Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)'s Scores

  • Games
For 953 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 48% higher than the average critic
  • 4% same as the average critic
  • 48% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.4 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 69
Highest review score:
Critic Score 100
Lowest review score:
Critic Score 20
Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 89 out of 953
953 game reviews
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    The fact that I even want more levels in a "Space Invaders" game is testament enough to how much fun this one is. [Aug 2008, p.77]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    But the polish of Ultimate Ninja Storm's conbat system and the tightness of its controls(with the exception of that blasted evade!)are enough to warrant a purchase, provided you have a friend willing to sit close enough to brawl with you. [Holiday 2008, p.74]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe offers plenty of MK fun, tons of combos to learn, and yes, a bundle of not-so-graphic finishing moves if you're up to mastering the dozen long combo chains. [Jan 2009, p.76]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    Remix adeptly manages the considerable feat of blending over-the-top arcade-style performance with precise on-the-edge-of-control handling. [Jan 2009, p.81]
    • Metascore: 85
    • Critic Score 80
    If this year's incarnation is a reinvention, a launching pad for 2010 and beyond, the Madden future is bright, even if the old fella is piling on the years! [Sept 2008, p.74]
    • Metascore: 59
    • Critic Score 80
    While the shooting and platforming elements don't individually ignite the gameplay experience, when Dark Void combines them with the superb aerial combat, the action soars and the game's potential is fully realized. [Feb 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 88
    • Critic Score 80
    In short, if you're a hockey nut and you're trying to decide which game to throw your hockey dollars at, look no further than NHL 09. [Nov 2008, p.86]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    With the new online-friendly additions, Buzz! Quiz TV deserves to be in any trivia fan's library. [Drac 2008, p.88]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    However you're playing the game, at whatever difficulty level, in single-player franchise mode, in quick games, or online in the promised five-on-five multiplayer games, NBA 2K9 looks like basketball does on your TV. [Dec 2008, p.94]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    In spite of its flaws, it's entertaining and addictive as, well, hell. [Oct 2008, p.80]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    But small gripes aside, NBA Live 09 delivers some great basketball and will please most PS3-owning basketball fans. [Nov 2008, p.88]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    If you've ever played a Tomb Raider game, you know what you're in for and whether it's for you. [Jan 2009, p.78]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    It's no Call of Duty, true, but then CoD doesn't let you tear apart giant monsters with machine gun turrets or battle Nazis in a zeppelin, does it? [Nov 2009, p.66]
    • Metascore: 87
    • Critic Score 80
    Fortunately, the cooperative gameplay holds up superbly and adds tremendously to the value, and alongside the community features will ensure a long-lasting place in many PS3 shooter fans' repertoire. [Jan 2009, p.62]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    It may not break new ground, but LEGO Batman is a total blast anyway, for both newbies and veterans. [Holiday 2008, p.80]
    • Metascore: 68
    • Critic Score 80
    Buzz! Master Quiz is a title that anyone interested in portable party games should consider, whether you're a parent needing a diversion for the kids in the car or a PSP owner looking to flex your trivia muscles. [Dec 2008, p.88]
    • Metascore: 85
    • Critic Score 80
    An entertaining, colorful, occasionally terrific romp that provides a solid basis for what we hope is an ongoing, evolving franchise.[July 2009, p.66]
    • Metascore: 87
    • Critic Score 80
    At its heart, FIFA showcases all the highlights of its past lives, with a few interesting tweaks. [Holiday 2008, p.83]
