It's so comfortable! When I fire up the PS2 version, I find myself wishing there was a way to connect the GCN Controller. [Nov 2001, p.141]

Smooth movement, great music and a captivating story line will keep Bond fans coming back for more. [Jan 2003, p.170]

A perfect GBA adaptation of the GCN original.[Jan 2003, p.174]

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

Action fans will love it for its excellent platformer fun. [Aug 2002, p.146]

Fans of "Fire Emblem" and "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance" will jump right into Shining Force. [July 2004, p.120]

A remarkable 3-D achievement and more features than ever. [Mar 2002, p.135]

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]

The most impressive thing is the quality of the sound. The voice-overs are clear and rich, and the music leaps out of the speaker. [Oct 2003, p.139]

The game doesn't make any giant advances, but why mess with perfection? [Feb 2004, p.149]

Gorgeous graphics and beautifully orchestrated music set the perfect mood for this amazing game. The open mission layout forces you to strategize, rather than simply running in with guns blazing. [Sept 2003, p.135]

Though the inventory and menu systems need polishing, this RPG is a dream come true for Harry Potter fans. [July 2004, p.119]

Drawing strongly from the look and feel of the movie, Chamber of Secrets is a richly designed, wonderfully immersive experience. [Dec 2002, p.211]

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]

The lack of jumping is the missing piece in an otherwise perfect title. [May 2005, p.89]

Rock solid. [Sept 2002, p.165]

There are some clever puzzles to figure out, plenty of space combat and the usual almost-maddening-but-ultimately-very-rewarding level of difficulty that we've come to expect from Rare. [Oct 2002, p.192]

Offers shear puzzle excellence that's totally ewe-nique. [Feb 2002, p.154]

This is definitely one to enjoy with a few friends. [July 2010, p.88]

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

The multiplayer option is perhaps the coolest thing ever for GBA fans with a taste for covert operations. [Mar 2002, p.135]

Equally stunning is the dual color commentary, which seamlessly strings together on-the-fly play-by-plays without ever skipping a beat or sounding choppy. [Jan 2002, p.127]

The game's 10 snowboarders are over the top, and the action is crazy fun. [Jan 2004, p.158]

Acrobatic moves and inventive traps have never been as free-flowing as they are in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. [Feb 2004, p.151]

Mixing driving challenges with RPG depth, Car Battler Joe is a one-of-a-kind adventure. [Feb 2003, p.158]

A slow starter, but once you're on your way, it turns out to be an excellent strategy RPG. [Dec 2003, p.139]

Refines control, adds personality to character appearance and interaction, fills up on customization details and goes hog-wild with connectivity. [Feb 2004, p.146]

The D-Day mission is one of the most intense and awesome levels I've played in a long time. [Jan 2003, p.171]

The matches all feel important, which is totally cool in a World Cup setting. [May 2002, p.133]

The difficulty level is high, but not frustratingly so. [Feb 2004, p.151]

Although it is easy to battle using sommoned monsters and attack cards, the system is somewhat limiting. [June 2003, p.137]

As revolutionary as "SSX" was, now 1080: Avalanche is the one that hits the slopes with style and innovation. The extreme-survival angle puts the edge back in snowboarding. [Jan 2004, p.155]

The enormous levels and innovative tricks make for endless game play. [Oct 2002, p.194]

The controls are tight, the gameplay is varied and the whole experience feels polished. [Feb 2004, p.147]

It's a lot of fun but somewhat repetitive. [Nov 2002, p.220]

At times, the camera shows the action at awkward angles, but for the most aprt it's spot on. [Apr 2003, p.134]

Hard-core RPG fans will enjoy the game's nonlinear depth and detail. [Nov 2003, p.152]

Not every game on the disc is a must-have hit, but there's a lot of fun to be had. [Oct 2008, p.89]

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]

Even if the word "bleach" makes you think more cleanser than cartoon, Blade of Fate will appeal to any fan of well-executed, feature-heavy fighters. [Dec 2007, p.81]

School often doesn't leave people with the fondest of memories, but Bully: Scholarship Edition is well worth attending. [Apr 2008, p.86]

If you're drawn to dogs, Nintendogs could easily become and obsession. [October 2005, p.96]

Bold, inventive, yet deeply reverent, Epic Mickey makes us really care about its legendary protagonist for the first time in years and stands as his greatest video game to date. [Jan 2011, p.88]

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]

Once this game goes into my DS, it'll be there until I've experienced every nuance. [Mar 2009, p.86]

While I had a blast mending bones, removing tumors, and dealing with nefarious mystery ailments, it all felt very familiar; the game has hardly evolved beyond its predecessor. [Aug 2008, p.87]

Nothing can match the joy found in simply picking up a controller and hitting the beach. [Sept 2009, p.88]

The game is long, challenging, and arguably the most fun you'll have on Wii at launch. [Jan. 2007, p.108]

It may not be the all-new title some were hoping for, but it's a great game worthy of bearing the Resident Evil name. [Apr 2006, p.82]

Pokemon Trozei may seem simple, but it packs a challenge that will keep puzzle-action fans intrigued for a long time to come. [Apr 2006, p.85]

