Like "Sonic" and "Crash," Spyro grabs on and doesn't let go, and the complexity of the levels, hidden games, and non-stop action make it one of the year's best platform games.

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.

It's all the fun of the original in the palm of your hand.

Simply the best hockey game ever released.

What do caviar, waterbeds, and David Lynch films have in common? They’re all unique acquired tastes - as is the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series. Once you’re hooked on the “scene”, though, you’ll never let go.

This game is now the standard by which all other games have to live up to this year. It’s a great game with some serious chilly thrills...CB2K1 snatches the crown from the hands of "SSX" thanks to speed and style.

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

If you have an X-Box, this is the game to beat for playability and entertainment.

It's not simply an all out brawl where the one who punches the fastest wins, but rather an elegant and more balanced fighting game, where knowing the combos is not enough - knowing when to use them and how to counter them counts for something as well.

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

Its minor control issues notwithstanding, this is the best rally racer available on the PSX -- maybe on any platform.

Quite possibly the game of the year – if you liked "Onimusha," then Devil May Cry will definitely possess you.

Grind until your wheels fall off, because that's what we do almost every single day.

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?).

NBA 2K2 still showcases the best basketball game out there - steady game play, dazzling visuals, realistic sound.

Even while he's just holding a golf club, Mario still has plenty of style and charisma - as do his similarly golf mad companions that join him. Forget all the so-serious golf sims and have a round of Mario Golf.

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Internet game play is also the game's biggest plus -- "Unreal Tournament" on the PS2 is still a one-player game.

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.

Smoother, faster animation (the game runs at 60 frames per second) and awesome lighting effects dominate the game's look, while transparency filters, water effects, and background movements round out the spectacular visuals.

The purists choice for outstanding baseball action...a fun, authentic, and accurate baseball sim.

It's fun, whether you're playing solo and trying to complete the Crazy Box-type mini games or going head-to-head in the four-player mode, and it will instantly become a party classic.

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

The environments look spectacular, with appropriate decor lining every object in the huge stages and good use of shadows and lighting. Character animation is a riot.

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

It's a beast-changing, head-slapping, jaw-ripping brawler with attitude and style and sex - always a good combination.

The essential 3D first person multiplayer experience of our time.

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.

The best internet play of any console shooter lifts Unreal Tournament to our top score. That doesn't mean it's perfect -- but it does mean it's the best of its genre on any console.

This is by far the best-looking basketball game currently on the market, the only negative being some jarring motion-capture transitions.

The graphics are superb for a GBA game, with colorful characters that take up a good chunk of the screen, and bright, detailed backgrounds.

Deceptively deep, this is the new blueprint for action RPGs and one of the last must-haves for the N64.

The others try for the Big Show, but will get sent back to the Cactus Leagues when you get your hands on this.

With sleek modeling on all the craft, breakneck action and speed in all the levels, and detail that only a Star Wars fan can appreciate (like the Snowtroopers running towards the Hoth generators), this game is as superior in the graphics category as you can get.

Simply, one of the best RPG's ever made, and one of the finest games for the PlayStation console.

Essential. Brilliant.

A triumph of style with a touch of whimsy, this Fantasy is the perfect finale to an era of PS RPG gaming.

Once again, Madden leads the field in video game football, and as of right now, there’s no one near him in coverage.

While it is sometimes glaringly obvious that this is scaled down, Alpha's famous speed and depth comes across perfectly. All the combos, special moves and ISM's are in place, as are the characters.

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

A slightly flawed masterpiece, but a masterpiece nonetheless.

Just the right mix of action, role-play, and strategy.

WO XL also has possibly the best soundtrack of any game, including contributions from Chemical Brothers, Underworld and Prodigy... A landmark racer and one of the all time classics on this console.

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.

"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.

It doesn't take a skateboarding fan to be a Tony Hawk fan -- this is just a fun game that PC gamers won't want to miss.

One of the best Advance games at launch...But you’d better be in for a learning curve – although a small one.

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 well-crafted and loving tribute to the original, but it definitely spices up the action with a new millennium look and feel.

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

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.

A game with a porpoise, and that porpoise is to entertain the witty and insightful gamer. This is not a fishy fighting game.

One of the best looking fighters so far for the PS2, it eclipses "Street Fighter EX3" and "Tekken Tag Tournament" for beauty.

