With the atmosphere and mood so sensationally presented, Shadow of Rome exceeded my expectations, which might have been questionable since I am avidly interested in the history of Greece and Rome.

The only disappointment visible here is constituted in my mind by an utter lack of customizable options with each of the bikes.

Although Cleopatra is just as enjoyable as "Pharaoh," it doesn't really change the experience for the better.

The action is fast-paced and well-staged, and you really become absorbed in the virtual world of the famous arachnid. But two major deficiencies -- in the control system and the camera work -- almost succeed in ruining this title.

Though plagued by control and interface problems, the entertainment value suffers only some edgewise tarnish on an otherwise well polished piece of silver.

There's still no excuse for an unbalanced throwing game and slightly twitchy AI routines that should have been cleared up in the intervening year.

A brilliant renaissance for the once dominant beat-em-up genre...[but] you realize that this is an extremely short title posing as an epic undertaking in its revolution mode.

My conundrum is that despite the issues and glaring oversights, Beyond Divinity is still fun to play.

Micromanagers and fans of "Pharaoh" have cause for celebration with the arrival of Children of the Nile, and should be thanking the god of their choice for the abundance that has been provided.

While the combat mechanics aren't as involved as "Bushido Blade," the combat system is solid, and there are RPG-lite elements to add to the mix.

Its additions are fine and I enjoyed the game overall, but too many elements are the same as its predecessor, giving the program the feel of a very-polished expansion pack.

Doesn't contain novel graphics, audio or gameplay, but it does offer more of what worked so well before. Given the short length of the campaign, Mercenaries might have fared better as an expansion pack.

A fun, yet brief detective adventure that will occupy several evenings of play, but like a watched episode of the show, will probably never be picked up again after completion.

With the various methods of strategic growth, tactical conquest, and diplomatic gains, Diplomacy lives up to its table-bound namesake’s reputation. It is easy to learn, play, and master.

1nsane provides not only a sense of freedom but also a sense of chaos, and I recommend it highly as a great escape from the doldrums of day-to-day existence.

Frequent issues with controlling your avatar coupled with broken quests keep this gem from truly shining up to its full potential. The good news is there’s nothing so wrong with it that a few patches can’t fix.

I prefer to think of Invisible War as a flawed diamond rather than a better-than-average lump of coal, as the sheer depth of its storyline and superb graphical quality make up for a multitude of shortcomings.

While the mechanics are solid, the single-player campaign often feels as soulless and hollow as the vacuum in which it takes place.

The core gameplay is involving and well executed, and bolstered by a great camera, solid controls and an intuitive interface. However, the sequel lacks any decisively outstanding or revolutionary features that truly invest the player in the storyline.

Sorry to disappoint, but Ethan Hunt doesn't belong to the same clubs as Bond, get the same beautiful babes, use better gadgets, or even wear as nice clothes, and he sure doesn't have as great a game...not even close.

It's not an innovative title, but it was made with a good deal of polish and will hold your attention for some time.

Advanced players and long time fans of "Starfleet Battles" will rue the simplifications of the rule set, though the great sense of online community still remains.

Doesn't reach its full potential because of flaky AI and chunky models that distract from an otherwise deeply engrossing environment.

If you have access to a broadband connection and take well to online co-operative games, then The Omega Strain might just be worth your time and money, primarily thanks to the massive collection of cool unlockables. However, the single-player aspect is so unbalanced and unpolished that the each mission quickly becomes a chore, a menial, labored process.

While it is playable, and actually pretty fun a lot of the time, it has some serious, nearly game ruining flaws that, for me, made it a complete disappointment.

An experience which never rises above being a cool simulation, albeit a fantastically detailed and well thought out one.

The quality graphics, accessible interface, fun single-player and multiplayer action, and effective sound all combine to make this a very appealing release.

From a purely objective standpoint, the poor use of the Source engine's capabilities makes for a disappointing offering. Speaking subjectively, I've enjoyed Bloodlines more than any other RPG since "Knights of the Old Republic" or perhaps "Morrowind."

What Diablo II lacks in visuals, it makes up for in music, as the appropriately selected and highly engaging tunes never fail to live up to the moment and truly serve to immerse the player.

ER was too short for my taste and replayability is a problem as well, but it was easy to forgive these issues. This game offers rich and engaging gameplay and is adequately priced, so I feel confident in giving it the score.

The plot is absorbing, the graphics are wonderful, the sound and music are enthralling, and the puzzles are challenging. However, interface problems, relatively brief gameplay, and the absence of the critical online component are significant deficiencies.

With some fine-tuning to the graphics and sound effects, and some revisions to the slightly restrictive controls, this could have been an "SSX"-killer.

