Activision, MA15+, RRP $100, * * * *
Xbox owners can finally go to hell and even take a friend along for the ride. The best new inclusion in this console version of the PC hit is a two-player co-operative mode that lets mates tackle 20 intense missions together. It's a blast.
You can also play team or death-match modes, although they lack spark. Little has been lost in the translation from PC - Doom 3 remains an incredibly polished, immersive and atmospheric experience. Controls are responsive and graphics are spectacular, particularly the lighting effects and hellish monsters. Much time is spent nervously creeping around the claustrophobic darkness with a torch.
Inevitably, you discover terrifying horrors lurking in the shadows. Grumbles about the game's linearity, repetitiveness and dim opponents have not been addressed but as your arsenal grows, the pace and excitement quickens.
Nintendo, G, RRP $70, * * * ½
The key to Game Boy's success in trouncing more powerful rival hand-helds was Tetris, a simple puzzle game with intoxicating depth. Polarium will not have the same impact or widespread appeal but it is equally elegant. Players simply flip black or white tiles until they match to form solid horizontal lines.
The puzzle mode is the big drawcard, with 100 increasingly complex patterns to solve using a single, unbroken line. Players use the stylus to flip tiles in the correct order without lifting it from the screen. Solving the tricky riddles is hugely satisfying and requires plenty of head scratching. You can even create your own puzzles for friends.
Challenge mode is more frantic, with a tower of blocks to clear before the screen is clogged. Presentation is stark and uninviting but few games are this mentally taxing.
Ubisoft, MA15+, RRP $100. Also Xbox, PC, * * * ½
Horror fans are accustomed to battling zombies but Cold Fear also pits players against the elements. Initially set aboard a Russian whaler, keeping your balance and avoiding pitching overboard is as challenging as wrestling with the undead.
The ship provides an appropriately claustrophobic environment that is different from the usual haunted mansions. Familiar devices such as opponents smashing through doors, corpses suddenly coming to life and parasites attacking from above keep players on edge. Fixed-camera views enhance the atmosphere but a helpful over-the-shoulder perspective is used for targeting enemies.
Weapons include a shotgun, grenade launcher, flame thrower and a spear gun. Puzzles are kept to a minimum but due to the repetitive ship interiors and the absence of a map, players will spend plenty of time meandering.