Konami’s handful of ideas to make driving sims better (VGS displays, Enthusia Life mode, etc.) are worth sampling despite a handful of odd decisions by the programmers (losing Enthu points to a rear end crasher??!!).

Despite unresponsive controls and average graphics riddled with a jerky frame-rate (elements that would normally kill any racing game’s enjoyment) Blazin’ Trails delivers a surmountable and fun but challenging struggle for first place.

The improved graphics make this the best-looking DW installment to date. Too bad the tweaks to the time-tested gameplay (smarter bodyguards, more balanced weaponry, etc.) and handful of new gameplay modes (Bridge Melee) are beginning to show more desperation than innovation or creativity.

Untold Legends’ lengthy single-player campaign and multiplayer options compensate somewhat for its underwhelming sound, forgettable story and mindless hack-and-slash gameplay.

It also carries the baggage of dated graphics, cumbersome controls and scavenger hunt mentality that was all the rage (get it?) back in 1999.

The bite-sized pace of the shrunken battlefields’ brawls robs DW’s gameplay of the urgency and hardcore struggle that characterized its console predecessors.

Not even support for the handheld’s online network and some decent graphics will be enough to entice anyone to overlook the poorly-implemented controls and minimal sounds in this first-generation disaster.

Multi-console owners should consider the Xbox version of Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (or either of the original Gamecube versions) over this slowdown-riddled and slow-to-load PS2 port.

The atmosphere isn’t scary or dreadful enough to instill fear in players, and the brevity of the experience is only matched by its lack of originality.

Despite online support and being the only hockey game on the PSP Gretzky NHL’s sloppy controls, lackluster sound and choppy frame-rate make it a less-than-stellar representation of the sport it recreates.

A mindless hack-and-slash experience with little to distinguish it from the many similar titles that preceded it, this rehash of last year’s "Castlevania: Lament of Innocence" engine is a good excuse to blow both steam and a free rental at Blockbuster.

A good game all-around and a great continuation of the planned six-part saga, Episode II still falls short of what you'd expect from a supposed epic.

Sega should have known better than to pick after Activision’s pile of rejects.

A terrible movie spawns a mediocre-at-best action game that compares poorly with both the motion picture it’s based on and the comic book that inspired them both.

Too bad the game’s bloody battles (starring Agrippa) far outpace its stealth segments (featuring Octavianus), resulting in an uneven experience that makes players anticipate half the game and loathe the other.

A poor man’s ".hack" clone with characters/sounds from the Virtua Fighter series poorly tacked-on for no reason other than name recognition.

When the smoke clears, it's just another third-person action game.

Suikoden IV’s unimpressive graphics, generic audio (except for the voice-overs), infuriating battle frequency and watered-down strategy (less party members = less variety of attack combos) aren’t going to cut it in 2005.

Hours of deep strategic gameplay, excellent music and interesting stories (particularly in "The Dual Darkness' chapter of the saga) make Growlanser Generations a keeper for RPG strategists in need of a noggin-shaking fix.

MegaMan X8's return-to-basics approach makes for predictable but reasonably entertaining gameplay antics IF you're a diehard fan of Capcom's series.

Kuon has beautiful graphics and haunting sounds (including a choice of English or Japanese languages) that go to waste on a survival horror experience that isn’t the least bit original or frightening.

Two years after its predecessor conclusively proved it Ghost Recon 2 reaffirms it: the PS2 doesn't have the RAM to do justice to Red Storm's intense A.I. routines and team-based gameplay justice.

Despite carrying on the legacy of one of the greatest First-Person Shooters of our time, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent fails to match up to the N-64 classic in almost every department... well, as far as a fun factor goes.

The low price (under $20) and handful of AAA classics still manage to make this an appealing purchase proposition IF you can tolerate its noticeable shortcomings and/or have an appreciation for the industry's history.

Poker videogames need either brilliant Artificial Intelligence for offline single-player games or excellent online modes that factor in human fallibility for multiplayer competition. World Championship Poker lacks the former, and the latter isn’t up to the standard of online poker websites.

It's a flawed and shallow button masher (very few moves and no technique) but also visually alluring and reasonably entertaining for a second-tier fighting game.

This isn't a terrible or bad fighting game, just an uninspired one.

Emphasizes flashy visuals, corporate sponsorships and ease-of-use over the seedy aspects of street racing. The competitors’ AI goes from dumb to aggressive in the blink of a tail light too.

Too short and easy for grown-ups but just about right for the target audience of both the books and the Jim Carrey movie currently out in theaters.

Rumble Roses' knockout visuals, spot-on control and near-flawless execution of an outrageous premise flirt with greatness. Lack of depth, repetitive moves, and horrendous voice-overs hold back Konami's chances of giving "Smackdown! Vs. Raw" a run for its money.

Older gamers won’t be challenged in the least by Spyro’s new abilities or quests, but the whole game has a pleasant, Disney-like harmless vibe about it.

Predictably competent.

