All in all, while certainly not a bad game, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith leaves a lot to be desired.

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.

It's just underwhelming.

Why such a focus on action when the control scheme can't really handle that emphasis? Why not do a lot more with the atmosphere and storyline? Why does it take the story so long to get anywhere? These are questions I didn't want to ask.

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.

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

The entire game will take you about 10-15 hours, but you may grow tired of running around in circles, completing menial tasks.

The sound is unremarkable. You’ve got your engine sounds, your squealing tires, and other sound effects that all sound like you’ve heard them before.

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?"

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

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.

The mediocre control, erratic cover system, and strange stealth sequences (we don't have a stealth mechanic, Io!) pull the game down. In short- the story is the crux but the gameplay is the crutch.

If you enjoy the Zatch Bell! TV show and think that a fighting game containing the characters, locations, and stories from the show would be right up your alley, then don't hesitate to pick this one up.

This isn't one of those games that'd you'd pawn of for being an entirely wasted effort, but it doesn't really strive to lift itself above mediocrity.

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.

For the most part, I really did enjoy my time in Dungeon Rushers. The game is funny, has solid combat, a crafting system, and fully customizable skill tree for the whole party. If you’re looking for something you can just jump in and out of, it’s certainly not a bad game and it’s at its best in bite sized gaming.

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.

Madden NFL Arcade has a great deal going for it and they did almost everything right; they just didn’t follow through and make it a worthy, over-the-top arcade experience.

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.

Contrast is aptly named. Its disappointing instability contrasts sharply with its wonderful ambiance and concept, and you’re left feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

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.

For $30 it's not a bank breaker, and is an acceptable cost, but don't expect anymore than 4-6 hours worth out of the game. Hopefully a sequel offers more bang for the buck.

Datura suffers from some obvious mechanical issues but remains a very interesting and even unique title. It's short, a little too abstract in some ways, and a tad slow at times, but the quest itself, while not exactly memorable, is always intriguing and even oddly relaxing.

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast offers a ton of content for you to wade through, there's no doubt about it. But it lacks the nostalgia and authenticity to really make you enjoy the experience.

Once you've got the controls down, you'll find an enjoyable action game out of Lair. For the most part, the game is visually appealing and striking in most cases, but it's not without its faults.

For $30 it's not a bank breaker, and is an acceptable cost, but don't expect anymore than 4-6 hours worth out of the game. Hopefully a sequel offers more bang for the buck.

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

The only big problem is that our sense of accomplishment is greatly diminished due to a lack of a challenge. It's really just too easy, even for the younger crowd.

Alteric probably is going to fall by the wayside when it’s all said and done. Which is a bit unfortunate. It has potential and if you give it a chance it’s a good way to kill a few hours with a challenging platformer if you’re into that kind of thing. There are issues with the controls and some of the level design could use improvement. But if you’re willing to work through all that you’ll find a nice little challenging game that is surprisingly fun. Even if it can be fairly frustrating at times.

The sound effects for the cars are fine, and you can actually hear the effect that the different exhaust and exhaust upgrades have on each car. Whine about Electronic Arts all you want--at least they have the resources to put good soundtracks in their games.

Castaway Paradise has a lot of potential to be a fun game. It’s relaxing and satisfying in the same way that some good mobile games and Animal Crossing are. The cycle of completing tasks, rebuilding, and customizing works pretty good. It’s not as in depth as other games of this genre however. And despite all the charm it eventually falls a bit short of being really good.

Anyone nostalgic for the glory days of the Bond film franchise will love the inclusion of a classic film as well as the return of Sean Connery. However, it doesn’t try anything new, multi-player stinks, it’s too linear, and it’s too easy, so it’s not worth more than a rental.

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 is a fun game; it's just that it doesn't offer much in terms of value. It looks nice, for the most part, it controls well, and soundtrack is fantastic...but at the end of the day it needs to pack a bigger punch...or should I say kick.

Good for what it is: a repetitive arcade-inspired beat-'em-up based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series.

The best poker video game available for home consoles. Sure, it'd be nice if the presentation were flashier, and if the game offered more configuration options, but the poker itself is damn near perfect. That's what matters most.

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.

Doesn’t quite live up to expectations. The separate platforming and music elements provide us with a solid foundation, but neither element receives the benefit of extra attention from the developers.

