Little Hope is inconsistent, like a witch-in-training still learning how to fully weave a spell. It sets up its story well and keeps you guessing, but the execution is lacking. It needs more variety and interesting things for your characters to do. The action comes too late, and by then, you’re already nodding off. However, seeing the fantastic ending makes putting up with those boring moments a little more bearable.

The number of crafts and items available with which to outfit your ship are nice, but the gameplay seems to keep Naval Ops on a short leash - one that will ultimately keep this title from a lot of mass-market appeal. [July 2003, p.107]

Pioneers of Olive Town is a decent Story of Seasons entry, but it’s not more than that. I still got absorbed by the core formula of bettering my farm and loved making new discoveries as I explored. I have plenty of things I enjoy about this game, but encountered just as many that didn’t hit the mark. I also can’t get away from thinking, after all this time, shouldn’t this series be making larger leaps forward and leaving a stronger impression?

The game suffers only by clinging a bit too tightly to its roots. [March 2005, p.128]

If you've got a lot of friends to compete against, Crash has a good amount of life in it. Otherwise, single-player doesn't take long to dry up.

If you grew up with these games, they're still a joy to play. New converts t the Sonic fold will get a great introduction to the 'hog's history. [Dec 2004, p.168]

Stick To It is a fun experience, but it ends quickly and tends to be on the easy side of things. It won’t be much of a test of your problem-solving or platforming skills, even if you are trying to get the star on each level. Despite this, you can do worse if you’ve got $1.99 to spare and are looking for a breezy and cute iOS title.

Sea of Solitude provides an insightful look at how mental health devastates the lives of not just those it affects, but also loved ones on the outside. Kay learns a lot about herself by understanding the value of listening, coming to term with her flaws, and not just empathizing with family but also accepting that a simple fix isn’t always possible.

Unlike its Xbox cousin, this version of the PC mega-hit offers no compelling content other than slightly reworked levels and a prologue mission that adds about two hours of gameplay. [July 2003, p.105]

With its boneheaded action, nonsensical story, and cheesy metal guitar soundtrack that sounds like it was lifted from Kevin Sorbo's epic "Kull The Conquerer," Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes has no chance of moving the series outside its cult favorite status. [Oct 2005, p.142]

I don't regret the time I spent with All Zombies Must Die, but there isn't enough about the game that sets it apart from the myriad other titles like it on the digital marketplace. If you're looking for some decent Zombies Ate My Neighbors-style couch co-op action, you can do a lot worse for your $10. If you want a game that innovates on the twin-stick shooter genre in a meaningful way, however, I wouldn't look here.

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 guess that this game doesn't bowl me over just because I felt like I was always going to finish a level in two (at the most three) attempts. Doing the math, that means a few hours of gameplay for most players. [June 2004, p.137]

It's fun for a while, but let's face some facts here – farming is a job, not a game! [Dec 2001, p.93]

If you've got a lot of friends to compete against, Crash has a good amount of life in it. Otherwise, single-player doesn't take long to dry up.

There's a refreshing non-linearity to Postal 2. [June 2003, p.116]

I don't regret the time I spent with All Zombies Must Die, but there isn't enough about the game that sets it apart from the myriad other titles like it on the digital marketplace. If you're looking for some decent Zombies Ate My Neighbors-style couch co-op action, you can do a lot worse for your $10. If you want a game that innovates on the twin-stick shooter genre in a meaningful way, however, I wouldn't look here.

Bizarre clearly set out to make Blood Stone feel like a part of Bond's movie canon, and it's certainly successful on that front. The weapons are anemic, and the driving sections can be dodgy, but it delivers a dose of spectacle and intrigue worthy of the character.

It adds some important elements to the game, but also has a ton of junk that really has nothing to do with the city building experience. [Dec 2003, p.183]

Ultimately, those who just want more Borderlands are getting their wish. The Pre-Sequel offers plenty of missions, completely new environments and playable characters, and one of the more interesting story threads of the series. If you're looking for more from Borderlands, however, The Pre-Sequel falls short.

My guess is that the graphical tweaks and subtle AI improvements are going to be enough for the series' mjaor fans to be happy with their purchase. [Jan 2006, p.148]

I just would have liked to see more time devoted to cleaning bugs and buffing out the core riding mechanic. [Mar 2009, p.89]

Yes, Batman: Arkham VR smacks of a proof-of-concept demo for VR, but even so, it’s a nice treat for Batman fans, and one of those experiences that you’ll want more of.

It is practically an exact a port of the original with a few notable exceptions: There are a few Lumines II skins thrown in, the graphics are far less vibrant, and now there is at least five seconds of total silence between skins as the sounds load. Of all of four Lumines games on the market, this one is the least impressive.

Much like the impressive and abundant explosions the game contains, whatever spark of interest Mercenaries may ignite quickly fizzles out due to lackluster mission objectives, flat story and characters..., and a generally derivative feel. [Feb 2005, p.110]

MX vs. ATV: Reflex features some great racing moments, but the game's technical ambitions sometimes get in its way. The possibilities of reflex racing with the right analog are clearly there, they just haven't been mastered yet.

Laughable enemy AI, a poor targeting system, and sluggish movement really hold it back from being anything more than average. [Feb 2005, p.112]

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.