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    Even though the learning curve is steeper than your typical wrestling or boxing game thanks to the dizzying depth in its controls, UFC 2009 Undisputed delivers the most functional and entertaining MMA gameplay to come along in years. [July 2009, p.80]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    Enjoy it, PS2 owners. This is one to savor. [Nov 2008, p.84]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    A $20 price tag makes this a heck of a deal for hardcore 2D fighter fans. [Holiday 2008, p.84]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    The PSP version of Shaun White Snowboarding isn't as ambitious in size and scope as the PS3 game, but it addresses many of big brother's shortcomings. [Feb 2009, p.71]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    But credit given where credit is due, SCEA's packaging of one group's library(although hardcore ABBA fans might complain about a few song ommisions)on a single Blu-ray is actually more satisfying than SingStar's usual mishmash collections of songs. [Jan 2009, p.81]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    A bit too complex to please conventional fighting fans, but the game more than pays off for anyone who enjoys character progression - including anyone who's obsessed with "Final Fantasy." [Oct 2009, p.76]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    Besides the indecipherable Evolution Map, Patapon 2 is well made, with plenty of reasons to replay levels: to bask in the music, to unlock more secrets. to farm for more resources, for example. [June 2009, p.80]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    There are a few curious selections(Hi, Flicky. Hi, Ristar), but overall, Sonic knows old school games. [Apr 2009, p.82]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    It proves, just about, that a PC-focused RTS can make the leap to PS3, and we just hope for a more simplified control method next time out. [June 2009, p.72]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    A fun, wildly varied romp through the Wild West. [Oct 2009, p.76]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    It's hard not to be taken in by the eerie lullaby of this world's secrets. [July 2009, p.82]
    • Metascore: 86
    • Critic Score 80
    Here's what it comes down to: exactly how much do you love Metallica? [July 2009, p.78]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    The combat, however, does add a hint of freshness. [Aug 2009, p.79]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    The addition of trophies is welcome. [Aug 2009, p.73]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    There's just so much to do here and, when our creativity's at the top of its game, it's just so much fun to destroy. [May 2010, p.67]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    Surprisingly lengthy and gruesomely entertaining. [July 2009, p.76]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    An engrossing experience that ends too soon. [Apr 2010, p.79]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    Even with the PSP's imperfect analog nub, the controls are tight and responsive, making the fight combat levels (nearly half the game) a white-knuckle joy. [Holiday 2009, p.80]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    Equity is also earned via a cool custom-mission creator. [Apr 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    It's the best Monster Hunter game yet. [Sept 2009, p.81]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    In gameplay terms, LRB is essentially no different than any other Rock Band title. [Jan 2010, p.81]
    • Metascore: 85
    • Critic Score 80
    The potential is staggering in a variety of ways. [Nov 2009, p.70]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    Somehow it's just as captivating today as it ever has been. [Dec 2009, p.76]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    Die-hard fans hoping for something new will inevitably be disappointed, but even they can't fail to be impressed at just how complete and convincing a handheld title this is. [Nov 2009, p.78]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    Answers many of last year's criticisms with a well-rounded experience packed with the depth hardcore gamers demand and the accessibility newcomers will enjoy. [Aug 2009, p.77]
    • Metascore: 89
    • Critic Score 80
    A game best left to the most masochistic, hardcore game. [Dec 2009, p.80]
    • Metascore: 65
    • Critic Score 80
    AvP's multiplayer is gory, gratifying, and will bring an evil little smile to your face. [Apr 2010, p.76]
    • Metascore: 88
    • Critic Score 80
    So the game may not be perfect but the Beatles' music pretty much is. [Nov 2009, p.72]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    While it shows its age at times, Persona more than deserves the respectable treatment it's finally been given. [Nov 2009, p.74]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    Live 10 has taken a few solid steps forward, and is certainly a pick-up-and-play option for NBA fans. [Dec 2009, p.75]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    Without the distraction (and egoism) of star power, and an emphasis on teamwork, pace, and movement that strains but doesn't break the AI, NCAA Basketball 2010 is pick-ip-and-play friendly for college game newcomers and hoop aficionados alike. [Jan 2010, p.84]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    A hell of a good time. [Apr 2010, p.72]
    • Metascore: 87
    • Critic Score 80
