The game looks okay, but combat is dull and it doesn't compare to its PC counterpart. [Dec 2004, p.168]

Playing Lionheart could easily be a completely different experience every time. [Oct 2003, p.141]

I wouldn't be sad if an RPG initiate tried his hand with Harbinger, but for hard-cores like myself, it's definitely forgettable. [May 2003, p.93]

The only thing that could make this worse would be if the game was broken, but then you'd at least be spared the agony of playing it. [Jan 2003, p.96]

The only danger in this game is that you might get electrocuted while smashing your TV for showing you this ugly, tedious crap. [Jan 2004, p.135]

Same crap, different console. [Dec 2001, p.109]

The pumped-up graphics look pretty mediocre at best... the game mechanics are bland and simplistic - like the worst of the Genesis era. [May 2003, p.87]

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.

It may not be the follow-up that fans of the Mana franchise have been hoping for, but cool visuals and an interesting story elevate it above the level of an everyday mindless button-masher. [May 2007, p.87]

This formula was a blast back in 2004, but history has been repeating itself for a decade. Unfortunately, Spider-Man’s open-world shtick has been overplayed so many times that his puns look fresh by comparison.

A grotesque abomination that should be burned at the stake. [Aug 2007, p.93]

Knock-Knock offers players two different endings based on how quickly they finish the game, neither of which provides any kind of satisfying conclusion or explanation as to what the heck is going on in the game. Ultimately, Ice-Pick Lodge is right; Knock-Knock isn't much of a game – or a story, for that matter – which makes it hard to recommend.

This game has about as much play to it as a crusty green booger. You'll marvel at it for a few seconds, only to realize that it's one of the world's most appalling abominations, then will flick it away. [July 2003, p.122]

The remake disappointed me more than delighted me, but it’d be disingenuous to say I didn’t have fun with it. Taking down a boss that’s triple your size is still satisfying, and the wondrous world is teeming with creative baddies, from mushbooms to nitro pumpkins. Even so, this remake doesn’t do enough to address or improve the original’s problems. Some tweaks are for the better, others are for the worse, but the end result is a remake that fails to do anything meaningful with a beloved classic.

With crawling load times and a story that reeks of awkward Japanese translation, a glance should be all you give this game. [Oct 2008, p.109]

Prizefighter definitely has its frustrating moments, but there was enough fight in it – in and out of the ring – to keep me from needing the smelling salts.

Unless you're a hardcore fan of BurgerTime, Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory or Bad Dudes, you're better off saving your quarters. [Issue#203, p.97]

As with most poor racing titles, the control is only solid in the first-person view - the mark of mediocrity. [June 2003, p.113]

It's your run-of-the-mill hack 'n slasher. [Apr 2002, p.83]

As a racer, it's decent; as a freestyle trick game, it sucks. [Nov 2002, p.134]

The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth lures you in with the promise of a strategic city builder, but once you’re on the hook, the fun dissipates as you are repeatedly penalized unless you keep a steady stream of costly mithril flowing through your city. I like strategic city-building games, and I like Tolkien’s universe. I don’t like The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth.

I can see FPS fans having fun with BlackSite since it provides all the standard FPS rollercoaster thrills, but most of us have been up and down those hills a few too many times.

This button-mashing brawler offers decent combat functionality, yet cannot deliver one adversary that you would actually feel good about punching…unless you get a kick out of clocking knights that are as passive as Buddhist monks.

If you go into it knowing that stretches of it can be aggravating, either because they push your skills to the test or make you question the gameplay, it should do the same for you.

Earthfall just isn’t fun. The game has a solid foundation but that structure doesn’t hold anything that’s entertaining or interesting enough to merit the effort of playing it, especially when there are already several superior games that inhabit the same subgenre.

It's business as usual over at 989, and it must figure business is pretty good. Well, it isn't - it's pathetic. [Apr 2005, p.128]

Carnival Games: Monkey See, Monkey Do is too realistic for its own good. Outside of evil carnies appreciating the attention to detail, I can't see anyone enjoying the frustration and feeling of helplessness that undermine most of the minigames.

Disciples III is pretty enough, but it doesn't take long to figure out that there's no soul behind the enticing facade. [Sept 2010, p.95]

It's not a complete failure, per se, but its gameplay is generations behind games that were released five years ago. [June 2002, p.79]

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

As Velvet Assassin’s story unfolds, a realization begins to dawn. Events have nothing to tie them together. No overarching plot shapes your gameplay experience. Instead, these are vignettes devoid of character or emotional resonance.

