While I would have liked more cohesion in the plot and more depth in the combat, the overall package is filled with enough fun and surprises to keep you playing through the end.

Only graphical impoverishments, a terrible secret-unlock method, and a lack of features prevent perfection.

The combat is electric and there's so much to explore and discover that it'll take quite a while before most players discover that the universe isn't as deep as it could have been.

Despite the beefed up single-player game, Drive's lack of online play keeps it from taking top honors from "Sega Sports' NBA 2K3."

A damn good game, Combat Command 2: Desert Rats has nearly all the strategic depth of much more complex titles at half the cost in learning time.

The pace is slow, but it's a lot of fun and very rewarding. However, the game suffers from unattractive graphics, bad sound in places, and a few bugs. If you can get past those points, however, you'll find a whole lot of deep gameplay.

While the gameplay will mostly appeal to the hardcore fans of the hobby, almost anyone will get a smile as they watch the cars roll by.

If you're up to its challenges, Steel Beasts offers an accurate, involving, and rewarding simulation of modern tank warfare.

The downside to this aspect of the game is that (as mentioned) it can be downright frustrating to get to the point where you are actually even a minor 'player' on this regional stage.

Certainly an improvement considering how bad some of those earlier games were -- but yet Test Drive really has a ways to go before it will ever reach the status of a "Triple-A" racing title.

Land Warrior is the best distance squad combat game on the market.

Gone are cumbersome mechanics like hiding bodies and sheathing swords to run faster; back are gruesome one-hit kills, fun grappling hooks and those lovely poisoned rice balls.

Not a perfect game, but it does a decent job at what it sets out to do.

Impressive for a handheld title. It just happens to lack the same joyful rush granted by superior titles such as "Mario Kart Super Circuit," "F-Zero," or even Konami's underrated "Krazy Racers."

Though Homeworld2 may technically be a sequel, it too doesn't distance itself very far from the original, and in some ways feels like a mission pack itself. However, that doesn't stop it from being a completely addictive -- if sometimes incredibly difficult -- addition to the Homeworld universe.

I personally am totally in love with the game, but then I have a strong Robotech/Battletech/Anime upbringing. It is certainly not for the squeamish.

The environment, the quests, and the huge world you're in overcomes some of the technical issues with the game.

An engaging storyline, high-quality cut-scenes, a cast of unique heroes and a whole stampede of missions make Desperados a shining silver star.

One of the most beautiful games ever to grace the PS2.

It would be truly great to be able to control and command a series of formations as a group -- something that is done in actual wars. But we can't have everything and actually what we have is pretty good.

While AoM sports a new graphics engine and three unique factions, on the whole it plays very much like its predecessors. Too much like its predecessors, if you were hoping for a truly different game experience.

Anyone playing P.T.O. IV is much less interested in graphics than gameplay, and P.T.O. IV delivers heapin' helpings of the latter.

RealMYST really is a great game. If you enjoyed the original, you'll be transfixed by how the worlds have changed yet stayed eerily the same.

While Electronic Art's blatant clone, "Simpsons Road Rage," has much improved graphics, a two-player mode, and free ride option, Crazy Taxi still comes out ahead in pure controllability and gameplay.

One of the most original games of the year. Despite certain shortcomings and some frustration, Sanity provided me with a tremendously entertaining, 28-hour long experience that is seldom seen elsewhere.

It's got the racing dynamic of EA's "Need for Speed" and Acclaim's "Test Drive" series, but the speed and abandon of "Crazy Taxi" and "Driver."

A decade of shooters combined into one polished package; the single-player mode is filled with great action and a wide variety of gameplay, and the innovative multiplayer mode should hook veteran fraggers almost immediately.

Creative, weird, wild, and endlessly replayable.

What makes Soccer Slam great is vying for killer kicks, power meter plays, and spotlight shots. It's even better to ruin an opponent's insane shots.

