IGN

• PC
• 8.2 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS2
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Whiteout is a game that seems to have had some potential, but it just has too many bland spices and herbs in the recipe to taste like anything worth serving. The controls are nicely responsive, but they're too tight and not subtle enough to make the racing aspect any fun. The trick system has been done before, and while it normally works fine, it's just too slow here to really be any fun. The game does have a solid graphics engine, though. The course design is also rather decent, except that the controls really hinder them from providing a challenge or much fun. There really isn't a whole lot that's actually bad about Whiteout, but there's just nothing that's really good about it either. So close, and yet so far.

• NGAGE
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

• PC
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Chaser is a good one...which hurts, a little, because more all-around polish might have made it great. Deathmatch, CTF and objective-centered multiplay modes are a nice addition, but Chaser's best grip on any potential player is the massive, sprawling single-player campaign, flaws and all. If you're not a complete, raging spoiled brat (like some of us here, hanging our heads in knowing, arrogant shame -- a neat trick, if you can do it -- and can take your dramatic, run-and-gun action minus a few cut corners, Chaser will keep you engaged and more than a bit paranoid for at least two or three full gaming-days on end...and that's before you start exploring your multiplayer options.

• GBA
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

The Advance Wars design is incredibly fun and addictive, and the sequel proves that the game design still works even if you've played the original to death. But you'll just have to keep in mind that the game is made for players looking for more of the same, not for players looking for "more." It's such an incremental improvement over the original that the number 2 in the title honestly doesn't deserve to be there. But don't take this gripe the wrong way; Advance Wars 2 is still one of the finest games to hit the Game Boy Advance, and it's the version to get if you haven't been introduced to the stunning game design.

• PS2
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

XGRA is a fun racer, but if you're expecting something that plays like XG3 -- don't. These are two different games. Acclaim's latest offering has a lot going for it still. Tight, if heavy control, a seriously improved weapon system that makes for a lot of fun, and the insane tracks that XG fans have come to expect from the franchise. This is a bigger game -- more courses and a slightly expanded Season Mode, too. No doubt, die-hard racing fans will find a good amount to be happy over here, especially at XGRA's reduced price tag. But there are some drawbacks, too, particularly if you -- like me -- know and love XG3 before it. Acclaim for some reason modified the control and physics systems for this sequel -- not bad, but in my opinion for the worse. Meanwhile, some of the additions are nearly useless; there are secondary objectives in races, yes, but most of them barely qualify as a challenge and seem to be added as an afterthought. Finally, what happened to the stunning 60-frames-per-second-fludity of XG3? XGRA runs at half that with constant dips in motion -- a disappointment that has a real bearing on the game as it lessens the sensation of speed, the primary element of any racer. All said and done XGRA is still a worthy racer. But it's far from a perfect one. A few more months of development time might have gone a long way toward ironing out some of the iffy design choices and technical shortcomings. Give it a rental at the very least.

• NGC
• 5.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Disney's Party isn't a bad game, but it is flat and uninspired. It's a cheap version of Mario Party aimed at the younger generation. It's just surprising that the creators of Mario Party are able to make a party game that feels so stale, but perhaps they've been at the game too long, or saving the good stuff for Mario Party 5. When a game has to con you into thinking that it's fun by repeatedly having characters belt out variations of "This is so much fun", it's a sign that there are problems at some level -- because Disney's Party is anything but a lot of fun. This is further emphasized by the all too similar mini-games. Disney's Party lacks diverse and fun gameplay -- the very nautre of what a party game should be, making it a title that should be rented before purchasing -- and that's only if you're a die hard party fan. Make sure you have a steady stream of friends or younger gamers to play with if you decide to take the purchasing leap, because this title gets old quite fast and will be collecting dust long before it earns its keep. It's best you just wait for Mario Party 5

• XBOX
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

Outlaw Volleyball is a straight forward volleyball title that does exactly what it set out to do by providing humor and full online play. As a sports title it's easy to pick up and play and a little too easy to master for my tastes. Actually, the same can be said for the humorous, entertainment aspects of the game. However when you add up the single player career mode, character-building minigames and Xbox Live play and downloads you're getting a lot of volleyball bang for your buck. It's a completely different experience than DOAX and ends up being a decent volleyball and Xbox Live game that fills a need this time of year.

