Playing Rise of Nations won't make your jaw drop in amazement, but you'll probably still have lots of fun as long as you like RTS games. [Aug 2003, p.74]

We're not sure sure we've ever seen a more convincing first-person action-adventure quite like Breakdown. [May 2004, p.91]

Brilliant graphics, incredibly detailed environments, smart controls, and 30 sinister standalone missions. [Oct 2004, p.120]

Fast-paced, big on fun, and contains the best passing engine on any hoops game. [Feb 2003, p.67]

If you just like insanely fast arcade racing, go ahead and pick it up. It's a gas. [Aug 2003, p.73]

The design is impeccable and completely distinctive. Though the gameplay can be conventional, there's not chance you've ever played a game quite like Nocturne. You should. It's a stunning, mature fantasy. [Nov 2004, p.114]

The boss battles and platforming challenges vary just enough, and the minigames (such as the side-scrolling shooter level and the "Excitebike"-inspired motorcycle race) are great. [Dec 2003, p.104]

But whoever designed the final level) filled with screen-obscuring lightning attacks) and behemoth boss is a cruel, cruel person indeed. [Jan 2004, p.52]

MPT may not reinvent the game, but it definitely whacks it up enough to warrant a revisit. [Jan 2005, p.120]

So dark, gritty, and uncompromising, it makes "Vice City" seem much more like a cartoon than you would have previously considered it. [Mar 2003, p.62]

The most socially relevant videogame in recent memory and should be played not just by fans of the genre, but by anyone desiring a deeper understanding of what it must be like to participate in urban warfare. [Aug 2004, p.98]

Nintendo has put together a fantastic cooperative quest, but compared to most single-player games, it's short, and compared to most multiplayer games, there's little reason to go back once you've played through it. [July 2004, p.83]

From top to bottom, every aspect of the game oozes atmosphere. [June 2004, p.78]

A remake of the NES classic. [Feb 2003, p.97]

There's almost enough new gameplay in Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots for a full-fledged sequel instead of an expansion pack. [July 2004, p.86]

If Turbine can keep the quality content coming, AC2 deserves your hard drive, you Internet bandwith, and your $12.95 a month. [Feb 2003, p.71]

Tron 2.0 may lack a coherent or interesting story line, but that doesn't mean the game is style over substance. [Oct 2003, p.65]

An aggressive driving simulator that defies the rules of physics. Includes a dedicated crash mode for aspiring demolition-derby stars. [Feb 2003, p.92]

Giant robots are great, but basing them on the Gundam license with Capcom developing makes them greater, if that's even. [Feb 2003, p.92]

The highest compliment we can give EA's portrayal of JK Rowling's magic-infused faux sport is that it's so much fun (for fans and nonfans alike) that it makes us wish Quidditch were actually real.

Does an admirable job of re-creating the feel of the films. [Feb 2003, p.95]

The level of satisfaction you derive from Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles correlates directly to whether you look at it as a poor man's Final Fantasy or as the best damn game of "Gauntlet" you've ever laid eyes on.

Hardcore fanatics may grouse about its simplistic flight model, mouse control, and repetitive missions, but for everyone else, it'll provide endless hours of exploration, random violence, and, most important, fun. [May 2003, p.69]

Day of Defeat isn't the most powerful gun in the armory, but it is the most reliable. [July 2003, p.73]

The best board game and card game of this generation, Culdcept features simple, deep, addictive gameplay that's topped off with great four-player multiplayer support. [Jan 2004, p.52]

Combat is intuitive and intense, it looks absolutely gorgeous, and it never gets boring. [Apr 2003, p.55]

Fast-paced, big on fun, and contains the best passing engine on any hoops game. [Feb 2003, p.67]

But POP's only really significant flaw lies in its adventure/action ratio: Both aspects are thoroughly fleshed-out but rarely intertwined.

We keep stumbling onto funky new aspects the more we play it - like the fact that your relationships with your pals in this faux-MMORPG depend on the time you spend with them and the gifts you give them. Just like in real life. [June 2003, p.73]

The framerate is also speedy-slick, and your ninjas feel and move as light as a feather. [Apr 2003, p.69]

Fast and frenetic, ATVOF3 is a great title, so much so that we can forgive the occasional restart from behind an unmovable obstacle. [Jan 2005, p.87]

It can be a little too difficult at times, especially when trying to make finicky jumps on a small screen while, for example, riding a bus. But the balancing issues are confined mostly to the bosses. [Aug 2004, p.91]

The real star of NBA Live 2004, however, is the superb visual quality and the newfound ease with which players can call set plays and change defenses. [Dec 2003, p.84]

The game's not just about kicking ass, though. It's also about gorgeous graphics. [Aug 2004, p.99]

Makes no mistakes, and while it lacks Sonic's flash, it's a better game. [Oct 2003, p.73]

The only thing missing is a simple pro season mode. But things like online play and the inclusion of some classic players (Walter Payton, Howie Long, Ronnie Lott, etc.) more than make up for it.

