They Are Billions is an interesting mashup of classic RTS, tower defense, and survival that successfully conjures up that “one more game” feel, assuming you can persevere through countless defeats.

Frontlines does enough to entertain on the multiplayer end to make up for the woeful single-player experience. It’s a shame Kaos didn’t scrap the single-player altogether to focus completely on honing the online experience.

My time with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 was filled with peaks and valleys. It has great moments where everything is clicking, followed by lulls where it all falls apart. The story never really gets going, however, but is a fun exploration of all things Marvel. For that, it delivers a little bit of fun, but this experience is all about the character reveals and getting to test them out, even if the worlds they explore and challenges within them often lack excitement.

A few months ago, I reviewed LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. That game introduced some light RTS elements to the series, along with loads of vehicle-based missions, and a huge cast of playable characters. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean falls short of that high mark, delivering a more traditional LEGO experience. That's not to say that Pirates is a bad game – quite the contrary. It's just puzzling to see a series that has struggled to evolve take a step back. Where are the epic ship-to-ship vehicle battles? Why is the pirate-infested port hub so boring? [July 2011, p.89]

While it's not a perfect product, EA knows how to make deep, full-featured sports games with high production values. In Grand Slam Tennis 2, developer EA Canada applies some of the lessons learned from the company's other franchises to create a game that excels in many areas while coming up short in a few important ones.

The core of this fantastic superhero game is still in place, and if you have ever wanted to feel more like you were actually slashing with Wolverine’s claws, now’s your chance.

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.

Katrielle is the highlight of this adventure, and I want to solve more mysteries with her (especially the two left hanging), but this first month of her detective agency being in business is disappointing. None of the cases stand out as noteworthy, with the possible exception of the final one. An underwhelming first outing certainly doesn’t spell doom for the new Layton Detective Agency, but I was hoping for more from this series’ reboot.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a great and faithful remake of an excellent, simple, and now-classic game. The new animations and character designs are also wonderful, without changing what made them so memorable to begin with. It’s all a pleasant reminder of a different era for PopCap Games and mobile games in general, where monetization rarely extended beyond the premium price of purchasing a game, which allowed the creators to focus on the core experience while keeping it light and simple. Replanted makes me pine for that era, but also grateful that this revisitation of the original game has been handled with such reverence and care.

I left my time with The Eternal Castle Remastered extremely impressed by its aesthetic achievements but more than a little let down by how much the gameplay feels like a chore. The quality of its visuals are undeniable, but sometimes it’s better leaving certain things, like clunky controls, in the past.

I didn't mind investing over 50 hours to the grind in The Surge. I felt powerful at times and exploring every little area rewarded me with a nice bounty. It just clings too tightly to a one-note approach to world building, enemy encounters, and level design. This is a genre that has a rich history of wowing players, sometimes from the look of a boss, and maybe even the design of the world it inhabits. I was never dazzled by The Surge. I mostly felt like I was battling animated junk in a junkyard.

The problem is that no matter which [control sheme] you select, you'll sacrifice functionality - either in maneuverability or how you lob grenades. [Jan 2007, p.107]

Certainly the best Gundam title for the PS2 so far. [Oct 2002, p.84]

More refinement is needed on the game in general, and Blitz Pro can be limiting. However, this is exactly the kind of jump I've been waiting for Midway to make for years. [Sept 2003, p.107]

It just doesn't feel like I'm screaming through the great blue yonder. In this case, it seems more like I'm driving a Lincoln Continental with some guns strapped to the hood. [Nov. 2003, p.151]

Merely mediocre in terms of graphics (including the pitiful draw-distance in multiplayer), and simple problems like the inept camera have yet to be fixed. Its strong gameplay manages to squeak out a passing grade. [May 2004, p.97]

The sad thing is, blasting these hostile extraterrestrial invaders is a thrill-less and somewhat aggravating endeavor...The world would definitely be a better place without it. [Mar 2002, p.85]

A mixed bag from beginning to end. [Dec 2005, p.161]

At times, Shadow Hearts drudges along with some mind-numbingly stupid puzzles, but the story and the unique battle system always kept me coming back for more. [Jan 2002, p.82]

The Xbox shold definitely be your machine of choice this time around. The PS2 version looks noticeably worse in all respects. The choice is clear. [July 2005, p.118]

If you are looking for a handheld multiplayer experience, and are willing to tolerate some control aggravations, you may want to take a gander at Renegade Squadron. But if your desire lies anywhere outside of this, these are not the droids you are looking for. Move along.

No matter your decisions up to this point in the story, the end of Episode Four does its most important job – puts our leads into dire personal conflict as we head into the last act, making it seem impossible that they can ever pull things together and win the day. If we lose some of the lighthearted fun this time, I’m willing to withhold judgment and see if it all pays off with some big twists in the conclusion.

