Its always fun and like the good china best saved for the special occasions when you want to impress.

Great speed, perfect control, gorgeous/detailed visuals, plenty of licensed cars, well-designed locations, customization options galore and a menu/option interface to die for easily make V-Rally 3 the best rally game of 2002.

If Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne does anything right, it's the game's uncanny ability to show rebellious and confused teenagers across the globe just how cool the devil really is.

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.

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 ATV handles amazingly realistic and the ability to performs wheelies and other tricks makes it quite a joy.

Only its short length (a meager 7-8 hours) and lack of multiplayer support keeps The Two Towers from overtaking Koei’s “Dynasty Warriors 3” as the system’s best mindless hack-and-slash action/adventure.

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.

A solid realistic arcade experience that has surpassed any of the other sports titles Midway touches.

A handful of extra modes that cater exclusively to the hardcore DDR player and some meaningless FMV extras makes DDRMAX 2 a rather poor evolution from last year’s DDRMAX prequel.

Though not the ultimate representation of the sport we are still awaiting, the game gets the action through and should satisfy most fans with its packed gameplay. Definitely worth a look.

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.

"Goldeneye" fans looking for another adventure probably won't have too good of a time with this one since it needs more than one person to truly shine.

A very well executed and polished rehash of a formula that is in dire need of something new or unique to take the franchise to the next level.

Capcom poured the love into this collection. They took their time to give fans something worthy.

'Best Damn Shooter on a Console.'

What Bam!'s 2001 release "Driven" should have, but wasn't: a good racing engine tied to an unfolding story.

The enhanced visual eye-candy (prettier explosions you won’t find on another light gun game, PS2 or otherwise) and solid frame-rate more than compensate for the now-grating voices and repetitive music that share speaker space with some pretty cool shotgun blasts.

When it comes to delivering consistent and playable virtual simulations of what goes on in NBA courts across the nation, "Live 2002" for PSOne is 'The One' (sorry Jet Li!).

Despite forcing players to spend what seems like an eternity unlocking 90% of the good stuff at the start Hot Shots Golf Open Tee is a winner.

Has a handful of minor flaws (the lead character's limited control over his 12-member mercenary team, PC-like graphic stutters, lackluster multiplayer mode, etc.) that prevent it from reaching the heights of immersion and addictive fun that characterized its spiritual predecessor, "Hitman 2."

Extreme G3 is so good, that if and when "Wipeout Fusion" is ever released it will have to be such an amazing game to even kiss the shoes of G3.

The best installment in the series, with only a few minor issues keeping it below 3DO's stellar "High Heat Baseball 2003".

Points off for the annoying sound package and the use of cheap ‘rubber band’ CPU A.I. to keep the races competitive... A rewarding experience. Best EA Big title to date, hands down.

Warning though, this one's not for kids (unless you don't mind them staying up all night, too scared to go to sleep).

The best reason to play SWON is the story and writing. This is Lucasarts afterall so that should not be surprising to anyone.

To the poor souls of sports gaming without access to more powerful systems or used copies of last year's edition, "FIFA 2002" is an amusing and deep virtual prelude to the biggest sports tournament in the world.

A collaboration of love for gamers who have been fanatics of either or both series.

Ironically, Deception's Konquest mode that the developer has been pushing so much is the games only real weak point.

Controls are tighter and provide more control of where the ball and team players can be moved than ever before. Spotty visuals (PS2 version) and a complicated Career mode, however, make FIFA Soccer 2005 a good secondary choice after "Winning Eleven 7."

Survives its transition from PC to PS2 with its gameplay depth and well-acted voices intact, but with its graphics severely chopped and its control scheme compromised by the Dual Shock 2 button layout.

We can safely say that we highly recommend "Valkyrie Profile" as one of the PlayStation's best RPG's on 2000.

Scores major points with its new graphics engine (gorgeous), two-man commentary (perfect) and revamped pitcher/batter interfaces (serviceable).

While the game is identical to the PS One version gameplay wise, the updated graphics are sweet enough to justify having and owning both versions.

A textbook example of how to make a sequel.

It's just this close (fingers a couple of inches apart) to being one of the deepest and best-designed single-player adventure games of all time.

What EA Sports' "NHL 2002" is to videogame hockey,..."PGA Tour 2002" has become to videogame golf: the simulation standard-bearer to beat.

The problem I found here is that swithcing between characters in your party and trying to control them all at once is pretty hard. It's nice that Enix and Tri-Ace added the option to choose but we feel that the standard is the way to go.

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.

Awesome combat and a beautiful set of landscapes to do it in put the beat ‘em up back on the road to recovery.

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.

A fun reminder that quality RPG gameplay and good storytelling can easily survive technological transitions.

If you can live without its busted online brawls and missing wrestlers but love WWE matches then Smackdown! Vs. Raw is worth the fifty bucks.

Without a doubt it's the best shooter in years and so far the best one yet on the PS2. If you liked the original MDK, this sequel pulls off what few can do. It outshines the original by miles.

This is not a "Gran Turismo 2" simulation-type of driving game, but it sure plays like one on TV (when hooked to a PSX of course).

Surprisingly fun.

It was rather boring and lifeless. The graphics were rather flat and one dimensional and just got old really quick.

It's a testament to the prowess, technical execution and sheer addictiveness of its premise (race through ever-changing courses/tracks made to resemble theme park attractions) that Rides Gone Wild remains the heir apparent to "Waverace 64's" crown as the best water-based racing game ever made.

A really nice mix of "Powerstone" and "Rampage."

Features the most dramatic and gameplay-enhancing improvements yet seen in this series.

Won't be remembered as a breakthrough title but it will be remembered as one of the most original and risk taking games ever produced on the PlayStation.

It's a few visual tweaks, collision-detection issues and A.I. adjustments away from being outstanding.

