Most of the voice acting is competent, but Tidus has such a whiny, wildly misplaced voice that nearly all his scenes become a drag. [Feb 2002, p.50]

For portable role playing on the go you can't do much better...okay, "Jeanne de Arc", but that's it. [Oct 2007, p.94]

But when so much is this good, a few hazards along the way don't ruin the hugely entertaining ride. [May 2007, p.61]

Although it lacks much of the polish we've come to expect from sandbox style titles such as GTA IV and inFAMOUS, navigating Prototype's world—while leaving a chunky bloodbath in your wake—as the remorseless Mercer packs more than its fair share of guilty-pleasure thrills.

Serious depth, a lush soundtrack and pretty visuals conspire to create a fine new addition to the genre. [Dec. 2006, p.101]

Performances by the movie cast (gotta love Skull's wisdom) and this is pretty much E-rated paradise. [Sept 2006, p.59]

Pure action and adventure stuffed with gorgeous models and adrenaline-charged action. Koei continue their domination of the population game. [Jan 2003, p.67]

The core designs that have marked this tactical-shooter franchise are well represented. [Dec 2005, p.74]

This is a quality adventure/platformer/shooter through and through. [Dec 2002, p.83]

The deeper you go, the better it gets, until it pretty much blows you away. [June 2003, p.58]

You'd be hard pressed to find better cartoon fodder. [Oct 2005, p.68]

My only focused gripe though is with the leaner trick system, which had been downgraded from implementation across the PS2's four shoulder buttons to a single PSP button. Small gripe. [May 2005, p.70]

Unlike "NHL 2K6," this one's been visually juiced, and it looks awesome. [Jan 2006, p.48]

What this game contains that is totally removed from everything else out there is a quirky, infectious, humorous character, one that seems to deeply reflect the personality of its makers. When you play it, you really sense a stamp of originality and zany flavor in its presentation and structure. [March 2005, p.48]

Has the market cornered on urban style in the massively multiplayer genre. [June 2005]

A superb first shot at what a serious boxing game could be like on Wii, utterly blwing Wii Sports' interpretation of the sport out of the water. [JPN Import; Oct 2007, p.101]

The biggest improvement is the overall visual quality of the game. [Apr 2003, p.71]

Just pretend it's seven or so years ago when all US localizations were crap and you'll be fine. [Dec 2005, p.61]

Moreover, Sega's done a fine job translating the control scheme for a game that demands precise movements to a controller that is, at best, imprecise. [Dec. 2006, p.58]

The game never advances the genre, but its use of a protective riot shield, one that progressively takes damage to the point where it's almost impossible to see through, is certainly a nice touch. [July 2006, p.72]

It's a bloody good time, and not even the most diseased, blood-crazed Santa Claus would put it on his naughty list. [Jan 2006, p.53]

[eM] is most impressive when placed in its proper context: From Software managed to craft a sprawling, 60-hour-long, traditional J-RPG on a next-generation platform in an incredibly short ammount of time....and it's actually pretty darn good. [Mar 2006, p.61]

The real prizes here, though, are Gradius II and Gradius Gaiden, which make their first appearance in the US along with a feast of never-before-seen extras. [June 2006, p.53]

As movie games go it's rare that we get anything original, so Arthur and the Invisibles is a welcome commodity even if the movie is getting unjustly hammered by critics. [Feb 2007, p.38]

For such an old game, Yoshi holds up spectacularly well in its look, existing as a quintessential portable experience. [Nov 2002, p.105]

Of all three games, the Xbox version is the clear winner, with perfect frame rates, the lowest load times, the best resolution and the best textures, but the 'Cube game runs a close second, a refreshing turn of events. [Jan 2003, p.76]

Shining Force offers small rewards every few minutes, and statisfies through a sort of goal-oriented mediation. [Mar 2007, p.54]

Were it not for some minor draw-in and the fact that it's a bit easy, I would call it the perfect Star Wars racer. [Mar 2002, p.42]

More importantly, it's necessary to use a teammate strategically, moving him around the battlefield like a chess piece. This war, you see, requires a brain. [Apr 2008, p.53]

Owners of both systems would be advised to pick up the Xbox version just for the subtle enhancements to the gameplay. [Mar 2002, p.49]

Unlike any other 3D fighters on the market. Midway has done an exceptional job of creating a brand new MK experience while still maintaining the old-school flavor that so many of us are familiar with. [Jan 2003, p.70]

As a first-gen next-gen FPS it succeeds where it needs to most, dazzling us with heretofore unimaginable worlds, deep online components, and one spectacular franchise player. [Jan 2006, p.44]

Improving upon the original in almost every way - story needs some work - Red Faction 2 is awesome. [Dec 2002, p.54]

