This tongue-in-cheek offshoot of EA's core NHL sim is a smooth zamboni ride that mixes goofy gameplay with razor-sharp control, just as "NBA Jam" did when it pioneered this genre over 15 years ago. [Mar 2009, p.83]

A marginally brushed-up verison of Madden visually, but stripped of everything they've worked for over the years to advance the game's sense of realism and fun. [Jan 2006, p.60]

Impact nails the feel of wrestling, but adding a new coat of paint to an old-school style won’t be enough to entice those seeking something fresh. Fans of the genre or “sport,” however, have an accessible and fun wrasslin’ game worth sticking in their collection.

Its best moments make it well worth sampling. Just don't be surprised if it somehow feels like less than a meal despite its 10-hour playtime. [Aug 2010, p.83]

It never REALLY gets dull force-pulling a blaster out of adroid's hands and then force-pushing it into a wall where it explodes gloriously into tiny bits. [Feb 2002, p.78]

The over-the-top carnage is rounded out with co-op play (starring new redneck pal Huff), vehicle stages, new levels not in the PC version, and an inexhaustible supply of sticky high-jump pads — though it’s held back by rough visuals, co-op lag, and an overall lack of polish.

Declassified may not be innovative or even very pretty, and it certainly has its problems. But this is also a strategy-lite shooter that’s more than the sum of its often rough-hewn parts. It's entertaining from start to finish, and feels a bit brainier than other shooters when it comes to gunning down hordes of enemies. In that regard, Declassified captures at least part of what makes the XCOM franchise so special.

EA's newest iteration of FIFA features improved play on the pitch, but doesn't provide enough gameplay modes to justify a $60 price tag unless you live and breathe the World Cup, or want to play as every country FIFA recognizes--including American Samoa. [July 2014, p.73]

There may be no such thing as the perfect heist in PayDay 2, but they’re rarely forgettable — proof that while this game isn’t quite the transcendent co-op experience on the level of, say, Left 4 Dead — it still offers up a nice change of pace in first-person shooters on Xbox.

Constant C’s certainly not for the easily discouraged, but its cleverly designed puzzles and surprisingly engaging story are a treat if you don’t mind a little (okay, a lot of) punishment.

Arena Football may be a little rough around the edges, but it has the potential to grow. [Mar 2006, p.77]

It's one of those perfectly imperfect games you'll grow to love, even with its annoyances.

As wrestling goes, XX is quickly learned and mastered, particularly against the computer. [May 2006, p.83]

If you're into music and/or puzzle games at all, Break Steady is worth a gander for its single-player and versus throwdowns. [June 2008, p.77]

Seeing how the genre has evolved from VF2 is fascinating, but those new to fighting games might find this history lesson a little tougher to enjoy.

The protagonist can feel a bit slow to respond to your commands, but between the unique art direction and 120 boards of imaginative confusion, Exit delivers just enough pleasure to sweeten its pain. [Jan 2008, p.69]

NCAA may not be a Final Four contender, but it's still the only college-hoops game in town. [Jan 2010, p.78]

LOTR's slow-paced gameplay and mission-based structure seems more suited to an action RPG, but as an action adventure it doesn't quite measure up. [Dec 2002, p.137]

Bladestorm looks and plays better than "Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires", so longtime fans should enjoy this more next-gen DW-style title until "Dynasty Warriors 6" hits the battlefield next year. [Dec 2007, p.76]

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

With a handful of infuriating exceptions, Blood of the Werewolf's challenging gameplay generally feels fair and rewarding, and its increasingly lethal, lightning-quick action is well paced. [July 2014, p.78]

Dropping collectible fish in a handful of environments feels hopelessly extraneous; luckily, you can disregard the aquatic nonsense and enjoy timeless gameplay in a reasonably attractive wrapper. [Dec 2007, p.65]

Irresistibly cute. [Feb 2009, p.84]

It's just not the cohesive, polished experience that it should be--and that "NBA 2K7" is. [Dec. 2006, p.86]

The track design is hit-and-miss, usually featuring aggravating blind curves that can quickly turn a comfy lead into a last-place finish. [Sept 2006, p.80]

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.

However, hitting the line of scrimmage with a friend on Xbox Live distills football's best elements into a tasty online brew that fans will suck down with gusto. [Dec. 2006, p.76]

Still, you've got to be a real fanboy to want to mash your way through all two dozen or so of its missions. [July 2006, p.84]