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.

More of a disappointment, than it is a bad game. It’s entertaining, but there was so much to work with here that the end result is unfulfilling.

There just isn't quite enough here to warrant a full-price purchase in my eyes. You've got the 15 songs and a Battle Mode but that's about it.

Moon Diver is at its best when playing with others, and all the positives really shine: the great effects and animations, the constant hack 'n slash adrenaline rush, and that addictive "let's-keep-going" element. But even then, things get way too repetitive, there isn't a ton of inspiration in regards to basic enemy design, and the overall repetitiveness of the entire production becomes painfully obvious.

Beatmania US just isn't the game it should be, bottom line.

As a complete package, The Con is an enjoyable, modern-day rendition of the classic Punch-Out. Admittedly, the combat is repetitive and the entire concept of "the con" doesn't really work.

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is still a decent game but it’s a definite step backwards from the original.

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 wish the presentation were more exciting, particularly the graphics, which could possibly put poker newbies to sleep before the first hand is over, but the game makes up for that shortcoming (somewhat) thanks to its deep selection of poker variants and tournaments.

I enjoyed Through the Woods even though I’m sure there are quite a few people who won’t. This short adventure is driven by a neat narrative and great atmosphere even if the delivery isn’t always perfect and the graphics could use improvement. But the inclusion of Norse lore and interesting creatures made for a game that is very unique in its own right.

It is a good story and is touching. It’s just not going to be for everyone as a game.

The smoothness, animation fluidity, accessibility, setup, and fun factor are all more than acceptable and despite those ridiculously long load times, we still wanted to play. And that, as far as we’re concerned, is a good sign.

The frame rate isn’t great all the time but it’s mostly functional and the comically dark atmosphere seems to be more attractive. Perhaps it just feels less drab and dreary. At any rate, it’s worth trying if you’ve always loved Bomberman.

This lets you invent and create with a variety of intriguing tunes, and the Move compatibility makes it feel that much more involving and dynamic. It just lacks some punch as there is no real competition, and the production feels less robust than past entries in this well-received and popular series.

It's a good addition to the Vita's lineup of Japanese RPGs for a niche and patient audience.

It's a reasonable amount of fun at a budget price, but as Martin Brody might say, "I think we're gonna need a better game."

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.

This may indeed be the best FPS game on the PSP, but compared to the vast multitude of other FPSes available for the PlayStation 2 and other consoles, it's merely passable.

The good: it’ll take about 40 hours to beat, the character design is great, and RPG veterans will feel right at home with the gameplay. The bad: the dialog localization is poor, there’s a fair amount of backtracking, and the game does nothing new. The good does outweigh the bad, however.

One of the better games geared toward the younger audience. It's easy to get a hang of the controls even though the tilt seems useless, and the open world - while depressingly very empty - still lets you drive just about anywhere you wish, letting you participate in any event at any time.

Despite the mechanical and control issues, the apparent cheapness of some of the many deaths, and a few poor decisions, the game does have at least some appeal.

It’s too bad that the production isn’t more refined but for what it is, it’s a minor achievement.

Despite being a so-called "budget" game, Scaler's production values are more in line with full-priced software. The graphics are sharp, the polygon count is high, the sight distance is far, the bosses are large, and there's a goodly amount of animation to see (not just in the characters, but in the environment as well).

It would be a better buy at half the price but at $9.99, it’s worth it if you’re a Texas Hold ‘Em fan.

If you want a break from the hectic and edge-of-your-seat intensity found in the blockbusters, give your brain a chance to churn.

An artistic, entertaining game that doesn't quite reach a necessary level of accomplishment and refinement. The adventure feels a little too repetitive and the extra moves don't necessarily add depth, as they feel more cosmetic than anything else. The control and camera can be iffy and even frustrating, and you may feel overmatched. But I urge those who enjoy the art style and presentation seen in available media to give it a try.

It’s probably worth the purchase if you’ve got a kid who happens to be a big baseball fan, and that means that 2K and Konami hit their goal. …kind of.

Sniper Elite III is a step in the right direction. We've still got a ways to go but the improvements here are obvious and appreciated, and greatly enhances the fun factor and general quality.

I'm disappointed in its lack of cohesiveness in terms of story, its lack of stability and solidarity in terms of technical stuff, and the missed opportunities. At the same time, I never seem to tire of looting the most difficult-to-approach treasure caches, and Garrett is a suitably entertaining character.

