Def Jam Vendetta makes its strange combination of license and genre work well. It is a wrestling game done right and a must play for any fan of the scripted sport.

The background graphics, however, ruin the overall effect. The backgrounds, while using very moderate levels of cel-shading, simply don’t look congruent to the car’s graphics.

A gaming triumph and a prime example of the reason we play games in the first place. It instilled in me a sense of awe and wonder with a game I honestly haven't felt in the series since A Link to the Past first hit the Super Nintendo.

Easily the best soccer game I’ve ever played.

With an enchanting soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, exciting turn based combat, and 80 hours of gameplay, there is a lot to like about this RPG.

The biggest problems with online play are the surprisingly frequent poor losers who will abandon a game at the last second to keep you from being credited with a win.

Beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous. A heart stopping, melt-in-your-pants looker. High resolution sprites and meticulously animated everything combine to make one hell of an enjoyable visual mess.

With the recent release of the online Sims for the PC, the PS2 port seems to fall short of greatness. Especially when you add in the slowdown issues and repetitive gameplay.

Nearly everything in the game can be beaten down, picked up, thrown or in some way interacted with, and to see the effect this has on a sprawling downtown metropolis is simply breathtaking.

I shudder to think of what it looks like on HDTV... The gorgeous presentation here will likely win all the critical accolades, but there is a tricky genius to Orta's gameplay as well.

A standard expansion pack and nothing more.

The action is heated enough to hold your attention and the cool touches like a fantastic damage engine make it all worthwhile.

It still has some issues that need addressing for 2K4, but even a flawed NHL 2K3 is leagues better than EA Sports' latest.

It's still not a very deep gaming experience, but this latest installment is clearly the best since "Mortal Kombat 2," and arguably the best yet.

Now that Splinter Cell has arrived all other stealth-based titles should hang their head in shame.

The first person controls work well for the most part, but we just can't ignore a few control issues that crop up at the worst possible time.

A great game... [but y]ou'll need to ask yourself if your attention span can tolerate a game requiring planning and strategy with sporadic action as the payoff.

The control and missions revolve around simply blowing things up, but after the novelty of reducing everything to a cinder fades, what players are left with is an average shooter.

It gives players a large variety of options for both online and offline play and provides hours of gameplay with two long quests, numerous side-quests and several multiplayer modes. [Import]

The only big complaint to level against Godzilla is that it's a bit too simple...Call some friends over and have a blast with the multiplayer mayhem, but don't expect to be glued to the controller after they leave.

Full of strategy, tactics, bullets, and explosions, this title is a fun diversion from current squad-based shooters.

A choppy framerate and a low resolution display (for those of us who haven't yet upgraded to HDTV) keep UC from matching its PC counterpart.

Sure, the great graphics and sound and the bonus Tekken Force mode are all good selling points, but the biggest reason to pick up Tekken 4 is that the gameplay not only lives up to the fine presentation; it surpasses it. [Import]

Almost every individual aspect of the game except for the camera is well executed, but the two key components of the title still don't go seem to belong together.

A very solid and entertainingly violent approximation of hockey that has its weak points (sound, fighting) but overall hits the spot just right.

Although the handling is solid, and the visuals sport some cool effects, the inclusion of only 12 tracks does serious damage to the lasting appeal.

Clever, challenging, unique and packed with things to do. In short, it's what every game should be. Problems with the camera and some potentially maddeningly frustrating points are all that holds it back from perfection.

Every aspect of the game works tightly in conjunction, delivering an enormous amount of gaming.

An intelligent action title that injects some strategy into the usually mindless action genre. Although the graphics are unremarkable, and the difficulty can be unfair, the gameplay has a lot to offer.

The ESPN presence makes the biggest difference...surprisingly, something as small as that goes a long way toward sucking you into the game.

A game that not only looks and plays better, but also fully realizes the dream of anyone looking to fully manage their own professional team.

Essential fun and surprising depth combine to make this one of the best party games on the Xbox.

Armchair quarterbacks will find plenty to like here, from the extremely deep, almost sim-like gameplay to the ability to develop a custom playbook, to the new mini-camp, which lets you unlock hidden features and teams as you play.

The multiplayer action and graphics are solid, but insanely repetitive gameplay, sluggish controls, and an impractical utilization of unlockable items handicap the title.

While the gameplay isn't quite as solid as NFL 2K3's, it almost makes up for that with its thoroughly college atmosphere.

NCAA Football, usually regarded as the redheaded stepchild of the sports world, has finally come into its own this year with refined gameplay and jaw dropping graphics to match.

If you're a gamer with a decent amount of patience and perseverance, Stuntman can definitely be a fun and rewarding experience. It's also rather different from just about any other game out there.

What Eternal Darkness might lack in top-notch graphics it more than makes up for with fantastic gameplay and spine-chilling atmosphere.

Outlaw Golf's attitude lies solely in presentation, and while some may initially be turned off by the title's seemingly juvenile humor, the game's personality quickly grows on the player.

