REVIEWS

AREA 51, Midway Games/Inevitable

This game still features the fabled Area 51 military base in Roswell, N.M., and lots of aliens that want you dead, but otherwise there's not that much in common with the shoot-everything-that-moves arcade game of a decade ago. Instead, this reinvention of the Area 51 franchise puts you in the protective boots of hazmat operative Ethan Cole (voiced by actor David Duchovny), who's called in to investigate a viral outbreak at Area 51. Things soon spiral into an alien conspiracy story that goes beyond any "X-Files" mythology to include alien colonization, men in black, Illuminati, cyborgs, mutants and telepaths.

While it doesn't all make perfect sense and Duchovny's monotone voice can grow tiresome, there's still plenty of amusement to be had in blowing away an assortment of aliens, including skinny gray beings, mutant soldiers and robotic assassins. With an assortment of environments to explore and a huge arsenal of weapons, Area 51 offers plenty of variety but little rest -- you'll be constantly ducking and covering from the fire of your all-too-smart enemies.

Area 51 excels in both its graphics and its audio, which also features such Hollywood talent as Powers Boothe (who barks commands on your radio) and Marilyn Manson (the voice of a crazy, jar-encased telepathic monster). Once you've run through the 15 levels of its single-player mode, up to 16 gamers can complete online. This game does have plenty of strong competition, much of it more innovative (for instance, Doom 3, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, Project: Snowblind and Halo 2), but it does provide an entertaining ride. -- John Gaudiosi

PlayStation 2, Xbox, $50

I OF THE DRAGON, Strategy First/Primal Software

In most role-playing titles, dragons are the bad guys -- killing one is often the whole point of the game. I of the Dragon aims to counter this insidious anti-flying-lizard prejudice, presenting dragons as noble creatures and allowing you to play one. The story: After humans chase away or kill most of your fellow comrades-in-wings, you must save those very same misguided bipeds. (Good thing you're so noble.)

You begin by choosing one of three dragons: A red fire-breather attacks with the most physical force, a swift-flying blue dragon relies on magic, and a black one mixes those traits to fight with acid breath as well as a variety of spells. Whichever one you pick, you're weak and small at first, slowly growing and gaining power as you get the hang of flying, eating and attacking. As you progress you'll learn to cast spells and even build towns to protect the humans from the hordes of monsters invading the world -- sent there by a demon out to take over the land.

As you kill more monsters, you can upgrade those towns with extra guard towers, military academies and healers that enable the inhabitants to defend themselves -- although sometimes they can't hold the fort on their own and will need you to lend a wing. (You don't actually put bricks together with your claws; instead, you essentially transfer the energy you gain from sapping monsters' souls.)

The characters your dragon meets in the game periodically assign you missions, as does the mysterious human mentor who looks after you and occasionally offers advice. Some levels require you to play as a lowly human, which is a huge step down from soaring through the skies. Fortunately, those ground-bound interludes don't last long, quickly returning you to the air. -- John Breeden II

Win 98 or newer, $40

PIXIFUN PHOTO MAGNET KIT, Pexagon Technology

The picture magnets that fill the shelves of souvenir shops can be funny, serious, decorative or commemorative, but they're never quite personal. Pixifun lets you turn these items of refrigerator decor into a form of self-expression -- first, you prep your digital photos using its software, then you print out your photos in sizes that fit right into its included acrylic photo-holder magnets.

Getting there, however, can feel like solving a puzzle -- the program offers no help file, only a sometimes frustrating printed manual, and fails to explain many of its features, options and buttons. You start in a "project" screen that invites you to design a sheet of 12 images to print out. A thumbnail viewer lets you browse photos to import, or you can create your own simple designs. Beyond the usual resizing, trimming and picture-rotation tools, you can drag in and resize items from Pixifun's clip-art collection, type in your own text and draw lines and shapes on top of pictures -- with a multiple-step undo option to fix any mistakes. The editing features here aren't about to be confused with what you'd get in a regular photo-editing package in terms of either capability or ease of use, but for the price they'll do.

The hardware half of this kit consists of five clear plastic magnet shells and two sheets of photo paper with cutouts that will fit into the magnets. Two test pages and an alignment sheet help you make sure your prints will land right on the cutouts instead of overlapping them; that took us three tries, in part because it wasn't obvious at first that a photo was supposed to slightly overlap its cutout. Once you're happy with the prints, pop them loose from each sheet, then insert them in each holder and slip its cover into place (carefully, as these fragile bits of plastic can crack). If you tire of an image, a small paperclip reopens the magnet -- but punctures the picture in the process.

Other kits from this Guilford, Conn., firm let you make photo key rings, stickers, badges and CD labels.-- Gabriel Goldberg

Win 95 or newer, http://www.pixifun.com/pixifun, $13