The challenge can be steep. Running and gunning without taking cover and finding calculated ways of clearing a path is death. [Mar 2004, p.52]

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

With Eidos' latest foray into professional assassination, players will have to dig deep, wading through mission after mission of trial-and-error gameplay to hunt down a series of targets. [June 2006, p.49]

There's never been anything like it and there may never be again. Brütal Legend is truly a gift to metal and game fans alike and my new, best 3D game ever.

New fighting styles, more weapons, added match types, rowdy crowds and some wicked, brutal environmental interactions help make up for the watered-down brawling. [Oct 2004, p.87]

A much deeper and more immersive racer. WipEout fusion less an exercise in memorization and precision than 3...A triumph, as expected. [June 2002, p.52]

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

Playing a game outside isn't something I feel an affinity for, or even enjoy, but it's something I will do again, because Boktai is a game worth replaying. [Oct 2003, p.66]

Unlike other companies that concentrate on visuals, High Heat puts its energies on the fundamentals that make a great baseball game. [Apr 2003, p.71]

The best overall college basketball game on the market. [Jan 2004, p.80]

In the case of Odin Sphere, however, I am confident that this is a perfect game, and that anyone who comes to it will derive the same. [May 2007, p.16]

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 new to this slick brand of futuristic racing, WipEout Pulse has the potential to really impress. [Mar 2008, p.67]

Heck, the collection is worth buying for "Phantasy Star II and IV" alone--they may feel a little rusty, but they're probably the best RPG's on the PSP. [Jan. 2007, p.84]

Vegas 2 is more of the same, to be sure, complete with many of the same knocks on its predecessor. [May 2008, p.60]

Every year Codemasters puts out a new version, and it's as sure a bet as anything in this industry that it will be even better than last year's--and that once again it will be mostly ignored by U.S. gamers. [Mar 2006, p.44]

It's accessible, customizable and has all the tools necessary to build communities. [Dec 2005, p.76]

A definite departure from rail-shooters of old, Extraction prioritizes storytelling and atmospheric pacing as much as alien slaying. However, if you just enjoy spilling extraterrestrial entrails, it does that really well, too.

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

The game system is very addictive, and the hilariously bizarre scenarios are wonderfully conceived and drawn, with each stage playing out like some futuristic rock opera from the fruity side of the Japanese aesthetic. [Mar 2002, p.43]

Without question, EA's latest baseball title is our choice for best baseball game for 2003. [Apr 2003, p.70]

Midway has taken an already proven formula for hard-hitting action and added cool new gameplay elements that give this Hitz incredible replay value. [Nov 2002, p.88]

I'm still bummed that the single player arcade mode from the original hasn't returned, but what's here is good fun - particularly when sobriety is lacking. [Nov 2004, p.76]

It’s hard to go wrong with a formula that was already well built to start with. Mario VS. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! is a welcome addition to the DSiWare store with a nearly endless supply of puzzles.

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

NNights 2 is a huge, engrossing adventure with scads of player-influenced character development and plot twists. [Dec. 2006, p.94]

I've played a lot of remakes, and rarely do they strike a balance between the old and new as well as Mega Man: Powered Up. [May 2006, p.57]

The graphics are stunning and the enemy and boss patterns will have you laughing with delight at their ingenuity and hand/eye stimulation...This one's not to be missed. [Sept 2004, p.72]

Powers, outfits, gear...everything super about each combatant can be modded, and hot-swapping powers puts the gamut of their abilities at your fingertips. [Dec. 2006, p.82]

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

The highlight of Lunar Knights is how the game unfolds. [Mar 2007, p.64]

Massively Open Online Racing has arrived. [Oct. 2006, p.60]

Sadly for fans (and myself), it's pretty much the same game that was released last year. [Jan 2003, p.85]

Absolutely spectacular to look at - and I'm not just talking about the voluptuous 3D Nico. [Feb 2004, p.48]

A more serious issue is the amount of times I was disconnected or suffering through some lag. [Nov 2002, p.86]

If ever there was a pure gamer’s game, Darksiders is it.

While the game is still good fun, its kid-friendly finish and slightly dated graphics make less of an impact than it might have if released a year ago. [July 2003, p.79]

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

By far one of the better releases of the DDR series, Ultramix is both a must-own for DDR freaks and a great place for newbs to get acquainted with tis popular line of games. [Dec 2003, p.85]

The Legacy mode is incredibly comprehensive and it's something that'll keep players busy for hours on end. [Jan 2003, p.84]

Not only is this the best first-person adventure I've played but it's the most brutal, skillfully detailed and paced as well. [Apr 2008, p.50]

With Eidos' latest foray into professional assassination, players will have to dig deep, wading through mission after mission of trial-and-error gameplay to hunt down a series of targets. [June 2006, p.49]

There's never been anything like it and there may never be again. Brütal Legend is truly a gift to metal and game fans alike and my new, best 3D game ever.

Never mind that Dark Athena doesn’t quite stand up to Butcher Bay. Why should it? As a package, this is an easy sell for someone looking for a moody experience of stealth, action and adventure. Nice to see a game that understands dialogue too.