    Thankfully, other than shortening events into quicker bursts, the only negative effects of Westernization are purely cosmetic...dude. [Nov 2009, p.82]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    We could debate endlessly whether there was any need for Activision to come up with the Band Hero moniker, but the end result is another solid Guitar Hero game. [Jan 2010, p.80]
    • Metascore: 66
    • Critic Score 80
    2K's NHL game is still maturing - it needs another year of fine-tuning to release its full flavor - but still, you won't be disappointed if you partake of it now. [Nov 2009, p.81]
    • Metascore: tbd
    • Critic Score 80
    It's not crammed with features, but playing through a franchise--with drills and practice--will keep hoop fans entertained and occupied on the road. [Holiday 2009, p.83]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    Even longtime fans will enjoy a second romp through this simple, yet slick, PSP re-release. [Dec 2009, p.84]
    • Metascore: 72
    • Critic Score 80
    There's enough here to keep fighting fans happy. [Nov 2009, p.78]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    If you play the silver ball, you don't just want this game, you need it. [Holiday 2009, p.81]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    Though we miss the earnest realism of the original game, Skate 3 offers the most complete package thus far, so feel free to hop on board. [July 2010, p.79]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    Quiz World's about as fun as Quiz TV; maybe next year we'll get the best bits of both. [Jan 2010, p.83]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    But perhaps it doesn't need to, because Dot brings enough new to the table, and delivers its homage with enough charm and character to make it worthy on it's own merits. [Jun 2010, p.70]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    It's still undermined by AI niggles, animation glitches, and the lack of a check swing. [May 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    Kids'll love it, but it's lifetime adult gamers who'll truly relish this nod to a legacy a quarter century in the making. [May 2010, p.83]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    An epic adventure. [Apr 2010, p.79]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    An epic and engaging experience, Awakening isn't quite the tour de force we were craving from the creators of Origin, but we're more than happy with this "furthers adventures of" epilogue. [Jun 2010, p.82]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    Great for honing skills on the road or simply on its own, CTP is an excellent port. [Jun 2010, p.79]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    With many new monsters, a vastly improved progress system, and the full original game (as a UMD-only unlockable), this is one worthy sequel--good enough that we might even be able to remember it entire name this time around. [Jun 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    Finishes strong. [July 2010, p.82]
    • Metascore: 85
    • Critic Score 80
    What the game does very well is convey the fun, excitement, and intensity we want from our brawlers(sports-based or otherwise). [Aug 2010, p.84]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    Fans of the series won't be disappointed though, and unlike Tiger's recent media scandal, we think players should find Tiger Woods 11 a pleasant diversion from the rigors of daily life. [Aug 2010, p.83]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    Operation Flashpoint isn't as instantly gratifying as Call of Duty or Battlefield: Bad Company, but give it time and you'll appreciate its unique flavor of war. [Holiday 2009, p.74]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    All in all, UN3 seems fairly ultimate by most ninja standards, at least until number four comes out. [May 2008, p.80]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    LEGO Harry Potter doesn't reinvent the gameplay brick, but it does manage to rearrange its signature parts to create a fresh, imaginative experience for LEGO Harry Potter fans alike. [Sept 2010, p.80]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    With a pretty lean summer of releases, Cybertron is among the best we're going to see for a while. [Sept 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    Dressing up classic gameplay with gorgeous graphics is sometimes enough. [Oct 2010, p.83]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    As enjoyable as Sleep is, it still feels a bit dated. [Oct 2010, p.74]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    Still, this is a heaping, delicious serving of an action-RPG meal with a recipe that's new and improved enough to keep even prior noshers coming back for seconds. [Oct 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    Small issues do exist, such as the goofy storyline and a not-so-useful copilot, but Assault makes an admirable outing for anyone who's ever sought to become Top Gun's Maverick. [Oct 2010, p.79]
    • Metascore: 87
    • Critic Score 80
