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.

Elegant, complex, and beautiful, Europa Universalis is a class act all the way, and is certainly worthy of being considered one of the strategic greats of our time.

What saves Age of Sail II from the abysmal fate that many people on Akella's message boards claim it deserves is the excellent quality of the overall presentation in the music, graphics and sound systems.

Hardcore desk-jockeys will definitely not want to pass up the chance to recreate one of the most dreaded battles in aviation history, and when you see the sky full of fighters and bombers, you will understand just how enjoyable Rowan's Battle of Britain can be.

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.

Oni stuns the third-person action scene with a powerful uppercut to the jaw. Bungie has never put its hand to a bad product, and its latest offering is a passionate protest against dull games.

In a sea of disappointing and frustratingly similar games, Sudden Strike emerges as a rare gem.

Full of promise, with a textured plot premise and unorthodox, and at times, stunning visuals. But the sub-par execution of the confusing backstory and lethargic gameplay, confounded by the limited viewing perspective, sinks this release right from the outset.

The imbalance between the pace of the stalking compared with the near impossibility of the hunt once you actually spot a creature makes the gameplay more of a chore than anything else.

Since the entire title is built around the concept of gradual character development through combat, the lack of a save option instantly nullifies any and all value that the innovation might have brought.

The decidedly unreasonable degree of difficulty prevents any of it from developing into something entertaining.

The all-too-forgiving AI, the no-brainer puzzles, the watered-down adventure elements and straightforward mini-games combine to create an experience that'll only last a scant three hours for experienced players, which is nearly unforgivable when you consider its $29.99 price tag.

Drawing inspiration from obvious predecessors such as "Submarine Titans" and "Star Trek: Armada," The Outforce unfortunately does precious little to expand or even successfully imitate either of these two.

A decent expansion that is more notable for its graphical sheen, elegant interface and Classic CTF maps than something more innovative. Although fun with the right group of people, the expansion adds nothing to its genre.

Most importantly, the omission of a multiplayer option, present in the console version, is particularly disappointing.

Had it included a mid-mission save and a multiplayer mode, it could have been a solid four star title; add tweaked graphics and improved AI, and it would have been a surefire winner. However, without those features, Project IGI is a good game, but certainly not a great one.

With clearly low production values, this game is ultimately quite boring. Dreary drudgery is what you have to slog through to get to the end, and believe me it is just not worth it.

The Carmageddon series has clearly run out of steam. Providing the same old cheap gore and guts does not have the same impact in 2000 as it did in 1997.

Nowhere else in today's market will you be able to find a flight simulator with the boldness and keen utilization of detail shown by B-17 Flying Fortress.

The amount of detail present in this title is staggering, from the complex interface to the convoluted plotlines and the history of the ISC member races.

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.

Put simply, the gameplay is fun, although the game is so short -- due largely to the shoddy, easily manipulated AI -- that some players will feel somewhat robbed.

The combination of an unsolved mystery, great music, a desolate ancient landscape and captivating underground chambers creates a truly immersive experience.

Earth 2150 has without a doubt escaped the dull shadow of its predecessor to emerge as a well-crafted, highly complex and beautiful game.

There is enough entertainment value for veterans to easily justify the budget price tag. Sadly, the near impossibility of many of the missions makes Unfinished Business something best left to experienced players.

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

To tell the truth, this whole product should have been a giant patch for F1 2000 rather than a standalone sequel.

Those who love strategy or puzzle offerings because of the ability to do some sophisticated problem solving will be turned off by the rigid time limits and the repetitiveness and lack of depth in the dilemmas presented. I cannot help, though, finding a lot about Sheep that I really like despite its failings.

Though the plotline is somewhat lackluster, the intricacies of building up your army between your different islands and keeping track of unit management and combat tactics all while the clock continually ticks down is exciting and entertaining.

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.

Somehow, Fur Fighters manages to slip through the shackles that should be binding it to mediocrity, rising instead to become an engrosing game.

