I did like the variety of the characters, yet I wished that there could have been more of a variety.

It may be the best FPS ever created. Yet from my personal standpoint, Halo is one the greatest games ever created. Ever.

The graphics will grab you and not let go. And the solid gameplay of polygonal Zelda installments still lies here...at lower difficulty, but its here nonetheless. The plot is quite and interesting one, as well.

Everything that was good about "GTA III" has been multiplied exponentially and injected right into the throbbing veins of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, but many of the problems have been carried over as well.

This is a great opportunity for old schoolers to enjoy some excellent nostalgia (while kicking friends around in Four Swords) and new schoolers to partake in one of the greatest adventures of all time (er, while kicking friends around in Four Swords).

Simply THE pro-football title to buy this year, no matter what system you own. If you happen to have a choice, go with the PS2 version. It’s the only one with the awesome online play, and it controls like a dream with the Dual Shock controller configuration.

It is, thanks to the incredible job on the vocal work and the environments, easily the most involving RPG I've ever played on a console or PC.

With an improved single player mode, a brand new and impressive multiplayer mode, state of the art graphics, a sound score that should be nominated for an Oscar, and a gaming engine that sets standards for all videogames to reach, you couldn't go wrong with purchasing TCSC: Pandora Tomorrow.

A worthy sequel that takes the series in a new direction of an open-ended structure while improving upon the sheer fun of the over-the-top trick-heavy gameplay.

The gameplay is unmatched.

One of the best 3D fighters out there. Weapon Master mode creates a worthwhile single player experience, and the numerous other modes will keep players busy for months. [Import]

A rare gem. It somehow manages to capture the essence of what made classic beat ‘em ups like Double Dragon and Streets of Rage so enjoyable, while still delivering a lengthy and varied enough experience for today’s gamer. [Import]

The gameplay alone is magnificent. The visuals have improved greatly, and the sound is on its way to achieving something more than mediocrity. No longer are the menus confusing like in WE6, and I’d have to say that this version is completely user-friendly.

Sure, Soul Calibur II is the single greatest weapons-based fighter out there. But is it a significant leap forward from the original? Not really.

A worthy sequel that takes the series in a new direction of an open-ended structure while improving upon the sheer fun of the over-the-top trick-heavy gameplay.

It only takes about half of the total Shine Sprites to finish the game, so those determined to collect everything will be kept busy for ages.

A worthy sequel that takes the series in a new direction of an open-ended structure while improving upon the sheer fun of the over-the-top trick-heavy gameplay.

It is hard to find fault with a game that improves upon its groundbreaking predecessor in every category.

While some old Final Fantasy fans might not take a liking to the new style, most of them will find it fresh, and a new challenge to overcome.

I can't remember the last time a game impressed me this much by not only its style and unique qualities, but also by simply being fun. There was not a single moment during Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time that I was not having fun...Gets my vote for Best Game of 2003. I have never played anything like it. It's simply amazing.

Ninja Gaiden does everything right from A to Z.

PGR2 will take you a long time to complete, even if you simply collect Steel Medals, and even longer if you want to collect nothing but Platinum Medals. There are more then 100 tracks and cars to unlock and many time records to set.

A damn fine sequel that will have many gamers coming back for more. The only negative I can think of about this game is that once you unlock everything, you will find that you will play the game more for multiplayer fun rather than single player excitement.

Stands as the true evolution of the platform genre, proving that in order to evolve, a game does not have to steal from everything that’s popular at the moment. While it’s not as purely platform as Mario Sunshine, it’s also not trying to be "Ratchet Theft Auto" like certain OTHER games.

Even with the mediocre visuals and sub-par sound, NHL 2K3’s gameplay has enough depth to it that it deserves the best hockey game of the year award. In fact, it could be one of the best ever created in the last decade, rivaling some Genesis greats.

That what it offers more of was incredible to begin with, and that it offers it in a much, much prettier package, with more gameplay modes and options, makes F-Zero GX the kind of "rehash" that you want to savor every bit of.

Far and away the fastest and most furious arcade racer available for the PS2.

This is one of those games you’ll sit down to play for 45 minutes and then realise you’re 2 hours from the end without even an inkling of the time spent on the game.

A damn fine sequel that will have many gamers coming back for more. The only negative I can think of about this game is that once you unlock everything, you will find that you will play the game more for multiplayer fun rather than single player excitement.

Bleeding edge technology merged with an assortment of quality gameplay ideas, and topped off with well-utilized production values makes The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay one of the best, if not the best licensed videogame on the market on any console.

Drop-dead gorgeous and the gameplay is as smooth and realistic as ever. ESPN looks, plays and sounds as close to the real NBA game as you can possibly get on a console right now.

A damn fine sequel that will have many gamers coming back for more. The only negative I can think of about this game is that once you unlock everything, you will find that you will play the game more for multiplayer fun rather than single player excitement.

It definitely beats "Sly Cooper," its semi-brother "Jak and Daxter," and even other-platform platformers (pun intended) in most categories.

