The weather effects are beautiful (the storm sequences are downright scary), and pulling off a successful ship capture is an exhilarating experience once you manage it.

What makes Ape Escape 2 rule is that it simply feels like no other game, thanks to an intuitive analog control scheme in which pressing or rotating the right stick both aims and activates your various gadgets.

Although hardly original (it's "Jeremy McGrath" with a next-gen facelift), SX Superstar is a well-built arcade bike racer with pretty-enough graphics and the trademark dead-on Climax control.

Delivers a burly extreme experience that doesn’t feel like it was cloned.

It's a flawed-but-fascinating curiosity and addictive despite itself thanks to the truly awesome monster generation. [June 2003, p.113]

A mix of intense head-bashing against smart A.I. and an occasional crate-smashing balance out to some solid gameplay.

More than a decent scaling down of a seminal game, Jet Grind Radio is an accomplished and guaranteed time-killer.

Though flawed and not very much like previous Arc titles (Random battles! In an Arc game!), Twilight's fast-paced fighting and decent story save it from RPG oblivion. Don't worry—it does pick up after the beginning.

If you're not a Mega Maniac, there's no point in bothering with this game. [June 2003, p.96]

Just like its predecessor, Advance Wars 2 is a great, excellently balanced, and super-fun strategy game, but it feels more like an expansion pack than a sequel. If you never played the first one, skip right to number two.

The graphics are crisp and astonishingly smooth, but the game is terribly short—the mission mode is too easy and the auxiliary racing bits are uninteresting.

In an age when platformers are searching for the next gimmick, Wario World stays addictive by weight of sheer design innovation. Shame it’s so short.

A big, huge game of half-baked ideas. There’s a ton of gameplay and a pretty interesting story here, if you’re willing to deal with bugs, control problems, and lots of loading screens.

An interesting action/shooter and a worthy side story for the series. Forget about the ill-fated "Survivor"— Dead Aim is a first-person Resident Evil game that works.

Sometimes enemies take time to notice you, but once they do, the A.I. is fairly impressive.

A deeper, more interesting game than its sequel, but the camera and collision problems hurt the overall experience. [June 2003, p.104]

Sloppy controls, meandering pace, Ginsu-choppy frame rates, generic environments, and beat collision detection.

The game feels cramped and limited. Linear levels where there’s little room to explore on your own attribute to unchallenging gameplay.

Even basic navigation is difficult in this game—it will take you an hour or two before you have any idea how to get anywhere.

Really short and super-easy. Mini-Ulala works mostly as a neato novelty act.

Although the core gameplay’s still pretty mundane, nearly all the faults of the original have been fixed. The control’s much more forgiving (you can actually land combos now), the graphics aren’t so drab anymore, and the music’s a dead ringer for the anime soundtrack.

The terrible A.I. is a big culprit behind the sense of lackluster repetition.

A refreshing multiplayer showing overshadows the humdrum single-player game.

The repetitive combat won’t wow hardcore action fans, but committed zombie-hunters might enjoy the challenge and the attitude. Hail to the king, baby.

Little room for personality, not many instances of clear level design, and not a whole lot of time before the game gets dull. [June 2003, p.104]

If it weren’t for the low frame rate—evident especially in the outdoor environments—and the really dumb A.I., the action would have been more pleasant. Even the sounds of weapon fire and panicking victims should have been refined.

Has enough variations to satisfy extreme sports fans, and 11 levels, countless goals, and highly replayable two-player modes are sure to keep you busy for a long time. Still, if you’re a gamer jaded by the genre, the game lacks the level of innovation that would have left a lasting impression.

Visually, the Xbox version smokes its PS2 counterpart, but it won’t blow your doors off.

Though not quite a substitute for the SNES version, DKC is still higher quality than 90 percent of the GBA's action lineup right now.

A simple, arcadey grappler that’s likely to appeal more to enthusiasts of things that are insane than hardcore wrestling fanatics.

It boasts a fun engine, endearingly weird characters, and funny voices and sound effects, but lacks a few key customization options that keep it from becoming the ultimate champ.

Visually, the game doesn’t disappoint—lots of shiny cars, detailed environments, and lighting effects that prove crucial during these after-hours races.

The too-twitchy controls (which aren’t laid out logically or comfortably) and easy crash deaths belie an inappropriate commitment to realism in a patently arcadey setting, while other elements simply need more polish (spotty collision detection; some tricks that aren’t “seen”).

