You'll see random errors too frequently on routine plays. [July 2005, p.88]

An astonishingly fun game that even non-wresting fans will have a blast with. There's nothing remotely like it in the fighting or wrestling genres. [Apr 2003, p.24]

The type of game that'll bless those patient players who persevere. [Dec 2004, p.84]

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]

A solid, if somewhat slow-paced, shooter that offers up loads of ship variety and a good amount of challenge. [Mar 2004, p.37]

The camera is a frequent problem and some of the battles and level designs are unbalanced, but these feel just like classic X-Men battles. [Holiday 2004, p.82]

The best and most important change is in the driving model, which corrects the overly touchy control seen in last year's "MX Unleashed." [Apr 2005, p.72]

Fun, fresh, and fantastic. [Aug 2007, p.85]

Pucelle's rather excellent localization brings the game world to hyper-kinetic, over-the-top life and that, (coupled with many, many gameplay hours), is more than enough to entice RPG fans into Pucelle's worthy fold. [July 2004, p.32]

Each character actually has their own dedicated training session that does a wonderful job of teaching you the basic gameplay fundamentals. [Holiday 2002, p.51]

It's great for non-hockey fans, and a good break from your "ESPN" or "NHL 2004" season. [Nov 2003, p.43]

The game slows down when songs change during the race. [Holiday 2005, p.98]

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 gameplay isn't terribly innovative, but C:Lol takes everything we love about Castlevania, and moves it into lush, gorgeous 3D. And that's a fantastic accomplishment! [Dec 2003, p.66]

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

A solid overall game, but it doesn't feel like it every really gelled. [May 2004, p.36]

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]

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

A music-editing tool that is both powerful and easy to use, MTV Music Generator 3 is a likely hit with all music lovers. Too bad there isn't more variety in the song list, though. [Aug 2004, p.30]

It all adds up to be the finest Tiger yet, but the lack of innovation means we'll hold on to our copy of "Hot Shots Golf." [Holiday 2006. p.81]

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]

Being the only hockey game on the PS3 this year helps NHL 2K7's appeal, but that notwithstanding, it's still a really great game. [Feb. 2007, p.79]

It's not sloppy, but it lacks a polished tightness. [Nov 2007, p.76]

The improved online features should add significant legs to an already full-featured product. [Nov 2007, p.78]

Hockey fans looking for a major overhaul of this series won't find one, but that's not necessarily bad. [Dec 2002, p.46]

Giant robots have never felt so huge and real. [Holiday 2002, p.46]

The simple explanation for what makes this game rock is that it just plain looks, feels, and plays remarkably like its full-sized siblings. [May 2005, p.84]

This game looks fantastic, sounds awesome, has tight controls and even tighter gameplay, and accurately blends racing, stunts, and "Road Rash." Play it. [Aug 2003, p.22]

The bigger prize here is "Part II." It features improved graphics, better choreography, and greater musical variety, including some guitar slinging and a "waltz battle" with a giant plant. At this price - $30 - it's a steal. [Nov 2003, p.48]

An uninspired co-operative mode, frustrating camera, and incompetent AI prevent it from achieving videogame Zen. [Apr 2003, p.26]

It’s the best platformer on PSP, and the extra features should hit fans where they like to be hit. [Mar 2006, p.89]

There is, however, one triple bogey: heinous load times, including waits of around 30 seconds between each individual hole. [June 2005, p.82]

It's big, it's beautiful, and there are few games available that are more fun for two players. Don't look for an epic story or any kind of online support, though. [Feb 2004, p.28]

Fine shooting action served straight, no chaser. [Holiday 2002, p.30]

Don't judge Sphinx before Tutankhamen is transformed into a mummy, however, as the game simply doesn't catch fire until then. [Holiday 2003, p.28]

Perhaps the most stylish-looking game ever created. [Feb 2002, p.44]

Gurumin might seem too easy for a lot of gamers, especially at the start, but don't be deceived: there are several harder difficulty modes to unlock. [Apr 2007, p.85]

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]

When set against the PS2's existing gallery of not-quite legendary online shooters, this game sticks out like an Oscar-winner at an acting workshop. It's worth a look. [Apr 2005, p.66]

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

Despite incredible depth and improvement, hardcore baseball fans will be frustrated with the game's AI failures. [May 2004, p.37]

Overall, Ultimate Alliance is entertaining no matter which version you decide to play. [Jan. 2007, p.80]

Finally an arcade-style rally game that's extremely fast, controls great, and is easy to get into. [Dec 2002, p.52]

The game still rocks, but as this is the fourth game in the series, we really hoped for some more refinement and evolution. [May 2003, p.34]

It's excellent gameplay pulls through in the long run for a solid role-playing experience. [Nov 2002, p.44]

The huge song list coupled with the EyeToy make this great fun for all ages. [Dec 2005, p.106]

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

Its slow pace keeps it from really taking off. [Apr 2003, p.37]

Still, online is fantastic, and you'll get a serious charge when the raucous crowd applauds your tee shot. [Holiday 2006, p.81]

Short, but sweet and--if you followed the game's initial advice--truly scary. [Dec 2007, p.83]

Even its obscurity and relatively steep learning curve can't bring down this subtle, challenging and entertaining gem of a game. [Mar 2004, p.40]

A great RPG that shouldn't be missed. [July 2005, p.83]

Great emulation...wonderful. [Nov 2005, p.90]

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]

