The game's overall length and number of hidden surprises is downright daunting, yet the story is so paper-thin, the series still lacks the impetus necessary to motivate casual racers through nearly 50 hours of gameplay. [Holiday 2004, p.96]

The game's overall length and number of hidden surprises is downright daunting, yet the story is so paper-thin, the series still lacks the impetus necessary to motivate casual racers through nearly 50 hours of gameplay. [Holiday 2004, p.96]

If anything is a disappointment, it's the all-new multiplayer mode; the game's lock-on targeting just doesn't lend itself very well to a four-player fragfest, and the options are severely limited. So why am I still giving Echoes such a high score?...The main game is that damn good. [Holiday 2004, p.136]

Finally, a game that embraces the inherent homoeroticism of pro wrestling. [Jan 2005, p.132]

By ironing out the wildly unfair difficulty spikes, cutting down on the dullsville between-mission backtracking, and offering kinder, more frequent mission midpoints, Jak 3 (unlike Jak II) succeeds at making you not want to snap it in half.

The streamlined motives are a tremendous improvement in alleviating tedium - so why the heck is the skill advancement so painful? [Holiday 2004, p.108]

The package feels a bit light (only six levels and two very similar modes)—a bit more like an arcade game than a console game. Still, it's an authentically new experience in a sea of holiday sequels.

From the huge gameplay twist early on, to taking down a giant walking tank, to way late in the game when you team up with certain...teammates, all the way to an end that'll leave you with the same breathless feeling you had when you first watched "The Empire Strikes Back"...moments like these turn a fun game into a monumental experience.

The streamlined motives are a tremendous improvement in alleviating tedium - so why the heck is the skill advancement so painful? [Holiday 2004, p.108]

The streamlined motives are a tremendous improvement in alleviating tedium - so why the heck is the skill advancement so painful? [Holiday 2004, p.108]

Playing solo does grow old, and a few of the minigames are more tedious than fun, but the solid gameplay will have you and some buds up till all hours of the morning to get in more more round. Good times. [Holiday 2004, p.140]

Get past all the computer jargon (your sniper rifle is amusingly called the "LOL" gun), and you have a pretty typical first-peson shooter. [Jan 2005, p.135]

If you were to lock a group of mad scientists in a room and force them to come up with a formula for a diabolically addictive platform game, chances are the result would play a lot like Up Your Arsenal. [Holiday 2004, p.123]

It's the kind of game you'd make your mom play to show her that not all videogames involve stabbing hookers. [Jan 2005, p.135]

Killzone is either A) two years ahead of its time, or B) on the wrong hardware. The PS2, bless its little heart, just cannot do consistent justice to the game's ambitious design. [Holiday 2004, p.124]

Gamers weaned on faster smackdowns and who aren't turned on by the idea of a showdown between Megalon and Destoroyah should proceed with caution. [Holiday 2004, p.106]

An RPG that deftly copies "Final Fantasy X" but is burdened with a story that plays more like a "deleted scenes" bonus DVD than anything coherent. [Holiday 2004, p.104]

Diehards may call foul, but the looser grip on reality really ups the fun quotient. [Jan 2005, p.134]

It takes true talent to consistently orchestrate the chaos (four times the falshy signature strikes amount to a psychedelic supernova). [Dec 2004, p.161]

The other big addition to this year's Smackdown! is nearly lag-free online play, though playing only standard singles matches quickly grows boring. [Holiday 2004, p.122]

An RPG that deftly copies "Final Fantasy X" but is burdened with a story that plays more like a "deleted scenes" bonus DVD than anything coherent. [Holiday 2004, p.104]

An RPG that deftly copies "Final Fantasy X" but is burdened with a story that plays more like a "deleted scenes" bonus DVD than anything coherent. [Holiday 2004, p.104]

The Incredibles game had some great material to work with, but the energy and humor that really made the movie great just isn't there - out-of-context voice clips and poorly connected cut-scenes certainly don't add anything. [Jan 2005, p.132]

