Ultimately, what's most impressive about Myst III: Exile is that it combines intellectual challenge with scene after scene of enchanting beauty.

The core gameplay remains solid and is perhaps a bit more focused.

A well-made, polished, and thoroughly playable game, and stock car racing fans should be quite pleased with it.

It's ultimately too simplistic, too short, and far too prone to bumper-car madness and pinball-like ricochets.

The developers have done a commendable job both of translating mouse-and-keyboard controls to the Xbox's stock controller and of not sacrificing the finer points of Commandos 2's extremely challenging gameplay.

A mediocre action game with a terrific license.

This disappointing addition to Stainless Steel Studios' everything-and-the-kitchen-sink real-time strategy game doesn't do much to justify its steep $30 price tag.

The game's frustrating reliance on awkward platform jumping and its poor camera keep it from being recommendable to anyone at all.

A bit more work on the broad-scale strategy portions and the interface could have made Dynasty Tactics virtually above reproach.

Taz has no butt stomp or double jump maneuvers, the latter of which would've come in very handy for the game's prevalent platform jumping.

Easily the most cohesive and well-rounded surfing game to hit the PS2 yet, and a unique and enjoyable extreme sports game in its own right.

While hockey purists will obviously be turned off by the rough-and-tumble nature of NHL Hitz, it's a great game of hockey that anyone can pick up and play.

The gameplay isn't particularly good, though it's decent enough that fans of the film series might as well consider checking out the game.

Seems to lack flair... But the game does have numerous upgrades, superb ball physics, and deep gameplay options.

Gungrave definitely looks cool. It's also a textbook case for why great graphics don't do you much good if the underlying game is shallow.

Great, largely because it successfully captures the spirit of both Square and Disney in a single game.

Boasting better visuals and lots of gameplay, Harmony of Dissonance is not just a fine Castlevania game--it's also one of the better GBA games to come around in a while.

Responsive control, consistently good visuals, and diverse gameplay will ensure that most anyone will end up enjoying this game.

By all means technically proficient, but it's uninspired and will probably give you the sensation that you've already done all this before.

Great multiplayer gaming and added single-player depth make Hitz 2003 a pretty easy game to recommend.

A surfing game that exhibits a high level of quality in every facet of its execution.

[It] isn't impressive for its technical merits. Nevertheless, it re-creates the look and feel of the old cartoon series with astonishing accuracy and is also pretty fun.

A fun, fast-paced game of no-rules hockey that should appeal to fans of Midway's other action sports games.

The combat is overly simplistic, the cel-shaded presentation is unattractive and unrefined, and the game is brimming with collision-detection and physics bugs.

Very much a game for a family or someone looking for a change of pace, and for that audience it provides an enjoyable, relaxing experience with a long life span.

An innovative and exciting cross-genre game that should keep computer-game pilots and racers busy for a good long while.

It's buggy, the gameplay modes are shallow, and the graphics don't save it.

Though derivative, Egg Mania provides a perspective on the "Tetris" formula that's fresh enough and an adequate amount of gameplay variety to keep puzzle fans engaged.

Proves once again that the name of a popular movie and even the likeness and voice talent of its star aren't nearly enough to make an otherwise bland and uninteresting game seem enjoyable.

Though derivative, Egg Mania provides a perspective on the Tetris formula that's fresh enough and an adequate amount of gameplay variety to keep puzzle fans engaged.

Stays true to the roots of its license, but that doesn't make it a very interesting or entertaining game.

Provides a perspective on the Tetris formula that's fresh enough and an adequate amount of gameplay variety to keep puzzle fans engaged.

A straightforward game that is every bit as forgettable as what you did on your real spring break, after the beer began to flow.

The most accurate re-creation of the 2001 Formula 1 season available, despite its problems.

For now, as long as you can find skilled teammates and aren't getting pestered by the game's technical problems, Battlefield 1942 can be, quite appropriately, a real blast.

