Outside of those few complaints, which have little to do with the core gameplay of Rhythm Heaven, this is an addictive, original, and often hilarious game. Some players may get frustrated by the unforgiving gameplay, and others won't get its bizarre characters and concepts. For those who don't mind a quirky challenge, Rhythm Heaven Fever is worth a shot.

Sigma 2 is a longer, more action-packed edition of Ninja Gaiden II, and if you’ve never played the original you won’t notice the missing gore.

Rocket Slime harnesses these creatures' irresistible charm and pairs it with cclever exploration and puzzle solving to form a fun adventure with a decidedly classic feel. [Oct. 2006, p.112]

This is both the ultimate Contra experience and one of the best action games in years. Do not let Contra 4 get lost in the holiday rush.

The experience is worth playing, but the buggy gameplay makes former publisher Activision's lack of faith in the title understandable. [Sept 2012, p.90]

Rhythm Heaven ends up being pretty limited in its ambitions and scope, but I can’t deny that it had me toe-tapping along for the ride.

I’ve been having a great time with PoE, and it’s fast become my go-to when I need to get in a rewarding grind. The Xbox One version may be a little late to the party, but it was absolutely worth the wait. This fantastic game takes the best of the genre and propels them to impressive new heights.

Hypnospace Outlaw is a great ride, even though you’re the one checking tickets and enforcing the rules.

Stacking is a bit rough around the edges, but the puzzles are clever, the humor hits the mark more than it misses, and the characters and story are delightful, leaving adventure fans with little more to ask for.

I actually enjoyed this take on The Sims more than the original. [Feb 2003, p.94]

Without question, this is the best way to experience Final Fantasy V. However, if you're the kind of RPG fan who needs a strong story to keep you playing, even this definitive version won't be satisfying. On the other hand, if you usually skip through dialogue just to get to the next battle, you'll love this game's unique blend of character-building and combat.

I felt that for every step forward it took, it went a half step to the side. [Feb 2002, p.92]

Is it the next great evolution of gaming? Perhaps not, but it is a step towards creating the ultimate James Bond title. [Mar 2004, p.92]

It looks a heck of a lot nicer, plays better, and offers more than you could ever imagine. [Apr 2002, p.79]

For the hardcore types, Vengeance will no doubt satisfy the need for tactically deep shooting action. [Dec 2004, p.185]

The levels are sprawling, gorgeous, multifaceted playgrounds to hunt down and kill your targets in, and feature some of the most impressive crowds seen this generation. [Dec 2012, p.98]

Pokémon Legends: Arceus charts an exciting new direction for the series, while still maintaining many of the core tenants that made Game Freak's franchise so beloved in the first place.

While there's a lot to love about this series, and this entry in particular, Agent 47's world still foesn't offer the subtlety necessary for this great premise to really be satisfying. [June 2006, p.110]

Even if your attention is turned to the new generation of portable systems, it's worth taking a step back to play Kirby Mass Attack. With solid touch-based control mechanics, a wealth of unlockables, and the classic Kirby charm, it's another great first-party experience on a system full of them.

Even if Treyarch misses the mark on occasion, I respect the developer for taking chances with a series that would sell just fine if it stuck with the status quo.

You're in for one hell of a good time. [Oct 2007, p.108]

If you don’t mind periodically revisiting game design from 1999, Alan Wake is an engaging horror mystery that brings the heart of Stephen King’s style of storytelling to the interactive medium.

The unwieldy Stage Battles maim the battle system and multiplayer, but this gaffe doen’t take away from Brütal Legend’s charm. If you’re a fan of Tim Schafer’s humor and the type of person who decides between wearing a Metallica and Slayer tee-shirt when you wake up, this is a must-play.

All that said, VVVVVV is a charming little indie puzzle/platformer that you'd have to completely fail to click with to not get your $8 purchase price worth of entertainment out of. When it's good, it's great. When it's bad, it's merely annoying for fifteen minutes at a stretch rather than desk-poundingly awful.

When Katana Zero is in top form, it is a satisfying and stylish action/puzzle hybrid that rewards your patience and persistence. But the longer you play, the more the effect diminishes. The assassination scenarios start blending together, and the cutscenes stop inspiring curiosity. That tipping point is what stops Katana Zero from reaching its full potential, but it doesn’t negate the pride that comes from a well-planned and perfectly executed sword-slashing rampage.

The critical path is incredibly long and is joined by bonus comic missions for most of the characters. The teammate AI is very impressive, often getting to baddies before you even see them, but once again, Raven has designed a game that is better through cooperative play.

When the first Mortal Kombat debuted more than 30 years ago, the series quickly became known for its trademark blood, gore, and violence. While that is still at the forefront thanks to Mortal Kombat 1’s Fatal Blows, Brutalities, and, of course, Fatalities, the longer the series has gone on, the longer it has rightfully become just as known for its genre-leading approach to single-player content and incredibly tight fighting mechanics. In making strides in both areas, Mortal Kombat 1 moves the series forward to continue what has already been a terrific year for the genre.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined has just as much heart as its previous iterations, but is now also much more welcoming and modernized. The presentation is endearing, and the new gameplay mechanics, as well as the plethora of modifiers, will help new players navigate uncharted territory. Even if the challenge isn’t always there, those who’ve set sail on this adventure before will find plenty to love in this latest expedition.