with the new range of customization options, you're sure to find a gameplay style you like.

If you bought last year's version of FIFA, you basically already own this game.

This game rivals Tony Hawk for the Advance, and takes better advantage of the engine than the poorly tuned Mat Hoffman.

With all of these super cool additions, not to mention the fun-as-Swiss-cheese-in-a-can four player mode, this is the best "Blitz" so far.

It’s wickedly fast, good-looking, and mean – it’s the muscle car of corridor shooters. But where’s the online support?

Is it the best 2D fighting game around? Those that argue that "Marvel vs. Capcom 2" or "Street Fighter Alpha 3" are better forget that it's basically the same engine. SFIII:DI will put you to the test with better AI and harder opponents.

Shooting fans will love it, and Star Wars fans, too -- but hardcore gamers will wish something more original was piled on to this "Rogue Squadron" update.

There's also a smoothness to the throws and fielding that looks great, and the pitching animation is as realistic as you could hope for. There are even different animations for when a fielder loses one in the sun.

The graphics in this miniature version do the game perfect justice.

It has everything a classic game should - good, inoffensive graphics, sturdy controls, and replayability - and it leaves a satisfying cramp in your fingers when you're done.

A solid action strategy title that fans of the genre will appreciate.

More of a thinking man's boxing game, full of strategy, personality, and fire. Take the career mode for a spin and you'll fell all the pain, frustration, and joy that a boxing career will bring.

An excellent adult plot, cool graphics, and style to burn make this a must-have in the adventure genre.

It's not a perfect simulation of driving in the same way Sega's own "Ferrari F355 Challenge" is, but it's close -- and with a lot more cars and races to choose from.

It's probably the scariest game of the last ten years, giving a face to the nameless horror that haunts many of our dreams.

If you compare it feature-by-feature to the other versions, you may come to two conclusions – it’s not as good, but it’s still as cool (and fun) to play.

One of the best things about Train Simulator is that like its flying cousin, this is basically an open-source graphics and physics engine that anyone can expand on and add objects, trains, routes, and activities to.

One of the best looking water games with lots of tricky entertainment and wet fun for everyone, newbie and pro, to enjoy.

The best version of Super Mario 2/Mario Brothers on the market. If that’s what you’re looking for, buy this game. If you’re expecting more than a port of a ten year old game, though, you may be disappointed.

A fantastic and playable miniature Spider-man that’s fun and visually appealing. What more could you ask for in a game?

Needs a little more time in the development pot - there's real sparks of fun and imagination here, but the sluggish pace outstrips the game's pick-up-and-play feel.

Its solid visuals, imaginative tracks, tight control, and over-the-top physics model make it a winner in the arcade racing genre.

The addictive nature of Puyo Pop makes it one of the best puzzle games ever.

This is one beautiful title to look at, despite the rather lackluster character designs.