No online support and "everyone's the same" characters mean no reason to bother at all. [Jun 2006, p.110]

No online support and "everyone's the same" characters mean no reason to bother at all. [Jun 2006, p.110]

Oh, and if you already own OutRun 2 on the Xbox, don't bother with this update. [Jun 2006, p.110]

Newbies will find themselves abandoned and bored on am ugly, lonely level treadmill that doesn't even introduce basic gameplay concepts. [July 2006, p.88]

In other words, it's prescribed, with reservations, for patient <i>The Longest Journey</i> zealots only. [Jun 2006, p.115]

I just wish the game offered a wider array of activities...simple arithmetic has only so much staying power. [Jun 2006, p.120]

So while Legend may not innovate, it works, and I had a ball playing it. [May 2006, p.97]

Forget Pat Benetar, I guess I only like this Battlefield--for its online play. [Jun 2006, p.109]

So while Legend may not innovate, it works, and I had a ball playing it. [May 2006, p.97]

You do get a sense of accomplishment when luck favors you and you can clear a board or topple a boss, but rarely does the fun reach full tilt. [Jun 2006, p.119]

Too bad it doesn't quite execute in the clutch though. [May 2006, p.98]

Problem is, getting to the good stuff requires battling through a blitzkrieg of banality. [May 2006, p.98]

<i>Tourist Trophy</i> is an incredibly technical racing sim and a well-executed vanity project that will appeal to a very small group of people. [Jun 2006, p.114]

Problem is, getting to the good stuff requires battling through a blitzkrieg of banality. [May 2006, p.98]

With 2K Sports nabbing the exclusive third-party baseball-sim rights to the MLB license, it had a golden chance to nab the hardball crown from EA's NCAA-license-relegated MVP series. Instead, we get this scattershot effort. [May 2006, p.94]

With 2K Sports nabbing the exclusive third-party baseball-sim rights to the MLB license, it had a golden chance to nab the hardball crown from EA's NCAA-license-relegated MVP series. Instead, we get this scattershot effort. [May 2006, p.94]

Top Spin 2 does a fine job of delivering tense smack-the-ball-back-and-forth action. [May 2006, p.88]

Too bad it doesn't quite execute in the clutch though. [May 2006, p.98]

Kingdom Hearts II, I am relieved to say, delivers on everything the series' potential hinted at. [May 2006, p.101]

It's spoiled by painfully awkward gameplay, lobotomized recruits (on both sides), and a million annoying ways to die. [Apr 2006, p.95]

If you're determined to don cans and rock the boards, you'd be better off just buying the real thing. [Apr 2006, p.102]

What a dreadfully bland disappointment this turned out to be. [Apr 2006, p.107]

I remain a firm supporter of the original PS2 Roses, but this flaccid follow-up fails to get me in the mood. [May 2006, p.89]

And like "Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires," it mistakes drastically overcomplicated tactical menus for strategic depth...but underneath, it's just another tepid hack-n-slash tour of ancient China. Wise man say: Learn some new tricks.

It's spoiled by painfully awkward gameplay, lobotomized recruits (on both sides), and a million annoying ways to die. [Apr 2006, p.95]

It's the most fun I've had flying online since "Crimson Skies" for the original Xbox. If only the single-player game flew as high.

Factor in a slick presentation, sweet unlockables, and Wi-Fi multiplayer for many games, and it's a must-have PSP release. [May 2006, p.106]

I welcome the Godfather into the GTA family, though I can't say it'll be running the place anytime soon. [May 2006, p.93]

The series needs a major shot in the arm, as it's starting to show its age more than ever. [May 2006, p.103]

This may be blasphemy, but I have a feeling Me & My Katamari would have been a really excellent game...on the Nintendo DS.

It's official. Splinter Cell is not meant to be a portable game. I think these other reviewers are too forgiving because Splinter Cell's so great to begin with. But I'm a fan of the series, and I think this one stinks.

With plenty of duets and no more story mode, this is the most party-friendly version yet. [Apr 2006, p.103]

Essentially, if you like the way strategy games engage your faculty of forethought and resource management, then MGA2 will be (at least) a 30-hour trip into grid-based nirvana. [Apr 2006, p.106]

Any joy you might glean from Tao's progressive treasure collecting and monster slaying will be completely drowned by your tears of boredom. [May 2006, p.108]

I welcome the Godfather into the GTA family, though I can't say it'll be running the place anytime soon. [May 2006, p.93]

Many of you will absolutely detest (like, controller-smash detest) Oblivion. This mega-titanium-diamond-hardcore game punishes even the passionate...Oblivion makes you do hard time--and you love it. That's amazing.