The move to complete 3D freedom of movement and real-time environments adds a whole new dimension to the game, and finally makes it feel like it is a game rather than simply a series of static images and mental puzzles.

The game is nearly perfect, with stunning graphics, great sound, and controls that enhance rather than detract from the overall cinematic experience.

It’s the best next-gen basketball game available, easily beating "NBA Live 2002" for the PS2, which is more of a roster upgrade than a revamping of the game.

It brings back all the web-slinging, smart-mouthing, fast action of the original, and adds layers of depth and richness to both the graphics and the game play.

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.

The way scientists and guards talk to you and each other, the huge stages that you can make a little bit more progress in each time you play, the absolutely amazing animation...it all adds up to a totally immersive gaming experience that makes everything else look quite shoddy in comparison.

An instant classic.

Not enough for you? If this isn't the ultimate football game, you need to suit up and play for real.

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

Joanna looks good and she knows it, with spectacular Ram-pak enhanced graphics.

It does what every great game should -- keeps you guessing as to what might happen next.

The atmosphere is captured perfectly, the cinemas are perfectly interleaved with the action, really drawing you into Gabe's chaotic world.

The constantly evolving waves and progressively harder CPU opponents mean that Wave Race 64 never stops from being challenging.

This is the best simulation of NASCAR racing yet.

It’s a fantastic college football game, and as of yet, completely without a collegiate equal.

Although "Fantavision" is more colorful and uses more graphic power than Super BaM, this game is far more addictive, and a lot easier to play in two-player mode.

Madden takes the trophy again this year, with "GameDay" closing the gap by a little.

If you want the best baseball out there, with speed, finesse, and control, then you have to go with the All Star.

It's a worthy successor to Rogue Squadron, with a great branching storyline, reachable objectives, and great graphics and sound.

This is simply an unbelievably cool game, and one that you will physically HAVE to stop playing long before you want to.

A great action game, a competitive extreme sports title, and the best bike racing game ever made for the PlayStation.

Visually, Gran Turismo set new standards right down to the finest details including the brilliant lighting effects. And just wait till you see the replays - amazing.

What really makes the game, though, like the first, is the overall racing atmosphere.

A solid stealth ninja game that is a pleasure to play.

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

It’s a rare game that combines style and simple, brilliant play, and a very worthy choice for King of the PS2 platformers.

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.

Without a doubt the most intriguing, most competent, and most encompassing game of the franchise. It's a great game, the best RPG the PS2 has to offer, and it does a good job of weaving story and structure together.

This game can grind, manual, ollie, combo, and trick out just as well as THPS2 -- but it does it with two less wheels.

It may not have the emotional impact of some of Square's RPG's, but it does have likeable characters, a huge amount of gameplay, an epic quest, and beautifully rendered environments and effects.

The first game was an undeniable classic that could easily be ruined in the wrong hands. We're here to tell you to pack those fears away in a box because this is the dream sequel.

The best RPG's, though, tell a compelling story, provide plenty of exploration, and let you mix it up with fun, addictive battles. On those counts, Grandia II is a rousing success.

Stunning 3D backgrounds, convincingly animated (to put it mildly) characters and superfluous effects are carried out in fine style with no hint of slowdown, all the while running in glorious high-res.

The seamless controls and extensive levels can only be matched by the spectacular graphics and superior sound.

You watch in amazement as enemies dance and react to your gun fire, the AI gets progressively stronger throughout the game, with enemies that will avoid you and eventually out think you.

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Put simply, this is the best racing game you can get for yourself right now and is the sequel every Gran Turismo fan could have wanted.

The beautiful rendering of the cars, the colorful tracks, and the responsive controls all come together in one cool, portable package.

Fast and furious action, great sound and gameplay -- it's the best 2D fighting game ever made.

If a copy of dis game should happen to fall off a truck somewheres in yas naybahood, pick it up. It's an offer you shouldn't refuse, capice?

One can't go without mentioning the fantastic multiplayer mode. Unlike PC shooters, where ambush seems to be the name of the game, GoldenEye concentrates on fast, frantic fun. Everyone can see each other's screen, and radar is provided for additional assistance, so hiding is a virtual impossibility.

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.

Believe it or not this is one of the best of the PS2 launch titles, and one of the best puzzle games anywhere.

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.