Newcomers to the series will enjoy the mindless destruction and blowing up people indiscriminately - I'm just getting tired of retreading old ground. [Apr 2008, p.70]

The Club certainly brings nothing innovative to the venerable shooter genre. [Mar 2008, p.83]

The Club certainly brings nothing innovative to the venerable shooter genre. [Mar 2008, p.83]

It's too poky and awkward to work as a new-age light-gun shooter, too shallow to work as an RPG, and too mediocre to merit attention.[Mar 2008, p.74]

As much as I adore the gameplay, the story is by far the best reason to take this case. [Apr 2008, p.81]

Too bad it handles like a remote-control car, bolting from a stand-still to top speed in an instant. I'll pass. [Apr 2008, p.73]

Too bad it handles like a remote-control car, bolting from a stand-still to top speed in an instant. I'll pass. [Apr 2008, p.73]

The new "Incredibles"-esque visuals and accessible dribbling mechanics are welcome, but this arcadey pitch still needs grooming. [Mar 2008, p.75]

The new "Incredibles"-esque visuals and accessible dribbling mechanics are welcome, but this arcadey pitch still needs grooming. [Mar 2008, p.75]

Pulse's career mode is perhaps its biggest achievement, with a progression system set up in grids that unlock as you go. [Mar 2008, p.84]

A pleasant surprise. [Apr 2008, p.76]

Wonderfully unique. [Apr 2008, p.78]

Deciding whether to fend off those carnivorous foes or sic 'em on your human enemies adds a teensy bit of strategy to the otherwise typical run, gun, and reload approach. [Mar 2008, p.81]

Deciding whether to fend off those carnivorous foes or sic 'em on your human enemies adds a teensy bit of strategy to the otherwise typical run, gun, and reload approach. [Mar 2008, p.81]

The interface may be intimidating, but the strategy is deep, and the many come-from-behind victories are near exhilarating. [Feb 2008, p.82]

Devil May Cry 4 is easily the best DMC since the original--and it's loaded with massive replay value--but some puzzling design choices ensure that Capcom still has plenty of work to do. [Mar 2008, p.77]

Devil May Cry 4 is easily the best DMC since the original--and it's loaded with massive replay value--but some puzzling design choices ensure that Capcom still has plenty of work to do. [Mar 2008, p.77]

It'd be so much better as just a driving game. [Feb 2008, p.84]

As someone who's closely followed Criterion's racing series for the last seven years, it warms my heart to see it evolve into something as innovative, satisfying, and polished as Paradise. [Feb 2008, p.74]

As someone who's closely followed Criterion's racing series for the last seven years, it warms my heart to see it evolve into something as innovative, satisfying, and polished as Paradise. [Feb 2008, p.74]

You'll find way more pimp than punk here. [Apr 2008, p.72]

Online play alone will make this cartridge a near-permanent fixture in my DS. [Mar 2008, p.83]

Throw in boring unskippable intros and interstitials in every stage, and congratulations: Katana completely lost my attention. [Feb 2008, p.79]

Circle of doom indeed. [Feb 2008, p.81]

NFL Tour's last-team-with-the-ball-wins emphasis on offense deflates whatever air this pigskin had left in it. [Feb 2008, p.76]

NFL Tour's last-team-with-the-ball-wins emphasis on offense deflates whatever air this pigskin had left in it. [Feb 2008, p.76]

No way would I recommend this game to legal eagles with the superior "Phoenix Wright" titles already out there. [Feb 2008, p.78]

No way would I recommend this game to legal eagles with the superior "Phoenix Wright" titles already out there. [Feb 2008, p.78]

It'd be easy to write this one off as child's play, but it has a hidden depth that reveals itself over time. [Jan 2008, p.80]

"Motorstorm" does off-road racing better than this. So does "Dirt" and "Sega Rally Revo". [Jan 2008, p.94]

"Motorstorm" does off-road racing better than this. So do "Dirt" and "Sega Rally Revo". [Jan 2008, p.94]

UT3 may be a bit light on strategy, but it's heavy on fast, frantic mayhem. [Feb 2008, p.80]

What a letdown! I had high hopes for March Madness this year, but this one's all sizzle and very little steak. [Jan 2008, p.90]

What a letdown! I had high hopes for March Madness this year, but this one's all sizzle and very little steak. [Jan 2008, p.90]

Far from being a ponderous sci-fi exposition, Mass Effect boasts a dynamic, well-constructed story with a broad emotional range. [Holiday 2007, p.82]

