Archenemy mode flopping on its face and a few minor balance issues aren't enough to keep me from appreciating Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. This is a fantastic way to play Magic without eating your entire bank account in the process. Lapsed players like me will have a grand time messing around with some of the newer cards and mechanics, particularly in online play against other humans. If there were more decks and cards, and/or an online league structure to compete in, this could have been a true gem. As it is, it's fun as a solid, but limited, digital adaptation of one of the definitive tabletop games of our generation.

Evil. That aside, you will get sucked into the hype and love almost every minute. [June 2002, p.82]

This is a classic in my book, and I'd love to rate it higher than I am. However, time marches on, and by today's standards PaRappa isn't the top dog anymore. [July 2007, p.106]

Kat's gravity-shifting powers are the star of the show in Gravity Rush, as the story struggles to maintain focus. Characters are constantly introduced and dismissed throughout the narrative, leaving you wondering who's important and who's disposable. Despite this, the upgrade system and gravity mechanic kept me engaged throughout the adventure.

Archenemy mode flopping on its face and a few minor balance issues aren't enough to keep me from appreciating Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. This is a fantastic way to play Magic without eating your entire bank account in the process. Lapsed players like me will have a grand time messing around with some of the newer cards and mechanics, particularly in online play against other humans. If there were more decks and cards, and/or an online league structure to compete in, this could have been a true gem. As it is, it's fun as a solid, but limited, digital adaptation of one of the definitive tabletop games of our generation.

Bereft of any originality, BN 3 plays almost exactly like its predecessors. [June 2003, p.120]

That said, any brawler fans that haven’t played Final Fight should still strongly consider downloading this. And despite the fact that I’ve beaten up literally thousands of Mad Gear gang members in my lifetime, I can’t wait to do it over and over again.

It’s a great conclusion, and hopefully a sign that Telltale still has some surprises when it comes to interactive storytelling.

Planet Robobot is entertaining, flows well, and never overstays its new mechanics… but occasionally feels like a retread with a mechanical theme. It does find something to differentiate itself, however, with its ending which takes a surprising leap from the established Kirby norms for a wholly surprising and engaging climax. The game extends past its final boss with completely different gameplay that works as a great finale.

Series fans might be put off by Monster Hunter Stories’ simplified combat, but I enjoyed the opportunity to pilot some of my favorite creatures from the franchise on the other side of the blade. Fans of turn-based JRPG fare, newcomers to the franchise, and younger gamers have more to enjoy here – to explore and engage with the Monster Hunter universe without having to enter through a less accessible door. Monster Hunter Stories is a warm and welcoming trek that’s only brought down by stale and repetitive combat. Despite its shortcomings, there’s still a neat egg to crack here.

It's an intelligently written clash of the titans. [Jan 2004, p.149]

One of the best console adventure games in the last few years. [Jan 2004, p.151]

For the first time, we're able to play a handheld game with the scale and production values of a home console title. The base level of craftsmanship on display in Golden Abyss means you'll get your money's worth – but not a penny more. I wish all the perspiration expelled in the making of the game had been complemented by a bit more inspiration.

When you go up against "RE Code: Veronica" armed with only a flashlight, you just aren't going to win the battle. [Nov 2001, p.125]

Trails of Cold Steel III’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. While the story takes its sweet time to unfold, it offers a lot of shocking outcomes.

A fun racer that almost feels more like a LittleBigPlanet game than it does a kart racer. This is more than just a vehicle for Sackboy's mascot potential. It's a new LittleBigPlanet game.

Peggle 2 is surprisingly void of a free-to-play framework, although a shop is listed as “coming soon.” It’s one of those games that you can just pick up, play, and have immediate fun with. Yes, it plays out more like a level pack than a true sequel, but that’s okay with me. As long as this formula remains entertaining, I wouldn’t mind more of it.

