Many of the additions feel like things that they didn’t have time to add to the last game, and the whole experience feels uninspired. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but Warrior Within is one big letdown.

Just Cause 2's exploration and destruction isn't even that in-depth; it's quite generic, actually. Last year's unfortunately overlooked Red Faction: Guerrilla was far more explosive and destructive than Just Cause 2, not to mention an overall better looking, playing, sounding, and interesting game.

What Odin Sphere does not do very well, however, is the control, as it is extraordinarily unresponsive at times, as well as poorly mapped on the Playstation 2 controller.

For others who appreciate a little strategy to go with their shooting, Brothers in Arms delivers a rather intense war-playing experience that goes along with a fascinating story told from the perspective of the soldiers who lived it.

Lots of great stuff but this raucous attempt at racing needs some settling and organization.

There are just too many other, better racers on the PS2 that you should play even before OutRun 2006 comes to mind.

If you're not going to play this game online, you don't need it, you won't like it, and you'll be mad that you paid full price for it.

Just recreating the city and getting the web slinging right is impressive on its own, but they aren’t enough to keep the game from getting stale too quickly. The game can be beaten in less than ten hours, and while that’s only 50% if you haven’t gotten all the bonus hidden stuff, there’s not really anything interesting enough to entice you to keep playing.

The weapons and the kinds of weapons you can put together really make for some really kick ass kills. Additionally, there are some RPG-esque elements which I liked, as well. But what really killed it for me was the clunky and often unresponsive controls, in addition to the repetitive combat which could've used a lot more diversifying.

The addition of hotswapping makes the campaign mode a pleasant diversion for a few hours, but after a while you’re going to want to go online and you’re probably going to be let down by the lack of gameplay modes and technical problems that EA is working on, but has yet to fix.

Without question, Ninja Gaiden 4 has amazing combat. Yakamo journey will send you head first like a blood-soaked death tornado. Those seeking old school gory action will love it, and its challenge will satisfy long time fans of the series. If you can turn your brain off and enjoy its forgettable story, there is a fun game here. But its lacking in depth for those looking for the next great ninja revenge tale.

Despite all of its time in development, Prototype feels hollow and uninspired. There are a number of great concepts here, such as the shapeshifting and being able to run vertically, but everything else falls apart when you realize how boring many of the missions are, how boring the world is, how boring the game looks, and...well, how boring the game is, overall.

Alien: Isolation desperately tries to give us something fearsome and memorable. But the inconsistent approach leads to periods of tedium thankfully interrupted by flashes of unmitigated terror. If you can revel in the highs and forge through the lows, you should emerge satisfied. If, on the other hand, you’re more sensitive to design, control and mechanical issues, you’ll be a bit harsher on the game.

Western RPGs have come along way in recent years. And in a post-modern design world — one with Baulder’s Gate IIIand Expedition 33— I fear that Bethesda’s designs have gotten stale and bled into other studios. It feels basic at everything with subpar writing, a weird mission structure, and combat — while good, it isn’t anything new and different. Those looks for a by the numbers RPG with guns might still find the fun here, but it doesn’t really do anything to set itself apart from pack. It’s Borderlandswith a different skin and I expected more.

Even slightly improved AI would have made the game much more engaging, as would more effective bullets, varied mission objectives, and more freedom to carry whatever guns you wanted.

The shooting is solid, the graphics are fine, the sound design and musical score are acceptable if uninspired, and yet the game is significantly less than the sum of its parts.

It’s simply too frustrating to lose a match because of imprecise controls and a lousy putting system.

If you're looking for a deep hack and slash title along the lines of "Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance," look elsewhere. Marvel Ultimate Alliance is an over simplified attempt at a genre that begs for more. This just isn't hack and slash done right -- it feels more like an arcade game than anything else.

