Call us crazy, but we're willing to bet the farm that the world of Psychonauts is the most inventive, creative, and downright vision that's ever graced a videogame. [May 2005, p.76]

For the hardcore hockey lovers who expect the significant improvements each year, NHL 10 is pure bliss. Everything you loved before is either back in full force or improved enough to warrant playing again. The core experience was already electric, but the enhanced realism, new player abilities, and gratifying sense of progression have us skating on smooth ice.

BioShock 2 isn't a groundbreaking follow-up that rewrites all the rules laid down by its predecessor. No, think of it as a sequel that fills in the gaps, adding exciting new dimensions to what's come before... You will be utterly absorbed. [Mar 2010, p.68]

We love it when a sports game comes together. With NHL 09, all the potential this series has teased us with for the past two seasons has finally gelled into actual, grade-A greatness.

With HD Remix, it feels like you’re getting the Ferrari of 2D fighters — and it’ll cost you. The game is a moderately pricey $15, and while it’s playable with a standard controller, it pretty much demands a Hori Fighting Stick for the full arcade experience. But on both counts, the payoff is oh-so-worth the sacrifice.

The best part of this game is the absolute depth and replay value that'll keep you coming back for more. [Dec 2002, p.128]

Expertly balanced, with tons of options to keep you improving either your golfer or your wardrobe or your course. [Nov 2004, p.80]

The boxers ripple with animated musculature and move with a lightning smoothness, while the brutal injuries and blood sprays make you sincerely regret every opening you leave for your opponent. [March 2005, p.76]

Secret is the foremost example of the genre on Xbox — and arguably anywhere else.

Eye-popping graphics, especially the in-car view. [Jan 2006, p.66]

Where else can you grind up a neon-lit, dragon-shaped skyscraper while launching a graffiti assault on a bunch of red-headed punkettes in tube tops? Absolutely nowhere. [Apr 2002, p.66]

The best soccer game on the Xbox by a mile. [Jan 2003, p.74]

A completely new graphics engine combined with more ESPN-style replays and the excellent play-by-play of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement has vaulted the presentation of ESPN NHL head and shoulders above the competition. [Oct 2003, p.81]

This bugaboo aside, though, NHL 11 really is the best realization of hockey to date. Ultimately, its new physics make for better, more believable hockey that we simply can't recommend enough.

No mere phoned-in afterthought like far too many original-Xbox games these days, NCAA 07 is a mature, refined sports game. [Aug 2006, p.75]

Betrayal and constant infighting - problems that've been building since the beginning - finally boil over, proving deadlier than anything else in this crazy zombie apocalypse.

The Hell levels are beautiful in their nightmarishness. Add in cool features like online play and the inclusion of older Doom games, and you've got a genuine horror masterpiece for the Xbox. [Apr 2005, p.82]

In no way has the gameplay quality suffered in order to get this game on shelves for a mere $20. In fact, it's become better overall, amidst a couple of steps back and a few more forward. [Oct 2004, p.78]

Despite a few missing links and annoyances, Stranger still emerges as a beautifully fun beast. [Feb 2005, p.71]

Water, sky, textures, animation, design, particle effects, draw distance, frame rates - every visual feature excels and entrances. You have to see Crimson Skies move. It'll move you. [Dec 2003, p.126]

Fun, addicting, original, and has more gameplay options than any other FPS on Xbox, including "Halo." [Dec 2002, p.147]

What makes the crashing so addictive is the visual, visceral spectacle of the fully deformable vehicles piling into each other, catching air, rolling, and spinning across the highway. [July 2003, p.82]

The finely tuned play mechanics are what make the game so astonishingly fun to play. [Mar 2002, p.68]

Other than improved controls, stylish presentation, and a better MyCareer mode, NBA 2K13 doesn't provide a significant leap forward. But then again, this series wasn't really lacking much in the first place.

Beneath its sometimes bombastic layer of blockbuster-level polish, Halo 4 hides a complicated heart filled with intelligent sci-fi and a surprising amount of humanity and soul. Count us in for Chief's next outing. We'll be ready.

Almost every facet's been upgraded - and somehow it's faster and even more of a blast than the original. [June 2004, p.70]

In around three hours, Lair gives you a mystery to solve; tense shootouts in several locations(including the outside of a spaceship!); a"car" chase through the skies of Ilium; and engrossing boss battles. [Nov 2010, p.81]

Glorious looking, fast moving fighter with all the right moves. [Dec 2001]

A truly fantastic college football game. [Aug 2005, p.88]

There's enough cool stuff here--undead animals, fanciful new mounts, and fantastic new weapons--that it's among the best game add-ons on 360 to date. [Jan 2011, p.76]

Quotation forthcoming.