While the game has been recently released on the PS2 and PC, the Xbox version is the best of the three, combining sharp graphics similar to those found in the PC version with the superior console-style control found in the PlayStation 2 version.

It's a sure bet that there will be countless "Sims" clones in the next few years. The Partners is one of the first, and it could turn out to be one of the most blatant.

A fun and satisfying management game, ... [but] if "Zeus" was two steps forward for the series, Emperor is its one step back.

Die-hard fans of the series newcomers alike will find a lot to like in the game. But most anyone else would consider Earth 2150: Lost Souls to be essentially just a rehash.

A frustrating mess of a game.

The gameplay mechanics are sound, and there's enough variety in the missions that you won't become bored with either the arcade or campaign mode too quickly.

Younger or more casual players may find the game way too hard and may be better off with something less difficult. However, fans of the series or experienced gamers should not hesitate to pick this one up.

Ultimately, the gameplay has a few minor flaws, and the available modes aren't quite as deep as those found in other college football games that are available on the market.

While this version does have a small number of new tracks and trucks, as well as a handful of sundry tweaks, it also has the same unimpressive graphics and inconsistent physics of its Xbox counterpart.

The game's unspectacular presentation and its dated design do interfere with its success, though.

Offers the same fast-paced, high-flying racing action that the PS2 version does, retaining the original version's intense level of difficulty and its two-player modes.

In the end, you'll probably be surprised by how well Silent Scope works on a handheld system.

This game is, without a doubt, one of the worst products ever released. It will eternally battle Kabuki Warriors for the title of "Xbox game most likely to make your brain explode."

Just another shallow party game.

An incredibly appealing sports game.

Ultimately a graphical front end for a clumsy and frustrating spreadsheet.

Poor AI, dull design, and lackluster presentation all add up to make Blade II a game that you should definitely skip.

Just another shallow party game.

While the PS2 version retains the over-the-top gameplay and appealing characters, the game's visual quality has been compromised somewhat by a fluctuating frame rate, slightly less-detailed textures, and washed-out colors that take away from the game's visual style.

Fun for a short while, and at least you'll have some great sightseeing ahead of you before the game starts to lose its interest.

GT 2002's only real issue is a relative lack of racetracks, but the game has enough depth to overcome that problem.

Poor AI, dull design, and lackluster presentation all add up to make Blade II a game that you should definitely skip.

If you've never played any Ratbag games and are looking for a solid racer with an unusual subject and unusual quality for a budget game, Dirt Track Racing 2 is well worth trying out.

A bread-and-butter console shooter that will let you blast enemies to your heart's content, but not a whole lot else. If that's good enough for you, then go for it.

Aside from a few little rough spots, Syberia is an adventure-game tour de force, with an engrossing story, a truly imaginative gameworld, and stunning visuals.

If you can withstand the surprisingly hard difficulty level, you'll find that Turok: Evolution is actually quite a good side-scroller.

Another dose of the prehistoric shooter action that we've seen in previous installments. It's formulaic but done well enough.

Exactly how much the Turok series has evolved with this latest installment is debatable, but the game does provide a healthy dose of shooting lizards with big guns, and, in the end, that's why we play Turok.

After only a few minutes with it, you'll quickly notice that it not only has poor control, repetitive sounds, and bland graphics, but also blatantly rips off the overall structure and visual stylings of "Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec."

No other product delivers the ease of use and instructional value of Chessmaster 9000.

Since the PS2 version loses the crispness of the original's graphics and some of the game's other fine touches in translation, it can't be recommended over the PC version.

Has the same drawbacks as its predecessor, including some frustrating camera angles and a relative short main quest.

Unfortunately, stellar visuals alone do not make a great game, and ATV Quad Power Racing comes up short in every other possible category.

Doesn't include any of the storyline or single-player progression from the original game, but it does include the same terrific gameplay and a few new game modes built for online multiplayer action.

