As a bargain-priced take on what you're seeing on TV, this one rates as an off-suited pair - something to play with, but don't bet the mortgage on it. [Feb 2005, p.80]

I absolutely loved it, but I'm old enough to remember when the moon walk was the strangest thing Michael Jackson had done lately. [Feb 2003, p.35]

The game's kick-ass atmosphere and excellent visuals seem to have taken development time away from the play mechanics. [Nov 2004, p.88]

Despite being nearly identical games, Thrillville on the PSP is coming out a little ahead of its PS2 brother. [Jan. 2007, p.85]

Though the basic premise and gameplay are still solid, the cut and paste approach for each installment is spreading a bit thin three games in. [Oct 2003, p.30]

Sure, it's the same old cut 'n' paste gameplay formula, but if you've played into .hack's dual layered world thus far, it's a solid and enjoyable note upon which to end the series. [Jan 2004, p.36]

There are also four unlockable characters (in addition to the original four) and extra game modes not present in the GameCube original, making this the definitive version. [Jan 2003, p.26]

We enjoyed the series' addictively simple-yet-fun gameplay seven years ago, and we enjoy it just as much now. [Nov 2007, p.87]

Own the City has a "if it's not broken, don't fix it" feel. [Jan. 2007, p.86]

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]

As an overall experience, there isn't anything unique going on beyond the transformation gimmick. [Nov 2002, p.54]

It's not going to win any awards, but what's there is good, though unclean, fun. [Dec 2003, p.72]

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

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

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

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

With more than 4000 horses and nearly 40 racing track options, with variables such as weather and track conditions, there is little room for repetition and boredom. [Oct 2004, p.42]

The emulation is dead-on, your controller's analog sensitivity is adjustable, and there are historical images and stories and interviews for fans. [Holiday 2005, p.88]

The multiple angles, 3D engine, and stellar visuals in Mega Man X7 do move the series forward, even if gameplay remains the same, which is okay in our book. [Nov 2003, p.41]

If watching a three-ton robot swing a plasma sword gets your freak on, go snag a copy. [Jan 2005, p.72]

Sure, it's still playable; it's just not fantastic. [Sept 2005, p.78]

The game has huge potential, but unfortunately most of it is unrealized at launch. [Apr 2003, p.30]

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]

Fast, furious, but difficult to master, this game will have players cleaning dirt out of their PS2s. [May 2004, p.40]

Still, a good looking game goes a long way, and there's no denying MLB 2K7 looks killer. [May 2007, p.82]

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

Unfortunately, the adventure is too predictable--particularly on a system known for awesome RPG's--but it's still distinctive enough to warrant exploration. [Jun 2006, p.86]

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

It's just not quite all that it could be. [June 2005, p.80]

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

Enchanted Arms uses all the familiar constructs of the genre, playing as if developers went down a checklist of what a Japanese RPG should feature and made sure to include them all. [June 2007, p.82]

Based on the PS2 game, but adding four tables, Pinball Hall of Fame works remarkably well on the PSP. [Mar 2006, p.88]

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

On the downside, 2K need to seriously fire their testers--we did a double-take checking to see that we were playing a final build of the game with all the gonzo A.I. and animation glitches we ran into. [May 2007, p.83]

The sound-alike performers are okay, but it's a big problem that the interface offers too little guidance and no feedback as to what you're doing wrong - you can't tell if you're ahead or behind. [Holiday 2004, p.92]

This is by no means a perfect game, but it serves the license admirably and is definitely worth playing through with friends. [Feb 2006, p.82]

Ultimately, Gretzky is like a hockey player's smile: genuine, but with a few teeth missing, who also happens to be standing next to two supermodels. [Holiday 2004, p.94]

The bar for this type of game is higher now, and it seems the castlevania series is simply struggling to keep up. [Dec 2005, p.106]

There's a fairly deep golf sim here, too, and if you like its style, it's funny. [Holiday 2004, p.73]

Love or hate Dragon Ball, the load times in Tenkaichi 2 will have you seeing red fast. [Holiday 2006, p.82]

All it needs is a little refinement. [Feb 2006, p.74]

A surprisingly fun little way to pass the time for less than twenty bucks. [May 2003, p.36]

Fun unlockables should keep you interested for more than just a rental, and the PS2 doesn't break a sweat - no slowdown here. [Nov 2004, p.92]

Rough controls, but Gundam and giant robot fans should love it. [Jan 2004, p.48]

Even hardcore racers will find Enthusia's default difficulty setting is soul-crushingly hard, with absurdly demanding physics and cars that feel heavier than battleships, yet spin out at the slightest provocation. [June 2005, p.76]

It's not the most original game, but fans of the genre will certainly get their money's worth. [Dec. 2006, p.84]

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

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]

