Sports

Winning Eleven 8 is simply yet another step in the right direction, both for the advancement of quality sports games and for the slowly progressive principles to which Konami's series has held close—even throughout years of being outsold by the flashier, gimmicky FIFA games.

The first thing gamers who spent time with Hot Shots Golf 3 will notice is that this installment looks more like an expansion to that game than a brand new title. Yes, there are tweaks and additions (most notably the long-awaited inclusion of online play with Sony's Network Adaptor) but underneath it, this is HSG3 with a new coat of paint. The courses from the last game are back, as are many of the players and caddies along with several new courses, new characters (including unlockables like Ratchet and Jak), and the return of mini-golf. And while the game may seem more like an expansion than a new title, it's really not an issue since so much of the material is included to refine the HSG3 experience. Because of this, players who spent hundreds of hours with the previous game will still find a lot to like in this update—the additions are almost entirely there to make the game more complex and more realistic (or at least as realistic as a game featuring a dog caddy can be…).

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Comic Mischief

I confess—I don't know the first thing about tennis. Sure, I watch it on TV every now and then when something big is happening, but I never paid much attention to it or really understood all of its rules and nuances. After playing Top Spin, though, I gained a newfound appreciation for the sport.

Game Description: Top Spin delivers all of the intensity and realism of a hard-played professional tennis match. Use the Player Creator to put your virtual self in the game, and work your way up the ranks to play real pros in top tournaments. Train with a coach to master slices, drops, lobs, slams, and powerful serves. Earn professional sponsors as you climb to the top. Play on courts all over the world: clay, hard court, and grass...all affect play differently and all must be mastered to become a champion.

spent a little time with story mode, although the story isn't one that matters. It's an excuse to play frolf. That said, I appreciated the aesthetic of the graphics utilized. I was immediately reminded of those old Rankin Bass holiday specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, except with the stop-motion puppets replaced by computer graphics.

Game Description: Perform tricks as you outrace your opponent in Carve, a watercraft racing game featuring a variety of vehicles and courses, unlockable extras, and online play. You are about to embark on the ride of a lifetime. You and your teammate will span the globe and battle other hardened teams that are just as determined as you are to capture the top rank position in the sport of extreme watercraft racing. Prepare yourself for the ultimate watercraft racing experience.