The gameplay isn't as revolutionary, but those who feel adrenaline is one of the four basic food groups will get your money's worth here.

Longbow 2 is a feature-rich, detailed, and truly impressive piece of work.

With this online-only shoot-'em-up, there's no need for grandiose strategy or complicated maneuvers; all you've got to do to have fun is start running and gunning.

This port of the PlayStation game carries over the original's infuriating control and shallow gameplay to make for a short-lived but pretty-looking Tomb Raider knockoff.

With the glaring omissions fixed and a graphics overhaul, Pro Pilot could be contender.

It is one of the best strategy games of the year and deserves more attention than it is liable to get.

Even with all of its pluses, Sub Culture has several flaws that keep it from being the instant classic that it could have been.

If you're looking for a fun multiplayer action game, SubSpace is for you.

The payoff is never as heavy as the suspense and definitely not worth the amount of time spent figuring out the solutions.

Superficially, Tanarus is sort of a cross between M1 Tank Platoon, Multiplayer BattleTech, and capture the flag.

Boris Yeltsin has died, leaving a power vacuum in his passage. Which one of 8 factions--the KGB, the Mafia, the military, the church, and more--will you be? With shades of Risk and Diplomacy, this turn-based strategy game is based on the board game of the same name.

Before you think that this is an entirely bad game, let me be the first to inform you that it does have its strong points.

If you're looking for a simple, fun, and fast-moving action arcade game, this may be the perfect choice.

If all you're looking for in a baseball sim are handsome graphics and a good interface when playing in action mode, VR Baseball gives you everything you want.

It may not be the most highly talked-about game ever to crash the real-time party, but it is certainly one of the most entertaining.

Fans of the X-Men comics series might very well enjoy this game. But if you are just looking to prolong the life of that Quake file sitting on your hard drive, your money could be better spent.

Balance of Power does an admirable job of addressing almost all the complaints gamers had with the original game.

Easy to Learn. Hard to Master. Complete system intuition, leaving you free to destroy the opposition and keep you coming back for more. Just live DID's award-winning-predecessor, EF2000. It's All Glass. In the F-22 cockpit, everything's right there in front of you. Fly-by-wire controls. Multi-function displays. The enemy. AWACS Commander. AWACS simulator gives you a bird's eye view of the battlespace. You vector flights to their targets. If It's Good Enough for NATO... The F-22 ADF lights up your PC with the same DID 3D graphics engine used to train NATO Pilots. Here's the first simulation good enough to honor the flyer.

Playing this violent masterpiece - with its flashy arsenal of weapons and lifelike cretins - is a technically arresting adventure.

Stoked by the forges of Hellfire™ burns the first and only authorized expansion of the Diablo™ universe. This fiery new tale finds you face-to-face with the evil of Na-Krul. Once the servant of Diablo, now this hideous demon plans to depose his master as the lord of all evil. In this all-new single player missing, you alone must descend into new levels of danger. Exploring never-before-seen depths of savage brutality. Gain new weapons, powers and strengths in the attempt to defeat the demon Na-Krul. Then, if you live, battle an even stronger Diablo than ever before.

The Jack Nicklaus series is fast becoming the most complete and satisfying computer golf game on the market.

Dark Corona Pegasus is an action arcade game. (You can also call it a scrolling shoot'em'up game). As a member of the Rebell Alliance, you fight against the troops of the emperor "Keldor". The emperor tries to destroy all planets of the system - and you are the only hope to stop it. You fly a R4010 Spaceship - the best spaceship available in Galaxy.

This is one of the more child-safe games to come along in a while.

A botched attempt to meld Descent-like graphics and action with a semblance of real-time strategy, Virus: The Game fails by a wide margin to deliver on its promise.

Dinosaurs and dragons. Monsters and elves. Enter the realm of Fantastic Worlds, the Sid Meier's Civilization II add-on where magic and imagination rule in more then 15 new fantasy and sci-fi based scenarios. Best of all, you can dream up and create your own fantastic scenarios using a rich art portfolio and a set of 10 custom scenario creation tools.

Excalibur 2555 AD is a Tomb Raider wannabe that falls short of that lofty goal in every respect.

Street Fighter Alpha 2 explodes on-screen with lightning-fast gameplay and amazing innovations. Quick Move Reversals, Alpha Counters and the incredible Custom Combo System create a new standard for all games to fight by. Push your talents to the limit as you discover new hidden moves and reversals for every character. Neutralize opponent's attacks with high and low Alpha Counters and execute incredible Custom Combos to create your own rapid-fire assault of attacks. All your favorite warriors are back for more. Previously hidden characters Dan, Akuma and Bison are joined by 5 new fighters: Sakura, Rolento, Gen and classic favorites Dhalsim and Zangief.

