A much bigger, much longer version of a Sega classic that captures the spirit of the original perfectly, but the repetitious nature of the gameplay doesn’t quite withstand the test of time.

Despite a few well-placed jolts, it lacks the unmentionable-damaging impact of more fright-fraught fare like "Silent Hill 2."

While the series has strayed from its hardcore sim roots pioneered by Coach K College basketball way back in the Genesis’s heyday, it at least has defined an identity and found a fun formula as well.

It’s really a thinking man’s shooter that plays out like an explosive game of chess—a very, very hard game of chess with limited continues.

You can't help but wonder if the game could have been even better if they had decided to slightly re-design the gameplay for 2D.

Occasionally the platform-leaping gets tedious and some of the levels needed more work, but nevertheless Outcast dominates.

Take note, game developers: Loading and re-loading does not a fun play experience make. Give us quick-saving or give us death.

Requires a bit of fancy powersliding, but it feels a lot more natural and comfortable here than it does in other games - the controls really respond well.

A game full of lousy gameplay and poor visual effects that will only make you ask, “Why?!” ... Clearly belongs in the bin of horrendous movie-to-game translations.

The camera is pretty awful, requiring way too much fussing by the player to maintain a clear field of view.

While kids will love the cheerful graphics and cute characters, adults can marvel at the simple but polished 3D levels-such as the reflective floors in Monkey Bowling.

The graphics are generic, but the audio presentation is quite nice. The GBA has a large library of average side-scrolling action games, and Revenge of Shinobi is just a slight notch above them.

The Fun Factor suffers because of repetitive gameplay and unbalanced weapons and power-ups.

No matter how many bonuses are unlocked or how many special guests show up, the core gameplay of Superman: The Man of Steel is boring.

If you’re looking to play hockey of the NHL variety, to tackle pro challenges and use real-life strategies, NHL 2K3 will thrill you as much as watching your team heroically survive a five-on-three penalty kill.

Its bargain-basement visuals, vapid enemy A.I., and flaccid controls ensure that the game could stand accused of lameness in a court of law.

With all of these faltering features, Spyro’s newest adventure feels more like it was meant to be played on the PlayStation rather than on the GameCube.

If incredibly sore hands and a serious feeling of relief after busting caps in countless Shogun hoodlums constitutes a solid console light-gun shooter, then Ninja Assault screams for your attention.

Although it’s essentially a port of an arcade game that’s two years old, this is one matchup that’s a pleasure to kill hours with at home.

While there aren't as many modes as in a pure multiplayer FPS like "Unreal Tournament," you'll be treated to an intense and thoroughly entertaining skirmish.

Unfortunately, the stealth elements fall tragically short of well conceived—it’s more along the lines of comically maddening.

When Dead to Rights is good, it’s damn good…pity that parts of it are such buzzkills.

Even with its A.I. problems, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance will restore gamers' faith in the pioneering fight series with its amped-up gameplay and delicious visuals.

The A.I. is much brighter, and the difficulty levels are scaled more smoothly. The controls could use a crisper auto-aim and more efficient item management, but otherwise handle great.

If you're considering purchasing NightFire, make sure you have at least three friends or you'll miss out on the lasting appeal of a Bond game that can actually stand up against its N64 predecessor.

It's outlandishly short (10 hours if you're good), the controls take getting used to, and the multiplayer mode's limited to only two players, but the whole of Baldur's Gate is still far greater than the sum of its parts.

The game’s endless top-down horde-shooting and limb-hacking is an absolute blast with four people (the five characters complement each other well), but the friendless may find Hunting and Reckoning to be a lonely, repetitious profession.

Despite the intended scope of the game, Haven’s sights and sounds are barely average.