Thunder Alley could have been released for the GBC in the mid 90s and it still would have been considered a piece of junk.

From the graphics to the gameplay, to the lack of any multi-player modes or saves, this is another XS game to stay away from. XS Games is really making a reputation for itself. I wonder if they had any hand in developing Nokia's N-Gage?

Due to the game's repetitive nature I would advise that you don't play it for long periods at a stretch. It will get boring. Savor it. Play one level and then put it away for a day or a week.

If you're looking for a horror survival game that can fill the gap left by the Silent Hill and Fatal Frame series, look no further.

Serves a good game to learn the various aspects of turn-based strategy - but little else.

It's fun for a time while you experience all its unique aspects but the Well of Fun begins to run dry after the first hour.

Sonic Advance 3 doesn't make any significant changes to the traditional Sonic gameplay but what it does it does bigger and better than any previous handheld Sonic game before it.

Bean there - done that - won't do it again.

To fully appreciate The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure, you're going to require a GameCube, three friends and four GBAs. If you have no problem meeting these requirements and you're also a big Zelda fan, then you're in for a treat.

Upon closer inspection this schizoid gameplay combination does seem to work.

If you haven't already, put your money on Wario Wares Inc. It features hundreds of mini-games and no lame platform levels.

To be honest it's not even as good a game as "Super Mario 3," which is a big disappointment since the game has been in production for more than four years...Overall the game is much too simple. The average gamer could blast through this in a day.

Unfortunately it sounds like a wristwatch alarm. After an hour or so of playing Xevious, staring at your watch will seem like a refreshing change of pace.

Virtually every motocross game released for the GBA in the last three years is better than this one.

The score is now at the side to accommodate the smaller screen and the characters are scaled larger than the maze which causes them to clip through the walls. You won't get tagged if you pass by a ghost on the other side of the wall even though it may look as though you made contact with it, but it just looks and feels disconcerting.

It's not unplayable but it will require more work than necessary to compensate for the shoddy technical flaws.

The comprehensive tutorial is virtually guaranteed to get beginners up and running while offering more experienced players advanced tips and strategies.

Lacks depth in all areas. In any given situation there are only a few options available to you. The game is linear and scripted which means that you can learn by trial and error. Events in a game of this nature should be randomized since that's how a war is experienced.

This game will have you on the edge of your controller. You never know what's going to happen next. The gameplay never sinks into a predictable, redundant pattern. The blending of gameplay elements seems random; almost natural.

This is like "Contra" on acid. There is so much stuff coming at you at all times that it will you leave with nervous figgety dreams at night. You will literally be playing this game iin your sleep.

River City Ransom Ex is just an all-right game. It offers nothing special to the beat-'em-up genre. Some may even say that the game takes a step or two backward. One of the major complaints I have is that there is no two-player co-op mode.

It's not so much the gameplay that lures you in as it is the story.

The one area where MvsDK lacks slightly is overall challange for hardcore players. It won't take much effort to get through each level - maybe, two or three tries at the most.

How difficult it is to get your ass to a real bowling alley and play a damn game? C'mon man, this is ridiculous. Next thing you know some developer is going to come out with a videogame of a videogame.

Not a very deep or complex game but the mix of genres such as action, RPG and turn-based strategy is an interesting and intriguing combination.

Custom Robo makes a great rental. Keep in mind that the longer you spend with it, the less you'll probably like it.

The replay value is tremendous if you're a fan of the gameplay but you can experience a great chunk of the game with a rental.

I wouldn't say the game feels great, the controls are just a little bit on the sloppy side and the framerate, while steady, is not fast enough to give the game that "polished" look. The monsters are average looking.

From the gameplay to the graphics, Van Helsing is one poorly developed game. I don't even care what the excuses are, this game should not have been released in the state that it's in.

The sound effects are varied and realistic but the musical soundtrack steals the show. Not only is there plenty of musical variation but it matches the moods of the game perfectly.

The gameplay mechanics are good but it doesn't surpass FIFA, nor does it have half of FIFA's features.

For sheer variety RallySport 2 is hard to beat. It doesn't really do any one thing great but it dishes out liberal amounts of fun in arcade doses.

The story has lots of potential but unfortunately the game kind of loses sight of Red as it introduces several incidental characters forcing you to play through their perspective. Aside from adding some variety to the game it really detracts from the main storyline.

