Seeing how TT Games pokes fun at Marvel’s films is worth the price of entry alone. The gameplay is also quite good, but it is a little rough around the edges. The biggest strike against it is secret characters aren’t as noteworthy as those in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

Enough with the damned analog swing already! [Jan 2003, p.102]

I love so many of the ideas behind Scarlet Grace and its inventive nature, but it can’t assemble those elements into a consistent experience. Scarlet Grace has its flaws and frustrations, but it also colors outside the lines of the genre. Sometimes that’s good and exciting. Other times, it’s just scribbles.

That said, with a price tag of $15, fans of the genre shouldn't have a problem getting their money's worth from this competent shooter.

Overcoming Nightwar's most challenging battles is a thrill, but only if you're willing to put your nose to the grindstone.

The hyper frantic soundtrack that sounds like it was written by drug-induced chipmunks I could do without, but the rest of the package is solid fun. [Feb 2006, p.113]

For all its faults, something kept bringing me back to Sudeki, most importantly the cool and extensive ways you can keep upgrading your character - which is really the heart of any RPG experience. [Sept 2004, p.114]

I definitely had some fun with this game, but when I was having trouble calling pre-snap commands I couldn’t shake the feeling that for all this title’s individuality, I’d still rather play regular Madden.

Crawl appeals especially to fans of local competitive arcade multiplayer experiences that aren’t fighting games. This group is a niche one with a lot of qualifiers, but developer Powerhoof knew exactly who they were going after with the game. Crawl isn’t hard to play, but it takes study to be successful at it. When you have a group that knows the game, however, it leads to close calls, upsets, and victories at a brisk and rewarding pace.

The gameplay has a nice balance to it, but is also fairly shallow. [Dec 2002, p.118]

The game combines the moral questions of Vietnam the best it can, but I don't think that kids who have played shooters for most of their lives are going to be doing any soul searching about whether to shoot something or not - innocent villager or otherwise. [Nov 2004, p.162]

I love the way Escape Plan looks, the way it sounds, and how puzzles are complicated in an interesting way without ever becoming overwhelming. Physically interacting with the game is where it falls short. I still consider it a worthy addition to your early Vita library – especially when there are so few original titles for the handheld.

I wanted this game to give me a reason to stop playing the current-gen version of Madden - but it hasn't. [Jan 2006, p.142]

It's incredibly flawed in areas that some consider core to the gaming experience and requires patience to persevere through the problems and get to the best moments. But for everything it lacks, it transcends the stigma of a budget title. If you're looking for a strange but nonetheless unique experience, Deadly Premonition may satisfy an itch you didn't even realize you had.

Aside from allowing a full couch to jump into the game at any time, there isn't anything profoundly original here. I'd like to see Laura continue her top down adventures, but I hope that in the future she finds a new tomb to explore. [Jan 2015, p.91]

Accent Core is the latest of these, and it provides a fresh wave of balance tweaks, new mechanics, and two additional playable characters (ABA and Holy Order Sol). The changes are solid, but there isn’t anything that radically alters the landscape of the combat.

Finally, everyone will be able to see everything these games have to offer. [June 2005, p.127]

The Sexy Brutale’s repetitive nature bogs down what is otherwise a clever title. Tequila Works’ cast of characters are lovably eccentric and its puzzles are consistently rewarding. Unfortunately, The Sexy Brutale confirms one of the overlooked flaws of time travel: reliving the same day repeatedly can be tedious.

Overall, if you’ve never touched a Pushmo in your life and don’t have a 3DS, this is a good place to jump in. Unfortunately, by reverting to older mechanics, Nintendo offers little for longtime fans to get excited about.

Gameplay, meanwhile, makes some minor adjustments this year--giving a few more control options including the ability to play with a scheme that is identical to Konami's "Winning Eleven" button layout. [Oct. 2006, p.94]

It's commendable that WRC 3 aims to give a full rally experience – complete with the need to repair cars between stages - and not dilute it with other forms of off-road racing. Despite this commitment to the sport and the fact that the game has some fun moments, its middling execution only goes so far.

There's a comfortable familiarity to its medieval setting, and the story is refreshingly non-linear - if you want it to be. [Dec 2002, p.148]

Limited replay value is enough to hold back the overall value here, but those brief first hours are definitely some of the sweettest and most unique puzzling in recent years, and certainly a highlight on the PSP. [Feb 2006, p.112]

I was bothered by the cutscene situation, the basic AI (both friendly and enemy), a couple of glitches that forced restarts, and the dramatic change in fun factor when playing solo. That said, I can’t deny that I spent a lot of time laughing while playing with three others.

