With the significantly improved graphics engine, the wealth of options and an extremely powerful course editor, the trip to pick up a copy of Links 2001 may be your best drive to date.

The most distinctive characteristic of Starship Troopers' gameplay is its immersive quality... In Starship Troopers you feel like a member of the squad. You're not actually in the action yourself (ala Quake) but you'll feel connected to the team.

Its faster pace, simpler city design, and mythological elements open the game to more casual players, but it retains enough depth to entertain long-time fans and adds the broader world-view they have requested for years. In other words, it's fun!

Red Alert 2 can be both fascinating and bewildering, neither of which amounts to much when you are launching a tank rush in multiplayer games.

The action is short, intense, and punctuated by time spent studying track conditions and tuning your car.

Unfortunately, the arcade game is neither unique nor exciting. It's probably best to save your spare change for better things.

Enemy AI is solid-indeed, absolutely unshakeable on higher difficulty settings—and you'll certainly know it when there are enemy aces in a mission. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for your wingmen.

More of an incremental advance over its predecessors than anything really new, but it incorporates the best features of the other games and plenty of customer input into what may be the best game in the series.

Pure white-knuckle racing that will send your adrenaline levels soaring.

Despite its flaws, Blair Witch 1 does an admirable job of sustaining an atmosphere of suspense and horror from start to finish, and for some people that may be worth the price of admission.

A fair example of how classic games can successfully be brought up to modern standards while keeping the spirit of the original intact.

How can you not love a game where people clap for you when you successfully complete a scenario? Brilliant.

Shatters the shackles of mediocrity and stands atop the PC hockey hill as the undisputed king of the genre.

Although no scenarios have the sweep of the Norway scenario of the original and the great OKW lackey voice-over is sorely missed, Scorched Earth is a great learning tool for beginning war gamers and is fun for veteran gamers.

The story has strength and depth, but the game structure is rather clumsy for storytelling purposes.

The Heroes games have always been fun, and this one is no exception. Yet the experience is decidedly short and it's too easy to miss half of the story by beating missions too fast.

An extremely mixed bag. The game mechanics are full of holes, the interface is clunky and unintuitive, the puzzles can be mind-numbingly obscure, and the technology driving the whole thing is unimpressive. Still, the game's focus on character progression and dungeon crawls adds depth and interest.

NASCAR Heat's glaring shortcomings rip the believability out of the game after its graphics and driving suck you right in.

If you are entertained by style alone, this game may be right up your alley. If you also want truly challenging puzzles and combat that rewards creativity, however, you may be a bit disappointed.

May have been the first game to blaze the "stealthy action" trail, but the irony is that more recent PC offerings (such as "Thief") have since done it better, which leaves this port showing its age.

Outstanding writing combined with a good plot, plenty of content, beautiful graphics, and an engrossing soundtrack place Baldur's Gate II alongside some of the best role-playing games ever created.

The best simulation of modern tank (and maybe just tank, period) operations ever.

Because of the innate appeal of driving over, under, and through other vehicles and buildings, Midtown Madness 2 feels like the best game in the world—for a few days or hours at least.

Crimson Skies comes with a few features that aren't mentioned in the manual, such as hardware compatibility problems that can cause lockups or even make the game impossible to launch on some machines.

In the end, The Sims does mimic real life: if you aren't happy, new stuff is only a fleeting solution.

Should have stayed where it belonged-on the consoles. This is not a PC game. There is no mouse support whatsoever

It manages to improve an already stellar game, adds a helpful and interesting stack of new features, and offers nearly as much scripted gameplay as the original title.

There are better, more challenging alternatives out there for just $10 or $20 more.

Solid gameplay based on legitimate physics code and a very credible AI component, which should come as no surprise, it’s in the bloodline.

There are times when it plays like a dream; conversely there are times that it plays more like the Arena League rather than the NFL.

It's a guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless, and as action-adventures go you could certainly do worse.

It's pretty looking and fun enough for government work, but a bit awkward and not terribly original.

Fun to watch and play, but unless a patch fixes the AI it is only a game for big fans of mecha or RTS games, as that bothersome element makes it that much less enjoyable.

Another example of a game that sports graphics that make you want to stand up and cheer and gameplay that induces hair loss due to nerve-bending frustration.

Great level design, satisfying weapons, and unique enemies make this a title that any shooter fan will definitely want to check out, even if the thought of going to a KISS concert gives you hives.

An inferior game in nearly every respect, including interface, artwork, setting, game mechanics, and card rarity.

Most of the new scenarios are both challenging and interesting, the additional monuments are all superb, and the new features are welcome additions.

RPG fans who are weary of the frenzied pace of recent games will enjoy a good chunk of Soulbringer, but it certainly won't win over any non-RPG gamers, as the quirks and frustrations are numerous indeed.

Its depth, variety, creativity, and overall quality will give lots of enjoyment to the strategy player. The complexity and some control nuances make this game somewhat difficult to master, but persistence will be rewarded with a great gaming experience.

