Note to the videogame industry: Mapping attacks to the right analog stick isn't a good idea. Put all the crossover dribbles and jukes you want on the analog stick, but for brawling games like Death by Degrees, this method of control simply doesn't work.

Yes, other games have stuff you can unlock, whether it's extra clothing or modes, but NBA Street V3 integrates it all so well and has such a high level of polish that you'll find yourself drawn into it as if it were some epic RPG.

If nothing else, it beats spending around $200 to $300 on a NeoGeo cartridge the size of a small rodent... Worthwhile for the hardcore crowd. [Jan 2005, p.109]

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]

The game's remarkably astounding... but is it better than "FIFA 2005"? For American fans, not quite. [March 2005, p.94]

There's no challenge, and there's no variety. [Apr 2005, p.103]

It's by no means a spectacular game, but then again, it did make me want to watch the show, so it's done its job. [Feb 2005, p.80]

Ultimately, what Virtua Quest proves is that putting great characters into a lousy game doesn't make the game any less lousy. It just robs those characters of their dignity. [Feb 2005, p.87]

Surprisingly good. [March 2005, p.100]

Worse yet, it's even simpler than "Suikoden II", which is a PS1 game that came out in 1998. [Feb 2005, p.80]

Oversimplified controls and an atrocious camera. If it were a movie, you'd leave the theater halfway through and not care about the conclusion. [Feb 2005, p.86]

I'm sure its stunning presentation and ambitious structure will surprise you. I hope they do a sequel. [Feb 2005, p.78]

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

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.

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]

And while the whole trial-and-error mechanic is enough to make you throw your controller down and never return, there's a rewarding feeling when you do finally win.

The moments of inspiration are there to be found, but they're much less common than the moments of wanting to throw your controller in disgust. [Dec 2004, p.114]

Battle Assault 3 is almost, not quite, a clunker, existing in the space between serviceable and irritating.

You may be as annoyed by the new direction as I am, or you may think it is a brilliant move. But you're not going to mistake this for anything but Prince of Persia.

Lobotomized teammates, restrictive environments, and enemies with X-ray vision make it necessary to memorize entire levels. [Feb 2005, p.90]

Did I mention the shooting interface itself? Picture the annoying timing of the triple-tap Hot Shots model combined with the occasional imprecision of the analog Tiger model, and you'll have some idea of what we're talking about here: It's the worst of all possible worlds!

Unfortunately, slick powers, moderately competent A.I., and amusing deathtraps can't save Rogue Agent from being bland, linear, and repetitive - it tends to give too much of the mediocre and not enough of the awesome. [Feb 2005, p.88]

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

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.

Why can't you have more than six players at a table? [March 2005, p.95]

The most noteworthy part of the game is easily the end sequence. Without spoiling it, it's a chase that combines elements of MGS, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "Return of the Jedi", "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker", and "Ico" into an utterly engrossing and visceral ride.

The game is one long wave of monotonous, sloppy combat. [Jan 2005, p.102]

For me, it became much more enjoyable as something to pick up and play for five or 10 minutes at a time rather than for prolonged sessions, but this is somewhat contrary to the way it's designed. [Nov 2004, p.130]