Like the motion picture, this is no "LOTR." But if you're in the mood for some mindless medieval hacking and slashing (or just the chance to fill the shoes of the gorgeous Keira Knightley), give this game a shot. [Dec 2004, p.82]

A merely pleasant romp that has very little spunk or spine. [Jan 2005, p.76]

Many things: packed, fun, annoying, and humorously ironic. [Jan 2005, p.80]

The fighting engine is too simple, too easy to exploit, and just, well...you know, average.[Holiday 2004, p.78]

More than just singing to words on a screen. It's an actual game that rates your performance with a vocal analyzer that scores how well you stayed on key. [Holiday 2004, p.80]

You'll be surprised and stunned by some of the turns that not only imbue the story with great depth and meaning, but indelibly impact the actual game you're playing... Halo 2 is the single greatest achievement on the platform. [Dec 2004, p.44]

Or at least if it were more wildly satirical. Instead, it falls somewhere in between: the middle of the road where nothing really interesting happens except the same repetitive and boring tasks. [Holiday 2004, p.70]

It's the lack of real depth that will definitely bore serious gamers, but for the under-six set, Spyro is very easy to get into and understand. [Holiday 2004, p.87]

With the single-player game so clearly in focus, it's disappointing that it plods along so unevenly, and at times, progress feels like you're wading through molasses rather than zipping through the ether. [Jan 2005, p.78]

The kooky cutesy Japanese art is perhaps a bit too goofy, and the gameplay is solid, if slightly too easy at first, but prepare to waste a lot of time playing - this title is EXTREMELY hard to put down. [Oct 2004, p.66]

This Frankenstein-like "FF meets LOTR" formula ends up satisfying no one. [Holiday 2004, p.70]

For 20 bucks, this is almost a must-have for the old-school Sega nut inside us all. [Holiday 2004, p.67]

Tantalizing. [Holiday 2004, p.86]

Desite this strictly linear gameplay, there are still times when you'll be confused as to what you're supposed to do next. That just doesn't equal a fun gaming experience by any stretch of the imagination. [Jan 2005, p.82]

Much more than a cheap commercialization; it's a meaty game that kids and some masochistic adults will enjoy endlessly. [Dec 2004, p.84]

The real strength of this game is the bounty of narrated, interactive tutorials that effectively demonstrate strategy, tactics, and psychological analysis of your opponent. [Jan 2005, p.82]

A respectful nod to the past with the luxury of the present. [Holiday 2004, p.66]

Though no aspect of it truly screams triple-A, the entire effort is one that patient players who can endure the early hours will surely enjoy. [Holiday 2004, p.84]

The game is charming in its simplicity. [Holiday 2004, p.80]

For a game that's meant to be a goofy and irreverent take on the usually stuffy golf world, Outlaw Golf 2 is a surprisingly good golf sim. [Nov 2004, p.77]

Beyond its gorgeous surface trappings, Otogi 2 may not be as deep or satisfying as "Ninja Gaiden," but the minute you rack up a 200-hit combo or smack the snot out of a gaggle of headless ghouls, there's no denying it - Otogi 2 deserves to be experienced by all gamers who have a spot for pretty things and are unafraid to get in touch with their button-mashing side. [Nov 2004, p.82]

It's no "Mario 64," and an occasionally irksome camera frustrates, but Scaler is an enjoyable $20 game. [Jan 2005, p.74]

The phrase "style over substance" comes to mind, which is a shame...Men of Valor adds up to not much more than a run-of-the-mill police action. [Dec 2004, p.68]

Combat is sluggish and mediocre...Merely a shell of the quartet's former glory. [Holiday 2004, p.68]

A big, deep game with more than 50 tough missions and sturdy Xbox Live support, and while it lacks a certain mass-market sparkle, its gameplay will thrill the niche of gamers that it attracts. [Dec 2004, p.84]

The graphics are noticeably better, the gameplay is expanded upon, and it's twice as bloody as the first game. [Holiday 2004, p.67]

Even though none of the missions are worthy of the term "challenging," Ty 2 is a vanilla alternative to bazooka-toting commandos and is good fun for kids. [Dec 2004, p.74]

Infinitely playable, online and off. [Dec 2004, p.99]

While Tak 2 won't score points for innovation, it delivers enough humor and action to satisfy your platforming desires. [Dec 2004, p.82]

But what's really a labor of love is all the bonus material - historical info, original poster and advertising art, and behind-the-scenes videos with the games' creators. [Nov 2004, p.85]

Quality standards may have been different a year or two ago, but as a "new release" today, Yager ultimately crashes and burns as a poor "Crimson Skies" imitator. [Nov 2004, p.74]

If Syberia II has a serious flaw, it's that controlling Kate requires finesse. [Dec 2004, p.98]

I'm sure the folks behind this game would've been both pleased and amused to get a "6.9" score in this review. Sadly, this flaccid lump of code is barely worth a third of that. [Dec 2004, p.78]