The characters look great and they move about very convincingly reacting to their environment. Unfortunately the risqué, adult humor from the first movie has been reduced to the level of a Scooby Doo episode.

Those that appreciate long, deep and difficult RPGs will have their hands full with Beyond Divinity. I can honestly say that this game is beyond me. I've played it for days and I still don't really know what the hell I'm doing.

With 25 levels you would think this game would last a long time. A decent gamer will hack his or her way through this in an afternoon.

A solid effort in every direction. It's possibly the most accessible, and perhaps most fun, MMORPG ever devised.

With some new features and a shift in focus, I think that Thrones and Patriots has earned its place under the category of "Darn Good Expansion Pack."

A derivative, persistent online RPG that is trying to compete with older and much better games in the genre. Lineage 2 is too little, too late.

The gameplay is almost generic. You may feel as though you've been manipulated after the game but not while you're actually playing it. That's the sign of good development.

There's absolutely nothing redeeming about this game except that it's price lower than a real game, so you won't get ripped off as badly if accidentally purchase it.

It's obvious that some care and talent went into the making of this game. Unfortunately it just didn't dribble down to the most important part - the gameplay.

The action is fast and furious although the PS2 version has been made a little easier with readily available health and ammo. Even the monsters are a little bit more subdued.

Same old tired gameplay with a new name a big-ticket price tag...I haven't seen so much rehash since I caught Pauley Shore's act at the Comedy Store in L.A. a few years ago.

The characters are well designed and the animation is smooth. The creatures can really put a chill down your spine. A terrible oversight is the voiceovers which are poorly done.

I find it a little disappointing that this second version of EyeToy focuses almost exclusively on the dance/rhythm genre. This technology has so much more potential than to be squandered like this. Besides, it's not even as deep a game as the Konamix series.

This is the game that the original should have been.

More of a hit than a miss but don't expect it to revolutionize the industry. It doesn't stray far from the formula that made the first two games popular.

The animations of the kills are the star of the show. They not only transcend the PS2's graphics but they rival some movies in realism.

All commands are delayed by a second or two because of the stock animation that plays out. I found myself furiously tapping the controller as if the problem was a defective button that just wouldn't listen.

You'll need a fairly souped up machine and graphics card to get the most out of Painkiller but if you have yearned for the return of games like "Serious Sam," "Doom" and the original "Quake" your next stop is Purgatory. Tell 'em I sent you.

The gameplay mechanics mutiny against what might have been an enjoyable, mindless, first-person shooter.

Apocalyptica may not accurately portray the end of the world but it does nothing to preserve the future of gaming as we know it. Let us hope this is not a sign.

I find Alias to be a simplified version of an action/stealth game. It's certainly better than most TV-to-videogame titles but it's really aimed at fans of the show that aren't hardcore gamers.

Nothing but a spruced up version of last year's "World Series Baseball."

How many GBA to console ports can you name? Me neither. This is definitely one and it shows. But despite the somewhat rushed presentation which tries unsuccessfully to combine new graphics and menus with those of 32-bit system, this is still one heck of a fun game - with a four-player mode to boot.

For a one-on-one basketball game featuring licensed NBA players, I can't recommend a better game.

One of those rare treats that comes along once in a long while. Get it while it's hot.

Don't even bother going online. The game is virtually unplayable.

To paraphrase an old psychology axiom, if the game sounds bad, looks bad and plays bad, it probably is bad.

The AI follows a scripted battle plan that remains virtually unchanged regardless of what strategies you implement against them. To that end the game doesn't have much of a real-time feel.

If you get more than three hours of entertainment out of this game you must be using the disk for a beer coaster.

While Outbreak's gameplay is innovative - online, team co-op play and the ability to turn into a zombie - there is absolutely nothing that stands out here at all thanks to one big fat missed opportunity: Communication.

Just make sure you've got an itchy trigger finger because Crimson Sea 2 will scratch that itch down to the bone and continue to saw right through to the other side.

Almost all the enemies present a similar challenge level. Consequently kill.switch becomes redundant which isn't helped by the lack of a fully realized storyline.

In all honesty, this sequel isn't as good as the original but you can never again taste your first chocolate bar for the first time. It's still a lot of fun to take these characters on a quest of sorts. Graphically the game never ceases to take one's breath away.

This is one seriously disturbed game, but deep down in my heart I know I could have made it even more unholy if given the chance.

Hopelessly addicted RPG enthusiasts will probably not be able to resist its allure but you won't find any lasting peace and happiness deep down in your soul once you've completed it. Next!

