A game so fresh and unique, it just begs to be experienced despite its flaws. [Feb 2003, p.138]

The gameplay is ironclad; however, a few presentation problems hold the title back. [Dec 2001, p.250]

Series fans will devour it as an excuse to flesh out the Resident Evil cannon, but it features enough casual slaughter of the undead for anyone to enjoy. [Jan 2008, p.82]

With 2K Sports nabbing the exclusive third-party baseball-sim rights to the MLB license, it had a golden chance to nab the hardball crown from EA's NCAA-license-relegated MVP series. Instead, we get this scattershot effort. [May 2006, p.94]

Once you suss the A.I.'s intricacies, the game holds little mystery or reason for replay. [Jan 2006, p.125]

This 40-hour quest could've really used a few legitimate dungeons to explore, but the narrative and combat alone kept me hooked. [July 2003, p.106]

It’s too bad there’s no way to work on defense other than getting pummeled by the CPU game after game. [Oct 2001, p.154]

Now if it wasn't for the blasted controls! [May 2002, p.108]

I'm ready for this series to advance its gameplay, rather than just continuing to add new objects and locations to interact with.

I have exactly three words for the golf snobs: unlockable trucker hats. [July 2005, p.120]

Shockingly decent. [Dec 2004, p.170]

Once I got used to the orchestral score, Mad Maestro was surprisingly enjoyable, long and difficult (which isn't exactly the norm in the genre). [May 2002, p.107]

Approach it clinically, and you'll dig Xtreme's versatile, well-designed skill and magic systems. [Nov 2002, p.283]

The fun is over too soon.

With 2K Sports nabbing the exclusive third-party baseball-sim rights to the MLB license, it had a golden chance to nab the hardball crown from EA's NCAA-license-relegated MVP series. Instead, we get this scattershot effort. [May 2006, p.94]

If you're brave enough to look past aesthetics, Eternal Sonata is worth hearing out. [Oct 2007, p.100]

In the attempt to be all things for all kinds of gamer, each little mode lacks polish. [Jan 2003, p.173]

Anyone expecting to reliably pull off a 20-hitter with Adon: Forget it. [Oct 2002, p.204]

The combat’s more fun and involving than anything in Pokemon Stadium. But the rest of the game hasn’t changed much. [Nov 2001, p.210]

When I wasn't being mugged by the Bad Voice-Actors Brigade or rendered comatose by the game's tepid pace, I was struggling with the enormous chore of just moving around thanks to the clunky, imprecise, sub-"Resident Evil" controls. [Dec 2002, p.260]

Developer Heavy Iron has captured the show's personality perfectly. The 3D characters look exactly like their cartoon counterparts, and it's stuffed with classic Doo touches to the bursting point. [July 2002, p.120]

Note to developers: if your main character is a wacky time-travelling, vacuuming cat, you've got to milk the wacky angle! [Dec 2002, p.248]

Stringent pilot-training courses and competitions seem dull at first, but as you unlock cooler aircraft, the fun blossoms. [Apr 2003, p.111]

Atlantis integrates the story and the gameplay seamlessly. [Sept. 2001, p.148]

Up from the depths of the minors a year ago, MLB 2005 is starting to look like it belongs in the bigs...Maybe next year, 989, you'll go all the way. [May 2004, p.96]

Ironically, Summoner 2's strengths (faster action, computer-controlled allies) expose the game's many weaknesses (poor camera during combat, enemies that swarm you, sluggish controls). [Nov 2002, p.70]

A somewhat confusing interface and disjointed midbattle cut-scenes make keeping track of allies and major enemies a chore, occasionally shrouding the path to victory, but otherwise, Samurai Warriors slices and dices. [June 2004, p.102]

While I love Whiplash's over-the-top concept and humor, its gameplay and graphics languish in a sea of averageness. [Jan 2004, p.128]