Quick - what has dozens of monkeys, ghost pirates galore and more insults than a cranky parrot? Why, The Curse of Monkey Island, of course! In this highly anticipated third installment to LucasArts' popular Monkey Island series of graphic adventures, Guybrush Threepwood once again takes up dull blade and rapier wit against the nefarious demon-pirate LeChuck. In Curse, Guybrush must save his one true love, Elaine Marley, from being turned into the evil pirate's zombie bride. But, hoping to marry Elaine himself, Guybrush unknowingly slips a cursed ring onto her finger that transforms her into a gold statue. He must then find a way to change Elaine back to her beautiful self and stop LeChuck from carrying out his sinister plans. Aye, 'tis a rollicking piratey adventure that's sure to challenge the mind and shiver a few timbers! [LucasArts]

Enter a deceptively beautiful world torn apart by age-old conflicts...where secrets lie hidden at every turn...and nothing is as it seems. You must search. You must explore. You must summon every spark of intellect and intuition. Only then will you learn the truth and this troubled land and its inhabitants. You must let Riven become your world - before an entire world is lost. [Red Orb]

With the exception of its lacking originality, Heavy Gear contains all the elements of a successful game and is certainly the finest game of its kind in many months.

The unstoppable Lara Croft is back in TRII, complete with the classic gameplay that made Tomb Raider the game of the year! Join Lara in her quest for the Dagger of Xian, reputed to possess the power of the dragon. But beware, Lara is not the only one in search of danger! Warrior Monks and crazed cult members plot against you as you travel from the remote mountain peaks of Tibet, the canals of Venice and even to the bottom of the sea.

Grand Inquisitor is the best graphical Zork yet, and one of the most consistently entertaining adventures of the year.

Although this is not a terrible game, there's nothing here that would merit someone to really consider buying it when there are so many other 3D games of such a higher caliber.

The worst thing you can say about Chessmaster 5500 is that you might not want to spend the bucks on it if you already own Chessmaster 5000.

Myth is arguably the first real-time strategy game to put the player in a true 3D landscape, with an emphasis on tactical battlefield action rather than base construction. Myth also happens to be one of Bungie's most successful pre-Halo releases, and shows off the company's range and ability in genres outside of first-person shooters. A single player mode features an engrossing and enjoyable plot, with you battling the evil and eponymous Fallen Lords, their evil leader, Balor and all manner of undead creatures, but Myth's multiplayer is where it really stands out. Bungie.net's game-matching technology has been much-emulated since, and at Myth's release, was something truly special. Multiple game modes including King of the Hill, Steal the Bacon and even co-op added huge variety to what was an outstanding and standard-setting game - and it still is. If ever an older game deserved another visit, it's Myth, with a huge, loyal and highly motivated following. [Bungie]

Though not an entirely bad idea, the actual combination of the two proves to be somewhat pointless.

In a genre that's already given us Hind, Longbow, and the Comanche series,AHx-1 simply doesn't measure up.

Armed & Delirious is blander than it thinks it is and certainly less clever and entertaining than it should have been.

Blade Runner is an interesting mood piece, but somewhere along the production line, someone forgot to include a game.

Plunge into a shadowy conspiracy world where the schemes of a mad drug kingpin and the prophesied return of an ancient Mayan god clash in what could be the end of all mankind. Race around the globe with George as he frantically attempts to free Nico, his investigaative reporter girlfriend, from othe clutches of Karzac's crime cartel. Guide Nico and George as they unravel the dark mysteries that lead them closer and closer to an ancient horror best left buried in the steamy jumgles of Central America. Gather clues and make friends, but be aware - a smiling face can hide a deadly obstacle in your quest to sop the return of "he who devours the sun and consumes the flesh of all mankind," the Mayan God Tezcatlipoca. [Virgin Interactive]

When it gets to the actual gameplay, Civil War Generals 2 is practically identical to Robert E. Lee: Civil War General.

This game may never make it to the winner's circle, but it'll get you where you want to go.

Although it desperately clings to the precepts espoused by most real-time wargames, Earth 2140 shouldn't be quickly dismissed as just another Command & Conquer retread.

Given how long Sierra's been refining this series, you'd expect the '98 editionto be the best ever.

Galapagos can be pretty much summed up in four words: great idea, questionable implementation.

