The problem is, right out of the gate, the career mode makes things way more boring than it needs to be. [March 2005, p.95]

Could've been a good RPG intro for kids, but bad save and leveling systems cripple it. [Aug 2006, p.81]

If you're going to play a squad-based shooter, why play this one when you could pop in one that's more interesting? [Dec 2005, p.130]

Both utterly forgettable and strangely addictive, the ultra-simple hack-n-slash model works surprisingly well in a portable format. [May 2005, p.111]

The only aspect of the game helping it avoid becoming a complete disaster are the arenas. [Jan 2005, p.106]

What keeps the title afloat is collecting items, snapping pictures, and building up your character. It actually becomes mildly addictive. [Mar 2003, p.103]

The game's simplicity makes this a questionable choice for anyone over 8, but young kids will likely enjoy it. [Jan 2005, p.106]

Provides precious little depth, but as a way of getting the kids up out of their seats, the collection works nearly as well. [Jan 2005, p.106]

You can't save until you beat a level. Having to conquer a tough boss before being able to save any progress at all will irritate anyone with a social life. [Oct 2003, p.119]

The most obvious letdown: the drab, blocky graphics. It's so dull that it even out-uglies some of the first-generation PS2 crap. [Dec 2002, p.162]

Novices can string combinations together within moments of picking up the controller, regardless of their familiarity with the series, but there's not much depth for fighting fans to plumb. [Dec 2004, p.118]

In the end, if you're got a fellow strategy fan sitting within a 30-meter radious of you, then you can have a fine old time with Open Warfare. But, if not, you're unlikely to get more than a rental's worth of gameplay out of it. [Jun 2006, p.102]

Rush ain't ugly; it's just rather unimpressive. [June 2002, p.103]

When the strategic squad combat works, it's neat... The strategic squad combat rarely works. [May 2005, p.106]

A surprisingly solid platformer that fans of the genre will definitely enjoy. [June 2002, p.101]

Tourist Trophy started as a sort of side project for Polyphony Digital, and it was driven by some members who are hardcore bike racing fanatics. The problem is, that's exactly what the game feels like--some sort of half-baked mission pack for GT4. [Jun 2006, p.96]

It's just plain wacky. [Oct 2002, p.146]

Its presentation and story make it respectable, nonetheless. [Dec 2001, p.162]

I eked a few enjoyable play sessions out of One the Loose, but the camera-control difficulties prompted me to ditch it for "Lumines." [June 2005, p.101]

The only real draw here is the startingly robust level-creation tool. [July 2006, p.82]

The story is like a bag of bricks I had to heave along as I slogged my way forward...What a disappointment. [Dec 2002, p.172]

The game is technically sound, but inferior track design keeps this one from the greatness of its predecessors.

Pros: Beautiful art, unique team mechanic. Cons: Repetitious battles, poor A.I., slowdown. [March 2005, p.101]

I can't help feeling like the game would have benefited from another six months or so of development. [Nov 2002, p.192]

There are no previews of song titles, so it's hard to keep track of what you've done and what you haven't. [Feb 2005, p.87]

Ultimately, Getting Up's most serious problem is that it's so damn serious. There's none of the anarchic joy found in "Jet Set Radio." [Apr 2006, p.83]

While much more user-friendly than previous iterations, RPG Maker 3 is still a hell of a lot of work. [Nov 2005, p.101]

While that addictive quality that the best games of this genre have is missing, Frantix isn't a bad way to waste time. [Oct 2005, p.108]