IGN

• PC
• 7.8 / 10
• États-Unis

Qualms aside, Ys: The Ark of Napishtim is still my kind of game. It's personable, has a distinct artistic style, and gives me a great sense of nostalgia without feeling too dated. Sure it doesn't have the technical tools to compete with the more epic RPGs that have multi-million dollar budgets -- nor does it have the intense replay value that'll keep you coming back for more over the next couple of years. But what it does have is fun. And in an age when buzz words, technical achievements, and complicated combat engines take precedence over everything else, it's a bit refreshing to get back to basics. And for RPG fans looking to do just that, look no further than here.

• GBA
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• PC
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

• PC
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

If you like roleplaying games or if you like Star Wars, you'll be hard pressed to find a game as enjoyable as Knights of the Old Republic II. Sure, it's got some technical problems and, sure, it starts fairly slowly but if you can see past those flaws, you're in for one hell of a treat. The moral choices are much more varied and integrated into the overall experience this time around. I wish the new influence system had more of an effect on the actual narrative but the idea is intriguing in any case. More importantly, all these mechanics -- the moral slider, the influence system, combat, etc. -- are surrounded by a first rate story that's almost as mythic and fantastic as the films themselves. Like I said, if you like RPGs or if you like Star Wars, you'll definitely like Knights of the Old Republic II. And if you like both? Man, oh, man. Get this game.

• XBOX
• 9.3 / 10
• États-Unis

nights of the Old Republic II may look and feel like the original, but considering the first is among the best RPGs of all time, that's not such a bad thing at all. Obisidan has delivered with an interesting story, great dialogue, and strong morality system. There are aspects of KOTOR II that are stronger than the first and one or two things that are perhaps a little weaker, but overall The Sith Lords is one of the best RPGs on Xbox. Though it seems more rewarding to be Dark Side (who could resist using Force Crush to destroy their victims?), playing Light Side offers a different experience and can be just as satisfying. Star Wars games are plentiful, but none come close to the KOTOR series in feeling like the good ol' Star Wars universe, even if it all takes place 4000 years before the movies. KOTOR II is the perfect holiday treat and shouldn't be missed.

• XBOX
• PS2
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

MX World Tour is a bare bones racing game with a gameplay style that quickly becomes tiresome. The addition of multiplayer may amuse gamers for an extra 10 minutes before moving on to another game. This is a budget title that might provide a sliver of fun when snatched out of the bargain bin. I would recommend it as a rental for hardcore MX fans, but not before much better titles like vs. ATV Unleashed.

• PS2
• 6.6 / 10
• États-Unis

Yourself!Fitness is a one-of-a-kind product that attempts to reach out to a different type of audience. Much like Sony's EyeToy or Konami's Dance Dance Revolution it is very hard to classify this title. Workout program? Lifestyle program? Self-improvement title? However you peg it, those of you looking for an alternative to an expensive gym membership or a series of pricey videos will find something special here. Maya is an excellent mentor who gives more attention than a video can -- she asks questions and will help you with specific exercises, and that's more than some gyms will even offer. If ResponDesign can integrate some features just a bit tighter, incorporate your music preferences just a bit more, make the environments a bit more real, it will have a complete winner. But as for why the PS2 version was allowed to go out with the horrendous voice crackling is beyond us. If at all possible, seek out the Xbox bversion instead.

• PS2
• XBOX
• 7.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Though it may be technically obsolete at a glance and often times clunky and unpolished, Robotech: Invasion is still a decent shooter. Sure there's a problem with the motorcycle and a problem with the game looking like Robotech but feeling like a round of Duck Hunt, but this is still one big, cohesive game. It's also a game that's kindly rounded out by superb control and targeting advancements, not to mention a now-obligatory online mode, -- however useless it may wind up being in the long run.

• NGC
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• 8.3 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• GBA
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Hot Wheels Stunt Track Challenge changes the direction of the license a bit, going back to the GBC roots, but is hurt by weak presentation and a lack of battery save. Sound and graphics are average at best, but suffers when compared to Need for Speed Underground 2. It is obvious this was meant to be a budget title, using a small cart size and no battery. The game might appeal to younger fans of the Hot Wheels license, but it won't satisfy the average pocket gamer. If a top tier racing game featuring the Hot Wheels cars is what you are looking for, you can find it in the used section at your local GameStop under the name Hot Wheels: Burnin' Rubber.

• PS2
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• NGC
• 9.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Metroid Prime 2 Echoes proves that Retro Studios' first game was not a fluke. This long-anticipated sequel to what I consider to be one of the greatest games ever made arrives as one hell of a great new installment to an already-outstanding franchise. Echoes isn't exactly a groundbreaking product. The feeling of originality, of freshness, that overwhelmed me as I played through Prime is not present in this sequel, and that's mainly because Prime 2 doesn't stray from the winning formula. It strictly adheres to it, in fact. That's a little disappointing. But at the same time the end experience is every bit as amazing as the first, which means that if you loved the original game then you're going to love this one too. And if you hated it, well, you're probably not going to have a sudden change of heart now. Prime 2 succeeds because it successfully recreates the Metroid experience in 3D. It succeeds for all the same reasons that the first did, and no new ones. The wide-openness of the huge, gorgeous world. The gargantuan number of hidden upgrades that promise access to areas unreachable. The intense boss fights. The intuitive first-person platforming elements and the challenging third-person environmental puzzles. And most of all, the exploration factor. Just getting to know the world is immensely enjoyable and extremely rewarding. Did I mention that the game is artistically and technically head and shoulders above most games on the market, competing systems included? I have a couple of minor quibbles with the Echoes. The Dark World is less compelling than the Light World. The lock-on system is not without problems. A dual-analog control setup is long overdue, at least as a secondary option for those who might prefer it. And at least one boss fight was made unfairly more difficult due to the lack of a nearby save point. But everything said and done, this is still one of the best games to come out in the last couple years and in many ways it stands side-by-side with Metroid Prime. Some gamers may actually prefer it. And what it boils down to is this: if you're okay with Echoes being an extension of the first game and not a revolution, you're going to flip out over this sequel. Our highest recommendation.

• PC
• 8.3 / 10
• États-Unis

MTX: Mototrax excels where it really needs to: providing that sense of speed and creating a fun driving system that rewards racers with plenty of skidding and massive jumps. The riders look like they have a sense of weight to them and the tricks look fantastic. With a well-executed online system, racing others on the Internet is a user-friendly experience. The tracks themselves have plenty of twists, turns and jumps to master, but a total of 16 racing tracks is a little small, especially if a gamer strongly prefers either supercross or motocross racing. The Free Ride areas and the Freestyle course give a nod to the world of freestyle racing, but MTX: Mototrax doesn't flesh them out enough to make it a completely worthwhile addition to the game. Overall, MTX: Mototrax provides one of the best places for the experience of racing in the dirt and having it online makes it even better. The racing tracks are fun to ride and with online stats there's a compelling reason to keep shaving seconds off your time. If only there were more tracks to race on.

• NGC
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• XBOX
• PC
• 6.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Worms: Forts Under Siege still has the light-hearted sense of humor that the series is known for. The weapons are comical contraptions and the character animation can be very cute. Unfortunately the frustrating controls tend to drain the fun from the game, and fans of the two-dimensional version will seriously dislike the changes that have been made to Worms. There is fun to be had in this game but it is buried under a heap of problems.