This first genre-specific Karaoke game does its job admirably, letting you croon through both kinds of music: country and western. [Apr 2006, p.122]

If you thought Animal Crossing was too sparse on the gameplay front, Tomodachi Life’s superficial interactions may stretch your definition of the word “game.” In spite of the repetition, this island is a pleasant place to visit, even if I’m not ready to take up a permanent residence.

All of the spoken dialogue is loaded with swearing, prostitutes are everywhere, and the talk radio stations may contain the most sexually explicit content in any video game to date. The result is an immature and offensive clone of a far superior game ["GTA III"]. [Oct 2003, p.118]

When it came down to it, I began to wonder if all the info and options available to me made a difference in the outcome of the battles at all. Definitely play Kessen II to blow up guys with meteor showers; just don't expect to do everything with your new abilities.

They have screwed up the once-intuitive interface, replacing it with this monstrosity, which makes everything dependent no using the right analog stick and the clumsy R3 button. [Oct 2004, p.136]

A game that I would certainly recommend to friends purely for the level design, fun (if somewhat repetitive) combat, humor, subtle sound effects, and sheer size. [Mar 2003, p.84]

This same tedious design also applies to the uninspired boss battles - which mostly just consist of running around, dodging attacks, and hitting whatever giant monster with and egg when he comes to a standstill. [Oct 2003, p.129]

New games featuring the walking dead have trouble standing out from the horde, but Techland's first-person, open-world, action/RPG entry Dead Island distinguishes itself. After kicking and slashing my way through the infected island of Banoi, I can say the game has tons to offer.

The core formula of this series holds up, but New Dawn struggles to make worthwhile contributions to it. Beyond the expedition missions, little about New Dawn actually feels new, and the only interesting narrative threads are the tie-ins to Far Cry 5. When all the best parts of a new game are the old parts, it’s hard to be excited about what comes next.

Days Gone has good gameplay foundations. The scarcity of supplies and ever-present threat of zombies put me on edge as much as it gave me options to escape by the skin of my teeth. But the inability to fully deliver on either the story or open world fronts makes it a title of both possibilities and limitations.

The gameplay is simple yet heavily varied, which in turn keeps the action fresh and fun. [Aug 2005, p.98]

The Escapists implores you to dig deep for your strategy, but it doesn't offer enough excitement along the way. The concept is sound; I just wish I had more fun. I like the idea of The Escapists better than the game it actually is.

The development team has put together a diamond in Galaxies that surpassed my lofty expectations. In short, even if this game had nothing to do with "Star Wars" whatsoever, it would still be amazing. [June 2003, p.115]

Although Mad Riders might not feature anything in the way of innovation in either its core gameplay or race modes, I appreciate how developer Techland has honed its racing craft and made it so I never have to let up on the throttle.

Something hard to define is missing from My Time at Portia. It mechanically ticks many boxes that simple-life fantasies are supposed to, but it lacks the charm and satisfaction that springs from its peers in the genre. It demands your time without enticing you, and places you in a world that feels hollow. Games like this are supposed to make chores fun and rewarding, but playing My Time at Portia feels more like actual work.

This is a no-brainer for anyone who still has a yellow Hulkamania shirt tucked away in their closet.

To understand how Demon Stone beats the odds, all you have to do is play through the first level, with its epic battle and brilliant camera work. [Nov 2004, p.131]

As much as I would like to recommend that people see the insanity that unfolds, the shoddy play will likely drive most gamers into a mental institution. [Jan 2006, p.138]

It's hard to forget the unresponsive controls, ludicrous story, and questionable combat encounters. The game is uneven and inconsistent enough to scare away even eager fans who have patiently waited 20 years for another swing. [June 2009, p.83]

As it stands, Getting Up is a game I like more for its potential than its execution, and that's a shame [Apr 2006, p.114]

Armageddon is an unimaginative shooter, showing more creativity in Darius' tribal tattoos than in any of its combat scenarios. If you're looking for a memorable Red Faction experience, you're better off playing Guerrilla again.

Asura's Wrath isn't as brainless as it may want you to believe. The ridiculous moments and likable characters kept me smiling, which was odd, considering it's essentially a story about misery. It's a nice change of pace from other hack-and-slash games, featuring an interesting story that's not blocked off by insurmountable difficulty.

Thicker than Water is the best episode this season. It offers a great blend between relationship building and intense reveals. I hesitated before making my big decisions and was blindsided by what followed. I'm more excited than ever to see how it all shakes out. I'm guessing the death and devastation are far from over.

Seeing how TT Games pokes fun at Marvel’s films is worth the price of entry alone. The gameplay is also quite good, but it is a little rough around the edges. The biggest strike against it is secret characters aren’t as noteworthy as those in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

I know the developers could've created slightly more interesting backgrounds, and thrown in a few more music tracks. [July 2002, p.93]

While it is admittedly superior to the original, fails to ascend to the top of the squad-based shooter class. [Nov 2003, p.169]

If you want nonstop action with the right amount of difficulty and ingenuity, toss back a few shuriken with Shinobi. [Dec 2002, p.117]

It’s a completely satisfying nostalgia romp for the old-school PC gamer, and an accessible, modern delve into the core PC RPG.