    Sitting somewhere between a sequel and a revamp, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift is unquestionably a great 2D fighter, but then so is the game it retools, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. [Oct 2010, p.80]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    Everything matters: timing, positioning, footwork, a court's bounciness, our characters favored play style, our opponents favored play style, and even what clothes are worn. Taking that all into consideration to develop effective strategies is what makes the matches so satisfying. [Oct 2010, p.82]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    It's still a very good game--well worth playing right now--but we suspect Mafia II will only fulfill its potential with all the DLC that'll inevitably populate Empire Bay. [Nov 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    While much has been made of the improved graphics and gameplay--with good reason thanks to a whole new motion engine, more intuitive controls, the elimination of the exciting-but-not-very-realistic-turbo button, and the AFL and Super Bowl options--it's online where Madden 11 really shines. [Nov 2010, p.83]
    • Metascore: 88
    • Critic Score 80
    With NHL 2K sitting out this season, these details combine to make NHL 11 the best--and only--videogame on ice. [Nov 2010, p.83]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    This is a licensed game done right. [Nov 2010, p.85]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    Take this for a tumble. [Nov 2010, p.72]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    There's plenty to like here, not the least of which is the developer's thoughtfulness in selecting the game's challenges. [Nov 2010, p.68]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    So yes, Honor's campaign mode is more middle of the road that we'd like. [Dec 2010, p.70]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    Playing Episode 1 felt like hanging out with an old friend who still has all his best moves and looks better than ever. [Dec 2010, p.73]
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    It's all over a bit too quickly, but the open-ended story virtually ensures a sequel--leaving us eager to don the ARS once again. [Dec 2010, p.76]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    There are problems in Valkyria Chronicles II, but most of them have to do with the parts we don't actually play. [Dec 2010, p.78]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    Our one big complaint: the load times. [Dec 2010, p.79]
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    F1 2010 is gorgeous, frighteningly fast, and offers aggressive racing in a packed field. [Dec 2010, p.85]
    • Metascore: 89
    • Critic Score 80
    It still doesn't feel quite like the real thing, but it's very close. [Dec 2010, p.85]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    Think of it as the roguelike version of NIS's Disgaea or Prinny games, complete with a similar snarky style, unlikely characters, and slightly cruel sense of humor. [Holiday 2010, p.77]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    "Quotation Forthcoming"
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    "Quotation Forthcoming"
    • Metascore: 86
    • Critic Score 80
    "Quotation Forthcoming"
    • Metascore: 69
    • Critic Score 80
    "Quotation Forthcoming"
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    When it all goes just right and the heroes get their heads bit off... Well, it's good to be evil sometimes. [Jan 2011, p.85]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    "Quotation Forthcoming"
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    Make no mistake about it: GT5 is the best Gran Turismo game ever made - but sooo much of it is enhanced, but reconstituted, content from previous games. [Feb 2010, p.82]
    • Metascore: 72
    • Critic Score 80
    It's the small touches that make a difference. [Feb 2011, p.87]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    Other than that, Stacking is a doll of a game. [March 2011, p.83]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    Many features are carried over from the PSP Mini version, but this robust and affordable iteration is still an essential for puzzle lovers everywhere. [March 2011, p.83]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    While awaiting a lightsaber-wielding title to justify our Move purchase, Top Darts recreates the favorite pub pastime with an authenticity that had us craving pints of Guinness. [March 2011, p.82]
    • Metascore: 69
    • Critic Score 80
    This top-down arcade shooter has a slow and steady pace that's a great match for it's moody, sci-fi horror vibe. [April 2011, p.85]
    • Metascore: 67
    • Critic Score 80