Particularly thrilling is the motorcycle chase on the narrow freeway, evoking strong visions of what EA could have done had it been blessed with The Matrix license. The cohesion between 007's on-foot missions and driving excursions further adds to the cinematic feel, which is Everything or Nothing's strongest trait.

Wrath's only problems are small but important: Loading unfortunately breaks up the game's pacing, the fighting engine could be deeper, and there's no online mode. [Feb 2004, p.90]

While it is, technically, a rail shooter, it's quite a rail you're riding. [Dec 2004, p.110]

In the ring, inconsistencies abound-weird collision detection, random selling, neutered submission moves, and A.I. that revolves between timid and simply schizoid.

An amazing-looking game with some pretty serious muscle under the hood. If only the game actually <I>played</I> better - especially the batting - you'd have the "Madden" of baseball games. [Apr 2003, p.65]

What I liked best was how most of the tracks were set up in a way to guarantee fast or exciting finishes. [Mar 2003, p.64]

FM4 isn't likely to win new converts, but it's guaranteed to lease the choir. [July 2004, p.90]

It's almost like a bawdy, medieval "Animal Crossing" for adults. But you lack true control; moreover, things don't change unless you change them, making the world feel shallow. Though you usually have the freedom to do as you will, important characters are often completely exempt from your meddling (or even exist only in cut-scenes).

One of the only meals in town for a PS2-owning strategy fan, but it's the equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet. [Oct 2003, p.72]

The game has an amazing energy and great joy. Its unfettered creativity is astounding, and this is where Katamari truly excels. [Nov 2004, p.110]

The real star of NBA Live 2004, however, is the superb visual quality and the newfound ease with which players can call set plays and change defenses. [Dec 2003, p.84]

You'll be hard-pressed to find a white-knuckle, multiplayer-focused FPS more intense than UT2004 any time this year. [June 2004, p.87]

From the makers of "Dave Mirra BMX" comes a just-as-playable inline skating game with a simple trick system and large levels. [Feb 2003, p.92]

The refinement of the Kudos point system is the biggest difference between Project Gotham and its Dreamcast predecessor. [Feb 2004, p.95]

An exhaustive open-ended RPG that essentially allows you to make it up as you go along, with hundreds of people to talk to. [Feb 2003, p.95]

Definitely delivers cool effects and dishes up some really amazing moments, but technical issues, a cornball story, and weak voice acting add up to a slight disappointment overall. [Apr 2003, p.66]

Few racers match the sheer excitement of unleashing the boost on a straightaway to the accompaniment of wailing guitars. [June 2003, p.68]

The stroy is treated with respect and subtle class (that is, if you desregard the lackluster dialogue), with the conclusion providing the foundation for the many evenual battles between the Belmonts & Dracula. [Dec 2003, p.76]

It's the shiny A.I. upgrade that's the game's biggest improvement (though it's still not perfect). [May 2003, p.64]

With more true role-playing elements to balance out the sheer kill-and-collect MO of tis debut, this franchise, ripe with much potential, could grow serious legs. [Nov 2004, p.138]

The game's physics interact brilliantly with your actions to create game sequences much more memorable than any cut-scene could ever be. [July 2004, p.86]

A beautiful-looking "Dungeons & Dragons"-based hack-and-slash. [Feb 2003, p.92]

Frustrating but not impossible, The Third Age brings genuine LOTR authenticity and a believable RPG together - a fellowship that works. [Jan 2005, p.112]

Flight-sim purists will be horrified by SWON's simplicity, but everyone else will be too busy having fun.

It's amazing how they managed to cram Tony Hawk into a cartridge, while keeping the essence of the game true to the console version. [Feb 2003, p.97]

The great gameplay and story of Lunar remain intact. [Feb 2003, p.97]

Hit & Run's gameplay is entertaining without the license, but the license considerably enhances the fun, and you can't for ask for anything more from a tie-in.

