The game suffers from a number of small flaws (and sometimes bigger ones, where the AI is concerned), yet it still does many things exceptionally well.

The game's solid level design and passable audio quality just aren't enough to make up for its numerous problems.

This is definitely a game for a younger audience, yet it displays a level of polish rarely seen in a kid's game, and some of the game's art design may actually impress people outside of its targeted age bracket.

A decent game. Better graphics and sound would have really helped the game to feel a lot more modern and be enjoyable to a wider audience.

The game was obviously made by people who love the subject matter, and that affection comes across in every element.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire aren't a big departure from their predecessors, but they definitely look better and have lots of new Pokémon to catch, so Pokémon fans will be in for exactly what they want.

Like a botched cloning experiment from a B movie, with developer Xpec Entertainment playing the mad scientist's role and Gauntlet playing the test subject. The beast that's emerged from the cloning chamber is just what you'd expect: a shambling, ugly, and dumb version of the source material.

This is definitely a game for a younger audience, yet it displays a level of polish rarely seen in a kid's game, and some of the game's art design may actually impress people outside of its targeted age bracket.

What Rayman 3 does is re-create much of the same lighthearted whimsy that made Rayman 2 so incredibly enjoyable, while differentiating the action enough for the game to stand up on its own.

It does further refine the formula, is completely worthy of the Rayman name, and is easily one of the most satisfying platforming experiences to come to the PC in a good while.

A game that simply attempts to cash in on the success of "Counter-Strike" and the "Rainbow Six" series by copying their themes, but it ends up falling well short of the mark because of its terrible graphics engine, its ill-conceived design, and a campaign that takes only a few hours to (nearly) complete.

Clock Tower 3's movie portions are stronger than the gameplay that underpins them, and the result is a game that you'll probably want to finish more for its storyline than for the fun you'll have actually playing it.

The lack of gameplay depth and the game's frequently erratic difficulty make it tough to recommend to anyone who isn't absolutely desperate for a game about big trucks.

A major disappointment. It lacks the unpredictability and mayhem of the console versions, as well as most of the features that you'd expect to find in a traditional baseball game.

Doesn't blow the doors off "Rayman 2," but it does further refine the formula, is completely worthy of the Rayman name, and is also the best platformer on the Xbox thus far.

The actual experience of playing Batman: Dark Tomorrow is so awful that avoiding the game altogether is the best course of action.

The game's sharp graphics and elaborate universe--well, elaborate for a fighting game, anyway--are nullified by its subpar gameplay.

When you combine the stiff gameplay, muddy graphics, and clunky movement in the game's levels, Batman: Dark Tomorrow ends up feeling like it was thrown together with half-finished components.

It's arguably the best version of the game to date, but a year and a half after it was released on the Xbox, the game doesn't have quite the same impact.

When it comes to graphics and sound, Crush Hour begins to fall apart at the seams.

Simply the best and most addictive baseball game available this year.

Racing fans looking for a new and unique challenge that can be as rewarding as it is deep should give MotoGP3 a try, and players looking for the definitive motorcycling experience for the PlayStation 2 shouldn't bother looking any further.

Everything in the game feels extremely rushed and underpolished.

Players who lost touch with baseball games when they went 3D on the PlayStation may find that Slugfest is exactly what they've been missing.

The additions are noticeable, but it may still be tough for owners of last year's game to justify a purchase, considering that it hasn't even been a year since the release of "MLB Slugfest 2003."

Players who lost touch with baseball games when they went 3D on the PlayStation may find that Slugfest is exactly what they've been missing.

The game's problematic interface makes it too complicated to be mindless fun, and the combat itself is too mindless to have any strategic depth.

Without a doubt, the finest soccer game available for any game platform right now.

The challenging and lengthy single-player campaign and the tough AI will keep you busy for a long time, while custom skirmish modes and multiplayer capability add to the game's value.

The controls are just a little too sluggish, making it feel as though you're driving a run-down school bus instead of a quick and nimble jet fighter or helicopter.

Isn't the most authentic or the most extravagant baseball game available, but it does fill a niche for casual fans who just want to dive in and play a quick game of hardball.

It should satisfy players who don't care about all the miscellaneous nuances of the sport, or who aren't looking to immerse themselves in a complicated franchise mode.

