Harvest Moon isn't for the impatient gamer, but those who stick with it long enough will discover its rustic charm.

Though The Fist of Mars features a solid story, the strategy elements are too wan to hold interest for too long, and the lack of a multiplayer mode kills its long-term replay value.

If you're a diehard, you'll relish playing through your favorite early battles in the epic story. Sagas is a competent first entry to the action genre, just not exemplary.

There are too many unbalanced issues in the game to make it a worthy handheld gaming experience. Street Supremacy is definitely better than its PlayStation predecessor, but not by that much.

About as much fun as watching your tomatoes grow...If you’ve got an agricultural attitude, patience, and a hankering for steady and safe gameplay, you just might be a Harvest Moonie.

Hard Corps: Uprising is built for a very specific type of gamer. If you fit that description, you won't be disappointed with your purchase. But while many aspects of Uprising are appealing, without endearing characters to root for or an effective save system, it feels more like a missed opportunity than a tribute to the classics.

Pottermaniacs will love exploring even a 2D version of Hogwarts, but be prepared for challenging and sometimes frustrating gameplay.

The result, though a little awkward, is a hybrid with neither the depth of a true RPG nor the frenetic pace and art design of a pure-bred shooter. Both sides of the experience are fun, but less than stellar.

While the controls aren't as counterintuitive as many have claimed them to be, the game has minor draw distance problems when you're Katamari gets too big and there're too many big objects on screen. You'll find that the game doesn't load the smaller items and you're Katamari will pick up objects that aren't even represented onscreen.

Blackwell Deception has some good ideas and it's refreshing for a game to deal with ghosts and psychics in a way that's not entirely shallow. The script is at its best when it's disarmingly sincere, as the attempts at humor are hit and miss. It's just a shame then that the story is as old-hat as Joey's fedora.

While CIMA’s concept is indeed very cool and refreshing, interface issues frequently get in the way. When your group gets large, the point-and-click interface can be confusing, and herding the whole lot requires patience.

It's hard to get excited unless you're on a big nostalgia trip. Yes, it's cool to explore the castle in full 3D at last, but the mechanics within are almost a little too tried and true.

For some inexplicable reason, it’s addictive. These types of games are perfect for portable systems, too…simple and endlessly replayable.

A puzzle game has to be challenging in order for it to be addictive but TiQal gives players too many chances.

Most console wrestling fans are used to more depth and control in their games, and this arcade title only skims the surface.

I liked the deep strategy but I was as frustrated as I was entertained. [Aug 2009, p.83]

It only takes a few minutes of playing Mario & Sonic at the Olympics to understand that this isn't so much a game as it is a marketing tool to promote the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Watching these heroes pirouette amidst the violence is surprisingly entertaining, and while Seven Sorrows doesn't deliver fully on the promise and longevity of its progenitor, it does provide a fleeting good time.

The music, sound effects, and voice acting make up for some of the problems, but they ultimately can't overcome Drakengard's problems with graphics and slow controls. [Mar 2004, p.65]

Sadly, the game falters during certain combat segments. While the control mechanics enable locking in on an attacker, at times, there are so many charging that it’s difficult to target a particular one.

Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals does have a lot of fun elements, but it's also full of aggravations of varying sizes.

Wants to be the PlayStation 2’s "House of the Dead," but it lacks creativity and spooky bite.

Despite the nice presentation, there just isn’t very much to do compared with Nintendo’s genre-defining fighter [Super Smash Bros].

But alas... Trauma was a game I wanted to love, but found more curious than transcendent. Still, any game that requires this much psychological analysis is a welcome departure from the norm.

Raw has all the pomp and circumstance of the WWF without all the good gameplay and fun that drove older WWF titles.

Pick it up if you're buying it for the original experience of PaRappa the Rapper, for the classic gameplay that is still...classic. Think of it as retro--not the next hot thing--and enjoy it as an episode of games gone by.

