Like Scott Spezio, this game is worth having on your roster until a better one comes around. [May 2006, p.96]

If you like slower-paced, realistic hoops for less than half the price, ESPN will keep you happy. If you want amped-up gameplay with polish, "NBA Live 2005"'s got what you need. [Dec 2004, p.128]

Stunningly beautiful - jaw-dropping at times... One of the finest action games I've ever played. [Jan 2003, p.137]

Purely from a gaming standpoint, it's so brilliantly crafted, you should try it. [July 2003, p97]

There's a whole damn lot of game here, no matter what your tastes. [Dec 2004, p.116]

Simply smashing... Hulk is easily one of the best superhero games, mainly because it feels like Radical took the subject seriously, rather than treating the game just like another licensed title. [Sept 2005, p.88]

What's pretty refreshing is that Lego Star Wars II makes a damn nice jump from the hefty console down to the wee portable. [Nov. 2006, p. 122]

A fighting game unlike any other, Square's classic does away with such staple fighting game features as combos and life bars, replacing them with skill-based moves like one-hit kills. [Nov 2001, p.40]

It's really good. Midway conjured up some surprisingly deep gameplay mechanics that take the idea of 1-on-1 basketball to another level. [May 2004, p.101]

Solid, yet unspectacular. [Apr 2006, p.78]

And one thing Round 3 does very well is pounding home this message: Bringing a good defense into the fight is just as important as bringing a good offense. [Jan. 2007, p.71]

It's flawed, for sure, and it's a bit too heavy for its own good. But if you give it your all, you'll come away from the game exhilarated and exhausted, with sexy android images and deep metaphysical questions rattling around in your mind for months to come. [Mar 2003, p.112]

The game's real improvement, which gives it a jump on the competition, is the fast break. [Dec 2002, p.171]

One hell of a party game. If you like music and you have friends who like music, don't even think about it - buy this... But if you're looking for a real challenge, you won't find it here. [Dec 2003, p.162]

A brilliant drama that's only slightly damaged by irritating controls and a messy ending. [Nov 2005, p.108]

While I have to give the developers credit for trying out a whole bunch of new ideas, I'd much rather play last year's version. But if you like your golf painfully realistic, maybe you'll prefer it this way. [Nov 2005, p.114]

Offers up the most authentic college basketball experience. [Jan 2003, p.139]

You may start off thinking it's a bit odd, but as soon as you begin identifying with your Sim, you're hooked. [Feb 2003, p.106]

We don't have to worry about the Hitman franchise feeling like a sports-game series with incremental updates, as Hitman: Blood Money adds three features that make it feel like a real sequel: money, notoriety, and publicity. [June 2006, p.90]

Whether you're a fan of hip-hop or not, Def Jam Fight for NY delvers on all fronts and simply shouldn't be missed by fans of fighting, wrestling, or brawling games. [Oct 2004, p.87]

It was worth the wait; this is every bit the Wipeout you've been waiting for. [June 2002, p.100]

Sure, "Ace 3" has better graphics, and sure, there might be a little more variety in the missions. But the laughable challenge level in "Ace 3" makes it hard to recommend it over its older brother. [Nov 2001, p.38]

It may be a bit too challenging for its own good. [Jan 2002, p.128]

The controls are great, it's exceptionally playable, and if you're a real gearhead you should be very excited. [June 2002, p.128]

The key to Hight Heat 2004, and the reason it already ranks high on the list of my all-time favorite games, is that it's the best bargain in games. A full 162-game season will last you about 90 hours. [Apr 2003, p.94]

Of all of Zin's improvements the most marked is the fun factor. A big part of this has to do with the toned-down difficulty - instead of being next to impossible, Zin is merely <I>really freaking tough</I>. [Feb 2004, p.100]

But it all starts to falter with the gameplay, which generically mimics the sport and ultimately falls short of feeling like an actual college basketball game.

Remix is a damn fine port of a very solid game—it's better than anyone had any right to expect on a handheld and a pretty impressive showcase of what the PSP is capable of.