If it weren't for the local multiplayer, this repackaging would seem almost pointless. But getting 10 people in a room all going crazy with items (Mario Kart-style zingers you throw at your opponents) is truly fun.

Thankfully, the control works well and makes for adequately thrilling online multiplayer...well, as thrilling as a four-player king of the hill match can be. [May 2006, p.109]

This measured, almost plodding gameplay ups the tension and works well in campaign mode, but the faster-paced chaos of multiplayer only heightens your awareness of the innately awkward controls. Multi's a bit short on maps and modes, too.

But it can't match San Andreas' scope, and as good as the game is, I found myself treading between boredom and frustration more than I'd like.

Daxter isn't the best platformer you'll ever play, but on a system where the genre is so often done poorly, it manages to stand out. Definitely worth a play, whether you're a fan of the series or not.

Subsistence's awe-inspiring single-player adventure outclasses every other stealth game in existence, including the previous MGS titles. It's the perfect blend of gripping narrative, nuanced gameplay, astonishing (nearly next-gen) graphics, and creative boss battles. [Apr. 2006, p.98]

But it can't match San Andreas' scope, and as good as the game is, I found myself treading between boredom and frustration more than I'd like.

What ends up spoiling the experience for me, however, is the general slow and clunky feel of the game. If Call of Duty 2 is a blitzkrieg of shooting action, The Outfit is a leisurely zeppelin ride...underwater. It's still exciting, just severely hampered.

If you can overcome its fairly steep learning curve, occasional A.I. hicups, and periodic difficulty spikes, you will be floored by GRAW. It's truly a next-gen masterpiece. [Apr 2006, p.90]

Relatively short for an RPG - just around 25 hours - but the sheer character and locale variety make up for it. [Apr 2006, p.102]

Apparently, someone out there was itching for a game that combines the witless banality of "Jake and the Fat Man" with the absurd chase scenarios of "CHiPS." [Apr 2006, p.106]

Dawn's unlockable goodies will give "Street Fighter" fans a surefire boost, but anyone simply looking for an evolution in Onimusha will leave feeling shortchanged. [Apr 2006, p.103]

Unfortunately, flashy pixels and Wi-Fi features aren't much more than tinsel on Trozei's knockoff foundation. [Apr 2006, p.104]

Phantasia still has an awful lot of charm for such an old game, and fans of traditional RPGs will appreciate its long, varied dungeons and action-packed, real-time battles. [Apr 2006, p.108]

A videogame can only live on "visceral" for so long before you're yawning, longing for better A.I., a more involved story, or...well, just about anything with more substance. [Apr 2006, p.94]

With a stellar script from the show's writers and outstanding cinematography and voice acting, it really feels like you're playing through a season of 24. Good show. [Apr 2006, p.100]

The technical issues and unambitious design come with a chaser of charming silliness. [Apr 2006, p.97]

This franchise desperately needs to spice up - and after this year, clean up - the gameplay. [Apr 2006, p.100]

A videogame can only live on "visceral" for so long before you're yawning, longing for better A.I., a more involved story, or...well, just about anything with more substance. [Apr 2006, p.94]

The technical issues and unambitious design come with a chaser of charming silliness. [Apr 2006, p.97]

It's a Mario game draped in pink and dipped in a vat of sparkles. [Mar 2006, p.110]

ToCA 3 is not unplayable, but it definitely needs some tweaking. [Mar 2006, p.102]

ToCA 3 is not unplayable, but it definitely needs some tweaking. [Mar 2006, p.102]

Sure, you've got to pull off a few tricks here and there to keep up your momentum, but "SSX" it ain't. [Apr 2006, p.96]

Take the "Touch" portion of the title with a grain of salt, as it's nigh impossible to maneuver your way through the Monkey Ball gauntlet using the stylus controls. [Apr 2006, p.105]

Bandai gets so much right with this new Gundam role-playing game that the stuff it gets wrong really, really hurts. [Mar 2006, p.106]

Sure, you've got to pull off a few tricks here and there to keep up your momentum, but "SSX" it ain't. [Apr 2006, p.96]

Sure, you've got to pull off a few tricks here and there to keep up your momentum, but "SSX" it ain't. [Apr 2006, p.96]

Round 3 addresses the imbalances of the previous games for a more realistic but still gripping experience. [Apr 2006, p.88]

Emergency 2's narcoleptic gameplay serves as the ultimate pacifier. [Apr 2006, p.101]

A bargain-bin throwaway dressed up like a million bucks. [Apr 2006, p.93]

The strategy's here, as are some squint-inducing graphics; just be prepared for the long-term commitment. [Mar 2006, p.110]

A chaotic, testosterone-filled mess of car wrecks and bulet holes. I love it. [Mar 2006, p.96]

Grandia's semi-real-time battles are superb, offering just the right balance of strategy and visual flair, and the new aerial combos are a blast. The plot starts to suffer a bit on disc 2, and the quest is fairly linear, but the fun battles and quick pacing will keep you hooked.