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.

If this open-ended style works for you, than you ought to have plenty of fun, especially if you can’t make it out to the slopes yourself. The controls aren’t always spot-on, the technicals are merely average, sometimes it can be tough to gather enough speed (not sure what that’s about), and locating those tokens can get immensely annoying.

Killing zeds is a fun way to get in my daily exercise requirements but, more than that, the co-op mode can truly be a blast. If you’re looking for something you don’t have to commit to in order to enjoy yourself for a few minutes, Incursion will do the trick.

It’s simple, fast, brutal and great fun in short bursts, without any of the baggage that comes from other games in the genre. Anyone with $3 in their pocket looking for a challenging platform game in the vein of Super Meat Boy would be remiss in not checking this out.

But in the end, if you’ve ever played a strat/RPG, you won’t be surprised by what you find in Eternal Poison.

It’s not going to knock your socks off with its narrative, and it doesn’t have terribly deep gameplay, but it’s a great way to spend an afternoon with your kid, and the kind of game you can let them play without worrying about the content.

A must-have for any old-school wrestling fan. However, if you’re a more recent fan of the WWE, or you’re just a casual fan, there isn’t enough depth to the game, nor is the gameplay solid enough to warrant a purchase.

Bubsy: Paws on Fire! is a game that you may actually find enjoyment out of. Behind its childlike design and mobile-friendly layout is a genuinely challenging platformer. Gameplay may feel stale in a mere hour or two and the death screens may grate your ears every now and then, but it at least provides a challenge and fairly solid gameplay. Am I saying I enjoyed this game? Not really, but I certainly enjoyed it more than I expected I would from such an infamous franchise. It also proved, to me, that the developers are really trying to bring Bubsy back and improve upon him.

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.

Rainbow Skies is very much a mixed bag. A delightful mixed bag but a mixed bag nonetheless. It falls short on some things but overall is still a pretty good game.

A decent puzzler that is humorous, relatively well written and presented, and plenty challenging. The spiking difficulty due to puzzles that simply seem bizarre and obscure can stop you in your tracks but hey, isn't that a common trait of the genre?

Everything still feels too loose; the platforming and vehicle use is entertaining but still a little unstable, the idea of striking with the right analog stick is silly, the sound effects and voice acting don’t always deliver, and the storyline isn’t quite as engaging as we would’ve hoped.

Bolt is a good action/platformer that should be a solid choice for fans of the film. The voice acting, fast-paced gameplay, and atmosphere are most reminiscent of Bolt’s big-screen adventure, and you’re not likely to get bored.

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.

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.

Aside from the $50 price tag, which we think may be too high, it's a straightforward and lighthearted game that the little ones should enjoy quite a bit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Unless you’re a completist who simply has to own everything Star Wars, I cannot recommend Revenge of the Sith for a full purchase. The game can be completed in about 4 -5 hours, and replaying it really has little value.

Do Not Fall can be frustrating, especially during later levels, and I did have a few small issues with the somewhat floaty control. Despite the nice additions, it also feels repetitive, which may be unavoidable. However, there’s lots to like.

A must for fans of the anime and could very well appeal to any Vita player looking for an Eastern styled action RPG. It's not trying to be much more than a “beat the level, the boss, then advance” game but then that's probably what its fans are looking for.

NASCAR 07 is, quite simply, another NASCAR game. There isn't anything too special about it or anything that makes it stand out, but then again, there also isn't anything to really get in a twist over.

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.

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 PS2 Heroes is by far the worst looking of the three. Generally there isn't much of a change in a game's visuals if it's designed for all three consoles, but the underpowered Playstation 2 really takes a beating this time around.

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."

Not only were some of the enemies too difficult to bring down with the basic machine gun, but there were also far too many of them. Dozens of enemies can easily thwart your efforts and make you feel decidedly overmatched, although on the other hand, the influx of constant enemies did coerce you into using the Entrencher and some of your other nifty goodies.

The whole experience is far too short, the gameplay’s underwhelming, and other than the rendered scenes, the graphics seldom look better than a Dreamcast game.

This game is rough to look at sometimes but not horrible. And it never took away from the game being entertaining. Unfortunately there isn’t much in the way of replay value and it’s very short.