Plays and feels a lot better than 2004, and for some of you, that might be a bad thing. Taking the time to adjust to the new mechanics, mainly the passing game, will leave some frustrated out of their minds. The game certainly has a more authentic feel to it.

The new content of Tribunal and Bloodmoon are well worth the price of admission, even if the core gameplay hasn't changed in any way.

SOCOM 2 rocks; it’s just not the mammoth leap forward we were hoping for.

One of those rare games that can appeal to both the rally purist and the arcade racing fan.

The nuisance of the overworld and the poorly controlled vehicles are the biggest drawbacks, causing a good deal of headache. And yes, the game is much more difficult than the original.

The superb integration of a heartfelt storyline, impeccable art design, and addictive tactical gameplay makes Final Fantasy Tactics Advance a reassuring reminder of the past while setting the foundation for an exceptional future.

Does little to improve on the franchise, but remains a highly enjoyable multiplayer title.

You will be busy for months fooling with the invention system, building newfound lands with the Georama system, arming your characters to the teeth, with the best upgrades and equipment money can buy.

The online play is a nice addition for PS2 and Xbox owners, but it would’ve been even better if a fuller field of human players was included.

Immensely fun and entertaining.

Has a lot going for it. But it goes wrong in one key area: The Championship mode. It’s much too limited. We get to drive one car throughout our career, and we don’t get to make our own repairs when we damage it; the computer does it for us.

If "Splinter Cell" hears Rainbow Six 3 coming, it better move on over - the top spot for the single player military strategy/action title has been taken, by a first person shooter no less.

There's plenty of fun to be had with the online mode, and it’s often fun just cruising around the cities looking for every shortcut and also trying to find the locked cars the game has to offer, making it well worth a purchase.

With a less serious, but still meaningful storyline, one of the most playable battle systems around, and more side quests than you could keep track of, Final Fantasy X-2 is an RPG that will keep you occupied and satisfied for as long as any good game in its genre should.

The ability to roam the level on foot or in a vehicle were great ideas for moving the series forward, but shoddy animations and lousy collision detection make it not worth the effort and wind up dragging down the otherwise stellar gameplay and controls.

The game supports up to four players either online or off, and the randomly-generated content, from the vividly-detailed levels to the 10,000-plus items and random enemy placement, help make Champions of Norrath one of the most replayable games on the market.

This game does convincingly place you into a fascinating world that is seemingly endless to explore. It’s going to take you months to get the most out of it, and that means monthly fees.

Games like this simply aren't made very often, especially not of this caliber. It has incredible depth for a shooter, replay value through the roof, and most importantly, it's fun to play. [JPN Import]

The two-player cooperative mode is the real star of the show, overshadowing the online play that the PS2 version offers, and is the one critical feature the first game so desperately needed.

The "Resident Evil" remake offered spectacular graphical effects, new rooms, new enemies, new locales, new play mechanics, and even new storyline twists and characters, all while retaining the original environment, characters, and gameplay that made the game so great to begin with. Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes does no such thing, feeling more like a by-the-numbers remake, mimicking everything about the original PlayStation version, even down to the visual presentation.

The very best in it’s class, paying close attention to the culture in which the game is tailored after, and offering great gameplay to back up the gorgeous graphics and thousands of upgrades for the hoarder in you.

A definite improvement over Silent Hill 2 in almost every way (except length), SH3 is probably one of the best survival horror games available right now. While the length affects things other than the replay value, the unlockable extras do their part to extend the game’s longevity.

The translation is natural (hats off to Atlus on that point), and the sense of humor that Disgaea carries is unrelentingly brilliant in both languages... A fantastic game that's worth every penny.

A brilliant piece of work. Everything needed to create a believable world is there: A fantastically told story with plenty of plot twists, memorable characters, memorable moments, and a fluid pace.

The speed and control in Colin McRae Rally 04 is unbelievably noticeable.

Slightly repetitive combat and linear level design keeps the game from earning must-have status, but gamers with even a slight interest in strategy titles and a yearning for something new should give it a rent.

Since the storyline and uninteresting characters adorn the experience almost as much as the physics, the game isn't all it could've been. But in the end, it's the gameplay that counts most, and what's found in Psi-Ops is good enough to keep you playing.

The game is a bit on the short side, true, but rarely does a game manage to capture the essence of the classics the way this does. The action is fast and furious, the graphics astounding, and the music incredible.

The faces are absolutely amazing. Quite simply, there isn’t another game to even compare in terms of likeness and quality.

Takahashi has created something vastly more deep and complex than just "watered-down Nietzsche." Indeed, if you wanted to put a misplaced literary reference on this game, something closer to James Joyce's Ulysses would better represent the fantastic and masterful sci-fi pastiche that XS offers.

No console hoop game to this date has fully realized the smoothness of real life basketball, but 2K3 is awfully close. Less cinematic and slower than March Madness, it captures the look, sound, and most importantly, the feel of the college game.

