IGN

• XBOX
• 6.6 / 10
• États-Unis

Whacked! is definitely missing some ingredient, but it's hard to figure out what that is. Maybe the level-design is too loose or just poorly crafted. Or maybe the character control could have used a bit more complexity to make it more of a challenge. More than anything, Whacked! should have made itself more like a game show. It's one thing if the single-player presentation is weak (after all, it's geared for multiplayer), but to have no real game show setup in the multiplayer is lackluster. If you're gonna go for a game show theme, you have to stay within that context in some way. As is, Whacked! becomes a game of tag with rocket launchers. It can be fun online, but it's really not worth fifty bucks. But when this baby gets discounted (and it will) look for it.

• PS2
• 7.9 / 10
• États-Unis

Wild Arms 3 is, as a rule, resoundingly not bad. It's not up there with the A-list of the PS2 market, both past and future, but like its predecessors, it's a solid game with only a few bothersome flaws. For example, I remain utterly perplexed by the inclusion of the search system -- I can't imagine anyone liking it in Wild Arms 2 -- but greater mysteries have surrounded other RPGs. The Gummi Ship, say... We were talking about Wild Arms, though. It's probably worth picking over Legaia 2, the other noteworthy RPG release of the moment, and with the genre drying up until the arrival of Star Ocean and Xenosaga next year (aside from the excellent Suikoden III), it stands as one of the better picks for fans this season.

• XBOX
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Hey, I'm all about family time, but buy yourself a real Monopoly board and play with your kids (or whoever you wanna play with). This looks and feels like a great budget PC game, but it's not that worthwhile on the Xbox. Though you get several themed boards, they aren't as good as the real life theme boards out there. Pressing A to roll some dice isn't nearly as enjoyable as rolling them yourself. I guess if you are lonely and want to play Monopoly against AI, uh, well, that's kind of sad, but understandable. Not bad technically, but it just seems pointless.

• PS2
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

• NGC
• 6.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Cubivore is definitely one of the most bizarre creations I've ever played. I enjoyed it for that reason. However, it has some major camera issues, which frustrates at boss fights, but somehow the fact that it is so strange appeals to me. Also, the very core of the game -- controlling your evolution as a creature -- is nicely executed. I think everyone should at least give this one a rent, but if you are someone who seeks to widen your tastes in videogames, I would suggest a buy. It's got quite a few hours of gameplay to it to boot and how can you pass up the opportunity to demo a game for your friends that lets you defecate at will?

• XBOX
• 3.9 / 10
• États-Unis

I love these classic Namco games and I've had a copy of the Namco Museum for another system for quite some time. And to see that after all this time there's nothing new to offer? It's just a cash cow for Namco and you can get these games on your PC and probably have a more enjoyable experience. Ms. Pac-Man is one of my favorite games, as is Dig Dug, but a compilation this old and overused should have more than just some quickly ported games and a handful of awful filler titles. If you really gotta have these and you must have them on your Xbox (as opposed to your PC or for just a few bucks, your Dreamcast), then it may be worth your $30. But as much as you think you will play endless amounts of Dig Dug, likely you won't spend more than a couple of hours getting reacquainted with some old friends.

• NGC
• PS2
• 3 / 10
• États-Unis

Evolution Skateboarding has none of those. It is well behind the curve of the skating genre, and Konami would be wise to can the series entirely and direct these development resources in a more profitable direction. In particular, whoever designed this game's interface should be put to work on a more talented team -- like the ESPN games past, the menu design and creation systems are excellent. The sticker editor is a peach of an idea, although it fails in practice on account of you can never get a good look at the underside of your deck. In conclusion, wait for Tony Hawk. I wish I didn't have to write another review that ends this way, but as long as Konami continues making skateboarding games, it may remain an unavoidable necessity.

• XBOX
• 8.2 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

It's a shame that Konami Osaka couldn't put together a more solid product than this. With a rich development history that includes the Perfect Striker series and the fan favorite Goemon franchise, they certainly have the talent to put something great together. Based on this latest basketball effort however, and the complete lack of competition it will provide for games like Live and NBA 2K3, it's time to either go back to the drawing board completely, or stick with what they do best and focus on Soccer. Only time will tell which road they travel.

• PC
• 6.8 / 10
• États-Unis

While this is a great attempt to bring the strengths of the cartoon series to the video game world, it falls short in the area of control and suffers in comparison to the console versions that were available almost a year ago. I'm not against ports of good games (although Batman is merely that), but for a game to come to the PC nearly a year later offering only higher resolutions and keyboard support, I have to wonder what the point of it all is. While you've got plenty of people who will be attracted to the subject and style of the game, there's not much else going on here. Ultimately, I enjoyed the experience less than I would have if the controls had been a bit tighter. Still, for the $30 asking price, it's a decent enough game for fans of the show. That might sound like an overly qualified or conditional recommendation but that's the best we can do with this one.

