A no-holds-barred chariot racer full of originality and pee-in-your-pants combat.

No real levels have been added to the original arcade version, so the game ends just when you’re revving up.

Overall, RooGoo Twisted Towers adds a unique perspective to the puzzle genre for the Wii, but it lacks the exciting and addictive nature of puzzle games.

Aside from that, Touch Detective 2 1/2 is just more of the same, so your enjoyment will depend on what you thought of the first. [Nov 2007, p.96]

Redemption gives some luster back to the Terminator name but not much. [Nov 2004, p.102]

The training levels are a little tedious, but serves it purpose to have you naturally thinking and reacting as if you're Batman by the heart of the game.

The top screen is completely cosmetic and, in actuality, you'll more than likely have your eyes trained on the bottom screen the majority of the time.

The first-person combat is lively, but decidedly average. The controls are overly-sensitive and a little imprecise, particularly for movement up and down (the y-axis). Oddly there are no adjustments to dampen or even this out.

Honestly, Radiant Mythology does absolutely nothing new, especially if you've played Tales games before, but I found myself have a lot of fun hacking and slashing away through beautiful dungeons.

While the game faithfully translates Akira Toriyama's DBZ world onto the DS, the game stumbles in a few areas. Across the entire character roster, basic attacks from fighter to fighter are basically all the same. Meanwhile, the AI alternates between two wildly different moods--really dumb, or really cheap.

While it's always great to see an arcade title faithfully ported to a home console, Crisis Zone is nearly too arcadey for its own good as both story mode scenarios can be completed in well under an hour on the normal difficulty setting.

Gravity Runner has its merits, but its overly-simplified control scheme does it an injustice.

If nostalgia is your game, the original Tecmo Bowl on Virtual Console still remains unbeaten after all these years.

A solid multiplayer offering, gore aplenty, a low price point, and general undead silliness make Zombie Apocalypse a fun diversion.

It's hard to make a glowing recommendation about a $60 game that includes virtually no offline mode, lacks variety in its weapons and match types, and suffers from rookie blunders in terms of presentation and interface. It all points to a rushed, chaotic development cycle.

The smaller GBA screen means you can't see as much of your surroundings as you could in the originals, making it easy to sustain damage from something you can't even see.

Cute but ultimately disposable, the pretty Pac-age doesn’t take advantage of the Xbox’s visual prowess.

A slew of glitches run constantly throughout the game.

The commentator's unfunny one-liners quickly grate on the nerves, and characters occasionally freeze-up and don't behave the way they should during a game, which is particularly annoying when facing the overly skilled A.I.

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.

While the game's aesthetics and design is spot on to the franchises distinct style, gameplay teeters between fluidly fast-pace action and insanely difficult and tedious game segments.

It's been far too long since another game of such scope, breadth, and originality hit computer screens. Theatre of War--while having some significant problems--is a game well worth looking at.

So while Konami succeeded at building a simple but graphically enticing fighter, it failed to create anything but an average game with a penchant for g-strings and larger than usual cup-sizes.

The new levels are just plain boring, and the action doesn’t really pick up until you hit the original PC missions. Far worse, the game completely—and lamely—lacks multiplayer action or online support.

Would have appeared more innovative and garnered a higher Fun Factor rating if not for its blatant similarities in presentation, features, competition modes, FMVs, and even screen layouts with "SSX Tricky."

By taking two killer licenses and placing them in a real-time strategy setting, Zono Inc. has crafted a compelling, addictive, and challenging-as-hell game.

The game presentation feels dated with generic graphics and music taken straight from an 80's Stallone action flick. The driving mechanics are poor, with the driving sections feeling like rushed add-ons. But most disappointing is the game's repetition.

It's really too bad that The Last Remnant is so uneven. For every one thing it does right, there is a glaring fault that ruins the fun.

A good game with a few bugs. If you're a fan of the anime series then you'll probably fall instantly in love with Sidetracked.

While the game has some flaws, the annoying issues with Kinect Sports: Season Two didn't adversely affect my enjoyment of the game. As a Kinect Sports vet, I expected more of the same -- heck, I even wanted it.

Its arcadey addictiveness and cinematic style successfully lands it in a sweet spot right between those two genres, taking players for a ride that's totally on par with the summer movie excitement it emulates.

While it's a bit pricey for what it offers, Backbreaker Vengeance is football at its most enjoyable, basic level. If you're a football fan who can accept this game for what it is as opposed to what it's not, you're sure to have fun with it.

On the control side, Hunt mostly handles just fine. It feels a little funky when you try to rotate the direction he’s facing (to deposit a body in the shadows, for instance), and the item switching is a little clumsy, but neither issue is serious.

Crystal Bearers is slick and polished but it somehow comes off feeling like a half-finished product.

The two-player mode isn’t all bad, but for such a solid game, it’s a flaw that’s keeping this otherwise plenary racing game below the ranks of "Mario Kart" and "Diddy Kong Racing."

