Redout 2

While some games are bad, they're never as irritating as ones like this futuristic racing game, which that's undermined by a fatal, and avoidable, flaw. In Redout 2, players pilot jet-power hovering racing vehicles on roller coaster-esque tracks full of wild curves, loop-de-loops, corkscrews, and long jumps. And when you get into a race, it really makes you feel like you're driving super fast, and at the edge of your seat, as you battle for supremacy against other drivers with equally swift and nimble vehicles.

The problem is that getting to those races is way tougher than it should be. The game's single-player "Career" mode starts with three training exercises, as well as a race in which you test those skills. But the third part and the test race are so tough, and must be completed so flawlessly, that you'll have to do them over and over until you finally get them right (23 times before it was cleared during this review). And only then can you start your career as a professional race pilot. Granted, that career is fun one. Races in this game can be exhilarating if you master your craft (pun intended), thanks to the cleverly twisty tracks. But by giving players absolutely no wiggle room in the training exercises, some players of Redout 2 may quit in frustration before they actually get to the real game.