I had enjoyed the Devil May Cry demo that came packaged along with Resident Evil: Code Veronica... but I didn't pick up the game when it came out. The reasons were threefold: GTA3, followed by MGS2, followed by Fatal Frame. I was busy.

But when DMC2 came out, and everybody said the first one was better anyway, that's when I bought Devil May Cry... as a Greatest Hits selection, no less.

It's definitely a fun game, crazy fast... with some hilarious cutscenes ("Hello, Devil May Cry?") However, I found that my skills couldn't keep pace with the game's punishing curve, so I never finished it. But it was easily worth the $20.

I've always had the feeling that DMC is the franchise that Capcom desperately needs to explode to RE status, but it just keeps missing the bar.

Memory Score: I forget exactly where I stopped, but I think there was a pirate ship involved.

I held off on buying the PS2 Online Adapter because the initial game rush just wasn't that interesting. (My Street?!?) So I was rather surprised that the Free Twisted Metal Online promotion was still in force when I finally jumped onboard six months later.

I was glad it did, because this was my favorite online game for a few months, mainly because SOCOM was so terrible. Unfortunately, by the time my pals' PS2s went online, TMBO was no longer available. So I only played this against random PS2 owners... but the nice bit was that it had no voice chat, so you could actually get into the game without all the immature screaming.

Twisted Metal was once a high-class PS1 franchise, until a string of mediocre sequels killed it. Black was the attempt to reinvigorate the brand for the PS2... and it actually worked. Although the gag at the time was that "Black" also referred to the game's working color palette. It was a great deal to give away an online-only version of Black free with your new online adapter... just stupid that it was a limited time mail-in offer. Future online bundles came with ATV Offroad Fury 2, which sucked ass.

Memory Score: An easily enjoyable online experience, but an impossible game to find today.

I first heard about Disaster Report when the Penny Arcade guys talked up the import version they were playing. There's no reason this earthquake adventure game should have made it to the US, but somehow it did. I guess it's survival horror, just without the horror... unless the horror refers to all the suck this game brings.

Luckily for Disaster Report, it's bad enough that it's wonderfully funny. You're Keith Helm, a young reporter whose first day on the job happens to coincide with a massive earthquake. You're headed to Stiver Island, a manmade city floating in the middle of the ocean... and it's now sinking. You have to work your way across the island - often parts of it will simply fall out from under your feet, or buildings will fall and block off old sections, or floodwaters will force you to find alternate routes - while taking care of a lost girl and managing your meager water supply.

It's a great concept (and the game does have some moments that you can't find anywhere else, like a boss fight with little weaponless you against an Apache helicopter!), but there are so many basic gameplay faults. There's awful slowdown, an inventory forging system that is completely unecessary, and an annoying need to make you drink from your water bottles every fifteen feet.

You have to play it, because it's that bad. It's short enough and ridiculous enough that a couple of friends could make a fun evening of it, Mystery Science Theater style.

Memory Score: Hilarious pseudo-serious storyline makes up for half-assed gameplay every time.

Yeah, I bought MGS2 again.

This was the Sons of Liberty re-release, with extra modes and bonuses. I actually kinda forget what most of them were. I know I played through the game again, and did the ship portion (Snake's bit) several times.

You'll have to forgive me. I was just coming off of Disaster Report, for crying out loud.

Memory Score: This was pure fanboy indulgence.

Next week: Apes, Amps, Aiming and Assaults!