Game: ''Bioshock''

Publisher: 2K Games

System: Microsoft Xbox 360

Cost: $60

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	'BIOSHOCK' - 'Bioshock' has authentic sound effects and incredibly realistic art-deco visuals. CNS Photo courtesy of 2K Games.

ESRB rating: M

Review rating: 4 stars

Tired of the daily grind? Does the thought of dealing with your boss for yet another week bore you to tears? Why not pick up a copy of "Bioshock" and visit the undersea city of Rapture today? Let the authentic sound effects and incredibly realistic art-deco visuals whisk you away to a place where scientists and industrialists find creative freedom.

"Is that a corpse on the ground?" you ask. Pay no attention to it, or the next one, or the next - they simply couldn't handle the injections that genetically enhance natural abilities. You see, ADAM is the addiction of choice in this place. ADAM fuels plasmids, which are incredible psychic powers such as Electro Bolt, which fires electricity; Incinerate, which burns everything; and Winter Blast, which freezes objects.

Combining these abilities with conventional weaponry opens up vast possibilities for dealing with cunning enemies. If you ever feel that your life is in jeopardy, feel free to set up traps by telekinetically moving electric lines into the path of enemies, or scatter proximity mines on the ground with the grenade launcher. In addition, zapping enemies with Electro Bolt to stun them and finishing them off with the shotgun works wonders.

I'm sure you'll find Rapture to be one of the most realistic recreations of an aboveground environment to date. I encourage you to explore the facility to find new weapons and plasmids and upgrade them. Need a new gadget? Invent one, or simply hack security cameras and flying sentries to make them do your bidding.

Oh. You didn't sign up for the combat tour? Hmm, must be a clerical error. Well, it's a good thing that "Bioshock" offers gorgeous visuals and an unsurpassed level of combat freedom, because you're going to need all the help you can get. Bon voyage.

FANTASY GAME - 'Bioshock' offers gorgeous visuals and an unsurpassed level of combat freedom. CNS Photo courtesy of 2K Games.

Game: "Dungeons & Dragons Tactics"

Publisher: Atari

System: Sony PSP

Cost: $40

ESRB rating: T

Review rating: 3 stars

Although last week's turn-based strategy role-playing game "Jeanne d'Arc" appeals to the masses, Atari's stat-heavy "Dungeons & Dragons Tactics" is geared toward hard-core gamers.

For starters, the game uses the standard D&D 3.5 rule set when calculating combat. And don't be surprised if you spend more time outfitting your characters and memorizing spells than fighting enemies.

	'DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TACTICS' - Atari's stat-heavy 'Dungeons & Dragons Tactics' is geared toward hard-core gamers. CNS Photo courtesy of Atari.

For seasoned D&D fans, this sounds enticing because it adds an immense amount of variety. However, most other players will be overwhelmed at the wide array of abilities and characters. Speaking of which, two new classes, Psychic Warrior and Psion, can now be recruited, rounding out the list of playable characters to a dozen.

After characters and abilities have been chosen and then strategically placed on the tiled board, the player and enemy alternate turns that consist of moving and attacking. Various melee and magic attacks can be used, some of which are more effective when attacking from the side or rear. The key to victory is setting up powerful attacks that hit the opponent's vulnerable spots but leave the attacker unharmed.

If that isn't enough to keep you busy, "D&D Tactics" can be played online with up to three other players. Budding adventurers can set out to conquer dungeons cooperatively with other players or compete in three adversarial modes.

RPG fanatics and D&D fans will appreciate the traditional rules and encounters found in "Dungeons & Dragons Tactics," but it may be a bit too slow for average gamers.

WARRIORS FIGHT - Don't be surprised if you spend more time outfitting your characters and memorizing spells than fighting enemies. CNS Photo courtesy of Atari.

RATING KEY

4 stars - Must have

3 stars - Pretty good

2 stars - So-so

1 star - Don't waste your time

Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

E: Everyone

T: Teen (13 and older)

E10-plus: (Everyone 10 and older)

M: Mature (17 and older)

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