This is the first stealth FPS I've played that actually works. From it's near-perfect melee controls and truly next-generation-level graphics to the pacing imbedded in its taut narrative, Riddick is a must-see, must-play, must-buy Xbox classic. [July 2004, p.100]

No other game comes anywhere close to replicating what it feels like to lay down two streaks of rubber in a '69 GT40 when the green flag drops, or hit 200 mph on the back straight at Le Sarthe. There are few games that can draw you in so completely that you forget you're playing a game in the first place, and this is one of them.

The sequel packs the same simple visuals and strategy system, but I think the rewarding gameplay's even better this time around. [July 2003, p.122]

Beauty abounds in this game; the bright visuals and hypnotic driving beats complement the gameplay perfectly. An awesome on-the-go treat for your eyes, ears, and mind. [May 2005, p.91]

Not only is Future a great game, it's the best yet on PS3, arguably the best-looking game ever, and an absolute pinnacle of fun. [Dec 2007, p.112]

You've gotta give it up to Nintendo for bundling a phenomenal suite of over 25 Wi-Fi multiplayer minigames with the single-player game. [July 2006, p.96]

SH2’s unnerving mood is so immersive, almost deafening, that it overshadows some of the technical faults…This game will scare you. [Nov 2001, p.212]

It's very different from anything out there. I've never seen a game as frenetic, fast-paced, or absolutely hilarious as this. [June 2003, p.132]

The 2K2 [computer opponents], however, can light it up with more ferocity than a pit bull at a beef jerky convention. [Mar 2002, p.138]

Street possesses electrifying gameplay with kick-you-in the teeth animations and visuals. [Sept 2001, p.141]

Until the developers master the riddle of team A.I. (players here don't always respond properly in certain situations), work remains undone. Even so, this year's model is great.

This Namco fighter lets you use weapons to kick your opponent's ass. [Jan 2004, p.189]

Top Spin's control is wonderfully simple... With an incredibly deep Career mode and online opponents, all that's missing from this glorious package is mixed doubles matches. [Dec 2003, p.228]

EA's improved everything in this game, from graphics to putting to new arcade modes that help pass the time. There's just no better golf game out there. [Oct 2003, p.136]

Even though you get more varied action from a "Metal Gear Solid," what's here is so well designed, I remained jaw-dropped impressed from start to finish. [June 2003, p.126]

As someone who's closely followed Criterion's racing series for the last seven years, it warms my heart to see it evolve into something as innovative, satisfying, and polished as Paradise. [Feb 2008, p.74]

Every few minutes, I have to remind myself: Relax the death grip. Unclench the jaw. Wipeout is that intense. [June 2005, p.108]

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]

As fun as the original Excitebike (8-bit Nintendo), and it even has a custom track editor. [Jan 2004, p.189]

It's playing solo that puts this one over the top. Creating a custom hoopster and earning respect never feels repetitive. [March 2005, p.116]

What makes this game such a wonderful and hellacious journey into the heart of warfare is its ability to let chaos reign. [May 2005, p.122]

Still excellent despite the fact that its biggest innovation really amounts to an unnecessary step in the passing game. I'm more impressed by the little tweaks--precision passing, smart routes, the "truck stick" for those Jerome Bettis moments--that improve the overall experience.

Heavily inspired by "Mario Kart," but still an amazing multiplayer racer. [Jan 2004, p.188]

The linear missions and non-interactive environments don't hold their own when compared to feature-rich PS2 shooters like "Red Faction" or "Deus Ex." But none of that matters, because in this game, presentation is everything. [July 2002, p.116]

It's a fun, beautiful, and intense alien-zombie game wrapped around a mediocre sci-fi horror center. [Dec 2008, p.70]

It's hard to hate a game that looks this pretty. [May 2005, p.130]

Anyone who doesn't fall for the unique characters, hilarious dialogue, and brilliantly conceived environments of Psychonauts has no soul. The James Brown of games, Psychonauts' personality overcomes its flaws. [May 2005, p.136]

DKR looks better than "Mario Kart," but it's a little too cutesy for us. [Jan 2004, p.189]

A very pretty reprise of the original Star Fox story, but with new stuff. [Jan 2004, p.189]

Find three friends to play with (you can play a limited four-player game with one cart), and you'll never want to put your DS down again.

