The game's engine, which seemed a marvel when the PS2 launched, still comes off as exceptional. [Feb 2002, p.61]

Where Left Field shine, and do they ever shine, is in course design, AI and control. MTX is a gas to see and play. [Mar 2004, p.66]

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]

Not even the irreplaceable voice acting of Christopher Walken can rescue the mess of a script driving the action of True Crime, a misguided attempt to share the spotlight with the vastly superior "Grand Theft Auto." [Jan 2004, p.62]

It's totally spastic, and not in a good "Marvel vs. Capcom" way, but rather in a button-mashing, uncontrollably random sort of way. [Aug 2003, p.76]

As real as it gets in the modern military shooter genre, Operation Flashpoint demands your mind be as sharp as your aim. Those seeking an FPS experience that's evolved passed Hollywood's version of war should definitely enlist, but anyone annoyed by one-shot deaths should probably stick to Call of Duty's frontlines.

Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]

The lack of online play for Black is notable, but not necessarily crippling. Black works well as a single-player adventure, despite its uneven patches, and certainly does its part to advance the genre of the console shooter. [Apr 2006, p.61]

Stranglehold is fun. It's fun in a "God hand" way. [Oct 2007, p.81]

Unfortunately, Arcana Heart then falls short in its attempt to become a major player in the fighting game scene. [May 2008, p.59]

There's a select group of gamers out there that will declare Yggdra Union a must-have the minute they lay eyes on it, due to a level of character design that can only be found in the best Japanese RPGs and anime. They won't be disappointed... [Nov. 2006, p.95]

A kick-ass game of hockey that stands to be the best EA has ever produced. [Oct 2005, p.70]

Not even the irreplaceable voice acting of Christopher Walken can rescue the mess of a script driving the action of True Crime, a misguided attempt to share the spotlight with the vastly superior "Grand Theft Auto." [Jan 2004, p.62]

Give Return to Arms credit for maintaining a good level of strategy and balance to the action. [March 2005, p.54]

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

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]

The game can be thrilling, poorly executed, compelling, expertly crafted and everything in between. [Apr 2004, p.54]

Visually, the SlugFest series has always looked damn good...And SlugFest just wouldn't be SlugFest without the antics of Tim Kitzrow and Jim Shorts. Together they have some of the funniest play-by-play I've ever heard. [June 2004, p.71]

The problem is, no matter how much you tweak Guilty Gear XX, you've still got a pretty stale game at this point. [Oct 2007, p.87]

They took out the throttle warble (bah!) but the Zero's still a hero. [Nov 2004, p.89]

There's nothing about The Godfather that is especially effective; it just plays well enough and carries enough fun ideas to work as a satisfying experience. [Nov. 2006, p.86]

Grandia III may not be everything it could have been, but it's a great game nonetheless. [Mar 2006, p.39]

Thankfully, LucasArts have traded in realism for arcade action and the end result is a joyous ride through history. [Dec 2003, p.84]

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]

It looks gorgeous, and there's just something about that classic Doom feeling that keeps you glued. [Dec 2005, p.66]

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

What I liked most abou this title was how it managed to improve the already perfect control system from the original - especially with respect to Style Moves. [Feb 2005, p.79]

A solid sci-fi themed RTS with a few really great ideas, but it lacks the extra layer of refinement that would allow it to join the upper tier. [July 2004, p.75]

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]

Almost everything about MMBN3 is so similar to previous games in the series, it's hard to tell that you're playing a new game. [May 2003, p.60]

Aside from a few camera issues, Outlaw Volleyball plays incredibly well. Unlike "DOAX" where it was all about timing, Outlaw Volleyball relies on position and aiming as well. [June 2003, p.71]

Brings a fresh chapter to the stagnant SRPG genre. [Aug 2005, p.49]

The big surprise comes from the strength of the narrative, which crackles with snappy dialogue and characters that show real emotion. [Jan 2006, p.47]

