Still, BioShock 2 not only re-captures the dystopian aesthetic, gripping narrative, and deep gameplay of Irrational's original, but it actually greatly improves on the BioShock experience as a whole, fine-tuning what made Jack's voyage to Rapture such a memorable experience two years ago.

Despite being familiar with the game, Persona 3 Portable still managed to utterly consume me. When a game has such a profound effect on me, I believe it deserves nothing less than the highest praise I can lavish upon it.

Realistic scenarios in realistic environments add to Splinter Cell’s tantalizing world of covert operations. With a strong overall package of incredible features, the stealth/action genre has a new hero.

A masterpiece of superior game design, infinite gameplay variety, creativity, and life-and it's got a water cannon…and a damn brilliant one at that.

It's one of the best games to come out for the PlayStation in 2000.

Scribblenauts is the video game equivalent of your first kiss: it's awkward, it's sweet and it's utterly memorable.

While N+ is frequently challenging, it never devolves to the level of senseless head gripping difficulty that has been seen in similar games, as it strikes a nice balance in difficulty.

A breathtaking experience. From the inimitable graphics to the hypnotically addictive gameplay, it’s captivating on every level.

An intensely addictive combo of wild arcade racing and fun platform-style exploration … the joy of exploring all its cool tracks will make you feel like a kid in a candy store.

Overall, Super Circuit handles like a front-runner, but sometimes the windshield needs cleaning.

A truly dazzling, inspired game that mixes a riveting story with a stylish look and absorbing gameplay.

Heck, it might just be the best console RPG of all time. It's deep, complex and tremendously addictive. From the amazing character development system to the engaging and satisfying combat, Fallout 3 has everything you could want in an RPG experience.

A combat masterpiece.

From the fighting mechanics to roster of players Brawl is a well-rounded game that I just couldn't put down. The only downside to Brawl is that it doesn't do anything to reinvent the series. It takes elements of past SSB games and refines them, which is great, but players expecting an entirely new experience won't find it here.

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.

With amazing improvements and incredible gameplay, FFXII is without a doubt the best Final Fantasy game in over a decade. Put simply, this is what all RPGs, regardless of platform or subject matter, should aspire to be.

It isn't the best open-world game out there, but it does a sublime job of capturing what it feels like to be the head of a virtual crime family. [Apr 2009, p.81]

This is Zelda supreme. It's fun. One hitch, however, is that the skill level gets progressively harder - so hard that casual gamers might give up rather quickly.

Surprise, surprise —UT 2004 looks absolutely fantastic. From the sprawling battlefields to the tiny blades of alien grass, there’s not one visual detail that looks less than stunning.

Turns in a superstar performance with its addictive gameplay, authentic hockey feel, and exhaustive features.

The butter-smooth controls make the game a joy to play—between the big hits and the player-controlled dekes, you’ll alternate between brawling like Tie Domi and dangling like Pavel Bure.

Thankfully, Capcom included a near-perfect arcade port of "Street Fighter III", a fighting game as unsung as it is flawless. [Oct 2004, p.82]

Every minute that you play, you constantly feel as if you’re discovering something new and different, and the game’s puzzles feel very organic, intelligent, and open-ended, forcing you to think and rethink your strategy as you make new realizations about your place in the world.

At the end of the day, that's really what this Street Fighter is: it's a title that's built for newcomers, yet tweaked for old school vets from the arcade and console days. [Mar 2009, p.75]

Bastion isn't just one of the year's best title[s]. It's also one of the best stories you'll see in an indie game.

Offers a smooth ramp of power, fast-but-strategic combat, and a real variety of gameplay. Alone, it's cool. With friends, it's a blast.

Even beyond the football gameplay, you have to appreciate the wealth of extras and activities that make Madden NFL 2003 such an entertaining and complete package.

Unmatched in its field thanks to major improvements in every category combined with a deeply rewarding simulation experience.