It's got a marked cosmetic advantage over competition. When it comes to playability, though, this sucker doesn't even make the scoreboard.

After all this time and two tries at the genre, I hoped for something more.

Repetitive missions are a strike against it, but the real damage is done by the annoying auto-aim and the slow to respond control.

Since the X universe limits you to mostly trade and price tracking, X starts to feel like "Excel in Space" only with better graphics than the Microsoft game. Eventually, X’s lack of depth creates a game of commuting, which kills off your urgency to see the main story come to a conclusion.

If you are the obsessive type who likes to control every little happening, the trade of every historically-accurate bushel of grain, then Patrician II will supply a lengthy, stream of satisfaction.

The gameplay that exists in BDB is decent, but there isn't a whole lot of it (though the difficulty level may make it take awhile to complete).

There's nothing that makes you gasp with pleasure, but neither is there anything seriously wrong.

I did manage to have some fun with Reign of Fire, but never got past the frustration with the controls.

Its uninspired dungeons, two-dimensional characters, repetitive gameplay and frustrating technical problems make this one not worth the time or the money.

Buggy doesn’t quite describe the gaming experience with this rush-job.

Simplicity is normally a virtue on a handheld, but I'd say this game is too simple.

Even the level layout and "puzzle" elements--find the key, backtrack to the door--smack of things we've already seen, which makes the game, despite its arguable technical flow, something of a letdown.

I’m hoping that EA Replay makes it to another platform; I have a feeling that it will do better there.

I enjoyed the story elements of the game immensely. The communication between the characters in Mission: Impossible is mature and completely in tune with the feel of the series and film. Unfortunately, the bulk of the gameplay in the adventure is not up to the quality of the atmosphere that is created for us.

Though the in-game graphics and animated cut-scenes are quite nice in Endgame, the game is not entirely polished.

If you enjoyed Rune but wanted more multiplayer play, these two new modes offered in Halls of Valhalla will likely do very little to satiate your needs. Action fans should pass on this game altogether and put that same $20 towards "Serious Sam."

Not as fun as the extra-exaggerated Triple Play games of the past and nowhere near as good as better baseball simulations by 3DO and Acclaim.

While it is fun in short spurts, there are too many issues to make it a first round pick.

Whatever the reasons, Lady Sia is able to remain enjoyable for at least half the time it takes to complete its quest, which is more than can be said of the majority of the new titles out this winter.

You've seen these types of puzzles before, but they are decently difficult and varied enough to please most adventure gamers.

I would have also liked the game to last longer. An, average monster's life span is three to four years. That can be played through in about one or two sittings.

The entire game boils down to some annoyingly simple button mashing that gets old faster than most UFC matches last.

Hardcore types probably won't care for it, but the more mainstreamers might be interested in a little monkey business.

They got it all in there, it's just a little discordant and rough around the edges. And, despite the failings of this game, there is every reason to believe that All-Star Baseball 2003 will be the best console baseball game available next season.

Sadly, automakers have yet to realize that it's better to have one of their cars in a good game than to enforce their no-damage policy and end up with a bad game because of it.

When the levels are as easy as this, you end up spending less time with the music, which is where most of the joy in this game comes from.

The lack of stimulating combat or camp building will turn off quite a few others. But hey, the premise is cool.

Unfortunately, this writer is unable to provide a worthwhile explanation for such a pitiful display of graphical engineering.