The game is very simple but provides quite a challenge and tons of explosive fun. [July 2004, p.120]

There's a lot to like about Mickey's return to Wasteland, and the follow-up does improve on its predecessor in a number of ways. [Dec 2012, p.92]

With a few exceptions, the setting, the characters, and the gameplay are excellent. [Dec 2012, p.90]

The game is best enjoyed with at least two people, and especially at a party(the word is in the game's title. after all), but it's great anytime you feel like belting one out. [Dec 2012, p.89]

This eye-popping, massive adventure has its share of rough edges but ultimately does a fantastic job of transporting you to a faraway realm and telling a great story--which is superbly voice-acted--in the process. [Dec 2012, p.88]

The updated Wii U version improves on many issues that irked fans when Ninja Gaiden 3 originally launched, but repetitious battles and a hokey story knock the experience down a few notches. [Dec 2012, p.86]

The system's first Madden title takes a serious approach to pigskin and offers almost all of the same features as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, including the debut of an ambitious Connected Career mode that supports up to 32 players in online leagues. [Dec 2012, p.84]

It's still a fun time, but this port feels a bit rushed. [Dec 2012, p.84]

It's amusing, but unfortunately the GamePad can cause noticeable lag issues on the TV screen when it's in use during a dance. [Dec 2012, p.82]

Given that it's a little more than a lazy arcade port, Tank! Tank! Tank! has no business as a $50 retail release. [Dec 2012, p.82]

Added up, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a total blast in the spirit of Sega's beloved racing titles. [Dec 2012, p.80]

Unfortunately, neither Tekken Advance or Tekken 3D Prime Edition offered the true Tekken experience. But Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition does--and then some. [Dec 2012, p.78]

Batman: Arkham City-Armored Edition sets a new bar, not just for comic-book adaptations, but for games in general. [Dec 2012, p.76]

ZombiU is slow and methodical, designed to build tension rather than pump adrenaline. [Dec 2012, p.74]

Intended as a colorful and welcoming invitation for new Wii U owners, Nintendo Land succeeds as a broadly enjoyable tutorial on the myriad features and abilities of the console and its unique GamePad controller. [Dec 2012, p.72]

The Rabbids still amuse with their antics, but their first Wii U effort fails to consistently entertain. [Dec 2012, p.73]

What makes this edition of Skylanders Giants the best one are the high-definition graphics and the GamePad functionality. [Dec 2012, p.73]

As far as gameplay goes, Scribblenauts Unlimited isn't terrible different from its predecessors. [Dec 2012, p.70]

New Super Mario Bros. U may not be the most innovative Mario platformer, but it's incredibly polished and a lot of fun. [Dec 2012, p.68]

Harvest Moon 3D is a nice addition to the long-running franchise, and should please both existing fans and anyone else interested in virtual agriculture. Nov 2012, p.84]

WWE '13 comes across as too ambitious for its own good. [Nov 2012, p.84]

Anyone expecting a definitive conclusion will likely be unsatisfied. Fortunately, the bulk of Virtue's Last Reward is so darn good that ultimately it may not matter. [Nov 2012, p.82]

Overall, though, this game hits all the notes that a professor Layton title should, resulting in another rewarding, cerebally invigorating quest. [Nov 2012, p.80]

In addition to the Giants. features such as the Skystones minigame and puzzles you have to solve to unlock certain doors help prevent the game from becoming too repetitive. [Nov 2012, p.78]

If you can force your eyes to adjust, you'll have a good time. [Nov 2012, p.78]

It's a bland platformer filled with repetitive tasks. [Nov 2012, p.76]

Unfortunately, the ThunderCats game we finally got is an incredibly simple side-scrolling romp through boring levels populated by similar looking enemies.

