A wide-ranging and entertaining beast of a simulation, but it's showing its age. Issues we've seen for years now — like garish sideline details, poor transitions, and incorrect stadium surroundings — remain untouched, with new ones added to the mix (like odd facial texture glitching).

It's a lot of value in such a small package, but the sometimes overly precious presentation can be befuddling at times, making Stacking an experience best savored by gamers predisposed to cutesy cleverness.

If NHL 13 has a problem, it's that it feels like a stopgap ahead of a much bigger update. Momentum is a terrific addition, but it doesn't change the fact that the game's animations looks stiff, and that the Be a GM mode lacks increasingly common sports-game elements such as news headlines, RPG elements, and players who have to be kept happy.

Laggy texture pop-in dulls some of the shine, and some of the more minor goofball characters are more intriguing than Scarlett herself. But you'll find enough charm, loot, and gritty challenge to merit getting some sand in your boots.

We understand the tightrope any game walks between narrative cohesion and player freedom, and Mafia II makes its choice clear. As a result, its best aspects are exceptional, but we can't help but think that it could've offered so much more.

The game's arguably a bit short (though it is $10), and some of the ghost encounters are marred by attack prompts that aren't always recognized. But if you have the patience (and the health reserves) to endure a few irritating battles, you'll find Haunt worth the visit.

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.

Schizoid proudly bills itself as "the most co-op game ever," and it ain't lying. [May 2008, p.74]

Not only is the couch-friendly design a big shift for Rock Band, but so is the newfound emphasis on score rather than accuracy.

PowerUp Forever manages to catch our attention by giving you the opportunity to, power up forever. [Feb 2009, p.85]

Ups the ante from its predecessor by a country mile. [Nov 2002, p.120]

Imaginative, visually stunning world to explore. [Sept 2010, p.82]

Boasts a fantastic sneak system with incredibly gratifying yet super-easy stealth kills. [Jan 2006, p.76]

Bejeweled Blitz Live might not be everything you could have hoped for, but it's still more than enough to take a huge bite out of your free time. [April 2011, p.81]

Combining classic action with a tried-and-true exploration-based formula, Strider is a fine update to Capcom’s long-ignored brand with plenty to recommend it to nostalgia hounds and newcomers.

Despite a few flaws and one ill-conceived megamix, these games are treated with the respect they deserve at a price we’re willing to pay. We’re happy to see them on Arcade where they belong.

Ignoring the PC-to-console porting issues, RTS games simply don’t get any bigger, deeper, or more voluminous than this. So if you missed out on the Windows chapter, the Xbox 360 edition of Supreme Commander will keep you maneuvering, battling, and strategizing for weeks.

An impressively fun merger of colorful undersea graphics and gameplay standards from the arcade's yesteryears make this one-player treat a name that's hard to stop nibbling on. [Jun 2006, p.62]

The biggest complaint about Tapout 2 is that it doesn't really capture the wild differences in fighting styles that make the UFC what it is. As is, it's the best non-traditional fighting game on Xbox by a mile. [May 2003, p.76]

A colorful and stylish game that is blisteringly quick – if a bit technically dated. [June 2002, p.76]

On original Xbox, 2K7 is strikingly similar to "2K6". Clearly all of the effort went into the next-gen version(which shows on 360), but at least the Xbox version is only $30 and you know you'll get a solid hoops game. [Dec. 2006, p.87]

For those of us who like a little tough love with our games, Dishwasher's ironclad challenge and simple-but-effective design scratch an itch few games can reach. [Feb 2009, p.83]

But at $20 for what is basically last year's quality game on original Xbox or $60 for the irresistible package on the 360 title offers, there's a lot to love on either platform. [Jan. 2007, p.76]

Varied controls, unique challenges, and kooky characters make this old-timer a worthwhile blast from the past. [Holiday 2008, p.73]

Catan is a slow-paced, cerebral game better played with friends than against the somewhat wonky A.I. Convince a few like-minded "siedlers" to buy and play Catan with you, and a good time is guaranteed. [mar 2007, p.81]

Delivers lots of slick new ways to prance with the pigskin, but over time, the experience lacks the feeling of next-level evolution that defines a great sequel. [Feb 2005, p.72]

Though it might sound like a backhanded compliment, Saint's Row manages to climb atop the huge pile of GTA wannabes as the most well-excuted and enjoyable of the bunch. [Oct. 2006, p.71]

A Kinect movie tie-in that delivers a silly, satisfying experience? Hey, we're as surprised as you are.