I can't recall another video game that made me this physically uncomfortable and this psychologically troubled.

We're very impressed with this enormous new simulation game, despite the fairly steep learning curve.

Middle Earth isn't a strategy game for hardcore fans, but it's a well-thought-out, well-designed, well-animated entry. And the atmosphere, visuals and sounds from the movie trilogy definitely make that simplicity both welcome and worthwhile.

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.

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.

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

It's a winning combination: the same great concept that made Dungeon Siege a hit now with new story lines, new features and improved graphics. It's a great choice for dozens of hours of gameplay this fall.

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.

The action is incredibly smooth and responsive, the plot is fun and the game-play is quick and exciting. Even when you die, it's no big deal to get back in the action (and you will die, a lot).

We especially liked the intense array of challenges always pressing in on our fledging world. Empire Earth II is a real-time strategy game on steroids.

Devil May Cry 3's music, a cross between hardcore heavy metal and techno, enhances the dark tale. In between missions, there is spooky whispering that sounds like what you'd imagine an Ozzy Osbourne record being played backward would be like.

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.

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.

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

Overall, we though, found Second Sight intensely challenging, a creative alternative to other PC shooters and -- priced under $25 -- a great value.

We can promise you there's no need to fear falling asleep at the keyboard. This final volume in the series has enough life left to prompt many late nights.

The online ability to spread an infection to another player is so innovative that this game gets my top award, even if it's not perfect in other areas.

The racing here is just flat-out fun, with growling engines, jumps and shortcuts that allow you to smash through fences. But there are thoughtful additions, including Party Play.

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.

This dazzling little gem for the small screen is one of the best in the first crop of games for Sony's new PSP. It's everything a handheld adventure should be: easy to see, easy to play, fun to play alone or with other people and strikingly detailed.

Shows off the beauty and horsepower of the PSP.

The controls are tight, the action tense and the graphics crisp. And, most importantly, lag was rarely an issue, even in 32-player firefights.

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

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.

Sprinkled between the races are the kinds of cinematic scenes that Jak games have been known for: clever and extremely well animated.

Prey is touted as having an adaptive difficulty system -- the better you are, the better it gets -- and it really did seem to get harder as the game went on. As a result, there are just two difficulty settings, Normal and Cherokee, and I'd advise that even vets might want to give Normal a try on the first run out, letting the game's artificial intelligence pick up the pace to a comfortable level.

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

Though the game could be longer and could stand more diversity, the cold shivers that run down your spine while playing it are an undeniable rush.

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.

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

Cybersleuths will enjoy the period music, a playable minigolf course, research in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and a nice variety of classic and novel puzzles.

An astonishing shooter.

The vehicles really set Quake apart from its cousin "Doom," as levels with vehicles almost always involve huge outdoor areas swarming with bad guys.

The gorgeous and sometimes ludicrous backdrops offer a perfect complement to flowing fisticuffs.

"Live" has become stale and needs to be redone ... so all you "Live" lovers, there is a new sheriff in town -- and it's NBA 2K6.

Nearly perfect with its graphics that often look close to cinematic scenes and a whole host of strategies for nailing the bad guys.

The create-a-wrestler mode was always the strongest asset of this game in past years, but this year the mode is the deepest it has ever been.

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.

One of those rare racing titles that make you feel like you're driving 180 m.p.h., yet still in control of your ride. You soar through the streets, trade paint with rivals and blast over the finish line.

Prey is touted as having an adaptive difficulty system -- the better you are, the better it gets -- and it really did seem to get harder as the game went on. As a result, there are just two difficulty settings, Normal and Cherokee, and I'd advise that even vets might want to give Normal a try on the first run out, letting the game's artificial intelligence pick up the pace to a comfortable level.

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

Aside from the system's inherent shortcomings, "Alpha 3 Max" is still the best game ever made for fighting on the go.

It feels, moves and looks like a "Jak" title, and any fan of the series will have a blast taking this new title on the road.

