Despite my gripes, Shank is a badass game. It could've done with a little more content (maybe a boss rush mode?), but it's a hack-and-slash murderfest that can easily stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Castle Crashers and Scott Pilgrim.

Fans of the animated series will definitely be delighted to experience the One Year War from the side of the Principality of Zeon.

Looks like a shooter, but at its heart it’s a mind-busting puzzle game that transcends its own graphical limitations and delivers an intelligent gamer’s paradise.

While you’ve gotta love Stuntman’s originality and electrifying stunts, its high level of frustration and repetition will drive many gamers away. Far, far away.

Despite all the feel-good cuteness and decent gameplay, there is not a lot of variety in the game. It’s all about digging through colorful blocks that look good enough to eat with no multiplayer or anything of the sort. It’s a downer, because the game would be perfectly suited for some kind of split-screen 2-player race mode or something similar.

Features large, crisp player models with smooth animations. For once, the crowd in a basketball game looks halfway decent, and the bench players are full polygonal models.

While it's controls and visuals are definite scene-stealers, Trophylite is kept from greatness by an assortment of niggling flaws.

On their own they pose no real threat to players of average skill, but pit four such players against one another and watch the tension grow.

Even though some things need to be tightened up, WWE '12 shows that the video game side of the franchise is still improving.

Fox vs. Duck is almost a misnomer when you consider how big a part of the game the fish is. Maybe they should've called the game "Mother Nature Vs. Duck," or "Everybody Hates Ducks."

It's fun, fresh and innovative, and much better than the predecessor, Magic Pengel. [June 2005, p.90]

Simply a good idea that awaits complete realization. [Jan 2010, p.77]

In the end, it often comes down to understanding the solution but not being able to feasibly execute it. Add these difficulties to a rather repetitive five-hour adventure, and the game becomes more of a chore than an adventure.

The bottom line is, if you enjoyed Nintendogs on your DS, there's still plenty to love about its 3D debut. And even if you're new to Nintendo's pet sim series, you could do much worse for a 3DS launch title. There isn't an awful lot of new content, but what's here works as well as it ever has. And if you're like me, you'll have a much better shot at getting your apartment's deposit back if you opt for one of these polygonal pups.

The game's presentation is ugly, and there are some leaderboard issues to work out, but Squid Drop's varied level types and random missions keep the player on their toes.

As a whole, Karaoke Revolution Country is another solid Konami karaoke package - one morechance to make an absolute fool out of yourself in your own home, especially if you're a country music fan.

Detailed textures and a fast frame rate let you savor the disturbing damage, and the precise controls never fail.

The difference between the sheer energy in the cinemas and the painstaking gameplay is so striking that it feels like you’re fighting battles less to win them than to see the next visual treat.

It pretty much amounts to an add-on level pack, so you’d have to be ultra-hardcore about Time Crisis to spring for your own copy.

Despite the novel ideas, Billy is, at its heart, a fairly normal platformer...but with Sonic Team at the helm, you really can't go wrong.

Dead Island probably won't redefine the survival-horror genre, but it's putting a fresh spin on things by demonstrating how online multiplayer can be used to make a fantasy world really feel inhabited by those with a common goal: survival. And the freedom to explore, exist, and eviscerate the undead the way you want is what makes Dead Island worthwhile.

While not a full-blown current generation reboot, Boulder Dash-XL is an enjoyable ride that's well worth your time. A cute game with plenty of content and puzzles to explore, this is a title that proves once again that solid gameplay is timeless.

Easily the most gorgeous and immersive game in the genre. Huge cities, vibrant wildernesses, and highly detailed player character models help nail home the sheer Star-Warsiness of the game, while the Star Wars sound suite does its usual awesome job of grounding you in the world of the films.

Captures all the basics of this fast-paced game. The fun for a non-rugby fan will be in learning about the sport, and Rugby 2005 just might win a few converts.

Blasting alien scum, avoiding mines and meteors as you put up with the self-absorbed (yet hilarious) villains will bring out anybody's inner Alex Rogan.

With a ton of unlockables and dozens of classic wrestlers from the glory days of the World Wrestling Federation, Legends of WrestleMania is a fan's dream come true.

This recipe needs a little more work before its ready to be served as a main dish. [Dec 2004, p.114]

Even multiplayer is a strange blend of inspiration and worn convention.