IGN

• X360
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

It’s difficult to give the downloadable version of Phantasy Star II too big of a recommendation considering it was released for a much lower price as part of Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection along with a slew of other classics including Phantasy Star I, III, and IV. But pricing aside, Phantasy Star II is one of the truly classic role playing games of the 16 bit era. While it has some technical issues like the truncation of words and a less than elegant menu system it stands the test of time with its long and enjoyable story.

• DS
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

• PS3
• X360
• 6.8 / 10
• États-Unis

Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires is ultimately more of the same tired Dynasty Warriors gameplay, but the added strategic elements -- both in the expanding of your territory and mid-battle base management -- really help this game out. Empires was easily one of my favorite Dynasty Warriors games in recent memory, despite all the problems it comes along with. I imagine most Dynasty Warriors junkies will enjoy this one, though I still encourage the average gamer to try out other action titles instead, as Dynasty Warriors is (still) showing its age, both in concept and execution.

• PS3
• X360
• PC
• 6 / 10
• États-Unis

Overlord II is a sequel that is neither bigger nor better than its predecessor. The size and scope have been dialed back to something that is more akin to a straight action game. And since none of the frustrating elements of the first have been fixed -- namely the camera, control, and save structure -- this game just isn't much fun. No amount of British wit could bring a smile to my face as I treaded through the tedium that is Overlord II.

• WII
• PS2
• 4.2 / 10
• États-Unis

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has close to zero redeeming qualities. I only say "close to" in case I actually forgot something, though at the moment, I can't think of any. Well, I guess the almost complete lack of Shia Labeouf is one thing.

• PS2
• PS3
• PSP
• X360
• PC
• 5.8 / 10
• États-Unis

It should’ve been out to endow gamers with a speed-induced case of irritable bowel and grip marks on their controllers. Instead, SBK: 09 is a flavourless affair with a personality like an R&B’ing Joaquin Phoenix. It feels very much like a game for sim-nuts. Sure, the driving engine is sharp and there are online options, but with poor presentation and a design vocabulary that excludes the word innovation, gamers mustn’t be fooled. It might have a 09 at the end of its title, but this biker is running a very old race.

• DS
• 4.1 / 10
• États-Unis

There is no reason for Rock Revolution to exist. Guitar Hero: On Tour already does the portable guitar game right, and Hannah Montana: Music Jam is actually a decent full-band game. Konami's game is ugly, the audio is a joke, and the gameplay is dull. This is anything but revolutionary.

• PS3
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

• DS
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

Judging from what my cohorts have seen and played on the other consoles, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on the Nintendo DS seems to have turned out to be the best of the bunch. But that doesn't automatically make the DS versions "great." The sequel is a definite improvement over the 2007 original, but with the time between the original and the sequel it feels like things could have been tightened up further. The finished product has its issues, but at the very least, it's a satisfying action game and represents the Transformers well.

• DS
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

Judging from what my cohorts have seen and played on the other consoles, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on the Nintendo DS seems to have turned out to be the best of the bunch. But that doesn't automatically make the DS versions "great." The sequel is a definite improvement over the 2007 original, but with the time between the original and the sequel it feels like things could have been tightened up further. The finished product has its issues, but at the very least, it's a satisfying action game and represents the Transformers well.

• WII
• 7 / 10
• États-Unis

MySims Racing is an unmistakable Mario Kart Wii rip-off with MySims characters. The controls, sense of speed, track designs and power-ups all feel similar. It may not be original (at all), but with so many similarities to Nintendo's great racer, MySims Racing proves a fun distraction while it lasts. Indeed, I prefer the title's vehicular upgrade system to anything in Kart's and also like the freedom that navigation via a static overworld presents. However, MySims characters are just not as interesting as those from the Mushroom Kingdom and on top of that, EA's title simply doesn't rank where multiplayer is concerned because it doesn't even feature an online mode, one of Kart Wii's greatest strengths. If you're just picking one, choose Mario Kart. But if you've got the money and the inclination to play another kart racer, MySims Racing will certainly satisfy your craving until the next big thing comes along.

• WII
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

There's been a bit of a running trend through the past few Virtual Console reviews -- versions. How some of the versions selected to represent certain titles on the VC platform have been poorly chosen, like the inferior Genesis edition of ClayFighter and the graphically woeful Commodore 64 edition of Boulder Dash. I've had to wade through those poor selections and come out the other end, trying to determine whether or not the games were still worthwhile even though arguably superior editions could have been selected in their stead. (ClayFighter was a no. Boulder Dash, yes.) With Space Harrier, though, there's no question. This is, at last, the definitive edition of an arcade classic -- there are no compromises, and no complaints about poor porting practices or any of that. And, what's more, this particular release contains an amount of extra effort that has, so far, been nearly unmatched by other VC titles in the past. Nintendo revisited Sin & Punishment to update its English and make it more accessible, but that's really the only past example that comes close -- no other game has added compatibility with motion control. There, Space Harrier stands alone. This version of Space Harrier, then, earns a firm recommendation from me. If you downloaded last year's Master System edition, or the Genesis Space Harrier II, I apologize if you felt a little cheated -- there are longtime SEGA fans out there who grew up with those specific versions, so for nostalgic reasons it's still good that they're available in the Wii Shop. And if it frustrated you to have to wait over three months for the Virtual Console Arcade to get moving after its surprise launch last March, I'm right there with you too. But whatever opinion you had going in, I hope you sense the hope as we close -- if quality Arcade releases like this are what's ahead, then the wait and extra Wii Points spent along the way were well worth it.

