Overall the game seems more complete than the first. [Nov 2002, p.124]

While the multiplayer modes are nice, poor targeting, underwhelming graphics, and erratic movement make this game a mere blip on the radar. [Nov 2002, p.144]

The frantic fighting and creative spell-casting are highly addictive, and the difficulty is where I'd want it to be. [Oct 2002, p.86]

Off the track, the game is a revelation. [Oct 2002, p.82]

The game's steep learning curve will have sim-heads in heaven, but may be a little too tough for most. [Nov 2002, p.128]

The cutscenes look good, and surprisingly, the voice acting is some of the best I've heard lately. [Nov 2002, p.128]

Full of more holes than Swiss cheese. [Nov 2002, p.119]

Sheffield tried too much and didn't focus enough on the gameplay necessities. [Nov 2002, p.113]

When you use a trebuchet (an enormous catapult) to launch a diseased cow over an enemy's walls and watch his population drop like flies, you can't help but get that warm fuzzy "I love this game" feeling. [Dec 2002, p.149]

Blistering combat that's wrapped in an almost flawless presentation. [Oct 2002, p.89]

Trick buttons can't pull chase out of mediocrity. [Oct 2002, p.91]

Battlecry gives you some blistering combat, but the franchise could truly explode if it tapped into the series' rich subtleties. [Nov 2002, p.140]

If you happen to be a huge fan of the series, I'm certain you'll appreciate the small additions and changes. [Dec 2002, p.123]

I just couldn't get into the bland fighting half of the game. [Nov 2002, p.128]

A game that borrows a page from the glory days of Crash Bandicoot and delivers a gameplay experience that sticks to its guns and keeps the action constant. [Nov 2002, p.108]

I think I'd rather have Gandalf turn me into something unnatural - like a hairy newt - rather than play this game again. [Dec 2002, p.150]

While this isn't the new Mario adventure I am still waiting for on the GBA, it is one heck of a platformer. [Nov 2002, p.150]

The jumping portions of the game are still a little iffy, and I killed myself quite a lot from misreading the view, but in the end I enjoyed exploring the worlds. [Dec 2002, p.152]

The controller simply lacks the precision to effectively transform a dodge into a flip, and then nail the enemy. [Jan 2003, p.110]

It's a hand-me-down with holes, but one that may still keep action fans warm at night. [Oct 2002, p.91]

A decent addition to the series. [Nov 2002, p.133]

Has just about everything you're looking for in an action/adventure game. [Oct 2002, p.84]

Easily reigns as the best dungeon crawler on the PS2, and one of the most engrossing RPGs around. [Nov 2002, p.122]

Sixteen-player online deathmatch is truly a sight to behold, and you should probably think about keeping anyone prone to seizures or heart palpitations out of the room because things move real fast. [Nov 2002, p.116]

This latest edition has not broken [my heart], although my hopes for what it should have been were slightly disappointed. [Oct 2002, p.78]

Unfortunately, THQ changed absolutely nothing, which means that "Golden Axe," in particular, looks and sounds extremely dated." [Dec 2002, p.150]

So high above the competition it's not even funny. [Mar 2003, p.92]

A faithful reproduction with some welcome enhancements and improvements. [Nov 2002, p.150]