Visually, ESPN NFL Football is top notch, especially the tackle and running animations. No other football game comes close in this area. Coupled with tight controls and great online play, ESPN NFL Football is a fine success. [Sept 2003, p.86]

The attention to detail - from the enemy AI and verbal exchanges to visual clues like dust, ash and fog (I even found physics on old tires rolling off of exploded debris) - is impeccable, and the team play aspects, especially in a one-player campaign, equal maximum immersion. [July 2003, p.78]

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]

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

Pulling it all together is razor-sharp presentation, incredible city construction and track design, and a use of sound and mixed tunes that is unrivaled in the genre; praise to EA for bypassing the numbing of ill-placed techno. [Dec 2003, p.62]

Thankfully, they took it upon themselves to overhaul the game and create a NASCAR racing experience unlike any other before it. [Oct 2004, p.88]

Added to the PS2 extras, like the added indonesian jungle level, alternate pathways and mission reports, this is the quintessential version of the game. [Sept 2004, p.73]

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]

Few games are as excitingly presented, as gorgeously constructed, as intensely visceral as the extraordinary The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. [Dec 2003, p.52]

For 2D fighting bliss, look no further than Capcom Fighting Evolution. [Dec 2004, p.64]

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]

The fantastic level design, precise control and underlying weapon-swiping game theory are second to none. [Aug 2004, p.53]

The detail spent on each and every droid is amazing, as are the physics applied, and the locales, from the underground tunnels to the ravaged cityscapes topside, are splendid. [Nov 2003, p.89]

If you're unfamiliar with Guilty Gear, then be prepared to get blown away - and possibly overwhelmed - by the incredible depth of this underrated fighting franchise. [Aug 2004, p.50]

Phatty houses, cars, jewelry...women - if you've seen it on MTV Cribs, you're going to see it here. [May 2004, p.68]

It's a game that's just incredible fun, mixing in all sorts of gaming ideas with the thrill of the real sport, painting a final touch of extreme excess and color for scintillating effect. [Nov 2003, p.86]

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

There's just no way to put it except to say that it's quite possibly the ultimate rush. [Jan 2004, p.58]

The shooter stages offer some nice variety, while a surprisingly sophisticated story and a nice character growth feature add further depth. [Aug 2004, p.59]

If rich visuals, stunning environments, and the most diversity-packed gameplay of this year or any other sound good to you, I have a ninja for you to meet. [Dec 2003, p.81]

With the grace, speed and precision of a great 2D fighter placed exactly in a 3D mold, Soul Calibur 2 is the only fighter I'll need for a very long time. [Oct 2003, p.72]

Visually, ESPN NFL Football is top notch, especially the tackle and running animations. No other football game comes close in this area. Coupled with tight controls and great online play, ESPN NFL Football is a fine success. [Sept 2003, p.86]

The most enthralling and disturbing atmosphere seen or heard on the PC so far this year. [Oct 2004, p.84]

An amazingly involving adventure from spirit to atmosphere to richness of setting and exploration. [Dec 2004, p.65]

With the grace, speed and precision of a great 2D fighter placed exactly in a 3D mold, Soul Calibur 2 is the only fighter I'll need for a very long time. [Oct 2003, p.72]

This game is, simply put, brilliant. The music is intoxicating, the locales magical and the overall vibe decidedly dreamy. [Dec 2003, p.77]

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

This game is, simply put, brilliant. The music is intoxicating, the locales magical and the overall vibe decidedly dreamy. [Dec 2003, p.77]

Addictive in the most traditional gaming sense, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance insidiously traps you in its strategy-game mechanics, and there's no way you want to get free. [Sept 2003, p.80]

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]

The look, feel, structure and incomparable Nintendo touch have been closely preserved, toyed with just enough to be labeled a substantial sequel. [Nov 2003, p.84]

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

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

It's a sweeping, exquisitely crafted, hopelessly addictive adventure that ignites a wondrous spirit of gaming past...A magnificent action-RPG and a terrifically fun video game. [Feb 2004, p.44]

