Everything's designed with a master's eye for first-person intensity, extensively crafted and technicaly superb. [Dec 2004,p.75]

A wondrous adventure filled with great gameplay. [Jan 2005, p.68]

Some dull environments and lame voice over, as well as steep hardware requirements, might chase you away to... whiter pastures. [Jan 2005, p.76]

Injects skillfully deployed melee combat infiltration, platforming and a wealth of well-honed play mechanics into a sortie-based operation that puts the player on the receiving end of intel direct from Section 9 itself. [Nov 2004, p.74]

Impeccably made, and full of Nintendo-land cheer. [Jan 2005, p.70]

Scrapland is a pretty shocking effort from a small developer, in terms of ambition and production quality. [Dec 2004, p.86]

Online's not bad at all, but certainly nothing that will keep you locked in for hours. [Jan 2005, p.68]

You've got virtual movie sets to demolish, ships to fly, buggies to battle in, turrets to command, inventively integrated puzzles. [Dec 2004, p.68]

Not a title that you'd likely want to spend much time with alone, but can be a good deal of fun in a party environment or for younger players. [Jan 2004, p.67]

Whether head shot or grenade to the feet or shotgun blast at point-blank, aiming your weapon never feels efficiently precise. [Dec 2004, p.60]

The fighting manages to feel nimble while still providing a sense of awesome scale, which had to be an extremely hard balance to strike. [Nov 2004, p.60]

Better suited for those who want to play an impressive companion piece to the movies rather than play a compelling RPG. [Dec 2004, p.62]

You'll use every technical trick in the book to survive, or else degenerate into a frenzy of button-mashing delight. [Dec 2004, p.76]

Some of the changes are hits, others are misses, but the bottom line is that this is another quality effort from Yuke's and THQ. [Dec 2004, p.102]

If you don't already have these excellent games, then Mega Collection Plus is an awesome investment. [Nov 2004, p.76]

Better suited for those who want to play an impressive companion piece to the movies rather than play a compelling RPG. [Dec 2004, p.62]

If you don't already have these excellent games, then Mega Collection Plus is an awesome investment. [Nov 2004, p.76]

Better suited for those who want to play an impressive companion piece to the movies rather than play a compelling RPG. [Dec 2004, p.62]

The feeling of being cornered, your only weapon an ancient camera that disembodies the spirit of the ghost, is unmatched. [Nov 2004, p.76]

The graphics look great and feel slick, giving you the ability to flesh out some of the film's more memorable sequences. [Jan 2005, p.70]

As a Vietnam War shooter, with its strong themes and unforgiving violence, Men of Valor succeeds. [Dec 2004, p.85]

Even though the action is stiff, the animation poor and the controls occasionally not as responsive as I'd like, I'm able to overlook it simply because there aren't too many four-player co-op action games out there, let alone ones with platforming elements generously incorporated into the mix - but I'd never play it solo. [Oct 2004, p.77]

One of the best-looking and certainly best-playing rally games ever. You will be astounded by the car models and amaze to the incredibly realistic way they take damage, right down to paint being flicked off. [Nov 2004, p.56]

The game is designed in such a way that it behooves the player to not just pass levels but excel at them. [Jan 2005, p.69]

The game is designed in such a way that it behooves the player to not just pass levels but excel at them. [Jan 2005, p.69]

True to its unrefined hero, THe Bard's Tale could use a little more class, depth and sophistication. Which certainly doesn't mean they're still not entertaining company to keep. [Nov 2004, p.50]

Bigger and richer in every way - a near bottomless game painted end-to-end with stuff to do, or not. As far as free-form gaming goes, it remains the pinnacle. [Jan 2005, p.57]

This is one fine-looking brawler, from the animations to the active, gorgeously detailed tiered arenas to the scintillating effects. [Dec 2004, p.56]

True to its unrefined hero, THe Bard's Tale could use a little more class, depth and sophistication. Which certainly doesn't mean they're still not entertaining company to keep. [Nov 2004, p.50]

What's important here is the execution and level of player involvement, not that we haven't done all this before, because we have. And believe me, I was involved. [Dec 2004, p.78]

It's nice to be able to save high scores in this version. [Dec 2004, p.100]

The music is still awesome. I want "Contra" next! [Dec 2004, p.100]

A great adventure. It's this combination of unique elements that creates and action-RPG experience unlike any other, and it still holds up well today. [Dec 2004, p.100]

If you want Metroid, get "Zero Mission" instead. [Dec 2004, p.100]

Similarly appealing are the game's various challenges, like trying to impress your date by drifting; you know you're doing well because all these hearts are flying out of your car. [Nov 2004, p.75]

On top of being genuinely funny, taking stabs at the game's hysterically exaggerated stereotypes, it's a great game of golf too. [Oct 2004, p.89]

