Each stylish set piece is matched by two or three (or ten) ignoble deaths from cheap bosses or bottomless pits. [Apr 2003, p.128]

Prepare for some frustrating deaths. [July 2008, p.79]

The Xbox version has superior graphics, sound, and control; and the features unique to the Cube are unremarkable. Without multiplayer, Pandora goes from "must-buy" to "solid rental." [Sept 2004, p.108]

In its silly simplicity, Cooking mama does what many can't: keep me heading back to the kitchen for one more snack. [Holiday 2007, p.86]

No game encapsulates that apocalyptic dichotomy like Dead Rising, a million-zombie-march brawler that just happens to be the best s***ty game you'll ever play. [Sept 2006, p.92]

A huge improvement over last year's "Heat," but still not good enough to quiet EA's "Thunder." [Dec 2002, p.204]

The campaign's quick-paced action and violent nature will entice any FPS fan. [Jan 2009, p.75]

This is the first game to successfully mix death-on-the-freeway antics with a plot you might actually care about, and it's worth a shot for that alone.

Forget about doing this game with the CPU. Grab a friend and play this disc the way it’s meant to be played. [Oct 2001, p.146]

Online is a blast, but I think the new targeting system limits its long-term value; while the automatic lock-on keeps aiming smooth in the solo campaign, in multiplayer it removes two of the series' most enjoyable aspects: precision shooting and the use of camouflage.

Music aside, SR2 made all the right tweaks to the original formula. [Jan 2002, p.220]

Sonic's tables aren't especially innovative, but they do offer quite a bit of variety, and the gameplay is fast-paced and fun. [July 2003, p.117]

While this hectic pace isn't realistic, it does make your palms sweat. [Apr 2002, p.143]

If you can get past the learning curve, you'll find a rich, deep RPG - by PSP standards. [Aug 2006, p.94]

Contact offers a creative island-hopping adventure that stands taller than many recent portable RPG's. [Oct. 2006, p.119]

A solid, fun racer, but its repetitive single-player events and limp four-player online multi (Xbox only) sap its power. [Jan 2006, p.120]

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.

Aside from the boss battles, not one of those stages offers any kind of depth or variety; 10-year-old Bomberman games were more interesting. Multiplayer, however, delivers.

When you get into the game you're gonna experience a major case of "been there, done that" if you're an experienced Tony Hawk player...Other than that, Mat 2 is a killer game. [Sept 2002, p.148]

Every room is like an Easter Egg hunt filled with surprises that’ll make you tingly all over. [Dec 2001, p.256]

This is the first game to successfully mix death-on-the-freeway antics with a plot you might actually care about, and it's worth a shot for that alone.

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]

Prepare for some frustrating deaths. [July 2008, p.79]

It won't light the world on fire, but this playground offers plenty of things to do and destroy. [Nov 2008, p.69]

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]

Mario Strikers Charged isn't a soccer game. It's a chaotic war of dispossession, body-checking, and garbage goals. [Sept 2007, p.80]

A really good game. The brighter, more varied environments range from nice-looking to simply beautiful. [Dec 2002, p.216]

Relatively short for an RPG - just around 25 hours - but the sheer character and locale variety make up for it. [Apr 2006, p.102]

Until you begin to understand how each of the weapons work and learn when and where to use them, the game just seems outrageously difficult and often frustrating (on the Normal or Hard difficulties, that is). Once you figure out which weapons work best in given situations however, things begin to get much more tolerable and you start enjoying the game a lot more. [Oct 1998]

A better-playing, all-around more realistic game than 2002 with a level of control that puts all past EA NHL games to shame. [Dec 2002, p.212]

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

I wish I had room to mention all of the game's cool nuances; suffice it to say, compared to last year's edition, Superfly is a more well-rounded title. [August 2002, p.126]

But, for as fresh as it seems, it also feels horrendously outdated in terms of story and characters. [Dec. 2006, p.128]

Still, the core single-player experience is as addictive and elegant as ever. [Dec. 2006, p.158]

Despite the hour-long cinemas, it has more gameplay than most RPGs thanks to its deep battle system, tons of customizable stats, detailed minigames, and absorbing side quests. [Mar 2003, p.128]

Unfortunately, the game takes way too long to come together. The result is slightly reminiscent of "Fable" and "Suikoden"--and too disjointed.

