35 ONI (Rockstar Games/Bungie, 2001)
Remember when people were actually looking forward to this game? I will admit that the opening anime cut scene is cool but it just goes completely downhill of there on. Oni is a very tough to control 3D action title starring a cool looking babe that is good with hand to hand combat and guns. The levels are overall not very exciting despite being in the future and the constant re-aiming of the gun gets very annoying as well. You also HAVE to use the whole controller if you want to get anything done on your missions which are very annoying in the heat of battle. The game has a useful training mode here but you can't skip it and it's as boring as hell. Rent it first before you believe any of the hype surrounding this overrated title.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
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61 ONIMUSHA (Capcom, April 2001)
This is nothing more then Resident Evil in feudal Japan and even the controls are the same like the old 32-bit games which really sucks because I'm not a fan of the Combat-like movements as most of you already know. Am I the only one who doesn't like these types of games? The story seems OK though but don't expect anything too unique.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 6
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95 RESIDENT EVIL 4 (Capcom, October 2005)
Now we're talking! Resident Evil 4 is nearly a completely different (and much better) game then its processors and now the game is done in true 3D with a new over the shoulder perspective. In the game you play as the returning Leon Kennedy on a mission to save the cute but captive daughter of the US president and then make your escape from a European countryside with a bunch semi-human creatures looking to kill you. This version even comes with an exclusive side quest starring Ada Wong but you have to finish the main quest first. The game may have less graphical polish on the PS2 then the award winning GameCube edition but they still look incredible and the sound is just as amazing. Forget about those other lame RE games, this is the real deal!
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 9
sound: 9
gameplay: 9
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71 RIDGE RACER V (Namco, October 26, 2000)
It looks great and plays fairly well but the Ridge Racer series really hasn't changed much over the years, even though it's on the advanced PS2 here. Maybe you can find this one cheap now; it's still good enough to look into for race fans but don't expect anything too special.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 8
gameplay: 7
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79 R TYPE FINAL (Irem, February 2004)
"NO, R TYPE CAN'T DIE!" If this is the last ever R Type then at least it's a good one. Final may not break away from the norm too much in terms of level design but the game still includes over 100 different unlockable ships and the game also has tons of other bonus features like a strange two player mode and lots more. Maybe this is just the start of the R Type Final series?
For 1 player only
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 9
sound: 8
gameplay: 8
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79 SHADOW of the COLOSSUS (Sony, 2005)
A lot of people were waiting for this one! The producers here originally created the weird but critically acclaimed game ICO and after a long wait the developers of that game made this special title. The game asks the question: what would do to raise someone close to you from the dead? A young man has the chance to save a girl's life but only if he does what seems impossible; kill 16 mega huge monsters. To survive you have to skillfully and carefully climb the beasts to find a weak point and it's going to be no easy task. Although this is not a direct sequel to ICO since the cast of characters in not the same, the game still has the same unique art style. The game a great use of light and shadow and not only are the beautiful environments incredible, but wait to you see these absolutely giant monsters here! Shadow of the Colossus isn't perfect because of the screwy camera and the whole fighting bosses can be just too limited for some players but there is no denying the game is just amazing to look at and play.
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 9
sound: 8
gameplay: 7
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60 SHINOBI (Sega, 2002)
Shinobi returns but there is a new ninja that dawns the mask to save a city in chaos because of evil demons. The big question is did this 3D game recreate the same magic that the old 2D games did? The good news about the new Shinobi is a good mixture of fast pace action and adventure plus this ninja knows a lot moves as well. The PS2 Shinobi also has a mature look to it in both the story and in the game play. The bad news though is the game's rather dull background graphics at times and why is this game so hard especially when it comes to jumping?
For 1 player only
Rated (M) for Mature
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
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52 SILENT SCOPE (Konami, 2000)
Some of you may like the controls of this unusual sniper gun game, while others may not. Rent this first because this may be an innovative idea for a video game but it’s still a very short arcade game as well so don't expect a lot of replay value here.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
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81 The SIMPSONS Hit and Run (Vivendi Universal Games, October 2003)
The Simpsons is a great cartoon TV show but the video games have been mostly hit or miss (mostly miss). Here's one Simpsons game that is fairly good however. Hit and Run is a PG rated Grand Theft Auto game where you drive your way to mission to mission and if anything gets in the way then you can run them over. The game play may be simpler then the game it copies but you have to love the production values anyway.
