For some inexplicable reason, it’s addictive. These types of games are perfect for portable systems, too…simple and endlessly replayable.

A puzzle game has to be challenging in order for it to be addictive but TiQal gives players too many chances.

Most console wrestling fans are used to more depth and control in their games, and this arcade title only skims the surface.

I liked the deep strategy but I was as frustrated as I was entertained. [Aug 2009, p.83]

It only takes a few minutes of playing Mario & Sonic at the Olympics to understand that this isn't so much a game as it is a marketing tool to promote the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Watching these heroes pirouette amidst the violence is surprisingly entertaining, and while Seven Sorrows doesn't deliver fully on the promise and longevity of its progenitor, it does provide a fleeting good time.

The music, sound effects, and voice acting make up for some of the problems, but they ultimately can't overcome Drakengard's problems with graphics and slow controls. [Mar 2004, p.65]

Sadly, the game falters during certain combat segments. While the control mechanics enable locking in on an attacker, at times, there are so many charging that it’s difficult to target a particular one.

Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals does have a lot of fun elements, but it's also full of aggravations of varying sizes.

Wants to be the PlayStation 2’s "House of the Dead," but it lacks creativity and spooky bite.

Despite the nice presentation, there just isn’t very much to do compared with Nintendo’s genre-defining fighter [Super Smash Bros].

But alas... Trauma was a game I wanted to love, but found more curious than transcendent. Still, any game that requires this much psychological analysis is a welcome departure from the norm.

Raw has all the pomp and circumstance of the WWF without all the good gameplay and fun that drove older WWF titles.

Pick it up if you're buying it for the original experience of PaRappa the Rapper, for the classic gameplay that is still...classic. Think of it as retro--not the next hot thing--and enjoy it as an episode of games gone by.

The rote play mechanics become tiresome after a few campaigns, and despite a limited combo system, you can eliminate most enemies by mashing the same button.

If you haven't picked up Tetris in a while, this isn't the best or the cheapest version available, but if it's really is all you can find, it's impossible not to recommend playing a few matches.

Despite the signature twitch controls, fans of previous Rush racers will be disappointed if they expect more of the same, so it's hard to understand why the name is used at all beyond mercenary marketing.

Even with it's impressive handheld graphics, assortment of interesting characters and intriguing steampunk setting, Will couldn't help but feel that he'd played this JRPG somewhere before.

Compared to the price of the console game, for 3 dollars, Battlefield 2: Bad Company HD is a bargain, yet one banking heavily on its multiplayer for replayability.

Brace yourself and buckle your seatbelts kids, it's going to be a bumpy -- and destructive -- ride through the sky.

The 3D visual and audio style is topnotch, and the cinemas are a blast—even if some camera views are awkward and some areas are a little too dark and muddy.

It's a flawed-but-fascinating curiosity and addictive despite itself thanks to the truly awesome monster generation. [June 2003, p.113]

The controls are solid, the Japanese vocals and English subtitles are well done, and while the game does make you grind through levels, it was nice to know that my actions would make a difference even if I died eleven floors down.

On its own merits, Galaga Legions is an enjoyable but short game. But for old school gamers the original title, available on XBLA for half the price, has much more to offer.

Does a decent job of giving gamers some off-road action, but the graphics aren't up to PS2 standards, and the racing isn't as deep as it could be.

Despite its shortcomings, Onimusha Tactics is a solid game with an engaging story. If you're looking for a casual strategy game without the tedious character setup options, then Tactics is for you.

It is an update of "Robotron" with a fantasy backstory. If you’re looking for a new kind of shooter, NightCaster will do—but RPG fans, you’re still in the dark.

P2, while a good game, is very much a product of its time. Players were more willing to overlook a lot of the JRPG's stereotypical frustrations and foibles back in the late 90s and early aughts. With shifts in consumer tastes and the desire for fresher experiences, however, a brand new game structured like P2 -- with its somewhat clunky story presentation and traditional, slow-paced progression -- simply wouldn't fly in the marketplace either in Japan or abroad.