The nighttime setting makes visibility difficult at times, but that's part of the challenge. [Mar 2004, p.119]

If you're an Ace Attorney fan, a point-and-click adventure fan, or simply a fan of quality storytelling in general, don't miss out on Ghost Trick. [Jan 2011, p.86]

Unfortunately, for all of its cool options and play modes, Power Pros fails to hit it out of the park because the on-field gameplay is disappointly simplistic and suffers from lackluster controls. [Dec 2007, p.82]

The game's far-overhead view serves the action well, but the cars appear very small, which could be a distraction. [March 2005, p.108]

Bangai-O Spirits is, above all, an excellent community game. [Sept 2008, p.84]

Unfortunately, neither Tekken Advance or Tekken 3D Prime Edition offered the true Tekken experience. But Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition does--and then some. [Dec 2012, p.78]

Gameplay is solid, but camera control is severely lacking. [Jan 2004, p.159]

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]

Picross DS has several additional modes that extend its appeal. [Sep 2007, p.85]

If you plan on playing with your friends, it's indespensible; if you'll be going at it alone, there's a fair amount to do but you may lose patience with the scoring and lack of single-player variety. [Nov. 2006, p.87]

It's perfect fighting fun for fighting game afficioniados but could be confusing for players who are new to the genre. [Nov 2002, p.228]

Belongs at the top of the color-matching puzzle games heap, along with "Pokemon Puzzle League." [Apr 2003, p.136]

It's the work of masters at the height of their craft. [Dec 2005, p.118]

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]

As promised, the battle system has been much improved, and the game looks absolutely stunning. [Feb 2005, p.111]

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

Though Smooth Moves may not seem deep, the fact that it offers physical play and draws a crowd should make it a permanent fixture in a lot of Wii consoles. [Feb. 2007, p.92]

May not present significant advances beyond his GBA debut, but it's a solid action title with great game play and lots of secrets. [Mar 2003, p.137]

The graphics are clear and colorful, and the play control is tight. [Apr 2003, p.135]

There are only 12 cycles on a huge track, leaving you by yourself for much of the race. [Jan 2002, p.128]

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]

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

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]

At a suggested price of $30, the game offers a heck of a value to boot. [March 2012, p.85]

Multicard two-player tank battles and single-card download demos round out a well-placed and satisfying adventure. [Oct. 2006, p.86]

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]

One of the few titles that does minigames right. [May 2009, p.86]

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 Memory Card has only 59 blocks! What in the world was Acclaim thinking? [May 2002, p.134]

Ultimately, I feel that 10 Kirbys are not better than a normal-size, ability-copying one, but Kirby Mass Attack is a nice addition to the series nonetheless. [Sept 2011, p.76]

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]

Call of Duty will always sell big based on its name alone, so kudos to Activision and Treyarch for not phoning this one in. [Jan 2009, p.91]

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]

So many aspects have improved from the previous "Harvest Moon" games, and Magical Melody exhibits such remarkable production quality, that the time it's taken Natsume has obviously been well spent. [May 2006, p.89]

It is everything a Pokemon experience should be, and more. [May 2009, p.91]

With well-rendered graphics, impressive lighting effects and top-notch voice talent, the game's production values are as high as its fun factor. [Dec 2003, p.144]

But what the title does provide is an amazing package and an excellent introduction to the world of game making. If you have a creative bone in your body, you'd do well to give WarioWare D.I.Y a try. [Apr 2010, p.82]

If you enjoyed the turn-based warfare of the first Super Robot Taisen, chances are you'll like the sequel even more. [Jan. 2007, p.99]

Taken on its own merits, however, it is an absolute blast, and if you don't play Cave Story in one form or another, you're missing out on a modern classic. [Nov 2011, p.84]

Kudos to EA for bringing this Mature-rated franchise to the Wii and for putting some real effort behind it. Don't let the "guided experience" label scare you. [Nov 2009, p.84]

The game is an incredible showcase for what the handheld is capable of and a potent reminder of why Resident Evil remains one of the medium's most celebrated franchises. [Jan/Feb 2012, p.80]

The amount of depth involving the Pokemon contests, berries and other new details is truly astounding. [Mar 2003, p.135]

A deeper and more detailed game than its predecessor. [Nov 2002, p.222]

A solid, lasting title that fits perfectly on the DS. [Aug 2009, p.91]

Overall, though, this game hits all the notes that a professor Layton title should, resulting in another rewarding, cerebally invigorating quest. [Nov 2012, p.80]

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

Just like you can count on the Colts choking in the playoffs, you can rely on EA's venerable football franchise to deliver the goods on an annual basis. [Oct. 2006, p.87]

If you haven't played it and strategy RPGs are your thing, though, it's hard to get much better than this. [Oct 2008, p.88]

