NBA Hoopz comes off as a simulation wannabe, simultaneously betraying "Showtime" fans and only weakly attracting serious hoop addicts. Stick with "NBA 2K1."

Touches gloves and starts swinging with terrific controls and deep, exciting gameplay. It's too bad that the lackluster graphics and sounds prevent it from becoming a truly memorable champion.

When the final whistle blows, there's just no reason to step onto this ice. Stick with the far, far superior "NHL 2001" for your PS2 hockey cravings.

While ATV and offroad junkies will delight in Fury's deep, challenging action, its appeal isn't mainstream enough to reel in the average racing fan.

Enough options to keep off-road enthusiasts tearing up the dirt for quite some time, and the physics and damage modeling is a nice surprise. However, Insane, never really makes you say "Wow!" It's a solid, but not exceptional racing game that won't lock you up in an asylum (as the title suggests).

Despite having a unique look, the visuals certainly aren't the highlight of Paper Mario. It's the fun adventure, mixing intuitive controls and straightforward gameplay that make this a great addition to the N64 library.

It's classic side-scrolling action like it was originally designed to be played. The two selectable characters and brain-spraining puzzles mean you'll get more than your money's worth in replay value.

Die-hard gamers and fanatical purists will undoubtedly make this game compilation a must-have; but those who took up gaming when the 32-bit era kicked in will find only two titles of interest: "Virtua Cop 2" and "Sega Swirl."

It's the best version of one of the best 3D platform games ever made.

Oni looks bad, sounds bad, and plays even worse -- all of the anticipation for this game is left unfulfilled.

Even if your suspension, brake, and gear ratios are fixed for maximum handling, the controls are just way too sensitive -- the slightest touch on the analog stick makes your car careen into walls and run off course.

It's straightforward, hack-n-slash combat online or off. But you must jump online, however, to get the full experience of what the Dreamcast is capable of doing.

The game's graphics are murky, blocky, and uninspired, while the soundtrack, filled with monster groans and quiet music, is just as bad. Controls are thumb-numbing and plain.

Killer zombies, gushing green blood, scary monsters...give it a try and it'll give you the willies.

Looks great, sounds great, and plays pretty well. It's the best of the PS2 crowd, but can't match "NBA 2K1" for the total hoops experience.

In the end, Dementium: The Ward is a cohesive game with the sum of all of its parts adding up to a frightening whole.

It's a solid Dreamcast racer, but advancing to the next level can be frustrating. Access to more cars in the beginning, customizing, and level advancement should have been tweaked.

In this case, "RC" stands for "really crappy." Unless you truly enjoy subpar courses, low-grade weapons, ho-hum racing, and pre-Newtonian physics, you should probably avoid the lifeless RC Revenge Pro.

The fighting world has a brand new and addictive style of gameplay. Kengo pays homage to an art form that's rarely seen, and plays as a well-crafted and fun experience that no fighting-game fan should miss.

Sadly, Ducati's not first-rate in this trial run.

A fast, frantic blast.

Its unique modern-day setting along with terrific characters and a dark story make Persona 2 an engaging game from start to finish. It's truly a must for serious RPG fans.

Hit-or-miss, mushy controls mean you're dead more often than not even though combat with Deadites is a simple button-smashing slugfest.

By dumbing it down with WWF-style presentation and mindless gameplay, 3DO has created a PS2 update of the BattleTanx series that turns what was a fun mission-based adventure into a silly tournament-style game show.

The X button rebounds the ball and also is the shoot button on offense. In the heat of a game, you often throw up shots by accident.

It's not quite as good of a time as "GameDay."

The game's dynamic difficulty adjustment keeps frustration to a minimum, and Battle for Naboo is so much fun that it's possible that the Midi-chlorians were involved.

This visually stunning space shooter lets you battle among the stars, but pilots may be bored by the monotonous shooting and the lack of an alluring story.

If you enjoy the idea of engaging covert-ops missions that require stealth and smarts more than sheer brawn, you'll love IGI.

