The gameplay, while not without its shortcomings, is light years beyond "Starfleet Academy," making it one of the best battle command starship simulators on the planet.

In modern times, however, when even simple retro-games like "Frogger" get massive face lifts and hordes of options, there is little room for a game that prides itself on pure simplicity and repetitive action.

With nothing really novel to offer, and a short gameplay experience with few characters, locales, or tantalizing puzzles, this adventure-puzzle game is best suited for novice adventurers.

Those interested in Ancient Japanese culture will also find much to like here, as the entire game is steeped from top to bottom in pure and uncompromising atmosphere.

Can deep characters, a great story, wonderful atmosphere and exquisite graphics overcome a flawed interface and horrible artificial intelligence to make a great game? Not quite, but it still makes for a darn good one.

Beautiful graphics, a unique storytelling methodology and some very well-designed missions make "Ground Control" a winner in almost every category.

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.

The ability to change your landscape and building types as well as the ability to create your own buildings and scenarios are not only fantastically entertaining but add a near-infinite replayability factor to the experience.

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.

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

Real-time strategy, intense space combat, intellectual battle tactics and cooperative teamwork are all elements that play major roles in the unfolding of this experience, but it's not this combination that's so surprising; it's that they're combined so well.

I like the larger scenarios and the attention to detail on all of the levels is amazing.

The Sims puts forth the closest, most amusing rendering of digital life gamers have ever seen.

With a very large galaxy populated by unique aliens, an interesting non-linear storyline, lots of great visuals, and interesting gizmos to upgrade your ship with, X during the first few sessions can be a joy to play. Poor design choices, and repetitive actions, keeps X from being as memorable and fun as Elite was.

Fortunately, AD survives its more nagging issues and manages to blaze a trail of light fun and humor with its crayon bombs and pellet machine guns.

The best RPG of 1999. Planescape Torment raises the bar past "Baldur's Gate" and sets new standards in terms of storyline, character progression, conversation and interaction.

Every once in a while, a wargame comes along that makes you think about war and all its terrible consequences--and this is one of them. But that doesn't mean I won't be booting it up to try my luck again tomorrow.

All of this is bundled with an intuitive Windows-style GUI, a painless point-and-tap process for connecting to online matches, and some of the nicest graphical wrapping gamers are going to see this Christmas.

Alone, the vivid colors and lighting effects are incredible, but pop in the expansion pak and Rayman's world comes to life in cartoonishly bright tones. We're treated to a luscious feast of sharp textures, cartoonish and colorful characters, and appealing indoor and outdoor environments. Given the limited capabilities of the N64 version of Rayman 2 compared to its PC counterpart, one simply has to marvel at the results.

While Septerra Core is certainly not ground breaking, it does possess the potential to convert some console gamers over to the PC. Hardcore CRPG fans however, will most likely be disappointed with the linearity and limited challenge.

It brings to life all that is good in RPGs and improves on other things that were not so good. With it, we encounter the best of the genre in quests, combat, and a revamped magic system.

It's equipped with tons of powerful adventuring tools, such as a newly designed 3D engine and free-floating camera, and contains one of the most riveting endings I've seen all year. But ultimately I wish it had offered me more.

Manages to do what few sequels can--retain all of the good things in the original and improve on them, while still incorporating new features and gameplay elements never before seen.

A few technical issues prevent this product from overtaking "Falcon 4.0" as the premier hardcore flight sim on the market today, but that's not to say it's set in stone. This is a very complex and sophisticated aircraft, and the simulation built around it is equally so.

A rock-solid real-time strategy offering from folks that have a proven track record for providing historically accurate and fun strategy games. Its depth and long list of features will keep even the best empire builders and military strategists busy for months.

Not only have I never played a better skateboarding title on the PSX, but I don't believe I've ever played a better skateboarding title ever, on any platform.

This game looks amazing. There is simply nothing out there that can even compare to it on the PlayStation, and it's unlikely that we're going to see anything to rival it any time soon.

Beyond the confines of the single player is the best multiplayer strategy game since "Total Annihilation." ... If you buy a single game this fall -- make sure it's this one!

An amazing mix of fighting, puzzle-solving, and platform style action and adventure. The only PlayStation titles that come even remotely close to being this immersive and enjoyable in my experience is the "Resident Evil" family, but even they lack the sheer depth and playability of Raziel's quest.

If playing games is more of a religion than a hobby to you, meet your new bible...System Shock 2 will scare the hell right out of you -- and you'll like it for that reason.

Despite a few minor flaws in mechanics and a lingering bug or two, Hidden & Dangerous is one of the best games ever created, and playing it an experience I shall always treasure.

After playing "Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit" for months on end, I had developed an image in my mind of how video game policemen were supposed to act. Driver shattered that image.

Where TA offers a slew of different unit types for some traditional, hardcore warfare, TA:K goes the fantasy route with fewer units and buildings and a better story. TA:K is much more like "Starcraft" in its approach to strategical combat, the balance of different units types and gameplay that features varied experiences through the different sides.

