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For 982 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 50% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 48% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 5 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 70
Highest review score: 100 Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Lowest review score: 20 Surfing H3O
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 418 out of 982
  2. Mixed: 474 out of 982
  3. Negative: 90 out of 982
982 game reviews
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    • 56 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament
    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.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Star Wars: Battlefront
    Controlling vehicles is actually easier and more fun than controlling the various soldiers. Some of these are a bit tricky to manuever, but for a game using so many different kinds of objects to control, Lucas got this down pretty well.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Def Jam: Fight for NY
    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.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NHL 2005
    On an average year I'd suggest you rent NHL 2005 but, with the '04/'05 season all but lost to the NHL lockout, even a slightly-improved hockey game goes a long way.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
    EA’s decision to pander to casual gamers and non-golf fans with “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005” threatens to obliterate the reputation the series has built over the past three years as the console golf sim to beat.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Gungrave: Overdose
    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.
    • 48 Metascore
    • 20 Critic Score
    Vietcong: Purple Haze
    Vietcong could suck the sheet metal from a Sherman tank at 500 yards. This is by far the worst game on the PlayStation 2 and the dumb bastard that pays forty dollars for this lackluster frisbee deserves every second of the torment that it spits out.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gradius V
    Hard as hell, scored like an epic sci-fi movie soundtrack, tighter control than Billy Joel’s car and more gorgeous than a dozen Victoria’s Secret models put together; Gradius V is a real man’s shooter (sorry ladies).
    • 58 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    ShellShock: Nam '67
    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.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sly 2: Band of Thieves
    Better-looking, more polished, funnier and longer (much longer) than its predecessor.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
    With a load of unlockables, an involving story, and more action than any similar game before it, Demon Stone is the premier action/rpg title to own.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Silent Hill 4: The Room
    Takes the best of the first two games, skips that crapper of a third game, adds to the series ten-fold and once again threatens to turn your head into a nightmare hotel.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Burnout 3: Takedown
    The track designs are really what make this game worth playing. It reminds me of "Rush 2049" on crack with little details such as close calls and drifting that make the game a joy to watch.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Test Drive: Eve of Destruction
    Nothing in this attempt at an arcadey demolition derby stands out as unique or outstanding.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Street Racing Syndicate
    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?).
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Spy Fiction
    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."
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Street Fighter Anniversary Collection
    The visuals are a little dated but everything else about this package screams ‘class act.’
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires
    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.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
    The best PlayStation 2 RPG that I've played in the past two-years.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup
    Delivers enough of everything (improved graphics, deep managerial options in Career mode, more vehicles/racing series, cleaner audio, etc.) to keep fans of the sport happily steering their favorite NASCAR racers to the left for another year.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Viewtiful Joe
    Every now and then, a truly great game comes out. Viewtiful Joe isn't quite one of them, but it does a nice job of setting the stage for things to come (like the sequel, duh).
    • 54 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Astro Boy
    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.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Ghosthunter
    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.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hot Shots Golf Fore!
    The huge number of new golf courses and playable characters, along with slightly-improved control and user-friendly online modes (not to mention the returning golfers/courses from “HSG 3”), make Hot Shots Golf Fore! the best installment of the series yet.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Bujingai: The Forsaken City
    With everything from killer combos, tons of unlockable content, and a mere forty dollar price tag, what's not to love?
    • 46 Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Catwoman
    Catwoman isn’t a game as much as a licensed train wreck.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    ESPN NFL 2K5
    With better graphics, deeper gameplay, a polished ESPN interface to die for and an outrageously low price ESPN NFL 2K5 offers the most bang for your gaming dollar, period.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    NCAA Football 2005
    Sometimes many little things that seem small can add up to make an impact and I believe NCAA has done just that. I am once again impressed EA.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Athens 2004
    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.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Way of the Samurai 2
    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.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Spider-Man 2
    Other than its generic mission objectives and/or uninteresting sounds (including a poor attempt at camp humor) Spider-Man 2 delivers the goods and has legs to last well beyond the summer of 2004.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    MLB SlugFest: Loaded
    Truly one of the best one-on-one online games of its generation.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Mega Man Anniversary Collection
    Capcom poured the love into this collection. They took their time to give fans something worthy.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    MTV Music Generator 3: This Is the Remix
    A huge improvement in the controls and accessibility along with some killer tunes makes this remix a good time for those who love being creative. This once again is a party tool just screaming to be used.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    DRIV3R
    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.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow
    By far the best espionage title available on any platform.