An addictive and oddly likeable revisitation of the genre's heyday. [Jan 2005, p.148]

The Beginner's Guide addresses a lot of heavy issues in its 90-minute journey: Depression, loneliness, self-doubt, and the need for validation are but a few of the topics touched upon. Despite the inherent veil of fiction, Wreden's narration is well-written and feels honest.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 makes as many giant steps forward as it does back but has enough going for it to deliver a fun and rewarding theme-park experience. Like its predecessor, Sandbox Mode is the most fun, and this avenue of play combines everything the player has unlocked while removing all of the stresses. Collecting every dinosaur takes time and effort, but it's worthwhile, especially since you can experiment to see what happens when every dinosaur roams freely in the same space.

Despite its limited focus, Dirt’s single-minded pursuit of racing serves the game well and creates a strong foundation for the future. I guess I can’t blame it for tuning out the rest of the world while it whips around dusty tracks at scary speeds. As we know, getting dialed into the zone is everything.

More straight-up innovation is needed next time, but until then, we've got a good solid game on our hands. [Mar 2004, p.94]

With all of the side quests and collectibles, Lego The Hobbit is a complete and entertaining game. If you were counting on the Lego version of a movie adaptation of a 70-year-old book to deliver an unsullied narrative experience, you were expecting too much anyway.

Instead of re-using all of the same assets from Infinite, the team recreated Rapture and found a way to meld successful elements from several games in the series. On the other hand, the additions are minimal at best, leaving players to go through the same motions with a different backdrop. For a world that invites infinite possibilities, I was hoping for less familiarity.

When all is said and done, Revelations winds up feeling more like “more Fire Emblem Fates” than its own distinct campaign and is easily the weakest of the three. However, for those looking to spend more time with Fates’ rich cast of characters and explore relationships unavailable in the either Conquest or Birthright, this DLC campaign is one quality encore.

I definitely enjoyed Essentials and how it ties into the rest of the series, as will other Splinter Cell fans. [May 2006, p.112]

Smash Hits does absolutely nothing to advance the GH brand in any way, but if you’ve long since packed up your PS2 it’s a great way to get your hands on some old-school favorites.

Still solid, but it's no "Rogue Leader." [Dec 2001, p.109]

More straight-up innovation is needed next time, but until then, we've got a good solid game on our hands. [Mar 2004, p.94]

There's no denying how adorable the puppies are, how amazing the technology that runs them is, or how much stuff there is to find, but I can't help thinking that bending the rules of reality would have made for a better game, in the traditional sense. [Sept 2005, p.114]

Trials Fusion, like its predecessors, is a bundle of fun packaged in frustration, repetition, and memorization. If that kind of punishment is your cup of tea, Fusion offers more of what you’ve come to expect.

While I wish it had an adjustable camera or the ability to tweak visual settings on console, I had a great time regardless. Ultimately, whether it's online or local, the dedicated two-player experience is Lego Voyagers' secret weapon. The game is intentionally abstract and open to interpretation, so you'll fill in the gaps with your partner: you create a relationship between your Lego avatars, shorthand for game terms to get through levels, and eventually build a new, player-specific version of the game for yourself. Light Brick Studio did a great job designing Lego Voyagers, but the experience I built with my partner is what will stick with me.

Hundreds is one of the stronger examples of a mobile title making great use of a touchscreen device. It isn't perfect, but it's packed with tons of clever levels and puzzles. Many will require 10, 20, or more attempts, but it's always a great feeling when your patience and wits move you one more step ahead. It won't take long to complete, but it's certainly a fun ride while it lasts.

Trials Fusion, like its predecessors, is a bundle of fun packaged in frustration, repetition, and memorization. If that kind of punishment is your cup of tea, Fusion offers more of what you’ve come to expect. The existing formula is an awfully good one, but with few meaningful steps forward, it’s easy to feel like we’ve crashed down this road before.

Dungeons of Dredmor is a solid success in those terms, and easily exceeds expectations for its five-dollar price tag.

