There are just far too many problems with its basic mechanics. [Jan 2004, p.125]

It's very fast paced and probably about as close as a hunting game will ever get to mimicking a typical first-person shooter. [Jan 2004, p.114]

With the exception of some very slight aesthetic changes and a new slate of 3,200 puzzles, this is the exact same home version of Wheel that we saw on PS1. [Jan 2004, p.130]

One of my favorite games, ever...It's got story, it's got action, it's got amazing graphics and some of the best animation you'll see anywhere. [Dec 2003, p.166]

Basically, we have a four-star Cursed Mummy game held back by a three-star Sphinx game, bringing the overall game average to three-and-a-half. [Dec 2003, p.172]

This could be the only PlayStation game I've ever played that uses almost every button except X. Not a big deal, but worth noting. [Feb 2004, p.101]

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]

Fun for kids, but you're better off playing "Klonoa." [Jan 2004, p.133]

In short, SOCOM II has addressed nearly every complaint I had about the first game, and added a bunch of new features on top of that. If you like the first game at all, run - don't walk, run - to get this game. [Dec 2003, p.160]

The sensation of FIFA "playing itself" is pretty much gone, and it's clear that the A.I. has been seriously overhauled... If you want to fully immerse yourself in soccer culture, FIFA is pretty incredible. [Dec 2003, p.156]

At certain points, you simply feel total frustration - you just wanna stop playing sometimes. Of course, you're better off never starting at all. [Dec 2003, p.162]

King is the best, most synergetic convergence of film and videogame I've ever seen. It turns Two Towers' wow factor into an emphatic "holy freaking crap!"

It's the simplicity of it that works; that's what will undoubtedly make this thing the ultimate party toy. [Nov 2003, p.146]

Dynasty Warriors maniacs (i.e., people like me) will love it. The rest of you should only bother if you'd rather pay 20 bucks less for a stripped-down version of what the full game has to offer. [Dec 2003, p.156]

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.

The humor and writing is really top-notch SpongeBob SquarePants! It's just like the show that we all love to watch! SpongeBob SquarePants! The gameplay is simple but never gets dull...

A competent shooter for gamers not quite ready for "Rainbow Six" - despite the questionable feature of essentially letting you command your team to do everything required, which almost means you're having the A.I. finish the game for you. [Nov 2003, p.142]

A really basic game for the genre. It's not completely unplayable, but it has more than its fair share of problems. [Dec 2003, p.172]

Subject to much refinement, and while it still can't compete with the competition, 989 Sports has created a surprisingly solid all-around basketball game. [Dec 2003, p.183]

There's no feeling of the weight or power of the real thing, and precious little sense of speed. [Jan 2004, p.130]

Once you get past the counterintuitive controls, Rescue serves as a completely serviceable hop-a-thon for tadpole gamers. [Jan 2004, p.133]

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]

It's fun for a few hours or as a nice diversion for two-player matches. Hardcore Harry fans will want it for their collections; the rest of us will marvel at the fact that it really is just like the books...and then go play something else.

It's really hard to complete a pass now - I actually found myself achieving more solid success with the running game. That's not supposed to happen in Blitz! [Nov 2003, p.138]

It's filled with cool ideas and a control system to die for. You're not really sneaking around, but you are hiding a lot - and it's the mechanics behind the hiding that makes the game so damn satisfying. [Dec 2003, p.164]

Surprisingly playable. [Jan 2004, p.118]

This entirely uninspired PS2 game may satisfy diehard fans of the show it's based on, but ony because of features like a sample contestant exam and a contestant profile saved on memory card. [Feb 2003, p.103]

But for the first time I can remember, an extreme-sports game actually has a real story, honest-to-goodness characters, and a reason to play beyond seeing the next level or beating your last high score.

The first game in the series that tries to accommodate both sides by combining quick action with the technical elements of wrestling, and it works -- almost. [Jan 2004, p.132]

Please don't think this is one of those games you can just pick up as you go along. It isn't. Trust me... This is work. [Nov 2003, p.144]

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]

TGE effectively mixes a variety of gameplay, from manning a turret in a dogfight over Europe to sneaking through POW camps Solid Snake-style to Steve McQueen's daring cross-country bike escape. [Sept 2003, p.93]

Proof that a Castlevania game can be done in 3D while retaining the essence of the series with great music and gameplay, and a stylized look. There's still room for improvement, but it's a great new beginning. [Nov 2003, p.140]

The game gets unreasonably hard near the end, where you really start to hate the archaic continue system. It frustrates me that I haven't beaten Shredder--I can't even get to him. I feel so turtle powerless.