If you have a wheel/pedal setup, a high end PC and take your racing Sims seriously, F1 World Grand Prix is difficult to recommend.

One of the most compulsively playable titles to hit stores this summer. It’s arguably the best traditional RTS released in over a year, and indisputably one of the most attractive.

It’s a very solid, attractive, and entertaining game, in a very traditional way.

Most fans will not be able to get away from it, repetitive and simple or not. Diablo II is simply one of the most potent drugs of the year 2000. Take it orally for a week, and intravenous use is sure to follow.

Despite a few small complaints about inconsistent AI or disappointing Direct3D performance, this is a tremendously entertaining game.

Ultimately, the game wears thin—and quickly. The first dozen levels are pretty manageable but then it becomes an exercise in frustration.

The games biggest draw has got to be Artistic Director Jacques Simian's fabulously atmospheric world. The other characters (and there aren't nearly enough of them) are gorgeously 3D rendered right down to the last bloody facial capillary.

A smooth blend of game styles, solid execution, and quite a bit of fun.

An outstanding game, both for its graphics and its gameplay, but it is not for everyone. Ground Control glaringly omits some standard genre features: there is no in-mission save, no speed control, no skirmish mode, and the AI is hit or miss. Yet this is truly a case of a game being greater than the sum of its parts.

Offbeat humor, spectacular graphics, and excellent gameplay are the high points, it’s just a shame the journey through the bizarre world of MDK is over so soon.

You’re not likely to be that disappointed with Traitors Gate, but then again the entire experience isn’t likely to become something you’ll cherish, either.

It's tough to sum the experience up succinctly except to say that it's probably worthwhile—more so if you are the tolerant type.

The visuals are terrific. Explosions are robust; the particle effects shine; starbases are huge and panoramic.

All of the game's levels are very well crafted, and many of them are huge. Looking Glass has done an excellent job making each level feel like a "real" place.

It may be pointless, and also brilliant, but it’s safe to say there’s nothing quite like The Sims. Its possibilities are endless.

In short, X is a fairly good game that could have been great. With more missions, a better flight model, and better pacing, it might have dethroned "Elite." As is, it joins a long line of games like "Privateer II" that entertain but leave you wanting more.

It has one basic concept, which it runs into the ground. You'll be doing a lot of the same things over and over through the game's three locales, and it's liable to get boring after a while.

The one area where the game can be a bit of fun is in the multiplayer mode, in which you can play with up to seven other players and still part take in some of the surreal arcade action while zapping around the attic in a Hurricane.

If you don't mind some weirdness, have a penchant for the macabre, and love the idea of role-playing in a setting where death is a doorway instead of a slammed door, then Planescape: Torment is just what the (witch) doctor ordered.

Yes, you get tension, stress, and frustration in a way few other wargames can replicate, but you also get thrills and a strong sense of satisfaction at a job well done, at a plan that comes together just right. All-in-all, Antietam! may not be a major gaming leap over its predecessor… but then, given the quality of Gettysburg! it doesn't have to be.

A first person shooter loaded with astounding maps, diverse game styles, great weapons, and the best bots in the business.

Judged by what it is supposed to be, an RPG along the lines of the Final Fantasy series, it is a fine effort that shouldn't be neglected.

Add to that the underlying technical stability of the game—aside from a few minor and easily avoided inventory bugs and a bit of white speckling in the landscape, this game was more solid at the time of review than most massively multiplayer titles are after six months of updates—plus the general lack of prime-time server lag and scarcity of disconnects, and you have a title which has more than earned its place among the big names of online RPG entertainment.

If you are looking for believable characters, good acting and dialogue, lots of bloody, horror-style vampire action, and a nice looking smooth 3D engine, you'll want to look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you are a history buff entertained by a more thoughtful experience, have the desire to play master sleuth, or really have a thing for Tim Curry and the Gabriel Knight series, give this a try.

The emphasis on story and involving missions, combined with great visuals, audio, and exceptional control make this a top-notch game.

This program is a simulation in the truest sense of the word, and offers few crutches to make up for those that don't like to take their entertainment very seriously...The grade may be steep, but for the combat-sim faithful, Flanker 2.0 is a work not to be missed.

An outstanding game. It looks great, is very well balanced, and is easy to get started with. The game has more strategy and fewer mouse gymnastics than the average RTS game.

The first computer game to capture the grandeur and epic feel of the "Star Wars" movies... An outstanding, if not perfect, game. It is beautiful to look at, exciting to play, and it takes the RTS genre where no one has gone before.

It's scary, it's atmospheric, it has a great plot, and it rewards the thinking player more than the fragaholic.

When the missions remain outdoors, Hidden & Dangerous stays fun. It's when you have to go into houses that it begins to fall apart.

Kingdoms doesn't blow open the walls of the RTS genre, it just bends them outwards a bit.

There's more than enough refinement to bring the Descent franchise up to date, and those who liked the first two games will absolutely love Descent 3. Those who didn't really enjoy them won't be converted, though. Ultimately, Descent 3 is "more of the same," but it's MOTS done <I>really well.</I>

With its 3D graphics, first-person perspective, and elegantly simple combat system, EverQuest has finally given us the first step towards a true virtual world. Internet gaming will never be the same.

