Aero Elite’s true failure, though, is its boring gameplay. Dog fighting and attacking ground forces just isn’t entertaining.

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

Although the scriptwriters are straight from the show, Marshall and Vaughan's dialogue feels a little forced; otherwise, the large cast of participation and television soundtrack give the game exactly the authentic audio flavor fans would want. [May 2004, p.70]

If you're an action RPG fan, don't make the mistake of ignoring Spiral Knights just because it's an MMO, as it is a sublime example of where you can take the genre.

The journey across America is beautifully rendered, capturing the varied landscapes spectacularly as you travel over the Sierra, across the Great Plains, and head towards the East Coast. The quality of the movies is very good too, and the characters' faces are nicely rendered to convey emotion. But the story and the gameplay just don't hold up their side of the bargain, and the game ends up falling short of its considerable potential.

Maybe it would be more exciting if there was some actual challenge involved, but most of the battles amount to a rock, paper, scissors competition where your opponent is limited to 'rock' for their arsenal.

Clothing rippling in the wind is just one of the smooth graphic touches, and the aggressive punk/hardcore soundtrack matches Palmer’s bad-boy persona—but the sound effects aren’t terribly impressive.

While the online upgrade and improvements in the wireless multiplayer make it a feat to behold, just make sure to play the DS version instead of its unattractive, very unpolished console port.

White Knight Chronicles is definitely hit-or-miss at times, and while it finds itself occasionally hampered by a stale single-player campaign and wonky combat system, the overall experience brings just enough fresh content and online innovations to the table to make it a worthwhile purchase for hardcore JRPG fans.

EXA doesn't do much to further the legacy of the series but at least it doesn't critically damage it either.

Efforts made to envelop you in Warhammer’s medieval yet technological world are undone by sending you hunting for the blue door’s blue key - only to reveal a red door with a similar keyless predicament.

Pop delivers on its promise of providing a bubble-popping game for the Wii, and it somehow turns the premise into an unexpectedly satisfying experience.

It's hard to take Destructopus! seriously. Yet, the cartoony looks, the trash-metal title track, the tongue-in-cheek environmentalism--are actually assets in the game's favor. Sadly, all of the ironic, ridiculous stuffing can't distract the player enough from the realization that they're playing a thin, easily-forgettable experience.

It features a yawn worthy story involving a guy named Atsuma who has a mysterious past and a secret unknown power that could potentially save the world. As I said, yawn.

Project Sylpheed is one of those games you desperately want to like, but falls short in almost every category.

Looks sexy and plays like pro, but it's just not the polished veteran that you've come to expect with PS2 and Xbox. At least it's clear to see that with a little more seasoning, this game should be in fighting shape next year.

Ultimately, Namco Museum Essentials is a group of old games available for $10. Namco did a great job of assembling the package but not enough effort was put into updating these classics and making it a must buy.

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

The fact that the game is so close to perfection is what makes the multiplayer so damn disappointing.

Once you learn the controls, they respond sharply. The fully user-controlled camera can still leave you in a lurch, but locking onto one target in a group makes the frequent two-or three-enemy smackdowns winnable. [May 2004, p.70]

With many degrees of selectable difficulty, a wide variety of events, and the ability to customize your own tournament, Sports Jam offers lots of replay value and fun.

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.

Legacy is fun despite these nagging issues if only by virtue of giving you the ability to control a task force of slick-looking futuristic starships all over the galaxy. And with an interesting story that spans the entirety of the Star Trek timeline and a fairly robust multiplayer, there's plenty of incentive to play.

An undervalued and overlooked title, TNT Racers has a lot to offer. If you're a kart-racing fan you won't regret your purchase -- just don't expect much action with other players online.

If you're a more advanced player, dedicated single-sport Mario titles like Super Mario Sluggers and Mario Strikers Charged are far more substantial and enjoyable experiences. But if you want a colorful pick-up-and-play game to enjoy with your less gaming-inclined friends and family, Mario Sports Mix ought to work just fine -- just don't expect to dig it out too often otherwise.

It's like every other mission-based helicopter shooter, except that it lacks a personality. Fireblade? Firebland.

Nothing more than a third-rate "Crazy Taxi" knockoff, but minus the technique, slick visuals, and overall fun of its source material.

Despite a few structural flaws, Fortress is a fun way to kill little chunks of time.

The linear gameplay can get extremely frustrating.

Although some may be put off by the its slow pace, those with a little patience and ingenuity will feel very rewarded once objectives are completed.

If you can play Unreal II on the PC, do. Otherwise, rent this for the Xbox only while you wait for the other first-person heavyweights to show up later in the year.

The transition from polished first-person console shooter to 16-bit RPG is a smooth one on the visual front, thanks to Vlambeer's excellent pixel art and attention to minute details. It's just a bummer that the gameplay itself isn't quite as absorbing past the first world or so.