It may not be the flashiest RPG of the year, but it's definitely one of the best, with its solid combination of terrific gameplay and a compelling story.

The game is a visual feast. If it controlled a little better this would be a perfect score, but as is, this game is still a hell of a good time.

This is a great game for Razor enthusiasts that like simple (very simple) gameplay.

Too laid back. It plays more like a lazy day at the beach, rather than a gonzo ride atop a force of nature.

It's fun for a while, but the overly simplified game mechanics and repetitive shoot-and-run gameplay wouldn't amount to much without the extraordinary visuals and awesome concept.

It sucks you into its weird world and doesn't let you go.

There are no branching pathways or mulitiple endings, but if you're looking for a rip-roaring adventure, you can't go wrong.

At just $19.99 and probably the most engrossing story of the Resident Evil series, neither veterans nor newbies should miss RE2.

It's a mystery (and a shame) why with solid survival horror games like "Nightmare Creatures" or the "Resident Evil" series out there as examples, a "can't-miss" movie license like Evil Dead couldn't have faired better.

The mud, the jumps, the skids, and fun track designs make Colin McRae Rally 2.0 one very enjoyable racing title.

If you're looking for some racing-combat fun, this pod if for you.

This game is very fun once you get the hang of it, but it takes a die hard sim fan to give this game a very long life.

A game that looks and sounds great, but sometimes feels more like work than play.

Certain tracks are a bit redundant with a few too many identical turns and jumps, but for the most part, they're a lot of fun.

BF IV's fantastic voyage and cool play techniques will keep fans of the series and newbies alike riveted for days.

The controls are the same-they're as touchy yet unresponsive as always, so be prepared for swan-diving off high ledges to your death when you were merely trying to scoot up a bit.

Nothing new over the PC version, but StarLancer's thrilling space combat gives Dreamcast pilots a lot to get pumped about.

The controls feel stiff at first and aren't configurable (lame!), but racing pros will like learning to finesse tight responses from the controller.

"Fantavision" has prettier graphics, but the time-tested gameplay in Bust A Move makes the switch to the PS2 nicely.

You'll be hard-pressed to score more than a couple goals. But that just mirrors real life, and the action delivers plenty of thrills.

If you still enjoy the series and want more, go with Tomb Raider Chronicles. But if Lara hasn't yet cast her spell on you, you'd do well to look for an adventure game with less frustrating controls.

Furious battles between fifty ton robots never looked or played so good, and Mechwarrior fans will love this latest chapter.

Blade is a kick-ass hero in the comics and movies, but take away the "kick" and what you're left with adequately describes this game.

Harvest Moon isn't for the impatient gamer, but those who stick with it long enough will discover its rustic charm.

Ultimately, Sarges' Heroes is a weekend rental of mindless fun.

The game really creates the feeling of being Spider-Man like no game before it, and for many Marvel fans, that will be more than enough... Yet many gamers will be dismayed by the finicky camera and formulaic gameplay.

As with its PlayStation counterpart, it's best to not even play Dave Mirra. The gameplay is incomplete with inexcusably terrible graphics and thumb-numbing controls.

It's like day old meatloaf: still delicious, but still meatloaf.

A huge arsenal of moves and a ridiculous number options - some great, some not so great - add tons of replay value and make Smackdown 2, making it a virtual no-brainer for wrestling fans.

There's an awesome amount of gameplay packed into this cart. The landscapes are so huge it's a challenge to remember everything you need to do.

The combination of "Thief"-style sneaking with smart enemy A.I. and the use of realistic weapons-piano wire, silenced pistols, sniper rifles, and even M-60s-creates an intense experience, though many gamers will be frustrated by the lack of in-game saving.

Offers mild fun that will appeal for sure only to gamers who love both Bond and action-driving games.

With an onslaught of brawlers, multiple play modes, and a solid create-a-wrestler feature, No Mercy will have you grappling for days on end. It's a definite must-have for wrestling fans.

