It arrives on Xbox as both a has-been and simultaneously a never-ran. [Oct 2004, p.120]

The game doesn't handle nearly as well as games like "Mario Kart: Super Circuit." This is especially frustrating when paired with a track that blends a bit too well into the surrounding environment, and there are quite a few of those tracks. [Apr 2004, p.90]

It's a good game, but it lacks the qualities that make the greats - the Marios, Castlevanias, and Metroids - absolute must-haves. [June 2003, p.79]

47 doesn't interact smoothly with his world. His movements come right out of the Max Payne School of Character Animation, with the antihero sliding and gliding across surfaces rather than running...None of this feels right. [June 2004, p.84]

Although there are plenty of missions to complete and mosters to vanquish, even die-hard D&D fans might struggle to stay awake throughout this game. [Mar 2004, p.84]

The game's charm doesn't save it from supershort (though plentiful) levels and opponent A.I. that'll keep you playing the early levels over and over and over again. [Apr 2003, p.71]

We'd feel good about recommending this game to RPG fans if not for the stuttery framerates. [Sept 2003, p.75]

What holds Fire Warrior back is some rather uninspiring gameplay. You play the entire game as a single lowly Tau warrior and must fight your way through legions of increasingly difficult enemies. Pretty standard stuff. [Nov 2003, p.77]

The changes don't amount to much; it looks a lot like the last game and sounds worse. Ouch. [Nov 2003, p.78]

Games like B.O.S. tend to become tedious and long, compelling you to continue simply so you can level up and get stronger armor and bigger weapons. There's not really any roleplaying to speak of. [Mar 2004, p.84]

The novelty of yapping it up boosts this game from mere mediocrity into a somewhat-intriguing solid title. [Dec 2003, p.86]

The game hits the mark in terms of Samurai Jack authenticity. As he battles his archnemesis Aku, Jack acts and sounds like you'd expect Jack to act and sound. Only cel shading, rather than 3D RenderWare-ing, would have taken this over the top.

Not nearly as exciting as it sounds. [June 2003, p.70]

Parents will probably have to play this one along with their toddlers. When they do, they'll find a fun but flawed kid's program.

A feature-lite driving simulator that neither offends nor excels in any particular area of design, and one that doesn't elicit a sense of excitement, rather a feeling of déjà vu.

The game is good, to be sure, but only good enough to be mundane. [Nov 2003, p.81]

A perfectly competent single-player shooter with neat space-sim elements (and Henry Rollins!), but if you absolutely need multiplayer replayability, look elsewhere. [Aug 2003, p.77]

Basically an expanded version of the original game. It won't win over any of the game's skeptics, but fans of the original will definitely find something to like here. [Aug 2004, p.100]

Not much more than a so-so platformer with a problematic camera. [Feb 2003, p.69]

And again, boss encounters are both overwhelming and plodding. [Nov 2004, p.127]

Its levels come in short, overly difficult bursts that routinely send you hurtling back to the title screen with whatever heath you had when you hit the last checkpoint, be it a full bar or a mere sliver. This basically railroads whatever fun is to be had in the RPG-like character development system. [Nov 2004, p.134]

Playing out your career is fun for a little while, but there's just too much tedium and repetition involved to inject freshness into a tired franchise. [Sept 2003, p.67]

What it lacks in substance, it makes up for in brilliance, and while we're averse to rewarding style over substance, in this case, we can't really deny the game's addictive appeal. [Feb 2003, p.73]

Except for the emphasis on female persuasion, there is little to differentiate SRS from the plenty of other street racers either available now or coming soon.

The strategy serves as a fine complement to the otherwise problematic action, and, ultimately, Gunner hits its mark - but just barely. [Aug 2003, p.72]

The frustrating, non-compliant camera and general lack of challenge keep DMC 2 from being great. [Mar 2003, p.60]

Your opponents are unbelievably excellent shots who almost never miss...A clear case of style over substance, XIII is pretty to look at but a bitch to play. [Dec 2003, p.100]

Players will find themselves replaying missions again and again because, as in real war, life is cheap and death is all too common. [June 2003, p.75]