The game doesn't feel entirely new or original, but it's well executed and consistently fun.

Awful plot, abysmal gameplay, crappy graphics, and spartan sound bytes: these features do not a winner make.

Easily the game's worst trait is its sound. The Formula One cars sound more like lawn mowers burning nitrous oxide than like the most responsive and powerful automobiles in existence.

The game is pick-up-and-play, it's beautiful to look at, and it raises the cultural precedent bar to backboard level. Even if you don't like sports games, you'll love this one.

A solid, good-looking, and fairly robust little stealth action game that sticks to the mission plan of its bigger console co-operative.

With more imaginative level design, The Clone Wars would have been near-perfect. As it stands, the multiplayer mode is so good, it makes up for most of the title's shortcomings.

Lacking in virtually every area. The graphics are terrible, the controls are clunky, and the gameplay is uninspired.

An average game that is easy enough for anyone to play, but it lacks the overall depth and variety needed to keep you coming back for more.

Lockups were frequent enough to be annoying, and since the game only saves at certain checkpoints in a level, you'll probably be replaying more of this game than you'll ever want to.

It doesn't help matters when Purge looks as bad as it does. It's an ugly little game. The maps are genuinely uninteresting, with far too many forced corridors designed to help you set up choke points.

Niggling inconsistencies and slightly bland between-race presentation aside, Colin McRae Rally 3 is a beautiful, realistic, and smooth translation of rally racing. The tracks are gorgeous, challenging, and addictive.

A perfect example of why shooters have become such a niche genre. It's a good game that's well made. It's even got an interesting hook to keep the hard core happy. But the insane difficulty will keep most players from getting past the first level before giving up. And with the ultra-short playing time, even shooter fans might not find enough to like here.

No sane person could dispute the sicko nature of Postal 2, but it's clearly presented in an utterly goofy, slapstick manner and prefaced with warnings for the easily confused.

Lives up to its exceptional pedigree. Not only does this sequel bring back all that was great about the original, but it's longer, harder, and more involved.

Constant camera-fixing is still a big problem, however. Add to that the uninspired gameplay, and it's just not enough that the game looks good.

Perhaps unfulfilled potential and a hard-to-learn layout detract from the product's charm. Details be damned.

Just simply on the jittery, crunchy, slow, and empty side.

Tense gunfights, unnerving corridor crawls, a surprisingly engaging plot, fantastic sound work, and gameplay that provides an entertaining mix of old-school action and exploration all help make this a solid science fiction gaming experience.

Burnout 2 makes other arcade racing games seem like "Driving Miss Daisy." You won't find a faster, more visceral racing game on the GameCube or any other platform.

Aside from the new gameplay direction and interface tweaks, Tropico 2 is functionally the same game as the original. It's visually pleasing, but lacks ambient animations that would really help bring your island to life.

With a gentler learning curve, an extra level, tweaked controls, and completely reworked cinemas, the PS2 version is the equal of its Xbox predecessor.

Diehard fans will probably find the added cards and light quest mode to be worth the investment, but casual "Yu-Gi-Oh" players who already have "Eternal Duelist Soul" may not want to shell out $30 just for a minor update.

Delivers a fluid and challenging (if thinly plotted) single-player experience and shell-shock multiplayer that makes this new Xbox recruit easily worth the war debt of the game's price tag.

Just flat-out fun. It's not the most complex offering, but there's something to be said for a title that doesn't overreach and instead focuses on tight gameplay and enticing features.

The races are challenging and exciting, plus the management features give the game a considerable amount of depth. The game goes beyond its high concept and delivers a rather enjoyable hybrid of arcade and simulation-styled gameplay.

There's a good deal of trial and error involved with The Lost Vikings, an aspect of the game that may seem tedious to some people. But there is a suitably addictive challenge awaiting gamers the first time through.

The real lesson here is that there's a place for a run-of-the mill shooter. Just keep those aspirations modest. Throw in teammates and base defense, and you can throw your entire project into turmoil.

The repetitive races keep it from a higher score. Still, the snarky attitude and sweet physics model of the go karts make for a good deal of fun.

If you can get past the terrible documentation and very steep learning curve, Galactic Civilizations will be not only enjoyable but also addictive.

The story lines, dialog, and cutscenes in the game effectively emulate the characteristics and nuances that have made the television component so captivating to watch. On the other hand, the gameplay isn't as deep as it could have been.

