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The controls bashing has been a stellar example of why I no longer trust game 'journalists.' If, playing through the game, you can't see the fact that this game is too fast for dual analog controls (unless they just blasted through at 2.0 intensity to fill their review quota, which would be equally horrid), you don't deserve to be writing for a games magazine. Maybe a corner in TIME or something major like that, but not if you proclaim yourself as any sort of gamer. It's sad that these guys always go on a roll about games needing INNOVATION, and when it comes knocking on their door they take every measure possible to make sure it scores 20% lower than the next Call of Duty or GTA release. Having said that: controls took me a bit of time to get used to, but that was that. Not much more jarring than the first time I had to use dual analogs in place of a KB+M. Waiting for me was a game with incredible SP, excellent dialogue (what I thought would be Saturday Morning Cartoon-quality turned out more like the better battle sequences in a Disney flick), and a balanced MP that offers limitless playability with the huge number of weapons available. New experiences in life often require learning new things (think back to when you first drove a car, rode a bike, operated a power plant, etc). Sakurai refused to conform the game to existing controls, and playing the game it should make it obvious that the reward is more than worth the small learning curve.

This is one of those games that people will say is 'not for everyone' but also something that everyone should try out. Have you ever played with a set of crayons and paper? If so, then you're probably in the demographic that will enjoy this. Making stuff never gets old, and the quirky atmosphere really adds to this rendition of 'create a creature.' If I went on with the whole paper and crayons thing, it's like your nightmarish drawings from when you were 5yrs old suddenly popped out and started doing breakdances while eating apples and pooping all over the place. Seriously. I hadn't laughed as much as I have watching my creations walk in their freaky ways, or make one from a 'template' that turned out to be nothing like what it was supposed to come out as. Recommended for all but the hardest of 'hardcore' gamers that can't get past the notion that there's light beyond the shining foreheads of bald space marines.

Shadow Wars does so many things right that it is very easy to let its shortcomings slide. As a strategy game, the lack of micromanagement makes it a very good title for even those not usually into strategy titles of any sort, myself included. Being in control of a small team means you're making fewer choices, though those choices will have much heavier weight on them. This would seem like a recipe for repetitive gameplay, but the creators have gone ahead and made levels of all sorts -- search and destroy, bomb defusion, stealth missions, and hostage rescue to name a few. Combined with the return fire mechanic you get the distinct feeling that you're guiding a skilled group of ghosts through these missions. Where the game does fall short is the brain-dead story. Ghosts that get their cover blown due to unnecessary radio chatter, ghosts that dream of R&R on the beach... we can bury those along with the Saturday morning cartoon the scenario was obviously based on. Thankfully enough, much like a great FPS you'll forget about the story at hand when trying to help your squad survive near-insurmountable odds. One last thing I'd like to say: ignore the senseless 'professional reviews' that will tell you the graphics are lacking or that 3D somehow adds nothing to the gameplay. For a portable SRPG the graphics are actually _very_ well done. The 3D adds a sense of board game-like weight to the world, and makes detecting elevation changes on the fly very easy. Damage modifiers for height does exist, so this criticism is at best silly; you'll find yourself positioning your sniper well in the higher difficulties, because that extra point of damage can often make or break the mission.