Reviews are out of four stars.

'Doom 3'

Set aboard an ill-fated scientific outpost on Mars that serves as a portal for the demonic hordes of hell, "Doom 3" (Activision; Xbox, PC; $49.99; Rated Mature) is quite possibly one of the best-looking games ever to hit the Xbox.

With graphics bordering on photo-realism, "Doom 3" boasts level after level of amazingly detailed corridors, passageways, stairwells, laboratories and chambers that make you believe you are in the bowels of an off-world research facility in the far future.

For a first-person shooter that is ultimately about nothing more than churning demons into blender byproduct, "Doom 3" actually makes a pass at being smarter than your average frag-fest.

It's not the flimsy plot, which involves a mad genius opening a doorway to hell through experiments on teleportation.

Rather it's the fact that your character, a strong, silent Marine for the Union Aerospace Corp., is equipped with a personal data assistant, a handheld computer that contains e-mail, audio logs and security clearances.

Game designer id Software took pains to imbue "Doom 3" with some humanity. Your Marine can listen to Mars workers complain about day-to-day problems, warn of strange happenings and pass along crucial information such as key codes. He can also pick up other people's PDA's and access their information.

True, these tidbits are nothing we haven't seen before. But it's always a delight when a first-person shooter has some level of intelligence that goes beyond trigger-pulling.

By far, though, the game's claim to fame is its astonishing look. From the plethora of truly terrifying foes to room after room of buzzing, humming, whirring scientific equipment, the graphics are a wonder to behold. Much of the game is dark, but thanks to lighted consoles and panels, glowing demonic eyes and your Marine's flashlight, the effect is more atmospheric than annoying.

"Doom 3" arrived for PC last year, more than a decade after the original, which has become a shooter classic. Any console fans who enjoyed the previous incarnations or newcomers eager for a quality fast-paced shooter with the top-shelf appearance of "Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay" should pick this up.

'Cold Fear'

Although published by a reputable company with a track record of good games, we frankly didn't expect much from "Cold Fear" (Ubisoft; Xbox, PS2, PC; $49.99; Rated Mature). There hadn't been any industry buzz about this horror title set on a Russian whaler in the midst of an Arctic storm and, besides, the title was lame.

After a rocky start, we were pleasantly surprised. Although not entirely our cup of tea due to camera issues and a modicum of save points, the game proved interesting and clever in its use of the environment to challenge our hero.

Told from a third-person perspective, "Cold Fear" follows Tom Hansen of the Coast Guard on his foray into a ship overrun by an alien species that has infected the crew.

With hints of "The Thing" at play, Hansen must battle distrustful Russian sailors, animated corpses and the elements. When giant waves crash into the ship, the deck tilts, sending Hansen sliding. Breakers smash into the ship's sides, doing damage to our hero and stunning the undead. A long trip up to the unprotected crow's nest allows players to peer far, far down to the angry seas below.

The look, sound and feel combine to create a wonderful shipboard effect that is unmatched by anything we've seen.

Hansen progresses from level to bloodstained level, snatching up discarded notes along the way that flesh out the story of what happened aboard the vessel.

In theory, it sounds terrific, but a host of drawbacks sadly detracted from what could have been a killer game. First among them is the camera, which can't be rotated and which changes views every time Hansen crosses to the edge of the screen.

Minimal save points amid sometimes tough levels prove frustrating. And although you can interact with the environment, using it as a weapon, aiming your gun is a hassle because of the odd angle from which you control Hansen.

Horror buffs seeking a fresh game who are patient and don't mind a relatively primitive camera setup should enjoy "Cold Fear," but we just can't justify a $50 expenditure.