The game is ideal for players who have never sat behind Crazy Taxi’s wheel. Veteran drivers, however, would do well to skip this fare.

It manages to feel fresh due to the non-linear nature of its gameplay and the way it places its levels within a narrative context.

The core gameplay is spoiled by a rare complaint for a racing game: it's just too darn fast.

This once excellent, oddly addicting title that appeared on the Saturn three years ago has become little more than a tedious chore to play.

Hacking enemies to pieces never seems to get old. That said, the sequel offers little challenge and doesn't take very long to complete.

Don't believe the hype.

The one element that will annoy more players than anything else is the rigid camera system that displays fixed angles when traversing the levels.

While the power-ups are well done and Harvester and One Flag CTF are a lot of fun, this expansion pack will more than likely collect dust instead of frags.

While Downforce does not run very deep, it does run fast, furious, and most importantly, fun.

A well-rounded, involved game for experienced RTS players but is very difficult and not recommended for the weak of spirit.

An alternative name for the aptly titled Metal Fatigue could just as well be "Human Fatigue" in terms of stamina required to enjoy the experience.

The game is rated "E" for everyone, and it will likely find ways to bore and possibly annoy everyone who plays it.

The action is not nearly violent enough to satisfy one's bloodlust, the characters look different but function essentially the same, and matches lack any form of strategy associated with the sport.

Despite a new locale and seven characters, this Diablo clone does little to rise above its progenitor.

Ultimately, Batman: Vengeance is hampered by its linear nature and lack of mental challenge, but the game is still heads and shoulders above all other Batman titles released in the last few years.

Though winning isn't an easy feat, there is enjoyment in the pursuit. Whether racing against the computer or a friend, kids who enjoy the versatility of LEGOS will enjoy this game and the competition.

Campaign missions tend to be repetitive and can become very tedious. The game's story lags and becomes stale quickly, resulting in a game that depends more on action and its war aspect then on plot. Even so, if you have a decent machine, Starship Troopers can be a blast to play.

Unfortunately, any promise of a good game is hindered by the insistence that your car explode in a fiery crash nearly every time you come in contact with another vehicle.

Not a bad game overall -- it simply pales in comparison to its predecessor. It makes few leaps forward in terms of originality or depth.

Beyond basic maintenance, you'll mostly just watch and wait for the next rush of action.

Gameplay is addictive, but only to those who enjoy the specific genre.

A big disappointment, primarily because the graphics are the best yet seen in the genre...Along the way both the gameplay and options suffered, making WWF Raw one of the more appropriately titled games available on the Xbox.

Taken as pure fighting game, it could use some power-ups, more fixed arenas, more characters, and distinct moves.

Even with the ordinary combat and rather tedious puzzles, Blood Omen 2 still manages to be compelling enough to keep you playing to the end, which is a testament to the overall presentation and varied locales.

Veteran RTS gamers may be put off by the simplicity, but novice players should be able to jump right into the plastic wars quickly.

Unfocused and strictly average. By trying to be too many things at once, it ends up excelling at none.

With over 10,000 objects in the game's universe, there is quite a bit to see and no one's going to tell you how or when to see it in this open-ended space adventure.

Whether re-fueling in midair, trashing a multi-million dollar aircraft by miscalculating your landing corridor, or blowing enemy fighter jocks from the sky in a blaze of glory, the level of sophistication in F-14 Tomcat is as welcome as it is surprising.

If Urban Yeti had twice as many levels and less restricting mini-games, old-school as well as new-school gamers would be all too ready to Yeti.

Games rarely have any sense of culture at all … but those looking for a relatively enjoyable adventure with lots of wit should prepare for a trip to feudal Japan. You won't soon forget it.

The game is more akin to a single episode of an interactive cartoon than a fully fleshed-out experience worthy of a full price purchase.

Even with these improvements, State of Emergency is still a relatively shallow game that focuses on in-the-moment action, offering no real depth or continuity.

A treasure trove of interesting and creative ideas, all melded to form a title that falls short of a classic, but will fill in the niche void for the console's RPG fans.

A solid entry in the genre, but it doesn't do much that hasn’t been done before in games from Konami or Capcom.

