Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 10

Medal Of Honor: European Assault

X-Box PS2 Gamecube Teen

Tries to update the tired WWII genre with an open-ended approach and squad control, but the graphics are fuzzy, and it’s all been done before.

7.5/ 10

 

Fantastic 4

All Platforms

A decent beat-em-up for Fantastic 4 fans. The group dynamic and unique powers make for a more strategic experience. Just don’t expect too much of a challenge.

6.5/ 10

 

Advent Rising

X-Box PC Teen

A descent game with an above average Orson Scott Card-written story. Marred by framerate issues, an unusable targeting system, and repetitive gameplay.

6/ 10

 

Alien Hominid

PS2 Gamecube Teen

An excellent Newgrounds game turned improbable budget title. Think Metal Slug with cell-shaded style. A challenging and affordable retro experience.

7.5/ 10

 

Sid Meier’s Pirates

X-Box PC Teen

While the long production time makes this one show it’s age, the rest of the game is a thoroughly enjoyable RPG adventure on the high sees.

8.5/ 10

 

Forza Motorsport

X-Box Everyone

The perfection of racing simulation that adds two things GT4 desperately needed; car damage and online play.

10/ 10

 

Gran Turismo 4

PS2 Everyone

The newest GT seems lacking in innovation without the promised online multiplayer, but still wows with the great amazing physics, and graphics GT’s known for.

9.5/ 10

 

Juiced

PS2 Xbox PC Everyone

This is a competent street racer with some interesting online play, but the racing and customization have been done before, and better.

7/ 10

 

Delta Force: Black Hawk Down

PS2 Xbox Teen

A game based on a forgettable conflict that looks and plays like it’s three years old. Some hectic and laggy online play make for a bad tactical shooter.

2.5/ 10 

 

By Zack Rovinsky 

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 9

Darkwatch

Xbox PS2 Mature

An average FPS with a zombie-western theme. Basic shooting combines with some fun horseback scenes and oddly floaty physics to make something unremarkable.

6/ 10

 

Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

PS2 Xbox Gamecube Teen

A surprisingly good beat-em-up with a popular character. While the story is unremarkable, the titular ultimate destruction provides for hours of fun.

8/ 10

 

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

All Platforms Everyone

A broken platformer in the recent run of decent movie games. Expect a bad camera, repetitive objectives and frustrating jumping puzzles and candy combat.

1.5/ 10

 

Batman Begins

PS2 Xbox Gamecube Teen

A decent stealth-action game that centers on the goal of terrifying your enemies. Batman is back.

7/ 10

 

Madden NFL 2006

All Platforms Everyone

Madden is now the only show in town and the new features are minimal. The NFL superstar mode is a fun experience for those who don’t like franchise mode.

9/ 10

 

NCAA Football 2006

Xbox PS2 Everyone

The college game adds Race for the Heisman mode to counter Madden’s NFL Superstar.The new mode and the rest of the game is more accessible than the pros.

9/ 10

 

Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike

Xbox Teen

An expansion pack to a game that wasn’t very good in the first place. Only for those who liked GR2 and want more maps and missions.

5.5/ 10

 

Outlaw Tennis

PS2 Xbox Mature

A raunchy tennis game that tries too hard to be funny. While the gameplay is decent, the between point cutscenes get old fast, and slow down the action.

6/ 10

 

Conker: Live And Reloaded

Xbox Mature

A visually-beautiful update of the late N64 cult classic. Unfortunately the gameplay and story are essentially the same. Fun online play is the main draw.

7/ 10

 

By Zack Rovinsky 

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 8

God Of War

PS2 Mature

Hail! to the new king of the hack-n-slash. Does everything right with the genre and creates a top notch experience. P.S. Definitely not for kids.

9.5/ 10

Psychonauts

X-Box PC PS2 Teen

A delightful platformer from the god of adventure games, with tons of collecting, exploring, and other things to do. Brimming with cleverness and hilarity.

9/ 10

Jade Empire

X-Box Mature

An engrossing and beautifully set RPG with a unique style and all the familiar KOTOR mechanics. The highly touted real time combat, though, gets repetitive.

8.5/ 10

Enthusia Professional Racing

PS2 Everyone

Overly touchy but competent sim racing with innovative points system, lots of well-rendered cars, and a horrifically cheesy soundtrack of techno-jazz.

7.5/ 10

 

Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict

X-Box Mature

Provides several interesting twists on the classic Unreal formula. New challenges and opportunity for strategy await veterans and newbies alike.

