When it comes to pure Gundam geekery, though, there still isn't anything better than this. [July 2009, p.83]

Utterly unneeded. [May 2009, p.85]

A well-rounded, albeit somewhat conventional, package. [May 2009, p.80]

The bottom line is that its disparate parts don't combine to make a better whole. [June 2009, p.76]

The game is short and the controls are unresponsive(just let me jump already!), but the quirky humor redeems those shortcomings--almost. [June 2009, p.81]

Here's what it comes down to: exactly how much do you love Metallica? [July 2009, p.78]

If you're looking for something fast, accessible, and just a little stupid, Wheelman's calling your name. [June 2009, p.82]

Stormrise's innovation is heartilly applauded, but basic gameplay glitches and flaws weaken the experience. [June 2009, p.74]

For fans, Legends is a diverting interactive museum and an interesting expansion of the legends included in more recent Smackdowns. [June 2009, p.78]

Ultimately misses more than it hits because it has so little game. [May 2009, p.76]

Ninjas are supposed to be cool. But when a poor control scheme and an even worse camera system make it difficult to perform even one of the three activities mentioned above, they're anything but. [June 2009, p.83]

It proves, just about, that a PC-focused RTS can make the leap to PS3, and we just hope for a more simplified control method next time out. [June 2009, p.72]

Fast-paced. [May 2009, p.78]

So for soccer purists, if you're able to remove the barrier to acceptance built by the licensing(though PES includes full Champions League support, including the images and music), this is a wonderfully deep, playable, and entertaining sim. [Feb 2009, p.76]

Perhaps Resident Evil 5's most remarkable achievement is how it deftly straddles the line between the franchise's sometimes endearing, sometimes frustrating, legacy gameplay mechanics while incorporating more contemporary action adventure elements like enhanced interaction and exploration of environments and a decidedly more shooter-like control scheme. [Mar 2009, p.38]

Which is too bad, because beneath the sluggishness, Mana Khemia: Student Alliance offers an absorbing school experience with quirky characters and a fun story. [June 2009, p.83]

The game nails the atmosphere but fails to implement a single original idea. [May 2009, p.82]

Handsome-looking. [May 2009, p.83]

A $20 price tag makes this a heck of a deal for hardcore 2D fighter fans. [Holiday 2008, p.84]

If discovering, collecting, and equipping oddly designed loot is your passion, then Phantasy Star Portable is your type of game. [June 2009, p.81]

It's true that Killzone 2 is filled with moments that can handily be described as inspiring awe. Each scene is incredibly well detailed, from the gaps in jerry-rigged cover points letting you sneak in a killing headshot to scarred and scratched textures, the planet feels entirely believable... Without a doubt Killzone fans, action and shooter fans of any stripe will instantly tag this sequel as a powerful contender for best game of 2009. [Feb 2009, p.38]

More frustrating than funny. [May 2009, p.84]

If you and a friend have an afternoon to kill, you could definitely do worse than stomping sandcastles with Fiddy. [Apr 2009, p.84]

By striking a balance between fresh and familiar, and by delivering the best aspects of Street Fighters past, Street Fighter IV is easily one of this console generation's best fighting games. [Feb 2009, p.66]

The jump mechanic is frustratingly finicky. [May 2009, p.85]

F.E.A.R. 2 emerges as an effective, entertaining FPS with a chiller story element, rather than a real survival horror shooter...Play with the lights dimmed, and don't be surprised if you end up squealing (on the inside) like a little girl. [Mar 2009, p.67]

If "LocoRoco's" too-cute art style turns you off or its odd gameplay still confuses you, trust me. Give LocoRoco 2 30 open-minded minutes. You won't regret it. [Mar 2009, p.74]

There are a few curious selections(Hi, Flicky. Hi, Ristar), but overall, Sonic knows old school games. [Apr 2009, p.82]

Ixnay on the X-Blades. [Apr 2009, p.82]

As a hack-and-slash tribute to its source materials, Afro Samurai succeeds with its rewarding battle animations and atmosphere. [Apr 2009, p.78]

Even for the niche-y, nerdo ranks of no-frills strategy titles, Iron Triangle is not for the weak. [Apr 2009, p.85]

We'll hope that this either gets improved and rolled into the main "MLB 2K" game, or fully revamped for its sophomore effort. [Mar 2009, p.76]

It's a near-perfect sequel in almost every way. [Mar 2009, p.68]

AT2 features the turn-based combat of RPG yore, albeit broken into offense/defense phases with a rewarding, real-time scheme. [Apr 2009, p.85]

It still looks a lot like it did on PSOne 10 years ago. [Jan 2009, p.84]

