The finest accomplishment is the stirring fighting system. [Dec 2001, p.170]

The visuals, gameplay, and essentially everything else that makes the "THPS" series so great is evident here. [Oct 2003, p.116]

This is truly a 100-hour RPG. [Dec 2001, p.172]

Taking an obvious cue from Xbox Live, the online mode is seriously user-friendly, providing tons of community-building tools—the polar opposite of Offroad Fury 2's laughable online attempt.

Oh man, General Grievous is a cool boss. He has four lightsabers! Four!

It never stops being either stylish or fun, though, and how many games can you say that about that feature a goofy-looking yellow alien? Just one.

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

In terms of options, GP2 has them in droves. [Feb 2002, p.108]

Catching a fly witch chopsticks Miyagi-style is easier than whacking a pitch in this game. [Apr 2003, p.95]

It's really more "yawn" than "whoa". [Jan. 2007, p.68]

The series captures the claustrophobic feel of pack racing beautifully, and that's no small feat. [Oct 2005, p.106]

The best thing about Play 2 is the fact that almost all 12 games are actually collections of three or more games. [Sept 2005, p.90]

The best part of the game, though, is beating a defender on the dribble and creating a scoring chance. It's energizing and it's effort well-spent. [Feb 2003, p.109]

Offers classic teams, clothing, and a new college classic mode where you can relive some of college basketball's most famous moments - it's just too bad that there are so few moments like that in the game. [Jan 2005, p.100]

Easily the smoothest PS one hockey experience and it was the first to truly tackle realistic puck physics like deflections and tip-ins. [Nov 2001, p.50]

All in all, this is about what we've come to expect from a competent World War II FPS: frequent moments of drama and tension and cinema interspersed with some fairly run-of-the-mill shooting.

One has to wonder if Live 06's mostly cosmetic changes are worth $50 this year. [Nov 2005, p.115]

It keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire way through. It's an amazing rush. [Nov 2001, p.155]

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]

It's just not very exciting to play or to watch, and for a college basketball game that just shouldn't be the case. [Mar 2006, p.90]

Turn-based strategy doesn't get any better than this. [May 2006, p.97]

Fast, fun footy with a simulation feel. [Feb 2002, p.114]

It really does feel like an interactive Bond flick. [Jan 2003, p.130]

Even though FIFA 06 came out just six months ago, for fans of the beautiful game, 2006 FIFA World Cup is a must-have. [Jun 2006, p.97

The game isn't a bad addition to the series, but it feels like an expansion at a sequel price. [Jan. 2007, p.86]

Having a real pal alongside to shoot the crap out of the Helghast soldiers takes a bite out of their uncanny accuracy. [Dec. 2006, p.128]

The overall PS2 surfing champ. [Oct 2002, p.148]

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]

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

But Ape Escape 3's presentation is what really hurts the whole package. The graphics are mediocre, especially for a first-party game late in the PS2's life cycle. The voice acting is painfully stilted. And the translation is woeful.

The game's secret weapon this year, though, is the ball-juggling minigame... I killed more hours trying to keep David Beckham's balls off the ground than I can reasonably justify. [Nov 2005, p.123]

Yes, Wasteland has a large, free-roaming world, but it does little to change the game itself.

It is really freaking hard. Holy hell. [Jan 2002, p.136]

Playing MTX a month after playing "MX Unleashed" is sort of like driving a Taurus after a month of driving a Viper. [May 2004, p.100]

Although it boasts a host of innovations that are supposed to set it a breed apart from its predecessor, Monster Rancher 4 never captured me in the way MR3 did.

If I had to sum up the game in one word, I'm not sure if I'd pick "boring" or "stupid." I guess it depends on what mood I'm in. The mission structure is desperately linear, despite pretending to offer a huge amount of freedom.

Unless you have friends already playing or a high tolerance for monotony, you might want to give Frontiers a pass, especially with "Final Fantasy XI" around the corner. [Feb 2004, p.101]

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

The limits to which the team has managed to stretch the PS2's capacity are pretty amazing - it's hard to believe this is the same graphics engine that was used in the first game. [March 2005, p.98]

A fun distraction for the PSP, [but] slow and repetitive, sometimes to the point of boredom. Just keep the sessions short. [Apr 2006, p.90]

It doesn't help that you seem to be shooting the same handful of monsters no matter where you are—or that the vast majority of these look like offspring of Soul Calibur's Voldo. The shoddy framerate, slippery controls, and blocky character models provide an even more low-rent feel.

It still has all of the stuff that makes it a nice diversion from the typical baseball title. But that stuff hasn't changed enough to warrant a purchase.

Offers tons of new things to see and do, but relative newcomers to the game may want to hold off...for now. [Dec 2004, p.102]

Grandia III is a game filled with polish, slick visuals, and a fantastic battle system. It just happens to be bogged down by a fairly mediocre story.

Only if you really, really liked the first one - or if you didn't buy it at all. [Feb 2005, p.84]

Like the previous games, it'll satisfy fans of the franchise while being nigh-impenetrable to others. [Oct 2003, p.126]

What Makai Kingdom lacks in visceral appeal it more than makes up for in complexity and nuance. It's fun in a brain-taxing kind of way, but in the end a bit too cold and piecemeal to love. Though it may be fun and challenging, it never quite hangs together as a compelling whole.