• DS
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

After the extreme similarity of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s 2008 World Championship game to the prior year's 2007 product, I began to get concerned that fans of the card-battling craze weren't getting enough fresh content to justify the purchase of an "all-new" game. Those concerns, though, have been left in the dust. I'm very impressed with 2009's Stardust Accelerator, as it's entirely a new creation -- still built on the solid foundation of the incredibly deep and strategic Duel Monsters card game design, but with a completely new and unique Story Mode adventure that rivals the feel of some first-party Nintendo console RPGs, like Pokemon Colosseum. Add that to the now nearly 3000 different cards contained in the World Championship database, the continued support for global battling through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and the (as always) free bonus of three exclusive physical cards included in the box alongside the cartridge, and you've got more than enough justification for an all-new purchase. Well done, Konami. Thanks for getting the message.

• DS
• 5.5 / 10
• États-Unis

Flower, Sun, and Rain has been regarded as a pretty bland overall offering from importers and Japanese press, so I knew what I was getting myself into when I snatched this game from the review pile. Even still, all the previous Suda play, old school gaming, and niche tastes that now define me as a reviewer are no match for this odd, sluggish, and borderline masochistic experience. Flower, Sun, and Rain is a success for even making it to the US, but those that dive in should be more than forewarned by critics across all regions at this point; this game is strange, slow, and really tough on its players. Most niche titles out there that become fan favorites have a hard shell, but once you crack it there’s plenty of rewarding gameplay to be found. With Flower, Sun, and Rain, it’s basically Suda’s name (which means a lot more in 2009 than it did in 2001) against a title that’s just too strange, sluggish, and unintuitive to ever be truly fun along the way. I’d rather share a beer with Suda than anyone else in this industry, but I’ll back away slowly from Flower, Sun, and Rain. This one just isn’t that good.

• WII
• 8 / 10
• États-Unis

There's been a bit of a running trend through the past few Virtual Console reviews -- versions. How some of the versions selected to represent certain titles on the VC platform have been poorly chosen, like the inferior Genesis edition of ClayFighter and the graphically woeful Commodore 64 edition of Boulder Dash. I've had to wade through those poor selections and come out the other end, trying to determine whether or not the games were still worthwhile even though arguably superior editions could have been selected in their stead. (ClayFighter was a no. Boulder Dash, yes.) With Space Harrier, though, there's no question. This is, at last, the definitive edition of an arcade classic -- there are no compromises, and no complaints about poor porting practices or any of that. And, what's more, this particular release contains an amount of extra effort that has, so far, been nearly unmatched by other VC titles in the past. Nintendo revisited Sin & Punishment to update its English and make it more accessible, but that's really the only past example that comes close -- no other game has added compatibility with motion control. There, Space Harrier stands alone. This version of Space Harrier, then, earns a firm recommendation from me. If you downloaded last year's Master System edition, or the Genesis Space Harrier II, I apologize if you felt a little cheated -- there are longtime SEGA fans out there who grew up with those specific versions, so for nostalgic reasons it's still good that they're available in the Wii Shop. And if it frustrated you to have to wait over three months for the Virtual Console Arcade to get moving after its surprise launch last March, I'm right there with you too. But whatever opinion you had going in, I hope you sense the hope as we close -- if quality Arcade releases like this are what's ahead, then the wait and extra Wii Points spent along the way were well worth it.

• WII
• 3 / 10
• États-Unis

Let’s not be delusional here. Rolling Stone: Drum King started and finished as a total cash-in product, and isn’t going to hold a candle to the bigger music game efforts out there. Unfortunately, it’s not only way under the bar, but borderline unplayable for anyone looking for a competent music effort on the Wii. The cover band sounds extremely amateur, the in-game band is essentially on autopilot the entire time, and the controls adopt the Wii Music drum mode, combining buttons with waggle on either two Wii-motes or a Wii-mote and nunchuk – the latter of the two being even stranger due to the Wii-mote being held in your left hand and not right. The interface looks nice, the graphics aren’t bad, but this one was doomed the moment it was designed. It just isn’t fun in the least.

• IOS
• 5 / 10
• États-Unis

• WII
• 7.5 / 10
• États-Unis

All in all Climax Studios has done a nice job of crafting a fun world to explore and plenty of enemies to decimate. The real issue is engine stability, and polish. While it’s amazingly fun to run around beating on helpless animals, commanding legions of minions with a simple aim of the Wii-mote pointer, and laughing at the well-crafted story and dialogue therein, there are just some obvious issues that can’t be ignored, and will ultimately impede your fun. Minion AI is moronic at times, ranging from delightful and aggressive to bordering on unusable. The camera is always a struggle as well, and with no way to move it outside of C-center and a pretty slow IR-based movement it can make battles and puzzles a hassle. More than anything though (save for the AI issues) the frame rate kills this one at times, freezing for a frame or two when summoning new Minions or in huge battles, and slowing down the actual in-game frame count to around 10-15 per second when things get really rough. When pitting this up against Climax’s other Wii project, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, the two games aren’t even in the same league. Overlord brings some entertaining elements and some true potential for the system, but the final result is just too buggy and unreliable to be ranked among Wii’s third party greats.