Sonic's got the best portable pinball game on the market now—his tables are dead simple to get into, and there are enough extras to keep any Sega fan enthralled. It's also the closest thing to a new Nights game you'll ever get.

The new levels are just plain boring, and the action doesn’t really pick up until you hit the original PC missions. Far worse, the game completely—and lamely—lacks multiplayer action or online support.

While all the aforementioned features make Iridion incredibly unoriginal, they also make the game finally worth playing for more than the visuals. [June 2003, p.99]

The video-game equivalent of fast food—quick, easy, and disposable. Its main problem is that poor game design choices.

Brute Force is fun for a while, a forgettable destruct-a-thon with an OK squadly gimmick, but that’s about it. This gang of four doesn’t add up to one Master Chief.

A poor fighting system + awkward cameras + endlessly respawning, cookie-cutter bad guys = (it turns out) hours of frustrating, ruin-your-day gameplay.

Hulk provides thoroughly enjoyable action interrupted by moments of painfully simplistic stealth gameplay.

Hours of it at once will make your eyes glaze over. That's why this title's so good for "casual" gamers-it's a blast in 15-minute spurts, and if you stick to that schedule, there's enough action inside to keep you engaged for weeks.

Naturally lacks the novelty of the original, but it succeeds in correcting nearly all its faults... even if it creates a few in the process. [June 2003, p.112]

Rise of Nations’ biggest weakness—lack of variety—becomes obvious. Every nation is the same, except for some bonus modifiers; there really aren’t that many units; and in the end, you wind up wielding them as a jumbled horde.

Online FPS fans who like the heat of tactical team action will really dig the constant squad-level action of PlanetSide.

The beautifully lit ballparks look great, and the solid audio nicely re-creates the ballpark feel.

The more you play this half-baked sack of pixels, the more you become convinced that there is no The Matrix game, and the only thing being played here is you.

Lovers of Le Matrix should play just to see all the official Wachowski peripheral story stuff—it’s really quite cool, and actually adds to the story—but the PS2 game was jacked out of its own development Matrix too early.

An old-skool movie-based game in the worst way, taking you back to the days when a Hollywood license was a recipe for a giant ball of suck.

Somewhere along the way, someone forgot to implement the core of any action game: comfortable controls.

Simply an extension of Infection—muddy graphics, questionable control, and a story concept that’s just interesting enough to keep you going.

A superior GBA adventure in every respect and a marked improvement on "Harmony of Dissonance." Still, it is another "Symphony of the Night" clone—if you’re feeling a little sick of the same ol’ thing, this game may be the breaking point.

It doesn't shine as bright as "Golden Sun," nor does it have the complexity of "Tactics Ogre" - it's just a good-natured dependable RPG that never did any harm. [Apr 2003, p.63]

If anything, the whole game feels a little stiff—it’s visually arresting and robust but not as immersive as some other first-person games.

Although the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions of the sequel have been available for some time, the Xbox version nudges ahead of the other two as the best looking of the bunch.

Essentially the same game with a slew of slick improvements, and gamers will have an absolute blast throwing down dunks while exploring its new features.

Essentially the same game with a slew of slick improvements, and gamers will have an absolute blast throwing down dunks while exploring its new features.

Essentially the same game with a slew of slick improvements, and gamers will have an absolute blast throwing down dunks while exploring its new features.

A platformer with more than just jumping and crawling around, though it can get tiring for those looking for a more fast-paced adventure.

Though at times it comes across as a goofy amalgamation of NES titles, Ninja Five-O presents a highly playable and entertaining challenge.

If you have no online hookup, though, don't bother.

If you played "SOCOM" for the chat, however, then you'll probably abandon this game early on.

Some may be put off by the somewhat sluggish controls, which make you feel as if you’re actually manipulating a towering behemoth, but the rumble adds a nice effect whenever you’re struck or take a nasty spill.

The feel of the driving is what earned the McRae series its reputation, and the controls remain impeccable in this PS2 edition.

The whole game feels bloated, like it’s trying to do too many things at once, and the new character-oriented career mode is uninspired.

Wolverine's Revenge also has some haggard camera work and sluggish controls, not to mention retarded collision detection and counter-intuitively mapped commands (have fun trying to readjust the camera while in stealth mode).

While it doesn’t look bad, what was good-looking on the Dreamcast is mediocre by Xbox standards. The controls are also unchanged.

