That said, 40 bucks is pretty steep for what's basically an arcade action game. To a certain breed of driver, though, the stress relief might be worth it. [Holiday 2012, p.85]

The frenetic action and controls really capture the essence of the anime, and even is DBZ isn't as spry as it used to be, this is a nice reminder of its heyday. [Holiday 2012, p.85]

But there's no denying that the highlight is the Attitude Era mode, and though it has its flaws, it's a dream come true for children of the '90s. ]Holiday 2012, p.83]

Throw in the original two Doom games, some online multiplayer, and a handful of extra content that fans of the original Doom 3 may have missed, and suddenly the $40 price tag seems pretty reasonable...as long as you don't expect too much. [Holiday 2012, p.82]

While Legends has all the gadgets, driving, fisticuffs, and sneaking fans would expect from a Bond game, it's mostly a rote first-person shooter. [Holiday 2012, p.83]

Despite bringing a few fresh nuances to the table, Revolution doesn't exactly live up to its name. [Holiday 2012, p.80]

The only real reason to purchase this port is if the prospect of scouting out a Dreamcast and a copy of the game seems a bit pricey. [Holiday 2012, p.81]

The simple but fun RPG-lite adventure gameplay is still great for parent/child co-play, but we had no problem blowing through the campaign in a single weekend. [Holiday 2012, p.81]

While it's not quite a perfect package, there's a lot to love about the way the open-world craziness unfolds despite the game's oddly self-aware inclusion of some of gaming's more annoying, antiquated mechanics. [Holiday 2012, p.80]

Given the smaller screen and weaker controls, there's almost no reason to play this if you've already experienced SFXT. [Holiday 2012, p.79]

Still, this minimal-frills two-pack is definitely entertaining while it lasts. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

While the brainteasers and competition are addicting, there's not enough substance to make Smart As worth the price; it'd be better off as a $15 download. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

One Piece and Dynasty Warrior diehards will find plenty to love; anyone else will be bored after about two missions. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

As dungeon crawls go, it's unique. Just don't expect a Silent Hill 2 level of scary. [Holiday 2012, p.77]

Building on that solid foundation, its more polished sequel gives armchair athletes another great reason to get off the couch. [Holiday 2012, p.76]

This may be a well-made rat maze, but a rat maze it is and that's all. [Holiday 2012, p.73]

Paradise's bag of tricks is sadly limited, leaving only a violent juvenile romp we're reluctant to recommend. [Holiday 2012, p.73]

The simplistic mechanics don't offer that remarkable of a hook, and the game spans just a couple of hours. As a light snack between big holiday releases, however, it's a pleasantly tasty distraction. [Holiday 2012, p.73[

It's disappointing at first, but after the initial shock, Karateka turns out to be fun and surprisingly addictive. [Holiday 2012, p.73]

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a strange footnote in the history of classic fighters, making this HD release a niche game directed at fans of the anime series and nostalgic lovers of offbeat 2D fighting games. [Dec 2012, p.87]

Fortunately, the design is still fun, even if it doesn't quite hold up against modern FPS fare. [Dec 2012, p.86]

As a PSN budget title, Trilogy would soar. At $40, though, it's a bit of a turkey. [Dec 2012, p.87]

Not based on any particular Sherlock Holmes story, this is a throwback to the point-and-click adventures of old, but with the clue-finding mechanics of L.A. Noire and puzzles that feel like old-school Resident Evil games. [Dec 2012, p.85]

Anyone craving a fresh take on the stealth-action genre should sniff this one out. [Dec 2012, p.83]

More than Tekken and Virtua Fighter, DOA is light, flashy entertainment. [Dec 2012, p.80]

A solid take on action-focused WWII air combat. [Nov 2012, p.87]

Quests do occasionally offer intriguing objectives, but they're a rarity, and simple kill/fetch structures are the norm. [Nov 2012, p.87]

It's not entirely free from the monotonous grind that's so common to the genre, but the more repetitious moments are balanced by bursts of fun personality and outrageous antics that keep up the zippy pace. [Nov 2012, p.85]

In a vacuum, Madden NFL 13 is great. That's good enough for some of us, but others will lament what it could have been. [Nov 2012, p.83]

It's not innovative or wildly creative, but the gameplay is fun and the multiplayer is excellent. [Nov 2012, p.80]

The fighting doesn't feel significantly changed or enhanced. [Nov 2012, p.78]