The rote play mechanics become tiresome after a few campaigns, and despite a limited combo system, you can eliminate most enemies by mashing the same button.

If you haven't picked up Tetris in a while, this isn't the best or the cheapest version available, but if it's really is all you can find, it's impossible not to recommend playing a few matches.

Despite the signature twitch controls, fans of previous Rush racers will be disappointed if they expect more of the same, so it's hard to understand why the name is used at all beyond mercenary marketing.

Even with it's impressive handheld graphics, assortment of interesting characters and intriguing steampunk setting, Will couldn't help but feel that he'd played this JRPG somewhere before.

Compared to the price of the console game, for 3 dollars, Battlefield 2: Bad Company HD is a bargain, yet one banking heavily on its multiplayer for replayability.

Brace yourself and buckle your seatbelts kids, it's going to be a bumpy -- and destructive -- ride through the sky.

The 3D visual and audio style is topnotch, and the cinemas are a blast—even if some camera views are awkward and some areas are a little too dark and muddy.

It's a flawed-but-fascinating curiosity and addictive despite itself thanks to the truly awesome monster generation. [June 2003, p.113]

The controls are solid, the Japanese vocals and English subtitles are well done, and while the game does make you grind through levels, it was nice to know that my actions would make a difference even if I died eleven floors down.

On its own merits, Galaga Legions is an enjoyable but short game. But for old school gamers the original title, available on XBLA for half the price, has much more to offer.

Does a decent job of giving gamers some off-road action, but the graphics aren't up to PS2 standards, and the racing isn't as deep as it could be.

Despite its shortcomings, Onimusha Tactics is a solid game with an engaging story. If you're looking for a casual strategy game without the tedious character setup options, then Tactics is for you.

It is an update of "Robotron" with a fantasy backstory. If you’re looking for a new kind of shooter, NightCaster will do—but RPG fans, you’re still in the dark.

P2, while a good game, is very much a product of its time. Players were more willing to overlook a lot of the JRPG's stereotypical frustrations and foibles back in the late 90s and early aughts. With shifts in consumer tastes and the desire for fresher experiences, however, a brand new game structured like P2 -- with its somewhat clunky story presentation and traditional, slow-paced progression -- simply wouldn't fly in the marketplace either in Japan or abroad.

That immersive, macho feeling makes the otherwise just-okay CART Fury worth at least a rent.

Though Arno is very simple, its rate of fire isn't much better than Galaga and it has the flash game visual equivalent of soap opera-style lighting, it's a pretty slick production overall.

If Robotech authenticity is more important to you than gameplay diversity, then here's your chance to finally join the RDF.

It's a no-brainer for Koei to bring its cash cow franchise Dynasty Warriors to PSP--what is surprising, however, is the handheld version's flawed controls and fractured gameplay that makes it a harder-than-usual sell for longtime Lu Bu aficionados.

Disoriented is an okay deal. It's got enough content to keep those who can get past its more frustrating levels occupied, and it's a unique concept that hasn't yet been done to death on the platform.

Plays a decent game of PS2 football, but it’s at least number three behind "Madden NFL 2002" and "NFL 2K2" this year—and that leaves little running room.

You'll likely beat the game in a matter of hours, and while there are some cool unlockable modes to explore afterwards, the low challenge factor is really kinda disappointing if you're a diehard fan of the series.

Despite these flaws, gamers should embrace being given a WiiWare title of such substance. An enjoyable, hectic, and fast-paced title, Kyotokei should give gamers hope that Nintendo hasn't thrown in the towel on their digital download service just yet.

But what Ys Seven lacks in depth it makes up with energy. There's little downtime, making it a good fit for a portable platform, and the boss fights are just fun enough to keep things from getting tedious.

It really does grow on you, and once you get past the ridiculous premise you end up with a decent poor-man’s "Twisted Metal" that’s worth the budget price and not much more.

Unfortunately, the focus on strategy has placed the RPG elements firmly in the back seat, and the story feels out of place and intrudes rudely on the pleasure of card battling. PSOEIII's attempt to infuse a decent card game with a rich plot only confuses matters.