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

Whatever you make of Setga GT's game structure, there is little you can say about the game's graphics other than "awesome." [Sept 2002, p.70]

Relentlessly entertaining, finely crafted and smartly engaging. [Oct 2003, p.73]

Not to be outdone by "Winning Eleven 6," EA Sports has pulled out all the stops and created a soccer game that is second to none... I dare you to find a soccer game where the ball moves so dynamically and realistically. [Nov 2003, p.108]

Debuting in this '03 renewal is the EA Sports "freestyle" control. Wihout question, it WILL change the way you play basketball games...forever. [Nov 2002, p.88]

That Sonic epiphany we've been waiting for all these years has finally arrived. [Dec 2005, p.70]

The way the AI reacts to your specific presence is eerily keen. [Aug 2004, p.56]

A triumph, and a very bittersweet one at that. Sadly, it's become the ultimate swan song, marking the end of one of the greatest relationships in videogame history. [Nov 2002, p.72]

The craft behind Call of Duty 3 is impressive. Treyarch deftly handles the stellar design duties passed on from previous developer Infinity Ward. [Jan. 2007, p.74]

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]

All technical aspects aside,, your gameplay experience in DDS2 is what truly makes it worthy of the upper echelon of RPG-dom. [Nov p.74]

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]

The 2K series is back where it needs to be. [Apr 2005, p.76]

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]

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

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]

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

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 always, the dynasty mode is incredibly robust. [Dec 2003, p.98]

Debuting in this '03 renewal is the EA Sports "freestyle" control. Wihout question, it WILL change the way you play basketball games...forever. [Nov 2002, p.88]

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]

I've never experienced so much in the way of trimmings from the source material. [Dec 2002, p.61]

Konami's new original side-scrolling masterpiece. [June 2003, p.58]

Drifting and slipstreaming has never been so much fun. [May 2006, p.60]

With Eidos' latest foray into professional assassination, players will have to dig deep, wading through mission after mission of trial-and-error gameplay to hunt down a series of targets. [June 2006, p.49]

Midway has taken an already proven formula for hard-hitting action and added cool new gameplay elements that give this Hitz incredible replay value. [Nov 2002, p.88]

DDRMAX 2 is still fun and a must for any fan of the series, but it would've been nice to have seen more in terms of new modes of play and improved visuals. [Oct 2003, p.71]

Now you can take your Chimera-slaughtering anywhere you go. Sounds swell.

Yes, Quake 4 delivers some incredible action to tie everything together, but the campaign gameplay is guilty of being slightly formulaic at times. [Nov 2005, p.104]

In all things small and epic, from the palpable graininess of the game's predominantly poorly lit environments, to the endlessly thrilling second installment of the spies vs. mercenaries online competitions, Theory does not disappoint. [May 2005, p.44]

Visually, Condemned will spoil you, as everything is exactly as it should be. Monolith has set the bar extremely high with its first 360 offering. [Dec 2005, p.52]

The striking image quality of this absolutely gorgeous pastiche of tainted purgatory is a big factor in Painkiller's appeal. [June 2004, p.66]

My only criticisms are that the NES-themed games aren't as creative as before, and the game is a bit easy. [Apr 2005, p.70]

If you've ever loved strategy-based RPGs, you're gonna like this. [Jan 2005, p.62]

As always, the dynasty mode is incredibly robust. [Dec 2003, p.98]

The nature of the game's free-form design coupled with its devices also make it an extremely personal experience, more so than any of its predecessors. [Sept 2006, p.50]

They don't come any more addictive than this, friend. With any luck this is exactly the type of game we'll see on the Revolution. [Feb 2006, p.59]

Less pixelization, better control, smoother animation, better art, and lots of aliens and pigs in uniform to turn into mounds of bloody pork. [Oct 2002, p.86]

There's a sense that Insomniac wanted to go out with a quick, clean fourth installment without too much hassle and strain. [Nov p.78]

And, were it not said, someone would be drummed out of the union: The Force is strong with this one. [Oct. 2006, p.52]

Freedom Unite is like the cube from Hellraiser that takes you to a world of ultimate pain and pleasure. The only major flaw: Capcom gives us ad hoc gameplay with local friends, but no real online multiplayer support. How many units does a franchise have to sell before you throw us a bone?

The missions are clear-cut and better structured than "Rogue Leader"'s, and thanks to plenty of topographic embience - drop dead gorgeous to behold. [May 2002, p.46]

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

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]

Midway has taken an already proven formula for hard-hitting action and added cool new gameplay elements that give this Hitz incredible replay value. [Nov 2002, p.88]

I love every single part of this game. [Dec 2002, p.83]

Ghost 'n' Goblins, Ghouls 'n' Ghosts and Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts on one disc? That's just too much love for you and me. [Nov p.93]

Perfect controls and breathtaking visuals aside, the localization here is also superb (Majesco grabbed this one post Microsoft polishing every nook and cranny), and the music is, in a word, euphoric. [Feb 2005, p.65]

An excellent first effort from CD Projekt Red. [Dec 2007, p.97]

Visually, the game is amazingly detailed and incredibly animated; in terms of level design and obstacle placement, it is superb. [Oct 2003, p.71]

The 2K series is back where it needs to be. [Apr 2005, p.76]

Some powerful new weapons have been added in TC3, along with some additional side quests and detail tweaks to the gameplay, but this is still the same Time Crisis you know and love. [Dec 2003, p.84]

Gameplay in NFL Street is fast and furious and, at times, unrelenting. [Mar 2004, p.70]