DEVELOPER: Maxis

PUBLISHER: EA Games

SYSTEM: Windows XP/Vista

PRICE: $49.99

ESRB RATING: Everyone

REVIEW RATING: 3.5 (out of 5 stars)

Evolution allows plants and animals to adapt to different situations by creating new body parts or abilities, but it usually takes hundreds of years. Game developers Maxis have reduced that time to a mere few hours in their unusual title "Spore," which is enough time to let players observe and influence their creature's evolutionary path.

"Spore" consists of five different 'stages:' Cell, Creature, Tribe, Civilization, and Space. When combined, they give players the freedom to design a creature and take it all the way from a single cell organism to an interstellar explorer.

At the start of the game, a giant comet lands on a planet, splits open, and out pops a microscopic organism. Players swim around in the primordial soup devouring smaller creatures while avoiding the mandibles of larger ones. Then the player must attach legs to their creation and take it on land for the Creature stage, which plays like an action game.

Next is the Tribal stage, where players build huts and either forge alliances with rival tribes or decimate them. Following that is the civilization stage, which is a rudimentary real-time strategy game that lets players conquer or join with other cities.

Last on the list, and by far the most in-depth stage, is Space. Conquering the galaxy is made easier by allying with at least a few species from other planets because pirates will frequently raid your planet. These raids break up the game play too much, as I had to constantly interrupt my current conquest to defend my planet or help allies.

I also wish that the first four stages were more in-depth, as they are all too simplistic and only take around an hour apiece to beat. In addition, the camera controls during the Creature stage can be quite frustrating.

However, when you add the incredibly deep creature, vehicle, and building creation tools to the mix, "Spore" can be very enjoyable.

Bugs Infest 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'

DEVELOPER: LucasArts

PUBLISHER: LucasArts

SYSTEM: Sony PlayStation 3

PRICE: $59.99

ESRB RATING: Teen

REVIEW RATING: 3.0 (out of 5 stars)

With no more Star Wars movies in development and The Clone Wars series aimed at children, what are mature fans to do with their time? Play the latest Star Wars game, that's what. But rather than develop another sequel, LucasArts has created an entirely new game called "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed."

Budding Sith assume the role of an orphan named Starkiller, who is Darth Vader's secret apprentice. Set in the time span between movies 3 and 4, the story follows Starkiller as he carries out his orders to eliminate the remaining Jedi in the galaxy. Eventually, he starts to question Vader's motives, which creates inner turmoil.

As a Sith, players get to experiment with numerous awesome force powers including: force lightening, force grip, force repulse, lightsaber toss, and more! In addition, there are several other impressive moves and combos, as well as statistic upgrades, that the player can purchase.

Part of the fun is combining these moves into devastating combos that are incredible to watch. For example, Starkiller can perform a three-hit lightsaber combo that tosses an enemy into the air, grabs him in mid-air with force grab, impales him with a lightsaber toss, and then throws him off of a ledge into oblivion. How sweet is that? Unfortunately, there seems to be a slight delay between using force powers, which makes combining certain moves very difficult.

While the action in the game is fast and impressive, it is also filled with more bugs than a festering Rancor. Don't be surprised to see enemies move through walls, fall over small objects, or stand still during firefights. Moreover, the targeting system is abysmal, and there are occasional game- breaking bugs that impede progress.

Star Wars fans will be likely to forgive some of the problems in order to use the destructive powers of the Dark Side, but all others should rent "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" first.

REVIEW SCORING SYSTEM

5 stars = Must Have

4 stars = Pretty Good

3 stars = Above Average

2 stars = Bargain Bin

1 star = Don't Bother

RATINGS KEY

Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

E: Everyone

E10-plus: (Everyone 10 and older)

T: Teen (13 and older)

M: Mature (17 and older)

To find out more about Jeb Haught and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.