If you demand the ultimate in presentation and extras, look no further than Madden NFL 2004. [Grade = A+; Sept 2003, p.86]

Probably the best Mario Kart game since the original. [Dec 2005, p.75]

High praise for taking what felt like an idea in Assassin’s Creed and turned it into one of the year’s most ambitious and enjoyable games.

As much as I like Project Gotham as a series, my heart belongs to Ridge Racer and Gran Turismo. [Dec 2003, p.58]

The world is compelling in its visual completeness, serving up an inescapable web of despair, loneliness and isolation. [Jan 2006, p.38]

Bayonetta’s across-the-boards perfection can’t be measured by any scale. It’s simply in a class by itself. This is where games need to go for my money. Platinum knows no bounds. A modern-day masterpiece.

With 16 players and 16 guns blazing, the game is violent bliss, and certainly a war demanding to be fought over and over again. [Apr 2006, p.58]

The bold visuals, mechanics, story, and characters are brought together with a seemingly effortless charm. [Dec 2003, p.94]

The game is so fun and addicting, and the environments so brimming with goodness, you'll care not. Too bad the art is lacking. [Jan 2004, p.64]

EA Sports BIG and developer NuFX, Inc. have taken their nearly flawless game and made it that much better, taking it to a whole new level in terms of graphics, gameplay, sound and presentation... Right when you pop in the game, you know you're in for a good time. [Apr 2003, p.72]

A wonderfully entertaining adventure -- one of those rare treats that rises above what we've come to expect in a typical video game, of any genre, surprising us with bursts of originality and engaging us with classic sensibilities worked with such skill that we forget we're playing a game, fully immersed in the conflict of its world. [Nov 2003, p.76]

For a mere $20, Sega's game is every bit as deep, feature-rich and addictive as EA's powerhouse. I'm not saying that 2K5 is better than "Madden"...but it's just as good - no joke. [Sept 2004, p.84]

Phantom Hourglass is absolutely worth playing and is certainly one of the better games in the DS library, but its quest is one of the less memorable entries in the Zelda cannon. [Oct 2007, p.96]

With a revamped Dynasty mode, a new batting system, and my favorite feature, Big Play Control, MVP Baseball 2004 is the complete package. [Apr 2004, p.73]

A remarkably deep military strategy game. [Sept 2005, p.62]

Every wreck is a visual affair to be savored and a delightful treat for a job nastily done. [Oct 2005, p.66]

Art is at the core of Panzer Dragoon Orta, and it permeates every facet of the game, from the gross to the subtle. [Jan 2003, p.24]

The game has undoubtedly improved in a number of ways in its transition to PC as a Developer's Cut, making it an essential experience on the platform. [Feb 2005, p.72]

With a revamped Dynasty mode, a new batting system, and my favorite feature, Big Play Control, MVP Baseball 2004 is the complete package. [Apr 2004, p.73]

Where else can you skate to Iron Maiden, AC/DC, De La Soul, Public Enemy and the Sex Pistols? "Evolution Skateboarding"? Yeah, right! [Dec 2002, p.76]

What makes Okami so timeless is an art style that trancends technology. It looks as new today as it did in 2006. [Apr 2008, p.40]

If you missed this one the first time out (for shame!), here's your chance to play the definitive version of not just the year's best portable offering, but one of the year's most engaging titles offered on any platform. It's a living, breathing Liberty City in the palm of your hand.

There's something about the relative simplicity of the first one that mighit appeal to me more, but I certainly like everthing they've added here in this great sequel. [Oct 2004, p.70]

Instead, the developers have wrapped up the Metroid Prime trilogy by taking everything that past installments did well and doing it ever-so-slightly better. [Oct 2007, p.83]

Player animations and transitions are seamless; it will astound you how versatile the movements are in the game. [Apr 2005, p.77]

A basic first-person shooter with the action quotient set on full throttle, but everything about TimeSplitters 2 is handled skillfully and stylishly, pieced together with a scintillating polish. [Nov 2002, p.64]

This is the definitive version of Viewtiful Joe. [Sept 2004, p.73]

Impossible to put down. [Mar 2002, p.46]

Players will spend most of their time in the new Play Now mode. Here, you're given 50 scenarios where you are immediately thrown into the heart of competition. [Dec 2002, p.90]

In its 15th year, this well-oiled machine enters the 2005 season with one of the finest football games ever crafted. Raising the bar to an unheard of level, Madden 2005 is football at its very best. [Aug 2004, p.73]

The true star of the ESPN NHL Hockey is the play-by-play commentary. Courtesy of ESPN's Gary Throne and Bill Clement, this is some of the best commentary I've ever heard in a hockey game. [Jan 2004, p.80]

