The visual and music portion of the game offer up little to no innovation, it all seems very plain and lacking, almost like a rejected Warner Bros. cartoon.

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.

Despite this unique premise, Dark Summit sadly fails in every category.

Maybe it's not the developers' fault that this just isn't much fun. Perhaps the formula for a Sonic game simply no longer holds up in the 21st century.

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.

Even without the camera and control problems, Chantelise struggles to stand out amidst other similar games. It's disappointing, because you can tell there's a lot of heart and personality poured into the game, but it's just not that enjoyable to play.

A classic case of unrealized potential, Forsaken fails to make significant use of its excellent control and four-player split-screen capability by thrusting you into an endless maze of frustration.

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."

It has some slick production values, and Acclaim goes all out on dreamy visuals, gorgeously detailed architecture, a Vikingly heroic score, and juicy sound effects, but skimps on any kind of depth and rewarding gameplay.

While Samurai Western is a somewhat standard hack-and-slash with a quirky setting, it doesn't hold up for two main reasons: lack of polish and much-needed variety.

King Arthur: Fallen Champions needs what it simply won't get -- varied units, improved AI, and some more thought placed into tactics and the utility of formations. I can't speak to the rest of the series, but unless you're a diehard fan, feel free to skip this one.

Unfortunately, the stunts which are normally hilarious and cringe worthy on the show come off as dull and uninteresting in the game.

By far, The Sum of All Fears for the GameCube is the most disappointing, if not one of the worst, first-person shooters on any system.

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.

Despite the improved character roster and so-bad-it's-funny decapitations, Samurai Showdown Sen has very little to offer you except easy Achievement Points.

As for the game itself, I like to call it "Band Hero: Abridged." The set list is varied, fun and up to date, with tunes from Avril Lavigne to The Rolling Stones. However, without a career mode, you have access to all 30 songs from the start.

Mamodo Fury suffers from a variety of problems, among them a frustrating camera, an overly complicated combat system, cheap enemies who'll have you tearing your hair out, and repetitive gameplay that just doesn't get any better. The game also screams "value title" with its mediocre graphics and sound production.

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

Its bargain-basement visuals, vapid enemy A.I., and flaccid controls ensure that the game could stand accused of lameness in a court of law.

What's most frustrating is that I know Gameloft can do better than this. Hell, they have done better with Asphalt 6 and even Asphalt 5 -- mobile alternatives that are much cheaper (and more fun) for anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Android device. In fact, just buy one of those games instead. Even if you just don't want to play Ridge Racer, Asphalt 3D isn't the better option by any stretch.

This game might be worth a rent for a diehard Indy fan who is not an experienced gamer.

Taiketsu's button-mashing gameplay is shallow and simplistic, even for a kid's fighting title.

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

Better yet, just avoid it altogether. [Feb 2008, p.74]

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

No matter how many bonuses are unlocked or how many special guests show up, the core gameplay of Superman: The Man of Steel is boring.

Darkest of Days' best missions come right at the end (with closer-quarters action and a fantastic original weapon), but by that point, it's too little, too late. An entire game built in that mold might've been able to overcome the numerous problems, but unlike with time travel, there are no do-overs in game development.

This is a title made for a specific type of gamer -- someone who views an unbalanced game as a challenge and not as a flaw. For the rest of us, Overflow's poor gameplay mechanics and inaccurate controls will remind us how fun this game could have been.