A technical tour de force filled with design wizardry. From the robust graphics and finely tuned interface to the smart computer-controlled opponents and mission design, this game radiates talent.

World Driver Championship is a solid title with a lot of potential that's burdened by some design flaws and a driving model that will leave most players unsatisfied. Much as it offers a few new spins on an otherwise old formula, these shortcomings hold it back from true greatness.

The High Stakes mode of play is rather difficult to pull off most of the time, and virtually impossible unless you know someone else with the game.

Even a bicycle would be fun to ride in this game. Why? Because the tracks are spectacular. Ranging from a spoof of Jurassic Park to a complex city with freeways, hairpin turns and even staircases that can be used as ramps, the tracks are complex, beautiful and enjoyable over and over.

The various flaws (like horrible voice acting, odd attack control, and hyper-linear gameplay) keep it from earning a perfect rating. But it's a worthy successor to "Resident Evil."

"So this is what 'Metal Gear Solid' was trying to do." The level of immersion that this title provides is simply unparalleled in console gaming, and that is what makes the gameplay so spectacular.

It is, by all accounts, one of the best turn-based strategy games ever made and perhaps the best ever of its kind.

Baldur's Gate is not a computer role-playing game...it is THE computer role-playing game.

This has become my favorite game of all time...If you're tired of wannabes, clones, and half-baked attempts at originality, play Thief: The Dark Project and get totally absorbed in the story, gameplay, and Garret himself.

The game has great depth in realism and dynamics. Its campaign and scenarios are without equal. It's the best and most complete documented game ever released, and includes fully featured training missions for the novice pilot.

Bungie has some of the best storyboard writers around. Their flare for the dramatic will draw you into this magical world with ease... They've robustly improved just about every single thing, and as a sequel this game is everything it should have been.

Ocarina of Time is the complete package appealing to one and all, and is the definitive accomplishment in game design.

If you want an incredible 3D experience that will cause you to lose sleep, meals, PTA meetings, and romantic rendezvous, this is the game.

Fraught with inconsistencies and potholes. Although it is a satisfactory, basic RPG, it is nowhere near the level of excellence that it should be.

Compared to other racing games on the market, Wipeout 64 has one tremendous advantage: its graphics are absolutely gorgeous. However, a racer lives and dies by its gameplay, and Wipeout 64 has that locked up pretty well too. The control is dead-on and the courses are well designed.

If you are looking for an RTS game with something really different, or if you have an interest in trains, you won't find a game more appealing than Railroad Tycoon II.

There are a lot of fresh components laboring to make this a different game, including the engine, but the end result is not at all frightening. Too much emphasis was placed on puerile humor, which I am all for in most games, but I needed something different here.

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.

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.

In a lot of ways, Xenogears seems more like a novel than a game. Partially due to the amount of time you spend reading on screen text while the game plays itself, and partially due to the complexity of the plot.

Video games are meant to be entertainment, but I found Body Harvest to be more of an effort in patience than anything else. Although Midway should be commended for trying to create a hybrid RPG/shooter game, the ultimate result is somewhat boring.

I'm not saying things can't get better, but for now this is as good as it gets. So where does Shogo rank amongst all the games I've played, through all the years, the genres, the classics, the memories? Let's just say it's on the short list, the very short list.

Very well designed and polished to near perfection. Its complex storyline keeps the gamer hooked from beginning to end, and the movies provide enough eye candy to give your corneas cavities. In every way, this is a beautiful, beautiful game.

A few more months spent tweaking the camera, improving the AI, and correcting the inventory scheme would have resulted in a much more enjoyable experience.

If you're a fan of EA's classic "Seal Team" or loved the semi-realism offered in Zombie's great "Spec Ops," then Rainbow Six will give you a serious case of the gamer's giddies.

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.

While it fails to achieve the lofty status of greatest platform game of all time, still held by an overweight plumber, Banjo Kazooie is a close second, and that ain't half bad.

Not as good as "Blade Runner," but about on the same level as "Spycraft." In other words, its better than most adventure games on the market today.

Difficulty complaints aside, Gran Turismo is truly an amazing game... This is the last word in console racing games, period.

The best fighter for any console system. What else needs to be said?

While the game isn't necessarily revolutionary, it is refreshing in the gameplay it provides and the ability it gives players to create new challenges and prolong their gaming experience.

In part, it is valuable enough for me just as a collection of gorgeous artwork and thoughtful story design. And for people more interested in concepts and beauty than gameplay, it is a work of excellence of seldom parallel. But as a computer game in the traditional sense, there is not enough there to sink one's teeth into.

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.

As with a good book, this game demands attention and you won'twant to stop playing it. It's a lot of fun to laugh, especially atthis signature brand of humor. With its cartoonish artwork, crisp soundeffects, and brilliant character acting, Monkey will draw you inand have you laughing for a long time.