The game is a total rush; nimble twitch skills and quick thinking are the only ways to escape a speedy demise. This one's a no-brainer for quick fun everyone will enjoy.

This hexagon-packed puzzler is a bonus for all Xbox 360 owners who pick up a hard drive for their system, as it comes pre-installed on the hard drive.

This game's a great mix of action and problem-solving.

What impressed us most was the possibility that a player just might get hooked on Conrad or Bronte and this little handheld game might actually spark someone to put down the electronic gadget for a while and pick up a literary classic.

Trozei makes great use of the touch screen, giving the game a real sense of natural movement and urgency.

The game moves fluidly, with very little slowdown. The environments tend to repeat (even on the first planet I'd occasionally get lost because several corridors all looked the same), but the detail is surprisingly nice for a DS title.

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.

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.

In many ways, Half-Life 2: Episode One is even better than the original "Half-Life 2," but it's a short thrill ride that may leave some gamers impatient for the next installment, due out by year's end.

It's got the familiar, turn-based attack game play that we've learned to love, and the dynamic job system and a complex plot would make it a perfect holiday gift.

A lineman-sized improvement over last season...The brisk, refined on-the-field play and assortment of playing modes overpower the somewhat choppy online play, the pesky kicking meter and the handful of other nits.

The party-style game play in "Smooth Moves" is one of the young Wii's better experiences. It offers fun, easy-to-learn things to do that show off what the system does so well and puts your movements in the game.

The end result feels more groundbreaking than it sounds: It's a delicate dance of images and sounds that should woo anyone interested in digital art, comic books or the game series.

And now the classic card game comes to Xbox Live. And for the cost of a deck of cards, you can play online via Xbox Live against thousands of other like-minded gamers.

Everything in this soccer installment -- from the nimble online play (which now supports 2 versus 2 matches via Xbox Live) to the challenging set of achievements -- is well executed. Too bad every annual installment doesn't show this much improvement.

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 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.

The game is the deepest and most exciting to date of all the freewheeling street shooter games. There are missions and activities galore.

Game-play is also simple: Come across a distressed town, get the lowdown from the townspeople and save the day by fighting monsters in random encounters and beat the area's boss. It's still fun, even after all these years.

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.

An ideal handheld game. It's simple to pick up, the quest is long and worthwhile, and there's plenty of replay value.

If you're a hard-core tennis sim fan, then Mario Tennis: Power Tour might be a bit too cartoonish, mainly because of the over-the-top, unrealistic power shots. Otherwise, casual fans could enjoy this handheld-perfect title.

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.

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.

The gorgeous graphics and scantily dressed women will lure gamers into Dead or Alive Ultimate, but it's the game play that will keep fighters trading blows for months.

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!

This gritty third-person shooter and driving game is the most explosive game I've seen so far in 2005 and a great diversion from everyday life.

The prince has gone from an "Aladdin"-style teenager to a grim, angry young adult. He's even more beautifully drawn than before, and this year's installment adds a much better combat system.

The chaos that ensues is as lighthearted as a blood-soaked zombiefest can be.

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.

It's I-can't-believe-I'm-having-this-much-fun-being-green good. Give-to-your-best-friend-for-his-birthday good. I know, it's a shock.

Not only is this game true to the classic cult film from 1979, it conjures the same sinister themes and underlying social tension in a way that's pretty darned smart for something called a game.

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.

The best "FIFA" game to date. The ball's movement seems to be much more realistic. The passes seem more crisp, yet, realistically, the ball doesn't always go where you want it to go.

All of the battlefields are enormous and loaded with cover.

Annoys you with anticipation, from the evil, hard-to-target grunts of approaching assassins to a percussion soundtrack that sounds like a desperate rendition of the theme to "Miami Vice." If it kicks in, you better be ready to rumble.

We liked the way the game's basic rules followed logical principles, but these elements quickly built into complex situations.