Don't expect the flair of the cartoon series to survive the transition into game form - 'cause it sadly doesn't. [May 2004, p.84]

It's no "Mario 64," and an occasionally irksome camera frustrates, but Scaler is an enjoyable $20 game. [Jan 2005, p.74]

It's the lack of real depth that will definitely bore serious gamers, but for the under-six set, Spyro is very easy to get into and understand. [Holiday 2004, p.87]

A mediocre installment in a series where the bar - and our expectations - have been raised very high. [Nov 2005, p.128]

The trouble starts as soon as you hit the ice - skating is downright abysmal. Players feel floaty, like they're just gliding effortlessly on the frozen surface. [Oct 2005, p.109]

The story and mission objectives are great, but the game isn't polished enough to let the good points shine. [Nov 2002, p.136]

It's straight arcade action all the way, and it lets you re-create some of your favorite fights from all five of the Stallone films. [Holiday 2004, p.78]

It does feel more than a little cheesy when you're probably expecting it to be one of the early stars on Microsoft's wunderkind console. [Jan 2006, p.74]

It's disappointing to get a same old game on a fresh new platform. [Holiday 2005, p.80]

Like the "Armored Core" games, Chromehounds feels like an amalgam of smart and goofy, and while it will appeal to fans of the former series, finicky casual types will probably be bored, frustrated, or both. [Sept 2006, p.82]

So-so graphics and straightforward action never tap the 360's potential, but what you get is 10-or-so hours of middling superhero beat-'em-up fun. [Jan. 2007, p.76]

But ultimately, it's hard to whole-heartedly recommend this game to anyone but the most diehard turn-based--RPG fanatics. [Oct. 2006, p.73]

So it's dissapointing that instead of the mind-shattering experience that should properly claim "first MMO" honors, we get Final Fantasy XI--a port of a four-year-old game. [July 2006, p.78]

It's reasonably fun, but "Jewel Quest" is better, deeper, and more addictive. [Jun 2006, p.62]

But as it is, for the sequel to the forefather of online console RPG's--a game we happily sank hundreds of hours into on everything from Dreamcast to original Xbox--Phantasy Star Universe does only due dilligence without pushing the series past, say, 2003. [Jan. 2007, p.83]

Obvious problems (the shaky camera, poor targeting system, and inconsistent frame rate) match up with sheer annoyances (the 25-second-long, unskippable death sequences) to degrade the expectedly repetitive experience, but that’s not all that stuck in our craw. Capping the enjoyable online co-op at just two players (with no local play) seems ludicrous in this day and age; even PSO was rocking four players on a 56K connection in 2001!

Rabbids loses some of its originality and innovation in its move to Xbox 360, and bafflingly, it fails to adopt many of the console's strengths. [June 2007, p.73]

As hardcore gamers, we'd pay $5 for this port. But ultimately, it's one of Live Arcade's weaker offerings. [Oct. 2006, p.72]

It's nerve-jangling fun while it lasts, but unless you're a score whore, Contra loses its appeal once you beat its five missions. [Jan. 2007, p.77]

Over-indulge, and you'll get sick of it quickly. [Nov. 2006, p.79]

Armored Core 4 might be uninspired and forgettable, but beggars can't be choosers. [May 2007, p.74]

It's less enjoyable, more difficult, and at times blatantly creepy. [Jan. 2007, p.68]

It's probably the game Hobbes' buddy Calvin would have designed had he ever grown up, although it's far too repetitious and simply not challenging enough for grown-ups. [Jan. 2007, p.76]

Still, hardcore nostalgia buffs will re-discover a deceptively simple addiction that's worth a five-spot. [Jan. 2007, p.75]

The stop-and-go action, the occasional jumps, and the sheer ridiculousness of what you're taking part in lends every race a manic aspect that elicits more giggles than groans. [Holiday 2006, p.78]

As with other Namco Live Arcade games, the coin-op's alternating-turns two-player mode is gone(update the emulator already, Namco!), so you New Rally-X replay value depends entirely on how much nostalgia you've got in the tank. [Mar 2007, p.81]

So what's missing? Replayability. Using unlimited continues (an option we do appreciate), both one- and two-player games top out at just under 30 minutes. [June 2007, p.73]

While Juiced 2 isn't the smoothest-driving Xbox 360 racer on the market, it's definitely one of the more filling. [Nov 2007, p.97]

