While the single player is rather ordinary, the multiplayer mode makes Bomberman Generation a must for GameCube owners with friends. [August 2002, p.82]

The real-time strategy genre remains relevant, fueled by a few big titles once in a while. While Age of Empires IV lacks any ambition to even gently jostle the standards set by Age of Empires II decades earlier, it’s a good way to play a classic-feeling RTS today with some slick polish and panache.

If you enjoyed the first entry, you absolutely owe it to yourself to play Goodbye Despair. If you who weren't enamored with it, you won't find anything here to change your mind. Nonetheless, you still won't find a series out there that messes with your head like Danganronpa. It sticks with you long after you've watched the credits roll.

The Campaign mode offers a little variety with slightly varied missions and even some boss battles, but if you’ve never liked Worms’ brand of zany, artillery-heavy 2D action, well, not much has changed.

FIFA 08 is the most playable version of the series yet in the next-gen era--including a cool Superstar-like mode--but ghosts of old gameplay still haunt this release. [Oct 2007, p.110]

Rage's story and overworld design feel dated, but its heart-pounding gunplay is a nice change of pace in a market filled with "follow me" and pop-and-fire shooters. While light RPG elements are present, this is mainly a game for players who love challenging combat experiences.

I love the color edit and backgrounds, and the character list can't be beat. [Dec 2001, p.95]

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.

These fans are the ones that will appreciate the little changes the most, but SmackDown vs. RAW 2010 is a solid title whether you have a closet full of Austin 3:16 shirts or just catch the occasional episode of RAW. [Nov 2009, p.97]

A game that’s not only the zenith of its series but also one of the boldest narrative-focused titles of the last few years.

As a whole, Dawn of Dreams is a truly skillful entry in the series. It's a great fresh start with new characters, gameplay, and ideas. [Mar 2006, p.102]

On day one, the game feels a few reinforcements short to pull off the overwhelming victory we’ve come to expect given the series’ strong lineage.

The gameplay has evolved to a frightening degree, and exacting painful death upon your opponent is only the tip of the bloody iceberg...Deception is easily the most-accomplished fighter to date. [Oct 2004, p.120]

The new bells and whistles streamline gameplay and make this title much more fun than I was expecting. [Oct 2004, p.146]

This title, unlike the other sports launch games for the system, really is able to sell itself via its graphics. [Jan 2006, p.147]

Though it lacks content and features, Mini Motorways has consumed much of my gaming time since I downloaded it more than a week ago. The simple gameplay, clean interface, and satisfying difficulty ramp led me to say, “Just one more run,” several times a session before ultimately calling it quits. Mini Metro hooked me when it first came to iOS years ago and has remained one of my favorite games to enjoy in short bursts, and I’m glad to add Mini Motorways to that same gaming rotation.

Perhaps due to its years in development, PDZ just feels antiquated and familiar. [Jan 2006, p.141]

The Fractured but Whole is a welcome sequel, maintaining the standard of quality set by the previous game and, in a broader sense, all of Parker and Stone’s work. Every aspect is overloaded with both smart and immature jokes, the combat is an improvement, the game is bigger and longer, and the sneaky moments of sincerity make you recall the charm of childhood in surprising ways – just like the show.

As good, if not slightly better than all the other FIFAs before it. And as long as this is all anyone asks for, it looks like FIFA will crawl along from year to year knowing that it never has to fully pull it all together. [Nov 2004, p.149]

Necrobarista tells a meaningful story about relationships and the memories we create with the people around us. It’s heartwarming, poignant, and pulls at the heart strings in all the right ways. It has some minor issues, but they aren’t what stuck with me. Instead, I’m still thinking about the wisdom this game imparts.

For all my complaining, there is one thing about this game that does rule, and that is the combat. It is still amazingly fun to slice and dice as a Jedi. It just feels good on so many levels. [Nov 2003, p.173]

If you missed out on this, or are looking for a reason to pull your PSP out of mothballs, The Warriors is a great purchase.

The core of this game is far too good to not enjoy. For fans of wrestling or fighting games in general, this annual series has become a required purchase.

Outside of the lack of the more recent PC expansions and the simulation speed options, Cities: Skylines - Xbox One Edition is every bit as good as its PC counterpart. The mayoral planning fantasy is still intact with this version, and now easier than ever to get into. Simply put, if you're an Xbox One owner who is a fan of city-building simulation games, you need to check out Cities: Skylines.

Is there depth and brilliance in this? You're damn right there is. [May 2002, p.80]

If there ever was a game developed for the attention deficient, this is it. Ninja Gaiden's action is so fast bullets would have trouble keeping up. But since it's is action game and not a round of golf, this intensity is pretty flippin' awesome.

It's no online tour, but it's a step in the right direction; the kind of slow progress we're seeing in the franchise these days. [July 2009, p.82]

Dragonfall’s fundamentals haven’t changed enough to justify a play if you actively disliked Shadowrun Returns, which is a required purchase before enjoying this new expansion. However, if you were simply hungry for deeper role-playing options, Dragonfall makes major strides, and deserves your attention as a standalone adventure.