The original 1999 Tony Hawk Pro Skater game launched an entire genre, and now several publishers are on the action sports bandwagon in a big way, eating off the table that Tony Hawk built. Activision has turned the success of the series into an entire line of similar products, but of course, the Tony Hawk series has always been the jewel in the crown. The yearly installments in the series have all featured pretty dramatic improvements on all fronts, while retaining some of the core gameplay mechanics that emphasize timing, skill, and creativity. On the surface, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 appears to make only minor changes to the formula, taking the career mode in a new direction and adding some seemingly minor gameplay elements. But as you play the game more and more, the value of the small tweaks and changes becomes pretty obvious, adding up to what’s certainly another outstanding installment in the series.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit II is the sequel to Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, which was released in 1998 and was the third in Electronic Arts’ arcade-style driving games. I’ve been personally waiting for this for so long, as an avid NFS fan. Hot Pursuit II is technically the sixth game in the series, if you don’t count the two V-Rally games that came out in the 90’s. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit II for the PlayStation 2 is not only one of the best games in this long-running series, but also one of the fastest, intense, and most polished racing games currently available for Sony’s console.

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We loved Hitman 1, and here’s to hoping this one is the same. So, now you’re wondering: Is it?! It’s obvious. One look at the bald, sharply dressed man on the cover, grim as death and armed with pistols in each hand, and you can tell you’re in for another ride with Agent 47. Hitman 2, released simultaneously for the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 2 platforms, is the sequel to a PC game released two years ago by Denmark-based developer IO Interactive. One that does not disappoint.

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