Despite my small gripes, Dead is stsill a must-have in any to-go gamer's pocket. [July 2002, p.126]

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]

GrimGrimoire is fun at first, but not in the same league as developer Vanillaware's "Odin Sphere". [July 2007, p.92]

What a letdown! I had high hopes for March Madness this year, but this one's all sizzle and very little steak. [Jan 2008, p.90]

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

The original was an infamous flop, but the sequel is unexpectedly well crafted, nicely executed, and fun. [Jan 2005, p.137]

An above-average shooting title that feels a lot like Sega's "The House of the Dead" games. [Sept 2002, p.150]

The last game's horrible 3D stages are now less frequent, and the bosses have graduated from embarrassing to forgettable. [Jan 2005, p.134]

What's more, the game's confining mission-based, dungeon-crawl layout may turn off fans accustomed to the series' traditional expansive, expressive worlds. [Aug 2007, p.83]

Ew, they put RPG in my tennis... [Jan 2006, p.135]

Distressingly little effort went into crafting this anniversary package: Square Enix merely cobbled together aspects from the PS1 and GBA remakes, touched up the graphics with high-resolution art, and added one new, ultra-difficult dungeon at the game's end. [July 2007, p.95]

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]

Deception can be mindless fun, but I can't help but feel that the developers are just trying to do too much with this game. [May 2005, p.138]

What a letdown! I had high hopes for March Madness this year, but this one's all sizzle and very little steak. [Jan 2008, p.90]

Unfortunately, flashy pixels and Wi-Fi features aren't much more than tinsel on Trozei's knockoff foundation. [Apr 2006, p.104]

The story never really gets interesting, but the action-heavy combat system is fresh and gets more fun the longer you play. [Jan 2006, p.128]

Deciding whether to fend off those carnivorous foes or sic 'em on your human enemies adds a teensy bit of strategy to the otherwise typical run, gun, and reload approach. [Mar 2008, p.81]

Series vets should expect deja vu from Vesperia's linear town-dungeon-town progression, superfluous cut-scenes, and lame cooking minigames. [Oct 2008, p.86]

It begins so poorly, in such spectacularly mediocre fashion, that were I not reviewing it, I'd have chucked it in a drawer until someone invented a way to retroactively make the first half interesting. [May 2004, p.98]

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]

What ends up spoiling the experience for me, however, is the general slow and clunky feel of the game. If Call of Duty 2 is a blitzkrieg of shooting action, The Outfit is a leisurely zeppelin ride...underwater. It's still exciting, just severely hampered.

I was hoping for more Nazi killing and less clambering over fences, but this is still an interesting stealth-genre diversion. [Nov 2002, p.300]

It's the most fun I've had flying online since "Crimson Skies" for the original Xbox. If only the single-player game flew as high.

While something is lost in the translation [from the arcade], the irreverent goofiness and addictive gameplay remain pleasantly intact. [Aug 2006, p.91]

Factor in obscene load times and overly difficult enemy A.I., and it's a game that only rabid X-fans will enjoy.l [Jan 2003, p.194]

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.

While you'll now find more variety in supermoves, some are still wickedly unbalanced (especially the interception Gamebreaker). [Dec. 2006, p.140]

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

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

I have to hand it to developer Skip and Nintendo--they tried their best to get me to hate their new domestic adventure game, Chibi Robo. [Mar 2006, p.108]

Frankly, playing with the contents of Kirby's tummy will just have you hungry for something of more substance. [Jan. 2007, p.111]

Controls in this game feel clunky. Add a few truly lackluster modes on Xbox Live and you have a game that should, by all rights, be a budget release. [May 2004, p.97]

With a stellar script from the show's writers and outstanding cinematography and voice acting, it really feels like you're playing through a season of 24. Good show. [Apr 2006, p.100]

Too bad it doesn't quite execute in the clutch though. [May 2006, p.98]

Because the controls are overly ambitious (read: complex), instead of being a crack shot with mad skillz, Jake Slade is about as easy to control as a 6-year old kid. [June 2002, p.110]

While it doesn't top Silent Hill 2 or 3, I'll still be proud to add it to my collection. [Nov 2008, p.72]

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]

Visually, Rise of a Ninja is one of the system's best-looking games. But from a game-design standpoint, it's less successful. [Holiday 2007, p.80]

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]

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]

The game's wide array of races runs the gamut from interesting to bizarre, but one constant factor lessens the overall impact - the racin' be slow. [Nov 2004, p.128]

The finicky grappling hook controls lack the intuitive ease you'd like from such an integral control element (never mind the fact that you can't hook onto buildings or trees...wha--?). Even by the game's end, I'd still stumble when trying to sling from car to passing helo.

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

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]

It's like an action movie that, if you don't set your expectations high, you'll end up enjoying. [Aug 2003, p.109]

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.

