Its gameplay isn’t revolutionary, and a couple of its missions get a tad tedious, but Ace Combat 4 sure looks pretty, which is half the reason flying buffs play these air-combat games anyway. [Dec 2001, p.234]

A great multiplayer romp that will keep you and your friends glued to the set for months to come. [Dec 2002, p.236]

This GameDay beater is so challenging and fun that you shouldn’t feel shame for sticking to PS1 Madden for another year. [Oct 2001, p.156]

Seems like the PS2 version’s forgotten kid brother. Its graphics, plagued with texture warping and pop-ups, are bad even by PS1 standards. [Dec 2001, p.264]

This measured, almost plodding gameplay ups the tension and works well in campaign mode, but the faster-paced chaos of multiplayer only heightens your awareness of the innately awkward controls. Multi's a bit short on maps and modes, too.

The new alternate story and head-to-head multiplayer make it even more compelling than the PS2 original. [Dec 2007, p.128]

Using the same game engine as its NBA counterpart, 2K5 plays better than it did a year ago, in part because the A.I. is way smarter. [Jan 2005, p.128]

It won't blow you away, but RPG fans who can see beyond the drab look and slow intro will find a rewarding epic. [Dec 2002, p.218]

Using the same game engine as its NBA counterpart, 2K5 plays better than it did a year ago, in part because the A.I. is way smarter. [Jan 2005, p.128]

Too much force and not enough finesse - that's the problem with EA's puck offering. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting' physical, but not when it comes at the cost of disrupting the natural flow of hockey. [Oct 2003, p.138]

Daxter isn't the best platformer you'll ever play, but on a system where the genre is so often done poorly, it manages to stand out. Definitely worth a play, whether you're a fan of the series or not.

Instincts' A.I. won't revolutionize the first-person-shooter genre, but the rest of the game is still pretty damn cool. [Nov 2005, p.150]

Too much force and not enough finesse - that's the problem with EA's puck offering. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting' physical, but not when it comes at the cost of disrupting the natural flow of hockey. [Oct 2003, p.138]

This game is a beautiful mess. The Dead or Alive series has always been known more for T&A than tech gameplay; for every panty shot, there's a cheap juggle combo that involves less skill than it takes to input a cell-phone text message.

Too much force and not enough finesse - that's the problem with EA's puck offering. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting' physical, but not when it comes at the cost of disrupting the natural flow of hockey. [Oct 2003, p.138]

You have to give credit to the brilliant blockhead who forced this awesome yet fundamentally bizarro idea on LucasArts. [Oct. 2006, p.111]

Acclaim's solid first-person shooter is heavy on the fog. It is atmospheric, though. [Jan 2004, p.189]

It's "Pong" on steroids, with lifelike graphics, technically deep controls, and awesome sound effects - I love hearing my player's feed shuffle on the court and that satisfying thwop of a well-hit ball. [Nov 2005, p.154]

The first fighter I have ever felt truly comfortable playing on a portable. [Nov 2001, p.222]

ToCA 3 is not unplayable, but it definitely needs some tweaking. [Mar 2006, p.102]

You have to give credit to the brilliant blockhead who forced this awesome yet fundamentally bizarro idea on LucasArts. [Oct. 2006, p.111]

It strikes a perfect balance between racing and aerial trickery so one doesn’t overshadow the other – they’re equally important. [Jan 2002, p.220]

Short-lived, but a decent portable Spidey game. [Oct 2001, p.158]

You have to give credit to the brilliant blockhead who forced this awesome yet fundamentally bizarro idea on LucasArts. [Oct. 2006, p.111]

If you regularly immerse yourself in the crazy s*** that comes out of Japan, Disgaea 2 probably won't faze you. Everybody else: You've been warned. [Sept. 2006, p.99]

Finally, a SmackDown game that's paced like real wrestling and veers away from the usual arcadey button-mashathon.

Tune and tweak all you want, Demian, and 2K6's goalies will still be absolute sieves. And for that reason - plus 06's faster play and flashier offense - I'm giving the nod to EA's game. [Oct 2005, p.114]

LocoRoco is a simple game, one that doesn't challenge you except, perhaps, in perseverance--pick it up, and you'll be able to blow right through its whimsical, intuitively designed levels. [Oct. 2006, p.114]