It's always a good idea to have a golf game as part of your portable library. [Feb 2003, p.97]

Once you get sucked in, it's hard to pull yourself away. [Feb 2003, p.97]

The highest compliment we can give EA's portrayal of JK Rowling's magic-infused faux sport is that it's so much fun (for fans and nonfans alike) that it makes us wish Quidditch were actually real.

A great realization of Nintendo's much-vaunted connectivity strategy.

The the story for Homeworld 2 is a rehash of old themes, this spaced-based RTS plays far better than the story deserves. [Dec 2003, p.80]

The best reason to get this is the ability to link with the Gamecube version to transfer items and spells. [Feb 2003, p.97]

Deadly Shadows sticks closely to the formula, albeit with a highly refined touch. [Aug 2004, p.101]

Is Joint Operations better than "Battlefield 1942"? Yes, if all the pieces come together. But without good players backing you up and a well-populated map, you're screwed. [Oct 2004, p.96]

What really distinguishes this charmer is its finely honed sense of pacing: While the first game's notorious difficulty level is fully intact, the levels, objectives, and boss battles are mixed and matched to near perfection.

Insomniac's terrific action-platformer has you jumping from world to world in search of new weapons and gadgets. [Feb 2003, p.93]

What could've been crap on a DVD turns out to be a game that's easy to pick up and damn fun to play.

Offers racing thrills that compete with those in full-sized games. [Dec 2004, p.125]

The best damn puzzle game of the last 10 years has finally made it, in perfect form, to GBA... The game is, however, excruciatingly difficult, so consider yourself warned. [Apr 2003, p.73]

Still derivative, and slightly bizarre, but better than the previous game, Jak II is a trip worth taking. [Nov 2003, p.82]

Odd naming system. [Feb 2003, p.97]

Wrath's only problems are small but important: Loading unfortunately breaks up the game's pacing, the fighting engine could be deeper, and there's no online mode.

If you like wasting small bits of time here and there with your GBA - and especially if you're new to the series - this is still the best thing you get get on the portable. [Nov 2004, p.134]

The emulation is solid, delivering sound and gameplay that's up to par. [Jan 2004, p.86]

Ratings have cooled and Stone Cold had some run-ins with John Law. This is irrelevant, as wrestling games always sell. [Feb 2003, p.96]

Just as "Madden" continues to dominate gridiron play, so does ESPN NBA Basketball on the hardwood. [Dec 2003, p.84]

A beautiful-looking Dungeons & Dragons-based hack-and-slash that can be played cooperatively with another player. [Feb 2003, p.95]

One of gaming's most horrific experiences. [Feb 2005, p.102]

Submission moves finally makes sense, thanks to a logical location-based damage system, and wrestlers' weights are accurately presented. [Jan 2004, p.92]

Despite the lacking modes, the new songs and Xbox Live make Karaoke Revolution on Xbox incredibly versatile. [Dec 2004, p.115]

It's "Star Wars" with a proven and well-executed game concept. And if that's not enough to persuade you, you're able to murder Ewoks. Enjoy. [Nov 2004, p.120]

GL2 might be on the short side, but it's 100 percent pure beef; GL3 feels like cow eyeballs and kangaroo meat are mixed in—even if, in point of fact, the developers have actually expanded the game.

Easy to pick up and easy to play, a la "Virtua Tennis." [Feb 2003, p.96]

Excellent gameplay and some damn-fine GBA RPG graphics. [Mar 2003, p.72]

The Practice mode could've been more intuitive, like "Madden 2004's" minicamp mode. It was not only difficult to figure out, but also, ultimately, not even that helpful. [Dec 2003, p.86]

The highest compliment we can give EA's portrayal of JK Rowling's magic-infused faux sport is that it's so much fun (for fans and nonfans alike) that it makes us wish Quidditch were actually real.

The only compelling reason for Halo fans to buy this version is for multiplayer, which is so much better than playing split-screen on your television. Otherwise, it's the same old space opera. [Dec 2003, p.80]

Just as polished as the rest of the series, striking just the right balance between familiar and fresh material. [Feb 2005, p.99]

But POP's only really significant flaw lies in its adventure/action ratio: Both aspects are thoroughly fleshed-out but rarely intertwined.

Although combination attacks and special strikes are possible, battles come straight from the "Warriors" playbook - and fights, no matter how lopsided, are all too easily won by locating an enemy leader and killing him or her. [Dec 2004, p.127]

If you want to relive the good old days and hat that your favorite 2D franchises are being recast as crappy 3D shooters, give Hominid a try. [Feb 2005, p.94]