Sincere attempts have been made to make this game more universally appealing to a wider range of gamers with the simpler control options. Removing the need to focus heavily on keeping your plane in the air leads to a fun-but-simple flight combat game. Unfortunately, you can't escape the fact that the gamer who will get the most from Birds of Steel is the one who has at least one meticulously painted World War II model airplane.

The four unlockable modes might keep hardcore fans coming back, but I didn’t find much reason to stick around. Challenge and Arcade modes are rewrapped campaign levels, and the Minigame mode features puzzles you’ve already found the solution to in the campaign.

Outriders isn’t revolutionary, and it’s not trying to be. Outriders is a well-thought-out shooter with expertly tailored RPG twists. It's an enjoyable ride that is made infinitely better by playing with friends, but not inherently hurt by running solo either. This game takes the best parts from other looter-shooters and the best aspects of sci-fi RPGs and blends these elements into an experience that is worth diving into because of its high replayability, customizable play style, and fun story. I'm already strapping in for another run.

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.

Epic Mickey goes out of its way to show gamers Walt Disney's body of work, but rarely fires on a level that turns this beloved content into exciting gameplay.

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]

The gameplay is electric and fun, and the plethora of awesome new enemy types will make Star Wars action figure collectors salivate.

Despite some big caveats, I mostly enjoyed Sonic Superstars as a solo trip down memory lane. The platforming feels good, the levels are mostly fun, and the presentation looks great. Ripping through robots while hitting loop-de-loops and bounce pads still brings a smile to my face. But the game’s new additions either feel inconsequential or ill-advised, watering down an otherwise respectable package. Sonic Superstars offers a solid return to form for the series’ oldest and most ardent followers, with some hedgehog-sized potholes along the way.

The gameplay and structure lay the nostalgia on thick, but even those parts of Yooka-Laylee pale in comparison to the narrative. Whenever characters speak, the onscreen text is accompanied by grunting sounds like those found in Banjo-Kazooie. This is a charming callback at first, but when you're out in the hub world and the main villain begins taunting you repeatedly, it becomes annoying.

Iron Man VR delivers thrilling combat and fun flight mechanics, but navigating big, open areas is frustrating.

If you approach Kakarot for the story and the harrowing battles, it can be amazing. Outside of collecting Soul Emblems, the RPG elements are mostly lacking, even if they do push you to keep leveling to take on harder foes. All told, CyberConnect 2 gives fans a fun way to reexperience this saga.

For all of its attempts at garish glitter, Rage 2 is a muted, cliché, and uninspiring experience that's propped up by spectacular shooting and neverending battles that sometimes live up to the promise of a carnival of carnage.

Although the overall score is the same, the Xbox One version edges out the PS4 one because of its cool SmartGlass functionality.

The only good that can come from this game is sending it as a prank gift to Jake Lloyd with a note reading "You aren't the only one who ruined Star Wars." [July 2005, p.126]

Much like the PC Call of Duty (which I should note is a completely different game), this console title features a brilliant targetting mechanism that allows players to zoom in and aim down the sight of the firearm. [Jan 2005, p.115]

Though it doesn’t add much for players looking to play around with its improvements solo, Nidhogg 2 adds layers of depth to a simple formula without breaking what made it so appealing in the first place. The new weapons and maneuvers blend seamlessly into fights, making them more dynamic and tense. Its single-player offerings may be paper-thin, but for anyone looking to test themselves against their friends, Nidhogg 2 is hard to beat.

It feels just plain dull. [June 2004, p.129]

While Massive Chalice isn’t much to look at, I couldn’t wait to see this century-spanning adventure through to the end. Double Fine’s strategy simulation is rough around the edges, but hard to put down. With more polish, Massive Chalice could have been one for the ages.

While Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl don’t move the needle in terms of what Pokémon games will look and play like moving forward, they mostly hit the mark in being faithful to the originals. I’ve really enjoyed my time re-exploring Sinnoh, despite my qualms with the lack of critical path difficulty. They’re a welcome throwback to a simpler time when I felt completing a Pokédex was a somewhat realistic task to undertake. Veteran trainers will find plenty here to scratch a nostalgic itch, and new trainers who missed out the first time around have a solid adventure to embark on.

The boss fights are frustrating to the point of idiocy, and are made worse by the annoying checkpoint system... It sure beats the hell out of another "Dynasty Warriors" retreat, though. [Oct 2005, p.119]

I was often left scratching my head wondering why my bridges kept collapsing.

Above The Law treads familiar territory with its zombie fights and shady characters; it doesn't have the emotional pull or shocking revelations of previous episodes.