If you're a hardcore LOTR fan, you might play the game and then say you like it(while grimacing), but ultimately, Conquest doesn't do justice to either the movies or the books. [Apr 2009, p.80]

It's a pretty game, an ambitious game, a big game--just not a very good one. [Feb 2009, p.74]

Structurally it's a mess. [Mar 2009, p.77]

This is probably Atlus USA's best work yet, with a script full of lively, natural-sounding dialogue and a cast of talented actors who take that dialogue and run with it. [Feb 2009, p.72]

Fortunately for those craving a new portable RPG, those flaws aren't game-breaking, and if the dungeon-building concept piques your interest(you can share the dungeons you create, too), the game's shortcomings are easy to ignore. [Apr 2009, p.81]

It might not be a perfect way to extend the experience, but it will surely help tide you over while you eagerly await the sequel hinted at in Persia's pitch-perfect ending. [Jan 2009, p.66]

Rebuilding it using the PS2 game's engine just makes it a much more obvious retread. [Jan 2009, p.83]

But credit given where credit is due, SCEA's packaging of one group's library(although hardcore ABBA fans might complain about a few song ommisions)on a single Blu-ray is actually more satisfying than SingStar's usual mishmash collections of songs. [Jan 2009, p.81]

It's definitely clever and fun, though, and Inferno's raft of improvements is enough to finally make Alone worth your attention. [Holiday 2008, p.81]

The problem is that while portions of Unleashed are entertaining, the two styles never meld into a cohesive new experience. [Feb 2009, p.75]

If you've ever played a Tomb Raider game, you know what you're in for and whether it's for you. [Jan 2009, p.78]

After eight years. the basic, gut-level hack-and-slash action hasn't changed much, and that makes it hard to keep caring about Dynasty Warriors. [Jan 2009, p.83]

Overall, a wholly competant game--but persistent performance issues prevent it from being anything more than that. [Jan 2009, p.74]

Gameplay-wise, shooting has been simplified with a Circle button hold-and-release, which feels gimped compared to the now almost-standard analog-flipstick of most ballers. [Jan 2009, p.85]

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe offers plenty of MK fun, tons of combos to learn, and yes, a bundle of not-so-graphic finishing moves if you're up to mastering the dozen long combo chains. [Jan 2009, p.76]

Shaun White feels like a great foundation for a snowboarding game that needed another year of develop tweaks to infuse more structure, refine control tuning, and attend to the details. [Feb 2009, p.70]

The PSP version of Shaun White Snowboarding isn't as ambitious in size and scope as the PS3 game, but it addresses many of big brother's shortcomings. [Feb 2009, p.71]

Overall, however, the game does an admirable job of balancing the natural limitations of attempting to recreate parkour in an interactive medium. [Holiday 2008, p.76]

Eternal Poison is built around three separate campaigns, each with their own leading characters and unique encounters, so there's plenty of built-in replay value. [Jan 2009, p.82]

But still, even flawed, World at War is fun. [Jan 2009, p.70]

WWE '09 provides enough content and depth to last the armchair wrestler for years and is one of the most accessible yet deepest sports games I've ever played. [Holiday 2008, p.64]

You can use your controller to issue every command, but the real draw is using your headset for vocal order-shouting. [Holiday 2008, p.68]

Mindless fun, and it's at its best when you don't pay too much mind to the incoherent story and limited gameplay. [Holiday 2008, p.88]

But the polish of Ultimate Ninja Storm's conbat system and the tightness of its controls(with the exception of that blasted evade!)are enough to warrant a purchase, provided you have a friend willing to sit close enough to brawl with you. [Holiday 2008, p.74]

The story is a real hoot. [Dec 2008, p.78]

Maybe we'll get what we're craving from the next Bond game. [Jan 2009, p.72]

Fortunately, the cooperative gameplay holds up superbly and adds tremendously to the value, and alongside the community features will ensure a long-lasting place in many PS3 shooter fans' repertoire. [Jan 2009, p.62]

But ultimately, EndWar is a complex turn-based experience marred by its lack of technical polish. [Feb 2009, p.75]

And that's the draw of the game: interacting with a living, breathing world that centers on you as the star. [Holiday 2008, p.60]

Like a new season of American Idol, the first thing you notice when you pop in SingStar Vol. 2 is that it's curiously similar to the last one. [Holiday 2008, p.82]

The core racing experience makes the misstep of celebrating failure rather than making the actual winning of races definable fun. [Dec 2008, p.90]

Motorcycle-specific racing fantatics will lose themselves in MotoGP's depth of details, but most gamers will find the practice-requisite experience an oddly passionless grind. [Dec 2008, p.89]