An amazingly involving adventure from spirit to atmosphere to richness of setting and exploration. [Dec 2004, p.65]

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]

This game is, simply put, brilliant. The music is intoxicating, the locales magical and the overall vibe decidedly dreamy. [Dec 2003, p.77]

Pulling it all together is razor-sharp presentation, incredible city construction and track design, and a use of sound and mixed tunes that is unrivaled in the genre; praise to EA for bypassing the numbing of ill-placed techno. [Dec 2003, p.62]

If rich visuals, stunning environments, and the most diversity-packed gameplay of this year or any other sound good to you, I have a ninja for you to meet. [Dec 2003, p.81]

Ground-breaking visuals (for real) and tons of new gameplay; bigger worlds, more characters, more management, more tactics and more mistresses! Plus a truly inspired original score and no crap online modes!

Since 2D never really evolved far beyond this point, the game of course not only holds up but is a true blessing as it looks absolutely magnificent on the Micro screen. [Nov p.96]

Driving through the alleyways and suburban sprawls...rain pouring down, thunder clapping, music up; this is (virtual) living. [Dec 2005, p.54]

As transfixing and hand-drawn inspired as any Castlevania before it, or any game for that matter, even if it does lost some of its hold on the handheld platform. [June 2003, p.56]

Visually there's nothing like it--it is a purely artistic endeavor and as shooters go there's nothing here not to love. [Dec. 2006, p.81]

From the superb modeling of the interior and exterior of the vehicles, the realism of its courses, and the precision of its control, McRae looks and feels just like the real thing. [Jan 2003, p.75]

It's time to dive back in if you're already a citizen, and if you're not, gain access to the gaming world's most compelling simulated cyber space. [Nov. 2006, p.76]

While Halo 3: ODST doesn’t wow you with innovation, breakthrough technology, or terrifically new gameplay, the campaign story is point blank better than Halo 3’s storyline; Firefight is an adrenaline rush so powerful you’ll need six-pack and a backrub just to settle down, and the multiplayer experience is still one of the best on the planet.

Warriors succeeds because it wholly engrosses players. [Nov p.82]

Lair has come together beautifully... With its stunning visuals and incredible soundtrack, Lair may well be the single most powerful experience that a man can share with his $5,000 home theatre system. [Aug 2007, p.64]

From the superb modeling of the interior and exterior of the vehicles, the realism of its courses, and the precision of its control, McRae looks and feels just like the real thing. [Jan 2003, p.75]

Despite the pre-release co-op hype, this one’s just as entertaining for solo apocalypse survivors. While I wish more dialog was delivered through animated characters, it’s hard not to be taken in by the rest of what this ambitious shooter has to offer—great visual presentation, addictive leveling and looting, frenzied gunplay, four playable classes. Oh, and Mutant Midget Psychos.

But rough edges aside, Artificial has buttoned up the game as well as can be expected given the amount of interactive objects they've peppered throughout the game. [May 2007, p.58]

Together with a near flawless play-by-play announcer, excellent sound, music and solid online play, EA Sports has done it again with MVP. [Apr 2005, p.76]

I love it when I feel like a game has shown me something new. [Aug 2007, p.66]

Everything about Silmeria, except for the localization, which is good but pales to the likes of FF XII(but what doesn't?)is the stuff that RPG dreams are made of. [Oct. 2006, p.58]

Tecmo has shown once again that it doesn't take mega licenses or millions of dollars to make a great video game. [Jan 2006, p.50]

The premier weapon-wielding fighter jumps to the portable with nary a hitch. Oh, and you can kick pretty-boy Siegfried's ass as Kratos!

Fire is the new dust, and BlazBlue is the new hotness of the fighting game world. Still a bit hard to fully grasp at first for newbies, but don't let that scare you off.

Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove is quite possibly the best-looking and most engrossing MCF title since 2007's Madame Fate.

