Fast, pretty, and controls almost perfectly. [Mar 2003, p.134]

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

DAH2 still suffers from its share of frustrating escort missions, cross-map fetch quests, and ugly graphical pop-up, but Pandemic's strides make second contact more pleasing than the first. [Dec. 2006, p.138]

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]

Samurai's unique but ultimately clunky combat system avoids repititious button-mashing with parry-and-dodge techniques that keep you on your toes. [August 2002, p.130]

Fans of the series won't be disappointed, unless they're expecting online play - it isn't in it. [Oct 2002, p.179]

No game’s shoddy camera in recent memory has given me more headaches than this one, and it couldn’t have happened to a better game. [Nov 2001, p.218]

Get some friends together, though, and you've got one seriously fun multiplayer RPG. [Jan 2004, p.164]

The polished fighting engine steals the show, though, bringing an engrossing level of strategy to the table. [may 2007, p.88]

I admit it's no blockbuster, but Summoner, like Ms. Hilton's opus, still makes for a fine guilty-pleasure rental. [Nov. 2006, p.124]

The enemies are tougher and more frequent in the brutal second half, but I still enjoyed every thrilling moment. [May 2002, p.106]

The mesmerizing visual details--grass stains on uniforms, a mega variety of tackle animations, awesome stadium re-creations--more than live up to the hype, but the actual gameplay is why I'm planning to upgrade my hardware.

The foundation of Pro Evo still supports enjoyable and technical soccer, but it badly needs something new for next season. [May 2008, p.78]

There's less oncoming traffic to compensate for the smaller screen, and I didn't quite feel the classic Midnight Club sense of speed like Demian did.

I love DDR, and this one’s OK, but it’s the most forgettable game of Konami’s dance-game catalog. [Oct 2001, p.154]

Through what I assume is some kind of mystical voodoo magic, the game cleanly details every frame of a 100-mph car chase without batting an eye. [Apr 2002, p.144]

This incredible compilation is a dream team of sorts for anyone old enough to remember having to <I>out</I> to play the best videogames. [Jan 2004, p.128]

Control is stiff and floaty, while boss battles often require stubborn persistence instead of strategy. [July 2004, p.95]

A potent concoction that should appeal to any RPG fan. [July 2005, p.112]

As a "My First SSX," Blur is passable. But for longtime SSX fans, this installment's much too limited coursewise, the track design is as poor as "SSX on Tour's", and instead of innovating, the unreliable motion controls get in the way. [Apr 2007, p.80]

Playing good or evil has little effect on the loopy story; although the game kept me entertained, I didn't feel the need to replay for the alternate ending.

It's not bad, but it could have been much more. [Dec 2001, p.264]

With a measly two play modes and no real solo campaign, it's hard to believe Microsoft expects anyone to pay $50 for what feels like one-third of a game. [Feb 2004, p.126]

Even though gameplay is pretty much the opposite of innovation (with the exception of the multiple characters, and more chances to drive a tank compared to the PC version), the presentation is second to none. [Jan 2005, p.124]

Curse is thus leagues better than its PS2 predecessor, but it still doesn't reach the legendary status of its 2D forerunners, mainly because of a lack of Metroid-style open-ended level progression.

"Brain Age" is the type of game that makes you react; this is a game that makes you think--and even punishes trial and error (which I found out the hard way). [July 2007, p.96]

A very good-looking, fun boxing title loaded with satisfying arcade action... The champ's still got it. [Dec 2002, p.258]

It's easily worthy of a spot alongside the best giant-robot games ever. [Nov 2002, p.300]

It does an incredible job of re-creating the show's fast-paced mech combat by combining slick animation and spot-on controls. [Nov 2002, p.302]

It simply can't compete. First of all, the batting is physically painful. [May 2003, p.132]

Problems plague the player models, the camera is too high, the Dynasty mode is still shallow, and Fever's announcers make Madden's demented ramblings sound smart. [Sept 2003, p.125]

Bravely straddles the border between action and strategy, but it needs to take a step deeper into both territories.