• NGC
• PS
• PS2
• XBOX
• PC
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

I had plenty of fun playing NBA Live 2003, but you're not going to get the same depth that you expect from other EA Sports games. The Franchise mode is complete, but a good player will be able to win no matter what his roster looks like. And the thing is, the Freestyle control will make everybody a good NBA Live player sooner rather than later. The Freestyle system will at least be a revolution in EA's universe with NHL 2003 and FIFA 2003 both incorporating the new scheme and it's a welcome dose of freshness to the genre. Don't be surprised when Madden 2004 has stiff arms, hurdle and spin moves on the right analog stick next year either. The emphasis in this game is on scoring and creating spectacular plays, a job that once belonged to the NBA Jam/Showtime series. People enjoyed watching Live 2003 as much as they enjoyed playing it. It's easy to pick up and play, making it very well suited for hours of head to head matches, the cornerstone of any sports game's value. With all of the highlight-worthy moves and action you can pull off, bragging rights for the best shake-and-bake dunk sequences will be on the line. With NBA 2K3's emphasis on creating the ultimate simulation, there's room for Sega's and EA's game in the same library since you're getting two entirely different approaches to the NBA.

• XBOX
• 8.9 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 6.8 / 10
• États-Unis

Dynasty Warriors 3 reminds me a lot of Capcom¿s older arcade action games (Final Fight, Captain Commando, Knights of the Round etc...). If I¿m not mistaken, I think they even had a game based off the same historical material (Dynasty Wars). While those games are incredibly simple at heart, and amount to little more than button pushing, I always found them wholly satisfying in their own way. Sometimes all you want to do is put your brain on hold and have fun beating up hordes of enemies (especially with a buddy). Dynasty Warriors 3 lets you do just that, and even throws in a some cool features to help break up the repetitive nature of the game. Riding horses and elephants, finding new weapons, and improving stats by equipping items in a very RPG-like way, all help to add a little depth to game that could get old very quickly. If the developers can fix some of the underlying problems with the game and improve on what they already have to give the game a real polished feel, the Dynasty Warriors series could be one great stress reliever.

• GBA
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

• PC
• 8.8 / 10
• États-Unis

If you own no hockey game for the PC, this is the one to get. Even if it wasn't really the only game in town, it would still come highly recommended on the basis of its presentation and action. Sure, I have lots of minor issues with the game, but that's just what they are -- minor issues. At the end of the day the game offers an incredibly fun and addictive vision of hockey. It's not a simulation by any means but that's not necessarily a criticism. It's much closer to what people think hockey is like than it is to what hockey actually is. As such, it bends a few rules and takes a couple of liberties. But since it's all done in support of your enjoyment of the game, you can't fault the developers for their concessions. Games that are ultra-realistic aren't usually very fun anyway. The real issue for me is whether or not the game offers a substantial enough improvement over the previous version. In a sense, EA's competing with itself here, offering a few notable upgrades but not changing enough of the game over last year's version to make it imperative that owners of NHL 2002 rush right out and buy it.

• PS2
• 8.7 / 10
• États-Unis

If you don't yet have a hockey game, you really can't go wrong with NHL 2003. It's a fun, tight-controlling, well-presented game that makes good use of the NHL license. However, those expecting a sim-style game, beware. NHL 2003, like last year's edition, slants more toward arcade-style hockey. All the bells and whistles may just annoy the hardcore fan who's looking for a pure hockey experience. The bottom line is that NHL has always been a great series, and brings us another good installment. But this year's game just maintains at the status quo level. True, that's a high level, but it isn't the marked improvement we were hoping for.

• XBOX
• 4.6 / 10
• États-Unis

I wanted Loons to be great. The premise was there, the presentation was solid, but the fighting was ill-conceived. Too simple, too bland, and too boring to be recommended. Adding grabs and throws, or even the ability to pick up and chuck objects would have helped greatly. The game also needs some afterburners. Powerstone played fast, this one limps along far too often. As I said in the beginning, a madcap fighting game needs speed, frenzy, and tension. Loons is slow, and while there are moments of hectic play they don't last very long. And really, the killer is a lack of tension. There's never much of a feel of urgency in what you do, because the matches seem unending at times. Add to this that there are only four playable characters -- Unacceptable for any fighting game. If you are an absolute die-hard Looney Tunes fan, rent it first. Otherwise, this one is best left alone (or bought at a garage sale for $5).

• NGC
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis