Thankfully, the game's shape-shifting shtick lifts it above the average, by allowing the good doctor to transform himself into a spider, gorilla, and several other types of creatures. [Nov 2002, p.140]

Despite the underwhelming nature of the story mode, Mario Golf: Super Rush delivers plenty of golfing greatness. With a strong foundation and multiple fun avenues of play, Mario Golf: Super Rush carries on the long-standing tradition of Nintendo sports games by being a good time regardless of your fandom of the actual sport.

The Gunk deserves a fair bit of criticism and only a little unreserved praise. The connection between the characters holds up the story, sucking up goo is strangely satisfying, and the mechanics work as intended. However, I wish the world felt more distinctive and better realized. The environment has the potential to be a vibrant kaleidoscope with brilliant hues and unearthly forms. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite hit that mark. All said, The Gunk is a competent romp through space, but not a stellar one.

The disturbingly dwarf-sized characters may serve as an analogy for the game’s place among strategy RPGs: It’s shorter and uglier than most that have come before, but it’s also unique in a way that some will find charming.

Through the fog awkward mechanics and unsatisfying decisions (not to mention some dumb story twists), the fun and intriguing core of Vampyr is sometimes visible. Unfortunately, that fog lifts only rarely, leaving most of the experience shrouded in darkness.

This sequel won't disappoint anyone looking for a standard midair action game, but it's not going to change your perceptions of the genre.

The great ideas present in MotoGP are a good foundation. However, the failure to develop them further is what keeps this game from greatness.

NCAA Basketball 09 may not offer the wealth of options or polished gameplay of its former competition, but it’s still a decent baller worthy of a look from hardcore college hoops fans.

With its interesting premise, evocative opening sequence, and clever variation on multiplayer, Homefront has a strong foundation. It's a shame that technical limitations and a derivative single-player campaign keep the game from realizing its potential.

Not only behind the times, but it's buggy and not very much fun to play. [Feb 2006, p.102]

The Top Spin series, despite its gameplay issues, at least made an effort. Virtua Tennis needs to try much harder if it’s going to regain its title as the preeminent tennis franchise.

There's a lot for old-school RPG fans to love in Rainbow Moon, and the price of admission is a bargain. I just wish the story were better.

It tries to tell a story about animals overcoming adversity in a large interconnected forest, but falls short in just about every aspect.

The wry subtlety of the novels' text pops up once in a while, but not nearly enough, which leaves only a derivative and dull game where there could have been a humorous midadventure. [Jan 2005, p.119]

Coffee Talk shows the powerful relationships that can form around a cuppa joe, but it does so in predictable, well-worn ways.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite occasionally fires on all cylinders, but a monotonous gameplay loop bogs down the entire experience.

Although it’s fun to see alternate perspectives on some of the movies’ key events, this title really fails to deliver the complex, emotionally resonant familial saga of the films.

It’s a beautiful, original concept that falls just shy of something special.

Definitely one of the game's strong points is that it gives you lots of options in the dialogue, so you really feel a part of the story. [Nov 2001, p.106]

Not for the impatient, but is worth the purchase for portable RPG fans. [Dec 2003, p.186]

Every little morsel of platforming goodness in The Wrath of Cortex has already been done to death on the Playstation. [May 2002, p.87]

What Project X Zone lacks in expert strategies and rewarding tactics, it makes up for with a plethora of fun combat animations.

I feel like I'm playing a game that's half-baked. The core formula is still fun, but The Sims 4 isn't an improvement.

It's interesting to see how pinball has progressed through the years, noting the considerable point score inflation that's taken place. [Feb 2005, p.113]

Guitar Hero Aerosmith delivers where it counts — with great music enhanced by the chance to play along.

While Kung Fu Panda certainly isn’t breaking new ground, it’s inspiring to know that studios are still capable of doing quality work in the well-worn platforming genre.

It’s not polished enough to hang with the games that inspired it – the action gets messy to the point of frustration far too often, and the level designs are rudimentary to say the least – but if you’re looking for a weekend sugar-rush you could do much ­worse.

Like last year’s Thrillville, Off the Rails, requires some research on the part of the player to discover which things are fun (designing faulty rides) and which are a waste of time (talking to guests). Unfortunately, even the content that survives the cull isn’t enough to make the whole experience more than a diversion. [Dec 2007, p.143]