Ubisoft's become the go-to publisher for quirky, portable puzzle games, it seems. [Mar 2006, p.115]

A bargain-bin throwaway dressed up like a million bucks. [Apr 2006, p.93]

I felt the magic before, but Rabbits! left me feeling a little heartbroken. [Apr 2006, p.105]

It doesn't take an old-school purist to realize that this game just hasn't translated well to 3D. [Mar 2006, p.105]

If I only owned this game, I'd watch more television. [Mar 2006, p.102]

As anyone who's played "Darkstalkers" on the handheld can attest to, the PSP's stock D-pad simply isn't up to the task of a 2D fighting game with all its traditional "fireball" and "dragon punch" motions. [Mar 2006, p.113]

Just bring a magazine to read while the game loads. [Mar 2006, p.113]

Not essential, but worthwhile for anyone who hasn't played the original Evil in ages. [Apr 2006, p.104]

You know a soccer title is doing it right when a match can end in a scoreless tie and you've had as much fun as when you've lit up the scoreboard. And this is in large part due to WE9's A.I., which plays such a smart brand of footy that it continually keeps you on your toes.

If I only owned this game, I'd watch more television. [Mar 2006, p.102]

The puzzles provide an awesome balance of manual dexterity and mental prowess, and the game's pacing is spot on. [Mar 2006, p.116]

I have to hand it to developer Skip and Nintendo--they tried their best to get me to hate their new domestic adventure game, Chibi Robo. [Mar 2006, p.108]

If you never tried the original, the prospect of replaying entire levels over and over after dying at the boss is probably more than you'll put up with, but fans will appreciate the elegance of Hunter's simplicity. [Mar 2006, p.114]

When the most exciting thing you can buy (aside from slicker clubs) is a new pair of slacks, you know you're playing no-frills golf. [Mar 2006, p.112]

This baseballer does a good job of simulating the minor-league quality of college ball (read: errors seem more realistic and common), but the overly convoluted functionality of the game kills it for me. [Feb 2006, p.106]

But this classic weapons-based fighting series has lost much of its soul. While the original cast moves as fluidly as ever, the newer faces are the epitome of mediocre design and animation. Luckily, Xbox Live saves the day.

This baseballer does a good job of simulating the minor-league quality of college ball (read: errors seem more realistic and common), but the overly convoluted functionality of the game kills it for me. [Feb 2006, p.106]

Where Ape Escape Academy should feel like a festive minigame extravaganza, it comes off as more of a collection of half-assed prototypes due to the overly complex challenges, unresponsive controls, and complete lack of coherency. [Feb 2006, p.111]

The "GO-GO-TURBO Japanese cheerleaders on speed" mood and shallow, stupid puzzles are the sort of thing shut-in "Naruto" fans thrive on, but I found them irritating. Thankfully, it was short. [Feb 2006, p.108]

This new installment will totally baffle fans of the series. With its gloomy postindustrial setting, moderately complex platforming bits, and surprisingly different battle system, WA4 bears little resemblance to its charming, Wild West-themed predecessors. Once you get beyond that initial shock, though, you'll actually have a decent time.

PQ is meant to put your problem-solving skills to the test, and in that respect, it delivers. [Mar 2006, p.114]

Electro-plankton might have been more engaging if it gave you goals, such as coming up with a certain number of notes in a given amount of time or having to replicate songs and riff on them. It should, at the very least, have allowed you to save your work; instead, your musical creations are fleeting and forgettable.

This game is a beautiful mess. The Dead or Alive series has always been known more for T&A than tech gameplay; for every panty shot, there's a cheap juggle combo that involves less skill than it takes to input a cell-phone text message.

Seven Sorrows baits you with a role-playing-game-style character development system, but the game's short length (easily clocking in under six hours) makes leveling up unrewarding.

The addition of a dash to the GBA version makes exploring snappy, and the redone graphics look great. [Feb 2006, p.112]

Seven Sorrows baits you with a role-playing-game-style character development system, but the game's short length (easily clocking in under six hours) makes leveling up unrewarding.

The problem is, the control is so sluggish that combat is a chore while exploring is a bore. [Feb 2006, p.110]

I guarantee nine out of 10 fans of the original "AC" will be disappointed with this one. Oh, we'll still spend hours with it, sucked into its insanity, but this certainly isn't the sequel we were hoping for. [Jan 2005, p.132]