It's not at all surprising to play a franchise launch game that lacks polish and precision, but The Sims 3 comes off as careless -- especially for a series with such strong cultural and consumer cachet. Even the much cheaper iPhone version offers a richer portable take on the series, and that came out in 2009!

The main problem is that you will roam freely to the point that you’ll wander around, trying to figure out what to do for much of the game because your goals are not laid out in a clear and linear direction.

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.

Thanks to some horribly generic gameplay and uninspired combat, it ends up continuing the disappointing trend of movie license video games.

A big, huge game of half-baked ideas. There’s a ton of gameplay and a pretty interesting story here, if you’re willing to deal with bugs, control problems, and lots of loading screens.

Hopefully someone will take the concepts that Conflict gets right and crafts a better game around them. [May 2008, p.81]

The core gameplay in all its monotonous glory is, unfortunately, entirely preserved, and while no one can deny the appeal of trashing pricey downtown real estate while noshing picture-snapping tourists and tossing trains, if you play one level you've played them all.

It's a passable single-player experience but if you can find some friends to play with, it just might help you kill an hour or two here and there.

A bit too tough for the Dora crowd, too immature for pre-teens, and not interesting enough for adults, Pucca's Kisses Game doesn't really have a built-in audience, despite having some unique gameplay elements.

Johnny Depp adds a good deal of credibility to his role in the game (and the movies, for that matter), but as far as late-generation PS2 titles go, this one should walk the plank.

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 Marchs 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.

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.

Warlords useless original version and some odd Achievement quirks (I met the goal for 3 Achievements but never received points for them) take some shine off this updated classic, but for $5 this title is a bargain.

The thrill of victory is fun for a while, but the agony of repetition wears away the Fun Factor.

Offers mild fun that will appeal for sure only to gamers who love both Bond and action-driving games.

DC3's biggest problem is the visuals - not the look but the presentation. Camera angles constantly change perspective - often times during platform jumps - and you're forced to suddenly change direction on the controller.

While the graphics are rather plain, the sound is quite good. I never got tired of the main adventure theme, and the thunderclap of your magical dragon appendages displacing the air with their glowing energy is the perfect effect.

But considering everything that's missing and its high price, purchasing Jeopardy! is riskier than a Potent Potables Double Jeopardy question.

This vivid presentation also brings immense charm to Hail to the Chimp. Clever political ad parodies and LOL-worthy faux TV spots are more entertaining than actually playing the game itself. Dropping $40 for a bunch of cartoons doesn't sound like a good deal though.

Monster 4x4 isn't a particularly deep title, but you'd have to be a fool to go into thinking that it would be. It's probably best as a weekend rental to blast through with your friends.

It feels sloppy and looks simple, but from time to time the brilliance of the game design shines through.

If you manage to actually stick it out through those early, mind-numbing games, you'll eventually be able to take part in some fairly enjoyable tournaments en route to making it big as an And 1 Streetball star. But really, when the game makes it so darn miserable to play in the beginning, is holding out for that content even worth it? The answer is a resounding "no."

Despite offering a laundry list of moves and button combinations, the game's complicated controls feel shallower than the three-buttoned Capcom arcade classics like "The Punisher" or "Alien vs. Predator." Group battles feel too constricted with the auto target locking mechanics, and the simplistic one-on-one fights are somewhere on the level of "Pit Fighter."

It’s the execution that lacks. Laboriously slow gameplay leaves little to get excited about—there’s no real sense of speed.

True strategy is jettisoned by unpredictable card draws that cause the matches to vacillate between frustrating and extremely boring.

Looks aren't everything, and the game falls directly on its noble ass. [August 2002, p.78]

It's a mystery (and a shame) why with solid survival horror games like "Nightmare Creatures" or the "Resident Evil" series out there as examples, a "can't-miss" movie license like Evil Dead couldn't have faired better.

Feels more like a botched sandbox-styled game with what little there is to do both poorly implemented and boring. It may be the best Superman game so far, but that's not saying much.

Unfortunately, Dead to Rights II maintains its predecessor's graphics and camera glitchiness.

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.

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.

GameDay has always seemed to be chasing EA's Madden games, and this GameDay is no exception, but it still shows some spark, and manages to be a fun mix of football action.

There's just nothing to hold your interest over the long haul and while roaming around with some friends helps, it just isn't entertaining enough for me to recommend it to anyone, not even those who love fairy tales and platform titles.

Adventure's six party games and puzzle-based challenge mode are the best this game has to offer. With multiple players, Adventure flies in the face of its weak story mode and becomes a genuinely fun experience.

If you liked what you saw at the theater and need a way to blow off a few hours then it's a perfect weekend rental. But it doesn't live up to the epic nature the classic poem and it certainly isn't going to make you forget about God of War III either.

