Considering her potential importance in the future, I assume Shadows of Rose will be an experience worth having played, but I wouldn’t go quite as far as calling it required reading. For something more abstract and focused on horror within the world of Resident Evil, Shadows of Rose is worth exploring.

With various weapons, mobility enhancements, and a sprawling series of connected maps, Kunai appears to have all the right components, but they aren’t assembled into a cohesive whole.

Some hefty load times and dekes awkwardly mapped to the d-pad are my only major complaints in what is otherwise an excellent handheld presentation of the sport. [May 2005, p.136]

This game is a test of logic, pushing players to figure out how to channel beams of light to specific targets. [Dec 2007, p.157]

I never fully fell in love with only having secondary control of Kirby. Drawing platform lines is undeniably different, but I’m not convinced it’s the best way to play a platformer. Rainbow Curse smartly toys with the mechanic, adding surprising twists and changes, and by the end I was having a good time – even if I still was yelling at Kirby to just do what I told him every now and then.

Even with these new elements, the game isn't as dynamic or addictive as others in the series, but it does manage to find some identity amid its more familiar feature that Sims fans will certainly appreciate. [Nov 2005, p.150]

If you’re eager to catch up with the cast or music of Persona 3, Dancing in Moonlight is worth a few excursions into the Dark Hour.

The one undoubtedly cool thing that ProStreet brings to the table is its online play (except on Wii), where you can create your own race days and invite friends to compete them. The race day will keep a persistent leaderboard of everyone’s progress, so you can always go back and knock off your buddy.

Even though the routine is familiar, Xeodrifter still provides fun exploration augmented by nostalgia. A game doesn’t need to be groundbreaking to be entertaining, and Xeodrifter does an admirable job following the prescribed orbit of the classics in the genre.

Never before have I seen an action title with such deadly depth. [Sept 2002, p.86]

I’ve been a fan of the original Puzzle & Dragons since it came out, and I think it’s finally met its match. The stories in Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition (whew!) are a bit hokey, but both games are so strong overall that I may be able to finally clean out some space on my iPad.

I suggest Midway go back to the drawing board and mix realism with its brutal attitude, similar to what it did with "RedCard Soccer." [Oct 2002, p.84]

If you happen to be a huge fan of the series, I'm certain you'll appreciate the small additions and changes. [Dec 2002, p.123]

Sadly, the aforementioned stars look a little chunky, due to the odd character models, and move like they've hit the Wimbeldon locker-room buffet one too many times, giving the game a much slower feel than "Virtua Tennis." [Apr 2002, p.74]

This is possibly the most versatile gunslinger in video games. [Jan 2003, p.91]

If the words "noonday underground" mean anything to you, or you don't know who Tanner is, then The Italian Job is definitely just for you. [July 2002, p.89]

This was born to be on the GBA. [Nov 2002, p.150]

The intensity of battle, breathtaking graphics, and intriguing story are powerful enough to overcome any shortcomings in the game. [Sept 2003, p.118]

Throughout my time in Metal Eden, I couldn’t help but imagine just how good a sequel I hope Reikon makes could be. This is a great start in the FPS genre for the team; its ideas are strong, and with refinement, Aska’s next mission could be as excellent as the Ghostrunner and Doom Eternal adventures it’s clearly inspired by. Though the star of the show – its first-person shooting and movement – is sometimes weighed down by an overreaching narrative and boring morph ball sections, when Metal Eden shines, it’s as bright as the sun that sheds light on Moebius’ dark underbelly.

A few months ago, I reviewed LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. That game introduced some light RTS elements to the series, along with loads of vehicle-based missions, and a huge cast of playable characters. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean falls short of that high mark, delivering a more traditional LEGO experience. That's not to say that Pirates is a bad game – quite the contrary. It's just puzzling to see a series that has struggled to evolve take a step back. Where are the epic ship-to-ship vehicle battles? Why is the pirate-infested port hub so boring?

Despite the overt repetition, both by design and through over-design, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate effectively channels the spirit of the most well-liked games that have come before it in the franchise. Though I sometimes succumbed to frustration after falling short during a promising run, the experience only galvanized me to excitedly take what I learned from my failures into the next run.

It’s a mix of exciting and overwhelming as you try to maintain what feels like 50 pots boiling over at different times.

While all of the puzzles don't reach the same level of excellence as The Bridge's impressive visuals, recommending this game to indie fans is still an easy call. Despite some difficulty spikes, patient players will be pleasantly engaged in The Bridge's surreal, black-and-white world.

It's not "Halo," but PS2 owners finally have an exclusive FPS that is worth bragging about. [June 2005, p.129]

Fantasy Life starts off enjoyable, but it nosedives quickly, leaving you with an experience disconnected from the potential of the world and its inhabitants.

It got a generic exterior and outdated mechanics that make it feel like a naive vision of "the future of gaming" circa 1990. [Jan 2006, p.139]

HarmoKnight is among the best the 3DS eShop has to offer. Playtime only clocks in at around 4-5 hours, but it is a full experience. With its diverse levels, rhythm-focused gameplay, great music, and charming characters, HarmoKnight will be a memorable experience for those lucky enough to discover it.

The Grid series offers a fun, gorgeous racing experience, and I can see value in bringing it back. But this incarnation of the game performs the bare minimum of the reboot mandate when it should be doing so much more. We race to be in first place, but unfortunately, Grid seems content to be in the middle of the pack.