This year, the design guys as Visual Concepts have turned ESPN NFL 2K5 into the most entertaining show in video-game football. [Sept 2004, p.98]

An outstanding single-player game coupled with an innovative and addictive multiplayer mode makes Pandora Tomorrow one of the premier titles available today on any console. [Sept 2004, p.82]

With single, versus, and three endless modes, and 16 available characters, Fever is as addictive as it gets.

When playing in a loud stadium, visiting teams face a rowdily vibrating controller, shaking screen, and players whose lack of composure causes bad plays. If you think you can handle it, you're in for a surpise - the overall effect is huge, really adding to the challenge in key moments like kicking a field goal. [Aug 2004, p.90]

When playing in a loud stadium, visiting teams face a rowdily vibrating controller, shaking screen, and players whose lack of composure causes bad plays. If you think you can handle it, you're in for a surpise - the overall effect is huge, really adding to the challenge in key moments like kicking a field goal. [Aug 2004, p.90]

When playing in a loud stadium, visiting teams face a rowdily vibrating controller, shaking screen, and players whose lack of composure causes bad plays. If you think you can handle it, you're in for a surpise - the overall effect is huge, really adding to the challenge in key moments like kicking a field goal. [Aug 2004, p.90]

The actual variety among the different events is rather low, a problem that stems in large part from the repetitive, button-bashing nature of most events.

If there are any complaints, it’s that the range is a bit too wide this time and some crooners will not find as many songs they know. Konami definitely needs to release more song discs to satisfy the fans.

Stay for the story, characters, and the sights of Symphonia...but be wary of the action-heavy, automated battle system. The fate of the world may feel a little bit out of your hands. [Aug 2004, p.98]

The way of the samurai is a lengthy road that rewards those who show patience and persistence. [Aug 2004, p.66]

While the new game-engine changes are a definite added welcome, glitches and all, the omissions of the Story and Create-A-Wrestler modes leave this title rather pale and without substance compared to teh GameCube edition. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Fans of the Battle Network series will delight in the further adventures of Lan and Mega Man, but everyone else is warned to stay clear. [Aug 2004, p.78]

Fans of the Battle Network series will delight in the further adventures of Lan and Mega Man, but everyone else is warned to stay clear. [Aug 2004, p.78]

Problematic, though, are the sequences in which you have to swing around confounding and shoddily rendered 3D hub areas to capture Doc Ock, access new chapters, and unlock bonus missions against a timer.

The best Spider-Man game yet made. From the rich combat system to the simple, inexhaustible joys of swinging through the city, Spider-Man 2 delivers the experience web-slinger fans have been begging for since time immortal.

The best Spider-Man game yet made. From the rich combat system to the simple, inexhaustible joys of swinging through the city, Spider-Man 2 delivers the experience web-slinger fans have been begging for since time immortal.

Once you get the hang of the units (which takes an extra-long time) and the tricky camera, Ground Control II can be relentless, fast, and furious fun.

This is no sim by any stretch, even with the new Franchise mode. Still, it is a decent game of belligerent baseball with mindless fun and laughs for anybody looking to play two - whether that's a doubleheader or just a deuce of innings. [July 2004, p.96]

This is no sim by any stretch, even with the new Franchise mode. Still, it is a decent game of belligerent baseball with mindless fun and laughs for anybody looking to play two - whether that's a doubleheader or just a deuce of innings. [July 2004, p.96]

Although there is still work to be done, Showdown: Legends of Wrestling’s new look and play style is a big step in the right direction. Fans looking for a walk down memory lane aren’t going to be disappointed.

Whether you plan to acquire it as a collector’s item or just want to get acquainted with Mega Man’s past, you can be sure it’s going to be one heck of a trip back into time.