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

A solid, fun racer, but its repetitive single-player events and limp four-player online multi (Xbox only) sap its power. [Jan 2006, p.120]

If you’ve never played a Tony Hawk game, 2X is a tremendous value. [Dec 2001, p.252]

Sure, the game isn't a masterpiece, but until the PS3 raises its role-playing anchor, it'll at least help keep the PS2 afloat. [Feb. 2007, p.94]

Like a Gran Turismo for horse-racing games…Only the dedicated need apply. [Sept 2001, p.145]

Once you get the hang of getting your troops in position to pull off huge combos, the game becomes surprisingly fun and addictive. [Nov 2003, p.176]

Xenosaga's long, strange trip comes to an early yet oddly satisfying end with this climactic finale. [Oct. 2006, p.112]

Still, despite the tedious travel periods, Far Cry 2 features some truly gorgeous environments, (mostly) satisfying combat, and a lengthy, entertaining campaign. [Dec 2008, p.66]

If you can get past the deja vu, you'll most likely have a great time with BN3. Let's just hope the next one offers something new. [June 2003, p.133]

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 puzzles could be more elaborate to match up with the solid combat, sure, but compared to the handheld competition, Size Matters measures up quite nicely. [Apr 2007, p.92]

It's incredible how accurately this game captures the look of the movies and the spirit of the books. [Dec 2002, p.204]

But, for as fresh as it seems, it also feels horrendously outdated in terms of story and characters. [Dec. 2006, p.128]

It also introduces a cerebral angle to a genre that's left little to the imagination and makes it all the more unnerving as the hell on the other side of the hole in your wall closes in. [Oct 2004, p.96]

I like that in 06's franchise mode each NHL team has its own objectives - be the Wings and anything short of Canada's Holy Grail is a disappointment. [Oct 2005, p.114]

Aside from the high-shine gloss, though, a few extra pursuers in the cop chases are about all that differentiates this version from the current-gen game. My main beefs--the repetitive race events and not-very-challenging cop chases (especially earlier in the game)--are still here.

If you've played one sci-fi shooter, you've played 'em all. Nothing echoes this sentiment quite like Pariah, a story-driven shooter that never really comes together as a satisfying package. [June 2005, p.104]

I find the core game to be a lot of thumb-flattening fun--it's just no "Top Spin 2." [Apr 2007, p.84]

What's great about Wright is that, unlike most other games, it really gets you thinking critically, and not just within the rules of the game. [Nov 2005, p.160]

3D fighters didn't feature amputations before this inspired samu-riot. [Jan 2004, p.188]

This game is hellaciously hard. So much so that I can't even think of the words to describe how difficult Shinobi becomes halfway through. [Dec 2002, p.220]

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.

Marble mania ought to be the final test for any aspiring surgeon due to its requirement for a steady hand and a high level of patience. [Apr 2007, p.79]

The camera doesn't swing around fast enough after a change of possession, causing some turnovers and missed fast-break opportunities. Plus, the dynasty mode, slam-dunk contest, and three-point shoot-out have all basically gone untouched.

As anyone who's played "Darkstalkers" on the handheld can attest to, the PSP's stock D-pad simply isn't up to the task of a 2D fighting game with all its traditional "fireball" and "dragon punch" motions. [Mar 2006, p.113]

But in the end, Rabbids feels more like a Wii-mote demo than a full game--not enough flesh on the bone. [Jan. 2007, p.66]

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]

You have to give credit to the brilliant blockhead who forced this awesome yet fundamentally bizarro idea on LucasArts. [Oct. 2006, p.111]

I like that in 06's franchise mode each NHL team has its own objectives - be the Wings and anything short of Canada's Holy Grail is a disappointment. [Oct 2005, p.114]

Sleek graphics and a fast start can't mask what's an entertaining but ultimately disposable diversion. [Feb. 2007, p.90]

Gritty and unforgiving, Max will make your Game Boy bleed fun - if you can stand the pain. [Feb 2004, p.129]

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]

Abbyss defaults to basic roleplaying conventions too often to be unique, but it's hard to hate this well-rounded, classic RPG. [Dec. 2006, p.142]

I never had so much fun NOT playing a game. You see, whether you share one GBA or link several up, you don't get to do anything when it's not your turn. [Oct 2001, p.156]

