Nothing more than a fun, nostalgic 2D platforming romp that will only appeal to true hard-core fans.

Definitely more interesting than most third-person action games, though it's hindered by a variety of interface problems.

A good diversion for bored cyber-deer hunters itching for diverse creatures that stalk back, but it's obvious that this series is falling somewhat behind the curve.

By no means a bad game, but it's going to require a lot more than a quick tune-up and lube job if it ever wishes to turn the corner and become a great PS2 racing game.

Despite its flaws, serious Quake III fans will want to snatch this up right away.

Although slightly better than "NFL GameDay 2001," and we mean slightly, GameBreaker 2001 falls way short of our expectations because of its poor gameplay and spotty AI.

Despite the graphical shortcomings, Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo offers some of the best shooter action on the Nintendo 64, especially now that the system is hurting for good titles.

Most gamers will enjoy the game's straightforward approach, and there is plenty for hard-core fans to sink their teeth into.

Despite its flaws and little imperfections, it still manages to deliver a fun gaming experience...though we can't help but feel that it's missing something...(multiplayer).

The slow-paced gameplay and monotonous platform-style action is likely to grate on your nerves and provide more than a few bouts of exhausted frustration.

An incredibly deep and versatile tactical battle simulator, which is fun at first, but not complete enough to provide a compelling long-term play experience.

A light and fluffy offering that's just right for kids, albeit a bit too shallow for more mature gamers looking for a challenge.

Solid, fun to play, and irritatingly addictive.

Even with the game's wealth of gameplay modes and excellent sound, the developers' failure to provide analog support and to improve the game's frame rate really hampers the franchise.

If you like the horror-survival genre, or are a big fan of Resident Evil-style gameplay on the PC, Dino Crisis is definitely worth checking out.

Apart from a small assortment of new moves and costumes, there is almost nothing in the game to distinguish it from previous installments.

Frequent and unexplained crashes, constant lockups, myriad bugs, and an insane difficulty level mar what otherwise could have been an outstanding and addictive adventure on the high seas.

Even though the gameplay is somewhat old hat, there is enough variety and challenge in this game to make it a worthwhile purchase. The adventures are well balanced, and the visuals are outstanding.

Though not dithpicable, this game is merely average compared to other third-person action-adventure titles for the PlayStation.

Despite the fact that Dinosaur boasts 12 full levels, each is pathetically short, not to mention extremely easy, usually only consisting of a couple of quick puzzles briefly interrupted by occasional fight sequences. Unfortunately, those are also short and terribly dull.

The same old Tomb Raider action.

A fine example of arcade-flavored supercross action done right.

While the graphics certainly aren't horrendous, they lack overall polish.

It still feels like a "Civilization II" knockoff at times, rather than its own game. As such, it should pacify fans until "Civ III" comes out.

A good first effort, but it's too derivative of Half-Life in many spots, and it lacks focus and polish.

Relies heavily on stealth tactics and interesting scenarios, but often finds itself without a clear course for entertaining and compelling gameplay.

The tight handling we grew accustomed to in Vigilante 8 is nowhere to be found. Instead of having massive tires to keep you on the road, you have to deal with unruly floating vehicles that glide all over the place; turning and weaving in and out of tight spaces can prove difficult.

Because Gunbird 2 is such an insanely hard game, casual gaming fans are warned to stay away. Only hard-core fans of the genre need apply.

With all those freshly minted copies of "Madden 2001" on the shelves, there's no reason to pick up NFL GameDay 2001.

Competent in all regards yet spectacular in none, it's a pleasantly surprising title worthy of attention from fans of the genre.

Although Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers has a lot of good things going for it, such as well-designed levels, tight graphics, and responsive controls, it falls short of being a great platform game due to its hard boss encounters, poor camera angles, and brief adventure.

Still contains all the white-knuckle, suspense-filled gameplay that made the PlayStation version so great. Don't go in expecting something extraordinary or new, because you won't find it here.

With only ten small stages, the game can be completed in about 20 minutes.

