Hit me over the head like a ton of virtual bricks. [July 2008, p.74]

Yet another outstanding FF sequel, this time with a return to its roots. [Jan 2004, p.188]

And I thought "Circle of the Moon" was good. HoD out classes it (and every other GBA game to date). Konami condensed everything that's so great about "Symphony" into a hand-held game. [Oct 2002, p.206]

Even more wow is the multiplayer game. Folks, this is the reason to get on Xbox Live. I don't care about the money for the subscription, for broadband, and for the cable dude to come out to your pad-you gotta play four-player Pandora.

A hardcore gamer's fantasy game come true. With Eight-Way Run, Air Control, Guard Impacts, and all these other techniques in your holster, you can spend weeks training with just one character. [Sept 2003, p.103]

A hardcore gamer's fantasy game come true. With Eight-Way Run, Air Control, Guard Impacts, and all these other techniques in your holster, you can spend weeks training with just one character. [Sept 2003, p.103]

Like its title suggests, Evo takes Sega's staggering chop-socky PS2 masterpiece and fine-tunes it to near perfection... But the real reason to plunk down 20 bucks is for Evo's superb Quest mode. [Sept 2003, p.115]

Creepy, creative, and tenacious, the Cobra team outdoes even the wicked Foxhound squad from "MGS" in terms of flat-out coolness. The nerve-racking, ambitious duel against one boss, code-named The End, will likely go down as one of gaming's finest. So will the game itself. [Holiday 2004, p.110]

It’s infinitely more polished, more playable, more replayable, better-looking, and just plain fun to run around and play than most anything else out there. [Jan 2002, p.212]

Kingdom Hearts II, I am relieved to say, delivers on everything the series' potential hinted at. [May 2006, p.101]

From 30-foot-tall bosses down to the tiny embroidery on Ada's dress, the overall design and attention to detail is among the best in any game. Which really could be said for almost every aspect of RE4-don't miss this game.

If you can overcome its fairly steep learning curve, occasional A.I. hicups, and periodic difficulty spikes, you will be floored by GRAW. It's truly a next-gen masterpiece. [Apr 2006, p.90]

I should absolutely hate Gears of War. Tactical combat, a big emphasis on using cover, one-death-and-your-done multiplayer--all three have always been on my list of gaming pet peeves. But ironically, these aspects make up much of the reason why I absolutely love it. [Jan. 2007, p.92]

Simply amazing, and even better than the Japanese version. They balanced out the fights and added a couple of Bosses and some extra footage to the game.

Teens in clam diggers save the world again. Doesn't have "FFVII's" rep, though. [Jan 2004, p.188]

"Four Swords" is the most fun I've ever had with a four-player GBA game. [Jan 2003, p.212]

KOTOR is like the movie we all hoped "Episode I" would be - enthralling plot, marvelous visuals and voice acting, deep immersion in the galaxy's many worlds, with all that noble Jedi malarkey lightened up by old-school "Episode 4"-style humor. [Sept 2003, p.118]

All the added VR missions take advantage of the game's biggest strengths (gameplay) and cut out its one real weakness (silly story line). [Jan 2003, p.200]

Quicksilver pacing, white-knuckle tension, and spit-shined effects put Gaiden among the most remarkable action games ever made, but it's every bit as hardcore. [May 2004, p.104]

If you like the racing games, and you like the Xbox Live, then buckle the f up. This is the best realistic (well, fairly realistic) racer since "Gran Turismo 3," and in many ways, it's even more fun. [Jan 2004, p.150]

It's simply brilliant. The modes, graphics, gameplay, sound, music, acting, dialogue, and every other little piece in between all come together to create a tense, sweaty-palm experience you can't find anywhere else. [Apr 2005, p.126]

Suffice it to say, if the first game made you happy, this jam-packed sequel will make you crap your pants with glee. [Feb 2002, p.160]

100 percent pure, unadulterated fun. The moment you start playing, everything just clicks - the same way it did with "Mario 64" - and you immediately know you're in for a hell of a ride. [Oct 2002, p.198]

There'll never be another Mario game that will make the same impact as Super Mario 64. [Jan 2004, p.189]

But most importantly, it feels like an overhaul without losing the fun details and epic feel that have always made the series work. [Aug 2008, p.74]

That said, Brawl still shines as the go-to party game for a houseful of friends. [May 2008, p.70]

Fable II is the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for folks who hated(and liked, too)the latter. [Dec 2008, p.80]

Everything included has been executed so ridiculously well that it's easy to forget this is a PSP game and think you're back swinging your blades on PS2. [Apr 2008, p.84]