Unfortunately, like other games that have an incredible opening act but don't know how to close the show (certain overhyped Konami action/stealth game come to mind?), "Max Payne" sometimes falls into "Soul Reaver 2"-like pretentions of grandeur that fall short.

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.

It has enough gameplay modes to last a while, plus the pitching/batting mechanisms are variable enough to make the pitcher/batter duels a little bit unpredictable.

If you have the patience to endure all that dungeon crawling, and a bothersome camera, there's a very addicting game underneath. Don't expect a Final Fantasy caliber story-line, or Zelda-esque adventure gameplay.

A tongue-in-cheek and over-the-top brawler that conclusively proves wrestling games can be fun when gameplay and quality control take precedence over star power or licenses.

A poor-man’s 32-bit alternative to the fun Gundam antics recently unleashed on PS2’s the world over via “Federation Vs. Zeon.” It’s not a bad game per se as much as a generic and uninspired one.

The racing is very detailed but without being a hardcore fan it can come off a bit too repetitive.

It's a few screws short of perfection, but "Crazy Taxi" is worth playing just to see how the opposite end of the "Gran Turismo 3" scale of driving gameplay stacks up.

The best PlayStation 2 RPG that I've played in the past two-years.

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.

While I prefer the multiplayer, and will continue to play it for quite a while, the single player game became a bit too monotonous for my liking in the end.

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 controls are tight, the graphics good and the hidden stuff down by the Krypt ranges from junk to outstanding.

Without the really well balanced online play I would have REALLY given this game a beating. However the multiplayer aspects continue to be a draw.

Ubi Soft should be commended for not only being the first developer/publisher to appeal to a niche audience like console chess players, but to do it with a affordable quality product that can be enjoyed online just as much as offline with friends and family.

A few small issues (empty transition levels, 'jumpy' camera, 8-10 hr. length, etc.) can't put a dampen on the thrill of finally experiencing a "Castlevania" adventure violent-enough to earn a 'MATURE' rating.

We need more humor in our gaming diet, and "Citizen Kabuto" delivers that sandwiched between a tasty dose of shooting excitement and the condiments of an acceptable (but not perfect) PC to PS2 port.

If “PTO IV” and “ROTK VII” rock your boat then this is a must-own PS2 DVD.

This compilation’s been given enough bells and whistles (unlockable art gallery, redesigned interface, prettier graphics, remastered soundtracks, CG intermissions, etc.) to appeal to a whole new generation of gamers weaned on the series’ trademarked formula of turn-based battles and high-quality (for their time) production values.

The game may seem easy and cute, however don't let it fool you. This is a seriously challenging game. A winner in our books regardless.

STILL a force to be reckoned with, it's just not the must have game of the year it has been in the past. Namco needs to focus heavily on "Soul Calibur 2" for a while and let Tekken take a vacation.

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.

If you liked “NHL 2002” then NHL 2003 is almost the exact same game.

Once you've made the Meganite under your control turn an invading Volgara robot into junkyard fodder a couple of times the hook will be in.

Beautiful visuals, amazing depth and accessibility that few other fighters have been able to offer.

This is still one of the best multiplayer games ever.

For the most of us, Sky Odyssey will remain an overly difficult game with little reward for the complicated and time consuming missions.

It's this sense of bike duty and absurd self-imposed goofiness (the game has a sunny and lighthearted side to complement its brutish exterior) that ultimately make this game the perfect '7.'

Good graphics, solid controls, decent sound (including purposefully-campy English dialogue) and mucho replayability (especially from its two-player mode) make Wrath of Heaven the best Tenchu game of the trilogy.

A brilliant game if experienced in short bursts... the game was obviously not designed with long term play in mind.

Despite a few rough edges (blurred textures, loading pauses galore, etc.) this is easily the best licensed golf simulation ever released on a portable console.

IT'S TOO DAMN EASY AND UNCHALLENGING.

An acquired taste that blends mainstream graphic appeal with a methodic pace and a compelling story to great effect.

The best arcade racer on PS2.

Along with "Halo" and "Half-Life", DW3 is one of the most fun single-player AND two-player co-op experiences that console gamers can enjoy in 2001 and beyond.

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.

What it lacks in flash, longevity and accuracy to the “Contra” universe (no weapon pick-ups??!!) Shattered Soldier compensates for with old-fashioned, thumb-blistering, bang-your-head-against-the-wall hard shooting antics of the 2D and 2.5D variety.

Good (but not great) visuals, excellent (but not ground-breaking) gameplay and decent (but voice-over deprived) sound/music effects make Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy a winner for THQ.

If you’re the type that likes independent movies and underground techno, you know the art house type stuff, Rez will appeal to your senses. It’s got style written all over it and it’s fairly snazzy to play as well...an experience like no other.

From graphics to cool weapons, and from in-depth online multiplayer options galore to the choice of using stealth or brawn to complete missions, Crystal Dynamics’ FPS shooter is just what the doctor ordered for the genre-deficient PS2.

Demands an almost religious knowledge of its source material to be fully enjoyed (in-jokes and quotes from the movie are spread throughout the game)...One heck of an action-packed, scary and violent videogame.

A good choice for the casual baseball gamer who focuses more on multiplayer and online versus solid deep franchise play.

Quality RPG gameplay wrapped in 2D nostalgia, and a good buy for those seeking maximum real-time battle bang out of their hard-earned bucks.

Fun stuff!

Shox’s handful of self-titled innovations (Shox Zone, Shox wave, etc.) and good-looking engine can’t quite save it from its repetitive three-lap gameplay, cheating A.I. and sticker Shox price tag (sorry, couldn’t help it!).

Innovation is a word not in the minds of Namco developers, since they're too busy keeping the races fast, competitive and fun for gamers of all age.