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 8
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
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02 SKETCH PANIC (Treasure, 2002)
One of the dumbest video games I ever played! In this so called game you control a young little girl with a awkward magic scarf that must fight some stupid enemies like women with larger breast then their own body. Believe me it isn't as cool as it sounds and the basic graphics and sounds are nothing special either. If you see this hard to control mess in the stores run for your life!
For 1 player only
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 1
sound: 1
gameplay: 1
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59 SLIPHEED the Lost Planet (Working Designs/Treasure, 2000)
What could of been the ultimate shoot em up turned out to be a very average game. The weaponry can only be changed part way through the game and the graphics are not even that impressive for a Playstation2 title. The Sega CD version was something special but nearly a decade later the game fails to really evolve.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 4
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90 SOUL CALIBUR II (Namco, 2003)
Soul Calibur II is an simply amazing Fighting/Role Playing game with so much going for it. This weapon based title is easy to learn, the game looks incredible, the sounds great, it has a cool story, and most importantly its fun to play with lots of replay value. You get it all in Soul Calibur II and it not only makes for one of the greatest games to come out in 2003, it’s easily one of the best fighting games ever!
For 1 or 2 players
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 9
sound: 8
gameplay: 9
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33 SPACE CHANNEL 5 COLLECTION (Sega/Agetec, 2003)
When Space Channel 5 first arrived on the Dreamcast it received a lot of hype because it had a very marketable (and quite sexy) lead character who loves to dance. The good news here in this PS2 exclusive is you get both the original and the rare sequel in one value priced set. Unfortunately the bad news is these games weren't very successful (the sequel didn't even get released to North American Dreamcast) and believe me there is a very good reason. Both games are basic button mashing events where you copy alien movements to stop an invasion and to free innocent hostages in space. The big problem with these Space Channel 5 games is you can't see any on screen patterns like in other popular rhythm games like DDR or Parappa The Rapper so it's very difficult to tell when you screwed up or not. Despite Space Channel 5's unique looks and style, the games here are very unforgiving for the average player and just aren't very much fun. "Quick, change the channel!"
For 1 to 2 players
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 0
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30 STATE of EMERGENCY (Rockstar, 2002)
Here is a mess of a game where you control a lone nut case that must join a riot in a city that's in total chaos. It's sure a interesting concept since you are fighting against the law (a Rockstar trademark it seems) and the senseless destruction can be fun for a while but it's too bad State of Emergency's game play is way too confusing and it just isn't very fun to play.
For 1 player only
Rated (M) for Mature
graphics: 3
sound: 4
gameplay: 3
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63 STREET FIGHTER EX 3 (Capcom/Akira, October 26, 2000)
The PS2 version of Street Fighter features the same tired and true game play of the past Street Fighter games but now there are new tag team options available, a Character Edit game, and, of course, all new 128-bit graphics. Street Fighter EX3 is a safe bet if you're looking for a simple and fairly average fighting game and you think that Tekken and Dead or Alive are too serious to be any real fun. However, if you are looking for the most state of the art fighting game around then this game sure isn't it? Consider getting it if it's cheap.
For 1 to 4 players
Rated (T) for Teen
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
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42 SUMMONER (Thq, 2000)
Here is a strange action RPG featuring boring exploration, average music, and out dated 3D graphics that make the PS2 new graphics engine look fairly weak. It could have been a lot better especially after seeing that incredible opening but it does feels rushed.
For 1 player only thank God
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
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63 SUPER BUST A MOVE (Acclaim/Taito, 2000)
The new Bust A Move game plays just like all the last ones so if you played the other ones to death this won’t change your mind. I really can't find too many improvements here but at least the graphics have changed so it looks like Sega's Chu Chu Rocket in design.
For 1 or 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 7
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47 SUPER BUST A MOVE 2 (UBI soft/Taito, 2002)
Bust A Move is back yet again but like all the others of the series there just isn't much here besides just shooting down coloured bubbles and because of that the game is seriously lacking in depth. You are still trying to clear the screen of multiple coloured bubbles by aiming the right colours at the right area and that's about it. There is now a new and very corny story line but it comes with some of the worse voice acting you could ever imagine. Even the game's single player mode was overly repetitive with no save option so you are forced to finish it all in one long sitting. This isn't the 1990's anymore! Although the game is still fun especially with a friend, Super Bust A Move 2 is still a unworthy sequel.
For 1 to 2 players
Rated (E) for Everyone
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 5
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