Sure, it's fun, but it's hard to plop down your dough considering last year's "Bomberman DS" allowed eight-man fragfests. [Sept. 2006, p.108]

Scrapland's cool murder mystery is wasted on a series of lame fetch quests. It's got a lot of heart - just not a lot of brains. [Apr 2005, p.125]

It'd be so much better as just a driving game. [Feb 2008, p.84]

I won't be playing this one for hours on end, but it's easily the best classics compilation ever put together. [Oct 2005, p.121]

So even though Live is lookin' better, it could still use more time in the gym. [Nov 2007, p.103]

Flatout 2 is pretty much like the first "Flatout", which was pretty much like a poor man's "Burnout". [Sept. 2006, p.98]

She's less a game and more an interactive vacation - something I can play whenever I have time and not get completely lost. [Mar 2003, p.130]

If only the developers had spend half as much time fine-tuning the enemy A.I. as they did finessing the graphics, XIII would be incredible. [Dec 2003, p.196]

Control is stiff and floaty, while boss battles often require stubborn persistence instead of strategy. [July 2004, p.95]

Gorgeous graphics, inspired combat, fun minigames, and cool puzzles and platform challenges bolster play immensely. [Apr 2003, p.130]

The "hurt Vince to hurt meanies" premise really shines through in the boss battles, most of which are brilliantly hilarious - but they don't come often enough. [Dec 2003, p.226]

When all of its gameplay modes and disappointing multiplayer options are handicapped by game-ending obstacles (you can actually become trapped by a fence) and unnecessarily fussy controls (rotating the stick to maintain balance sucks), the once-mighty 1080&#176; is relegated to benchwarmer status in no time at all.

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

Flatout 2 is pretty much like the first "Flatout", which was pretty much like a poor man's "Burnout". [Sept. 2006, p.98]

A spectacularly unrealistic collision of "Grand Theft Auto's" swipe-anything-that-moves sensibilities and "Mercenaries'" revolutionary warfare.

Only tried-and-true multiplayer modes with smooth Net play save this from utter mediocrity. [Oct 2007, p.86]

You really have to concentrate on becoming a multitasking fiend - it may look simple, but there's a lot of strategy. [Apr 2005, p.135]

Moves at a blisteringly fast pace (unlike some other PSP sports games), looks comparable to its visually impressive big brothers, and is simple to control. [May 2005, p.98]

It's a real shame, though, that the developers thought that simply putting the name of a Hall of Famer on the jersey was enough. [Sept 2007, p.86]

Lots of SS's gameplay mechanics don't really work; it gets too fast and chaotic at times, leaving you disoriented, out of control, and bouncing off objects like a pinball. [May 2002, p.109]

I found myself losing interest quickly... Pride is a bit too one dimensional for most fighting fans. [Mar 2003, p.126]

It's hardly original (not to mention short and sometimes ugly), but Namco's got both the control and the difficulty level just right. [Dec 2003, p.184]

Gone is the great adventure, lost to the simple need to collect stuff, and in its place is the carrot and the stick - which even the most dedicated mule will only chase so far. [May 2004, p.88]

The story mode in Colosseum is surprisingly dark (by Pokemon standards), but with its lifeless characters and endless torrent of dialogue windows, it's not quite the full-fledged RPG fans may be hoping for. [Apr 2004, p.130]

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

If only the developers had spend half as much time fine-tuning the enemy A.I. as they did finessing the graphics, XIII would be incredible. [Dec 2003, p.196]

Does a pretty good job of walking the line between reheated leftovers and fresh meat. [Dec 2005, p.178]

If you need a simple gunplay fix this could maybe see you through a weekend... [July 2006, p.92]

As with the previous two 3D Sonic outings, Sonic Heroes is a solid platformer that could've been a lot better if the developers had spent more time balancing the levels and tweaking the unbelievably frustrating camera. [Feb 2004, p.108]

There's no franchise mode, but I'll swap wireless multiplay for that any day. [May 2005, p.96]

I'm ready for this series to advance its gameplay, rather than just continuing to add new objects and locations to interact with.

