Thanks to the memorable characters and undeniably fun battle system, I still found myself enthralled by Star Ocean. [Aug 2004, p.98]

Even gamers weaned on "Final Fantasy" and the like who are looking to expand their horizons into the realm of strategy (which I highly suggest) should find plenty of enjoyment in its sympathetic characters and engaging gameplay. [Sept 2004, p.80]

It may be horseracing, but Gallop Racer once again proves to be a surprisingly irresistible and incredibly deep play. [Oct 2004, p.134]

If youre seriously interested in this "game," you're probably a loser who's embarrassed to buy porn, and way too chicken to actually talk to a real girl. [Oct 2004, p.129]

EA Tiburon has gone far beyond a simple roster expansion. By making its career mode even more complex, it has succeeded in giving players of all stripes quite a bit to chew on. [Sept 2004, p.102]

Easily the best fishing game I have played in a long, long time, and instantly climbs to the top of my list of all-time fishing titles. It's that good. [Oct 2004, p.136]

The racing itself is pretty good, and the rest of the game feels like a total hackjob. [Oct 2004, p.123]

EA Tiburon has gone far beyond a simple roster expansion. By making its career mode even more complex, it has succeeded in giving players of all stripes quite a bit to chew on. [Sept 2004, p.102]

A foul dead fish aroma surrounds every gameplay aspect. The techniqes of casting, jigging, setting the hook, and landing the fish are miserably executed. [Sept 2004, p.115]

We're talking like Weather Channel boring here. Guinness World Record boring. [Oct 2004, p.129]

The racing itself is pretty good, and the rest of the game feels like a total hackjob. [Oct 2004, p.123]

ESPN is a top-shelf pick that has an unrivaled franchise mode, but the gameplay doesn't have the hard-hitting finesse of EA's "NHL".[Sept 2004, p.103]

ESPN is a top-shelf pick that has an unrivaled franchise mode, but the gameplay doesn't have the hard-hitting finesse of EA's "NHL".[Sept 2004, p.103]

The lack of multiplayer on or offline seems truly misguided. The occasional challenging dogfight and the thrill of the open countryside below may entertain for awhile, but if I were you, I'd just go beat "Crimson Skies" again. [Nov 2004, p.163]

If youre seriously interested in this "game," you're probably a loser who's embarrassed to buy porn, and way too chicken to actually talk to a real girl. [Oct 2004, p.129]

The concept may be just as extraordinary as its predecessor's, but with a hefty dosage of multiplayer and a quest that isn't as nerve-racking, Pikmin 2 is deserving of mainstream recognition and is easily the most noteworthy and praiseworthy GameCube product this summer. [Aug 2004, p.101]

The definitive wresting title for the GameCube. [Oct 2004, p.137]

We're talking like Weather Channel boring here. Guinness World Record boring. [Oct 2004, p.129]

The racing genre has been loking for a new hook for a while now, and I htink that Monster has started its own fun method of mayhem. [Oct 2004, p.123]

The creatures you make aren't always what you mean to, some of the minigames are beyond tedious, the graphics are a little primary color-happy, and the rewards (outside of new stuff for your monsters) are surprisingly uninspired. [Sept 2004, p.112]

The concept is simple, but a combination of stylized moves, tongue-in-cheek humor, and merciless difficulty make Viewtiful Joe absolutely irresistible. [Sept 2004, p.107]

For all the improvement Sarge's War shows over its predecessors, it's still only average at best. [May 2003, p.86]

It's just a long series of boss battles interspersed with dull cuscenes and pointless flying around. [Sept 2004, p.110]

Its pure and simple action is a perfect antidote to the poory executed, overblown titles that clog store shelves these days. [Aug 2004, p.107]

The most painful and obvious flaw is the camera. It hangs up on walls, drifts inside your character, and is otherwise difficult to handle. [Sept 2004, p.109]

The visuals may seem vaguely familiar, and the gameplay may fit like a glove, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a sequel that delivers as much new content as Hot Shots Golf Fore! so effortlessly does. [Sept 2004, p.108]

This title's humorous tone and engaging gameplay are charming, even if the game itself is a bit on the repetitive and shallow side (just like real politics!). [Nov 2004, p.167]

You'd be hard pressed to find a title with more sheer, concentrated boringosity. Like the movie, expect this one to fly way below everyone's radar. [Oct 2004, p.147]

Madden has a knack of making quantum leaps with each successive title. This new edition, however, breaks the streak. [Sept 2004, p.101]

This game works best as a memory of things past. [Sept 2004, p.118]

Madden has a knack of making quantum leaps with each successive title. This new edition, however, breaks the streak. [Sept 2004, p.101]

