Its enduring strength...is its simplicity. [Nov 2009, p.84]

Great aesthetics and monster designs. [Feb 2010, p.85]

The enemies are crass, the design is mean, the challenge is unforgiving, and the reward limited. You've been warned. [Mar 2010, p.82]

For all the unique thrills and spectacle the series still delivers, Forgotten Sands never quite reaches the dizzying heights you want it to. [July 2010, p.78]

Watching friends take a club in the teeth while you rack up a nine-kill-combo is immensely satisfying. [Feb 2010, p.85]

You're in for a snooze if you demand a hurried pace and copious eye candy, but dice-rolling dungeon nuts will happily while away a dozen hours over the course of Vandal Hearts' satisfying ride. [Jan 2010, p.69]

It's all mildly entertaining but utterly disposable. [Apr 2010, p.86]

Its production values are unquestionably budget, but the game's ambitious level of corny self-awareness makes it a stupidly affordable, must-have cult title for the adventurous set.

Fret Nice contains one thoroughly enjoyable musical world. Rock on. [Mar 2010, p.84]

Diverse online multiplayer battles are exciting and accessible. [Apr 2010, p.80]

As long as you don't mind that manual targeting is a twitchy mess, and that Joanna slides around like she's on skates, 10 bucks buys you at least as many enjoyable hours stealth-killing thugs and perforating your pals. [Jun 2010, p.81]

Strong enough to be a no-brainer for ardent fans, but other music-game junkies may find this $60 pill very hard to swallow, especially with Rock Band 3 lingering on the horizon. [July 2010, p.73]

Smart Bomb doesn't try to bite off more than it can chew. [July 2010, p.77]

Multiplayer makes up for a lot. [Sept 2010, p.84]

Definitely worth at least a rental, Shattered Dimensions has its charms: quality writing and voice-acting, inventive set pieces, and, yup, four different Spider-Men.

But unless you are a FIFA completist who desperately wants to play as goalie, the minor on-field tweaks in FIFA 11 don't significantly impact what was already a complete, broad, and compelling game. [Nov 2010, p.76]

As difficult as it is for a self-proclaimed story-aholic to admit, the flow of combat and epic exploration is enough to make the Gothic series' console debut an interesting experience, despite the mind-boggling story design.

It's still not perfect, but it's a great step in the right direction. [Holiday 2010, p.87]

The world won't be able to resist comparing Kinect Sports to Nintendo's Wii Sports gold standard, and the newcomer doesn't disappoint. Bowling and boxing are the two overlapping sports, and in the Kinect edition they're just as responsive and immediately accessible as you'd expect after four years of playing the Wii-mote version.

Active 2 delivers a solid workout to anyone content with basic exercises. [Holiday 2010, p.59]

Nail'd may lack the polish of our favorite off-road racer, Pure, but thankfully, its thrills still trump its flaws. Well, most of the time.

It's not for everyone, but with patience, Uprising can become an incredible experience, with plenty of giant bosses and insane, over-the-top action set-pieces. [Jan 2011, p.74]

But as long as you can withstand a bit of busywork here and there for the sake of an endearing comrade and a satisfying conclusion to his 15-hour adventure, you'll easily forgive Majin its foibles.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

"Quotation Forthcoming"

"Quotation Forthcoming"

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Throw in a few surprise touches--like a flooded compartment and a spacewalk on the ship's hull--and Descent manages to provide the suspense that its predecessors didn't. [Feb 2011, p.79]

If only Swarm played to its quirky strengths instead of working against them, its maddening obstacles would be much more enjoyable. [April 2011, p.80]

DB2's 2D-platforming segments evoke memories of Shadow Complex and Limbo at times, but unlike those(much cheaper)classics, this game can be too frustrating for its own good. [April 2011, p.83]

A good, solid, and fun title that is great for blowing off steam and packs some multiplayer fun. [Dec 2002, p.103]

A solid if shallow BMX racer that actually uses a story as an impetus for pulling off tricks. [Jan 2003, p.70]

Hardcore realism and all kinds of cool real-world weapons and vehicles. [Holiday 2005, p.83]

There's no end to the action in Alter Echo, and the game succeeds in its deep fighting system... Unfortunately, the game stumbles with PS2-style graphics as well as repetitive and linear play. [Nov 2003, p.102]