While I too had a good time out on the tracks, ProStreet's bog-standard (but still superb-feeling) racing does little to evolve the series. [Holiday 2007, p.68]

But where DTR falls flat is in the execution. Why learn the subtleties of the fighting controls when the most effective attack is "punch, punch, punch"? [Sept 2002, p.156]

Improvements over last year's (extremely late) version of Blitz are minimal. [Nov 2002, p.298]

Clearing each squad of dim-witted goons is rarely an intellectual challenge but always entertaining as an ultraviolent display of beauty and precision -- it's like a John Woo movie without the doves and opera music. [Feb 2003, p.135]

Rockstar could easily sell this game for full price, and it would still be well worth buying. [June 2002, p.120]

The gameplay feels very unfinished. [Oct 2001, p.158]

Like a mediocre Buffy episode: Decent plot, predictable Scooby-gang hijinks, and lots of fighting action and bad vampire puns... It also throws in...the iffy graphics engine that produces lifeless character movement and collision issues. [Oct 2003, p.134]

Ten minutes into the approximately hour-long tutorial and I thought this game probably should've stayed on PC. [Mar 2007, p.88]

Scores with the cause-and-effect physics of a PC game but seldom capitalizes on the unscripted chaos. [June 2005, p.101]

After Burner sports merely decent graphics while managing to suck all the fun out of a once-great franchise. [Apr 2007, p.92]

Once you&#146;ve mastered the somewhat quirky camera zooms and the rules of the sport, EA&#146;s Rugby becomes an enjoyable experience. [Sept 2001, p.145]

I love what this game offers - classic 3D platforming with a supercool mini-ninja dude. The problem is, I-Ninja doesn't offer a whole heckuva lot of it. You can blast through the entire game in a few sessions. [Dec 2003, p.192]

A pretty basic vehicular shooter...However, the sheer brilliance of the different multiplayer matches makes it worth the price of admission. [Dec 2002, p.242]

Despite the game's pacing, the graphics, cut-scenes, and second half of the story end up making Episode II a solid RPG - just not the epic sequel that the previous game deserves. [March 2005, p.122]

In other words, it's prescribed, with reservations, for patient <i>The Longest Journey</i> zealots only. [Jun 2006, p.115]

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

It's too bad World Cup's gameplay is so slow an ddeliberate, because I like other parts of it. [July 2002, p.115]

Intelligently blends the three gameplay styles together in a way that works. [Dec 2002, p.202]

Quotation forthcoming. [July 2005]

Gone is the great adventure, lost to the simple need to collect stuff, and in its place is the carrot and the stick - which even the most dedicated mule will only chase so far. [May 2004, p.88]

So even though Live is lookin' better, it could still use more time in the gym. [Nov 2007, p.103]

What this amounts to is a classic example of how a simple yet typically enjoyable experience can fall apart due to poor game design. [Nov. 2006, p.132]

This is basically the same game as the last two &#150; this series just refuses to evolve. [Dec 2001, p.262]

Though the new multiplayer levels are nice, fixing the horrible camera should have been the priority. [Mar 2002, p.139]

The best part of Zeon is its massive 100-plus mission tree that puts you on the frontlines as a grunt on either side of the war. [Nov 2002, p.283]

Still a user-friendly pigskin experience with lightning-fast over-the-top gameplay. Yet I'm forced to throw a penalty flag at the lack of big passing plays I've come to love from this franchise. [Nov 2003, p.172]

Offers some decent (yet uninspired) missions to fly, but...true thrills are in short supply. [Nov 2003, p.184]

A somewhat confusing interface and disjointed midbattle cut-scenes make keeping track of allies and major enemies a chore, occasionally shrouding the path to victory, but otherwise, Samurai Warriors slices and dices. [June 2004, p.102]

Atlantis integrates the story and the gameplay seamlessly. [Sept. 2001, p.148]

If you&#8217;re desperate for a shooter that&#8217;s got absolutely no value other than just plain shooting, Outtrigger fits that bill. [Oct 2001, p.150]

No amount of graphical frosting can save GV from its terrible, overly complex controls...GV will frustrate the hell out of you. [Apr 2002, p.143]

While the moves dazzle (slick-looking weapon strips, lightning-fast kicks to the face, dodging--and even stopping--bullets), the game does a poor job of showing you how to link these superhuman abilities together.

The game's "Judgement Ring" is the best solution yet for adding timing to RPG battles. [Feb 2002, p.156]

I enjoyed watching the fireworks as my pyromaniac character exploded another radio tower/tank/U-boat/door, but between history class and explosions, Assault didn't keep my blood pumping.

But while multiplayer rocks, the appeal of the campaign and character customization lasts about as long as Darth Maul's screen time. [Nov 2007, p.122]