Pac-Land has never looked better, cartoonishly but lushly rendered, and full of bright colors and crisp 3D objects.

It may not be the breath of fresh air that the original Skate was, but Skate 3 still offers up plenty of innovation in its robust skate park creation mechanic, engaging multiplayer feature, and expanded move list.

The gameplay is diverse, and it’s backed by strong graphics and audio...The main downside is with the nontraditional controls.

Packed with a bevy of features, TimeSplitters Future Perfect is a cornucopia of candy-coated goodness for any FPS fan. If you start now, you just might be able to unlock everything by the time "Halo 3" ships to stores.

Despite seeing the goofy characters in a new fish tank, there isn't enough freshness throughout to keep you down wid it. It's not bad, it's just not baaad…you feel me?

Comes up like the Calgary Flames - a very close second - because "ESPN NHL 2K5" is the better game due to its overall complete package. [Dec 2004, p.146]

My suggestion: skip the single-player campaign and head straight to online play.

After I took a few deep breathes and stopped trying to play the game like something it wasn't, I discovered that it was something truly special. It's a clichéd but appropriate phrase in this case: they don't make them like the used to. Frozen Synapse is so enjoyable, it makes you wonder why.

A refreshing, original, and compelling twist on the 3D platformer, Herdy Gerdy rises above its potentially dull premise.

Boxing Fever isn't just a punchfest, however--it requires good timing and strategizing in order to move through the ranks.

There truly is a deep, rewarding, and splendiferous RPG behind Arcanum’s dated, clunky machina…but only the most intrepid RPG fanatics will have the patience to dig it out.

1-Bit Ninja's difficulty will likely cause plenty of blue streaks, but they're worth the catharsis of a job well done.

If you're not so keen on the more sim-like nature of Forza or GT, it's a great buy. And if you like either or both those games, but want to experience raw and exciting racing, Shift 2 certainly delivers enough frenetic action to make it a great additional purchase. In that respect, it's a winning formula.

For only $10, Fancy Pants Adventures offers gamers plenty of bang for their buck. If you are up to the challenge, and don't mind the game's occasionally derivative feel, you'll be pleased with your purchase.

Fun while it lasts.

Still, Justice For All demonstrates enough of the plucky spirit that made the first game so memorable. [Feb. 2007, p.82]

If the offensive and defensive balance were just a bit more fine-tuned, and the Xbox and GameCube versions had online support, NBA Live 2004 would have the legs for multiple plays through the Dynasty mode and a clear shot as the top hoops game.

The GameCube controller responds well, and both the silly speech quips and the Offspring punk tunes sound great.

The expansive environments are divided by too-frequent load screens, the story elements fall limp more often than not, and corralling idiotic survivors can try your patience, but the visceral thrill of taking zombies apart is so varied and enjoyable that such disappointments are forgiven. Dead Rising isn't game of the year, but it is a whole lot of mindless fun.

A huge, fun monster-whacker that would hold up pretty well even without its Tolkien license—it is mini-Diablo, after all.

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

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.

Fun co-op play, fun weapons, short and sweet.

By taking two killer licenses and placing them in a real-time strategy setting, Zono Inc. has crafted a compelling, addictive, and challenging-as-hell game.

The controls are tight, the action is fierce, and the game is funny. And for only 40 bucks, that's definitely A Good Thing.

Schizoid has a slick, artsy look and is simple, yet elegant. This game is addictive and a lot of fun for those seeking a distinctive experience based on traditional top down shooters.

It's faster and nastier than most of the kindred of "Resident Evil" at the cost of losing a bit of edge. [May 2004, p.71]

Players who've wrung all they can out of Wii Sports will appreciate We Love Golf if they're not looking for anything too serious. But if you draw the line at pirate-themed golf courses, avert your eyes, matey.