Best of all, the game's environments are destructible, so if it exists, Hulk can smash it. [July 2003, p.34]

A new online mode allows four players to stalk one another. Take an opponent hostage and use your headset to describe all the pain you plan to inflict on him. [May 2004]

Looking for more depth? Take the owner's seat and relocate your team, set concession stand prices in your new stadium and hire your coaching staff. Ditka: Send us your resume. [Sept 2003, p.33]

A new online mode allows four players to stalk one another. Take an opponent hostage and use your headset to describe all the pain you plan to inflict on him. [May 2004]

Best of all, the game's environments are destructible, so if it exists, Hulk can smash it. [July 2003, p.34]

A graphics overhaul delivers detailed facial animations and sophisticated physics that leave battle zones strewn with debris after intense shootouts with shuffling corpses, overfed curstaceans and other assorted foes. [October, p.37]

While other snowboarding games run out of steam mid-shred, the SSX series continues to gain momentum. [Dec 2003, p.44]

A new online mode allows four players to stalk one another. Take an opponent hostage and use your headset to describe all the pain you plan to inflict on him. [May 2004]

While other snowboarding games run out of steam mid-shred, the SSX series continues to gain momentum. [Dec 2003, p.44]

Looking for more depth? Take the owner's seat and relocate your team, set concession stand prices in your new stadium and hire your coaching staff. Ditka: Send us your resume. [Sept 2003, p.33]

This must-have sequel includes more than 40 cars, 90 courses from Australia to the frozen North and, for the first time, online play. Amazing graphics provide plenty of scenery to chew up as you race over mountains, across deserts, and through the mud. [Apr 2004, p.38]

Looking for more depth? Take the owner's seat and relocate your team, set concession stand prices in your new stadium and hire your coaching staff. Ditka: Send us your resume. [Sept 2003, p.33]

Grainy video filters, swirling cameras and intense action put it severed head and shoulders above the rest of the horror-game competition - the best installment yet of a great series. [Aug 2003, p.32]

Looking for more depth? Take the owner's seat and relocate your team, set concession stand prices in your new stadium and hire your coaching staff. Ditka: Send us your resume. [Sept 2003, p.33]

It's so engaging that fans may never leave the house, much less visit a theater again. [Dec 2003, p.44]

Best of all, the game's environments are destructible, so if it exists, Hulk can smash it. [July 2003, p.34]

Even the death sequences are pretty cool, as the game slows down, zooms in on the hero and shows him getting gunned down by a hail of lead.

Role player, ex-Dungeons and Dragons addict, chainmail-wearing closet weirdo or not, you won't find a finer excuse to blow the week's wages this side of Amsterdam's red light district. [7 Aug 2002, p.1]

You don't know the meaning of the word surreal until you've stood in the rain, beating a pimp to death while opera music provides an eerie chorus.

Sure, the controversy is attractive, but Vice City provides a perfect balance between an open-ended game that rewards players for exploring the environment without restrictions, while also handing out specific goals in order to complete the game. Not very many titles strike this balance so succinctly.

The combined package of beautiful graphics, intense action (including force-feedback rumble support in the controller!) and familiar Star Wars ditties all work together to create an immersive, outstanding experience from beginning to end.

Virtually every element of Red Faction is nicely polished -- even the controls are intuitive, unlike most console shooters, which make PC gaming vets long for a keyboard and mouse.

It's the most realistic football game on a console, guaranteed to make you sweat puddles at its highest difficulty setting.

NCAA Football doesn’t just look good, it looks as comfortable on your television screen as an ESPN broadcast on a Saturday afternoon.

And by combining an open-ended design with a wonderful (if somewhat politically incorrect) sense of humor, Tropico provides one of the finest and most dangerously addictive gaming experiences of the year.

No console shooter has ever been so flat-out incredible at promoting suspension of disbelief before.

Seemingly hand-drawn backgrounds and marvelously manipulated characters leave surroundings oozing atmosphere from every pore...Macabre, yes, but magnificent as well.

The animation is incredibly fluid, achieved by motion-capturing human movement, then importing and manipulating the data into the game.

The audio is equally impressive, with noisy spectators (local chants, cheers and boos), color commentary by announcers John Motson and Mark Lawrenson, and music written and performed by none other than electronica superstar Moby.

Plus, there are many combo moves, hidden areas and countless destructive items to find, including the ability to shoot down a 747, blow up a gas station, drive over pedestrians or electrocute prison inmates strapped into the chair. Fun for the whole family!

It may not have the depth many had hoped for, but it proves to be an extremely fun game that's insanely difficult to put down.

