A complete turnaround from last season, and a direction that I hope EA steers clear of in the future. The user should always have control over the most basic gameplay functions. [Sept 2005, p.96]

Even though I’ve got the gas pedal down as far as it’ll go, the game fails to satiate either the need or speed parts of the equation.

The mysteries of Danganronpa V3 may not offer the same rewarding highs as previous entries, but the core formula remains entertaining despite some missteps. I still had fun piecing together the murders and learning about the characters, which is enough to help V3 earn its passing grade, though it isn’t graduating with honors.

Slam Bolt Scrapper's admirable ambition is also its greatest pitfall. In mashing genre-specific mechanics together, the game sacrifices expertise for breadth, becoming a generalist rather than a specialist. That being said, the freshness of the experience and solid foundation is entertaining and engaging, despite the occasional frustration.

If you find yourself hankering for a simple game of Hearts rather than saving the galaxy for the billionth time, Ultimate Card Games is for you. [Sept 2004, p.118]

Not brilliant, but it's a competent licensed title that should appeal to hardcore W&G fans. [Nov 2005, p.149]

The sheer depth of your duties can leave you swimming. [Sept 2003, p.109]

NBA Live 18 still doesn’t match or best NBA 2K18’s deep feature set, but this year does show progress. The stable online matches, interesting career mode concept, and adequate if arcadey gameplay all point to a more promising future for EA’s most struggling sports franchise.

Yes, the art and animation are even more gorgeous, but none of the core design problems from the original version were addressed. The result is a familiar experience that feels both faithful and flawed.

NBA Live 18 still doesn’t match or best NBA 2K18’s deep feature set, but this year does show progress. The stable online matches, interesting career mode concept, and adequate if arcadey gameplay all point to a more promising future for EA’s most struggling sports franchise.

Ultimately, The Raven's underlying mystery is intriguing enough to continue traipsing back and forth between witnesses and reinvestigating crime scenes. However, the chapter ends on such an abrupt cliffhanger that you won't get much satisfaction out of the experience if you don't plan on playing the next installment.

For me, the infectious old-school vibe and the fact that it delivers a ton of nerve-wracking situations were enough to make me ignore any frustration I have with the less-than-perfect execution. [Sept 2003, p.120]

For Pokémon fans, it’s a hard recommendation for its self-imposed separation from the grand Pokémon universe. For the person in the middle of the Pokémon and fighting game Venn diagram, however, enough depth exists to encourage heated, practiced competition to earn it a spot next to Super Smash Bros. on the shelf.

But while the overall concept is imaginative, Spray's action and story aren't nearly so, leaving us with a game that's a little difficult to digest.

The new matchmaking and social functions also add a new level of engagement to the experience. However, for those who quickly burned out on the first game, I'm not sure this is enough to get them to pick up their virtual art pad again.

Despite all of these complaints, the core game is strong. Everything works as expected, the cards are translated perfectly, and the AI can play at the level of an average human. Beginners – who are the target audience here, to be fair – should have a fine time. I'd recommend playing either of the previous two games before this one, though.

To be dead honest, playing Wreckless is much like watching a fireworks show. I sat in wonderment and let out an "ooh" and an "ahh," but quickly grew disenchanted. [Apr 2002, p.80]

Despite all of these complaints, the core game is strong. Everything works as expected, the cards are translated perfectly, and the AI can play at the level of an average human. Beginners – who are the target audience here, to be fair – should have a fine time. I'd recommend playing either of the previous two games before this one, though.

When you reboot a franchise, it's done with the tacit understanding that it needs to move to a better space. Need for Speed checks off the boxes for the series, but unfortunately it's not a revaluation that necessarily improves on what's already come before.

There isn’t much to the game, but with plenty of paintings to scour, it makes for an enjoyable eye exercise.

[Crimson Desert is] a beautiful, exploration-rich open-world game that’s a clear technological achievement, hampered by a cornucopia of little frustrations and a stark lack of narrative depth.

Earth Defense Force 5 has none of those things – but that’s okay. This series has always had a single-minded commitment to one simple truth: It’s fun to use weird weapons to blast lots of aliens. That fact may never change, but in an industry that has been steadily raising the bar, Earth Defense Force 5 allows the series to fall further behind.

The Dynasty Warriors games are brain-dead fun, but each new title is no more or less fun than the one that cam before or the 30 that will come after. [May 2005, p.116]

This premiere does little to excite me for the rest of the season; the set-up feels too predictable and familiar. I’m interested in seeing where Clementine’s story ends and if my choices really shape the type of person A.J. becomes, but this is a weak start.

The devil is in the details, and Ejay Clubworld's clunky controls will wear on you after a while. [Aug 2003, p.91]

It doesn't pollute the entire RCT experience, but it certainly doesn't add any content you're eager to drink in. [Aug 2005, p.105]

I came away longing for the great game that this could have been, rather than the merely adequate game that it is. [Dec 2003, p.141]

A certain population of gamers will no doubt find exactly what they're looking for here. especially as they get into the higher-level content and PvP areas of the game. [Jun 2006, p.117]