Ubisoft Soldiers gain superpowers in "Haze," which plunges players into a futuristic war.

The truly great action films of our time — "Die Hard," "The Road Warrior," "Aliens," say — can be summed up in one word: relentless. Once they get in gear, they put the pedal to the metal and don't slow down.

The classic arcade games of the '80s could be called relentless: "Asteroids," "Defender" and even "Ms. Pac-Man" didn't give you many chances to catch your breath. But as games have gotten more complex, their big action sequences are surrounded by a lot of downtime. Much as I love "Grand Theft Auto IV" and "Metal Gear Solid 4," they take awhile to get going.

Not the games here. Each one starts with a bang and doesn't let up. They may not have the depth of a sophisticated role-playing game, but sometimes all you want is the videogame equivalent of a popcorn movie.

"Ninja Gaiden II" (Microsoft, for Xbox 360, $59.99, HHH out of four): The 2004 reboot of a series that began in 1988 has a well-earned reputation as one of the most difficult games on the original Xbox. While it makes concessions to less-skilled players, "Ninja Gaiden II" still provides enough of a challenge for hard-core veterans.

If you expect your ninjas to be at least a little stealthy, Ryu Hayabusa isn't the man for you. Ryu's technique is to leap into action with sword (and staff, shuriken, flail and tonfa) flying. Your enemies don't back down easily, either: Some keep attacking even after you've hacked their limbs off.

The action is satisfying and graphics impressive, but the game has some failings. One is a wonky camera that often prevents you from seeing approaching monsters. The other is an incomprehensible story. Still, if all you're looking for is a pure adrenaline rush, "Ninja Gaiden II" delivers.

"Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy" (Sierra, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99, HHH): The Matt Damon "Bourne" movies, particularly the two directed by Paul Greengrass, are nearly perfect examples of the hyperkinetic Hollywood thriller. Developer High Moon Studios has done a fine job translating the story into a game.

While Jason Bourne may be a $30 million killing machine, his moves are easy enough for novices to handle. Still, you really need to master the timing to be effective. Land enough punches and you can activate a "takedown," which allows Bourne to use a desk, vending machine or neon sign to inflict real pain. Shooting and driving sequences are much less entertaining, with stiff controls.

"Conspiracy" is a fresh approach to familiar material, but most fans will focus less on the drama than on the intense hand-to-hand combat.

"Haze" (Ubisoft, for PlayStation 3, $59.99, H): This first-person shooter heaves you right into a futuristic war between Mantel Global Industries and a South American guerrilla army. You begin as a Mantel trooper, but eventually switch allegiances. (The manual gives it away.)

Unfortunately, the artificial intelligence is dreadful, making squadmates on either side stupid and nearly useless. "Haze" is further marred by unimaginative level design, sloppy graphics and repetitive audio. With so many first-rate shooters on the market, "Haze" is a waste of time and money.