When developers blend strategy games and arcade games, the result is often a somewhat diluted hybrid that fails to appeal to either type of gamer. Miraculously, The Unholy War does an admirable job of blending both genres. The meat of The Unholy War is a lightning-quick, 3-D arcade combat engine that lets a variety of inspired units duke it out in various combat arenas. The units have strengths and weaknesses that play off one another in the ultimate game of rock-paper-scissors. The strategy portion of The Unholy War adds an extra layer to the gameplay and complements the tactical combat nicely. Here, players move their combatants across a strategic map, attempting to place units on spots where the terrain offers an advantageous position. Units gain some extra abilities on the strategic map, which can be used to better secure a position, and when two units meet on the map, gameplay switches immediately to the arcade-combat mode where a victor is determined. It's a challenge making certain your units are positioned correctly, and the fun explodes when you play against a friend. -T. Byrl Baker Pros: Very good 3-D graphics Arcade game can be played separately Strategy elements add depth Cons: Strategy fans may not like the steep reflex requirements.

Monster Rancher 2 is the sequel to one of the strangest and most innovative games ever produced. It is a virtual pet simulator in many ways, but transcends that description by virtue of its varied gameplay elements and combat-oriented theme. The game begins with the creation of a monster, which is accomplished by inserting any CD (even an audio CD) into the PlayStation. A unique monster is generated from the data that is imbedded on each CD. Once you have your unique CD-generated beast, it's time to go to the ranch for training. With each training session, you will raise your monster stamina and strength statistics, which gives each particular monster a better chance for success in the game's exciting combat mode. Sending an undisciplined monster into the arena is a recipe for failure, so much of our playing time involved training our creations and watching them develop into lethal, confident juggernauts. No two monsters are the same, and each develops its own unique personality as the game progresses. We became more attached to this game's creations than other games in the genre because of this well-executed feature. -T. [+]

Long recognized as role-playing games par excellence, the Final Fantasy series gets a technological makeover in this installment (and series debut on the PlayStation). Shedding the two-dimensional graphics and limited sound capabilities of its predecessors, Final Fantasy VII features lush 3-D graphics, beautifully animated "movie" sequences, and soundtrack-quality music. Coupled with the game's intricate storyline, endearing characters, and immense yet highly imaginative world, these new advancements make for a quite an engrossing experience. The story of Final Fantasy VII centers around a solider named Cloud Strife, who joins forces with Avalanche, a group of resistance fighters, to take down an evil mega-corporation known as Shinra. (The fate of the world hangs in the balance, of course. ) Truly epic in scope, this four-disc game requires a considerable amount of time to complete-this reviewer gladly gave up over 80 hours of his life to finish it. But it's definitely a rewarding adventure that every PlayStation owner should consider undertaking, especially since it's now one of the low-priced "Greatest Hits" titles. -Joe Hon Pros: Intricate and absorbing storyline with endearing characters Immense and highly imaginative game world Special battle system Beautifully animated movie sequences Cons: Your friends and family may feel neglected.

Based on the popular Capcom coin-op Super Puzzle Fighter this game combines the popular drop-and-stack play mechanic found in games such as Tetris Columns and Baku Baku with fighting characters from SF II Alpha and Darkstalkers. Ryu Ken Sakura Chun-Li Morrigan Felicia Lei-Lei and Donovan (with Akuma/Gouki Dan and Devilot as hidden characters) appear on-screen when an area has been cleared and start dukeing it out. One of the most unique entries in the electronic gaming pantheon.

Catz 5 and Dogz 5 are two great virtual Petz games - now they combine for even more fun! Watch and laugh as Dogz and Catz live on your computer desktop - you'll raisethem as they grow, play, and learn together. When they grow up, many will start families of their own. Tasty Treatz are one way to reward your Petz for good behavior - just don't overdo it. Use the spray bottle to keep particularly naughty Petz in line. Your Petz will run away if they feel neglected. Please adopt only those Petz you're sure you want and take good care of them!.

Based on one of the most popular cartoons in the Looney Tunes library, players will direct Ralph Wolf throughout the flock of sheep while avoiding detection by Sam Sheep-dog. Your mission, of course, is to use all sorts of outrageous mail-order equipment (Acme, naturally) to get to some delicious lamb chops.

Harvest Moon: Back to Nature is a different sort of game. Instead of blasting aliens or scoring touchdowns, players plant seeds, care for crops, interact with villagers, and search for a mate. This is a role-playing game that features gameplay that's nonlinear and in real-time. To help your ranch become successful, befriend the Harvest Sprites. There are over 50 characters with which you can interact. You can attend festivals, and compete in events like Chicken Sumo and the annual Town Tomato Fight. Collect and cook different recipes-even create your own dishes to impress the ladies.

If you can't experience Civilization II-one of the best computer strategy games of all time-on a Mac or PC, this faithful PlayStation adaptation is the next-best thing. Gameplay is turn-based and takes place on a world map that's broken down into an octagonal grid, with players controlling a civilization from its inception in 4000 B. C. all the way through A. D. 2020. You "win" the game by either conquering the world or being the first civilization to successfully colonize space; how you go about this-in terms of the social, economic, and political strategies involved-is entirely up to you. This freedom in decision-making, along with a good amount of game options and the fact that the "world" is randomly generated each time you begin a game, adds extremely high replay value. While Civilization II has been slightly pared down and doesn't look as good as it does on a computer-the graphics here are muddy, and text can be hard to read-the customized PlayStation control interface works surprisingly well. (Keyboard and mouse controls generally don't translate well to the PlayStation controller, to put it mildly. [+]