Tons of people used to play this game in the arcade. It was cool then, and this version is the same, only smaller...and with a track designer. [Sept 2004, p.93]

SMB's insane worlds, which beg exploration and conceptual absurdities, are anchored by intuitive controls and an innovative use of jump and slide physics, and midleap bending, culminating in a pinnacle of game design that redefined how video games were played. [July 2004, p.88]

If there is one Classic NES cart to throw your nickel to, it's this one. Trust us on this. [Sept 2004, p.93]

Malice has lost much of its gee-whiz sparkle. Now it’s an intentionally weird, unintentionally uninteresting platform adventure that might have been cool were it a launch title and the bar were still low. In 2004, it looks and feels more like a skippable relic.

Despite it's aesthetic weaknesses, Sempai Legends is a good trading-card game and definitely a match for its competitors.

Without a doubt, this game shows that originality in gaming is very much alive and kicking, even if it is wrapped inside a sensitive subject. If you want a true military experience without going through boot camp, Full Spectrum Warrior is it.

Enormously high production value adds to the pleasure of playing this game. It's no exaggeration to say that these graphics are the best you've ever seen in a console game...A masterpiece.

The Xbox version of MS3 is a brilliant translation of its arcade parent that, in some ways, surpasses the source material. [Aug 2004, p.66]

The true wonder of the game isn’t in normal mapping or Havok physics, but rather in the low-tech ways in which the game turns skulking in the dark into tons of fun. There’s still room in this business for loving craftsmanship and intelligent design, and Deadly Shadows has both.

A decent addition to the handheld fighter genre, and if players can discipline themselves not to buy many of the all-powerful techniques, River City Ransom Ex can be a cool gaming experience.

Prisoner of Azkaban’s faithfulness to the book, mesmerizing graphics, and captivating score are a treat for Potter fans.

While this kind of slow, patient "stealth" gameplay has obviously been done before, it's never been done this well or been so throughly entrenched into every nuance and layer of design. [Aug 2004, p.64]

But for all the genre-requisite spike avoiding, platform hopping, and ghost dodging, the stars here are the levels themselves. They are, in essence, entire puzzles to be solved by leading Mario mites into toy chests, finding keys, and backflipping onto triggers that make some walls or walkways materialize from the ether, and others magically disappear. Me likes.

It just doesn't feel like the Transformers. There's no character to the characters, no real reason to transform except to find a better battleground during a boss fight. [June 2004, p.69]

A disappointingly undersized and shallow RPG experience for GameCube owners. [June 2004, p.91]

The core gameplay is carbon copy stuff you've been through before: point to the swarm of guys with the red bars over their heads, keep mashing buttons until they're all dead, find another group on your map, repeat ad nauseum. [June 2004, p.68]

Espionage action games have evolved beyond the standards this series helped establish, but Syphon Filter's combat and accompanying controls remain too old-school for their own good. [June 2004, p.65]

The gameplay is certainly realistic, but overall, the physics of how the ball moves feel a bit floaty at times. In the final analysis, ESPN MLB trails after "MVP Baseball" and "MLB 2005," making it a good choice for those who aren't satisfied with those league leaders. [Apr 2004, p.89]

When taken as a whole, La Pucelle: Tactics is a great strategy/RPG loaded with hours upon hours of solid gameplay, multiple endings, side-quests, and a high degree of customization. [June 2004, p.91]

The graphics aren’t much different from those in FIFA with players still having that stiff, android feel.

It's not a jaw-dropper in any way, but it is just lots of fun to drive.

The graphics aren’t much different from those in FIFA with players still having that stiff, android feel.

A game that finally does the Western action genre some tough justice.

A game that finally does the Western action genre some tough justice.

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

Some frustrating A.I., however, causes Shrek 2 to suffer badly as a single-player game (or any time the computer controls a party member), and switching between the characters to overcome the menial obstacles feels like a chore when playing solo. [Aug 2004, p.68]

With so many EQ-me-toos out there, it’s refreshing to play something new, and to have it be this good is like finding a cooler of lemonade in the middle of the desert.