The Incredibles game had some great material to work with, but the energy and humor that really made the movie great just isn't there - out-of-context voice clips and poorly connected cut-scenes certainly don't add anything. [Jan 2005, p.132]

The Incredibles game had some great material to work with, but the energy and humor that really made the movie great just isn't there - out-of-context voice clips and poorly connected cut-scenes certainly don't add anything. [Jan 2005, p.132]

Such humor made me stick with this tale, which otherwise suffers from mind-numbing hack-and-slash combat and dull dungeons--action-RPG cliches that are anything but funny. [Holiday 2004, p.102]

Holy f***ing s***. (Sorry...I'm swearing a lot more now because of San Andreas.) I can't wrap my head around how much stuff is packed into this one disc. It's grand, it's ambitious, and funny as this may sound, it's legendary. [Dan Hsu]

It's not deal-breaker, but DOA suffers from an intermittent case of the laggies. [Jan 2005, p.137]

Such humor made me stick with this tale, which otherwise suffers from mind-numbing hack-and-slash combat and dull dungeons--action-RPG cliches that are anything but funny. [Holiday 2004, p.102]

If you liked "Ace Combat 4", this is more of the same good stuff - gorgeous planes, complex missions, and a real feeling of being in the middle of a war, thanks in part to scripted events, radio chatter, and the massive scale of it all. [Holiday 2004, p.109]

Linking one impossibly huge slide after another can be intense and fun, but the weird, floaty physics would probably make more sense in a game about racing ATVs on the moon. [Holiday 2004, p.134]

Everything about Warriors is imaginative at its mind-blowing best. And it's all packaged with some amazing graphics, a haunting soundtrack, perfect controls, and enough gameplay to last over 20 hours if you're the thorough type. Don't miss it. [Dec 2004, p.164]

By combining the original's gadgets and controls with "Mario Party"-esque minigames, Escape fails to be more than the sum of its parts. [Holiday 2004, p.108]

Why must Neo Contra be so short? I want to see more giant plant-things with baby heads and talking dogs wearing Kaiser helmets. [Holiday 2004, p.117]

Crisis Zone has the most unique plot to date. [Dec 2004, p.170]

It's the general gameplay that's busted. Picking up an object is needlessly complex, tricky jumps seem to require more luck than skill, the camera is craptacular, boss battles are tedious, the vehicle-based levels are a joke, and the actual fighting action is bland. [Dec 2004, p.150]

While not as groundbreaking as its forerunner, Boktai 2 still innovates enough to warrant your attention. [Holiday 2004, p.140]

Multiplayer matches blow it all to hell in the best way. [Dec 2004, p.162]

It's the general gameplay that's busted. Picking up an object is needlessly complex, tricky jumps seem to require more luck than skill, the camera is craptacular, boss battles are tedious, the vehicle-based levels are a joke, and the actual fighting action is bland. [Dec 2004, p.150]

It's the general gameplay that's busted. Picking up an object is needlessly complex, tricky jumps seem to require more luck than skill, the camera is craptacular, boss battles are tedious, the vehicle-based levels are a joke, and the actual fighting action is bland. [Dec 2004, p.150]

Sex and violence are the stars, but clever, well-delivered dialogue carries an entertaining vampire apocalypse plot well above current game standards. [Holiday 2004, p.106]

I highly recommend a joystick, though - one thing that hasn't changed is that super moves are tough on a controller, especially the PS2's fragmented D-pad. [Dec 2004, p.160]

Nocturne is flat-out stunning - to my mind, it's one of the most distinctive-looking games of the generation. [Dec 2004, p.161]

Shockingly decent. [Dec 2004, p.170]

A tough but unrewarding arcade-action game that's fun to look at and worth checking out..for about 10 minutes. [Nov 2004, p.144]

The gaping chasm between FIFA and "Winning Eleven" may now be a photo finish. [Dec 2004, p.156]

Slicing through goblins and Amazon elf gals while controlling multiple armies may sound hopelessly complicated on paper, but the brilliant control scheme keeps you from feeling lost. [Nov 2004, p.150]