    At the very least it's worth playing through to the level cap just to fight alongside the most recognizable characters in comics. [April 2011, p.82]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    Regardless of whether we're fully controlling our hero or using simplified, RPG-style battle commands mapped to the PSP's face buttons, duodecim earns its keep by challenging us to use our brains as well as our flying fingers of fury. [April 2011, p.81]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    Epic Games' new first-person shooter franchise packs so much tongue-in-cheek machismo and comically exaggerated action we're going to run out of ways to say "over the top." [April 2011, p.76]
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    Fight Night Champion blends stunning presentation and story with boxing action in a way no game has before. [April 2011, p.74]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    PGA Tour 12 doesn't refine the golf experience, but its streamlined approach makes it simpler to enjoy a round on the links. [May 2011, p.86]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    Though frustration can mount during the solo adventure, Shooter 2 still offers up a ton of ingenuity and creative punch at a puny price. [May 2011, p.83]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    Mostly, though, Birthday is about shooting the hell out of big gruesome monsters. This might be all the meaning most of us require. [May 2011, p.82]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    We came to Homefront for its front lines and its heart, and it's here the war is won. [May 2011, p.80]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    The hole in Top Spin 4's serve is its lack of game commentary, which imparts an eerily quite, last-gen feel to matches. [May 2011, p.79]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    Make no mistake: These stars shine, but not as bright as we might have liked. [May 2011, p.78]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    Fans of traditional arcade racers will find more value in Apocalypse's replay-rewarding multiplayer, but it's the campaign that'll have them instinctively gripping their Hyundai's steering wheel a little tighter every time they cross a rickety bridge. [May 2011, p.74]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    The whole experience is just as addictive as its predecessors, and now that it's got infrastructure cooperative and competitive multiplayer, we no longer have to face this adventure alone. [June 2011, p.80]
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    Everything old, pardon the worn sentiment, is new again with Kombat. [June 2011, p.76]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    This bundle of PS2 games proves that no matter the resolution, it's one of the best game trilogies this side of Olympus. [June 2011, p.83]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    After recently being reinvigorated by the impressive LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, the slowly stagnating LEGO franchise continues its resurgence with LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean, an entry that benefits most from its cinematic source material. [July 2011, p.81]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    A long list of dungeons and co-op modes make this a worthwhile purchase. [July 2011, p.86]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    The mechanic is both clever and well implemented, and Outland is a smart choice for those seeking a fun PSN diversion. [July 2011, p.86]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    It may not be a "real" sequel, but it is hard to imagine portable fighters getting much better than this. [Aug 2011, p.84]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    In the hearts of these developers, Damned finds it salvation. [Aug 2011, p.77]
    • Metascore: 69
    • Critic Score 80
    Looking beyond the kid-friendly presentation, we found a goldmine of fun in this staggeringly deep yet lighthearted civ-management adventure. [Sept 2011, p.87]
    • Metascore: 89
    • Critic Score 80
    Despite its shortcomings, Revolution is still a superior games that's more robust and ambitious than the vast majority of modern shooters. [Oct 2011, p.77]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    Sure, we could complain of minor lapses in visual and audio quality, but Prejudice's high fun-to-price ration make up for its shortcomings. [Oct 2011, p.84]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    Does everything we expect, and it does it all very, very well. It's sky-high production values and focused design create a to-the-point experience that's predictable, but also massive, exciting, and predictably, a whole lot of fun. [Nov 2011, p.78]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    Space Marine sports some cool visual touches, but its presentation falls shy of the top shooters' slick production values and its camera becomes a bit over-caffeinated during close-quarters combat. [Nov 2011, p.86]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    For the committed few, though, time with Disgaea 4 should pleasantly relieve the terrible pressures produced by the voices inside their heads. [Nov 2011, p.85]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    3D Sonic has improved upon past controls with the use of a homing attack that lets him target enemies, as well as the launch pads that allow for more fluid gameplay. [Dec 2011, p.81]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    From Dust takes the god game to a slightly flawed but intriguing place. [Dec 2011, p.77]
