Xbox 360

If you thought Star Wars was finally over after Episode III (that's film six for the uninitiated), think again. The force - it seems - will always be with us. Creator George Lucas has repeatedly denied plans to film yet another blockbuster trilogy, but that hasn't stopped him and his co-conspirators at LucasArts from cultivating adventures from the gaps between the existing films, such as last month's animated feature The Clone Wars. Released today, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, a new video game for most major platforms, has the ambitious task of bridging the 20-year gap between the two trilogies.

(Microsoft Game Studios) Available on XBox 360. One to two players; up to 10 players online. Rated Mature for intense violence and strong language. Retail $59.99. *** I must admit when the box boasted "a blockbuster experience," I was skeptical. Shooting games for all their bluster and visuals tend to be monotonous alone - only recouping their value during multiplayer matches. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover that Gears of War 2 lives up to its own hype. The solo campaign benefits from a sharper plot than the original Gears.

Reviewed on PlayStation 3. Also available on Xbox 360. One player; up to 12 players online. Rated Mature for intense violence, sexual content, strong language and drug use. $59.99. *** games With Saints Row 2, the comparisons to this year's best-selling game, Grand Theft Auto 4, are inevitable. They both share underworld plots and open-ended or so-called "sandbox" game play. But where Grand Theft Auto 4 strives for technical and narrative sophistication, Saints Row 2 is, well, just ludicrous.

Chromehounds Sega [Xbox 360] Rated T for Teens If there's one thing we all need, it's more giant robot games. When it comes to the fine art of building and blasting giant robots, Chromehounds is a true masterpiece. Craft a killing machine from inventories of parts and arrange them in any way imaginable, then hunt down enemies through vast environments. The trick is to nail them before they have a chance to nail you. Choose from six role types: the versatile soldier, the tough defender, the ranged sniper, the speedy scout, the powerful gunner or the strategic commander.

No question, the Xbox 360 is a great game console worthy of all the hype. The games perform incredibly smoothly, and the controllers are a joy to hold. But unfortunately, some of the features that pump up the price to about $300 for the basic system and $400 for the deluxe are useless. What Microsoft is trying to do with the 360, which went on sale this week, is create the perfect gizmo that will be the center of your living room entertainment experience. In fact, the sleek, stylish console was even designed with changeable faceplates for those seeking to coordinate their interior decoration.

(Sony Computer Entertainment) Reviewed on PlayStation 3. One to four players; online. Rated E for Everyone. Retail $59.99. **** games Web sites like Facebook and YouTube have indulged our virtual narcissism for a few years now, so it's only natural this "look-at-me" party should pervade the world of video games as well. And while LittleBigPlanet isn't the first game to give players a soapbox beyond their living rooms, it's certainly one of the best. In LittleBigPlanet, players assume the role of a sockboy (or girl)

Dexter White was the first in line. A 25-year-old Baltimore police officer, White had arrived outside the Best Buy in Timonium nearly 48 hours ago to ensure that he would snag one of the coveted Sony PlayStation 3's going on sale today. By nightfall, he had set up his green tent and was ready to settle in with his sleeping bag and a supply of Pringles, Capri Sun and breath fresheners. "I'm a die-hard Sony fanatic," said White, who took Wednesday and yesterday off from work to wait in line for one of the machines, which sell for $499 and $599.

TOKYO -- Sony Corp., the world's biggest maker of video-game players, cut the price in Japan of its PlayStation 3 by about 20 percent, responding to complaints it cost twice as much as Microsoft Corp. and Nintendo Co. consoles. The game player will retail for 49,980 yen ($430) when it goes on sale Nov. 11, Ken Kutaragi, head of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., said at the Tokyo Game Show yesterday. The company previously said it would sell the cheapest model for 59,800 yen, excluding tax. "They had to cut it because rivals have lower prices, and they may lower the price again if sales don't go well," said Yoku Ihara, head of equity research at Retela Crea Securities Co. in Tokyo.

DALLAS-- --The past few years have not been all fun and games for computer game fans, but that might be changing. As attention has shifted to sophisticated video game consoles such as the Xbox and PlayStation 2, PC gamers have watched their preferred platform wither. Retailers have been squeezing shelf space for PC games to accommodate more console and handheld titles, and many PC game creators have migrated to the console market. PC game sales in the United States peaked at $2 billion in 1999, and then fell every year after that, landing at $1.1 billion last year.