The game succeeds on so many levels that the flawed gameplay borders on tragedy. The only reason I felt compelled to play the game was to enjoy the graphics and sound, but unfortunately that isn't enough.

A leaden interface almost completely nullifies any enjoyment one might derive from this otherwise unique blend of action, adventure and puzzle elements.

Makes enough nods to the uninitiated that it is an accessible game, but at the same time it retains the depth that diehard NASCAR fans demand.

Great course diversity and a choice of four vehicle classes should motivate players to ignore the initial frustration and get to the good stuff.

Features fine graphics, a unique backstory, and atrocious controls.

Though it has plenty of rough edges, the wacky cartoonish graphics and the bizarre sense of humor compensate nicely. Excessive loading is obnoxious.

If you are looking for a historical strategy sim you will be disappointed with Kessen's superficial treatment of military planning. But if you are seeking eye candy and a trite but entertaining story you'll likely be thrilled with this title.

Fast, fun and furious in small doses, but it wasn't made for prolonged exposure.

There's so much to like about Spy Hunter that it's a shame a few of the developers' design choices make it a chore to play through at times.

Improvements over last year's version are few and far between, something of a disappointment considering Visual Concept's track record.

Featuring a well-developed storyline and numerous exclusive modes for this home version, Silent Scope 2 falters primarily when it comes to accurately targeting your enemies.

Rampant slowdown exacerbates the already flawed gameplay mechanics, and the game can be played just as well with or without applying any amount of skill.

The actual gameplay has changed imperceptibly in Mutant Academy 2, but six new characters and six new stages make it feel like a much more complete fighting game.

If you're expecting Madden 2002 on the N64 to compare in any way, shape or form with the PlayStation 2 version, you're going to be sorely disappointed.

Think of this game as Tomb Raider Lite-it features a similarly obnoxious control scheme in a much cheerier universe.

What set out to be "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" with bikes has turned into a pretty dull aping of the Pro Skater experience with numerous graphic and gameplay issues.

It plays a decent game of pigskin and isn't exactly harsh on the eyes, but with such clearly superior titles on shelves and on the way, it seems silly to lay your money down for anything but the best.

A couple of the game's levels show some interesting design (the deck of a cruise ship and a hellishly unrealistic portrayal of New York as a post-apocalyptic wasteland), but the lack of real innovation in the game severely limits its lifespan.

Unfortunately, the experience is horribly marred by a complete lack of replay value, which makes Virtua Athlete almost too short to qualify even as a rental.

If you're a huge fan of the original Gundam series, this is your Game of the Year...On the other hand, if you're just looking for a fun game, Jaburo will likely bore you with snail's pace gameplay and frustrating missions.

In the end it's just a run-of-the-mill action game with few assets and lots of faults.

While some subtle improvements have been made, many of the game's original flaws remain, including lackluster gameplay and a dull story.

City Crisis won't rekindle interest in the genre, but it will eat up a few days of your time.

MX 2002 is on the good side of average, but it still doesn't stand out from the crowd.

Some questionable AI problems (like weak goalies), horrendous sound, and some minor control issues disqualify this game from the finals.

The thrills are as cheap and quick as the gameplay is shallow and you probably won't be playing it a month after purchase. That all sounds very negative, but above all else, arcade games are good fun, and so is WarJetz.

Unless you've got a thing for mediocre fighting games with half-animal women dressing in shamelessly whorish outfits, there's not much to see here.

Offers precious little new to the series, and is sorely lacking in inspiration. Namco has released a derivative knock-off of its own series.

It is fun if you have friends over, but the single-player game is a chore.

Without the fromping huge arcade cabinet, the steering wheel as big as your head and a few friends fighting over who gets to play next, it just isn't the same.

The graphics are really chunky and the sound effects are, at best, unobtrusive. Still, you don't necessarily play a game like this for the graphics. You play it for the hyper-cheezy commentary from Retired Sheriff John Bunnell and the modest thrill of keeping the peace.

It's certainly a competent and fun game, but its appeal doesn't have a terribly long shelf life.

A few scattered mini-games and some creative segments help to break up the been-there, done-that monotony, but still don't manage to extend the game's lifespan more than a couple of hours.

Just another kart racer. It's really not interesting or fun enough to set itself apart from the million other kart racers on the market.

B-Movie fans will enjoy the extreme gore and hilariously overwrought dialog, but those looking for genuine shocks will be sorely disappointed.

An above average effort on the PS2. Basically an enhanced port of the N64 sleeper.

With bugs galore, shoddy fielding, and poor base running AI, ASB 2002 takes a step down from the series' legacy of excellence.

Unfortunately, like too many EA Sports PS2 titles, the game feels like a polished-up version of an older PSX game, rather than an innovative new title.

Despite expectations, many gamers will find themselves disappointed by Oni's frustrating gameplay and lack-luster presentation. However, Oni is not a total loss, and succeeds at moving us one step closer to a true three-dimensional representation of classics like "Streets of Rage."

While the game perfectly captures the mood of the Evil Dead movies both graphically and aurally, poor control in combination with tedious combat makes playing this game a real chore.

Unfortunately, the solid graphics, intricate track construction, and fairly tight controls fail to overcome cheap AI and a poorly balanced weapons system, relegating LTSR to the rental bin for all but the most devoted 'toon fans.

989 Sports should be pelted with sweaty towels for releasing a football game with so many glaring gameplay flaws. When the collision detection is so bad that players can literally run through their fellow athletes, you know something's dreadfully wrong.

A mindless shoot 'em up in every sense, and doesn't try to conceal that fact. If this type of gameplay appeals to you, give this circus a chance.

The graphics are excellent (minus the very noticeable anti-aliasing issues) but the gameplay is analogous to driving a tank with broken treads.

At times the game is a confusing mix between the real and the surreal, but the saddest truth is that this unique experience is over much too soon.

While including enough varied modes of gameplay to set it apart from most RPGs on the market, Orphen's inconsistent presentation and oftentimes stale gameplay make it one of the Playstation 2's more forgettable launch titles.

Oozing with a creepy atmosphere and scary ambiance, this title is best described as a survival horror game played in first person, unfortunately the comparison also holds true for the control scheme, which is frustrating enough at first without the mouse to turn off most casual gamers.

"If you've been crawling across a desert for a couple years before finding a drink, you'll swear that even the smallest, dirtiest drop of puddle water is nothing less than manna from heaven." Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a small, dirty drop of puddle water.

Much more than a straight forward port of the decent arcade driving game, Rush 2049 on the home consoles packs in vehicular combat and insane stunt driving for a pleasing combination of addictive gameplay formulas.

It takes Tetris Attack and offers so little in the way of new material that it redefines the word "shameless."

A game that makes great strides in innovation, but fails to take the extra time and effort in polishing those innovations.

Even the amazing graphics can't save the game from its shallow and poorly thought out gameplay.

Although Seaman himself looks good, his bleak environment offers nothing to entertain the eyes or ears while you're waiting for evolution to happen.

Excellent presentation and a well-implemented concept make the frequent frustration bearable, but a healthy dose of persistence is required to get the most out of this unique title.

What's the point of having 3D graphics if the gameplay doesn't even make an attempt to break into the Z-axis?