The game's wonky art assets and cursory narrative trimming feel like placeholders, but take it as a no-frills Portal mod pack and there are ideas here worth winding your brain around--building blocks of a development talent almost as impressive as the game it apes. [Apr 2012, p.81]

The simplified avionics are well-suited for novice PC aviators, but with Wings' bland terrain and cookie-cutter campaign missions, it just doesn't pack enough ordnance for disconcerning jet-sim fans. [Jan 2005, p.90]

Dull combat, countless boring gray rooms and an abandoned story make Cryostasis as appealing as frozen dog droppings. [Aug 2009, p.76]

For over-the-top(literally) off-road racing action, Nail'd delivers on multiple fronts--just as long as you remember to keep your dirt racer in the air as much as possible. [Feb 2011, p.81]

Clunky quest structure and uninteresting main characters shoot this weirdly compulsive RPG in the foot.

A novel structure for competitive play, but can't match the depth of most MOBAs or the feel of a good shooter. [Holiday 2014, p,64]

The Signal From Tölva is easily Big Robot's best game yet: a lean, intelligent sci-fi shooter with a watchmaker’s eye for detail that knows its strengths and plays to them beautifully.

Unexplored 2 has potential, but right now the adventure's unreliable and storytelling's seriously flawed.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is an unsatisfying multiplayer experience that lacks the wry character of the movies it's based on.

A rough-edged but worthwhile spin on historical 4Xs that oddly leaves Civ's greatest flaws untouched.

Mediocre and repetitive, there are far better options for action RPGs out there.

A great artstyle and flashes of brilliance never truly make up for a meandering, risk-averse plot.

I wanted to like Getting Up, but flawed game mechanics and a hip-flop plot send this Trane off its tracks. [May 2006, p.98]

Bland and unambitious save for its combat, Lost Sphear draws so heavily from the traditions of past JPRGs that it fails to build a personality of its own.

It's a shame that PES has made so many worthwhile tweaks, only to deliver a lacklustre PC edition. PES could—and should—be as good as the console game in every detail, and if have a console you’ll be throwing good money after bad. Pity, as otherwise this ought to be a seminal football sim.

It simply wasn't polished enough before it was booted out the door. [Jan 2003, p.96]

Rust is a malicious experience rife with betrayal, cruelty and greed. That can make it both frustrating and sublime in equal doses.

Lacking the sharpness needed by both shooters and comedy, High on Life is a low point in the gaming calendar.

Free mode is definitely worth trying, but don't go out and buy the store copy unless you're comfortable spending extra cash for in-game items. [Sept 2007, p.60]

A gorgeous world dogged by some terrible quest design. [Jun 2010, p.82]

One part detective sim and one part chaos generator, Shadows of Doubt lives up to its influences as an immersive sim that actually makes good on its ambitions.

Little Nightmares 3 adds a welcome online cooperative mode and some freshly bizarre environments, but the series' formula is becoming a little staid.

Slapstick dismemberment is fun for a while, but Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior has neither the depth nor the polish to stay in the fight for long.

An apocalyptic disappointment that never rises above mediocrity, but often sinks into tedium. [July 2013, p.72]

A great place to learn the ways of Magic. The lack of deck customization is appalling, but it nails the card game experience. [Nov 2010, p.82]

Generic Shooter # 7,491, but with some cool weapon upgrades. [July 2005, p.70]

A seamless continuation of the series that makes up for its limitations with pure heart. It's like Ryo never left us.

More of the same solid adventure fare found in "Circle of Blood." [Feb 1998, p.142]