But overall, the affair is a tad bit low-rent on the production values. [Dec 2007, p.75]

But ultimately, the choppy multiplayer options and ultra-disbelief-suspending campaign deliver an uneven "What If" history lesson. [Apr 2008, p.74]

Every arcade needs a good pinball game, and Pinball FX fills and obvious hole in Live Arcade. We just wish our 10 bucks got us more variety. [May 2007, p.79]

If it were a meal, Spider-Man 3 would be a very filling sweet-and-sour dish--often too tough, sometimes uneven, but ultimately very tasty for Spidey fans. [July 2007, p.80]

If you still have Pac-Man Fever, this game is a must-own. Otherwise, just sample the remix with the free demo. [Sept 2007, p.76]

From its leaden, cheap-shots-aplenty combat to its wild-goose chase through gray, same-y hallways filled with useless, placebo doorways to a story that takes much too long to get off the ground, its entire first half feels like a death march through a clunky hot mess. [Nov 2008, p.73]

Old-time arcaders will dig the ramped-up challenge: Super's tough even with a partner, and we had to lower the difficulty and hoard the spread gun - our sidearm soulmate - to beat all five levels solo. [Sept 2007, p.76]

The game's force variations and library of over 50 maps make it a solid online contender, assuming you can forgive the fact that major battles still reduce an otherwise attractive presentation to a slow and unresponsive slideshow.

But the real stars of the show are the battle sequences in which you lead an army of literally hundreds of NPCs into full-on raging wars. It’s just a shame that there’s so much filler between the fights.

A few standard scare tactics (dramatic music, flickering lights) and gory battles may satisfy hardened fans of horror, but loot-hunting and taxi missions will likely haunt your dreams more than the given monstrosities of death.

Against similarly matched opponents, it's a tense, fast-paced contest, and it delivers an experience that's fairly unique to the digital format. For this mode, we'd pay the $10. [Nov 2007, p.94]

And while the game is generally fun, it's strictly for casual, arcade racing-style fans. [Jan 2008, p.69]

For DDR newcomers, then, Universe 2 is the complete and definitive package. Longtime fans, on the other hand, will be left wondering how so little extra content can justify so full a price tag.

The frenzied pace makes for a pleasant enough co-op diversion, but it's also one that's devoid of meaning or longevity. [Feb 2008, p.79]

Encore is a decent party game but it sure lacks the depth and gotta-play-it power of "Rock Band". [May 2008, p.72]

Blood Bowl's disjointed real-time mode is hard to control and keep track of, making it a complete waste of time. [Apr 2010, p.81]

You’ll also have no one to remind you to leave your brain at the door and enjoy this game as it was meant to be taken - as a fairly well-built, over-the-top testosterone fantasy without all the fancy polish or (dare we say it?) smarts of, say, Gears of War, but still an incredibly satisfying shot in the arm for co-op addicts like us.

Sonic Unleashed is a game that feels schizophrenic in its execution. Unfortunately, you deal with the fun, easy-going personality for less than half the time.

Demolishing a city may make for a fun weekend rental, but not quite an incredible one.

Even if there were room to experiment, a few dozen animals aren’t sufficient to lure back veteran gardeners for long, and newcomers are bound to wonder why life on the island is so needlessly difficult. In the end, Trouble in Paradise proves to be aptly named.

Tedious ground combat makes up the majority of the game, and the cool cover concept and sci-fi story are strong, but blown opportunities. [Feb 2010, p.86]

A lot of us are baffled that snowboarding has been so deathly quiet on 360, and if you’re dying for the next SSX or Amped, Shaun White Snowboarding won’t be the game you’re hoping for. If you’re a serious boarding fan, the mini- MMO multiplayer is totally worth a look, but otherwise, you have better games to play.

The game is fun in short bursts, but won't hold your attention for too long. [July 2008, p.66]

The individual layers of variation don't run terribly deep, and offline exhibitions only cast a harsh light on amateurish A.I. flaws, but Double D Dodgeball's offbeat mix of arcade action and online sporting teamwork still packs enough fast-paced intensity and simple strategy to be worth inviting to recess. [Sept 2008, p.77]

For double-agent wannabes, we suggest renting a copy. Playing through Casino Royale is worth the thrill despite the game’s many flaws. But if you wanted an interactive version of the newest Bond fl ick or a game to replace the Call of Duty experience, Quantum just doesn’t make the cut.

