Works as a quick diversion, but I had no desire to put in much time with it. [July 2002, p.93]

The outrageously bad load times keep the game from being average. [Jan 2002, p.81]

Much like your first car, this is a game that has that pre-owned smell all over it. [Jan 2004, p.133]

You absolutely need at least four people to play this game, which means it’s useless if you don’t have friends around.

You could have a worse time than banging the boards with NBA Live, but htis offering does nothing to service fans. [Dec 2005, p.164]

There is some tactical entertainment to be had here, to be sure. When the game is firing on all cylinders, the battles are frantic and fun. Unfortunately, that’s a somewhat rare occurrence.

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.

This title isn't the worst Move title on the market, but it won't sell any hardware, either.

Got really old really fast. [Nov 2002, p.148]

Unfortunately these "extras" are the best part of the experience, because the game's odd RE 4-style aiming mechanic(which forces you to be stationary while firing), oddly hyperactive enemies, and wonky character movement ultimately sink what could have been an over-achieving PSP licensed game. [Oct. 2006, p.110]

Inferior play mechanics and a shoddy framerate limit the appeal of this year's Wii version, despite the nearly complete feature set and satisfying batting mechanic. [Apr 2009, p.81]

Resonance of Fate may appeal to the JRPG connoisseur who is looking for an interesting and challenging new take on combat. Others most likely will be thrown off by the silliness, steep learning curve, required grinding, and other pains – especially when there are so many recent well-rounded RPGs out there.

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.

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.

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.

Although this game is seemingly benign in appearance, it quickly becomes window dressing for the text portion of your missions. [Jan 2002, p.94]

The word “good” should never be used when describing this game, but “entertaining” definitely fits it. Who doesn’t love smashing stuff? The Hulk does it better than anyone, and it’s captured quite well within this game.

Project X Zone 2 gets a lot of mileage out of its huge cast. Characters interactions stand out where storytelling falls apart; seeing everyone’s impressive animations keeps combat alive when things get tedious, but the total package isn’t consistently interesting.

The big question is how the Wii remote controls work in replacement of the old maracas. Sadly, many enthusiasts will be frustrated. While the functionality is okay, the faster movements required on the higher difficulties frequently don’t register as you switch between notes – resulting in failures you don’t deserve. It cripples what is otherwise a fun return to maraca-shaking goodness.

Playing a mess like NHL 2K9, it’s hard to think that just a few years ago this was the hockey game of choice for serious puckheads. Now it would take several pucks to the head to even make me consider paying money for this experience.

I like Sorcery, but the Move controls hold it back. It could have been a fun action game with an engaging story and environmental puzzles (I use the term "puzzle" generously, as they are all incredibly simple). Instead, Sorcery prepares you to hang framed pictures in your house by making you pretend to hammer a wall for five or six hours.

Time Ace picks up a little bit after the first few levels, but never quite flies high enough for me. [June 2007, p.119]

Sure, simplistic blasitng is fun for a while, but there is no variation to the gameplay, and the bonus modes aren't different enough from Story mode to be worth playing. [Nov 2004, p.158]

Kids is a fascinating example of conveying ideas through game mechanics. You won’t get much out of it if you’re trying to put together its disparate pieces beyond vague notions. But it’s undeniably clever in places, which makes it a curious look into how people can both uplift and hurt each other just by grouping up.

Even though I liked the racing in Riders Republic, overall, I can't say I enjoyed my time with it. It's a missed opportunity of a game, focusing on all the wrong things, making for an experience worth skipping.

The magic and item systems are very cool, but the combat is not. [Feb 2003, p.110]

All around, Curse just bored me. The menus are clunky, the mape is useless, and combat is too easy. [Feb 2004, p.68]

If you're a Metal Slug fan/PSP owner who hasn't had a way to play this entry in the series before, XX is worth checking out. It's a tough recommendation for everyone else.