Though sub-par action and cheap deaths are endemic to the Bard's quest, this title made me feel like I was taking part in a real fantasy adventure teh way few others have over the years. [Dec 2004, p.167]

Crimson Shroud takes the RPG formula and boils it down to its essence. The story reads like a novel, the characters are tabletop miniatures, and instead of exploring dungeons, you select areas from a map to enter and roll dice during combat. It's a blessing for old-school RPG fans who love managing statistics, but it also showcases why some old RPG mechanics have been abandoned.

I can recall many times I involuntarily smiled as I saw what the level designers came up with. Those exhilarating moments of discovery and excitement – the moment you see the approach the designer took – are what will stick with me when I look back on my time with Klaus.

The gameplay matters most in Wild Hearts – it’s fresh, chaotic, and breathless. It does not reinvent the hunting genre, but it does just enough with its addition of the Karakuri gadgets and arresting locales (not to mention the myriad ways to traverse them) to give the genre a fresh and welcome perspective. A stronger story would have been welcome, and the camera leaves much to be desired, but Wild Hearts is a deeply engaging experience even with these faults.

Thankfully, WWE '13 allows fans to recreate virtually anything you see on Raw without resorting to an overly complex control scheme.

Characters and circumstances need be more natural and plausible for me to buy into this world. So much is too overblown.

Gigantic is an accessible MOBA that admirably scales the genre down, but loses the magic that makes the genre so enticing. It lacks many of the myriad ability and character interactions that make learning these kinds of games so much fun, and the combat doesn’t find a comfortable center between MOBA and third-person action.

There's no pretense here--this is a portable Lemmings game, as fun or frustrating as you remember. [July 2006, p.113]

If you like the Tony Hawk titles like I do, you will find Project 8 to be both a challening and entertaining addition to the series. [Jan 2007, p.99]

If you can put up with the lack of precision in the hockey stick peripheral and the shallow nature of the other game modes, NHL Slapshot's fun Peewee to Pro mode captures the spirit of hockey from the backyard ponds to the packed arenas in a way that should appeal to adults and children alike.

The Heist is well worth your time, especially if the post-credits sequences in the main game have you counting the days until a potential Spider-Man 2.

Moving to PS2 has also done SmackDown's gameplay a world of good, allowing for many new techniques and features. [Dec 2001, p.90]

The combination of missions, discovering new eggs, and furthering the story keeps this game from hitting that stale spell that plagues many RPGs. [Feb 2002, p.83]

I still can't stand the passing system, and I'm certainly not going to fork over the cash just for better looking players. [Apr 2002, p.77]

If you happened to miss this in arcades or for DC, MVC 2 is a sweet 2D fighter worthy of purchase. [Dec 2002, p.122]

Although this game is seemingly benign in appearance, it quickly becomes window dressing for the text portion of your missions. [Jan 2002, p.94]

The persistent army customization is a fun hook to maintain interest, the ebb and flow of battle is more dynamic (fighting the AI quickly becomes a tedious slog through its long stream of reinforcements), and the usual RTS pacing metagame becomes something of a remedy for the tepid nuts and bolts of battle.

It’s a great conclusion, and hopefully a sign that Telltale still has some surprises when it comes to interactive storytelling.

It’s a shame so many problems weigh on this otherwise enjoyable adventure. Even with the screen-crowding, bugs, and depth-perception troubles, I still look back fondly on the superb level design and movement mechanics. But because of those important detractors, Penny’s Big Breakaway lands as a solid 3D platformer unable to swing to the great heights it felt destined for.

Mostly, I am just happy that there is a good Mario Party available in the Switch 2’s launch window. It’s not a game I see myself booting up on my own, but as a means to get a party going with players of all skill levels, I am glad I have it on the metaphorical shelf.

For fans of games like Harvest Moon, spending some time on the farm is an entertaining getaway from the world of high-octane blockbusters. Unfortunately, the pastoral scenes feel too similar and mechanical day after day. Once the thrill of starting a new life wears off, all you have left is your chores.

Chorus can be an entertaining space combat adventure at times, but the mediocre moments take a considerble toll.

No aspect of life remains unscathed, from sexual repression and homophobia to government conspiracy and rampant paranoia. And it's funny. Very funny. [July 2005, p.114]

Infestation's quality is surprising in a sea of mediocre licensed games. It's not afraid to show off where it got its inspiration, but that's okay. Metroid's format works well in the world of Aliens. There are a few minor frustrations, and the mortality of the characters was surprising, even frustrating at first, but ultimately it adds a worthwhile sense of fear to the entire game. If you're a fan of Metroid, Aliens, or just solid handheld experiences, don't let Infestation become forgotten as the 3DS wave washes over us.

To enjoy Pac-Man 99, I had to accept the frustrations that came with learning its systems. While it does an embarrassingly poor job of explaining the hows-and-whys of its mechanics, once you figure them out on your own, it's a good way to fill lulls in your day. Pac-Man 99 has become my go-to when I want to do something else, and I can't think of much higher praise for a game of this caliber. It fills a niche in my life where I can stay occupied with something fun without the need to devote all of my increasingly limited attention to it.

If Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War excels at anything, it’s options. This isn’t uncommon for a Call of Duty title, but with a vast array of game modes for myriad player profiles and a fun campaign that retains a summer-blockbuster feel while getting weird and wild, the ride is a good one.

Evolve's matchups offer a lot of replayability and competitive thrills, and I can see myself returning to it consistently in the following months – even if those play sessions do inevitably end with me lusting for more to do in the world.

Bombing runs can be fun, but navigating slow ships with even slower ammo reloads and babysitting units doesn’t add up to a riveting experience. Count this bored midshipman out.