Operation Darkness isn't a bad game at all. It has its issues, but they don't ruin the experience — with the possible exception of the absolutely shameful graphics. The problem is that it doesn't really rise about mediocre.

It looks quite nice, and a lot of the basic features work exceptionally well. Unfortunately, once you start getting into the gameplay, you can't help but feel that something is missing. If the game had a more developed campaign mode or a wider variety to its basic design, it could have been a smash hit. As it stands now, however, it feels empty and basic.

Even as an open-world RPG, Dead Island had a great deal more to offer on the drawing board than it delivered in the final game. The game masquerades as a unique marriage of several genres and gameplay types. Rather, it's a box of dusty old spare parts tacked together into an experience unsatisfying on every level.

Lacks the muscular gameplay promised by its street-tough premise.

Don't get me wrong. Virtua Tennis 2009 isn't bad, but it isn't stellar either.

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour isn't a bad game; there's just not enough of it.

If you were hoping to get a decent GTA clone out of C.O.P., prepare to be disappointed. It's a pretty big letdown from the action-packed trailer that was shown at last year's E3, and it certainly doesn't deserve a second glance from most DS owners.

Dusty Revenge has lots of potential and looks very eye-catching. The combat system is satisfying enough despite some cheap enemy tactics, and the boss fights are quite good.

Games generally work when the player is either presented with goals to reach or a world to explore, but Skater XL doesn't provide enough of either to be a fulfilling experience.

An uncreative yet valiant attempt at a lighthearted arena battler, if one with a somewhat tiresome presentation.

The graphics and sounds are too simplistic, and the lack of a casino atmosphere is readily apparent. The only real saving grace of this title is the multiplayer mode, but even that is lacking in that you can't play roulette or other games of pure chance with your friends.

Submerged tries to go for the same vibe as Journey but falls short.

Universe at War: Earth Assault is a fantastic game marred by technical issues aplenty.

The combat system is extremely unintuitive and, like the rest of the game, sacrifices most of the actual gameplay for cinematic moments.

With frustrating, glitchy gameplay, lackluster and boring graphics, and perhaps the least likable cast in video game history, it's difficult to recommend Kane & Lynch over the many similar, but better titles currently on the market. Even a unique multiplayer mode does little to salvage the title, and the lack of online co-op shoots its biggest feature in the foot.

In the end, Road 96: Mile 0 doesn't quite pull together everything to create something that reaches the heights of the original title. The first-person exploration portions are flawed but fine, while the auto-runner sequences can be unfair but ultimately get a pass thanks to a skip feature. It is the uneven tone, characters, and story that sink the game, as it plays more to caricature and wild logic leaps rather than the original's more thought-out approach. The low asking price might be tempting for those looking for more from the world of Road 96, but ultimately, we were probably better off waiting for Digixart to create a brand-new project in a brand-new world.

WALL-E for the PS2 is not a great adaptation of the movie. There are some wonky control issues, the graphics aren't very good on the aging console, and the gameplay is very repetitive.

If you’re looking for a lot of polish here, you’re not going to find it. If you like space sims, and "Star Wars Galaxies" isn’t doing it for you, it’s worth at least downloading the free client and checking it out.

The Godfather II is an offer that you probably should refuse.

Let's Go Tower Defense Play! will offer some good times for a group of tower defense fanatics, but anyone thinking about going solo should save his money, as managing the other characters in the single-player mode feels like trying to herd dead cats.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds is a serviceable beat-'em-up, which is always welcome. However, it bears the cruel irony of being far more fun in single-player than multiplayer — a backward design for its chosen genre.

An appealing idea for a game is present in Rengoku, and Hudson could create something powerfully addictive and fun if they just revised some basic aspects of the game design and moved it to a system powerful enough to do Suemi’s designs justice.

I so want to love Advent Rising, I honestly do. It's good, stable science-fiction with a heavy supernatural sub-plot and enough action to make Han Solo's trigger finger hurt for days. Unfortunately, all of that wonderful stuff is damaged by a hare-brained control scheme that simply doesn't work well enough when it has to.

It looks and feels somewhat like a game in the series, but in the end is miles away from touching the real Serious Sam games.