8.5/ 10

 

Predator: Concrete Jungle

X-Box PS2 Mature

A decent third person action game with a complex story. Everything from the combat to the graphics is simple and satisfying. A good romp for Predator fans.

7/ 10

 

LEGO Star Wars

X-Box PC PS2 Everyone

A fun little LEGO style romp through Episodes I, II, and III. Good co-op and simple gameplay make this the best Star Wars for kids.

7.5/ 10

 

MX vs. ATV Unleashed

PS2 X-Box Everyone

The same good racing action one expects from these games plus a variety of different vehicle types. Nothing new, but nothing bad either.

8/ 10

 

Fable

X-Box Mature

A fun, open-ended RPG that gives gamers what they want: a choice. Starts off slow but allows for hours of exploration. Also, a bit short.

9/ 10

 

By Zack Rovinsky 

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 7

Area 51                                                                  

PS2 X-Box PC Mature
A competent and cinematic FPS that is too horribly linear to have any success in a market crowded with many better alternatives.
6.5/ 10

Resident Evil Outbreak: File #2                                      

PS2 Mature
A cooperative Resident Evil could be great, the reality is it’s not. Lack of communication kills the online play while idiotic AI kills the offline.
3.5/ 10

Star Wars: Republic Commando                            

X-Box PC Teen
A unique Star Wars take on the squad based shooter. Features flowing graphics and solid controls, but some enemies are unbalanced and overused.
8/ 10

Rise Of The Kasai                                                         

PS2 Mature
A pure, thoughtless button masher. The combat is unique and the art style is cool but too many invisible walls and a frustrating camera ruin the innovative parts.
5/ 10

Dead To Rights II                                                    

PS2 X-Box Mature
Plays like Max Payne light. It’s light on story, strategy, and even bullet-time. This is pure mindless arcade shooting with little to capture the imagination.
5.5/ 10

Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30             

PS2 X-Box PC Mature
Combines squad based shooting with the bloated WWII genre to decent effect. AI is good enough to make it work and keep things challenging.
8/ 10

Doom 3                                                                     

X-Box PC Mature
The third coming of the original FPS with wonderful graphics and story. Walls bleed, shadows kill, and flashlights only light three feet ahead. Very scary.
9/ 10

NARC                                                                   

X-Box PS2 Mature
The drug using and dealing concept is fun, for about five minutes. The rest of the game is plagued by poor mechanics and boring missions.
4.5/ 10

The Matrix Online                                                                   

PC Teen
A quality MMORPG hosed down in Matrix juice. Certainly the best matrix game yet and a welcome difference from the traditional fantasy MMORPG setting.
8/ 10

By Zack Rovinsky

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 6

Fight Night Round 2                              

PS2 X-Box Gamecube Teen
EA’s new boxing title doesn’t change much from last year’s but still does the sport very well.Analog stick controls work well and the knockouts are very satisfying.
8/ 10

FIFA Street                                         

PS2 X-Box Gamecube Everyone
The rough gameplay needs a lot of polish before this can be a good Street game, and the bad A.I. teammates are utterly useless in a game.
5.5/ 10

NBA Street V3                                 

PS2 X-Box Gamecube Everyone
The same fun arcade gameplay the Street series is known for plus a ton of great new features, and better create-a-player.
9.5/ 10

Star Fox: Assault                                                     

Gamecube Teen
A letdown for Star Fox fans. The foot missions are awkward, voice-overs are horribly annoying, but worst, the game is disappointingly short and easy.
6.5/ 10

Shadow Of Rome                                                           

PS2 Mature
A good hack n’ slash that too often degenerates into a bad stealth/RPG game, causing endless frustration that the violent fun can’t make up for.
7/ 10

Tenchu: Fatal Shadows                                                

PS2 Mature
The same flawed, and outdated gameplay from the last Tenchu with minimal graphical enhancements. This series is in need of a major overhaul.
3.5/ 10

Xenosaga II                                                                             

PS2 Teen
A sad, fallen version of the first Xenosaga. Characters all play too similarly in battles. It’s playable, not much more to say.
6.5/ 10

Death By Degrees                                                               

PS2 Mature
The joystick combat system is innovative but executes poorly added to horrible camera angles this failure hopefully ends Nina’s solo career.
3/ 10