Taking into account all of the positive aspects of the game, namely the intricate but responsive control scheme, the competitive computer opponents, and the fun courses, the shortcomings can be chalked up to a developer's first attempt at offering something different.

Exactly the same game as older [Genesis] players remember -- no upgrade in graphics, no extra levels or missions, and no multiplayer support.

All things considered, however, most should hold out for "All-Star Baseball 2003" and hope the problems are corrected.

A solid attempt at watercraft racing that will satisfy less demanding players, but it's a hard game to recommend when earlier games in the genre have done just about everything better.

Most importantly though, NASCAR 2001 is fun. The various difficulty settings provide an enjoyable experience for all levels of skill, and the multiplayer mode provides an exciting challenge to share with your friends.

Those looking for revolutionary gameplay or a game that pushes the envelope of the latest generation of gaming systems will most certainly be disappointed.

There's not much else to be excited about. It is an average beat-'em up with some nice visuals...The combat is too disjointed, the gameplay feels distant, and the fighting engine is too simple.

A stuttering frame rate in a high-speed racing title absolutely kills any fun players will have with the game, and it's a shame considering how close the graphic engine tries to replicate the SSX experience.

The newly enhanced graphics and sound, coupled with the new age, may be reason for some to revisit the land of Myst, but the overall effect is one of "been there, done that."

The final level feels abrupt, not allowing the surprising end to have as much of an impact as it should. However, despite some frustrating moments and the somewhat disappointing later levels, Chaser is an enjoyable shooter with an interesting story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

One of the more pleasant surprises on the Xbox, but players must be prepared to steel themselves against some trying play mechanics.

An unwieldy pitching system and terrible fielding result in a twin killing for those expecting to connect with a fast-paced baseball game.

The company also has a reputation for releasing fairly polished but rather dull titles, and WDL is no exception in this area, either.

The technique associated with controlling the motorbike that makes Freekstyle such an entertaining diversion from other racing games, and the sound effects and music are easily among the best available on the handheld to date.

While the game is good overall, the traditional Battleship board game still holds its own as the best.

Comedy that fails to deliver much of anything in the way of humor is a sad product. All the components for a successful funfest are present but the end result falls flat.

Ultimately, the biggest problem with the game is longevity. There is no scoring system in place and subsequently no battery backup to save best times, points, or top achievements.

While the game improves somewhat as a multiplayer title, the ridiculously fast action coupled with the decreased viewpoint only means the fun is short-lived.

The game swings and misses in so many areas that it ends up alienating arcade fans and simulation fans alike.

Playing through Mister Mosquito for the first time is a unique and memorable experience, well worth a weekend rental if not a full-price purchase.

There are few games that can sustain interest after the initial "oh wow!" factor wears off, but this title does just that with solid, if less convoluted action, that requires RTS thinking with an empire building twist.

Starts out promising and gradually becomes more tedious the further you delve into it. It’s repetitive, and it’s repetitive not because of the sheer number of enemies thrown at you or the simplistic nature of objectives, but because of the paltry set of moves you can initiate with the main character.

If you're expecting more than just a straightforward simulation, however, Q-Ball isn't going to do the trick.

A solid, enjoyable romp Vampire Night may be, but it adheres strictly to the same trite concepts we've seen recycled so many times before.

A solid but bland first-person shooter with no in-depth story or sense of fun to elevate it above any other GBA game in the genre.

You may find that Yoshi's Story can be a wonderfully irresistible experience. It's like Super Mario Bros. 2 in that it's quite a bit different from the usual Mario fare. Many people loved Super Mario Bros. 2, whereas some didn't. That will be the case here as well.

The novelty of the idea soon gives way to awkward controlling and discombobulating camera angles, resulting in an experience sometimes more frustrating than fun.

It's very short and predictable, leaving the graphics to stand on their own as the best feature of the game.

Not the worst puzzle game on the market by any means, but by the same token it offers little to entice fans away from the select few gems that have dominated for years.

The main disappointment is that Mad Maestro! doesn't really simulate the feel of conducting an orchestra.

A passable diversion between more traditional sports games, but nothing more.

In spite of Master of Orion 3's countless detail-oriented improvements, connoisseurs of the series may also find themselves pining for the personality of the earlier games, wishing to trade some of the new intricacy and erudition for a better sense of interaction and consequence.

