For an expansion pack, Yuri's is unmatched in it's level of depth.

This unique RPG is among the best games available for either incarnation of Sony's game console and is an excellent addition to any gamer's collection. [Review Date: Sept 2005]

It will be remembered as proof that Nintendo could have solid role-playing games on its systems again. And, perhaps, it will be proof that a game can even transcend prejudices people bring about its voice actors.

Point blank…if you need a serious bare-knuckle fighting game in your collection, look no further. Def Jam: Fight for N.Y. is everything the hype boasts about and then some. Solid, diverse gameplay makes this title one of the best fighters this year.

A very good RPG. It has a solid battle system, excellent story, and never once becomes a cakewalk nor obscenely hard. Atlus struck gold with this title.

The best part is that players can zoom in to watch the battle in glorious detail, and players will want to zoom in just to sit back and watch the action.

Enough fun to want to play through multiple times, and would be perfect if only there was more of it.

Easily the best hockey game of the season. It takes every bad decision that EA made in regards to its NHL franchise and makes it good.

The game is drop dead gorgeous...As far as the gameplay is concerned, the overall physics are still the best in the industry.

While .hack is not going to thrill anyone with its visuals or sound, the sheer replayability and depth of gameplay is incredible, and that’s what games are SUPPOSED to be all about. Bandai, you have guaranteed yourself a customer for your future .hack episodes.

Forget what the magazines say about Smackdown, because I can guarantee you not one of those brainwashers dissected this game the way I did just now.

A wonderful title and well worth a purchase. While the visuals leave much to be desired, the rest of the game is well packaged. This is adventure gaming at its finest and includes a wonderful control scheme innovation that should be used for future games.

While the exhibition games are fairly bland, the season mode as well as the create-a-team mode just jaks this game into stardom.

Ico's simplicity is what makes it shine.

The combination of great control, unique gameplay, killer graphics and a soundtrack to die for.

When all is said and done, Snake Eater achieves what no other game can on such a level: complete immersion into an action-driven interactive movie.

Blast Corps stands tall with not so much as an attempt to recreate its addictive game play and charm. With intelligent puzzles, good fast action, and a huge variety of things to do (like blow things up), you can't help but to fall in love with this game. [Jan 2005]

The best baseball experience out there in a market that is glutted with baseball titles. It offers the best balance of realistic gameplay, deep, deep, deep options and above all else, fun.

Like in any game requiring human co-operation, it’s only as good as the people you play it with, but for those who put the time and effort into getting the crew together on, say, a weekly basis, you’ll find a game worthy of the Final Fantasy name.

Overall, Super Smash Bros. Melee is still a frantic fighting game that's easy to pick up, has tons for you to do even in single-player mode, and it's still one of the best fighting games to pull out with company – with four players and intuitive controls, anyone can pick it up easily.

In essence, Vice City is little more than a GTA3 expansion pack. Still, considering this could have just been a cash cow license like Tomb Raider, Vice City came out surprisingly well.

Like its predecessor, DX2:IW is stunning both in technology and in design, and should be required playing for anyone interested in the evolution of gaming.

In a generation of games where developers put more time into cutscenes, talking, and character development than into pure gameplay, this hack/slash RPG is a huge relief. There's a time and place for games that are more like movies, but Shining Soul 2 is a reminder as to what this hobby of videogames is all about.

Daxter is a game designed from the ground up for the PSP and it shows. The handy save anywhere feature allows for gaming on the go while the length of each of Daxter's levels is suitable for a bus ride to school or work. Daxter’s graphics and gameplay are unmatched on the PSP and contribute to what is a truly exceptional game.

To make a game so engrossing that I forget about eating food for a week means you basically have crafted Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in game form... Any turn-based game that leaves your mouse hand shaking because of the sheer intensity of the last few turns is worth any price for the game playing experience.

The only negative thing that I can say about this game is that it is extremely addictive; players can expect to find themselves completely engrossed, blissfully unaware of how much time has passed since they picked up the controller.

The graphics and the gameplay will surprise you immensely. It's not everyday that you see a title like this on a small screen. Duke Nukem Advance will take you by surprise. You heard right.

The home city concept adds a new twist, making the game slightly more interested than it had been before.

It is easy to pick up and play, the controls are tight, and there is plenty to do and the online mode works well for those of you looking to do a little online racing. You couldn't ask for much more out of any one game.

The folks at Harmonix have taken an idea, refined it, churned it, ground it, and forged it into a force of pure rock that few men could stand against. Maybe Dio, and quite possibly Yngwie or Clapton. But few men indeed.

If you’re only going to play one game in this franchise, .hack//QUARANTINE is the one to get. A powerful plot (including the series’ conclusion) and access to most of the gameplay from the prior three games makes it the definitive title in the series.

