The gameplay engine is brilliant, not only for its attention to detail, but also for its perpetual challenge. I don’t think I can categorize the gameplay as “easy to pick up, but difficult to master” but I never think I’m being cheated by the CPU.

While it's merely decent as a single-player game, it absolutely shines when played with friends. Regrettably, EA has once again denied Xbox owners online play, preventing the game from reaching its full potential on the Xbox.

This is the best yet in the series. The addition of licensed cars, more rivals and highways, and a few new gameplay twists make this one fine racer.

Despite a few nice features in Rivals (crowd noise, online play, and decent neutral zone play to name a few), overall the game falls flat. It's hard to get excited about this game knowing there are much better hockey simulations on the market.

The strongest college basketball game on the market this season by a good margin.

I'm vastly disappointed with this game. I clearly remember being excited about last year's potential for the future. I thought 989 Sports would finally come through with a top-notch college basketball game, something that I don't believe has ever been done.

The game isn't the "NBA Jam" of soccer, but the propensity for high-scoring games gives it a different feel from "Winning Eleven."

Whereas most types of gamers are likely to enjoy "SSX 3," only those with an interest in snowboarding will fully appreciate Amped 2.

A great portrayal of professional basketball. While its counterpart, "NBA Live," may have more razzle and dazzle, ESPN has the fundamentals covered. If you know the difference between a "2" and a "5" when it comes to basketball positions, ESPN is your choice.

If you enjoyed "SSX Tricky," you will love SSX 3--it's as simple as that. Even if you hated "Tricky," you still might dig this sequel.

The game flows like no other basketball game out there, but a few flaws keep NBA Live 2004 from running away from its competition.

The catalog of user created courses and online flexibility make you consistently want to come back for more.

While there are some audio and AI issues, overall the game has progressed since last year. The grudge and alliance system adds a whole new element to gameplay.

I love both games, with ESPN being a better gameplay game and Madden holding the edge with game modes and options. But, graphically, the two are similar and so is the replay value.

ESPN's fatigue problems and lazy secondary play detract from the game, but the first person view, running game, and overall presentation show ESPN is a strong contender.

Last year, I gave Gameday a 67. I feel this year's game is better on many fronts, but there are still glaring issues with the gameplay and GM mode. Once those flaws get ironed out, the potential to become a third fiddle in the football gaming symphony is good.

The overall gameplay feels almost unchanged from the previous NFL Fever games.

It's so good, I find it humorous that ESPN uses Madden for its pre-game show.

The advanced controls let you take unprecedented control of virtually every aspect of the game. With it the running game is improved and the defense rises to a new level. All this boils down to one great football game.

In the end, I want substance over style, and NCAA Football 2004 is the poster child for that.

While FMX is competent, its Career mode lacks magic and its racing and freestyle components do not outshine those of other motocross titles.

The AI flaws and problems with vehicle control bring the title down. The career mode is an interesting but not enough to maintain the title.

DICE has done a respectable job of transferring the Midtown Madness experience to the Xbox.

The lack of USB wheel support and no mirrors bring the ranking down significantly. Every time I gear up for a race I think of how much better this game could have been.

This is basic no-frills baseball. The presentation is filled with mediocrity and the lack of a franchise mode and decent AI just kills the game's entertainment value. It's the NFL Fever of baseball titles - a shallow baseball game.

I'm not saying Street is more or less realistic than "Live," but Street is better at being an arcade b-ball title than "Live" or "2k3" at being a sim.

The AI, which is the weak point in this game, can be a bit cheeky at times and will often wreak havoc on the course. If you can manage the AI, you'll find a game with plenty of passing and quality racing.

The racing is intense and should appeal to arcade racing fans.