• PC
• 8.9 / 10
• États-Unis

• PC
• 8.4 / 10
• États-Unis

Freedom Fighters is a game that gets better the more you play it. The challenge increases at the same rate as your skills and abilities so that you're really appreciating the level of control you've got towards the end and the cool action you can create because of it. Obviously an online component would be a wonderful addition but for what it is Freedom Fighters is pretty satisfying. You just wish your running, gunning and commanding skills, once developed, could be applied in other ways against online competitors. This is especially poignant given the game's rather short single player campaign. You can go back and play at higher difficultly levels, but that's only going to keep you entertained for so long. Even fans of super rich tactical simulations will get a kick out of FF's easy interface and well developed AI. It occupies that area between all of the other games in the genre by limiting you to one character to control, offering a 3rd person perspective and using only three basic commands. Even without a fancy license like "Red Dawn" or some other Russo-American themed movie or show, Freedom Fighters works as a change of pace.

• GBA
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

The attempt to recreate the Xbox's 3D game design on the Game Boy Advance is certainly ambitious, but in all honesty the developers should have just stuck with the tried-and-true 2D Prince of Persia-style of the previous Oddworld games for this conversion. Munch's Oddysee is full of little quirks that add up to a very un-fun GBA game that can't even fall back on technical merits.

• NGC
• PS2
• XBOX
• PC
• 8.8 / 10
• États-Unis

At first I thought NHL 2004 had been unnecessarily tampered with because scoring wasn't as easy as it used to be. But upon further review I realized this videogame mimics the real thing more than ever and therefore the joys of the sport are found in big hits, near misses and brilliant scoring opportunities that barely miss lighting the lamp. If you can get over the fact that scoring is going to be reserved only for those that deserve it. It's an improvement over the last NHL game from EA but definitely a big change in direction for the franchise. There's plenty of room for improvement but it's clear that the effort has been put into NHL 2004 and the most serious hockey fans should get a kick out of it. Casual fans will either become serious hockey fans or break their controllers trying.

• PS2
• XBOX
• PC
• 6.3 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• NGC
• PS2
• 4.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Well, you get what you pay for, I guess. This is the very definition of a budget racer and I don't mean that in a good way. Basic arcadey track designs mix with stupidly simple controls and poor graphics for an end experience that falls somewhere below the average. Slot Car might be willing to brave some the backward design choices and mechanical defects and find some entertainment here, but most would do well to look elsewhere -- far away, if possible -- for their racing fix.

• XBOX
• 8.6 / 10
• États-Unis

NHL Hitz Pro is all games to all people. It will not disappoint hockey fans, and it shouldn't disappoint those who love Midway Sports. What it boils down to is an action-packed experience that rekindles memories of old Genesis NHL sessions. Addictively fun as a multiplayer game, and tricked-out with enough new modes and Franchise options to make the single player experience enjoyable, Hitz Pro delivers on its promise.

• NGC
• PS2
• 6.1 / 10
• États-Unis

Jimmy Neutron is far from a bad game, but there's not enough substance here to captivate an audience over the age of ten. The puzzles are simplistic, combat is easy, and you're basically led through the entire game simply by the placement of items. However, this was designed with kids in mind, and on that level it succeeds. The challenge is simple enough to not be too hard for a young gamer, but easy enough that there won't be a ton of frustration. They might even have to use their brain on occasion. Also, the pace between wandering around adventure style, platforming, racing, and boss battling is pretty fast. The shift between gameplay styles should be enough to keep younger gamers entertained past their bedtimes. Jet Fusion isn't going to win any awards or display any revolutionary gameplay, there's barely enough here to keep mature gamers conscious, but if you're a fan of Jimmy Neutron or are shopping for a younger audience -- Jimmy Neutron: Jet Fusion is a safe bet -- but a rental is probably wiser than a purchase.

• PC
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

In an age of recreation rather than innovation, developers struggle to improve on their works from the past. While it may be a worthy cause, they sometimes seem to lose sight on their (or at least player perceived) ultimate goal of creating a game that is fun to play, and doesn't just simply fix things that were wrong with the original game, like a giant $40 dollar patch. Unless you were a diehard fan of the original, I'd say give this one a pass.

• PC
• 3 / 10
• États-Unis

If you're actually looking for a game that plays well, with decent graphics and controls that are easy to learn and use, then put that box back down on the shelf and keep looking. Perhaps if the developers had taken more time to work on the game it'd be better, but as it is the game falls far short of what the box would lead you to expect is inside.