Despite sales figures, the quantity of unsold merchandise, coupled with the expensive movie license and the large number of returns, made "E.T." a major financial failure for Atari. As recently as 2004, the cartridges were still very common and offered at very low prices. While reviews of the movie were highly positive, the game was negatively received by critics, with common complaints focused on the plot, gameplay, and visuals. "New York" magazine's Nicholas Pileggi described it as a loser when compared to other games Atari could have released like "Donkey Kong" and "Frogger". "Video Games" called the game "really for kids (the littler ones)". Kevin Bowen of GameSpy's Classic Gaming called the gameplay "convoluted and inane", also criticizing its story for departing from the serious tone of the film. Author Steven Kent described the game as "infamous" within the industry, citing "primitive" graphics, "dull" gameplay, and a "disappointing story". In 1984 "Softline" readers named the game the second-worst Atari program of 1983, after "Congo Bongo". Nevertheless, the game also received some more positive reviews. An editor for "The Miami Herald" described it as a difficult game to learn to play, but believed it was worth dedicating the time. "Vidiot"s Kevin Christopher criticized the protagonist's repeated falling down back into holes, but considered it "about the only flaw with an otherwise A-1 game." "Arcade Express" scored it 6 out of 10 in December 1982. Critics bemoaned the gameplay's repetitive use of falling down holes. Emru Townsend of "PC World" discussed the game with a group, and found a universal dislike for the pits that E.T. falls into, describing it as "monotonous". Writer Sean "Seanbaby" Reiley also criticized the pits, claiming that they are "time-consuming" and "difficult to leave without falling back in". Trent Ward, a former "Next Generation Magazine" reviewer, commented that this element prompted him to immediately return the game for a refund after purchasing it in his youth, and the children who found games in the New Mexico landfill gave the "E.T." cartridges away because, as one later said, the "game sucked ... you couldn't finish it". Classic Gaming argued that despite the negative reception, the game can be enjoyable after the player has learned to navigate the pits. In published materials written more than a decade after its initial release, "E.T." has been universally panned by critics and is frequently listed as the worst video game ever.