Alien Hominids control scheme doesn't allow for players to fire diagonally. Also, the console version is intended for 2 players--single player games are frustratingly hard due to the cheap AI.

Volcano Escape by itself is definitely worth the $1.99 its developers are charging for it, but the optional in-app purchases are definitely overpriced. Still, if you don't mind being locked out some of the game's content, you won't miss out on much.

It's a solid game and should please any horror movie addict who owns a Nintendo Wii.

What really counts here is the gameplay, and in that sense, Regeneration is a fitting tribute to the films. It's great, gory fun to hack limbs off your Deadite foes, and the targeting and combo system are up to the challenge...even if the camera angles suffer from time to time.

You have to dig a little deeper, but that Patapon goodness is still overflowing in Patapon 3. It's just too bad its creators are starting to forget what made it so great and special in the first place.

Graphically, EX3 is mediocre (compared to "Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore" and "Tekken Tag Tournament"), with its unrealistic, blocky characters and sparkly effects.

It's like an ugly puppy: it's not appealing to look at and it sometimes makes a mess, but it's got a special quality that makes you love it regardless.

Simply an extension of Infection—muddy graphics, questionable control, and a story concept that’s just interesting enough to keep you going.

Everything is in place for an absolutely great game that's unfortunately bogged down in a mess of bad design decisions, bugs, and some odd gameplay changes.

The single player campaign does a good job of gradually introducing new gameplay concepts and putting them to use. Unfortunately, the great gameplay is saddled with a ludicrous story (complete with overacted FMV cut scenes and techno-fascist iconography).

Even though it doesn't provide a bridge between the Guerilla and Armageddon storylines, Battlegrounds is still an enjoyable, chaotic romp. Gamers looking for gratuitous explosions or some items for the next Red Faction game (you get them at Rank 10 and 20) will have fun with this title.

It's more suited as a light snack and won't satisfy your hunger for a gourmet feat of beat-em-up goodness. [Nov 2006, p.93]

Despite Rayne's new abilities, you're still doing pretty much the same thing as before-slashing up wimpy guys, defeating bosses, and then doing it all over again after the next save point. (Even worse, the old camera problems are still there-you'll get blindsided by enemies all the time simply because you had no advance warning of their presence.)

Overall, the single-player mode lacks the charm of the portable edition, and, especially for those new to the series, the multiplayer can't compete with the welcoming embrace that the "Mario Party" series is known for. [May 2004, p.68]

All in all, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is a fairly easy and light RPG that I'm sure younger gamers will have a blast with.

The control mechanics are intricate, though quick tic-tac-toe passes with the right stick, more in-depth faceoffs, and speedy line changes using the directional pad are nice features.

A fantastic sense of style puts the series' best foot forward, but it's at a cost of losing the relative depth found in the previous two installments. [Apr 2008, p.85]

It's fun while it lasts, but it certainly won't blaze any new trails as far as virtual rockstardom goes, and diehard fans of Rock Band should hope that the devs return to their hard rocking roots for the next genuine installment.

The game’s battles look nice and move quickly, but the character animation is stiff, and the menu is too clunky and confusing given the limited number of battle options at your disposal.

The game is deeper than "V-Rally 3" (its nearest competition), but the graphics barely even hold a candle to those in Infogrames' title.

While Stubbs the Zombie is rambunctiously fun, the game engine is extremely dated. Stubbs the Zombie is riddled with clipping, questionable AI, and if you thought The Master Chief's jump was slow in Halo, Stubbs is even slower.

With a 10-12 hour story mode, an optional new-game+, and a fairly high difficulty curve to tie it all together, CRO is a robust - if not all that replayable - RPG.

Test Drive needed this reboot, and the gritty, underground-racing angle isn’t bad; it just doesn’t feel as thrilling or daring as it should.

