Best Video Games

  ESRB Rating: Everyone |  ERSB Rating: Teen  |  Systems & Accessories 

ESRB Rating: Everyone

Eye Toy (by Sony Computer Entertainment, $49.99)  According to our 10-year-old tester, this is just about the coolest game he's played.  He and a couple of his friends got together and had a blast playing Kung Foo, Washing Windows, and heading the soccer ball in Soccer Craze.  They really liked the fact that it was so interactive, that they weren't just sitting on the floor with the controllers.  They said "we really had a good laugh at ourselves!"  A real winner and fun party game!

Fantavison (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $49.99) Our 15-year-old tester is a big fan of his PS2.  He reported that he had a lot of fun playing this game.  He said it was a bit like Tetris, a bit like Missile Command.  He liked the fireworks displays and funky graphics. 

Jimmy Neutron: Jet Fusion  (by THQ, Platform Tested: PS2, $49.99) Our 10-year-old tester reported, "the game is O.K.  However for an experienced PS player it's not that hard.  If you like Jimmy Neutron cartoons you're going to like it a lot.  The worlds were not bad.  There's a fire breathing dragon in one that's pretty cool.  The third and forth worlds are the best.  The third puts Jimmy in a crocodile jungle and the forth is a pirate world.  If you don't like Jimmy Neutron you'll probably get bored after a while."

Disney's Lilo & Stitch: Experiment 626 (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $49.99) Here's what our 11-year-old tester reported, "if you didn't like the movie don't buy the game, but if you're an older Stitch fan that enjoys very challenging shoot 'em up games this one's for you. Just because this is a Disney game doesn't mean it's for younger kids, because it's not. I'm 11 and found it very difficult to advance to different levels. One good thing about the game, is you can have unlimited lives so when you die you can just start from the last checkpoint. You don't have to go back to the beginning of the game. Stitch was great. He moves very fast and is a great climber and jumper. I liked the way he could shoot 4 weapons at the same time. If you like games that have a lot of action and obstacles to shoot up and destroy you'll like Stitch experiment 626." 

 Zapper  (by Infogrames, Platform Tested Tested: Xbox, $49.99) With it’s colorful graphics and simple game play Zapper is a nice game for young kids, maybe 5 to 8. Our tester said, "If you remember Frogger, it’s like a 3D version of that with a grasshopper instead of a frog."  It has two different game modes, story mode and arcade mode. In story mode you can save your progress and return to the same spot later. Arcade mode is just for a quick game or race against the clock.

Kids can play alone or in multiplayer mode. There are five different multiplayer variations. Multiplayer mode makes this a more exciting game, up to for players compete in games such as zipperball (a soccer-like game) and strangle hold (players try to get the ball and hold it the longest).  Available Platforms: Xbox, P2, GameCube, GameBoy Advanced and CD-ROM.

 Tetris Worlds  (by THQ, Platform Tested Tested: Xbox, $29.99) Tetris Worlds brings the classic game of Tetris to a new generation of gamers. This is truly a game that the whole family can play, simple enough for a child yet challenging enough for an adult. This version of Tetris does a nice job of adding some new features to tetris (6 different game modes and up to 4 players at a time) while still keeping the feel that made the original so addictive.  Available Platforms: Xbox, P2, GameCube, GameBoy Advanced and CD-ROM.

 Sly Cooper and the Thievious Racoonus  (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $39.99) This game is about Sly Cooper and how on his 8th birthday he is given a family heirloom that contains the key to the best thievery techniques. On his birthday a ruthless gang of five break into his home, overpower his father and steal the Thievius Raccoonus.  They split it up and each of them take one piece of the legacy.  Ten years later Sly is ready to steal it back. 

Our 10-year-old tester liked the different levels that were presented in the game.  He said that the fighting component was exciting and that it was a lot of fun.  His only comment was that he felt it was very challenging. Available Platforms: P2

  NFL Game Day 2003 (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $39.99) Our 10-year-old tester felt the game had good graphics and was easy to play.  He liked the new players and said it was more realistic than 2002.  He also felt it was easy to learn.  He said it was perfect for one player but couldn't get the two-player feature to work properly. 

NFL Game Day 2003 (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $39.99) Our 31-year-old tester felt the game excellent graphics and was quite challenging.  He said it was a more difficult game to beat than others and was an excellent choice for basketball fans. He also felt it was very realistic with cool game play and atmospheric effects.

  NFL Blitz 2003 (by Midway, Platform Tested: PS2, $49.99) According to our 15-year-old reviewer this game is great.  He particularly liked going for the Super Bowl.  Having played all the other blitz games he said this was equally as good, but that it was hard. If your grandchild is a football fan this won't disappoint!
NHL Hitz 2003 (by Midway, Platform Tested: PS2, $49.99)  NHL Hitz 2003 is an ice-melting inferno of blistering hockey. It features a new franchise mode for deep gameplay, a full season with every team and every game, in-depth stat tracking, international and all-star teams, fantasy teams and stadiums, and a soundtrack with Rob Zombie and Powerman 5000.

ERSB Rating: Teen

War of the Monsters (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $39.99) According to our tester, "if you love monsters and monster movies like me this game is for you. There's lots of action with 10 monsters, 10 different environments and plenty of weapons. My favorite were the army tanks and steel grinders. You can use natural disasters such as earthquakes and tidal waves to conquer your enemy. Which monster will defeat the others and become the ultimate ruler. Only you can help decide the fate of War of the Monsters." 

Wild Arms 3 (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $39.99)  According to our tester, "Wild Arms 3 is a fun game with good graphics and interesting characters. It goes pretty much into detail about each character so you can really get a feel for them. The game has levels to advance to and missions to complete. There are dungeons to explore where you have to avoid traps and break down walls. You can change to different characters in your group to help you through the dungeons. There are also good battle scenes. I like the ones on horseback best because the monsters are running alongside you as you fight them. There's also a way to skip battles if you don't want to fight. This is a very long game so if you're a RPG fan, and like the Wild West you'll have hours of fun playing Wild Arms 3." 

Amplitude (by Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform Tested: PS2, $39.99) Developed exclusively for the PlayStation2 by Harmonix Music Systems, Amplitude is a fast-paced rhythm-action game that allows players to test their skills in mixing and remixing hit songs by shooting musical notes in various vibrant musical environments in both off- and online gameplay. Via the Network Adaptor (Ethernet/modem), the gateway into the world of online gaming, Amplitude provides a unique, one-of-a-kind online musical forum for players of all skill levels to compete and collaborate with more than 25 songs.