Though the game's developers clearly put a lot of work into the way the game looks and sounds, Enclave's gameplay just doesn't measure up to its presentation.

An enjoyable game that should appeal to dinosaur buffs and park simulation fans alike, thanks to its attractive graphics engine, unique features, and surprising gameplay depth.

Thanks to its excellent controls and sheer depth, the combat system will ultimately be one of the reasons this game will keep drawing you back in even after you complete the single-player campaign.

Anyone craving some old-style, surprisingly difficult Mega Man action shouldn't think twice before jumping right into Mega Man and Bass.

It should satisfy players who don't care about all the miscellaneous nuances of the sport, or who aren't looking to immerse themselves in a complicated franchise mode.

It's simply the best and most addictive baseball game available this year... Spectacular.

Wants to appeal to everyone, but ultimately, it's not well suited for anyone.

The levels are larger and require more exploration than the typical Sonic game; the abilities of the five separate playable characters actually have an influence over the strategy you'll use to complete an area.

Sports Mogul has adjusted aspects of the artificial intelligence to make play more satisfying in key areas like trading and finance and has tossed in a few sorely needed frills that make the game at least a marginal improvement over its predecessor.

Puts authentic gameplay ahead of any other detail.

Though it's certainly not a bad game, Line of Sight: Vietnam isn't as ambitious as "Deadly Dozen: Pacific Theater," and its environments aren't as interesting.

All of the missions in the game (even the ones that you can unlock by completing Murakumo's main mode) grow incredibly tiresome, not only because they're mostly identical but also because the mechs themselves are so poorly designed.

While you should be enjoying yourself, considering who should be hitting cleanup versus lefties, among other things, you'll instead find yourself constantly thinking about how much easier everything would be with a drag-and-drop interface.

It's not wildly original or innovative, it's just fun.

Doesn't blow the doors off Rayman 2, but it does further refine the formula, is completely worthy of the Rayman name, and is also one of the best platformers we've seen on the GameCube thus far.

While it's not the revolutionary title it initially promised to be, it delivers the exact combination of addictive and accessible gameplay that the genre has needed for a long time.

Technical problems and frustrating difficulty levels mar an otherwise solid game.

It can be set up to play like an off-the-cuff, arcade-style racing game or can be adjusted by varying degrees to simulate the actual physics and handling of an unforgiving F1 racing vehicle.

The hard-core Metal Gear Solid fan should get a kick out for the VR missions and other extras, so Substance wouldn't make a bad rental if you went into it knowing what to expect.

Not only lives up to its predecessors' own high standards, but also to the generally high standards of this popular style of gaming.

It fails miserably at providing any sort of interesting story or characters that you care about. The levels are huge, but they're often bland or repetitive, and the game is riddled with design problems and bugs.

Forgotten Battles doesn't make the sort of huge impact that the original game did, but, despite its faults, it's generally a very worthy successor.

The sheer number of available teams, modes, and bonuses is absolutely staggering.

Expands on nearly every aspect of the series. The new game provides much more information than previous versions, so you feel more in control of your club.

It's the occasional appearance of something different--the alternate solutions, the flashback through another's eyes--that makes most of Post Mortem seem dull and typical in comparison.

Although the futuristic setting is a welcome change of pace, Harbinger falls short of the mark, with half-baked action and role-playing elements that are overly shallow and simplistic.

Extremely similar to the previous games, but if you care more about the series' engaging turn-based gameplay and colorful presentation, you'll find enough in Winds of War to keep you busy for some time.

An original and memorable entry in a genre that's been mostly stagnant for years now... More than enough to recommend it to anyone looking for a truly great role-playing game.

The core gameplay is enjoyable enough if you actually spend enough time getting used to the complex interface, but the timid opponent AI keeps the game from being really interesting.

Offers some of the most enjoyable and realistic rally racing on any platform to date--it's just a shame that the game's options are so limiting.

Ultimately falls short of its potential with sluggish controls, mostly bland visuals, and a relatively low difficultly level.

Its originality, however, is offset by a sometimes lackluster presentation and the occasionally repetitive nature of its gameplay.

Probably won't keep you occupied for long, especially if you're not playing it with a rowdy group of friends. But it can make for some good, silly fun in short spurts.