Controlling Harry is easy enough - however, the in-game camera can be a bit rough. [Feb 2003, p.75]

Definitely worth trying, and legitimately funny in places. [Dec 2003, p.154]

Serves up a piping hot platter of punishment, free of the FPS cliche's that mire other titles. [Dec 2005, p.115]

The game plays well, handles easily, and provides plenty of slapstick humor. It's just too bad that its flaws restrict it to a merely enjoyable distraction. [Jan 2004, p.84]

Though the inclusion of sometimes mind-numbing "climb the tower" segments in Story Mode, as well as occasional enemy AI that ranges from stupid to cheap, keep it from mass-scale beat-'em-up greatness, Samurai Warriors satisfies an appetite for destruction in a way that few other games can. [Aug 2004, p.80]

The controls are not as tight as you want when your virtual life is on the line. [Jan 2006, p.64]

Surprisingly challenging in an enjoyable, old-school way. [Holiday 2005]

The game still has looks to kill for and offers up the identical Xbox Live modes and challenge of the 360 version. [May 2006, p.71]

Played out against a great backbeat with tracks from San Quinn, Turf Talk, and Rhymefest, And 1 reminds us that basketball isn't just a game; it's a way of life. [Aug 2006, p.78]

It's hard to fault the small roster (14 games) when so many of them are true "classics." [Nov 2005, p.124]

Fortunately you can also go online and play against humans in what is definitely one of the Xbox's better poker offerings. [Holiday 2005, p.73]

The feature that's sadly missing is the PS2 version's EyeToy-enabled face-mapping mode where your superstar can look like you. [Holiday 2005, p.89]

It's just not that scary anymore. [Holiday 2005, p.78]

If you have the personal motivation, joining the ranks of coaching legends could be incredibly satisfying. [Aug 2006, p.76]

All told, MLB 2K6 get two out of three major systems right....not bad in baseball numbers. More important, it's a recommendable offering and finally moves the series in the right direction. [May 2006, p.78]

Following the action and its muddle of player bodies is the only real issue, and a tighter, less far-flung camera could have fixed it. [Apr 2006, p.77]

Still, the big missions get a bit too big by the end, especially when you keep thinking you're going to fight the last guy, only to be forced to endure one tedius jumping puzzle after the next. [Jun 2006, p.83]

Still, you've got to be a real fanboy to want to mash your way through all two dozen or so of its missions. [July 2006, p.84]

Much like Sony's old "FaceOff" series, the gameplay itself is super-fast and floaty(by default; sliders let you tweak this), and the skates never really feel attached to the ice the way they should. [Nov. 2006, p.84]

Factor in the up-and-down, run-and-gun dunk-a-thons that are fun but arcade-y--a trait tougher to stomach after "2K7's" more impressive showing--and Live 07 is like a windmill jam in the Dunk Contest: nice, but we've seen it before. [Dec. 2006, p.86]

But what's really a labor of love is all the bonus material - historical info, original poster and advertising art, and behind-the-scenes videos with the games' creators. [Nov 2004, p.85]

When Lego Star Wars III sticks to the basics, it's still a crowd-pleaser. [May 2011, p.76]

It's good, solid fun, but it offers very little that we haven't experienced before. [May 2011, p.68]

But for now, you're buying what feels like an early beta test. [June 2011, p.77]

Ultimately, Virtua Tennis 4 tries to please everyone by walking a fine line between sim and arcade, but regrettably, it never commits to either camp. [June 2011, p.80]

Fortunately, these stumbles won't keep you from enjoying most of Carnival's offerings, especially if you play it with friends. [June 2011, p.83]

Jack might be the star, but you'll have more fun with the supporting cast once his spotlight dims.

Cars 2 isn't quite gripping or original enough to top the more notable racers that inspired it, and regrettably, its aimless career mode and lack of online play are slight downers. But kids' games and movie games are rarely this polished and entertaining, so we commend Disney for doing this one right.

Even if you just want an occasional hectic diversion, Galaga Legions DX is an absorbing enough reinvention of the coin-op classic.

But it's certainly easier to grit your teeth through some frustration when almost every level has an intriguing new wrinkle.

We'd have appreciated a thicker campaign, more visually diverse missions, and especially the option to play co-op over Xbox Live, but as-is, this hors d'oeuvre is still an entertaining treat.