Battle Fantasia may be a niche game for a specific audience, but otaku will live happily ever after.

A fascinating diversion you could spend the rest of your life pursuing, but this presentation of it is disappointingly short on frills.

NCAA Basketball 09 is a serviceable showcase for basic hoops traits, but without a flagship feature to lead it, it fels more like a pro-flavored tilt without a few of the raw ingredients that make the collegiate sport special. [Jan 2009, p.76]

Unfortunately, in the few areas where this version aims for freshness, it comes up flat. [Holiday 2008, p.83]

A collection like this should be extremely quick, easy fun, and Museum's quirks detract too much from that. [Holiday 2008, p.74]

Playing alone is a tepid affair(even with create-a-clip Director Mode), and we would've liked meatier mini-games and more interactivity in general(waiting and watching are your primary actions), but this $70 package offers enough amusing antics and cheesy clips in it's four-player mode to warrant an audition at your next party or family gathering. [Jan 2009, p.75[

The laundry list of annoying little problems is too substantial. [Apr 2009, p.76]

Despite its flashy razzle-dazzle, Ninja Blade feels surprisingly shallow.

Only the most avid Minesweeper fans will find the game entertaining for more than a couple of hours - but for five bucks, that's a pretty fair deal. [Mar 2009, p.83]

While CellFactor is more fun with real humans, it never feels like it'll lure you away from other shooters. [Apr 2009, p.75]

Poker purists will hate it, and poker haters may be totally uninterested. But if you like goofy games with surprising depth, this one's worth a try. [Apr 2009, p.65]

Despite a few flaws and one ill-conceived megamix, these games are treated with the respect they deserve at a price we’re willing to pay. We’re happy to see them on Arcade where they belong.

Nice gameplan, poor execution. [June 2009, p.79]

Most adults will want to look for more sophisticated fare. [Oct 2009, p.82]

Problem is, the aesthetics are disconcerting. [Aug 2009, p.76]

Arkanoid is Breakout without the boredom. Well, without as much. [May 2009, p.83]

For us, Gel never quite...gelled. [Aug 2009, p.77]

This one's strictly for import-puzzle otaku who enjoy relentlessly super-happy fun times yes! [Sept 2009, p.85]

Sometimes it ends up feeling like a chore. [Oct 2009, p.77]

It basically boils down to Marble Madness with guns. [Oct 2009, p.80]

Gun-crazed gamers just looking for another run-and-shoot romp will find the plodding pace and home-spun presentation distasteful, but Darkest of Days offers everyone else enough fresh and rewarding gameplay to offset its worst problems.

A pleasant, solidly entertaining, and kid-friendly option. [Dec 2009, p.77]

There's just enough payoff to keep fans trekking through, but it's a shame that this marvelous license wasn't treated better. [Holiday 2009, p.79]

It's a decent port to 360 with some key changes to the controls to make it work better on a console, but this recipe of Diner Dash lacks some spice. [July 2009, p.77]

Newcomers will find its plodding pace and lifeless visuals tedious, but old-school tacticians will happily breathe vintage moon dust for days. [Holiday 2009, p.81]

Despite the awful visuals and crummy combat camera, watching the world react to your different play styles makes this short story a satisfying feudal tale that's worth seeing through. [Dec 2009, p.80]

Diluted by hours of confusing side quests and repetitive battles, these original moments don't shine as brightly as they should. [Mar 2010, p.78]

On the whole, this inspired, if somewhat contrived, tale offers a satisfying close to the season. [Jan 2010, p.81]

A decent upgrade or introduction to the series. [Feb 2010, p.88]

It's a solid approach in both concept and execution, but the game just doesn't offer enough to keep you interested for long. [Mar 2010, p.81]

Lack of variety and depth. [Apr 2010, p.83]

This game is anything but polished, but it's also solid enough that you get more than what you paid for. [May 2010, p.77]

Not a notable upgrade over Number One Hits. [May 2010, p.83]

Though these simple action relics aren't for everyone, we applaud the respectful approach taken for this reasonably priced release. [Jun 2010, p.83]

A very bare-bones expression of the genre. [July 2010, p.80]

