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.

For better or worse, Rise of Nightmares doesn't support a standard controller. Even if it did, the game would still be just as guilty of blandness. Combine this sin with the constant control struggles, and it's tough to recommend this game for even the most desperate Kinect owner.

It feels like National Geographic and Ultimate Fighting mushed together in a bad, bad way. [July 2006, p.106]

Avoid this game like you would a laser beam to the head. [Dec 2003, p.150]

Leave this one stranded on Ceti Alpha V – it’s of no use to you or the cause of the Federation. [Feb 2008, p.96]

Eureka Seven could have been decent if the LFOs didn't feel like they were slliding on thin ice, or the lifting delivered any sensation of speed or excitement. [Oct. 2006, p.100]

Whatever critical punishment you can level at the game, its gameplay core packs enough punch to survive your flurry.

In the end, Transformers delivers over-the-top action with wild abandon, and leaves most of the more complex elements of good gameplay behind coughing from the dust kicked up by a giant transforming war machine.

Perhaps the most damning thing about this game is that its simple nature is almost out of necessity. [Aug 2005, p.106]

The game fails in the simple task of capturing the excitement of actual bowling. [July 2004, p.112]

I'm not your financial advisor, and I don't care how you spend your money. As one human being to another, I feel a responsibility to advise you not to bother with this boring mess. There are way better bad games out there to play, and even more good ones that are worth your time.

The general structure is annoying, but it's really the obtuse design that ensures that every second you play Valhalla Knights is irritating. [Mar 2007, p.107]

Even if I never played "NBA 2K1" or "NBA Live," I'd still know this game sucks. [Nov 2001, p.122]

The biggest problem is that Dawn of Destiny restricts your freedom like a galactic despot. [June 2004, p.132]

An exciting, wild ride of explosions, falling buildings, and cars tumbling end-over-end through the air. But, behind all the noise and confusion, it’s a shallow, short, and simplistic game.

Even as a brief five-hour adventure, Oure is thoroughly unpleasant. Even if the control scheme was better and everything was more polished, nothing beyond its distinct visuals makes Oure stand out or provide consistent entertainment. The concept of saving the world as a dragon taking on monsters in the skies is exciting, but the final experience falls far short of that vision.

A nice little blue light special for racing fans. [Mar 2003, p.83]

It's a lot of fun, and definitely not the run-of-the-mill GBA license cash-in. [Dec 2002, p.152]

Living up to a legend is practically impossible, but instead of providing an entertaining experience on its own terms, SolSeraph adheres to an ancient blueprint. It seems content to imitate rather than innovate, but its tedious gameplay can’t even accomplish that. I love ActRaiser, and I can’t blame SolSeraph for failing to recapture the magic of a 16-bit classic. At the same time, SolSeraph doesn’t have much value apart from how it reminds you of a better game you may have played about 30 years ago.

Looking very similar, both of these versions certainly don't pack the graphical punch as the next-gen versions, and the sense of speed and some of the racing thrills suffer because of it. [Jan 2008, p.89]

Without a workable control scheme (standard analog movement is not an option), I fear most people will find themselves flustered beyond belief with the game like I was.

Single-player is utterly forgettable, but the online play is much smoother and more solid than what most of us have come to expect out of a $30 under-the-radar release. [May 2006, p.98]

The game, however, is a complete disaster, and is just barely playable. The content is definitely worth seeing, but you'll have to trudge through gaming hell to see it.

My arms are sore from web swinging, I have a headache from fighting monotonous rounds of thugs, and I’m frustrated that in an “open world” I don’t have more control over my destiny. I guess it’s not as fun to be a superhero as I’ve always thought.

A sub-par fighting game whose action plods along with the raging speed of an awards show. [May 2003, p.94]

While it is alarming how well her music translates to MIDI, the GBA handles her classics with amazing grace. [July 2002, p.93]

Targeting has also been automated, a change that I think is actually a good thing for the game. Unfortunately, the physics and control of the cars is pretty terrible, and it really hurts my opinion of the game as a whole.