There's no doubt that Wild Arms XF is best left for hardcore fans of the series who will probably be more forgiving of the game's faults; the rest of you should look elsewhere for your tactical RPG fix.

It's like playing Simon Says with a Simon that never attempts to fool you and is really into teeny-bop pop; if the graphics were a person, her ugliness would prevent her from making the squad; controls aren't precise enough.

It might not strike anyone as exceptional, but with real-world car details, challenging A.I., and a nice upgrade system, 4x4 Evolution is worth checking out, especially if you’re an SUV fanatic in real life.

The Fun Factor directly corresponds to your level of Potter fandom: The joy of this game comes from experiencing Harry’s universe, not from the repetitive, trite gameplay.

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

Tight and enjoyable, even if it doesn’t take advantage of the X factor.

Tries new things with the game’s presentation, but what it really needs is to revamp the fundamentals like the pitching interface and two-player matches.

The game can be really difficult, but, thankfully, you can choose from seven ratings, ranging from "Very Hard" to "Baby."

Tactics probably would've been a better game if it had left out the half-baked RPG elements, and focused on more varied units and capabilities.

An enticing blend of action and RPG adventure. The game mixes the best elements of both genres, resulting in a title that is just a hair away from greatness. Musashi may not be Zelda's equal, but it sure is close. [Apr 2005, p.84]

SpongeBob SquigglePants has a few problems that can be justified -- the lack of impressive 3D effects doesn't sting since the game includes a variety of cool art styles, and the game's derivation from the WarioWario formula can be forgiven since the core gameplay is entertaining. Unfortunately, there's no good reason for the game's biggest problem: the extreme dearth of content. At $40, there's not nearly enough of SpongeBob SquigglePants to justify a purchase.

Unsurprising, but still pretty hilarious.

Some may not appreciate Star Soldier R's replay-intensive gameplay, and may view the game as something that can be seen in its entirety in less than ten minutes. It's a fun ten minutes, though, and assuming you're willing to accept it for what it is, your Wii Points will be well-spent.

Roads to Victory achieved an impressive feat in translating virtually every aspect of the Call of Duty series to a UMD except the one that arguably matters most: control.

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.

Hardly pushing the limits of the PS2, Gradius III and IV is a shooter combo package that will appeal to retro gaming fans.

Cheap deaths, a bland story, and questionable boss balance hold Forever Kingdom back from being a completely satisfying experience.

Although each car handles differently, the off-road speedsters are extremely loose, which makes for perfecting turns a frustrating task.

The terrible A.I. is a big culprit behind the sense of lackluster repetition.

A disappointing game that will have GameCube owners going to their PS2-owning friends’ houses to play "SmackDown."

The puzzles can be especially frustrating and there isn’t a whole lot of action, but cerebral brainteasers and humorous interaction between the brothers makes the gameplay refreshing and fun.

By far, the best part of Micro Machines v4 is the level design. There are oodles of levels to speed through, such as a butcher's shop, a pool table, and a hair salon.

You have four major game options when online: quickmatch, play a friend, custom match and home run derby. On top of single game options you have what amounts to be the best online function any sports game could have, leagues.

All things considered, Blazblue Continuum Shift II is a serviceable -- though hardly spectacular -- port of a superb fighting game. It's nice to have if you ever feel the odd itch to practice combos while you're waiting at the doctor's office, but there's no way you'd ever choose to play this over the console edition if you had the two in front of you. Let's hope the next Arc fighting game to see release on the 3DS takes the system's functionality (and quirks) into more consideration next time.

The developers are trying to take the franchise in an interesting new direction, and the fruit of their labor is worth checking out.

It's clear that the Need For Speed series is in need of a GPS unit so it can get back on track.

The Baconing is a good game, but a lack of innovation or worthwhile improvements stop it from being a much better one.

Even though it doesn't push the envelope, X Squad is a unique and very entertaining ride.

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 game surfs on the well-executed difference among the Alien, Predator, and Marine gameplay styles, but the strategy lacks depth and defaults to the throw-piles-of-guys-at-the-enemy style of gameplay.

Challenges are also oversimplified. Where single-player challenges in previous Worms games had cool objectives such as shotgunning targets and parachuting to grab mid-air items, Challenge Mode in Open Warfare is merely team combat.

It takes time before it breaks out of its shell to show its true colors (which you can dive into immediately if you hop online), but Nail'd is rarely dull and has a lot to offer.

If the only system you have is a Wii and you need an RPG, this certainly isn't a bad title to settle for. For gamers with more console options, however, the enjoyment you'll derive from Arc Rise Fantasia will likely be tied to how much you like combat, since the story certainly isn't anything worthwhile.

Yep, I'm gonna say it, "Lackluster port."

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.

It’s disappointing when a game finally nails the hard parts of reproducing Superman (the powers) but blows it with ho-hum missions and repetitive gameplay.

