Switch Galaxy Ultra is a revamp of the PS Mobile title Switch Galaxy, which itself was a follow-up to the iOS/Android game called Switch. This successor offers more impressive visuals and more levels, but the flawed structure, controls, and general repetitiveness result in a wreck on the track.

It's a cakewalk of a game that spends far too much time admiring its scenic sights from horseback. Now, if you're looking for a horse and carriage simulator that periodically makes you feel like you're drunk, run out and get it immediately.

While the controls aren't as big a deal on the PC, the spotty AI, poor pacing, and lack of depth doom both versions. [Nov 2008, p.118]

Outside of the campaign levels, players can also test their endurance on challenge maps or strive to reach the top of challenge leaderboards. I appreciate the attempt to make a feature-packed mobile title, but control and AI issues keep Strike Team from being the polished experience that’s typically associated with the Call of Duty name.

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.

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.

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.

A strange deviation that's uninspiring to say the least. [Mar 2002, p.91]

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.

The lack of online racing and leaderboards makes this game even more useless. If you want arcade racing on the Wii, dust off your copy of Excite Truck or just wait it out for Mario Kart.

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.

The control is stiff and imprecise; and the number of gameplay modes is pathetic. [June 2003, p.105]

Wada says he named the game Birthdays the Beginning because he sees this as the start of a larger series. Perhaps there are some elements that didn’t make it here that could redeem Birthdays down the line. For the time being, it’s a tedious and obscure simulation that, more than anything else, made me yearn for another SimEarth.

In the end, I think all Left Brain, Right Brain reliably tests is patience. [Feb 2008, p.102]

Inkonbini spent its five-hour runtime talking to me – not with me – and I never felt a part of this town’s culture or its inhabitants' lives in the way the writing says I was. Customers would enter my store, hit their marks, share their golden lesson of the day, and the shift would end. I’d do the same thing the following day, and the following day, until Makoto’s final shift arrived and the game ended with a cheery but unearned celebration of my week at Honki Ponki. It’s a disappointing konbini experience for someone who genuinely cherishes them in Japan. It is neither narratively nor mechanically engaging, and though Makoto seemed to enjoy each shift, I rarely did.

The sense of speed is somewhat equivalent to the electric carts available to the recently injured at grocery stores. [Oct 2003, p.123]

Medal of Honor: Warfighter more resembles an untrained insurgent trying to figure out a state-of-the-art rocket launcher than a Tier 1 soldier.

Simply put, it's just not that fun. [Jan 2004, p.141]

It can't hold off the stench of rot that is setting in on by-the-book platformers like this. [Jan 2004, p.135]

The uninspired single-player campaign, uneven multiplayer execution, and rampant presence of glitches undermine Medal of Honor: Warfighter's efforts to join the Tier 1 of military shooters.

The Syberia series is a product of its time, and Syberia 3 doesn’t bring back any excitement. It is plagued by bugs, a disappointing storyline, cliché characters, and puzzles that are more frustrating than fun. This return fails to do the series justice, feeling more like an unpolished and dated adventure game instead of a revival.

For kids just getting into video games, it's a great place to start. [Nov 2001, p.123]

My biggest problem is the fact that you can't hold down a shot button to pre-load a swing - the computer takes the backswing for you - something that seems contrary to the way most tennis games have operated in the past. [July 2004, p.115]

With a skippable story mode, a poorly implemented in-game currency system, and shallow multiplayer offerings, Super Bomberman R is not worth your time. It's a better multiplayer game than a single-player game, but it's not a particularly good multiplayer game either.

A dreary, joyless piece of junk that shamelessly tries to get kids to believe that cleaning is fun. [Feb 2006, p.108]

I sweated through several of Personal Trainer's routines, and by the end, felt the comfortable muscle burn you usually get after a workout, which I suppose is one of the goals of any fitness program, but UFC Personal Trainer fails to deliver in every other way. These digital trainers are less helpful than a real trainer and the martial arts drills they run you through lack the satisfaction of punching a real boxing mitt or speed bag. This trainer won't make you a champion.

If Activision cares to know, fans are indeed hungry for a new Transformers game – just not one that shamelessly tries to make us trade our hard-earned cash for junk.

If Activision cares to know, fans are indeed hungry for a new Transformers game – just not one that shamelessly tries to make us trade our hard-earned cash for junk.

The gameplay formula [is] a complete and utter catastrophe. [May 2002, p.84]

There aren't enough carrots dangled under your nose to keep you crawling through the monotony of randomly generated dungeons, and the text-based.