Lunar Knights, the first title from Kojima Productions for the dual-screened handheld, is a supremely polished action-RPG in which you slay the bloodsuckers and their monstrous minions with two very different protagonists. [Mar. 2007, p.89]

If you're a fan of shoot-'em-up platformer fun, Mega Man Zero is right on target. [Sept 2002, p.165]

Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise has all the depth of its console cousin, but is missing some of its charm. [Nov 2008, p.98]

Neither game is particularly great on its own, but the two intersect in clever ways to become much more than the sum of their parts. [Apr 2009, p.83]

A great game that provides further proof of just how thrilling-and fun-saving lives can be. [June 2010, p.86]

The play control is tight and the fighting moves are numerous. [Apr 2003, p.136]

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

The play control and range of features are on par wtih those of Sega's "NBA Basketball 2K3," only with a college basketball experience. [Dec 2002, p.214]

A deep and satisfyingly lengthy RPG experience. [Dec 2005, p.112]

This is one of those sequels that fans never thought would happen, so even if it doesn't measure up to its legendary predecessor, we're thankful to have it. [March 2011, p.86]

Not radically different from last year's Space Invaders reboot, Extreme 2 offers new enemy formations and bosses, a Time Attack mode, and branching levels. [Dec 2009, p.88]

Putting cheat Tiger Vision and advice from your caddy are gone, forcing you to read the greens. [Nov 2005, p.118]

Designed to please hard-core Tekken fans. [Dec 2001, p.172]

Delivers the whole professional basketball package. [Dec 2002, p.214]

The most stunning part of the game is the way that it seamlessly mixes footage from the films with scenes and dialogue developed for the game. [Feb2003, p.152]

SonicTeam has done a magnificent job of distilling Sonic to its purest essence without making it feel like we're treading old territory. [Jan 2006, p.105]

If you do like pinball, you're in luck--Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is as close to owning a real pinball table as most people are going to get. [Apr 2008, p.90]

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]

With more features, modes and multiplayer options than ever before, fans should be revved up to get behind the wheel. [May 2008, p.86]

With superb 3-D effects, V-Rally 3 offers miles of fun. [Oct 2002, p.198]

The easily frustrated should probably stay away, and for what it is, the game's MSRP of $29.99 seems a bit steep. [May 2008, p.89]

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

So while EA may not have lived up to its marketing directive, it's succeeded in creating quite possibly the best, most fully featured sports sim available on the Wii. [Sept 2008, p.85]

Quotation forthcoming. [Sept 2005]

Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition is a fantastic celebration of 20 years of the pink protagonist. [Sept 2012, p.88]

Guest characters such as Ben Franklin, the THPS-style Classic mode and an incredible soundtrack of old and new hits add to the mix. [Dec 2004, p.144]

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

Given the youthful glow of PES 2009, the 2010 offering predictably offers little broken ground. [Jan 2010, p.89]

The new objectives and levels should be enough to please BMX stunt nuts. [Aug 2002, p.146]

Also, the fact that enemy AI just happens to execute almost every move with near-perfection by lining up multiple turns in a row makes for some frustrating gameplay. [May 2007, p.87]

The control is very tight, and the moves are plentiful. [May 2003, p.140]

While I didn't enjoy the repetition, I loved every new minute of 999's slick puzzles and riveting story. [Holiday 2010, p.89]

Admittedly, there's not a ton of variety (there are only four basic mission types), but it remains fun throughout thanks to extremely polished controls, visuals, and music, as well as a surprisingly cool (and funny) story. [Nov 2008, p.98]

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]

The action is intense and scores tend to be unrealistically high, but gameplay is solid and fun. [Jan 2004, p.160]

Yes, it is a well-designed, immersive game, but there's no reason the graphics shouldn't be better. [June 2005, p.94]

The brilliance of this game is tempered by its somewhat limited replay value. [Apr 2005, p.99]

The action can get fierce, the motion is fairly smooth and the four-player battle mode is an absolute blast. [Nov 2001, p.148]

One of the best platformers to hit the GBA in a long time, and definitely not one to miss. [Mar 2006, p.88]

The animation is always smooth, fast and never choppy, and the royally difficult game is a crowning achievement for GBA shooters. [Sept 2002, p.165]

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 play control, graphics and enemy design are top-notch, but the over-the-top difficulty may hinder your enjoyment unless you're an elite player. [Nov 2003, p.154]

Style points and Gamebreakers add to the intense action. [Mar 2004, p.118]

If WarioWare was Touching 101, Trauma Center is Applied Touching 501. [Dec 2005, p.114]

Features a wealth of characters, interesting course design and surprisingly deep game play. [Sept 2003, p.134]

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

Keeps its legal-eagle fantasy flying much of the time - it's a welcome DS addition. [Nov 2005, p.109]

The lighting effects are truly stunning. The sound is also top-notch. [Feb 2006, p.96]

A retro gamer's dream. [Aug 2004, p.122]