Ultimately, The Frozen Wilds is a welcome addition to Horizon. The mysteries residing in Thunder's Drum may not reach the same heights as the main game, but they are a great reminder of how wonderful and compelling Horizon is. The Frozen Wilds doesn't reinvent Guerrilla's new hit game, but I'll gladly accept the excuse to jump back into Aloy's world.

Godzilla may not be the deepest game in the world, and it may lack variety, but it's one heck of a party game and a highly amusing feast for the eyes. [Nov 2002, p.131]

Embers of Mirrim is a nice surprise that seemingly came out of nowhere. It doesn’t feel like a “me-too” platformer, establishing a unique identity with its crazy dual-movement sequences and zen-like platforming. It just needs to hold your hand less when introducing new things, which sadly affects the experience from start to finish.

Trials Fusion, like its predecessors, is a bundle of fun packaged in frustration, repetition, and memorization. If that kind of punishment is your cup of tea, Fusion offers more of what you’ve come to expect.

It's a great puzzler. Definitely a little weird, but most certainly good. [Sept 2003, p.109]

The single player quest is a tad tedious, but still entertaining. A good buy. [August 2002, p.91]

It's daunting at first, but it'll make you an instant West Point graduate once it all clicks (there's even a map editor for the ambitious). [March 2005, p.137]

Not many games are built like The Centennial Case, and I enjoyed the ambition behind trying something different to tell a complex story and involve the player in piecing it together. It gave me the feeling of reading a great mystery novel, where your head is spinning with possibilities, but the interactivity and structure allow you to better understand the clues and what they all mean. Sometimes The Centennial Case stumbles, but it’s worth enduring for the wild ride it puts you on and the broader questions it poses about what’s ethical in the world of science.

It's a shame that Red Storm didn't turn some of its formidable development talents toward fixing the defective enemy AI. With that problem attended to, this could have been a truly outstanding game. [Oct 2005, p.142]

More impressive is the ability to "rip" samples off of your personal CDs (I had Snoop busting verses over Led Zep's might "Moby Dick" riff in no time!) [Aug 2004, p.96]

Hurtling down the tundra and concocting ridiculously large combo strings remain irresistible qualities, but the torturous design of the game makes you want to take the next flight off of this mountain. [Nov 2005, p.140]

Dovetailing off the success of Nintendo's "Brain Age", My Word Coach is about as much fun as you can have while getting a vocabulary lesson. [Feb 2008, p.96]

Its gripping gameplay and the great Cold War-inspired storyline will have you hooked until the last Russkie is dead. [Oct 2003, p.113]

Though everything is very well-done, it's difficult to shake the feeling that I've been playing this game since "Diablo" came out on PC in 1997. [March 2005, p.124]

Definitely recommended for puzzle fans. [Sept. 2006, p.100]

I went into The Trouble With Robots expecting nothing and discovered a well-executed little strategy game that rewarded my investment of a few afternoons most satisfactorily.

Somewhere between "The Sims" and "Civilization," Northland fills a unique gap in the strategy genre. [Mar 2004, p.113]

Although using the analog stick or d-pad doesn't compare to the arcade joysticks of old, I appreciate being able to tweak the number of lives you get for each game. [Oct 2005, p.128]

Not for the impatient, but is worth the purchase for portable RPG fans. [Dec 2003, p.186]

It looks a little worse than the Xbox version, but moves a bit faster and controls slightly better. [Dec 2001, p.93]

It's a very good game that could have been much more. [Jan 2004, p.149]

For zombie fans, this one is a no-brainer - pun definitely intended. [Dec 2005, p.180]

When Nintendo first announced Dr. Luigi during the most recent Nintendo Direct, Operation L mode took center stage. While this turns out to be the least enjoyable part of this farewell to the Year of Luigi, Dr. Luigi does offer other competent updates to the classic gameplay. I can’t get the classic tune out of my head or the smile off my face.

New venues and motion-captured versions of the titular band look great, and the video interviews with its members are a blast for music history buffs.

