Destructoid

As a game, it is flawed in many aspects, but as an immersing experience, GTA IV is simply unparalleled. Its problems cannot and should not be overlooked, but none of them break the game, and there is just so much charm packed into the thing that you can't stay mad for long. Sure, just clipping a police car and having it turn into a chase that takes you far away from your intended target is an abominable frustration, but soon, like a puppy that's just shit in your shoes, the game will do something completely adorable to make you put down your beating stick and take it out for a walk.

I could nitpick at a few smaller problems Precipice has (I'd really, really like to control the camera, or indeed move it at all, during fights), but to do that is to miss the point. Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is a hilarious, immersive, and goddamned fun gameplay package.

While those with more refined tastes may do well to stay away, those of us who just like to crack open skulls will be sure to get some enjoyment out of this one. Its repetition is all too readily felt, and a lot of elements reek of missed opportunity, but what Viking does manage to deliver is delivered with style, competence and more than enough blood to keep your thirst for gore satiated.

You probably don't believe me, but Sega Superstars Tennis is actually good. It's a damn solid game, with bright and beautiful graphics, simple but fun gameplay and a significant wad of content. While it's certainly not a game you'd be spending weeks playing, it is a definite rental, and the most hardcore of Sega fans might be interesting in picking it up for keeps.

It certainly isn’t close to perfect -- the melee is kind of wonky and disappointingly underdeveloped, it suffers from a fair bit of repetition, and the enemy A.I. is only somewhat smarter than the girls on Flavor of Love. But the infected powers, the occasionally dazzling visuals, and Michael Rosenbaum’s sweet, sweet voice definitely make the game worth a look if you’re a fan of the genre.

While the lag doesn’t technically make MLB 2K8 unplayable online, it’s bad enough to be a severe detriment to enjoying the game. There was a delay between pressing X and actually swinging, so I had to assume that my opponent was throwing a fastball every time — if I wanted to hit it, anyway. He/she seemed to do the same thing, even though I was using Andy Pettitte, whose fastball tops out around 90 mph. That’s no fun.

Overall, Condemned 2 is bad. It's got one or two fun mechanics, which it absolutely refuses to let the player enjoy for any significant length of time. The story sucks, the level design is even worse, and the graphics are grimy to the point of being ridiculous. It's only worth a rent if you absolutely, positively have to see the upgraded fighting system; otherwise, just pass on this lackluster sequel and play the slightly-less-flawed original.

Overall, Army of Two has many good ideas but ultimately falls flat on its promise. It's got some fun moments of cooperativity, some clever mechanics, and an unusually badass multiplayer mode, but its horrible controls and vanilla campaign mode prevent Army of Two from being even an above-average game.

Culdcept Saga doesn't do its best to be accessible and easy to appreciate, and that's probably its biggest downfall. But, when you get past the incredibly steep learning curve, insane match times, and sometimes cheap AI, you'll find a deep, rewarding strategy gaming experience. In the end, it's a lot of work to play and enjoy Culdcept Saga, but you'll find that those who have put in the work can't put it down.

Overall, The Club represents a flawed, but generally enjoyable slice of hardcore gaming. The fast-paced shooting mechanics and old school ideas make for some really intense, exciting, and just plain fun moments, but the squiffy controls and lack of true online score competition prevent The Club from reaching its true potential.