There have been enough subpar movie games of late that you should know what to expect, and The Ant Bully meets those expectations. [Oct. 2006, p.87]

Touch control is spotty for certain games, but the Control Pad is a reliable backup. [May 2005, p.91]

And sadly, the dead-simple games themselves lack much of the charm, spark, and ingenuity of the older Mama entries. [Sept 2011, p.73]

Unfortunately, Adventure falls way short of expectations. [Oct. 2006, p.89]

Still, Racquet Sports is fun, especially when playing with up to three friends. [Apr 2010, p.87]

Order of the Phoenix delivers nice graphics and music, and some genuinely fun activities (including a multiplayer mode) but the endless tasks seem more like prepping for O.W.L.S. than playing a game. [Aug 2007, p.84]

The game just isn't much fun. It also isn't fun to look at. [Nov 2009, p.89]

Features characters and situations that are missing from the recent film adaptation. [Dec 2002, p.222]

Weapons and ammunition are abundant, and you'll need them; the enemies come at a quick clip and the touchy aiming controls guarantee that you'll miss a lot of shots. [May 2004, p.122]

NBA Live's Wii struggles continue with another lackluster effort plagued by glitchy animation, unresponsive motion controls, and atrocious AI. [Nov 2008, p.104]

An enjoyable, high-octane adventure. Naysayers be damned. [Jan 2006, p.111]

The game's play control and animation are a little rough, but overall, it provides lots of action and thrills. [Jan 2003, p.174]

The story sequences are slow-paced and the camera doesn't always show the best view of the battle, but the action between bots can get pretty intense. [Feb 2004, p.150]

Unlike Thor, however, Captain America suffers a bit in the transition to the stereoscopic handheld. [Nov 2011, p.77]

Magneto fans will be attracted to the DS version of Activision's "back-story" game that leads into the new X-Men movie, since the Master of Magnetism is a playable character only on the DS. [July 2006, p.95]

Orbs and shrines will give you added strength and defensive power. [Feb 2003, p.162]

The play control is solid, though aiming can be difficult at times. [Mar 2004, p.121]

A decent if not repetitve drive. [Mar 2002, p.137]

The protagonists can't jump and attack at the same time, which makes some tasks difficult, but the overall control is intuitive and the graphics are suitably dark and detailed. [Nov 2003, p.152]

It's a real bummer that things fall apart in the heat of the action due to visual blips, game-freezing bugs, and audio pops. [Nov 2011, p.83]

The slow pace and indirect control may not appeal to players looking for an action-oriented experience. [Aug 2002, p.142]

It does mark a departure, adding light RPG elements to the isometric-adventure style seen on the GBA. [Dec 2005, p.112]

As cute as A Witch's Tale is, its weak gameplay and slopped-together feel aren't to be appreciated by anyone. [Nov 2009, p.86]

We still have high hopes for RPG's on the DS, but the many obvious flaws of Tao's Adventure left us disappointed. [May 2006, p.91]

The game is not very ambitious, but what it does, it does well. [Aug 2008, p.88]

The combo/reversal system slows the action down a bit because it takes a while for the moves to develop...The camera is a little zoom-happy. [June 2002, p.148]

The motion-controlled melee combat is flawed, so the most effective way to defeat baddies is by playing the game like a twin-stick shooter---albeit a twin-stick shooter with sometimes-temperamental auto-aim. [July 2012, p.82]

It's long, and the levels and gameplay are solid throughout. [Aug 2005, p.85]

Reeking of a quick-and-dirty Wii port, the game is hampered by clumsy controls, bland level design, muddy visuals, and ultrasimplistic AI. [Dec 2009, p.89]

All in all, Baroque has few redeeming qualities, and your money is better spent elsewhere. [Apr 2008, p.90]

Loaded with high-octane action and adrenaline-soaked thrills. [Oct 2002, p.198]

The graphics are colorful and detailed, but the characters are small. [Apr 2003, p.136]