Kung Fu Panda 2 may win over fans on the cinematic front, but I can't say the same about its Kinect counterpart. Kung Fu Panda 2's charming cast of characters do a great job of moving the Kinect title's story mode along, however lag in full body combat sequences and noticeable lack of polish in minigames do little in making the user feel like the ultimate kung fu master.

Doesn't offer enough depth or strategy. [Jan 2003, p.114]

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.

I was finished with Mr. Shifty long before the credits rolled. It didn’t make me feel like a skilled thief or a rad, teleporting vigilante. It just made me tired and disappointed to see such a neat premise amount to nothing more than a chore.

Every conceivable feature is executed with a class-B mentality. [Apr 2005, p.136]

Doomed to be as bland as the Rock's acting. [June 2002, p.87]

Even if you consider yourself a fan of the series, don’t waste your time here. There was a time when the Mana name meant something, but this is a disappointing entry that drags the franchise through the mud.

It’s a shame this port was released in a worse technical state than many beta builds I’ve played, because the core design of Universe at War (minus the lame by-the-numbers scripted campaign) is quite good.

Playing Sonic 4: Episode II co-op is like returning to your favorite family vacation destination as an adult and bringing along a friend. You point at the broken attractions and try to convince them how good things used to be, but no amount of nostalgia can change the fact that the powers that be have let your beloved memory deteriorate.

Playing Sonic 4: Episode II co-op is like returning to your favorite family vacation destination as an adult and bringing along a friend. You point at the broken attractions and try to convince them how good things used to be, but no amount of nostalgia can change the fact that the powers that be have let your beloved memory deteriorate.

Somewhat amusing... but only, and I stress this, if you've already consumed every little morsel within "Tony 4." [Dec 2002, p.122]

There are some minor tweaks here and there for this Wii remake, most notably the use of the nunchuk for reeling in the lunkers, but nothing that stops this game from being extremely dated and lacking in content and variety.

I don't think I've ever been as bored as I was playing Warship Gunner 2. [Apr 2006, p.124]

I wish I could warp back to the time when Power of Illusion was full of mysterious promise.

Legacy is a little too "classic" for its own good; it needs more than a facelift to appeal to the modern gamer. [Mar 2009, p.95]

The deep upgrade system is completely wasted by the action itself, which is some of the worst I've ever seen. [June 2005, p.136]

Myriad control problems, brain dead AI, and a cringe-worthy storyline make Mindjack a shooter worth skipping.

Controlling your hero directly, action game style, is a neat gimmick even though it's in poor execution. [Aug 2006, p.88]

Myriad control problems, brain dead AI, and a cringe-worthy storyline make Mindjack a shooter worth skipping.

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.

There really isn't much here to recommend. The reason? As usual, suspect gameplay and poor camerawork are the culprits. [Sept 2002, p.85]

Prime World: Defenders had an exceptionally low bar to clear to get me on board, but the staid design and brutal grind managed to miss even that simple goal. Because the power differential between basic and improved cards is so great, the difficulty ticks over from impossible to trivial out of nowhere. Neither extreme is much fun, and unfortunately neither is Prime World: Defenders.

Unfortunately, the game's cel-shaded graphics are the real loser here because they're wasted on the wrong title. [Mar 2002, p.81]

I wish I could say that this game's poor design and execution was a surprise, but let's be honest: old Sonic's been down so long it looks like up to him. [May 2009, p.87]

I just didn't have any fun playing this game. Honestly, I hated every second of it. [Nov 2004, p.154]

Many [games] don't quite play the way they should since you don't have the keypad, which was one of the system's highlights. [Feb 2004, p.103]

Final Four gets a nonstop trip to Dumpsville. [Dec 2001, p.50]

Go pick up a cheap copy of any flavor of Guild Wars if you want subscription-free heroic fantasy PvP.

Wheel World is an amalgamation of boring races and exploration, poor storytelling, and often clumsy gameplay that never felt great. Its unique art style and excellent soundtrack feel wasted on what’s here, and the premise of the game is more exciting than anything that actually happens. When I crossed Wheel World’s finish line, I felt nothing about what I had accomplished, instead feeling more excited to get off this bike for good.

If there's a legend here, it's that this title fails to raise your heartbeat in almost any way. [Mar 2002, p.79]

The best feature of Driver ’76 is definitely the retro soundtrack, featuring ‘70s musicians such as Funkadelic, Marvin Gaye, David Bowie, and Blonde. Also to its credit, Driver ‘76’s driving and shooting mechanics work well, however recycled and sterile the content may be.