Clunky controls. [July 2010, p.79]

Feels a bit too easy, too slight. [June 2009, p.78]

Ultimately, though, there's nothing here we haven't seen before, and only the most hardcore NeoGeo fighting fans should consider Coliseum a must-buy. [Oct 2010, p.74]

Warrior isn't nearly as deep as other Arcade fighting games, but when buddies and beers are near, it's a decent choice. [Oct 2010, p.81]

Instead of Gears' gritty realism, Quantum employs flamboyant machismo, with less impressive graphics. [Nov 2010, p.79]

It's still a fun series that can come right back like a determined wrestler, but this year's iteration lacks the polish and wow factor of previous versions. [Holiday 2010, p.78]

But between its quaint characters and charming attitude, it's still an entertaining enough way to while away a few afternoons in service to imaginary nobility. [Jan 2011, p.66]

But Create is clearly aimed at a younger audience, so it may be right up the alley of anyone with equal parts patience and creativity. [Jan 2011, p.73]

The actioner certainly has polished visuals, but too often suffers from repetition: see enemy, cast spell, repeat. [Jan 2011, p.75]

If you don't mind solo workouts, Zumba Fitness delivers in spades. [Jan 2011, p.79]

Numbers aside, though, the game's old-style simplicity is both charming and, well, kinda boring. Some barely smoothed visuals are the only real upgrade here, so what you get is pretty much the original arcade game.

Still, the writing and voice-overs match the quality of the cartoon. Is that praise? If you answer "yes," then you'll enjoy this game. [Feb 2011, p.76]

It's far from the best brawler on XBLA, but Saga is fun enough to warrant a look. [Feb 2011, p.78]

For nostalgic fans who can hang in there--or first-time players--earning "crazzzzy money" still has its mome4nts. [Feb 2011, p.81]

However, Battlefest's plan to play it safe also limits it. No hint of a single-player campaign is included: you're either playing multiplayer matches with humans or simulating them. [March 2011, p.85]

Even local co-op doesn't add much fun, and Rearmed 2 costs 50% more than its predecessor to boot. [April 2011, p.81]

The graphics tend to give it the look of a first-generation Dreamcast game, rather than a second-generation Xbox title – which may turn off those accustomed to the visual bells and whistles of, say, "Wreckless." [Apr 2002, p.84]

It's fine for the PS2, but we would have liked a little more polish for the Xbox. [Feb 2002, p.73]

Runs on pretty graphics and an implausibly irresistable storyline alone. It's a shame that the gameplay hasn't evolved as well. [Nov 2003, p.118]

Technical things like weak AI that lets you take down enemies around corners without them reacting, and below-average animation that makes what should be a terrifying boss battle laughable. [Mar 2004, p.80]

A merely adequate, uninspired, but occasionally funny soccer game. [Oct 2002, p.108]

After 20 minutes of watching people run around crazily and aimlessly, you realize that they're mostly just window dressing for very basic, uninspired, beat-'em-up gameplay that we've all played before. [May 2003, p.74]

We're getting a little tired of playing essentially the same game that was in arcades years ago. [Oct 2002, p.99]

The sorest spot is the game's lack of polish or presentation - two things that pro-wrestling is all about. [Mar 2003, p.81]

Most maddening is the game's unstable framerate. [Oct 2004, p.76]

Suffers from linear gameplay, ridiculously difficult challenges, bad graphics, and a lead voice actor who sounds like an utter twit. [Jan 2006, p.75]

With washed-out textures and an overall lack of detail, the visual impact doesn't match up to Xbox standards - and unfortunately, neither does the rest of the game. [June 2003, p.84]

Level designs lack the magic of "Splinter Cell," the fighting and stealth can't compete with "Everything or Nothing," and the story follows its plot progression by the numbers. [June 2004, p.76]

Only PC-less coaster fanatics should even think about purchasing. This is still fun, but anti-enhanced. [July 2003, p.84]

It feels less like a lost Sergio Leone classic than a simple coin-op shooting gallery. [June 2004, p.82]

A poor framerate, bland textures, awful character models, clipping bugs, and a messy interface all suck the fun out of what should be a solid RPG. [Jan 2004, p.76]

The main problem with Spawn is that it's simply dull... The entire game feels as though it was just phoned in. [Jan 2004, p.82]

