Tekken 2 (Namco, $49.95) The warriors of the Iron Fist Tournament return in a much grittier, much darker and much more sinister slam fest. Considered one of the best 3D fighting games available, the more than 15 characters are very unique because of their multiple moves and limitless play value. The graphics are very detailed offering interesting worlds and arenas. The story may not be as interesting as Star Gladiators but how many times do you get to battle the devil?

Final Fantasy VII. © Square Soft.

Nuclear Strike (Electronic Arts, $49.95) In a sequel to last year's Soviet Strike, players are plunged into the jungles of Southeast Asia in a struggle to stop a maniac. Gamers complete 25 detailed missions within five levels of play, starting behind the controls of a Super Apache helicopter. Various objectives include rescuing civilians and hostages, replenishing supplies and blasting anything resembling the enemy. As players progress, they are offered a variety of vehicles and ships in which to rampage. As a result, there are excellent full motion video sequences.

Final Fantasy VII (Square Soft, $59.99) Three immersive CD-ROMs offer fantasy adventurers more than 50 hours of game play. One of the most popular role playing series ever created, Final Fantasy tells the tale of mercenaries, heroes and scalawags in breathtaking environments giving players the ultimate gaming experience. If you like to play video games and haven't heard about the merits of this title, where have you been?

The Battle Continues
And so, the battle continues for market share and product saturation among Jack and his two rival giants. One thing is certain, however; this healthy competition is good news for consumers, as it causes an increase in product and a decrease in prices. With PlayStation in the lead, Nintendo and Sega will surely devise new ways to get attention, and may even imitate Sony's clever development strategy. Hey, this corporate competition in and of itself sounds like a great concept for a battle/combat/strategy game.... the only problem is, which company should we pitch it to?

Joseph Szadkowski writes on various aspects of popular culture and is a columnist for The Washington Times.