A mesmerizing tone dominates the heavily Japanese landscape, built off of a rich spirit of what feels like ancient folklore and mysticism. This translates - brilliantly, tangibly - into the connection with the combat and the control of the characters. [Oct 2004, p.71]

A sweet ride (especially for a value title) if you can stomach the almost blindingly psychedelic graphics and the talkiest character since Awesome Possum. [Dec 2004, p.81]

Apoplectic shooting action that doesn't let us catch our breath till the hard-fought score is tallied up at the end of the level. [Nov 2004, p.48]

These games are just fun. Short, but fun. [Nov 2004, p.76]

Even though the action is stiff, the animation poor and the controls occasionally not as responsive as I'd like, I'm able to overlook it simply because there aren't too many four-player co-op action games out there, let alone ones with platforming elements generously incorporated into the mix - but I'd never play it solo. [Oct 2004, p.77]

I think maybe Konami went overboard in some cases - specifically with the deteriorating inventory items and a severely stingy continue system (you have to pay to continue, and then you only get half your health back.) [Nov 2004, p.89]

We're treated to slow-paced gameplay hindered by arbitrary rules - having to start every stage without your weapon, and being forced to sneak around the level to find it, is a huge contrivance. [Nov 2004, p.90]

Even though the action is stiff, the animation poor and the controls occasionally not as responsive as I'd like, I'm able to overlook it simply because there aren't too many four-player co-op action games out there, let alone ones with platforming elements generously incorporated into the mix - but I'd never play it solo. [Oct 2004, p.77]

Even though the action is stiff, the animation poor and the controls occasionally not as responsive as I'd like, I'm able to overlook it simply because there aren't too many four-player co-op action games out there, let alone ones with platforming elements generously incorporated into the mix - but I'd never play it solo. [Oct 2004, p.77]

The four Kirbys apsect is also a decent idea: I don't see the need for the forced CPU-controlled allies in single-player mode, but having a multiplayer option is indeed cool. [Dec 2004, p.100]

The most powerful twist in the real-time narrative involves the travel from past to present and person to person. [Nov 2004, p.82]

While playing B2 on PS2 makes you appreciate the Xbox version all the more, by PS2 standards, TR has done a great job of cramming it into the PS2 shell. [Dec 2004, p.81]

The action is intense and the combat remains fun, but the game just doesn't feel as crisp as what I'd expect from KOF. [Nov 2004, p.71]

Strikes just the right chords for creepy gameplay, plus the inclusion of Dante is definitely cool. [Oct 2004, p.75]

To say Ty 2 is big would be an understatement. Krome has Super Sized it, spreading their funky animal kingdom as far and wide as the outback itself. [Dec 2004, p.81]

A game teeming with possibilities. Too bad it's stuffed into essentially an arena-battle format where the goal is just to score points while competing against the clock and other opponent. [Oct 2004, p.77]

Almost an exact clone of the previous game - the modes, the moves, the detailed but somewhat stiff animation, even half the character roster. [Nov 2004, p.90]

Many a developer has thrown hordes of warriors on screen to methodically mow through, but no one has ever captured the visceral beauty and brutality of medieval war like Phantagram has in Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders. [Sept 2004, p.58]

What Terminal Reality has managed to create in the two years succeeding the Bloodrayne debut borders on miraculous. [Nov 2004, p.72]

To say Ty 2 is big would be an understatement. Krome has Super Sized it, spreading their funky animal kingdom as far and wide as the outback itself. [Dec 2004, p.81]

To say Ty 2 is big would be an understatement. Krome has Super Sized it, spreading their funky animal kingdom as far and wide as the outback itself. [Dec 2004, p.81]

Tak 2 is a solid day's worth of trippy fun and visual euphoria...but they had to check "epic" at the door to make it happen. [Nov 2004, p.52]

The interface has been vastly improved over the original "Treasures", but unfortunately the bonus interviews suffer from unintelligible audio. [Nov 2004, p.75]

Tak 2 is a solid day's worth of trippy fun and visual euphoria...but they had to check "epic" at the door to make it happen. [Nov 2004, p.52]

The interface has been vastly improved over the original "Treasures", but unfortunately the bonus interviews suffer from unintelligible audio. [Nov 2004, p.75]

In terms of sheer fun, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the best RPG I've played in a long time. [Dec 2004, p.80]

Tak 2 is a solid day's worth of trippy fun and visual euphoria...but they had to check "epic" at the door to make it happen. [Nov 2004, p.52]

The interface has been vastly improved over the original "Treasures", but unfortunately the bonus interviews suffer from unintelligible audio. [Nov 2004, p.75]

There's hardly a semblance of gameplay here, and the game rarely even offers a laugh. Smut isn't what gaming should be about. [Nov 2004, p.75]