Sex and violence are the stars, but clever, well-delivered dialogue carries an entertaining vampire apocalypse plot well above current game standards. [Holiday 2004, p.106]

Shockingly decent. [Dec 2004, p.170]

The gaping chasm between FIFA and "Winning Eleven" may now be a photo finish. [Dec 2004, p.156]

Shockingly decent. [Dec 2004, p.170]

The gaping chasm between FIFA and "Winning Eleven" may now be a photo finish. [Dec 2004, p.156]

You must buy this rad $20 collection of 20 good, bad, and butt-ugly games. [Dec 2004, p.170]

You must buy this rad $20 collection of 20 good, bad, and butt-ugly games. [Dec 2004, p.170]

Seriously, random villagers in this game have more character than major players in other RPGs, and certain moments are literally laugh-out-loud funny. [Dec 2004, p.168]

You must buy this rad $20 collection of 20 good, bad, and butt-ugly games. [Dec 2004, p.170]

Larry's surreal brand of dong-and-fart humor lost me somewhere between the fifth date-rape joke and the gay-bar sing-along...The meat of the game - the cheesy, lowbrow funny business - goes limp in mere minutes. [Dec 2004, p.148]

Pretty dull, even for a first-person shooter. [Dec 2004, p.150]

A no-holds-barred shoot-a-thon that'll give its audience exactly what it wants - even more punishing robot chaos. [Dec 2004, p.164]

Larry's surreal brand of dong-and-fart humor lost me somewhere between the fifth date-rape joke and the gay-bar sing-along...The meat of the game - the cheesy, lowbrow funny business - goes limp in mere minutes. [Dec 2004, p.148]

Pretty dull, even for a first-person shooter. [Dec 2004, p.150]

It's unfortunate that the underlying mano a mano action can't match the rest of Deception's ambitious package, but precious little has been done to improve upon the last MK's ("Deadly Alliance") leaden, mash-happy combat. [Dec 2004, p.152]

A better game than "THUG", and in turn is the most finely polished extreme-sports game ever released...However, the degree to which it improved doesn't match the jump seen from "Tony 4" to "THUG", something fans should know before taking the plunge. [Dec 2004, p.144]

It almost seems like a kid's game - until you encounter bosses and trick shots that push your temper to full tilt. And speaking of tilt...where is it? [Nov 2004, p.152]

It's unfortunate that the underlying mano a mano action can't match the rest of Deception's ambitious package, but precious little has been done to improve upon the last MK's ("Deadly Alliance") leaden, mash-happy combat. [Dec 2004, p.152]

A better game than "THUG", and in turn is the most finely polished extreme-sports game ever released...However, the degree to which it improved doesn't match the jump seen from "Tony 4" to "THUG", something fans should know before taking the plunge. [Dec 2004, p.144]

2K5 looks better, moves better, and controls more intuitively than EA's hoopster. [Dec 2004, p.158]

Funny writing (courtesy of an ex-"Ren & Stimpy" scribe) can't save this uninspired rehash of antiquated Crash antics with lackluster visuals. [Dec 2004, p.170]

Once you learn enough to outfit your mech to personal preferences (which quietly becomes addictive) and begin to effectively execute missions, Nexus can suck you in. Not great, but worth it for more patient mech-heads. [Oct 2004, p.102]

Live gets the nod from me this season, partly 'cause of its extras, which include a three-point and surprisingly deep slam-dunk contest. [Bryan; Dec 2004, p.158]

Sadly, online play ranged from silky smooth to nearly unplayable. [Holiday 2004, p.126]

Funny writing (courtesy of an ex-"Ren & Stimpy" scribe) can't save this uninspired rehash of antiquated Crash antics with lackluster visuals. [Dec 2004, p.170]

Live gets the nod from me this season, partly 'cause of its extras, which include a three-point and surprisingly deep slam-dunk contest. [Bryan; Dec 2004, p.158]

2K5 looks better, moves better, and controls more intuitively than EA's hoopster. [Dec 2004, p.158]

If "Driver" married its cousin, there's a good chance the spawn of said union would look a lot like The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee. [Oct 2004, p.129]

