Summoner could have been a fantastic RPG that tore a new hole in the gaming world. Instead, it turned into a great fantasy game that will probably be an ass-kicking franchise.

All right, so the gameplay isn't that far removed from the standard RTS fare but Kingdoms is fresh enough thanks to the unique setting that it gets away with it.

A decent job of reskinning the old PlayStation version with new Dreamcast graphics, the game is still dark and moody, with the action well spaced out between the tense situations.

What makes the game somewhat unique, though, is its peculiar blend of strategy, stealth and tactics with medieval RPG elements and real-time combat, along with its grey-shaded plot.

"Quake" with cute little stuffed animals.

A tired remake of "Tomb Raider" without the intrigue.

It brings back all the web-slinging, smart-mouthing, fast action of the original, and adds layers of depth and richness to both the graphics and the game play.

It's hardly on par with a game like "Falcon 4.0," but you'll find it a rewarding, if shallow, experience.

If you do find a happy medium between the controls and the game play, you'll find yourself actually digging the game - but like most good games, the fun is over way to quick, With twenty missions total in the game, we beat about seven of them within an hour.

With it's sharp detail and exciting racks, along with the fluid anaimation of the riders and the crowded racing field (with little slow-down) it's simply the best motocorss game available, and the X-Box secures it's place as one of the best looking motocross games of all times.

If you’re not a Spyro fan, this is still a passable and thoroughly engrossing game that exhausts you with all the item searching – but hey, that’s what a good platform game does.

It's a difficult game, but its thinking-man's style of approaching missions will keep you coming back for more.

It seems cliché to say it, but there's just not much new here, and what is new (the higher difficulty) is not welcome.

If you've never played Quake on any machine before, this is one of the best versions available this side of the original PC game.

Though it lacks the freshness of the earlier “Parties,” there’s still plenty of multiplayer value here.

It's flashy looks and mind-blowing storyline, combined with Ice T and some simple controls make "Sanity" a lot of fun as well.

Not a car game just anyone can pick up and play. You have to be able to fully control the car, which is one of the game's biggest challenges; if you don't, you're in for a long and disappointing afternoon.

EA took a static sport like snowmobiling and gave it the Tricky makeover, adding more detail, more depth to the levels, and more care in the level design.

There’s plenty of options to keep you from getting bored, but to unlock you must play, and if you’re one of those casual gamers who are easily put off by repetitive gameplay then this is not for you.

Fast, fun, and full of fire, but it's way too short. Even on all the difficulty levels you are getting the same game all around.

Despite the out of date and fuzzy graphics, Body Harvest is one of those games that just refuses to get boring. With the wide range of vehicles, challenging puzzles and frenetic blasting action, there's something to please everyone here.

This game can grind, manual, ollie, combo, and trick out just as well as THPS2 -- but it does it with two less wheels.

A great effort, but when compared to games like Turok or Golden Eye, it falls short. With glaring problems in the multiplayer modes, it's hard to see Duke Nukem 64 being taken seriously as a contender in the 3D shooter category.

The tracks are in great number and you have the ability to change the time of day as well as the weather, ensuring the most brutal of settings for any off-road excursion.

This is as close as GameDay ever got to Madden for the title of best Playstation football game ever.

The best PlayStation espionage game since "Metal Gear Solid."

The way the Advance interacts with the Cube is flawless, and if you have Sonic Advance (and we recommend you pick it up), it's a nice touch, with lots of promise for future games.

The most glaring drawback of gameplay is that there's no effective radar/tracking system to point you towards your remaining enemies, especially when they're out of range.

Its anime influences also feel forced and plagiaristic. Overall, this is one of the bigger disappointments this year.

It may be short on imagination and long on Disney, but it’s not a bad game for kids. Action gamers may find Atlantis a bit lost.

A pleasant surprise, and some may actually prefer it to the darker, more serious "Unreal Tournament" or "Quake 3 Arena."

An awesome shooter with superb graphics, and the thumb-numbing game play is challenging but not too hard.

The game is nothing if not involving. A story with real depth, actual humor and pathos, and some dramatic and frightening moments is something you don't see everyday - and even more rare in RPG's.

Not as deep, heavy or pretty as the competition, but strangely appealing once the journey starts rolling.

It's inexplicable, but definite -- Goin Qu@ckers is a lot of fun. Give it a chance before you decide it's too young for you.

Placing first is about as hard as finding Star Wars fan clubs on the web... Revenge is a dish best served cold - this Revenge never warms up.

A trunk-full of options will have stock car jockeys busy for weeks.

Despite a fairly impressive game speed even with eight riders, Supercross is a headache-inducing eyesore.

It's a little better than last year's game, and the play editor helps, but you've seen this, and done this, before.

This gem of a game is way too short -- the same complaint that PlayStation owners had a while back.

It's a lot of fun if you weren't expecting much.

Believe it or not this is one of the best of the PS2 launch titles, and one of the best puzzle games anywhere.

Like the Dreamcast version, the game seems to short, but that could be because it's so much fun to play, and you definitely extend the fun by competing against multiple human players (you can play up to four with a multitap).

Black Kat is like me first marriage, aye - fun for a few hours, and then as slow a death as you never want to witness, matey.

Nostalgia freaks and curious geeks could use the history lesson that this disc teaches - it's an emotional purchase.

The best PS One fighting game to come along in a while, and probably the last great fighting game for the PS One.

A walk down memory lane with one of the better platform games of the early days of the Super NES and Genesis.

Part "Mission: Impossible," part "Golden Eye," and all fun. But poor controls hamper the fun and put a dull sheen on the otherwise glossy secret agent.

It's more like a reworking of "Prince of Persia."

