Yar's Revenge isn't bad, but all its pleasures are decidedly short-lived. [May 2011, p.71]

Until Koei takes the time to enliven the painfully monotonous action, this is one samurai best left an honorless ronin--especially since Empires inexplicably abandoned the two-player Live action of its predecessor. [Mar 2007, p.79]

Granted, the controls are easier to manage than those in this game's Wii counterpart, but the playbook is as thick as they come. [Holiday 2009, p.85]

We wish THQ had squeezed more out of the formula, like offering more than two playable characters and a more gratifying campaign progression, but Surf & Skate Roadtrip remains a decent Kinect pick for a few hours of amusement, especially for young SpongeBob fans.

The lack of jump-in play — particularly on the couch — is very disappointing considering the game’s coin-op origins. Bummer, dude.

We see Defiance’s potential in the little interactions and grand moments alike, and while our first impression has been rougher than hoped, we’ll be back in six months or a year to see how the concept has been expanded and refined. It’s just unlikely that we’ll spend much of the meantime watching Defiance struggle through its growing pains.

It all moves at such a slow pace that there's no feeling of excitement or achievement in finishing a level. [May 2009, p.84]

Understone is cheap, but that's hardly enough to make it a worthy purchase. [Feb 2011, p.83]

Old-fashioned gameplay with a pretty new face. [Mar 2010, p.81]

Your journey quickly settles into an endless slog of interchangeable shootouts, broken up by little more than hold-the-door-for-me-bro tedium and boss battles that range from serviceable arena showdowns to infuriating cover-free patience-drainers.

The game simply doesn't play well with a controller. It looks and feels as if it were designed for a PC. [Sept 2003, p.78]

Because the co-op mode adapts the same structure for its 100 new levels, rather than implementing new ideas, this redux feels pretty out of touch. [Oct 2009, p.73]

Problems — like a confusing camera (which, for whatever reason, is significantly better in mega-fun split-screen play), slippery vehicles that clip through the ground, and a mere five arenas on which to destroy opponents — make Vigilante 8 a questionable $10 purchase. But competitive smack-talk-athons and co-op multiplayer are a blast thanks to the diverse array of attacks.

At $15, Death Tank is ludicrously overpriced. [Feb 2009, p.85]

Its tough-love formula offers fun and challenge in the short-term, but there’s just not enough variety or depth to make a lasting impression beyond those initial thrills.

If Pokemon had 487 fewer monsters and only one tournament, it would still be more thrilling than this movie-based game. [Jun 2010, p.82]

From the initial menu screen, it’s clear that little has changed over the course of a year beyond pasting in David Price as the cover star. The interface is essentially identical, the play modes are unchanged in execution, and the on-field action is precisely where it was last season. Even the Achievements are carbon-copied.

Odds are, if you can stomach Two Worlds' first hour and get into the meat of the gameplay, you'll enjoy what it has to offer. [Nov 2007, p.90]

Apart from some death-by-bad-camera-angle moments and a few aggravating perfection-focused “challenge” sequences, Marlow Briggs is enjoyable enough. Just don’t expect to remember any of it next week.

It lasts just long enough to justify its humble asking price, but better online island vacations await you elsewhere.

Its monk-like devotion to pure racing simulation is remarkable...and kind of a turn-off for the rest of us. [Feb 2009, p.80]

Blades isn't bad; it's just very average and uneven. For every innovative desert level (that forces you to stick to the shadows lest you be seared by the sun), there's a lot of jungle straight out of Avatar.

Jimmy's Vendetta packs plenty of content--six-plus hours, easily--but you'll feel like you're getting your $10 worth for only the first hours or so. [Nov 2010, p.81]

You'll find some bloody good times scattered throughout the journey, but not nearly as many as we'd hoped. [April 2011, p.78]

Overall, Dance Paradise is exactly what the game's name advertises: a respite from the sweet-inducing, mind-boggling physicality of titles like Dance Central and Dance Masters. [April 2011, p.79]

The entire experience, however, is tarnished by a framerate that bogs down any time a ball is put in play. A simple 5-3 putout turns into a noticeable slideshow as the camera pans across the diamond — which is a shame, as fielders sport some great animations this year.

Just entertaining enough to buy when it’s accumulating dust in the bargain bin. But for a richer sniper experience with more gruesome kill shots, last year’s Sniper Elite V2 is a better bet.

Madness Returns shows substantial flashes of being equal to its predecessor, but its strongest detractions - middling gameplay mechanics, the rushed ending, and that last tier of weapon upgrades being available only as paid DLC - hold it back.