And it's an especially welcome addition to a library mostly starved for quality RPGs. [Nov 2012, p.74]

Ultimately, Code of Princess isn't as good as its spiritual predecessor, but it nontheless offers an enjoyable, content-rich, and often genuinely funny action experience. [Oct 2012, p.86]

There are still reasons to love the way Madden is offered on ii--it's just a shame that its value proposition relative to last year's edition is not among them. [Oct 2012, p.84]

Although Angry Birds Trilogy provides a unique Angry Birds experience for Nintendo 3DS owners, given the cheap and widespread availability of the game's core content, it's difficult to recommend Angry Birds to anyone other than hardcore fans and those who truly have no other medium for playing it. [Oct 2012, p.84]

These are superior versions of already great games, but they don't offer a different enough experience to justify the "2" in their titles. [Oct 2012, p.80]

These are superior versions of already great games, but they don't offer a different enough experience to justify the "2" in their titles. [Oct 2012, p.80]

Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition is a fantastic celebration of 20 years of the pink protagonist. [Sept 2012, p.88]

New Super Mario Bros. 2 may not feel as fresh as last year's Super Mario 3D Land, but there's no denying that it's a terrific Mario title, and one of the best of it's genre on N3DS. [Sept 2012, p.86]

Overall, however, The Last Story is an awesome experience. [Aug 2012, p.84]

The combined lack of compelling gameplay, graphics, and story makes it hard to recommend The Amazing Spider-Man, even to die-hard spider-fans. [Aug 2012, p.82]

However, any fun derived from Spider-Man's web-slinging and butt-kicking is overshadowed by the game's weak overall presentation. [Aug 2012, p.82]

In the end it's not the most coherent dream, but it's a pleasant one nonetheless. [Aug 2012, p.78]

If you like Final Fantasy or music games, Theatrhythm won't disappoint. [July 2012, p.80]

LEGO Batman 2 certainly doesn't innovate, but I had fun seeing what stages and superheroes I could unlock next. [July 2012, p.82]

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]

Even better, this game does a mostly good job of bringing the Diablo-style experience to the Nintendo 3DS system. [July 2012, p.85]

The gameplay itself is pretty standard genre fare, consisting primarily of button taps and touch-screen swipes. But the way it's packaged makes a big difference. [July 2012, p.86]

Just because it didn't reach the bar set by the Wii version doesn't mean the title isn't great--after all, the bar was set so high that very few games could touch it. [June 2012, p.86]

This may not be the Pokemon adventure you expect, but it's definitely one worth playing. [June 2012, p.82]

Although RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D can be fun, its shortcomings prevent it from being the immersive experience the series is famous for. [May 2012, p.86]

For better and for worse, Mario Tennis Open is clearly meant to be a very accessible console-style experience on a handheld. [May 2012, p.84]

It's thrilling to see a game attempt so many unconventional things and get so many of them right. [April 2012, p.84]

Every facet of this game feels sloppy and half-hearted. [April 2012, p.83]

It's disappointing to see such a promising title held back by problems that could have been easily fixed. [April 2012, p.83]

If you enjoyed the system's preinstalled AR Games, consider this a title worth investigating. [April, 2012, p.82]

This game has everything but the kitchen sink, and in that respect it's a lot like Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl. And like those titles, Kid Icarus: Uprising is a masterpiece. [April 2012, p.78]

The game's offbeat humor made the tough job more enjoyable. [March 2012, p.86]

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]

Devil Survivor 2's sense of humor is worth an awful lot. The same goes for replay value, and this game has plenty. [March 2012, p.87]

The gameplay is flawed. The most obvious problem is the controls, which suffer due to the required use of the Control Pad. [March 2012, p.86]

At a suggested price of $30, the game offers a heck of a value to boot. [March 2012, p.85]

Much has been improved since the eighth iteration, and there's a slew of new content to unlock and explore. Even the skeptics should be charmed once they've played a game or two. [March 2012, p.84]

A phenomenal game. Almost nothing was sacrificed in bringing the title to the Nintendo 3DS; from the opening scene to the powerful ending, every character model and every bit of excellent voice acting is intact, and the production values are sky-high. [March 2012, p.80]

It's ultimately interesting enough to keep you playing until the end. [Jan/Feb 2012, p.88]

Minor issues aside, Crush 3D should provide plenty of fun to anyone who wants a mental workout. [Jan/Feb 2012, p.86]

This simply isn't a nice-looking game. [Jan/Feb 2012, p.85]

A fairly fun, fast-paced, and satisfying take on the cooking genre. [Jan/Feb 2012, p.85]