Rife with thrills and chills, The Thing delivers on all levels. Leave the light on for this one.

Hands down the best overall simulation of real-world business economy around.

Definitely not a game for everyone. But for those of us who enjoy a good, solid adventure of the more morbid variety, SGOTS is definitely not a bad choice at all.

A staple of Duke 3D was the game's humor, and it often made references to other games or movies. Manhattan Project does well continuing this tradition.

Underneath all of that polish, at its heart this is the same basic game we've been playing for years -- you'll either love it or hate it for that very reason.

Better than the original in every way. It even manages to trump the GameCube triumph, "Rogue Leader," in at least one key way as well -- it has a cooperative play mode.

May not be as flashy graphically as "Live 2002," nor as polished technically as "NBA2k2," but it stands a solid middle ground between the two as an enjoyable game.

An uncommonly beautiful and unique shooting game.

Any fighting game has progressively harder enemies, but the bad guys in this game beat you as much with their intelligence as they do with their attacks.

If you want something casual and wild, go for a different game, but if you want a simulation, a challenging one at that, Konami's got you covered.

A well-rounded, deep, and diverse title. The graphics and sound in the GameCube version surpass those found on the PS2.

A great game. Sure, it's a wee bit difficult, and pirates aside, the game offers little that is different from its predecessor, but for series aficionados, or those looking to become series aficionados, this is a solid piece of work.

Despite a few frame rate hitches, and a control scheme that takes a little getting used to, Deus Ex is a very playable, extremely entertaining game.

A great expansion that keeps the flavor of the original, while adding new gameplay changes that remove much of the original's micro-management.

The greatest adaptation of this battle. It offers a different style of gaming than La Grande Armee, but the bottom line is that this title probably has the broadest appeal.

If you can look past the graphics, the gameplay alone makes this game worth owning.

A top-notch effort from start to finish.

Although the single player game has a few too many potential dead ends, the accessible gameplay and multiplayer support for up to four people means it's a surefire crowd pleaser.

A game which does everything right. Gameplay, graphics, realism, mood, and extendibility through the included fully-featured mission editor.

Once the initial learning curve was surpassed, things became much easier, making it fun to just sit back and enjoy Evil Islands' gameplay.

Chinese chess on steroids.

While T2E is essentially more of the same, and doesn't quite have the same "wow" factor of the original, the improved engine and netcode make it a much more solid game.

This Worms game is aptly named: it's a blast!

The ability to download current rosters and save games at any point more than offsets the less-than-stellar graphics and sometimes challenging hitting.

Even with its niggling control issues, Otogi is a beautiful and entertaining action romp.

With Mutation kicking up the story and gameplay a much-needed notch I became totally addicted to this game. The addition of a sprinkling of some truly excellent boss battles throughout the game helped a bunch, too.

It's bigger and better in almost every way. If you're looking for a blood and guts 3rd Edition role-playing game, Icewind Dale II fits the bill perfectly.

While not quite perfect, it's one of the most worthwhile Mega Man platformers in years, as it shakes the boat in a bunch of cool ways.

The only complaint I have about EvS is that your health, armor, and arsenal don't carry over into the next mission.

It listened to the criticism of its 2002 release and came out with a highly polished 2003 edition. The latest game has significantly cut the distance between itself and the top soccer titles on the shelf.

With excellent controls, graphics, sound, and a huge variety of gameplay modes, this one is a game you should pick up.

A deep, engrossing, RPG-platform amalgam that's also perfectly portable.

It's a decent baseball game on the GBA, but not a pennant winner.

It might be some time until the Xbox sees another adventure that's this enjoyable again.

Despite some clunky inventory management and some frustrating camera angles, this'll be a game that you'll go back to whenever you're up for a couple of hours of mayhem and swordplay.

The gorgeous graphics combined with the terrific sense of speed (at least at higher levels) are certainly as fun to watch as they are to interact with, and the control is accurate enough to allow precise movements.

