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]