Dead or Alive 4 (3XBOX 360)
RATING: MATURE

With another new console comes another new Dead or Alive. This latest installment
delivers all the fast-paced action and curvaceous ladies of the last two wrapped in an even prettier package, thanks to the 360’s impressive horsepower. Online play is great, but overall, this follow-up isn’t a big enough step forward in terms of graphics or gameplay. If you’re new to the series, this is a great place to start, but otherwise, don’t bother upgrading. From Tecmo. (www.tecmoinc.com)

Winning Eleven 9 (GAMECUBE, 3PS2, 3XBOX, 3PC)
RATING: EVERYONE

You don’t get to your ninth sequel without doing something right, and the Winning Eleven series is tops when it comes to soccer. This year’s version boasts an endless array of gameplay modes, a comprehensive team management system, and online play to boot. With top-notchrealism and an insane attention to detail, true fans of Euro-style football will love this update. It’s far from fast-paced, but scoring never felt so good. From Konami. (www.konami.com)

TOCA Race Driver 3 (3PS2, 3XBOX, 3PC)
RATING: EVERYONE

You don’t have to know what TOCA stands for to appreciate the amazing breadth of this racer. With over 35 vehicle types and 120 championships, you’ll never run out of challenges. Whether you like pimped-out econo-boxes or Baja buggies, classic muscle or Formula One, you’ll find what you’re looking for. With a lengthy story mode and opponents who’ll remember that bump in the last corner (even if you don’t), this game has brains to go with its looks. From Codemasters. (www.codemasters.com)

Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
(3GAMECUBE, 3NINTENDO DS, 3PS2, 3XBOX, 3PC)
RATING: TEEN

Be brutal. Be violent. Be Kong. This adaptation of the epic film follows the classic story, with a number of first-person shooter levels that put you inside the head of one of the movie’s characters and just as many levels that call upon you to set your beastly side free as Kong. You’ll wrestle with T-rexes, rampage through the city, and, of course, save the damsel in distress. Sure, you die in the end, but it’s worth it. From Ubisoft. (www.ubisoft.com)