I can't remember the last time I played a racer this challenging and difficult to master. It's no picnic, but the rewards are plenty for those of you with the will and determination to keep on winning.

I'm so in love with this game. If you liked "Baldur's Gate" or "Planescape: Torment," you'll love this game.

Definitely not a game for everyone... but it's an intensely satisfying and mind-bogglingly replayable game for those gamers willing to wallow in Asian history and pure strategy.

The combination of highly accurate aircraft reproduction, flight model and the rigorous aircraft management system should appeal to those armchair pilots anxious to take their turn around the pylons.

This expansion pack is worth every last cent to a fan of Icewind Dale.

The learning curve is a bit greater than it has to be because of some less-than-complete instructions, but the time spent figuring out the ins and outs of the game will be well worth it.

There are just too many doors that don't open, or containment field barriers that can't be lowered, giving the rat in a maze feel to many missions.

It offers a lot of character interaction and an interesting storyline that will keep you guessing. Even a quirky camera system, a few minor graphical glitches, and flawed character logic can't bring this title down.

Fans of the film, disciples of The Rock, and old-timers who enjoy a good 2D action / platformer should all investigate The Scorpion King.

The gameplay is extremely fast paced, and while difficult to master at times, it does make for an extremely captivating experience.

The joy of F1 2002 is that it can play as realistically or as non-realistically as you like.

The production values for Frontline are way up there though, and with great voice acting, cool FMV cut scenes, and more atmosphere than most other FPS titles, the game is a winner for WWII action fans and newbies alike.

A bit like the Homecoming Princess. Sure, she looks nice, and is fun to play with, but you can't help looking at the Queen and wonder what might have been.

A game that won't inspire novices or attract causal gamers. This is one for the hardcore only.

A great game, and better than the first in all of the important ways, but the impact is lessened by the similarity to the first game.

Great gameplay and incredible movie nostalgia.

It's laidback, good-natured, and a fine example of the quirky game design that only the Japanese seem to deliver.

Bugs aside, Bloodmoon is a smart buy for fans of the original game simply because it's not just more-of-the-same; the quests are well designed, and the werewolf slant changes the entire flavor of Morrowind.

The dynamic campaign is one of the best ever.

Even with its visual shortcomings and ambition that keeps the game from being as tight as it could have been, Dead to Rights is a riot, packed full of non-stop action that will have you and the buddies playing hours through the night.

Like Westwood's real-time strategy games, there's a lot of flash here, some of the same old interface problems, and more than enough "yee-haw!" enthusiasm to make up for any shortcomings. Well, almost.

If you want to dig deep into Madden's highly touted franchise mode, there are some major holes that need to be filled before this portion of the game passes muster -- the game will not be truly complete until it's fixed.

Fans of the original game can find nearly as many objects and tiles on the net for free, and may not get enough replay value out of the expansion pack to make it worth the cost.

It's a fun romp that often lacks originality.

Yes, the game engine may be creaking with stomach-churning slowdown on the all-new course, but the fun sense of freedom and all-new whacked-out characters still draw me in. If you've never Taxied, buy this on sight.

It's fun. Not mind-blowing, but fun.

The non-linear mission design and freeform gameplay mechanics allow for some truly imaginative play.

The game hasn't changed drastically since its leap to the PS2, but two years of minor tweaking has made this the most accessible title of the franchise.

Isn't just a game, it's an experience you'll never forget, and the inclusion of the Shenmue: The Movie DVD makes it that much easier to get on board.

It may not be especially revolutionary, but Elite Force II is an often entertaining and consistently solid shooter that no Star Trek fan should be without.

It plays like, looks like, feels like, and IS like Mario Kart, which is a good thing!

Still the best thing out there...Hopefully the developers will make next year's version less arcade-like and implement more simulation aspects that take advantage of the fine engine.

The combat system isn't very engaging or deep. Tap the A-button -- repeatedly. That's about the extent of it.