The game seems to have taken a step back in the "cool moves that are also helpful" department. [Mar 2003, p.106]

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]

If it had been out a year or so ago, it would have rocked our worlds much harder. [July 2005, p.76]

Phantasy Star Universe brings the classic lineage to the PS2 for the first time, in both offline and online modes. [Jan. 2007, p.76]

Both utterly forgettable and strangely addictive, the ultra-simple hack-n-slash model works surprisingly well in a portable format. [May 2005, p.111]

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]

Blasting is fun, the game looks great, and the front end is on brand. But the difficulty will you reeling. [Nov 2004, p.132]

Even the most basic encounter requires loads of strategy. [Nov 2002, p.184]

If you think "kick their asses" is an acceptable game objective, then drop the 15 bucks. If you desire more, save your $15. [Nov 2004, p.130]

The graphics here are subpar for PS2, the animation is choppy, the level design is awful, and the controls and interface are almost impressively awkward. [June 2002, p.99]

It's not a bad game, but then again, it's not the be-all and end-all Pacific-theater FPS we expected. The primary emphasis on gloss and glamour over gameplay and challenge suggests that Rising Sun is geared more toward the tyro rather than the savant.

The fighting itself is simplistic, and button-mashing will serve you just fine, but there are a few combos to ferret out and master. Sadly, the movies' smart humor is missing, and most of the dialogue is immature at best.

Doesn't really offer the same visceral thrill as something like "Guitar Hero" or even any of the "DDR" games. [Apr 2006, p.82]

The game feels rushed in so many ways, and it really detracts from the overall experience. [June 2002, p.98]

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

This new Fullmetal Alchemist is an improvement over the first game, but an incremental one.

So, basically, TRL is a good game that kind of lost its way when it came over to the PSP. [July 2006, p.80]

It's considerably less tedious than you might expect from a game like this - it's just not quite a classic. [Aug 2003, p.101]

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

Do your part and make sure the Just Cause revolucion will not be televised. [Nov. 2006, p.117]

The most challenging poker game yet - so newbies beware! [Jan 2006, p.95]

A decent racer that doesn't come close to fulfilling its potential. Still, it's currently the only choice for rally racing on the PSP. [Apr 2006, p.89]

It feels to me like a kind of Pokemon on wheels. [Nov 2001, p.154]

Its excellent art direction pulls you, heart and soul, into the environment...[but] NOLF's lack of a save-anywhere function gets to be a real pain in the arse. [May 2002, p.102]

Mototrax starts out with a holeshot thanks to the solid gameplay, but it manages to take a spill before ever reaching the finish line. [Oct. 2006, p. 92]

Fighting Game Fan: "I'll admit, I was surprised at how deep the game is, and I actually enjoyed the Story mode, despite the oddball characters." [Feb 2003, p.104]

There are no previews of song titles, so it's hard to keep track of what you've done and what you haven't. [Feb 2005, p.87]

A thoroughly solid, if short, spin on the franchise. [June 2005, p.100]

I can't recall a recent game story that's left me more puzzled. [Jan 2003, p.128]

Although none of us may have asked for it, this game does offer a reasonably fun time... It's the kind of game they invented the rental for. [Aug 2003, p.99]

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

Unfortunately, the gameplay mechanics don't match the class of the story.

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

That storyline is absolutely ridiculous. [Feb 2002, p.112]

There always seems to be a slight disconnect between the controls and the onscreen action, making it difficult to really get your timing down. [Oct 2005, p.106]

Most of the mechanics in the game hearken back to an era when the survival-horror genre was still in its infancy. [June 2005, p.92]

It’s awesome that you can block enemy attacks with timed button presses…but not when you fight the same boring enemies over and over! [Feb 2002, p.114]

The only thing that makes this PS2 incarnation fun is the Quarterback Challenge. [Nov 2001, p.160]

I can't help feeling like this game was designed by sadists, for masochists. It's that frustrating. [Nov 2002, p.183]

The most obvious letdown: the drab, blocky graphics. It's so dull that it even out-uglies some of the first-generation PS2 crap. [Dec 2002, p.162]

A whole can of polish should have been slapped on to make this one really shine. [Jan 2006, p.91]

A surprisingly rewarding and polished adaptation of the show. [Mar 2004, p.98]

Though absurd, the story is one of Blood Will Tell's best features. [Dec 2004, p.114]

This game features such pretentious bad taste that you'll first wonder if the developers are really stupid or really smart. [Jan 2002, p.126]

A castrated version of its console counterpart. [Aug 2005, p.89]

A pretty good collection with a nice mixture of old to help complement the new. [Dec 2005, p.132]

Why would I want to play a game that consists mostly of <I>waiting</I>? [Apr 2003, p.87]

A shallow racer spread thinly over other game styles. [Jan 2006, p.101]

Apparently, it never occurred to anyone at Cavia that using a first-person shooter setup to control a game seen in the third person is a little like putting "Resident Evil"-style controls in a "Mario" game: technically possible but deeply stupid. [Dec 2004, p.102]

Zone is a hard game, easily the toughest Crisis yet. You'll be frustrated, but you'll still be entertained. [Nov 2004, p.138]

A quirky, lighthearted third-person action-adventure that's a fun and engaging diversion - ideal for the PSP. [Oct 2005, p.109]

A surprisingly solid movie-licensed title--despite its somewhat odd use of a balled-up Charlize Theron.