As the levels progress and the waves of enemies become bigger and faster it's not uncommon for players to be engulfed in a Zen like trance, mindlessly mowing through levels oblivious to the time of day, their sleeping patterns or what parts of their body have been set on fire. That, you see, is what good games are all about.

A definite improvement over the first 3D title in both control and camera viewpoint.

While we wait for the next Microprose effort, this is a fine way to pass the time.

More likely to drive you insane than put you to sleep, counting these Sheep is a treat for die-hard puzzle gamers.

You may have a harder time with all the backtracking, the imprecise jumping and exploration, and the overall large-scale scope of the game. In any case...a solid performer.

The arcade mode isn't arcade enough, the practice mode is a no-brainer, and the 3-point mode is wickedly easy. Still, it's the first basketball game for the Game Cube, and right now it's also one of the better looking ones.

If DW3 was the video game equivalent of "Braveheart," then Kessen II is Kuroswawa's "Ran" -- just a little more meat in your dish.

If you’re sick of waiting for "Time Crisis II"’s release on the PS2 later this year, Project Titan will more than tide you over.

While it has its share of shortcomings, March Madness 2001 packs enough variety and fun to make it the champion of Playstation basketball.

With a strong difficulty level, plenty of tracks and several game modes, Mickey's Speedway is a good value for those who don't have a kart racer in their library.

But if you want a serious butt-kicking good time, then this game Roars.

Basically, though, this is the same game as the original -- the differences being more units, a better play balance, new campaigns, a new leader-based combat system, and obviously updated graphics.

This should keep you occupied long enough to appreciate the game, but not long enough to make you love it.

The Cleveland Cavaliers of the video hoops world: not the worst team in the league, but lacks flash, is thin in the middle and an absolute non-factor in the playoffs.

Another facet of the game is a pseudo-RPG element, which adds some replay value to the game, but becomes so ridiculously tedious after a short while that you won't go back to it.

It's way too short, but the game does go over the top in both the action and the premise, and it is fun.

More than just a celebrity cash-in, this is a great first-person shooter.

A relatively solid, if unspectacular, first effort for the F1 Championship series on the PS2 that plays pretty realistically. On the other hand, there's nothing here that a casual racing fan would find immediately compelling.

Another good snowboarding game that quickly becomes addictive -- if you give it the chance.

It's fast pace and good graphics are impressive, but the game doesn't have the staying power to make it a classic.

Hardcore puzzle gamers who’ve tasted better fare won’t want to go back to this cafeteria-cut game any time soon. The Doctor is in, but he’s showing his age.

It's not the most innovative game, and actually copies a block or two from other puzzle games, but the repetition gets endearing after awhile.

A decent kart racer that never makes full use of its license and falls a bit flat in gameplay.

SpyHunter is a lot more like those cop chase shows than you think - you may have reservations about watching (or playing), but once you get hooked, you're in for the whole hour.

A fine game – but it’s lacking the depth and realism that many of the more complex management type sims have. Those looking for a quick racing thrill without a lot of fuss will find a lot to like.

Pro BMX was a solid game on the PS One – this should have been just as solid.

The game has not taken any new leaps and bounds towards improvement in the way that Sega Sports "NBA 2K2" has, scoring this game just a little lower in the overall fun factor.

In the world of flashier, harder hitting and more Hollywood style presentation of role-playing games, Wizardry may get lost in the labyrinth.

Just too easy, too short, and too busy visually. It’s initially quite an impressive looking and sounding game, but you know the saying about looks being deceiving.

A definite purchase for snowboarders and extreme sportsters who have finished playing "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2" and "Dave Mirra BMX Freestyle Racing."

A much higher score would be given if the ridiculously long 90 second load time between levels had been optimized. Otherwise, it’s a great shooter.

A well-rounded, challenging game without much flash or innovation.

With the addition of min-games like First and Goal, Blitz is destined to become a party favorite, but don't expect a lot more than last years game.

Batman Vengeance had a hopeful start, but the controls, cameras, and crappy graphics make this bat look like a rat.

It's a wild, insanely challenging, and great-looking game.

It's a trimmed down and dumbed-down RPG for younger players that just may find an adult audience with its sense of humor and hilarious story line.

A fairly dry, emotionless golf simulation that’s competent in execution but lacks inspiration.

Better on the Box. Sharper, fuller, and more variable detail, excellent sound, and precise controls are all contained herein, along with the patented Crash game play that makes this such a fan favorite.

You never really escape the feeling that you've played all of this before - twice, in fact... As for people who just like to drive around and cause mayhem, we've got one word for you - "Driver."

The two biggest knocks against Confidential Mission are the aforementioned lack of real innovation and the game’s short length. You can finish the game in about fifteen minutes.

Owners of the original, however, have little reason to upgrade -- unless the idea of beating a virtual Michael Jackson to a bloody pulp is just too juicy for you to pass up.

Although not the stellar accomplishment that "Splashdown" was for the Atari label, it's still a solid effort, and a good choice for fans of motocross.

A witty and pretty game that's absorbing and charming, but ultimately will bore you with its long quests and constant backtracking.

It wears on you after a while, but for new players, you have a lot of passengers to pick up before you get jaded.

Uneven pacing, clunky interface and mismatched visuals undermine the game's potential.

Can’t live up to its big brother on the PS2, but don’t let that stop you from playing it, especially if you’re a NASCAR fan. It’s fun, exciting, and very playable, but its hard to keep people who’ve seen the Sistine Chapel to appreciate graffiti.

If you want something more advanced for your Advance, pass this fossil up.

The game is over way too quickly, even if you do have the patience to sit through the endless conversations.

This one is just a trip down memory lane that will bring a tear to the eye of old-school gamers, and tears of frustration to the eyes of newbies who don’t understand that this was gaming way back when.