This may be quite a challenge but it will keep you constantly coming back for more due to the fun factor as well as the extended replay value that’s present even with only 8 levels to progress through due to the strategy needed to be successful, be prepared to die quite frequently.

The dungeons in the game are far too tedious and aggravating for me to ever want to go through them again. Even beyond all that, though, Xenogears remains one of my favorite games ever because of its unsurpassed story and characters, and I think that says something.

The graphics are gritty and realistic, the sounds will make you nervous as hell, and the immense feeling of accomplishment that comes with successfully executing a good strategic assault both in the single-player campaigns as well as multiplayer is overwhelming.

The somewhat short single-player campaign does have a few missions that aren't quite as good as the others, but the others are undeniably great, and certainly stand out among all the RTS games I have played.

By far the best platformer this year. Period. End of discussion. If you disagree, you're wrong.

Old-schoolers who cut their teeth on the original Bros. have a lot to enjoy in Super Princess Peach, while new players will find an excellent and challenging introduction into one of gaming's most venerable and popular genres.

An amazing game whose play hearkens back to the vintage days of gaming, though not without a few hindrances. With beautiful graphics, animations, sound effects, and controls, this game is a must play for any gamer.

Download the demo, see for yourself. Once you get a taste of synaesthesia, you're hooked.

To be dead honest with you all, I can’t think of a single major flaw in this game.

The adventure mode is engrossing and fun to play even for those who don't like chess, because it plays more like a good turn-based strategy.

To my surprise, skate. ended up being a surprisingly good game... perhaps the most enjoyable game I have played thus far on my 360.

Despite the less-then-mediocre camera movement and control, Dead To Rights is a fun romp through a Hong Kong-like movie with all the thrilling elements and action sequences that would make John Woo proud.

The game is refreshingly light, yet fully satisfying. Those looking to fulfill that RPG-RTS itch; should look no further.

It is a game unlike any other game out there, a truly unique and special experience. It blows ICO away in pretty much every aspect (technically, ICO's controls were better), for those of you considering this game on ICO's merits.

Flat out, Everything or Nothing will blow you away.

NFL 2K3 controls are as tight as ...uh....screwing your computer case screws in with an industrial driver.

Not only is the best game I've played this year...it probably just cracked my top 15 games of all time.

I explored many of the game's options and spent a lot of time leveling up, so I spent almost 70 hours playing this game. However, it was the intriguing story, with its quest for the relic sought by the fallen angel who only wants God's favor, that propelled me through the game to its every end.

Don’t let the Championship Edition name fool you; this is very much the first true sequel to the series and features fresh and exciting gameplay to reset your retro Pac-Man fatigue.

A rhythm game lives and dies by its music. Taiko Drum Master is packed with songs that you can find yourself playing for hours, and get a decent upper-body workout from too (hey, you try pounding through Oni mode for a couple hours without burning some calories).

While most shooters nowadays have you dodging through a hailstorm of bullets, the enemies in R-Type make you think a bit more. There a definitive patterns and ways to dispatch every creature in the game, learn them, and you don't find yourself in tight situations.

The slight flaws of the second are easily drowned out by the overall brilliance of the game play and intriguing storyline. While overall GS2 didn’t match the overall excitement I had for the original it did satisfy my RPG tooth until "FF Tactics Advance" comes out.

I have never been able to make a character that fit so closely to my exacting specifications as I have in City of Heroes.

I’m no expert, but I’m sure that Tetris improves children’s spatial skills or something. Getting a game together on wifi can be a pain, and most people will have a mode or two that they can’t stand, but overall, it’s nice to see how well Tetris has aged.

You have to play it twice (or save the game before a certain junction) to truly take in the entire dynamic story. Don't ever doubt the value of a good Japanese RPG...this is the kind of offering that will allow it to continue to shine as its own genre.

Besides the occasional inability to actually grab things as a monster, I can't really find anything detrimental in Rampage: Total Destruction. The true party game, it's that simple dose of pure fun that we really shouldn't move too far away from too often.

Probably my biggest surprise was the overall fluidity of the controls. Gameplay is the game's strongest asset no matter what way you look at it.

I was pleased to find that my six-year-old daughter had as much fun as I did playing the game. Although she became a bit frustrated at points (as I did) she still was able to manage to manipulate the pikmin the way she intended.

The game isn't pretty and can be frustrating when the A.I. decides there's no bleeping way you're winning a fight, but an addictive battle system and surprisingly in-depth RPG elements will keep most players interested for a long time.

The game really has it all. From perfect physics to great graphics, TP2002 is a solid, well-developed title.

Literate, funny storytelling is at a premium in gaming these days, so it’s really good to see developers making a real effort to make their audience laugh – even if they have to rely on semi-frequent potty humour to get the yuks.

Definitely belongs in that elite class of quirky games, like "Rez" and "Katamari Damacy," that should at least be experienced, if not part of any self-respecting gamer’s collection.