An almost totally uninspired 3D brawler that doesn’t avoid any of the common pitfalls of the genre. Locking the camera close in behind the character’s head is almost never a good idea, and certainly not in this case. The automatic targeting mechanic bugs out at least once every five minutes of play. Enemies are too predictable.

Once you overcome the learning curve, it's easy to enjoy Soul Nomad's brand of charm and humor. [Oct 2007, p.118]

Though camera problems and outdated level design are present at times, the moments of exhilaration, discovery, and satisfaction far outweigh those pitfalls. It feels like ages since I've played something like Yooka-Laylee. This is a game that was built for those who look back with fondness on the classics that spawned it, and in that regard, it delivers completely.

The core gameplay offers moments of undeniable excitement, but without more depth, variety, and some sense of progression, Last Year won’t survive long against the competition.

This clearly isn't a game for the hardcore cynics out there. It is, however, another solid option for families looking for a new game to add to their library or for Disney junkies looking for another fix. Best of all, you don't need to worry finding your car when you're done.

Infamous First Light lacks some of the punch of Second Son in its campaign battles and familiar narrative marks, but is still a welcome addition to the series. Fetch is a fantastically written character, and the conclusion to her origin story is worth seeing in its entirely – even if you already know what happens. Sucker Punch did a phenomenal job with the finale.

I like the overall idea of Aquila, but eventually the gameplay comes off as silly and a little contrived. [Feb 2003, p.98]

A nice side effect from playing Scene It is that it makes you want to go back and watch a movie you haven’t seen in a long time or even check out an older film you had never heard of before. (Caveman is going straight into my Netflix queue, btw).

Most handheld sports games (and launch ones, at that) have a hard time presenting gamers with a compelling feature set or satisfactory gameplay experience. Pro Evo 2011 for the 3DS goes some way toward alleviating that problem, but in the process comes up with new ones all its own.

If you're a genre dabbler, there are a good dozen or so similar games released over the last several years that deserve your attention far more than this entirely average title. [Feb 2006, p.110]

Temtem may look like a copycat on its surface, but its deviations from the Pokémon formula pay off considerably. With unique battling elements and an engaging MMO structure, Temtem evolves as its own experience and offers a vast, challenging adventure that even those without a Nintendo console can enjoy.

Dante’s Inferno features some interesting aspects (like its combat), but early innovation loses out to repetition. The game’s biggest strength – Visceral’s recreation of hell – wanes during the second half. Some entertaining unlockable content adds to the replayability, but for most gamers, Inferno doesn’t have enough new ideas to warrant a return trip through hell.

Add in the fact that this game features a paltry six international leagues (as opposed to the over 20 of some past FIFAs), the double-team defensive feature still doesn’t work, players’ collision fields are too large, the AI shows very little movement in the box on your corner kicks, and that shots and passes have little accuracy, and you’ll find that this game has taken steps back which counter its promising progress – not unlike the American national squad.

Mario Strikers: Battle League may not be the ultimate version of the world's most popular sport, but its strategic matches, fun online modes, and energetic animations make for an enjoyable experience. While the single-player crowd may find the game a bit lacking, Nintendo's return to the pitch is bound to create the same triumphant highs, and friendship-ending lows the company's suite of other party titles is known for.

In the end, if you're looking for a way to show off your new Kinect, this provides a great complement to the pack-in title, Kinect Adventures.

I can't stress enough that this expansion is for hardcore Dungeons & Dragons nerds. Go into it knowing what it is, though, and this will deliver the kind of no-frills classical Western fantasy RPG experience that made series like Might & magic and Wizardry great. [Jan 2009, p.78]

In the end, this would-be epic is nothing more than a series of lock-and-key puzzles - the same outdated concept that developers have been shoving down our throats since the first "Prince of Persia." [May 2003, p.80]

If Rainbow would have made it competitive, I would have loved it, but without challenge, there really is no reason to continue playing. [Apr 2002, p.75]

The boss fights are frustrating to the point of idiocy, and are made worse by the annoying checkpoint system... It sure beats the hell out of another "Dynasty Warriors" retreat, though. [Oct 2005, p.119]

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]

Exploring Knytt Underground's vast world and learning about the eccentric cast of characters and surprisingly deep lore can be fun – just don't expect any kind of rewarding conclusion to be awaiting you at the end of your adventure.

The game’s title screams of beauty, but in truth, with the single player experience not being up to spec, this is the ugly duckling of the Katamari series. It just doesn’t have that wow factor going for it like the previous entries did.