A unique scoring system lets you unlock killer trick shots - if ya ain't a coward that is. [Dec 2003, p.44]

Expanded fight controls include grappling, punch selection and the ability to pull off the gloves whenever rink rage overcomes you. [Oct 2003, p.37]

Expanded fight controls include grappling, punch selection and the ability to pull off the gloves whenever rink rage overcomes you. [Oct 2003, p.37]

The only missing element is a massive hippie protest back home. [Mar 2004, p.39]

Expanded fight controls include grappling, punch selection and the ability to pull off the gloves whenever rink rage overcomes you. [Oct 2003, p.37]

This isn't a game you replay ad infinitum; it's a story you experience. When you finish, you may stick it on the shelf and never touch it again, like a good book. But that doesn't mean it's not a fun read. [Feb 2003, p.32]

A perfect virtual getaway -- without the pretension.

Should appeal to nerdy D&D chicks and foxy fantasy fans alike... Brainy babes who dig "Myst"-like games need not apply.

The exclusive first-person-perspective mode is an interesting gimmick, but the online play is what separates this from the minors. [May 2004]

Your investigation jump-starts reckless car chases through more than 150 miles of highways and city streets in detailed re-creations of Miami, Nice and Isantbul. Slam into any of the 30,000 buildings and your car crumbles realistically. [Apr 2004, p.38]

The exclusive first-person-perspective mode is an interesting gimmick, but the online play is what separates this from the minors. [May 2004]

Expanded fight controls include grappling, punch selection and the ability to pull off the gloves whenever rink rage overcomes you. [Oct 2003, p.37]

Your investigation jump-starts reckless car chases through more than 150 miles of highways and city streets in detailed re-creations of Miami, Nice and Isantbul. Slam into any of the 30,000 buildings and your car crumbles realistically. [Apr 2004, p.38]

The splendid visuals, reliance on real world hardware, and sound strategic system underlying each of many riveting rumbles in the jungle, frozen tundra and barren desert provide for a wonderful gaming experience. [4 Sept 2002]

Quite simply, mature PS2 owners craving a creepy game that's perfect for playing with the lights out and speakers cranked, pick up a copy of Silent Hill 2 and you will not be disappointed. Clean underwear not included.

Indeed, the cheesy southern rock 'n' redneck country tunes can get annoying after a while, and the smart-ass remarks made by the play-by-play commentator tend to repeat more often than not, but it hardly detracts from the overall, seat-of-your-pants racing.

The graphics in Phantasy Star Online are excellent in all respects. Not only is the lighting superb, but the general design of the environments is also both visually appealing and extremely efficient.

One of those exhilarating and challenging games that'll likely be the disc that stays in your beloved console for months to come.

One part racing, one part freestyle and all parts addictive.

While the game is far from perfect -- some may bristle at the constant micromanagement and the often ambiguous objectives you are required to meet -- it is very approachable and addictive, an almost ideal virtual playground in which you can play god.

But taking it for what it is -- a fast-paced, story-based action game with plenty of enemies and violent ways of eliminating them -- Dead to Rights is a highly enjoyable adult diversion for Xbox owners.

The somewhat lengthy adventure (20 hours or so), mini-games and special surprises for those who finish the game makes this game a superb mascot-based solo adventure you won't soon forget.

Basic gameplay mechanics combine with real-world charisma to form the most solid Dreamcast flight simulator seen to date.

A refreshing 30-hour interactive fantasy novel that, thankfully, offers much more than just virtual cleavage.

While this PS2 game may not be as pretty as Tecmo's hot Xbox seller, Virtua Fighter 4 rivals the competition where it counts the most -- in gameplay.

Despite interesting missions like Midway and Guadalcanal, experienced gamers can blow through Zero Hour in a day. Ambitious flyboys will gladly return to it as coffee break filler, but long-term companionship is doubtful.

The greatest thing about Bass Strike is the Sony PS2 game controller. Yes, it's the same as it ever was, but -- finally -- the right analog stick serves as a near perfect dupe for a fishing rod's reel.

Also, while the depth of the game means a richer experience, it can be quite intimidating and overwhelming at first, even for the experienced player. Thankfully, there's a 189-page manual and handy Hot Key menu card and map to keep beside the PC while playing.

A few minor lapses in realism won't get in the way of Triple Play's addicting gameplay.

Galactic groupies will eat it up. Battles are engaging, possibilities for advancement near limitless and the fun factor way above standard ranges.

That's basically the game's strongest point -- the ability to make you feel as if you actually are involved in a real war. Any gamer looking for that degree of realism in a first-person action game cannot go wrong with Operation Flashpoint.

Much like the many potshots you'll take throughout play, it's a very hit or miss endeavor.

Much like the many potshots you'll take throughout play, it's a very hit or miss endeavor.