Looks and sounds great, it's exciting, it's suitably bug-free, and, at a time when eight hours is becoming the standard length for single-player shooters, it's long. Quite simply, Mafia is one of the best games of the year.

An online game that is surprisingly deep but extremely easy to get into, making it an excellent game regardless of whether you've played other multiplayer shooters before.

Isn't nearly as compelling on the Game Boy Advance. In relation to other GBA extreme sports games, however, it stacks up quite favorably.

You can pass through most of the game in this way without ever having to fight, which means that Arthur's Quest is either an action game with an exceedingly poor design or a fast-paced, arcade-style coward simulator.

It focuses on something far more interesting than buildings: people. This makes for an enthralling combination of city building and role-playing, with enough personality, activity, and variety to do justice to both genres.

Like its predecessor, Icewind Dale II is simply a great role-playing game.

While it doesn't possess the sheer addictiveness of, say, "NFL Blitz," it's simultaneously a breath of fresh air and a nostalgic look at the baseball game genre.

Some disappointing graphics and unconvincing artificial intelligence for your German captors, as well as the game's brevity, make Prisoner of War more intriguing than wholeheartedly recommendable.

A game that's generally pleasing but heavily reliant on a few new moves that seem more like gimmicks than gameplay innovations.

With so many so-called party games out there trying so hard to create a frenetic multiplayer experience, it's almost amazing how Super Monkey Ball 2 makes it all seem so effortless and manages to include a compelling single-player game to boot.

Xbox owners interested in a fast-paced, funny sports game with plenty of personality and deceptively deep gameplay shouldn't think twice about picking up Soccer Slam.

The perfect game for role-playing fans sick of repetitive hack-and-slash gameplay. It's also the perfect game for real-time strategy fans sick of repetitive base building and tank rushing.

The graphics look great, the commentary is interesting and sounds natural, and, most importantly, the game features balanced offensive and defensive gameplay that does an excellent job of mimicking the nuances of the actual sport.

After playing through this rather lengthy and involving game, survival horror fans will more than likely find that The Thing is one of the best such games for the PS2.

If it weren't for a general scarcity of terror and a control scheme unsuited to its action-oriented gameplay, The Thing would be great.

A decidedly awkward English translation, some lackluster production values, and a poorly implemented multiplayer mode all prevent it from having the same appeal as the games that influenced it.

Achieves that rare quality of having something for nearly all strategy gamers, and most will find a lot to like in it, for a very long time.

Despite some rough edges, it makes for a fun ride that justifies the budget price.

It's easy to learn, nonviolent, and focuses on miniature cars--something kids can relate to and car-loving adults can always enjoy, too. Just hope a patch is released in short order.

No one said being the hero was going to be easy. Overlooking its problems and getting past that learning curve certainly won't be, but if you manage to, you'll find that Dead to Rights is an intense and challenging game.

One of those curious amalgams of a migraine-inducing interface and relentless number crunching, a program so needlessly complex that you can't bring yourself to call it a game.

The game's main strength is in the way it seamlessly delivers both fighting-game-style combat and puzzle solving while telling a great story using in-game cinemas.

The vehicles work well, they're fun to drive, and they end up overshadowing the game's weapon-balancing issues.

Arguably the finest PC-based tennis simulation to date. It is strategic, positional, somewhat realistic, and at times extremely challenging.

The gameplay is incredibly unbalanced, the graphics are dated, and, most importantly, the game fails to capture the essence of the college football experience.

A surprisingly competent port. Unfortunately, it's a port of a game that most fighting game fans consider to be completely obsolete.

The notoriously bad AI of the previous game has been replaced by a functional computer opponent that acquits itself well in battles on the open sea. But when land is introduced, a number of problems show up.

One of the most accessible and uniquely addictive strategy games this year.

The single-player campaign is frustrating and boring in equal measures, and nothing really noteworthy has been added to the multiplayer game.