Auto Modellista’s gameplay doesn’t match its outstanding visuals. Unfortunately, the driving technique at the heart of this driver doesn’t perform well.

The best way to describe Disaster Report is "Silent Hill without the monsters."

The most impressive feature in Tapout 2 is the redesigned visuals. Dream Factory chose to completely redo the graphics to make them look more life-like and as authentic as the real deal.

Overall, the unique approach of NFL Head Coach makes this game a smart pick for football freaks and sports gamers looking to add some analytical and intellectual flavor to their library.

I have to give that fight a hand, however, for at least daring to be, well, daring. Most of Legacy plays it safe, opting for a by-the-numbers approach that never really pushes any of the right buttons. Unless you're a Dragon Age II diehard, you're probably better off skipping this one.

While it does offer some features, including the fact that it's the only hockey title with Wayne as a playable skater, the overall gameplay just can't compete with the other two titles due to Gretzky's stiff-looking animations, limited control options, and suspect A.I. [Dec 2004, p.146]

It's not perfect, but it's a polished, exciting ride.

If you were hoping the new management would give Crash a big kick in the pants, however, this is one pair of pants you will find quite unkicked.

Brings more than just fierce punches and kicks -- it features an engaging story and plenty of gameplay modes that offer a high replay value. Hands down, this is one of the best PS2 games.

Visually, SSX’s twisty 3D environments look excellent but are maddeningly monotonous.

Unwieldy controls and average graphics stall this flyer. But the game is certainly not grounded.

Deep statistics are offset by a clunky interface. A deep career mode is offset by annoying seasonal goals. Hi-res graphics are offset by frame rate issues. Great musics and stadium songs are offset by flimsy on-field sound effects.

Hardcore "Bust A Groove" fans will probably like the sequel more than neophyte PlayStation dancers, who they might get more out of the original.

Tons of people used to play this game in the arcade. It was cool then, and this version is the same, only smaller...and with a track designer. [Sept 2004, p.93]

If you ignored Dark Sector on consoles, have a reasonable PC, and are itching for a solid action game during a slow release month like April, that meager price tag will not steer you wrong. However, if you've already experienced Dark Sector once, there's really no reason for you to bother with this port.

On its own, this game brings little to the table. Past its chuckle-worthy "Welcome to Die" and "Master of Magnet" moments, outside of your nostalgia for your arcade days or your enthusiasm for the comic, there's very little game to be had.

Despite its neat exterior and innovative puzzle design, due to some persistent issues with the quality and reliability of the gameplay, it's clear that Red Ball 3 could have stood a few more run-throughs.

While the overall control scheme works well enough, kicking long range field goals through the notoriously tight uprights is far too simple. The limited playbook also gives the game a stale feeling and the half baked telemetry system fails to save the gameplay with largely unimportant statistical minutia delivered in eye-straining small fonts and obnoxious menus.

There’s nothing particularly special here for classic TV fans, but classic shooter fans will find a battle worth fighting.

Death Tank is a well made game but does not offer any mind blowing features. At the current overpriced price point, Death Tank is tough to recommend.

The gameplay is diverse, and it’s backed by strong graphics and audio...The main downside is with the nontraditional controls.

Despite its averageness, WinBack: CO is fun, satisfying stealth/action fare. If it were the only game you had, it’d be great.

NHL Arcade falls short in too many areas to be highly recommended. Unless you're a diehard hockey fanatic you can pass up this title. It's a shame too, we needed a good hockey arcade title for PSN/XBLA, but we haven't gotten it yet.

This downloadable shoot-'em-up boasts plenty of explosive arcade-style combat, but frustrating boss battles and frantic on-screen action mean it might be better reserved for genre diehards.

For a budget PC title, you'll get a good hour of entertainment out of the gun stacker's novelty and likely a few chuckles out of the dialogue and enemies. But what could have been either a really clever parody or a tight side-scrolling shooter is unfortunately neither.

One could possibly spend hours on end playing this game, as they obsessively upgrade their shops to unlock more things to buy, until eventually you monopolizing businesses the entire Tamagotchi Mall.

The mileage you get from the selection of women and their respective dances is dependent on your personal taste. If that's your main interest in the game, then you'll find plenty of incentives to keep playing. SRS is above average, but there's a lot of heavy competition out there.

The ultimate downfall of Shred Nebula is the controls.

If they ever invent a time machine, SNK should set it for the date of the PS2 launch and chuck KoF 2006 through; that, and that only, might make this game relevant.

You may have a modicum of fun with Slam Bolt, but with its short length and unbalanced mechanics, you're mostly in for a bland experience.

Filled with enough chaos and wicked humor to forgive the slight reliance on platform clichés, Whiplash really is a hell of a game. With a little more polish before release, this game could have been a true masterpiece.

Its uninspired controls, lack of character diversity, and the absence of a story mode make this only a marginally entertaining video game.