Between the stages' constantly changing art style, the strange story, the unforgettable cast, and the novel take on action combat, this game is definitely worth checking out for people seeking something new. [Sept 2011, p.74]

You may tire of the basic gimmick before you're skilled enough to succeed on elaborate, brutally competitive four-player online maps, but Half-Minute Hero's charms still last a surprisingly long time.

Improves on the first game in almost every way.

Driver: San Francisco hasn't got much in the way of cutting-edge visual pizzazz or precision physics, but it gets enough online mileage out of the body-snatching gimmick to make up for some offline disappointments.

The rough edges of 11-year-old game design will keep you from losing yourself in the experience, but there's more than enough substance to make this acclaimed adventure from another age worth a fresh look. [Nov 2011, p.85]

It's a tasty appetizer that, while offering plenty of meat for the $10 asking price, only serves to intensify our hunger for the real thing.

Finding an opponent online is easy, although newbies will find little mercy and even less help. Otherwise, this Kollection is an appealing, if never mind-blowing, package.

Puzzlingly, Rage even lacks a competitive FPS multiplayer mode - the very thing id Software is best known for. Instead, you get nine two-player co-op side stories (they're decent 20-minute missions worth rolling through once) and a suite of lackluster six-player buggy-racing modes in which you shoot at someone for a while before someone else swoops in and steals the kill at the last second.

It's goofy, deeply involving fun.

After spending most of your time in Dragon Age II confined to the cramped, dingy corners of the politically scrambled seaport of Kirkwall, the wide-open greenery and lush palatial estate of Mark of the Assassin are refreshing.

War in the North is hardly the most memorable adventure through Middle-earth, but you won't regret any of the time you spend fighting across its grim battlegrounds.

Fortunately, nostalgic fans can indulge in four-player split-screen, which - while offering a third as many match types - still manages to recapture some of the fun Bond games have been grasping at for the past 14 years.

With 30 tracks and only a few dance locations, The Black Eyed Peas Experience feels lightweight compared to the similarly priced Dance Central 2, plus it's not breaking much ground. But once the beat dropped, we couldn't help but dance like fools and have a lot of fun. And damn if those songs aren't catchy.

Be prepared for a bit of disappointment, though. While Years 1–4 had something new hiding behind every doorway, much of this sequel feels too familiar.

Overall, YSFE 2012 mixes together components from EA Sports Active 2, UFC Personal Trainer, and the first Your Shape mostly well, but its polish and depth can't hide its irksome design flaw.

The game is solidly entertaining, especially when four competitive players get to whacking each other, racing for powerups, and tossing each other off ledges.

Trine 2 is easily the most beautiful Xbox Live Arcade game we've seen. Charming voiceovers and an evocative sound design work small wonders, but the stunning scenery is suitable for framing.

We're not quite ready to hail it as an MVP between the pylons, but NFL Blitz is a fine $15 reboot. Nevertheless, our fingers remain crossed for a bolder On Fire Edition (à la NBA Jam) next season.

Even if NeverDead isn't quite the quirky prize it might have been, it's certainly an idiosyncratic (and often one-legged) dance through entertainingly outlandish territory.

Warp's upgrade system isn't explained or implemented well: you're never reminded to use your currency at the innocuous upgrade stations, and we still don't know how we earn skill points. Plus, physics become a greater enemy than the puzzles in the final stage, resulting in a lot of frustration near the end.

Gangstas is a grand time reminiscent of the main game. It's not a must-play, but it is a good way to keep the Saints Row fun going.

Mind-bogglingly inconsistent difficulty. [Apr 2012, p.74]

Nexuiz can't hold a candle to full-priced war games, but its mix of constant speed and occasional silliness make it just the thing for when you've got only 10 minutes to kill. [Apr 2012, p.80]

For apocalypse buffs, much of I Am Alive is riveting stuff; we'd love to see a follow-up that improves on its framework.

At times, the game's many puzzles and open-world areas did leave us aimlessly wondering and wandering. But varied gameplay, solid combat, and an effective mix of psychological scares and freaky encounters make Downpour a worthwhile trip to Silent Hill's haunted 'hood.

It's a solid package, but we have some gripes: ship movement often feels slightly oversensitive, and it's sometimes difficult to tell why you took damage, especially if the environment isn't clear on what is and isn't a hazard. Dropping powerups when you take damage is also incredibly irritating, as you'll likely take more hits struggling to retrieve them.