At approximately five hours, Dragon Sword is a bit on the short side, but I have a tough time complaining when those five hours are so tight and extremely polished. [Apr 2008, p.84]

Otherwise, as long as you're open to its old-school approach, Contra 4 stands as one of the year's best pure action titles. [Dec 2007, p.81]

Anyone expecting a definitive conclusion will likely be unsatisfied. Fortunately, the bulk of Virtue's Last Reward is so darn good that ultimately it may not matter. [Nov 2012, p.82]

Avalon Code is sort of a mess, but it's an inspired one. [Apr 2009, p.90]

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

The action looks fantastic on the Nintendo 3DS handheld, and the system's 3D effect gives each colorful setting a real feeling of depth. [Apr 2011, p.81]

Well I was wrong, FINAL FANTASY V not only lives up to its namesake, but also delivers the definitive version of what is now apparent as one of the best titles in the series. [Dec. 2006, p.108]

The games in MMXC are the kinds that will make your wrists hurt and your palms sweat, and I mean that as the highest compliment. [Feb 2006, p.97]

It offers all the depth and authenticity for which the series is known, but makes it more easily digestible. [Sept 2010, p.88]

A great leap forward for the Potter franchise, and a fun and inclusive gaming experience. [Jan 2006, p.107]

Adds welcome realism without sacrificing intutive control. [Dec 2005, p.116]

The pacing and movement restrictions (particularly in areas where the paths take needlessly circuitous routes) will frustrate players who are looking for more conventional play, but for those who stick with it, the experience will be highly rewarding. [July 2005, p.96]

Don't be fooled by Dokapon Kingdom's childish design: this unique board game-RPG crossover makes it hard not to enjoy yourself. [Dec 2008, p.100]

If you're drawn to dogs, Nintendogs could easily become and obsession. [October 2005, p.96]

Some casual gamers may balk at Madden NFL 07's overall complexity, but it won't make any enemies of Madden fans, and the minigames will be the life of the football party. [Jan. 2007, p.102]

I'd give it a green jacket. [Nov 2007, p.104]

Beat City's delightful presentation and supercatchy chip-tune soundtrack will get your toes tapping and your head banging in no time. [May 2010, p.85]

The one-to-one swing mechanics are phenomenal and offer lots of customization options to cater to players of all skill levels. [Oct 2008, p.88]

A perfect pick for pocket puzzling. [Feb 2010, p.91]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Hard-core gamers won't be disappointed. [Oct. 2006, p.90]

The short response is that it works well, but it's not quite a hole in one. [may 2007, p.87]

As devotees will tell you, platform action doesn't get much better than what Mega Man dishes out, and Mega Man ZX Advent lives up to that reputation. [Dec 2007, p.85]

Not an immediate attention grabber, Tales of Phantasia takes time to sink in. But once you're under its spell, you'll be in it for the long haul. [Apr 2006, p.84]

Just because it didn't reach the bar set by the Wii version doesn't mean the title isn't great--after all, the bar was set so high that very few games could touch it. [June 2012, p.86]

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]

Quotation forthcoming. [Sept 2005]

The action-game geniuses at Treasure have managed to make the game both accessible and challenging and add enough story, Spirit Cards, and characters to justify this sequel. [Nov 2008, p.100]

Etrian Odyssey 2 isn't very ambitious, but it's still plenty of fun. [July 2008, p.88]

My balance issues aside, Excite Truck delivers a fresh racing experience that emphasizes strategy over speed. [Jan. 2007, p.110]

That said, any issues I have with Kirby's Return to Dream Land are relatively minor; this is an exceptional title, whether you're a longtime Kirby fan or not. [Oct 2011, p.80]

Unlike anything else you've played on Wii. [Nov 2010, p.89]

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]

The end result is one more excellent entry in what's become a fantastic library of brawlers for N3DS. [June 2011, p.86]

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

And despite being extraordinarily challenging in that way that makes die-hard games totally addicted but can drive off casual players, it is a game that every Nintendo fan must play. [May 2006, p.92]

Layton's London life probably isn't deep enough to turn any series nonbelievers into fans, but when added to the winning formula of puzzles and exploration, it helps cement Professor Layton and the Last Specter as another fine entry in the franchise. [Oct 2011, p.82]

As anyone who has played a "Mario Golf" title can tell you, developer Camelot knows how to make a great golf game. [Aug 2008, p.88]

Like the original GameCube "Chibi-Robo", the Chibi sequel is a leisurely affair with gentle messages. [Nov 2007, p.102]

Phoenix Wright lays down the law for the third time in two years, and the outcome is no different from before: we've got another excellent DS graphic-text adventure on our hands. [Dec 2007, p.85]

This lighthearted, brainy puzzler manages to make word searches fun again. [Holiday 2009, p.87]

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]

The new character classes are a blast to play. [Nov 2010, p.91]

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

By far the funniest and best-animated yet on consoles. [Jan 2006, p.112]

The only flaw is that once you've played a little Electroplankton, you'll want more. Ten kinds of musical creatures, especially such little masterpieces, can stimulate you for only so long. [Feb 2006, p.99]

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]