The World is Not Enough features 14 single-player missions that employ a variety of different first-person shooter gameplay styles. In one level Bond is required to chase a criminal across a maze-like city while fighting off enemy thugs and avoiding civilian casualties. In another our hero finds himself swimming through an underwater submarine, advancing not only forward and backward, but up and down to as he descends deeper into the sunken structure's belly. Each scenario is not only different in design, but in overall gameplay mechanics too. For example, swimming through a sunken submarine requires a bit of strategy, as Bond will have to find well-hidden air pockets in the ship just so that he can breathe and stay alive. On the other hand, taking out enemy trash in the subway system level really only requires 007 to point, aim and shoot, disposing of thug after thug as he makes his way through the mission.

One of the best snowboarding games on any platform, 1080 Snowboarding faithfully recreates the mountain experience with beautiful graphics, realistic character and environment physics, atmospheric sound effects, and addictive gameplay. Players compete on a variety of unique tracks ranging from a half-pipe and long jump—both devoted to trick-happy boarders—to long descents that offer plenty of environmental obstacles, including jumps, deep powder, ice, and thick stands of trees. On several tracks, simply reaching the bottom of the hill is an accomplishment in itself.

Much of the game's appeal lies in the finely tuned player controls. As in real life, learning the basics—turning, jumping, carving—is a snap. Honing one's skills to smoothly land a jump, pull off complex in- air tricks, and negotiate tight turns and steep descents, however, is very challenging. It's this appealing combination of skill learning and track mastering that promises to entice players back to the slopes season after season. Extra kudos to the designers for the beautifully realistic sound effects—scraping along icy sections of the track is, literally, a tooth-grinding experience. —Eric Twelker

Pros:One of the best snowboarding games on any platformGorgeous graphics and environmental sound effectsRealistic character and environment physicsCons:Game engine slows down in graphic-heavy sectionsOpening "locked" tracks requires advanced 'boarding skills, patience, and a love for the sport

No Description Available.
Genre: AUTO RACING
Rating: E
Release Date: 15-MAY-2004
Media Type: Sony Play Station II games

You don't have to be MacArthur to recognize that Advance Warsis one of the best strategy war games for any console. The game pits four fictional city-states in a battle for territory. Your job as commanding officer is to defeat the enemies in turn-based combat over land, air, and sea. Advance Warshas a stiff learning curve, but its interactive tutorials can turn the greenest GI into a great leader of pixelated men. AWalso offers many multiplayer options, including the ability to play against a friend by passing the GBA back and forth. To extend the possibilities, you can also create new battlefields and trade them with others. Despite cutesy visuals, this is a very deep game that is also accessible. For GBA generals looking to flex their tactical muscles or anyone looking for a simply great GBA game, look no further. —Mark Brooks

Pros:

• Clear and informative graphics

• Ideal interface for the tiny GBA screen

• Lots of multiplayer and customization options.

Cons:

• Misleadingly cute box art (this is not a game for tots!)

Advance Wars: Dual Strike is the latest in the hit tactical series. Enjoy an incredible new battle system that takes full advantage of the Nintendo DS system's two screens. New missions will have you commanding air forces on the top screen and ground forces below on the touch screen. Besides leading your army to victory with a slew of original COs, you can also clash with your friends over wireless connections. Easy-to-use map editor

Animal Crossing: Wild World takes you into a real-time virtual world where an entire village is waiting to be explored. Whether you want to decorate your home, catch bugs or fish, or just chat with the characters in your village, there's always something to do. Days and seasons pass in real time, and you can visit the vilages of online players — even if they're a thousand miles away.

What's more fun than a barrel of opposable-thumbed simians? How about the silly—but challenging—Ape Escape? While not the first game to offer enhanced control with Sony's dual-stick analog controller, Ape Escapeis the first game to require either an analog or dual shock controller to play. That requirement ensures that players will have full control of their hero, Spike. One stick moves Spike in any direction, while the other swings his monkey-catching devices.

