This wonky A.I., coupled with an online component that falls flat on its face, makes Mercury hard to recommend for shooter fans. Just like Hollywood, rote imitation works for a short time only.

As a veritable demolitionist's playground, Conspiracy proves a most promising affair, that rare release so packed with potential that the inevitable sequel is actually an already exciting prospect. [Aug 2004, p.92]

The game suffers from a handful of setbacks, the least of which is its surprising brevity. [Aug 2004, p.82]

If you love Harry Potter, don't mind that characters talk and whine incessantly, and would like to see Hermione push around an ice block over and over again, Azkaban is good for a few hours of fun. [Aug 2004, p.94]

The rush and stress of sprinting both teams from cover to cover in the midst of this chaotic bombardment, knowing that any random high-pitched streak or painted contrail could take out half your team in an instant, is unprecedented in military games to date. [Aug 2004, p.85]

Graphically exquisite and resplendently crafted, Bay is one of the best exclusive titles in the Xbox library. [June 2004, p.82]

One of the finest, purest, and most hardcore 2D shooter on any system to date. [July 2004, p.88]

If you're willing to stick it out through a couple of slow-paced early levels, it quickly hooks you and won't let go. [Aug 2004, p.95]

Multiple game types add some much-needed variety: skins play, challenge, and golf modes exhaust all possibilities for ball-pin interaction. [Aug 2004, p.83]

Sadly, simplistic landscapes, tacky colors, dorky characters, and an utter lack of polish justify the bargain-bin pricing. The poor graphics even leech the thrill of deformable terrain. [June 2004, p.93]

Environments are often so big Van Helsing and an antagonist do not appear onscreen together. [July 2004, p.92]

Don't let its sophistication scare you - at the end of the long, mud-splattered day, the game is above all else accessible and fun. [June 2004, p.94]

Of the new moves, through-balls and crosses are much better than those in "FIFA 2004." [Aug 2004, p.86]

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

The player has a choice. Doe she coax out Contracts' subtlety, or coes he play essentially the smae game he's been playing for two decades? The first option may have him tearing his hair out. [June 2004, p.90]

A stealth game that dramatically overstays its welcome. [July 2004, p.86]

If anything, this game sounds precisely like "Alias." Looking and sounding like the show isn't really enough, though. Alias also needs to offer thrilling gameplay...and, well, it doesn't.

This year's ESPN Major League Baseball seems less polished than its brethren, its new features seem halfhearted at best, and its graphics don't pack the punch they used to.

It's dense and intimidating, and it demands practice; give it time, and button-mashing will no longer seem relevant in boxing games.

An amazing sports game that plays like a song and has all the makings of a classic hit. [May 2004, p.89]

The realization that the game looks like crap is essentially an afterthought...This would pass as a minigame mode in "FIFA" or "Winning Eleven," but no way is it ready to stand on its own. [Mar 2004, p.80]

Lacks polish, underwhelms, pales in comparison to the board game that inspired it. [June 2004, p.88]

You'll be slack-jawed over "Shadow Strike's" online drama. Yes, it's <I>that</I> good. With single and multiplayer in one fat Xbox package, Tomorrow is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best pure-stealth action game today. [Apr 2004, p.74]

Playing 2005 with its jerky, disorienting fielder cam is akin to slicing up your head on a cheese grater, then taking a vinegar bath.

Your $40 buys you nothing but a video version of the standard, real-life trading card game.

In spite of any inconsistencies, disparities, or shortcomings, Breakdown is an enormously compelling, satisfying game - one imparting a joy of discovery sorely lacking in far too many of today's biggest titles. [Apr 2004, p.88]

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]