NFL GameDay is the Detroit Lions of the league.

In the end, fans of Tekken will simply ask, "Why?" [Apr 2005, p.80]

From its terrible graphics to its awkward controls, Mercenaries is a complete and utter disaster. The iPhone version of Mercenaries is not the version you want to play.

The controls are quite responsive, offering a wide assortment of combat moves, but the weak camera hinders them.

If you liked what you saw at the theater and need a way to blow off a few hours then it's a perfect weekend rental. But it doesn't live up to the epic nature the classic poem and it certainly isn't going to make you forget about God of War III either.

If you're still not tired of the extreme-sports trick performing/exploration formula, Crusty Demons offers a pleasant but outdated rendition of Tony Hawk style gameplay at a bargain price.

Most distressingly, inventory management is a total nightmare; identifying and using a healing ’shroom is an amazingly laborious process.

Putting the entire flawed premise of Jaws aside, Jaws: Unleashed would be a decent title to play if the camera system, collision detection, and graphics were up to par. But unfortunately, Jaws garners lackluster scores in every one of those categories.

A brainless, gratuitous gashingfest that means well but just doesn't play well.

Luckily, Family Table Tennis' low cost makes it easy to justify an impulse buy for those in quick and urgent need of a virtual ping pong tournament. Just make sure you bring at least one friend along, though, because the single-player modes will leave you bored in a hurry.

Blade is a kick-ass hero in the comics and movies, but take away the "kick" and what you're left with adequately describes this game.

The graphics are generic, but the audio presentation is quite nice. The GBA has a large library of average side-scrolling action games, and Revenge of Shinobi is just a slight notch above them.

Largely an awful shooter. And instead of trying to do everything and failing to deliver virtually anything worthwhile, Bodycount probably would have been much more successful if its design was simplified by focusing on one or two key features it could attempt to do differently. But it didn't, and the end result is not pretty.

One of the most frustrating games in the entire PlayStation 2 library, thanks to a few design flaws that could've been easily avoided.

Despite its faults, for old school gamers this trip down memory lane is worth the low price of admission, but for others it'll get tiresome quick.

A game full of lousy gameplay and poor visual effects that will only make you ask, “Why?!” ... Clearly belongs in the bin of horrendous movie-to-game translations.

A Witch's Tale has good ideas, but these disparate elements are too haphazardly implemented to raise it above mediocrity. It's got its heart in the right place, but good intentions do not necessarily equal a top-shelf product.

If you have played any pre-Super Nintendo RPGs, you've played this game. The characters and enemies are uninspired; the dialogue is a little flat; and the twenty-leveled tower is agonizingly mind-numbing.

It's just difficult for the game to be fun enough to surmount the great, big, monstrous control problem the concept inherently carries.

But while putting the psychokinetic kibosh on telepathic geeks is fun, the endless wandering and backtracking hell is a straight-up drag.

The controls are quite responsive, offering a wide assortment of combat moves, but the weak camera hinders them.

Those who have been waiting for a quality role-playing will be sorely disappointed, and anyone brave enough to search for the positive aspects in Two Worlds may find something to satiate their appetite, but finding those good aspects takes far too much effort than it should.

Returning to the horror genre's roots might be a good idea, but Trapped Dead doesn't offer convincing evidence of the idea's merits. It fumbles at every step except -- with the possible exception of mimicking comic books in its menus and cutscenes.

In the end, Deca Sports isn't a great title but it is a fun diversion that's sure to go over well with the casual Wii owner. [June 2008, p.85]

It's not the worst game you could play, but it's not really something I could honestly say is really good, either. When it comes right down to it, Agarest Zero's just about as decent as they come.

But, in trying to recreate the magic of the series, the game dies on the toilet with recycled gags, rehashed plot premises and repetitive gameplay; this is despite solid scripting and voice work from Seth MacFarlane and company.

Reservoir Dogs should be a game that puts you right in the middle of a gang of thugs. But instead, arguments about the meaning of Madonna lyrics and trading stories about near misses with police make it a disjointed game of multiple perspectives and confusing timeframes.

Sure, it has some control foibles, and it can tire out your gamer's cardiovascular system in a New York minute, but Kung Fu Live is a surprisingly successful motion-controlled beat-em-up that will entertain you (and anyone who happens to be watching you) for quite a few hours.

Yawn-inducingly generic level designs and poopy graphics would have been forgivable had Griptonite Games implemented this neat little invention called collision detection that most games use today.

In many ways this game is like a zombie. It's not too bright, nor does it require much effort to defeat, but it's still fun to toy with every now and then. If you're a zombie aficionado, Dead Block isn't a bad way to kill time while prepping for the next zombie gaming apocalypse. For everyone else, just hunker down and wait.

