Once you master the controls, you'll love it. [Oct 2001, p.135]

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

Plays like the board game, but with whizbang 3D graphics that portray soldiers in battle whenever a player makes an attack. [Oct 2003, p.126]

It's worth pointing out that most of these new options simply add a layer of polish to preexisting aspects of the game. [Sept 2004, p.93]

Fans of the original gmes will surely dig this latest installment (and will enjoy the occasional subtle references to previous titles), and everyone else ought to at least get sucked in by its unique story line. [July 2003, p.93]

A very glib way to describe Yakuza in terms of other games would be to say that it's "Shenmue" done right. [Oct. 2006, p.80]

If for whatever reason "Tales of Symphonia" didn't grab you, you might want to consider giving Tales another try with Legendia. [Mar 2006, p.87]

In fact, with the track tuning for PSP-sized bites, this is superior to the PS2's current "ATV Offroad Fury 4". [Jan. 2007, p.92]

But despite this flaw, Gunpey still makes line creation a whole lot more fun than art class ever did. [Dec. 2006, p.136]

Even with the realism injection, it hasn't gotten too far away from its roots...A bit more over-the-top hitting and much more funny commentary would do wonders for the series.[Oct 2003, p.121]

If you were a fan of the original, you'll more likely than not find that this sequel serves you adequately... [just d]on't be surprised if something doesn't feel quite right. [Dec 2002, p.168]

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

Hoffman's sequel is so advanced - not just graphically - that it makes the first game feel like a bike with no chain. [Sept 2002, p.113]

If you can deal with the slight learning curve for the controls, Fight Night won't disappoint any boxing fan. [May 2004, p.97]

The boxing isn't as solid as the graphics. It's more fun than in years past, but the collision detection is way off. [Apr 2002, p.104]

It takes the series back to its roots and makes it even more outlandish and brazen than before. It's almost like a big unfriendly gesture (which may or may not use the middle finger) directed toward the NFL, and it adds much-needed character and intensity to a representation of the sport that has become so watered down, static, and just flat-out boring.

The key to Vendetta's success (I mean, seriously, rappers <I>wrestling?</I>) is that it's fast, fluid, and features an almost perfectly balanced wrestling engine. [Apr 2003, p.86]

Hot chicks on the loading screens, madcap commentary, useful cheats, and an all-new Special Pitch will keep arcade enthusiasts smiling like Steinbrenner after signing a 14th starting pitcher. [Apr 2003, p.96]

Despite the whimsical nature of the varied critters that inhabit Hyllis, everyone (and everything) feels so real that you might just forget you're playing a game. [Dec 2003, p.180]

The notion of a story-driven racing game is definitely something I'm getting used to, and after an initial feeling of resistance, I have to say the game got to be quite fun...It's not the greatest racer ever made, but it is pretty darn good.

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]

The only really fundamental issue with the game is its length. [Jan 2002, p.128]

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]

At first, this combat exhilarates, but A.I. flaws appear soon enough...Fighting also gets frustratingly hard, which annoyingly necessitates battles solely for leveling up. [Sept 2004, p.91]

It plays amazingly well and there's plenty of style and depth to be found here. [Dec 2001, p.161]

The best part is that some jittery-fingered button-masher won't necessarily win. You actually have to box. That's something the arcadey "Ready 2 Rumble" couldn't figure out. [Apr 2003, p.84]

Very fun, and the graphics are incredibly endearing. [Dec 2004, p.106]

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

What's more surprising, given the kiddie theme, is the amount of strategy. [Oct 2002, p.142]

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]

As a single-match footy game, WE9 is a visceral and satisfying experience that provides a greater sense of connection with the sport than "FIFA" manages. [Mar 2006, p.93]

The collectibles are going to make some of you completely addicted to Deadly Alliance. [Jan 2003, p.131]

There's actually a lot here for the football fan who doesn't quite have the cash for a PS2... Some solid gameplay, too. [Nov 2003, p.147]

Sealth missions excepted, you're in for a genuinely fun eight hours of gameplay in The Hulk. [July 2003, p.91]

1) Real players make the game 10 times more fun. 2) Deathmatching across the continent on your PSP makes you feel like you're from the future.