The Last Agent is right up there with Fallen Angel as the best of the DLC packs available for Dead Rising 3.

No matter how starved you are for some serious RPG action on a system ruled by mini-game compilations, you can do better than this.

It’s actually not a bad introduction to strategy games, and it may keep those starving for some tactics busy for a few hours. But the enemy AI, clunky controls and camera, and lack of real variety in the game make it worth not one penny more than the price tag.

Metal Max Xeno Reborn feels like a wasted effort. There is a lot of potential that Reborn brings to the surface, but ultimately, it's not the game that it needs to be. If you're a Metal Max fan hoping for an improvement over Xeno classic, then you'll technically get what you're looking for, but it's still not as good as earlier games in the franchise. If the idea really appeals to you, then you'll get some fun out of it, but otherwise, it's just tough to justify a purchase.

In a few months, Necronator: Dead Wrong could be a solid addition to the Slay the Spire-inspired card builder roguelike genre. As it stands now, it doesn't have the polish or content to stand out. The visuals are nice, the humor is amusing, and there's a lot of potential here, but the game is still obviously in production. Considering the glut of similar games on the market, Necronator isn't worth picking up until it has all of its playable characters. I'd like to be more positive about it, but I can only judge the game as it is, not as it will be. In a few months, I hope that most of my complaints will be addressed, but until then, I'd recommend finding a more complete game to play.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine's story line is repetitive and unappealing - to the point that the game somehow manages to be both extremely short and entirely too long at the same time.

In the end, Deadbeat Heroes is undone by its own mechanics. The faster fighting is hindered by a lack of targets to aim for, while the lack of attack variety means that the excitement of combat can quickly be diminished. It is the grading system, however, that hinders any enjoyment that can be eked out of the game, as forced replayability just isn't fun. It's good to see a developer do something different in the genre, but gamers have better options before giving this title a spin.

Blue Estate is surprising in both good and bad ways. On the one hand, it delivers some good action with a surprising amount of cinematic flair. It also shows that the lack of an actual light gun can work quite well. On the other hand, the rather short game can feel too long, and the humor fails at being funny. If you can live with those shortcomings, the game is worth checking out for light gun fans who are jonesing for a new experience.

Suikoden Tierkreis manages to feel like a Suikoden game on a handheld, and it deserves respect for that. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like a good Suikoden game.

In the end, Table Top Racing is a fine port.

Real Boxing is decent if you don't mind predictable boxing, a shallow creation system, inconsistent controls and an abandoned online community.

Ultimately, Voltron: Defender of the Universe is nothing but wasted potential.

Ultimately, Voltron: Defender of the Universe is nothing but wasted potential.

Too Human has been in production in various forms for 10 years, but somehow, it still feels like an unfinished game. The plot is half-baked, the gameplay is simplistic, the replay value is hurt by the lack of variety, and glitches are commonplace. While the very basic framework of a fun game is there, it's weakened by all the flaws.

If you can deal with the constant grind that comes from the raids and randomness of each playthrough, Toy Odyssey: The Lost and Found can be good. Despite a number of flaws, the overall gameplay is entertaining, and the story is interesting once you get enough pieces together. It isn't flawless in its many technical areas, but the job it ultimately does is more than adequate. That grind still hurts, and those looking for more structure and a better sense of progression in their titles would be better served elsewhere.

All in all, SpongeBob Atlantis Squarepantis is a decent enough kids' title on the DS, with platforming elements that work well, but it hardly does anything to push the genre forward.

Both the campaign and the multiplayer lack the flourishes that make some of the older entries memorable, but the core gameplay still holds up enough to remain enjoyable for newcomers and more casual players of the series. You have to treat the game as a local multiplayer title instead of an online one and hope you don't get hit with controller issues. Considering both the price point and the fact that other indie titles have already run with this concept to a much better execution, however, your best bet is to check out the game once it goes on sale or has a good price drop.

Were Spyborgs an actual cartoon, I would probably have been a little more merciful; it produces a licensed game feel, complete with the assumption that players could look up the story basics if they didn't know them. Unfortunately, without actual source material to benefit from, it has an uncomfortably messy plot without enough explanation.

It's hard to know if de Blob 2 was designed with a younger audience in mind, but that's really the only reasonable explanation for a game so simple, easy, short and boring.