Playboy: The Mansion                                  

PS2 X-Box PC Mature
Building a media empire can be interesting, but tasks get repetitive, and it rips off the Sims. However, gamers with artistic flare can enjoy making the magazine better.
6/ 10

By Zack Rovinsky

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 5

NFL Street 2                                    

PS2 Gamecube X-Box Everyone
Very similar to the first game, still fun arcade football but the new game modes are a bit lacking and the other new content is mostly unnecessary.
8.5/ 10

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction             

PS2 X-Box Teen
A very solid fun game where political strategy is balanced well with blowing everything up and the challenge is welcome.
9/ 10

World Soccer Winning Eleven 8                       

X-Box PS2 Everyone
The best game of virtual footie available. Includes a good variety of modes and a well-done balance of accessibility, realistic detail, and depth.
8/ 10

Showdown: Legends Of Wrestling                           

PS2 X-Box Teen
A perfect example of a game that is completely broken, and has no redeeming qualities. Completely unplayable.
1/ 10

The Punisher                                                    

PC PS2 X-Box Mature
A rare movie game that actually surpasses the movie. While it takes a lot from Max Payne and can get repetitive, the unique interrogation mode keeps things fun.
7/ 10

The Getaway: Black Monday                                      

PS2 Mature
While the virtual London is well detailed and fun to explore, the rest of the game is unpolished and difficult to maneuver.
5/ 10

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II           

X-Box PC Teen
Fails to make the same impact of its predecessor, but still provides an excellent, and unique RPG experience that appeals to SW fans and non-fans alike.
9/ 10

Dead Or Alive Ultimate                                            

X-Box Mature
Close to being truly ultimate bringing the superb DOA 2 to X-Box live with updates and adding the original DOA as a bonus. The best fighting online.
7.5/ 10

Outlaw Golf 2                                                      

PS2 X-Box Mature
A raunchy golf game for those who want something in between Tiger Woods and Hot Shots. Just don’t expect much for twenty bucks.
6.5/ 10

By Zack Rovinsky

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 4

Prince Of Persia: Warrior Within                

All Platforms Mature
While the story and the new “darker” tone falls flat, it’s hard to notice while enjoying the wonderful puzzles, art design, and action that this game does best.
9/ 10

Backyard Wrestling 2                                         

PS2 X-Box Mature
A large improvement over BYR 1 but still has problems with controls and button mashing gameplay.
4.5/ 10

Fight Club                                                            

PS2 X-Box Mature
Even if players can ignore the fact that this betrays the movie’s message it’s even harder to ignore a lack of quality fighting and characters.
4/ 10

Call Of Duty: Finest Hour                    

PS2 X-Box Gamecube Teen
Gives a new perspective to WWII with African and Russian fronts while re-creating the same great atmosphere and gameplay that set the PC game apart.
8/ 10

Mario Power Tennis                                        

Gamecube Everyone
Top Spin this is not, but for those looking for a fun easy to play tennis game Mario can’t be beat. Also, great for parties.
7.5/ 10

BloodRayne 2                                                      

PS2 X-Box Mature
One of the most violent games out. Story wise it isn’t great but it’s a fun, average hack n’ slash. Rent it first.
7/ 10

The Bards Tale                                                            

X-Box PS2 Teen
An average fantasy RPG set apart by its sense of self-depreciating humor. Worth checking out for RPG fans.
6/ 10

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw                                              

PS2 Teen
Very similar to last year’s Smackdown, not that that’s a bad thing but the highly touted voice-overs and online play are half-baked at best.
8.5/ 10        

Thief: Deadly Shadows                                        

X-Box PC Mature
A great franchise almost ruined by lobotomized A.I., clunky control, and a shallow weapons set, and everything glows turquoise?
3/ 10

By Zack Rovinsky

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 3

Hot Shots Golf Fore!                                                  

PS2 Everyone
Easy to play golf for the masses with simple controls, great characters, and more unlockables than you can shake a five iron at.
8.5/ 10

Tony Hawk’s Underground 2                            

All Platforms Teen
Same choose your own skate adventure formula as THUG 1 with five times the wackiness and special guest characters such as Ben Franklin.
8.5/ 10

Mortal Kombat: Deception               

PS2 X-Box Gamecube Mature
Not the best fighter out there but a great game for MK fans. Bonus for Konquest and battle chess modes.
7.5/ 10

Killzone                                                                          

PS2 Mature
The best looking game on PS2. Plays similarly to Halo but is way too linear to be much fun.
6.5/ 10