It's one of the best games of the year. [Dec 2005, p.56]

Every wreck is a visual affair to be savored and a delightful treat for a job nastily done. [Oct 2005, p.66]

DQ8 is the epitome and ultimate maturation of traditional role-playing, nothing more, nothing less. [Nov 2005, p.26]

They've taken a beloved classic game, reinvented it, rethought it, retooled it, and come up with a new game that is not only better, but vastly superior in almost every way. [Feb 2004, p.52]

The level of customization is simply astounding. In addition to the typical options like face, hair color, eye color and facial hair, players can change the structure of their cheek, chin and jaws. And not just the appearance, but the width, height and length too. [Oct 2003, p.84]

Brilliant...Indeed, it's the kind of game that you find yourself playing in your head as you fall asleep at night, counting Pikmin, as it were. [Feb 2002, p.56]

For V3, the player models have photorealistic heads and faces - you can actually see facial details and markings. The development team even incorporated cloth animations. [Feb 2005, p.75]

The word of mouth on this game is going to be great, unless your friends only play WiiFit. Demon’s Souls is what an 8-Bit game would play like if it were popped open and dumped out in your lap. Gorgeous, thoughtful, and complete unto itself, it’s the second-best title I’ve played this year. Maybe even better.

NHL 2K3's biggest accomplishment is without question the AI: it is absolutely brilliant - especially the goalie. [Jan 2003, p.84]

Although the player models look better than they do in EA's game, the movements aren't as fluid. Some of the animations (especially passing) are a little awkward. [Nov 2002, p.88]

NHL 2K3's biggest accomplishment is without question the AI: it is absolutely brilliant - especially the goalie. [Jan 2003, p.84]

Could be the deepest action-RPG ever in terms of story. Jade is loaded with quests, breathtaking panoramas and tomes of love. [May 2005, p.48]

The game is so fun and addicting, and the environments so brimming with goodness, you'll care not. Too bad the art is lacking. [Jan 2004, p.64]

Exhilarating and beautiful... For as much as the game is about speed and visual impact, it is also about feel and the overlooked art of track design. The game slams you in your seat, but it's also infused with the kind of stubtlety and attention to detail that only truly talented developers can muster. [Sept 2003, p.74]

For V3, the player models have photorealistic heads and faces - you can actually see facial details and markings. The development team even incorporated cloth animations. [Feb 2005, p.75]

The visuals at work here are arguably the best ever in high-speed, open-highway gameplay, especially considering the self-induced slow motion and course study, which is wicked cool. [Oct 2002, p.84]

Simply incredible. [March 2005, p.66]

By far the best college football game to date. [Aug 2004, p.74]

You don't need to be an experienced MMO player to have fun with this game, and you don't need a beast of a PC to run the game smoothly. [July 2005, p.80]

Despite being a bit burned out on the whole music-game craze, Guitar Hero 5's new features and ear-pleasing track list had me strumming and drumming on the plastic instrument peripherals all over again...and having a great time doing it.

The level of customization is simply astounding. In addition to the typical options like face, hair color, eye color and facial hair, players can change the structure of their cheek, chin and jaws. And not just the appearance, but the width, height and length too. [Oct 2003, p.84]

With a revamped Dynasty mode, a new batting system, and my favorite feature, Big Play Control, MVP Baseball 2004 is the complete package. [Apr 2004, p.73]

On its own merits, the game deserves purchase; it's near-perfect in its presentation, extremely fun to play, and always allows players to feel as if they've accomplished something. [Apr 2006, p.56]

This is the kind of game worth buying a DS for. [Oct 2005]

EA Sports BIG and developer NuFX, Inc. have taken their nearly flawless game and made it that much better, taking it to a whole new level in terms of graphics, gameplay, sound and presentation... Right when you pop in the game, you know you're in for a good time. [Apr 2003, p.72]

The game consistently looks and sounds incredible. [May 2004, p.60]

Possibly the best AI ever found in an RTS. [Aug 2003, p.77]

Without question, the must-have racing game for any fan of the sport. [Apr 2003, p.69]

For the rest of you, Persona 3 FES is one of the best RPGs the PS2 has ever received, and one of the console's proudest moments period. [May 2008, p.58]

For 2003, Sega has upped the ante once again and has developed a near-perfect baseball game. [Apr 2003, p.70]

This game is everything FPS and movie games need to be, chewing up and spitting out the vast majority of the competition. [July 2004, p.68]

No question, every game in the series has felt great, but this one is in another league. [Apr 2005, p.58]

GT what? DiRT 2 is the real deal, capturing the thrill of rally racing in one hell of a slick package. Play it for the mud sliding physics alone.