In spite of a beautiful HD update, Tekken 6 on the PS3 just doesn't hold up as well.

I'd urge you to pick it up for a different platform if you have the means to do so. It's a very competent pinball title on every other system, but something has fallen apart in its transition to the 3DS. If you can get past these flaws, you'll probably have a good time with it, but I can't, knowing that this content exists in a better form elsewhere.

The game has its fair share of flaws, a lot of which I've pointed out in this review, but it's still fun to sit down and waste a few hours with it, and that's exactly what I got out of it.

I can only recommend Damnation to anyone who has a very particular special interest in alternative history, especially concerned with the American Old West. Even then, rent it first.

Aside from minor changes, everything else is pretty much in the same state that it was last year, except you can now pay the next-gen premium price for it. NHL 22 is still the best hockey game you can buy (mostly due to the lack of other options), but I'd strongly advise against it if you have played any other NHL title in the past few years. The series has been stagnating, and NHL 22 doesn't indicate any will to make meaningful changes, which is a shame because this would've been the perfect cut-off point to do something new and interesting.

There is simply no reason why buttons cannot be remapped or menus cannot be fully traversable with a mouse click. Controls should be just as tight and responsive as they are on a console pad.

Had more thought been put into making the multiplayer options more feasible, the interface more intuitive, and the graphics clearer, then it could’ve been a really nice first RPG for the PSP. Unfortunately, the entire game gives the impression of having been hastily constructed along the most basic lines of the hack n’ slash formula in order to be ready to go for the system launch.

In the end, E.T. Armies is nothing really special. The gunplay is fine so long as you're content with using a limited amount of weaponry against some brainless AI.

When compared to any other strategy game on the market, Battleship has nothing distinctive to offer. The attempt to add in some action with the duel mode is a neat, but ultimately flawed, idea. The fact that it borrows so heavily from Advance Wars doesn't help, forcing players to continually compare it to better titles. If you're absolutely dying for Advance Wars on the Wii, there aren't really better options, but that is about the game's only selling point. For everyone else, it will be a bland and forgettable adventure.

If you're a big fan of minigame collections, it's a decent title to pick up after the price drops.

A mediocre game, through and through.

I enjoyed my time with Predator: Hunting Grounds. It's the first asynchronous multiplayer title in a while that has appealed to me, and it has already shown that it has its potential for fun. Nonetheless, it's a hard sell for a price of $40. It has significant balancing issues, an unstable frame rate on PS4, and it doesn't have a lot of content. It feels like it could've used some more refinement and a few extra maps and modes to show its full potential. I'm sure there will be plenty of content updates and patches in the future, but unless you absolutely can't wait to buy Predator: Hunting Grounds, I'd recommend staying clear and observing from a distance before jumping in.

Mediocre in every sense of the word.

If you have friends who love the role-playing/action sub-genre and have already played through the other games of this type, give this one a try, as there is some genuine fun to be had. If you're a solo player who's just looking for a few creatures to slash, feel free to skip this one.

Moero Chronicle has moments of being a decent dungeon crawler for those new to the genre. The basic mechanics are done well, and the idea of collecting monster girls as party members makes gameplay more interesting. However, the act of taming the girls is difficult enough that your interest will fade even if the humor is appealing. Until some of the issues get fixed, it's difficult to recommend this title.

Ignoring all else in favor of the pool games themselves, Pocket Pool is a fun, pick-up-and-play pool title with more features and better controls than you'd expect, accessible to both pool fans and casual gamers alike.

There is potential with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, but for every positive thing the game does, there's at least one big negative to counteract it. The variety of aircraft you can pilot is more varied than before, but you'll need to brush up on the various controls to get the most out of each craft. The ability to take photos while flying and on the ground is neat, but be prepared to only be wowed in certain areas. Those hoping for some detailed shots in more populated areas on foot will be sorely disappointed (or horrified). The inclusion of actual people would've been nice if they didn't look so last generation, and while the game has an abundance of activities and a full-fledged career mode, it would have been nice if the experience had faster loading times and was more stable overall. If this follows the trajectory of the previous game, then what you'll get in time is a flight sim that will cater to the hardcore but still be accessible enough for the casual player. Unless you're dedicated enough to want to get in right now with the latest and greatest or need more variety and objectives in a campaign, you might want to stick with the 2020 edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator for a little while longer to get your casual flight fix.

