Digimon World 4 (PlayStation 2, Xbox)

In DIGIMON WORLD 4, players take the role of a digital security guard, charged with protecting the digital world against the evil forces of the Royal Knights. The opening sequence sends you off to investigate the appearance of a new server and the disappearance of a team of Digimon explorers. Along the way you'll be challenged by enemies that can multiply quickly into groups of 10 or more.

You start by choosing one of four Digimon. You can use a variety of weapons, including hatchets, swords, and other sharp objects that destroy the enemy (without blood and gore). You'll be challenged in several side quests and puzzles that enhance and strengthen your Digimon. In one side quest, you're in a dungeon filled with monsters that you have to destroy before moving on to the next realm.

Fans of the popular Digimon television series won't be disappointed with this game. Fans will enjoy the familiar characters, and game controls are very easy to use. It's challenging enough for pre-teens, but teens and adults who are not familiar with the series probably will be bored.

You can fight it out in single mode, or with up to four players in the (offline) multiplayer mode. Single-player mode can be monotonous once you get the hang of the controls; you can anticipate enemies' moves, and master getting through the realms once you have played them several times. Players may have more fun exploring with friends in multiplayer mode, which provides numerous customization options, such as various incarnations of each of the four main characters in the game. The multiplayer mode is also less predictable, since each player controls a Digimon of his or her own.