Everything's fun and exhilarating, but it never builds to more than the sum of its parts. Just keep your expectations in the right place, and you'll enjoy your time in the tropical sun. [Holiday 2007, p.76]

Words of warning: You need to give squad-based shooter Vegas some time to grow on you, particularly in the fairly short single-player campaign. [Jan. 2007, p.100]

A strategy junkie's dream come true. [May 2002, p.115]

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]

Immediately approachable by anyone, and no boxing sim has ever made the sport more accessible in all its bloody glory than this year's Fight Night.

For me, Project Gotham Racing 3 is the best of 360's launch titles; it grafts the series' appealing mix of sorta realistic (much more so than Ridge Racer) but still forgiving (much more so than Forza) handling to some of the most impressive graphics I've ever seen on a console.

It's not perfect, but it's refreshingly original. [May 2008, p. 88]

Delivers a long, satisfying experience with a good mix of platforming and exploration-style gameplay. [Dec 2002, p.214]

The option to equalize the stats of both teams in an online contest stands out as particularly brilliant. Not that most of it isn't already brilliant. Because it is. [Aug 2004, p.100]

For the second consecutive year, it leaves the competition slack-jawed and two steps behind with its finesse game. Aside from being the best looking of the latest hockey titles, it's also the most realistic. [Oct 2003, p.138]

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

Genuinely new content doesn't abound, but Sigma remains such an expansive, challenging, and well-paced thrill ride that you won't care. [July 2007, p.84]

But Tactics is still engrossing, time-consuming fun. [Nov 2007, p.116]

The technology works perfectly - spinning your GBA around feels utterly alien yet supremely fun. [Apr 2005, p.135]

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]

It's the great gameplay and intense, "Harlem Globetrotter" action that really keep NBA Street trucking. [May 2002, p.112]

Although flawed, Liberty City Stories is a remarkable achievement; it shames the efforts that many other developers have put into their PSP games.

The quality of the raccoon's second release is staggering, setting the bar awfully high for his jumpy brethren. [Nov 2004, p.142]

Mostly due to its insanely detailed environments and outstanding state-of-the-art lighting effects, Doom 3 succeeds better than any game I've ever played at making you feel like you are <I>living</I> the game. [Apr 2005, p.132]

The option to equalize the stats of both teams in an online contest stands out as particularly brilliant. Not that most of it isn't already brilliant. Because it is. [Aug 2004, p.100]

Pick up Resurrection and you'll discover how robust a PSP game can be--the great fighting just sweetens the package. [Sept. 2006, p.109]

For me, the big thing is feeling like I'm actually on the ice. ESPN's physics and skating put me there. "NHL 2005" is too stiff compared with the flow in 2K5. [Oct 2004, p.99]

Emblem has some issues, like repetitive visuals and weirdly balanced narrative (you'll spend the first few hours on a massive tutorial), but it's still a must-play for fans of tactical RPGs. [Dec 2003, p.236]

Clever and unique, with more imagination in its weapons alone than other titles manage in their entirety, Stranger is a reminder of the importance of refinement and innovation in gaming. [Feb 2005, p.110]

The hardcore MVP player will dig getting a read on the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand. Maybe 2K Games can steal this feature next season - EA surely won't need it. [April 2005, p.112]

Taking the checkered flag involves strategy, which the Grudge/Alliance feature exemplifies perfectly. Still, the controls are a bit too unforgiving for the casual racing fan. [Oct 2003, p.132]

It's your plane's incredibly fluid feel that turbo boosts the fun here into the stratosphere. [Jan 2004, p.148]

The game controls better on the chunkier, first-person-shooter-friendly Xbox pad, making this the finest rendition of TS2 available. [Dec 2002, p.270]

Xboxers luck out with the most polished Burnout yet, and a handful of thoughtful tweaks will inspire envy in PS2 and GC vets. [July 2003, p.121]

The drift mechanics have been completely restored, resulting in a racing game that offers 100 percent adrenaline-fueled, arcade-style fun. [May 2005, p.92]

Immediately approachable by anyone, and no boxing sim has ever made the sport more accessible in all its bloody glory than this year's Fight Night.