X-Men: Destiny isn't a bad game -- it just plays like an unfinished one.

Target Liberty will only serve to frustrate even the most die hard of tactical shooter fans.

A decent enough game that won't leave much of a lasting impression. It's good if you just want some mindless fun but don't go in expecting anything more because the only payback you'll get is a shot in the foot.

Your $3 will be wasted.

The creepy lifelessness of it all can be mitigated somewhat with the addition of up to three human opponents in a barebones multiplayer mode, but otherwise, the most fun you'll have with V.I.P. Casino Blackjack is in watching Mr. Paradise slowly clap his hands like one of those cymbal-playing toy monkeys whenever he wins a hand.

No matter how you slice it, Elements has very little to offer: If you prefer a top-notch strategy experience, stick with the essentials, like StarCraft 2, Shogun 2, and Dawn of War 2. If you want to play a great Kalypso-produced title, give Tropico 3 a try. And if you're just looking to play an RTS on the cheap, type "GemCraft Labyrinth" into Google. It's a free Flash-based tower defense game that's light years ahead of Elements of War in terms of fun and playability.

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.

I mostly enjoyed Knights Contract's blistering combat, absorbing story, and dark fantasy setting, which makes it all the more difficult to see it sullied so significantly by a single bad idea. But honestly, the buzz-killing boss battles made reaching the game's conclusion more frustrating than fun.

But for the most part the technical and visual achievements that make this title tick on consoles are all but absent here, leaving PSP players with a broken bro-mance.

The X button rebounds the ball and also is the shoot button on offense. In the heat of a game, you often throw up shots by accident.

Sloppy controls, meandering pace, Ginsu-choppy frame rates, generic environments, and beat collision detection.

Each fight is punctuated with some of the worst metal music I've ever heard, and fights generally end in unrealistically gruesome finishes. Really, I haven't seen this many broken necks and snapped limps in a fighting game since Mortal Kombat​.

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.

In this case, "RC" stands for "really crappy." Unless you truly enjoy subpar courses, low-grade weapons, ho-hum racing, and pre-Newtonian physics, you should probably avoid the lifeless RC Revenge Pro.

Even taking the gameplay at face value, there are still flaws like horrendous enemy A.I. and a severely limited set of offensive and defensive moves.

Shrek himself is a visual marvel. The thing is, once you’ve taken your jaw off the floor, you’re stuck with a dull and frustrating game that’s too difficult for younger players and not engaging enough to hook older gamers.

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.

No multiplayer; extremely shallow feature set; 3D is mostly pointless.

Since the game is fairly reasonably priced, players shouldn't be too discouraged that they are basically purchasing a Wii tech-demo.

While I want to give Konami credit for trying something new with the series, the obvious missteps and overlooked elements of Castlevania Judgment makes the game look and feel like a cheap cash-in.

Hit-or-miss, mushy controls mean you're dead more often than not even though combat with Deadites is a simple button-smashing slugfest.

Run, don't walk, in the opposite direction of this one. With its boring collection of mini-games and cheap presentation, this one will only appeal to the littlest of tykes.

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.

Set phasers to "avoid". [Mar 2008, p.87]

There are other, just as capable ways to get your Bust-A-Move fix on the go, especially if own an iOS device, where you can get two different Bust-A-Move games for much cheaper. Or, y'know, the thousands of clones that are also available. But in any case, why not go with the real deal?

It loads frequently, the graphics are bland and first-generation, and the music smacks of elevator-itis. Plus, the game’s looping structure is cooler in theory than in reality.

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.

While there are some cheap thrills to be found in the title's rail-shooter segments and hardcore Terminator fans will no doubt want to rent the title just for the chance to go toe-to-toe with a T-600, I can't recommend Salvation as anything more than exactly that: a rental.

Malice has lost much of its gee-whiz sparkle. Now it’s an intentionally weird, unintentionally uninteresting platform adventure that might have been cool were it a launch title and the bar were still low. In 2004, it looks and feels more like a skippable relic.

The controls are surprisingly cumbersome for a twitch game in which precision is crucial. Steering and aiming is a nightmare, and certain weapons border on unusable.

The premise, when paraphrased, is an interesting one and as a huge fan of last year's Time Hollow and any good mystery in general, I'm always willing to sit through any amount of text if it provides a means to an end, or at the very least, something somewhat cohesive. Lux-Pain fails on both accounts, serving as a poorly thrown together, somewhat interactive novel that really doesn't know what it wants to be - or, if it does know, it certainly doesn't want to be a game.

Unfortunately, the stealth elements fall tragically short of well conceived—it’s more along the lines of comically maddening.

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.