It's an uneven collection where high scores disappear when the power goes off, just like they did in the '80s. [Oct 2001, p.158]

Gamers weaned on faster smackdowns and who aren't turned on by the idea of a showdown between Megalon and Destoroyah should proceed with caution. [Holiday 2004, p.106]

The series' much ballyhooed new FielderCam is underwhelming - this behind-the-fielder view controls well enough, but it's virtually impossible to know the tragectory and speed of the ball, leaving you to rely on onscreen indicators. [May 2004, p.90]

None of this stuff is actually much fun - I just had such a good laugh watching the awkward character animations that I figure this sucker's a must-rent for comedy value alone. [May 2004, p.98]

Too many levels center on mindless droid hacking. [Aug 2005, p.110]

Passes and shots occur long after you've pushed the appropriate button, which in turn severely handicaps your ability to score and shut down the opposition. [June 2004, p.96]

The plot is intriguing, but a poor translation drags it down. Compared to the likes of "Silent Hill 4," though, Kuon feels as ancient as its setting. [Holiday 2004, p.115]

I guess the developer of this game didn’t get the memo about zone defense. [Nov 2001, p.220]

The lack of a career mode and create-a-wrestler (both considered genre norms) makes Bandai's grappler one of the shallowest wrasslin' titles out there. [July 2004, p.98]

Offers less gameplay than the first and lacks the ingenuity and novelty. [Feb 2002, p.154]

Both the hokey dialogue and overly dramatic voiceovers are on par with a late-night B-movie on Cinemax. [Oct 2004, p.111]

Faceless-cyborg-smashing melee battles are repetitive, uninspired, and glitchy. And with each story line presented in a series of minimissions averaging 3 to 4 minutes apiece, you spend a lot of your time switching characters and saving and loading instead of just playing the darn game.

The always-excellent controls and wide assortment of different planes are fairly entertaining, but <i>Zero's</i> a huge step down from either of the last two games. [Jun 2006, p.113]

It's just a mess whenever it thrusts you into confusing fully 3D levels. Here, the ugly, high-contrast backdrops look like a Lite-Brite melting underwater. [Nov 2003, p.186]

A sloppy mess of nonsensical plot points, dumb puzzles (which often boil down to trial-and-error guessing), and yet more bland blasting sections toward the end of the game, when this whole ghost train really derails. [Sept 2005, p.114]

Unfortunately, the game suffers from so much slowdown when multiple cars are onscreen that it curtails any fun you might be having. [Sept 2003, p.116]

Why my laziness? Because some of the "minigames" here are actually mind-numbing test of mental endurance, about as fun as working in an Indonesian sweatshop. [Nov. 2006, p.134]

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]

As for enemy behavior, it's so embarrassingly bad at times, it's hard not to laugh. [Jan 2004, p.122]

I'm thinking Koei should've just dubbed this one My First Dynasty Warriors, as this romp through ancient China is ridiculously basic. [Aug 2007, p.81]

Faceless-cyborg-smashing melee battles are repetitive, uninspired, and glitchy. And with each story line presented in a series of minimissions averaging 3 to 4 minutes apiece, you spend a lot of your time switching characters and saving and loading instead of just playing the darn game. [Nov 2005, p.138]

Gamers weaned on faster smackdowns and who aren't turned on by the idea of a showdown between Megalon and Destoroyah should proceed with caution. [Holiday 2004, p.106]

Lots of SS's gameplay mechanics don't really work; it gets too fast and chaotic at times, leaving you disoriented, out of control, and bouncing off objects like a pinball. [May 2002, p.109]

It's too simplistic. While the game gives the illusion of Splinter Cell-style freedom in how you want to take out your enemies, Batman only really ever has one course of action: knock something over, scare the bad guys into dropping their guns, then come in punching and kicking.

Things pick up around chapter 8, but by then you may be in deep sleep. [June 2007, p.84]

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]

While it's got heart and spirit in spades - heck, even the cutscenes are up to snuff - it sorely lacks depth. [July 2005, p.113]

The blah environments and goofy animation do little to draw you into what's supposed to be a realistic combat experience. Spotty A.I. and clunky controls make it even harder to maintain gung-ho enthusiasm. [March 2004, p.118]