Becomes completely absorbing through its world, characters and thoughtful gameplay. [June 2004, p.72]

The combination of fighting game accoutrements such as combos, psych bursts, and overdrive attacks coupled with traditional arcade action gameplay is surpisingly appealing on a portable system. [Sept 2006, p.64]

This game is also one of the easiest the galaxy has ever seen. [May 2005, p.52]

The big surprise comes from the strength of the narrative, which crackles with snappy dialogue and characters that show real emotion. [Jan 2006, p.47]

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]

Stranglehold is fun. It's fun in a "God hand" way. [Oct 2007, p.81]

Still, Trauma Center: Second Opinion was one of my favorite games during the launch window for the Wii, and New Blood delivers more of the same joy. [Dec 2007, p.73]

I buy games to explore other worlds, and the Wii seems satisfied with merely distracting me from this one. [Oct 2007, p.90]

Far and away the best game in the series, but unfortunately, the creators have still neglected to address the lackluster fighting at the core. [Jan 2005, p.68]

Elite excels at creating an atmosphere of paranoia and alienation... [Nov p.93]

Effective or not, this is a uniquely engaging piece of interactive software--and it's 20 bucks. [Jun 2006]

If you're a J-RPG/action RPG fan, you can't really go wrong with $39 spent on Ring of Fates. [Apr 2008, p.69]

With its well-designed tables, wonderful music, excellent visuals, and of course the Sonic Team charm, Sonic Pinball Party is the most fun I've had playing video pinball since quite possibly ever. [Aug 2003, p.76]

Blitz: The League crosses the thin line between hardcore and tasteless. [Nov p.94]

Elite excels at creating an atmosphere of paranoia and alienation... [Nov p.93]

As real as it gets in the modern military shooter genre, Operation Flashpoint demands your mind be as sharp as your aim. Those seeking an FPS experience that's evolved passed Hollywood's version of war should definitely enlist, but anyone annoyed by one-shot deaths should probably stick to Call of Duty's frontlines.

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

A free-play mode returns Hawk to his origins and here, the game does not disappoint one bit with its go forth and explore approach. [Dec 2005, p.66]

Raving Rabbids is at its best as a single-player game performed solo or in front of onlookers unaware of Montpellier's twisted sense of humor or what the heck a "Wii" is. [Jan. 2007, p.66]

FlatOut 2, as a racing game, is competent, but marred by a poor sense of speed. [Aug 2006, p.63]

The arcade mode has been removed from the single-player game, replaced by the medley mode, which, though fun, has little long-term value. [Aug 2004, p.57]

I'm not one for flight sims, but Heroes of the Pacific has given me a reason to enjoy the genre. [Sept 2005, p.57]

The overall look of the game is quite astounding. [May 2002, p.49]

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

The engine is one of the best, and the presentation is getting there. All it needs is some depth and long-term replayability, and the series could move from contender to main-event attraction. [Oct 2003, p.81]

Sure it's fun, but the true star of Black Hawk Down is the multiplayer, albeit a truly archaic server browser. [June 2003, p.58]

This is impressive stuff, especially given the amount of characters, vehicles and effects that the engine is shuffling around. [Nov 2004, p.84]

Unlocking songs gets a bit tedious after a while. [Oct 2005, p.67]

A fantastic re-introduction to the charms of Suikoden, marred by crap voice acting. Thankfully, all the dialogue is skippable. Gorgeous, high-skied adventures await!

Ten minutes into Tales of Phantasia, you know pretty much what you are getting into: a pleasantly involving, perfectly traditional role-playing game that sticks to all the old-school conventions that recall the glory days of hand-drawn adventures. [Mar 2006, p.50]

I'm not one for flight sims, but Heroes of the Pacific has given me a reason to enjoy the genre. [Sept 2005, p.57]

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]

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

As real as it gets in the modern military shooter genre, Operation Flashpoint demands your mind be as sharp as your aim. Those seeking an FPS experience that's evolved passed Hollywood's version of war should definitely enlist, but anyone annoyed by one-shot deaths should probably stick to Call of Duty's frontlines.