While the game does a lot of things right, severe technical issues surface at almost every turn and really drag down the game's high points, leaving behind a game with tons of untapped potential.

The way the CPU fields the ball is disappointing at times, as is the lack of a player editor or a franchise mode, but you'd have to be really discerning to let those shortcomings prevent you from enjoying this game.

The sheer number of available teams, modes, and bonuses is absolutely staggering.

The sheer number of available teams, modes, and bonuses is simply staggering.

A sequel that warrants an upgrade for owners of last year's game and a second look from prospective players who were turned off by the series' formerly unyielding adherence to a simulation design.

In some ways it's even better than the original version. In most ways, though, it's exactly the same.

Outdated graphics, bad sound, lousy control, horrible technical performance, nonfunctional computer AI, terrible weapons--the game has about every problem you could possibly think of. In fact, it's difficult to imagine that Gods and Generals could be much worse than it is.

Features an original tactical combat system and numerous gameplay twists that will surprise players well accustomed to the standard RPG blueprint.

Every element of the game, from the georama system to the weapon upgrading to the interaction with a large cast of characters, displays a polish and attention to quality that you find only in real classics... DC2 could very well be the PlayStation 2's Zelda.

Apex's drab driving and painfully dim AI drivers drag down an otherwise interesting idea.

The presentation is terribly stripped-down, and as an odd duck sort of hybrid strategy game, it doesn't offer much accessibility or depth.

The designers themselves have stated that A Tale in the Desert is about creating a society, and watching the experiment in action is almost as enjoyable as taking part.

Ultimately a flawed game, but its original premise and varied mix of gameplay create a refreshing experience nonetheless.

It's easy to become so charmed by the game's presentation (and the game's $20 price tag) that you start to forget that somewhere in this otherwise entertaining set of features there needs to be a good game.

Though NASCAR Racing 2003 Season isn't quite a revolutionary game, it is nevertheless a worthy finale for the series.

It may not be enough for veteran players looking for an entirely new experience, but World of Outlaws should satisfy anyone else who enjoys career-oriented oval racing.

It sports a new title, but Bust-A-Move 3000 is identical to the "Super Bust-A-Move" that was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2000.

Vexx does little more than imitate, which just isn't enough these days... Feels outdated right out of the gate.

Delivers deeper, more fluid gameplay than any mixed-martial-arts game to date, making for an especially exciting two-player game.

Vexx does little more than imitate, which just isn't enough these days.

The ability to challenge other players from across the world in the Xbox version of Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO makes it an utterly incredible experience for anyone with even the faintest appreciation for the genre.

Vexx does little more than imitate, which just isn't enough these days... Feels outdated right out of the gate.

A simple, repetitive experience that's over fairly quickly for an RPG, and its story doesn't go anywhere at all. Nevertheless, it's pretty fun while it lasts, and anime fans probably won't be able to resist it.

As far as realism is concerned, though, the game lacks any real depth, and it has very little to offer after the first few hours of play.

It's totally first-rate from a technical standpoint, and it's an all-around fun game to play on top of that, with excellent pacing, great explosions, clever strategic twists, a variety of units, and a fair amount of humor.

Those who've played MMORPGs in the past may appreciate the relative simplicity and relative fast pace of EverQuest Online Adventures, but those who have never played a game like this before may just find it boring, confusing, and overly repetitive.

This frustration carries over to just about every element of the game thanks to its poor artificial intelligence, graphical flaws, and repetitive mission objectives.

Introduces significant gameplay changes and breathes new life into Ultima Online. Unfortunately, these changes have also reintroduced problems that had previously been addressed.

The inclusion of a battery save feature makes this game infinitely more enjoyable, however, and the twofold increase in car selection isn't too shabby either.

"Dance Dance Revolution" fans might find a bit to like here, but the game is so mind-numbingly simple that anyone familiar with Konami's game will whip through Rhythm N'Groove in less than an hour.

The underlying game... remains quite good and features a strong cast of characters, unusual environments, and some pretty entertaining hack-and-slash combat.

It has the look and polish of a great shooter, but the gameplay of a merely good one. It's also a fairly short game with no multiplayer support to speak of.

The weak tactical game, the lack of an adjustable difficulty setting, and the sometimes cumbersome interface are likely to turn off anyone who isn't a fan of the genre.