Every step taken toward creating a cohesive, cinematic adventure is sabotaged by bugs and glitches that thwart the game's attempts at immersion. [Feb 2012, p.85]

Just a hack with a medium-hot license - play the real thing instead. [Feb 2012, p.85]

While we like the new ideas, we may just stick to the analog version we have tucked away in our closet. [Feb 2012, p.84]

The lack of variety leaves a sour taste. [Feb 2012, p.84]

The gameplay is as addictive as ever. [Feb 2012, p.84]

Oddly immersive. [Feb 2012, p.84]

Beneath the emotional tale and a superb cast of characters lies an abundance of shallow filler content with no real purpose It's disappointing to see a game with so much heart struggle under the burden of artificial mechanics. [Feb 2012, p.80]

Enjoyable enough that adult gamers won't mind playing along. [Jan 2012, p.87]

We found the added button-press a bit cumbersome. [Jan 2012, p.87]

As a game, it's abo - game ever, please try again. [Jan 2012, p.86]

Graphics age and controls grow outdated, but genius never fades. [Jan 2012, p.85]

It may not be a game for racing purists, but it you're looking to introduce stock car racing to a child, look no further. [Jan 2012, p.81]

A bundle tailor-made for diehard Tekken fans that'll leave the average gamer feeling hoodwinked. [Jan 2012, p.84]

An improvement over its predecessor in almost every way, but it still feels undernourished. [Jan 2012, p.81]

More than enough for hardcore fans to justify the purchase. [Jan 2012, p.83]

One of the most feature-rich games on the market. [Jan 2012, p.82]

We occasionally encountered some control issues. [Jan 2012, p.81]

Too bad non were very exciting to play. [Jan 2012, p.81]

Nice enough for retro fans, but not so much for new gamers. [Jan 2012, p.81]

Years 5 - 7 follows form, but less so than in the past. [Jan 2012, p.81]

The biggest issue with Reloaded isn't in the game itself, but in the release date. [Jan 2012, p.80]

A fright-filled ride worth sinking our fangs into. [Jan 2012, p.79]

Its overall experience never lives up to the implied grandeur of its cross-country speedfest premise. [Jan 2012, p.78]

The story is so meandering. [Jan 2012, p.76]

As a complete package, Modern Warfare 3 takes the cake. [Jan 2012, p.67]

Despite its incredible competitive online play, we can't ignore the shortcomings of its campaign and Co-Op. [Jan 2012, p.66]

Skyrim is a gorgeous production that truly does justice to the words "roleplaying game." It doesn't just tell us a story, it gives us the chance to tell a story of our own. At its best, that's what an interactive art form should be all about. [Jan 2011, p.73]

Silicon Knights just forgot to give us anything fun to do with our powers, making it hard to recommend Destiny to even diehard fans. [Holiday 2011, p.84]

The colorful, grid-based maps shift and turn in surreal ways, lending a truly distinctive feel to the game. [Holiday 2011, p.84]

Altogether, Sideway's disparate parts add up to a fresh, creative take on a classic journey. [Holiday 2011, p.84]

Edge of Time aims so low it can't help but manage to be a playable Spider-Man game, but it lacks lasting appeal. [Holiday 2011, p.84]

The big guns, bright visuals, and plenty of upgrades all feel right, but solo play is dull. [Holiday 2011, p.85]

Playing God can be addicting. [Holiday 2011, p.85]

Small frustrations and a wonky camera keep an otherwise stylish RTS-lite from being brilliant, but Eufloria is one of the more interesting strategy titles. [Holiday 2011, p.85]

Origins returns Rayman to his 2D roots and is filled to the brim with gorgeous hand-drawn environments, blazing-fast platforming, and a huge variety of gameplay mechanics. [Holiday 2011, p.82]

Despite the many undead warriors, Quest is a kids' game. [Holiday 2011, p.83]

Even for a budget title the combat system is nothing short of a clunky mess, with slow animations and unsatisfying combos. [Holiday 2011, p.83]

While decapitating enemies never got old. other aspects of North fall short. [Holiday 2011, p.80]

While it's a bit too wacky for its own good, its undeniable charm and pick-up-and-play appeal keeps it on track. [Holiday 2011, p.81]

Add in some genuine frights, hilariously ribald dialog, and inventive boss battles, and it becomes clear why there should be more on-rails shooters for the Move. [Holiday 2011, p.78]