NBA 2k23 is more of the same thing, but refines the formula for fans of more realistic sports gaming. While its microtransactions are obstructive as ever, Jordan’s Challenge is a labor of love for basketball fans. You’ll get to play moments of history with an authentic flair to it thanks to some beautiful old-school filters. And while the graphics are slightly inferior and it lacks The City, last-gen is still a viable option to experience this brushed-up basketball simulation.

Call it my unyielding love for the franchise, but Sega needs to amp up their game if they want to earn my respect back. Sorry Sega, but a few new animated cutscenes I can watch on YouTube for free and a bunch of hackneyed ports of games I’ve purchased dozens of times aren’t enough to justify the price tag. Going back to the song “It Doesn’t Matter,” maybe someone should let Sega know that pride comes before the fall.

Technical problems kill any value that Kinetic might have.

Tacoma is not going to win any new fans who weren’t already interested in story-heavy adventure games, but if you enjoyed Gone Home, you’re likely going to find Tacoma a pleasant evolution of that narrative style with a few much needed improvements to the interactive aspects of the gameplay.

It offers plenty of foes to strike down with a wide variety of cool attacks, lots of classic characters, and enough ally and party micromanagement to maintain some sense of role-playing and strategy. But the story falls flat, the pacing is off, and above all else, the combat mechanic is inherently flawed.

A proper long-term gameplay mode would've been nice. Rookie Challenge is decent, but some extra meat is needed to justify the price-tag.

There are several great ideas here, but they're sort of mired beneath the weight of a generic shooter. The multiplayer isn't overwhelmingly great, either, and despite a really solid story with a lot of potential, a few compelling characters, and an immersive, challenging environment, Spec Ops: The Line doesn't make good on its lofty claims.

Personally, I had fun with Return to Arms, despite its flaws… until the end. I won’t spoil anything, but after 20 hours, one would expect more than the anticlimax at the end of the journey.

A fun game – for a few hours. If you’re playing the series for the first time, the game is certainly better than the first NFL Street, but it still lacks replay value.

It's completely average. As a next-generation title, its visuals leave a lot to be desired. And when you're not peeved at how boring it looks, you'll be peeved at how dull it sounds.

Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway is a decent WWII FPS that fails to separate itself from the pack but still offers some relatively accessible and somewhat realistic entertainment.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, but you enjoyed "Exit" or some of the older (not the new crappy 3D) "Worms" titles, you’re sure to enjoy the simple yet engaging gameplay that Lemmings has to offer.

The core -- the gameplay -- is solid...The lack of an online component really hurts. The Tony Hawk franchise is built for online competition, and to only feature split-screen just doesn't cut it. Then, the absence of a Classic Mode makes things feel sorer.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is the video game equivalent to that one kid in class with a sugar rush and an addiction to pixie sticks. Sure, it might be entertaining for a little while, but the more time you spend with it, the more you realize it’s just rambling on aimlessly. Ultimately, with its lack of a clear vision and focus on what makes a game fun, Cold War isn’t going to entertain you for long.

It's unfortunate that Manhunt becomes such a redundant game so quickly. The game employs a few very good concepts, but they are off-set by the game's mediocrity and pointless gore.

It's an average game, and I don't recommend a $60 purchase for it. Just like a popcorn flick isn't worth more than a rental, Stuntman: Ignition is ultimately the type of game you'd want to rent. While the multiplayer is fun and the Constructor mode is cool, the Career mode can be a bit short, and the game in general doesn't offer a whole lot to keep you coming back to.

I realize this seems a bit harsh and others aren't saying the same kinds of things, but they are strolling through poppy fields. In this shortage of JRPGs we are letting anything go, and this game needs serious help rather than free passes. Give it a go only if you really need your Tales on the go.

If you’re curious, spend one of those new twenties in your wallet on some old favorites.

But the game is marred with gameplay that features a number of annoying quirks, such as aim issues and lifeless artificial intelligence. Moreover, variety isn't a strong point, and the multiplayer is horrifically barebones and limited to only eight gamers.