"Guitar Hero" is still the way to go for lone wolves, but if you have the space, the manpower, and the means($170), Rock Band unquestionably, unequivocally rocks. [Jan 2008, p.92]

"Guitar Hero" is still the way to go for lone wolves, but if you have the space, the manpower, and the means($170), Rock Band unquestionably, unequivocally rocks. [Jan 2008, p.92]

Controls aside, almost every aspect of Legends feels dated. [Jan 2008, p.82]

It's not perfect--the difficulty spikes randomly throughout and spamming units produces easy victories--but it's a step up from "Heroes of Mana". [Holiday 2007, p.87]

With 64 levels, versus and co-op, and Retro-Evolved included, Galaxies has tons to love, even if the standard control's busted. [Holiday 2007, p.57]

After three games, the developers should be full-fledged M.D.s...so why do they keep making the same med-school mishaps? [Jan 2008, p.87]

From the crazy crowds to the way the camera shakes while shooting free throws, this edition even outshines longtime atmosphere king "March Madness". [Jan 2008, p.90]

Half of the events don't even bother with the touch screen or microphone, leaving us with too many uninspired, Nintendo 64-era minigames. [Jan 2008, p.95]

Everything's fun and exhilarating, but it never builds to more than the sum of its parts. Just keep your expectations in the right place, and you'll enjoy your time in the tropical sun. [Holiday 2007, p.76]

While I too had a good time out on the tracks, ProStreet's bog-standard (but still superb-feeling) racing does little to evolve the series. [Holiday 2007, p.68]

The premise intrigues, but Assassin's Creed is an incomplete template based on multiple other games. [Jan 2008, p.88]

Kane & Lynch is a fun game to fly through in a couple days on "Aspirin" (easy) mode, but not deep or hardcore enough to hold up long term. [Holiday 2007, p.75]

The premise intrigues, but Assassin's Creed is an incomplete template based on multiple other games. [Jan 2008, p.88]

I'm stoked to continue to see improvement in this series, but it's a shame small problems (like lengthy load times) still pin SVR down. [Dec 2007, p.106]

Series fans will devour it as an excuse to flesh out the Resident Evil cannon, but it features enough casual slaughter of the undead for anyone to enjoy. [Jan 2008, p.82]

While I too had a good time out on the tracks, ProStreet's bog-standard (but still superb-feeling) racing does little to evolve the series. [Holiday 2007, p.68]

Developer WayForward has delivered what Konami of Japan was largely too afraid to give us: a straight-up, balls-to-the-wall, classic-feeling Contra. [Holiday 2007, p.86]

In its silly simplicity, Cooking mama does what many can't: keep me heading back to the kitchen for one more snack. [Holiday 2007, p.86]

Online is almost dauntingly packed with options, and the roll move is still kind of broken, but it's hard to argue with the price. [Holiday 2007, p.88]

Where series like "Zelda" are starting to stagnate, Mario continues to innovate and impress. [Jan 2008, p.84]

At best, BlackSite is a poor man's "Resistance"; at worst, it's half of an unfinished game with a few cool set pieces. [Holiday 2007, p.74]

Origins unfortunately also falls prey to the series' most notorious pitfall--crappy combat. [Dec 2007, p.128]

With all these hiccups, I'm shocked this war lasted one year, let alone 100. [Dec 2007, p.109]

With all these hiccups, I'm shocked this war lasted one year, let alone 100. [Dec 2007, p.109]

Let me help clarify: The controls aren't complicated on their own; they're just complicated for this type of gaming experience. [Holiday 2007, p.66]

That strategic team planning and stealthy single-player combat is fun. It just needs to be more consistent...and controllable. [Jan 2008, p.95]

Just sucks this head-scratcher will probably get lost inside Mario's galaxy this winter. [Holiday 2007, p.67]

Add to that the experience and reward system, 16 maps out of the box, and the party system, and COD4 delivers a knockout one-two single and multiplayer shooter punch. [Holiday 2007, p.71]

Add to that the experience and reward system, 16 maps out of the box, and the party system, and COD4 delivers a knockout one-two single and multiplayer shooter punch. [Holiday 2007, p.71]

TimeShift definitely looks a lot prettier than it did the first go-round, but once again it finds itself behind the times. [Holiday 2007, p.80]

Visually, Rise of a Ninja is one of the system's best-looking games. But from a game-design standpoint, it's less successful. [Holiday 2007, p.80]

