It's got some problems and takes some time to get into, but it should otherwise appeal to players who've enjoyed previous hack-and-slash action games, or those who like the idea of them.

"Traitors Gate" had the sort of continuity that is crucial to story-driven adventure games. Unfortunately, The Messenger lacks this continuity, and as a result the puzzles are confusing, and the protagonist comes off as a sort of confused sociopath.

Because of its ugly graphics, bad sound, faulty artificial intelligence, and extremely dull gameplay, it winds up crashing to the ground like some ill-fated hydrogen blimp.

Although NBA 2Night shows potential as the first game in Konami's new basketball series, it doesn't excel in any specific category and thus finds itself a step behind EA's "NBA Live" series.

If you can work your way around these shortcomings, you'll find that Colin McRae Rally 2.0 is one of the most engrossing racing sims available.

Dabblers should find KAO's charming antics and approachable gameplay well suited to a weekend or two of lighthearted entertainment.

The addictive and fun head-to-head gameplay takes some time to wear out its welcome, and the new options included in the game will pacify NBA Jam veterans enough to warrant a rental.

More often than not, the extra player just causes confusion due to players bunching up on the court. Thankfully, the same rim-rocking, high-flying gameplay has returned, complete with the usual 360-degree tomahawk dunks from the top of the key.

It's lengthy and difficult, and there are puzzles at every turn. Unfortunately, the game is also filled with long, empty hallways bookended by mysteriously locked doors--so it doesn't manage to be atmospheric at all, in spite of its great visuals.

While the game boasts about 40 different Ducati motorcycles that span the length of the company's storied existence since World War II, Ducati World Racing Challenge is severely hampered by its poor control, obsolete graphics, and bad sound.

It doesn't really offer much in the way of new features--but likewise, it's still one of the best basketball games available.

A clichéd shooter with little to no replay value.

An enthusiastic and ambitious project that is worthy of any oval lover's attention. Minor blemishes aside, it is easily the finest stock car sim available and quite possibly the best racing game to date.

A game that's confused about where its heart lies, leaving you with a smattering of mildly entertaining dogfights and bombing runs interwoven with long bouts of boredom.

Knockout Kings 2001 is more of a hitting simulation than a boxing simulation, which is a complete turnoff for die-hard boxing fans who want realism.

The graphics aren't representative of what the PlayStation 2 is capable of, the gameplay is ruined by pathetic goalie AI, and the control options fail to meet minimum requirements.

The game's arcade feel may discourage those looking for an off-road racing sim, but most everyone else will find it to be a fun pick up and play game.

The only 4x4 racing game to date that truly offers a sense of the freedom -- and the chaos -- found in real-life off-road racing.

One of the most original and enjoyable racing games to come around in a long time.

With stunning graphics, excellent sound, and extremely solid gameplay, Paper Mario is a quality game on all fronts.

Once you get past the initial shock of how big and occasionally unwieldy the game is, you'll find that the detailed mechanics work to produce an unparalleled level of depth.

The underlying design of Age of Sail II is very good, and its graphics are excellent. In many cases, the drama and tension of the real-life time period are very well portrayed during the scenarios and most of the campaigns. But clearly, the game was published before it was finished.

Fans of the classic 2D games will no doubt find much to love in X5, while those who can't get into the aging conventions and mechanics probably won't care a great deal for it.

Probably the most comprehensive treatment of the epic air campaign ever done on the computer.

The biggest problem with Woody Woodpecker Racing is that it's just not fun.

While this all may sound like a great value, every single one of the ports is incredibly poor, resulting in nothing but disappointment for anyone looking to replay any of these classic games.

One of the most engaging, entertaining, and original games for the PS2.

A solid game that's fun to watch, but it's no longer the only game in town.

The plain graphics and cookie-cutter objectives can make some of the levels drag a bit, but the storyline and the sheer size of some of the game's levels make the whole package easier to swallow.

Instead of letting you create a park and watch your guests enjoy it, the game makes you spend most of your time fretting about things like having to give a two-dollar raise to a guy in an animal suit.

It still feels more like work than entertainment, but persistent simulation fanatics will welcome the challenge.

Even with its shallow storyline and camera issues, Phantasy Star Online simply manages to be a whole lot of fun.

A fairly plain third-person action game that contains a more robust combat system than those found in most similar games. Its graphics, particularly the environments' graphics, aren't noteworthy, and its story isn't fully developed.

