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.

For gamers who just want a chance to make their own pretty kitty and then watch it scratch up the furniture, The Sims 3 Pets delivers. If you want a Sims experience that builds on previous installments, incorporates your progress from The Sims 3, and actually makes your simulated world more interesting…well, better luck next time.

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

Like a deep-fried supermodel, the scarred beauty of Still Life is sadly buried under inches of unpleasant greasy breading. [Apr 2005, p.136]

Layers of Fear 2 shares its predecessor’s narrative shortcomings; it drops multiple clues that hint at a unifying story, but the bungled delivery and atmosphere prevented me from connecting to anything beyond the surface scares.

Last Stop is a two-sided experience where one side is relatable monotony and the other offers unbridled chaos and imaginative conundrums.

Fans will probably dig the game’s cool set pieces and the story, but the save points are placed too far apart, many puzzles require too much random experimentation, and the dialogue system seems like an afterthought.

The defense is excellent – players hunch down or take swipes at the ball. The alley-oop button is a beautiful thing. [Dec 2001, p.92]

As horrendous as this game may appear to be, I actually found my self somewhat engrossed. [Feb 2002, p.85]

The entire mood is much darker than the earlier games. I appreciate the scope of this tale, and it makes up for some of the bad feelings I have about the cost of playing the whole series. [Sept 2003, p.109]

The Sims Online has retained the je ne sais quoi that makes its brethren so fun to play. [Mar 2003, p.89]

It looks like a freakin' "Doom II" mode, except the framerate isn't as good. [Jan 2004, p.157]

At the end of the day, Jungle Storm doesn't do much to stand out in a crowded genre. [Mar 2004, p.106]

Thw Wii version has Wii remote racing, tricking, and pre-loading, and both have some slightly different events, so if you don't have a next-gen console you're still getting some solid racing. [Jan 2008, p.89]

I hate to say it, but the best parts of this game are the vehicle desings and environmental details. The rest of it really did nothing for me. [Nov 2002, p.140]

It's a hand-me-down with holes, but one that may still keep action fans warm at night. [Oct 2002, p.91]

If anything, the game did show me how much torment I can put up with before breaking down, sobbing, and pleading to make it stop. [Dec 2002, p.125]

Telltale continues to do some fun things with these familiar comic-book heroes, especially in fleshing out character backgrounds in compelling ways. More Than A Feeling wraps up the initial conflict, and lays out a new one to carry us into subsequent episodes. If this installment fails to dramatically up the tension, at least it maintains a solid storytelling pace, and fans of the galaxy’s most loveable space misfits should continue to find moments of fun.

While each iteration of the series makes minimal improvements, serious issues like the pathetic draw distance and poor camera remain unfixed. [Sept 2004, p.109]

H1Z1 has some cool modes that give it some extra oomph, but the field of battle royales already has some excellent choices. H1Z1 has a solid foundation of scavenging, shooting, and surviving, but it needs a little more vim and vigor to really compete in the battle royale free-for-all.

I feel that the game opens up too quickly and that, while there a respectable nine districts, each has very similar goals and features. [Dec 2004, p.164]

Gamers who spend the majority of their time in single-player modes should pass this one by. If you’re an online-focused player, though, Tales of Valor provides hours of amusement, especially if the community takes advantage of the excellent mod tools to flesh out the map selection.

From design to execution, this is a mess of a game, and a new low point for the once-loved marsupial. [Dec 2008, p.110]

The only big frustration is the eight directional shooting, which never seems to nail your target the way you'd like. [Nov. 2006, p.144]

The content that's there can occasionally be fun, but there just wasn't enough of it to keep me engaged. [Feb 2006, p.112]

I want to love Payday, but sadly I can't recommend this barebones PS3 port to anyone but the most die-hard of co-op shooter fans.

For gamers who just want a chance to make their own pretty kitty and then watch it scratch up the furniture, The Sims 3 Pets delivers. If you want a Sims experience that builds on previous installments, incorporates your progress from The Sims 3, and actually makes your simulated world more interesting…well, better luck next time.

With its smooth combat, rewarding exploration, and pulse-pounding battles, Sundered is worth a look from fans of Metroid and Castlevania. Though technical issues muddled my enjoyment and the punishing difficulty can lead to fits of frustration, Sundered brings an exciting and noteworthy experience to a crowded genre.