Using a trick based system that rewards slides, two-wheeled skids and perfect runs, the player must earn points for the above while still riding the line and achieving exceptional lap times. At first this technique seems fresh, but after a few incredibly disappointing runs down the later tracks you'll find it more frustrating than satisfying.

I have no doubt that it's destined to be a sleeper classic.

Visually, it is a stunning achievement that aside from a few frame rate issues presents some of the best graphics we've yet seen in the genre as a whole. Outside of the visuals, though, no one element of this title really stands out as an amazing aspect.

The micromanagement got a bit tedious at times and I found myself having to do too much just to keep things running. I thought the scenario editor was quite good, although I wish I'd been able to have more control over the amount and location of resources, which could have made for even more interesting scenarios.

The physics of the game are almost impossible to overcome; and in the week plus that I tweaked around with the controls, I was never able to gain a mastery over my vehicle or the environment.

Despite its many faults, it remains a solid contribution to its genre, with graphics and music that form a particularly credible environment. That the arrival of its hasty conclusion is so regrettable is only a testament to its many strengths.

It's got great non-stop action with pretty visuals and its three new playable characters offer a unique gameplay experience, despite its general brevity.

Like a college fling: It looks pretty enough, but lacks the substance you'd need for a long-term relationship.

The backstory is fascinating, and plot hooks keep the player interested; you'll want to uncover Harbinger's secrets. The glue that holds it together, however, fun as it might sometimes be, never seems to change.

There's not enough meat on this Bandicoot to feed you for more than a week for the casual gamer or a weekend for the hardcore fan.

The major problem holding it back is its poor network performance.

The combat and exploration never generate much excitement, though in certain areas, bad game design -- such as the illogical non-combat missions and the imbalanced enemies -- leads to considerable frustration.

an excellent recreation of the sport of bicycle stunt riding. The design of the racing environments is so creative that you are constantly learning new ways to master this sport.

Though the visuals may be showing their age, the gameplay in Return From Darkness is just as strong as it was in the PlayStation 2 version, if not stronger thanks to the Xbox-exclusive features.

Electronic Arts has managed to capture the Bond ambience, due in no small part to the overuse of his theme music, but the single player experience, which is a very important part of a 007 title, is ultimately too simplistic for a super spy.

What with graphics that are no longer state-of-the-art, no multiplayer component, a less-than-totally compelling story, and combat that is sometimes frustrating, there is a lot missing here.

The controls are tight, but very involved, and the mission design doesn't do a good job of easing you into the myriad gameplay features.

What keeps realMYST from earning the high honors is the problematic control system that makes clicking on the right areas difficult; especially the much darker nature of the environment at night, making navigation quite hellish and the solving of puzzles relatively impossible.

This year's post-apocalyptic nuclear Christmas experience won't be as good as it was last year. Lack of improvement over the first and a high number of bugs are the main reasons.

A significant improvement over "SimTheme Park," but yet with its schizophrenic emphasis on financial management and zany fun it still presents a less coherent and integrated experience than "RollerCoaster Tycoon." ... Nonetheless, I really do enjoy SimCoaster a lot.

The way in which science fiction elements play a major part in your exploration and puzzle solving is an absolute treat.

If you are looking for an action title, but are getting tired of playing rehashes on the "Quake" formula, look no further than the generic assassin wearing a barcode on his head.

The professional mode imposes every rule of the Indy Racing League, making for a truer simulation of actual driving conditions.

This is still a pure adventure game: rigidly linear, heavy on plot and exposition, and not immune to the bad habits of the genre, like switch pulling and fetch questing.

The AI in this game failed to impress me. It was not bad, but I thought it would have presented more of a challenge.

An uneven experience -- above average when it comes to puzzles and level design, and below average when it comes to combat and artificial intelligence.

The failure here is a general lack of content on nearly all fronts. It's too short, the world is too small, there aren't enough monster types, missions, NPC designs or dialog.

The real-time naval tactics elicited in ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore combat are both subtle and enjoyable.

Despite its flaws, Sea Dogs is the best game of its type since Pirates!. With superb graphics and music, and multifaceted non-linear gameplay, the title offers a lot to a variety of gamers.

There is a lot of variety and freedom here, and at its best this is the most physically attractive virtual pirate adventure ever released. It all boils down to this: if you want a fast-paced action title, do not go near this release; but if, on the other hand, you want a slower-paced role-playing experience with lots of different types of things to do, then by all means give it a shot.

Funny, witty and cool, Outlaw Golf also manages to be a bit on the shallow side and wear thin too easily.

While there are a few glaring problems, most notably with the poorly implemented multiplayer features, plain jane graphics, and lackluster AI, XGIII Extreme G Racing is still fun to play.

An extremely approachable game that has a strong foundation for those who are willing to stick with it for the long haul, despite the fact that it tends to wear a bit thin at present due to the vagaries of its random events and a difficulty level that tends to be too easy or too hard, with very little middle ground for experienced players.

