This pyrotechnic orgy probably offers up more explosions per minute than any other game of its type, but that's about all it offers. [Holiday 2002, p.105]

It took me lengthy experimentation before I learned how to even throw a grenade or use a med-kit - the game's manual offered little help. [Feb 2004, p.79]

Where this game falls short is the actual gameplay. Your apartment serves as a hub and you go back to it repeatedly, either to save your game or to retrieve adn drop off items from your limited inventory. I don't even need to tell you how tedious this backtracking gets. [Holiday 2004, p.99]

The initially exciting novelty of seeing those plastic men go to war starts to wear thin in short order. [July 2002, p.66]

Spend enough time with it, and you'll happily overlook its missteps. [Jan 2005, p.70]

Pleasant but rarely compelling characters undermine this spiritual sequel to Gone Home.

Not only does it give high-level characters new playgrounds, but it's also a second shot at life for AC 2. [Sept 2005, p.63]

A superb water park for four friends to splash around in, but progression is sluggish and there are too few surprises beneath the waves.

I had to grit my teeth to put in enough play time for a quality review. [June 2002, p.77]

While War of the Ring does little to revolutionize the RTS genre, it does serve Tolkien's Middle-Earth admirably while letting you control the actions of the majority of its most storied denizens. [Jan 2004, p.98]

A compelling story and speedy stealth make up for Disjunction's less even moments.

There’s solid storytelling and mechanics behind the numbers, but the art and sound could be much more interesting.

Everything that you loved and hated about the 1994 original—ludicrous gibs, explosives, boss fights, and first-person platforming.

This is not the modern Transport Tycoon I hoped it would be, but it will fill a few hours before your attention inevitably derails. [Holiday 2014, p.66]

Swing and a miss! You can safely skip this one even if they cut the price in half. [May 2007, p.63]

Functional, yet prosaic. Constructing robots is a highlight, but Automatron's quest is short and unremarkable.

A stripped down stealth offering that reinvigorates Assassin's Creed by putting attention back on the sneaky stuff.

But it feels more like a fleeting dream than a game--it needs more complexity to grow beyond a diversion. [Feb 2011, p.77]

Like a movie you'd only watch when your PC's fried and the cable's out, Fantasy Wars may satisfy a turn-based strategy fix when the well runs dry. [Mar 2008, p.78]

Stylish and often satisfying, but surviving Grit and Valor’s later campaigns demands persistence over clever tactics.

Nothing sensational, but it provides a fun diversion for shooter buffs. [Sept 2005, p.68]

The biggest problem with The Punisher, however, is its uninspired gameplay... You'll spend most of your time running and gunning, and after a while it all becomes rather tedious. [Apr 2005, p.72]

Some clever and grisly medical examination systems, but not enough base management and side activities to remain engaging for long.

Positioning yourself for combat is more enjoyable than the actual battles. [July 2005, p.58]

Capy’s tough-love approach and well-worn survival systems makes it harder to appreciate Below’s singular look and feel.

Seriously impressive physics, but not much of a game.

Scratches won't appeal to everyone, but for fans of quaint English ghost stories/mysteries, it's to die for. [May 2006, p.102]

Power Chord’s slick card-slinging combat is weighed down by a gaudy aesthetic and lack of variety.