With its compelling characters and story, Yakuza is still a remarkable game. [Oct 2006, p.72]

LocoRoco is the kind of oddball/genius game that will be revered and sought out by serious gamers for years to come. [Nov. 2006, p.72]

ProStroke Golf aimed to create realistic golf, and real drama, but while it has great physics, it also has PS one graphics, and a crappy interface that does all the work for you, besides swing, which takes a lot of the fun out of it. [Nov. 2006, p.81]

You know, we have to say that Def Jam Fight for NY has aged rather well. Two years later. and it's just as fun as ever. [Nov 2006, p.78]

Probably the most epic-feeling side-scrolling action game in years, if not ever. It will wow you just as much as it will challenge you, and it's definitely not to be missed by those who consider themselves serious gamers. [Oct 2006, p.73]

The beautiful, fun RPG that we always wanted to see from the series, and it brings the epic storyline to its dramatic conclusion. [Oct 2006, p.78]

Too bad the mediocre voice acting does more to keep you away than to keep playing. [Nov. 2006, p.82]

It's got drama, humor, and crazy characters, which will keep you coming back for more. [Oct 2006, p.79]

Oh, it's a fun game for a while, but it quickly becomes monotonous. [Nov. 2006, p.82]

Regardless of the evolving antipathy towards current-gen, this game has its share of improvements. [Nov. 2006, p.79]

Last year's portable Madden chugged and sputtered like a 400 pound offensive lineman asked to run consecutive forty-yard dashes. This year, it's as smooth as Peyton Manning's throwing mechanics. [Nov. 2006, p.79]

With sub-par graphics and load times, Pac-Man World Rally is just the latest game to show that three dimensions is still one too many for Pac-Man. [Sep 2006, p.86]

While the cutscenes look amazing, in-game graphics and environments are subpar. It's just disappointing. [Oct 2006, p.84]

Long load times and a soundtrack that's annoying at best don't help either. Still, FlatOut 2 is a solid, fun game to play. [Oct 2006, p.85]

The Story mode is fatally flawed. [Oct 2006, p.84]

Despite its issues, though, Dark Ressurection is a truly remarkable game and easily one of the best games the PSP has to offer. [Sep 2006, p.81]

It's a pretty short game, the story isn't all that engaging, and the story presentation could stand some polish. [Oct 2006, p.86]

Its story, gameplay, and presentation are so good and so unique, it's easily the best RPG to hit the PSP, not to mention one of the best of the last two console generations. [Sep 2006, p.79]

Field commotion aside, the best reason to huddle up with NCAA is the new Legend mode. [Oct 2006, p.80]

NCAA Football 2007 for the PSP is a faithful port of the PS2 version, right down to the metal cleats and fan meter. [Sep 2006, p.83]

While Blade Dancer is a very fun, solid title, if you're not a true fan of the genre, it's not going to change your mind. [Aug 2006, p.86]

The game's developer has made fighting, not story, the main focus, so you're going to be spending most of your time beating up your opponents and not scrolling through boring plot descriptions. [Sep 2006, p.84]

You're repeatedly fighting the same old bad buys and backtracking through the same old areas, which gets old quickly. [Oct 2006, p.85]

It's still passably entertaining for Pirates fans, but Jack Sparrow's legend deserves a better game. [Sep 2006, p.86]

The steering is a little unresponsive, and the load times are appalling, but it's still a lot of fun to tear ass and humiliate the competition in your meticulously modified rides. [Aug 2006, p.86]

True infrastructure could make [the] next iteration of Mototrax great. [Oct 2006, p.86]

You should be able to beat the game in an afternoon. [Oct 2006, p.84]

Just stay away from the single player mode entirely - it's nowhere near as satisfying as racing your pals through a rustic, old chicken coop. [Sep 2006, p.87]

The AI is the type that has five aces in a poker hand - that is to say, cheap. [Oct 2006, p.86]

Still, the action is always fun, and provides a great soccer challenge. [Sep 2006, p.86]

The cel-shaded graphics and signature special techniques feel just like the anime, and anyone who hasn't seen the series will still find a fun fighting game that is easy to learn, but hard to master. [Aug 2006, p.78]

Lara Croft's PSP adventure is surprisingly close to the PS2 version in many respects. Unfortunately, where it differs, the experience really suffers. [July 2006, p.86]

The stale look and feel bleed too much air from the tires. [Oct 2006, p.86]

If football action is more your thing stick to "Madden". [Sep 2006, p.88]

Legend of Heroes II looks great and has the same solid RPG feel of its predecessor, and also adds some nice new features, like enemies which you can see and choose to avoid, if you wish. [July 2006, p.87]

