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.

2K5's fielding - which was well balanced last year - has become too slick. It still feels great and moves fast, but unless you adjust some of the gameplay sliders, expect plenty of web gems - to many to be realistic. [April 2005, p.113]

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]

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.

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]

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]

Spend a day or two learning the controls; the experience is addictive and as smooth as the business end of your gloves. The only thing I missed was the lack of much truly new with this version-I'd kill for a sleazy, mobster-ridden promoter mode, for example.

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

2K5's fielding - which was well balanced last year - has become too slick. It still feels great and moves fast, but unless you adjust some of the gameplay sliders, expect plenty of web gems - to many to be realistic. [April 2005, p.113]

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.

Ys noticeably lacks ambition, but it totally nails the classic feel it's going for. [March 2005, p.126]

If only the game put you in a few more situations that demanded strategy. I had a fun enough time sprinting from one massive firefight to the next, nailing glowy-eyed enemies like paper targets, but I only felt the need to pick a particular gun or change bionics about half the time.

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.

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

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]

With its massive levels, cool vehicles, character classes, and play modes that range from quick and dirty to needlessly complicated, Snowblind's online game itself is reason enough to lock and load.

The Xbox pad isn't the best for street fighting, but the online play was flawless during our testing. [March 2005, p.126]

Some of the problems are rookie mistakes, like players not always going after stray balls, while others are more serious: Street has a tendency to slow down at the worst moments, like during a mad scramble at the goal mouth, and that just plain sucks.

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]

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]

The story spews more cheese than blood, the wonky camera hides foes, and the duo of poorly placed save points and lack of health pick-ups can turn Nanobreaker into a controller-smashing affair. Proceed with caution. [March 2005, p.120]

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]

A number of flaws kill the game's flow, namely a particularly atrocious camera, a weak lock-on system, a frustrating lack of checkpoints, and poor enemy A.I. [March 2005, p.124]

Totally addictive and innovative, and embarrassing to play in public, to boot! (Everything I like in a game.) [March 2005, p.133]

It has a truly epic feel, buoyed by fantastic graphics and a rousing, orchestral soundtrack. Star Fox Assault succeeds where most games fail: It's simply exhilarating to play, despite its flaws. [March 2005, p.132]

It's compelling enough to keep you retrying the more frustrating match types, plus put up with the stealth missions. Sure beats watching the History Channel. [March 2005, p.119]

All of Death by Degrees' good points - impressive graphics, entertaining sniper scenes, solid upgrade and combo systems, unorthodox analog fighting that actually works well - are offset by poor enemy A.I. and one of the most user-unfriendly camera systems I've encountered in a long time. [March 2005, p.121]

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]

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]

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]

As I paraded through the areas killing similar tiny enemies over and over (even the "big" monsters don't intimidate), it took forever to find any exciting rare items to wield. Without those incentives, things got monotonous. [March 2005, p.123]

The A.I. is even brainier than before (teams now put extra pressure on the goal when trailing and sit back with the ball when ahead), the shooting controls are less sensitive - a good thing - and the visuals are finally comparable to FIFA's.

The A.I. is even brainier than before (teams now put extra pressure on the goal when trailing and sit back with the ball when ahead), the shooting controls are less sensitive - a good thing - and the visuals are finally comparable to FIFA's.

Shooting centerfolds and putting together a magazine is halfway interesting, but the gameplay is nothing more than a third-rate "Sims" clone. [April 2005, p.114]

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]

Shooting centerfolds and putting together a magazine is halfway interesting, but the gameplay is nothing more than a third-rate "Sims" clone. [April 2005, p.114]

How could a game with so much potential end up such a mess? [Feb 2005, p.100]

What helps it overcome mediocrity is the alchemy bit (you can transmute common objects into weapons) which makes for some mildly creative puzzles and combat sequences. [Feb 2005, p.107]

How could a game with so much potential end up such a mess? [Feb 2005, p.100]

Derivative or not, Punisher suffers from the same crippling problem: The extreme gunplay gets old after you've capped your first 50 felons. [March 2005, p.118]

Derivative or not, Punisher suffers from the same crippling problem: The extreme gunplay gets old after you've capped your first 50 felons. [March 2005, p.118]

It does prove entertaining in multihour bursts, it's just that it feels unsubstantial compared to better titles. [March 2005, p.128]

Relocating Suidoden's established gameplay to the vast and choppy seas doesn't do it any favors - instead of exploring diverse geography on foot, you're steering a boat across a bleak, boring ocean. [Feb 2005, p.108]

You're stuck with a game of disparate modes - driving, shooting, sneaking, and cut-scene-watching - that never gels into the cohesive, cinematic product the developers were promising. [Feb 2005, p.104]

I don't care how sky-high your expectations are, RE4 will blow them away again and again. 2005's Game of the Year might have come out just 11 days into it. [March 2005, p.130]

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]

With superb dungeons, exciting combat, and one of the coolest gameplay gimmicks ever (shrinking down to Minish size), this is definitely one Zelda you don't want to miss. [Feb 2005, p.116]

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]

The beautiful graphics and destructible environments (both upgraded from the last game) add to the ambience, but the single-player game disappoints with brevity (6-7 hours to beat) and a throw-away story that never sets the mood properly with its weak dialogue and characters. [Feb 2005, p.109]

Offers the kind of over-the-top, seesaw multiplayer experience that keeps you reminiscing long after the game concludes, but also has a deep, fun single-player experience, thanks in part to the new minigames. [Feb 2005, p.98]

Offers the kind of over-the-top, seesaw multiplayer experience that keeps you reminiscing long after the game concludes, but also has a deep, fun single-player experience, thanks in part to the new minigames. [Feb 2005, p.98]

