If you play this game the way you should – by slaughtering victims in the most foul of ways – it ends up being a non-stop highlight reel. The ranked boss battles are especially entertaining – think Mortal Kombat Fatalities with the budget of a Star Wars movie.

Collecting codes and manipulating them is engaging, but the rest of the experience is merely functional.

It’s odd that a franchise that has been so creative with its game designs would settle for such pedestrian pursuits. Putting toppings on a pizza? Carrying luggage? Watering plants? Sounds more like “chores” than a party to me.

I want to like Panzers – the basic design is full of concepts that I enjoy, and the presentation is outstanding. It’s a pity that the gameplay sadly lacks the chops to pull it all together.

Nintendo’s goals with this game appear more modest, and they are largely accomplished. If better controls for an eight-year old game meet your equally modest goals, you should find little that disappoints.

The game doesn’t have much new content. A few new courts and characters won’t attract anyone who’s spent serious time on the GC version. Still, I couldn’t help but find myself getting wrapped up it the game again, even if I had the nagging feeling that this version seemed a little easier than it had before.

As much as I’d love to own a panda, after an eight-hour shift in the dullest pet shop in the planet, I was ready to tell my mom to stuff the allowance.

Halo Wars isn't perfect, but it's a huge step in the right direction for console RTS. For the first time in the sub-genre, I felt like I was playing a game instead of wrestling with a kludged-together control scheme. [Mar 2009, p.88]

This is one of the most sophisticated, entertaining, and historically accurate strategy games ever made.

H.A.W.X. is the best flight game so far this generation, and a worthy addition to the best in the Clancy stable.

H.A.W.X. is the best flight game so far this generation, and a worthy addition to the best in the Clancy stable.

I wish I could say that this game's poor design and execution was a surprise, but let's be honest: old Sonic's been down so long it looks like up to him. [May 2009, p.87]

This sequel adds an additional mountain and the use of a snowboard, but the series' easygoing vibe isn't dramatically altered. [May 2009, p.87]

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.

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.

Inferior play mechanics and a shoddy framerate limit the appeal of this year's Wii version, despite the nearly complete feature set and satisfying batting mechanic. [Apr 2009, p.81]

Like this year’s New York Yankees team, MLB 09: The Show is stacked with unrivaled gameplay, simulation, online, and presentation. With "Major League Baseball 2K9" underperforming this year, the choice for baseball fans is easy. The only logical choice is MLB 09: The Show.

With the exception of its stunning graphics, Killzone 2 doesn’t do a whole lot that you haven’t seen before in other titles. But what it does do, it does with aplomb.

It comes out of the gate with a strong opening set and sprinkles in a good joke every time the audience gets restless. But the gameplay itself is as diluted as a happy hour special in an 18-and-over club.

It comes out of the gate with a strong opening set and sprinkles in a good joke every time the audience gets restless. But the gameplay itself is as diluted as a happy hour special in an 18-and-over club.

I just would have liked to see more time devoted to cleaning bugs and buffing out the core riding mechanic. [Mar 2009, p.89]

50 Cent’s first foray into video games (50 Cent: Bulletproof) was a hot mess of action clichés and poor control, so kudos to new developer Swordfish Studios for delivering a vastly improved sequel. It’s a thuggish, high production value exercise in excess – not unlike the music of the man that inspired it.

50 Cent’s first foray into video games (50 Cent: Bulletproof) was a hot mess of action clichés and poor control, so kudos to new developer Swordfish Studios for delivering a vastly improved sequel. It’s a thuggish, high production value exercise in excess – not unlike the music of the man that inspired it.

The Last Hope is plagued by a number of problems, but if you can invest the time needed for this game to blossom (that's a big if), the combat system and mysterious plot reward you well for your time. [Mar 2009, p.90]

Legacy is a little too "classic" for its own good; it needs more than a facelift to appeal to the modern gamer. [Mar 2009, p.95]

Galactrix succeeds in all the ways a sophomore entry should. It maintains the core approach of its successful forebear, but isn’t afraid to integrate a bevy of new ideas along the way. Not every one of these new concepts pans out, but it hasn’t lost the flavor that made so many devote themselves the first time around.

While Drakensang easily exceeds any expectations regarding presentation and scope, the finer points of RPG design - notably combat and player-driven interactions with the game world - are lost on the game. [Mar 2009, p.92]

As much as I enjoyed the world of the original Blue Dragon, I'm just going to pretend this dismal follow-up never happened. [Mar 2009, p.95]