ReCore

A host of technical problems keep this otherwise enjoyable sci-fi adventure from reaching its full potential. ReCore's action will remind some players of Nintendo's Metroid Prime games, thanks to a world that's largely free to explore, but it has areas that remain inaccessible until Joule finds the proper technology necessary to bypass a specific type of obstacle. This usually involves some form of satisfying skill-based traversal, such as dashing and jumping before grabbing hold of a climbing robot that will help her scoot up a track to a higher point. Combat is fun, too; it demands sharp thinking and quick reflexes, with players forced to constantly switch between color-based ammunition types to ensure they're dealing maximum damage before launching an extraction line to yank out enemy robots' power cores.

But, sadly, the action is often hampered by a wide array of technical problems. Exceptionally long loading screens -- often well in excess of two minutes -- will test most gamers' patience, especially when they come again and again as Joule repeatedly dies only a few seconds into a tough fight. Other problems include game freezes, floors that suddenly seem not to exist (you'll fall through the ground and into Far Eden's polygonal underbelly, unable to escape), and boss fights in which a key mechanic -- pulling enemies' power cores from their chests -- suddenly stops working, forcing a game restart. There's still fun to be had with ReCore, but to experience it, the player will need to be both patient and forgiving.