Really, it doesn't get much better than this for 2D fighting fans. [Dec. 2006, p.134]

You can scalp baddies, but there is no in-game benefit or reward for doing so. [Jan 2006, p.94]

The kind of game Dragon Ball fans can enjoy without feeling guilty. [Jan 2005, p.110]

Realistic? Nope. But it makes for a nail-bitingly dramatic pitcher/batter interface - something everyone's been dying to capture since NES's "Baseball Stars." [August 2002, p.109]

Pros: Solid physics for the central game, lots and lots of bonus content, dirt cheap. [Aug 2004, p.93]

With the next-gen engine already on its second iteration, and the extra time to polish up this year's version since the kickoff of the season, it's hard to swallow that Madden NFL 07 on the PS3 can't even live up to the standard it sets on Xbox 360. [Jan. 2007, p.71]

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.

Wins points for originality, and the gameplay works well, but it lacks a compelling narrative (the disjointed mission objectives don't cut it), and it rarely made me feel as tense as I thought it should. [Nov 2005, p.117]

The additions of a medley mode - two to five song clips in quick succession - and a one-song quick-play option are solid improvements as well....It's another must have for singers. [Aug 2004, p.99]

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]

The hardcore may gravitate toward more advanced games like "In the Groove," but this is an excellent dance title for the rest of us. [Nov 2005, p.94]

As much as I enjoyed the aerial combat, its overuse makes the innovative gameplay element a little less exhilarating toward the end. [June 2002, p.96]

Gradius Collection should be rated M--not because it's violent.....or because it has nudity. Really, the reason it should have that rating stems from the amount of profanity that will spew from your mouth and the possible injuries incurred from slamming your PSP into a brick wall. [June 2006, p.101]

It's this kind of extra depth that helps round out an already compelling experience. At the very least, it's enough to keep me coming back for more, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this utterly unique franchise. [June 2003, p.104]

If you're looking for a finely crafted, thought-provoking story to go with your psychic phenomena, look no further than Second Sight. [Nov 2004, p.128]

More laid-back surf tunes would've been nice. [June 2002, p.100]

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]

Even more impressive is the soundtrack that's comprised of a collection of haunting orchestral CD tracks that give the game a dark mood and atmosphere difficult to put into words. [Aug 1998]

Delightfully open-ended. [Dec 2001, p.164]

A surprisingly stirring, entertaining experience. [Feb 2005, p.82]

This feels way more like real hockey than the arcadey, gimmicky junk we've had to swallow in the past. Just a few more tweaks here and there, and EA's NHL will be the coolest game on ice once again. [Oct. 2006, p.87]

After low sales killed Midway's interest in the series, it was unknown if "Shadow Hearts" would continue in the U.S.--but Xseed has picked up the torch, and, on balance, it's clear that the company has made a good move. [Mar 2006, p.88]

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.

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]

The game can be beaten in a handful of sessions, and although it offers some replay value with its unique points system..., I doubt most of you will be motivated to bother. I know I wasn't. [Apr 2003, p.92]

Boring. [June 2001, p.98]

With intense, yet user-friendly, action and a full complement of online modes, Heroes of the Pacific is actually worth checking out. It's not going to blow "Ace Combat" out of the sky, but this game's got wings.

Doesn't do anything particularly original, but that's not really the point. The point is the content, the script, and the wit, and in these areas it excels. [Nov 2004, p.118]

The only real draw here is the startingly robust level-creation tool. [July 2006, p.82]

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

Die-hard fans wresting fans will love this game. [Jan 2002, p.142]

The repetitive environments drag it down a bit, but that’s far from a fatal blow. [Feb 2002, p.107]

Flaws aside, this is a multiplayer dream. [Apr 2002, p.105]

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

Besides the shocking, desensitizing violence that borders on being pornographic (there's no actual sex, but there is plenty of penetration and spraying of bodily fluids, all viewed from lurid camera angles), Manhunt turns out to be a pretty solid game.

The game is much too hard for a younger player to get through, but still doesn't offer the challenge required for an older gamer to enjoy the entire experience. [Jan. 2007, p.89]

The fast action, great graphics, incredible draw distance and undeniable fun attached make Superfly's racing tough to beat. [August 2002, p.110]

Blocking, for one, is not nearly as effective as it should be, and the controls suffer from a slight delay that reduces melees into button-mashing frenzy. [Nov 2002, p.192]

The way it controls, which, in my opinion is like crap. [May 2003, p.93]

Another deliriously creepy adventure. [Oct 2004, p.90]

EA has tweaked the right analog stick moves, so now more than 10 skill moves exist, including stepovers and drag backs. [July 2004, p.97]

It does little to update the series' aging formula, but Suikoden V is still an enjoyable experience with a compelling story. [May 2006, p.81]

The most fun you can have racing and watching vehicles blow up since "Burnout Revenge." [Dec 2005, p.120]

Unlike any arcade compilation released on PS1, these games are <I>exactly</I> like their standup counterparts. [Jan 2004, p.125]

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

Additionally, there's a ton of extra stuff you can unlock ranging from art to music, so there's no question that, like the last collection, Reloaded will keep you glued to your PSP for quite some time. [Nov. 2006, p.124]

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]

While technologically astounding and generally satisfying in terms of gameplay, Area 51 could have used a deeper, clearer story and another five to 10 hours of play time. [March 2005, p.86]

The game just has a wonderful style to it. [July 2002, p.102]

The players look great, but there's too much hitting, too much speed, and too little hockey. [Oct 2004, p.99]

It's time for Mortal Kombat to go. [Dec. 2006, p.126]