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]

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]

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]

Although this game adaptation's take-down-the-arch-criminal plot is trite, the heroine looks so much like Garner - skintight guises and all - that we're ready to back her on recon missions and vicious fire-fights from Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong. [Feb 2004, p.32]

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]

The occasionally mindless, thumb-numbing play gets a helpful boost from a random mission generator and gory hidden death traps that turn enemies into meat skewers. [May 2004]

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

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

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]

Although this game adaptation's take-down-the-arch-criminal plot is trite, the heroine looks so much like Garner - skintight guises and all - that we're ready to back her on recon missions and vicious fire-fights from Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong. [Feb 2004, p.32]

Although this game adaptation's take-down-the-arch-criminal plot is trite, the heroine looks so much like Garner - skintight guises and all - that we're ready to back her on recon missions and vicious fire-fights from Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong. [Feb 2004, p.32]

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

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

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]

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]

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

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]

Considering the series this game is based on, we expected something with more edge. [Feb 2003, p.32]

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]

It's sort of like "Charlie's Angels" meets "The Matrix" - with all the derivative plot lines that implies. [Apr 2004, p.38]

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]

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

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

With so many liberties taken with the story, we expected to see Godzilla. [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]

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]

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

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

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]

Curvy goddesses and armies of flaming unicorns make this strategy game feel like something between "Risk" and a "Spinal Tap" concert. [Mar 2004, p.39]

Curvy goddesses and armies of flaming unicorns make this strategy game feel like something between "Risk" and a "Spinal Tap" concert. [Mar 2004, p.39]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

A chance to slap James Garner silly would have been a really nice touch. [Aug 2003, p.32]

The huge levels and tough foes are a welcome challenge, but clumsy camera angles and controls can be a nightmare. [Dec 2003, p.44]

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

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

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

The sparse environments, dim-witted foes and frustrating camera angles are as awkward as a bad kung-fu movie overdub. [Sept 2003, p.33]

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

We finally fulfilled our dream of beating guest stars Insane Clown Posse with a baseball bat. [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]

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]

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

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]

Thankfully, this sequel has just enough features to keep us in the ring. [Sept 2003, p.33]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

You slash through swarms of monsters, getting an assist from seven specialized ghostly legions that you summon just as the frantic button-mashing grows tiresome. [Aug 2003, p.32]

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]

A chance to slap James Garner silly would have been a really nice touch. [Aug 2003, p.32]

But behind the gimmicks Outlaw is a simplistic sports game that falls to pieces like a loose string bikini. [July 2003, p.34]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A painful save system demands countless restarts and all but assures general frustration. On the whole, Bounty Hunter establishes itself as a worthy, yet flawed offering.

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

A painful save system demands countless restarts and all but assures general frustration. On the whole, Bounty Hunter establishes itself as a worthy, yet flawed offering.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Suave and stylish, courtesy of character designs by famed anime artist Yasuhiro Nightow (Trigun), it's unfortunately far too short, underwhelming, and the general aesthetic is liable to be beyond the comprehension of anyone who couldn't tell a Gundam from a gumball.

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]

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.

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]

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

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

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

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.

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.

The game is undeniably unique and entertaining, not to mention deeply in need of polish.

A perfect virtual getaway -- without the pretension.

Scores points for an original theme coupled with fresh play mechanics. It then promptly loses them to poor execution.