While the character animation is the game's strong point, the camera will trick you into a falling death more often than not. [June 2002, p.81]

If you're interested in Moon Diver, play halfway through the game by yourself to gain some levels, collect various magic, and get used to the structure. Then fire up multiplayer and never look back.

I want to strangle this game with my bare hands. [Dec 2005, p.186]

A shadow of its former self. The graceful gameplay offers a higher level of excitement, but the plot and characterization - two large components from which I expect great things from any Star Wars journey - makes this experience one of 2010's biggest disappointments. [Nov 2010, p.92]

It tarnishes the hallowed GoldeneEye name that gamers have held close to their hearts since 1997, and is the equivalent of tossing a martini into Bond's face and then shooting him in the family jewels with a tranquilizer dart. [Jan 2005, p.114]

The game is more enjoyable than the movie, but only if you intend to put your skills to the test in the competitive arena.

It’s one of those experiences that falls apart as it unfolds.

A City Sleeps is an intriguing take on shoot ‘em ups, but the limited content and out of reach powers keep it from reaching its potential.

In what seems like a profoundly misguided step, four players can't play as the Fantastic Four. [Sept 2005, p.101]

I found distracting bugs in all the versions of the game, but playing Riptide on our high-end gaming PC results in a smoother framerate and improved visuals.

Spore is an enjoyable (if slightly short) Zelda-lite adventure. However, the creation and evolution aspects -- major parts of what made the original game so impressive -- have taken a back seat to a run-of-the-mill equipment upgrade grind with some minor aesthetic variations. Spore Hero is a fun game; it’s just not necessarily a Spore game.

Although using the analog stick or d-pad doesn't compare to the arcade joysticks of old, I appreciate being able to tweak the number of lives you get for each game. [Oct 2005, p.128]

With the lack of added features or graphical upgrades, it seems content to hang in the slow lane, while more ambitious PS2 projects pass it by. [Dec 2001, p.95]

Every time I was about to demolish my television and PS2 in a rock-star room-trashing fit, some neat little gadget or cool sequence came back to keep me hooked. [Nov. 2003, p.149]

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.

Apart from looking like an ugly baby conceived in the back of a broken-down El Camino by a couple of illeterates, tilting the Wii remote translates to your car surprisingly well. [Dec 2007, p.137]

I was hoping that 2K would build on last year’s foundation. Instead, the foundation has been altered to be more appealing to the masses. That’s difficult logic to argue with, but 2K’s approach is way off the mark.

After squeezing off I don't know how many rounds into untold numbers of bodies, I'm more prone to being lulled into a nice nap than a frenzy. [Oct 2005, p.128]

Kinect Adventures is a perfect game for in and out party-type play, but as the adventures become longer they can get tedious and exhausting – particularly Reflex Ridge's sadistic "squat, jump, sidestep, repeat" gameplay. That said, Kinect Adventures is sure to be a family hit as people gather for the holidays.

In the end however, these extra layers can’t fix the subpar combat and disappointing storyline at the game’s core, leaving Avatar a lackluster, though not entirely unpleasant, experience. While forgiving sci-fi fans might still appreciate this intergalactic romp, the average gamer is left with an easy choice: this game is a rental at best.

Scattered across its unnaturally lengthy campaign, Payback has several fun event sequences that blend cinematic action with rousing racing. And as players begin to control more sophisticated cars, the sense of excitement and speed can be engaging. Unfortunately, too much of the rest of the game feels lackluster, unpolished, and catered to other priorities besides fun. Payback hits a lot of the checkpoints on a bullet list for a big modern racing adventure, but lacks the discipline and execution to come in for anything but a disappointing finish.

The majority of your time with Infernal (may it be short, for your sake) is spent gunning down goons in the employ of Heaven with one small handful of weapons. [June 2007, p.116]

The gameplay has a nice balance to it, but is also fairly shallow. [Dec 2002, p.118]

I wonder if this is the game that should have graced the big consoles instead of "Robotech: Battlecry." [Jan 2003, p.122]

Minus the crazy physics, Fatal Inertia really doesn’t advance the genre in any meaningful ways. I like the game, but moreso because it reminds me of other games I enjoy than because I love it in its own right.

It's neat, but after a couple of hours you won't really feel the need to keep playing. [Dec 2003, p.158]

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]

Sword Coast Legends has some great ideas and a wonderful world to draw upon, but struggles to live up to its potential.