Blend a super-cool license familiar to hardcore and casual gamers (and anime fans) with pedestrian gameplay and run-of-the-mill graphics, and you'll upset both fans attracted by the storied name and those hoping for a game that stands on its own merits. [Nov 2004, p.84]

It's not a question of whether or not you'll enjoy this latest deliciously gore-filled brawler; it's where you'll find the freakin' time to fully explore everything the game offers. [Dec 2004, p.86]

With tons of user-customizable elements, hones core gameplay, and plenty of surprises to discover and explore, no other action sports game can touch Tony Hawk's Underground 2. [Dec 2004, p.64]

SvC will make the hardcore audience that lives for technical fighting games extremely happy; most other gamers will be left wondering what all the fuss is about. [Dec 2004, p.90]

Even if you're frustrated by dying on a jump for the 50th time, you'll still think it's funny as hell. [Dec 2004, p.73]

It's straight arcade action all the way, and it lets you re-create some of your favorite fights from all five of the Stallone films. [Holiday 2004, p.78]

The on-court action is a monstrous, 52-inch vertical leap forward in authenticity and immersion. [Dec 2004, p.88]

With its greater depth, online play, and the same extraordinary realism, fans will find this release a worthy purchase.[Nov 2004, p.88]

The controls feel loose and non-responsive, which makes executing everything from a simple dunk to a pick-and-roll more exasperating than it should be. [Dec 2004, p.89]

At least the game thoughfully provides a Yee Haw button for sharing its thrills...not that it'll get much use. [Holiday 2004, p.87]

All mini-game are extremely simplistic, and range in difficulty from absurdly easy to hair-pullingly frustrating. [Holiday 2004, p.80]

Everything that you need to get your flabby butt in shape is included in Yourself!Fitness, except for the equipment, which isn't a requirement. [Jan 2005, p.74]

Some innovations (like the group combo system) work well, while others don't (the out-of-place cel-shaded characters). As an addictive substance, Legends is pure X-tasy. [Dec 2004, p.94]

Stumbles because of sloppy, annoying controls. [Dec 2004, p.96]

It's a sweet ride, but even a novice player should finish within eight hours. And with no multiplayer, you've no reason to go back and play again. [Nov 2004, p.76]

Doesn't feel as complete as it should. But the sheer intensity and scale of the battles, as well as the expertly crafted environments and diversity of characters, make it work better than you'd expect. [Nov 2004, p.86]

A better, more realistic game than last year's, but its still-vicious checking system might turn off hardcore hockey enthusiasts. [Oct 2004, p.80]

Expertly balanced, with tons of options to keep you improving either your golfer or your wardrobe or your course. [Nov 2004, p.80]

Major kudos are in order for accomplishing the goal of creating an RPG where you truly have an immense amount of freedom. [Nov 2004, p.72]

With a cast more than 20 strong, and move sets that are as well-balanced and diverse as they are visually incomprehensible, #Reload's gameplay parallels its absurd-but-charming title in terms of completeness and gameplay sophistication. [Oct 2004, p.62]

Even with the grisly and serious subject matter, Shellshock doesn't add up to anything more than a by-the-book shooter that completely relies on trigger elements to keep each action sequence fresh. [Oct 2004, p.84]

Tries to be more than a straight shooter, requiring you to use cover and tactics. But it's like putting a turbocharger on a Yugo: pointless. [Jan 2005, p.74]

Fighting tanks, getting ambushed, and creeping through jungles provide enough variety to keep armchair generals satisfied. [Nov 2004, p.85]

Even with a new action-oriented emphasis, the game's targetting system, spotty collision detection, and lead-footed "companion" in the game's second half means it doesn't exactly handle like a dream. [Oct 2004, p.72]

Powersliding through a curve at 75 mph and missing a tractor trailer by a hair's breadth should prompt a few calls to your cardiologist. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll scream until you giggle. The pure visceral experience of Burnout 3 is as intense as racing gets. [Oct 2004, p.58]

Surpisingly but appealingly worth your time and money. [Nov 2004, p.84]

It's truly a surreal (and kind of sleazy) videogame experience to be watching a scantily-clad, silicone-enhanced woman gyrating on-screen as a reward for your racing skills. [Oct 2004, p.82]

Maybe little kids would like it. But do kids really want a game where you sneak up on dull robots because you're not allowed to kill anything? [Feb 2004, p.82]

Casting and reeling are both saddled with overly sensitive controls and there's little instruction as to how to work each lure type. With an unimpresive graphics engine, this one is a candidate to be tossed back. [Oct 2004, p.74]

Provides hours of well-polished, addictive gameplay. [Nov 2004, p.89]

In no way has the gameplay quality suffered in order to get this game on shelves for a mere $20. In fact, it's become better overall, amidst a couple of steps back and a few more forward. [Oct 2004, p.78]

It's a game you'll have fun with for a while...until your brain starts to hurt from the randomness of it all. [Dec 2004, p.84]

The Guy Game's trivia-based party-game core isn't fun or interesting enough to justify the ooze you'll feel covered with after watching one dumb, drunk, or disinterested girl after another reveal her chest to a horde of sweaty virgins. [Nov 2004, p.89]