The PSN port doesn't look as pretty and there are frame-rate issues when the on-screen actions becomes too intense, but it's still a credible FPS contender. [Holiday 2011, p.78]

Still, a great selection of familiar characters, weapons, and abilities make the grind semi-rewarding for those willing to stick with it. [Holiday 2011, p.78]

We dug the re-worked campaign mode, but multiplayer matches for up to four players just can't be beat. [Holiday 2011, p.78]

Carnival Island is extremely easy, but with a projected audience of families with young children, this is understandable. [Holiday 2011, p.79]

Maybe it is time for the series to go all Super Saiyan and change things up a bit. [Holiday 2011, p.79]

Disney Universe is a nostalgic trip through Disney's history that should provide a fair bit of enjoyment for all Disney fans, small or large, and promises of DLC have us eager for more. [Holiday 2011, p.79]

Seasoned fans that stubbornly stick to solo play can look forward to making plenty of negative comparisons to All 4 One's superior predecessors. [Holiday 2011 ,p.76]

Accentuated by some splendid-looking, challenging boss fights, it's a steal for fans of the genre. [Holiday 2011, p.74]

Still, the simple, accessible premise produces plenty of fun, especially when played with friends. [Holiday 2011, p.74]

As it stands, this one needed more time before harvesting. [Holiday 2011, p.75]

Saving the world may be old news to gamers, but Okabu focuses more on preserving and protecting it. [Holiday 2011, p.75]

Viewed strictly as a videogame, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception represents the height of technical achievement--the state-of-the-art, if you will--for the interactive console experience. [Holiday 2011, p.49]

Third may be dumb fun, but it's the smartest realization of the sandbox spirit we've seen in a long while. [Holiday 2011, p.72]

Arkham City should be celebrated as a shining achievement for the action-adventure genre for its masterful execution. [Holiday 2011, p.70]

It's a feeling that encapsulates Rage: a deeply layered, exhilarating game in parts, but one that never coalesces to deliver a cohesive new experience. [Dec 2011, p.66]

This years model. F1 2011, improves on last years's game in almost every way: qualifying is real, pitting works, and the handling no longer feels ripped from the Dirt series. [Dec 2011, p.68]

Flight sim fans looking for more realism won't find it here, but if there was ever an argument for fun over reality, Assault Horizon is it. [Dec 2011, p.68]

Everything is bigger and better in Zombie Apocalypse 2: Never Die Alone. [Dec 2011, p.69]

Puzzles were never too frustrating, and Rochard's witty commentary really worked, despite his shoddy southern accent. [Dec 2011, p.69]

Touchy controls made for a few frustrating segments, but clever level design, interesting gameplay mechanics, and two-player co-op missions make it easy to forgive the game's issues. [Dec 2011, p.69]

With shallow combat that still requires a time commitment to learn, most fights descend into strategy-free buttonmashing in short order. [Dec 2011, p.69]

While comparatively subtle to 2011's makeover, the new coat of polish is still quite noticeable. [Dec 2011, p.73]

Beyond its highly polished gameplay, the sheer breadth and depth of what 2K12 offers will keep basketball fans happily playing for hundreds of hours. [Dec 2011, p.72]

With great visuals, fully featured commentary, and a depth of content that will absolutely keep FIFA fans engaged, this 2012 iteration will easily satisfy the crowd. [Dec 2011, p.73]

But our perseverance was rewarded with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, making Dark Souls one of the most engrossing RPG's we've ever played. [Dec 2011, p.76]

Record is very familiar, but undeniably fun. [Dec 2011, p.77]

A few game modes and a neat Autolog feature that allows us to challenge friends to score-based competitions keep things interesting for a while, but Crash gets quite stale after a few spins around the block. [Dec 2011, p.77]

From Dust takes the god game to a slightly flawed but intriguing place. [Dec 2011, p.77]

Despite their past success, Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow and Chaos Theory make for a less than impressive HD package. [Dec 2011, p.77]

The single-player story is cheesy fantasy schlock, and while the online mode has an array of decently designed multiplayer quests, it could stand some more structured goals and a stronger emphasis on cooperation. [Dec 2011, p.81]

The technology driving Rocksmith is awesome. Unfortunately, the software just doesn't compare. [Dec 2011, p.81]

The gameplay in Child of Eden is simple, but its relative lack of complexity is easily outweighed by its fervent dedication to turning each player's experience into an inimitable work of art. [Dec 2011, p.80]