Unfortunately, it all feels very hollow. Minimal Jim Nantz commentary and crowd noise, limited facial emotions or post-shot reactions, and an overriding... silence makes Tiger 13 feel lifeless. We know golf is supposed to be serene, but it all feels unfinished here, as if the developers meant to take another pass on the audio, animation, and overall presentation.

Though Devil May Cry 2's faults required more than just an HD makeover, we won't let one bad apple spoil the bunch. For $40, we're finally getting two of the most extensive and excellent action games of all time, with a decent HD makeover. And that's a deal worth smiling about.

What The Pinball Arcade set out to do - lovingly and accurately re-create true genre classics - it does very well, and pinball purists won't be disappointed.

The recurring annoyances that result don't bleed all the joy from clobbering, but they do keep this third-person action game from devel¬oping a more natural flow and better exploiting its gruesome graphic-novel aesthetics. Luckily, such issues are diminished when you try to chop down massive bosses inspired by Celtic mythology.

Glitches keep Sniper Elite V2 from a higher score, though, especially in the game's innovative co-op modes, where bugs kept us from completing some objectives. Hopefully, an update will fix this otherwise excellent experience.

The game's biggest addition - including Tails as an aid in single-player mode - gives the perfect level of balance to correct mistakes made at mach speed.

Age can't turn lead into gold, but these games are still enjoyable - and at $10, this bundle's a real bargain.

The game's mission objectives shouldn't be this frustrating, but much of that aggravation washes away when your limping, cracked-visor, ammo-depleted mech fires off a miracle shot to live another day. War has never been this intense, and you should try to take part.

For the most part, TASM merely refines the formula of prior open-world superhero games with better graphics.

Between the playoffs and the inevitable cribbing of Madden 13's bigger features (like Connected Careers), next year's NCAA Football will surely implement some bold changes. But NCAA Football 13 feels more like another effective iteration than a genuinely new, thrilling experience.

What redeems Wreckateer, ultimately, is its variety. Each gleefully cartoony castle is sprinkled with point targets, explosive satchel charges, cowering goblins, and special icons that make your shot speed up, bounce, and so on.

Make no mistake: this is the definitive version of Konami's amphibian-driven arcade game. But because the original wasn't quite the masterpiece Pac-Man­ and Space Invaders were, it falls just short of those homages.

Even with some less-than-thrilling scenarios and its failure to reward player choice, Sleeping Dogs ultimately delivers a very good open-world action experience. It hits enough high notes to warrant the trip to Hong Kong, even if the route there feels a little too familiar. [Oct 2012, p.64]

Overall, Madden remains quite raw. The engine shows a great deal of promise, and Connected Careers features a lot of interesting ideas, but there's no question that this is a rebuilding year. The best news is that EA finally seems to be on the right track. Give it another year, and Madden may at least be a true contender. [Oct 2012, p.72]

While it succeeds in many respects as a standalone game, Darksiders II disappoints as a sequel. Death's side story proves less eventful than War's mainline quest, with fewer interesting sights and scenarios, plus boss showdowns that are generally less memorable than Darksiders'. It also does little to advance the franchise's narrative.

Packs just enough new content to keep its legacy alive for another year or two.

Fanciful flight modeling aside, Trickstar did an admirable job with the individual aircraft renders, and when things blow up, they do so spectacularly. The lengthy and sometimes meandering campaign missions could use a rewrite, but Damage's diverting pyrotechnics and shallow learning curve should earn it solid points with the plug-and-play arcade crowd.

We do recommend Baller Beats to anyone hoping to increase their b-ball acumen or try something new. If noise and space aren't an issue, it's definitely worth a shot.

Hell Yeah!'s cheery approach to slaughter and its goofy riffs on nerd culture make this gorgeously amusing version of Hell worth a visit.

If you're hoping to truly break into the higher tiers of fitness, as exemplified by the pro athletes who make video cameos during the game, you should seek real-life options instead. This one's best suited for NikeFuel addicts and people who just need motivation to work out.

Dragonborn gives players plenty more of what they loved about Skyrim, and is worth buying for that fact alone, but it could've and should've been so much more.

When $30 nets you this much online-multiplayer insanity, it's easy to forgive many of Anarchy Reigns' missteps. Heck, at that price, you can ignore the grueling solo campaign entirely and the game's still a decent value.

