From the impressive level designs to the brilliant cutscenes, this game delivers in all departments. I just wished that the experienced could have lasted a bit longer. [Dec 2002, p.36]

An overwhelming likeability. [Nov 2002, p.52]

It's not the deepest fishing game, but if you're a serious fan, it's not a bad catch. [Nov 2002, p.54]

The first game had its strengths, however well-hidden, and the improvements in Summoner 2 help bring those qualities to the fore. [Nov 2002, p.46]

It may not deliver the most riveting single-player experience ever, but its multi-player features are some of the best so far. [Nov 2002, p.51]

It just seems that there's been little improvement to the overall fighting system and single-player experience. [Oct 2002, p.34]

Just be ready for some seriously challenging puzzles that will test both your patience and brain power. [Nov 2002, p.52]

It's more like chess, where forward thinking is imortant, rather than immediate reaction. [Nov 2002, p.52]

It's organic intensity versus Hawk's urban chaos, but it works. [Oct 2002, p.30]

This year's iteration of Hitz brings interesteing features and likeable additions that truly make it a better overall game than last year's. [Nov 2002, p.38]

The game itself is just plain sloppy....horrible camera and grippy controls. [Dec 2002, p.40]

The actual gameplay itself is woefully shallow. [Oct 2002, p.40]

This game has got to have on of the worst camera systems in an RPG ever. [Oct 2002, p.38]

An under-responsive combo system and jerky character animations give the impression that this was pushed through production before being finished. [Nov 2002, p.54]

A carpel-tunnel-syndrome-inducing experiment that may just make you more sore and bored than upbeat and happy. [Oct 2002, p.40]

One of the best anime spin-offs on record. [Nov 2002, p.52]

It's very similar to its predecessors in both strengths and weaknesses. [Oct 2002, p.30]

This is a game that, as its title aptly implies, you can quickly get sick of. [Oct 2002, p.40]

Our biggest complaint about the PS2 version is the reduced visual clarity and sluggish framerate compared to the GC original. [Nov 2002, p.54]

The AI ranges from pretty good to downright lame. [Nov 2002, p.41]

Graphically inferior to glitzy modern day racers, and nowhere near as fast as it should be. [Oct 2002, p.40]

The controls are awkward and seemingly endless in nature, but the scenarios are so well devised that you'll feel compelled to beat them. [Nov 2002, p.54]

While a definite step forward in the series, Onimusha 2 doesn't really introduce much that's too remarkably new. [Sept 2002, p.27]

One of the greatest features of this game, by far, the headset lets you tell your computer-controlled teammates exactly what to do...makes SOCOM such an innovative title. [Oct 2002, p.28]

It will scare you silly. We just wished it looked a little better. [Nov 2002, p.46]

It pales in comparison with "NCAA Football 2003." [Oct 2002, p.40]

I'd still recommend "Alpha 3" as the better game but this is a good second. [Sept 2002, p.31]

Nothing much has changed from the last version. [Sept 2002, p.26]

The speed-impaired gameplay, a problem that hampered last year's version of "NBA Live," can lead to some considerable frustration. [Oct 2002, p.35]

Features the best-looking player models, the most realistic-looking stadiums, and the smoothest animations of any PS2 football title. [Sept 2002, p.22]

Its improvements to the series are substantial. [Sept 2002, p.30]

No longer an utter mess, but it still isn't in the same league as the top PS2 football games. [Oct 2002, p.30]

Madden 2003 is not only the deepest football game ever made, but it may also be the deepest PS2 game ever made. [Sept 2002, p.20]

We would like to have seen a bit more effort put into the dynasty mode. [Oct 2002, p.35]

The visuals come up a bit short with aliasing problems and shimmering...Despite its problems, this is still the best tennis experience on the PS2, period. [Sept 2002, p.31]

The combat is actually the biggest letdown: while relying on an interesting mechanic, it just doesn't hold up for an entire game. [August 2002, p.23]

It stacks up well against the graphics of something like "Syphon Filter," which is what it ought to be compared to. [August 2002, p.20]

The passing game's sharp, the running game's well balanced, and even the kick return game is more exciting that it is in the pros. [Sept 2002, p.26]

Sloppy, nonintuitive control and monotonous, room-clearing gameplay make it a chore to play. It's also unnecessarily difficult. [Sept 2002, p.31]

LLike an evolved "Power Stone." It's also pretty good. [Sept 2002, p.31]

The upgraded graphical presentation and more RPG-like aspect of upgrading characters and abilities really puts it over the top. [August 2002, p.22]

Just even barely hitting anything and your car explodes into pieces. Put frankly, this just makes the game unnecessarily frustrating. [August 2002, p.21]

What covers most for its faults are its replay value and abundant personality. [August 2002, p.20]

The most fun we've had playing a baseball game this year. [August 2002, p.22]

A collection of terribly constructed animations, horribly limited replay, and a create-a-boxer mode that's shallower than it first seems. [Sept 2002, p.31]

As expected, Freekstyle merely tweaks Big's entirely familiar, albeit brilliant, formula. [July 2002, p.34]

The adrenaline-pumping thrill, sensory bombardment, and frantic combat have been cranked up for PS2. [June 2002, p.34]