It does feel a bit short, and some elements of the story are poorly told. But as simple, fundamental platform gaming, it's pleasant enough, and Harry's target lock is really very good. [Jan 2004, p.37]

If there were more track variation, more weapons, and a bit more effort in the presentation, M.A.C.H. could have easily have been a must-have PSP game. [Apr 2007, p.86]

An elegantly designed game, Cube also has a chill soundtrack, always a welcome facet in a puzzle game. [July 2007, p.85]

It's an inventive take on turn-based combat. [Nov 2002, p.44]

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

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

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]

It’s an interesting system that places emphasis on strategy rather than brute force, but, in the end, it still feels a little limited. [Feb 2002, p.38]

The pressure and redundancy might annoy some gamers, but it looks and feels appropriately hectic - and it's a morally upstanding, heroically-themed videogame. [Apr 2004, p.40]

It's funny, there are plenty of new locales and characters, and the production values are admirable, though the framerate chugs and the camera could be more refined. [Nov 2005, p.96]

A good attempt to innovate the survival horror genre that doesn't deliver nearly enough depth to wholly satisfy. [May 2003, p.33]

It's undeniably cool to participate in shaping history, but not everyone will have the patience to conquer China. [Sept 2005, p.75]

It's familiar, well-crafted, and fits well on PSP. [Jan 2006, p.76]

It has some great strategy elements and intense action, but is marred by repetitive level design and slow pacing. [July 2003, p.34]

As an FPS, the game offers steady action and decent A.I., but is often repetitious and does very little to shake the formula. [May 2007, p.84]

Fans will undoubtedly want to check Fantasm out, but there isn't much here that hasn't been seen before. [June 2007, p.82]

It stinks that you can't upload your finished RPG to the internet, and it's a challenge to use. [Aug 2005, p.81]

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

The game, as a whole, doesn't feel totally balanced. [Holiday 2002, p.32]

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

[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]

The tutorial expects you to know the core rules, so complete noobs will be lost instantly. [Sept 2007, p.82]

It's a bit on the ugly side, but its single player missions are solid and the races are vastly different. [Sept 2003, p.38]

Pool Paradise not only destroys all previous PS2 pool titles - which really isn't that tough - it's legitimately good. [Sept 2004, p.22]

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 "Frogger"-like way in which you move kind of sucks, especially when you have to run along a riverbed or around burning lava. [Nov 2005, p.96]

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

It's not the next "Fatal Frame 2," but "X-Files: Resist or Serve" is a decent game infused with an awesome license and a very fair price. [June 2004, p.30]

A major improvement over the last game, and an absolute must-buy for the DBZ hardcore. [Holiday 2003, p.28]

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

Very nice indeed. [Holiday 2006, p.85]

MotoGP 3's main fault, if you can call it that, is that the game is all too similar to "MotoGP 2." [Apr 2003, p.27]

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]

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

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

Great for parties and provides a very unique experience, but there's not a lot of replay potential for solo players. Still, the concept is definitely exciting. [Nov 2003, p.44]

Mega Man fans and experienced gamers will love this massive collection of old-school goodness, but we'll admit it does little to attract new followers. [Aug 2004, p.28]

It's still the best game for hardcore simulation fans who don't care about visuals. [Apr 2003, p.38]

If you don't own an Xbox, this is probably worth your while. If you do own one, get the Xbox version. [May 2004, p.30]

Don't be surprised if the strategic Chess Kombat and the Super Puzzle Fighter-esque Puzzle Kombat overshadow Unchained's main event. [Feb. 2007, p.83]

It's certainly the best Gundam game around. [Sept 2005, p.79]

That basically sums up College Hoops 2K7--it plays well enough, but it's basically no better than "College Hoops 2K6", and it pales in comparison to the next-gen version. [Mar 2007, p.86]

Lacks the depth and online play of SOCOM II, but armchair generals could do much worse. Fans of the soldier's lifestyle should find much to love here. [Holiday 2003, p.48]

The graphics aren't particularly impressive - the game looks slightly better than prior efforts - but it's perhaps the best KOF roster yet, and it's a great history lesson for newbies. [Feb 2005, p.80]

Pets comes across as a very well-bred animal--desirable traits are sharp. but there are some inbreeding issues. [Holiday 2006, p.85]

It's lenient, arcade-like, and generally friendly as rally games go. Which means two things: It's easier to come to grips with, but as a result, it's a shallower play. [Jan 2003, p.36]

It's a well crafted, if not overly ambitious, jungle adventure. [Holiday 2003, p.46]

On the plus side, there are some console-only extras, like a racing mode that lets you hit the asphault with old-fashioned hot rots. [Apr 2004, p.36]

We can only hope the inevitable sequel offers more fighters and modes. [Holiday 2004, p.82]

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