I love how Midway has made a pretty realistic title that just happens to throw a very vicious elbow. [May 2002, p.83]

Fun, innovative, and surprisingly deep, de Blob 2 is bright spot in a sea of gray games and iterative sequels.

Anyone who doesn't already have BHD has been missing out on one of the best FPSs of recent times, and Team Sabre is just icing on the cake. [Mar 2004, p.112]

Like Capcom's "Power Stone," Barbarian steps up to the plate, and whiffs. [August 2002, p.79]

The problem is that neither the physics nor the graphics have aged particularly well; if you're looking for a next-gen FPS, this is not it. It is, however, a decent update to one of the best titles of yesterday. [Apr 2004, p.108]

Whether you're new to the series or a 300-hour veteran, there's much to recommend here.

The racing genre has been loking for a new hook for a while now, and I htink that Monster has started its own fun method of mayhem. [Oct 2004, p.123]

Both the dialogue and gameplay of Marvel's Deadpool VR sometimes grated on me, but there are a number of impressive moments and the occasional strong joke that surprised me and made me laugh.

The addition of the new Aggro Kick, which lets you build up speed with timed button presses, is pure genius. Having the ability to smoothly go online and enjoy multiplayer is absolutely fantastic, but the single-player experience is more chore than score, and brings down the whole experience because of its uninspired design.

The persistent army customization is a fun hook to maintain interest, the ebb and flow of battle is more dynamic (fighting the AI quickly becomes a tedious slog through its long stream of reinforcements), and the usual RTS pacing metagame becomes something of a remedy for the tepid nuts and bolts of battle.

Afterparty poses questions you don’t expect it to ask, and that’s what ultimately made me satisfied with it – just don’t expect a non-stop rager. As with most parties, there are high points combined with lulls. At the very least, the conversations, locale, and attendees make it a good party to attend, even if sometimes you get a little bored.

I came in expecting nothing, and ended up having a pretty good time exploring the battle system's many nuances. [Nov 2009, p.115]

Decent, but there's better Star Wars action to be had. [Feb 2003, p.98]

Deadly Premonition has its faults, but the quirky dialogue, self-directed exploration, and perfect pacing form an addictive and fascinating mystery unlike anything else in gaming. If you’re a newcomer to Agent York’s adventures in Greenvale (or found the controls too awful to tolerate on Xbox 360), you should definitely try Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut. It asks players to overlook a lot of problems, but if you can do that, it pays even greater rewards.

Need for Speed: The Run is by no stretch a bad game; it just fails to capitalize on its chances. San Francisco to New York is a long haul, and it's even longer when not enough happens in between. [Dec 2011, p.112]

All that said, VVVVVV is a charming little indie puzzle/platformer that you'd have to completely fail to click with to not get your $8 purchase price worth of entertainment out of. When it's good, it's great. When it's bad, it's merely annoying for fifteen minutes at a stretch rather than desk-poundingly awful.

A shadow of its former self. The graceful gameplay offers a higher level of excitement, but the plot and characterization - two large components from which I expect great things from any Star Wars journey - makes this experience one of 2010's biggest disappointments. [Nov 2010, p.92]

Mika Mobile has crafted a lengthy and uncomplicated action/RPG adventure, with just enough challenge and depth to draw in gamers of all stripes.

As you might expect from a new developer’s take on a series with such history, The Lost Frontier doesn’t feel essential. If you miss this game, you’re not going to be missing any major plot movements or character development in the Jak universe (and don’t even get me started on the snoozer of a bad guy). But if you’ve been jonesing for the gameplay that made you fall in love with the series in the first place, The Lost Frontier more or less delivers.

Few remember the old Silpheed games, and few will remember their slightly respelled 360 sequel – but those who do will do so with fondness.

