IGN

• XBOX
• 8.4 / 10
• États-Unis

In my opinion FIFA 2003 fixed things in 2002 World Cup that weren't necessarily problems. Nonetheless FIFA 2003 is a fine soccer game and should grab everybody's attention on its own merits because it does capture even more of what makes pro soccer so appealing. That's every sports videogame's job. If you didn't fall for the World Cup edition this past summer or if you can put that game's feel and control out of your mind, then you'll find FIFA 2003 to be worth the trouble of leaning a new system. There are still major holes like an underutilized Freestyle Control system, no non-competitive game modes and a lack of customization features (no create-an-anything or weather/time of day control) holding FIFA back from being the definitive soccer game. With virtually no competition, until one of Konami's fine soccer games makes it to Xbox in North America I have to recommend this soccer game for sports gamers looking for another non-stop end to end game.

• XBOX
• 8.3 / 10
• États-Unis

Shenmue was one of my favorite Dreamcast games, one I had trouble putting down. The sequel, while new to the US, feels almost outdated. The voice-acting is bad, the graphics are not on the level of other Xbox games, and Shenmue II never involved me as much as the original. In fact, a lot of the things set up in the original don't come to bear in Shenmue II until several hours into the game, leaving an odd disconnection from the first game for the first couple of hours. There's very little back story offered in the game itself, so anyone who hasn't played the original and doesn't watch the included Shenmue Movie may find themselves wondering what the big deal is. There's been no additional set-up added to the game. Where the original eased you into the fighting system, explaining moves to you, showing you you needed to practice regularly, and letting you get your feet wet before diving into serious battles, Shenmue II assumes that you've played the original. If you haven't, it may come off as a bit confusing, or more likely, a bit frustrating. Though some new graphical tweaks and cosmetic features have been added, the game is a relatively straight port from the Dreamcast version. Even though there's a lot more fighting and QTEs than in the original, Shenmue II suffers from a bit too much meandering. It would have been nice to see the story take off a bit quicker, because in all honesty, I really just wanted to learn more about Lan Di and the Phoenix Mirror. While you had to work at the docks driving forklifts in the original, it had a purpose -- you were trying to ferret out some baddies. But here, you work because you need the cash. To make a story strong and compelling, though, everything needs to be more directly tied into the main focus. Otherwise, it feels a bit pointless. Shenmue II is a good game and a definite pick-up for RPG fans, but more should have been done with this sequel to make it more accessible to those who never played the original. It has its faults, for sure, but it is a unique experience. It's certainly a love or hate type of game, which means that you should only buy it if slightly open-ended RPGs appeal to you. The only real bummer is that there seem to be no plans for a third installment, which could make this one heck of a long cliffhanger.

• XBOX
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Like the real life superstar, this Tiger Woods really doesn't have much worthwhile competition either. But Electronic Arts has nonetheless put together a very satisfying golf game to go with what has to be one of the most precious licenses around. EA has just about perfected the practice of blending simulation and arcade elements into one satisfying sports game and golf is no exception. I love the simple fact that you have to learn serious ball-striking skills to be successful in Tiger Woods 2003 but that you'll get plenty of wacky eye candy and payoff whether you're successful or not. Authentic sports mechanics in a fun and exciting environment is formula that so many other companies ruin. Either that or they don't even attempt to serve two masters so you end up with over-the-top games like Outlaw Golf. That Simon and Schuster title is a decent game, but unless you have an affinity for seeing strippers in golf videogame, you're better served picking up TW03 because it will solve pretty much all of your golfing needs.

• XBOX
• 9 / 10
• États-Unis

Tony Hawk 4 is by far the best skateboarding title around and head and shoulders above its "me-too" competition. I just don't think there's enough newness here for a casual Xbox gamer to drop another $50 so soon after buying Tony Hawk 3 and we're still not playing the Hawkman online yet. If ever there was a game that could benefit from steady doses of downloadable content through a service like Xbox Live it's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. What serious Hawk fan wouldn't be willing to buy a game once and keep upgrading it with new levels, for a small fee even, for months to come? In the end, the Tony Hawk series' biggest drawback is that number 4 is facing strong competition from number 3 on the Xbox. Hawk 4 is the best the series has to offer, but if you picked up Hawk 3 anytime in the last six months, then I wouldn't be in any hurry to rush out and pay full price for this game at this time. For all but the most ardent Tony Hawk fans, it makes more sense to wait awhile and see what other upcoming games may tickle your fancy because there are plenty of other holiday titles vying for your dollar that would do more for your library.