Madden has a knack of making quantum leaps with each successive title. This new edition, however, breaks the streak. [Sept 2004, p.101]

I can't imagine the conversations that led someone to decide that this sparse (though accurate) game would be a good idea. [Oct 2004, p.140]

Rainbow Six 3 fans should be aware that this isn't by any means a totally new experience. [Sept 2004, p.115]

Even if you get bored with the somewhat repetitive single-player after a few hours, that time will be one of the most intense, visceral gaming experiences you'll probably ever have. [Oct 2004, p.142]

I can either pity this title, or I can tell you the truth - Galleon just isn't worth your time. [Oct 2004, p.140]

I'm sure Microsoft fans are thankful for the chance to experience the painfully simple level designs, erratic targeting, inane storyline, and hideous graphics of Sarge's War for themselves. [Oct 2004, p.140]

They have screwed up the once-intuitive interface, replacing it with this monstrosity, which makes everything dependent no using the right analog stick and the clumsy R3 button. [Oct 2004, p.136]

Almost all of the riddles revolve around finding an item and returning it to the appropriate specter - a convention that plays out as tedious and tiresome a short ways into the title. [Aug 2004, p.99]

It has a mediocre action framework at its core, but the polish and flair that surround it makes for a surprisingly engaging and enjoyable play. [July 2004, p.116]

In theory, these randomly created dungeons should add a level of unpredictability and replay to the experience, but in practice it renders the level design so incredibly tedious and dull that I could barely force myself to keep playing. [Aug 2004, p.99]

In short, playing this epic-sized monstrosity is similar to being scratched to death by a house cat...not only is it painful, it's also embarrassing. [Sept 2004, p.104]

Don't just get this game because it's 20 bucks, buy it becuase it's the best football title there is and the only one that's a must have. [Sept 2004, p.100]

Tiresome platforming litters nearly every level as you collect diamonds, save cats from plummeting, and smack thugs around. [Sept 2004, p.118]

For all its faults, something kept bringing me back to Sudeki, most importantly the cool and extensive ways you can keep upgrading your character - which is really the heart of any RPG experience. [Sept 2004, p.114]

In short, playing this epic-sized monstrosity is similar to being scratched to death by a house cat...not only is it painful, it's also embarrassing. [Sept 2004, p.104]

Don't just get this game because it's 20 bucks, buy it becuase it's the best football title there is and the only one that's a must have. [Sept 2004, p.100]

Fortunately for Nintendo fans, the single-player mode is engaging no matter what console you're playing on, and the story simply can't be beat. [Aug 2004, p.92]

It really is no exaggeration to conclude that Puyo takes that nearly religious level of concentration before you can truly excel at it. [Aug 2004, p.100]

In short, playing this epic-sized monstrosity is similar to being scratched to death by a house cat...not only is it painful, it's also embarrassing. [Sept 2004, p.104]

In all, it felt like the players had a slightly lower center of gravity. This allows not only for a good running back to become extra shifty through better lateral movement (without even having to use the juke button), but it also gives defenders an extra punch to their hits. [July 2004, p.112]

In all, it felt like the players had a slightly lower center of gravity. This allows not only for a good running back to become extra shifty through better lateral movement (without even having to use the juke button), but it also gives defenders an extra punch to their hits. [July 2004, p.112]

In all, it felt like the players had a slightly lower center of gravity. This allows not only for a good running back to become extra shifty through better lateral movement (without even having to use the juke button), but it also gives defenders an extra punch to their hits. [July 2004, p.112]

This Olympic hopeful loses its flavor after you play through each event just once or twice. [Aug 2004, p.100]

One of the better music games on the market. [Aug 2004, p.100]

It's no better or worse than the "Dynasty Warrior" series, but we Koei fans have never demanded any significant changes from these games, have we? [Sept 2004, p.115]

Even though the amazing graphics are the most noticeable aspect of Tales of Symphonia, the area where it truly distinguishes itself is in its addictive and highly variable combat mechanic. [July 2004, p.117]

Like those vacuum-powered hair trimmers, this one sucks while it cuts. [July 2004, p.116]

It's beautiful, hard, smart, and alarmingly engrossing. [Sept 2004, p.116]

It's the sheer tedium of every moment that prevents any enjoyment of the cool features it offers. [Aug 2004, p.106]

A general lack of polish holds Perimeter back from being a real contender for top dog in the RTS genre. [July 2004, p.121]

This game stinks. That's really all there is to it. [July 2004, p.115]

It's decently long, the puzzles are mostly well designed, and it has more than its share of eye candy. [Sept 2004, p.117]

The RPG-style fights are uninspiring, and the storyline is simplistic. Still, the graphics are bright and inviting, with menus that are easily navigable. [June 2004, p.138]