MechWarrior 4 has more types of BattleMechs, missions, and weapons than MechWarrior 3; the multiplayer competition is outstanding, the artificial intelligence is improved, and the graphics are generally splendid.

Right down to the familiar trapezoidal box, Tomb Raider Chronicles is completely lacking in significant innovation.

It has an intuitive interface and eliminates the time-consuming micromanagement within each city that made every other game in the series so drawn out.

As it stands, however, Championship Surfer should only be reserved for the die-hard surfing fanatics and PC owners who have an undeniable penchant for extreme sports.

Rewolf has managed to take an aging formula and prove that with enough pizzazz -- as well as some minor innovation -- what most people consider old hat can be just as entertaining as something made with all the latest ingredients.

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.

It never should have been released on the PC, in part because it exploits none of the features possible on computers, such as saving at will, better graphics and configurable controls.

It is utterly rife with quality in all areas, as the graphics, sound, music and gameplay all mesh in near-perfect unison to create one of the single most immersive and addictive adventure offerings, ever.

Virtual Pool 3 has it where it counts: high precision pool table action and awesome cool-and-confident A.I. opponents.

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.

While it is an unabashed ripoff and lacks any form of innovation compared to what has gone before, this is a competent dirt bike racing game, which despite its limitations can provide sustained enjoyment for a lot of motorcycle aficionados.

Though there are minor problems with the graphics system, control scheme and interface, the primary drawback is that an experienced player can fly though it in around three hours and thirty minutes.

With a heavy dash of "Thief," a sprinkling of "Deus Ex," the essence of Bond and a huge dollop of comedy, the game comes to vibrant life, with each of its parts working in terrific synergy.

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

Not a collapsing ruin, and although it can be entertaining, it is missing the strong foundation needed to capture one's long-term interest.

Though the rendering jitters can get annoying, the improvements to the overall visuals combined with the wide explorative possibilities make Delta Force: Land Warrior a solid game for anyone who enjoys modern tactical warfare on the PC.

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.

Despite a few minor control problems that crop up during battles, Sacrifice emerges unscathed with graphics, sound, gameplay and artificial intelligence that are all of extremely high caliber.

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.

After a few hours of Pro Skater 2, you might even be tempted to check out deck prices at your local sports shop.

To paraphrase a writer from "Mystery Science Theater 3000," this game hurt me.

The new 3D graphical rendering engine and photorealistic environments help to breathe new life to the series, finally trading in the carbon copy backdrops for lifelike and truly beautiful settings.

Its interface is horrendously convoluted, its gameplay painfully tedious and sluggish, and its graphics are outdated.

Captures the essence of a war movie better than any other game I have played, with the possible exception of the original "Close Combat."

Apart from striking the perfect balance between historical fact and romanticized fiction, they've managed to capture the essence of what makes the city building series fun and turn it into a game that feels almost wholly different from "Caesar III "and "Pharaoh."

Not only one of the best games that Westwood has ever created, but is easily one of the most entertaining, visceral, and tactically focused RTS products ever seen, and will likely be remembered as a true classic for years to come.

In the end this product will satisfy only fans absolutely desperate for driving in the dirt.

This game, however, is not for the lighthearted or for those with no flight experience, as even on the easiest of settings pilots will find it very difficult to keep enemies in their sights long enough to shoot them down.

A very entertaining piece of software in its own right. The need to pick up and use heavy weaponry, but at the same time be required to have some semblance of driving skill is quite welcome in my small collection of such titles.

The visual, aural, and control limitations of the original are becoming more and more obvious as the series continues.

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

"SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle" changed the face of the first-person tactical genre, and the Elite Edition polishes it to a near mirror shine.

A thoroughly absorbing title, complete with a suspenseful script, top-notch production values, the perfect balance of action and adventuring, puzzles that are intelligently integrated into the plot, and big dollops of atmosphere.

My own addiction to the gameplay here is unceasing, as there is always some little tweak I want to add to make my custom park just a little bit better.

Though it may not contain enough hardcore realism for hockey purists, it definitely offers some options that cater to them.