It might sit a little short of Transcendence, but at four o'clock in the morning you probably won't even notice.

If you play through the entire thing, side quest after side quest, and if you take advantage of the immense amount of replay-value, you may not need another game this year, except perhaps the expansion pack. Don't desert us now, BioWare.

The kind of game that makes it hard to keep a grin off your face. You constantly feel like you're getting away with something you shouldn't.

Hardcore combat sim fans with equally serious hardware and a cast-iron stomach for aspirin will find themselves engrossed in a simulation of incredible depth and subtlety.

While touted as a full-fledged sequel, Myth II shares so many similarities to the original that it feels somewhat more like an "expansion pack" than a brand new product. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing ("If it isn't broke, don't fix it"), some players might hope for more enhancements and alterations.

Players who are wary of all things pecuniary can elect to leave the stock market alone, and those that are truly phobic can opt to play in "sandbox mode" without any competition or monetary concerns at all-kind of a fancy virtual train set. Those that do will be missing out on one of the best features of the game, however.

Much like "Shogo", Blood 2 excels in pure feel and fun factor alone. It may not have impressive scripted scenes around every corner and the plot is incredibly weak at best, but the core of the game-running around and shooting people-is extremely satisfying.

Undeniably entertaining. In fact, it's addictive. You'll find yourself fidgeting through a day at work, eager to get back to the game so you can deal with that band of slavers or commune with the Hubbologists.

The large cast of characters is unforgettable. Although for the most part they are skeletons in 40s garb, with mask-like faces that can be attributed to Day of the Dead festivities, their personalities render them as distinct and memorable as members of an extremely diverse cast from any fine film.

Beyond multiplayer flaws, there are a few other things that keep Shogo from being the be-all and end-all of 3D shooters. Chief among these is the absolutely pathetic enemy AI. Enemies in Shogo don't move much, and very rarely pursue you.

The missions can be skin-crawly tense and the strategic planning is a joy. Nevertheless, poor AI, coupled with mundane and buggy graphics give the game a "late-beta" feel.

The X-Files repeatedly bellies up to near-greatness but always slips back to mere above-adequacy.

Its well-developed plot, unique races, intuitive interface, and excellent campaign editor make it worth the price of admission, especially for those that liked "Warcraft II."

Never falls on its face&#151;it's occasionally spooky, sometimes mildly thought-provoking, and always visually stunning&#151;but neither does it come close to setting a new standard for adventure gaming (a shame, since the subject matter is ambitious, if pretentious, and could have been the starting point for a more unique venture).

Like far too many other sequels, the game doesn't live up to the expectations its predecessor set forth. Though it is well produced and solid, most adventure veterans will probably find themselves wishing for a little more "Circle [of Blood]" rather than such a straightforward Sword.

In essence, what adds real finesse to Curse of Monkey Island is that no one element screams above the rest for recognition. It possesses that "unity of style" across the board for which everyone strives but so few achieve.

Another great feature of Myth is the terrain: it's truly three-dimensional... The level design is excellent, and the different types of terrain require very different strategies.

Extra marks to LucasArts for giving the game an impossibly large number of options... Ignore the story and immerse yourself in the incredible environments - you may never want to come back.

For anyone with an interest in complex, combat-heavy, lovingly produced RPGs, though, Fallout is a must buy. In an age where many are predicting the death of traditional RPGs at the hands of multiplayer extravaganzas, Fallout is a glowing example of the genre, one which positively radiates quality. Fallout &#150; it's da bomb.

But stripped of its hype, what's most shocking about the game is its mediocrity.

Putting aside concerns about the campaign structure, Gettysburg! may be the best recreation of Civil War combat (or even just combat) of any game yet released. Sure, some of the hardcore data is missing, and Firaxis chose to eliminate supply issues, but it's amazing how realistic this game feels much of the time.

Gamers with an interest in history, and no aversion to a rather abstract rendition of same, should love the atmosphere and feel of the game. And anyone who appreciates a solid, lovingly-crafted work of design should appreciate the overall quality of this product.

This is one game that might become a classic, but it isn't one now, despite a New York Times story on the front page of the business section. A game that requires a credit card and Internet access before the player can get even a glimpse of what's going on had better be incredibly engrossing or at least immediately accessible. Ultima Online is neither. The "undoubted future of interactive entertainment"? God forbid. At best, it might eventually grow into a solid, mature game that delivers the goods, but for now, caveat emptor.

As a game of resource management and tactical combat, Total Annihilation is not fundamentally different from anything that has come before, but it is nonetheless an evolutionary leap for the genre of real-time strategy.

Undoubtedly, Alone in the Dark remains one of the most ground-breaking games of all time... Although the second and third games lack the magic of the first one, the collection remains a treat for any adventure fan.

A new and better way of telling an interactive story and as such provides a role model for the gaming industry. It is highly original and richly deserves all the awards it will surely get.