Game Reviews

Thanks to the high-res treatment and bloodily timeless gameplay, these PS2 action classics hold up better than you might think.
reviewed on Nov. 20, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Tony Hawk: RIDE's shoddy hardware and ill-conceived software merge to form something completely abysmal.
reviewed on Nov. 20, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Quiz World has some rough spots, but if you've got a group of trivia fiends in your home, Buzz! has your back.
reviewed on Nov. 18, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Assassin's Creed II elaborates on the good ideas of its sneak-and-stab forebear, making an experience that requires far fewer excuses to enjoy.
reviewed on Nov. 17, 2009 by Ryan Davis

To outsiders, the changes in Modern Warfare 2 might sound minor. But if you've played a significant amount of Call of Duty 4, they range from "neat idea" to "totally mindblowing."
reviewed on Nov. 10, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

It's Guitar Hero 5 with different graphics and a more diverse setlist. If you like these 65 songs, you should probably get Band Hero.
reviewed on Nov. 4, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Tekken 6 is a great fighting game, but it's bogged down by a lot of extraneous baggage.
reviewed on Nov. 3, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Even the most nostalgic Infinity Engine stalwarts will find a lot to love in this story-heavy RPG.
reviewed on Nov. 3, 2009 by Dave Snider

DJ Hero's gameplay is challenging and exciting with a feel all its own, making it a welcome addition to the world of peripheral-based rhythm games.
reviewed on Oct. 27, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time manages to play to its strengths while adding enough to make this the best in the series.
reviewed on Oct. 23, 2009 by Vinny Caravella

The gameplay is pretty clunky, but everything else surrounding it makes WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2010 a really interesting package for wrestling fans.
reviewed on Oct. 23, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Borderlands' blend of first-person shooting and role-playing works because it puts the shooting first, resulting in a satisfying action game with enough depth and skill development to keep you hooked for 50 hours or more.
reviewed on Oct. 19, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

The heavy metal fantasy world of Brutal Legend and the characters that populate it are far more well-realized and engaging than the ambitious-but-flawed gameplay.
reviewed on Oct. 13, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Nathan Drake's latest outing is one of the most exciting and memorable action games in years, and one you need to play for yourself.
reviewed on Oct. 12, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Saw captures the rusty, sadistic aesthetic of the films well enough, though like the series, the longer it goes on, the less interesting it is.
reviewed on Oct. 12, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Katamari Forever doesn't change much about this quirky, long-running series, and you know what? That's totally OK.
reviewed on Oct. 2, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Improvements on the original in every area make Dirt 2 the one to beat when it comes to off-road racing.
reviewed on Sept. 23, 2009 by Drew Scanlon

It trades its predecessor's goofy fan-service enthusiasm for something approaching relevance and seriousness, but MUA2 still packs a superhero punch.
reviewed on Sept. 18, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Wet's terrific lead character deserves to be trapped in a better game.
reviewed on Sept. 18, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Need for Speed: Shift does a lot of the things you'd expect a sim-style racing game to do, but it does so in a passionless way that's really off-putting.
reviewed on Sept. 15, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

A loving tribute to one of the most influential pop groups of the 20th century with an abundance of catchy, recognizable songs to make up for the gameplay's relative simplicity.
reviewed on Sept. 9, 2009 by Ryan Davis

Neversoft delivers a bubbly, slick-looking Guitar Hero game that benefits from big production values and a more accessible feel, and suffers from some questionable choices and a track list that lacks cohesion.
reviewed on Sept. 4, 2009 by Ryan Davis

It's not going to blow your mind with new, never-before-seen features or anything like that, but Wolfenstein is well-designed and engaging from start to finish.
reviewed on Aug. 18, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

It's really hard to imagine anyone having anything that even resembles a good time while playing G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
reviewed on Aug. 10, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

The core fighting in King of Fighters XII is really sharp, but everything surrounding it is a little disappointing.
reviewed on Aug. 4, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