Character designs are notably generic and boxy. Animation is quite stiff and the sluggish framerate does nothing to help matters. On the plus side, the environments are absolutely massive, and exhibit plenty of variety, creating a cohesive and believable alternate universe.

The most competent Tony Hawk mimic yet.

Simply too great a package for any RPG lover to be without.

Questionable camera controls, choppy graphics and sometimes frustrating gameplay are all but forgiven in the context of the rest of the game’s charms.

Questionable camera controls and sometimes frustrating gameplay are all but forgiven in the context of the rest of the game's charms.

A problem-solving mission structure that rewards the player for lateral thinking, as well as an immersive world and a great story. I'm not sure if it'll win Game of the Year this time around, but it definitely deserves to be in the running.

I predict that diehards will cherish this game for ages. Unfortunately novice players will get frustrated after the love affair with the graphics ends and the real challenges begin.

Attention to detail is the name of the game. Despite the over-the-top premise, this is one of the richest titles released in sometime.

The game features the absolute best training mode ever made for a fighting game.

A really fun game with great music, solid graphics, and a good degree of difficulty, but its very basic gameplay and lack of options doesn’t give it a whole lot of staying power.

A top-notch golf game perfect for anyone looking to make some digital divots.

Imaginative tracks, cool tricks, a real sense of speed, and loads of unlockable stuff all add up to a racing experience that is not to be missed.

The added force powers are handy, but they don’t dramatically change the way the game is played.

Barring minor flaws in the face of greatness, Knockout Kings 2002 is the closest any boxing fan can get to perfection without the missing teeth and a serious reduction of IQ.

Although it doesn’t take advantage of the system’s capabilities, THPS3 on Xbox is still a fine port of a fantastic game.

It looks fantastic, it controls well, and it’s the kind of meaty gaming experience that could keep you busy for weeks. Be warned, though, the difficulty here is off the scale.

A beautiful action adventure that incorporates a dash of RPG and a dose of fighting game, Eve of Extinction suffers from a dull, weak plot.

Graphically, Jet Set Radio Future is one of the most gorgeous games to grace a console.

A big step in the right direction.

The inclusion of four unlockable classic Pac-Man arcade games really help increase the replay value.

What really makes the game are the wealth of offensive and defensive maneuvers to choose from.

Chaotic, violent, and oh so naughty, State Of Emergency is a fun title marred by some truly annoying camera and control problems.

Although unforgiving design elements detract a bit from the overall fun factor, Maximo remains an exceptionally enjoyable and well-made game.

Uniquely strategic gameplay, pulse-pounding action, and even a bit of stealth.

The vibration gets so intense that your hands nearly become numb from overstimulation.

With its romance, its peripheral "end of the world" premise, and its memorable cast, FFX is a game for the ages.

It's got an engaging storyline, interesting characters, lots of plot twists, and a host of nifty options and gameplay features.

Those who hang on will discover one of the most versatile and engaging battle systems out there, along with a highly customizable magic system.

If players can get past the clumsy menu system and uninspired graphics, they’ll find themselves a great game.

Lush graphics and feature film-quality animation complement the fun gameplay and tight controls.

Apart from the remarkable gameplay, graphics and sound, SSBM sports enormous replay value.

Not only fun to play but also quite breathtaking in its level of graphic detail.

Replay value of the main story mode is limited at best...[but it's] a fresh and fun gaming experience that you shouldn’t pass up.

Multiplayer modes, over 20 varied stages and thirty characters that can be unlocked give the game enough substance to keep you interested for weeks.

The details and references to the TV show will provide non-stop amazement.

The appeal lies in stringing together simple moves into devastating combinations, not memorizing counterintuitive button sequences.

A simplified interface and a stronger focus on plot may alienate some fans of previous games in the series, but there’s an outside chance it will broaden the appeal to a wider audience.

This game is different, addictive, fun, and the multiplayer and remix modes ensures nearly infinite replay value.

For the already initiated, the new levels aren’t even worth a rental and getting used to skating with the Xbox controller can be like getting used to a splinter in your eye.

A few secret characters, some more levels and a greater variety of techniques for each character would have made this an A+ title.

The graphics are amazing, but it’s the gameplay that will win you over.

Dead on, sporting nearly every feature that made the original game so great.

Say hello to one of the finest PS2 games yet, and the best snowboarding game ever.

With intuitive control, superb graphics, and a catchy soundtrack, Splashdown is an excellent Jet Ski racing game.

Offers a heady, elating sense of flight, adrenaline-charged combat, perfect controls, and breathtaking visuals that will humble titles played even on the mightiest PCs.

Despite the control flaws and graphic blemishes this game is a marvelous presentation of soccer, albeit slightly watered down for the masses.

More appealing than the original.

It has a few nagging flaws like the lack of a good third-person view or in-menu loading screens, but it is playable and should keep motocross fans busy.

Everything to love from the first two Tony Hawk games is back, along with more outrageous levels and more outrageous combos thanks to the revert trick.

Tennis 2K2’s solid gameplay and impressive presentation prove that the Dreamcast still has some steam behind it.