The poker play is solid, but the AI players are predictable. [Feb 2005, p.117]

Simple enough for young players to enjoy, but older SpongeBob fans will like it, too. [Mar 2003, p.136]

Touch-screen based boss duels add some decent variety, and plenty of collectibles plus a few bonus levels are nice inclusions for the completist. [July 2007, p.94]

The track-design feature allows you to create your own racing environment. [July 2004, p.121]

Some activities aren't worthy of gold medals, but the addictive fun of the best ones proves that Mario and Sonic's latest competition is still a victory. [Jan/Feb 2012, p.84]

A tutorial lets you in on the game's nuances, and numerous tournaments provide chances for you to win the game's 300 cards - a good spin for duelists. [Jan 2005, p.139]

And although much of the game is played with the control pad and buttons, there are also stylus/touch-screen actions, so be prepared to juggle. [Mar 2008, p.90]

The blasting can get a bit monotonous, especially when you just want to move forward. [Dec. 2006, p.110]

Love the gadgets in this ambitious 3-D FPS, but NightFire's overly treacherous game play could use a few checkpoints. [May 2003, p.137]

Gameplay offers little variety, but the level of difficulty is high in the late stages. [July 2004, p.122]

Boxer's Life mode follows a story line with scenes that clue you in to the weakness of your next opponent - a cool feature for a fun game. [Mar 2003, p.136]

Some tasks may be a little too tricky for young players. [Dec 2003, p.146]

The question is, would you rather simulate real life or just live it? [Jan. 2007, p.110]

If you don't mind some fisticuffs mixed into your high-speed thrills, give Sonic Unleashed a shot. [Holiday 2008, p.80]

If you're old enough to read this review, you'll probably want to pass on Escape to the Big Blue, but your younger siblings might enjoy it. [Apr 2006, p.86]

The graphics are a bright point in an otherwise dull experience. [Oct 2005, p.101]

Point Blank is supposed to be a virtual shooting gallery, and without a gun in your hand, you're missing that tacticle feeling that's so crucial to the experience. [Aug 2006, p.85]

You'll be thrown into the deep end right at the start, and will probably have to play each dungeon over and over again to master it. [Mar. 2007, p.88]

Not quite a button masher, but close, DBZ: B2 is an easy-to-get-into one-on-one fighter that looks and plays much like its predecessor. [Feb 2005, p.113]

Though most of Barnyard's aspects are handled competently (the notable exceptions being the tack-on story and the frame rate), the only part I'd call fun is the unique take on golf; everything else--no matter whether I was launching chickens, racing in the farmer's truck, or blasting cow-tippers with tomatoes--felt bland and lacked challenge. [Sep 2006, p.84]

Just as good as, if not a tad better than, their predecessors. They're just not any different. [Aug 2005, p.81]

This may be the first time in video game history that a licensed DS title far exceeds the movie it's based on. [Sept 2009, p.90]

But when it comes to action, variety, and the sheer fun of obliterating Heartless with a Keyblade, Re:coded is a more-than-worthwhile entry in the beloved Kingdom Hearts saga. [Jan 2011, p.82]

Platform afficionados will appreciate the smooth control and nonstop action. [Jan 2006, p.110]

Shimomura, and a lengthy story campaign make Heroes seem like a home run, and it would be if not for one flaw: Shoddy AI. [Sep 2007, p.87]

There's a lot to unlock. [Jan 2002, p.134]

Play control is smooth and intuitive. [Dec 2002, p.222]

The graphic style may appeal mainly to young players, but the gameplay, humor and story will attract gamers of all ages. [Mar 2004, p.123]

The pitching engine makes both pitching and hitting very realistic. [May 2002, p.134]

The karts are fast and the power-ups are creative. [Feb 2004, p.148]

The problem is that the game feels phoned in, from the tacked-on motion controls to the scan tutorial system that assumed you've already played every other Harvest Moon game. [Oct 2008, p.90]

Still, for Wii owners looking to lace up their skates, this is the only game in town and it's not half-bad. [Nov 2008, p.100]

The meager number of tracks and vehicles makes Ferrari Challenge dreadfully short. [Oct 2008, p.90]