With its hokey, R.L. Stein thrills, much of the game feels like survival-horror lite for the campfire storytelling set. [May 2003, p.114]

Control is a bit janky, maknig cheap deaths easy. The camera also tends to obscure things. [Oct 2005, p.120]

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.

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

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° is relegated to benchwarmer status in no time at all.

Fails to do anything exciting or revolutionary, nor does it execute anything any better than other basketball offerings do.

A better effort overall, but a few mishaps away from competing with the big leaguers. [Mar 2007, p.92]

More rehash than reinvention. [July 2005, p.118]

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]

Sadly, match types come in just two flavors: artifact raids or kill sprees, which makes $60 seems extortionate. [Aug 2007, p.78]

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]

This baseballer does a good job of simulating the minor-league quality of college ball (read: errors seem more realistic and common), but the overly convoluted functionality of the game kills it for me. [Feb 2006, p.106]

Too bad it doesn't quite execute in the clutch though. [May 2006, p.98]

You'll have to complete a few too many fetch quests, and listening to the in-game tunes is about as pleasant as Sandshrew's nails on a chalkboard. Even so, if you haven't spent quality time with Pikachu for a while, Gale is a good series re-entry point.

This one may mildly entertain those who've never been Twisted before, but series vets should simply drive away. [June 2005, p.109]

Though the fragging may hold your interest for a while, it's far from revolutionary, and the rest of the game feels like a rodent-encrusted relic from 2001.

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]

Spidey's radioactive powers aren't enough to ward off poor collision detection. [June 2002, p.124]

A must-have in any to-go gamer's pocket. [July 2002, p.126]

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

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.

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]

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.

The finicky grappling hook controls lack the intuitive ease you'd like from such an integral control element (never mind the fact that you can't hook onto buildings or trees...wha--?). Even by the game's end, I'd still stumble when trying to sling from car to passing helo.

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.

The most calming game I've played...The downside to this pastoral pleasantness is that it requires Zen-like patience. Chances are, you don't have it. [Apr 2004, p.130]

Early on, you fight a boss named Jack of All Trades - add the usual "master of none," and you've got a pretty apt description of this game. [July 2008, p.]

This baseballer does a good job of simulating the minor-league quality of college ball (read: errors seem more realistic and common), but the overly convoluted functionality of the game kills it for me. [Feb 2006, p.106]

It may not be the best party version of Revolution, but this game fills a lot of individual Idol fantasies. [Feb. 2007, p.95]

The game's wide array of races runs the gamut from interesting to bizarre, but one constant factor lessens the overall impact - the racin' be slow. [Nov 2004, p.128]

If anything can bring your romanticized WWII fantasy crashing back to reality, it's inconsistent A.I. [Aug 2003, p.119]

If only it featured more varied game types - instead of a dozen different ways of spinning the clam-collecting battles - I could get behind this one. [July 2008, p.78]

If only it featured more varied game types - instead of a dozen different ways of spinning the clam-collecting battles - I could get behind this one. [July 2008, p.78]

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]

It's real-time-strategy warfare made simple, complex, and messy, all at the same time. [Nov 2005, p.152]

I found myself longing for more precise control over my players. [Sept 2002, p.150]

I found the combat lame, the camera annoying, and some levels frustrating. [July 2002, p.124]

Rebirth is certainly more fun than its predecessors--whether that will last for the next two games remains to be seen. [Dec. 2006, p.142]

08 gives good fan service, but the car nut in me is more satisfied with the recent releases of "Dirt" and "Forza 2". [Sept 2007, p.92]

The nuts and bolts of Tony Hawk still provide some fun, but at this point it's just ancient left-overs of what used to be something special. [Holiday 2007, p.68]

This may be blasphemy, but I have a feeling Me & My Katamari would have been a really excellent game...on the Nintendo DS.

A very solid racing title that, if anything, ,is just a tad too short. [July 2002, p.120]

It ain't particularly exciting, but it ain't exactly bad, either. [Dec 2002, p.272]

Newbies will find themselves abandoned and bored on am ugly, lonely level treadmill that doesn't even introduce basic gameplay concepts. [July 2006, p.88]

Essentially, it has the appeal of publisher Capcom's previous superdeformed novelty, "Pocket Fighter" (PS1): It's an awesome showcase for series cameos and artwork, but it doesn't work as well as a fighting game as it does a museum.

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

A simple, solid adventure with smart puzzles and high production values, but it leads its junior wizards through every baby step. [Aug 2004, p.101]

Anyone turned off by FIFA's deliberate pace and complex controls might find an approachable bopper here. [Mar 2003, p.126]

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.

Half of the events don't even bother with the touch screen or microphone, leaving us with too many uninspired, Nintendo 64-era minigames. [Jan 2008, p.95]

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 main single-player mode is fairly short and repetitive as well, so with no online play, FIFA won't be in your rotation for long unless you've got some soccer-obsessed pals.