The good news, if you're a hard-core old-school gamer, is that they both play like the Gradius shooters of old. The bad news, for every other gamer out there, is that Gradius III and IV don't showcase the true power of the PS2.

The problem is that unless you have the patience to put up with the AI's single-minded fighting style, for the most part you will find joy only in the two-player battles.

An entertaining racer, but it could have been much better had Infogrames beefed up the difficulty a notch (or at least given the player the choice to do so).

Rare isn't breaking any new ground with Mickey's Speedway USA; in fact, it's covering the same ground as the kart racers before it, only not as well.

There isn't much to complain about with Maze Madness, except that the game is short and easy.

While certainly not a spectacular, original work of gaming art, The Grinch is a solidly done 3D platformer that effectively makes fun use of a well-known license.

Even despite slight control problems, terrifyingly bad documentation, and console-style save points, there is still enough here to warrant that horror fans check it out.

A good example of an arcade boxer done right, thanks to its wealth of gameplay modes, exhaustive list of fighters, and wildly fun, over-the-top gameplay.

A fun game, created around a fantastic concept; however, it's not quite the game fans would have wanted it to be.

Though decent for the most part, and occasionally fun, the latest entry in the series remains lackluster and is easily overshadowed by the competition.

The game is perhaps a bit too complex, and the graphics--while functional--do little to pull you into the universe. Nevertheless, this game's a keeper.

Crippled by graphical glitches, poor control, and incompetent AI, TWINE feels more like a wannabe "GoldenEye" than something that can stand on its own merits. It's not that it's a horribly bad game; it's just not a very good game.

The problem here is that there are better, more original and inventive party games out there; Crash Bash fails to do anything to put itself ahead of Nintendo's "Mario Party" series, or even match it.

An entertaining golfing exercise with several unique features and the most intriguing lineup of single- and multiplayer game modes in the business. But it also feels rough and incomplete in its current state.

Aside from lacking an overall slick visual polish, NASCAR 2001 is everything racing fanatics could want, thanks to its huge list of licensed drivers, cars, and tracks, and its intense gameplay.

We won't bleat around the bush -- in terms of shear gameplay, Sheep is a letdown.

Hinging on a technological gimmick and the Pokémon license, the game falls well short of the standard set by previous Pokémon titles.

A good example of how to do a modern-day remake--the new additions to the gameplay nicely complement the old, and the tried-and-true original formula comes through intact.

As a simulation, the game, while not very forgiving, definitely provides a lot in the way of intricate fun.

If you're a die-hard boxing fan, you'll appreciate the extended Career mode and boxer-specific fighting styles. Unfortunately, you won't appreciate the less-than-optimal frame rate.

Multiplayer novelties aside, 4x4 offers a solid racing experience, even if the game is hampered a bit by some poorly designed night races and cruddy collision detection.

KISS fans will almost certainly feel ripped off by the band's phone-in appearance. However, for those who simply want a game with a high body count, K:PC definitely piles the carnage quite high.

Despite its cool premise and rockin' soundtrack, Surfing H3O is nothing but a water-logged train wreck because of its meager gameplay mode selection, horrible graphics, and awful control.

Despite the fact that the control interface will do a number on your fingers and forearms, this game gets a gold medal for capturing the Olympic action with its combination of frenetic gameplay and excellent graphics.

While the main game is fun at first, in the Crazy Taxi vein, the novelty wears thin because of the bland graphics and repetitive nature of the gameplay.

Unfortunately, while the game's premise is certainly intriguing, its fun is sorely limited due to a steep learning curve and lack of racing venues.

Character detail comes at the cost of the environments, which are bland and plain. However, the onscreen action gets so hectic that players won't have much time to hang out and take in the sights.

It's a beautiful looking piece of work, even if there is a modicum of slowdown from time to time due to the sheer amount of traffic on the screen.

If you don't mind a lot of draw-in and bad sound effects, you'll be able to stomach this game.

Its intense gameplay, quality graphics, and tight control will appeal to anyone looking to get their action fix.

Should have been an A-list title. But the steep learning curve combined with the touchy controls and unforgiving physics make what's supposed to be fun just plain infuriating.