Cooking Mama serves up another stew of culinary-themed, touch-controlled minigames in its third course on the DS, but the recipe needs more spice. [Dec 2009, p.87]

And the most basic element of LEGOs - building things from blocks - is entirely absent. [July 2009, p.86]

Still, while Dragon Quests Swords isn't exactly epic, it is entertaining overall. [Mar 2008, p.88]

Eight great racers, tons of ripping bikes and the rocking tunes, complete with vocal tracks, give the game a cool edge. [Sept 2003, p.138]

Customizable features allow players to adjust nearly every aspect of the game. [Jan 2003, p.174]

Ever since the "Mana" series made its North American debut on the SNES in 1993, players have been waiting for a sequel that recaptures the same magic. Children of mana doesn't fit that bill, but if you're looking for an action-oriented RPG--and you've got buddies looking for the same--it's worth checking out. [Dec. 2006, p.114]

With hundreds of parts to collect and diverse abilities to bestow on your robo, the customization elements are endless! The story starts out a little slow, but it really picks up. [June 2004, p.118]

Stealth, gymnastics and puzzle-solving play a role in the fast-paced fun. [Dec 2004, p.154]

Although it contains RPG elements, Advance Guardian Heroes is really an action game that requires fast reflexes and arcade-style fighting skills. [Nov 2004, p.131]

The activities are simple enough for young players to understand, but engaging enough for all players to enjoy. [Apr 2003, p.138]

Mystery Case Files: MilionHeir isn't going to take the place of the latest platformer or RPG in your DS library, but for what it is--a visual puzzle that tests of your power of perception--it fills the niche well. [Nov 2008, p.101]

The near-exclusive use of the touch screen to control every aspect of farm life is a questionable decision--it doesn't feel very accurate or intutitive. [Aug 2008, p.87]

A nonintuitive interface combined with difficult-to-decipher puzzles will frustrate everyone but boy geniuses. [Dec 2004, p.144]

Still, what makes Virtua Tennis 4 great is the multiplayer. [May 2011, p.88]

The game works well as a button-masher, but it doesn't have the strategy elements and replayability of "Soul Calibur II." [Jan 2004, p.158]

Dodgeball fans won't be disappointed with Brawlers, but if you've been waiting for something new to bring you back on the court, the wait continues. [June 2008, p.89]

The realistic way these creatures move and act is by far the game's most impressive feature. [Nov 2008, p.95]

The noteworthy music is superb, and the game's fun factor, graphics, presentation, controls and multiplayer mode are just as good. [June 2002, p.152]

The task may be mundane, but the gameplay is solid for the most part. [Aug 2004, p.122]

At first the game may seem to take away a little bit of control with the weapon lock-on, but in the heat of the battle you'll feel lucky that it has your back. [Oct 2007, p.89]

Control issues aside, Sega Superstars Tennis is swimming in clever game references and should be fun for even a casual Sega fan. [Apr 2008, p.89]

The difficulty may be a tad high for very young players, but most gamers will appreciate the challenge. [June 2004, p.122]

Play control is clumsy at times, and jumping gaps can be frustrating, but the overall playing experience is fun. [Feb 2003, p.156]

While Opoona boasts nice backgrounds and music, and is fundamentally solid, it's definitely rough around the edges. [Apr 2008, p.87]

Concerns about graphics and frame rate in "Top Spin 2" for the DS have been addressed successfully by new developer PAM in the follow-up. [June 2008, p.90]

The graphics aren't at the quality of those for current GCN racers, but the play control and physics are expertly tuned. [Nov 2005, p.109]

Simply standard when compared to "Ecks vs. ever," Majesco's Dark Arena comes off as Quake Light. [Mar 2002, p.136]

An all-out delight. [Nov 2001, p.148]

The highly stylized graphics and familiar music add to MMNT's atmosphere perfectly. [July 2003, p.144]

It's a shame that Revenge of King Piccolo becomes essentially a mediocre fighting game in the latter part of the adventure. [Dec 2009, p.88]

The game's overall zaniness and sense of humor make you want to keep playing just to see what happens next. [Dec 2010, p.83]

If it's a serious racer you seek, this is the best ride in town. [Oct 2008, p.90]