The derivative visuals, unoriginal gameplay, bare-bones multiplayer mode and annoying BGM make this an amusing weekend rental, but that’s it.

An entertaining but sporadically inept first-person shooter whose shortcomings (crummy frame-rate, lackluster AI, etc.) are slightly outweighed by the things it does get right (intense firefights, great atmosphere, good sound, etc.).

The cakewalk difficulty, absence of key characters from the book/movie and uneven control schemes (turn-based battles geared toward melee combat) overwhelm one’s gaming senses more than the detailed visuals (character animations are off though) and stellar audio.

Graphics and sound are saddled with an odd ‘cartoony’ vibe and powered by an outdated engine though.

A very pretty-sounding and good-looking shell of a cash cow for THQ and Pixar to make a few bucks off of the movie’s popularity. Sorry gang, no sale!

If The Bard’s Tale played as well as it pokes fun at hack-and-slash RPG clichés we’d be talking about a ‘10’ here. The repetitive combat and reliance on tried-and-true RPG conventions, sadly, bring down the score.

A lot of fun, offers great music but could use a more sensitive, less frustrating controller.

The linearity, repetitiveness, price and absence of a second player to share the experience with, however, dramatically drain Crisis Zone’s long-term appeal.

Everything the original should have been two years ago but wasn’t: intense, gritty, ultra-violent, stylish and a lot of fun to play through... ONCE!

Controls like its SNK 2D predecessors but lacks meaningful gameplay modes (besides standard one’s) or stellar graphics that would make anyone but hardcore SNK fanboys (and girls!) take notice of its arrival.

Imagine a GTA-like gigantic world set in a cartoon-like Australian Outback universe, complete with mini-games and sidequests to distract from the main quest. That's what Ty 2 delivers for under twenty bucks.

The pinpoint difficulty of the proceedings also limits the game’s appeal to either small children that will play anything or hardcore “Crash” fans from the PSOne era.

Competent but uninspired, Armored Core Nexus continues to cater to a dedicated following of PS2 owners that milk its customization features for all they’re worth.

The game looks/sounds/controls remarkably well. Little children that saw the movie will be amused-enough to finish Shark Tale in a rental or two.

The good portions of Headhunter: Redemption (clean visuals, smart opponents, a lengthy and tough challenge, etc.) outweigh the bad one’s (needlessly troublesome controls, idiotic dialogue, inconsistent game design, etc.) by a very narrow margin.

Aside from some moments of fun online, Monster Hunter is a pretty boring game that is at the bottom of Capcom's ability.

This so-called RPG (cough- cough-) will be of interest only to young children without GameCube's, RPG newbies or beyond-hope Mega Man fanatics that must own all Mega Man branded items.

Light on story and depth but packed with tons of action (particularly in multiplayer), Legends is an X-Men fan’s dream come true and the best non-fighting game ever made featuring Marvel’s legendary team of superheroes.

The visuals are dated but everything else about Katamari Damacy is too wonderfully weird in its simplicity for anyone to explain.

The story is cool, the voice-acting & music superb and the action sequences intense. The visuals are merely serviceable though, and emphasizing firepower over psychic abilities lessens the impact of the latter.

If you dig the Yu Yu Hakusho anime (particularly the Dark Tournament saga) then you’ll be pretty satisfied with this bare-bones PS2 brawler.

Not to mention, cheap AI, stiff controls, the "I can be beaten in a weekend" story mode, and an overload of psuedo-censored rap music hold this wrestler disguised as a street brawler back from being truly great.

Sure, there are other, better games out there, but for fifteen dollars, Gungrave: Overdose is just too good to pass up. If you like action games and love destruction, then grab this game, gear up, and get ready to overdose.

The biggest problem of them all, though, is the lack of variety in missions. Fun as the run, gun, and hide gameplay trend is, it can only carry a game so far.

Nothing in this attempt at an arcadey demolition derby stands out as unique or outstanding.

It’s not the worst BGM I’ve heard in a racing game but I’ve certainly heard better music from little cartridges for portable videogame systems (“Checkered Flag” for the Atari Lynx anyone?).

If you're looking for a killer stealth-action game to dethrone the great ones, Spy Fiction's not exactly it, but it should keep you busy until "Metal Gear Solid 3."

The new gameplay tweaks (which I personally dislike) and low retail price (under $30 if you know where to shop) go a long way to lessen the lack of improvement on the graphics and sounds.

The more I tried to look for excuses to give “Astro Boy” a higher-than-mediocre score the more I remembered how boring, repetitive and short the game was.

This odd mixture of survival horror, atmospheric visuals, brain-dead puzzles and action clichés manages to come together despite itself, creating a PS2 exclusive that delivers more than the sum of its disparate parts.

With everything from killer combos, tons of unlockable content, and a mere forty dollar price tag, what's not to love?

Rent it, beat your own high score (or your friends') and move on to the many other far-better sports titles in the PS2 universe.

If you're looking for a good samurai game to add to your collection, spare yourself the trouble and shell out the $10 to $20 the first game is going for.

