DEVELOPER: Volition Inc.

PUBLISHER: THQ

SYSTEM: Microsoft Xbox 360

PRICE: $59.99

ESRB RATING: Mature

REVIEW RATING: 4 (out of 5 stars)

Both the "Saints Row" and "GTA" franchises have been in a bitter battle for consumer dollars ever since "Saints Row" was introduced. Sure, they may look similar on the surface, but closer inspection shows them to be polar opposites of the same genre. While "GTA 4" has taken a grittier and more realistic approach to being a gangster, "Saints Row 2" introduces much-needed humor to "a bit of the old ultra-violence."

Up-and-coming virtual street thugs take on the role of the leader of the 3rd Street Saints gang as he recovers from the events of the first game. Since his face was damaged, the players are free to create their own character and customize everything from race to hairstyle to width of the nose. Afterwards, it's time to break out of prison and reclaim the streets of Stilwater.

Instead of having to discover and unlock activities, dozens of them are available right from the start. Want to compete in street races, commit insurance fraud or "tag" spots with your gang's logo? Go right ahead. Would you rather follow missions against rival gangs? You can do that too. There are so many activities to try, jumps and diversions to find, spots to tag and places to explore that it is easy to become overwhelmed.

Up to 12 players can compete online in standard deathmatches or my favorite mode, Strong Arm. This mode combines several activities from the single-player adventure and pits two teams against each other to see who can earn the most cash. Set in different parts of Stilwater, with 'innocent bystanders' included, you never know what might happen.

But the coolest online mode is the ability to play the entire game in two-player co-op, missions. If you thought creating virtual havoc by yourself was fun, wait until you and a bro decide to decimate the city while playing "Saints Row 2."

'Line Rider 2: Unbound' Unleashes Your Creativity

DEVELOPER: inXile entertainment

PUBLISHER: Genius Products LLC

SYSTEM: Nintendo Wii

PRICE: $29.99

ESRB RATING: Everyone

REVIEW RATING: 3.5 (out of 5 stars)

Over the last few years, an addictive flash game called "Line Rider" has become a bit of an underground sensation. This simple 2D title won't wow players with high-res visuals, a deep storyline or advanced game play. What, then, is the draw? Quite simply, it's the ability for anyone to create levels and share them with others.

The inevitable sequel, "Line Rider 2: Unbound," manages to spread sled riding to consoles and the DS without sacrificing any creativity. The visuals have been greatly enhanced and a special user-interface was designed for consoles. Fortunately, user-created levels can still be shared online.

At first glance, "Line Rider 2's" simple backgrounds with lines running though them look rather bland. However, these lines are actually tracks that snow sleds can ride on. In story mode, players must fill in the gaps in each track in order to propel the rider safely to the finish line. This may sound simplistic in theory, but the execution can be quite thought provoking.

Several different types of lines and objects can be used, and lines are actually drawn onscreen using the Wiimote. Some lines increase speed, others decrease speed, and jumps can be made to help get past certain situations. What is really cool is that there are several ways to finish most levels, leaving the solution to the player's creative mind.

Freestyle and Puzzle mode lets budding track designers create entire levels from scratch and upload them to the Internet for others to enjoy. This greatly extends the replay value and provides a nearly limitless supply of future content. For added variety, backgrounds and track pieces can be unlocked in the story mode.

Easy to learn, yet challenging to master, "Line Rider 2: Unbound" is a surprisingly fun game for the entire family.

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.