Visually, there’s lots to explore on every map, and the characters actually show decent detail. Cool voices and slick weapon effects complete a solid soundtrack.

Better suited for the GBA format than most of the muddy faux-3D titles out there.

When you get down to it, Infestation's excellent presentation and grim atmosphere outweigh most of its minor faults. The old-school gameplay offers a fun challenge and blends well with the source material to deliver an authentic trip through sci-fi memory lane. For a hardened Alien fan like me, that's reason enough to grab a DS and dim the lights.

Lost Magic strives to accomplish something innovative and enjoyable, it falls short in its implementation, resulting in a game that frustrates and disappoints.

The gameplay is fun but quickly gets tiresome. It's also somewhat frustrating because the DS screen is a bit cramped and the stylus controls sometimes resulted in careless errors.

I wish that the game had a slightly more consistent frame rate, and its learning curve is somewhat steep, but those awesome online features make up for the few niggling flaws.

Really short and super-easy. Mini-Ulala works mostly as a neato novelty act.

Matt Hazard is not a great game. It falls victim to a lot of the cliches that it pokes fun at and Matt Hazard doesn't have the star appeal of a Duke Nukem or a Marcus Fenix. It doesn't take the spoof thing far enough--they totally waste the voice over talents of the awesome Will Arnett--and the action needs three more coats of polish but it definitely has its moments. Despite its faults, I more or less enjoyed it.

While the incorporation of stealth may not be the strongest feature in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, it's probably the only change worth noting. Although there are other modes for you to try, they're really not worth the time. [Dec 2004, p.134]

For all its simplicity, there's no denying that Serious Sam HD has enough old-school charm and addictive gameplay to make it a worthwhile purchase for gamers that just want to get some killing done the old fashioned way: with a portable ship cannon, gatling gun and four-barreled rocket launcher in your pocket.

Sure, the chatter between characters is pretty hokey at times - and is that old guy a walking stick with a head? - but that doesn't overshadow that Culdcept is an interesting and unique game idea. It's worth a look to see if it will offer you a break from the routine.

Crackdown 2 is an action game with a very exciting and worthwhile set of core mechanics, complete with some interesting multiplayer options, but also a very disappointing campaign and too much familiarity after such a long layover.

Deadliest Warrior: Legends doesn't do anything to reinvent the fighting game genre, but it certainly does give it an interesting twist.

Problematic, though, are the sequences in which you have to swing around confounding and shoddily rendered 3D hub areas to capture Doc Ock, access new chapters, and unlock bonus missions against a timer.

The game isn't necessarily scary, but it will make you anxious as hell. Time-based puzzles are enough to make your heart explode, as are the variety of reoccurring traps.

As a high-octane slay-a-thon, Otogi knows what it is and what it's supposed to do, and as long as you don't mind leaving your brain at the door, you'll probably dig it. Just be prepared to get bored after the first couple of hours.

While not as advanced or socially oriented as the recent Bomberman releases, players will find the original Bomberman pleasantly and subversively enjoyable. [Sept 2004, p.93]

Even with its slicker production, PA2 still manages to feel a bit more muddled than its predecessor.

If incredibly sore hands and a serious feeling of relief after busting caps in countless Shogun hoodlums constitutes a solid console light-gun shooter, then Ninja Assault screams for your attention.

Overall this is a great puzzle game with both an entertaining story and mind-bending puzzles. The numerous locations are both a burden on the art style and a blessing for the expanded scope of the game.

A slightly better value than 2002 with tweaked gameplay and a few new features. The problem is that the competition has jumped ahead substantially within the same time frame.

Serious Sam delivers all the requirements of an exciting FPS, and the 20-buck asking price is a sweet incentive.

The problem, however, is that there's simply too much going on. It's usually a mystery who's winning in any given level, or even where you are. The seemingly arbitrary point system means you can win all the levels, yet still ultimately lose.

You'll either immerse yourself in truly mastering one of the world's most powerful sports cars, or you'll find this about as much fun as taking your driver's test.