It's about beautifully crisp handling, absorbing gameplay that rewards both finesse and testosterone, and a relentless stream of holy-four-letter-word moments of automotive annihilation. [Dec 2004, p.96]

Madden's AI is generally solid, but still way too susceptible to an aggressive passing attack. [Sept 2004, p.82]

The triggers control the flippers, and the ball physics are outstanding - every hit feels like it has real weight. [Nov 2004, p.77]

Solid shooter fun; it's just not the mind-altering experience we've grown accustomed to seeing out of this studio. [Sept 2004, p.76]

Just try getting Rhama to climb up a wall, and watch the camera flail around behind you. Puzzles are clever, but that doesn't mean they're fun. Boss battles are repetitive, and at times, insanely drawn out. [Sept 2004, p.74]

Most maddening is the game's unstable framerate. [Oct 2004, p.76]

Stylish visuals and a skintight catsuit can't save Catwoman from baffling controls (jump is the right shoulder button?), repetitive combat sequences, and predictable AI. [Oct 2004, p.74]

Not only is ESPN an outrageously inexpensive AAA-level game, it's also the best NFL title on the Xbox at any price. [Sept 2004, p.83]

This is easily the most realistically simulated home field advantage in all of digital sports. [August 2004]

Though the inclusion of sometimes mind-numbing "climb the tower" segments in Story Mode, as well as occasional enemy AI that ranges from stupid to cheap, keep it from mass-scale beat-'em-up greatness, Samurai Warriors satisfies an appetite for destruction in a way that few other games can. [Aug 2004, p.80]

Slinging, jumping, and crawling your way up to the very tip of the Empire State Building and surveying the traffic below is almost worth the price of admission alone. [Sept 2004, p.78]

In the end, the arcade-y goodness of SlugFest is fun with your friends, but if Midway wants to earn respect as a single-player sim, it has a long way to go. [July 2004, p.82]

All we're left with is an arena full of great classic wrestlers, still wishing they were in a better game. [Aug 2004, p.83]

It's an amateur music maker's tool, but a very potent and easy-to-use one and everyone from hardcore wannabe producers to b-boys sitting around Mom's living room really should have it in their library. [Aug 2004, p.84]

Fails to measure up to Codemasters' other fine racing titles. [Aug 2004, p.84]

Playing DRIV3R is as much of a chore as watching some crappy old cop movie at 3:00 A.M. All we want to do is close our eyes and make it all go away. [Sept 2004, p.80]

If you've ever played a platformer, you've seen it all before, and Memorick doesn't push any envelopes. [Sept 2004, p.84]

While it doesn't have the style of "Halo" or the myriad of gameplay choices like "Splinter Cell," Shadow Ops is a decent throwback to simpler shooter times when running and gunning was all that is to be expected. [Aug 2004, p.77]

The union of the overtly realistic (and sometimes troublesomely so) Havok physics engine sharp visuals, and a staggering amount of extra content make this a smooth ride until some of the slightly more cumbersome activities in Psi-Ops' later levels. [Aug 2004, p.81]

Death would have been better than lifeless mess. [Aug 2004, p.80]

Plus there's no Quidditch - what's with that noise? [Aug 2004, p.78]

What's fundamentally so appealing and refreshing is how Full Spectrum Warrior is a breath of fresh air nor not one but two genres, with the unique gameplay, stellar presentation, and sweet two-player Xbox Live co-op play adding up to make this a winner. [Aug 2004, p.74]

This cracking game also proves the Xbox truly is the only console capable of running games with this level of immersion...Riddick should be waved in the face of every PS2 fanboy with a taunting "nyah, nyah." [Aug 2004, p.72]

It's tough in the way classic arcade games make you dump good quarter after bad - pitching you against waves of enemies, offering loads of alternate paths, and serving up some seriously demented import-centric humor. [July 2004, p.78]

The tense atmosphere conjured in the Thief universe is fantastic. [July 2004, p.74]

The pace is slow - even for a tactical title - and once you figure out that "strategy" here consists entirely of shooting something, then finding a place to hide, you've pretty much cracked the whole enchilada. [June 2004, p.81]

As it is, the game plays it safe with a by-the-numbers kill-fest that's fast and fun while it lasts, but ultimately, like the movie, feels more like a matinee. [Aug 2004, p.78]

Almost every facet's been upgraded - and somehow it's faster and even more of a blast than the original. [June 2004, p.70]

An amazing-looking sports sim backed by great commentary, improved animations, and better tactical awareness of the AI-players. If you missed "FIFA 2004," this will tide you over admirably until, well, next year! [Aug 2004, p.82]

RDR creatively captures the feel and flavor of classic Westerns, while remaining an absolute twitchy-fingered hoot to play. [July 2004, p.80]

It feels like you've played this game before because you have. [June 2004, p.72]

Don't avoid buying Manhunt because it's sick; avoid Manhunt because it has virtually no redeemable gameplay quality, period. [July 2004, p.87]