It has some excellent bits, but we're exhausted by the series' rapid-fire release schedule. [Oct 2011, p.82]

True, Monster Jam isn't much more than big trucks messing stuff up, but sometimes that's all you need. [Jan 2011, p.75]

Skip all that and go straight to the Facts & Friends mode, a madcap battle where you share one wheel and take turns competing for wedges. It’s too complicated to fully explain here, but there’s betting, mini-games, cool power-ups, and a duel-to-the death finish. It essentially modernizes Trivial Pursuit in an ingenious way, and it’s really the only reason to spend an excessive $40 for this game now, instead of waiting for the inevitable Xbox Live Arcade version.

If you absolutely must skip one DLC case, make it this one.

We're sure some of the more masochistic shooter fans will bask in Death By Cube's tough-as-nails difficulty level, but all others should move along. [Apr 2010, p.83]

Though Spartan Assault boasts many of the aliens, armaments, and well-worn plot wrinkles we associate with the Halo universe, it lacks the polished sheen that just about every other game in the series enjoys.

Somewhat unresponsive, sluggish controls. [Nov 2009, p.78]

The game's biggest issue, however, is still iffy core gameplay. Compared to Mark of the Ninja and Dishonored, which let you perform greater acts of stealth against enemies that react more naturally, Panic's fodder is a bit too brain-dead and the stages don't make kills as rewarding.

With clunky controls and no real deterrent from dying--for a Game Over, you simply lose all the points gained so far in the current level--Shred Nebula seems a bit too easy. [Dec 2008, p.73]

For anyone who enjoys tossing cards, this game is a relaxing experience, and worth chilling out to. [Sept 2008, p.79]

The game is hamstrung by long, dull stretches. [Aug 2010, p.79]

Only diehard fans will spend more than a couple hours with the Wonder Boys, but Monster World IV is worth a look all by itself.

Ultimately, the strength of this game lies in how it draws on the movie soundtrack: the catchy covers carry the routines, the karaoke, and even the mini-games you unlock. Lifelong fans of the Grease movie, this one's solely for you.

But any $20 game that lets you butt-stomp bad guys as a neon-green elephant earns props from me. [Feb. 2007, p.77]

Mortal Kombat is finally in the Arcade--too bad it's in the form of Ultimate MK3. [Jan. 2007, p.75]

Haven't played Arkham City yet? By all means rush out and buy the Batman Arkham City Game of the Year Edition, which includes Revenge and the rest of the game's DLC. On its own, though, this revenge isn't cold - it's a reheated dish of bland bat.

The engaging story kept us interested through the end, but, as in the park itself, there are technical difficulties.

Traditional baseball-sim junkies will recoil at the ease and simplicity, but kids and casual fans might enjoy stepping up to this plate.

The separate online co-op stages can be fun--both Maze and Survival help level up your characters--but the strange blandness of the overall proceedings keeps N3 II from appealing to anyone not mesmerized by constant slaughter. [Oct 2010, p.83]

Fans of the flick or of heroic tales will find a fair bit to like here, but uncovering it all can be a serious chore. [Oct 2010, p.83]

Much like the main character's chest cavity, this RPG ultimately feels hollow, with no real heart. [July 2012, p.76]

Whether we were playing one of the entertaining mini-games or tooling around in Free Ride with 11 other riders, we really enjoyed the experience and didn’t experience a hint of lag. It may be the only part of MX vs. ATV Reflex that seems more timeless than retread, but it’s just enough to salvage this otherwise unremarkable racer.

Tries too hard to imitate the big boys and is a few Shaq-sized steps behind in nearly every respect. [Jan 2003, p.74]

But with wonky, counterintuitive controls and nothing really new or compelling to add, Soltrio Solitaire doesn't give you a good reason to spend your solitaire time or money in the Arcade. [July 2007, p.79]

The biggest bummer for retro enthusiasts is this package's complete lack of special features.

If only the price of unlocking new skills - a minimum stat combined with a hefty fee - wasn't unreasonably steep.

This time around, Dynasty Warriors’ horde-slaughtering action is complemented by a greater emphasis on strategy as you attempt to conquer China in Empire mode, the game’s meatiest offering.

Raiden IV could’ve been a genre godsend for a devoted fanbase; instead, it proves merely adequate.