That dazzling indulgence for your eyes, coupled with the all-consuming sound effects, make this such an enjoyable world to just wander through, never mind the gameplay! And yet, one must mind the gameplay, because incredible design and story work were put into the action, and you're going to have your work cut out for you.

If you have the system to handle this game, and especially if you have a good 3D board, grab it right now, don't read another word. This is by far the best medieval warfare game I've ever played, and the added bonus that it happens to have a killer interface, a brilliant storyline, and dazzling graphics just adds a few more medals to Myth's already heavily adorned chest.

The story is interesting, the Force Powers and weapons available are incredibly cool to use, and the opportunity to cut an opponent to shreds with a Lightsaber is the secret dream of any Jedi aspiring to heed the call of the Dark Side.

Above all, the NPC interaction and voice acting are the best in any game to date. This game is possibly the best investment an RPG fan can presently make, and will prove entertaining for countless gaming hours.

A middle-of-the-road little action shooter -- nothing more, nothing less. It has enough charm to make it kind of fun, and enough senseless violence to leave an impression, but that's about it.

The simple and brutal nature of Civil War combat is captured in the action that unfolds and forces players to rely on strategy and the sheer will of his units, and not high-tech weapons of devastating power.

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.

Yes it's expensive, and it has some serious problems that need immediate attention, but it can't be denied that Ultima Online is a unique, intriguing, thoroughly enjoyable gaming experience -- once you learn how to play, and accept it for what it is.

This is the best, most fun game I have ever played. It represents everything that a five-star game should be. It's different, original, and most importantly, solid. I could find no glaring omissions, or bugs, or problems that indicated that it is a rushed product.

Bar none this is the greatest console game ever made... Its mix of thought-provoking action, wonderful ambience, and perfect execution make this a must play for any gamer.

Having little interest in the subject material of this title, I found that I was not terribly compelled by the story line...I found a majority of the animation to be uninteresting, which certainly detracted from the title.

Blood is everything "Quake" should have been. It offers unparalleled single player gameplay, dozens of beautiful visual effects, tons of new weapons, and killer multiplay. I've had more fun playing Blood in the past day than I have playing any other game in the past year.

You want weapons? I76 has about 25 different weapons. Slug throwers, SPP Pods, Flamethrowers, Mortars, Droppers, and even a hand-held 45 caliber automatic pistol are there for the taking. There are about 15 different views to choose from to set your sights on the enemy, and there's even a Missile Cam, for a rocket's-eye view of the mayhem.

The fast and vicious action puts it near the top of its class in the fighting genre, while the interesting characters keep it from being lumped in as just another clone.

I'm not a big puzzle game fan, but this title did contain situations which were able to hold my interest - at least, for a while. The luscious graphics come at a "disk-swapping" price.

About as close to Hell as you're going to get - whether you believe in it or not. Everything about this game just rules and it will blow you away. The gameplay is the easiest I've ever come across in an RPG which is just fantastic.

Master of Orion 2 is just INTENSE! I absolutely loved this game and if you liked the original Master of Orion I think you will too.

Suffice it to say that if you like strategy, military tactics, or liked the original game, you will love Red Alert.

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

Nothing I have ever played before can even come close to the level of detail or gameplay as this. It is a game unlike any other.

The graphics, sound, and intelligence factors combine to make a game that will scare the hell out of you! The main problem that Quake seems to have is a lack of identity. It wants to combine "DOOM" elements with Hexen elements which creates a mish-mash effect.

More of that great Descent action you've come to expect and won't disappoint! It you've been waiting for more new levels, enemies, and mission builder than this will be your nirvana.

Awesome and addicting in everyway, it's also only the second game for Windows 95 that was worth playing at all (the other being "Ultima Online").

Alien scum in the final version of DN3D are still tricky devils ducking for cover, teleporting in and out, lying in ambush, and even laying traps in later episodes. However, the monsters are still stupid enough to walk into a tripbomb so overall intelligence isn't perfect.

Possessing a sketchy storyline, abysmal artificial intelligence and repetitive gameplay, nothing about it engrosses you in the action and keeps you coming back for more.

Many of the puzzles are creative, and the graphical style is pleasing; but the frustrating ways that the dialog revelations and trivial sequencing of actions are implemented largely ruin the whole experience.

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.

It combines an interesting plot with nonstop action in a coherent matter. However, the complete absence of innovation, linear levels, tepid multiplayer, irritating vocal effects, and unspectacular artificial intelligence keep this title from reaching its potential.

Rich, detailed visuals and effects impart life and atmosphere to the New World theme, and gameplay demands both strategic planning and tactical skill.

Occasionally I came across against a scenario or mission that was entertaining for a while, but the game wasn't different enough often enough.

A lot of creativity is embedded here beneath the surface. However, the absence of a story delivered in a compelling way, along with several other questionable design decisions, hinders your motivation to make it all the way through.