A year after the first half was released, Broken Age’s story has come to a conclusion that is absolutely worth the wait. [June 2015, p.88]

The baffling story and incredible difficulty are likely to repel all but the most ardent and devoted players. [Sept 2004, p.110]

If you can put up with a few outdated cliches, and the occasional irritation, though, this collection has a lot of prime gaming packed onto the disc. [Feb 2006, p.103]

I don't want Fe to be the red flag that makes Electronic Arts reconsider the great idea of supporting comparable projects, but nothing about Fe is exciting or interesting.

However, your illustrative prowess doesn't affect gameplay, so in the end you're a little more than a window dresser for what is otherwise a familiar retread. [Oct 2007, p.127]

I could see this reaching a more casual audience of duffers, but hardcore fans of golf video games probably won't be satisfied. [Jun 2006, p.113]

I was disappointed to see that the item creation tools of the console version of the game were completely cut for the 3DS, but otherwise this is still a full and worthwhile Scribblenauts installment.

Agents of Mayhem finds an identity of its own thanks to the memorable characters and structure, even if the action is familiar.

Warp is charming at first, but the simple A.I. and basic puzzles aren't enough to make it an XBLA standout. Completionists may find replay value in the collectible grubs, basic upgrade system, and challenge rooms, but anyone looking for deeper stealth or puzzle-based gameplay should look elsewhere.

Anarchy Reigns' multiplayer scratches an itch I didn't know I had, but its camera faults and near-identical character move sets hold it back from scratching hard enough. However, online matchmaking is quick and easy, and the network fidelity held strong through every round I played.

Sixteen-player online deathmatch is truly a sight to behold, and you should probably think about keeping anyone prone to seizures or heart palpitations out of the room because things move real fast. [Nov 2002, p.116]

There are some cool things to do, like level-up and outfit you hero with items, , which I find to be the most endearing part of the series. [Aug 2004, p.106]

A Lighthearted And Entertaining Ninja Adventure.

Sakura Wars is a hard experience to put in words, but that experience doesn’t come around often. It is a captivating ride, striking a great balance between its funny and heartwarming moments. Just like the struggling theater group, the performance doesn’t always come together exactly as planned, but it has so much heart and charisma to leave the audience wanting an encore.

This isn't going to change the world, but far be it for me to condemn it for being a run-of-the-mill RPG with a fun sense of humor. [Oct. 2006, p.114]

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 multiplayer core at the heart of Rainbow Six Siege is a great foundation. But given its lack of infrastructure around the mode and severe lack of meaningful modes to buttress it, Siege feels slight when compared to its past entries and the other big-name first-person shooter franchises it competes against.

The developers failed to develop a camera system capable of dealing with the 3D action. [Mar 2002, p.79]

Test Drive is all about unlocking fast cars and then unleashing them on the streets at mach speeds. [July 2002, p.80]

It's no secret that this doesn't look as good as its bigger brothers, but it can certainly stand up against anything else on this console. [Feb 2004, p.102]

Filled with amazing battles and worthy strategy, and anchored by strong gameplay. [Dec 2004, p.166]

This final PS2 installment doesn’t move the franchise forward, but it does take us all along for a ride into its past. With a collection of goodies for fans of the franchise, this budget-priced game offers some thrills but fails to stand particularly well on its own.

Simplistic and primitive, but for the most part it works. [Mar 2003, p.92]

ASB's terrible fielding and baserunning are enough to turn me off from the rest of the game. [Apr 2003, p.98]

Karateka steps beyond its simplistic gameplay with exceptional production values.

With a breakneck pace and action-packed events, the sophomore episode of season two has me hoping that the series can carry this momentum forward. Though I'm anticipating the typical Telltale pattern where all your choices end up not making much of a difference at the season's conclusion, I'm at least enjoying the ride to that point.

As undeniably fun as this game is, its downfall is its lack of depth. You can burn through the initial difficulty setting in the career mode in a couple hours.

H.A.W.X. is the best flight game so far this generation, and a worthy addition to the best in the Clancy stable.

Every aspect of Crimson Alliance works together to engineer a fun cooperative hack n' slash. From the quick and easy inventory to the excellently designed levels and rewarding combat, this is the downloadable game to play with friends this season.

It’s not that Combined Assault is hard. It’s more like the game is very impolite, barely introducing itself to new players. The control and game interface are showing their age, too. They weren’t very good even back when the first SOCOM came out. It’s probably time to rethink the way this game plays.

Although the basis of this PS3 port (the original PC title) is now a couple years old, I'm pleased to report that F.E.A.R.'s taut gameplay can still hold its own with the best of the genre. [May 2007, p.84]

At the end of the day, Max overtook some bases, ran a couple hundred cars off the road, met some forgettable characters, and buried his fist into the sunburnt skin of the villainous locals. Was it worth the effort? That ultimately depends on how much fun you had in performing these basic, repetitious open-world activities.