Where NBA Live offends most is sadly in its gameplay. A reviewer could literally fill an entire page of notes with criticisms of this nature.

Even those desperate for a fix of "Elite"-style freelancing will end up disappointed and unsatisfied.

It's like a melted snowman -- something that could've been good, but instead turned out to be a goopy pile of mush.

If the controls were tighter and the targeting system sharpened up, Mega Man X7 could have been a killer update. As-is, the game is a lethargic has-been.

There are innumerable superior first-person shooters and a good number of top-quality mission-based combat games - AquaNox 2: Revelation combines elements of both, but it's really not a compelling mixture.

Most egregiously, this game costs $60. That’s about $50 too much. A better choice? Go crank Goldfinger’s “Superman,” fire up your old PlayStation or Dreamcast, dig up a copy of the original game, and relive the glory days the right way.

A rather uninspired tome, which is bogged down by obscure puzzles, slow story development, and even slower and unvaried gameplay.

Looks and plays almost exactly like the new addition to the High Heat series of a year ago.

While it did have its good qualities, the lack of any real replay value makes Hitman one of those games that just isn't quite worth the price tag.

It's a rap-flavored karaoke program with a minor gameplay element and nowhere near enough songs. It's a missed opportunity... and that's whack, yo.

A somewhat competent, but ultimately flawed game that boasts interesting ideas, yet fails to master any of them.

Despite its kiddy appearance and theme, it's far too frustrating and unhelpful to recommend for a youngster. Or anyone that hasn't exhausted the many better options, for that matter.

What's disappointing is that Lord of the Rings is not really that great at getting you into the action.

Severely limp-wristed, Bloody Roar 4 gets smacked senseless by its immediate peers. It's a crying shame, as fans of the product line might even take offense. Little care or concern was invested in the game, and it shows.

While the size of the game and the sheer inventiveness of the many levels are admirable, such problems with core elements of the engine make play unfulfilling.

[It's] like my relationship with broccoli. Playing it was definitely not love at first fight, but after a while, you warm up to it...an in-depth wargaming experience.

It would have been much easier to justify a purchase if Battle for Naboo was released closer to a budget price.

Since the game is rooted so strictly in reality, you'll see no special moves and very few cool combos. What is here is overly difficult to control for how simple it is.

Its control system is weak, the gameplay mechanics are basic and repetitive and The Rock is woefully underused.

The limited AI and by-the-numbers level design completely backfire. And while quick kills form combos that pay off in cash, little is done with the system. Even the multiplayer feels tacked on.

Animal creation, plot, and fast-paced multiplayer and skirmish options all lend a certain amount of charm to the proceedings, although play is much more boring than you'd expect in a game where you can breed an unholy attack force of elephants with scorpion stingers and pincers.

Suffers from a distinct lack of character. Nothing here really draws the player in, and as a result, the whole experience feels more like an exercise than the entertaining diversion a game should be.

The levels don't display anything like the creativity of past Time Crisis games, and although shooting up the place with automatic weapons is fun, it won't keep you coming back for more.

After you see through its repetitive gameplay, gimmicky execution scenes, and tiresome, self-consciously obscene dialogue, there isn't much left. Manhunt's gameplay isn't deep or varied enough to match up to the alternatives on any platform.

If you're a big fan of The Weakest Link and have posters of Anne Robinson on your wall, then I guess it's fair to say you should seek psychiatric help – er, sorry I meant you should definitely consider buying The Weakest Link.

This is the wartime equivalent of a slow year's "Madden" update, with only the most basic changes and additions to justify a purchase. And with only the most bare bone offline multiplayer offering, even a bad edition of "Madden" has more to offer.

Despite all these problems, the response and assistance available from Game Masters is plentiful and a refreshing change for an MMORPG.

Only the diehards will appreciate the detail and complexity, while the rest of us only see the flaws.