The graphics are among the best PS2 can produce, with realistic heat shimmer and good physics effects, but it's the gameplay that will keep you coming back, with intelligent level design and a variety of mission objectives(including awesome shoot-the-guy-holding-the-hostage bits)that keep the game feeling fresh. [Aug 2006, p.83]

Street Fighter Alpha Anthology packs a lot of kung-fu fighting into one handy package, making it an excellent excuse for inviting your fighting buddies over for a brawl. [July 2006, p.84]

The serious MGS fan shouldn't hesitate for a second. It's a great way to relive the story, and maybe even expand your knowledge of the series. [Aug 2006, p.82]

AND1 Streetball stands alone as the only basketball game out there right now that truly captures the thrill of real street basketball. [Aug 2006, p.86]

The English translation is awful, the skill system is poorly designed, and the load times are nearly unbearable. [Sep 2006, p.87]

Just finishing a race is tough enough, let alone winning one, whicch is why this series--while still good on the PSP--has been better as a sit-down, console experience. [Aug 2006, p.84]

Diehards will dig the mid-level save feature, and the choice to display these arcade classics in their original aspect ratio(or stretched full-screen)but casual gamers will be eaten alive by this take-no-prisoners series. [July 2006, p.86]

At $20, Liberty City Stories is an offer that's very difficult to refuse. [Sep 2006, p.82]

Save-game swapping with PSP and organized MTV-sponsored online tournaments only sweeten the pot. [Sept 2006, p.88]

With Blood Money, the fourth offering in the series, Eidos makes some big changes to fix these flaws, and the end result is a game that is definitely the best "Hitman" yet. [July 2006, p.80]

What saves the game from being completely mediocre is the story. It’s not particularly compelling, but it does have some entertainingly postmodernist moments. [Mar 2006, p.88]

Don't get us wrong - we like being a shark, but technical flaws and obtuse design sink what could otherwise have been a great game. [Sep 2006, p.88]

It would be easy to write off Rogue Trooper as just another third-person shooter since that's what it pretty much is. Run, gun, a little stealth for flavor--that sort of thing. [July 2006, p.86]

Alas, the ridiculous lengthy load times sap much of the fun, and the game only gets really interesting when you play with friends in ad hoc mode. [Jun 2006, p.87]

The strategy angle comes from the different abilities of each unit...assuming they're each on a different level (air, land,etc.). [May 2006, p.85]

Full of innocent charm and fun, the Steambot Chronicles are worth a bit of frustration. [Aug 2006, p.85]

It's a great puzzle game, but be warned: aside from some never-before-been-scene levels and the ability to design your own, there's nothing truly new here, making the $40 price tag a little dubious. [July 2006, p.87]

The gameplay is tight and entertaining, working perfectly with the anallog control, and rewards quick passing, through balls, and low shots on the goal. [Sep 2006, p.87]

Toss in some lame, animatic-style storytelling, and you have a good reason to save your mmoney for movie tickets or comic books. [Aug 2006, p.84]

If you're expecting puzzles to solve in The Da Vinci Code, then you'll be pleased to know there are plenty; if you're expecting a good game, however, that's a different story entirely. [Aug 2006, p.84]

It's not that the game is particculary lacking in any area, but Ballers lacks the personality to be considered any more than a week-long fling. [May 2006, p.86]

It's stuff like this that gives games featuring licensed cartoon characters such a terrible reputation. [Aug 2006, p.85]

Six-player online racing on both systems(complete with friends lists)seals the deal--if you love racing games, you have to get this. [Jun 2006, p.82]

Six-player online racing on both systems(complete with friends lists)seals the deal--if you love racing games, you have to get this. [Jun 2006, p.82]

Not good. Simply, not good. [May 2006, p.82]

While it does carry over the unique item synthesis system from the first game, and improves on its combat system, this alone isn't enough to make up for the game's flaws. [Jun 2006, p.85]

Still, even though the coating is a little stale and the mechanics at work are slightly overused, The Belkan War soars above other air combat titles, PS2 or otherwise. [Jun 2006, p.79]

Perhaps the most entertaining bits are the laughably bad voice acting, which gives the game a Resident Evil-style, B-movie cheesy charm. [Jun 2006, p.87]

Ultimately, it's a short lived blast at best, overshadowed by the much better "War of the Monsters". [Jun 2006, p.84]

Overall, the game still feels too familiar, which keeps it from the lofty heights of TXR2. [Apr 2006, p.74]

There's nothing to really love, but nothing to really hate either. [Apr 2006, p.78]

I know that it almost sounds too good to be true, but after wishing and hoping for years, Lara finally kicks ass again. [Apr 2006, p.64]

The lack of any camera control can be frustrating at times, leaving you with a less than optimal view of the action. [May 2006, p.78]