• XBOX
• 6.7 / 10
• États-Unis

Transworld Snowboarding is full of too many flaws and bugs to be considered a worthy purchase. The game just has an overall unfinished feel. Add that to the ease of the game, limited tracks, and limited multi-player and the value decreases further. If you need a snowboarding game for Xbox, get Amped or SSX Tricky, depending on the style of game you are looking for. Both are more fun and worth their money, especially Amped, which you can find at some store for only 20 bucks. If you already have both and are dying to play something new, Transworld Snowboarding would make a good weekend rental. You'll have enough time to play through most of it, and you won't spend 50 dollars. Some players will like this game a lot, but I recommend you rent it first to see if it's your cup of tea.

• XBOX
• 2 / 10
• États-Unis

Sneakers reminds me a lot of E.T. for the Atari. Both suck and both had you wandering around aimlessly collecting things. Sneakers should never have even come to the U.S. I can think of 2000 ways to spend $30, and none of them involve buying Sneakers. An embarrassment of a game flawed from concept to finished product. If this was meant to be for kids, it missed the mark. I played E.T. on Atari, and let me tell you, it sucked. It was boring and I would have rather been playing Space Invaders. I was seven then, so I think the experience translates to what a 7-year old would experience playing Sneakers. Kids want fast and fun (Pokemon and Mario anyone?), they don't want slow, plodding, boring, and unintelligent gameplay. Just because someone is young, doesn't mean they need things dumbed down. I plan on burning my copy so that it can't fall into the hands of impressionable children who might then come to think all video games are meant to suck this bad.

• NGC
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

Rocket Power: Beach Bandits is a kid's game. On some levels, it's a decent one. The Rocket Power license has been utilized in full so that there is a mildly engaging storyline based on the series, lots of familiar characters who look and sound as they do in the show, and enough puzzles and extreme sports to satisfy die hard funs for a bit. But indeed because it's a kid's game some of the control setups and challenges are baffling as they are anything but intuitive and perhaps too hard for many young players. Also, the technology in place is dated, at best, and there's really no excuse for that, kid's game or not. Mediocre. Still recommended for young players who love the show, but parents considering the purchase should beware that they might have to help their little ones out every once in awhile when they get stuck.

• XBOX
• 6.3 / 10
• États-Unis

This game can be best described as soporific. There is too much repetition and not enough excitement. The redundancy not only comes from the menial fetching and delivering tasks, but also from the repeated FMVs that are used as load screens, and constant repeated chatter of the characters. The worst part of ToeJam and Earl is that the whole game just feels wide and shallow, not long and deep. There is little feeling of real progression, let alone climax, and the overall repetitive nature of the game becomes tedious and tiresome. Fans of the original games may enjoy the feeling of nostalgia when playing Mission to Earth, but that feeling is sure to fade as you become desensitized to the classic appeal of the game, and realize your current state.

• PS2
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 4 / 10
• États-Unis

• XBOX
• 8.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a fantastic game. There is a sense of overall refinement and polish that makes it hard not to like anything about it. It looks and sounds excellent, and plays even better. A true gem. What hurts this game's score is the fact that it is almost exactly the same game that was released last year, not that that's a bad thing. The game is a fine example of exceptional game-making. But an extra level or character, or really any added extras would've been great. But, like the old saying goes, if it aint broke, don't fix it. If you've never played the PS2 version, I couldn't recommend this game enough. It's a rich, artistic game, full of nuance. For those of you who already own the PS2 version, dust off the cover and play it again. NOW.

• XBOX
• 9.3 / 10
• États-Unis

• 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.