For those who want to learn more about counter-terrorist practices, Covert Ops is a valuable resource.

Although it has a strong interface and interesting gameplay, its lack of innovation coupled with unimpressive visual and aural presentations make it an average war game.

What we have here is an extension of the original with a much better and generally more compelling storyline. This does not detract from the amount of fun you can potentially have with this title.

The longevity of this title is nearly unmatched by any other RPG save the online crowd, and players from the old-school crowd of role-playing will feel immediately at home.

Aside from the two new racing modes, Beat the Heat and Race the Pro, the best part of the gameplay in NASCAR Heat is the thrilling pack racing experience, driving door-to-door and fender-to-fender against your opponents.

Sanity manages to rise above the load times and weak multiplayer level-design to become a worthy title for any gamer willing to step into the spandex uniform of the wise-talking attitude-laden superhero, Agent Cain.

Astounding graphics, sound, and storytelling combine to make the definitive fantasy RPG epic, one that will enthrall players for years to come.

While the gameplay here is still incredibly engaging, if you have the first release there is no really compelling reason to upgrade.

It represents the first perfect translation of another medium, be it film, television or another form of entertainment, to a computer game.

So many small nuances coalesce here to make this game one of the most rewarding flight experiences since the generation of "TIE Fighter" and "Wing Commander IV."

Gorgeous visuals, an easy-to-use interface, and a great storyline all combine to make it one of the most dangerously addictive games I've ever played.

The weak interface, annoying gameplay, and lack of variety and balance between the races make the game a failed experiment.

Unless Ford is your favorite car, I would not step behind the wheel of this lemon.

The new situations and scenarios brought about by the new additions are truly enjoyable, and are easily sufficient to cause former Sims addicts to suffer another relapse.

The graphics are the one high point of this downhill slalom, they are neither innovative nor gorgeous enough to save this title from the abysmal control scheme and furious key tapping required to stay afloat in most of the events.

Instead of merely giving out a few major embellishments -- and there are those -- Ensemble went a number of steps further by enhancing nearly every aspect of the game.

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

FAKK 2 has a wonderful lead character in Julie Strain, and she's no doubt destined to overtake Lara Croft as the leading lady of gaming.

Its rather repetitive mission dynamic and lackluster combat keep it from rising as a clear contender in its field.

All in all, Metal Fatigue is a great variation on an all-too-common theme, and will surely provide hours of high-energy robot-smashing fun to anyone willing to see past its minor flaws.

I found Comanche Hokum to be a thoroughly engrossing simulation, despite the fact that the graphics are a little jarring.

Between the lack of a save game feature, the ridiculous level of difficulty and the clunky controls, the much-hyped Dogs of War is toppled from its pedestal to become the one thing that it seeks to avoid: a decidedly average and utterly forgettable offering.

Only dedicated fans of side scrollers should tackle this title, as even those enamored with the titular character will be disappointed by the lack of new developments for the Strider franchise, especially after such an extended wait.

"Bang! Gunship Elite" proves yet again that eye candy alone cannot sustain a title, as the vast majority of its gameplay proves to be extremely tedious.

There's no depth to its woefully repetitive gameplay and overall enjoyment is hampered by underpowered weapons, mindless out-of-control spawning and overly difficult boss encounters.

There is a sense of constant improvement in strategy as you learn new tricks either by having them pulled on you or through experimentation.

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

If you can look past the control problems and remember that few modern fantasy stories are truly original, "Soulbringer" is an amusing detour into a rich and vibrant world, worthy of a spot on the shelf of any RPG aficionado.

The vaguely nostalgic Warlords Battlecry is a greatly entertaining offering with the potential for a long and healthy shelf life; if you pine for the days of good, old-fashioned RTS orc-bashing, you owe it to yourself to give this title a chance.

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.

It is without a doubt the best looking RTS title to date, and with its super camera system is destined to be the benchmark which other forthcoming games in the genre look to for guidance.

Bottom line is this: anyone who enjoys traditional fantasy role-playing games will love Icewind Dale.