Definitely a gem that will suck away hours upon hours of gaming time, but that is also The Sims' Achilles Heel; in order to successfully have fun with The Sims, you have to invest lots of time into the game, and playing takes a lot out of you.

Thoroughly enjoyable on its own, but there is something very satisfying about finding a warm spot outdoors and annihilating vampires with the power of the sun.

Yeah, the framerate could be better and the main weapons are kind of uninspired, but the action is intense and it provides a great challenge.

The presentation is almost exactly as it would be on TV, the wrestlers look decent, and the animations look spectacular. But after all is said and done, the game still feels a great deal like an update rather than a true sequel that caters to all wrestling fans.

The competition is as intense as you want it to be (which on the higher difficulties can be damn near impossible). It has good music, good graphics, and lots of diversions if the main focus drags.

A fun and addictive game.

Though far from flawless, Thief: Deadly Shadows is a magnificent game that breathes a bit of fresh air into the stealth action genre. It's got impressive graphics, ambient sound, immersive gameplay, and an intriguing story that is truly deserving of praise.

Yeah, the framerate could be better and the main weapons are kind of uninspired, but the action is intense and it provides a great challenge.

Though not the deepest action game we've played, it's well worth the time for 'Rings' fans and action game gurus alike. We're not completely satisfied; the game is much too short, and is in dire need of a second player.

Nothing in the world of electronic entertainment involves the mind and body quite like this game does.

You can play with one controller and pass it around, but it's worth getting four controllers together so everyone can make use of the taunts-sinking a birdie putt with three other people mashing the taunt commands is not an easy feat, but it is a lot of fun.

Equal parts hilarity and biting social commentary, the game grafts "Grand Theft Auto" gameplay onto the material from the TV show and does it extremely well.

A great horror game if it stood alone, but being a sequel, the title feels too much like the original. There isn’t one significant upgrade that the game makes over the first; the enemies are the same, the environments look the same and feel the same, and quite frankly, it doesn’t sound any different either.

While it is a technically well-made game, it’s just not as exciting when you’re playing on your own.

Proof that as long as a game is fun, it doesn’t need to be advanced upon by leaps and bounds with every installment. There’s loads of content here.

Ignoring all possible future releases, however, the EyeToy is still a worthy investment for someone seeking a completely new gaming experience.

FF:CC will not disappoint too many gamers, it instead will simply expose them to another way that RPG videogames can be played.

Unlike "ATV Offroad Fury 2," Unleashed isn’t online, and it doesn’t support four-player multiplayer. Furthermore, the visual quality doesn’t increase at all due to these cuts, which is disappointing.

If you plan on unlocking 100% of the game (and it does keep track of the percentage), then Rides Gone Wild will certainly keep you busy. And since Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild controls splendidly, has immensely creative tracks and looks real purdy, there's no reason why you wouldn't want to keep playing.

The controls are amazingly easy to navigate (though a bit slippy), and though the enemy A.I. is out for your blood (wow, just like TM:B), War is much more forgiving.

Yeah, some of the missions are a tad on the repetitive side, and the voice acting can be pretty lame, but no game has made me feel as close to playing the comic as this one.

While the lack of gameplay variety may not be enough to budge the giant that is the current crop of WWE wrestling games, Def Jam Vendetta certainly manages to hold its own.

One of the best third-person action games released in recent memory. The unprecedented ability to destroy nearly every onscreen object, including the ability to pound craters into the ground with devastating attacks, will keep gamers looking for action more than satisfied.

We get a game that pays tribute to its legacy by going out with a bang. It does so not by trying to add too much or expand too deeply, but by mastering the style it has become known for.

Between the bonus stages, hidden areas, and multiple endings, this game could keep you going for months.

Indisputably Castlevania, and nothing else. The action is frenzied and fluid as always. The entrancing musical score is as haunting as we could’ve ever hoped for, and the controls are virtually flawless.

RAD is a really tantalizing title. The game features one of the freshest and most interesting control schemes in the history of console robot-bashing, leading to one of the most unique mech experiences out there.

This game isn't just a racing game, it isn't just a trick-based game, and it isn't just both, but it's an entirely new and interesting experience.

Substitute the words Mildly Frustrating and Ninja into the title of the old Geto Boyz song "Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangsta" and you’ve roughly got a statement of Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven.

The GameCube version of Hit and Run loads a bit faster and runs smoother overall than the PS2 version of the game, and it’s the closest thing that the GameCube has to "Grand Theft Auto" at this point, so why not give it a go?

A great game and worthy sequel. It keeps the core gameplay intact, but improves on it significantly, and then adds a plethora of new additions that only enhance what’s already on offer.

Yes, this game is better than "MVP Baseball 2004" by EA Sports, Acclaim's "All-Star Baseball," and "ESPN Baseball."

With the exception of a few minor complaints, Dynasty Warriors 4 is as close to action-gaming Nirvana as you're going to get for quite a while.

With a neat little story line, some interesting ways to complete your objectives, the Hitman series still manages to carve out a niche in this crowded market.