As-is, you might prefer a used copy of "The Sims" and a subscription to "Playboy: The Magazine." [Apr 2005, p.78]

Rather short, but it feels like an eternity when you have to plod through bland levels to fetch items and you'd literally rather be watching the cutscenes instead. [Apr 2005, p.74]

Simply a disaster...There's a long list of inadequacies, but the big problem is a horrid camera that you can't control beyond snapping it back behind you. [Jan 2005, p.76]

With a story partially written by Punisher veterans Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti, and featuring "Max Payne"-style gameplay, "The Punisher" perfectly captures the essence of comic books. [Feb 2005, p.74]

With an uniteresting cast and bland execution of a promising storyline, you'll never really get into the plot. [Feb 2005, p.76]

It's a snack, not a meal, but it's definitely a tasty one. [Feb 2005, p.78]

Unfortunately, there's very little in terms of storyline and characterization to fuel your motivation. [Feb 2005, p.72]

It isn't perfect, but for the most part, this is a superior game to the first, and a rocking good time! [Jan 2005, p.66]

Though some new-school players will balk at the slight sluggishness afforded to 2D titles or the occasionally bland graphics, the game's outstanding characters make up for it. [Jan 2005, p.74]

A worthy sequel to one of the better games of the last year. It's simply awesome. [Jan 2005, p.68]

Polishes everything about "X7", but makes no big changes. [Jan 2005, p.73]

It definitely makes one hope there's a "Kuon 2." [Holiday 2004, p.92]

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

One of the most awe-inspiring and memorable games ever created. Everything from the twisted plotline to the perfected gameplay works in tandem to create an experience you're not likely to ever forget. [Dec 2004, p.68]

Enemy AI that changes with the wind and level design that's inspired by tunnel vision drops this game into the lower echelon of military shooters. [Feb 2005, p.83]

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

The simple fact is that the bar has been raised. A basic FPS with average graphics, very rough edges and under-realized features can't compete with titles such as "Killzone" and upcoming releases like "Project: Snowblind," and "TimeSplitters: Future Perfect." [Holiday 2004, p.76]

The emulation is dead-on too, so everything plays perfectly. [Feb 2005, p.82]

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]

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]

Snake Eater has one of the greatest gaggle of villains ever assembled in a game. [Jan 2005, p.60]

Somewhere between the unhelpful camera, crappy animations, sloppy control, and repetitive level design, we stopped ranking the offenses. [Holiday 2004, p.86]

It ain't horrible, but the racing is thin and stalls well before the finish line. [Dec 2004, p.92]

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]

It may not be as fast or furious as "March Madness" (and the play-calling itself isn't as intuitive), but no college game feels more realistic. [Jan 2005, p.76]

This is your typical 2D, old-school, vertical shooter, but the price is right, and there are some cool nuances. [Dec 2004, p.78]

It makes for a boring, bland videogame. [Holiday 2004, p.92]

The all-important create-a-wrestler is rather lackluster - which, sadly, also best describes the game as a whole. [Jan 2005, p.73]

It's not a bad game at all, but it doesn't offer anything really new or exciting to the already overrun WWII first-person shooter genre. [Jan 2005, p.78]

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

Little more than fight after fight of stilted controls, repeated animations, and frustrating difficulty. [Jan 2005, p.70]

The ball physics are a tiny bit too "floaty" for pinball purists, and work most effectively on the tables where the ball moves fastest, like my personal favorite, Black Hole. [Feb 2005, p.82]

Has made quite a few improvements on its predecessor - there are just a few rough spots that still need to be buffed out. [Holiday 2004, p.72]

The control is surprisingly solid, the graphics are fairly smooth. [Holiday 2004, p.98]

Without a fat set of features, I really feel like the developers should have amped up the one unique thing the game has going for it - the girls...As it is, Rumble Roses is a tease - you like what you see, but it won't go as far as you'd like. [Dec 2004, p.70]

Despite the sweet new weapon upgrades and other new features, Jak 3 didn't have the same impact on me as "Jak II" because it wasn't as fresh - it feels a little too much like extra "Jak II" chapters. It's still great, don't get me wrong - but maybe not as mind-blowingly fantastic as what came before. [Nov 2004, p.70]

It's as addictive and funny as any other Sims game - that's plenty good. [Holiday 2004, p.80]

Any gamer over twelve will want something a tad more difficult, and more mature. Still, younger players will love it. [Holiday 2004, p.94]

The thrills stop abruptly after you beat five tracks. [Holiday 2004, p.86]

Gameplay is still repetitive, but it's a lot of game for the money. [Holiday 2004, p.96]

A true sequel with its sweet new multiplayer modes. [Holiday 2004, p.80]

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 game is fun, and the story - while sometimes opaqe because of all the techno-talk - is engaging, mostly due to the great cinemas. [Holiday 2004, p.73]

The most polished, varied, creative mix of EyeToy games yet. [Jan 2005, p.76]

Killzone was worth the wait, and matches the hype. It hits the mark in so many ways, it's baffling; they promised us we'd experience fugture war, and we have...and come away shaking. [Holiday 2004, p.70]

A ton of fun...There's a lot of appeal to the city-stomping combat here. [Jan 2005, p.73]

This is too much like going to see a tribute band instead of the real thing. [Holiday 2004, p.73]

