If you regularly immerse yourself in the crazy s*** that comes out of Japan, Disgaea 2 probably won't faze you. Everybody else: You've been warned. [Sept. 2006, p.99]

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]

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]

The visual upgrade will get you bby this season, 2K, but come back peddling the same lackluster feature set next year and I'm sendin' you to the minors. [Apr 2007, p.89]

I admit it's no blockbuster, but Summoner, like Ms. Hilton's opus, still makes for a fine guilty-pleasure rental. [Nov. 2006, p.124]

The first few levels drag a bit, but by the time you hold your full suite of special abilities, the combat really clicks. [May 2008, p.80]

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]

Sure, the controls aren't perfect--selecting units usually boils down to an all-or-nothing strategy--but that issue aside, UAW is a triumph. [May 2008, p.85]

Such humor made me stick with this tale, which otherwise suffers from mind-numbing hack-and-slash combat and dull dungeons--action-RPG cliches that are anything but funny. [Holiday 2004, p.102]

The good news: The on-foot segments are mercifully short. They only spoil about a third of the game. The other two-thirds - the deep-space dogfighting, speederbike racing, and other vehicle missions - are as thrilling and stunning as ever.

The majority of the game is one long gunfight, shifting between a traditional free-looking aim to lock-on, slow-mo shooting. It's good stuff, if you don't mind your foes acting like targets in a carnival game. [Jan 2006, p.119]

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

Tremendously deep warrior-customization options and rich strategy elements make Gladius absolutely worthwhile and fun, but prepare to invest serious time. [Dec 2003, p.185]

Tony, you are lookin' haggard. Even though I like American Wasteland's country-boy-in-the-city story line much better than last year's World Destruction Tour's, the annual sequels will drive this franchise into the ground if publisher Activision doesn't take a break, and soon.

I respect the innovation found here, but I wish the game were a little more forgiving. [Nov 2005, p.160]

Tremendously deep warrior-customization options and rich strategy elements make Gladius absolutely worthwhile and fun, but prepare to invest serious time. [Dec 2003, p.185]

Sure, I applaud Sega for attempting to transform the single-player experience into something meatier, but poor voice acting and clumsy storytelling lend the proceedings a cheesy B-movie vibe. [Jan. 2007, p.101]

The problem is, "Ruby" and "Sapphire" have been out for two years, and Emerald doesn't offer enough new content to differentiate itself. [July 2005, p.116]

Maybe I’m sadistic, but it’s the funniest stuff I’ve seen in a long time. [Feb 2002, p.152]

Get rid of the drama, though, and Burst Limit becomes a delight. [July 2008, p.78]

Sure, I applaud Sega for attempting to transform the single-player experience into something meatier, but poor voice acting and clumsy storytelling lend the proceedings a cheesy B-movie vibe. [Jan. 2007, p.101]

The snazzy visuals will initially draw you in, but you'll stick around for the instinctive, responsive gameplay. [Dec 2003, p.201]

The visual upgrade will get you bby this season, 2K, but come back peddling the same lackluster feature set next year and I'm sendin' you to the minors. [Apr 2007, p.89]

The single-player modes hold XIX back from being the ultimate grappler. [Nov 2003, p.198]

The open-ended level design - and especially the nifty fortress-defense stages - made for many moments of shooter Zen. [Jan 2004, p.154]

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]

The combat is startlingly visceral if a bit tricky to master, but your thumb may ache after hours of pressing in the analog stick to sprint. It's not a survival-horror revolution, but it's an adventure worth experiencing.

The enemies are tougher and more frequent in the brutal second half, but I still enjoyed every thrilling moment. [May 2002, p.106]