Much like the many potshots you'll take throughout play, it's a very hit or miss endeavor.

Deep down, there is a good game here, thanks to solid controls, pretty visuals and a nice variety of offensive objectives.

With so many pre-definable and goofy options available at the outset, it's easy to get into the admittedly gonzo spirit of things.

It's main failing isn't game-play related -- it's a personality issue. The humor isn't that exciting to begin with; after hearing a prostitute scream "You suck harder than I do!" for the hundredth time, it becomes downright infuriating.

The game's too footloose for FIFA fans, not outrageous enough for Blitz devotees.

Touchy controls require precision to avoid wrecking or, even worse, forking over your ride to a Frenchie. [July 2003, p.34]

Even noncombat activities are seen from Cole's view, whether he's eating a cheeseburger or ogling his sexy sidekick. Brilliant. [May 2004]

Anyone who believes that fear is most intense when you're alone hasn't been dropped into a group of survivors fighting off flesh-eating zombies. [May 2004]

Unfortunately, Soul Calibur 2 doesn't include an option to download content from the Net, nor is there a component for online play, so all fashion critiques are confined to your living room. [Aug 2003, p.32]

Dead Aim's targets can act more disoriented than a boatload of Florida retirees. [July 2003, p.34]

Best of all, online team play lets you and three buddies dispense hot leaden vengeance from Tokyo to Yemen. [Mar 2004, p.39]

The lethal-injection-wielding beastie and other gruesome monsters were designed by movie F/X guru Stan Winston. Luckily, you can transform into a hulking beast when the prison yard gets too crowded. Dead man morphing! [Feb 2004, p.32]

Along with the intergalactic action of the mission-based single-player game, Homeworld 2 supports online play for up to six gamers and includes tools to build custom ships and levels. [Sept 2003, p.33]

If the blur of high-speed visuals churns your stomach, a turbo-boost should easily reunite you with your lunch. [Sept 2003, p.33]

Fight Night adds a bit of bob and weave through a control system that allows you to swivel your fighter at the hips. [Apr 2004, p.38]

What does this action game packed with guns, cars and crooks have that "Vice City" doesn't? The voice talent of Christopher Walken and Gary Oldman as characters, for one thing. [Oct 2003, p.37]

The confusing gauges have been banished and the pesky laws of aerodynamics relaxed, freeing you to focus on sending Japanese and German pilots to their graves. [Dec 2003, p.44]

It the best drinking game we've played this year. [Aug 2003, p.32]

It the best drinking game we've played this year. [Aug 2003, p.32]

We finally fulfilled our dream of beating guest stars Insane Clown Posse with a baseball bat. [Oct 2003, p.37]

Although the game's design and combat system do not always dazzle, Oni is a sublime break from the ordinary.

The game's biggest downfall is that it isn't particularly difficult.

Think of this strategy game as "The Sims" meets "The Sopranos." [Feb 2003, p.32]

Victory is accompanied by flashy jewelry, fancy cars, and the truest measure of a champ, a larger posse. [Mar 2004, p.39]

Keeping track of the entire team while under fire requires strategy, so try being more Rumsfeld and less Rambo. [July 2003, p.34]

Finally, a shooter for cowards! Kill.Switch is the first game to let you hide behind objects and blindly fire around corners. [Oct 2003, p.37]

The lethal-injection-wielding beastie and other gruesome monsters were designed by movie F/X guru Stan Winston. Luckily, you can transform into a hulking beast when the prison yard gets too crowded. Dead man morphing! [Feb 2004, p.32]

Victory is accompanied by flashy jewelry, fancy cars, and the truest measure of a champ, a larger posse. [Mar 2004, p.39]

The action on the field is also masterfully recreated with a variety of fly and ground balls that spin, curve and bloop just as they do in real life, not to mention the comical errors that happen when fielders try to reel them in.

Unfortunately, Soul Calibur 2 doesn't include an option to download content from the Net, nor is there a component for online play, so all fashion critiques are confined to your living room. [Aug 2003, p.32]

Finally, a shooter for cowards! Kill.Switch is the first game to let you hide behind objects and blindly fire around corners. [Oct 2003, p.37]

Unfortunately, Soul Calibur 2 doesn't include an option to download content from the Net, nor is there a component for online play, so all fashion critiques are confined to your living room. [Aug 2003, p.32]

Fight Night adds a bit of bob and weave through a control system that allows you to swivel your fighter at the hips. [Apr 2004, p.38]

What does this action game packed with guns, cars and crooks have that "Vice City" doesn't? The voice talent of Christopher Walken and Gary Oldman as characters, for one thing. [Oct 2003, p.37]