"BATTLESTAR GALACTICA," Sierra Online; available for Xbox 360 (for download), Windows Vista/XP

Rated: Everyone 10 and up

One of the best sciencefiction shows ever created on the Sci Fi Channel is "Battlestar Galactica," a more serious retelling of the original campy series that pits the ragtag Colonial fleet against the murderous robotic Cylons.

It's not the first game based on the series, but it is the first aimed at mainstream gamers. The original game was basically a flight simulation title, which required quick reflexes and a basic understanding of genre. The new game is much easier to play: You fly ships while shooting at enemies on a very good-looking 2-D battlefield. It has only a few keys to control movement and two for weapons.

The single-player game is based on episodes from the TV show. In those missions, you pilot ships from the series, such as the Viper II or the Blackbird. In multiplayer mode on the PC or through Xbox Live Arcade, players can take the role of either Colonial pilots or Cylons.

Despite the 2-D map and simple controls, special effects make it seem like a 3-D world. But fans of the series may be disappointed: The game does not feature the voices of actors from the show or even sound bites. As a result, the game, though affordable, fails to capture the excitement of the series.