AC is a first-class resource pig, despite its 2D origins. With no way to adjust detail, you need a mighty rig to runit when the screen is filled with warring units. [Apr 2003, p.104]

Starship Troopers: Extermination's cooperative battles are mechanically innovative and can be enormous fun, but a general lack of polish and a slapdash single-player hold it back from greatness.

Super Slam busts out with destructible environments and plenty of sight gags--enough to make this fighting game good entertainment for kids who aren't ready for "hot coffee." [Apr 2006, p.100]

An occasionally entertaining detective game blighted by poor writing, rote combat, and a dreary open world.

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]

Given the series' heritage and the long buildup to this entry, it's hard not to feel let down. [July 2004, p.70]

Turok is a shooter that never comes close to fulfilling its potential. [Aug 2008, p.68]

An imaginative, atmospheric setting with great art and quality voice acting, but Shardlight is by no means a great adventure game.

It's impossible to dislike the game, especially if you enjoyed its predecessors, but it's also hard to appreciate such formulaic gameplay. [May 2006, p.98]

I desperately hope the reaction to it is strong enough to convince the developers to change direction, because I couldn't stand to watch the series die like this.

With a dearth of co-op shooters, Conflict is a passable alternative to the lonely job of saving the world. [Apr 2008, p.71]

The story and decisions are bigger attractions than the limited-appeal loot and artificially toughened enemies.

A gruelling mystery game that smothers its big ideas with dour survival mechanics.

Kudos for the ambition and price, but Mars: War Logs needs more work. A game that succeeds almost in spite of itself.

The new Medal of Honor is an unoriginal duck hunt laden with compromise. You've played this before---and better. [Jan 2011, p.64]

Tries to be two games in one, and ends up doing neither terribly well. [Jan 2005, p.80]

Roller Drama is charming but undermined by technical issues and obtuse puzzles.

The Theatre of War series might well be one to watch, but for now there are better options available. [Jun 2010, p.81]

The Club is a good diversion, but it lacks the depth to keep the gameplay interesting beyond a few hours. [June 2008, p.70]

Trainz isn't so much a game as a collection of maps, locomotives, rolling stock, and editing tools with which to develop your own Union Pacific Scotsman clones. [Feb 2004, p.73]

Like diving into a pile of leaves from the top of Big Ben, the first time is a thrill, the fifth is a yawn. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate's new toys entertain for a while but the novelty ends hours before the game does.

Only terrible AI, Starforce copy protection, and a semi-rare game-crashing bug ruin Heroes' otherwise enjoyable gameplay. [Mar 2007, p.66]

Never-quite-stellar puzzling fare punctured by erratic physics and makework. The scenery is nice, though.

A lot more fun than I envisioned it to be. [Apr 2002, p.84]

The single-player campaign is simply a series of missions with no cohesion other than the fact that they all lead toward your final objective. [Dec 2003, p.106]

It's simple fun, but if you or a family member are into Clone Wars, simple fun if probably what you're after. [June 2011, p.75]

Oddworld: Soulstorm's charm, characters, and sincere narrative are imprisoned within buggy, erratic software.

A curious amalgam of campy storytelling and abysmally simplified flight dynamics. [Feb 2004, p.68]