Live gets the nod from me this season, partly 'cause of its extras, which include a three-point and surprisingly deep slam-dunk contest. [Bryan; Dec 2004, p.158]

It has a great sense of humor - but it handles the serious stuff with equal panache. [Nov 2004, p.144]

Except for a few totally jive songs, this game is as solid as a rock-steady beat...It's deceptively simple. [Nov 2004, p.151]

And why must I hit <I>left</I> on the right analog stick when my intention is to look <I>right</I>? Talk about counterintuitive. [Nov 2004, p.140]

I love the new minigames because you don't need grace or rhythm; they're all about just moving your feet as fast as possible, without the frustration of trying to stay on beat. [Nov 2004, p.143]

If you're able to accept the unorthodox control scheme, the mediocre single-player game (at least it has one), a troublesome camera, and the lack of an effective lock-on mechanism, then you're tough enough to reap Monster Hunter's unique benefits. [Dec 2004, p.162]

While the crisp graphics and energetic battles work well, the dungeons are a chore and the plot is you usual Mega Man X bluster - weak in a five-hour platformer, unbearable in a full-length RPG. [Nov 2004, p.138]

Despite recycled levels, repetitive enemies, chaotic combat, and unbalanced characters, just controlling four X-Men and using their powers is usually enough to make up for Legends' flaws. [Holiday 2004, p.100]

The goofy dialogue, smooth difficulty curve, and inherent fun of taking something small and building it into something big are all things you just can't find anywhere else on the game shelf. Bravo. [Nov 2004, p.140]

Technologically well crafted, with good controls, graphics, and story - but without the freedom of superior mentalist "Psi-Ops." [Nov 2004, p.130]

Blood sports deep characters, an awesome premise, and an engaging story line that kept me playing long after the novelty of having swords for arms wore off. [Dec 2004, p.160]

Too bad the side-scrolling gameplay is so generic. You're best off staying far, far away from this galaxy. [Dec 2004, p.170]

Despite recycled levels, repetitive enemies, chaotic combat, and unbalanced characters, just controlling four X-Men and using their powers is usually enough to make up for Legends' flaws. [Holiday 2004, p.100]

And why must I hit <I>left</I> on the right analog stick when my intention is to look <I>right</I>? Talk about counterintuitive. [Nov 2004, p.140]

Technologically well crafted, with good controls, graphics, and story - but without the freedom of superior mentalist "Psi-Ops." [Nov 2004, p.130]

Despite recycled levels, repetitive enemies, chaotic combat, and unbalanced characters, just controlling four X-Men and using their powers is usually enough to make up for Legends' flaws. [Holiday 2004, p.100]

While the crisp graphics and energetic battles work well, the dungeons are a chore and the plot is you usual Mega Man X bluster - weak in a five-hour platformer, unbearable in a full-length RPG. [Nov 2004, p.138]

Technologically well crafted, with good controls, graphics, and story - but without the freedom of superior mentalist "Psi-Ops." [Nov 2004, p.130]

It's a truly beautiful game, too, spanning from the lush forest of Ewok-infested Endor the to the Tatooine desert (complete with hostile Tusken Raiders.) And it's just plain cool to see Darth Vader walking around kicking ass. [Nov 2004, p.124]

The best part of all, though, is the story mode, which not only has a great create-a-fighter option, but also a surprisingly good story that almost flawlessly ties all aspects of the game together. [Nov 2004, p.132]

Flow? NHL 2005's skaters have no flow, 'cause they're always lying out on the ice from hit after hit - just like last year. I know hockey is a rough game, but c'mon, I like to control the puck for more than two seconds before picking up my teeth. [Oct 2004, p.99]

The foliage resembles that found in a pop-up book, the mingames are growing old, and though "2004" revolutionized the game, 2005 is mostly spit and polish. [Nov 2004, p.138]

It's a truly beautiful game, too, spanning from the lush forest of Ewok-infested Endor the to the Tatooine desert (complete with hostile Tusken Raiders.) And it's just plain cool to see Darth Vader walking around kicking ass. [Nov 2004, p.124]