Despite a few high points, you can safely file this game under "not bad, but entirely skippable." [July 2011, p.88]

New variations make Tetris Worls a world of fun. [Nov 2001, p.148]

It's the bad kind of hard where you aim a millimeter too far to the left and suddenly have to start the entire level all over again. [July 2002, p.147]

Izuna 2 is an excercise in frustration management. [Sept 2008, p.88]

The game's ideas are good, but the execution doesn't cut it. [Jan 2009, p.90]

Though playing through the main story doesn't take nearly as long as I'd like, level replays plus a two-player sabotage mode (two DS cards needed) lengthen gameplay. [Dec 2005, p.122]

If you manage your play sessions wisely, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D can be entertaining--it is, after all, plain fun to shoot and stab monsters with an array of weapons. [July 2011, p.86]

Times are tough, but this is one job offer you should pass up. [June 2009, p.90]

In the GBA side-scrolling platformer, George must traipse through the jungle, stow away on a cruise ship, and then chase down an artifact that has been stolen from the local museum--a journey that will eventually lead him back to the jungle from where he came. [Apr 2006, p.86]

RPG veterans who want a real challenge for their reflexes should check it out. [Dec 2008, p.102]

The mixture of shame and frustration it instills will make you raise your eyebrows, turn on your heels, and snicker as you walk away. [July 2005, p.99]

If you don't find monotonous dungeon-hacking, you'll find the RPG elements and use of the DS's features rewarding. [Jan 2006, p.115]

If you crave innovation and have the patience to deal with Cookie & Cream's shortcomings, the title offers a creative, charming, and mostly satisfying adventure. [July 2007, p.93]

The 11-stage, single-player Story mode presents challenging lock-and-key puzzles, but the enemies are incredibly similar and tend to be easy to defeat. [June 2004, p.122]

Character movement and camera control are a chore at the beginning, but you'll adapt to them as the game progresses. [Jan 2004, p.158]

Even if you make no mistakes and keep all your customers happy, you're still likely to fail. [July 2007, p.94]

Adds some nice new features to the tried-and-true formula. [Jan 2006, p.110]

The game has all of the trappings of a long, enjoyable experience. [Dec 2003, p.148]

This may be the first time in video game history that a licensed DS title far exceeds the movie it's based on. [Sept 2009, p.90]

Spyborgs may not revitalize its genre, but it makes a respectable effort. [Nov 2009, p.79]

Its outward appearance may seem kiddy, but Go Vacation is surprisingly deep for a minigame collection. [Nov 2011, p.77]

Even when the gameplay occasionally wears thin, the excellent characters and intense strangeness ultimately prevail. [June 2010, p.87]

Conduit 2 certainly has some issues, but it's heartening to see that High Voltage Software took people's criticisms of the first title into account when developing this follow-up. [Apr 2011, p.76]

It holds its own in a number of ways; it will serve fans of tactics and card-collecting games well. [Feb 2006, p.100]

Multiplayer skirmishes still make for a good time, and I definitely support the return to 2-D, but this series just can't seem to take a real step forward without taking two steps back. [Apr 2008, p.85]

At the end of the day, there just isn't anything special about this release. [Sept 2011, p.74]

Long levels immerse you in the adventure, though the non-intuitive puzzles can take you right out of it again. [June 2004, p.119]

I'm looking forward to the great stuff Ubi has on the horizon, but looking past Double Agent. [Dec. 2006, p.114]

Offers a brilliant mix of realistic physics and arcade-style gameplay that gives you a strong sense of both speed and control over your machine. [Nov 2004, p.131]

With the ability to alter the past literally at your fingertips, you should be able to solve problems in a myriad of ways, yet the game's mostly linear storytelling rarely lets you use your powers creatively. [Nov 2008, p.102]

With the phenomenal graphics and custom rule sets, XD provides a perfect environment for battling friends. [Nov 2005, p.102]

From a purely technical standpoint, Tekken 3D Prime Edition is awesome - the graphics and gameplay are top-notch. But the overall lack of compelling solo experience keeps me from recommending this game more highly. [March 2012, p.88]

Intuitive play control and simple level design make the game appropriate for players of all skill levels. [Dec 2003, p.148]