It's Mudokons. SoulStorm brew is made out of Mudokons! You gotta tell them! [Jan 2004, p.188]

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]

As someone who's closely followed Criterion's racing series for the last seven years, it warms my heart to see it evolve into something as innovative, satisfying, and polished as Paradise. [Feb 2008, p.74]

The final, and best reason to play SOCOM II: it's incredibly addictive online multiplayer game... The new maps rock like nobody's business, and deeper setup options (sniper rifles only, no explosives, that sort of thing), add even more variety. [Dec 2003, p.206]

It's rare to find a racer that's so easy to pick up and play - and so immediately addictnig. It's not a serious sim, but you'll be too busy enjoying yourself to care. [July 2004, p.102]

[It will] suck you in faster than an arrow into a gelatinous cube. [Jan 2002, p.202]

Seems like the PS2 version&#146;s forgotten kid brother. Its graphics, plagued with texture warping and pop-ups, are bad even by PS1 standards. [Dec 2001, p.264]

While it certainly doesn't reinvent the genre, Jeanne's gameplay wisely blends aspects from other successful tactical-RPGs. [Sept 2007, p.97]

Thankfully, EA has addressed my biggest complaint with last year's addition of NCAA: the visuals. Everything has been touched up. [Aug 2005, p.111]

What really launches Monkey Ball into the stratosphere is the multiplayer. [Oct 2002, p.194]

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.

This is as close as a console RPG has come to pen-and-paper games like "D&D": deep, non-linear and H-U-G-E, with more characters, towns and dungeons than you can imagine. [August 2002, p.134]

And I thought "Circle of the Moon" was good. HoD out classes it (and every other GBA game to date). Konami condensed everything that's so great about "Symphony" into a hand-held game. [Oct 2002, p.206]

Just a prettier version of the last game, "DOA2: Hardcore." [Jan 2002, p.223]

These new free-roaming, carjacking Haven City segments are both Jak II's triumph and biggest failing. They're a triumph because they add variety and give you some control over what you tackle next, yet they fail because they're punch-you-in-the-gut difficult. [Nov 2003, p.182]

Features unparalleled depth in terms of character customization and on-field tactical arrangment. Plus, FFTA doesn't drown in its own complexity and impenetrable plot. [Oct 2003, p.166]

Thankfully, EA has addressed my biggest complaint with last year's addition of NCAA: the visuals. Everything has been touched up. [Aug 2005, p.111]

Minor complaints, though--this is the most creative and entertaining music game this side of "Guitar Hero". [Dec. 2006, p.151]

Mixing Walt Disney's colorful whimsy, the industrial distopias of French cinematographers Jeunet and Carot ("City of Lost Children"), and "Zelda" mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto's genius for flexible gameplay, BG&E is mesmerizing, ominous, and, most of all, memorable. [Dec 2003, p.200]

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]

Pure, exhilarating glee will envelop your soul, demanding that you keep playing "just one more game" into the wee hours of the morning. It's that good. [Dec 2003, p.230]

A huge selection of new minimissions allows for more time playing as famed series stud Solid Snake, and they further exploit "MGS2"'s strongest suit: the gameplay. [Apr 2003, p.111]

An unapologetic, balls-out sim that requires a serious time investment from the player. [May 2002, p.114]

A beautiful game...The problem, though, is that Smilebit is guilty of design overkill, and it negatively affects the overall experience. [Apr 2002, p.142]

It's amazing how well Bully nails a huge assortment of activities. Everything, from midway games to English class, is fun. [Dec. 2006, p.146]

This new portable Metal Gear installment finally gives us the tactical espionage action we expect from an MGS title...and a whole lot more. [Feb. 2007, p.98]

The great A.I. and lightning-fast game speed pulls off an uncommon balance of realistic football with an arcade edge. [Mar 2002, p.144]

In direct contrast to "Steel Battalion," MechAssault is flashy, fast, and instantly gratifying. [Jan 2003, p.198]

Sounds stupid, I know. But once you start playing, you won't be able to stop. [Oct 2002, p.196]

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

Mixing Walt Disney's colorful whimsy, the industrial distopias of French cinematographers Jeunet and Carot ("City of Lost Children"), and "Zelda" mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto's genius for flexible gameplay, BG&E is mesmerizing, ominous, and, most of all, memorable. [Dec 2003, p.200]

There are some potholes - the graphics get choppy at times, and the retail-car challenges seem tacked on - but the sheer variety is something that even non-NASCAR fans will find addictive. [Oct 2004, p.98]

It's easily the best all-around basketball game on the market this year. [Dec 2002, p.250]

All the added VR missions take advantage of the game's biggest strengths (gameplay) and cut out its one real weakness (silly story line). [Jan 2003, p.200]

The hardcore MVP player will dig getting a read on the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand. Maybe 2K Games can steal this feature next season - EA surely won't need it. [April 2005, p.112]

May just be the best party game ever made. [Dec 2001, p.254]

Single-player's certainly the game's weakness, but the multiplayer excelence more than makes up for it. [Jan 2009, p.81]