As the game wears on, the simple pleasures of the gameplay fade, and the incredibly frustrating boss battles mount in aggravation, leaving us with nothing more than another unsatisfying licensed game. [Dec 2005, p.159]

Unlike "The Sims," which allows you to build your own destiny from the ground up, Playboy: The Mansion is done in by the very fact that all you can do is be Hefner. [Apr 2005, p.117]

The gameplay itself isn't terrible, but it still assigns way too many functions to the A button. [May 2003, p.87]

The combination of a solid racing framework with the Ferrari license could have worked out, but this is a zero-sum game that appeases nobody. Ferrari Racing Legends does not exhibit the best of what the sports car brand nor the developer have to offer.

Whether you are defending the colony from a hornet invasion by manning goo cannons, racing an obstacle course with a team of ants, or foraging for food, the game keeps things fresh. Too bad none of it is exciting. [Feb. 2007, p.102]

The combination of a solid racing framework with the Ferrari license could have worked out, but this is a zero-sum game that appeases nobody. Ferrari Racing Legends does not exhibit the best of what the sports car brand nor the developer have to offer.

I might have recommended this simplistic formula for younger gamers except for the fact that encounters with Omnidroid are some of the most tedious and unforgiving bouts I've ever fought. [Jan 2005, p.118]

At the center of Rust lurks something fascinating, with the Wild-West sense of lawlessness and the exploration of trust and betrayal that emerges when trying to survive. Yet Rust’s habit of tripping over its own feet makes it difficult to get to those fascinating stories. As the survival genre continues to mutate and create compelling experiences generate exciting player-driven stories regularly with little frustration, even Rust’s most compelling feature feels sadly archaic.

The dark side courses through Star Wars Battlefront II, playing mind tricks on gamers to spend more money to become stronger. By the time you read this review, there’s a chance EA may change how the Star Cards or loot crates work, but at this point in time, this predatory microtransaction model Force-chokes Battlefront II’s experience. It’s a shame to see a game with such clear greatness get pulled down to these depths. Star Wars deserves better. We deserve better.

Your quintessential bargain bin release. [Dec 2001, p.116]

For every stunning success in delivery and artistry, Missing has a miserable failure at an actual gameplay design element. [Sept 2004, p.117]

TNA Impact reminds me of a bratty little kid. You know the type, always running around making bold claims, kicking people in the shins, and talking about how big and strong he’s going to be when he grows up. Since he’s just a kid, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt — someday he might accomplish impressive things. However, right now he’s still just a punk.

Want to play football on the go? Take a piece of paper, fold it into a small triangle, and flick it into someone's face instead. [Jan 2005, p.144]

Make no mistake about it: Need for Speed: Nitro’s competitive advantage shouldn’t be the motion controls – it should be the series’ penchant for arcade racing, supercharged cop chases, and edge-of-your-seat racing. Unfortunately It doesn’t even come close to delivering on these fronts. But, by all means, have some motion controls.

Essentially the video game equivalent of sleeping with your eyes open. [Nov 2004, p.149]

The second episode bites off more than it can chew, putting you on an emotional rollercoaster exposing you to all kinds of traumatic events. While some scenes end up raw and honest, a lot more are frustrating due to the extremism of the world and the mixed messages sent about how to handle these complicated subjects.

I'd hoped it would be a compelling hybrid, but it unfortunately does not hold up in that arena either. [Sept 2009, p.92]

Plagued by rampant balance issues, miserable AI, and more focus on attacking prone, defenseless opponents than I've ever seen, Maximum impact makes a lot of rookie mistakes. [Nov 2004, p.158]

Tiresome platforming litters nearly every level as you collect diamonds, save cats from plummeting, and smack thugs around. [Sept 2004, p.118]

It’s an evolution, for sure, but not an entirely exciting one.

Characters and circumstances need be more natural and plausible for me to buy into this world. So much is too overblown.

While Legends does offer you the most comprehensive Rocky experience to date, it just plain fails to deliver in the ring. [Dec 2004, p.165]

The Inpatient is a difficult game to recommend, with inconsistent scares and a mundane cast. It still offers some frightful moments, but they aren’t wrapped up in a captivating enough narrative to keep you engaged. Even if you’re a hardcore Until Dawn fan, this watered-down horror experience is probably worth skipping.

Ultimately, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars isn't irredeemably bad, it's just another in a long line of disappointments. In many ways, it's a lot like the Mega Bloks version of an excellent game. It's similar enough if you're desperate, but your money is better spent on the genuine article.

With so many great co-op experiences available to gamers, it’s tough to recommend The 40th Day. Lacking a cohesive story, solid controls, key multiplayer features, and polish, this sequel fails to close the gap of mediocrity running through its core game design.

As intriguing as this setup may be, it comes up short on the gameplay end. The controls are unconventional and your general movement is implemented poorly. [Nov 2003, p.153]

Kids, especially, are asked to play things much worse than this Corner Shop collection. [Apr 2006, p.134]

Rise of the Guardians isn't entirely unpleasant, but even if you're looking for a co-op game that's safe for the whole family, you can find better options on the market.