Though a competent simulation racer, it's tough to overlook Legends' many shortcomings. [Oct 2012, p.85]

This PSP edition has a lot of extra content compared to the PS2 original, though, so fans of the series might want to give it a shot regardless. [Oct 2012, p.85]

It never pretends to be a serious game, and though it might be a little too pricey for dumb entertainment, it does provide some fluffy sandbox fun. [Oct 2012, p.85]

Dyad remains a worthwhile trek, but it mesmerizes in spurts rather than with a consistent tenor. [Oct 2012, p.83]

LEGO Batman 2 on Vita plays like more traditional LEGO games, sticking closer to the standard formula than the console version. [Sept 2012, p.83]

Resident Evil completionists who missed these simple shooters elsewhere may find them briefly amusing, but casual Move enthusiasts needn't snag both. [Sept 2012, p.85]

Agarest 2 is a competent strategy RPG with satisfying gameplay, but there are better ones out there that we'd be less ashamed to share with our friends. [Sept 2012, p.,86]

The game looks and plays well enough but isn't particularly engaging(unless you're a Jeremy McGrath fan). [Sept 2012, p.87]

Babel Rising can be fun and looks great, but needs a lot more refinement before it reaches a biblical level of gaming goodness. [Sept 2012, p.87]

Don't get us wrong--watching Juliet dash across the battlefield, chainsaw in hand, was entertaining in its own right. We just wish more emphasis was placed on making it fun to play and not just fun to watch. [Aug 2012, p.75]

Still, Rock of Ages is a true original and remains quite amusing despite some awkward moments. [Aug 2012, p.80]

On so many levels, Inversion is like a cheesy action movie. Yet just as there's some joy in losing ourselves to the Under Siege movies, Inversion has undeniable charm once we switch our brain to "simple." [Aug 2012, p.82]

Unquestionably a niche title, 4am's a cool experiment that those who crave something different can easily get lost in. [Aug 2012, p.83]

As a portable game, Burning Skies is adequate. But as the Vita's first true FPS and a member of the Resistance family, it's a conventional, predictable disappointment. [Aug 2012, p.84]

Those with a taste for the unusual will likely enjoy Datura, as it's contemplative and slow and builds surprising tension at times. But ultimately, it's just an interesting yet flawed experiment. [Aug 2012, p.86]

Clock takes a puzzle-driven adventure game and mixes it up with a side-scrolling platformer. Not a bad design template in theory, but not so great as implemented here. [Aug 2012, p.86]

If you wish more fights became all-out slugfests, Bellator is your game, but look elsewhere for something smarter. [Aug 2012, p.87]

Still, each game mode provides different trials--some nostalgic, some new--and local multiplayer brings the added bonus of screwing over our friends. That alone could be worth the meager fee. [Aug 2012, p.87]

For a $5 download, there is some morbid fun to be found, but the flaws can be quite rage inducing. [July 2012, p.85]

This shooter's mindless, gun-centric amusement is delicious junk food for our itchy trigger fingers. [July 2012, p.85]

However, drastic spikes in the difficulty still pop-up at bizarre intervals, and being asked to shell out 99 cents to skip the random ultra brutal stages each time they appear feels like an insult. Pay to not play? No thanks. [July 2012, p.85]

It's a good start in the right direction, but anyone with a copy of Dirt 3 already on their shelves will probably be content with a rental. [July 2012, p.82]

A bit of refinement and this could have been something special. [July 2012, p.80]

Sonic games have always worked best at top speed. Unfortunately, for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, commitment to that joyous speed is severely lacking. [July, p.79]

Though a create-and-share track builder does add to the fun, this is essentially just an enjoyable change of direction for the series. [July 2012, p.79]

It's not the longest or hardest RPG, but it's heartfelt worldview makes it worth our time. [July 2012, p.79]

The third-person gunplay feels clunky when not behind the crosshairs and the deliberate pacing is an acquired taste, but the sharpshooting-focus, campaign co-op, and fresh take on WWII make V2 a welcome alternative to all those Call of Duty clones. [July 2012, p.77]

All this offers is twin-stick controls and slightly crisper visuals. [June 2012, p.83]

This is easily the weakest link in the LEGO chain. [June 2012, p.83]

With a flashy but limited move list, it's nothing more than a basic arcade scrapper. [June 2012, p.83]