It suffers from lackluster visuals, sluggish controls and an overabundance of fetch quests. [Sept 2003, p.135]

Cars is a decent racer, but ultimately, it is too fast and too rigid for its own good. {Aug 2006, p.86]

Two-thirds of X-Men: The Official Game is pretty good. Two out of three ain't bad. [July 2006, p.91]

However most of them need work--partially because they're not great fun to begin with, and partially because the controls aren't as solid as they should be. [Dec 2008, p.104]

Spider-Man has definitely seen better days. [Nov 2011, p.83]

The game itself is lacking in gameplay and control. I found the GBA title to be much more enjoyable. [Dec 2004, p.141]

Superb sound effects and fast, insane "on-fire" action is classic Jam through and through. [Feb 2002, p.154]

Despite a hokey story and marginally offensive characters, Monster 4X4 is a powerfully satisfying monster truck stunt game with 27 tracks. [Feb 2004, p.150]

Though spawning new Spores is as fun as ever, you're left to wonder, "Well, then what?" [Nov 2009, p.88]

Good for short sessions, but not one that you'll spend hours playing. [Feb 2005, p.117]

Stiff control and limited moves make Power Rangers: Dino Thunder a very frustrating play. [Dec 2004, p.154]

Even with the younger set, this game offers little in the way of challenge--you can purchase health upgrades if necessary, but if they're necessary, you've got other problems to deal with. [July 2006, p.95]

Cool moves, interactive environments and obstacles aplenty highlight the action-packed beat-'em-up. [Oct 2002, p.196]

Although the graphics are somewhat bare, the game does a great job of showing the explosive strength of the dinosaur-inspired fighters. [Dec 2004, p.146]

Only the most hardcore of Naruto fans will be truly happy with this one. [July 2009, p.89]

The makers of Excitebike 64 return to the motocross circuit with a disappointing wreck of a Wii game. [Feb 2008, p.89]

Its main weakness is the overall absence of Mary-Kate and Ashley's charismatic personalities. [Feb 2003, p.155]

With no multiplayer support, very little replay value, underachieving graphics and weak sound effects, Space Invaders fails to revive the franchise's former glory. [Oct 2005, p.97]

Since the characters have unusual strides, the movement can be slow and unpredictable. [July 2003, p.146]

It's a good choice for punchy party fans. [Nov. 2006, p.87]

The adventure's pace is slow, but the pak is loaded with features. [Dec 2004, p.154]

All the hype of the new NCAA football game from EA SPorts seemed almost too good to be true, and we've learned that our instincts were right, unfortunately. [Sept 2008, p.88]

So EA didn't totally drop the ball; this offering just doesn't live up to the high standards we've come to expect from the Madden name. [April 2011, p.77]

If you forgo your expectations of what a Castlevania game should be--or are simply looking for a respectable 3-D fighting game--you should have a good time with Judgment. [Holiday 2008, p.77]

If you really liked Ju-On, Calling might be for you; just don't expect its story or overall presentation to grab you the way its ghosts do. [Apr 2010, p.83]

At times, the game seems to focus more on mundane wandering around than on interesting pirate activity, but the action picks up as the story progresses. [Sept 2003, p.137]

Generic techno music replaces the familiar hum and clatter of slot cars, and the vehicles hop grooves unrealistically. [Nov 2003, p.151]

When you take on lousy controls that require you to alternate constantly between the Control Pad and buttons and the touch screen, it's clear that The Sims 2 Pets needs a serious check-up. [Jan. 2007, p.116]

The graphics are subpar, the story is muddled and the missions are repetitive. [Apr 2003, p.134]

2K's Carnival Games for Wii is a fun, pick-up-and-play party game that many enjoyed, but unfortunately the fun factor doesn't translate well to the DS. [Aug 2008, p.90]

But the gameplay is so simplified and dull that after a few minutes in the cockpit I was ready to crash into a nearby mountain. [Apr 2006, p.86]