It's all beautifully violent yet terminally one-dimensional once the story wraps. [May 2006, p.73]

Now, the circle of Velveeta is complete: Jaws Unleashed is as gruesome as it is cheesy. [Aug 2006, p.81]

Is New York really this drab and uninteresting of a place? [Jan 2006, p.82]

Addictive, but the gameplay and tired humor makes this series a knuckle dragging Cro-Magnon compared to the telekinetic flying super-ape it should've been. [Dec 2005, p.112]

A seriously clunky interface, on-demand advice from Negreanu that alternates between canny and staggeringly bad, and unimpressive graphics provide no saving graces. [Aug 2006, p.77]

It's all very violent, weird, kinda fun, and frequently cheesy. [Oct 2005, p.108]

Narnia lovers will enjoy taking part in the classic story, but you'll likely play it once and put it away like a childhood toy. [Holiday 2005, p.83]

It could bring a whle new edge to the game if it had an online mode. [Holiday 2005, p.68]

Like the hordes of Deadites through which you chainsaw a bloody swath, Regeneration's animated, but it's got no soul. [Nov 2005, p.131]

It's just not fresh enough to warrant a purchase if your dance pad is already getting a good workout. [Holiday 2005, p.70]

All that backtracking might've floated back in the day, but now it just feels repetitive and tedious. [Holiday 2005, p.90]

Problematic moments of senseless enemy invulnerability and camera management siphon off some joy, but ultimately, this glorified plushie is fun enough to avoid extinction. [Dec. 2006, p.84]

Nickelodeon may typically shoot for the young 'uns, but this cel-shaded RPG-ish action/adventure is loads of beat-'em-up fun for adults as well. [Holiday 2006, p.86]

Ballers aspires to be about street culture and cred, but it has all the authentic urban flavor of Jamie Kennedy. [May 2004, p.81]

With too much backtracking between locations..., short play time, and a frustratingly inconclusive ending (closure be damned), Still Life limits its appeal to the already converted. [June 2005, p.81]

So if you pick up Coast 2 Coast, don't expect any sort of significant evolution of the arcade experience. [Jun 2006, p.87]

Next to the content-packed SmackDown series, this workout feels light. [May 2011, p.74]

Despite its solid on-course action, this franchise is starting to show its age. [May 2011, p.79]

For that reason alone, we'd say this game makes a great distraction for younger kids(especially since you can share the mini-game fun with any friend who wants to jump in), but the young at heart will likely need something more. [June 2011, p.85]

An entertaining experience in short bursts - assuming you can overlook the occasional misstep.

In short, there's little to distinguish Green Lantern besides its top-notch production values (polished combat, vivid graphics, good voiceovers), two-player co-op where a buddy plays as fellow GL Thaal Sinestro, and support for both stereoscopic and anaglyph 3D.

High Moon clearly did all they could, but ultimately, Dark of the Moon is a small package with too much filler to be worth more than a rental. Though we're betting it's still better than the film it's based on.

If you're looking for tactical depth, environmental variety, or anything resembling a story, you'll be left wanting. But if you're in the mood for a blissfully mindless fire-and-forget shooting gallery, you could do a whole lot worse.

But mostly you'll just grind through wave after mildly entertaining wave, and wonder why hardly anyone drops any desirable equipment. [Sept 2011, p.85]

Finally, we have a Warriors game with some substance. [Oct 2011, p.75]

It's a decent experience for core genre fans, but not consistently sharp enough to stand out from the competition.

Betrayal's wild artistic flair alleviates some of its pain, but you'll still grind your teeth at least as often as you sink them into new flesh.

On the other hand, anyone who enjoys shaving seconds off speed runs and obsessing over scoreboards will appreciate Mercury Hg's focused simplicity, not to mention its $5 price tag. [Nov 2011, p.75]

If you can handle the delivery, though, you're rewarded with some of the best flight mechanics on the 360 - especially if you take the time to master the Simulation controls. While completely unrealistic, the combat is fluid, fast, and fun.

Even at $40, it's tough to recommend the meager additions Off the Record delivers. Diehard Dead Rising fans will like the callbacks, and series newcomers won't mind the recycling, but everyone in the middle will wish the new material was more abundant.