A poor delivery and shoddy production values ruin Get On Da Mic. [Dec 2004, p.177]

Like those lemonade stands, good intentions can’t change this lukewarm sugar-water into something satisfying.

The end product fails as a fighter, as a part of the Castlevania series, and as a video game in general.

Oogie's Revenge stacks up against the original about as well as "Devil May Cry 2" or "Blues Brothers 2000." [Nov 2005, p.149]

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.

It's better to play it with quarters (i.e. in the arcade) than it is with bills (i.e. fifty singles at the store). [May 2002, p.87]

I was thankful that this experience didn't last over three hours total, but players who paid money for it might not be as pleased. Spirit Camera has some extras to check out, but most of them involve repacking campaign content or taking photos with silly ghosts inserted into them. You can always play through a harder version of the campaign with added text and a cute new outfit for Maya, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Target Liberty should receive a citation for roughing up the prestigious SWAT franchise. We can only hope the next effort more closely resembles its fantastic predecessors.

When minigames not involving golf are the standout parts of a mini golf title, you know you’ve missed the mark.

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.

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]

It's not that XGRA is bad per se, it's that the game has absolutely no soul. None. Zip. Zero. I have never played a game so devoid of personality. [Nov 2003, p.171]

The kindest thing I can say about Battletoads is this: It works. The controls are fine, I encountered no major technical issues, and an optional invincibility feature allows you to easily clear sections that are giving you too much trouble. Simply being playable from beginning to end is a tragically low bar to clear, but it’s the main thing Battletoads has going for it. Otherwise, this baffling experience digs through decades of gaming history to unearth the Battletoads name only to drag it through the mud.

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]

This side-scrolling button masher's personality is as dry as Ben Affleck's and the gameplay sucks about as much as J-Lo (take that however you see fit). [Mar 2003, p.91]

There are plenty of better ways to do a bunch of crap with your friends that isn't ay fun and doesn't make any sense, like hiding batteries in people's shoes. [Dec 2005, p.178]

The Rabbids games have always been about silly, disposable fun, and Alive & Kicking at least delivers on two of those fronts. This installment includes the additional challenges of long load times, poor controls, and a palpable sense of déjà vu. These might not be deal-breakers for everyone, but at this point I'm ready to let the Rabbids rage by themselves.

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

If pushed and polished, Create could have been a rewarding experience. Instead, it feels like EA Bright Light needed some inspiration of its own. [Jan 2011, p.82]

Lacks all the fundamentals that a game of this type so desperately needs. [Nov 2003, p.143]

If pushed and polished, Create could have been a rewarding experience. Instead, it feels like EA Bright Light needed some inspiration of its own. [Jan 2011, p.82]

Seriously, this is essentially the world's slowest third-person shooter with hoses instead of rifles. [Mar 2004, p.107]

I wish I had nicer things to say about Impire, but my disappointment with its failure to turn any of its concepts into interesting interactive gameplay is total. As cool as the concept is, gamers interested in building an underground lair and tormenting would-be heroes are still stuck waiting for a worthy successor to 1997's Dungeon Keeper.

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.

It will cost a couple hours of your life to finish Only If, and that price is too high for the few fleeting, interesting concepts buried in the wreckage.

I am not exaggerating when I say that any of the many Front Mission games will serve your giant robot strategy/RPG needs far better than Zoids Assault ever could. Don’t waste your time here.

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]

Gamers looking for a satisfying meal in Temple of the Frog will find themselves going hungry. [Nov 2001, p.131]

Oogie's Revenge stacks up against the original about as well as "Devil May Cry 2" or "Blues Brothers 2000." [Nov 2005, p.149]

A dumb, forgettable game and nothing else. [Sept 2005, p.100]

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.

I hate this game's archaic point of view which I've dubbed Pole Position Syndrome. [June 2002, p.87]

Oddly enough, you aren’t able to decorate a home of your own. You have to live vicariously through your clients as you apparently live out of a car. Happy Home Designer may be fun for people who are ravenous over home design, but without the additional Animal Crossing elements, I never felt like I was putting down any serious roots or working toward a larger purpose.

Lacks the planned skill of the criminals that the game portrays; and instead, comes off as a mindless licensed product. [Aug 2003, p.98]

This innovative concept proves to be very frustrating in real life. [Oct 2003, p.142]

Like Joey Harrington, this game is totally worthless and not worth $40. Do not buy this title. [Nov 2005, p.182]

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