The game's greatness lies in its intuitive interface and ease of use. Just about anyone can sit down and make music in a matter of minutes. [Aug 2004, p.68]

The Story mode also has one of the best golf tutorials around as characters in the Practice Area give you challenges in exchange for experience points. [July 2004, p.86]

The continuous button mashing that infuses the famous yet most curious aerial acrobatics that those crazy DBZ fighters perform gives you pretty much everything you need to simulate the Saiyan art of combat.

Although there is still work to be done, Showdown: Legends of Wrestling's new look and play style is a big step in the right direction. Fans looking for a walk down memory lane aren't going to be disappointed.

The game's greatness lies in its intuitive interface and ease of use. Just about anyone can sit down and make music in a matter of minutes. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Delivering such an exhaustive package of quality games and extras earns Capcom a high score on this one.

An intensely frustrating trial of patience that’s rewarded with only the most fleeting glimmers of fun. [Sept 2004, p.81]

An intensely frustrating trial of patience that's rewarded with only the most fleeting glimmers of fun.

The best and most substantial addition, however, is the new Jungle mission in which Fisher must maneuver through a beautifully rendered Indonesian forest of death.

Absolutely tears up the modern-day war zone and even one-ups the "Battlefield" stranglehold in many areas.

If all you need is a good challenge and you have the patience for turn-based strategy games, by all means, pick up this game. If the inconsistent presentation and lack of multiplayer options have you unconvinced, then it may be a good idea to wait for another one to come along. [July 2004, p.102]

The game sadly plays as a barely mediocre firefight.

Besides strong production values, the game showcases some of the most amazing physics seen on a console-nearly every object and person can be levitated, pushed, pulled, thrown, mind-controlled, and set on fire, while fantastic controls make you almost feel like you're really doing it.

A simple, unassuming, and hard-to-dislike platformer...It's light on substance but high on charm - a creative spin on the generic. [May 2004, p.78]

Even with the clever new “missions” and spruced-up visuals that make watching a ball go back and forth worthwhile, control is the most important part in tennis; and in this game, Smash Court faults once again.

Shining Force's biggest strengths are its setting, a delightfully half-serious anime fantasy world, and some of the most memorable, weirdest characters (jellyfish, armadillos, crash-test moles) you'll ever amass for an army. [July 2004, p.88]

The hedgehog species is heavy on attitude but has a hard time with evolution.

It's not necessarily a reason to go out and buy a bunch of Game Boy Advances and link cables, but it's definitely a reason to get them out of the closet again. [July 2004, p.72]

Although Prisoner of Azkaban is still aimed at the tween set, it’s more interesting—visually and interactively—than previous Potter games. And yet, Harry’s still got a ways to grow.

Tons of people used to play this game in the arcade. It was cool then, and this version is the same, only smaller...and with a track designer. [Sept 2004, p.93]

SMB's insane worlds, which beg exploration and conceptual absurdities, are anchored by intuitive controls and an innovative use of jump and slide physics, and midleap bending, culminating in a pinnacle of game design that redefined how video games were played. [July 2004, p.88]

If there is one Classic NES cart to throw your nickel to, it's this one. Trust us on this. [Sept 2004, p.93]

Malice has lost much of its gee-whiz sparkle. Now it’s an intentionally weird, unintentionally uninteresting platform adventure that might have been cool were it a launch title and the bar were still low. In 2004, it looks and feels more like a skippable relic.

Despite it's aesthetic weaknesses, Sempai Legends is a good trading-card game and definitely a match for its competitors.

Without a doubt, this game shows that originality in gaming is very much alive and kicking, even if it is wrapped inside a sensitive subject. If you want a true military experience without going through boot camp, Full Spectrum Warrior is it.

Enormously high production value adds to the pleasure of playing this game. It's no exaggeration to say that these graphics are the best you've ever seen in a console game...A masterpiece.

The Xbox version of MS3 is a brilliant translation of its arcade parent that, in some ways, surpasses the source material. [Aug 2004, p.66]

The true wonder of the game isn’t in normal mapping or Havok physics, but rather in the low-tech ways in which the game turns skulking in the dark into tons of fun. There’s still room in this business for loving craftsmanship and intelligent design, and Deadly Shadows has both.