Transfixing. [May 2005, p.67]

About as close to true perfection as games are gonna get right now.

In the very opening, when Bowser surreptitously swipes the Princess, any Mario fan will smile in newfound satisfaction, ready to re-live, perhaps for the first time since that first time, what it's like to play a gem of a Nintendo game. [Jun 2006, p.52]

When you face a player, it's almost like a fighting game: who will execute the proper move first? [Nov 2003, p.104]

Come game time, stellar graphics - easily the best ever for any tennis game - are center court, along with astutely tuned AI - staunch but never frustrating, always in league with your rank. [Nov 2003, p.107]

The level of customization is simply astounding. In addition to the typical options like face, hair color, eye color and facial hair, players can change the structure of their cheek, chin and jaws. And not just the appearance, but the width, height and length too. [Oct 2003, p.84]

NHL 2K3's biggest accomplishment is without question the AI: it is absolutely brilliant - especially the goalie. [Jan 2003, p.84]

Instead of a series of self-contained challenges, Paradise offers up an open world where players are free to explore their inner vehicular homocidal maniac to their hearts' content. [Mar 2008, p.56]

It's challenging and furious fun, made only better by multiplayer. [May 2005, p.70]

Together with a deep career mode, eight new courses (14 total) and, of course, online gameplay, this latest Tiger Woods is as good as it gets. [Oct 2004, p.88]

EA Sports BIG and developer NuFX, Inc. have taken their nearly flawless game and made it that much better, taking it to a whole new level in terms of graphics, gameplay, sound and presentation... Right when you pop in the game, you know you're in for a good time. [Apr 2003, p.72]

Hits the mark as a sparkling XBLA action game, but misses the target as a Super Metroid/SotN-level experience.

For V3, the player models have photorealistic heads and faces - you can actually see facial details and markings. The development team even incorporated cloth animations. [Feb 2005, p.75]

With more of an emphasis on the intimate perils of war, the game feels fresh enough, but staggers in an attempt to draw us in to the characters. [May 2005, p.50]

Why risk changing an already perfect passing sytem? I guess when you're the only game in town, you can do what you want. [Oct 2005]

How they came up with a theme park run by a maniacal gear head hosting a tournament emceed by a pair of chickens I do not know [Nov p.87]

The ambitious use of sound, a component inexcusably overlooked too often, has always elevated this series, and here it continues to chill...We don't play MoH as much as have it happen to us. [June 2002, p.57]

Another amazingly deep fighting game that should leave fans floored. [Apr 2005, p.53]

Players will spend most of their time in the new Play Now mode. Here, you're given 50 scenarios where you are immediately thrown into the heart of competition. [Dec 2002, p.90]

To say that Psychonauts as finally brought the platforming epic out of the kiddy pool (if indeed you considered it wading there) would be a gross understatement. [Apr 2005, p.20]

I haven't played a puzzle game this addictive since "Tetris." [Aug 2005, p.57]

Naughty Dog use the PS3 to reinvigorate the adventure gaming experience, combining key elements that every gamer holds dear in a game that looks and feels like a blockbuster film. [Dec 2007, p.52]

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas is one of the few games I’ve played in which the squad-based gameplay works the way you’d imagine—more engrossing enhancement to the experience than a mechanical dead weight I’ve come to expect.

If you've never played a Quest game (and let's face it, not many in this country have), this is an awesome chance to find out why they're so great. [April 2002, p.68]

Together with a deep career mode, eight new courses (14 total) and, of course, online gameplay, this latest Tiger Woods is as good as it gets. [Oct 2004, p.88]

EA Chicago should be proud. It doesn't get much better than this. [Apr 2005, p.77]

Racing fans are lucky this launch season. [Jan 2006, p.46]

I celebrate this game, and congratulate Square for having the courage to localize a piece that is so thoroughly Japanese. [May 2008, p.64]

Players will spend most of their time in the new Play Now mode. Here, you're given 50 scenarios where you are immediately thrown into the heart of competition. [Dec 2002, p.90]

By far the best college football game to date. [Aug 2004, p.74]

The most realistic and technically advanced soccer game to date. It's almost too real. [Dec 2002, p.91]

The true star of the ESPN NHL Hockey is the play-by-play commentary. Courtesy of ESPN's Gary Throne and Bill Clement, this is some of the best commentary I've ever heard in a hockey game. [Jan 2004, p.80]

A basic first-person shooter with the action quotient set on full throttle, but everything about TimeSplitters 2 is handled skillfully and stylishly, pieced together with a scintillating polish. [Nov 2002, p.64]

Team Ninja oversold the sizzle, but this is still one hell of a steak. [July 2007, p.59]