Admittedly, playing the game can be more than a little overwhelming at first--not unlike patting your head while rubbing your belly--but it's extremely gratifying when it clicks. [Holiday 2009, p.90]

The tracks are big, bold, colorful and widely varied...The graphics are 3-D perfection and the controls and game mechanics rival those of any GCN racing game. [Jan 2004, p.154]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

The point-and-click adventure has gone the way of the dodo in recent years, so when one as engaging as Capcom's Zack & Wiki comes along, it's cause for celebration. [Dec 2007, p.86]

You could play this game for years and still see new and different things. [Oct 2002, p.193]

If you like Zelda games, you were going to buy Spirit Tracks no matter what. But rest assured that you will not only be getting another fine Nintendo DS installment, but one of the series's best handheld titles to date. [Jan 2010, p.82]

With its bevy of new features and improvements, old-school Pokemon fans will love this return to Johto, and if you've been dismissing this series as "kids stuff" all this time, this is an ideal opportunity to redeem yourself and see what all the fuss is about. [Apr 2010, p.84]

A resounding success. [Aug 2009, p.88]

The Pokemon series's latest pair of adventures is as addictive as ever. [March 2011, p.82]

For a certain type of player, the game's deep scoring system and online leaderboard will give ample reason to keep coming back for more. [Aug 2010, p.86]

Undeniably fun. It's a twitchy test of coordination and precision that'll make a monkey out of any pro, and it's a hard tgame to master and an even harder game to put down. [Nov 2001, p.141]

Wonderfully addictive. [Dec 2001, p.168]

The punches have a brutally tactile feel unmatched by any other boxing game. [May 2005, p.89]

The different characters change the game play so much it's almost like adding levels to the game. [Feb 2002, p.152]

Polished, offers great platforming, and looks amazing. [Dec 2010, p.84]

The majority of Canvas Curse's medals are tied up in Rainbow Run, so the replay value is considerable, and perfect for hard-core sketch gamers. [Aug 2005, p.82]

A great feeling of speed and incredible feature depth make Chase for the Cup the best NASCAR game yet. [Nov 2004, p.130]

Bash Party feels a lot like its predecessor; it's more like an expansion pack than a true sequel. [July 2009, p.87]

The clever puzzle battles and fast-moving story makes Clash of Heroes easy to pick up and tough to put down. [Nov 2009, p.90]

Not only is this a fantastic RPG, but it's arguably better than the first game. Add to that the best graphics on the GBA, a gigantic sound track and a massive, twisting story line and you have a winner. [Apr 2003, p.133]

The game's adventure element requires you to run around with your board tucked under your arm - not nearly as fun as pulling off tricks. [Jan 2004, p.162]

Realistic ball control and player movement play center stage. [Dec 2002, p.214]

The folks at Next Level Games have created an amazing title that has made the 15 years since Super Punch-Out!! quite worthwhile. [June 2009, p.88]

If you enjoyed "Dawn of Sorrow" for the DS but haven't had the chance to play this pair of adventure side-scrollers, you gotta pick this up. [Apr 2006, p.86]

A worthy follow-up to "Superstar Saga," and the first great RPG on the DS. [Jan 2006, p.110]

Even if you don't use the touch pad, World Tour can be a tough game; thankfully it's far more accessible than Guitar Hero III. [Holiday 2008, p.80]

Overall, however, Planet Puzzle League lives up to the rich tradition of its heritage, and puzzle fans would be remiss to ignore it. [July 2007, p.97]

Truly exceptional. [Jan 2006, p.109]

The best Professor Layton game yet. [Nov 2010, p.87]

Innovative and absorbing for one or more players. It's a much deeper and more satisfying experience than "Four Swords" for the GBA. [July 2004, p.118]

Easily the finest RPG on the GCN, and one of the best that I've ever played. The game is deeper than the Marianas Trench, but somehow it never gets bogged down by its own complexity. [Sept 2004, p.115]

If there were anything like the gaming equivalent of comfort food, Advance Wars would be it. [Feb 2008, p.86]

One of the best racing games yet for the GBA. [Mar 2003, p.138]

For my money, though, thanks to its strong song lineup and wireless rock capabilities--it's the perfect progression for the series. [Dec 2007, p.84]