Offers the kind of over-the-top, seesaw multiplayer experience that keeps you reminiscing long after the game concludes, but also has a deep, fun single-player experience, thanks in part to the new minigames. [Feb 2005, p.98]

Just another slow, plodding giant-robot game that doesn't add a speck of novelty to the genre. [March 2005, p.128]

The dirty language and innuendo rules out kids. Grown-ups will despise its complete lack of gameplay (at least Japanese dating sims offer minigames). That just leaves inmates. But forcing them to play this crap would be cruel and inhuman punishment. [Jan 2005, p.140]

An abysmal failure. [Jan 2005, p.143]

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

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]

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

The plot is intriguing, but a poor translation drags it down. Compared to the likes of "Silent Hill 4," though, Kuon feels as ancient as its setting. [Holiday 2004, p.115]

Just look at the screenshots of Ridge Racer for the PSP to get an idea of Namco's priority as far as the next generation of handhelds - it ain't DS. [Jan 2005, p.140]

Although billed as the bridge between the first and second PS2 "Kingdom Hearts" adventures, Memories feels more like a "Golden Girls" clips episode - lots of reminiscing and recapping in lieu of new hijinks. [Jan 2005, p.143]

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]

The new microphone-based minigames are more gimmicky than fun, and I hate passing the mic back and forth. It's still a fun party game. [Feb 2005, p.114]

But fans of the last game will be glad to know that the levels, traps, and puzzles are once again masterpieces of design. [Jan 2005, p.126]

An extremely frustrating, poorly programmed mess. [Feb 2005, p.106]

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]

But fans of the last game will be glad to know that the levels, traps, and puzzles are once again masterpieces of design. [Jan 2005, p.126]

But fans of the last game will be glad to know that the levels, traps, and puzzles are once again masterpieces of design. [Jan 2005, p.126]

These are far and away the best versions of Final Fantasy I & II to date, with updated scripts, awesome new bonus dungeons, and superb visuals and sound. [Holiday 2004, p.142]

Great bosses, plenty of maneuvers, maybe a little short, but packed with quality fun. [Holiday 2004, p.100]

Rogue Agent does do a lot of things extremely well, though. The enemies are realistic, ducking in an out of cover, constantly moving, even updating each other on what you're doing ("He's behind the bar!" - brilliant). [Jan 2005, p.130]

Rogue Agent does do a lot of things extremely well, though. The enemies are realistic, ducking in an out of cover, constantly moving, even updating each other on what you're doing ("He's behind the bar!" - brilliant). [Jan 2005, p.130]

Rogue Agent does do a lot of things extremely well, though. The enemies are realistic, ducking in an out of cover, constantly moving, even updating each other on what you're doing ("He's behind the bar!" - brilliant). [Jan 2005, p.130]

Great bosses, plenty of maneuvers, maybe a little short, but packed with quality fun. [Holiday 2004, p.100]

None of the different control options on the DS come close to providing the effortless precision the analog stick delivers. Also, outside of the occasionally entertaining Wario Ware—style micro minigames, Mario DS doesn't make good use of the hardware's unique features.

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]

Creepy, creative, and tenacious, the Cobra team outdoes even the wicked Foxhound squad from "MGS" in terms of flat-out coolness. The nerve-racking, ambitious duel against one boss, code-named The End, will likely go down as one of gaming's finest. So will the game itself. [Holiday 2004, p.110]

While the fanciful racetracks are cute, they don't redeem the atrocious racing and so-bad-it's-good-oh-wait-it's-just-bad dialogue. [Dec 2004, p.170]

Lives up to the name with its spot-on portrayal - from gameplay to atmosphere - of the intercollegiate hardwood. [Jan 2005, p.128]

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]

There's a surprising amount of fun stuff here, if you have the patience to see it all. [Feb 2005, p.115]

While a pee-wee-sized version of Madden can't hope to compete with its big brothers, I'm amazed at all it does pack in, including solid gameplay, a decent season mode, instant replays, and PS1-level graphics.

On a basic level, however, the game's still fun - simple, yes, but immediately engaging no matter what kind of gamer you are. [Feb 2005, p.114]

As much as Demon Stone tried to suck me in with its impressive graphics and presentation, it pushed me away with rote gameplay and imbecilic A.I. [Dec 2004, p.148]

Lives up to the name with its spot-on portrayal - from gameplay to atmosphere - of the intercollegiate hardwood. [Jan 2005, p.128]

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]

If you want a taste of the gritty underground fight scene depicted in the movie "Fight Club," you'd be better off paying somebody 50 bucks to beat you to a bloody pulp than wasting money on this game. It's unpolished, unfinished, and just plain bad. [Holiday 2004, p.102]

Three times superior to its predecessor. Though still well shy of very good. [Feb 2005, p.100]

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]

Many of the characters that are included in this game are awkward to control or just plain boring. The gameplay itslef is fairly bare bones. [Holiday 2004, p.115]

For what's ostensibly a collection of minigames, Feel the Magic seems amazingly cohesive.

Combat is sloppy, with poor hit detection and enemies that score cheap shots; all of the fun special moves have to be unlocked, which requires meeting unreasonably difficult time and health goals; and most of the levels devolve into tiresome thug/robot hunts.

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]

There's nothing in particular that demands to be played or can't be found elsewhere. [Jan 2005, p.136]

Gamers weaned on faster smackdowns and who aren't turned on by the idea of a showdown between Megalon and Destoroyah should proceed with caution. [Holiday 2004, p.106]

Three times superior to its predecessor. Though still well shy of very good. [Feb 2005, p.100]

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

If you want a taste of the gritty underground fight scene depicted in the movie "Fight Club," you'd be better off paying somebody 50 bucks to beat you to a bloody pulp than wasting money on this game. It's unpolished, unfinished, and just plain bad. [Holiday 2004, p.102]