Rogue Trooper, I thank you for the important lesson you've taught me about judging a game by its cover art: That's now onlt accurate 99% of the time. [June 2006, p.111]

It's "Pong" on steroids, with lifelike graphics, technically deep controls, and awesome sound effects - I love hearing my player's feed shuffle on the court and that satisfying thwop of a well-hit ball. [Nov 2005, p.154]

As for Tiger's mechanics, arthritics beware. If my backswing was jittery, I swung before I intended to--which is frustrating, as the maddening result is a dink instead of a dive. [Apr 2007, p.83]

The camera doesn't swing around fast enough after a change of possession, causing some turnovers and missed fast-break opportunities. Plus, the dynasty mode, slam-dunk contest, and three-point shoot-out have all basically gone untouched.

It's not really a title to play for extended periods but instead something to dip into for five minutes at a time. [Nov 2007, p.112]

The tactical elements are simple and elegantly implemented, and despite being shockingly linear, it's a beautifully paced experience that provides some genuinely exciting battles. [May 2005, p.134]

While the fantastic Worms formula stays intact here, it becomes infinitely more difficult to gauge distances, wind, and all that in 3D. For that reason alone, I can't recommend this one over its 2D predecessors. [Apr 2004, p.116]

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]

Only the not-as-awesome-as-they-could-have-been graphics stump this patched-up Stuntman. [Sept 2007, p.88]

The character art is so good, I forgot about the graphics. More importantly, the gameplay is gripping. [Holiday 2004, p.126]

On the up side we have an excellent create-a-biker mode, some wonderful tutorials, and some surprisingly good control. [Aug 2001, p.109]

So why couldn't I put it down? Simple: deep character-building options. [May 2005, p.91]

If graphics and gameplay are more important to you than story, by all means dive in. [Holiday 2004, p.134]

And even though the series seems to be on the path of becoming a pure shooter (which it does very well), I would like to see a few more sections that reflect its platforming roots. As for multiplayer, Deadlocked again succeeds online, but it's the new splitscreen co-op feature for the main game that's the nicest touch.

Underneath the rote plot elements is a thoughtful tale packed with great characterization and surprising good humor. [Jan 2006, p.129]

LocoRoco is a simple game, one that doesn't challenge you except, perhaps, in perseverance--pick it up, and you'll be able to blow right through its whimsical, intuitively designed levels. [Oct. 2006, p.114]

I love the satisfying mix of action and puzzles as you find, disarm, and nab rogue apes, and the colorful cartoony graphics and wacky story are top notch. [Aug 2003, p.73]

You have to give credit to the brilliant blockhead who forced this awesome yet fundamentally bizarro idea on LucasArts. [Oct. 2006, p.111]

It strikes a perfect balance between racing and aerial trickery so one doesn’t overshadow the other – they’re equally important. [Jan 2002, p.220]

The camera doesn't swing around fast enough after a change of possession, causing some turnovers and missed fast-break opportunities. Plus, the dynasty mode, slam-dunk contest, and three-point shoot-out have all basically gone untouched.

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]

You have to give credit to the brilliant blockhead who forced this awesome yet fundamentally bizarro idea on LucasArts. [Oct. 2006, p.111]

Changes to the in-ring gameplay itself are barely noticeable. It's good, but if you're not a hardcore fan, you'll tire of it quickly. [Jan 2003, p.182]

Dual screens don't do much for the original game, but Pressure mode makes you constantly switch focus between screens, ratcheting up the intensity and confusion. [Jan 2005, p.141]

Obviously Potter-ignorant muggles need not apply, but would-be wizards (or witches) looking for a lil' magic this year should give Secrets a try. [Dec 2002, p.228]

If the game weren’t such a sadist – you’re gonna have to be tough and persistent to make it through this one – and if it weren’t so short (about half the length of an average RE), I’d say it’s a must-buy for any gamer. [Mar 2002, p.141]

While the fantastic Worms formula stays intact here, it becomes infinitely more difficult to gauge distances, wind, and all that in 3D. For that reason alone, I can't recommend this one over its 2D predecessors. [Apr 2004, p.116]

The backdrops are more diverse, the "God of War"-like quick-time events add some much-needed flavor to boss encounters, and item maintenance is now kept to a minimum. [Jan. 2007, p.102]