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

Its tripped-out characters, seizure-inducing arenas, and innovative gameplay are worth checking out for beat junkies or those who want a new sensation. [Dec 2004, p.92]

Isuka has the same deep, 2D fighting that's been around for years, but it's also remarkably fresh. [Holiday 2004, p.98]

The best WWE game ever made for the PS2. Why didn't I score it higher? Despite the extra polish and new additions, it isn't that different from what's come before. [Dec 2004, p.70]

Every single game is perfectly emulated, and there's a lot of speedy, blue goodness to be had here. [Jan 2005, p.76]

Players over age ten might find Inuyasha too juvenile to enjoy, but younger players will love the charming storyline. [Jan 2005, p.78]

Illogical puzzles dominate the game's second half. You may not even understand what you did in order to move on. [Jan 2005, p.70]

This sarcastic, comedic Action RPG's gameplay is fundamental, solid, and almost old-fashioned in its uncluttered-ness. [Holiday 2004, p.96]

A game that surpasses its genre-defining predecessors in every respect, not just in terms of gameplay, but also in terms of story, characters, and overall fun. It pops many caps in many asses. [Jan 2005, p.58]

The selection of 30+ songs is a bit uneven, but the game is still a blast, and even has a few off-kilter, non-musical mini-games. [Holiday 2004, p.98]

Often tedious and can be a little unfair. [Dec 2004, p.82]

At least mildly accessible and appealing even for entry-level fans. [Jan 2005, p.72]

I found myself literally sweating bullets during most of the missions. [Holiday 2004, p.80]

Awful story aside, Scaler is a well-constructed game, with lush, colorful graphics and ten big levels packed with exotic creatures and scenery. [Jan 2005, p.78]

The gadget-filled action gameplay has been deflated into a fairly typical party game. [Holiday 2004, p.92]

Couldn't there be just a few more levels? Maybe some power-ups? [Holiday 2004, p.82]

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]

What ruins TMNT2 is the game's abyssmal control. [Dec 2004, p.79]

A total guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless. [Holiday 2004, p.94]

A nice selection of familiar characters. [Dec 2004, p.88]

It's wickedly difficult at times. But, I was still driven to "catch 'em all", so the formula still works. [Dec 2004, p.90]

Obviously targeted at a younger audience, and it lacks that extra kick we expect from our 90 proof platformers, but it's still not bad. [Dec 2004, p.79]

For its first hour, the game is good for a chuckle. Trouble is, it quickly becomes repetitive and furstrating. [Nov 2004, p.94]

With depth and style, FIFA continues to deliver the goods. [Nov 2004, p.92]

Great-looking platform game with clever puzzles and excellent character designs. [Holiday 2004, p.86]

If you loved any of these games, you need this. If you didn't, it's time for a history lesson. [Dec 2004, p.88]

The cameras are lousy, the Gunam move too sluggishly, and there's very little depth. [Dec 2004, p.84]

It's funny, sexy, and pretty damn entertaining. [Holiday 2004, p.86]

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]

Not only does it look great, but the weapons feel pretty good, the hordes of enemies are both aggressive and accurate, and the story has some strong moments, as well. [Nov 2004, p.88]

Easily the best 3D fighter PS2 has seen since "Soul Calibur 2" and "VF4 Evolution." [Dec 2004, p.76]

Solid, and if the same great gameplay with a few tweaks and new levels is enough, you'll love it. Without more innovation, though, it's getting harder to get very excited. [Dec 2004, p.82]

If you crave strategy and challenge, get this. [Dec 2004, p.79]

Gameplay is nothing but slippery physics and monotonous driving around Hazzard County through 15 different "Driver" knockoff missions. [Holiday 2004, p.96]

Though the game looks and controls well, levels appear to be designed to kill the player in as many cheap ways as possible. [Dec 2004, p.78]

It's more polished this second time around, but if you already own the first, go a few rental rounds. [Dec 2004, p.90]

There's a steep learning curve, but once that's over, you'll love creating a personalized engine of destruction. [Nov 2004, p.94]

Live doesn't have as many online goodies as "ESPN," but create-a-player mode is jaw-droppingly detailed and All-Star weekend is cool. [Dec 2004, p.78]

Ridiculously good. With a stacked roster of fun personalities, a wicked sense of humor that never lets up, and a vast, captivating quest, the words "epic" and "engaging" don't really do this one justice. [Nov 2004, p.78]

Not all gameplay styles are fun - especially the flawed "DDR" one. [Holiday 2004, p.98]

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

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]

For scratching that online teamplay itch though, not much else around satisfies quite like this. [Dec 2004, p.82]

While some old-school Mega-fans may find turn-based fighting monotonous, it definitely works here and the combat system is deep enough to satisfy even seasoned RPG gamers. [Nov 2004, p.92]

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]

Immediately accessible yet rife with strategy. [Nov 2004, p.86]

While the geographical and story elements Chains introduces are top-notch, it is regrettably light in other areas. [Holiday 2004, p.88]

In short, this is a surprising little gem. [Nov 2004, p.90]

Only ultra-devoted Yu Yu fans will think this doesn't suck. [Jan 2005, p.72]

It has a lot of polish, solid control, and nice attention to detail - it's a solid game. [Dec 2004, p.90]

Tuning or gameplay shortcomings aside, this feels so much like those exciting, chaotic, "Star Wars" battles that it's almost irresistible. [Oct 2004, p.24]