Its weak event lineup will leave it in a prime spot to be overcome once "International Track and Field" enters the competition.

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

A graphical and technological marvel that offers slick graphics, smooth online play, and groundbreaking communication features. You owe it to yourself to experience it.

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

On paper, the idea sounds great (and the game has been a huge hit in Europe), but the final product flat out stinks.

Ends up being a quirky gem in the Dreamcast catalog thanks to rock-solid gameplay, great graphics, and a loopy sense of humor. Best of all, players are guaranteed to see improvement in their typing if they log some time into the game.

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.

If you could save the game anywhere you wanted during the RTS and RPG modes, it'd be easy to put aside its lack of originality and recommend it as a reasonably entertaining game, something to tide gamers over while they wait for the next really big RTS or RPG.

Boasting some of the most impressive physics and visuals ever to find their way into a current-generation console racer, VP is another of those damnable "must-have" titles for anyone who appreciates a finely tuned driving experience mated to state-of-the-art graphics.

Although the game may look like a kids' title, Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers has enough depth and challenge to keep even the most seasoned gamer busy.

While there are a few interesting spots and plot points, Evil Dead the game has managed to turn one of the most original and entertaining of all B-horror-film franchises into nothing more than a boring, uninspired, and pedestrian attempt to cash in on a license.

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.

Even though the multiplayer games offer a bit of fun for a few hours (blowing your friends up is always entertaining), WDL falls short of our expectations by failing to deliver the kind of unadulterated explosive combat we had hoped for.

Despite its humongous selection of teams and clean-looking graphics, this version of Sony's college-hoops franchise is just as horrible as last year's "NCAA Final Four" on the PSX, thanks to lackluster, unbalanced gameplay and an incomplete control scheme.

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.

This game not only has everything that an add-on pack should have -- fresh units, a new campaign, and new multiplayer maps and modes -- but it has one thing that most don't: a goose-egg price tag.

Fails to deliver a compelling gaming experience for so many reasons that it should've stayed in paperback form.

Casual gamers, however, should skip this title (unless they're WWII plane enthusiasts), because the learning curve is steep.

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.

Even if you're a huge fan of the Batman cartoons or comic books, steer clear of this disaster of an action game.

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.

The premise is twisted, and the game looks hauntingly beautiful; if only it weren't lacking in a few key gameplay areas, it would easily be one of the most fun, interesting, and memorable games of the last few years.

Yeah, Giants has its flaws, but it's one of the most competent -- and clever -- action games we've laid our hands on,

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.

The great combat system and engaging story truly make the game a gem, not only on the Dreamcast but in the RPG genre as a whole.

By delivering awesome graphics and intense, fright-filled gameplay, RE2 makes for a scary romp you won't want to miss.

This "Resident Evil" wanna-be falls flat on its undead face.

Arcade racing aficionados might be daunted by the learning curve, but sim fans will find enough depth here to keep playing for a long, long time.

EverQuest reaches a certain peak and maturity with The Scars of Velious, further solidifying the franchise as the premiere massively multiplayer online RPG.

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.

Introduces many new and interesting elements into the sometimes stale RTS genre; although it has a moderate learning curve, fans of the genre will want to pick this one up.

As a patch it would be near-perfect; it successfully addresses several key concerns, adds one seriously compelling new element, and generally turns a very good racing experience into an exceptional one. Certainly, this is the game EA should have released in the first place.

A good game. Real-time fans may like it, and turn-based gamers will like it. And no one will deny that it is unique. If you're a big fan of the series, this fourth installment is a must-buy.

With an excellent story line, interesting characters, dazzling visuals, and distinct soundtrack, Breath of Fire IV is well worth the time of any RPG fan who's looking for a mature gaming experience.

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

Although the sheer volume of wrestling personalities and gameplay options prevent it from being a complete write-off, it still ranks somewhere between late-night infomercials and the Jerry Springer Show for outright entertainment value.

Its combination of colorful, accurate cartoon-themed graphics and tight gameplay will have you hootin' and hollerin' all winter long.

A below-average game with little in the way of compelling gameplay.

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.

While the AI has a few problems, and there is an occasional rough spot, the finished product is one of the most complete and compelling games we've played, and easily the best MechWarrior game in the series.

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 surfing game that even the biggest poseur would classify as fairly bogus.

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

Horrible...Not even a big-name license such as HBO or a high-profile cover boy such as George Foreman could save this boxing debacle, thanks to its awful graphics, horrible control, and crappy gameplay.

With more than 50 WWF superstars, a fantastic array of matches, and unparalleled, blisteringly fast gameplay, it's the only squared-circle brawler you need to buy. Anything else, especially the horrendous "WCW Backstage Assault," isn't worth your time.

The gameplay is what's key. Banjo-Tooie offers one of the best platforming experiences on the Nintendo 64.

Unfortunately, because of stiff graphics, shoddy control, and bare-bones features, this game doesn't even come close to achieving 2K1's greatness. To put it bluntly, NBA 2Night downright sucks.

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.

Packed with a plethora of wrestlers, features, and gameplay options, WWF: No Mercy is all the wrestling game you'll ever need and then some.

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.

Offers an astounding 50 hours or so of gameplay, and when it was over we wanted more.

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

A unique gameplay experience. If you can leave the guns, bombs, monsters, and aliens behind, you'll find plenty of variety and replayability here to keep you hooked for some time.

Along with the sharp graphics, RE3 features outstanding sound and music.

With Chessmaster 8000, Mattel Interactive doesn't necessarily reinvent its classic series, but it further refines what is already the most comprehensive chess title on the market.

Even if you're not a Trekker, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine -- The Fallen still offers some pretty solid action/adventure with top-notch production values

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.

Even though the gameplay is up to par, the graphics need to keep up with the times.

From the grindingly slow frame rate to the in-your-face pop-up to the time you spend racing through empty streets, the game misses on every count that matters. Don't even bother renting it.

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.

One of the best console strategy games ever made.

Continues the series' long-standing tradition of quality in one of the most compelling RPGs ever. This is the last Final Fantasy game that will appear on the PlayStation, and SquareSoft has definitely saved its best for last.

Want to play volleyball? Go to the beach and stick to the real thing; this game sucks.

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).

Combining tried-and-true platformer elements that make platform games great with an awesome graphics engine and humorous, endearing characters, The Emperor's New Groove guarantees fun for all ages.

Lame graphics, poor audio, and a definite lack of features once again reduce the beleaguered franchise to NIT status.

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.

A game that blends all the fun of a long tedious board game with the excitement of staring at a loading screen!

While Chicken Run isn't an exceptionally awful game, it reeks of unfulfilled potential, most notably in the gameplay, which is highly monotonous and downright frustrating.

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

The game takes an excellent story, interesting world, and engaging gameplay and wraps it all in some of the best graphics seen on the system to date.

A short-lived, badly designed bore of a game.

While vehicular combat with Star Wars characters may sound cool, you'll be hard-pressed to get much enjoyment out of this game.

May feel more like a classic Bond Marathon on TBS, rather than the instant-gratification spy movies we have seen in recent years.

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.

One of the most evilly entertaining time-wasters since the original "Quake."

Will likely prove more frustrating than fun for those who strap themselves into the cockpit.

The best adventure game we've played in recent years, and an instant classic.