I can't say any one aspect of this game is broken or terrible, but I also can't think of a single thing it does to make it worth your time. [July 2006, p.113]

Matt Hazard’s debut missed the mark with gamers, and though this entry isn’t a bull’s-eye, his aim has gotten a lot better.

Spider-Man 3’s greatest strength isn’t how accurately it captures the essence of this hero; it’s the game’s ability to keep you in a state of wonder. You never really know where Spidey will be headed next, or what challenge you’ll be tasked with upon arrival. Variety really makes this game stand out above the others.

I do really like the unique way the game uses the touch screen for special moves, but that doesn't make up for the general sense of mediocrity that pervades Snowboard Kids. [Jan 2006, p.157]

Most of Red Steel’s faults lie with the game’s presentation. Enemies shout annoying obscenities in your direction during every firefight, the cheesy score is bad enough to incite chuckles, and the jaggy graphics look worse than many Xbox and PlayStation 2 games.

If you’ve enjoyed past SOCOM games and are looking for a better-looking version of what you’ve played before, check out Confrontation. It’s fun in a way that just about all multiplayer games are — you’re sharing an experience with real-life opponents. If you’d like to play something with fresh ideas and a thick sheen of polish, though, keep marching.

If broken gameplay mechanics and community college acting didn’t weigh down the game, it might actually be worthwhile.

If Scrap Metal was nothing but arena deathmatch missions, it would be much harder to recommend. An awkward camera angle and the lack of creative characters would keep it from being worth the asking price. However, the variety of vehicle types and mission objectives should satisfy car combat fans looking for signs of life in the genre.

As interesting as the question of “What would mankind do?” is, The Station rarely has an answer. Perhaps thinking deeply about the dilemma is part of its charm, but it ended up being a hollow experience that didn’t deliver enough resolve on its alien ambitions.

It’s sad to see so many good ideas go to waste. From the exploration of the wondrous world to the intricate political situation of its denizens, Gothic 3 nails a good chunk of the role-player’s wet dream. The character progression is solid and the core mechanics are good, yet I will never ever recommend this to anyone that I even remotely like. Yes, one broken system can ruin a game this completely.

The dialogue is actually charming and sometimes clever, but the loose controls found in the main game also plauge the arcade port to a degree, which to me, is the biggest bummer of this outing. [Jan 2006, p.138]

Cradle of Rome is far from terrible, but it has neither the strategic depth nor the Pavlovian addiction required to be a worthwhile puzzle game.

It's not bad, per se, but the level designs and basic gameplay are just too uninspired to warrant a look from any but the most ardent fans of the genre. [Dec 2004, p.190]

This game screams mediocre from start to finish. [June 2003, p.113]

The good doctor turns corners like he's skating around an ice arena. [Feb 2003, p.101]

On any system the combat stinks, but on the 'Cube, it's absolutely horrid. [Dec 2003, p.159]

The slow pacing, difficulty, and confined historical focus might prove a barrier for some, but I loved carving out my own empire of riches in the roughs on grit and determination alone.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

It's decently long, the puzzles are mostly well designed, and it has more than its share of eye candy. [Sept 2004, p.117]

This game controls like junk. [June 2005, p.136]

I hope some developer takes the gaffe that is Raw Danger, extracts the great idea at its center, and creates the blockbuster experience it has the potential to be. [June 2007, p.110]

Sadly, Square Enix’s attempt to update the classic doesn’t live up the original’s legacy, nor does it improve its more problematic elements. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, but the Secret of Mana remake is middling in every way.

An interesting concept; too bad the real meat of the game (the racing) is as dry and tasteless as roast beef at Old Country Buffet. [Feb 2003, p.98]

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

A little repetitive, but still amusing. [Jan 2002, p.88]

The battle system is unexciting overall, but there is some mysterious draw to seeing all the different beast forms that keeps you playing. [Feb 2003, p.110]

Fans will no doubt ennjoy it, but if you never got into the series there's no reason to start now. [Aug 2006, p.93]

As is, it falls well short of minigame standards like "Brain Age" or "WarioWare". [Nov. 2006, p.144]