It's too early yet to declare a new era or direction in gaming, but LittleBigPlanet feels like the birth of a revolution; like through sharing our collective creativity we'll somehow become better, stronger, closer to each other. [Holiday 2008, p.56]

If you want a challenge, World Tour will still rock your world. But a joyous homage to the music you love? Not so much. [Jan 2009, p.80]

A remarkable achievement, a triumph of gameplay and narrative that everyone should choose to play. [Nov 2008, p.70]

But despite this mild lack of polish, Web of Shadows makes Spider-Man fun, and fans and non-fans alike should enjoy the game's infectious action....sorry. [Holiday 2008, p.82]

As a shooter, it always succeeds, with tight control, thrilling gunfights, subdued stealth missions, and over-the-top explosions. [Holiday 2008, p.72]

Even so, First Departure has transitioned so smoothly to the PSP that it's definitely worth playing if you're curious about Star Ocean's origins or if you're itching for a charming and portable classic RPG. [Nov 2008, p.80]

A game this pretty should be a no-brainer, but as soon as the characters open their mouths, your beleaguered brain will ache for a return to the action. [Holiday 2008, p.78]

So long as you have the skills (or beefy enough cars) to avoid crashing constantly, you can find an almost endless supply of fun on the streets of LA. [Dec 2008, p.76]

Remix adeptly manages the considerable feat of blending over-the-top arcade-style performance with precise on-the-edge-of-control handling. [Jan 2009, p.81]

You'd best get ready to rock. [Holiday 2008, p.70]

Everything about Rock Revolution smacks of a low budget rush-job(except the price)and while the basic note-hitting mechanic remains fun, there are far better places to get your music fix. [Holiday 2008, p.71]

If that wasn't bad enough, the glitchy, jerky graphics are further ravaged by a spastic camera that literally had me woozy at times. [Holiday 2008, p.84]

Unfortunately, Confrontation still isn't exceptionally compelling, thanks largely to the technical letdowns and its niche appeal. [Jan 2009, p.74]

SR2 is loud, destructive, and dumb as hell, but that's what makes it so much fun. [Holiday 2008, p.66]

Dokapon's fatal flaw is its wait-to-play ratio; since actual engagement between players happens rarely, watching three players take their turns while you twiddle your thumbs wears thin fast. [Dec 2008, p.82]

Excellent carnage, smartly implemented controls, and solid technical work all come together to create an experience that's fun and frightening. [Dec 2008, p.62]

It's entertaining when all's working as it should, but that just doesn't happen as often as it should. [Dec 2008, p.84]

At its heart, FIFA showcases all the highlights of its past lives, with a few interesting tweaks. [Holiday 2008, p.83]

The puzzles become a little more complicated as Fracture goes on, but that pretty much sums up the highlight of this otherwise generic third-person shooter. [Holiday 2008, p.74]

However you're playing the game, at whatever difficulty level, in single-player franchise mode, in quick games, or online in the promised five-on-five multiplayer games, NBA 2K9 looks like basketball does on your TV. [Dec 2008, p.94]

But small gripes aside, NBA Live 09 delivers some great basketball and will please most PS3-owning basketball fans. [Nov 2008, p.88]

Such is the case with year's PS3 basketball combatants, with SCEA's version building on the personalization elements (putting yourself in the game), alongside accessible, easily-grasped controls. [Dec 2008, p.96]

While NBA 09 doesn't transform the franchise into a dynasty, it's still playoff worthy. [Dec 2008, p.96]

Seriously, if this dungeon crawled any slower, it'd be going backward. [Dec 2008, p.82]

Plan frequent breaks. Your emotional well being will thank you for it. [Dec 2008, p.64]

Both the story and gameplay arcs seemed pedestrian with the story focusing on character development and a revelation that wasn't particular compelling, and the gameplay never cresendoing to a big payoff ending. [Dec 2008, p.74]

SSX on ATVs. Not a perfect analogy but it's darn close, and fans of the seminal snowboarding franchise should probably just stop reading now and go buy this game. [Nov 2008, p.78]

The game does very little to dispel the notion that if you've played one Warriors game, you've played them all. [Dec 2008, p.92]

With the new online-friendly additions, Buzz! Quiz TV deserves to be in any trivia fan's library. [Drac 2008, p.88]

It may not break new ground, but LEGO Batman is a total blast anyway, for both newbies and veterans. [Holiday 2008, p.80]

Buzz! Master Quiz is a title that anyone interested in portable party games should consider, whether you're a parent needing a diversion for the kids in the car or a PSP owner looking to flex your trivia muscles. [Dec 2008, p.88]