Nothing compares to NFL2K2’s replays. We’ve watched hundreds, yet we’re still impressed each time we see one. [Mar 2002, p.77]

Control deserves special mention, as it is especially top-notch. Despite the fast-paced nature of the game, it still feels like you're controlling a hulking, four-story robot. [Jan 2003, p.72]

Despite the uphill difficulty curve, repetitive commentary, and long loading times, Round 4 is a force that topples its mind-blowing predecessor in every category. You will get punched in the face, and you will love it. [Aug 2009, p.64]

The fact is that there's no other Xbox game that offers you the uniquely multi-layered experience that BG&E does. And isn't that what gaming is all about? [Dec 2003, p.98]

The most polished, complete, and best-looking basketball game ever made. [Dec 2002, p.108]

While Substance is absolutely a gorgeous-looking game and has tons of gameplay options, its graphics engine sometimes performs a bit below par. [Feb 2003, p.60]

It’s pure arcade fun, and easily the best game to hit XBLA so far this year.

Probably the core of what makes this game such a blast is the handling. It’s not as scientific and demanding as Forza’s, nor is it as slap-happy loose as Need for Speeds of old, but it hits a nice sweet spot between real and fun.

This game isn't about simulating racing; it's about creating fun out of it. And it succeeds beautifully, one thrilling white knuckle at a time.

In the end, EA's got the player control, but Sega's got the online play and more realism, so that may be the difference-maker for you. [Dec 2003, p.153]

The closest digital equivalent to real baseball. [Apr 2005, p.84]

It doesn't have the clever story or wacked-out writing of "GTA", but it trumps that game so severely when it comes to doing the same kind of gameplay that it deserves its own sub-genre of clones. [Feb 2005, p.78]

Gamers who are prepared to think — and commit for the long, long haul — will revel in a story that touches on resonant issues and puts the fate of a spectacular world in your hands.

This year we're picking Sega's game over EA Sports' - it just feels more like the real thing. [Holiday 2004, p.82]

The super-smooth graphics and wonderful gameplay mean this is almost a home run. [Aug 2003, p.80]

With a cast more than 20 strong, and move sets that are as well-balanced and diverse as they are visually incomprehensible, #Reload's gameplay parallels its absurd-but-charming title in terms of completeness and gameplay sophistication. [Oct 2004, p.62]

The creators at Obsidian have crafted an amazingly compelling story with just the right tweaks and upgrades to keep the action fresh. [Jan 2005, p.30]

Mortal Kombat still isn't quite up to Street Fighter's level of complexity, but it's a deep, incredibly brutal fighter nonetheless, offering tons of variety and hidden extras. It's a goofier reboot than we were expecting, but it's also the most fun the MK series has been in years.

A series of very difficult parry and combo trials are what you're given to learn the game. Completing them is a slow process, but it's a fantastic and compelling way to figure out this notoriously complex sequel.

The surface changes lead to a more varied world and relatable characters, while the action itself is a benchmark for the genre.

Dance Central 2 blew our minds because of its artful mix of movement and gameplay; it makes using your body to respond to what's onscreen an afterthought. You just think: "Man, what a great game."

To put it simply, Fight Night Round 3 kicks our ass. [Apr 2006, p.74]

Best Xbox Live game ever made? Yeppers. Best first-person shooter this year? Indeed. [Dec 2003, p.54]

It's focused tightly on perfectly re-creating the atmosphere and physics of Rally driving, without any arcade-y distractions. [Jan 2003, p.69]

Wrapped around the entire single-and-multiplayer package is, again, some of the best presentation in any Xbox 360 game to date...With single-player delivering another snipe-'em-if-ya-got-'em ride and multiplayer upping the ante with its everything-you-could-imagine delivery, GRAW2 easily achieves must-play status. [Apr 2007, p.54]

Skate finds the sweet spot between boring simulation and hyper-realism--then totally owns it. [Nov 2007, p.98]

Whereas we loved DC2 and its routines with a fierce consciousness, Dance Central 3 infiltrated our bodies without our knowing it. [Dec 2012, p.80]

Live is quite simply the best-controlling basketball game ever. Player control is unprecedented. [Dec 2003, p.152]

Almost the definition of a triple-A title. It's got everthing - good online play, amazingly fun and addictive action, options up the wazoo, a graphics engine that will make your eyes well up - and it's all polished to a glistening shine... It's a spectacle to behold. [March 2005, p.32]

Visually, Aggressive Inline is up there with the best of them. The levels are loaded with small details, all of which can be interacted with in some way. [Oct 2002, p.104]

Just think of Double Agent as the least amazing Splinter Cell yet, rather than the worst game in the series - because it's simply not. It's the gutsiest, and the chances it takes (but doesn't quite nail) give the series room to evolve into something better than could've possibly imagined to iterations ago. [Dec 2006, p.70]

It really is like the developers played every PC shooter from "Doom" through "Quake" and "Half-Life," even "Sin" and "Soldier of Fortune," and applied cool elements from them all into this package. [Nov 2005, p.112]

Complementing the on-field awesomeness is Year Two of online franchise mode. It’s better than before — you can even manage it from EA’s website or from your iPhone — and we encountered no issues during our testing.

The game is absolutely brilliant. [July 2002, p.74]

Gameplay depth comes from mastering the basic skills..., but none of this is overcomplicated: Pure delivers that prized "pick up and play" experience with several shots of adrenaline. [Oct 2008, p.72]

To our surprise (and relief), adding the diminutive Jedi master to the melee mix turned out to be more than just a Force-fueled marketing ploy. He controls like a dream, animates as acrobatically as his Attack of the Clones counterpart, and amuses when responding to the conceited cast with his backward-speak: "Once you start down the dark path, consume you it will."

