Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is frightening with its near-constant jump scares, oppressive atmosphere, difficult enemies, and arguably too much darkness. But more so than fear, the emotion I frequently grappled with was frustration.

Hybrid proves that you can't depend on a few flashy additions to rev up the shooting genre; innovation needs to go into every area possible for a game to stand out. The jetpacks and cover system are twists on standard third-person firefights, but lose their allure quickly due to uninteresting maps and the reliance on modes from other popular games. That's not to say the game isn't entertaining, but it lacks the staying power to keep you hooked. The goal is noble, but Hybrid doesn't turn the third-person shooter on its head.

Deadmund's Quest is a decent attempt at an action/adventure game built specifically for the Move, and doesn't just shoehorn in functionality as a bullet point. That said, it's still not great, and I'm not sure who the target audience is. The gameplay is too hard and complex for the casual crowd, yet the larger adventure is too simple and repetitive for seasoned gamers. Like much of its on-rails action, Deadmund's Quest is a plodding step forward for the Move, but it still has a lot of ground to cover.

Wireless multiplayer can be a fun diversion, but it's hardly good enough to justify this $30 purchase. [Aug 2005, p.107]

Pacing and AI problems hold this back from its potential. [June 2004, p.135]

Basic combat just isn't very fun. [Feb 2006, p.104]

While not broken in any fundamental ways, this souless and cliched title tries to be too many things to many people, and in the end does none of them well. [Oct. 2006, p.104]

As someone who enjoys Stranger Things, walking around a pixelated version of Hawkins’ familiar locations with characters from the show is enjoyable. Outside of the sightseeing, however, the game does little else to garner excitement. The combat doesn’t ask much of the player and the mission structure underwhelms. If you want to experience the events of Stranger Things’ third season, you’re better off sticking to the source material.

The mild strategy elements and simple gameplay involved could appeal to younger players, but not to anyone who actually enjoys controlling events onscreen. [Mar 2004, p.114]

It just doesn't feel like I'm screaming through the great blue yonder. In this case, it seems more like I'm driving a Lincoln Continental with some guns strapped to the hood. [Nov. 2003, p.151]

Cing's latest blend of game and novel could've been an intriguing "whodunit" if streamlined into a more digestible package. Instead, the glacial pace of weak plot development and the few poke-around puzzles in between left much to be desired.

Children are much more capable than we sometimes give credit for, and Kao’s by-the-numbers design would likely bore all but the most nascent of gamers. Kao the Kangaroo isn’t a total disaster by any means. It just feels aggressively average and forgettable which, sadly, has been the case for the mascot for years.

It just seems that the team spent a lot more time coming up with ideas for the game than they did executing them properly. [Dec 2003, p.183]

A slim offering of new items and interactions in Pets adds less tot he core gameplay of The Sims 2 than any previous expansion. [Dec 2006, p.150]

An amazingly generic action title. It's a shame, as Samurai Jack is easily one of the most unique cartoons on the air today, so this could have been so much more. [May 2004, p.93]

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

It's business as usual over at 989, and it must figure business is pretty good. Well, it isn't - it's pathetic. [Apr 2005, p.128]

Combat is stale and repetitive outside of boss battles, and several stages are filled with copy and pasted sections and artificially lengthening collect-three-gems-to-open-door setups. [Feb 2009, p.87]

If you are the forgiving type, and can work your way through the unsatisfactory beginning, you'll see that this game actually has a lot to offer. [August 2002, p.79]

For me, it felt a bit like eating Cheerios with a fork - different, but not advisable. [Issue#204, p.90]

If you like what Type-0 has to offer, the presence of additional story and mission content offers ample reason to return for subsequent playthroughs, but it comes with the cost of having an indecipherable plot the first time through.

Story-wise, the game is interesting, but the difficulty of the missions themselves will probably serve as a massive barrier for the gamers who want to find out what happens next. [Nov 2002, p.142]

It all feels like after-school study when you just want to be entertained. All the hallmarks of a first-party Nintendo release – overflowing charm and impressive technical aptitude – are here. A lot of thoughtful work went into Welcome Tour to make me understand and acknowledge its $10 price tag, but it’s just not a tour I would recommend taking.

It’s great that Team Soho has tried to break out in some new directions; it’s a pity that the gameplay and missions aren’t up to the challenge. The most disappointing aspect for me was the total linearity and lack of freedom that makes this an “open world” game in name only.

Of course, there are a number of much better multiplayer titles on the DS, but it's something. [May 2006, p.110]

Merely mediocre action. [Dec 2005, p.161]

Metal Gear Survive doesn’t fail due to its baggage or expectations. It blunders entirely on its own merits. Its co-op suite shows promise and could become legitimately great in time, but the rest of Survive is a boring, grind-heavy slog where the biggest reward is simply more stuff. For as many bits of metal, wood, and fabric I had after 70 hours of play, I couldn’t help but think I’d wasted all of my time.

Ugly and smelly enough that only a dedicated few should bring it home. [Jan 2004, p.135]