The dated graphics and the lack of any kind of two-player mode also detract from the otherwise attractive package. However, with all the character options and its nearly infinite replayability, Darkstone makes an excellent case for making a modest $10 investment.

All the clever animations, amusing sounds, and pretty battle graphics in the world can't replace an interesting combat system.

Extremely fun. And like Bill Cosby used to say, "You just might learn something by the time we're done."

NBA Live 2001 is beautiful, and it is still a lot of fun to play. By far, it's the best basketball game -- pros or otherwise -- on the PlayStation 2.

The Ward is like sitting at a boring party, listening to charmless people drone on and on about fantastic, faraway places.

The only difference between Carnivores: Ice Age and the previous games is that there aren't any dinosaurs to shoot this time.

Die-hard real-time strategy fans may find something to like in Kingdom Under Fire, but everyone else might as well keep waiting for Blizzard's next big hit.

Metropolis Street Racer is a beautiful racer with accurate physics and tight control, but the kudos system makes it far more challenging than it needs to be.

The game's graphics are uninspired and the sound is awful, and those elements in the gameplay that are subtly different from those in other real-time strategy games won't be noticeable to any but the most experienced real-time strategy players.

Unfortunately, neither experienced gamers nor fans of the film will find much in the game beyond a quick, light diversion.

Other than a few additional cars and tracks, the PS2 update is barely an improvement. In fact, thanks to a plethora of graphical problems, the flaws inherent to the game's overall presentation are much more apparent now.

Those who missed out on the PlayStation version could still find a good bit of entertainment value here, but this dated title simply can't compete on the same level as current software.

The game has a weak fighting system, and the lack of a compelling storyline makes Kengo just a series of boring, repetitive battles. The game abandons both the characters and the gameplay formula of the "Bushido Blade" series and ends up being a disappointment on all fronts.

Flaws aside, Vanishing Point is one of the most original and enjoyable racing games to come along in a long time.

Though its problems might be frustrating at first, once you settle into the game, you'll be in for a suitably rewarding adventure.

The physics are sometimes unwieldy and CPU AI unpredictable, but there's a lot of fun to be had earning licenses, winning races, purchasing new bikes, and kitting out your garage.

Because of its confusing story, unappealing visuals, and counterintuitive controls, Konung ends up looking like a Diablo clone that hit the shelves four years too late. Even at the bargain-bin price of $20, it's not worth recommending Konung, because it simply isn't fun.

A totally uninspired presentation.

Fairly well done but generally unspectacular--while it has its good points, its overall lack of original features or design elements is unlikely to leave a lasting impression on real-time strategy players.

Aqua Aqua for the PlayStation 2, the sequel to the critically acclaimed "Wetrix" for the Nintendo 64, is basically the same game released three years later, but it still represents a refreshing change for the puzzle genre.

In a genre that has withstood its share of inferior games over the years, it's true that Mayday probably isn't the worst real-time strategy game to date. But that's the best thing to be said for it.

Polaris SnoCross totally bites. Unless you're desperate for anything snowmobile-ish, keep a safe distance away from this dud.

While in many ways the same game as Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment retains the same excellent gameplay and offers expert storytelling, which make it worth playing despite its similarities to the first chapter.

Those who want a deeper, more satisfying platform adventure should probably save this for a weekend rental.

It's hard to believe that the survival-horror genre can only be done right by Capcom (and perhaps Konami), but Hail to the King will do little to convince you otherwise.

The game itself isn't terrible, but unless you are absolutely aching to exercise the online capabilities of your Dreamcast, there is really no reason to pick up this game.

May not be the deepest game in terms of overall features, but it still has enough inherent playability to warrant the attention of both veteran and casual game players alike.

What it lacks in innovation, it makes up for with a solid multiplayer game with respectable graphics, a healthy helping of variety, and plenty of replay value.

A simplistic, extremely short experience, with abundant flaws that outweigh its few redeeming features.

Even with all the competition, fans of the original Contender will undoubtedly enjoy the sequel's familiar - yet vastly improved - look and feel.

Looks solid visually, but the game has lost some of its gameplay speed in the transition to Sony's 128-bit console.

Though its new features may not seem remarkable individually, when put together they comprise a number of interesting new strategies and also let experienced players organize team-based games based on those strategies.