However, "not quite as good as the best ever" is still pretty damn good. [Holiday 2005, p.84]

It may not be the ultimate Street Fighter compilation, but in the end, Street Fighter Anniversary Collection offers great 2D fighting at an excellent price. [Sept 2004, p.20]

Unless you're a big fan of the show, base your purchase solely on how much you like the new songlist. [Feb. 2007, p.84]

It's a simple premise in that brilliant sort of way, and it's helped along by fantastic level design full of undulating terrain, holes, ramps, bumpers, and who knows what else. [Apr 2005, p.76]

The game's pace, even the relative quickness of the players, feels sluggish at times compared to "Live." Otherwise, this rocks. [Nov 2005, p.92]

Its lack of any really well-designed puzzles makes playing the game a bit more repetitive [than "Soul Reaver 2"] and too combat-based. [Feb 2002, p.42]

As a completely turn-based RPG with heavy strategy elements, Gladius's incredibly deliberate pace will try all but the most hardcore RPG'er's patience. Still, if you give it a chance, there's a lot to love. [Dec 2003, p.50]

If you're looking for the most enjoyable baseball game of the year, you'll be hard pressed to beat this one. [Apr 2003, p.38]

Leading your opponent, playing the ball to space, and plenty of modifier options (chip passes, various dribble moves) are all present and accounted for, giving the game the realistic tempo the series has become famous for. [Mar 2006, p.84]

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

The game is long and play is grindingly slow, hampered further by too-frequent loads, iffy translation, and interminable cut scenes. [Dec. 2006, p.82]

A strangely captivating experience and a very strong entry in a sadly underserved genre. It's a huge improvement over the first game in numerous categories. [Nov 2003, p.41]

Skating, controls, and even star players with star moves all make it very obvious that the inspiration for this year's hockey sim came from ["NHL 94"], the legendary dozen-year-old iteration of the series. [Sept 2005, p.81]

In the best surprise we've had in months, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is a massive action adventure that truly rocks, proving that you can never judge a game by its licensed cover. [Nov 2003, p.43]

With a tale as classic and expertly told as Lunar's, and packed in with enough goodies to make even the most stingy fanboy weak in the knees, Lunar: SSSC comes highly recommended for fans and newbies alike. [July 1999]

Does a good job of making a game out of the exercises, but "Yourself!Fitness" is a much more robust and adaptive fitness package. [Dec 2005, p.110]

Success, however, is equally rewarding, as gameplay quickly becomes absolutely addicting. [jan. 2007, p.83]

An awesome nostalgic package. [Nov 2007, p.86]

It's corny, but the solid "Hawk"-inspired gameplay cannot be denied. [Nov 2003, p.48]

In addition to virtually lag free racing (broadband), there's full support for player rankings, chat, voice, and even clans. [Jan 2005, p.74]

It's like a mash-up of the old and new control schemes, which works pretty well. [Jan. 2007, p.82]

Yes, it looks childish, is a bit too easily beaten, and is based on the lackluster Star Wars prequels (all three of them) - but it's also a fun game with charm to spare. [May 2005, p.74]

The whole experience is definitely still good, but undeniably anticlimactic. [July 2007, p.84]

Way more than a bargain bin-worthy roster update from last year's game. [Nov 2007, p.81]

With frequent cheap deaths and enemy shot sthat are often lost amid the hordes of bad guys, the difficulty is just unholy. [Holiday 2004, p.88]

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

On the one hand, you have these lightning-fast bikes to ride; on the other, you spend most of the time making them slow down. [Mar 2002, p.30]

Give Ridge Racer 7 a test drive and find out why it's one of the most underrated PS3 games at launch. [Jan. 2007, p.76]

06 earns a lone caution flag: the sense of speed is still stuck in Sunday-driver gear. If EA fixes that and pretties up the graphics a bit more (though the framerate has improved notably), NASCAR 07 will be something really special. [Oct 2005, p.91]

We love its potential, but wish for more depth. However, SCEE is making baby steps i nthe right direction. [Sept 2005, p.81]

The controls are fast and tight and there are enough play modes to keep you coming back to the pitch for quite some time. [Feb 2003, p.30]

The inexplicable decision to replace last year's classic Dynasty Mode with a less intuitive, less enjoyable version left us heartbroken. [Holiday 2004, p.88]

You're left with a simple arcade shooter cloaked in WWII guise that completes every prerequisite. [Jan 2006, p.76]

Aside from "Fight Night," there isn't a better two-player sports game than "NBA Live 06."[Nov 2005, p.78]

Extreme's additions are extensions, not reinventions, and that's actually good news. With DDR Extreme, you know what you're getting; you're just getting more of it. [Oct 2004, p.33]

Too much coaching, not enough action. [Jan 2006, p.86]

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]

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

Definitely takes a step in the right direction, but everything is still so predictable. [Holiday 2002, p.38]

It's too bad ATV Offroad Fury 4 has to come out in the shadow of "Motorstorm", but thanks to the "Motorstorm" delay, it might still be the Baja racing game of the year. [Jan. 2007, p.82]

No, this is a balls-to-the-wall action fest that keeps the gritty battlefield presentation of the series perfectly intact. [Dec. 2006, p.78]

It can be a fun game, but it's not exactly baseball. [Oct 2007, p.84]

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

It's a game that gets back to the basics and is chock-full of Mortal Kombat goodness, especially for two players simultaneously. [Dec 2005, p.84]