Still, the different aspects of gameplay flow together smoothly and the campaign at least throws enough varied challenges to make it moderately entertaining. [Dec 2007, p.156]

It's too bad the developers felt they could coast along on the strength of a handful of good ideas. [Ocvt 2007, p.121]

Once you overcome the learning curve, it's easy to enjoy Soul Nomad's brand of charm and humor. [Oct 2007, p.118]

These controls feel great, and they really need to since the game isn’t in the slightest bit forgiving. When you go for a grind, you won’t magically be transported onto the rail. You have to line it up and pray that you time your jump and adjoining trick correctly.

Doesn’t do anything terribly interesting outside of adding two new factions (a defensive British division and a highly mobile German counterpart). The added campaigns are very average, but will no doubt be entertaining enough to satisfy the needs of offline-focused players. By all means, grab Opposing Fronts if you simply need more CoH – just don’t expect anything particularly revolutionary here.

Boasting fantastic locales from Cairo to the Himalayas and strange experimental fighters never seen in the history books, the titular secret missions in question are pretty unbelievable. The exaggerated weapons and battles are actually the most exciting and engrossing aspect of the title; much of Blazing Angels 2 veers heavily into frustration and obfuscation.

This is nothing more than a cobbled together batch of decade-old FPS conventions and cliches. There's just not much heart and soul in this game, and the stiff mechanics don't work well enough to make you overlook its weakness. [May 2007, p.96]

Boasting fantastic locales from Cairo to the Himalayas and strange experimental fighters never seen in the history books, the titular secret missions in question are pretty unbelievable. The exaggerated weapons and battles are actually the most exciting and engrossing aspect of the title; much of Blazing Angels 2 veers heavily into frustration and obfuscation.

While somewhat shallow, My Sims will spark your imagination and awaken the inventor in you with its ingenious art-driven gameplay. [Oct 2007, p.121]

Multiplayer now includes online play, but most people will probably focus on bettering their online time trial rankings.

You had better get to know the offensive and defensive capabilities of every unit at your disposal – not to mention how they deal with different types of terrain – because no economic wizardry is going to save you here. Lightning-fast tactical combat is all World in Conflict does, and it does it amazingly well.

Oh, how many restless nights have I spent yearning for a Koei game that would combine the worst parts of "Dynasty Warriors" with those of "Samurai Warriors"! [Oct 2007, p.113]

Oh, how many restless nights have I spent yearning for a Koei game that would combine the worst parts of "Dynasty Warriors" with those of "Samurai Warriors"! [Oct 2007, p.113]

It may not be pushing the genre forward in terms of plot, but Eternal Sonata's other components come together with such harmony that it will have you calling for an encore. [Sept 2007, p.118]

I find Project Gotham tracks have done better in giving player bite-sized, drift happy courses, but overall this game is the burst of speed that this genre needs.

This game earns its stripes by letting players have more of a hand in creating their own style of mayhem to spice up a scene, and trust me, you’ll take every opportunity you can get.

These controls feel great, and they really need to since the game isn’t in the slightest bit forgiving. When you go for a grind, you won’t magically be transported onto the rail. You have to line it up and pray that you time your jump and adjoining trick correctly.

The amazing cutscenes (with some of the best facial animations I’ve ever seen), a cool cast of characters, and the stirring musical score complement the gameplay to create an incredibly cinematic experience. It may invite comparisons to other action titles, but I can safely say that Heavenly Sword is a unique and captivating adventure with a style all its own.

I was a bit worried that moving toward a slower, sim-based game would hurt the experience, but I found that it’s just as intense.

Despite its limited focus, Dirt’s single-minded pursuit of racing serves the game well and creates a strong foundation for the future. I guess I can’t blame it for tuning out the rest of the world while it whips around dusty tracks at scary speeds. As we know, getting dialed into the zone is everything.

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.

Bad games are sometimes described as “trash,” but even that doesn’t seem vile enough for this grievous affront. Kengo is a tall glass of garbage water – the viscous, beige fluid that collects at the bottom of trash bins...the refuse of waste.

Accent Core is the latest of these, and it provides a fresh wave of balance tweaks, new mechanics, and two additional playable characters (ABA and Holy Order Sol). The changes are solid, but there isn’t anything that radically alters the landscape of the combat.

I was a bit worried that moving toward a slower, sim-based game would hurt the experience, but I found that it’s just as intense.

It takes more than just a neat idea to be a truly compelling piece of software. With no scoring system, backing music and vocals, or career mode, this isn’t really a game in any sense. And, honestly, strumming and singing to yourself gets old after about 15 minutes. Stick to Guitar Hero.

Challenge mode offers a few uninspired minigames like banana catching and log hopping.

However, your illustrative prowess doesn't affect gameplay, so in the end you're a little more than a window dresser for what is otherwise a familiar retread. [Oct 2007, p.127]

It may not deliver the entire package this year, but NHL 2K8 is a fun game that offers a fast-paced arcade feel.