It's too bad that Riot Games didn't take more chances with League of Legends, because the basic premise is good enough to have made Defense of the Ancients a subgenre unto itself. [Jan 2010, p.89]

If chaotic, over-the-top shootouts are your thing, there’s plenty to like in Fuse amongst the frustrations. Just be sure to bring some friends along for the ride.

Unlike its titular organism, Alien: Isolation is decidedly imperfect. The story falls flat, your objectives lack a sense of accomplishment, and the campaign drags on longer than it should. When the gameplay is at its best, however, Isolation delivers the thrill of being in the Alien universe, something fans like me have waited a long time to properly experience.

None of the worst problems are embedded into the core gameplay. Combat is fun, climbing and navigation works well, the story feels like a natural part of the AC universe. The tie-ins to Assassin's Creed III are minimal (mainly one mission near the end), but Liberation may hint at what areas the series is exploring next.

This title isn’t Bayonetta wearing a Metal Gear skin; whether you are hoping for a meaningful expansion of the Metal Gear universe or a gratifying action experience, Revengeance falls short. Brutalizing cyborgs and hacking giant mechs to pieces is fun, but the restrictive design and lack of precision keep Raiden from capturing the best of both worlds.

Put simply, this is an excellent mobile translation of a tabletop experience – but random design elements in the source material hold it back.

This series is close to breaking through, it only needs to tighten up and refine its core elements (as well as expand its linear strucure) to stand out. [March 2005, p.130]

If you have any hopes for this story building on Metal Gear lore or giving you a chance to reconnect with characters you care about, you will be disappointed. The new characters are uninteresting and poorly developed, and the old characters are practically non-existent.

Just another middling third-person action game that falls prey to the fatal flaw that fells so many of its ilk: a bad camera system. [June 2002, p.79]

What cold be more fun than a kid with an enormously swollen head, a mohawk, and red clown shoes busting 80,000 point combos? [Oct 2003, p.139]

NBA Live 09’s gameplay improvements make this the best game in the series. If more care would have been taken to the new modes, it might have unseated the 2K franchise.

Splatoon has all the trappings of something fans have wanted from Nintendo for a long time: a unique IP that shows Nintendo can still dream up new experiences. As entertaining as it is fast-paced, Splatoon is a strong addition to the Wii U lineup. My enjoyment of what Splatoon has to offer is only offset by Nintendo’s scant offering out of the gate.

The graphics and gameplay of FIFA 21 deliver fun and functional football, but its ambitions don’t extend far beyond that. Over time, the grinding leads to burnout and boredom, and the gear and rewards you’re working so hard to obtain are rarely satisfying enough to make the chase worthwhile. Nailing the fundamentals is important, but it takes more than that to be a real winner.

Unfortunately, this is being docked points for its ridiculous scheme that forces you to play online or give ESPN your e-mail address. [Apr 2006, p.132]

Thankfully, the difficulty and complexity of the level design improves as the game wears on. Kirby’s ability to endlessly eat and absorb the powers of what he digests is not only enviable, but pretty darn fun in practice.

Regardless of its foibles, let this installment be the start of a real commitment by Polyphony Digital to online racing – one that is folded into the main series' career mode and which is not just a temporary dabble like the track creator of GT 5 or the dynamic time/weather and race clubs of GT 6. GT Sport has enough qualities that it should be the start of something better and not just a detour for the franchise.

The biggest thing in Sacred that sets it apart from the crowd is the fact that you can ride horses into battle, trampling your foes beneath you or scampering away to pound them with magic or arrows from afar. [June 2004, p.135]

As it stands, Rome: Total War is merely a good empire simulation with a minor real-time strategy diversion built in. [Nov 2004, p.165]

The title has some great ideas and produces a great, relaxed atmosphere. The game is missing the most important element to a game: the gameplay. [Oct 2008, p.105]

A refreshing break from the norm. [Feb 2002, p.85]

I have a feeling golf enthusiasts will love the amount of detail EA has sunk into this game, but for the average gamer, this one is bound to go straight into the long stuff. [Apr 2002, p.77]

NBA Live 09’s gameplay improvements make this the best game in the series. If more care would have been taken to the new modes, it might have unseated the 2K franchise.

F.E.A.R. 3 features many of the integral pieces necessary to deliver frights – haunting sound effects, an arresting atmosphere, and foreboding environments – yet too often the game recycles old techniques that proved scary in 2005 but do little to raise my blood pressure now.

Even when I was frustrated, I was impressed by the touching and thrilling moments Haven creates. I enjoyed the genuine connection between Yu and Kay, and jetting off into the unknown with a pair of hover-boots is a blast. But this otherworldly adventure extends itself too far beyond its strengths. Sometimes the rough patches are worth working through, but like any relationship, sometimes you’re just giving more than you’re getting.

F.E.A.R. 3 features many of the integral pieces necessary to deliver frights – haunting sound effects, an arresting atmosphere, and foreboding environments – yet too often the game recycles old techniques that proved scary in 2005 but do little to raise my blood pressure now.