I had hours of fun with Twisted anyway, but I prefer "Touched" or the original. [July 2005, p.82]

My appreciation for some of the best undead character design and animation I have ever seen, and an overall air of doom I can really sink my teeth into, far outweigh a few hiccups. [July 2002, p.76]

Its overall story...is simply impossible to resist and the dungeon design is marvelous. [Feb 2002, p.60]

If you enjoyed the silly, cynical and delightful whimsy of past Sam & Max adventures, this episode will bring that smile back for another couple of hours...if you can scrounge up a measly $8.95. [Dec 2007, p.97]

As a multiplayer game, Bomberman for DS is excellent. [Aug 2005, p.57]

A perfectly executed real-time strategy title, complete with an easy-to-master control set (a must for the limited button capabilities of the GBA) and a plot to match. [Feb 2002, p.68]

The play by play when applicable (while still a bit parrot-like) is seamless, the player models are so real you can smell the BO, and the replays so comprehensive you'll be picking the grass out of your teeth. [Aug 2002, p.69]

Aside from the usual -- parts loosening and eventually falling off, real-time deformation, etc. -- the cars in V3 accumulate dirt, mud and snow, in real-time including build up on the windshield that fades in progressively as you complete each leg. [Jan 2003, p.74]

Ah, battle...for it is here that the true potential of this title shines brightest. [Apr 2008, p.69]

This game smokes from start to much-too-abrupt ending. [Feb 2002, p.60]

A burning hot game of TM that's every bit as cool as "Black," Head-On rocks from the outset. [May 2005, p.69]

The grinding is good, the tricks are easy enough for a shlub to pull off, and Electronic Arts does a fine job of fleshing everything out with a series of animated pencil line drawings that jackhammer home the game's exceedingly cool style. [Nov p.93]

It's been too long since I've played an FPS that contains this much engaging challenge and fierce energy. [Oct 2002, p.80]

The game has visuals and personality to burn. [Feb 2002, p.66]

I would've enjoyed more variety in the enemy fodder, but what's available is certainly creepy and intense. Clive Barker should develop more games. [Nov 2007, p.65]

Caution and calculated planning provide the most satisfying rewards, taking the single-player experience into some unexpectedly satisfying territory. [Jan 2003, p.81]

The best installment of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise yet, and a great RPG in its own right. [Apr 2005, p.52]

Half-Life has matured with style. [Feb 2002, p.61]

Saying this game is visually stunning is an understatement. [Aug 2007, p.72]

Monkeys have taken over television broadcasting and are feeding the masses an endless torrent of stupefying garbage. [Mar 2006, p.42]

All's fair in love and war, and Ops is smart enough, thankfully, to make at least some of its battles count. [Jan. 2007, p.78]

To say that Kingdom Hearts is magical is an understatement. As cinematic experiences go, it's exquisite. It's not the finest in terms of action, but overall, it's wonderful. [Oct 2002, p.74]

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

Every fighter is incredibly big and extremely detailed. The animations are silky smooth and the combos just seem to meld into one another seamlessly. [Apr 2003, p.60]

I miss Fox's awesome fur mapping, but I guess getting Krystal as a permanent team member makes us even. [March 2005, p.59]

This Bandicoot's got plenty of gas left in his belly. Sometimes it smells, other times, it's fresh as a daisy. [Jan 2003, p.87]

The game is also beautiful beyond measure, with water, weaving grass, snow, mud, and other terrain effects that, at least for now, are pretty much unequalled, and boast sound effects to match. [Oct 2002, p.68]

Pursue this game. [Jan 2008, p.61]

What this game contains that is totally removed from everything else out there is a quirky, infectious, humorous character, one that seems to deeply reflect the personality of its makers. When you play it, you really sense a stamp of originality and zany flavor in its presentation and structure. [March 2005, p.48]

Suikoden V is easily twice as long as the next-longest title in the series, a length it achieves not with filler dungeons and needlessly frequent battles, but by sheer weight of story. [Apr 2006, p.57]

The game's biggest asset? The A.I. [May 2005, p.71]

It's exaggerated in its look and feel, but the balance between physical realism and fantasy-tuned fun is so engaging that you begin to forget that a racing game could be fashioned any other way. [May 2003, p.68]

Midway didn't over-think Rampage TD, rather, they made it look amazing while retaining and improving on the game's simplistic yet addictive gameplay. [May 2006, p.54]

It’s not without its flaws, but Joe manages to pack in plenty of third-person, fast-paced arcade-flavored fun. Addictive co-op, power-ups galore, and thumb-numbing action make it much more a modern-day Contra than another lame licensed effort.