The Urbz: Sims In The City                  

PS2 X-Box Gamecube Teen
A fun console Sims game for gamers who don’t mind the lack of action or stereotypical city dwellers.
7/ 10

Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space                      

X-Box Everyone
The create-a-cat and time control features but the rest is a basic platformer with clumsy control and too-small levels.
5.5/ 10

Need For Speed Underground 2                 

All Platforms Everyone
The best sim racer on the market with realistic physics and a huge selection of parts to pimp your ride. The only thing missing is visible car damage.
9/ 10

Dragonball Z Budokai 3                                                   

PS2 Teen
The latest Budokai adds new features like flying without fixing fundamental gameplay issues. Meanwhile the story has, if possible, gotten more confusing.
6/ 10

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent                       

PS2 Gamecube X-Box Teen
A basic first person shooter that is generally fun to play. The problem lies in the story, which reads like a bad fan script.
6.5/ 10

By Zack Rovinsky

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 2

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater                                 

PS2 Mature
Hideo Kojima’s classic stealth series returns once again. A great game for fans but the stealth formula loses something in the jungle.
9/ 10

Guilty Gear Isuka                                                             

PS2 Teen
A valiant attempt to push the dying 2D fighting genre into the mainstream. A quality game for series fans and worth a rental for other fighting enthusiasts.
7/ 10

Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude            

PS2 X-Box Mature
A unique and humorous game about the dating exploits of a college loser, destroyed by horrendous load times and blatant sexism.
3.5/ 10

ATV Offroad Fury 3                                                      

PS2 Everyone
An uninspired and basic racer that makes little improvement over the last game and has a steep learning curve.
7.5/ 10

Katamari Damacy                                                              

PS2 Everyone
A fun, quirky Japanese game about collecting things with a giant ball of stuff. Is both addictively fun and disappointingly short.
8/ 10

Sly 2: Band Of Thieves                                              

PS2 Everyone
An innovative and fun platformer with an appealing visual style, varied gameplay, loveable characters, and a wonderful sense of humor.
9/ 10

Burnout 3: Takedown                                              

X-Box PS2 Teen
A fun arcade racer that brings out the sadistic driver in everyone. While the racing isn’t the best, the crash and takedown modes are top-notch fun.
9.5/ 10

ESPN NBA 2K5                                               

PS2 X-Box Everyone
Just loses to NBA Live in terms of gameplay, but the $20 dollar cost should appeal to gamers on a budget. Bonus for Big Ben cover.
7.5/ 10

NBA Live 2005                                             

All Platforms Everyone
Beats 2K5 with a better career mode and the new slam-dunk mode, while having a more challenging sim style gameplay.
8/ 10

By Zack Rovinsky 

Zack’s Big Honkin’ Game Guide: Page 1

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

Gamecube Everyone
Sequel to the largely overlooked Paper Mario which came in the N64’s dying days. This deserves all the recognition the original missed.
9.5/ 10

Half-Life 2

PC Mature
The game is great for those who have the patience to get there but many will be turned off by the hateful Steam interface and the need for a quality system.
9/ 10

Metroid Prime 2: Echos

Gamecube Teen
A quality Metroid game that does what the first did very well. Problems are with the awkward one stick control and the bare bones basic Multiplayer.
8.5/ 10

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 2

PS2 X-Box Teen
A Tom Clancy game for the action loving gamer. The North Korea story is interesting it’s not as good as SOCOM and the difficulty is frustrating even on easy.
6/ 10

Mario Party 6

Gamecube Everyone
It’s time for the cops to break up this party. All the sequels have sucked the life out of this franchise and three parties for one console is completely unnecessary.
6/ 10

Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal

PS2 Teen
A game of the year candidate that improves on Going Commando in little ways that makes the experience even better. Also adds good online play.
9.5/ 10

Jak 3

PS2 Teen
Does shooting and platforming very well but still has problems with mission variety and the open-ended format. Can’t beat Ratchet and Clank.
8.5/ 10

Rumble Roses

PS2 Mature
Another awful game that uses a physical activity as a flimsy excuse to stare at bouncy virtual women. Not even funny like Leisure Suit Larry.
2/ 10

Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age

PS2 X-Box Gamecube Teen
Tolkien’s story applied to a Final Fantasy style turn based RPG. Falters with mind-numbing backtracking and little instruction on what to do next.
5/ 10

By Zack Rovinsky