If you are more concerned about recreating the spectacle of Dragon Ball Z than playing a refined game, you will have a good time here. Battle of Z values style over substance, but for an anime about super humans fighting super aliens while flying through the air, maybe it is the appropriate direction.

The entire package, whether it's boring fetch missions or jokes that fall flat, feels uninspired and rushed. [May 2008, p.95]

It doesn't excel at anything. [Aug 2003, p.99]

The characters – despite the level of depth that there is in the subtleties of gift giving and partnering up – aren’t really women at all. Aside from the obvious problems with presenting such unrealistic body images, there’s something disappointing about the way these hypersexualized characters are portrayed as childish, vacant, silly, and vain.

So maybe the battle system and AI still suck, and the graphics look like an original Xbox game. Is that really a big deal? Building up an army and conquering a nation is still fun. Who cares if hundreds of other games do it better?

Looking at the world of Redfall, I become sad by its wasted potential. For every great location, there are a handful of forgettable ones. The result is an empty-feeling game with several puzzling problems, like a lack of proper stealth takedowns, a tedious quest and waypoint system, and the inability to pause gameplay in single-player mode. Rampant technical issues hinder brighter moments, including frequent server crashes during multiplayer, inputs failing to work, broken animations, and numerous other bugs that make playing Redfall a frustrating experience. For a game about fighting the undead, Redfall feels soulless in all the wrong ways.

Beating the entire game takes less than two hours, but it still somehow manages to drag. You can return to the game’s six stages to try and get higher scores, but I had zero interest in doing so. The arcade games of yesteryear sometimes lacked depth, but they at least had a hook that stuck with you and kept you itching to return to pump more quarters into the cabinet. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants strives for the greatness of the influential arcade hits of the past but falls well short. Thanks to uninteresting and annoying gameplay, repetitive enemy and boss encounters, and grating audio design, Wrath of the Mutants is little more than a shell of the series’ glory years.

It's a completely mediocre shooter that's actually weighed down by its distinguishing gimmick.

Heroes is better than the typical Move cash-in, and every now and then the action is reminiscent of what makes these three franchises popular. However, with more characters than gameplay events, and no interaction between the protagonists outside of a few cutscenes, it's hard to imagine a fan that wouldn't feel disappointed by this (non)mash-up.

This title's adherence to both the substance and sytle of the show are what kept me playing it - and I'm not even a fan. [May 2002, p.88]

Great graphics, good music, a somewhat amusing plot, and a humorous "hiding" mechanic are all wasted for the want of something to do besides search for keys and clues while performing some lightweight platforming. [Jan 2004, p.160]

I love seeing innovation like this, especially in a genre that can be as immobile as RTS, but between the severely lacking technical implementation, bad presentation, and unforgivable UI, it's like Cyanide was trying to make its game as impenetrable as possible. I'd give this one a pass unless you have a couple buddies you can count on for some quality multiplayer time or just dig unusual designs.

As disappointing as Spare Parts is, I hope that we do see the characters again. They deserve to be in a better game.

This game should have stayed dark for another few months, because it's not ready for the field. [June 2011, p.95]

Sure, Pokétopia might sound a lot like the trips you took to Pokémon Stadium 1&2 or that weekend at Pokémon Colosseum. That’s because this is the same trip, we’ve just repainted the signs and moved to a different system.

Natural Doctrine isn’t noteworthy outside of it’s combat, if you feel like strategy games have grown stale, Kadokawa Games’ curious take on the genre is an interesting change of pace.

I have my complaints with the game, but the overwhelming feeling I have while tracking the wily Sandiego around the world is simple boredom. [Feb 2004, p.103]

The old saying, "the whoe is not equal to the sum of its parts," hold particularly true with Cruis'n Velocity. [Mar 2002, p.91]

Simply lacks refinement in a number of areas, with the level desing being the foremost culprit. [Nov 2002, p.141]

Whatever critical punishment you can level at the game, its gameplay core packs enough punch to survive your flurry.

Top off the list with repetitive and uninspired boss battles, an off-kilter depth of field and a one-dimensional economy, and Fairytale Fights is offensive, just not in the way Playlogic intended.