As a gleeful tribute to gaming and pop-culture past, though, Retro City Rampage is definitely recommended. It may not rival the series it most closely follows, but it still offers a unique and gorgeously presented experience.

The Cave's charms aren't meant for longevity or deep, thinky examination. Its breezy morality play feels more like a small, self-contained, eccentric dose of dark humor, best suited for whiling away a gloomy afternoon spent indoors.

While Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance can’t match the majesty of Metal Gear Solid’s epic campaigns or the fluid combat of top action titles like DmC, there’s still plenty to like in Raiden’s true action debut. If you can forgive some combat issues, you’ll dig the outlandish story and crazy carving mechanics.

Even with all these enticing extras, we wouldn’t recommend buying the Arcade Cabinet games in one of five available three-packs (most of which are $10); that’s too much money given that almost every three-fer includes a mediocre game.

Even if you couldn't care less how efficiently you put hundreds of drug-dealing scumbags to rest, you may well be surprised by how enjoyable a bit of this disposable ultraviolence can be.

You'll ace every event in a handful of hours without much difficulty, and only the truly obsessive will pocket every collectible. But just ten bucks buys at least a few afternoons of enjoyable airborne antics.

While it’s got some irritating rough patches, Dead Island: Riptide’s 15-hour campaign still manages to be a lot more fun than it has any right to be.

Unfortunately, the game and story wrapped around this wondrous engine aren’t worthy of the visual splendor. [Mar 2002, p.72]

The biggest problem is that (with very, very rare exceptions) you can only save at the end of a level...Imagine "Halo" without a recharging shield or checkpoints, and you'll start to get the idea. [Sept 2002, p.94]

It does handle incredibly well, and the never less than lowbrow humor vaires from hilarious to so-stupid-it's-still-kinda-funny. It ain't perfect, but it's worth the ride. [Feb 2003, p.64]

The relatively crackling gameplay and amusing atmosphere make for an enjoyable whole, and above all a decent party game. [Feb 2003, p.78]

With 110 cars, seven stupidly gigantic courses, amazing (if arcadey) graphics, and staggering freedom of movement (once you unlock free roam modes), it's hard not to recommend this. [July 2003, p.84]

Even the tire treads have depth to them. [Feb 2003, p.71]

Add to this some of the game's camera problems and the smallish feel of each stage and Blinx is just slightly amiss of being the really creative, clever game it's premise hints at. [Dec 2002, p.96]

Other than the stunning graphics, Tao Feng doesn't excel in any other area, but is quite competent in most. [May 2003, p.72]

What other puzzle game lets you play as a headphones-wearing monkey? [Mar 2003, p.80]

It never does anything exceedingly well, nor does it do anything poorly...Though solid in many aspects, [it's] ultimately underwhelming. [Nov 2003, p.120]

A welcome change from most lightgun games that stress "spray and pray" techniques because precision and skill are needed instead of mere blasting. [Apr 2004, p.82]

While the exterior looks great, within is a flawed baseball game that needs a good bit of work. [Apr 2005, p.85]

What it lacks in hardcore squad dynamics, however, it makes up for with its funky soundtrack, detailed graphics, and semi-tactical gameplay. CGT is competent, but not outstanding. [Dec 2005, p.110]

Makes a fun game of pick-up-and-play pigskin with some extra depth, but it could've been even more fulfilling. [Dec 2005, p.104]

The fighting engine won't win any awards for realism or responsiveness. (At times the punches lag behind your button presses.) But ultimately it's good enough for what the game is. [Dec 2002, p.142]

What makes MD so interesting is the three varied abilities of the characters. [Feb 2002, p.68]

A few control problems prevent the game from being as fun as we'd like and the fighting engine is repetitive and too simple (even for kids). [Dec 2002, p.102]

Phantom Crash isn't a game you can simply pick up and play, but for mech fans and those gamers always up for a singular adventure and a time consuming (but fun) weirdness - this is definitely your ticket. [Nov 2002, p.144]

Even on easy, beating the story means a thumb-callusing workout (And progress can't be saved.) [Feb 2003, p.78]

Forget "Fuzion Frenzy," this is the better Xbox game to break out during a party. [Jan 2003, p.90]

What's here is only half a game. Live play may be brilliant, but the single-player experience is sorely lacking. [Jan 2004, p.78]

