An Old-School Monster-Slaying Adventure

Game:''The Witcher''

Publisher: Atari

System: Windows XP/Vista

Cost: $50

ESRB rating: M

Review rating: 3 1/2 stars

Now that console gaming has surpassed PC gaming, it seems that most role-playing games (RPGs) have been streamlined to make them appeal to a wider audience. In the process, some of the most appealing features have been eliminated, such as the ability to make choices that drastically affect the rest of the game.

However, Atari's latest RPG, titled ''The Witcher,'' returns to the old-school style of game play, resulting in one of the most enjoyable adventures the PC has to offer.

Players take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a seasoned witcher (monster-slayer) who dispatches wicked men as quickly as supernatural fiends. Also known as the White Wolf, Geralt must make choices and alliances that send the story line in different directions. As the game progresses, it becomes less obvious which choices are good and which are evil, making it difficult to stay on the same path.

Combat is an interesting blend of real-time action and traditional RPG fighting. Budding witchers click on an opponent to initiate the first attack and must click again during the last attack of the sequence to continue a combo. Higher-level combos offer visually impressive and devastating moves, and it is even possible to perform finishing blows. Of course, the White Wolf can also perform basic magic attacks, like shooting fireballs, that add variety to each encounter.

With such a gorgeous yet bleak world filled with intriguing characters, exhilarating combat and moral choices, it's too bad that technical problems abound. Don't be surprised if you experience occasional random crashes. Also, the load times can be excruciatingly long while exiting buildings.

Even with these flaws, ''The Witcher'' is a refreshing return to the traditional RPG genre.

Game: ''Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends''

Publisher: Majesco

System: Nintendo DS

Cost: $30

ESRB rating: E

Review rating: 2 1/2 stars

When it comes to award-winning cuisine, France is renowned for sauces, Japan is home to the infamous Iron Chefs and the virtual realm is ruled by Cooking Mama. If you didn't become familiar with this adorable culinary master in her debut game, don't worry, because ''Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends'' is here to serve an extra helping of fun.

Unfortunately, the fun wears off rather quickly due to the limited amount of features. If using the stylus to perform basic cooking chores like chopping and mixing wasn't so entertaining, most people wouldn't get past the first recipe. At least you can customize your kitchen and put new outfits on Mama in the new version.

Eighty fresh mouth-watering recipes, such as Shark-fin soup and Escargot, are available to prepare in this sequel. A total of 150 mini-games will have players fervently slicing, mixing, stirring, spreading, sprinkling, and much more. Don't worry if you make mistakes, because Mama will come to the rescue. As a result, the standard Cook with Mama mode hardly presents any sort of challenge unless you try to get gold medals.

However, the Let's Cook mode is much more enjoyable since Mama doesn't offer any help whatsoever. In fact, it can be quite a challenge to perfectly prepare a meal because each dish is judged by nine computer-controlled 'friends.' A limited local wireless multiplayer mode for up to three players rounds out the game play offerings.

While it is hardly - err - cutting edge, ''Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends'' is fun for brief stints of gaming, and it makes great use of the touch-screen controls.

RATING KEY

4 stars - Must have

3 stars - Pretty good

2 stars - So-so

1 star - Don't waste your time

Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

E: Everyone

T: Teen (13 and older)

E10-plus: (Everyone 10 and older)

M: Mature (17 and older)

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An Old-School Monster-Slaying Adventure