    • 34 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    McFarlane's Evil Prophecy
    While I recommend you rent this, buying it would be a grave mistake.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
    With tons of unlockable content, a unique cooperative play mode, a behind the scenes look at the making of the game, an excluisve music video from the band COLD, and an overall gameplay experience that will keep you coming back for more... what's not to love?
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2
    It's far for perfect, but Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 is the best tennis game to come out for PS2 to date.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Malice
    Sounds completely average and inconsequential, plus it lacks the Xbox version’s Dolby 5.1 support.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    There's still nothing here that amazes, just a fun game that is worthy of a Potter fan's attention.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Future Tactics: The Uprising
    Gets by on the competent execution of its unique gameplay ideas and its low retail price.
    • 48 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Strike Force Bowling
    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).
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Samurai Warriors
    Just don’t expect to like Samurai Warriors if you’ve had your fill of (or never liked) "Dynasty Warriors".
    • 64 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Van Helsing
    A shame, because the production values are in place for something far better than what is actually delivered.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain
    The best game in the series since the original. Online or off, the game has plenty of replay value, tons of weapons and cool levels and a player customization feature that rules. Don't be put off by the controls because they actually rock.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    UEFA Euro 2004: Portugal
    The game's only original feature, a morale meter that affects gameplay based on a player's on-the-field performance, comes across as a tacked-on gimmick.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Red Dead Revolver
    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.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Shrek 2
    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.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
    This is the best in the series and my nomination for action game of the year. I loved every minute of the game including finding all of the secrets in the game.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Serious Sam: Next Encounter
    While the single player game is basic and ultimately boring, the game more than makes up for that with its online play.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Siren
    My biggest beef with Siren is that it's one and only really "key" feature, sightjacking, was played up to be a very useful tool that will be essential in your survival. What no one really bothered to mention is that sightjacking is about all the game really is (at least in the earlier portions of the game).
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Hitman: Contracts
    Although it's a bit on the short side with only 11 missions and a tutorial mode, there are multiple ways to go about doing things which offers up some pretty hefty replay value.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    World Tour Soccer 2005
    Compare it to the user-friendly “FIFA 2004” and the overall-perfection of “Winning Eleven 7" though, and WTS ‘05 comes up way short.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    NBA Ballers
    This is about as good as most fighters, but it's basketball and it's online too!
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Fight Night 2004
    The control system may be so new and fun that it's masking some of the game's problems. If so, then so be it for now because all we can do is love hitting this way.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Resident Evil Outbreak
    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.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Crimson Sea 2
    With its mix of "Dynasty Warriors" gameplay, "Starship Troopers"-type setting (complete with umpteen million giant bugs to kill) and interesting characters Crimson Sea 2 is an above-average hack-and-slash adventure.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3
    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?