Laughably bad dialogue combines with broken combat and tedious gameplay to create one of the worst games in years. Choose the Wii version, and you’re in for a special form of torture, as your camera wildly wheels about and an added layer of stupidity is included while aiming a weapon.

Long story short, the adventure motif simply didn't catch. [Sept. 2006, p.88]

Unless you despise the X-Men movies and simply want more ammo that can be used to insult your friends, I strongly advise that you avoid this game like you would a French kissing toad. [July 2006, p.104]

Remember the time when we were playing Cy Girls and we had to backtrack to the bathroom in an earlier part of a level to get to the controls of a robotic vacuum cleaner so we could open that door? That was awesome! [Mar 2004, p.107]

During Dawn of Fate, I would get so turned around, I found myself back at the beginning of a level, instead of pressing on into the next sections. [Oct 2002, p.91]

A mundane action title that screams mediocrity in almost every way. [Feb 2003, p.101]

Botched DS implementation. [July 2009, p.83]

As someone who enjoys Stranger Things, walking around a pixelated version of Hawkins’ familiar locations with characters from the show is enjoyable. Outside of the sightseeing, however, the game does little else to garner excitement. The combat doesn’t ask much of the player and the mission structure underwhelms. If you want to experience the events of Stranger Things’ third season, you’re better off sticking to the source material.

Melee attacks in light gun games always suck. It’s too hard to judge the effective distance of your weapon, and much of the fun of melee combat as a concept is tied to the use of space and the tactics involved in controlling the flow of the fight. Unfortunately for Samurai Warriors: Katana, it’s basically a light gun game with melee weapons.

A great concept, but I just don't think the PS2 version of the EyeToy technology has the horsepower to pull it off. [Dec 2005, p.176]

You must be a forgiving and devoted fan to enjoy the best that this game can offer. Otherwise, you're better off following the words of Genna Lannister: "Better to mock the game than to play and lose."

There are far too many flaws for it to compete. [Dec 2002, p.123]

The game is saddled with the same lackluster gameplay that has plagued the entire Army Men series.

Carves its own identity. [Mar 2011, p.98]

Keep your expectations in check, and there's some fun in the mayhem. [Oct 2005, p.126]

My intense 4X fandom has been conquered by Elemental's nonstop irritations. I'm putting it down for now, but I'm not writing the game off forever.

It's clear that the team didn't have the time and resources to really do Bodycount right, and the departure of at least two high level people during development didn't help either. What's left is a bland and essentially incomplete game that fans hoping for more Black, or simply a decent shooter, will be disappointed in.

Oh, how many restless nights have I spent yearning for a Koei game that would combine the worst parts of "Dynasty Warriors" with those of "Samurai Warriors"! [Oct 2007, p.113]

I found myself repeating ("stupid") endlessly as I writhed and winced my way through this lifeless and contrived adventure. [Jan 2005, p.119]

Telltale's flawed but entertaining approach to the Back to the Future license left me hopeful for the developer's take on Jurassic Park. Despite some early reservations, I still felt like that goose-bumped 13-year-old boy as the game's opening theme started and Jurassic Park's logo popped on screen. Unlike my younger self, however, I was in for a disappointment. [Jan 2012, p.87]

It comes out of the gate with a strong opening set and sprinkles in a good joke every time the audience gets restless. But the gameplay itself is as diluted as a happy hour special in an 18-and-over club.

A bare-bones affair that has little in the way of depth or real strategy, nonetheless delivers a solid meat-and-potatoes (or fish and chips, in this case) fishing experience. [May 2002, p.83]

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a gameplay disaster filled with one-dimensional characters that lacks many of the impressive ILM effects from the film. Yet somehow its story is still better than the ­movie’s.

Building off the success of Payday is a decent premise for Starbreeze to explore. Raid: World War II does not successfully lead a winning campaign, however. The poor A.I., repetitive design, and technical problems had me waving a white flag long before the war should have been over. If Starbreeze plans to turn this into a long-running service game, it has a lot of work to do.

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

On its surface, Realms delivers the experience it promises. However, a closer look reveals too many missing elements that come standard in comparable games. Realms is like a first-person shooter without a reload button. The game works, and you still get to shoot, but you're going to notice that button is missing and it's going to frustrate you to no end.