It's for that rare breed of gamer who isn't afraid of inhuman challenge, who spends days practicing their routines, who will do anything to beat his last high score.

Character animation is fine, but some questionable collision detection and generic explosions rob it of whatever flash it could have had. X2: Wolverine’s Revenge simply doesn’t feel polished—or even complete.

The best thing you can say about The Lost Age, though, is that it's Golden Sun—except more of it. A good 35 hours more, even. If you've played the original, then this is a must buy.

This version of Splinter Cell disappointingly doesn’t measure up to the superior versions on the Xbox, PS2, and PC, although it’s still a decent mission for the GameCube.

Although it lacks the ultra polish of "Need for Speed" or the outrageous wrecks of "Burnout," its high challenge and huge tracks will keep your hands glued to the controller.

The characters look nice enough, but the station itself is uniformly drab, making it easy to get lost. This situation isn't helped by a control system that seems designed to give you carpal-tunnel syndrome.

Visually, the game’s a stunner—cars look great thanks to a high polygon count, and when they crash, parts fly absolutely everywhere.

While the PS2's levels are noticeably shorter than those of the Xbox version, their design hasn't changed and the overall gameplay remains completely intact, making this game a wonderful adventure within the Tom Clancy universe.

While regular Joes will miss nothing if they pass this up, the art galleries and new music are enough to make Origins worth it to hardcore FF fanatics.

Improves on the first "Red Faction" on almost every level. The graphics are superb, the action is relentless, and the Geo-Mod aspects play a more integral role in the game.

A gripping and action-packed experience that will appease if you’re jonesing for a straightforward FPS.

At once the best wrestling game in years, an awesome showcase for some damn good hip-hop, and an example of what can happen when a game company takes a chance.

For all its frustrations and shortcomings, GR2003 does pay off with the thrill of long-sought victory and a sense of accomplishment for having figured out the bizarre subtleties of this stat-heavy simulation.

Among the most addictive, frantic, and fun of the latter-day Tetris/Puyo Pop/Dr. Mario clones, but the true insanity is reserved for two people.

More than just a port of a PlayStation 2 fighting game—it’s a port of a very good PlayStation 2 fighting game... The GameCube version suffers a bit on a few fronts, most notably its controls and graphics.

Samurai Jack is neck-and-neck with "E.T." for the Atari 2600. [Apr 2003, p.61]

The gameplay sometimes feels like it’s in low gear. The tracks are short and predictable, and although stunts are encouraged, the repertoire and controls are limited.

Fights are fast and furious, and there’s no shortage of splashy, flashy special effects.

While business minutia often drags down world-building sims, Operation Genesis offers enough variety and a bit of real action to not only set it apart but also keep players very satisfied.

Auto Modellista’s gameplay doesn’t match its outstanding visuals. Unfortunately, the driving technique at the heart of this driver doesn’t perform well.

Too bad the slow pace of the gameplay hobbles the cool concept.

Koei's obviously performed emergency surgery on the AI routines, because everyone's a thousand times smarter now.

And while you must have a mind for strategy and business to really enjoy it, you do get to see dinos bleed now and then—and that’s worth something.

If you just wanna run around and bust heads, this mindless, Mature-rated game is for you!

The Xbox version of The Sims trades the PC version’s precise control for much improved presentation and more directed gameplay.

The PC version is still preferable if you have the choice, but The Sims is an insanely addictive game no matter what platform it’s on.

It’s supremely addictive, fun, and entrancing, and not just because of the flashing psychedelic tunnels of light. Plus, the feeling that you’re actually in control of a drum set or a base line is about as good as it gets.

A brilliant, dazzling wonder, no matter how you feel about Link's new pants... If this game doesn't make you happy, then it's impossible for you to be happy. [Apr 2003, p.94]

You’ll get an unforgettable experience of different military tactics, plus you’ll have a better idea of what the Army went through in Somalia.

The most impressive feature in Tapout 2 is the redesigned visuals. Dream Factory chose to completely redo the graphics to make them look more life-like and as authentic as the real deal.

Everything’s been upgraded and/or redone to make tactical team gameplay as cohesive and fun as the series has always been. Just make sure you have a powerful machine to enjoy every aspect of the game.

Intensively addictive. The battles are lightning-fast, the controls are completely stress-free, and there’s still something primordially fun about filling up those Pokédex pages.