As any gamer will tell you, it's not necessarily about the innovative pathways a title forges, but in how it handles - and Tork handles the curves smoothly. [March 2005, p.79]

It doesn't have the clever story or wacked-out writing of "GTA", but it trumps that game so severely when it comes to doing the same kind of gameplay that it deserves its own sub-genre of clones. [Feb 2005, p.78]

Hardcore MechWarrior fans who won't play online much may be disappointed with MechAssault 2. But for Live addicts/multiplayer buffs, expect big returns on your investment. [Feb 2005, p.82]

Delivers lots of slick new ways to prance with the pigskin, but over time, the experience lacks the feeling of next-level evolution that defines a great sequel. [Feb 2005, p.72]

Sure, it's got a few unique nuances, but in the end, a half-assed game deserves a half-assed score. [Feb 2005, p.84]

A clunky interface is your gateway to placeholder text, graphical glitches, and other telltale signs of simply not giving a crap.[March 2005, p.84]

The creators at Obsidian have crafted an amazingly compelling story with just the right tweaks and upgrades to keep the action fresh. [Jan 2005, p.30]

Warrior Within is not perfect - there's too much backtracking, too many low-poly character models, recurring cheap deaths on small platforms - but it's the closest the adventure genre will come to it in this generation of systems. [Dec 2004, p.30]

Taking your talents onto Xbox Live is the real key. [March 2005, p.84]

Entertaining, but hardly groundbreaking. [Holiday 2004, p.64]

If you're already on the booty-shakin'-wagon, all the Live options make it worth a spin. [Holiday 2004, p.68]

If you wish your home had room for a pinball table, put this in your collection. [Feb 2005, p.80]

Demon Stone is absolutely relentless. [Jan 2005, p.81]

The defensive side of EA Sports' game is like the St. John's men's team: weak and vulnerable. [Holiday 2004, p.82]

This year we're picking Sega's game over EA Sports' - it just feels more like the real thing. [Holiday 2004, p.82]

A decent experience, but not one you're likely to spend much time with. [Jan 2005, p.72]

Ah yes, multiplayer. It is an incredible experience...While single-player is mostly solid, multiplayer is, like the original game, GR2's real star. [Holiday 2004, p.74]

With better graphics and better (read: more fun) controls, Crash 'n Burn could be a standout racer. [Holiday 2004, p.87]

It's simultaneously better and worse than the original. [Holiday 2004, p.68]

Lots of blood, but not enough meat. [Jan 2005, p.84]

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]