The same tight controls introduced by EA Tiburon in "NCAA Football" PSP--L button used with face buttons in lieu of a right analog--plus the revolutionary Lead Block feature, which allows you to take control of a fullback or offensive lineman prior to the snap, give PSP players a greatly improved football experience versus last year's debut. [Oct. 2006, p.93]

As cool as the sword fights and boss battles may be, Bujingai may frustrate you for hours at a time with poorly designed levels that depend too much on jumping puzzles. [July 2004, p.88]

Besides updated rosters, the game features little else...[but i]f you're stuck playing PSone football, Madden still reigns supreme. [Nov 2002, p.196]

This is a great update, but it could have been stellar. [Nov. 2006, p.112]

I take issue with my offensive players' lack of motivation. [July 2002, p.103]

This game is hard &#150; it starts out tough and gets tougher from there. [June 2002, p.98]

Modern Combat loses some points for its lack of realism (some guns don't have any recoil, for example) and forgettable story line (something about Kazakhstan), but it still serves as a decent war game for those of us too fragile to enlist.

I can't stop playing the game. I'm hopelessly addicted. [Nov 2001, p.155]

One of the most comprehensive entries in the music-creation genre. [Jan 2004, p.120]

The garage feature in Midnight Club 3 offers so many different customization and tuning options that it could've easily been its own car customization game.

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

The best part about the game, though, is that it's the first Simpsons title that approaches the entertainment value of the show itself. [Sept 2003, p.96]

Despite the more simplistic nature that could seem to "Nocturne" fans like a step backward, this might make it a better game for FF fans needing their fix.

The whole package has a polished look. I even watched a few cut-scenes long enough to figure out that the title Earned in Blood makes reference to how Red tries to gain his fellow soldiers' trust. And Brothers in Arms is beginning to earn our trust, too--as not just "another war game."

With Lego Star Wars II, not only does the game itselff provide a general improvement over the previous release, but it also reinforces just how much better the original(which, technically, is the sequel)Star Wars trilogy is. [Oct. 2006, p.86]

Along with the excellent story, Shadow Hearts has an engaging battle system that focuses on timed button-presses. [Jan 2002, p.134]

Not a masterpiece, but it has something nailed that so many games seem to lack: it's fun. Lots of fun. Seriously. [July 2003, p.97]

The sequel rocks. Hard. In fact, I can't think of a more stupendous leap in quality between a game and its sequel. [Mar 2003, p.103]

Criterion has succeeded in completely immersing the player in intense, cinematic gunplay--no other shooter has captured the pure awesome-ness and adrenaline of a suspenseful shoot-out in a game quite like this. [Mar 2006, p.85]

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]

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]

I'm really amazed at just how much there really is in this collection. [Jan 2002, p.144]

It's over-the-top for sure, but surprising playable, and even possible to effectively master. [Oct 2002, p.148]

At last 3DO has delivered a game that really capitalizes on the Army Men idea, the childhood dream of commanding living regiments of those little, green, plastic, violent buggers. [May 2002, p.100]

It's the most feature-packed DDR yet (inlcuding ithe return of workout mode - yes!), and it holds up every bit as much as any of the series' previous releases. [Oct 2004, p.92]

VJ2 is the better overall game, but it's a very rudimentary and evolutionary step rather than a revolutionary leap forward. [Jan 2005, p.108]

The nonlinear design, careful difficulty ramp, and outstanding presentation bring this one above the pack. And hey, at least it doesn't have an Omaha Beach level.

Truly the game is fun. It's good, solid baseball. [Sept 2002, p.119]

One of the most extraordinarily deep and innovative games I've ever experienced. [Apr 2003, p.84]

What's so great about this game is that it delivers a true sensation of underwater combat without getting all hung up on the details that would normally lead to frustration. [Nov 2002, p.190]

Gives you loads of freedom without compromising the classic story around which it's built. [May 2006, p.88]

BloodRayne might surprise you as one of the best bloodsucking adventures outside of Nosgoth.