Despite these quibbles, we can't seem to stop playing FireBlade - check it out. [August 2002, p.22]

Extremely pretty, one of the smoothest engines produced for a PS2 racer, but AI issues and championship design leave something to be desired. [July 2002, p.40]

Its similarity to last year's game could put off players who've seen an done this all before. [Sept 2002, p.31]

It's "Time Crisis II," only not quite. [August 2002, p.20]

A deeper game than any of its UFC predecessors, but it comes with a diminished graphical punch. [July 2002, p.36]

There's hardly any creativity to hold it together. [June 2002, p. 40]

It has unusually charming gameplay, and lots of atmospheric mileage despite cut-rate production values. [July 2002, p.39]

A rather enjoyable, if not totally innovative, experience. [June 2002, p.39]

I actually found myself sweating from nervousness and trembling from fear during many of the levels. [July 2002, p.32]

The radar detector and cop chases that the series introduced are back..., but other than that, there isn't a lot that sets this racer apart from the pack. [July 2002, p.37]

Despite some technical hiccups, Aggressive Inline still shines as one of the best and most challenging "extreme" titles on PS2. [August 2002, p.19]

I enjoyed this game up until the halfway point. Then, the sheer lack of any really new gameplay mechanics and the amazing repetitiveness of collecting really got to me. [July 2002, p.40]

While it doesn't bring anything truly groundbreaking to the genre, it's executed pretty damn well, overall. [June 2002, p.30]

It's an addictive, unique, and fun game that definitely delivers the best surfing on a console. [June 2002, p.35]

If you've only encountered Dance Dance Revolution in its American incarnations, it's a godsend. [June 2002, p.32]

This game is lacking most of the extraordinary depth that gave the first "FIFA 2002" so much replayability. [July 2002, p.40]

The complete Arc The Lad experience (including extra goodies) is an otaku's dream come true. [Jan 2002]

If RedCard Soccer 20-03 leaned a little more to the "extreme" side, we probably would have enjoyed it more. [June 2002, p.40]

Aside from the obvious graphics enhancements and some minor new gameplay additions, it doesn't accomplish much more than its PSone predecessors did. In fact, in some minor ways, it's worse. [July 2002, p.38]

The game's enemy AI really shines. These guys (and gals) are smart. [Mar 2002, p.24]

The generic rock soundtrack can't save the mediocre graphics. [May 2002, p.28]

A solid, no frills real-time strategy game that is easily one of the best Army Men games ever. [May 2002, p.26]

What is so great about Deus Ex is the ability to play the game however you want. [May 2002, p.24]

The action is so slow and the world so depressingly medieval. [Apr 2002]

Monotony is the main culprit: the whole game consists of flipping switches and slapping around lame enemies. [May 2002, p.31]

The graphics are pretty outstanding. [May 2002, p.32]

The game seems a bit slow in the response department. [May 2002, p.26]

VF4 does an amazing number of things right. [Apr 2002, p.24]

I must admit that I enjoyed nearly every minute of my pesky abuse...just don't expect to play it for long. [May 2002, p.28]

The gameplay isn't as gripping and the characters aren't as interesting as other rhythm action games. [May 2002, p.30]

Casual fans have everything they could want. [Apr 2002]

Arcade baseball fans will love this game. [Apr 2002]

A mixed bag of a racer. [Apr 2002]

The Jedi powers, unfortunately, are pretty lame; they provide quite an underwhelming function, and do little to vary gameplay. [May 2002, p.27]

Feels quite derivative of a lot of other horror games. [Apr 2002]

Fun and beautiful, with gameplay every bit as fresh as its graphics. [May 2002, p.33]

The best next-generation boxing game we've played yet. [Apr 2002]

The camera problems, and the loose puzzle structure add up to more frustration than fun. [May 2002, p.28]

Decent, but it should have been incredible. [May 2002, p.30]

It doesn't offer anything that would make us recommend it over a better basketball game. [May 2002, p.26]

Not only is it an accurate technical recreation, but also a surprisingly engaging one. [Mar 2002, p.26]

[It] does still suffer from a problematic camera. Often, it's difficult to get the best possible angle necessary for precise platform jumping. [Mar 2002, p.31]

A fun game for a while, offering players cool music a weird story, and intense gameplay. [Feb 2002, p.44]

Occasional slowdown, some seemingly unfair penalties, and sub-par PS2 graphics. [Mar 2002, p.26]

There's still fun to be had, but we're hoping for more innovation and greater variety of gameplay. [Apr 2002]

When you strip away the high-tech hijinx, what's left will leave most players saying, "That's it?" all too quickly. [May 2002, p.30]

Fortunately, 3DO listened to complaints from last year's game and greatly improved the presentation with much graphics and animation, and amazingly accurate commentary. [Mar 2002, p.26]

It’s not only a sterling initial effort, but also one of the best overall examples of the genre we’ve ever played. [Feb 2002, p.32]

It could have been a lot better, though, if the courses were more varied and the challenge level higher. [Apr 2002]

For fun, it's near the top of the pack. [Apr 2002]

Although AirBlande's refreshing look and feel scores it kudos, it doesn't even come close to matching the quality of the THPS series. [Mar 2002, p.27]