Art that fails to distinguish between moving yet non-interactive backgrounds and gameplay elements is a problem as well in this otherwise tightly tuned action/platformer. [Feb 2009, p.87]

I'm genuinely sad that a game rooted in the joy of Disney failed to evoke any in me, but Epic Mickey 2 is so disjointed and rambling, I was ready to escape Wasteland when the time came.

The Inpatient is a difficult game to recommend, with inconsistent scares and a mundane cast. It still offers some frightful moments, but they aren’t wrapped up in a captivating enough narrative to keep you engaged. Even if you’re a hardcore Until Dawn fan, this watered-down horror experience is probably worth skipping.

Unlike "The Sims," which allows you to build your own destiny from the ground up, Playboy: The Mansion is done in by the very fact that all you can do is be Hefner. [Apr 2005, p.117]

Sure, the PSone-like crowds look terrible, but Wii Boxing fans finally have a meatier boxer to obsess about than Wii Sports.

Van Halen deserves better. [Jan 2010, p.79]

This is a small step forward, but for a series that hasn’t moved an inch over five installments, it’s a mind-boggling breakthrough.

At the most, this game is great for punishing ill-behaved children.

This is the first licensed game I’ve played that is actually shorter than its movie. I’m not exaggerating; in a little over an hour I had received trophies in all of the main surf events.

This is one of those games that I find myself raving about one second, and dragging through the mud the next. Is it worth your time? I think so. Despite its numerous shortcomings, I was entertained to the point of not wanting to put it down.

The creatures you make aren't always what you mean to, some of the minigames are beyond tedious, the graphics are a little primary color-happy, and the rewards (outside of new stuff for your monsters) are surprisingly uninspired. [Sept 2004, p.112]

Ultimately, I appreciate the vibrant and unique world that Krome Studios creates, and despite the substandard voice work, I enjoy Blade Kitten's wacky characters as well. However, aside from a few puzzles and boss battles, the gameplay fails to leave a lasting impression.

But the list of shortcomings is so long that you wonder how the company has the cajones to charge $10 more for this version over the current-gen titles. Those are some big brass basketballs.

Never has a hero looked so stupid. As catastrophic as these missteps are, they pale in comparison to Spidey’s egregious video game blunder, Friend or Foe.

With the enhanced version of "Midnight Club 3" retailing for $20, I see little need for this title. [Nov. 2006, p.134]

Saw fails to deliver the suspenseful crescendos, surprising twists, and apprehensive atmosphere of the films. Instead, it’s padded with unremarkable gore, poor pacing, and uninspired level design.

A game that is likely to be frustrating to experienced players of the miniature game and nearly impossible to grasp for newcomers. [Dec 2006, p.157]

Long story short, this is a flawed game through and through. Even the most devout Spyro fans should avoid it. [Jan 2009, p.69]

Outside of tournaments and multiplayer, the game doesn't have a mode that you can sink your cleats--or time--into. [June 2008, p.101]

Last time I played this game, it was being released by THQ and was called "MX Superfly." I didn't really like it then, and I don't cotton to this generic motocross stunt title now. [Aug 2003, p.93]

Much of the iconic music, sounds, and emotive quality of the classic cartoon are absent here, making the game a fairly standard sci-fi romp with little of the magic it might have had. [Oct 2004, p.128]

Entwined’s experimental nature reminds me of similar games that I’ve enjoyed, but there’s always a “minus” in the comparison; it’s like Journey minus the community, like Flower minus the message, like Rez minus the action. It is a stylish feast for the eyes and ears, but one that ultimately leaves you hungry.

Cheap or not, there are many good racers out there, and Tokyo Extreme Racer Drift doesn't come close to its contemporaries. [Apr 2006, p.124]

This series has great potential, but with each new season, it continues to degrade in quality. [Aug 2006, p.81]

As one of the devoted franchise enthusiasts who are presumably the target audience, even I feel like it loses sight of the magic, narrative weirdness, and dark tone that makes the show so captivating. And without tactical sophistication or a meaningful engagement with the lore, I can’t recommend joining this resistance.