Mafia's real crime, though, is that it's a very good game wrapped in an absolute technical mess. [June 2004, p.74]

Straighforward, visceral fun that may not be Oscar-worthy in the plot department, but provides plenty of popcorn-munching matinee-style entertainment for the over-17 crowd. [May 2004, p.72]

Though it won't best the more enduring genre stalwarts like "Bust-A-Move," it has plenty of challenge for those tired of first-person shooting at full price. [Mar 2004, p.81]

For a game that challenges you to outthink and outmaneuver your opponents, it's a shame that Tenchu's enemy A.I. is so awful and the camera control so twitchy and unyielding. [May 2004, p.83]

Even if you're frustrated by dying on a jump for the 50th time, you'll still think it's funny as hell. [Dec 2004, p.73]

Taking your talents onto Xbox Live is the real key. [March 2005, p.84]

Many things: packed, fun, annoying, and humorously ironic. [Jan 2005, p.80]

Dr. Muto's creativity, long length, and variety make it a good effort. [Jan 2003, p.78]

Although the game's graphics absolutely scream "PS2 port," the programmers are to be commended for an almost supernaturally smooth frame rate throughout, with nary a stutter. [August 2002, p.82]

It's tasty and filling, but hardly haute cuisine. [Feb 2003, p.75]

The seriously limited engine and weird flow between levels make what could have been a great game, just an average one. Too bad. [Feb 2003, p.73]

It's definitely not for the uninitiated. [Nov 2002, p.125]

The problem here is that little about Lotus Challenge really stands out. [May 2003, p.79]

Instant replays - There aren't any! There's absolutely no excuse for that... especially on the Xbox. [June 2003, p.82]

Mixing the party-friendly mini-games with Xbox Live and offline multiplayer may be enough to warrant a purchase, provided you're able to temper your single-player expectations. [Aug 2005, p.84]

The graphics are noticeably better, the gameplay is expanded upon, and it's twice as bloody as the first game. [Holiday 2004, p.67]

The showdown between pitcher and batter just isn't deep enough...Ultimately, ASB is an average game. [Apr 2004, p.74]

Throw in the aforementioned boobies - crammed into some hot leather corsets, mind you - and Darkwatch is all this bloodthirsty pardner really needs. [Oct 2005, p.104]

Proves enjoyable and instantly accessible. [Apr 2005, p.87]

In a market of precisely one, this package lacks a number of bells and whistles (decent multiplayer most of all), but it had me pursuing a repeat of England's World Cup victory for many hours. [Apr 2005, p.88]

Zippy flight shooter. [Dec 2001]

The worst sin, however, is the appallingly long load times, not only before each event, but even when restarting the same event or just exiting to back to the selection screen. [August 2002, p.78]

The more I played, the more I settled into a fun, if not too deep, experience. [June 2002, p.74]

This is a game for those who want what Crash has always had to offer – good graphics, jump-and-spin gameplay, and tons of collectible items. Nothing more, nothing less. [Apr 2002, p.74]

The franchise finally shows a bit of potential. [Mar 2002, p.70]

This game is challenging. [Nov 2002, p.138]

While it doesn't have the style of "Halo" or the myriad of gameplay choices like "Splinter Cell," Shadow Ops is a decent throwback to simpler shooter times when running and gunning was all that is to be expected. [Aug 2004, p.77]

The AI can be pretty mechanical, the courses get repetitive, and the waves don't have the dynamic feel of games like "Splashdown," but at least the soundtrack is filled with a surprisingly great selection of garage rock and club music. [Feb 2004, p.81]

Despite the visuals, slow pacing, clunky camerawork, and somewhat unsatisfying controls, this is a generally solid pool game. [Jan 2004, p.79]

Without the nine keypad buttons, many of these games become unplayable. [Mar 2004, p.81]

In the end, the arcade-y goodness of SlugFest is fun with your friends, but if Midway wants to earn respect as a single-player sim, it has a long way to go. [July 2004, p.82]

It's simultaneously better and worse than the original. [Holiday 2004, p.68]

Solid but not particularly inspired. [Dec 2005, p.112]

Just having the Quake name alone isn't good enough anymore. [Jan 2006, p.70]

So yeah, Stranglehold does a great job of aspiring to the qualities of Woo's movies, but unfortunately, it just doesn't aspire to be a truly great game. [Nov 2007, p.86]