With balanced gameplay, lots of depth, 20-plus-hour play time, and online play, this is what sequels should be: better than the original. [Dec 2005, p.122]

It's strictly for armchair racers that crave variety over substance. [Mar 2006, p.90]

A lesson to chronic underdogs everywhere, FIFA 07 sets its own terms for victory and then blows the doors off them. [Nov. 2006, p.112]

As a game to pick up here and there just to jam through, Gitaroo couldn't rock any harder. [Feb 2002, p.107]

The regular duets mode lets two singers meld their vocal stylings on karaoke duet standards like "Love Shack," adding the points into a composite score. [Dec 2004, p.106]

No other game out there offers such a chaotic yet brilliantly visceral gaming experience. [May 2003, p.96]

The controls bug me, too. Where's the innovation? [Jan 2003, p.136]

Kong radiates the ultimate gaming feeling: being a total badass.

A fun action experience with plenty of the old-school Mega Man platforming that everyone has come to love. [May 2006, p.92]

It's just too bad that there isn't much to it beyond the standard gameplay. [Oct 2004, p.92]

It's not as pretty as last year's game, but this refined Underground still delivers the goods: fun, fast racing.

These new features add plenty of replay value. [Jan 2003, p.120]

I love this game, and I don't see myself playing anything else at home for a good three or four months. [Sept 2002, p.11]

Basically more of the same, but with better graphics and some nifty new gadgets and vehicles. That's a good thing, by the way. [July 2003, p.92]

For the authenticity sticklers, you'll be blown away. [Dec 2001, p.164]

The series has maintained - or improved - its gritty realism, its immersive, nail-biting single-player campaign, and its extraordinarily engrossing online play in spite of some substantial alterations. [Dec 2005, p.102]

The most important thing is that Crystal has recaptured what made the first "Tomb Raider" so fun: climbing through tombs, discovering artifacts, and piecing the puzzle together to find the solution. Archaeology is finally cool again. [May 2006, p.84]

Still, for the most part, the better games in this collection outweigh the terrible ones and some still hold up quite well. [Jan. 2007, p.78]

The feeling of brute force in even the smallest of cars is wonderful... Gearheads will love it. [Jan 2003, p.132]

Better than its predecessor, improving both the story (significantly) and the gameplay (incrementally). [Nov 2005, p.100]

A fantastic presentation and good extras anchor a highly enjoyable game - only its baserunning and fielding are a step behind its competitors. [Apr 2005, p.110]

When the strategic squad combat works, it's neat... The strategic squad combat rarely works. [May 2005, p.106]

With only a few exceptions, it exceeds every expectation. Bravo, indeed. [Jan 2006, p.102]

The game constantly kicked my ass, but the content is so good that it just motivated me to try harder. [Nov 2004, p.122]

The sound effects are without any shadow of a doubt the most amazing I've ever heard in a videogame. The rasp of the engine is so unbelievably believable that you can actually feel the reverberation of the exhaust as the ower surges through it. It will change your expectations of what a game can sound like. [Dec 2004, p.120]

Captures the chaotic nature of college basketball. And it punishes you for being careless&#151;as often as possible, defenders will stick their hands out to knock the ball down.

The last level at Helm's Deep is possibly one of the most incredible-looking levels I've ever seen in a game...It's simply breathtaking. [Dec 2002, p.163]

But most of all, Suikoden II is a game easily enjoyed by both RPG newbies and veterans alike. [Nov 2001, p.52]

The hardcore arcade-style gameplay may be a huge turn-off for some, but if you've always like the Outrun games--even back in the day--then, surely, you won't be disappointed with the face-lift. [Jun 2006, p.103]

When playing offline, the best time to be had is during the historical campaign, which offers a Star Wars history lesson. [Nov 2004, p.114]

I'll be happy to say that this is the best hockey game on the PS2. [Nov 2002, p.188]

For DDR novices only. It's likely the best version of DDR yet - it's the most polished, with arguably the best roster of songs - but it's not all that different from the first MAX. [Nov 2003, p.132]

2K Sports still offers the best hockey at the best price. All that's needed now is a face-lift. [Dec 2005, p.115]

That constant activity is one of the series' greatest strengths since it allows objectives and plans to change as battlefield conditions shift. More than most strategy games, the Growlanser games make you feel that what goes on in the skirmishes is the plot, rather than something that happens between the story sections.