There's simply more of everything. [Jan 2002, p.127]

An engrossing experience for the hardened campaigner. It's chock-full of quests, items, battles, and moral ambiguity, offering a fine-tuned gameplay experience that anyone who's been longing for the next Final Fantasy Tactics should enjoy.

The only real strike against the game is that there's no random setting for the backgrounds and music. [May 2005, p.115]

The game is loud, boasts a blazing metal soundtrack, and features characters that are supposed to mirror real-life rockers. [Mar 2003, p.103]

Substantially deeper than any EyeToy title I've seen so far. Granted, that's not hard to do, but it's still a nice surprise.

On its own merits, XML is a solid action-RPG, but as an X-Men game, it's a superb representation of the mythos. [Dec 2004, p.112]

Don't be surprised if you find yourself revisiting certain engagements just to perfectly fulfill each of its objectives. [June 2004, p.91]

The game's simplistic look and occasionally spotty camera might be a turnoff for some, but the pure fun the game provides easily overrides these shortcomings. [Nov 2005, p.91]

The create-a-player mode is surprisingly deep and offers you a wealth of options. [July 2005, p.79]

A career mode so involving and compelling that it makes this almost like a "driving RPG." [Nov 2001, p.50]

The physics make the game so entertaining that you really won't mind having to replay a race over and over again. [Apr 2004, p.99]

Just better enough than last year's game to warrant a purchase. Just. [Apr 2006, p.79]

A topnotch driving engine and levels based on real-world locations made both Driver and "Driver 2" surefire hits. [Nov 2001, p.43]

All of this solid gameplay combines with two well-scripted stories to keep you playing for hours at a time (anywhere from 50 to 100 per quest). [Nov 2003, p.130]

The same slow-paced, thinking-two-steps-ahead game you had last time. This is more like "DT: Special Edition" than DT2. [Nov 2003, p.132]

The game is free and it's a load of fun. [Oct 2002, p. 150]

Delivers a great baseball sim, though it might take a bit more work for you to enjoy it--in terms of getting used to no-name players and potentially adjusting gameplay options to your liking.

Features the premiere boxing engine on PS2. [Jan 2003, p.130]

It's sad that some of the best pure action on the PS2 is paired with such amateurish stealth. [Feb 2005, p.85]

The game features an abundance of fighting styles, and everything from the grapples to the counters comes off incredibly well. [Feb 2003, p.108]

This once-great series goes back to its roots in fine and tan style. [May 2006, p.89]

Its combination of great level design and gameplay mechanics challenges your reflexes as well as your mind.

It's not "Burnout" by any means, but the way the whole experience revels in its country-boy demeanor oddly satisfies. [Oct 2004, p.100]

It's wonderfully well conceived, and there simply isn't any other game like it. [Dec 2002, p.168]

While Carbon is peppered with clever ideas, ultimately it falls victim to EA's insistence on annually iterating a franchise. [Jan. 2007, p.68]

But still, it's a solid racer despite the problems. [Dec. 2006, p.116]

Thankfully, the pros outweigh the cons: Project 8 definitely welcomes fans back to the series. [Jan. 2007, p.70]

While the rest of the SMT franchise is nigh impenetrable for anyone except hardcore RPG players, Devil Summoner provides a quirky entry point for gamers wondering what the fuss is all about. [Dec. 2006, p.118]

It's not the best WWII game by any stretch, but it's a damn reliable ride. [Jan. 2007, p.72]

All of this makes for a great basketball game that should satisfy the cravings of any hungry Playstation 3-owning basketball fan. [Jan. 2007, p.70]

If you don't care who Black Bolt, or the Super Skrull(or, well, and of the characters named herin)are, then the game is merely a very solid beat-em-up, but man, if you're a Marvel zombie like I am, this is the closest we can get to enacting a digital version of the Secret Wars. [Jan. 2007, p.74]