Some gamers may appreciate the freedom Fuel gives you, but I feel like the lack of payoff and context blunts any adventurous feelings I have. [July 2009, p.84]

Defender's real strength comes through in its willingness to be a shooter in a market full of mediocre hybrids. [Nov 2002, p.126]

The one thing that makes this game worth it to NASCAR rubes like you and me is that the new speed blur makes side-by-side racing pretty damn cool. [Oct. 2006, p.94]

Even with only a handful of easily dispensable enemies moving toward you, an inescapable panic is generated from the light and sound show accompanying the spectacle. If you can find your groove, you won’t have a problem hitting start immediately after getting a game over.

Midway has taken the story mode to the next level, now we need to see the gameplay step it up a notch to match the flash. [Apr 2006, p.117]

Having to wait for two and a half hours to see a little progress is a bit excessive. [Nov 2002, p.148]

I'd estimate that Reiner and I completed the four main missions and fifth bonus mission on normal difficulty in about three or four hours. [Nov 2004, p.152]

It’s a typical expansion pack.

Just another mediocre pretender to the crown. Bottom line: I just didn't want to keep playing. [Feb 2003, p.101]

This game will interest people who are into the series, especially with its story that unravels new details about the Silent Hill mythos...Unfortunately, the game has fallen into something like a rut in most other areas and less fanatical gamers won’t be as forgiving of its faults.

There simply aren't enough changes to make this a must-buy. [July 2005, p.126]

Beyond mounting monsters and using the wirebug to wall-run in spectacular fashion, not much else distinguishes Monster Hunter Rise from the installments that came before. It has enough endgame content to keep you occupied long after the credits roll (if you don’t mind copious amounts of grinding) and multiplayer is still the optimal way to play, but the excitement of my early hunts waned before long. Monster Hunter Rise is far from being the next definitive chapter in the series. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a polished-but-conventional adventure with a few small-scale nuances, then you’ll be right at home in Kamura Village.

It may not deliver the entire package this year, but NHL 2K8 is a fun game that offers a fast-paced arcade feel.

Def Jam Rapstar offers more than enough features to distinguish it from other karaoke games on the market, and most importantly, is a good time if you can overlook some of its problems.

MLB 2K10 is heading in the right direction, but it’s not quite where it needs to be yet.

The Game Breaker special shots are, frankly, corny; and the Dynamic Dekes are just too hard to control. [Nov 2002, p.142]

The best part about Skate It is that it doesn’t feel like a translation of another game. It’s its own beast.

Play with a well-balanced cooperative team, stay in parity with your levels, and conserve ammo. Do so, and Alienation offers one of the best twin-stick experiences on the market. Add in a deep progression system and lots of ways to enjoy replaying, and it’s only balance issues that hold me back from the same fervent recommendation I apply to most Housemarque releases.

The platforming aspects have all been done before, and that will keep little Ty a sliver away from greatness.[Nov 2002, p.128]

Sushi Strikers finds an original puzzle mechanic in a genre overpopulated by match-threes, but sometimes it’s too dense for its own good.

Sushi Strikers finds an original puzzle mechanic in a genre overpopulated by match-threes, but sometimes it’s too dense for its own good

Several games offer players the chance to rewind time and pause the action, but I’ve never grown tired of this particular power fantasy. I appreciate Timelie’s stealth-based, tactical approach to time manipulation. But just as Timelie starts to hit its stride, I hit the credits. Timelie isn’t the most comprehensive exploration of time manipulation, but its bite-sized puzzles are a welcome distraction.

Terminator 2D: No Fate nails the feeling of a game that should have existed in the early ‘90s to coincide with the release of the film. It’s the kind of game that, had it released at that time, would have likely been revered as a great adaptation to this day. In 2025, it is still a strong retro adaptation of a beloved film, but it is not without some design annoyances that we’ve moved beyond.

The quality of music in this game blew my mind. [Dec 2002, p.152]

Basically, if you are level 30 and up, this expansion throws a ton of new content your way. [Dec 2004, p.177]

Worth owning if you're an RE freak or new to the series, but everyone else can rest easy knowing this isn't a must-have. [Apr 2003, p.89]

Like other games that could fit under the B-game label, not everyone will embrace the elements I enjoyed in Two Worlds II. If you're looking for a lengthy and humorous (if somewhat unpolished) hack-and-slash RPG to tide you over while you wait for Dragon Age II or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it's worth giving Reality Pump a second chance.