If it weren't for the boring level design and repetitious fighting, this game might have something. [June 2005, p.95]

And with only a handful of stages to choose from, you'll see everything the game has to offer in an afternoon. [July 2005, p.101]

It may look and - thanks to strong voice acting - sound like a potentially compelling anime series, but as a playable video game, Lux-Pain is a nonstarter. [Apr 2009, p.85]

Look past the rough exterior, however, and you'll find a fun game with retro appeal. [Dec 2009, 83]

Addictive simplicity. [Dec 2010, p.86]

Still, Alien Syndrome delivers solid arcade-style action, and the inclusion of a four-player co-op mode always helps to mitigate a game's shortcomings. [Oct 2007, p.89]

Although the game's pace may be slow at times, its elements add up to a satisfying experience. [Dec 2002, p.218]

An unusual mix of soccer and street culture. [Apr 2004, p.122]

Nine Crazy Box minigames add to the game play variety. [June 2003, p.139]

More than seven years later, this unexpected DS follow-up doesn't have quite the novelty of its predecessor, but it is one of the better card-battling games out there. [May 2007, p.86]

But the basic gameplay is flawed in every way, especially during the unresponsive fight sequences. [Oct. 2006, p.92]

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes, the latest faceplant for the once-storied franchise, obviously and shamefully relies more on name value than actual value. [Holiday 2009, p.90]

Sadly, the game lacks a two-player mode, but the classics are so fun you wouldn't want to share anyway. [Jan 2002, p.152]

Stilted action that makes the game play more like a puzzler than a platformer. [Feb 2004, p.149]

Since reactions are often unpredictable, you'll have to play through missions several times to reach your goals. [Feb 2005, p.114]

Unfortunately, Driver Renegade is yet another disappointing entry in a series full of them. [Sept 2011, p.73]

The execution is rather lackluster. [Sept 2009, p.90]

The graphics are pretty subpar and there's not much game here, but it's a total blast while it lasts. [Feb 2002, p.150]

If you hold on, though, the rewards are great animation, satisfying puzzles and a lot of fun Catwoman sass. [Oct 2004, p.124]

The game would have benefited from some compelling touch-screen use (for puzzles or combat, perhaps), but as is, it barely puts the "interactive" in "interactive novel." [June 2008, p.89]

Probably not cool enough for experienced gamers, Ice Age is perfect for beginners. [Apr 2002, p.152]

The difficulty is too high for novices, but experienced platformer fans will enjoy the challenge. [Jan 2004, p.159]

The overall game makes a lackluster effort at capturing the spirit of the film. [Aug 2005, p.85]

It's too bad, really, because the core gameplay is quite fun and uses the Wii hardware in some interesting new ways. [May 2007, p.85]

What plagues Death, Jr. the most severely is its overall lack of polish--it just doesn't feel like a finished product. [July 2007, p.96]

Flight levels between adventure sequences look cool, but an angled view throws a wrench in the vehicle-piloting works. [Dec 2004, p.156]

The puzzles are also frustratingly nonintuitive. [Feb 2004, p.154]

The character movement is much less restrictive than the movement in most isometric-view games. [May 2003, p.140]

An overall lack of polish and poor enemy design. [Nov 2010, p.91]

Whoever's responsible should be thrown into the Sarlacc pit. [Nov. 2006, p.90]

Promises a solid foundation of endless fun. [Sept 2002, p.164]

Groove and Move is a simplified dancing game. [Nov 2002, p.228]

Although bowling purists will find the fantasy elements to be off the mark, casual players looking for a good time will enjoy the variety and the value-oriented price. [Apr 2005, p.100]

If anything, Flushed Away suffers from being too ambitious, but there are many worse crimes a game can commit. [Dec. 2006, p.113]

Major Minor's Majestic March certainly isn't the next coming of PaRappa, but young gamers - and the young at heart - should get a kick out of it. [May 2009, p.89]