The gang vernacular and the gratuitous use of swearing may make this game appear cool but you may as well listen to an Andrew Dice Clay recording and play with a string-less yo-yo.

To get the most out of Freestyle Street Soccer you should play it with four players. It's not a very good single-player soccer game as far as the mechanics are concerned.

Don't confuse this Onimusha Blade Warriors a sequel to Onimusha 2 or 3. This is just a fighting game and has only a little bit more in common with the series than a kart racer.

Thanks to low-res graphics, simplified gameplay mechanics and a dumbed down AI, this offering is far less engaging than the Xbox version. For a tactical, squad-based shooter the nuances have been nullified to the point where this game just boils down to reflex twitch fest.

It seems obvious to me that the videogame version lost some of its excitement in the translation. Whatever the developers added to compensate just doesn't work.

An average, by-the-numbers platformer/action game that is generic in every sense of the word.

Probably the most addicting aspect of this game is that you never really know what to expect. The suspense can virtually kill you.

I would simply advise getting the PC version (providing you meet the system requirements). Otherwise you're going to be spending money, and lots of it, to essentially turn your PS2 into a PC.

The game has plenty going for it. Most notably the AI which rivals just about any human that I've played against. What is most interesting is that the AI plays fair. It doesn't have ESP.

Cy Girls is in desperate need of a makeover; even an entire facelift. The gameplay is short on original ideas and even the generic elements that it does use are shallow and repetitious - like a lot of good looking girls I know.

Compared to last year's CSI game, Dark Motives is a definite improvement in every sense of the word. While many skilled gamers may find this game too easy it should be a real treat for fans of the TV that don't do much, if any, game playing.

Pandora Tomorrow is the reward for having successfully completed the original Splinter Cell. You identify more with Fisher this time around since you already have the required skills from the get go. The new features are just icing on the cake. Eat it up.

It's worth the price of admission alone just to take the game online and actually play exhibition games - rather than just download rosters (ASB 2004's online component). And for those who love Franchise mode, Acclaim has hit one out of the park just for you.

Although I will admit that the gameplay, which is based on a card collecting game, can be addicting, this game has no good reason to be the Xbox... I've seen better graphics on the PSX for crying out loud.

Think of Mission Impossible: Operation Surma as Splinter Cell Lite.

A refreshing change of pace although I know that many gamers will hate it due to its relative lack of action. Most of the action takes place in your imagination as you either read about it or hear tales from NPCs regarding past circumstances.

For a budget title you'll be amazed at the quality of the presentation and the depth of the gameplay.

While in some respects the game is interesting, it's just not cohesive enough to provide a solid gaming challenge. The puzzles are arbitrary and consist of a lot of virtual walking with little in the way of directions.

The developers and everyone else involved have taken this project seriously and it shows. Mulder and Scully have found irrefutable proof of life after cancellation.

Much more than a mere upgrade, Unreal Tournament 2004 brings more depth to the frag-fest with more weapons, vehicles, maps and opportunities for team-based strategy.

The collision detection system is much too sensitive for a game of this nature where you often have to squeeze between openings that leave you only a few pixels to squeeze by.

Some aspects of the game could have been tightened up such as the storyline and the combat mechanics but I would equate this game with a trip to the country. It's a little laid back but offers you plenty of breathing room.

Overall the game has that "good vibe" feeling to it that is missing from the majority of videogames.

An arcade-style game that really hits the mark. It doesn't attempt to give you all the bells and whistles but what it does give you is quality entertainment. For the best value, make sure you rent it first.

Battlefield Vietnam lets you use everything you've got, from your shooting skills to your strategy acumen. It's very engaging and easily one of the best Vietnam war games ever created.

For whatever reason, the gameplay as so little to do with the story that this might as well have been Crash Bandicoot with the occasional Seven Samuari cinema thrown in.

There are some technical bugs, specifically the camera angles and perspectives, that spoil some of the fun but overall Worms 3D is in the ballpark - even if it's just standing in line to use the washroom.

Easily the easiest game of the series, Tenchu: Return From Darkness may look better and have a few new features but it's a somewhat dumbed-down version of last year's "Wrath of Heaven" (PS2).

It has become a generic version of itself through its re-birth. It's not worth more than a rental.

A decent enough expansion pack but I can't help but feel that it's taking advantage of its fans. At $30 U.S., the game only offers the bare minimum of new gameplay features.