Modes aplenty and a fun, refreshing points system. [Dec 2001]

Major kudos are in order for accomplishing the goal of creating an RPG where you truly have an immense amount of freedom. [Nov 2004, p.72]

Horizon may not be the natural successor to Forza 4, but it manages to steer the franchise in a fresh and entertaining new direction. Serious Xbox racers need a lot of room to properly stretch the legs of their Ferrari F-40s and Audi R8s, and Forza Horizon delivers that room - and those wonderfully responsive cars - in spades.

The on-court action is a monstrous, 52-inch vertical leap forward in authenticity and immersion. [Dec 2004, p.88]

We didn't get the "face in the game" feature that the PS2 has, which admittedly sucks, but this is still the best out there and it keeps getting better. [Jan 2004, p.66]

The magic of the game is in its approachability... For both hardcore fighting fans and genre newbies, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 offers a whole lotta bang for your buck. [Mar 2011, p.70]

If you’re into party gaming with tons of tunes and opulent options, this is the Guitar Hero to own — easily the best since Guitar Hero II, and the most flexible and friendly interactive jukebox the genre has ever seen. All the elements really came together in GH5; this is musical fun done right.

Polished, clever, and full of fun, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones wraps up the Prince's saga with the style and grace it deserves. [Jan 2006, p.82]

Other than the unforgivable lack of online multiplayer mode on Xbox, this is one of the best ways to experience NASCAR short of making the pilgrimage to Thunder Valley. [Nov 2003, p.126]

Between the remarkably replayable eight-hour campaign and competitive multiplayer, BattleBlock Theater already offers an exceptional value for your $15. But the cherry on top is a level editor that allows anyone to create, decorate, and upload their own collections of linked levels, complete with secret areas.

The greatest boxing game you've ever played - but not the great boxing you will ever play. [Apr 2004, p.71]

Another riveting experience in what should be a creatively exhausted landscape. [Dec 2005, p.113]

A prettier, better-playing sequel that fails to make any new gameplay strides but is an incredible thrill ride for the all-too-short time it lasts. [Jan 2004, p.68]

We're not saying that multiplayer's rippling muscle excuses the solo campaign's disappointing flab. But as long as you're not dead-set against venturing online, Battlefield 3 is a tremendously satisfying way to go to war.

There's so much goodness packed into Tides of War that it's impossible not to find something to like. Return to Castlewolfenstein is truly an incredible, value-laced package. [May 2003, p.20]

This strategizing is made easier by excellent level design tht allows players multiple, open-ended ways to accomplish objectives. [Dec 2002, p.122]

Technical quibbles aside, Deus Ex is a brilliant RPG that manages to pull off freeform gameplay without a hitch. It's as smart as you want it to be, and cuts no gameplay corners. [Holiday 2003, p.72]

The prospect of racing everything including the kitchen sink should be a recipe for disaster, but for Toca 3, it's not. [Mar 2006, p.80]

My only real complaint is that too many levels are spent fighting tanks and Hulkbuster mechs with too few appearances by familiar Hulk villains. But no matter: This is the first game to make me feel like I am a mindless behemoth. Hear me roar. [Sept 2005, p.87]

Civilization Revolution's sunny presentation and bountiful depth might not be sufficient to draw legions of newcomers to turn-based strategy, but it easily the single greatest example of the genre ever to grace a console. [Aug 2008, p.70]

If there's one notable flaw in Midnight Club 3, it's that the graphics can't quite hang with "NFS Underground 2." [June 2005, p.72]

Super-creepy antics frame a stellar storyline. [Jan 2002]

Forget discs and standalone releases. Here's how to repackage old games: with tender loving care.

If you never quite "got" Fallout 3, New Vegas won't be the epiphany that shows you what you've been missing. But for anyone who adored the frantic post-apocalyptic, choose-your-own-path vibe of Bethesda's original sprawling stunner, this trip to the sin-soaked West is one hell of a kickass homecoming.

Feels like a game whose designers have found the note-perfect tone for the series while also wielding their own talents with razor-sharp precision. It's the game Volition - a studio whose successes go back 15 years to the original Descent - was born to make.

Don't expect Indigo to placate cheap-thrill seekers, but if you're looking for a satisfyingly good yarn, this is much too clever and unique to pass up. [Nov 2005, p.116]

Easier to pick up and play (and faster pace) than previous Maddens, without losing any strategic depth.

Multiplayer maps feel thoroughly playtested, with more game types than you can shake a stick of C4 at. [Nov 2005, p.122]

Breathtaking combination of visuals, music, and motion.

The mix of stealth, assault, night-time and other types of missions means that things never get repetitive. [Dec 2002, p.140]

What's fundamentally so appealing and refreshing is how Full Spectrum Warrior is a breath of fresh air nor not one but two genres, with the unique gameplay, stellar presentation, and sweet two-player Xbox Live co-op play adding up to make this a winner. [Aug 2004, p.74]