The new alternate story and head-to-head multiplayer make it even more compelling than the PS2 original. [Dec 2007, p.128]

Hysterical as Simpsons is, it's hard to appreciate the humor when you're busy fighting with an annoying camera and unreliable controls. [Dec 2007, p.108]

I agree the premise isn't as intriguing as the first game's, but Manhunt 2's still got plenty of creeps and creepy atmosphere--it's the 8mm and Hostel of videogames. [Holiday 2007, p.69]

I agree the premise isn't as intriguing as the first game's, but Manhunt 2's still got plenty of creeps and creepy atmosphere--it's the 8mm and Hostel of videogames. [Holiday 2007, p.69]

The “ain’t broke, don’t fix” approach is evident: The fundamental rhythms and patterns of the game haven’t changed, the structure of the career mode remains intact, and the set list is stocked with hits (as well as a few stinkers). [Dec 2007, p.102]

EOJ's longevity will depend largely on the planned release of new cards (building your own deck is crucial to the fun), but this is a solid start to a potential phenomenon. [Dec 2007, p.110]

Jericho is a mess of a shooter with nonexistant A.I., frustrating timed events, vague puzzles, and PS1-style load times. [Dec 2007, p.107]

Jericho is a mess of a shooter with nonexistant A.I., frustrating timed events, vague puzzles, and PS1-style load times. [Dec 2007, p.107]

Put simply, the story's not very good, it's short, and it just has too many small flaws to match Sony's game. [Dec 2007, p.104]

Put simply, the story's not very good, it's short, and it just has too many small flaws to match Sony's game. [Dec 2007, p.104]

Classic "Rondo" alone would be a great budget title for virgin Western audiences; adding a remake and "Symphony" turns this into a no-brainer. [Nov 2007, p.120]

Frequent fliers of the Ace Combat series will feel like they've been on this flight before. [Dec 2007, p.122]

Phoenix Wright latecomers risk confusion, but invested fans get a well-plotted conclusion to the trilogy--and that's what's important. [Dec 2007, p.126]

Not only is Future a great game, it's the best yet on PS3, arguably the best-looking game ever, and an absolute pinnacle of fun. [Dec 2007, p.112]

Beautiful Katamari does something very wrong--it tarnishhes the series' hallmark simplicity and ease. [Dec 2007, p.126]

Aesthetics aside, this is no ordinary marble game: it's deeper, tougher, and generally pretty great. [Nov 2007, p.102]

The nuts and bolts of Tony Hawk still provide some fun, but at this point it's just ancient left-overs of what used to be something special. [Holiday 2007, p.68]

The nuts and bolts of Tony Hawk still provide some fun, but at this point it's just ancient left-overs of what used to be something special. [Holiday 2007, p.68]

The Orange Box is the greatest quantity of quality gaming ever...Even at $60, this box is value-priced to the point of philanthropy. [Dec 2007, p.124]

No, Revo's not bursting with originality or play options, but it's a solid racer that feels completely different from the competition. [Dec 2007, p.104]

No, Revo's not bursting with originality or play options, but it's a solid racer that feels completely different from the competition. [Dec 2007, p.104]

It's not really a title to play for extended periods but instead something to dip into for five minutes at a time. [Nov 2007, p.112]

But while multiplayer rocks, the appeal of the campaign and character customization lasts about as long as Darth Maul's screen time. [Nov 2007, p.122]

But Tactics is still engrossing, time-consuming fun. [Nov 2007, p.116]

It's not a mind-blowing epic, but Folklore's style alone is worth experiencing. [Dec 2007, p.110]

While the on-field action feels sluggish and unresponsive at first, you soon learn to work with the pace of the game and play it like you would the sport, rather than just the videogame. [Nov 2007, p.107]

While the on-field action feels sluggish and unresponsive at first, you soon learn to work with the pace of the game and play it like you would the sport, rather than just the videogame. [Nov 2007, p.107]

If you can get past how limited it all feels, you'll have a modicum of fun. [Nov 2007, p.123]

It's fun as hell. looks great, and might have the most visceral destruction-derby gameplay since those old "Destruction Derby" PS1 games from Reflections. [Nov 2007, p.111]

If you're a stealth-action fan who's still ignoring the Syphon Filter franchise, you're doing yourself a disservice. [Nov 2007, p.118]

Perfectly tuned to the 360 controller, it's killer racing action for newbie and veteran alike. [Dec 2007, p.123]