At the end of the day, Phenom is essentially a beefed-up NBA Jam: the one-on-one gameplay isn't significantly deeper than that of the original Ballers, and the "extras"--the open world and custimizable lifestyle--aren't really anything we haven't seen before, even in other genres. [May 2006, p.80]

The technical aspects are weak, too: The engine's rough, and the framerate fluctuates a bit too much. [May 2006, p.75]

True motorcycle fiends should hop right on without being let down. [Jun 2006, p.84]

Everything else if pretty standard stuff, but it has its Bondish moments, mainly thanks to the vocal talents off Sean Connery. [Jun 2006, p.87]

It just washes you away in the magic that is two of the world's greatest storytellers--Disney and SquareEnix--coming together to make something timeless, wonderful, and unforgettable. [Jun 2006, p.77]

The game's a serious hand-eye workout with a lot of depth, but next time we'd like to see it become a little more accessible for the non-hardcore. [Apr 2006, p.85]

The problem remains that this game is ultimately more of the same. It's still a solid game, just not particularly legendary. [Apr 2006, p.84]

The core gameplay is terminally flawed, though, and no amount of perks can make up for that. [May 2006, p.87]

The PSP's unwieldly d-pad and screen blur hurt, too. Even with these flaws, Remixed remains a mostly nifty blast from the past. [Jun 2006, p.87]

If you're a Worms fan, Open Warfare will merely fill your need for a portable version. If you've never liked the series before, don't expect this game to change your mind. [Jun 2006, p.85]

Still if it's a mafia game you're after, give Mafia a try. If you want the true Godfather experience, just (re)watch the film. [May 2006, p.72]

Once you break through that long, sleepy quagmire of a start, the game really opens up and delivers an engaging storyline, incredibly memorable characters and a trio of solid combat systems that will keep you on your toes. [Jun 2006, p.83]

It doesn't take much for this game to make you smile, with its signature visual style, stunning(albeit reused)soundtrack, and overall charming presentation. [Jun 2006, p.86]

The PSP has no camera-maneuvering second analog stick, making the spy's portable debut a frustrating chore. [Jun 2006, p.85]

The main addition to WG2 is submarine warfare of the "run silent, run deep" sort, and it's actually kinda disappointing that you have to play through a significant chunk of the game before you even get a chance to pilot a sub. [May 2006, p.82]

Sadly, this game doesn't feel very personalized for country music fans when it comes to its venues. [May 2006, p.80]

In the end, the meat of the game is easier to get into and far less nit-picky, while still providing an excellent strategic kicck. [Apr 2006, p.86]

The fact remains that this is one of, if not the best game in the series, and it's got some great multiplayer modes(playable online!)to further sweeten an already sweet game. [May 2006, p.84]

Overall, Parallel Lines is a step in the right direction for the series, but it ultimately feels like it's setting its ambitions way to low. [May 2006, p.73]

More important, however, is that this game serves as a prime example of how platformers should be designed for the PSP. [Jun 2006, p.80]

Improving on one of the best games ever couldn't have been an easy job, but Kojima Productions was able to do it. They packed this director's cut of "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater", a thrilling and cinematic military stealth action game, so full of tweaks and extras, we wish our review scale went to 11. [Apr 2006, p.73]

The great new features more than compensate, however, and make Powered Up the latest example of a remake done oh-so-right. [May 2006, p.71]

With its bargain price even people who aren't usually into racing games really have no reason to avoid REMIX. [May 2006, p.78]

The return of SH's trademark humor is accompanied by the return of the excellent Judgement Ring battle system as well, and for those who thought "Covenant" was too easy, don't mistake FTNW as from the same school of pushovers: boss fights can be grueling, and if you're not prepared, they can go on for a long time. [Apr 2006, p.76]

If you want your game to deliver 100% action that breaks only when you decide to pause it, Pursuit Force is for you. [Apr 2006, p.82]

Dawn of Dreams mostly succeeds in further extending the series before moving on to the next generation. [Apr 2006, p.68]

State of War is still, at best, a mindless beat 'em up game, and it doesn't take very long at all before the repetitive missions lose their novelty. [Jun 2006, p.84]

While the story mode isn't spectacular and the game can feel a bit too basic at times, the fact remains that DBZ: Shin Budokai is a solid 3D fighting game that both fans and non-fans of the series can enjoy. [Jun 2006, p.84]

For an intense, concentrated dose of blast-em-up chaos with pyrotechnics to spare, look no further: Black is the new black for the winter season. [Apr 2006, p.71]

The look and feel of the show is there, and the story is compelling enough to keep you trudging through the amateur gaming parts. [Apr 2006, p.68]