Ultimately, this game’s Achilles’ heel is its unholy union of awkward controls and oatmeal graphics. Still, it’s the best-looking and most in-depth FPS for the GBA.

Mind-boggling quick, XGRA is quite possibly the fastest entry in the futuristic racing subgenre - so fast that a lot of time is spent playing knock-hockey against barriers despite tight controls.

With plenty of gameplay modes, secret fighters, and varied styles, there’s a good chunk of replay value here.

Without its surreal mix of worlds and characters, Disney Universe would be little more than a fun, but forgettable LEGO game rip-off. However, with enough charm and personality to fill Cinderella's Castle, it's hard not to recommend it to those who make annual treks to Disneyland or catch every Pixar flick on opening day. If that doesn't describe you, but you're an adult looking for a fun interactive romp to take with your kids, Disney Universe is still a great place to visit.

An old-skool movie-based game in the worst way, taking you back to the days when a Hollywood license was a recipe for a giant ball of suck.

Despite being on the more graphically capable Xbox, sadly the visuals are nearly identical to the PlayStation 2. Music remains gratingly repetitive, but the additions of Japanese voices do help to make the experience more bearable.

While it was a decent games for the PSOne, especially popular with the kiddies, it seems a waste of the PSP.

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

But the real fun lies in the mini-games. It's just a tad unfortunate, though, that the game really doesn't have much depth besides that. Granted, it's fun to play with another person and it's cool to play through the unique Brain Massage mode. But, if you're looking for a DS game that's going to provide hours of entertainment, you'll have better luck elsewhere.

While the quirky game play and novelty of random content may not keep younger gamers coming back for dungeon runs, Izuna will certainly entice old-school RPG fans simply as a challenge to their gamer's ego.

Since the controls almost never change from character to character, there's very little difference between all the fighters-you've seen one, you've seen 'em all, in other words.

A decent title with challenging puzzles that will reward your patience and dedication. It's probably best as an extended rental but some of you might find that it's worth the full price of admission.

If you can get past its price and lack of online multiplayer, though, Rotastic should at least keep you happily swinging-and-flinging until the holiday release schedule heats up.

This top-down arcade game based on Burnout's Crash mode is addictive, but it could've used a little more focus on mindless carnage and less on planning and repetition.

Overall, Kingdom Hearts Re:coded has a decent amount of polish, and should be interesting for series fans who have managed to keep the story straight so far. If you tackle the handful of side-quests and extra missions, you'll even net a good 15 to 30 hours out of the game -- just don't expect much clarity out of the narrative.

The visuals are sharp and clean all around, and the game features plenty of slick aircraft shots and beautiful skylines.

Overall, Heroes of Mana is a nice enough diversion, but it's hard to see what Square Enix was trying to do with this title. [Sep 2007, p.84]

Overall, Air Traffic Chaos's controls are simple enough, but that doesn't mean that they're not a pain to navigate.

Thanks to the lifeless puzzle design, TR quickly becomes dull-hit the switch, jump to another ledge, repeat.

A well-made, well-presented, potentially thoroughly enjoyable hack-n-slash-a-thon that’s plagued by a Frustrating Cheap Death spell and the lack of any mid-game save or checkpoint feature to combat it.

Quirky and not for everyone, but it has an engaging charm and an addictive pitcher/batter interface that make it stand out.

Trying to hit balls through rings or paint a canvas with colored balls by accurately aiming your shot is now frustratingly impossible. And since playing a standard set is crazy enough with the new controls, adding turtle shells and banana peels to the mix makes the matches unmanageable.

The gameplay blows minds. The lush, detailed graphics and driving sountrack are the icing on the cake. [Dec 2004, p.108]

The mechs are highly customizable--a franchise hallmark--but the environments are sparse and the gameplay experience itself feels ultimately soulless.

Just don't expect any plot to further motivate you through the game, and don't assume that lots of money was spent on localization (clearly a Japanese woman attempted to voice the part of Mama, and clearly she did not earn her paycheck). That being said, where else are you going to find a game that times how fast you can rip the heads off of shrimp?

Fighting Fantasy's writing doesn't do much to differentiate itself from the stock fantasy novels that litter bookstores, but the novelty of seeing what amounts to an e-book with branching paths and light RPG elements may be worth five dollars.

It's ultimately the inspired intermingling of the disparate abilities bestowed on partnered players that makes Too Human worth playing.

Military Madness: Nectaris needs better graphics. It needs more grab-you-and-suck-you-right-in sounds and background noise. It needs to brush up the controls as well. Everything put together equals a real stinker in the long run.

Still, Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors offers a unique blend of game genres that coalesce together into an interesting game experience. [Mar 2008, p.84]

Player-movement controls sport a nice pressure-sensitive touch that presents veterans with a good challenge toward perfecting their skills. But the gameplay stills feels a tad slow.

By dumbing it down with WWF-style presentation and mindless gameplay, 3DO has created a PS2 update of the BattleTanx series that turns what was a fun mission-based adventure into a silly tournament-style game show.