In Ape Escape, a circus monkey named Specter stumbles upon a scientist's prototype intelligence-enhancing helmet, turning him into an evil monkey genius. As Spike, the professor's young friend, you must travel through time to clean up all of the monkeys Specter has sent back in his attempt to repopulate the world. If that's not enough to make you laugh, then chasing his goofy monkey minions as they scurry from your clutches will certainly tickle your funny bone. You'll discover a variety of gadgets to help you in your quest, including monkey radar, a slingshot, and a propeller for flying. Spanning 25 huge levels, Ape Escapeis approachable for novices, and offers added challenges for veteran gamers. One such challenge is to lure a dinosaur near a rocky cliff, and then jar the monkey off his back and into your net. Note: no monkeys were harmed in the creation of this game. —Jeff Young

Pros:

• Unique control scheme brings new challenge to the PlayStation

• Massive game has plenty of replay value

Cons:

• Unique control scheme requires some ramp-up time

MODEL- 98609 VENDOR- Sony PlayStation FEATURES- Ape Escape PSP Ape Escape features multiplayer functionality and a wide variety of mini-games for players of all ages. This imaginative game provides players the challe

Jerusalem, 1191 AD - The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You are an elite Assassin sent to stop the hostilities by suppressing the powers on both the Crusader and Saracen sides. But as you carry out your missions, a conspiracy begins to unfold. You find yourself tangled up in a conflict that threatens not only the Holy Land, but the entire world. Experience the power of a feared Assassin. Your actions can throw your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape the events of this pivotal moment in history. ESRB Rated M for Mature

Jerusalem, 1191 AD - The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You are an elite Assassin sent to stop the hostilities by suppressing the powers on both the Crusader and Saracen sides. But as you carry out your missions, a conspiracy begins to unfold. You find yourself tangled up in a conflict that threatens not only the Holy Land, but the entire world. Experience the power of a feared Assassin. Your actions can throw your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape the events of this pivotal moment in history. ESRB Rated M for Mature

Developed specifically for the Nintendo DS, Assassin's Creed : Altair's Chronicles tells the story of Altair before the events in the console version.
The setting is 1191 AD. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You, Altair, intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict. You are an Assassin, a warrior shrouded in secrecy and feared for your ruthlessness. Your actions can throw your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape events during this pivotal moment in history. Be an Assassin Master the skills, tactics, and weapons of history's deadliest and most secretive clan of warriors. Plan your attacks, strike without mercy, and fight your way to escape. Realistic and responsive environments-Crowds react to your moves and will either help or hinder you on your quests. Action with a new dimension — total freedom Eliminate your targets wherever, whenever, and however. Stalk your prey through richly detailed, historically accurate, open-ended environments. Scale buildings, mount horses, blend in with crowds. Do whatever it takes to achieve your objectives. Pull off amazing acrobatic moves and explore a fully 3D-rendered medieval world Master swordfights, stealth assassinations, combo attacks, and a variety of weapons Use your stylus to interrogate informers and pickpocket precious items from the crowd ESRB Rated T for Teen

Banjo-Kazooie mimics the look and feel of Mario 64, a truly innovative and visually stunning game that belongs in any Nintendo 64 collection. But don't brush off this 3-D action-adventure as an uninspired clone. On the contrary, Banjo-Kazooie introduces more than enough originality to warrant a spot next to its famous mentor.

The game introduces two of the most charming virtual heroes in recent years—the goofy, floppy honey bear, Banjo, and his faithful, feathered sidekick Kazooie. In the game's introduction, we discover that the sinister witch Gruntilda not only nabbed Banjo's sister Tooty, but stole her beauty as well. Naturally, it's up to the bear-bird team to retrieve Tooty and rid the world of one darned inconsiderate witch.

In this beautifully-rendered and massive game world, players run, jump, swim, climb, and flip over obstacles, defeat all sorts of "baddies," and find and collect numerous items and clues that help the quest to progress. Playing as both Banjo and Kazooie, players hone their characters' actions, learning nearly two dozen special moves that help players expertly defeat foes and successfully tread through the nine worlds.

Banjo-Kazooie is one of those games that can demand hours upon hours of perseverance, patience, and learning of skills to complete. But don't let that discourage you. This epic game is so much fun that reaching the end will be an afterthought. —Eric Twelker

Pros:Nicely-paced game world filled with well-designed challengesExcellent character control with numerous special movesGorgeous graphicsCons:Numerous—often complex—special moves may discourage some casual gamers