Half-Life 2
From: VU Games; For: PC; Rated: Mature
The PC equivalent to Halo 2 on Xbox, Half-Life 2 (uh, mathematically, isn't it Life 1?) is a technical, conceptual and graphical achievement beyond compare; easily the best First-Person Shooter (FPS) of all time.
US$54.99 at Amazon.com
CA$69.99 at Amazon.ca
Dead or Alive Ultimate
From: Tecmo; For: Xbox; Rated: Mature
Arguably the best fighting game series ever, easily the sexiest, Dead or Alive Ultimate revisits the first two games in the series, ramps up the graphics to blistering beauty and then takes it online (optionally) for transcontinental multiplayer/head to head bashing, tournaments, rankings, etc.
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$69.99 at Amazon.ca
Metroid Prime 2 Echoes
From: Nintendo; For: GameCube; Rated: Teen
Gritty, ominous, intense sci-fi action on GameCube? You bet. Metroid Prime 2 Echoes delivers hardcore action/adventure with Nintendo's trademark ingenuity and story-telling panache--and with nary a Poke-puff in sight!
US$49.88 at Amazon.com
CA$59.99 at Amazon.ca
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
From: Rockstar; For: PlayStation2; Rated: Mature
Go (almost) anywhere, do (almost) anything gameplay with or without a point, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is unapologetic in it's delivery of interactive malevolence. You don't have to kill cops, beat up bystanders or pound on prostitutes, but you can.
US$45.99 at Amazon.com
CA$69.99 at Amazon.ca
Need for Speed Underground 2
From: EA Games; For: GameCube, PC, PlayStation2, Xbox; Rated: Everyone
Graphically glossy to a fault, Need for Speed Underground 2 is nevertheless awesome, with many play modes, innumerable upgrade options, go-anywhere cityscapes, online multiplayer components (except GC version) and attentiveness to street racing as lifestyle.
US$39.99 - $49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$59.99 - $69.99 at Amazon.ca
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
From: THQ; For: PC; Rated: Mature
Not just another Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War servers as a new benchmark for the genre, mainly because its control scheme is intelligently designed while gameplay is briskly paced and spectacularly vicious in all the right ways.
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$59.99 at Amazon.ca
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
From: EA Games; For: GameCube, PlayStation2, Xbox; Rated: Teen
GoldenEye: Rogue Agent lets you play as the Anti-James Bond, hob-knobbing and infighting with classic Bond villains and playing through an enormously interactive "dark side" story that just can't be told without your traditional glut of guns and gadgets.
US$49.88 at Amazon.com
CA$62.99 - $69.99 at Amazon.ca
Shadow Hearts Covenant
From: Midway; For: PlayStation2; Rated: Teen
Shadowhearts Covenant is a surprisingly compelling, quirky RPG. Straying from formula, it puts off-beat, often funny characters in traditionally epic circumstances. More importantly, its turn-based battle sequences are ramped up to a fairly feverish pitch, which is unusual and thoroughly welcome.
US$45.95 at Amazon.com
CA$62.99 at Amazon.ca
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
From: Konami; For: PlayStation2; Rated: Mature
The godfather of tactical espionage action gets a prequel in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Still has classically clunky camera and controls, but boasts lavish graphics (of the camouflage fatigues in the jungle variety), a fiendishly convoluted story (of the doomsday and intrigue variety) and all the one-man-army gameplay (of the tippy toe and close-quarter killing variety) you could hope for.
US$49.88 at Amazon.com
CA$59.99 at Amazon.ca
Star Wars KOTOR II: The Sith Lords
From: LucasArts; For: Xbox; Rated: Teen
Gotta love the dark side of the force; the chained lightning, the hands-free choke holds, the surgical exactitude of a lightsabre rampage... Like a good sequel should, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (deep breath) boasts game engine tweaks, immensified environments, new, cool, interactive graphical effects along with new characters, classes, locations, force powers, etc. Plus, your choices have an uncanny effect on others in the game, not to mention the innumerable possible outcomes.
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$64.99 at Amazon.ca
QUICK PICKS:
EverQuest II
From: SOE; For: PC; Rated: Teen
AKA EverCrack II. On meth. On horseback. With monthly fees.
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$69.99 at Amazon.ca
Tony Hawk's Underground 2
From: Activision; For: GameCube, PC, PlayStation2, Xbox; Teen
Adventure-based extreme sports, skateboarding with a purpose.
US$39.99 - $49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$39.99 - $64.99 at Amazon.ca
Ace Combat 5
From: Namco; For: PlayStation2; Rated: Teen
As realistic as combat flight simulations can be on a console.
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$62.99 at Amazon.ca
WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw
From: THQ; For: PlayStation2; Rated: Teen
Spectacle sport simulator for fans of the spectacle sport.
US$45.99 at Amazon.com
CA$69.99 at Amazon.ca
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
From: Ubi Soft; For: GameCube, PC, PlayStation2, Xbox; Rated: Mature
Superlative series goes gritty, decapitates everybody.
US$39.99 - $49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$59.99 - $64.99 at Amazon.ca
Mario Power Tennis
From: Nintendo; For: GameCube; Rated: Everyone
Not just Mario playing tennis; power tennis! Who knew?
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$59.99 at BestBuy.ca
Jak 3
From: Sony; For: PlayStation2; Rated: Teen
Closes the trilogy with a huge bang. Actually, lots of them.
US$39.99 at Amazon.com
CA$49.99 at Amazon.ca
Ghost Recon 2
From: Ubi Soft; For: Xbox; Rated: Teen
Less stealthy team tactics, more solo rampages. Hoo-ah!
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$64.99 at Amazon.ca
Metal of Honor Pacific Assault
From: EA Games; For: PC; Rated: Teen
WWII sim/shooter goes to Hawaii. Guess what happens?
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$64.99 at Amazon.ca
The Bard's Tale
From: VU Games; For: PlayStation2, Xbox; Rated: Teen
Refreshing, cheeky action/RPG; a quest for "coin and cleavage."
US$49.99 at Amazon.com
CA$59.99 at Amazon.ca