I'll admit it's nice to play as a girl instead of watching one prance around the ring for the boys. Unfortunately, the experience bogs down amidst the sex appeal; for a game with such an overage of cleavage, it's ironic that after a couple hours, Rumble Roses starts to feel flat.

Boy, did we get screwed. Why? Guess what kind of multiplayer mode RtCW has on PS2? Go ahead, guess! Give up? NONE. [Aug 2003, p.102]

"SSX" looked better two years ago, and the water comes nowhere near equaling that in last year's "Splashdown." [Dec 2002, p.160]

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]

Surely, I thought, the challenge level has a setting other than "stupid easy" or "mind-bogglingly confusing because the mutant aiming system bites." I thought wrong. Encounters in Space is just that bad. [Dec 2003, p.164]

What's not so impressive is that actual combat is pretty sucky. The combos themselves are simplistic. [Jun 2006, p.94]

Most of the Atari 2600's great titles had little to do with Atari.[Feb 2005, p.91]

If tweaking out on robo-parts is your thing, proceed. If serious robo-combat is your thing, abort. [Nov 2005, p.90]

Two games in one: both are bland and tedious. [Jan 2006, p.99]

Somehow, the PSP version makes Frogger's already-confusing mechanics even more frustrating. [Jan 2006, p.100]

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]

I am spectacularly disappointed... Because aside from looking gorgeous, Auto Modellista is an absolute pig. [June 2003, p.102]

It's more of a puzzle-solving game, yet it somehow remains completely thrilling throughout. [Feb 2003, p.99]

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

If you're willing to invest a few weeks...or months...the results are well worth the effort. [Nov 2001, p.46]

Could've been a good RPG intro for kids, but bad save and leveling systems cripple it. [Aug 2006, p.81]

The depth to which NFL Head Coach goes to simulate its world is impressive. Pigskin fanatics will love it, but if I want stress and boredom, I think I'll stick with my day job. [Aug 2006, p.79]

Formula Front turned out surprisingly well for a late-stage retrofitting. [Mar 2006, p.96]

While the shot aiming is smart, the shooting meter is funky - you have to use timing to ensure the biggest blast. [Jan 2005, p.111]

When the strongest feeling I get from a game is the desire to play its predecessors, something's not quite right. [Dec 2001, p.162]

While Arena Football plays well and offers some decent multiplayer fun, you'll find better sims---"Madden", NFL 2k"--and arcade-style games--"Blitz", "NFL Street"--out there. [Mar 2006, p.91]

The game looks so bad I can't begin to like it. [Nov 2002, p.190]

Protection missions, like escort missions, are the bane of space-sim players, and BSG has quite a few of them. [Jan 2004, p.112]

NASCAR lacks a rearview mirror option, which is crucial in a game where you're almost constantly surrounded by other cars. [Nov. 2006, p.122]

Cheers to you, SNK Playmore, for cleaning out the garbage and giving 3D KOF a fresh start! [Oct. 2006, p.85]

There's a surreal sweetness to Spanx and Redmond that makes everything in this game very enjoyable. [Jan 2004, p.113]

Matches basically boil down to ridiculous standoffs that are won by whoever can bust out kamehamehas the fastest. Not exactly the best way to channel your competitive spirit.

I imagine myself back in the cafeteria, all the geeks, myself included, huddled around the folding banquet tables, oblivious to appearances, just having fun. [Feb 2005, p.87]

An adequate, sometimes engaging adventure that just has too many annoying little wrinkles that were never ironed out. [Jan 2006, p.96]

If you're a hugh One Piece fan, then dive in; otherwise, find an alternative. [Nov. 2006, p.114]

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.

I eked a few enjoyable play sessions out of One the Loose, but the camera-control difficulties prompted me to ditch it for "Lumines." [June 2005, p.101]

The missions themselves are plenty fun, but they're nothing that "Ace Combat" hasn't done better and more often. It's a similar story for the reasonably tight controls and physics: good, but nothing exceptional. [Mar 2004, p.98]

The development team should've built more levels instead of relying on the rating gimmick to extend Neo Contra's longevity. Without question, it's worth a rental since it only takes a few hours or so to complete. [Dec 2004, p.124]

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

The actual platforming is fairly blase. It's a solid-enough game with neat invention-based hooks, but that's about it. [Jan 2005, p.107]

The framerate here bogs down so much that it actually hampers gameplay. And there's no excuse for that - Emperor's Tomb isn't doing anything PS2 can't handle. [Aug 2003, p.98]

A definite improvement over the first PSP Gretzky, but Gretzky NHL 06 still fails to thrill. [Jan 2006, p.105]

Definitely a good time for the elementary-school set. [Jan. 2007, p.89]

Get with it, EA. You're so far behind High Heat it's like you're playing in the minor leagues. [Apr 2002, p.103]

I didnit dig the hassle of switching from ID scope to ideal weapon when six angry Gran would suddenly start shooting my way. [Jan 2003, p.122]

It's somewhat frustrating that what was a pretty great PC game is now a great game buried underneath vast technological annoyances. [Apr 2004, p.98]

Incredibly shallow and boring. [Apr 2004, p.102]

Rocky's programmed punch placement and combination systems can't help but seem slow and artificial. [Dec 2004, p.108]

If you have "FIFA" don't bother. [Oct 2002, p.150]

The only thing that really sets Flow apart is its music. While "DDR" occasionally throws a hip-hop-flavored track in with the J-pop, Flow is 100 percent Brooklyn block party, circa 1981.