Sadly, unlike the game Bandai tried so hard to copy ("SSBM"), 2 has no depth whatsoever. [Nov 2004, p.100]

Mired in repetition and some substantial balancing issues, a good deal of its simplistic charm dissipates after a short time. [Nov 2004, p.100]

It's the gameplay that disappoints. Most notably, the white-knuckle sense of breakneck speed and the tight, responsive controls oh so apparent in "Burnout 3" or "Underground" just aren't matched here. [Nov 2004, p.97]

It's not that Carmen is a failure - it just aims low in the first place. [Mar 2004, p.95]

For casual players, Challenge provides all of the tedium of fishing with little of the pleasure, such as napping in the boat. Napping in front of the Xbox doesn't have the same appeal. [Oct 2004, p.95]

It's virtually the same as last year's "2004 Season," and that wasn't very good either. [Oct 2004, p.95]

Trying out different lures - more than 700 are available by the end of the game - and searching for the best fishing spots is incredibly addictive. [Nov 2004, p.101]

Like a supermodel who's missing a leg - beautiful, but not entirely functional on the catwalk. [Oct 2004, p.94]

Pack up this game's troubles in your old kit bag and head for the glorious Live-enabled "Crimson Skies" instead. [Nov 2004, p.96]

There's absolutely nothing appealing about any of it. Nor does the game possess any redeeming qualities, save for the fact that it won't immediately afflict you with cancer. [Oct 2004, p.97]

The problem is, driving crappy cars around dirt tracks as low speeds isn't very much fun at all. [Nov 2004, p.97]

Once again, a maravel of gaming. [Sept 2004, p.84]

It's physics are absolutely true to life, and its tilts - a propers smiting for too much cheating - are fairly issued. [June 2004, p.88]

A glorified mission pack... [but i]ts flawed but compelling single-player and addictive, feature-packed multiplayer component (both online and now offline co-op) guide this Arrow directly to its mark. [Aug 2004, p.78]

Well-designed platforming bits and clever puzzles remind you of what people saw in the original "Tomb Raider," but the game's dismal controls muck up these potentially enjoyable levels. [Oct 2004, p.98]

When all the bullets are spent and the smoke clears, you're left asking, "Sarge's War, what is it good for?" The answer is, well, you already know. [Oct 2004, p.97]

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]

This fetid package comes ribbon-wrapped with a horrible, barely adjustable camera that sees to it that Catwoman must guess where her enemies are and where the next in an endless series of platforms sits. [Sept 2004, p.94]

The single most glaring problem with 2K5...is the crowd A.I. The audience is just flat-out stupid, and this is terribly unfortunate because it distracts from what would otherwise be a totally immersive NFL gaming experience. [Sept 2004, p.86]

EA has kicked its game into overdrive; in fact, the only major flaw to be found here lies with the retread, obtuse, and strangely homoerotic banter between TV commentators Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso. [Aug 2004, p.90]

Given the uninspired play and mechanics, it might be more advisable to drive the cars right into the bowl and flush. [Oct 2004, p.98]

It seems strange that Koei would incorporate these RPG-like features into the game in such a halfhearted fashion and the overall effect is sort of like giving the samurai warrior a sort of cool angular armor but no pants. [Aug 2004, p.94]

The web-slinging parts of the game are brilliantly done...Yet on the ground, the game looks and feels remarkably ugly. [Sept 2004, p.94]

You will actually find yourself laughing while playing, and virtually anyone can pick up and play this and have a good time. [July 2004, p.88]

Consider this a horrible trip down memory lane and use whatever means necessary to repress it. [Sept 2004, p.89]

The most impressive thing about Remix is its clean, intuitive interface. [Aug 2004, p.91]

The game is just realistic enough to annoy the bejesus out of you. [Aug 2004, p.86]

Here was a game with real potential to be what everybody had basically hoped for: "Grand Theft Auto" with really good graphics. Instead, what's here needs an air bag.