Driv3r (Atari)

The lastest installment of Driv3r has been widely overlooked and

un-derrated. Hit the streets in this gritty Hollywood-style crime saga as Tanner - a no-fear, no-rules undercover cop - tries to thwart a major heist.

Tough missions and unfamiliar controls may have players starting from scratch a few times, but who wants to finish an 'easy' $50 game in three hours?

The good:

• Fun driving with great crash physics and a cool variety of vehicles.

• Interesting and challenging game modes. (Take A Ride mode is a blast!)

The bad:

• Occasional in-game glitches.

• Only two view options while driving.

• No multiplayer gameplay.

If titles of the Vice City variety are your game, the highly underrated

Driv3r is well worth a look. Buying tip: Check the used game bins to save big.

Returning 20 years after the introduction of the Atari 7800, the Atari

Flashback is a smaller model of the original Atari 7800 system and features 20 classic games - including Asteroids and Centipede.

Flashback will be available in November for a suggested retail price of $44.95. For more information: www.atari.com.

Mini Wireless Controller (Intec)

Look Ma - no wires! Wireless controllers for the consoles in the past have meant freedom to roam at the expense of comfort - they were just plain heavy after the batteries were added.

With the new Intec 2.4Ghz wireless mini controllers, players - especially kids with small hands - can enjoy up to 70 hours of gameplay with just 2 AA bateries from up to 30 feet away.

At a mere 9.6 ounces, the units are extremely comfortable to use and the control is precise. No more abrupt endings to the action when someone trips over the controller cord. For $30 to $35 based on your system, going wireless is a no-brainer, and a spare controller always comes in handy for multiplayer games. Up to 16 wireless players can plug in with no interference.

First Published September 19, 2004, 2:36 a.m.