Its control, ambient life, longevity, and evolving gameplay will captivate you, no matter how obscure you find the core subject matter to be. [Mar 2003, p.82]

Numerous playable characters are a big plus, but the repetitive enemies and environments are not. However, I'm always a fan of good cooperative play, which this title successfully incorporates. [Nov 2004, p.149]

The fun of these party games wears thin rather quickly. [Dec 2002, p.144]

If you're excited about the movie or characters, for once this is an easy game to recommend. There's nothing here that should scare away fans, and any player ought to appreciate the way each game level feels unique from the last. After this game and last year's War For Cybertron, High Moon has proven they've got the chops to handle and understand the Transformers, no matter what continuity they're playing around in. Here's hoping that Hasbro and Activitision recognizes the talent, and continues to give the team the creative freedom they deserve.

With multiple collectible gear sets, magic-infused combat, and characters with distinct powers, building up a fun rhythm of play is possible, especially if you choose to tackle the entire game with a consistent group of players who stay in pace with each other’s progress. But even then, the cracks in the core experience are apparent. I wanted to have fun with Dark Alliance’s breezy adventures through a familiar fantasy world, but too many elements left me disappointed, and even the flashing weapons wielded by the Companions of the Hall weren’t enough to blind me to what was missing.

This title isn't the worst Move title on the market, but it won't sell any hardware, either.

Maybe some gamers will be pulled into the aquatic world of Steel Diver despite the limited content, tech demo quality, and seemingly broken multiplayer. For the majority of Nintendo fans, though, it's destined to become a strange and forgotten footnote in the publisher's history.

The only area where this game really shines is in its visuals. Developer Eurocom has pulled out all of the stops to bring out the highest level of realism in the character models and lush landscapes. This game may put a twinkle in your eye, but it’s quick to follow it up with a razor-sharp cutlass.

The action is poorly designed and repetitive, and the quest is void of challenge. [Sept 2003, p.125]

An intriguing diversion from uninspired copycats and clones that often plague the industry. It won’t suit everyone, but I applaud its creativity.

I haven’t laughed this much while playing a game since I was making fun of "Donkey Kong Barrel Blast," but Battle of the Bands’ one great idea would have benefited from some more robust gameplay.

The young audience that this product is aimed at will find the odd control dynamic to be unduly frustrating. [Nov 2001, p.110]

While a perennnial bronze medal winner on PS2, this year's ShootOut has officially got game. [Dec 2003, p.150]

Natural Motion's Euphoria technology is a great building block for a football game, but Backbreaker suffers from too many rookie mistakes. Only the most hardcore gridiron fans dying for an alternative to the EA Sports offerings should bother bringing this one in for a look.

If I had more space I could detail the game's numerous flaws in control, design, and AI, but I don't. Thank God. [Jun 2006, p.112]

Recycled content, excessive grinding, boring fetch quests, and bad save points are just some of its smaller shortcomings. What's more concerning is its inability to give you reason to care about the characters or the journey. In a generation where RPGs are pushing the boundaries with better storytelling and unique worlds, this just isn't going to cut it. It's sad to see a franchise that once captivated me continue to fall from grace.

Compared to "Super Mario 64 DS," this is a shoddy port that doesn't scratch the surface of the DS's potential. [May 2005, p.134]

Even the most patient gamers will be bored to tears for the first few hours of this adventure. [Jan 2004, p.157]

I have to go to the courthouse and file a restraining order so this crappy game cannot get within 1,000 fee of me ever again. [August 2002, p.91]

There really isn't enough game here to justify a purchase. [Apr 2002, p.89]

The idea of empowering user-generated art as a gameplay element is a concept that works well on the DS. However, with poor execution and clumsy controls on the Wii, you'll find more fun with a coloring book and a 64-pack of crayons than you will in Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter.

Genuinely bizarre and often-comedic situations generated charm, but Way of the Samurai 4's dated visuals, control difficulties, and stiff combat makes it needlessly frustrating.

I felt completely confined by the rigid rules, limited skill opportunities, and a between-battle interface that's more complicated than figuring out the rules for grappling. [Aug 2007, p.103]

Silent Hill: Book of Memories devolves from a mediocre dungeon crawler into a frustrating grind over the course of too many hours. WayForward's attempt to do something different with the Silent Hill universe is novel, but the clunky combat and imbalanced difficulty make this impossible to recommend.