With mind-blowing visuals, music, dialogue, and animation to die for, KFC is the most filling Chinese you may ever encounter. [Mar 2003, p.60]

You'll be astounded by how much game there is here. [May 2005, p.67]

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

Either single player or online, Fat Princess delivers excellence in every way. The single player is quite short and should be looked at more like a tutorial for the very deep multiplayer aspect. If there were one thing I’d like to see added to Fat Princess it would be split-screen local multiplayer, other than that I can’t complain.

When it comes to the raw energy and unadulterated action, ZOE2 has few peers. [May 2003, p.72]

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.

Thankfully, the learning curve in Hero 2 is gentle, and even beginners can shred through a chart-topper with just a little practice. Building on a steady set foundation, fret-gnashing gamers can pull of solid, satisfying songs in little-to-no time.

Easy to pick up, hard to put down. [Nov 2006, p.82]

I never thought watching could be so engulfing. These models are truly extraordinary. The breasts are wonderful (along with teh shoulders, thighs, faces...) of course, but do you have any idea how difficult it is to model armpits? They are perfection. [Mar 2003, p.52]

Essentially, with MX vs. ATV Unleashed, Rainbow has perfected everything they introduced as the pioneers of next generation off-road racing. [Apr 2005, p.74]

We would have paid in excess of $6400 for this collection, which you can now buy for less than the sales tax. [Apr 2008, p.57]

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]

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

Together with a near flawless play-by-play announcer, excellent sound, music and solid online play, EA Sports has done it again with MVP. [Apr 2005, p.76]

Splendid (and strangely addicting). [Oct 2005, p.73]

Quotation forthcoming. [Aug 2005]

Moto GP 2006 gets a squeaky clean bill of health...and then some. The Xbox 360's first 2-wheeled racer is a godsend. [July 2006, p.69]

This port's still brilliant, still mind-bending and (certainly) still Psychonauts. [Aug 2005, p.51]

A great videogame filled with some of the most impressive visuals you'll ever see, dripping with style and oozing with funk-essence. [Nov 2002, p.82]

Daxter makes a much better lead than he ever did a sidekick. As a lead critter, he's everything I look for and then some. [Apr 2006, p.71]

Simply incredible. [March 2005, p.66]

There isn’t a single element of Arkham Asylum that isn’t polished to the utmost degree.

If it's Metroid it's in here, and looking absolutely amazing... [Nov p.99]

Even with a weak script, Turok's flexible play mechanics, strong level designs, and high production values make the story mode alone worth the price of admission. [Jan 2008, p.49]

Evoking a sense of otherworldliness is, I am assuming, the reason Folklore exists, and it succeeds at this in an almost heartbreakingly beautiful way no other game ever has. [Oct 2007, p.70]

One thing I can say for DiRT is that aside from being the most beautiful, it's among the most all-inclusive Rally games to date. [July 2007, p.65]

Ground-breaking visuals (for real) and tons of new gameplay; bigger worlds, more characters, more management, more tactics and more mistresses! Plus a truly inspired original score and no crap online modes!

Spartan Total Warrior doesn't remind me of anything before it, which is extremely rare. [Nov p.70]

It's derivative, stark, and brash. But the game succeeds because of its swagger. [Mar 2008, p.54]

Not only is Xyanide a 3D space shooter but it is like no other you have ever seen or played. It's actually a benchmark title. [Dec. 2006, p.60]

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

The entire game is bathed in ancient Chinese mystique, from its look to its captivating neo-Asian soundtrack - onf of the best for a platformer I've come across. [Sept 2005, p.]

Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max is Street Fighter Heroin. [Mar 2006, p.48]

There is not a moment in the presentation of Chains of Olympus that disappoints, there is maybe no better tech on the PSP. [Apr 2008, p.67]

Yoshi's crayon-sketched world is a lot like the original game on the Super Nintendo, its bright and creative spirit alive and flourishing in this most successful sequel. [Dec. 2006, p.89]

Flawless controls and some of the most crisp, precise combat I've ever witnessed. [June 2005, p.56]

I love it when I feel like a game has shown me something new. [Aug 2007, p.66]

This looks more like a triple-A PS2 game than a PSP game, and it weighs in at 40-plus hours. [Aug 2007, p.70]

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]