Four player frantic multiplayer options are topped off by a tremendous Conquest mode in which players form teams and must fight to destroy each other's bases. [June-July 2003, p.94]

Perhaps the most creatively bankrupt fun game ever made. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.95]

Very little about the game stands out. The graphics are relatively bland, and there's no real sense of speed while driving. [Fall 2002, p.120]

Treads no new ground, but neither does it degrade into a sanguine mess. [Oct/Nov 2003, p.93]

If one member of the team can handle the game's hot spots, Shrek 2 could definitely gratify little children. [July 2004, p.89]

Even with all the problems, Sudeki is still worth your time. It's not the best RPG it could have been - Climax needs better writers, that's for sure (especially concerning dialogue and character motivation) - but it gives you a big, pretty, and at times smartly designed world to explore. [Sept 2004, p.92]

Blowout's dialogue and overall production value are sufficiently self-aware so that they're oddly amusing. [Mar 2004, p.98]

But even when the game's action gets all John J. Rambo, the A.I. remains more like Gomer Pyle. [Dec 2004, p.95]

Like its predecessor, Redeemer shines brightest when played with friends. Lonely players, on the other hand, draw the short straw yet again, and are left with little more than a shallow button masher, though the allure of the license may help ease any gameplay pangs.

Transworld Snowboarding is the girl who always shows up in the teen movies. She's the ugly one who's revealed to be a hottie once the pretty boy du jour spends some time with her. [Winter 2002, p.97]

It's just too bad that for every step forward Midway takes with Alliance, it takes two steps back with sloppy gameplay, cheesy, ridiculously gory visuals, and some truly soulless character design. [Winter 2002, p.89]

There's a hell of a lot of content, with the three available characters having distinct missions with several enemy layouts. [May 2004, p.89]

Redshift's well-honed action and lofty technical ambition are let down by a repetitive and dated no-progress-for-second-place structure, overly familiar mechanics, and conspicuous lack of style. [Winter 2002, p.95]

As ugly as a Tim Wakefield knuckleball. [Spring 2002, p.91]

As a game, it's safe and absolutely unambitious. [Jan 2005, p.96]

Strip away the sombrerors, spurs, and signature Rockstar sass, and what's left is an average third-person shoot-em-up some gallons shy of a full 10-gallon hat. [July 2004, p.84]

If there's a mediocre idea to be had, chances are Crash has burgled it. [Summer 2002, p.91]

Riding feels "real"... In short, Barbie's first foray onto Xbox is not a stinker. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.100]

Easily eclipsed by its competition. [Mar 2004, p.101]

The game sinks in the perilous minefield that is RTS convention and its de rigueur level design. [Aug 2003, p.84]

Disappointingly uninspired. [Jan 2002, p.94]

Features some of the most flaccid enemy designs seen in a long while. [Aug 2003, p.74]

The game does an excellent job of keeping the tension high with plenty of on-screen baddies to pummel. [Aug 2003, p.82]

As good as wrestling gets on the Xbox. [Fall 2002, p.121]

The sweat-while-you-play intensity just isn't there. [Jan 2005, p.92]

The sheer number and monotony of the challenges, however, gets boring at times. [Jan 2002, p.88]

While fans will appreciate the faithful renditions of classic Euro circuits such as Silverstone, Hockenheim, and Monza, having more to choose from, as always, would have been better. [Winter 2002, p.109]

Despite the much-hated "catch up" feature, Hitz kept us glued. Better than "Blitz" we say. [Jan 2002, p.88]