THe matches are totally chaotic and a little bit out of control, but the game is an absolute blast to play, far more like an arcade game than most modern sports titles. [Sept 2002, p.73]

As expected, it plays and looks great on the GBA, only giving up a bit of res due to the LCD screen. [Oct 2002, p.86]

Velvet Assassin’s strengths are in its quiet, richly framed version of a World War II inside the head. The stealth mechanic is very specific and rigidly pattern based, but it presents its scenarios incredibly well.

There's a zoom/lock-on for ranged attacks; combos are strictly a one-button affair and you've never had this much fun tinkering with weapons, spells, and items--I guarantee it. [Jan 2008, p.52]

Although it lacks much of the polish we've come to expect from sandbox style titles such as GTA IV and inFAMOUS, navigating Prototype's world—while leaving a chunky bloodbath in your wake—as the remorseless Mercer packs more than its fair share of guilty-pleasure thrills.

The graphics couldn't be better. Everything is modeled to match the look of the show, then bathed in the same color palette and given life through hardware. [June 2002, p.60]

BBA can only keep you entertained for so long before you tire of its routine. [Aug 2006, p.64]

The dicey AI and super cool pit-stop mini-games actually make driving in a circle fun, and on the 360 the venues look absolutely stunning. [Dec. 2006, p.72]

This EQ 2 all-in-one pack also includes a 30 day subscription, so if you've always wanted to see what the game is made of, Echoes of Faydwer is the perfect opportunity. [Jan. 2007, p.94]

If you love fighting games, you should consider Clash of Ninja 3, regardless whether you love or hate Naruto. Until Tatsunoko vs Capcom hits next year, it might be as the box declares, the Best Fighting Game on the Wii.

Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]

What sets Stella Deus apart from its predecessors, aside from its unique look... is the immensity and complexity of the overall quest. [May 2005, p.36]

They don't make 3D fighters more beautiful and fluid than Dead or Alive 4. [Mar 2006, p.43]

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a thematic triumph that makes you look past the gameplay lumps. Come for the western fantasy, revel in the visual presentation and get a decent shot of first-person action in between.

What absolutely makes the game are the addictive side-scrolling real-time battles. [Aug 2006, p.65]

An absolutely stunning effort, a combination of hubris and execution that left me giddy with delight. [Dec 2002, p.66]

Improved in every way. [Oct 2002, p.83]

Samurai Champloo is by no means perfect--the repetition bug nibbles away now and again and the characters lack subtle animation nuances such as walking--but for what it is, and more over what its fans expect, it smells pretty damn sweet. [Apr 2006, p.47]

Slick sci-fi palettes, strong sound design and stable performance pull you into Section 8. Sub-orbital drops, zippy character movement and effortless mission tracking make navigation dynamic and fun. A scarcely adequate campaign means life for S8 proceeds online, where teamplay is rewarding, the loadout system is fairly nuanced, and both 360 and PC enjoy detailed multiplayer portals.

The bizarre and unique world of Zenozoik separates Zeno Clash from so many other games that some minor faults still make it worth checking out. It doesn’t hurt that the mechanics of combat are excellent and stand out on their own.

One of the improvements over Rivals is tighter feel in control, and the visual style takes a turn for the better. [Dec 2005, p.74]

Generally speaking, if you like exploration, platforming, physics-based action and a good puzzle, this is as fresh an action-adventure as you're going to find, and the character designs are nothing short of perfection. [June 2007, p.79]

I welled up every time she said "f--ker" or went into her slow-motion death dance after killing a particularly high-ranking official. [Nov 2002, p.77]

You may have been expecting yet another "Crash" afterthought scheming to fleece you of another fiddy, but this is a rebirth well worth the investment. [Nov 2007, p.68]

But the surprise is that they'll enjoy every minute of it; with a wide variety of mission objectives, enemies, purchasable weapons and unlockable characters, Snoopy vs. The Red Baron never stops trying to please. [Dec. 2006, p.66]

Still: warts and all, this is among the best fighters for the system. [Dec 2007, p.82]

I welled up every time she said "f--ker" or went into her slow-motion death dance after killing a particularly high-ranking official. [Nov 2002, p.77]

Control is natural and fast, and a simple command interface makes Smash Court pure fun to pay. [Mar 2002, p.52]

A hand-drawn RPG incorporating exquisite detail and a blazing new look to battle sequences, it's the best thing to happen to portable role playing perhaps ever. [Feb 2002, p.65]

Seemingly everything in the world of FlatOut is destructible, and you wouldn't believe how many crates and barrels there are lying around old country roads. [Oct 2007, p.88]

I would've enjoyed more variety in the enemy fodder, but what's available is certainly creepy and intense. Clive Barker should develop more games. [Nov 2007, p.65]