Oh, but the best weapon of all, my friends, is the new Energy Sword, a shimmering, supersized beauty. The sword crackles and sizzles, almost like the darned thing is angry.

An astonishing shooter.

Once past the first level, my character continued to skill up in those things she used most, in the most incredibly seamless and incredibly deep role-playing mechanic I've ever seen in a console game.

Many things in this game leave me thankful: the dark presentation of ancient Greece, the innovative and simple fighting style, the horrific finishing attacks, the depth of the challenges, a great mood-setting score of horns and drums and a point-of-view camera that pans automatically to give you the best view of the action.

This is still a four-star title, though definitely not for children. Just don't expect it to be something you can wave in front of your PS2-playing friends' faces.

Addictive from the moment you begin...It's incredibly friendly to the solo gamer, allowing players not only to gain Levels 1 to 60 without ever grouping with someone else if they prefer, but also to earn the same or more experience playing that way. That means the solo gamer can level nearly as quickly as a group of power gamers playing together.

The Guitar Hero games are electrifying not only rocker wannabes in family rooms and basements, but also on college campuses and in nightclubs, where Guitar Hero Night is all the rage.

This isn't a crowning moment only for the PS2 generation, but for all of the Final Fantasy series. Long after the PS2 is forgotten, this installment will live in the memories of those who experienced it.

Guitar Hero II wins four stars from me because it has an excellent training mode that is missing from the original. That's the only major difference between the two games, other than the songs.

The online game play is just as smooth and fast-moving as the offline versions, and the wacky variety of weapons -- turn your enemy into a sheep! -- makes it a heap of fun.

Want more statistics? You got 'em. More ways to contribute to your team (and rewards for doing so) for things like healing and supplies? Done. Better graphics? Much, much, much better. Same great zippy action as you move from tank to helicopter to foot? You bet.

There are campaigns that will keep you awake at night, second-guessing your tactics, long after you shut the DS off.

Burnout: Revenge proves once again why it is the ultimate spectacle for those of us who just want to feel the rush. You know you're playing a great game when even the pauses in the action are filled with rockin' music, flashy video and big sound effects.

This expansion excels where it needs to. I enjoyed exploring these cleverly designed arenas, and continue to relish shooting up my enemies -- and friends -- every night online. Any fan of "Halo 2" will love these new battle-happy locales.

Something special. It's a war shooter that's both intoxicating yet grisly. From the game's first moments as a young Russian soldier learning the ropes, you'll be sucked in to combat.

Deceptively deep, graphically sharp and a beauty to behold in the hands of two skilled players.

Enemies can be vulnerable or immune to different attacks, which causes you to often evaluate your styles. And I love that you can change the difficulty even in the middle of missions. Whew!

All of the quests, big and small, add up to an quest that belies the tiny cartridge's size. This "Zelda" game packs in the fun.

We were overwhelmed by the huge range of top-quality gameplay that's available here for $49.99 (USD) with no online fees.

Harnessing the new console's power, this Revenge makes online showdowns much more personal.

What's most fun about Lumines is the way updated technology has married sight and sound to turn our gameplay into an all-absorbing mini-concert.

Shows off the beauty and horsepower of the PSP.

This is quarterbacking control at its most sensitive level. This year's version of Madden gives you more of it.

If you're a "Tetris" fan, you need no convincing. But for those who've never dwelled in that space, Meteos is especially heavenly.

With compelling, deep game play and a gorgeous visual assault on your senses, Rainbow Six: Vegas is a safe bet for any Xbox 360 gamer.

From its blood-red pentagrams to its chilling shrieks of radio chatter, the single-player campaign in Doom 3 will scare your pants off like nothing else on the Xbox.

PSP owners, this is a certain hit, an instant classic that's likely the highest-quality game yet released for Sony's handheld system. It's a must-buy for fighting game fans.

We can't recall another PC game that challenged us to furious one-on-one sword fights and strategic warfare with cannons blazing -- interspersed with a test of ballroom dancing skills in which each click of our keyboard's keys translated into a deft move on the dance floor.