If you're down for another BMXer, Hoffman 3 is without a doubt the best it gets. [Oct 2002, p.85]

This game is also one of the easiest the galaxy has ever seen. [May 2005, p.52]

Say hello to our little friend, great disappointment. [Oct. 2006, p.60]

The big surprise comes from the strength of the narrative, which crackles with snappy dialogue and characters that show real emotion. [Jan 2006, p.47]

I love the urgency of a slow-to-load rifle, the way your fumbling and learned cadence strikes a unique tension in the shootouts; too bad the clumsy grenades aren't nearly as much fun. [Jan 2005, p.60]

Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]

This is one club people might not want to join. [Mar 2008, p.58]

Our eyes have been spoiled by the Playstation 3 and recent Playstation 2 games so there was just no way we could put up with the tiny screens and horrible visuals. [Issue#153, p.83]

Despite its noxious flaws, the game offers great amounts of logic-based puzzle solving, intrigue, and investigation. [Dec. 2006, p.88]

Hits all the right notes with the same simple stay-alive-power-up-kick-ass formula that always brings me back for more. [July 2004, p.73]

While it's not all that complex in its makeup (its a fairly simple game), the nuances, coupled with fantastic visual presentation, make it impossible to put down. [Sept 2002, p.72]

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

The plot is basically a device to rehash the stories of the original Kingdom Hearts. [Jan 2005, p.86]

The skillfully crafted Project: Snowblind calls on the best of what we enjoy about the genre, but the game feels nicely removed from the norm. [March 2005, p.52]

It was only a matter of time before Star Fox found its way onto the DS. Instead of being a remixed version of a classic Star Fox(the N64 version springs to mind), Star Fox Command is an original effort offering up some interesting new ideas as well as classic McCloud shooting action. [Oct. 2006, p.67]

Rayman 3's most awesome attribute, as incredible as the movies, dialogue, and gameplay are, is a level of visual splendor that defies everything I've come to know about lighting effects in a video game. [Mar 2003, p.47]

Solid fun. [Oct 2005, p.68]

It's rather disappointing how little this game has changed compared to its handheld cousin - all the minigames are identical to the GBA version, right down to the graphics and sound. [May 2004, p.55]

I'm not one for flight sims, but Heroes of the Pacific has given me a reason to enjoy the genre. [Sept 2005, p.57]

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]

Not much has changed in this latest take on Lemmings. [Aug 2006, p.64]

The only big downside to all this is a dated engine that shows wear in the animation, which may have passed the test on Dreamcast but loses appeal in today's arena. [Dec 2002, p.88]

Bottom line: being an alien is fun, even if it is a bit rough around the edges. [July 2005, p.76]

Not that there's anything wrong with cashing in on America's bloodlust, but to call Manhunt a "mature" game, I think, is an affront to mature people. [Jan 2004, p.65]

The puzzle-action gameplay, battling both the enemy and the elements, is simply tuned to perfection and the oh-so-spectacular bosses play like an orchestra of action and strategy. [July 2007, p.60]

Easily the best looking game in the series. [Sept 2006, p.65]

The character design and animation are absolutely brilliant. [Nov p.92]

This is by far the craziest Mario sports title yet and I had a blast with it. [Jan 2006, p.49]

It wasn't exactly what I wanted. [Oct 2005, p.59]

Stuntman: Ignition would benefit from a more style substance, and its methods start to run a bit thin, but that doesn't keep it from hitting an acceptable summer-blockbuster-style mark. [Sept 2007, p.77]

There is one thing I absolutely loathe, and that's the super-hyper-lame-ass "ooh-yeah" and "woo!" they feel necessary to slide in every time you pull off anything even remotely cool, and the similar "what the?" and "careful!" every time you get bumped. [Sept 2002, p.73]