The more I played the game, the more frustrated I got with the camera, controls, and collision detection. Had those technical issues been resolved, Eidos would've had a great game on their hands.

It's just that the story and atmosphere reign supreme and the entire production doesn't quite have the chops to support added immersion.

The Evil Within is an example of a great idea that lacks execution. There are scares a-plenty and very often, the fear factor is sky-high. The pacing and variety we see in this adventure are worthy of praise as well, and I appreciate how the atmosphere continually drags you into the experience. But with a decidedly outdated feel, difficulty that too often feels cheap rather than fair, old-fashioned AI and a sub-par camera, one can’t help but be moderately disappointed.

If Mercury had twice the amount of puzzles, a decent multi-player mode and some mini-games or other challenges, it’d be a great game. As it stands now, it’s a decent diversion that lasts 3-5 hours, but one not worth $40.

PC players shouldn't give up that version of the game for this one, that's for sure, but if you have a hankering to control the lives of fake people in front of your TV, then The Sims 2 for PS2 should fulfill that need.

Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to look past getting stuck in canyons with seemingly no way out, missing a jump and having to backtrack for five minutes, and endless load times to simply refill your health.

With features missing such as instant replay and challenging plays, and bugs that will crash games and others that ruin player progression, the game could have used some more time in the shop... Even with all of its problems, Madden 06 is easily the best football game to ever grace a handheld.

With a wide variety of weapons, equipment and tools, and a well-paced adventure that delivers some quality dungeon-crawling entertainment, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris is probably worth playing.

The controls start out accessible, but get a bit nutty with the faster cars, but if you can get used to them then you should find yourself enjoying the $20 you spent on this one.

The more I played the game, the more I found myself getting bored of it. It has a lot of great elements to it, such as the entire concept of co-operative gameplay, but it's sorely lacking in execution and variation. Worst of all, a solid online component could've saved the game, but that falls short too, as Army of Two's online is as barren as the rest of the game.

The sound effects needed to be revamped and brought out more, the new features don’t have quite the impact they could’ve had, the technical aspects can drag, and the trick system – while mostly well done – isn’t perfect. Perhaps it’s best to wait until it’s a bargain bit purchase.

The biggest problem with Destroy All Humans! is that it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Sure, its story is different from the standard free-roaming game, but the gameplay is run of the mill, and there’s little innovation to speak of.

The gameplay itself holds up strong throughout any mode, despite the delayed controls and sudden difficulty spike, and playing with a friend is usually good fun. In the end, though, we had hoped to see a little more in Rugby 08 that would distinguish it from 06; something concrete that goes beyond cosmetic upgrades.

Visually it's disappointing, as the field detail and the framerate are the worst offenders. Lastly, the commentary is just barely acceptable, but may get repetitive sooner than you think.

It has some of the worst A.I. I've ever encountered, on top of a broken formula that only frustrates the player. No direct communication between the gamer and his controlled athlete mars the experience, as the gameplay feels more like guess work than anything else.

With some smarter storytelling, better stage design, and variety, this could be a 10/10 game, but instead, this falls considerably. It punishes you a lot in the second half of the game, but you won’t forget how much fun it had been up to that point.

Fans of swearing in video games will also be pleased, as the friendlies have a tendency to shout "F**k" and "Sh*t" at the drop of a hat. Now that's authenticity!

Dying Light has its moments. It has a great concept and that concept is executed relatively well, with a few minor drawbacks. I still say the villain seems awfully familiar and the story is just way too predictable, and some of the main missions feature design choices that are definite head-scratchers.

Overall, Disney Speedstorm is a good kart racer. The overly complex in-game economy and lack of Grand Prix or other modes outside of single races may push some gamers away, and I wouldn’t blame them. At its core, this solid kart racer does just enough to make it worth checking out, but it won’t be challenging the title of Mario or Crash any time soon.