Essentially offers little more than a few extra missions that lack the appeal of the original, especially in the area of strategic options.

With a more reliable camera, some nifty voice effects and an advanced mode of play for more experienced gamers, this could have ranked as a must-own game.

With the tag combos, tag meteor combos, and dozens of special move-laden combos, there's plenty of depth here for fighting game fans.

Where "Tony Hawk 3" is fast, flowing, and intuitive, Shaun Palmer is slow, disjointed and difficult to get into.

More of the same uninspiring gameplay that makes the license unappealing to game developers. Its failure to adhere to simple precedents or develop surprising action involving interesting characters empties yet another promise of a quality title.

The overall design and presentation is the game’s strong point and helps to make up for the fact that there isn’t a whole lot of substance underneath.

Unfortunately FireBlade's visuals are a notch below most offerings for 2002, but the control is what ultimately keeps this title grounded.

Little more than a convoluted, poorly executed variation on "Tetris."

Although the idea has merit, Wide Games Limited's approach fails to provide action gamers with enough action, adventurers with enough adventure, or strategists with enough tools.

The racing environments suffer from the PlayStation 2's notorious texture limitations.

All of the problems the off-road games have experienced in the past are as visible in this version as a Hummer with its high beams on.

Lacking just about everything that makes their top-shelf titles great, namely the depth of modes and the attempt at re-creating the nuances of the sport, Triple Play 2002 is an action-heavy game that needs a complete overhaul in player models, fielding, pitching, and options.

Only enjoyable if you equate fun with frustration, but most gamers have long since outgrown that philosophy, as have most games. Yet Gradius III and IV clings to its roots like a long rotting tooth.

More attention needs to be placed on the space aspect of the game, and players should have the same sense of freedom as in titles like Halo instead of wandering through narrow halls.

As it stands, it is an average action game that is bettered by a number of original PlayStation titles, which is unacceptable.

The biggest problem with the game is its repetitiveness. Subsequent chapters revisit areas you’ve already been through, and there’s zero interactivity within the locales.

It's certainly much better than the awful Nintendo 64 Superman game, and it looks and feels like an interactive episode of the cartoon series. However, its gameplay is less than super.

For young dinosaur enthusiasts it would be an appropriate choice as it's based on a peaceful premise and contains no graphic content or gore.

Yet the action isn’t complex, and most enemies can be defeated within your first attempt by simply relying on rapid button tapping.

The translation is nearly arcade perfect. The only thing missing is a full-sized sniper rifle, which ends up making a big difference.

Rather than simply adding three new campaigns and 18 additional scenarios, new civilization powers for all 23 cultures, from Ancient Greece's flaming arrows to Rebel Forces' cloaking, bring new excitement to many epochs with some interesting changes or enhancements to gameplay.

A game that won't bowl anyone over with deep gameplay and a compelling, cohesive storyline, but it's arcade sensability is strong enough to make it a decent enough diversion for fans of air combat.

As a homage to the original title, Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms is merely passable, thanks to its carbon-copy design; fans expecting a revitalization of the franchise should look elsewhere.

It's unfortunate so much effort clearly went into the game with the result being a lackluster presentation that is not enough to truly showcase its good qualities.

While it's not inconceivable that someone would find pleasure playing this game, the vast majority of the buying public should wait for Namco's "Ace Combat 4."

Oddly though, despite the game's limited premise, Britney's Dance Beat holds a curious mixture of addictive gameplay and fascination.

For all its features, it turns out be nothing more than a standard, free-for all slugfest.

While the game is not as deep as a "Blaster Master" or "Metroid," the exploration element, the ability to switch between three distinct characters, and the large worlds are well worth a look

Fans of "The Matrix: Reloaded" will want to jack in for the stylish focus moves and original movie footage that fleshes out the events depicted in the film. Everyone else, however, will want to pull the plug and run to the nearest exit.

The colorful manual includes a Strategy Guide as well as comprehensive details on the combat, exploration, and role-playing aspects of Vanguard Bandits.

Yet another Olympic-style contest failing to deliver gold when it comes to the most important aspect of any title: gameplay.

A well-done extension of the show and will at the very least amuse and entertain Dexter enthusiasts.