Strip away the campaign's half-baked tower-defense elements, and you're finally free to focus entirely on the heady business of hauling ass and getting air. [Dec 2011, p.71]

The combat sequences feel like afterthoughts and the story is ultimately a bore, boasting no memorable bosses or a reason to be told other than to bring the two Spideys together...sorta.

There's no denying Tintin's engaging personality. From slick effects and slapstick animations (you can actually trip enemies with banana peels) to solid voice-acting, it immerses you in its world, even with the lackluster gameplay.

What we really craved, though, were a little more story (beyond quick cutscenes and text) and some interesting puzzles - stuff that might've given us a better connection to the source material. As is, Scarygirl's pretty but feels a bit empty.

Though sometimes repetitive, combat is tense, frantic, and structured in such a way that a big new boss or new challenge is always around the corner.

While executing attacks is refreshingly easy, Generations lacks depth: bouts often devolve into who can escape and button-mash to counter first. Likewise, fighting the CPU - especially in Story Mode's later stages - can feel frustrating and unfair. Meanwhile, the online-versus options are bare-bones, with the only frill being a replay-recording feature.

Unbounded can't compete with the genre's best, but it's not devoid of value.

Drop-in/drop-out couch co-op adds an extra level of value to this extremely affordable game; overall, World Gone Sour is a fairly satisfying, calorie-free way to get a Sour Patch fix.

No matter how you view the game's potentially divisive depiction of Juliet (Is her giggly, panty-flashing, stripper-pole-swinging act crassly exploitative, or just cheeky, campy fun? Lollipop's tone is frustratingly all over the map.), the gameplay seems to always fall just shy of being much more than it is.

It's not clear why handling, top speed, acceleration, and braking improvements apply only to specific livery paint jobs instead of to entire vehicle classes, and we never did figure out how the useless "clutch boost" feature was supposed to help us.

While Double Dragon Neon is definitely entertaining (and priced perfectly), it's unfortunate that a few design quirks weaken it. The promised online play should make it more beatable, but the poorly balanced soloplay does dim Neon's shine.

You still get a decent value for your $10, though, including fun (if simple) combat, a several-hour career mode, engaging character customization, and serviceable online matches. Plus, minor hiccups are easy to overlook when you're Marcus Fenix flying off the top rope.

When it works, Fable: The Journey is one of the best Kinect games to date. But far too often, it doesn't work correctly. We recommend moving your couch aside so you can play sitting in a high-back chair, but that's hardly an ideal solution. As fun as it is at times, The Journey feels like a trip that's gone on too long, eventually growing irritating and annoying.

Old-schoolers will appreciate the effort put into Origins, even if it reinforces the progress fighters have made since that late-'90s Silver Age.

None of these issues ruin the tried-and-true fun of four-way deathmatch, but after so many years, we expected more refinement.

Not being able to save during missions is a pain, as a single poorly tossed grenade or unseen enemy tank might cripple your crew. But find your sweet spot among the five difficulty levels, and suddenly ambushes and rolling heavy artillery feel like reasonably fun challenges instead of backbreakers.

The routines here are fun when you know them, but getting there is more of a struggle than it should be - and unfortunately, that slows this dancer's roll.

Omega has little narrative impact on the main game. Omega has snatches of rich backstory, but it's a limited, pricey thrill aimed only at the series' most devoted fans.

Both games are perfect reproductions that add Live co-op. Sadly, though, their record-scratching soundtracks and exaggerated early-'90s urban culture have aged as well as an MC Hammer lunchbox.

It's intriguing to see the evolution of Agent 47's murderous tactics across these seminal entries, but much as Silent Assassin was lauded upon release for its many kill options, it's a startlingly clunky experience nowadays.

We enjoyed Special Forces’ team-focused tweaks, even with the game’s dull maps and balance inconsistencies, but this multiplayer-only shooter doesn’t make a very strong impression. It’s a couple of ranks below the genre's best — and that’s something a $15 price can’t fix.

It’s still nice to see Tecmo Koei making enhancements, even if the fundamental formula is a bit flat these days.

If you can get some pals together, have a stable connection, and don’t mind interrupting your game for a level-up session, you’ll have some fun here, but Battle Grounds still falls short of being the sleeper hit it could have been.

Storywise, The Betrayal is a shade sillier than The Infamy, and a few moments in its missions are strange to the point of absurdity... If you’re invested in its alternate-universe narrative, though, The Betrayal is an important piece of the puzzle, and its ending hints at something potentially amazing for the final chapter.