Amplitude is a bit of a disappointment. It plays well enough and it’s awfully slick-looking, but the lack of a diverse array of songs really puts a damper on the experience.

There is a potentially interesting game here, but more often than not, its gimmicks lose their appeal and then you’re just left with a sub-standard and less enjoyable "Burnout."

I don’t see a reason that EA feels like a port with no real enhancements is worth full retail price, especially since they couldn’t be bothered to update the horribly outdated rosters, which were already old on the PS2, and are even worse now. Toss in the awful load times, and you’ve got no reason to pick this one up.

Simply put, it's just not quite good enough.

Unfortunately, the game does end up feeling underwhelming due to the mysterious lack of style that made the PSP games so darn fun. We can't really put our finger on any one thing, but it's probably the general feeling that the game just doesn't deliver the same level of entertainment.

One of FIFA’s biggest strengths is its audio. From the announcing team of John Motson and Ally McCoist, to the eclectic mix of artists in the EA Trax, everything is top-notch.

Seemingly inaccurate platforming, a lack of direction pertaining to progress and puzzles, mediocre AI, and sluggish pacing. There's a lot of fun to be had and the longevity is high but we have to tolerate more issues…drop that "group" mentality for the next one, Traveller's.

Eufloria is a great concept that just feels a little undercooked.

Technical elements aren't impressive. Career setup is annoying and unrealistic. Gameplay isn't anywhere near authentic enough. Move functionality isn't quite right. General lack of solidarity and consistency.

At the very least, it’s a great experience for the “Star Wars” faithful, and the solid and accessible control cements a production with far-reaching appeal. That appeal may not reach to the core group of gamers that are bound to complain about the lack of depth, customization and overall gameplay innovation, but they’re not the intended demographic. The good certainly outweighs the bad, regardless of your “hardcore” level or personal preferences, but such factors will have a big impact on your enjoyment.

I can only recommend Tony Hawk's Proving Ground to only the biggest fans of the franchise who simply want more. If you're looking for something new with a rewarding experience, I recommend "SKATE."

If the framerate hadn't been as jerky, we'd have a fairly enjoyable game -- nothing ground breaking, but enjoyable, nevertheless.

Remember Me aims high but sadly falls well shy of the intended goal.

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD has its ups and downs.

Despite its flaws, Rogue City delivers what most fans of the franchise have been craving: a bloody, explosive throwback to the glory days of action. While it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well and has its fair share of frustrating mechanics, nothing is truly game-breaking. If you’re looking for a game that lets you feel like RoboCop, this is it—just don’t set your expectations too high.

We still have the same mechanical problems, Frank's photography skill doesn't add much, the frame rate issues are still there, and in the end, it's just "Dead Rising 2+."

The Red Star has a lot going for it, but due to the preceding problems, it falls well short of its ambitious goal. The complete lack of an interesting story, lackluster menu presentation, and spiking and erratic difficulty (along with no checkpoints) can make for an extremely tedious experience.

But with a slew of little problems, a bunch of repetition, a campaign that isn't anything like a campaign (let's face it; this is a multiplayer game only), and lacking environmental variety, it's tough to recommend. There are other games out there.

If you fancy a good mystery, maybe The Raven Remastered is the right game for you. But if it’s a saucy story you’re looking for, look elsewhere. Although it sounds like a pretty tasty tale to dig into, The Raven Remastered will leave you with more questions than answers.

It doesn't offer the most robust multiplayer experience, the visuals aren't sparkling, the audio is a mixed bag, and the gameplay isn't exactly cutting edge. But the scope of the game is commendable and there's certainly a ton of potential here - I just wish that potential received some polish before it was given to us.

Unless you're a die-hard Jak and Daxter fan, Jak and Daxter: The Final Frontier isn't worth the coin.

I can’t recommend SteelRising to everyone, especially die-hard Soulsborne fans who relish in a story where the information isn’t spoon-fed to them. I do, however, applaud Spiders for trying to take on the Soulsborne genre. I only wish they had understood that perhaps they took on more than they could chew.