A jabronie, but it could've been worse. [May 2003, p.83]

The execution of this entry is almost unplayable because it's just so darn dull and clunky, bu tthe ideas are there to make something interesting. [Feb 2005, p.115]

Everything in this title borders on barely functional, from the blurry graphics (no, that isn't Vaseline on your TV screen) to the imprecise targeting. [Aug 2004, p.96]

This is nothing more than a cobbled together batch of decade-old FPS conventions and cliches. There's just not much heart and soul in this game, and the stiff mechanics don't work well enough to make you overlook its weakness. [May 2007, p.96]

Where Armageddon really shines is the combat. [Jan 2004, p.132]

Uninspired design, however, keeps this title firmly lodged in the B-class of RTSs. [Aug 2004, p.106]

During my playtime, my emotions always registered somewhere between mildly annoyed and just plain bored. [May 2004, p.94]

It’s odd that a franchise that has been so creative with its game designs would settle for such pedestrian pursuits. Putting toppings on a pizza? Carrying luggage? Watering plants? Sounds more like “chores” than a party to me.

However, Dynasty's old faults--poor AI and monotonous battling--are readily apparent. [July 2007, p.107]

Though you can get used to the sub-par controls, there’s still no real reason to play Vanguard, from the uninspired level design to the tired subject matter. Sure, it works on a basic level in that you shoot Nazis and they fall down. Beyond that, there isn’t much here to enjoy.

The swordplay is simple, and dreadfully dull. [July 2008, p.86]

While Gotca Force offers several play modes, including Story and Versus, the basic gameplay never changes. [Jan 2004, p.138]

Congratulations, you just spent $20 on 10 minutes of gameplay! [Aug 2008, p.91]

The game's not perfect by any means, but this is an idea that is long overdue, and I, for one, think it deserves some props. [Jun 2006, p.113]

For all the improvement Sarge's War shows over its predecessors, it's still only average at best. [May 2003, p.86]

You're not going to find every feature you've ever wanted packed into Dangerous Golf, but what you will find is a title that nails its core gameplay concept. It lies somewhere between precision and randomness – a place where, not accidentally, a charming heart resides.

You have a GameCube controller handy, Zero Gravity is very nearly mediocre.

It’s bound to be another polarizing title, which ultimately shouldn’t come as a big surprise. I just wish I could have counted myself among its defenders this time.

Unfortunately, the power of combo attacks isn't balanced enough, and combat's simplicity robs it of rhythm. [Sept 2005, p.114]

A relatively simple RPG made moderately unbearable by its slow pace and confused menus. It doesn’t help that the game world is so generic, from the cookie-cutter story to the drab and overly familiar fantasy-themed environments.

If you enjoy making fun of bad movies with friends, the co-op mode might provide you a gaming equivalent, but that’s all it’s good for.

A workmanlike, uninspired racer that just doesn't do enough to sutain my interest. [Aug 2003, p.93]

Crucible isn’t a bad game, but it’s not a good game either. In the context of today’s hero-shooter environment, that makes it a lost soul, struggling to find a strong sense of identity. With time, perhaps Crucible can find reasons to stay on the menu, but right now the recipe is diluted and dull.

If the gameplay had more to recommend it, this would be a must-play on the DS. As it is, it’s an amusing if uninspired romp that should give more than its share of belly laughs to the beat ‘em up ­faithful.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Devoted players may find some depth and strategy in these nuances, but with such underwhelming modes and gameplay, there's no reason to become devoted in the first place. After a few matches, most players will be ready to move on to a bigger, better game.

The graphical style of the show works well on the Wii, and the fighters’ mid-battle banter adds some flavor to the action. I was even amused by the Lightsaber Clash minigames that occasionally interrupted the bouts, even though these sometimes falter due to poor motion control recognition. While these few gameplay elements help make the experience more digestible, it hardly matters because the basic mechanics are a mess.

Not bad, but not good either. [Dec 2002, p.123]

Worthy of a rental, and it may just spawn its own little cult. [Jan 2004, p.151]

Just like a real carnival, you’ll feel cheated more that once playing these virtual simulations, but the real carny scam might be trying to sell this “discount” title for $40.

If you're not averse to the idea of making a fool out of yourself, it's hard to not get at least a couple of laughs out of Kung-Fu High Impact.

Perception is a memorable horror experience that thrives because of its unique setup and gameplay. Although more unsettling than downright terrifying, Perception managed to keep me on the edge of my seat, forcing me to solve a compelling mystery by facing what lurked in the dark.

The general feeling this game conveys is confusion and chaos, akin to being flushed down a jet-powered toilet. [Apr 2006, p.118]

Without any narrative to speak of, you are just left with the repetition of taking on quests, going into the dungeon, and then returning to the hub town to take on more quests.

The races, which conclude each tournament, offer smooth controls and track designs loaded with jumps and tight turns, but given how frequently players get power-ups, they end up being more of a crapshoot of who is dealt the best hand.

Given just how unresponsive and sticky the gameplay is, a strong case can be made that a turd in a toilet has far greater functionalty than the controls in this game. [Dec 2004, p.177]

By the time the final encounter came around, I wasn't looking forward to a satisfying conclusion. I was just ready for the game to conclude.