Sadly, reaching the end of Dogurai feels less like the rewarding success of a job well done and more like getting home from a long day at work. Sure, you're home now, but it would've been nicer to spend your day at home or feeling productive. The game's eight short levels can be completed in less than five hours if you search for the unrewarding secrets. This is with some padding, as one of the levels is reused and another has you fighting all of the bosses that you have fought up to that point. While the concept and some aspects of the gameplay are interesting, the game feels like a no-frills nostalgia trip for someone with little time to spare. While this could be a mindless way to pass the time, Dogurai largely falls short in engaging the player in a meaningful way.

As it stands, there isn't enough here to warrant a purchase unless you're really hankering for some video game soccer.

In the end, Dollar Dash is amusing but only in small bursts.

Miami Vice has drugs, violence, hacking, and cussing, but in the end, it feels like the game is trying to hard to be, well, hard. It is not particularly bad, though definitely not very good.

If you have a regular crew to play with and you can get the game at a discount, Sea of Thieves offers some memorable experiences. If you're flying solo or thinking about paying full price, the rough edges should be enough to make you reconsider boarding this particular boat.

Hearthfire is an add-on that will be most useful to the first-time Skyrim player. If you're just starting to explore the world now, you're sure to find value in Hearthfire. For everyone else, it's a cosmetic addition that will have little impact on your adventure.

In the end, NHL 15 feels like the skeleton of a better hockey game.

Perhaps the biggest problem with The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is that it doesn't stray much from the previous game's formula, and when it does, it actively detracts from the game.

Your impression of Thief of Thieves will depend greatly on how much you enjoy the story. It isn't exactly a story full of twists and surprises, but the ride is captivating enough to keep you hooked until the end. A great look and good voice acting are nice, but it's the stealth mechanics that hurt the title because it does more things wrong in this area than right. If you want to take a chance on Thief of Thieves, wait for a sale. Otherwise, you can probably pass on it and hope a possible sequel will handle things better.

It's not a title that I'd rush out to buy or rent, but if you come across it at your local store and you've got a bit of cash burning a hole in your wallet, you could do worse than this

Breakout: Recharged features a standard brick-breaking concept that still resonates today, and the addition of power-ups is a nice touch. However, those changes only bring it on par with what others did in the space decades ago, and when compared to a few of the other brick-breaking games on the Switch alone, this feels rather bare-bones. You can give it a shot if the name Breakout strikes a chord, but don't be surprised if it doesn't draw you in like the other modern brick-breaking games.

Buy the game for the controller, but be prepared to trade it in that same day since that's all it will take for you to grow tired of it.

James Cameron may be a cinematic mastermind, but it's clear that the team who created Avatar: The Game doesn't share his creative genius.

Simply isn't recommended for experienced poker players. With its shoddy A.I., limited game styles, and strangely vacuous multiplayer mode, most versed card players will find the offering well below both their expectations and skill level.

The game looks fine, and the idea of mixing some of these genres together sounds good on paper. The execution, however, is flawed, with some of the genre combinations just not working well with one another. It might be fine for older players, but with a look and premise that seems catered to younger players, the final result ends up being more frustrating than fun. It isn't terrible, but players can do better than this for the time being.

If you're a big supporter of the PlayStation Mobile platform, then UFO Dad isn't a bad puzzle game.

Skeleton Crew is a game with a neat concept that isn't executed well. It's a novel idea to kick things all over the place as both a means of solving puzzles and attacking enemies; it ensures that you can still get out of a pickle even if you select someone you end up disliking. Throw in the multiplayer aspect, and it feels like something you'll want to play when company's over or if you can ensure someone you know is online and willing to play. That said, the actual kicking mechanics are slow, and the various bugs and balance issues mean that there's a good chance you'll need to play through some levels a few times through no fault of your own. Despite being out for this long, Skeleton Crew still needs more polish before you'll want to give it a chance.