There are about 15 hours of actual gameplay, and about 5 more hours if you want to pick up all the extra goodies along the way. Still, before you know it, you've finished the game.

Even though Silent Scope for the PS2 doesn't offer a gun peripheral like the arcade version (can we stress that enough?), it's still an exceptionally fun game that warrants attention.

Although X Squad is fraught with many ups and downs, it's still a refreshing foray into tactical territory usually reserved for the PC world.

Tense missions coupled with bug-bashing fun make this one of the better strategy games we've seen this year, though it won't appeal much to gamers who aren't fans of the book or movie.

Its combination of over-the-top action, an excellent array of outrageous boxers, and multiple game modes makes it a title everyone can enjoy.

Where this game excels, though, is the fast, fluid gameplay and the tight controls, which thankfully weren't changed, and which are enhanced by the analog controller.

Even though the lack of gun support takes away some of the appeal, Konami has done a commendable job of bringing the coin-op experience home.

A fun game, if you can get over the poor multiplayer support and buy yourself a USB-compatible keyboard and mouse.

A typical EX game: solid, a bit boring, and uninspired. It lacks the key elements--great graphics, tight gameplay, and personality in its game design--that give the 2D Street Fighter games their appeal.

If you like scrolling hack-'n'-slash with some platformer action, all wrapped in a decent story, Dragon Valor will prove to be at least moderately entertaining.

While NBA Live 2001 is very much like the 2000 version, it offers some new extras like the NBA Challenge and new in-the paint moves that will appeal to die-hard ballers.

Once the visual thrill and initial excitement passes, there is little here to draw you back for more.

Get past the mentally incapacitating control setup, find a dark enough room, and sit back to enjoy hour after hour of corridor wandering and Xenomorphic genocide.

Somehow, Sierra managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory by committing gaffes and other oversights that just boggle the mind.

Rustin Parr captures the spirit of the movie and makes for a compelling adventure game.

With controls that improve on the PSX version, tight graphics, more than ten levels, and plenty of lightsaber action, Jedi Power Battles has achieved Jedi Master status.

While Jarrett & Labonte is a solid title, it's not going to convert non-racing-game fanatics to the fold as "Gran Turismo" has done.

Suffers from limited gameplay and a few glitches, but it's a worthwhile title that most Frogger fans will enjoy.

There is unquestionably some fun to be had in Spawn, but control and camera issues keep the game from realizing its full potential.

PBR2 has more going for it than you'd expect, mostly in the way of visuals, but doesn't hold up as an overall gaming experience.

The colors are bright and attractive, and everything looks like it's supposed to, in a sunny, cartoonish way.

The Build-a-Mountain mode is a fabulous addition.

This mid-season replacement, though not without its occasional highlights, misfires far too often to run in the same league as its predecessor.

Although Hogs is far from state-of-the-art, it's definitely fun and worth a look if you want something different and smart.

Aquality game, though it does suffer from a "been there, done that" feeling.

Despite its graphical and play control shortcomings, Wizards & Warriors is a good dungeon romp that stands shoulder to shoulder with those RPG classics of yore.

A comprehensive and versatile stock car title that should appeal to all levels of PC drivers.

Although it brings many new things to the table, for every good attribute the game adds, a new problem comes along, be it awkward camera control or flaky targeting.

For those unfamiliar with the title, this is a chance to check out one of the better console games ever made, warts and all.

If, however, you want to move beyond the limitations of the original, or are simply interested in an action driving game that will remain compelling for months to come, Midtown Madness 2 will most likely not shift your gears.

A must for fans of arcade-style dogfighting -- provided they learn their way around the bugs and download a critical patch.

A wickedly fun game despite some of its visual shortcomings, offering the right mix of killer BMX gameplay with X-Games attitude.

If you're looking for an over-the-top football title with some massive mayhem, go play "NFL Blitz 2000" instead. Leave this one on the shelf.

More of the same NFL Blitz antics you know and love, but a shamefully sparse set of upgrades steals its thunder.