Tron: Evolution will probably have a handful of defenders, but I can't reasonably suggest that anyone play it. It's a shoddy experience that ultimately isn't much fun. Tron superfans would do better simply watching the movie again and calling it a day. [Jan 2011, p.80]

The extracurricular activities are severely lacking, but the core tennis is good. Hitting a ball back and forth has been a fun video game pastime time since the medium’s inception, and responding to your opponent’s volley with the appropriate attack and pulling off powerful Ultra Smashes and jumpshots is fun. I just wanted more reasons to keep playing.

Front Mission Evolved ditches the previous entries' turn-based tactical gameplay in favor of third-person action. While a few signature series staples remain, such as a convoluted political storyline and tons of customization options, the fast-paced mech combat makes blowing the crap out of stuff far more accessible and fun.

Edge of Time is a major step back from the formula that worked.

Front Mission Evolved ditches the previous entries' turn-based tactical gameplay in favor of third-person action. While a few signature series staples remain, such as a convoluted political storyline and tons of customization options, the fast-paced mech combat makes blowing the crap out of stuff far more accessible and fun.

If you’re a fan of endless runners and can put up with the game constantly asking you to post to Facebook or purchase more ISO-8, then you find this a fun diversion while you wait in line to see Iron Man 3 in theaters.

The overriding feeling during my entire playtime was, "Oh no. I have to do another race." [Dec 2005, p.156]

I can honestly say that the CPU AI knows nothing about the sport. [June 2003, p.113]

Holds its own as an action title. If you happen to be a fan of "Evil Dead" or Bruce Campbell, its faithfulness to the films' essence makes it a must buy. [June 2003, p.114]

Tron: Evolution will probably have a handful of defenders, but I can't reasonably suggest that anyone play it. It's a shoddy experience that ultimately isn't much fun. Tron superfans would do better simply watching the movie again and calling it a day.

I know the charm of Swery games (and, to a lesser extent, Suda51 titles) is how utterly bizarre they are, but any chuckles Hotel Barcelona’s quirky sense of humor may elicit were drowned under a sea of head-scratching and outright bad design and storytelling decisions. No matter how many secrets it may have or surreal moments it assaults players with, it’s all wrapped around a dull, limited, and flawed core gameplay experience. You don’t have to go home, but you shouldn’t stay here.

Despite offering myriad endings and some extra content that unlocks the longer you play, The Church in the Darkness does little to justify sticking around to see it. A half-dozen runs will give you a good sense of the narrative scope and gameplay, without offering anything particularly novel to keep you invested. I went into The Church in the Darkness hoping for a thought-provoking look at how cults operate and entice their followers, but ended up leaving Freedom Town disillusioned.

Despite the monetization method, Dr. Mario World is a fun puzzle game, and the World moniker signifies that this is more than just another Dr. Mario remix. This is the most dramatic reinvention of Dr. Mario since the series’ inception, and I often had trouble putting my phone down before the battery ran dry. Nintendo plans to update this game with new levels down the road, so this is one flu season I look forward to revisiting.

An incredibly short game, but still manages to repeat itself constantly over the course of the story. [July 2005, p.120]

The enemy AI is weak, and fog blankets backgrounds like a tarp of ugly. [Oct 2004, p.129]

This is a concept that I love, and an execution that is lacking. [Apr 2005, p.126]

I found the control to be fairly aggravating (especially the airplanes). [Apr 2005, p.142]

Ironically, just like a relationship built entirely on the nookie, Singles ends up feeling more than a little shallow after the first few one nights stands you spend playing it. [Aug 2004, p.105]

This is pretty much a status quo "Puyo Pup"-style game featuring a license (Tiny Toons) tht ran its course a decade ago. [Jan 2003, p.122]

Unlike John Daly himself, this game is devoid of personality. That being said, the ProStroke controls have their advantages over Tiger in some cases (except using PlayStation Move doesn't feel as good as in Tiger). With such a bare career mode I hope this game takes advantage of the fact that is has room to grow in future iterations.

Dark Kingdom isn’t particularly innovative, and it falls prey to a number of RPG clichés, but when it comes to the important things – the hacking and the slashing – it performs admirably.