The game is obviously aimed at children who will most likely eat this one up like it was sweet, sweet candy. Adults, however, will find it about as appetizing as steamed cauliflower and should definitely avoid it as such.

Really, I don't blame WayForward or Sega for such a boring game -- both companies have had their share of excellent games. But it's like being given a painter's canvas and three crayons -- you can create all you want, but the material you're given isn't the best to work with. But when I think of all the other things I've could've done on my Saturday -- went for a walk, strolled by the beach, gone to see a movie -- I can only gaze up at the heavens and curse Thor's name.

It's hard to ignore everything that's wrong with Suikoden IV--add them all together, and they result in an RPG that feels three years old out of the box.

Bad controls, horrible voice-over (it's just as cliche as it was last time), and the trademark and annoyingly pervasive EA Radio will tax not only your brain, but also your ears. Soccer may be a beautiful game, but it's about time to kick FIFA Street 2 to the gutter.

The Strike is a well executed fishing title that should please amateur anglers and professional fisherman alike.

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]

If you still enjoy the series and want more, go with Tomb Raider Chronicles. But if Lara hasn't yet cast her spell on you, you'd do well to look for an adventure game with less frustrating controls.

Despite its flaws, I was won over by its varied gameplay, conspiracy-heavy, character-driven story, and engaging mix of action, stealth, and role-playing elements. It doesn't match Mass Effect 2's Game of the Year-like quality, but it does make me want to assassinate, neck-snap, interrogate, hack, zip-line, and globe-trot my way to its other possible endings.

As it is, Spectrobes is little more than a dull game of collecting fossils with a momentarily enjoyable gimmick attached to it.

Surprisingly fun if you have a couple friends to enjoy it with and is definitely worth the bargain price tag. Overall, for what you'd expect from games of this price, we have a pretty decent showing.

You just can't help but feel that the project was too ambitious for its own good. Much of Bloodlines works just as well as it did with the original Assassin's Creed, but a number of strange design choices certainly hinder the game as a whole.

Coats a thumb-blistering shooter with an old-school, sci-fi license. There's nothing particularly special here for classic TV fans, but classic shooter fans will find a battle worth fighting.

A perfectly competent beat-'em-RPG, even if it doesn't do much to carve out its own niche in the Lord of the Rings universe. Its strength and weakness is that it's completely inoffensive -- the perfect middle-of-the-road game. Unfortunately, it's hard to see what helps differentiate War of the North from the pack, and the pack is where it's apt to stay.

Grind through this cheesy apocalypse story only if you're already a fan going into it.

With just mediocre features, Barbarian weighs in as just an average brawler. [July 2002, p.76]

Samurai Jack is neck-and-neck with "E.T." for the Atari 2600. [Apr 2003, p.61]

Somewhere along the way, someone forgot to implement the core of any action game: comfortable controls.

Wii Music is probably Nintendo's most well-meaning game ever.

At its core, that's really the game's biggest problem -- Two Towns feels like one of the most dumbed down Harvest Moon titles in years, and whatever addiction you'll get maintaining crops/livestock might not outlast the boredom.

Overall, this game is fun for a short period of time. The replay value and addiction factor simply aren't present. More game modes, multiplayer options and "stuff" could be added to give Lucidity a little more bang for your bucks, especially in this economy.

Despite my annoyances with the controls and hit detection, there's plenty to enjoy in Red Hot Rumble, particularly if you're a huge fan of the show or the game series. The deep roster of characters is impressive, as is each one's unique attacks and abilities.

Nba '07 is a pretty good action RPG and a decent basketball game. Unfortunately, the two don't quite add up to the outstanding effort necessary to be a contender in the sports genre. [Dec. 2006, p.128]

Fun while it lasts.

Black & Bruised isn’t "Knockout Kings," but it doesn’t try to be, and it certainly doesn’t have to be. All it has to be is fun and engaging, and on those levels, Black & Bruised succeeds.

The actual fighting is simplistic and repetitive, and takes place in only a handful of non-interactive environments. Worse, truly horrendous load times plague every last element of play, making even something as simple as cruising by the shop a thumb-twiddling chore.

These are minor problems, however, compared to the mind-numbing frustration of the A.I.’s catch-up programming, which makes your opponents inexplicably faster when you’re ahead in the last legs.

Solid and well-built—it’s just not going to knock your mechanical socks off in the imagination department.

If you enjoyed the exploits found in "Splinter Cell," try out Rogue Ops. It’s not as intense or compelling, but the game still has enough action to satisfy even the most hardcore stealth hero.

If you enjoyed the last Legend of Heroes PSP game, the second one will be right up your alley. You get a fairly long quest, memorable characters, and the addictive Pet System to keep you busy. But, if you're new to the Legend of Heroes scene, you might want to give the game at least a three or four hour grace period.

Imperium Romanum has some significant problems - it's a buggy mess, has horrible combat mechanics, and doesn't really get across what the problems with your city is - but in spite of these problems there is still a good amount of fun to be had.