Hybrid does some interesting things with gameplay, but it is ultimately tripped up by poor matchmaking, periodic lag and an unbalanced meta game. Genre fans will enjoy the change of pace, but most players should probably look for greener pastures.

If you have either a PS3 or Xbox 360, stick with those consoles for a more enjoyable Rango experience. If you only have a Wii, though, rent this game and put the rest of the money toward something more substantial.

Like Spiders Studio's previous works, The Technomancer will find an audience among those who don't mind sampling from the ambitious French house, but others may want to play other available action RPGs before trying this title..

Sure, it tends to wear its influences so prominently on its sleeve that it bleeds over into the derivative (Unreal 2, Tron 2.0, Deus Ex, Star Wars, etc.), but there did seem to be a certain passion that went into the code somewhere along the line.

With gameplay stuck in a mid-90's fad that was in itself considered arcane by any gamer's standards at the height of its popularity, Legacy of the Spirits troubles me with its thrown-together, "let's take advantage of a passing craze before it completely dies" feel.

In the end, Lights, Camera, Party! has a few good ideas wrapped up in bad execution.

Dragoneer's Aria played up too greatly on its strengths and didn't try to fix its flaws.

In the end, Sleep Tight means well but is very limited in scope. The core mechanics are fine, and the different upgrade trees are good, but the slow difficulty ramping can make it feel like a grind in a short amount of time. The lack of any modes hurts significantly, as does the lack of variety in locations and your arsenal. Unless you want something simple in your tower defense or twin-stick shooting game, it's easy to pass on Sleep Tight in favor of other titles.

If you can manage to get past the unwieldy controls, the core gameplay is pretty identical to other Cake Mania titles, and it definitely holds that addictive quality that makes these games far more entertaining than they originally seem.

Dark Quest II isn't half-bad. The upgrade system is easy to understand, the game does a pretty good job of explaining all of the odds to you, and it wastes no time in presenting you with interesting scenarios. The difficulty is slightly challenging, but its short overall length and threadbare story means that experienced genre players will scoff at it. If you're just starting out, Dark Quest II works as a quick throwaway game; it's something to consider if you can find it at a good sale before you settle on another title with some more depth.

The pace and style are a little slower than I’d like, the dialogue is on the corny side, and there were, for me at least, a number of performance issues.

In the end, In My Shadow just isn't very compelling. The lack of control when jumping is a bad combination for both the finicky object placement mechanics and the precision needed to make those important leaps. Meanwhile, the story lacks focus, which makes the ending even more unsatisfying. The game may be fine for those looking for a platforming challenge, but everyone else won't miss much by skipping this one.

Front Mission Evolved has some interesting ideas, but none of them are polished.

Overall, I found Up for the Wii to be an average movie tie-in game that doesn't do much to impress.

Games like The Dark Spire prove just how subjective game reviews are; while it is near perfection in its chosen genre, the average gamer would trade in this game or simply throw it away after spending less than an hour with it.

BDSM: Big Drunk Satanic Massacre is a decent experience. The shooting is acceptable if you're fine with uninspired weaponry and a lack of combat strategy. The game length is good enough that the campaign doesn't become a chore, and the presence of multiple endings gives you a reason to replay the game. However, there are simply better, more engaging twin-stick shooters on the platform. This is a decent game to play for a day or two if you can get it on sale — and if you've already played through those other shooters.

In the end, Asphalt 3D falls below gamers' expected standards. As far as technical aspects go, the controls are fine, while the sound and graphics have some issues. The gameplay is solid enough, but there are very questionable mechanics in play that either do nothing to the experience or ruin a few good moments. Multiplayer is limited by closing off every other mode but one for play, but at least the game makes good use of the StreetPass feature. For racing fans who have become early adopters of the 3DS handheld, stick with Ridge Racer 3D for your racing fix. If you've already grown tired of that game, then try renting this one to see if you can overcome the flaws and squeeze some enjoyment from the title.

It's an unpleasant surprise that Tork turned out so utterly "blah."

It is definitely recommended as a rental for younger fans, but if you or someone you know has problems with the tiny characters, it would be best to go for the Wii or PS2 versions instead, if those options are available to you.

As a game that manages to encapsulate the feeling of being Superman, Superman Returns does an excellent job.

The Godfather II is an offer that you probably should refuse.