Beyond the visuals, the new Live is a completely fresh experience, rebuilt from scratch for Xbox 360. [Holiday 2005, p.94]

A marginally brushed-up verison of Madden visually, but stripped of everything they've worked for over the years to advance the game's sense of realism and fun. [Jan 2006, p.60]

Still, the overall experience is quite fun and usually immersive as you re-experience the classic flick with a twist. [Nov. 2006, p.76]

Though you don't get much for your extra $20, the slight gameplay tweaks make the 360 version of MLB 2K6 the best choice if you've got both systems. [Jun 2006, p.78]

As wrestling goes, XX is quickly learned and mastered, particularly against the computer. [May 2006, p.83]

Backed by identical(and cheesy)interfaces and feature sets, all three do an excellent job of re-creating there respective game, though their finest hour comes over live multiplay. [Jun 2006, p.64]

Backed by identical(and cheesy)interfaces and feature sets, all three do an excellent job of re-creating there respective game, though their finest hour comes over live multiplay. [Jun 2006, p.64]

Backed by identical(and cheesy)interfaces and feature sets, all three do an excellent job of re-creating there respective game, though their finest hour comes over live multiplay. [Jun 2006, p.64]

Mutant Storm is a lot like "Geometry Wars", but less frantic but more full of power-ups. [Jun 2006, p.62]

All the glitches make single-play stumble, but the game looks good, sounds great, and runs smooth like butta. [Jun 2006, p.86]

Still, you've got to be a real fanboy to want to mash your way through all two dozen or so of its missions. [July 2006, p.84]

Battlestations may not be the deepest or prettiest WWII-themed 360 game on the shelves, but it still hits a solid broadside. [Mar 2007, p.80]

With your $60 on the line, however, it's only multiplayer that rescues TimeShift from the throes of average-dom. [Holiday 2007, p.74]

A hardcore, old-school shooter. In many ways, it feels like the "Ninja Gaiden" of shooters, so if that sounds appealing to you, you'll probably love it more than we did. But if you're looking for a more modern experience, something from the current crop of shooter stars like "BioShock" and "Call of Duty 4," the frustrating bosses and save system will seem positively prehistoric. [Feb 2008, p.46]

Yes, Universe offers more and more and even more of the same formula--but for the DDR faithful, it's a winning one. [Apr 2007, p.88]

The game's gravest offense is its lack of things to do...None of it is deep or varied enough to make the game much more than a "Halo 3" consolation prize. [Mar 2007, p.72]

If you love surprises yielded by the collision of inventive card abilities, you'll get a respectable kick from Culdcept Saga. [Feb 2008, p.78]

It's just not the cohesive, polished experience that it should be--and that "NBA 2K7" is. [Dec. 2006, p.86]

As a Museum piece, Galaga's beeen almost perfectly preserved, but the missing multiplayer makes us think twice about spending 400 Microsoft Points. [Oct. 2006, p.72]

Much like Sony's old "FaceOff" series, the gameplay itself is super-fast and floaty(by default; sliders let you tweak this), and the skates never really feel attached to the ice the way they should. [Nov. 2006, p.84]

Shadowrun is definitely good--"Counter-Strike with magic" works very well--but it should be great. [Aug 2007, p.76]

However, hitting the line of scrimmage with a friend on Xbox Live distills football's best elements into a tasty online brew that fans will suck down with gusto. [Dec. 2006, p.76]

Whether you prefer the eight-player Live free-for-all or the strictly linear single player campaign, Novadrome delivers a spartan but reasonably attractive vehicular-combat experience with just enough bells and whistles to justify its $10 download. [Jan. 2007, p.74]

Assault Heroes is a no-nonsense blaster with plenty of co-op chaos and a lust for making hordes of things go boom. [Feb. 2007, p.77]

It won't tax your hardware or your wallet(400 points--cheap!), so if you're bored with "Pac-man's" predictability, his better half will give you more to munch on. [Apr 2007, p.90]

With a greater focus on improving teammate intelligence and smoothing control quirks, UEFA could be a great soccer game. Until then, it remains merely good. [Apr 2007, p.90]

Bladestorm looks and plays better than "Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires", so longtime fans should enjoy this more next-gen DW-style title until "Dynasty Warriors 6" hits the battlefield next year. [Dec 2007, p.76]