An exhilarating first-person mech shooter, it has its share of shortcomings, but in some respects leaves Core's also excellent title in the dust.

"SSX" is a zany, fun and arcadey snowboard stunt-racer, and Konami's ESPN X Games Snowboarding is a realistic and beautifully presented simulator, one that will probably have massive appeal to hardcore snowboarders.

Some players may not find it terribly thrilling, but for those who are looking for aerial excitement, Sky Odyssey is a must-own.

It doesn't have the best graphics out there, but frankly, it has everything else in spades.

Funky and fun, it won't revolutionize the genre, but it's a hardcore puzzle gamer's wet dream.

Absolutely outstanding, but there's still room for improvement.

Gamers weaned on massive combos and flashy pyrotechnics will most likely find themselves fidgeting, but we've got a suspicion that plenty of PS2-owning gamers out there are looking for a fighter with finesse -- not just for fans of the genre, Kengo fits that bill quite nicely.

There's refreshingly little emphasis on lever pulling or jumping puzzles -- someone out there is listening.

Surprisingly addictive, nice to look at and good, refreshing fun.

A fun, detailed and graphically lovely golf game that bodes well for future trips to the links on the PlayStation2.

There are a few problems here -- failing to solve a puzzle means having to repeat an entire level, for example -- but the majority of Shadow of Destiny is excellent.

Inventive and exciting with its flaws safely buried in the adrenaline rush.

A brilliant puzzle game with a truly unique feel and gameplay mechanic.

The best game of baseball on any next-gen system.

It's one of those games where the player can sit down for 30 minutes, play it and then leave and feel as though something's been accomplished. The huge number of missions should keep the game going for some time, and there's also multiplayer support.

The in-game models, landscapes, lighting and explosions are all in keeping with the Star Wars galaxy, and the engine is no slouch either.

If you are simply not into chess, this package isn't going to turn you around, but if you want a sage tome that can rest comfortably on your hard drive for years, this is probably it.

Although the sleuthing has a little too much seek-the-key gameplay, its "Unreal"-powered graphics and friendly interface make this one a respectable addition to the canon.

The few weaknesses come from repetitive gameplay in the single-player game, simplistic tactics that often boil down to "get 'em," and steep system requirements.

Despite a multitude of polygonal eye-candy and the largest amount of high-quality FMV ever seen in a game, its otherwise spare graphics and lazy AI won't appeal to everyone.

A few problems do exist, such as unrelenting, almost perfect AI drivers and some graphical glitches, but as a whole product, this is the NASCAR simulation to own.

Midtown Madness 2 is as close to arcade racing bliss as we've seen.

If you're one of those hardcore "PC Only!" types that don't own a console, you'll definitely want to shell out the 35 smackers for this baby in order to find out just what the hell everyone was talking about two years ago.

It's aimed towards a younger market, but the visuals are good, the controls are great and the game manages to elicit more endearment out of The Phantom Menace than a crate full of unwanted plush Jar Jar dolls.

Coupled with the nearly perfect atmospheric music and sound, the game does have its moments of true fright.

After a fighter has leveled up and gamers have mastered the combos, BoD can be pretty damn cool. The lighting effects are superb, the music is moody and there is plenty of action. Turn up the volume, turn out the lights and you'll have a thick slice of fun.

It won't win any awards for graphics or AI, but Away Team is a solid and fun experience.

There are problems that can and should be addressed, but the gameplay has no equal.