The controls handle adequately, although KITT's steering feels far too responsive. All in all, the controls aren't as good as the controls in most recent driving games, and the physics lack accuracy. The game also lacks a sense of speed.

Although the flaky sense of physics and controls bring it down a couple notches, Bandits: Phoenix Rising is still an entertainingly destructive auto combat game.

Excerpt forthcoming.

A very addictive game that continues to surprise and delight the more you play. For the money, there's plenty to do, and best of all it lets you focus on what you find fun.

It's fast and easy to play, and it looks terrific. At least the cars do. Serious car culture enthusiasts and a very select group of auto-manga readers will dig it, but its dusting of drawbacks leave it just barely on the three-star side of the rating scale.

The game looks and feels dated. The colors are drab, and the world lacks character. Nothing here looks state of the art, yet the system requirements are quite high.

Looks good and plays well, though you have to accept that a tough puzzle or vague objective can bring your progress to a screeching halt at any moment.

AI is greatly improved.

The effect of collisions is inconsistent. You can pass through some objects and be stopped dead in your tracks by others. The car physics are far too "floaty," and you'll find yourself catching too much air and doing crazy spins and rotations from minor bumps.

This console version makes enough changes to the original game that even hard-core "Sims" purists will want to give it a spin.

This console version makes enough changes to the original game that even hard-core "Sims" purists will want to give it a spin.

The wide selection of music ensures that it will have something for just about anyone, and the gameplay is challenging and incredibly addictive.

Epic in scale, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker oozes quality craftsmanship from start to finish. Most importantly, it's incredibly addictive and almost impossible to put down until the end credits roll.

A true gem. It's a breezy, easy-to-play game that will leave you wondering where the hours went. With such a beautifully refined title now under its belt, it's hard to see how Sunflower will top it.

Though mostly a run-and-gun affair, the adrenaline-charged atmosphere makes up for the deficiencies in the computer AI.

The mix of mission and circuit racing along with the interesting ranking system are offset by the poor mechanics and sloppy design.

The fighters look great... until they move, anyway. But they've looked pretty good for years now and the lack of innovation combined with the gimme-some-Viagra blahness is disheartening to say the least.

The game's plot doesn't come together in any grand way, nor does it need to. The plot's just a latticework for the excellent, challenging missions.

With its kickin' mid-'90s visuals, unintelligible voice samples, and total lack of coherence, Mobile Light Force 2 is the videogame equivalent of a cheesy, late-night kung fu flick.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are the best-looking games in the series, but they don't hold a candle to technical marvels such as "Golden Sun." The graphics are hardly bad, though. They look clean and colorful.

A good-looking but brain-dead, thumb-numbing game.

The single-player mode is a painful and sometimes laughable experience. Multiplayer fares much better, provided you can find people to play with online, but there are much better titles out there to choose from.

The length of the game is a bit short as it only takes around six hours to complete, but the strong story and cinematic sequences make sure that it's an unforgettable six hours.

Plays just like it looks: a lumbering version of "Crazy Taxi."

There are better first-person shooters on the GBA, but there's mystique here, and that will count for something among fans.

It's not deep or particularly innovative. However, the detailed graphics, familiar gameplay, and wide variety of characters and game modes make this brawler worth a look.

A disaster. It's a mile-long train wreck in Gotham City's dirtiest and most rat-infested train yard.

A decent execution of an ill-conceived idea. If you're not a fan of the WWE, steer clear of this game. Its gameplay isn't strong enough to stand on its own.

If you have the determination to master the many nuances of motorcycle racing, you'll find that MotoGP3 delivers an exceptionally exhilarating ride. It's a game for enthusiasts, but a great game nonetheless.

The "extreme" additions work exceedingly well in the baseball setting. What could have been a shoddy title riding on a gimmick turned out to be one of the better arcade baseball games in recent memory.

The game borders on tedious.

It may not be the best-looking soccer game on the market, but Winning Eleven 6 is, hands down, the best to play.

A little unmanageable when large opposing forces enter toe-to-toe melee combat. The front line becomes a clanging, tangled, dying mass of soldiers, and no player micromanagement is going to save them.

Why are so many missions so dull? Why is the combat-radio voice work so insipid? And which unemployed sports commentator and soccer mom did the tutorial and combat voices, respectively?

A prime example of a cellar dweller that should simply pack it in before it embarrasses itself. Like the Kansas City Royals, MLB is doomed before the season even begins.

