VIDEO GAME REVIEWS

'DRIVER: PARALLEL LINES'
Atari/ Reflections
PlayStation 2, Xbox, $40
Rated: Mature
Grade: B-
"Driver: Parallel Lines" is the fourth game in a franchise that has sold more than 15 million units worldwide. When the first "Driver" shipped for PlayStation in 1999, it revolutionized the driving genre with a gripping crime-story mode and dozens of addictive minigames. The 2000 sequel failed to match the original, but it did provide an entertaining experience. The franchise was nearly totaled with the third installment, which shipped for Xbox and PlayStation 2 in 2004. That game brought the action out of the car and into the streets but crashed with horrible controls and shoddy design.
While "Parallel Lines" doesn't live up to the original, it does avoid the wreckage of the third game and is a solid driving experience. The game introduces a new driver called The Kid, who in the early levels is in New York City circa 1978 and then again in 2006 after he is released from jail. This gives the game two eras to work with, which opens up a rich musical soundtrack and a diverse interactive Big Apple.
Unfortunately, the single-player game lacks the depth of characters that "Grand Theft Auto" delivers. And this being a "Grand Theft Auto" clone, it falls short. To its credit, it's the best clone to date. Though the on-foot action has been overhauled and is now playable, the heart of this franchise has always been fast chases through crowded city streets. The driving experience in this game is above and beyond any "Grand Theft Auto" game, and the ability to trick out your vehicles adds replay value. The game's open world has minigames such as circuit races and demolition derby, so you can join these races at will. An online mode allows as many as eight players to enter the same game world and roam the streets or race a circuit. That's something not even "Grand Theft Auto" offers.
John Gaudiosi, Washington Post
'ACE COMBAT ZERO: THE BELKAN WAR'
Namco
PlayStation 2, $37.99
Rated: T for teen
Grade: B
"Ace Combat Zero" may present itself as a kind of jet fighter flight simulator, but that comparison only works if you think of "Top Gun" as a military flight school documentary.
"Ace Combat" is a video game, after all, so even if mastering it won't qualify you to pilot a real F-15 Eagle, it at least gives you a good excuse to dust off that old tape of the "Top Gun" soundtrack, crank up some "Danger Zone" and scream that you "feel the need for speed."
For those familiar with "Ace Combat," this sixth game in the series is a prequel to its predecessor and focuses on the war between the fictional countries of Belka and Ustio. If you're new to the series, all you need to know is you're Cipher, a mercenary pilot hired to help one country (Ustio) defend itself from the other (Belka), with the help of your wingman, Pixy. (Not exactly Maverick and Iceman, but no matter.)
While the flying controls may take some getting used to -- they're mostly intuitive, if you've never played an "Ace Combat" game before.
The 18 missions are varied, which is nice. Some will have you dog-fighting other jets; others will require you to take out ground or sea targets; while still others will let you choose which phase of a mission you'd like to complete. You're always accompanied by your wingman, to whom you can issue such simple commands as attacking certain targets or covering your tail.
But it's the dog-fighting that can be either the most tedious or most rewarding part of the game. Often, you'll have to face rival ace pilots, and just as it's satisfying to take one down with a couple well-placed missile shots, it's as equally frustrating to get blown up yourself and not realize what happened (a frequent occurrence for this player).
New to the game is a system that gauges your "ace style." For example, shooting down anything that moves makes you a "mercenary," while concentrating only on mission objectives earns you "knight" status. A combination of the two means you're a "soldier ace." The game examines which style fits you best and adjusts for the kinds of rival aces you come across and the types of radio transmissions you receive.
Bottom line: It's about what you'd expect from the "Ace Combat" series: Solid airborne action, plus the opportunity to showcase your knowledge of "Top Gun" dialogue in a contextual setting.
Monty Phan, Long Island Newsday