Teen (13+)

One of the most eagerly anticipated games of 1997, Final Fantasy VII (FF7), did not disappoint fans when it finally was released. With plenty of hype already surrounding the game, Sony further promoted it with commercial spots that resembled movie trailers, begging to elevate the integrity of videogames up to a status equal with more mainstream media like film and television.

Make no mistake about it, Final Fantasy VII is a graphical showcase, first and foremost, and an RPG second. No matter what Square says about trying to add movie-like elements to their games to aid in storytelling, they are obviously in love with their SGI machines and are determined to put them to use at any cost. Graphics took such a precedence over gameplay that playing through any part of the game was akin to being lead by a leash; I was allowed some freedom, but if I really strayed, I was snapped back to path by the designers' invisible, yet heavy hand.

Game Description: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 picks up where the award-winning Dark Forces left off, but with even more features and firepower in dazzling 3D graphics. As Kyle Katarn, you must acquire the lightsaber and learn the ways of the Force to become a Jedi Knight. Confront old foes—Greedo, Bossk, and storm troopers—and new enemies, seven Dark Jedi who plan to harness the power of an ancient burial ground for unsurpassed evil. But take heart, your 10-weapon arsenal and over 12 Force powers make you a force to be reckoned with. Play for either the Light or Dark side.

I wasn't at all as enamored with Jedi Knight as Chi was. Jedi Knight was a great idea but it felt old right from the moment I first played it and I never actually felt like I was a Jedi. Plus, seeing a Jedi storm through levels with a phaser just looks plain wrong and feels even worse. You're given a light saber, a first (to my knowledge) in a Star Wars game, as well as the ability to use the force to push and pull things. They're cool features that are pulled off well but neither can take away from the blandness that saturates the game.

Essentially a first-person shooter made to compete with the likes of Quake 2, Jedi Knight tries to separate itself from the pack early on by capitalizing on the Star Wars theme. Utilizing full-motion video cut scenes in between gameplay, complete with live actors on digital backgrounds, Jedi Knight includes something most Doom clones forget: an actual plot!

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Violence

It's very difficult for me to describe a game that is so close to perfection. Almost every aspect of GoldenEye reaches unheard of plateaus. It is a game that combines all its elements into a seamless gaming experience. While the plot of the game is heavily steeped in the movie of the same name, it isn't hindered by it.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Violence, Animated Blood

Game Description: You are Bond, James Bond. Your mission is to recover the key to a devastating Soviet orbital weapon, GoldenEye. Fight your way through 18 action-packed missions, using a host of Bond-esque weaponry and gadgets. Along the way youll have to escape from a bunker thats about to be vaporized by the GoldenEye satellite as well as crash through the streets in a tank. GOLDENEYE 007 also supports four-player multiplayer with a host of options and game modes.

The James Bond license was almost worthless when Nintendo bought it. After GoldenEye, it seemed like every developer and publisher wanted to get their hands on the license for the newest James Bond movie.