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.

This Namco fighter lets you use weapons to kick your opponent's ass. [Jan 2004, p.189]

Top Spin's control is wonderfully simple... With an incredibly deep Career mode and online opponents, all that's missing from this glorious package is mixed doubles matches. [Dec 2003, p.228]

EA's improved everything in this game, from graphics to putting to new arcade modes that help pass the time. There's just no better golf game out there. [Oct 2003, p.136]

Even though you get more varied action from a "Metal Gear Solid," what's here is so well designed, I remained jaw-dropped impressed from start to finish. [June 2003, p.126]

As someone who's closely followed Criterion's racing series for the last seven years, it warms my heart to see it evolve into something as innovative, satisfying, and polished as Paradise. [Feb 2008, p.74]

Every few minutes, I have to remind myself: Relax the death grip. Unclench the jaw. Wipeout is that intense. [June 2005, p.108]

The foliage resembles that found in a pop-up book, the mingames are growing old, and though "2004" revolutionized the game, 2005 is mostly spit and polish. [Nov 2004, p.138]

As fun as the original Excitebike (8-bit Nintendo), and it even has a custom track editor. [Jan 2004, p.189]

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]

What makes this game such a wonderful and hellacious journey into the heart of warfare is its ability to let chaos reign. [May 2005, p.122]

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.

Heavily inspired by "Mario Kart," but still an amazing multiplayer racer. [Jan 2004, p.188]

The linear missions and non-interactive environments don't hold their own when compared to feature-rich PS2 shooters like "Red Faction" or "Deus Ex." But none of that matters, because in this game, presentation is everything. [July 2002, p.116]

It's a fun, beautiful, and intense alien-zombie game wrapped around a mediocre sci-fi horror center. [Dec 2008, p.70]

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

Anyone who doesn't fall for the unique characters, hilarious dialogue, and brilliantly conceived environments of Psychonauts has no soul. The James Brown of games, Psychonauts' personality overcomes its flaws. [May 2005, p.136]

DKR looks better than "Mario Kart," but it's a little too cutesy for us. [Jan 2004, p.189]

A very pretty reprise of the original Star Fox story, but with new stuff. [Jan 2004, p.189]

Find three friends to play with (you can play a limited four-player game with one cart), and you'll never want to put your DS down again.

Everything's fun and exhilarating, but it never builds to more than the sum of its parts. Just keep your expectations in the right place, and you'll enjoy your time in the tropical sun. [Holiday 2007, p.76]

Words of warning: You need to give squad-based shooter Vegas some time to grow on you, particularly in the fairly short single-player campaign. [Jan. 2007, p.100]

A strategy junkie's dream come true. [May 2002, p.115]

The foliage resembles that found in a pop-up book, the mingames are growing old, and though "2004" revolutionized the game, 2005 is mostly spit and polish. [Nov 2004, p.138]

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.

For me, Project Gotham Racing 3 is the best of 360's launch titles; it grafts the series' appealing mix of sorta realistic (much more so than Ridge Racer) but still forgiving (much more so than Forza) handling to some of the most impressive graphics I've ever seen on a console.

It's not perfect, but it's refreshingly original. [May 2008, p. 88]

Delivers a long, satisfying experience with a good mix of platforming and exploration-style gameplay. [Dec 2002, p.214]