The RPG-style fights are uninspiring, and the storyline is simplistic. Still, the graphics are bright and inviting, with menus that are easily navigable. [June 2004, p.138]

I love the gamplay, but there really needs to be a more engrossing game around it. [Aug 2004, p.107]

Reshef feels like it was assembed from various rejected design concepts and shards of concentrated boring. [Sept 2004, p.118]

So it's short; Steve Wonder could probably rock the combat engine like nobody's business. [Aug 2004, p.97]

So it's short; Steve Wonder could probably rock the combat engine like nobody's business. [Aug 2004, p.97]

So it's short; Steve Wonder could probably rock the combat engine like nobody's business. [Aug 2004, p.97]

If the pool itself is the sweet caramel, everything surrounding it is a moist, fetis sponge. [May 2004, p.101]

For every stunning success in delivery and artistry, Missing has a miserable failure at an actual gameplay design element. [Sept 2004, p.117]

The campaign is challenging without being cheap, and my units' behaviors never caused my mouse to get launched across the office. [Aug 2004, p.105]

Outside of new pitch types and fielding animations, the over-the-top angle hasn't evolved at all in this iteration, and the new simulation aspect pales in comparison to al of the other titles on the market. [July 2004, p.114]

Outside of new pitch types and fielding animations, the over-the-top angle hasn't evolved at all in this iteration, and the new simulation aspect pales in comparison to al of the other titles on the market. [July 2004, p.114]

It's a nice homage to wrestling's past, but just can't compete with the wrestling games of the present. [Aug 2004, p.96]

Packed with tons of nostalgia, unique weapons (including the suspiciously fanciful "Top Spin"), and more hardcore 2D shooting and platforming than you can shake an arm cannon at. [July 2004, p.111]

More impressive is the ability to "rip" samples off of your personal CDs (I had Snoop busting verses over Led Zep's might "Moby Dick" riff in no time!) [Aug 2004, p.96]

It's RPG aspects exceed the GameCube Mario Golf entirely. [June 2004, p.138]

Though Supersonic Warriors retains the show's flavor, it fails to measure up to the standards of a passable 2D fighter. [Sept 2004, p.118]

It's a nice homage to wrestling's past, but just can't compete with the wrestling games of the present. [Aug 2004, p.96]

More impressive is the ability to "rip" samples off of your personal CDs (I had Snoop busting verses over Led Zep's might "Moby Dick" riff in no time!) [Aug 2004, p.96]

The game still looks pretty heinous and the Masterclass training exercises seem to have been cut together by a high school digital arts class. [Aug 2004, p.102]

Packed with tons of nostalgia, unique weapons (including the suspiciously fanciful "Top Spin"), and more hardcore 2D shooting and platforming than you can shake an arm cannon at. [July 2004, p.111]

I suspect the developers might have been better off contstructing this as a pure racing title (as it does do the basics of racing well) and avoiding the shooting action altogether. [Aug 2004, p.94]

I suspect the developers might have been better off contstructing this as a pure racing title (as it does do the basics of racing well) and avoiding the shooting action altogether. [Aug 2004, p.94]

While the GameCube has several genres it excels at, the tactical shooter field clearly isn't one of them. [Sept 2004, p.112]

The only time I felt that the downgraded graphics were really an issue was when I was using night vision in the PS2 multiplayer - everything looked so muddy that it was almost useless. [Aug 2004, p.92]

What it does have, though, is rock-solid netcode and the most exquisite balancing and map design I've ever seen. [Aug 2004, p.104]

Combine the mediocre gameplay with the sub-par graphics and campy story, and you can begin to see why Front Mission 4 is a bit of a disappointment. [June 2004, p.127]

After the novelty is gone, it's an adequate, if goofy, golf title with passable technical execution. [June 2004, p.123]

Passing through these mediocre level designs is reminiscent of passing a kidney stone - tedious and painful. [Aug 2004, p.99]

A merely passable game...Why have a White Castle hamburger when you can have a juicy steak? [Aug 2004, p.103]

Unlike any title you've seen before, and will likely leave you breathless and craving more when the credits roll. [July 2004, p.110]

Unlike any title you've seen before, and will likely leave you breathless and craving more when the credits roll. [July 2004, p.110]

It's about as fun as a bowl of wheat. [Aug 2004, p.107]

My biggest problem is the fact that you can't hold down a shot button to pre-load a swing - the computer takes the backswing for you - something that seems contrary to the way most tennis games have operated in the past. [July 2004, p.115]

While the gameplay is still fun, Shining Force certainly feels like it has gathered some dust over the years...More enjoyable as a piece of nostalgia than a fresh gaming experience. [June 2004, p.137]