Dark Sector assumes you’ve played a metric ton of games. And even if you have, you’re still likely to get confused and frustrated. Some kind of hint when you’re clearly not grasping it would’ve gone a long way toward easing the pain.

If stupendous puzzler Peggle and the cute gelatinous hero from de Blob had a teleportation accident à la Jeff Goldblum and the common household pest in The Fly, then The Splatters would be the result - except it'd be totally awesome and not a hideous Brundlefly monstrosity.

But for $10, the price is alright for this fresh slice of strategic goodness. [Holiday 2009, p.81]

Fails to measure up to Codemasters' other fine racing titles. [Aug 2004, p.84]

The routines here are fun when you know them, but getting there is more of a struggle than it should be - and unfortunately, that slows this dancer's roll.

Even at $40, it's tough to recommend the meager additions Off the Record delivers. Diehard Dead Rising fans will like the callbacks, and series newcomers won't mind the recycling, but everyone in the middle will wish the new material was more abundant.

Giving us the option to bypass the mini-games and get straight to the story would've made this charming visual treat even tastier. [Holiday 2007, p.73]

Undeniably fun, with solid controls, tons of charisma, and respectable tech specs. [Dec 2002, p.154]

Combat in G:DAMM is both slow and simple when compared to smooth, combo-heavy fighters like "Tekken" or "Street Fighter." Giant monsters can't be bothered with fancy combos, juggles, reversals, or counters. [May 2003, p.80]

The game's one weakness is that it's simply not a lot of fun for a lone combatant. [July 2003, p.80]

If the sheer act of dungeon-crawling is your bag and you don’t mind a subpar story and an unending flood of other random errands to run, Sacred 2 is a great romp that lasts 25 to 30 hours.

Aside from some minor control annoyances - like the same button used for multiple actions (such as blade attacks and item pick-ups) - Shank's craftsmanship is largely impeccable. It's one of 2010's most memorable and exciting action games. For $15.

A very bare-bones expression of the genre. [July 2010, p.80]

If Syberia II has a serious flaw, it's that controlling Kate requires finesse. [Dec 2004, p.98]

You'll notice WWE '12's wider accessibility right when the first bell rings. Controls are far easier to grasp (they're almost as newb-friendly as WWE All-Stars') and matches flow naturally, which is great given how minimal the HUD is

The game's also surprisingly scary at times: in dark spaces, we found ourselves flinching at disembodied moans, and being rushed by Infested (fast, growling zombies reminiscent of 28 Days Later) freaked us out more than once.

Unfortunately, the lack of intuitive physics is the real killer.

Admirably, it doesn't just resort to predictable, cliched platformer gameplay - it resorts to that and a respectably varied selection of other gameplay interludes. [Sept 2005, p.80]

So mindlessly enjoyable that you'll soar right past those flaws. [May 2008, p.73]

Whether you still watch wrestling or just enjoyed it back in the day, Legends is entertaining to the end. Its pared-down controls may disappoint hardcore fans, but they do make it more playable for newcomers - and players of all stripes will appreciate the giant bearhug it gives to nostalgia.

Just fun (and wickedly funny) enough to make it worth a rental. [Jan 2006, p.71]

The perfect way to approach it is to shelf your hardcore gamer pride, download a walkthrough to get your through the annoying bits, and just wade into its rampant creativity with both eyes wide open. [Apr 2006, p.77]

The game starts to lose its novel sheen after just a few hours, even as it offers a tantalizing glimpse of the genre's future.

Vipers is still a lot of fun, but you won't dump newer 3D fighters for it.

If you've already finished State of Decay and want more, Breakdown is a hugely addicting excuse to dive back into Trumbull County and spend endless hours strip-mining it.

Mired by clumsy controls and spotty friendly AI, this sequel can't decide whether or not it wants to be a tactical realistic shooter or simply a run-and-gun arcade fragfest. [Nov 2003, p.114]

Mixing the party-friendly mini-games with Xbox Live and offline multiplayer may be enough to warrant a purchase, provided you're able to temper your single-player expectations. [Aug 2005, p.84]

That full price is steep for what feels like an add-on disc. Gather your bandmates for a money-saving weekend rental, and you’ll have more fun with the oldies than you might expect.