    • 59 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku
    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.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy XI
    Highly addictive gameplay that seems to never end, generally impressive visuals, and a portal designed around an interactive worldwide community all combine to make this the best possible solution SCEA could have hoped for with regards to launching it's new 40GB Hard Disc Drive.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Cy Girls
    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.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The X-Files: Resist or Serve
    Every bit as good as the recent "Resident Evil Outbreak" game if not better in some ways.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm
    The single player campaigns, while engaging, are somewhat lacking in cohesion.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    MLB 2005
    A good choice for the casual baseball gamer who focuses more on multiplayer and online versus solid deep franchise play.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Seven Samurai 20XX
    The association with Kurosawa’s classic ’54 epic notwithstanding, 20XX is just too mindless and repetitive a hack-and-slash experience to recommend.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Worms 3D
    A schitzophrenic camera, irresponsive controls, and slow gameplay make Worms 3D nothing more than fishbait in this reviewer's eyes.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Suffering
    Exceeded all expectations that I had for the game, and then some. It does everything a game of this calibur can possibly do, innovating on some aspects while integrating several new ideas, molding the genre into a fun, sadistic package the likes of which we rarely see.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    MVP Baseball 2004
    One of the deepest sports games period. With online play, which I admit is not quite as exciting as football or hockey, an insanely deep franchise mode, and solid graphics and sound, it seems that this is the choice for fans of the long, deep experience of baseball.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Drakengard
    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.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
    This is by far the BEST. BOND. GAME. EVER. And I say that without a doubt in my mind.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Rise to Honor
    If you can handle the intense trial and error style of gameplay, you'll more than likely love Rise to Honor.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International
    What it lacks in licenses and features (no online play!) WE7I more than compensates for with the most realistic, intense, attractive and all-around addicting soccer game to ever appear on PS2.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Champions of Norrath
    You'll be hard-pressed to find another mutiplayer adventure as engaging and addicting as this one on any console, and gamers looking to add to their admittedly slim online collections won't be disappointed in the experience that awaits them here.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Nightshade
    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.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    R-Type Final
    While R-Type Final is the hardest of the hardcore shooters, most gamers may find it too hardcore. However, for the series' already steady fanbase, Final provides a solid, exciting, and most of all... fun, experience that's well worth the $29.99 price tag.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Mafia
    Buggy, clunky, littered with minute-long loading pauses (the tell-tale sign of a PC-to-console port gone bad) and framey as hell, this action title at least has a pretty cool premise that is enhanced by a well-told story and very good sound.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Sonic Heroes
    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.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
    The boys and girls at Black Isle Studios put over 100,000 hours into the development of Dark Alliance II and it shows. Dark Alliance II is a great experience to enjoy either alone or with a friend and greatly improves upon almost every feature available in its 2001 predecessor.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Maximo vs Army of Zin
    Delivers fast-paced combat, platform leaping action, and a decent story to boot. With all this fun, and a forty dollar price tag, you simply can't go wrong.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel
    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.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
    Warning though, this one's not for kids (unless you don't mind them staying up all night, too scared to go to sleep).
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    R: Racing Evolution
    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.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The King of Fighters 2000/2001
    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.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2
    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.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
    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.
    • 56 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Spawn: Armageddon
    Quickly loses its fun after the first 30 minutes or so.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Intellivision Lives!
    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."
    • 69 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Kya: Dark Lineage
    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.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    XIII
    Too bad the lack of variety in the design of the mostly-barren levels, idiotic enemy AI, unrelenting CPU bots and distractingly awful soundtrack (my opinion) diminish somewhat the impact of the best FPS to appear on PS2 in ages.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Manhunt
    With all of the variety and unlockable content, you'd be hard-pressed to find a game more gut-wrenchingly intense and disturbing as this one. That being said, it makes for one hell of a good time.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Battlestar Galactica
    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.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I-Ninja
    Everything that the overhyped “Malice” (from the same developer) and repulsive "Catwoman" aren't.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Secret Weapons Over Normandy
    The best reason to play SWON is the story and writing. This is Lucasarts afterall so that should not be surprising to anyone.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3
    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.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Need for Speed Underground
    Lacks soul or a reason for being other than cashing on a popular trend. Black Box’s follow-up to "NFS: Hot Pursuit 2" goes through its racing, style, licensing and online motions with a mechanical predictability that wasn’t present in either "Burnout 2" or "Midnight Club II." It’s still a top-notch arcade racer, but there’s definite room for both improvement.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Midway Arcade Treasures
    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.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    NCAA March Madness 2004
    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.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    ESPN College Hoops
    The intuitive IsoMotion controls, top-notch visuals and dead-on college basketball atmosphere are just better at capturing the spirit of March Madness than the EA Sports game that utilizes that name.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Legacy of Kain: Defiance
    Despite its flaws (mostly remnants of four-year code still at the core of this engine) LOK: Defiance is a polished, challenging, entertaining and adult interactive experience to die for. I can’t recommend this game high enough, especially for those that quit playing the series out of frustration (and will find in Defiance all the answers that left them scratching their heads).
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