Despite plain graphics, rather generic design, and even a bit of a hit detection annoyance, it's still really fun to build your own loot hole.

Smarty Pants definitely has a more youthful vibe than SceneIt! but it's designed in such a way that both adults and children can have fun with it. [Feb 2008, p.82]

Ninja Gaiden II is a slick and thrill packed action game but it's nowhere near the masterpiece that fans have been clamoring for. It's worth playing through and you'll have plenty of fun but finicky camera and uneven difficulty definitely cuts into the fun.

All in all, The Simpsons Game is a good effort but there are some glaring flaws that hold it back. [Dec 2007, p.129]

As strangely uneven, poorly paced, and ultimately unsatisfying as The Darkness is, it remains worth checking out for its unusual ideas, twisted gameplay elements, and uniquely dark atmosphere.

There were definitely moments when I wanted to chuck my controller across the room because one of its minor design flaws sent me to a cheap and unfair death. And yet, there were also moments when the game clicked for me and I really did feel like I was a damaged super spy on the run.

This is a game that was made to break the ice at parties and gatherings of gamers, and it does that job amazingly well.

Legacy is fun despite these nagging issues if only by virtue of giving you the ability to control a task force of slick-looking futuristic starships all over the galaxy. And with an interesting story that spans the entirety of the Star Trek timeline and a fairly robust multiplayer, there's plenty of incentive to play.

Cloning Clyde isn't the deepest puzzler in the world but at 800 Live points, it's a terrific bargain.

Although it's an entertaining and deep game in its own right, a feeling of Grand Theft Auto deja-vu dogs Scarface: The World Is Yours at every turn. [Nov. 2006, p.94]

Worms is a game that offers a lot of fun -- sometimes in a way you can't even put your finger on. But for some reason, you like it, and you keep playing it.

The biggest frustration with Halo 2 lies in Microsoft's decision to make it a Windows Vista exclusive. The game plays well, and its multiplayer component still rings true; so why are hundreds of millions of avid Windows XP gamers left out in the cold?

While Summon Night has fairly intricate graphics, for the GBA anyway, the audio could have been better; it's reminiscent of the SNES era but it fails to fully live up to old standard. The storyline is somewhat lacking and a bit shallow.

With elements taken from many different genres, it offers simple yet difficult gameplay for hardcore gamers.

It's got decent game play and once the kills start rolling in you won't want to stop playing. There are just some things you can't pass up and this is one of them.

Despite some flaws WipEout HD is an enjoyable, eye-popping title. But its $20 price point for content that's 1-3 years old takes some of the fun out of it.

Graphically, it's difficult to find any real differences between the two versions- in other words, they both look pretty good- but overall, I'd have to give the win to the Xbox 360, which comes out slightly on top with visuals that were a wee bit crisper.

If you still enjoy the series and want more, go with Tomb Raider Chronicles. But if Lara hasn't yet cast her spell on you, you'd do well to look for an adventure game with less frustrating controls.

Harvest Moon isn't for the impatient gamer, but those who stick with it long enough will discover its rustic charm.

Though The Fist of Mars features a solid story, the strategy elements are too wan to hold interest for too long, and the lack of a multiplayer mode kills its long-term replay value.

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.

There are too many unbalanced issues in the game to make it a worthy handheld gaming experience. Street Supremacy is definitely better than its PlayStation predecessor, but not by that much.

About as much fun as watching your tomatoes grow...If you’ve got an agricultural attitude, patience, and a hankering for steady and safe gameplay, you just might be a Harvest Moonie.

Hard Corps: Uprising is built for a very specific type of gamer. If you fit that description, you won't be disappointed with your purchase. But while many aspects of Uprising are appealing, without endearing characters to root for or an effective save system, it feels more like a missed opportunity than a tribute to the classics.

Pottermaniacs will love exploring even a 2D version of Hogwarts, but be prepared for challenging and sometimes frustrating gameplay.

The result, though a little awkward, is a hybrid with neither the depth of a true RPG nor the frenetic pace and art design of a pure-bred shooter. Both sides of the experience are fun, but less than stellar.

While the controls aren't as counterintuitive as many have claimed them to be, the game has minor draw distance problems when you're Katamari gets too big and there're too many big objects on screen. You'll find that the game doesn't load the smaller items and you're Katamari will pick up objects that aren't even represented onscreen.

Blackwell Deception has some good ideas and it's refreshing for a game to deal with ghosts and psychics in a way that's not entirely shallow. The script is at its best when it's disarmingly sincere, as the attempts at humor are hit and miss. It's just a shame then that the story is as old-hat as Joey's fedora.