The game is abnormally long for a kids’ game, and the enemies are a varied bunch, so be prepared to have the young’uns glued to it for a while.

Mild targeting problems aside, Phoenix is the most engaging Potter game to date, with the 3D richness that adults expect but straightforward hidey-seeky gameplay that won't overtax a tween audience. [Aug 2007, p.74]

The triggers control the flippers, and the ball physics are outstanding - every hit feels like it has real weight. [Nov 2004, p.77]

Its production values are unquestionably budget, but the game's ambitious level of corny self-awareness makes it a stupidly affordable, must-have cult title for the adventurous set.

With a decent number of areas to clear, that's pretty much it. [Jan 2011, p.74]

But the real stars of the show are the battle sequences in which you lead an army of literally hundreds of NPCs into full-on raging wars. It’s just a shame that there’s so much filler between the fights.

We just wish the actual racing shared the depth and excitement of these considerable community features. [Mar 2011, p.82]

The heart of Juiced is the pedal-to-the-medal street racing. And that's where it shines like a freshly buffed coat of pearlescnet paint. [June 2005, p.83]

The series' best effort yet. Though many little issues remain, its fundamentals are strong throughout, forming the foundation for a largely stellar baseball experience. [Apr 2012, p.84]

While Juiced 2 isn't the smoothest-driving Xbox 360 racer on the market, it's definitely one of the more filling. [Nov 2007, p.97]

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]

The game behind the skimpy clothes fails to impress... The play balance is simply no fun. [Mar 2003, p.78]

Too bad Midway didn't ship it with a freely spinning steering wheel. [Nov 2005, p.124]

You're in for a snooze if you demand a hurried pace and copious eye candy, but dice-rolling dungeon nuts will happily while away a dozen hours over the course of Vandal Hearts' satisfying ride. [Jan 2010, p.69]

But with a story that engages only with a last-minute twist and so many flunkies to fight over 12-or-so hours, JLH feels beneath its godlike protagonists. [Holiday 2006, p.83]

So even if The Meltdown doesn't aim high on the innovation scale, it accomplishes just enough, well ebough, for a few hours spent on the couch with tweenie Ice Age fans at the next family gathering. [May 2006, p.74]

Throw in a few surprise touches--like a flooded compartment and a spacewalk on the ship's hull--and Descent manages to provide the suspense that its predecessors didn't. [Feb 2011, p.79]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Active 2 delivers a solid workout to anyone content with basic exercises. [Holiday 2010, p.59]

It’s difficult to call Burial at Sea’s first episode especially satisfying — by its cliffhanger ending, the labyrinthine overworked plot teeters between collapsing in on itself and being a devilishly clever rug-puller. But even as it stumbles, this DLC installment remains a fascinating, complicated riddle to watch unfold.

The push and pull between the great and sketchy in Fable Anniversary can wear over the course of the game, but its infallible, messy charm still manage to make it every bit the enjoyable time sink it was back in 2004.

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.

Despite its flashy razzle-dazzle, Ninja Blade feels surprisingly shallow.

Betrayal's wild artistic flair alleviates some of its pain, but you'll still grind your teeth at least as often as you sink them into new flesh.

Even if Hollywood never produces another Rango movie, we want a sequel to the game. [May 2011, p.77]

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]

Compared to this new generation of arcade hoopsters, Jam feels unambitious and uninvolving. [Dec 2003, p.146]

There's a definite downshift in graphical swagger (no more heat-haze and speed-blur visual effects), but MotoGP 08 delivers pretty much everything else a two-wheeled racing fan could ask for. [Dec 2008, p.87]