What pushes VJ2 over the top, and again into perfect-score territory, isn't its tag-team dynamic but rather its even edgier sense of humor. [Jan 2004, p.135]

Despite my curmudgeonly grumblings, the good far outweighs the bad. In addition to the vastly improved passing game, there are tons of new player animations, the AI is smarter than ever, and there are even more ways to adjust each play before the snap. [Sept 2005, p.82]

Overall, however, Radiant Historia is an excellent game. [March 2011, p.88]

Portrait of Ruin provides a whole lot more of a very good thing, and Castlevania fans won't be disappointed with the results. [Jan. 2007, p.114]

One of the best fighting games on Wii - or any other current-gen console. [Feb 2010, p.88]

Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition is not only the best Nintendo 3DS launch title; it's simply one of the best fighters I've ever played. [April 2011, p.74]

Armed with a host of new Pokemon, an expansive new world, and the functionality of the DS, Diamond and Pearl constitute the ultimate Pokemon experience. [June 2007, p.102]

Play control is responsive, the weapons are powerful and an RPG-like sould-collecting system is creative and cool. [Oct 2004, p.124]

With a few exceptions, the setting, the characters, and the gameplay are excellent. [Dec 2012, p.90]

The basic game play and graphics are similar to those of the franchise's 2003 edition, but they were already top-notch. [Dec 2003, p.146]

Batman: Arkham City-Armored Edition sets a new bar, not just for comic-book adaptations, but for games in general. [Dec 2012, p.76]

Sacred Stones brilliantly treads the line between depth and accessibility, and Intelligent Systems has bone to great lengths with the difficulty settings to please gamers of all skill levels. [July 2005, p.100]

The amazing animation of previous THPS games on the GBA is made even more amazing with the addition of new tricks, new specials and spine transfers. [Dec 2002, p.224]

One of the best RPGs of all time gets even better. [Feb 2006, p.101]

For a paper adventure, it's amazingly solid. [June 2007, p.100]

On top of a great adventure mode, Professor layton offers additional downloadable content, which should keep players plenty busy until the promised sequel arrives. [Feb 2008, p.88]

The minigames alone are reason to buy this title. [Feb 2005, p.111]

Hunters is new-school, action-packed, and a great addition to the growing collection of Wi-Fi titles. [May 2006, p.86]

Mario Kart 7 certainly delivers on that [novelty] front with some excellent track design, the solid controls that we've come to expect from the series, and some worthwhile additions (like added items and the ability to fly.) [Dec 2011, p.76]

Provides an involving offline experience for up to four players. [Dec 2002, p.218]

This eye-popping, massive adventure has its share of rough edges but ultimately does a fantastic job of transporting you to a faraway realm and telling a great story--which is superbly voice-acted--in the process. [Dec 2012, p.88]

The battle system and story are the bread and butter of the game, and they are executed flawlessly. Intelligent Systems has created a masterpiece with Path of Radiance. It sets a new standard for Fire Emblem as the title that future games in the series will be tested by. [Nov 2005, p.110]

The production values aren't going to win any awards, and some of the mechanics work better than others(the hose is pretty lame), but Bloom Blox is an innovative and amusing piece of entertainment worthy of the Spielberg name. [June 2008, p.87]

Armed with a host of new Pokemon, an expansive new world, and the functionality of the DS, Diamond and Pearl constitute the ultimate Pokemon experience. [June 2007, p.102]

Quite possibly the greatest entry in one of gaming's oldest genres, Ikaruga is brilliantly innovative, visually stunning and one heck of a challenge. [May 2003, p.136]

It's fast fun. [Nov 2002, p.222]

It improves on the original in every respect: better AI, better graphics, better sound, better easter eggs, better cut scenes. [May 2004, p.118]

The new Get a Life mode adds structure to the experience, and the two-player modes are an absolute blast. [Apr 2003, p.133]

The developers have done everything they needed to do to win over a new generation of Final Fantasy IV fans, but they've done disappointingly little to appeal to the existing ones. [Aug 2008, p.86]

Order of Ecclesia may not have a wealth of newness to contribute, but the Castlevania formula still works like a charm, and the game's traditionally strong boss and level designs hold up well in the smaller, more focused areas. [Dec 2008, p.92]

