If the Smash Bros. formula has worn thin for you, the Smash-Up experience will feel as sturdy as a wet paper towel. On the other hand, Smash Bros. and TMNT fans should embrace this game’s dodge-happy action.

There are some cool things to do, like level-up and outfit you hero with items, , which I find to be the most endearing part of the series. [Aug 2004, p.106]

The hand-drawn environments are gorgeous, as are the visuals as a whole, but that doesn't mean I want to see the same areas again and again. [March 2005, p.130]

In skating terms, this game's success is more than just dropping in on a vert ramp for the first time without eating it face-first. Shaun White Skateboarding has some tricks in its back pocket, and I look forward to it expanding its arsenal in the future.

The load times can be annoying, but it's a small price to pay for Power Stone on the go. [Nov. 2006, p.144]

Enemy AI and targeting are very suspect. [Jan 2003, p.113]

Even with the man who created the 007 persona back in the starring role, this sequel just can't measure up to the standards of excellence set by the Bond films or by the action game genre in general. [Dec 2005, p.160]

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

Definitely a decent game, but if the franchise doesn't evolve, it runs the risk of losing its crown as the dominant PS2 shooter. [Dec 2005, p.166]

Warmind effectively rounds out Destiny 2’s first year, and represents a franchise in a strange period of transition. The game seeks to maintain some of its successful new features, like better destinations and clan integration, even as it simultaneously tries to recapture some of the magic and investment that characterized its predecessor. The weapon is aiming at the right target, and now it just needs to hit that precision shot.

While SOCOM 4 is one of the few "hardcore" titles to implement Sony's PlayStation Move, I wasn't impressed when playing the game with motion controls. The Sharp Shooter peripheral is heavy and cumbersome to use, even if the trigger action is admittedly satisfying.

Fans of the series won't be disappointed, but they definitely won't be blown away either. [Jan 2004, p.159]

Though it’s rough around the edges, Sonic Frontiers is the best 3D Sonic game in years. This first attempt at the open-zone concept is an admirable effort, and I can’t wait to see how Sonic Team iterates on this formula in future entries, but it’s obvious this is not the formula’s final form. For now, Sonic Frontiers stands as a solid first foray into a brave new world for Sega’s speedy mascot.

This one seems to have a bit more "oomph" than its predecessors. [August 2002, p.79]

It’s very competent and enjoyable, but much of it feels like Soulslike junk food; tasty with a few neat ideas, but nothing will stick with me compared to more substantial offerings. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers may not revolutionize the genre, but it’s a good rendition of a favorite song.

It's definitely a puzzle game like no other, and even offers a nice level create function and four-player support, all for a 10-dollar price point! [Oct 2003, p.123]

A worthy puzzle game. [Dec 2006, p.157]

A competent tactical shooter blessed with a dedication to narrative rarely seen in shooters. If Gearbox can build off this success with more inventive gameplay, the series has a chance of overcoming the boredom that curses so many WWII titles.

While lacking in substance – primarily cars – Burnout excels in delivering edge of your seat racing. [June 2002, p.83]

Narita Boy has more style than it knows what to do with and boasts a killer-looking world, but setbacks in gameplay can make it more fun to admire than to engage with.

The plot makes about as much sense to me as the backwards-talking midget from "Twin Peaks," but the CG cutscenes are surprisingly detailed and lengthy. [Feb 2004, p.108]

It does perhaps the best job I've seen of being realistic and true to its World War II subject matter, while keeping the gameplay fast and accessible - a thin line which is not easily straddled. [Dec 2004, p.188]

Not only is it the best in the series, by far, but it actually supports a decent combat system with a fairly balanced cast. [Jan 2003, p.102]

Cryptark’s surprising depth of options might hook you at the outset, but they aren’t enough to make you return time and again.

With each release this series keeps losing more and more ground. [Dec 2003, p.170]

One of the best things going for Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is its length. Making your way to the last level and defeating the final boss only takes a few hours. In this way, it knows exactly what it is: a brief but enjoyable nostalgic experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. By the time you start feeling like you’ve completed a full retro meal, credits are right around the corner and I appreciate it for that. Moonrider’s adventure likely won’t linger with you, but I don’t regret playing the short, familiar, and satisfying experience.

In many ways, the F.E.A.R. story feels like it has run its course. Like most long-running horror series, the scares that thrilled us years ago no longer do the trick, and as I learn more about Alma's family, the less interested I become in trudging forward. However, if you hardly pay attention to narratives and are looking for a fun multiplayer experience, F.E.A.R. 3 is worth checking out.

I feel what we have here is a lot of spectacle that doesn't stand up well to the scrutiny. [Oct. 2006, p.104]