Sony is starting the year out right by giving PS Plus subscribers three classic games to play this January. That's right, after months of nothing, we're finally getting more 32-bit titles, including Syphon Filter 3, Hot Shots Golf 2 and the oft-forgotten Star Wars: Demolition. That's great news, but are any of these games actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, Incite Video Gaming and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Join me for another explosive episode of PlayStation Plus Review Crew.


Released two years after the first game proved to be a runaway hit with both fans and critics, Hot Shots Golf 2 is yet another accessible sports game that makes getting into golf both fun and easy. With its cartoony graphics, over-the-top character designs and colorful courses, this is a fun alternative to the self-serious golf games coming from Electronic Arts. It's also a big improvement over the barebones original, shaping what fans could expect from future Hot Shots releases, both on the PlayStation and more advanced Sony systems.

Much like the original, the critics were completely won over by Hot Shots Golf 2's charm. Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it an average of 8.9 out of 10, with Crispin arguing that “this is the only golf game you'll need.” “It may not seem that different from the original at first, but Hot Shots 2 is in fact much improved and worth grabbing – even if you're still addicted to the first game.” John also liked the game, noting that “there's a pretty good argument for Hot Shots not actually needing a sequel. After all, there wasn't exactly much wrong with the original.” His main gripe is that the game is harder than the original, which consequently makes it less fun.

You saw a similar 8 out of 10 score from Game Informer, and Incite Video Gaming stopped drooling over the Son of the Beach girls long enough to give Hot Shots 2 a 4 out of 5. GamePro was even more impressed, giving the game a perfect 5 out of 5, concluding that “Tiger and the rest of the PGA can grab some pine at the 19th hole. If you're looking for a fast, fun and challenging tee time, the PlayStation has nothing better to offer than Hot Shots Golf 2. In case you're curious, it was the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine that gave the game the lowest score, coming in with a mere 3.5 out of 5. Their main complaint seemed to center around the sometimes funky physics: “Notice that I said the physics were in some ways more true to life; in some ways, they seem strangely off. I've seen a ball come to a dead halt on a strong fairway incline, for example, and then reverse directions on that same incline in the very next shot.” Of course, they also called the game “pure Heaven,” so you might as well give Hot Shots Golf 2 a download and see if it still holds up. No matter what you thought of the prequels, the early 2000s was a good time to be a Star Wars fan, especially if you were a gamer. From racing games to role-playing games to action games, we suddenly had more Star Wars than we knew what to do with. Star Wars: Demolition is the often-forgotten Twisted Metal rip off that saw you drive different vehicles around familiar planets while blowing up anything that moved. Toss in the movie's sound effects and the music we all know and love, and you have a can't miss multiplayer experience. Right?

Well, not so fast. After several years of Star Wars being shoved into every genre, the critics were starting to grow sick of the license. Just look at this review from Electronic Gaming Monthly, where Dean asks the obvious question: “What's next ... Star Wars Tennis? Yeah, it's getting ridiculous, but I can't knock it because I'm sick of the license – especially when the game itself is decent.” Kraig agreed, noting that the gameplay is novel for a vehicle-destruction game, “but it doesn't breathe any new life into the genre. There's a few cool things like the variable strength weapons and score penalties for replenishing your energy, but it isn't enough to keep this Vigilante 8 knock-off from feeling too stale.” Overall, Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Star Wars: Demolition an average score of 6.3 out of 10.

You saw a very similar score from the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, who gave it a 3.5 out of 5 and complained that it's too much of a Vigilante 8 clone. GamePro also went with a similar 3 out of 5 score, offering up this snarky review: “So Yoda said a Jedi never uses Force for attack? Shows you what a muppet knows. Star Wars Demolition's revved-up mercenaries battle for vehicular supremacy in that galaxy far, far away, but graphics and gameplay problems keep the game from shooting the stars.”

While not a review of the PlayStation version, I can't help but share this review from Next Generation: “Unfortunately, the actual game sucks. The auto-targeting is horribly broken, and there's no repeat fire, which means you have to squeeze every shot off manually. Also, for some reason nobody in the entire galaxy thought to invent a vehicle that can go in reverse. Thus, matches occasionally degrade into two enemies stuck facing one another, unable to move and simply unloading at point-blank range until one of them explodes.” Not going to lie, Star Wars Tennis is starting to sound a lot more enticing right about now. Say what you will about the classic games on PS Plus, but at least Sony has been good about getting people their Syphon Filter fix. Here we have the third installment in this popular action franchise, which also marked the final sequel on the 32-bit PlayStation. Syphon Filter 3 bring a new conspiracy for Gabe Logan to unravel, as well as some new characters (and locations) to get to know. It's a bigger and more ambitious sequel, but does that make it better? That might depend on who you ask.

Much like with Syphon Filter 2, Electronic Gaming Monthly is once again the outliers, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10. Che explained that “if Syphon Filter 3 existed in a contextless gaming vacuum, this would've rocked my pathetic little world. But the truth is, this game is beat. It's tired. Syphon Filter 3's so-so graphics can no longer be tempered by its once-innovative gameplay and controls. This is a cheap mission add-on pack that's two years too late.” Mark agreed, arguing that he liked the mini-games and how the gameplay is still fast and exciting, “but otherwise, this is basically the same game as the last two – this series refuses to evolve.”

Game Informer strongly disagreed, giving the game a strong 9 out of 10, making it one of their best-reviewed games of 2001. You saw a very similar score from GamePro, who may have complained that “it's less a true sequel than a level pack with new missions,” but argued that “Syphon 3 won't disappoint fans. Polished, absorbing espionage-themed action makes it another must-play mission.” GamePro gave it a score of 4.5 out of 5.

Believe it or not, even the often-negative Next Generation disagreed with Electronic Gaming Monthly. In their 85th issue, Next Gen made the case that “Syphon Filter 3 proves there's still life in the PlayStation.” “Graphically solid, slickly presented, and sporting a solid selection of mission types in a complex storyline, Syphon Filter 3 is perhaps the last great PlayStation action title.” Given that pretty much everybody had moved over to the PlayStation 2, Next Generation might have a point. I say give Syphon Filter 3 a download to see who is right – EGM or every other critic. You be the judge.