    • Metascore: 89
    • Critic Score 80
    But our perseverance was rewarded with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, making Dark Souls one of the most engrossing RPG's we've ever played. [Dec 2011, p.76]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    While comparatively subtle to 2011's makeover, the new coat of polish is still quite noticeable. [Dec 2011, p.73]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    Touchy controls made for a few frustrating segments, but clever level design, interesting gameplay mechanics, and two-player co-op missions make it easy to forgive the game's issues. [Dec 2011, p.69]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    Puzzles were never too frustrating, and Rochard's witty commentary really worked, despite his shoddy southern accent. [Dec 2011, p.69]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    This years model. F1 2011, improves on last years's game in almost every way: qualifying is real, pitting works, and the handling no longer feels ripped from the Dirt series. [Dec 2011, p.68]
    • Metascore: 59
    • Critic Score 80
    Saving the world may be old news to gamers, but Okabu focuses more on preserving and protecting it. [Holiday 2011, p.75]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    Accentuated by some splendid-looking, challenging boss fights, it's a steal for fans of the genre. [Holiday 2011, p.74]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    Seasoned fans that stubbornly stick to solo play can look forward to making plenty of negative comparisons to All 4 One's superior predecessors. [Holiday 2011 ,p.76]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    We dug the re-worked campaign mode, but multiplayer matches for up to four players just can't be beat. [Holiday 2011, p.78]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    The PSN port doesn't look as pretty and there are frame-rate issues when the on-screen actions becomes too intense, but it's still a credible FPS contender. [Holiday 2011, p.78]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    Add in some genuine frights, hilariously ribald dialog, and inventive boss battles, and it becomes clear why there should be more on-rails shooters for the Move. [Holiday 2011, p.78]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    Small frustrations and a wonky camera keep an otherwise stylish RTS-lite from being brilliant, but Eufloria is one of the more interesting strategy titles. [Holiday 2011, p.85]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    Playing God can be addicting. [Holiday 2011, p.85]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    Altogether, Sideway's disparate parts add up to a fresh, creative take on a classic journey. [Holiday 2011, p.84]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    The colorful, grid-based maps shift and turn in surreal ways, lending a truly distinctive feel to the game. [Holiday 2011, p.84]
    • Metascore: 85
    • Critic Score 80
    Despite its incredible competitive online play, we can't ignore the shortcomings of its campaign and Co-Op. [Jan 2012, p.66]
    • Metascore: 72
    • Critic Score 80
    One of the most feature-rich games on the market. [Jan 2012, p.82]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    Enjoyable enough that adult gamers won't mind playing along. [Jan 2012, p.87]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    Beneath the emotional tale and a superb cast of characters lies an abundance of shallow filler content with no real purpose It's disappointing to see a game with so much heart struggle under the burden of artificial mechanics. [Feb 2012, p.80]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    An impressive revamp of a lost classic. [Feb 2012, p.86]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    Reckoning may not set new RPG standards by any means, but it's an earnest attempt at encapsulating everything we love about the genre as a whole. [Mar 2012, p.82]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    For 2D fighter fans, EXTEND is $40 well spent. [Mar 2012, p.85]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    Wacky additions like a zombie invasion mission add further punch to the reboot. [Mar 2012, p.85]
    • Metascore: 80
    • Critic Score 80
    Still, the experience as a whole suffers only slightly, and we're left with an endlessly engaging arcade title any gamer can enjoy. [Mar 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 85
    • Critic Score 80
