The single-player game is a perfectly adequate sequel to the original, but the multiplayer stuff may well be the best online experience on the PS2 right now. [Aug 2004, p.102]

Kingdom Hearts II, I am relieved to say, delivers on everything the series' potential hinted at. [May 2006, p.101]

I defy you to find a blaster that gives you more hours of gameplay than this redux of the three-year old PC game. [Dec 2001, p.242]

Nearly as sharp and detailed as the characters in an anime movie, X2's fighters spring to life with fluid visuals that put "Street Fighter III"'s to shame. [Mar 2003, p.126]

Sonic and pals have never looked better in 2D. Still, I could've done without Knuckles and Amy. [Mar 2002, p.146]

A high level of rider and bike customization and goodly amount of attribute points to be earned mean you'll be playing this one for quite a while. [July 2003, p.106]

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.

P3 proves RPGs don't need big budgets to be all-around awesome. [Sept 2007, p.96]

UT3 may be a bit light on strategy, but it's heavy on fast, frantic mayhem. [Feb 2008, p.80]

Enough creepiness to make Christopher Walken uncomfortable. [Jan 2004, p.189]

From start to finish, Canvas is packed with beautiful graphics, awesome level designs, and compelling gameplay. Boss battles are cool and unique, and the minigames and bonus options are worth unlocking--really!

The thing that really impresses me about Legends is the way the developers managed to translate the breakneck pace of "Burnout 3" to a handheld. [Nov 2005, p.154]

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]

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]

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]

For now, Resistance delivers a launch classic, but not quite the hoped-for "Halo" killer. [Jan. 2007, p.74]

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.

Although not necessarily its core mechanic, few things are more satisfying in Mercenaries than blowing crap up, and the enormous variety of methods with which you can do that makes it an absolute joy to play... The first truly great game of 2005. [Feb 2005, p.101]

Age sports some remarkably tricky puzzles and labyrinths. I'm a sucker for difficult dungeons, so these brain-benders kept me enthralled (and occasionally baffled) throughout. [May 2003, p.138]

All serious gamers should check this one out. [Mar 2008, p.85]

It's the puzzles that make the game so rewarding. They're tough, sure, and many are downright brilliant in design. Working Designs, as always, did an excellent job translating the dialogue and story, although, their trademark humor is toned down a bit. [Feb 1998]

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]

Simply the best online racer yet. [Aug 2003, p.116]

Don't overlook this title just because it's 2D; the graphics here are detailed and ingeniously designed - the current pinnacle of pixelated art and animation. Behind the pretty facade is a fighting system as deep as any classic of the genre. [Oct 2004, p.110]

While the crème de la crème of RPGs (like "KOTOR1") deliver a gripping tale that sucks you in to its world even further, this narrative is a horribly slow burn, and worse, predictable. [Feb 2005, p.112]

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]

Clever, addictive gameplay like this fits the Mario subject matter perfectly, but neither the story line (it's too cute to stomach, really) nor the visuals (can you say GBA?) do it justice. [Jan 2006, p.130]

Massively addictive gameplay. Intricate move sets, responsive control, and creative characters (all three newcomers are keepers) make SC3 a tough beast to put down, especially once you and your buddies graduate to high-level play.

I guarantee nine out of 10 fans of the original "AC" will be disappointed with this one. Oh, we'll still spend hours with it, sucked into its insanity, but this certainly isn't the sequel we were hoping for. [Jan 2005, p.132]

Put your high-priced cars on the line in this racing sequel. [Jan 2004, p.188]

The only disappointment here, besides the frustrating new co-op mode (trying to coordinate movement just adds another layer and slows the game down), is how little has changed. [Nov 2005, p.144]

Easily the best platformer on the PS2. [Nov 2002, p.288, Chris]

Round 3 addresses the imbalances of the previous games for a more realistic but still gripping experience. [Apr 2006, p.88]

Plus, chicks dig it, making it great for couples play. [May 2003, p.113]

Exploring a massive, multilayered Zelda dungeon with three other people definitely ranks up there among the most satisfying multiplayer gaming experiences I've ever had - online or off. [July 2004, p.104]

The game's gorgeous graphics will work your eyes just as hard as the battles work your thumb, too. [Aug 2004, p.110]

I can't remember the last time I had this much fun with a racing game. [Dec 2002, p.202]

Thanks to some intelligent tweaks, you'll now find a much better balance between offense and defense. It's not as easy to blow by a defender on the perimeter, but when you do, the adjusted A.I. compensates and another defender picks you up.

Make weird customizable beasts, then let them kill each other. [Jan 2004, p.188]

A near-perfect blend of first-person shooting and smart-guy tactics. [Jan 2004, p.146]

You won't find a better offroad racing simulation anywhere. [Jan 2003, p.194]

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]

The whole of what's here still stuns in the uncompromising GTA way, putting it--with sister game "Liberty City Stories"--leagues above anything else on the PSP. [Jan. 2007, p.108]

GRAW2 may not make the same splash as its predecessor, but it's still a no-doubt award winner. [May 2007, p.85]

The difficulty will undoubtedly polarize, but as something unique, Skate is more than welcome. [Nov 2007, p.108]

Online play alone will make this cartridge a near-permanent fixture in my DS. [Mar 2008, p.83]

Combined with razor-sharp controls, this is one of the fastest, most responsive fighting games I’ve ever played. [Jan 2002, p.232]

08 is the best hockey game in years. [Oct 2007, p.87]

All it really offers over the first game is a second character and a new skill or two - yet it never feels tired or rehashed. [Holiday 2004, p.101]

Quotation forthcoming. [Sept 2005]

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]

Predictably slick graphics, haunting tunes, challenging bosses, and pinpoint control once again make this a perfectly engrossing DS quest. [Jan. 2007, p.110]

This game hangs with the best of them, and in a few areas, outskates even "Tony 3." [August 2002, p.123]

Perfectly tuned to the 360 controller, it's killer racing action for newbie and veteran alike. [Dec 2007, p.123]

08 is the best hockey game in years. [Oct 2007, p.87]

This sequel makes it fun to be the Prince again.