The camera simply cannot detect movements accurately enough to make replaying games for a high score a viable option, since you’ll often not get credit for things you did correctly.

A competent and in many ways, impressive, action extravaganza. The gameplay and combat hold up well over time, but the technical aspects don't, and those same problems still exist, which is disappointing.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls is oddly named and really, the game lives up to that tone: Odd. But that’s part of the charm and appeal and fans of past entries will quickly embrace this style.

Racers such as Burnout Legends, Ridge Racer, and Midnight Club (other than the load times) are much better games, so there’s not much of a reason to pick up Most Wanted, though it’s not a bad game.

This sequel fails to make any notable strides in improvement, and in fact fails so hard with the broken game engine that it feels downright frustrating to look at and play.

Generic gameplay, poor multiplayer offerings, and below average visuals? This I can't even recommend when it hits the inevitable bargain bin.

Anarchy Reigns can be lots of fun, but the muddled and clichéd story doesn't help the campaign, and neither does the general repetitive nature of the gameplay.

The story isn’t as well-written or engaging as the plot of the first game, there are superficial characters tossed in for no reason, and the cutting-and-pasting of previously visited locales isn’t doing us any favors. If you can accept all these drawbacks and indulge in the awesome battle mechanic, well, good for you.

Lacks some of the polish and refinement that would make it a really solid, even addicting title. We spend too much time indoors..., the story is a little lame, and the difficulty is scaled back a little too much. But it's easy to pick up and play, exploring the city never gets boring, and fans of the web-slinging hero can spend a lot of time battling, upgrading, and just soaring along.

If you’re not a diehard fan of Country, there’s not a chance in hell you’ll have a good time with this game – unless you’re singing a tune here and there at a party. Harmonix could have done a better job here.

It may not be chock full of stages to visit, but it's certainly great for a quick diversion, as its pick-up-and-play traits are rather welcoming.

I personally could not overlook a number of glaring flaws, most importantly the horde of control issues, in addition to the annoying load times.

It’s just a little too tedious for my taste and it there’s a fine line between unfair and properly unforgiving. Not sure Davis strikes that balance well enough.

For the time being, there are simply too many problems with Ultra Street Fighter IV on PlayStation 4. The input lag is definitely an issue, the technical hang-ups mar an otherwise astounding-looking game, and there aren’t enough new features or additions for hardcore fans to warrant a purchase.

A good game. I have to say that again. It's "good" from the standpoint of a reviewer who can't really find any major glaring flaws, although there are obvious minor issues. The caveat is that those minor issues become far more irritating when you start to get tired of a military game that's too much rinse-and-repeat with no answer for "Why the heck am I doing this?"

But the bad is just too prevalent: poor upgrade system, mediocre graphics and sound, and in general, it just feels like an arcade game trying to be a simulator.

NBA 2K22 is a surprisingly solid perennial release, refining and improving upon troublesome and dull mechanics with a generally more fun, accessible court experience. While its RPG ambitions are admirable, its quest system pales in comparison to the next-gen version. Overall, though, this current-gen version stands firmly on its own, offering a solid suite of modes and sweet basketball simulation.

Red has its flaws. The story doesn’t really impress, the combat can be tricky, the locations could’ve been much more interesting, and you can’t fight against a friend. It’s also not the most technically accomplished title you’ll ever play. At the same time, what it offers is a solid fun factor, which you can enjoy even if you’re not a fan of the series.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed won't be one of the games I'll remember as being poor, but I also won't look back on it years from now and feel nostalgic.

If you’re a newcomer to Resident Evil, this is not the place to start. Go with this year’s Resident Evil 7 if you’re looking for something innovative, modern and terrifying. If pure action is what you’re after, the remastered editions of Resident Evil 4 and 5 are much easier recommendations.