Black Arms is a mixed bag. It has some nice features and offers a bit of old school charm, but it just doesn't go far enough. For gamers who love mindless gunplay and have a weak spot for on-rail shooters, Heavy Fire: Black Arms isn't a bad way to spend $5. But for everyone else, that coin would be better served by saving it for the next Black Ops or Halo: Reach map pack.

Just like a supermodel, Kameo is all about outward appearances. The visuals are stunning, but the weak and repetitive game-play, the vapid cutscenes, and the groan-inducing attempts at humor make this game perhaps one of the most disappointing of the Xbox 360 launch.

Unfortunately, with such drab presentation and predictable gameplay, there isn't enough to sustain interest for long.

Sadly, the horrible control scheme puts a damper on this dapper British agent.

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

A good brawler disguised as a bad one, and it takes some time to get to the fun underneath.

The question, then, is how much you're willing to suffer through in order to get to know your party.

It's just that missing level of polish that's more like an entire coat of paint they left off that holds this game back. 2K Sports knows how to make quality sports games, so I can't figure out why MLB 2K can't get its act together. But at this point it's going to take a concerted effort to put out a complete product before the series even approaches relevancy.

True-blue Medal of Honor fans will still enjoy Rising Sun’s cinematic style, respectful and historically accurate atmosphere, and heavily arcade feel. But for many, the game will feel too familiar in a fast-food way, lacking that old Medal of Honor magic.

The controls, while exhaustive in their scope, suffer from too much complexity, and skating and checking never quite feel right.

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.

Suffers from poor graphics and loose execution.

The concept behind Evil Genius is a great one, but the individual pieces of the game don't balance as well as they could. [Dec 2004, p.128]

With subpar graphics, the action doesn’t get as bloodied as it should.

The orchestral score and voice acting are good, and the detailed graphics are incredibly well animated, but those features and Tolkien’s story aren’t enough to distinguish this game from all the other strategy titles out there.

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

Playing missions with another human player (instead of the brain-dead A.I. ally you usually get) makes things far easier at the start, giving you a chance to learn basic battle strategy without dying every other moment.

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

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.

Looks great with well-animated action and vivid story-buiding cut-scenes. However, the gameplay is simply too redundant to hold interest, even with the addition of two-player action. [Aug 2005, p.77]

The series' trademark quirky sense of humor is in full effect, but with monotonous gameplay hampered by unresponsive controls, TV Party never really stands out in a sea of mini-game compilations.

Still, if you're a hardcore Dynasty Warriors fan or you're easily enthralled by the idea of mindless hack and slash gameplay, then Strikeforce is a decent enough game. But if you're looking for a more complex battle or can't stand Dynasty Warriors, this title won't change your mind.

It's the desperate lack of innovation that's the problem; everything here has been done a hundred times before.

Asphalt's downfall is its off-balance racing. The addition of turbo boosts just doesn't make sense in this particular race.

All in all, this is one birthday party you shouldn't regret skipping.

Hardcore Super Mario fans no doubt know that the collection could have had more value, but they've likely already picked up the game based on the nostalgia factor alone. The other crowd that will probably purchase this collection is the Wii owners that have enjoyed the plumber's other Wii adventures, but aren't internet-savvy enough to plumb the depth of the Wii Shop Channel. The middle ground -- gamers who respect the franchise, but aren't exactly fanboys for it (Genesis owners, I'm looking at you) -- should be aware that the collection is a few bucks too high (or a few games too short) of being a worthwhile purchase.

The move to the PS2 meant the omission of any type of communication among teammates whatsoever. You can press one button to taunt or another button to cheer, and that’s it.

If survival horror is your bread and butter, then Homecoming is right up your alley; otherwise, you might be better served waiting for Resident Evil 5. [Nov 2008, p.92]

Essentially, Spike could've developed a better game if they used some kind of fusion to merge the original Raging Blast's gameplay with Ultimate Tenkaichi's stellar graphics. But the end result here just falls short of being a memorable experience.

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.

Essentially, Spike could've developed a better game if they used some kind of fusion to merge the original Raging Blast's gameplay with Ultimate Tenkaichi's stellar graphics. But the end result here just falls short of being a memorable experience.

The main problem with "The Nightmare Child" is that without an engrossing story to move you along, the task of taking out loads of enemies becomes tedious quickly.

While you’ve gotta love Stuntman’s originality and electrifying stunts, its high level of frustration and repetition will drive many gamers away. Far, far away.

Hardcore Naruto fans who are subject to long road trips will manage to squeeze a few hours of fun out of Ninja Destiny. All others should apply their stealthy skills elsewhere in gaming's vast stable of ninja titles.