Anyone looking for another "Madden" will be terribly disappointed, though, as the game has more in common with its PlayStation counterpart than "Madden" for the PlayStation 2.

Even with the graphical faults and the general lack of innovation over its predecessor, Battle for Naboo is still a fun mission-based shooter, as well as one of the best Episode I titles to hit the market yet.

If you don't mind the lack of depth, however, Bang! Gunship Elite will send your senses for a loop.

While it probably won't appeal to anyone other than historical wargamers, these players will find Combat Command 2 a satisfying experience.

In the end, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX can be fun, but the occasional problems with the graphics and collision detection can quickly become a source of unnecessary frustration.

As a single-player shooter with a traditional progressive mission structure set in realistic and memorable environments, Project IGI is a fun, if flawed, action game.

The Lunar series sits alongside "Dragon Quest" and "Final Fantasy" in the pantheon of role playing, and Eternal Blue is Lunar 2's final and best incarnation.

A big game, to be sure, with enough levels to keep you busy over a three-day rental period. The puzzles within them aren't very original or entertaining, but seeing that this is the only Tomb Raider-style game to come to the Nintendo 64, it deserves at least a little leeway.

Fundamentally remains the same great strategy game as its predecessor.

An initially thrilling but ultimately tedious exercise that offers precious few innovations and even fewer reasons to continue playing once you've run through its tracks a first time.

Freedom's total lack of action is complemented by a complete absence of adventure, leaving only bland graphics and a general sense of tedium to fill the giant void that exists between installing the game and finishing it.

Thanks to the inexplicable inclusion of timed exploration tasks in between the racing levels, Carmageddon 3 is exactly one half fun and one half frustration.

While it may not be the world champion of team-oriented multiplayer games, Clusterball is an unusual and enjoyable addition to the genre.

Children will enjoy the lively adventures of Donald Duck, and some of those who enjoyed the "DuckTales" animated series and are looking for a comical Disney romp will want to pick this up.

What's so remarkable about B-17 is that it manages to be even more immersive for the player than even the most sophisticated dynamic-campaign-driven single-seater flight simulation.

For all the changes in Starfleet Command Volume II, it's basically just a slightly improved version of the original.

It's hardly frustration free, but there's enough payoff in Speed Devils Online to make it worth your time.

The DC version of this graphically intensive platform adventure is sometimes fun but gets very old very quickly.

It's hard to recommend a wrestling game that doesn't contain any actual in-the-ring wrestling. EA's Backstage Assault is a novel idea, but in the end, it doesn't have enough variation to make it worthwhile.

There is a good deal of potential here, but Top Gear Dare Devil's deeply flawed physics engine, lack of gameplay variations, and frame rate issues keep it in the shadow of "Crazy Taxi" and make it a game that you should avoid.

Seasoned fans of the freestyle sports genre will whip through Razor Freestyle Scooter in an afternoon, no questions asked. It doesn't offer up any real variety in its challenges.

While far from perfect, it is easily the best surfing game on the market, but more importantly, it's also a fun game.

By no means a bad roller coaster simulator, but it's not an outstanding one either.

While you'll undoubtedly enjoy the imaginative artwork, you might end up disappointed with just how straightforward the underlying game really is.

The truly unique premise, coupled with stunning graphics and exciting gameplay, makes Giants: Citizen Kabuto one of the best action games in years.

The 2000 version of March Madness helped the series take a giant step forward, and this 2001 version reinforces its status as one of the best hoops series on the PlayStation, college or otherwise.

A solid RPG... even if it isn't as deep or difficult as the original.

It's a great game to own, especially given its low retail price, but this version is not an essential purchase.

Makes up for its technical shortcomings with a great location and an impressive amount of detail.

Had the battle sequences not been so maddeningly frustrating and frequent, Evil Dead: Hail to the King would at least weigh in as a decent Resident Evil clone, but they work to make the game almost unplayable.

Die-hard fans of the original may feel a twinge of déjà vu when they dig into the update. For everyone else, though, Colin McRae Rally 2.0 represents one of the most solidly addictive racing experiences that money can buy.

The interesting level design, copious eye candy, and heavily touted online play are crippled by the games fumbled controls.

It's clearly stated on the box that it isn't suitable for inexperienced players, while those who are experienced enough to explore the new lands it has to offer will certainly find these areas to be extremely challenging and rewarding.