Represents the pinnacle of the sport in videogame form with its nearly flawless gameplay and wide assortment of modes.

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]

Aside from the cultural tweaks, the other major improvement here is in the scale of the game. The mountain you're competing on is huge, and the better you get, the more of it you get to see. In places, it's downright beautiful. [Nov 2003, p.134]

The difficulty alone is what takes this game a solid five hours to beat. Even hardcore fans are only looking at a rental for this one. [Dec 2003, p.152]

Forsakes any sort of previously demonstrated variety, great story, or awesome atmosphere all in favor of fight, fight, fight. It only needs the "POW! WHAP! BLORP!" [Nov 2003, p.130]

After a few hours, the boredom sets in, and the number of reasons you have for wanting to beat the damn thing is less than one. It's just not fun enough. [Dec 2003, p.178]

Other than the stylish cel-shaded visuals, there's hardly anything new here... Seriously, I haven't seen camera problems this bad since the early days of PS1. [Nov 2003, p.138]

It isn't proper to expect us to be perfect in order to make up for your game's many imbalances... Life might not be fair, but I certainly expect my games to be. [Nov 2003, p.128]

If you enjoy puzzle solving and are looking for a way to kill an afternoon, there are worse ways you could spend your time. [Feb 2004, p.102]

The gameplay has been dramatically tweaked, but the changes haven't detracted from the quick and responsive pace of the previous game. [Dec 2003, p.182]

The pace has been slowed to attract a broader audience, but the end result is combat that's sluggish and boring. Even the quickest and most agile virtuaroid drags its feed in comparison to its arcade counterparts. [Jan 2004, p.130]

It's neither run nor funny - you're better off spending $20 on something else. [Jan 2004, p.125]

I'm no prude, but the thing that spoiled Road Kill for me was the fact that it tries too hard with the adult content. I'm fine with swearing in games, but here, it seems gratuitous. [Nov 2003, p.138]

Poor collision detection ensures you'll scratch your head, wondering how a particular punch or kick landed when the enemy who threw it is only vaguely in the area of your character. [Nov 2003, p.132]

If you strip away the seedy premise, the game shows promise of being a knockoff of Capcom's "Power Stone," yet it ultimately falls short of replicating the fun and intensity of the Dreamcast classic. [Dec 2003, p.168]

Unlike most licensed games, Project Zoo doesn't suck, but alas, it's just an unremarkable game. [Nov 2003, p.147]

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]

Look, I appreciate a challenge as much as the next guy, but frankly, I'm tired of getting my ass kicked. [Nov 2003, p.142]

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]

The series should've stayed dead and buried. [Dec 2003, p.182]

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]

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]

It's a good time - just not as much fun as "ESPN NHL" down on the ice. But it's easily the most full-featured hockey game ever to come along. [Oct 2003, p.121]

Unlike last year's game, Tiger 2004's minor additions make more of a major difference than it would seem at first glance. [Oct 2003, p.124]

In Thunder 2004, you take the track with 42 of the most vindictive drivers ever to hold a wheel. [Oct 2003, p.118]

As with early "FIFAs", I couldn't help feeling that my players were doing a hell of a lot better when I didn't get in the way by, y'know, pressing any buttons or anything. [Oct 2003, p.126]

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]

Real, real boring. It's the same freakin' game it's been since 1998 with new rosters. That's it. [Nov 2003, p.148]

It's just that the game is thoroughly polished. You turn it on and everything feels right; the music, graphics, and even the menu system all complement each other perfectly. [Nov 2003, p.147]

As much about the atmosphere of fishing as it is about bait and reel and line strength. [Sept 2003, p.97]

The best hockey game I've ever played, hands down... ESPN's goalies look so good between the pipes, it's almost scary. [Oct 2003, p.120]

Even worse, fixed camera angles prohibit exploration of the wide-open environments, leading to five-minute levels that frustratingly take 30 because you can't find that one newspaper kiosk to destroy to find the item you need. [Sept 2003, p.97]

