Flatout 2 is pretty much like the first "Flatout", which was pretty much like a poor man's "Burnout". [Sept. 2006, p.98]

This premise would still be stupid even if Shadow didn't suffer from slowdown issues, a nonexistent lock-on system, a horrible camera, and bottomless pits in which to fall. But it does, and it is stupid--just like this is a stupid way to spend 50 bucks.

Gamers prone to motion sickness might upchuck from the choppy visuals and squirrely camera, which flits around with a mind of its own. [May 2002, p.107]

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]

It simply can't compete. First of all, the batting is physically painful. [May 2003, p.132]

Reducing the story to talking heads turns the once-engaging plot into a drab, formulaic mess. [Jan 2004, p.138]

You'll find a decent tennis game in here somewhere (albeit with a much steeper learning curve than you'd expect) and plenty to do, but it's not really worth digging for under such an obnoxious exterior. [Aug 2007, p.86]

Much of the disorder is unintentional. Like some half-assed high-school theater production, nothing works as it should and no one seems to be doing the right thing. [Dec 2003, p.202]

Once you strip away the nifty new controls, you're left with a flawed shooter that does nothing I haven't seen a million times. [Jan. 2007, p.62]

This premise would still be stupid even if Shadow didn't suffer from slowdown issues, a nonexistent lock-on system, a horrible camera, and bottomless pits in which to fall. But it does, and it is stupid--just like this is a stupid way to spend 50 bucks.

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]

It's tough to overlook its frequent pauses for loading, brain-dead enemies, unrealistic animations, and repetitive graphics. [Aug 2003, p.122]

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]

To learn how to perform each event, you need to check the directions from the pause menu; what happened to just explaining the mechanics onscreen? [Sept 2004, p.102]

The developers got so many of the visual details dead-on...didn't they think that maybe the gameplay should be at least marginally decent too. [July 2007, p.86]

But EndWar's biggest flaw? Insane micromanagement. [Dec 2008, p.68]

KFC's humor is about as subtle as a punch to the groin, and not nearly as smart. [Apr 2003, p.128]

Sega should have included all of the originals. They might not have aged well, but you can't even feel nostalgic about these pointless remakes. [March 2005, p.120]

Like being the hot-dog vendor at the Olympic park. You get to watch all the events, but don’t really have all that much fun being there. [Mar 2002, p.139]

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

OK for kids, but more sophisticated players will get bored quickly. [Jan 2002, p.229]

Online multiplayer matches fare a little better, as the thrill of assaulting your friends with monster rushes and souped-up spells momentarily overshadows the lingering control and A.I. issues. [Jun 2006, p.121]

I just couldn't help but get bored as I raced through the "Looniverse" - the game's simple straightforward tracks get tedious after the first couple of races. [August 2002, p.130]

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]

It's all here in one craptastic package that's destined for the bargain bins. [July 2002, p.128]

Sure, you can play as either the boy or the girl now, but either way you're saddled with a worthless A.I. companion who has the audacity to get annoyed when you ask him or her to pitch in to survive. [May 2007, p.88]

It has some decent ideas(faceoffs are more interesting this year, and the simulation setting option is way better than the arcadey default), but 2K8's fundamentals are flawed. [Nov 2007, p.105]

Shawn's right about the wonky enemy A.I., and SWAT's crude, blocky graphics feel seriously dated. Some exciting teamwork potential exists (especially in co-op missions), but sloppy execution bogs it down. [Dec 2003, p.192]