In the end, Transformers delivers over-the-top action with wild abandon, and leaves most of the more complex elements of good gameplay behind coughing from the dust kicked up by a giant transforming war machine. [Sept 2007, p.114]

I could forgive the sub-par progression if Krater's battles were more interesting, but the optimal tactical approach is often obvious and the encounters don't vary much. What's there is fun, but it wears thin quickly as there's little room for improvisation or innovation in battle.

This is "Fuzion Frenzy" with one-liners about stuffing ballot boxes and endless, boring minigame repetition. [July 2008, p.86]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Quite and ugly game. There's more pop-up than a toaster, and the music is unappealing to anyone without a straw hat. [Apr 2002, p.79]

I did enjoy the escort missions, and the co-op is decent, but they can't hide the fact that 187 is just plain mediocre. [Oct 2005, p.128]

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 feels like a bad parody of military shooters, but with poorly textured environments and sub-par mechanics. I like being the lone-wolf sniper as much as the next shooter fan, but City Interactive fumbles the power-trip from start to finish.

South Park fans will be disappointed by the pandering references and lazy writing, and platforming fans will hate the awful level design. This is a game for no one.

You might have some fond memories of this series, but I suggest you avoid eye contact with this game the next time you're at the store. [Feb 2009, p.86]

After this miserable showing, the only waters that Jaws will be patrolling are those of the great video game toilet. [Aug 2006, p.84]

Umbrella may have filled Raccoon City with horrific creatures, but SlantSix has tainted the fabled town in its own way. It's difficult recommending a return to Raccoon when you have to endure buggy AI, clunky gameplay, and terrible glitches like disappearing floors. Yes, on more than one occasion my friends and I had to ditch whole missions because we kept falling into an empty void.

The worst part is that, for all the simplistic level goals and unimaginable gameplay, the horrible control almost manages to make this inane garbage somewhat challenging. [May 2002, p.88]

To paraphrase Wooderson, Matthew McConaughey's character from "Dazed and Confused": "Racing games keep getting better; Auto Modellista just stays the same." [Apr 2004, p.106]

It’s great that Team Soho has tried to break out in some new directions; it’s a pity that the gameplay and missions aren’t up to the challenge. The most disappointing aspect for me was the total linearity and lack of freedom that makes this an “open world” game in name only.

I'm not your financial advisor, and I don't care how you spend your money. As one human being to another, I feel a responsibility to advise you not to bother with this boring mess. There are way better bad games out there to play, and even more good ones that are worth your time.

Winback 2 is an abysmal relic of gamings that sets a new low bar for itself and fails miserably to even hit that. [Jun 2006, p.112]

As disappointing as Spare Parts is, I hope that we do see the characters again. They deserve to be in a better game.

Soulcalibur Legends is a trap, luring in gullible gamers with the promise of two-player co-op and a cast of characters from the series. Once you take the bait, the whole rusty contraption snaps shut – and you will carry the scars of playing it for the rest of your life.

It's tough to be impressed by a game based on a Pixar movie, when it's a given Pixar's CG is 2,000 times better than anything a current game system could offer. [Apr 2002, p.77]

If "Driver" married its cousin, there's a good chance the spawn of said union would look a lot like The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee. [Oct 2004, p.129]

Cing's latest blend of game and novel could've been an intriguing "whodunit" if streamlined into a more digestible package. Instead, the glacial pace of weak plot development and the few poke-around puzzles in between left much to be desired.

Offers nothing but mindless button-mashing, boring level design, and horrible pacing. [May 2004, p.100]

Like a waterlogged corpse afloat in a handheld sea, Jack Sparrow's PSP adventure stinks. [Sept. 2006, p.100]

Umbrella may have filled Raccoon City with horrific creatures, but SlantSix has tainted the fabled town in its own way. It's difficult recommending a return to Raccoon when you have to endure buggy AI, clunky gameplay, and terrible glitches like disappearing floors. Yes, on more than one occasion my friends and I had to ditch whole missions because we kept falling into an empty void.