Donkey Konga (E) (4.5 stars)
Nintendo
GameCube
In the video-game industry, innovations are usually limited to things like adding a 40th button to an already crowded controller. But from the original NES's track and field pad to the upcoming dual-screen handheld, Nintendo has always marched to the beat of a different drummer. This time it's a bongo drummer.
Donkey Konga is the first title to make use of the bongos' peripheral (included with the game), and before you can say, "Hey Ringo, check this out!" you'll have spent countless hours slapping your swollen palms to the beat of "Rock Lobster" and 32 other diverse tunes. The addictive game play is similar to Dance Dance Revolution but requires less exercise, for those who prefer to be lazy while getting their rhythm-game fix.
Second Sight (T) (3.5 stars)
Codemasters
PlayStation 2
Where Psi-Ops' idea of cerebral entertainment involved exploding brains, Second Sight's twisty story of intertwined flashbacks actually makes you think. You'll enjoy decent stealth action as you follow John Vattic's quest to learn who he is, what his psychic powers are, and why Free Radical didn't rush faster to beat Psi-Ops to release.
NHL 2005 (E) (3.5 stars)
EA Sports
GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
After years of annual releases, EA Sports seems to have gotten bored with making hockey games, desiring instead to treat us to a good, old-fashioned fighting game. But in the rare moments when they're not getting checked by the opposing team, the beautifully animated players still manage to squeeze in some good hockey.
Yu-Yu-Hakusho: Dark Tournament (T) (3 stars)
Atari
PlayStation 2
This mediocre brawler finds salvation in its cheesy source material. The moment reincarnated demon detective Yusuke pulls out his spirit gun (it's really just his hand, but play along), it becomes clear that despite the overly simple combos and merely passable graphics, this silly, anime fighting game is hard to hate.
F-Zero GP Legend (E) (3 stars)
Nintendo
GameBoy Advance
When F-Zero launched with the Super Nintendo years back, it was a cool and challenging sci-fi racer. But if you always felt it was missing something, like a plethora of tedious dialogue boxes from a story mode tacked on as a TV show tie-in, then you may now consider yourselves fulfilled.
Matthew Scott Hunter has been known to mumble, "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start" in his sleep. E-mail him at
[email protected].