A decent addition to the handheld fighter genre, and if players can discipline themselves not to buy many of the all-powerful techniques, River City Ransom Ex can be a cool gaming experience.

Prisoner of Azkaban’s faithfulness to the book, mesmerizing graphics, and captivating score are a treat for Potter fans.

While this kind of slow, patient "stealth" gameplay has obviously been done before, it's never been done this well or been so throughly entrenched into every nuance and layer of design. [Aug 2004, p.64]

But for all the genre-requisite spike avoiding, platform hopping, and ghost dodging, the stars here are the levels themselves. They are, in essence, entire puzzles to be solved by leading Mario mites into toy chests, finding keys, and backflipping onto triggers that make some walls or walkways materialize from the ether, and others magically disappear. Me likes.

It just doesn't feel like the Transformers. There's no character to the characters, no real reason to transform except to find a better battleground during a boss fight. [June 2004, p.69]

A disappointingly undersized and shallow RPG experience for GameCube owners. [June 2004, p.91]

The core gameplay is carbon copy stuff you've been through before: point to the swarm of guys with the red bars over their heads, keep mashing buttons until they're all dead, find another group on your map, repeat ad nauseum. [June 2004, p.68]

Espionage action games have evolved beyond the standards this series helped establish, but Syphon Filter's combat and accompanying controls remain too old-school for their own good. [June 2004, p.65]

The gameplay is certainly realistic, but overall, the physics of how the ball moves feel a bit floaty at times. In the final analysis, ESPN MLB trails after "MVP Baseball" and "MLB 2005," making it a good choice for those who aren't satisfied with those league leaders. [Apr 2004, p.89]

When taken as a whole, La Pucelle: Tactics is a great strategy/RPG loaded with hours upon hours of solid gameplay, multiple endings, side-quests, and a high degree of customization. [June 2004, p.91]

The graphics aren’t much different from those in FIFA with players still having that stiff, android feel.

It's not a jaw-dropper in any way, but it is just lots of fun to drive.

The graphics aren’t much different from those in FIFA with players still having that stiff, android feel.

A game that finally does the Western action genre some tough justice.

A game that finally does the Western action genre some tough justice.

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

With so many EQ-me-toos out there, it’s refreshing to play something new, and to have it be this good is like finding a cooler of lemonade in the middle of the desert.

Aside from the Leon bait-and-switch, there are few surprises in Onimusha 3—it’s a great game that fits like an old glove, so the old saying goes. A soul-sucking, flesh-leeching glove with one creepy, blinking, hollow eye.

Delivers all the requirements of an exciting FPS, and the 20-buck asking price is a sweet incentive. Second Encounter is a shooter with simple requirements: A minimum of brains and maximum of reflexes.

The drawback in executing these moves comes in the form of slow button response. It’s tough to pull off a counter if the buttons don’t register at the exact moment, and it’s hard to attack with a flurry of side-step combos when, in combination with a button press, the directional pad and analog stick just don’t react efficiently.

Siren’s ghouls not only search for you with flashlights and come at you with shovels, but they also skitter along telephone wires and snipe you from rooftops. They don’t die.

In this captivating outing, 47 revisits the past while modernizing the nagging flaws of his previous games, making for his best trail of assassinations yet.

The challenge with Groove is to make it feel less like a mechanical button-pressing game and more like you’re actually dancing, and that, my friends, is all up to you.

In this captivating outing, 47 revisits the past while modernizing the nagging flaws of his previous games, making for his best trail of assassinations yet.

If you don't enjoy a challenge just for the sake of doing it, though, Manhunt isn't going to appeal to you. [Aug 2004, p.66]

Although the game won't make its competitors sweat, it will definitely make them keep an eye out for future World Tour Soccer games. [June 2004, p.86]

One of the most lovingly crafted games in years, Painkiller looks awesome, sounds intimidating, and controls simply and smoothly.

