Creating a compelling zombie game in a generation with too many of them is a hard task. Tequila Works manages to do this while successfully merging it with the unlikely action-platforming genre. The lame narrative and lack of consistent challenge can't overshadow the fun I had with Deadlight. I'm crossing my fingers for a sequel.

Even as the story wears out its welcome, some gonzo story points and exciting choices reinvigorate the final act. I wish more of the game was characterized by the dramatic decisions found in the final hours.

Insect Armageddon lacks the clueless earnestness of the last entry and carries over some dated concepts, but it fully captures the same breed of unapologetic run-and-gun action. Ultimately, that's what kept me playing EDF 2017 for dozens of hours, and that's why I've got dozens more in front of me with Insect Armageddon.

Need for Speed: The Run is by no stretch a bad game; it just fails to capitalize on its chances. San Francisco to New York is a long haul, and it's even longer when not enough happens in between. [Dec 2011, p.112]

Gamers who enjoyed the movie could do worse than this well-polished platformer.

Despite the formulaic plot, some of the characters are endearing (a giant bear!), and several dungeons make excellent use of a multi-party mechanic that lets you put all of your ­accumulated warriors to good use.

The good easily outweighs the bad in this case, though, and plants Death Jr. 2 firmly in the upper echelon of PSP titles. [Nov. 2006, p.145]

I stared at the television in disbelief for a good hour wondering how Capcom cold have messed up this bad. Devil May Cry 2 in not only a grave disappointment, it's a painful one. [Mar 2003, p.78]

I'm sorry, but running around the same old loopy track designs in generic space bikes just isn't cutting it, and I really think developers need to either totally reinvent this genre or abandon it. [Nov. 2003, p.153]

I was left wanting more, and wondering why solid gameplay sections were only used once.

A decent game, but unfortunately it has just as many lows as it does highs. [Oct 2002, p.90]

Juiced certainly has the makings of an average street racer, with lots of customizables and affected street appeal. [July 2005, p.116]

The missions have a shocking lack of variety, mostly just forcing you to do the same handful of things, but with stronger foes.

Nice four-player support and a fairly long quest are definite pluses, but don't make up for Untold Legends dropping the ball so badly on the level design front. [May 2005, p.134]

Super Bomberman R 2’s best parts are the ones carried over from older games in the series. Messing around with friends in local and online matches is still fun, and if that's all you're interested in, it's a fine enough experience. Unfortunately, that’s a small portion of the game, making it hard to recommend.

The camera often becomes a liability, especially in areas where you can't zoom out. Character advancement is bare-bones, which hurts replay. [Sept 2003, p.107]

Not only is it the best Arnold or Terminator-themed game ever (which isn't saying all that much), but it's also one of the best licensed games around. [Oct 2004, p.127]

In its best moments, Planets Under Attack can be a lot of fun. Once I started refining my strategies, I found hours melting away as I attempted to beat various stages on the more difficult settings. Good content and some intense stages can be found in Planets Under Attack, but you have to become accustomed to the quirks in order to get to them.

Dillon’s Rolling Western: The Last Ranger stands alone with very few comparable games. It’s an original title that blends genres well with fantastic music and appealing characters. The biggest shortcomings are the timers and restrictions on nearly every aspect of the game. I want to spend more time beating up Grocks and exploring, but just when you find your stride, you are pushed towards the next section whether you’re ready or not.

The shooter is a dying breed, but Namco has found a way to revitalize it and make it contagious for both hardcore role-players who seek something fresh and twitchy fingered gamers who have long waited to see this genre evolve. [Aug 2005, p.109]

It's a bit like a first album by a band you know will go on to record a classic. All the elements are there - they just need a little polish. [July 2005, p.122]

There is a load of personality in Chicken Little, and the large variety of level types and playable characters will appeal to fans of the film. [Nov 2005, p.149]

Despite its problems, Hero in Residence presents situations I want to see progress over the next four episodes. Though the pacing is inconsistent and the decision points are questionable in their weight, the new mechanics and revamped combat make me wonder what else Telltale has in store this season. Though I have my problems with this episode, I'm interested to see the direction the tale takes from here.

I appreciate the interesting format AC V employs, and enjoyed the sense of camaraderie I had for my team. However, the story missions are too confusing and difficult, the order missions are too short and repetitive, and there is no in-between.

Mafia III is a missed opportunity to put an important time in American history in the spotlight, and ends up being one of the most lifeless and one-note open-world experiences I’ve come across. You can see the potential for a great game here, but it sticks to safe and simple gameplay and storytelling conventions, and ends up being a bloody bore.

Fun for what it was worth, but I didn't have a problem walking away from it when the time came. [Dec 2001, p.117]

I liked the battle system, and the magic scheme was much more robust than I expected, but in the end this game came off as little more than an RPG that tried to be epic, but fell short. [Nov 2002, p.126]

Several things work as they should, but much of the game is chock full of frustration, and the whole thing ends up feeling like a string of tired minigames. [Nov 2004, p.170]