It demands a level of precision that is tough to pull off with the cumbersome control scheme, making it hard to muster the effort. [June 2012, p.82]

Though there is some environmental repetition, Awesomenauts is fun, addictive chaos at a decent price. [June 2012, p.82]

Ultimately, the zombie sections are to be stomached while we wait for beter bits to load. [June 2012, p.80]

Woeful voice acting and poorly paced repetitive missions chuck a pigeon right in Birds of Steel's propeller though. [June 2012, p.81]

The problem here is the convoluted content and pricing structure: 30 bucks delivers a measly three tracks and five cars. [June 2012, p.79]

I Am Alive is a near-perfect, gritty struggle to survive. [June 2012, p.78]

Players in it for the Trophies may find the price worth it, but most will be satisfied with the version they probably already own. [May 2012, p.77]

Thought not a terrible tribute to the series, Downpour seems to tone down everything we loved about the earlier games, leaving only an average shell. [May 2012, p.78]

It's a shame the idiotic A.I. and hit-and-miss recognition spoil it, turning this into a merely "solid" shooter. [May 2012, p.79]

Gotham City Impostors is a solid multiplayer shooter trussed up in a big, rubbery premise: one team dresses as Batman, the other as the Joker. [May 2012, p.81]

Despite the mechas' new,smaller stature(roughly two-thirds the size of those in previous titles), battles felt sluggish. [May 2012, p.81]

Those who can overlook the aging process, though, will discover the best versions of two of the genre's greatest games. [May 2012, p.80]

It's a functional squad shooter, but it's one that's probably best suited for series diehards. [May 2012, p.82]

Still, for a budget title, Time did manage to keep our attention longer than we anticipated. [May 2012, p.85]

Escape Plan could've been a classic. [May 2012, p.85]

An impressive port that will satisfy seasoned fighters. [Apr 2012, p.61]

Wants so desperately to be Burnout: Revenge. Unfortunately, the game feels more like a cheap knockoff than a compelling successor. [Apr 2012, p.60]

Fans of the series know what they're in for, but everyone else can rest their fingers for deeper games. [Apr 2012, p.60]

It's just unremarkable. [Apr 2012, p.60]

Alliance is plagued by some rather lengthy load times, which can put the kibosh on short commute playtime. [Apr 2012, p.59]

Sadly, ModNation's creative side trumps the racing. [Apr 2012, p.57]

Dimwitted enemies and bland looks also make for a subpar experience. [Apr 2012, p.56]

Where's the rear touchscreen functionality to control shot power? Where's the touchscreen aiming? [Apr 2012, p.56]

At times, it felt phoned-in, unoriginal, and fairly buggy, though the visuals and multi-path levels shine. [Apr 2012, p.87]

This lack of mercy had us cursing the game, but it also made every completed puzzle a truly satisfying victory. [Apr 2012, p.87]

While it's far from an essential download, this beat-'em-up offers old-school fun to the hands of Simpsons fans. [Apr 2012, p.87]

It possesses an undeniable charm that its intended audience will embrace. Who exactly that audience is...well, we're still trying to figure that out. [Apr 2012, p.86]

Thanks to the flawed fundamentals, all the great mechanics in the world can't save Syndicate. [Apr 2012, p.84]

The expanded universe and story options don't stop this from feeling like the same Naruto game we've seen so many times - though the game is not without its unique quirks. [Apr 2012, p.83]

The campaign feels awkward and unfamiliar and the multiplayer doesn't allow for direct head-to-head competition (oh well), but the game still manages to fuel our competitive juices. [Apr 2012, p.82]

While it's still a solid sequel, Shank 2 may have benefited from a less-is-more approach. [Apr 2012, p.81]

The cast is another pack of pastel-colored munchkins from anime central casting. [Apr 2012, p.77]

Jak and Daxter Collection feels more like a lightly upgraded historical document than a lovingly tweaked attempt to make these aging classics shine for a modern audience. [Mar 2012, p.81]

GST2 doesn't yet match up to its main tennis rival, but it still has game. [Mar 2012, p.85]

NeverDead does show some promise. Still, these bright spots aren't nearly enough to elevate NeverDead above its frustrating combat and flawed concept. [Mar 2012, p.84]

Younger kids will likely be enthralled by the game as well, but some of the unique control interactions (motion, sound, etc.) will require parental intervention. [Feb 2012, p.87]

Delivered exactly the fun, casual experience we expected. [Feb 2012, p.87]