Hannibal is a handsomely designed gaming system that integrates a suite of thoughtfully crafted and eminently challenging features throughout every facet of play.

The improvements prove to be nothing more than a cheap face-lift of a rapidly aging game.

There are some glitches and oversights scattered throughout the program, to be sure, but the fun to be had makes them easy to live with.

The game, while earth-shatteringly simple, does require more than a little strategy and ends up offering quite a challenge.

All in all, it's quite obvious the time and energy went into set design and mediocre character animations, not into actually making the game work.

It's undeniable that NBA Action 98 is a great first attempt, probably the best competition NBA Live has ever had.

There are some fundamental problems in NBA Live 98, but it is a lot of fun to play and captures the sensationalized aspects of the NBA very well.

Despite its numerous strengths, the game just doesn't have much longevity.

Where Powerplay '98 stacks up most favorably against NHL '98 is the place you'd least expect it - out on the ice.

Nuclear Strike is the PC port of the extremely successful console Strike series, and a brilliant port it is.

A great deal of the game's potential depth is sacrificed for the sake of speedy real-time action.

It's unfortunate that there are so many failings in Sabre Ace, since the overall package, subject matter, and mission structure are all good.

SODA Off-Road Racing is a great title marred only by poor graphics and uninspired sound.

The changes to the system are for the better, but they simply make it feel morelike a glorified patch than a new game.

In the world of SimCity, all that was lacking was the ability to wander your cities and towns. Now, you can. In Streets of SimCity, you can place any town from SimCity 2000, and drive the streets. That would include, taking a peaceful ride in the city, or a reckless Destruction Derby on the side of the road in modified cars. The modded cars include, shields, and even flight. That takes almost all boundaries away for a never ending clash of vehicles, to see who is the best.

Just about every element within it presents a new twist on what has now become a fairly predictable PC gaming category.

As was the case with the movie, the plot becomes the game's own worst enemy.

Veterans of the You Don't Know Jack series will be instantly at home with the gameplay.

Played from a first-person perspective, this frenetic game is unlike anything else in its genre.

Dark Rift delivers hyper-active 3D fighting with a sci-fi theme! Compete against eight exotic and powerful characters and two very large bosses. Motion captured character animations enhance the realism. The arsenal includes multiple-hit combos, back-crunching grabs, juggles, projectiles, and punishing special moves. Tune into individual character stereo sound tracking. Fight in Tournament, 2-Player or Training modes.

Adventurers longing for a deep and rich story, with carefully crafted characters, coupled with swashbuckling fighting action and challenging puzzles and problem solving, look no further.

SPY Fox is a suave secret agent who battles dastardly characters such as William the Kid, Napoleon LeRoach and King Conglomerate with his cohorts Monkey Penny, Quack and Walter Wireless. Level 4 (primarily children ages 9 to 11).

Yet another world-class arcade conversion hits the Saturn! Manx TT Superbikes recreates the top-speed twists and turns of the legendary Isle of Man TT circuits. Throw your high-powered superbike around country lanes and hurtle through villages at hair-raising speeds as one or two riders push their nerves to the absolute limit on the circuit where heroes are made!

Atomic Games has managed to create the ideal sequel: It expands and adds many features while keeping everything that made the first game a joy to play.

The dawn of a new age of exploration. Your race has discovered a way to pass through the fabric of space and move to other solar systems beyond your own. The galaxy is alive with movement and colonization. But you soon discover, that you are not alone. Other races have evolved and seek to further their empires. Will you coexist, or is the galaxy yours to do with as you please? You'll have to design your starships, build them and send them into the icy void of space. Explore new solar systems, colonize strange alien worlds, and build an industrial complex to feed your empire. Research vital new technologies, perform intelligence operations on your neighbors, and play the delicate game of political intrigue. Will your empire stand the test of time and conquer the galaxy? Or will you bring peace to the untold billions who await you? Your dominion awaits...

Overall, Buccaneer feels like an unfinished work, and the fact that it offers a few really good features makes the overall package that much more disappointing.

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In Dark Forces, Kyle Katarn, a young mercenary successfully infiltrated the Empire. Jedi Knight continues the story of Katarn as he embarks on a quest into his past and learns the mysterious ways of the Jedi. With this knowledge, he must stop seven Dark Jedi from unlocking the powers of a hidden Jedi burial ground. This task forces Katarn to decide his destiny. If he chooses the Dark side, he will come into enormous power. If he chooses the Light side, he faces seemingly insurmountable evil. Whatever path Katarn chooses will change the face of the galaxy forever. [LucasArts]