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.