The biggest issue in the Ocean is boring and repetitious town and dungeon designs...The battle system is out of this world - the rest of the game is a little more grounded. [Sept 2004, p.108]

HW:AR creates innovative and white-knuckled gameplay that will strain both your reflexes and your wits, not to mention your cool head.

If you have the patience to play a methodical strategy game wrapped around an action game facade then Acid 2 is for you. However, if you prefer direct control of your characters and disdain sorting through decks of cards then you're better off checking out the home console versions of the Metal Gear series.

Regardless of whether or not you like roguelikes, or even RPGs in general, this is a game that you're going to want to try out.

Even punters of the GameCube version will find a host of new options in this Xbox incarnation—most notably extra players and multiplayer games.

As a high-octane slay-a-thon, Otogi knows what it is and what it's supposed to do, and as long as you don't mind leaving your brain at the door, you'll probably dig it. Just be prepared to get bored after the first couple of hours.

A great game...But if you're looking for the best jet-skiing game this fall, keep an eye out for "Splashdown" for the PS2...it has the potential to smoke Blue Storm.

The whole experience feels more like a dedicated group of fans got hold of a level editor rather than a fully equipped second effort.

Overall, SvR 2009 has plenty of good points that encouraged me to overlook its sore spots.

It's tons of fun to play whether you're working to actively advance the story or just spending a few hours goofing off and running errands for others.

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.

NBA Jam is exactly what you'd want and expect from a NBA Jam game, even one being released in 2010. Everything that made the series great in the mid-90s is intact, yet just enough was modernized so that it doesn't feel too dated.

Square Enix's iOS iteration of a role-playing classic is a slick upgrade on its predecessors, but this remastered port does show its age.

King of Fighters XIII is a title that every fighting game fan should take notice of. It's gorgeous and surprisingly accessible, yet challenging and deep for competitive play. There's no shortage of solo gameplay appeal, either: the characters are great, the story is intriguing, and there's a wealth of varied content to keep you playing.

But as a rhythm game, Unplugged is a wonderful portable title. [July 2009, p.84]

This is the best instance of video game flipper mashing since "Pokémon Pinball" on the GBC.

It does misfire in several key areas, but it's still a worthwhile addition to the Metroid canon. Even more interestingly, it showcases the human side of the previously silent bounty hunter, and although her backstory is full of holes and incongruities, it's still an interesting glimpse at the woman who lays hidden beneath the armor.

Final is a difficult game, even with its multiple skill settings, and it relies on a gamer’s patience for trial-and-error and memorization as it does deft skill and trigger-finger firing.

Overall, it's a must-have and a keeper in your PC collection. With crystal-clear visuals and addictive gameplay, not to mention loads of replay value, you'll be telling your friends about this one. Unscramble some words and get going. Lex is waiting for you, giant lenses and all.

Aching to be more than it is, Hunter: The Reckoning is a pretty-looking, atmospheric action game that makes a decent weekend rental with pals.

Revenge of the Titans is a nearly perfect game. It will annihilate all of your free time for as long as you're consumed by it. It will also make you want to punch your screen at least once. If you missed out on the opportunity to get it in the Humble Bundle, you can get the game on Steam for $14.99, or check the official website for special deals. Either way, it's worth your time, money, and occasional frustration.

The transition from the politics in episode 2 to the completely different slant of rock and roll in episode 3 never feels forced, out of place, or nonsensical. It just works because the writing is so damn good, and leads me to believe the creators of this series could cover any topic and still make a funny game.

The game's new vehicle-based emphasis will probably turn off some long-time fans, but I really enjoyed the game's premise. [Dec 2008, p.95]

Ultimately, Empire at War isn't just RTS-lite--it's RTS extremely lite. Hardcore RTS fans will rapidly grow bored, and even fans of the franchise are better served with Battlefront for its galactic conquest games, or Galactic Battlegrounds for a Star Wars RTS experience that's actually an RTS.

EA Sports MMA isn't perfect, the lack of UFC fighters is a huge gaping hole that is impossible to ignore and the number of special moves available are fairly slim. Those problems are overshadowed by smooth animations, intuitive controls, and incredibly dynamic online features.

Scribblenauts is the video game equivalent of your first kiss: it's awkward, it's sweet and it's utterly memorable.

The Skills Stick alone make NHL 07 a completely different game and one worthy of the new NHL. [Oct. 2006, p.96]

Playing Dead or Alive again has been a highly enjoyable journey of rediscovery. The more time I've spent playing it, the more I've remembered why I've really enjoyed the series over the years. It's a really fun fighting game that's easy to pick up and play, features some great characters, and delivers some very satisfying moments, especially when you pull off a huge series of moves that look spectacular, or punch someone off the top of a particularly high area so they fall to their death.