A really solid racer that feels a tad dated and features way too much load time. [Aug 2006, p.82]

The basic gameplay and multiplayer are exactly the same as they were before. [Dec. 2006, p.136]

It's cotton candy: full of fluffy, sugary goodness but utterly devoid of nutritional value. [Dec 2005, p.110]

The awesome combat system throws out most strategy-RPG genre conventions. [Oct 2004, p.110]

Even though the improvements are minimal, no other hoops title gives such gravity to every possession. [Nov. 2006, p.110]

Seeing [the Force] used within the cockpit of a spaceship just doesn't give the desired effect. [May 2002, p.103]

Whether embracing one's inner interior designer or one's inner "Porky's," players of all types have something to enjoy in Bustin' Out. [Jan 2004, p.126]

Veterans will have to take a little time to adjust, while newcomers will be able to jump right in without even noticing such problems.

It simply looks and works great on the PS2. [Oct 2001, p.134]

Story aside, PRD is a damn fine racer... I'm completely addicted. [Feb 2003, p.109]

The real bonus, though? You can open an entirely new game! Not just a few bonus levels, mind you - these are 14 stages you didn't play in the arcades. [Nov 2003, p.142]

It&#146;s actually better than its pretty PS2 twin. [Feb 2002, p.116]

Using a simple, intuitive interface to disguise a game of surprising depth. [Aug 2005, p.89]

This title raises the bar for quality and polish for games on the PSP today. [Jan. 2007, p.92]

I haven't even talked about the nonlinear gameplay, the spectacular graphics, the rock-solid controls, the amazing physics (especially the rag-doll death animations - wow), the great variety of missions and settings, the solid voice acting, the awesome orchestral soundtrack, or the exceptional multiplayer. [Oct 2003, p.122]

The unbelievable brutality of the enemy A.I., even in Normal mode, means the game can vacillate from challenging to downright frustrating. Yet, for all the times I was pissed off, I still felt compelled to move on... [Dec 2003, p.164]

It's a second round of hardware launches for Tiger Woods PGA Tour and the results of Tiger's Playstation 3 debut are much more respectable than those of his last outing. [Jan. 2007, p.71]

This is one of the best wrestling games created to date. [Mar 2006, p.93]

Unrepentantly intelligent, epic, and approachable, this is one of the best RPGs available today and the Rubedo of the Xenosaga series. [Oct. 2006, p.82]

You've never before experienced speed like this in a game. [Nov 2001, p.154]

With this game a 100-mph fastball feels like its coming in at 380...The ball comes in too fast. [May 2002, p.99]

More challenge than "Sled Storm," but more frustrating too...I still had a blast. [August 2002, p.108]

One thing I can guarantee: If you like to be scared, you owe it to yourself to play this game. [Feb 2004, p.102]

Special note must go to the presentation: The graphics are great throughout - but it's the music that's a real wowzer. [Dec 2003, p.176]

This time we're treated to 2D characters on top of 3D backgrounds - major improvement. [Dec 2001, p.160]

All that killing feels perfect; combat is tight and satisfying, especially once you begin to master your MP-consuming special moves. [Apr 2006, p.86]

Puzzle and chess modes are great fun. [Dec 2004, p.119]

For my money, I think I actually like this one better than "Winning Eleven 7." FIFA is packed with more features than you could possibly explore unless you play nothing but this for the next six months. [Nov 2004, p.138]

The almost intimidatingly complex design of the PC game has been masterfully reworked so that it's accessible with just a joypad. [May 2002, p.98]

It'll take some getting used to, but but for the first time, a game has made pitching as much fun as hitting. [Apr 2003, p.96]

Outrun 2006 is not a bad game, but in a world where arcade racers have evolved to the quality of the Burnout series, it just feels kind of antiquated. [Jun 2006, p.97]

Builds on a good engine from last year to produce a solid sim with few gameplay flaws, but it lacks the gimmicks, presentation, and general fireworks the other games have to bring it to the next level. [Apr 2005, p.110]

The most obvious change from "F1 2001" is that the graphics have been given a major overhaul yet again. It's faster, more detailed and packed with fancy effects. [Sept 2002, p.112]

The control issues I've been griping about since the original came out have been remedied. [Nov 2001, p.153]

The problem is that there just isn't much gameplay there. [Jan 2002, p.138]