While most computer games are first-person affairs -- you fly the jet fighter, you throw the touchdown, you shoot the zombies -- Age of Empires II is a "God game," offering a third-person, omniscient view of resource management, exploration, invention, and conquest. The premise: Try to lead your villagers to process enough wood, food, gold, and stone to support an ever-expanding society of fighters, scholars, and monks. Mix in 13 different historic civilizations, polished single-player scenarios, challenging multi-player action, and sumptuous visual design -- and you end up with a wholly addictive pastime.

Harold Check