Hidden levels, new features, and cheats all await the dedicated gamer. However, it will take a seriously patient player to not only finish the game, but to go back and earn the gold medals. [May 2004, p.94]

Despite an entire game being excised from the package, the MGS HD Collection still costs $40 on Vita – the same price as the PS3 and Xbox 360 version at most retailers. If you already own the title on PS3 and want to transfer your saves between devices to play Metal Gear on the go (and maybe earn some extra trophies), then maybe this trimmed-down version is worth considering. If you're not that kind of Metal Gear fan, then you don't need to waste another thought on this release.

With the exception of the high production values, I feel like I've played a lot of games like PixelJunk SideScroller before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does feel like a departure for a studio that I normally look to for unusual and exciting innovations. For anyone looking to enjoy an old school shooter with a few surprise twists, Q-Games delivers the goods.

Like other games that could fit under the B-game label, not everyone will embrace the elements I enjoyed in Two Worlds II. If you're looking for a lengthy and humorous (if somewhat unpolished) hack-and-slash RPG to tide you over while you wait for Dragon Age II or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it's worth giving Reality Pump a second chance.

I’ve had a great time with Sunbreak overall. The lack of new monsters plagues the early hours, but there’s plenty to love if you keep at it. The added flexibility of the Switch Skill Swap system is a freeing and fun expansion to combat for hardcore hunters and the new creatures in the Master Rank quests – when you get to them – breathe life into the experience. For someone already invested in Monster Hunter, there’s plenty to love in Sunbreak. Just don’t expect to see a lot of new content in the opening hours.

Like other games that could fit under the B-game label, not everyone will embrace the elements I enjoyed in Two Worlds II. If you're looking for a lengthy and humorous (if somewhat unpolished) hack-and-slash RPG to tide you over while you wait for Dragon Age II or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it's worth giving Reality Pump a second chance.

Beyond mounting monsters and using the wirebug to wall-run in spectacular fashion, not much else distinguishes Monster Hunter Rise from the installments that came before. It has enough endgame content to keep you occupied long after the credits roll (if you don’t mind copious amounts of grinding) and multiplayer is still the optimal way to play, but the excitement of my early hunts waned before long. Monster Hunter Rise is far from being the next definitive chapter in the series. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a polished-but-conventional adventure with a few small-scale nuances, then you’ll be right at home in Kamura Village.

Like a real strip club, BMX XXX loves to tease you. But at the end of the day, you feel a bit ripped off. [Jan 2003, p.106]

It's a bit like a first album by a band you know will go on to record a classic. All the elements are there - they just need a little polish. [July 2005, p.122]

Despite all of my frustrations, after extended breaks, I found myself coming back for more. Hotline Miami's uneasy ambiance and frenetic action have an odd allure.

While it may not approach the craftsmanship or innovation of a "Half-Life 2," TimeShift introduces enough interesting elements to its derivative gameplay to make this game worth a look.

If you are one of those players that takes their tournament stick around the country and competes against the best, you'll undoubtedly want Arcade Edition in your collection. However, it's harder to recommend if you're on the more casual end.

On all platforms, Dragon Age II caters to an audience that didn't connect with Origins, while alienating those who did. This may result in a better console experience, but considering that Dragon Age: Origins was a love letter to old-school PC RPGs, BioWare's neglect of the sequel's PC release is tragic. I appreciate the technical refinements, but improving the polish doesn't do much good when the basics still need work.

Dive into the co-op with your friends to see all of the fun, strategy, and depth Dungeon Defenders has to offer. [July 2011, p.94]

The only fault I find is that Atlus' otherwise solid RPG (with good-looking graphics) lacks its own compelling reason for being. Just another RPG village? Well, at least the townies are friendly. [Apr 2003, p.96]

While this latest entry is definitely a step back for the series, it still has most of the hallmarks of solid action and inappropriate behavior that have always been so much fun in the series.

In most ways a duplicate of the first Karaoke game that appeared on PS2, I was disappointed to see so little new content in the transition to the Xbox. [Dec 2004, p.183]

As much as I loved parts of the overall experience, others let me down. Even so, I enjoyed learning about these characters and seeing them grow through my actions.

If you are one of those players that takes their tournament stick around the country and competes against the best, you'll undoubtedly want Arcade Edition in your collection. However, it's harder to recommend if you're on the more casual end.

Dive into the co-op with your friends to see all of the fun, strategy, and depth Dungeon Defenders has to offer. [July 2011, p.94]

On the one hand, Atomic Heart is a good game on its own merits. The fun and frantic gunplay, outstanding visual design, and intricate level of detail in its world amount to an experience worth your time. On the other hand, it could have been so much more. The story and characters simply don’t do justice to the game’s thought-provoking premise, and some better writing would have done wonders. Despite that, Atomic Heart is still an exciting and memorable first outing from Mundfish.

The graphics are fantastic and simply smoke the traditionally animated cutscenes - which look drap and lifeless in comparison. [Dec 2003, p.144]