Pinball Hall of Fame has a lot going for it, what with numerous tables accurately reproduced, excellent physics, and decent controls.

A strong offering for fans of mythology, samurai, or ancient Japan. However, the poor quality of the game's AI, the unbalanced multiplayer action, and the lack of customizable options, along with some gameplay issues, only slightly raise the product above an average "Diablo" clone.

Brings a lot of interesting ideas to the table, including a nicely-done, TV-style presentation, as well as having mass quantities of incredibly customizable assistance. Unfortunately, it all becomes weighed down by cumbersome execution, whose faults are largely due to the unimpressive and questionable engine.

Deals out an epic storyline, lots of characters and an innovative combat system, but fails to break any new ground.

Strategy war game buffs will find plenty to keep themselves entertained even though some may find the puzzle-like presentation off-putting. If you don’t mind a good strategy puzzle, however, this is your game.

If the developers had included a few secrets or collectible items then it might have warranted a second and third play through, but as it is, there’s probably only enough content to justify a weekend rental.

Eschews the normal audiovisual glitz in favor of something truly rare in computer games: a deep and compelling story that is worthy of a good novel.

The first adventure with these characters seemed to offer longer gameplay and a more in-depth story line, but Broken Sword cashes-in on the ability to continue with something good.

With fantastic visual and audio elements (setting a new standard), an engrossing story, an intuitive interface, and amazing overall polish, Myst IV Revelation has all the makings of a real winner. However, the tortuous difficulty posed by many of the puzzles, even for those with considerable logical abilities, detracts from the mainstream appeal of this offering.

Although there are some problems with the music and interface, the sheer playability of IndyCar Series shines undeniably through them.

It’s somewhat ironic that The Bard’s Tale, which satirizes conventional medieval epics and romances, suffers from such a conventional adventure.

A faithful adaptation of the video game versions, shining in several places while dragging along in others.

Several of the new design decisions - such as having the characters speak a human language, adding weapons power-ups, making combat more central, and including a large bunch of mini-games - appear to dilute rather than improve the play experience.

Anyone who paid for a Sonic title will be racing hedgehogs only 33 percent of the time, and that just isn’t enough.

Blade & Sword has style. Style enough to make up for the shortcomings of completely unoriginal mechanics, style enough to compensate for the excessive difficulty and style in such quantities to make other developers turn green with envy.

Has all the style of "Devil May Cry," but like the second installment in that series, some poor gameplay mechanics keep the title from achieving all that it could.

Extremely immersive and one of the best espionage titles available to date on the personal computer.

A great addition to the survival horror genre. It's got good (if complex) controls, decent visuals and the backing of a terrific license.

Manages to bring a highly developed artistic sense to the table.

As I stayed with it and progressed through the obstacles, I found this taut adventure to be really gripping, with an expanding range both diverse and enjoyable and I wanted to come back to it over and over again to make it to the end.

Solid if familiar gameplay here, and the graphics and audio are immensely pleasing if no longer groundbreaking.

If you ignore the sub-par audiovisual effects, you will find a decent and engrossing intellectual challenge underneath it all, which particularly exciting in human-to-human competition.

Loses ground with an inferior scaling system and limited use of large scale structures and ships, which negatively impact its graphics and gameplay scores.

While the gameplay, artificial intelligence, customization capabilities, and weather replication are all outstanding, in other respects this release appears more than a bit rusty.

The action falls short of amazing because certain elements, such as the poor A.I., do not hold up their end of the bargain, but Alice is still a fascinating trip that is well worth the tumble down the rabbit hole.

Ultimately an entertaining title, but one with enough quirks to prevent it from attaining true RPG greatness.

The visuals, sound and overall presentation may have remained mostly unchanged, but the 32 additional missions, coupled with more than 200 new parts makes this a must for the hardcore fans.

Fun and easy to learn, Monster Force is a top-down shooter with style.

Improves on the original in almost every respect, from an enhanced presentation to superior controls and a broader set of skills. However, the fighting mechanics are still a little simple and the ability system is too restrictive, which makes the game feel rather shallow.

One of the most accurate flight sims ever created... Where X-Plane falls short is with its substandard graphics.

It is limited in a few ways, namely in the number of characters (a total of 16 with unlocks) and the depth of the fighting system, but it is also something I can see as a great party game for groups of casual gamers of any age.

Although some nagging little problems persist here, such as oversensitive brakes, imperfect artificial intelligence, and substandard sound effects, none detract enough from the enjoyment of the racing experience to ruin it.

While lacking some of the coherence and duration of its predecessors, and possessing a bit too many backtracking sequences and technical problems, the audiovisual elements are excellent...I would solidly recommend [it].