    Still, Trine 2 is easily PSN's prettiest game and is definitely worth the price of admission. [Mar 2012, p.80]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    Change can be a scary thing, but the developer's gamble paid off: SCV is the most fun we've had with the series in years. [Mar 2012, p.78]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    The sequel bests the original in just about every way while maintaining the same story-focus that helped the first game rise above the average shooter. [Apr 2012, p.76]
    • Metascore: 92
    • Critic Score 80
    Journey's short length and limited replayability make it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend. It is, however, a tour de force of brilliant visuals and music, as well as a joy to play through and explore. It's absolutely worth experiencing at least once. [Apr 2012, p.78]
    • Metascore: 86
    • Critic Score 80
    Hopefully sequels will enhance the career mode. [Apr 2012, p.80]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    Optional challenge rooms aren't as engaging as the critical path, but their inclusion doesn't sully the sinister fun. [Apr 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 68
    • Critic Score 80
    While 2K12 plays a solid game and displays improvements over the past version, it doesn't add enough to achieve its lofty aspirations. [Apr 2012, p.85]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    Manipulating the analog sticks will take some serious practice, but once mastered, skinning the last defender, faking out the keeper, then heading the ball into the goal is wonderfully satisfying. [Apr 2012, p.85]
    • Metascore: 66
    • Critic Score 80
    Steering and handling is a tiny bit sluggish, but we'll take that over twitchy any day. [Apr 2012, p.56]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    Avoid the new controls and this is as addictive a racer as you'll find on a handheld. [Apr 2012, p.57]
    • Metascore: 69
    • Critic Score 80
    Eccentric and bursting with charm. [Apr 2012, p.58]
    • Metascore: 72
    • Critic Score 80
    Truly great games, it seems, never grow old. [Apr 2012, p.58]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    It's hard to fault VT4's easy-entry arcade feel and rewarding career mode. [Apr 2012, p.60]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    A game of precision and timing that demands a perfect port. Here, it gets one. Fighting fans will be pleased. [Apr 2012, p.61]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    PGA Tour 13 is most certainly a complete golf sim package, but the additions merely refine rather than shine. [May 2012, p.84]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 80
    With so much content at our fingertips, we suspect we'll be making devils cry again for a very long time. [May 2012, p.80]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    As a twin-stick shooter, it's inferior to the tighter, more ingenious Geometry Wars, but boosting clean through a massive iceberg is ace. [May 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 58
    • Critic Score 80
    Ninja Gaiden 3 isn't just a great hack-'n'-slash action game, it's a great Ninja Gaiden game. [May 2012, p.78]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    Much about 13 feels familiar, but considering the quality of this portable package, that's not a bad thing. [May 2012, p.77]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    It may not be the flashiest Vita title, but Hustle Kings is a perfect fix for armchair billiards enthusiasts. [May 2012, p.77]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    Disgaea's people know who they are, and they can rest assured that Absence of Detention is what they want. [June 2012, p.76]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    This portable rookie has some flaws, but there's all-star potential come next season. [June 2012, p.78]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    We keep returning to Starhawk's RTS-flavored feature because it's truly what elevates the game above familiar third-person shooter fare. [July 2012, p.74]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 80
    While Prototype 2's story has its faults, the game is nevertheless jam-packed with fun things to do. [July 2012, p.76]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    Minor gripes aside, Sorcery offers up an absorbing adventure and fluid spell-casting controls, making it the most fun we've had behind the Move and a must-play for wizard wannabes of all ages. [Aug 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 68
    • Critic Score 80
    Final Fantasy Tactic addicts should almost feel right at home. Almost. [Aug 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    Vita or PS3, just be sure to take advantage of one of the collections. [Sept 2012, p.85]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    Simply put: this game looks and sounds great, and after some gimmicky missteps with the last few franchise entries, we're pleasantly surprised to find this is the Spider-Man game we've been yearning for, not just another licensed tie-in. [Sept 2012, p.82]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 80