An uninteresting, repetitive driving/shooting game with unfunny quips and painfully bad cut-scenes. [Nov 2003, p.142]

Despite the terribly repetitive combat (broken up by an absolutely terrific trio of boss battles), I still had lots of fun - although it was largely due to the way I played the game. [Oct 2003, p.115]

If there were an award for Most Improved Sequel, Lethal Skies II would be a serious contender. Not for its gameplay, sadly, but most definitely for its presentation. [Nov 2003, p.132]

It lacks a certain "oomph" I get out of EA football. [Sept 2003, p.98]

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

An extremely robust and flexible item-creation system, and one that offers hours upon hours of gameplay beyond the main story. [Sept 2003, p.100]

That exhaustive level of accuracy severely limits Deer Hunt 2004's appeal... If you don't already know a bit about hunting, you may have a tough time of it. [Nov 2003, p.130]

Maybe the most irritating thing is that, for all its complexity, Bombastic isn't the slightest bit difficult. [Sept 2003, p.93]

It needs another year or two (and perhaps a new PlayStation) to truly challenge the competition. [Oct 2003, p.119]

Never mind that it's one of the best fighters ever made - it's one of the best games ever made... Brilliant. It's one of those extremely rare games that screams perfection. [Sept 2003, p.94]

GameBreaker does a poorer job of fulfilling its duties as a college game than "GameDay" does as a pro simulation. [Oct 2003, p.118]

It's mildly amusing at best, but one thing's for sure - you definitely get your money's worth. [Oct 2003, p.118]

You can't save until you beat a level. Having to conquer a tough boss before being able to save any progress at all will irritate anyone with a social life. [Oct 2003, p.119]

Unbalanced and derivative. [Oct 2003, p.116]

Solid voice acting from the entire cast of the show, unlockables aplenty, and cool quips almost - but not quite - sweeten the sour medicine that is Futurama to the point of redemption. [Sept 2003, p.92]

Some slowdown and an oddly inconsistent trick system hurt the game, but it's still good, clean fun. [Aug 2003, p.101]

Its controls are near-as-damnit perfect, and the connection you feel between yourself and your fighter makes a game like "Tekken 4" look like it's just fooling around. [Sept 2003, p.95]

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

Yep, Tiburon's gotta go and give us a new greatest NFL game ever made. Again. And they'll probably do it again next year. [Sept 2003, p.99]

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]

Although it's a beautiful game full of nonstop, relentless action, Chaos' flaws turn a potentially stellar title into merely a solid one for genre fans. [July 2003, p.96]

These flyers aren't ready for prime time, but they can still thoroughly amust you for a few hours before you return them to Blockbuster. [Sept 2003, p.93]

Have you ever walked out of a particularly good horror flick only to discover that your muslces ache because you've been tensing them up in anticipation of the next terrifying event? Silent Hill 3 is like that. [Aug 2003, p.95]

There's also a ton more to this game than the original. More tracks, more modes, more riders, more everything. [Sept 2003, p.101]

The only thing eJay has on its competitors is the Scratch mode, a fairly solid (and, as far as I can tell, reasonably realistic) dual-turntable simulator. [Oct 2003, p.116]

Since Extinction requires so little in the way of actual strategy, it probably deserves the title of "RTS Lite" more than "Army Men RTS" ever did... Don't expect anything too terribly deep and you won't be disappointed. [Sept 2003, p.92]

It actually feels more like "Wipeout" or "Extreme-G Racing" than "Crash Team Racing" or "Mario Kart." Well, a crappier version of "Wipeout" or "Extreme-G," anyway. [Oct 2003, p.116]

Domination suddenly becomes quite spectacularly addictive. It's not doing anything special, but it releases just the right amount of adrenaline to get you truly hooked. [Aug 2003, p.97]

It has a bunch of new mech parts and a few new knickknakcs, but this is essentially "Armored Core 3" with different levels. [July 2003, p.95]

Comes so close to perfection that you really have to wonder if Tiburon can top itself again next year. Somehow, though, I have faith that it will. [Aug 2003, p.100]

This game is so stupid. It also lacks any kind of cool. What a combo! [Aug 2003, p.99]

It actually focuses on solid gameplay. What a concept. [Sept 2003, p.100]