While it can be tough at some points and a bit difficult to master everything in the first hour, it’s a great gaming experience and besides, that genie Ruby is kinda cute.

The graphics and animations are the best I have yet to see in a RTS, and the in-game effects are powerful. Just get ready to laugh like a maniac at what the units say during the game.

Speaking of seeing, there are plenty of nice visuals in Hitman 2. The intro looks very nice on my GeForce 3, the fields, the tomatoes, all the cutscenes, when they aren't completely dark, look fabulous.

It's the kind of game that made me feel disappointed it was over. If all games that were just polished versions of older games like Atelier Iris 2 is, then I'd never want for an original game again.

Imagine taking the freedom and tricks from "THPS" and combine the adrenaline-pumping fun of a "Jet Set Radio." ... Truly a breath of fresh air for the gaming community.

An excellent game in nearly every way and actually manages to be an improvement over the original.

We may be stuck with this edition for the next five years, but it’s an outstanding little sports gem to be stuck with, and for a price tag that can’t be beat.

A solid little title, despite annoyances like imperfect control and an inadequate save system.

As glorified expansion packs go, however, it's certainly one of the best, and while the price does seem a bit high, it's still worth every penny.

It does give you the closest thing you can get to playing the card game without sucking your bank account dry, and the card game really doesn't need much added to it in order to be fun.

It's a refreshing surprise that I think came out of no where this past holiday season.

I was pleased to see that it played well, and far surpassed my expectations.

Extremely violent and even a bit disturbing, but it is also one of the finest games to grace the Playstation 2 in some time.

This is the best crowd animation that I have ever seen.

It's not an epic adventure, it's not a classic Zelda game, but it is a fast-paced, fun multiplayer experience that manages to be visceral, exciting, and thoughtful all at the same time.

Konami’s act of reconciliation for the original version. It makes up for all of the flaws of part one, and is even an improvement upon the few things that the original got right. The game is indeed difficult, but for the right reasons.

The glaring clipping error kept the game from true greatness, as did the minor glitches in the rag doll system and the difficulty modes.

There are just enough extras and different modes to really make this game a must-have.

Kingdom Hearts 2 will be looked upon as one of the "must play" games on the Playstation 2, and while not perfect, original, or surprising, it IS very well put together, very polished, and it is very fun to play. [JPN Import]

While Skies of Arcadia is not a paramount of technical achievement, the substance is worth buying. Great story and great gameplay elements are the very meat of this title.

I can’t recommend this game enough. The GBA does not have too many great games, but add this one to the list. If you own a GBA and do not purchase this game after reading this review, it’s your loss.

Great characters, a vibrant galaxy to explore, and a seemingly-unstoppable menace make for an ambitious and cinematic play experience marred only by lacklustre graphics and infuriating lockups.

If your first Takedown doesn't get your blood pumping, then find a job as a bomb squad technician or try and get a spot on the Olympic Air Rifle team, because apparently nothing affects you.

With a ton of great games that still hold up to today’s standards, as well as all the extras and the little touches that show that Anthology was lovingly crafted as opposed to hastily slapped together, as many similar collections tend to be, it’s hard to find any reason not to recommend it.

Easily the best online game to date. Sporting 40 weapons and 35 vehicles on servers that reach up to 64 players of pure chaos, there is no lack of excitement. Excellent controls, decent visuals and sounds add to the mix.

It offers over forty hours of a great story, very engrossing world, tough puzzles and believable characters. Veteran adventure gamers will find this game to match Syberia, not only in graphics, but also in sound and the script.

Sure, it doesn't have 20 games like last year, but the quality of the ones included is considerably better.

After a few moments into it, it’s likely you’ll forget about "Resident Evil" and its repetition.

While not perfect, Syberia is one of the best games of the year, and is destined to become a legend in years to come. Grab it while you can, and enjoy.

This is probably as close as a game is going to get to realistically portray what it’s like to get behind the helm of a fighter jet and waging battle in the air. Even though the game is over a year old and at a measly $20.00, Ace Combat 4 is a must have for the Playstation 2.

You may be pensively looking over at other games and wonder why SC2 skimped on all of those luscious features. I don't understand it all either, but that doesn't stop me from proclaiming this as the best 3D fighter I've played to date. [Import]

If you're into 3D fighting, Tekken 5 is the the one game in the genre that you should consider a must buy.

Although the control is slightly irritating and the lack of modes disappointing, this game is just pure fun on snow.

You’ll get at least 30 hours of play time out of the main quest, and that’s assuming you don’t stop to smell any of the roses along the way.

Even if you’re sick of FPSs, check it out anyway, because this is definitely not the time to turn your back on a game like this. Prey is a twisted take on the genre that shouldn't be ignored, that is, if you're not prone to motion sickness.