Serious Sam delivers all the requirements of an exciting FPS, and the 20-buck asking price is a sweet incentive.

Although the scriptwriters are straight from the show, Marshall and Vaughan's dialogue feels a little forced; otherwise, the large cast of participation and television soundtrack give the game exactly the authentic audio flavor fans would want. [May 2004, p.70]

Once you learn the controls, they respond sharply. The fully user-controlled camera can still leave you in a lurch, but locking onto one target in a group makes the frequent two-or three-enemy smackdowns winnable. [May 2004, p.70]

The gameplay is certainly realistic, but overall, the physics of how the ball moves feel a bit floaty at times. In the final analysis, ESPN MLB trails after "MVP Baseball" and "MLB 2005," making it a good choice for those who aren't satisfied with those league leaders. [Apr 2004, p.89]

Overall, the single-player mode lacks the charm of the portable edition, and, especially for those new to the series, the multiplayer can't compete with the welcoming embrace that the "Mario Party" series is known for. [May 2004, p.68]

Ballers’ best perks are its astonishingly hi-res textures (almost too hi-res—seeing the pores in the faces of player models isn’t exactly a pleasant thing), its depth of customization, the wide variety of smoothly animated street moves, and the intriguing 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 mode.

Fight Night's Career mode should be the model that other boxing games should follow...Hands down, Fight Night 2004 is the victor in all weight classes this year. [May 2004, p.84]

Fight Night's Career mode should be the model that other boxing games should follow...Hands down, Fight Night 2004 is the victor in all weight classes this year. [May 2004, p.84]

Ballers' best perks are its astonishingly hi-res textures (almost too hi-res-seeing the pores in the faces of player models isn't exactly a pleasant thing), its depth of customization, the wide variety of smoothly animated street moves, and the intriguing 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 mode.

The "Rocky III" of video games: There isn't much suspense, the acting's cheesy, and the production values could be better, but you can't help but get sucked in. [June 2004, p.70]

Despite its shortcomings, Outbreak’s hefty replay, intense action, and clever scenario designs make for an engaging play—on- and offline, and a must for any Resident fan. Here, success ultimately depends on how helpful everyone’s willing to be.

A fairly enjoyable game. With introductions to new characters and enemies in every mission, the option to customize and improve your weapons, and a hardy plot, there should be enough to make a rental worthwhile. [June 2004, p.71]

The controlls are tight with crisp response for the most part...There are plenty of weapon skills and magic attacks to master. [Apr 2004, p.70]

If you're a Rainbow Six veteran, you'll be disappointed with the watered-down gameplay. But if this is your first time combating terrorists, you'll find that RS3 is adequate enough to appeal to your shooting instincts. [May 2004, p.63]

It's a mere...er, shadow of the cartoon, but it's also a lively workout...While this is far from "Onimusha," "Shinobi," or "Ninja Gaiden," initiates fresh to the genre should find it a worthy first challenge. [May 2004, p.70]

It's not very realistic - the A.I. is <I>really</I> dumb...Even though Pandora Tomorrow looks and feels a lot like Pandora Yesterday, that doesn't mean it's not a good game. A little slow, a little frustrating, sure, but still fun. [May 2004, p.78]

For many, Final Fantasy XI will be the Holy Grail of nonlinearity: a wide-open RPG universe with Final Fantasy flair, defined by its players as much as its developers, beloved for all its flaws. Love it or hate it, there’s nothing like it on your PS2.

Far more frustrating, though, is the pedestrian level design, which delivers frequent ambushes that rely on memorization and replay instead of stealth and skill.

You would have to be an insanely devoted fan of the action-figure line from which the characters originate and a fan of repetitive level exploration to gain any type of enjoyment from Cy Girls. [Apr 2004, p.74]

More than just a solid sequel. Large levels with well-placed save points (a feature lacking in the first Splinter Cell) make the flow of the game seem much smoother.