It's a wee bit short and a little slow, but fans should be intrigued by the depth and lore. [Oct 2004, p.75]

I'm also still not crazy about only earning new moves through Zero's hunter ranking, since so much of the experience is trial and error, and you'll likely be humbled quickly. [Oct 2004, p.91]

It's a wee bit short and a little slow, but fans should be intrigued by the depth and lore. [Oct 2004, p.75]

As good as the match-ups are, balanced through a generous, likeable collection of 24 old and new warriors, that comedic gore factor - as pervasive as ever - certainly strengthens the flavor. [Nov 2004, p.64]

Bouts of bad behavior distributed between T. Hawk-style fun, the highs and lows of the THUG 2 experience truly boggle the mind with various goals so flawed in execution it feels as if the programmers passed out on their keyboards. [Nov 2004, p.58]

As good as the match-ups are, balanced through a generous, likeable collection of 24 old and new warriors, that comedic gore factor - as pervasive as ever - certainly strengthens the flavor. [Nov 2004, p.64]

Bouts of bad behavior distributed between T. Hawk-style fun, the highs and lows of the THUG 2 experience truly boggle the mind with various goals so flawed in execution it feels as if the programmers passed out on their keyboards. [Nov 2004, p.58]

Bouts of bad behavior distributed between T. Hawk-style fun, the highs and lows of the THUG 2 experience truly boggle the mind with various goals so flawed in execution it feels as if the programmers passed out on their keyboards. [Nov 2004, p.58]

It just shies away from greatness given how good last year's game was. [Dec 2004, p.103]

The micromanagement portion of lair maintenance and minion development is intuitive and entertaining. [Nov 2004, p.87]

Creating a gamer's game through and through, Traveller's Tales has delivered a 60 fps cartoon epic without sacrificing expanse, dwarfing boss encounters or vivid effects by skillfully balancing model and environment integrity with performance. [Oct 2004, p.69]

I still find the control too slow and awkward, and this once again hampers my enjoyment of the game somewhat. [Oct 2004, p.75]

For this year's game, EA has taken freestyle control to a whole new level. A level so out of control, it's going to change the way you play basketball games...forever. [Oct 2004, p.89]

The game reaches its peak around the middle of the game (in the Cave of Wonders and inside the Genie's lamp), and subsequent levels lack the intense platforming, replacing it with fairly easy combat. That's not to say it isn't fun. [Jan 2004, p.76]

SVC Chaos isn't bad - actually, quite the opposite - it's just that I'd recommend any previous Capcom vs. SNK game over this one. [Oct 2004, p.77]

Creating a gamer's game through and through, Traveller's Tales has delivered a 60 fps cartoon epic without sacrificing expanse, dwarfing boss encounters or vivid effects by skillfully balancing model and environment integrity with performance. [Oct 2004, p.69]

For this year's game, EA has taken freestyle control to a whole new level. A level so out of control, it's going to change the way you play basketball games...forever. [Oct 2004, p.89]

One of the best-looking and certainly best-playing rally games ever. You will be astounded by the car models and amaze to the incredibly realistic way they take damage, right down to paint being flicked off. [Nov 2004, p.56]

It just shies away from greatness given how good last year's game was. [Dec 2004, p.103]

For this year's game, EA has taken freestyle control to a whole new level. A level so out of control, it's going to change the way you play basketball games...forever. [Oct 2004, p.89]

An eclectic, distinctly Japanese RPG mix that takes us to a place just beyond the fringes of our reality. [Oct 2004, p.72]

It's a blast at first, but as the game progresses, you really feel like you're just going through the motions. [Sept 2004, p.65]

The game just has this awful, clunky, ugly interface that had me dreaming of the elegance of "Phantasy Star Online." But even so, there is a level of addiction to be had here as there is in any decent online game. [Nov 2004, p.76]

The game is far too linear. [Oct 2004, p.68]

There's no denying that the level of interaction in here is humbling. [Nov 2004, p.54]

I'm certain there's a niche that will appreciate KD's low-key visuals, warped sense of humor and slightly Monkey Ball-ish gameplay. [Oct 2004, p.76]

Fantastic little touches abound, adding up to a firmly cohesive, engagingly structured, marvelously imagined setting to explore. [Oct 2004, p.67]

One of the richest, well-laid and detailed action games to come outu of Japan in years. [Nov 2004, p.68]

Though the gameplay starts out basic, it does pick up halfway through as Luke gains more abilities, yet never ends up being anything more than average. [Nov 2004, p.89]

There's no denying that the level of interaction in here is humbling. [Nov 2004, p.54]

Fantastic little touches abound, adding up to a firmly cohesive, engagingly structured, marvelously imagined setting to explore. [Oct 2004, p.67]

There's no denying that the level of interaction in here is humbling. [Nov 2004, p.54]

The game is far too linear. [Oct 2004, p.68]