The visuals and consciously retro soundtrack show a sense of style, but Sacred Citadel lacks the heart that defines the greatest brawlers. Use it to scratch an itch if you must, but if you’re new to action-RPGs, XBLA games like Castle Crashers and Guardian Heroes will prove far more rewarding.

Despite clocking in at around 2.5 hours, The Redemption rushes you through the final paces of the three-part Tyranny of King Washington saga so doggedly — and with such gaping holes throughout the narrative — that we were left with a sense of nagging unfulfillment, not closure.

This is just the games: no extras, no goodies, and no style. [Jan 2003, p.90]

It feels like you've played this game before because you have. [June 2004, p.72]

Even with the grisly and serious subject matter, Shellshock doesn't add up to anything more than a by-the-book shooter that completely relies on trigger elements to keep each action sequence fresh. [Oct 2004, p.84]

Or at least if it were more wildly satirical. Instead, it falls somewhere in between: the middle of the road where nothing really interesting happens except the same repetitive and boring tasks. [Holiday 2004, p.70]

This game should appeal to any Scooby-Doo fan, as well as anyone looking for a low-rent, low-impact platforming workout. [Nov 2005, p.131]

A letdown, but there is a bright side - it may just be the Ultimate weekend rental. [Dec 2005, p.100]

The fighting engine is too simple, too easy to exploit, and just, well...you know, average.[Holiday 2004, p.78]

As it is, the game plays it safe with a by-the-numbers kill-fest that's fast and fun while it lasts, but ultimately, like the movie, feels more like a matinee. [Aug 2004, p.78]

The entire time I was playing, I kept thinking how this cool premise should have made for a better game. Alas, it never realizes its potential. [March 2005, p.78]

Much like Keanu's performance in the film, it just goes through the motions. [May 2005, p.82]

Creaky and sometimes clever - yes. Fantastic - not so much. [Sept 2005, p.86]

Dumb fistfighting sequences from the original are back. [June 2005, p.74]

It certainly says something about a game's quality when the most impressive feature is the lighting. [Jan 2003, p.84]

Exactly the kind of experience we were hoping to play in this game... too bad we only got to watch it. [Aug 2003, p.79]

Fails to inspire but quasi-amuses. [Jan 2002]

My biggest problem with this game comes from the extremely unrealistic batting interface. [June 2002, p.78]

If you've played this game before, there really is absolutely no reason to play it again. [July 2002, p.80]

It's a competent, interesting game that will usually entertain but never thrill. [Oct 2005, p.100]

Games are meant to be played, not watched, and this one has more cinemas than "Metal Gear Solid." [Jan 2004, p.79]

Its fundamentals are solid enough, but too bland and redundant. [Jan 2003, p.78]

What hurts the game the most is the vehicle control setup. In a game where you are firing at enemies from all directions you need independent steering and weapons controls. Not so here. [Feb 2003, p.81]

Compared to this new generation of arcade hoopsters, Jam feels unambitious and uninvolving. [Dec 2003, p.146]

Button mashers will undoubtedly love it. But shouldn't the debut of a super-villain based on a master strategist be less...shallow? [Dec 2003, p.154]

Blame it on bad porting if you will, but "Unreal" has yet to make a name for itself on Xbox, except as a graphics engine. And sadly, Unreal II won't do much to change that. [Apr 2004, p.73]

Fails to measure up to Codemasters' other fine racing titles. [Aug 2004, p.84]

It's a game you'll have fun with for a while...until your brain starts to hurt from the randomness of it all. [Dec 2004, p.84]

The target audience is gaming kiddies, and Open Season manages an attractive string of 25 short and bloodless missions for the prepubescent set, plus a few basic minigames. [Holiday 2006, p.86]

The game's underpowered scopes and wonky ballistics are often exasperating--long shots are tough, and point blank encounters sometimes are even tougher. [Feb. 2007, p.80]

Mortal Kombat is finally in the Arcade--too bad it's in the form of Ultimate MK3. [Jan. 2007, p.75]

We honestly wanted to like this game a lot, but really, it's worth liking only a little. [Feb. 2007, p.76]

Like Live 06, it has some core goodness, but it just needs some TLC. [Feb. 2007, p.79]