Thief Edition stays true to its roots with an insane amount of character customization and worthwhile role-playing elements. Unfortunately, the game is held back by a positively abysmal control scheme.

Those who are fans of Command & Conquer might even be left still hungry for more while newbies will be confused all together.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

DS3 is an ambitious game, to be sure, and it brings a lot of nifty innovations to the action-RPG genre. In fact, it brings too darn many -- that is, it bites off more than its control system, or the average player, can chew.

A disappointingly undersized and shallow RPG experience for GameCube owners. [June 2004, p.91]

DS3 is an ambitious game, to be sure, and it brings a lot of nifty innovations to the action-RPG genre. In fact, it brings too darn many -- that is, it bites off more than its control system, or the average player, can chew.

Beyond its online career mode, there's not much that leads Juiced 2 to stand out from the pack. It's an unassuming street racer with few flaws, but at the same time, few outstanding qualities. Even the visuals don't inspire much, leaving Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights cold by morning.

All in all, Shaun White's Snowboarding didn't leave me blown away. I liked the terrain they provided, the impressive visuals and the push towards new ways to perform tricks. I hope this title continues on and that all of the little glitches and feedback from fans help create an epic snowboarding game worthy of Shaun White's name.

All in all, this is a very simple game on all accounts bogged down by repetitive gameplay and uninspired levels.

Ultimately, Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces is a game that deserves to be in the library of anyone who enjoyed the film, and a worthwhile purchase for flight sim fans as well.

Merely an interesting take on The Lord of the Rings license instead of the great game it could have been. [Jan 2005, p.103]

Despite the cute retro-styled characters, cheery music, and narrated post-work-out relaxation exercises (which I actually skipped after the first time because they felt like more strain than comfort), I can confidently say this is not the next must-have brain game.

Academy's mini-games looks nice, but just can't compete with Wario Ware's non-stop style of play that is best suited for the stylus-equipped DS.

The control setup just doesn’t work - especially when you’re trading bullets in real time with a bunch of Republican Guards. Directing your entire four-man squad to move, shoot, give cover fire, swap items, heal, and everything else that comes with a Special Forces group constantly on the move is tiring to the fingers.

The difference between the sheer energy in the cinemas and the painstaking gameplay is so striking that it feels like you’re fighting battles less to win them than to see the next visual treat.

If you like old school racers like Off Road and Super Off Road, and have A) Lots of friends who can come over at any time or B) Lots of siblings who want to play there is a lot of potential in this game. However, if you are going for a solo drive, give it some thought first – ‘cause you won’t be playing online.

Like reuniting with a close friend after many years apart and then discovering how they've gone nowhere with their life, Duke's return is a sad engagement that makes you wish you had left the past where it belongs.

Untamed is a pup past its prime. [Mar 2008, p.86]

So, no, Moon Diver isn't the second coming of Strider. Instead, it's carved out its own niche as a serviceable and party-game-flavored action title. Grab three friends, mash some buttons, and you can't go wrong. Just don't expect it to be Shakespeare.

Like reuniting with a close friend after many years apart and then discovering how they've gone nowhere with their life, Duke's return is a sad engagement that makes you wish you had left the past where it belongs.

Revolution is polished graphically, and great at what it is. Unfortunately, it is nothing more than a turn-based battle game. If you're not a true Pokemon fan this really is one piece of cake easily left uneaten.

The poor gameplay sadly ruins the entire experience. [Nov 2004, p.112]

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.

Its hair-raising visual creep-outs and deft handling of foreboding folklore are undermined by a steadfast reliance on survival/horror-genre trappings and boring gameplay execution.

Despite a few fresh ideas, Haunting Ground is no classic. The thin story relies too often on clich? and titillation, the villains aren't terribly frightening, and the gameplay becomes too predictable too quickly.

I loved that collecting the gold and black stars scattered about the randomly generated levels changes the environment, but those environments felt a bit empty without any music, as the game has no soundtrack.

Poor controls, frustrating gameplay and a repetitive single-player mode mean it's three strikes and you're out for Mario and his friends.

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

That said, Lords of Shadow, when weighed against both the Castlevania legacy and the games it tries so hard to emulate, doesn't add up.

The biggest problem with Omium is that there really isn't any way for the player controlling the ship to win; he can just survive until the player controlling the baddies manages to finally take him down with a lucky toss.

Although it is not a title for everyone, fitness enthusiasts will get a kick out of this simple title.