With more options and extensive play modes (such as a fantasy draft or minor league system), fewer restrictions placed on defense, and the added ability to tweak computer AI, this series can help set a new benchmark.

PC gamers will feel like this is the kind of game they were playing five years ago. The small improvements from the Xbox version are cancelled out by the interface quirks introduced.

A very addictive game that continues to surprise and delight the more you play. For the money, there's plenty to do, and best of all it lets you focus on what you find fun.

The combination of stunning graphics and frenzied gameplay make Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner a must-have for anime RPG fans or, heck, anyone with a functioning pair of eyeballs.

The quality of the motion capture, stadium details, and playbook bring you closer to a true ballpark experience than does any other game.

Here's the harsh truth about My Street: It's not a great place to visit, and you definitely wouldn't want to live there.

Sonic fans will be in heaven, as will anyone who enjoys a good healthy adrenaline rush.

Successfully taking down a fleeing opponent is almost enough to make you forget how many times you wanted to chuck the controller straight at the TV.

Probably the game's biggest flaw is that it doesn't do anything new to woo over gamers who don't like platformers. But it does take a waning game style and pump it so full of energy, humor, and near-psychotic malevolence that you may have to play something tame such as "Ty the Tasmanian Tiger" just to come down afterward.

The universe is large, but there's not much to do in it. There are infinite numbers of missions to complete, but once you've played a handful, you've played them all.

An accurate F1 simulation while remaining accessible to the more laid-back player. However, it's still more a simulation than an arcadelike racing game.

May not be the perfect ninja sim, but it's a ton of fun, and that's far more important than some minor flaws.

The objectives and set pieces will keep you playing despite the dumb AI. But after you complete the game, you'll have no incentive to ever again play any part of this game.

Isn't really a sequel no matter what it says on the box. It's an expansion pack. Gamers who already own "IL-2 Sturmovik" may balk at the price, as there's simply not enough new here to justify the purchase.

The slow pace works to the game's advantage by building tension over time. Add in the good production values and Post Mortem is a respectable entry in the genre.

For players who have had their fill taking on the dark lords of the underworld, or are simply hankering for some science fiction, Harbinger brings plenty to the table.

The core game is still excellent, but offering a handful of new campaigns and maps without even attempting stir up the gameplay feels like a gyp.

Xenosaga's failing is not its presentation, but its mediocre story. Merely putting a story in a game doesn't exempt the game from criticism that would be leveled at any other story-based medium.

It's rare to find a game this poorly conceived and executed from top to bottom.

MOO3 collapses under the weight of its own ambitious design. We doubt this can be fixed in a patch. Gamers need not apply. Masochists, you're on your own.

The repetitious gameplay, in conjunction with the prehistoric technology, creates a package that few will appreciate.

Throwing kicks, punches, taunts, and even princesses in homage to '70s era martial arts, this laugh-and-punch thrill ride is a ton of fun. Stupid fun, yes, but fun nonetheless.

Plays it safe for the most part. It takes familiar gameplay and runs with it, without trying to innovate much beyond the fun brawling.

It's authenticity is its biggest selling point, but a difficult batting interface and loose fielding controls keep it from becoming a legend.

These improvements to the graphic engine come at a price. The frame rate slows down whenever multiple players are running the bases, and it experiences noticeable hiccups during the batting sequences.

The attractive visuals ride the line between dark and cartoony with expressive characters. It's all tied together with its unique combat and restart schemes, which will either inspire you or drive you mad.

Just about everything good about the original has improved. The repetitive dungeon crawling, however, will not appeal to everyone.

Mild annoyances in the interface, a design mode without anything to design, and some questionable racing physics keep the game from the top of the podium. With that said, Apex is an enjoyable and mildly addictive title with plenty of arcade action for racing fans.

The most distinguishing feature of Duelists of the Roses is that the game is really freaking hard.

To make matters worse, the game slows down dramatically when there's too much happening on screen. It's almost like the building is collapsing in slow motion.

Crowded races and difficult tracks unforgiving of the smallest mistake require dedication, concentration, high-end equipment, and lots of practice. Aside from these barriers to entry, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season looks and plays beautifully.

The customizable difficulty settings make for an entertaining arcade racer, while the detailed career mode and tuning garage give gearheads plenty to tinker with. Ratbag has produced another outstanding sprint car simulator.

Although games of this type don't need to be flashy to be enjoyable, Dungeon Dice Monsters takes an embarrassing, bare-bones approach to presentation that does little to bring the player into the game's world.