The irrevocability of death is not an idea that often comes across in video games. When Mario jumps into a bottomless pit, you know there are 27 extra Marios to take his place. But there are no one-up mushrooms in Fire Emblem. When a character dies, he's gone. And since you'll grow to care for every soldier, mage and Pegasus knight you draft into your enormous band of swords-for-hire, every loss is truly heartbreaking.
This is the third Fire Emblem released in the U.S. and the first to be released on GameCube in 3-D, but the series' celebrated anime art style has survived the transition. Sticking to its tried-and-true formula, the game weaves grid-based strategy and turn-based combat into a detailed and epic story. Some gamers may be put off by the onslaught of text that drives the character development (Reading? Dear God!), but those who sit through the slow parts will grow to know and love these characters far more than any re-spawning, mustachioed plumber.
RATCHET: DEADLOCKED (T) (4 stars)
Sony Computer Entertainment
PlayStation 2
Ratchet has finally succumbed to the reality TV craze, but on this version of Survivor, the losers actually fail to survive. As our hero works his way through a sadistic game show, expect the Ratchet and Clank brand of outrageous humor and excessive gunplay.
JAK X: COMBAT RACING (T) (3.5 stars)
Sony Computer Entertainment
PlayStation 2
Jak and Daxter are switching gears and starring in one of those racers that feels artificially challenging. Whether you're burning rubber or riding the brakes, your opponents always seem to be right alongside you. But fans of the series will be happy just seeing Daxter in his new pants.
SSX ON TOUR (E10+) (4 stars)
EA Sports
PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox
The fourth SSX is starting to feel like Burnout: Polar Edition, but that's a good thing. As you tear through fresh powder on snowboard or skis, you can earn an extra boost by taking chances and narrowly avoiding collisions with unsuspecting snow bunnies.
THE CON (T) (3 stars)
Sony Computer Entertainment
PlayStation Portable
In case you find the win or lose nature of most fighting games to be too honest and straightforward, The Con lets you bet on opponents and throw fights. That added layer of complexity would mean more if the fighting mechanics weren't so simplistic.
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].