Poorly spaced checkpoints, dank too-similar environments, and magical teleporting allies are a few other annoying and strange traits that cause this game to fall down a few notches.

The camera is extremely clunky, but this game charmed me more than I thought it would. [Nov 2002, p.144]

If your blood pressure can withstand the beatings that may seem unfair, there's a lot to like about Conan's combat system and adventure. [Nov 2007, p.140]

The game is still firing blanks and driving on four flat tires. [Feb 2005, p.115]

The jokes cater mostly to the kids, and that's exactly who should enjoy this fairy tale jaunt the most. [July 2004, p.112]

Even with some clever adjustments, On Tour just doesn’t feel the same.

Even when the game seems to be working against me at every inopportune time, the drive to see the fate of Heinrich and Gretchen made me push forward. I'm glad I did. I didn't see the ending coming, and I love how the story concludes.

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]

Reverts back to the old formula, taking the existing mechanics and just adding a few new bells, whistles, and (inexplicably) the chance to become a day-fearing vampire. [Oct 2005, p.148]

Even when the game seems to be working against me at every inopportune time, the drive to see the fate of Heinrich and Gretchen made me push forward. I'm glad I did. I didn't see the ending coming, and I love how the story concludes.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force features strong shooting mechanics, diverse missions, and a high level of challenge, but the frustrating matchmaking infrastructure and lack of checkpoints prevent it from truly achieving the greatness of its namesake.

It gets very, very dry. An acquired taste to say the least. [August 2002, p.78]

In short, The Last Remnant that has all the trappings of a game in the RPG genre, but fails to stand out from the crowd. [Dec 2008, p.119]

Mario Party DS does a better job at retreading the core concept, however tired it may be, than last summer’s Mario Party 8. Barring a complete shakeup of the series, this seems to be the most we can hope for at this point.

Although many of its elements tie into the greater Final Fantasy universe, this is but a faint echo of what you hve come to know and love...There's little here that truly excites. [Feb 2004, p.104]

This episode is a fun continuation of The New Order of the Stone’s adventures, but it’s missing the building drama of the prior installments.

With a brief runtime of a couple of hours, Open Roads is a respectable tale that sometimes feels ready to hit that higher narrative gear before easing off the gas again. Although visually pleasing and well-acted, the emotional impact is muted. While I didn’t mind sitting shotgun as Opal and Tess had lighthearted debates over the semantics of trailer vs. mobile homes and reminisced about old flames, it’s not a road trip that will stick with me for the long haul.

Basically, only play this game if your friends are willing to run at your side. When the game is functioning as intended, it can be brilliant. But don’t let your guard down. Problems will arise, and your most difficult challenge may be combating a bout of boredom.

If you're looking for a reinvention of the franchise, you'd best spend your money elsewhere. [Aug 2005, p.108]

It's not enough that Trials Frontier has mastered the gameplay of the series on its new platform. The inflated structure that surrounds it – whether you pay or not – obscures what makes Frontier worth playing.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

If only the gameplay was equal of the level designs and the graphics. [Dec 2001, p.105]

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.

The problem I had is that you cannot calibrate your cars' steering wheel to your liking in order to get rid of its large dead spot. [Jan 2005, p.145]

An intriguing diversion from uninspired copycats and clones that often plague the industry. It won’t suit everyone, but I applaud its creativity.

Inelegant systems and unsatisfying progression throw a wrench in the grand plans of this criminal mastermind.

These improvements stand in contrast to the continued weak goalie AI, unhelpful camera work, and iffy passing.

Despite my thoughts on Episode 2, I’m eager to see if the next installment of République changes things up in the environment and opens up more of the overarching story. This series still has plenty of exciting potential, and I think Camouflaj and Logan Games have what it takes to nail it in the end.