The easy-to-learn basics that made the game a hit 30 years ago are still there--just wrapped up in a glitzier and deeper game. [July 2008, p.90]

The best in the series. But the relatively modest step forward means it's not necessarily a crucial purchase if you already own last year's version. [Apr 2011, p.84]

Your ride seems faster than Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX for GBA, and it's easier to bust out long chains of tricks. [Jan 2002, p.132]

The first racing game to feature four different NASCAR leagues - dirt, cup truck and modified. [Dec 2002, p.216]

It's "Golden Sun" with golf! I know that sounds odd, but the games have similar text bubbles, character designs and senses of humor. It's also a ton of fun. [Aug 2004, p.121]

Quite a good value. It's a shame that the game has only pass-the-DS multiplayer, though. [Apr 2009, p.85]

Though Tiger's reputation may be tarnished, his video game has never been better. [July 2010, p.85]

You may not love all of it, but you will love much of it, because it offers a whole lot more to love than "Tetris" did back in '89. [May 2006, p.90]

The plot is thoroughly engrossing. [Aug 2009, p.90]

A triumphant ending to an extraordinary trilogy. [Feb 2006, p.98]

It gorgeous and fun, and there's nothing else like it for the system. [May 2010, p.86]

Improves upon its already-excellent predecessor in pretty much every conceivable way. [Mar 2010, p.88]

The monstrous length of the game is an RPG fanatic's dream. [Feb 2003, p.154]

A great game that's well worth your time. [Oct 2009, p.89]

Although the graphics are clearly from another era, the gameplay and play control are as solid and enjoyable as those of any recent platform adventure. [July 2004, p.121]

It has loads of style, but the unbalanced AI gets old quickly. [Apr 2002, p.148]

The game's complexity makes it difficult to plug in and play. [Jan 2004, p.159]

This collection adds some challenge stages and, for those not born with a controller in their hands, a more merciful difficulty setting so that everyone can enjoy the fantastic sights and sounds, and the "just one more go" fun they have to offer. [Sept 2011, p.82]

Vast piles of variety heaped onto core gameplay that's endlessly fun helps you look past problems, much like the best sandbox games out there (I'm lookin' at you, "GTA"). [Oct 2005, p.98]

The graphics are a wonder, but at times the graphics are so complex, it's difficult to make out your character from the others. [Jan 2004, p.158]

Aside from a few minor issues, though, Vicarious Visions had done a fantastic job creating a faithful and fun Hawk game. [Jan 2006, p.112]

It's done a beautiful job of preserving the game's soulful story. [Mar 2009, p.90]

The graphics and music are cute, and the 18 levels of Puyo popping are frantic and challenging. [Mar 2002, p.137]

The third-person perspective is ideal for James Bond. The game has amazing replay value - tons of levels including unique co-op missions and multiplayer arena modes. [May 2004, p.119]

LEGO star Wars laid the groundwork for a solid sequel, and LEGO Star Wars II delivers. [Nov. 2006, p.88]

The graphics show the game's age (released in 1987), but the Legend of Zelda's gameplay stands the test of time, showing why the adventure that introduced Link continues to be a huge influence on game design. [July 2004, p.121]

Advanced difficulty keeps you from getting by with button mashing alone. [Dec 2004, p.144]

Sega's excellent NBA series takes another step toward perfection by paying more attention to basketball's nuances. [Nov 2002, p.224]

New Super Mario Bros. U may not be the most innovative Mario platformer, but it's incredibly polished and a lot of fun. [Dec 2012, p.68]

Picross 3D isn't quite as fun as 2007's 2-D Picross DS, but it's a very good puzzle game nonetheless. [June 2010, p.87]

Matches feature 12 tennis stars, including Venus and Serena Williams. [Nov 2002, p.230]

A captivating and horrifying journey. [Dec 2002, p.211]

Does it work when distilled down to the basics? The answer for NBA Live 2005 is a resounding yes. [Dec 2004, p.146]

This game has everything but the kitchen sink, and in that respect it's a lot like Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl. And like those titles, Kid Icarus: Uprising is a masterpiece. [April 2012, p.78]