Need for Speed: The Run is by no stretch a bad game; it just fails to capitalize on its chances. San Francisco to New York is a long haul, and it's even longer when not enough happens in between. [Dec 2011, p.112]

A shadow of its former self. The graceful gameplay offers a higher level of excitement, but the plot and characterization - two large components from which I expect great things from any Star Wars journey - makes this experience one of 2010's biggest disappointments. [Nov 2010, p.92]

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris’ action feels like a standard twin-stick shooter should, and most of the puzzles manage to remain compelling even with four players in the mix.

I continue to be a fan of this franchise because it offers the best soccer gameplay, hands down. But that sexy, albeit underperforming, ride on EA’s lot may win me over if Konami doesn’t step up and offer a better package soon.

Rising Sun seems content to merely maintain the status quo. [Dec 2003, p.168]

With its smooth combat, rewarding exploration, and pulse-pounding battles, Sundered is worth a look from fans of Metroid and Castlevania. Though technical issues muddled my enjoyment and the punishing difficulty can lead to fits of frustration, Sundered brings an exciting and noteworthy experience to a crowded genre.

Hard Reset may only be four hours long, but they're four good hours. I respect a game that picks one thing and does it well, even if it means skimping on or outright skipping the rest of the modern FPS checklist. Delivering combat on a level that Resistance or Halo could learn a thing or two from is an exceptional achievement for the first effort of a new studio. I won't fault budget-conscious gamers for skipping this, but I can't wait to see what Flying Wild Hog does next.

It’s hard to take Band Hero out of the context of its recent music game brethren. Band Hero is the least innovative of the bunch, but that certainly doesn’t make it bad. For players who found previous releases too hard-edged for their tastes, Band Hero is exactly what they’ve been waiting for.

While a 180-degree turn and permanently mapped knife button are nice additions, as a fan this edition is almost most worthwhile for what has been kept, even if unnecessary. [Mar 2006, p.115]

With its smooth combat, rewarding exploration, and pulse-pounding battles, Sundered is worth a look from fans of Metroid and Castlevania. Though technical issues muddled my enjoyment and the punishing difficulty can lead to fits of frustration, Sundered brings an exciting and noteworthy experience to a crowded genre.

Tweaks are needed in the AI to better replicate competitors’ actions and racing lines, and I’d like to see some long-overdue additions (like user-controlled pit stops), but this game has got the feel of a stock car down pretty good – especially with about a billion ways to setup your car. It’s a mix of the new and familiar that shakes out to be a pretty fast restart.

The result is a game that is segmented well for easy pick-up-and-play sessions, but which is not necessarily more fun because of it. [Aug 2006, p.93]

While it's fun, this is really just more of the same. [Dec 2004, p.183]

Tropico 4 is a great game that suffers from a few regrettable issues on console. Assuming the sound problems get fixed (or you install it to your Xbox's hard drive), I heartily recommend it as the simulation/city-builder of choice on 360 despite the less-than-ideal gamepad interface.

It's a competent racer, but Wipeout 2048 feels too familiar for its own good. Long loads and underwhelming touch controls don't help the matter, and may dissuade anyone who isn't a longtime fan of the series. [Mar 2012, p.95]

I wish the story would have focused more on its emotional core than blockbuster theatrics, but I was still struck dumb by the impactful last hour. In the end, you make a truly profound choice, and see its consequences. There are multiple endings – none perfectly happy, each powerful. That’s how I’ll choose to remember Beyond – brilliant and flawed at once.

I can see a certain subset of nostalgic shooter fans having a total blast with Serious Sam 3, but you have to be pretty enthusiastic about old-school co-op shooting to get your $40 worth out of the game.

C&C 4 is not without redeeming qualities, and in the right situation it offers something truly unique to the RTS genre. I have no doubt that there will be gamers who fall head-over-heels for its tightly engineered co-op design. The binding dependence on teammates can be a pain, though, and legacy issues like bad keyboard shortcuts and unit AI persist. I can recommend the game, but only to a certain style of gamer and only with a handful of caveats.

I feel that the game opens up too quickly and that, while there a respectable nine districts, each has very similar goals and features. [Dec 2004, p.164]