Moving, melancholy, and even a bit hopeful, it's a true stunner; don't be surprised if it leaves you a little teary-eyed.

Ultimately, if you've invested in a Kinect, this is definitely the game you must pick up to showcase to your friends and justify your purchase.

And as a whimsical, sweet-natured tale of a princess who learns she must earn her right to return home, it's a warm-hearted departure we found difficult not to embrace. [July 2014, p.68]

For all the game's possibilities, however, it also feels remarkably sparse at times, with a seemingly limited set of materials, animals, and enemies in the world. Minecraft is naturally a very slow and deliberate experience, but the Xbox 360 Edition is curiously based on a year-old PC beta version, and thus lacks many of the elements seen in the official release and later updates, including new animals, resources, food, enemy actions, and combat mechanics.

This series has always been known for its presentation — particularly its animation — and 2K10 is no exception. Big and small, the movements are all so perfect now that the occasional gaffe jumps out only because it’s a reminder that you’re not watching a real NBA game.

Ballers aspires to be about street culture and cred, but it has all the authentic urban flavor of Jamie Kennedy. [May 2004, p.81]

Forty bucks for a dozen-plus hours of brainy hijinks? We'll take it. [Feb 2011, p.82]

It can't match up to the depth and graphics of "WSB," but if you like to play through multiple seaons, this is the best choice. [Apr 2003, p.82]

In Stick of Truth, Obsidian has created what’s essentially an incredibly well-paced, extended playable episode of the TV show, cramming in a tightly constructed “greatest hits”–style, kitchen-sink gag reel of everything that can make the show such a riot. For fans, it’s hard to imagine a better way to wind down the Xbox 360 console generation than with this gloriously gassy, burrito-fueled send-off.

Even if there were room to experiment, a few dozen animals aren’t sufficient to lure back veteran gardeners for long, and newcomers are bound to wonder why life on the island is so needlessly difficult. In the end, Trouble in Paradise proves to be aptly named.

This excellent sequel capitalizes on its precursor's strengths while breaking some fresh ground for the simulation genre. With its snazzy additions, sharper visuals, and gearhead-focused customization options, Shift 2 Unleashed strikes a fine balance between appealing to sim newbies and grizzled vets.

A marvelous action game that outshines everything in its class. [Aug 2011, p.73]

It sometimes feels overwhelming to navigate labyrinthine passageways while directing a team and trying to not get flanked by a flak cannon, but that’s exactly the kind of chaotic depth that helps replay value.

Given the countless enhancements to this version of Sonic CD, it's surprising that Sega is selling it for a mere $5. Make no mistake: no corners have been cut, and the developers have put in more than enough extra content (in the form of audio and video options) to properly pay tribute to Sonic's finest spin.

This impressive update beats out its 360 counterpart...just like it did last year. [Sept 2007, p.83]

This package is great for old and new players alike. It’s just hard to shake the feeling that it could’ve been a smidge more monstrous.

Quotation forthcoming. [Holiday 2005]

What The Pinball Arcade set out to do - lovingly and accurately re-create true genre classics - it does very well, and pinball purists won't be disappointed.

If you like action-RPGs, superhero games, or both, a smack-tacular adventure awaits. [Holiday 2006, p.82]

It's a genuinely great football game, but this edition delivers the kind of small-scale updates that only a paints-his-chest-and-face-on-Saturdays fan could love.

Oodles of action that feels like "Riddick" in all the right ways. [Sept 2007, p.72]

Don't let its modest $40 price fool you into thinking this is bargain-bin junk: Test Drive Unlimited is an A-list driving game on every measurable level. [Dec. 2006, p.76]

Beautifully balanced vehicles. [Aug 2010, p.82]

Dragonborn gives players plenty more of what they loved about Skyrim, and is worth buying for that fact alone, but it could've and should've been so much more.

Doom is still a blast, but it could have been so much more. [Holiday 2006, p.86]

It's more like a frenzied full-body execution of the instructions on a binary punchcard, but it's addictive and fun. [Jan 2004, p.83]

From its quirky mechanical enemies to its strident strains of deliciously lo-fi music, this run-and-gun platformer honors the 8-bit era.

If you're a Hitman fan, Blood Money will make you fall in love all over again, and if you never dipped your toes in 47's particular brand of wetwork yet, the time has never been more ripe. [June 2006, p.74]