While there's certainly substance to Arc's 2D fighter, you have to dig through so many layers of loud music and flashy visuals that the whole experience becomes a bit exhausting.
reviewed on July 21, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Despite some frustrating early network issues, this lean, mean sequel to the grandaddy of all Battlefield games still has it where it counts.
reviewed on July 13, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Street Fighter IV combines old and new in powerful ways, resulting in a game familiar enough to bring retired fans back into the fold while being different enough to appeal to the players who have stuck with the genre since day one.
reviewed on July 7, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Between its legendary roster and authentic gameplay, Fight Night Round 4 is a great homage to the sport of boxing.
reviewed on June 23, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

The range of absurdly destructive combat powers stops just short of the kitchen sink in this wild open-world superhero game from Radical Entertainment.
reviewed on June 10, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

Who knew that blowing apart buildings, bridges, and other Martian structures could be so satisfying?
reviewed on June 9, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Dynamic, pinpoint-precise combat and a sprawling urban landscape define this great open-world action game from Sucker Punch.
reviewed on May 22, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

The single-player options are a little slim, but taking the fight to opponents over the Internet is absolutely awesome.
reviewed on May 19, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Bionic Commando has moments of brilliance that help cover the game's flaws, but really, it all comes down to how much you like swinging around.
reviewed on May 17, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Wheelman has some great ideas that are executed well, but a lot of the peripheral stuff is underwhelming.
reviewed on April 13, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Wanted: Weapons of Fate is fun while it lasts, but it doesn't last very long and doesn't give you great reasons to play through it a second time.
reviewed on March 30, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

WWE Legends of Wrestlemania contains some great, nostalgic moments, but the rest of the package is a letdown.
reviewed on March 27, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

By necessity, Resident Evil 5 makes a smaller impact than its groundbreaking predecessor, but it's still a creepy, fantastic action game in its own right.
reviewed on March 12, 2009 by Brad Shoemaker

While the game is conceptually interesting, Matt Hazard's "return" comes up short in just about every way imaginable.
reviewed on March 12, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Killzone 2 offers terrific class-based multiplayer that will keep you coming back long after the campaign is finished.
reviewed on Feb. 26, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

There are moments of questionable quality sprinkled throughout 50 Cent's latest video game adventure, but if you're looking for something silly and totally over-the-top, Blood on the Sand is actually kind of hilarious.
reviewed on Feb. 24, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

For what Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection lacks in quality, it at least partially makes up for by its sheer quantity of emulated games.
reviewed on Feb. 16, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Afro Samurai's exciting and graphic combat is its strongest suit, but that fighting is bogged down by enough issues that make it tough to recommend.
reviewed on Feb. 2, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

Skate 2 makes a load of interesting changes to the structure of the average skateboarding game and includes enough interesting multiplayer options to keep players going for awhile.
reviewed on Jan. 26, 2009 by Jeff Gerstmann

SmackDown! vs. RAW 2009 has a lengthy list of features and modes, but none of them truly capture the excitement of watching WWE on television.
reviewed on Dec. 7, 2008 by Jeff Gerstmann

Grave performance issues, a bland narrative, and a condescending level of difficulty burn through most of Need for Speed Undercover's potential for fun.
reviewed on Dec. 1, 2008 by Ryan Davis

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe successfully merges the two worlds while also delivering a great new fighting system for the current generation of consoles.
reviewed on Nov. 17, 2008 by Jeff Gerstmann

This first-person parkour game stumbles often, but it does it with style.
reviewed on Nov. 12, 2008 by Ryan Davis

Call of Duty: World at War is a great first-person shooter, but it's still stuck in the shadow of an even greater one.
reviewed on Nov. 11, 2008 by Jeff Gerstmann

Sony fleshes out its chaotic off-road racing series with this rough-and-tumble sequel.
reviewed on Nov. 10, 2008 by Ryan Davis