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]

The game is an incredible showcase for what the handheld is capable of and a potent reminder of why Resident Evil remains one of the medium's most celebrated franchises. [Jan/Feb 2012, p.80]

Though I wish it lasted a bit longer, Sonic's birthday bash is a nearly pitch-perfect celebration of his storied career. [Dec 2011, p.88]

Certainly isn't lacking in content or fun. [Dec 2011, p.86]

Less-than-consistent frame rate and irritating load times. [Dec 2011, p.86]

Although the gameplay is predictable and repetitive at times, it's easy to overlook once you get sucked into this magical LEGO realm. [Dec 2011, p.86]

There's fun to be had in WWE '12, but with each iteration of the franchise, it feels like bigger changes are needed for the series to stay relevant. [Dec 2011, p.81]

For players looking for a serious board game, there's a lot to enjoy here. [Dec 2011, p.80]

What matters is that it's truly worthy of being called "epic." [Dec 2011, p.82]

The 3D looks great, and the visual special effects that indicate your character's status (stunned, powered up, etc.) are fully implemented, making it much easier to follow the action. [Dec 2011, p.81]

Mario Kart 7 certainly delivers on that [novelty] front with some excellent track design, the solid controls that we've come to expect from the series, and some worthwhile additions (like added items and the ability to fly.) [Dec 2011, p.76]

The gameplay is solid--it features some nice options and delivers on its promise of simple cerebral diversions--but the presentation is pretty darn dull. [Oct 2011, p.84]

Really though, Super Mario 3D Land is a triple-A title, and as good a reason as you'll ever have for picking up a Nintendo 3DS if you haven't already. [Nov 2011, p.70]

Visually, Shinobi isn't exactly a showcase for the N3DS hardware, but the game runs smoothly and the art style works well with stereoscopic 3D. [Nov 2011, p.74]

It's a shame the puzzles aren't more varied. The structure of James Noir's Hollywood Crimes could use some work too. [Nov 2011, p.75]

Pokemon Rumble Blast is a somewhat shallow experience, but the simple action and short levels make it a good pick-up-and-play portable game. [Nov 2011, p.75]

Fortunately, Nano Assault adjusts the difficulty level depending upon how you play, which can help alleviate the frustration. [Nov 2011, p.79]

You'll need a calm mind to tolerate the slow pace at which everything is presented to you, but you don't have to be a fishing enthusiast to enjoy Fishing Resort's eye-catching scenery and the addictive nature of the fish-collecting. [Nov 2011, p.77]

The overall package is one that only fairly young players with generous parents are going to really enjoy. [Nov 2011, p.76]

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

Numerous sequels and spin-offs later, the franchise has arrived on the Nintendo 3DS handheld, but I'm sad to say that the experience hasn't improved at all. [Nov 2011, p.77]

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

Guiding a new mutant's journey seems futile when the game is boring and half-baked. [Nov 2011, p.79]

Sadly, X-Men Destiny's lone mutant power is the causing of anguish. [Nov 2011, p.79]

There is a terrific adventure game here, but you'll have to tolerate multiple irritating quirks to get to it. [Nov 2011, p.79]

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy may not be a beefy adventure, but because virtually everything that's great about Namco Bandai's long-running series is present here, it's well worth playing. [Nov 2011, p.78]

It all adds up to be the best Rayman game ever made, and that's coming from someone who adores Rayman 2. [Nov 2011, p.80]

However, Fossil Fighters: Champions proves to be a worthy successor to the original Fossil Fighters. [Nov 2011, p.83]

That said, Mario & Sonic at the London Olympic Games is a winner overall--thanks in part to the continuing awesomeness of the Mario-and-Sonic combination. [Nov 2011, p.82]

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

Some visual glitches and a few repetitive stretches made my spider sense tingle, but this is a solid outing nonetheless. [Nov 2011, p.83]

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]

Taken on its own merits, however, it is an absolute blast, and if you don't play Cave Story in one form or another, you're missing out on a modern classic. [Nov 2011, p.84]

To make matters worse, the game's 50 or so activities are seldom satisfying, and the stylus controls can be frustrating. [Nov 2011, p.85]