I was utterly addicted the moment I started playing Hitman 2. [Dec 2002, p.204]

"Out of this World"-style gameplay never looked so good. [Jan 2004, p.188]

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]

Thanks to some intelligent tweaks, you'll now find a much better balance between offense and defense. It's not as easy to blow by a defender on the perimeter, but when you do, the adjusted A.I. compensates and another defender picks you up.

The “ain’t broke, don’t fix” approach is evident: The fundamental rhythms and patterns of the game haven’t changed, the structure of the career mode remains intact, and the set list is stocked with hits (as well as a few stinkers). [Dec 2007, p.102]

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.

If you find "Halo 2's" multiplayer a little slow, try Unreal... A return to the whiplash speed of "Quake," UC2 is deathmatch at its most claustrophobic and relentless. [May 2005, p.137]

Ultimately, it's another addictive treadmill of a game that offers nearly limitless replayability and depth. [July 2007, p.94]

The range of multiplayer games and user-created race routes means near-limitless replay value and the chance to earn cred on a much larger street. [June 2003, p.111]

It might not look too hot, but F-Zero X is one hell of a racer. [Jan 2004, p.189]

Splinter Cell still offers the most unique multiplayer around, and Double Agent will keep me happily entertained for quite some time--probably well past Fisher's retirement party. [Dec. 2006, p.121]

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]

The new "Devil May Cry"-like control scheme makes it easy to quickly change targets and evade swarms of Genma demons. [July 2004, p.96]

Almost every deviation X-2 takes from the established Final Fantasy norm has paid off. [Jan 2004, p.136]

Astroy Boy assaults you with old-school charm. Factor in snazzy visuals, tight controls, and demanding difficulty, and you get a solid purchase...and one that's not just for kids. [Sept 2004, p.110]

Tweaks to gameplay, visuals, and controls make this action-packed sequel a winner. [Jan 2004, p.189]

Sega stuck to the fundamentals, such as great control, gameplay and graphics. The result: a baseball game that sucked me into the action right after the first pitch. [July 2002, p.124]

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]

MotoGP re-creates the fast, dangerous world of bike racing better than any other game out there, with stop-on physics and a control scheme that's both newbie friendly and deep enough for the grizzled two-wheel veteran all at the same time. [Oct 2005, p.117]

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.

As for total newcomers, welcome to what is, in my opinion, the most fun, fully 3D fighter on the market. [Sept 2008, p.76]

Even with wussy characters and settings all over the place, the story and gameplay in Kingdom Hearts rivals the "Final Fantasy" series. [Oct 2002, p.182]

As for total newcomers, welcome to what is, in my opinion, the most fun, fully 3D fighter on the market. [Sept 2008, p.76]

You don't have to invest a bazillion hours to unlock the sweet rides. [Jan 2002, p.229]

My biggest gripe is stil the size of the game - it's not tiny, but it's also not big enough to match the otherwise epic feel of Fable. The world might be as deep as an ocean, but it doesn't matter so much when it's only the size of a swimming pool. [Nov 2004, p.146]

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

If you're a stealth-action fan who's still ignoring the Syphon Filter franchise, you're doing yourself a disservice. [Nov 2007, p.118]

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]

On the PS2, 2K2 is a faster, more arcade-like experience than it was on the DC. [Jan 2002, p.216]

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]

More unique battlegrounds, different attack ranges and effects, a new mechanic or two - the Emblem formula would benefit from some added complexity. [July 2005, p.117]

I can't remember a game with almost nothing I would change...No other golf game keeps the action moving so well from one shot to the next. [Apr 2002, p.138]

Thanks to its incredibly deep Season mode, Pain is easily the best wrasslin' title since the days of the Nintendo 64. [Jan 2004, p.140]

All it really offers over the first game is a second character and a new skill or two - yet it never feels tired or rehashed. [Holiday 2004, p.101]

For what it is, it's an enjoyable game. [Dec 2002, p.272]

While THUG offers some innovation, it remains fundamentally the same game...Fundamantally, Hawk hasn't evolved enough. [Jan 2004, p.112]

Champions reminds me of the classic action of "Gauntlet," only with infinitely more depth. Fantastic visuals, fun combat, complex and superbly designed dungeons, and even an engaging story line combine to keep players enraptured. [March 2004, p.116]

The addition of a dash to the GBA version makes exploring snappy, and the redone graphics look great. [Feb 2006, p.112]

The red-hot Wii gets an entertaining new "Mario" platformer that fills the crucial gap the delayed "Super Mario Galaxy" should have occupied. [May 2007, p.76]

For whatever reason, shooting down scores of TIEs never, ever gets old. [Jan 2004, p.189]

Wonderfully unique. [Apr 2008, p.78]