The AI in Driv3r has to be some of the worst AI I have come across in along time, your enemy just stands still and shoots occasionally he will kneel down but it seems the enemy in driv3r are way too lazy to care for there lives.

Sounds completely average and inconsequential, plus it lacks the Xbox version’s Dolby 5.1 support.

There's still nothing here that amazes, just a fun game that is worthy of a Potter fan's attention.

Gets by on the competent execution of its unique gameplay ideas and its low retail price.

A budget-priced bowling game that’s as unpretentious as it is well put together and fun (in small doses and with the right group of friends under the right circumstances… wink, wink! :-P).

A shame, because the production values are in place for something far better than what is actually delivered.

Though it didn't meet everyone's expectations, it still offers up a solid play experience that fans of westerns and action games alike should enjoy.

Graphics are decent for a licensed videogame (no clips from the movie though!), but the audio (including sound-alike actors doubling for the film's stars) is so generic and uninspired it hurts just to listen.

Compare it to the user-friendly “FIFA 2004” and the overall-perfection of “Winning Eleven 7" though, and WTS ‘05 comes up way short.

A steep learning curve, buggy online mode, and lack of communication options between you and your allies make this title fall short in just about everything it set out to achieve.

You don't want to spend your hard-earned (or however you get it... don't ask, don't tell, right?) cash on a game that's just "good," do you?

I’m not a fan of the show, so its lack of originality and sloppy visuals (for a third-generation PS2 release) left me cold and unimpressed.

Tedious puzzles, monotonous action and some of the worst English voice-overs ever committed to DVD-ROM sink into oblivion what little chance Cy Girls had to impress an American audience not exposed to the original TV show that inspired its creation.

Every bit as good as the recent "Resident Evil Outbreak" game if not better in some ways.

The single player campaigns, while engaging, are somewhat lacking in cohesion.

The association with Kurosawa’s classic ’54 epic notwithstanding, 20XX is just too mindless and repetitive a hack-and-slash experience to recommend.

A schitzophrenic camera, irresponsive controls, and slow gameplay make Worms 3D nothing more than fishbait in this reviewer's eyes.

Fans of the movie "Dragonheart" and people who like games that run in the same vein as the "Dynasty Warriors" and "Panzer Dragoon" series' will enjoy Drakengard to the fullest while others will recieve a solid, yet short and lacking, gameplay experience that won't leave them completely satisfied.

The bottom line is, if you liked "Shinobi" then you'll most likely love Nightshade. With more unlockables and selectable difficulty's than it's predecessor (and replay value as well), Nightshade is a good buy.

Marred by technical issues (slowdown galore, jagged edges, simplistic-to-a-fault level design) that make it third-best behind the GameCube and Xbox versions.

With its bland, repetive gameplay, recycled in-game graphics, mid-battle slowdown, and awkwardly placed musical insertions, it's hard for the game's better features to really shine.

A fun game but its not "Ridge Racer." "Ridge Racer" always complimented the "GT" series well but with this game its two trying to be in the same vein.

These two versions of SNK’s long-running franchise compensate for their outdated visuals and muffled sounds with well-honed and rewarding gameplay that’s as hard as it is rewarding if you’re into this type of game.

While shy of “Virtua Fighter 4” perfection (a lot of elements from the first “Budokai” engine are recycled) Budokai 2 is easily the best videogame to have ever been spawned from Akira Toriyama’s animated universe.

A recycled (and quite inept) PS2 interface plagued with technical shortcomings (slowdown galore!) that mirrors the prequel’s 2001 PS2 version makes this the console version of Max Payne 2 to avoid.

Quickly loses its fun after the first 30 minutes or so.

While its bonus features (interviews, commercials, etc.) and interface far outclass those in "Midway Arcade Treasures" the 60+ Intellivision titles in this compilation lack a single breakthrough star of the caliber of a "Joust" or "Robotron 2084."

If you are able to look past frustrating controls and a poor camera, the game is quite enjoyable. It’s also not one of those games that added a bunch of annoying sidequests to extend its length, and as a result, it can be beaten with a healthy weekend of gaming.

Battlestar Galactica's biggest flaw is a brutal difficulty level that will make grown men (and women) cry and beg for their mommy. Graphics, sound and control are definitely top notch though.

Time for everyone involved with this series to either evolve or move on, and leave TXR 3 for the flat-broke and/or uneducated casual gamer that doesn't know any better. Worth a shot (preferably as a rental) if you’ve never played a "TXR" game before this one.

At less than a buck per game the 24 titles in this compilation are videogame royalty that more than earn their keep in gameplay worth though.

Those of us that want our sports games lengthy, deep and polished to near perfection, however, will be dunking balls over at Sega Sports’ courtyard with "College Hoops 2004" while EA Canada gets its act together.

The graphics are mediocre and the level design too linear (and simplistic when it comes time to solve its puzzles), but the length of the quest and simple Zelda-inspired action (not to mention the worthy-of-its-own-movie-series soundtrack) entertain more than disappoint.