    While it's marred by frequent visual pop-in and frustrating checkpoint placement, Spec Ops is nevertheless a pretty significant achievement. [Sept 2012, p.79]
    • Metascore: 67
    • Critic Score 80
    But even with a limited breadth of content, Tony Hawk HD manages to dish out more nostalgic fun for $15 than our last few retail purchases combined. [Oct 2012, p.83]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    Does Rainbow Moon pack enough gameplay to pass 15 dollars worth of time? Absolutely, and then some. [Oct 2012, p.84]
    • Metascore: 86
    • Critic Score 80
    Fan service doesn't get any better than this. [Oct 2012, p.84]
    • Metascore: 82
    • Critic Score 80
    The action's effective and fluid, and the animation is at times as beautiful as the sport demands. [Nov 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 89
    • Critic Score 80
    First-person hand-to-hand combat feels a bit awkward, and the lack of boss battles means this method also feels a bit repetitive - especially if you're not the inventive type. [Dec 2012, p.75]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    The bargain price(along with the Metal Gear Rising: Revengence demo)might make it more attractive to gamers new to Zone of the Enders, and it's definitely worth it for old fans. [Dec 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 71
    • Critic Score 80
    Newcomers might not understand the appeal(or get the jokes), but gamers who grew up in the '80s will think it's totally rad. [Dec, p.83]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    The gameplay doesn't change much, but the story is more fleshed out on PS3, the levels are longer, and the controls work well. [Dec 2012, p.83]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 80
    The challenges can get dauntingly tough, but Dokuro's clever design, wry humor, and effusive charm make it irresistible. [Dec 2012, p.84]
    • Metascore: 81
    • Critic Score 80
    All said and done, this is an extremely solid racing experience. [Dec 2012, p.85]
    • Metascore: 68
    • Critic Score 80
    Its controls aren't quite as precise as we'd like for a platformer, and the old-school difficulty can be occasionally punishing, but those gripes aside, Hell yeah's a twisted trip worth taking. [Dec 2012, p.86]
    • Metascore: 83
    • Critic Score 80
    The sheer number of unlockables and challenges adds tons of replayability to a game that already demands multiple playthroughs. [Holiday 2012, p.74]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    It's not the revolution we were hoping for, bit it's easily the best portable Creed fix yet. [Holiday 2012, p.,70]
    • Metascore: 78
    • Critic Score 80
    Joe Danger 2 might test our patience, but it's still a great little game well worth the download. [Holiday 2012, p.72]
    • Metascore: 84
    • Critic Score 80
    Goal-oriented gamers needing a concrete beginning and end will be let down, but if you're easily engrossed with multiplayer and exploration, Most Wanted is certainly a blast. [Holiday 2012, p.78]
    • Metascore: 70
    • Critic Score 80
    It's an addictive cycle, and every step has its own interesting challenges, RPG and strategy fans shouldn't let this little sleeper pass by. [Holiday 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 80
    For a trippy rush of never-give-up candor and liberating loop-de-loops, take a trip back to the Sega Saturn and switch off your brain for a while. [Holiday 2012, p.81]
    • Metascore: 73
    • Critic Score 80
    Sackboy's latest won't dethrone any kart-racing kings, but it's adorable style, plentiful content, and accessible creation tools make it a worthy competitor to the cup. [Holiday 2012, p.84]
    • Metascore: 75
    • Critic Score 70
    Fo us, the downsides weigh more heavily than the ups on this one. [Feb 2008, p.80]
    • Metascore: 74
    • Critic Score 70
    The six missions, while short, are gorgeous to look at, and our heavily armored protagonists rank right up there with the baddest-looking dudes of all time. [May 2008, p.78]
    • Metascore: 76
    • Critic Score 70
    Both the story and gameplay arcs seemed pedestrian with the story focusing on character development and a revelation that wasn't particular compelling, and the gameplay never cresendoing to a big payoff ending. [Dec 2008, p.74]
    • Metascore: 77
    • Critic Score 70
    Still, the single-player is entertaining enough, with a lot off the fun of John Woo's original movie. [Jan 2008, p.83]
    • Metascore: 69
    • Critic Score 70
    It's definitely clever and fun, though, and Inferno's raft of improvements is enough to finally make Alone worth your attention. [Holiday 2008, p.81]
    • Metascore: 79
    • Critic Score 70
    In spite of these concerns, we don't want to come off as overly harsh: Tekken 6 is still a solid fighter and an improvement on its predecessor. [Holiday 2009, p.76]
    • Metascore: 67
    • Critic Score 70
    Story aside, however, Manhunt 2 is an important game--not because of the controversy surrounding it, but because it is one of the final few original PS2 games. [Holiday 2007, p.81]