Overlord II is a decent game that maintains its predecessor's greatness, but it doesn't show enough progression or improvement. The unforgiving checkpoints and host of other problems make it a frustrating experience, making for a sinfully fun title that forces you to a steep penance for your enjoyment.

All these criticisms may make it sound like Apocalypse is a substandard game, but it isn't. It's just that the stuff that's different from previous MotorStorm games is mostly bungled or simply boring, but the stuff that's the same is still enjoyable. Apocalypse is just a vanilla, if basically solid, racing game that tries to throw a few curveballs at you, but ends up hitting the backstop instead of the strike zone.

It's not the best of The Sims 3's expansions by a long shot, and compared to the other packs seems quite expensive for what it is -- but fans of the series will enjoy the deeper experience it offers.

If you're not already a master, skip this game and try your luck with the real cards first.

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

While none of the games in Dimensions are outright bad, and six is always better than two, they're not entirely thrilling. You can get some good fun out of Pac-Man Tilt, but Galaga 3D Impact wears thin, and there are roughly a bajillion other ways to play Pac-Man and Galaga on the go.

The graphics and sounds don't help too much in keeping the excitement going - you may have to make up for it with a bit of imagination. [Nov 2004, p.130]

If you can get over the fact that you might be using hints often, even if you're an old hand at adventure games, City of Secrets offers a few hours of cute 'n' clever entertainment at a respectable price, though younger kids will probably get the most out of it.

Mafia's solid script, impeccable voice acting, and overall mood makes it worth a rental, though you're better off playing the PC version if you get the chance. [Apr 2004, p.65]

Although fairly fun, Sunny Garcia lacks true replay value since the action tends to feel repetitive, and the beaches begin to look the same.

It seems like half of the enemies can’t hurt you while the other half can kill you instantly, which means repeated saving and loading until you get used to the battle system.

For a game trying to give a realistic tennis experience, the ranking and simulation system is downright embarassing.

The graphics—still blocky and pixilated—look worse when compared to this year’s crop of PlayStation games, and the controls are still frustrating and complicated.

Behind the sharper graphics and the bigger kit of options, though, there's still an unfortunately shallow, repetitive game.

While Resident Evil Code: Veronica X remains an interesting (and difficult) side-story in the Resident Evil franchise, an impressive coat of HD polish just can't make up for terrible controls and archaic game design.

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.

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.

While Resident Evil Code: Veronica X remains an interesting (and difficult) side-story in the Resident Evil franchise, an impressive coat of HD polish just can't make up for terrible controls and archaic game design.

A decent way to get a small dose of Twilight in with a couple of your friends on a lazy afternoon and the diehard tweeners will no doubt be too entranced by the game's stock of film clips to notice or care.

It's a serviceable game, but it doesn't excel in any regard.

The way the game taxes your mind isn’t necessarily enjoyable, and many times you’ll find yourself falling back to simple tactics just to survive, instead of creating elaborate, elegant combos.

A broken game - which is a shame, because with a bit more effort it could have been something rather intriguing. It takes some significant gameplay risks and attempts innovation in both its single player and multiplayer modes.

Prisoner of Azkaban’s faithfulness to the book, mesmerizing graphics, and captivating score are a treat for Potter fans.

I do commend Codemasters for catering to the Wii with a brand new Overlord game instead of porting over Overlord II, which could only have ended in tears -- but give us a challenge guys. We're not stupid.

My initial enthusiasm for the game quickly waned and was snuffed out as I realized that there wasn't much content to the game as the game is limited to just two modes: Tournament and Exhibition.

Despite its now trademark addictive gameplay, THPS2 just doesn’t cut it anymore—on an aged system Tony just looks and sounds awful, and there aren’t any new features to redeem it.

It looks good and plays fast, but lacks the refinement and complexity that space combat fans have come to expect.

Yeah, that's pretty much the story of "Pokemon," but it's tedious and boring in Custom Robo. The story is flat and the characters are inane.

While it's insane stunts and action-packed firefights ooze their own brand of explosive charm, Just Cause 2 falls victim to an unwieldy mission structure and unfortunate lack of variety. [April 2010, p.86]

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.

It's a serviceable game, but it doesn't excel in any regard. [Apr 2005, p.85]

Its repetitive gameplay, mundane puzzle design and eye-twitching platforming segments really cuts into Origins' fun and yet, for fans of the franchise, it's a solid title that's worth playing through. It will even make the most jaded comic fan smirk every once in a while. However, if you're not a huge fan of Wolverine, I'd suggest you sink your claws into something else.

The two-man commentary is frequent, but Marques Johnson’s color jabber starts out funny only to get downright stupid fast.