3D Sonic has improved upon past controls with the use of a homing attack that lets him target enemies, as well as the launch pads that allow for more fluid gameplay. [Dec 2011, p.81]

Both games are certifiable classics, and the HD visuals amplify all of the emotion Team Ico tenderly weaved into them. [Nov 2011, p.80]

Still, minor annoyances keep Driver from being stellar: some areas of the city must be unlocked via story progression, fishtailing is occasionally over-the-top and loathsome during races and chases, and Shift is inexplicably limited during certain missions. [Nov 2011, p.81]

Its detail-starved environments and lackluster narrative can't compete with its contemporaries' richly rendered worlds, but Bodycount's back-to-basics approach shines like a welcome beacon of simple fun in a sea of increasingly complex shooters. [Nov 2011, p.81]

It's an uneven experience that's better with friends and more memorable for its massacring elements than its story and characters. [Nov 2011, p.82]

Several new features also make franchise play more rewarding: Madden vets will greatly appreciate the faster free-agent bidding process, which creates more tension between teams and preseason roster cuts also add a more human element. [Nov 2011, p.84]

Factor in the additional Be a GM, Be a Pro, and unlockable Be a Legend modes and the depth of NHL 12's experience is near unmatched. [Nov 2011, p.84]

For the committed few, though, time with Disgaea 4 should pleasantly relieve the terrible pressures produced by the voices inside their heads. [Nov 2011, p.85]

Veterans will be pleased to know that Online is indeed an arcade-perfect port of the original Third Stike[itself the third iteration of SFIII], backed up by all new netcode that virtually eliminates lag. [Nov 2011, p.85]

Space Marine sports some cool visual touches, but its presentation falls shy of the top shooters' slick production values and its camera becomes a bit over-caffeinated during close-quarters combat. [Nov 2011, p.86]

When cheesy '80s action flicks dream of being chaotic top-down, twin-stick shooters with motion-comic cutscenes, they dream about being Renegade Ops. [Nov 2011, p.87]

The budget price is nice, but all that's keeping Secret Wars from feeling like a PSN title are its decent length and online dogfighting options. [Nov 2011, p.87]

Thanks to its modern day setting and the well-written[and occasionally humorous]interactions between its characters, Innocent Sin is far more interesting than the standard RPG fare. [Nov 2011, p.87]

Does everything we expect, and it does it all very, very well. It's sky-high production values and focused design create a to-the-point experience that's predictable, but also massive, exciting, and predictably, a whole lot of fun. [Nov 2011, p.78]

Factor in the uncontrollable camera and this third-person shooter is firmly mediocre. [Oct 2011, p.85]

Still, the charming visuals and occasionally clever puzzles make it worth checking out, even if the claim that this adventure is "great" might be an exaggeration. [Oct 2011, p.85]

New features--such as the ability to temporarily summon an ally Gundam into battle--add flavor to(but still can't quite redeem)the otherwise bland missions and mindless destruction. [Oct 2011, p.85]

Sure, we could complain of minor lapses in visual and audio quality, but Prejudice's high fun-to-price ration make up for its shortcomings. [Oct 2011, p.84]

At least fans of the anime will love playing as their favorite characters; the game's not deficient, just generic. [Oct 2011, p.82]

Sure, they are not quite up to the same level as God of War III, but make no mistake: Origins still kicked our ass all over ancient Greece, and we were smiling the entire time. [Oct 2011, p.83]

Those looking for a challenge will definitely find some bloody enjoyment in Betrayal, but the easily frustrated may be left seeing red. [Oct 2011, p.82]

Heroes is a fine title taken in small bites, but the repetitive gameplay becomes ever more grinding with prolonged exposure. [Oct 2011, p.81]

Chasing a Mexican drug cartel through the streets of Los Angeles is boring at best, with outdated graphics and gameplay that feel a generation old. [Oct 2011, p.81]

Limbo is simply one of the most impressive titles that PSN has to offer, and at $15, it's an experience that no gamer should pass up. [Oct 2011, p.80]

Despite its shortcomings, Revolution is still a superior games that's more robust and ambitious than the vast majority of modern shooters. [Oct 2011, p.77]

While F.E.A.R. 3 is at its best as a solid(and fun)co-op shooter, it stumbles as an addition to the series. [Sept 2011, p.82]