The game can be really difficult, but, thankfully, you can choose from seven ratings, ranging from "Very Hard" to "Baby."

It's got great graphics, superb dialogue, and unforgettable characters, but the genre-bending story will keep graphic adventure fans glued to the screen.

GameDay has always seemed to be chasing EA's Madden games, and this GameDay is no exception, but it still shows some spark, and manages to be a fun mix of football action.

You'll have more fun cruising third class on a no name charter.

The game packs a punch, but the less-than-stellar visuals diminish the impact.

Lives up to EA Sports' tagline by re-creating soccer completely.

Collisions are far too bouncy-what should be minor dust-ups send your car cartwheeling through the air, and many of the timed missions have far too little breathing room.

The gameplay isn't nearly as deep, the graphics aren't anywhere near as good, and some of the sounds are just plain awful by today's standards, but hey who cares when you're saving the universe once again?

A deliberately, paced adventure, Dino Crisis nicely fits the bill; others will be more satisfied with any of the "Resident Evil" series.

For some shooting action with a twist, Cannon Spike is a ripping good time.

Hardly pushing the limits of the PS2, Gradius III and IV is a shooter combo package that will appeal to retro gaming fans.

Sadly, the controls in the Battle screen are totally counterintuitive, making it a slow, tedious chore to command your units.

It does, at times, go beyond expectations to give gamers a true masterpiece.

A new arrow on the power meter shows you exactly how hard you should hit the ball-very handy, but it can't be turned off and makes the game a little too automatic.

Despite some decent features, Mickey is way too easy for the experienced kart driver. Courses are short and the gameplay is straightforward, lacking any depth and variety to the characters and races.

Can be tedious in one-player mode, but it's clearly intended for multiplayer fun. Although it's the only party game for Dreamcast, Sonic Shuffle deals a great hand for all to play.

Ms. Pac Man sometimes gets a mind of her own when you tell her where to go, but the simple controls keep gameplay chomping along.

Nothing but a journey full of wild discoveries, intense battles, and fun gameplay. To date, this is the best Dreamcast RPG that no one should miss.

Started as a cool idea, but its flashes of quality are too short to sustain long term interest.

Awesome single player game is held back by a mediocre multiplayer experience.

While a scant few of The Grinch's tasks are fun, the rest are either boring, frustrating, or both.

While it would be nice to have more available characters, Capcom vs. SNK will keep you busy for a very long time, mastering the nuances of the fighting engine and unlocking the huge amount of hidden features.

Hilarious, perfectly paced, and just the right amount of difficulty. Very few puzzles are total stumpers.

Great fun for a while, but gets repetitive pretty quickly.

Rune will satisfy your axe-swinging, lever-pulling, zombie beheading urges, just don't expect anything too deep.

It can't measure up to the likes of "SWAT 3" or "Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear," but Delta Force is a much improved and very fun tactical combat action game.

Not to say that Crash Bash can't be played alone, but when there's a room full of people, Crash Bash suddenly becomes ten times more fun.

It's not perfect, but it's a polished, exciting ride.

An absolutely ridiculous game that's only good because it's so unique and bizarre, Incredible Crisis is best enjoyed with a group of friends watching, pointing, laughing, and furrowing their brow in confusion and horror.

Isn't terrible, but it can't come close to those long summer days when all you needed was a sandbox and a little imagination.

Sacrifice weaves together an intricate story, addictive gameplay, and drop-dead gorgeous graphics.

Doesn't quite surpass the gameplay standard set by the recent "Perfect Dark," but it does have better audio and the graphics are a notch above its predecessor, "GoldenEye."

The game is not perfect, but at the end of the day it's still a very satisfying experience.

The controls, however, are a challenge (even with "simulation" turned off) and take some getting used to -- particularly when maneuvering in and out of corners.

Red Dog may look and sound strong, but with poor controls, its bite is far from threatening. A huge complement of multiplayer games helps bring up the score.

With so much dialogue and so little action, Blair Witch Volume 2 is even slower than the first game in the series and not quite as scary.