The Video Game Critic's Explanation of Icons
In order to spice up the reviews, I often assign icons to each game. Some of these are informative, indicating notable aspects of a game (may contain gore) or special features (supports motion controllers). I couldn't resist having a little fun, which is why you'll see icons like "May contain cheese" or "May contain hotties". In order to help decipher the meanings, I've included descriptions for each icon below. To see all the games associated with a particular icon, just click on the icon name link.
| Icon | Name | Tool tip (mouse-over) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Funny | This game is funny | This game is very funny. |
 | Long Loads | Warning: Long load times | This game has long load screens. |
 | Best at Night | Best played at night | This game should be played at night. |
 | Carpal Tunnel | Warning: May cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | This game will make your hand hurt. |
 | Fake Review | This is a fake review | The game reviewed here is not real. |
 | Adult | Contains Adult Subject Matter | This game contains adult themes. |
 | Strategy | Strategy game | This is a strategy game. |
 | Brain | Caution: May require use of brain | This game is cerebral in nature. |
 | Buggy | This game has bugs and glitches | This game is known to have glitches and bugs. |
 | Boring | May cause drowsiness | Do not play while operating heavy machinery |
 | Comeback | Return to Glory | After falling from grace, this franchise has arisen from the ashes. |
 | Chicks Dig This | Chicks Dig This | Even girls like this game! Can you believe that? |
 | Download Only | Only Available Via Download | Only available via download from an on-line service like Xbox Live. |
 | Cooperative | Great Cooperative Play | Try teaming up with a friend for this one. |
 | Hidden Gem | This game is a hidden gem | A lot of people don't know about this game, but it's worth checking out. |
 | Violence | Contains violence and gore | Caution: This may contain brutal violence, blood, and guts. |
 | Difficult | Arthur Award for Extreme Difficulty | Named after Arthur of Ghouls and Ghosts game, this game is hard as nails. |
 | ET | ET Award for extreme disappointment | Named after the Atari 2600 flop, this game didn't live up to expectations. |
 | Controversial | Controversial | This game has been a source of controversy. |
 | Expensive | Rare and Expensive | This game is rare, and therefore can be expensive. |
 | Import | Imported | This game was imported into the US, usually from Japan or Europe. |
 | Homebrew | Homebrew | This is a home-made title developed for a classic system. |
 | Hack | Hack of another game | This game is a modified version of an old title. |
 | Winter | Seasonal winter fun | Game features snow, ice, and harsh conditions. |
 | Spring | Seasonal spring fun | Game features beautiful sights and sounds of spring (birds and flowers). |
 | Summer | Seasonal summer fun | Game features tropical or aquatic locations. |
 | Autumn | Seasonal autumn fun | Game features colorful sights of autumn (leaves). |
 | Christmas | Contains Christmas themes | This game is great to play around the holidays. |
 | Halloween | Contains Halloween Themes | May contain Halloween elements, which are awesome. |
 | Cheese | May contain cheese | Caution: This game may contain cheese. Yes, the dairy product. |
 | Chicken | May contain chickens | Caution: This game may contain chickens. |
 | Sharks | May contain sharks | Caution: This game may contain sharks. |
 | Monkeys | May contain monkeys | Caution: This game may contain monkeys. |
 | Dragons | May contain dragons | Caution: This game may contain dragons. |
 | Graveyards | May contain graveyards | This game contains a graveyard! |
 | Hottie | May contain hotties | This game may contain one or more hot-looking babes. |
 | Exploding Barrel | May contain exploding barrels | This shooter features obligatory exploding red barrels. |
 | Pirate | May contain pirates | This game may contain pirates (as in Pirates of the Caribbean) |
 | Film-based | Based on a film | This game is based on a movie. |
 | TV-based | Based on a TV show | This game is based on a television program. |
 | RPG | Role-playing Game (RPG) | This is a role-playing style game (usually turn-based). |
 | Puzzle | Puzzle game | This is a puzzle-oriented game (think Tetris). |
 | Musical | Musical game | Music is the key element in this game (think Guitar Hero). |
 | Multiplayer | Ideal for three or more players | This is great for multi-player/party action. |
 | Kid Friendly | Suitable for children | This game is suitable for young children. |
 | Scary | This game is scary | Caution: This is a scary game! |
| Frightening | This game is frightening | Caution: This game is extremely frightening! |
| Terrifying | This game is terrifying | Caution: This game is downright terrifying! |
 | Floppy Disk | Comes on 5.25 floppy disk | Comes on the media used by 8-bit computers. |
 | CD | CD Format | Comes on a CD. Used for systems like Neo Geo which also support cartridges. |
 | Two CDs | Includes two CDs | This game comes on two CDs. |
 | Three CDs | Includes three CDs | This game comes on three CDs. |
 | Four CDs | Includes four CDs | This game comes on four CDs. |
 | Light Gun | Uses light gun controller | Supports (or requires) light gun controller. |
 | Steering Wheel | Works with Steering Wheel controller | This game works with an optional steering wheel controller. |
 | Trak-ball | Supports trak-ball controller | This game supports optional trak-ball controller. |
 | Balance Board | Supports balance board | This game supports balance board controller (like the one for the Wii). |
 | Voice | Has voice feature | Game supports voice synthesis (Intellivision) or voice recognition (microphone). |
 | Keyboard | Supports keyboard | Supports (or requires) keyboard controller. |
 | Paddle | Uses paddle controller | Uses Atari 2600 paddle controllers. |
 | Motion | Supports Kinect or Move motion controls | Supports Kinect (Xbox 360) or Move (Playstation 3) controllers. |
 | 3D Glasses | Supports 3D Glasses | Works with 3D glasses such as those available for the Sega Master System. |
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