I suspect the developers might have been better off contstructing this as a pure racing title (as it does do the basics of racing well) and avoiding the shooting action altogether. [Aug 2004, p.94]

Regardless of which mode you play, expect to suffer through several crashes. I experienced more blue screens on the PS4 than any other game I’ve played this generation.

You've got a case here of several awesome features balanced against some utterly frustrating ideas. [July 2005, p.119]

If this game had decent collision - or any semblance of decent collision - it would be much more fun. [Oct 2002, p.87]

Just be warned: the sheen of newness that once glossed these games has faded with time, and several might be better left in your memory. But if you're committed to reliving the good old days, this is a reasonable way to go.

Hunting Grounds treats the character and setting with reverence, which, as a fan of the movies, is easy to appreciate. If you’re looking for an authentic predator experience, this is about as good as it’s gotten. And fittingly, it’s perhaps best enjoyed the way the predators have interacted with humanity: drop in, enjoy the hunt, and get out while you can.

The gunplay is bland, the graphics are solid but repetitive, and most of the multiplayer aspects can be found in a free patch for "NOLF 2." [Jan 2004, p.157]

Unless you're six years old and a mad Potter fan (who didn't play this game on PSone), don't go anywhere near this one. [Jan 2004, p.134]

This year’s COD is a threadbare expansion masquerading as a sequel and an embarrassing way to mark the series’ 20th anniversary.

Despite my multiple gripes with Sonic Forces, I still enjoyed the adventure. 3D Sonic games still aren't to where they should be after such a long time of iteration and experimentation, but through improved gameplay and level design, Sonic Forces continues the series' evolution in the right direction.

I consider myself a Transformers fan, but no amount of appreciation for the series makes me comfortable recommending Transformers: Prime. The benign gameplay may be a good option for fans too young for the gritty action of High Moon's excellent series, but that's about it.

This is a game every zombie fanatic could love, but only the hardest of hardcore gamers can excel at. [June 2007, p.117]

A relative disaster. The PC version of the game still comes highly recommended, but steer clear of this console iteration.

The swordplay is simple, and dreadfully dull. [July 2008, p.86]

I commend the developer for including different modes, but their inadequacies reveal a title that doesn't fully develop any one aspect of itself.

The tedious challenges and lack of vision in the overall design prevent it from being anything more than a waste of time and effort for you, and the development team responsible for this superhero-sized fiasco. [Feb 2003, p.110]

Tenchu also needs a serious upgrade to its enemy AI. It’s hard to imagine that a developer would release a game in this day and age where if you climb up to a rooftop or crawl under a building while an enemy is taking a swing at you, he completely loses track of you. Ninjas deserve better.

When you invest the time to master the challenging combat and explore the world, Bound by Flame is a solid romp with rewarding tactical action supported by rewarding boss battles and plenty of ways to see your choices reflected in the world around you.

With levels that redefine “linear,” there is no need to collect objects in a game like this, but that’s mostly what you end up doing.

The reboot is close enough to the original – warts and all – to entertain the faithful. If you don’t have any nostalgia surrounding Larry and his plight, however, you may be left wondering why anyone bothered digging him up again.

Perhaps if it had been delayed to iron out the bugs, Wrestlemania 21 could have been a champion. [June 2005, p.132]

The dialogue in Korea can be offensive in its use of racial stereotypes in a failed attempt to be funny. The real joke's on the game itself. [Jan 2004, p.157]

Kinect Star Wars is a bad game. If you go into it knowing that you are getting full-on camp like The Star Wars Holiday Special rather than a legitimate Star Wars experience, it can be fun, but you do have to tolerate faulty Kinect recognition the whole time. Ever since Nintendo introduced the Wii, I've been hoping LucasArts would deliver a great motion-based lightsaber experience, but Kinect Star Wars left me wanting a controller again.

The dreary level designs and overly repetitive gameplay sours the overall experience. Also, for the love of God, please stop with the coin collecting. It's over. [Oct 2004, p.136]

The novelty of playing around with augmented reality will quickly wear out under the weight of the game's shallowness and obnoxious demeanor.

The Wii version is notable for using motion slashing on both the nunchuk and remote, although the attacks you generate aren't that sophisticated. The game's areas are also slightly bigger and require less loading on the Wii. [Apr 2009, p.81]

All the beautiful graphics in the world can’t save a game as badly designed as Genji. Unless you’re looking for nothing more than a pretty face, stay well away from this mediocre-at-best effort.

Please, just don’t play this.

If you've been a devout Super Monkey Ball fan since the beginning you may be more willing to overlook this entry's glaring faults. If you haven't hopped on board the banana bandwagon, however, the weakly implemented 3D and unusable motion controls won't be enough to make you a believer.

It's well worth a look, but go into it knowing that it offers some problems that you thought that developers destroyed years ago. [June 2007, p.114]