The action does get intense, and if anything else, having to keep your eye on your comrades in a way highlights the grim fight for survival and tight-knit nature that all soldiers need in battle. [Oct 2004, p.129]

The game is fun, but is ultimately held back by its non-responsive controls.

The video editor is kind of a cool extra, but it’s done way better elsewhere. Too bad the controls are as painful as most of the stunts you perform otherwise this might have been a decent handheld distraction.

The first two games balanced out any unsavory elements with mega moments and straightforward fun. The third entry simply doesn’t have enough thermal energy to overcome its many problems.

The worst thing about this title is that there are no dowloadable questions, so you can run out fast. I also don't know why they didn't make use of all the different Trivial Pursuit editions out there. [Aug 2004, p.96]

Most irritating is that when you try to steal the ball, your defender will be automatically repositioned in front of the guy dribbling. [June 2002, p.81]

Memoranda has a charming aesthetic and an alluring atmospheric soundtrack, but narrative shortcomings and its flawed puzzles make it a frustrating experience. While its world is interesting at a glance, the game quickly loses its luster as the narrative becomes as directionless as its puzzle design.

From a gameplay standpoint, this is probably more aptly called "Drakengard 1.5" rather than a full sequel, but the improvements make the series' tantalizing mix of big action and dragon airfights much more playable than the first. [Mar 2006, p.106]

Ultimately, I appreciate the vibrant and unique world that Krome Studios creates, and despite the substandard voice work, I enjoy Blade Kitten's wacky characters as well. However, aside from a few puzzles and boss battles, the gameplay fails to leave a lasting impression.

Ninja Gaiden 3 is not a complete train wreck, but it does suffer from a multitude of problems. The action can be fast-paced and engaging at times, but many design decisions significantly bring down the experience. Dumbed-down A.I., a limited arsenal, the series' notoriously difficult camera, no inventory/currency system, and an incoherent story combine to make this the most disappointing title in the series.

Dense with the most boring, tedious, and limp gameplay this side of sewer-water. [Nov 2005, p.180]

Alone in the Dark can be applauded for its innovation, but it cannot be saved from its dysfunction. Had Eden Games added polish, or dare I say it, play-tested the game, it could have been a welcome addition for survival horror fans.

Fundamental gameplay mistakes and atrocious designs run rampant through every inch of this miserable PlayStation 2 application. [June 2003, p.104]

The addition of weapons and two-player missions are welcome indeed. [Jan 2003, p.78]

Dynasty Warriors may have once provided a novel experience, but like metrosexuality and Jennifer Aniston's hair, things that fascinated us a decade ago eventually grow tiresome.

The three-dimensional game world is basically linear, but a brave attempt to add verticality adds some scope.

The gameplay really needs an upgrade before I can recommend this series again. [Nov. 2006, p.130]

The best Turtles game in years, which admittedly is kind of like saying you just got the best punch in the gut you’ve had in years. Nonetheless, TMNT entertains pretty consistently, delivering fast-paced thrills but almost no genuine challenge.

This bird will need a true miracle to rise again from this disaster. [June 2005, p.130]

The story may be new, but the boring battle system and frustrating quests are all too familiar. Its simplicity is charming at points (especially in the dialogue), but ultimately isn’t enough to salvage the whole game.

Wallows in mediocrity. [Oct 2002, p.84]

As forgettable as that time I backed into a parked car and immediately drove away. [Apr 2003, p.95]

After the novelty is gone, it's an adequate, if goofy, golf title with passable technical execution. [June 2004, p.123]

Street Hoops is so bush league it's not even funny. Call it "Barkley Shut Up & Jam 3." [Sept 2002, p.89]

This release, though graphically superior, just doesn’t stack up in terms of intensity or execution of gameplay. [Feb 2002, p.90]

Denied Ops offers the bread and butter of deathmatch, team deathmatch, and conquest, but nothing about this tacked-on feature set stands out. I suppose you could say the same thing about the entire game. [Apr 2008, p.86]

A bigger focus on action (like fighting wild animals) and a wider variety of activities make this more enjoyable than the original, but it still failed to make me care about the characters enough to suffer alongside them.

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