The detective work is a blast. [Jan 2005, p.79]

This add-on won't win over any new converts, but it will keep the old ones happy. That is what expansions are really all about.

A thoroughly worthy addition to the Civilization family. [Feb 2004, p.56]

Instead, it offers some of the best old-school 2D platforming this side of Mario's jump to 3D. [Jun 2006, p.91]

As it gets progressively weirder, it also gets significantly better, making it one head-trip definitely worth taking. [July 2005, p.56]

Elaborate story, dialogue, and characterization draw you into one of the most believable role-playing game worlds ever created.

What Special Forces lacks in innovation, it more than makes up for in new maps. [Mar 2006, p.50]

A fine game in its own right, a throwback to old-school epic strategy at a time when turn-based games are starting to feel like a dying breed. [Oct 2003, p.86]

Until the multiplayer is fully operational, URU is something of an incomplete book, but what's there is simply stunning. [Feb 2004, p.58]

The stars of the show here are clearly the new maps. It's as if the team at Digital Illusions discovered exactly what everyone like about the game and created new battlefields made to directly stimulate the adrenal gland of its players. [May 2003, p.73]

Nothing says "beware of oncoming plot" like an extraneous subtitle. [June 2005, p.92]

What's truly satisfying is these games make history entertaining. [June 2005, p.90]

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

Some of the best medieval hack-and-slash to come along in quite a while. [Jan 2003, p.78]

Provides a justification for buying a Pentium V; the best of its genre.

Though none of Poseidon's new features changes Zeus' core gameplay in any meaningful way, there is an awful lot of new content here.

It's brilliant and obscure and like all the best satire, you probably don't even know that it's laughing at you. [Oct 2005, p.88]

It doesn't reinvent the original, but it's a very solid and worthwhile addition to an already successful game, especially at the two-for-one monthly subscription fee. [Feb 2006, p.77]

Rises above its own occasionally clichés and standard third-person action gameplay with an effective atmosphere, solid voice-acting, and an episode-quality storyline.

And, in terms of design, there's still no better way to go online and shoot people than DICE's battlefield games. [Jan. 2007, p.54]

Mixing down and dirty hack-and-slash action with some light puzzle solving; Blade of Darkness makes a simple concept work. With enough blood spurting and gib spraying to send Joe Lieberman and his cohorts running for cover, this is slicing and dicing at its finest.

The voice acting in this game is probably the most widely competent you'll ever come across in a recent computer game.

The perfect arcade classic package for hardcore retro gamers, parents looking for something simpler and less disturbing for kids and, of course, thirty-somethings looking to recapture a little of their past glory.

Quotation forthcoming. [Jan 2005]

It's a guilty pleasure, but one with good puzzles. [Mar 2007, p.72]

The difficulty is daunting, the missions feel like intricate puzzles, and the frustration factor is high. Still, nothing compares to the moment when you finally get it right.

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.

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.

What's truly satisfying is these games make history entertaining. [June 2005, p.90]

Despite some rocky stretches, FarCry delivers one of the best action game experiences of recent vintage, a superior blend of technical sophistication and gold old fashioned visceral combat. [June 2004, p.76]

Caesar IV deserves an ovation, if not a triumphal procession, for merely reminding people what a good historical city sim looks like. [Jan. 2007, p.68]

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

Enclave isn't a clever game, nor is it an ambitious one... If your looking for a quality fantasy beat-em-up with more brawn and beauty than brains, it's a winning choice. [May 2003, p.81]

A beautiful game full of memorable moments, suffering only from a clumsy attempt to mimic the writing style of old detective novels.

What sets Cossacks apart from other games is its spectacular visuals and its attention to historical detail.

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>

It's remarkably imaginative, whimsical, and full of life. [Nov 2005, p.68]

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.

It delivers an excellent single-player game with some caveats, and a blah multiplayer experience that lacks the best feature from the Xbox version. [Dec 2003, p.92]

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.

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!

Where "Diablo" now looks as dated as it is accessible, the WarCraft III franchise remains its exact opposite: luscious on the yes and hell on the brain. [Sept 2003, p.68]

"Advance Wars" is well and good, but this is a more mature, varied, and sophisticated strategy game, arguably as deep as you'll see on a handheld. [Apr 2006, p.93]

A sampler of many of the greatest game genres all in one, wrapped neatly with an RPG bow on top. [Feb 2005, p.64]

If you like big bangs, you'll get unlimited enjoyment when nuclear explosions pepper the late game carnage and shake the entire screen with powerful force. Along with this visual feast, audible devastation also drives the scene.

Trauma Center is an experience you can't really get anywhere else. [Dec p.89]

The ultimate nostalgia trip&#151;a classic game that plays just as you remember it, untouched by the hand of time.

The fires look great, the strategy and tactics are interesting, and it's exciting to rescue people and property, rather than trying to destroy it. [Nov 2003, p.96]

Significantly more elaborate than any of the other [current tactical shooters]. [July 2005, p.49]

The whole thing fits together elegantly, quickly becoming intuitive and fluid, which isn't something you can say about many computer wargames... This is traditional wargaming at its best. [Sept 2003, p.81]

Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]

It's all atmosphere and, particularly when you're talking about horror, that's often enough. [Mar 2004, p.66]

Return to Castle Wolfenstein has all the right pieces to become an online classic.

Even if you do solve The Elk Moon Murder the first time around, you're bound to be amazed at the richness of the setting, the fine acting, and the sharp design.

It combines simple controls(you use the shoulder buttons to tilt the world and to occasionally flick your blob into the air, letting gravity do its job)with the pop of color on the PSP's screen and the rich music you can stream from a disc. [Oct. 2006, p.81]

Despite the rather pale storyline (at least within the game itself), watered-down quests and a fair amount of necessary repetition, Diablo is a must for anyone interested in "just plain fun." Action gamers and RPG-ers alike will be enthralled.

Definitely gets points for its sense of humor. [Jan 2005, p.78]

It's the perfect game to sit down with for a couple of hours, with a margarita in one hand and the mouse in the other, and just tinker with your whacked-out island.

Pick it up if you're looking for another 20 plus hours of reality dissolving entertainment. [Feb 2003, p.68]

An intense and unrelenting stealth shooter, and it treats its subject matter with respect. [July 2003, p.85]

As long as you approach it with an understanding that the process is much better than resolution, Missing is one of the most gratifying adventure games you can play. [Oct 2004, p.82]

The true standout here, though, is the area design. The zones are absolutely stunning with a palette of rich colors and textures. [Sept 2004, p.67]

Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]

Quotation forthcoming. [Mar 2006]

It's an underwater chess match that builds up to maybe only one chance to shoot. Some missions don't even allow you that...[It's] polished and thoroughly engaging, and the real audience for this game&#151;you know who you are&#151;won't be disappointed.

If you're willing to stop, explore, admire, backtrack, and other verbs that don't involve hurtling forward continuously, it's a lovely ride. [Jan 2005, p.74]

The elegant gameplay and low price make this an excellent purchase for gamers who still appreciate what operational-level Napoleonics are all about, and how good they can be if done right. [Nov 2004, p.86]

With at least 40 hours of original, engaging role-playing packed into its relatively tiny install, Geneforge 2, like the previous Spiderweb games, is probably the best twenty-five bucks an RPG fiend can spend. [Feb 2004, p.85]

Quotation forthcoming. [Mar 2006]

While Sheep isn't a good choice for the die-hard fragger on your shopping list, puzzle fans, Monty Python lovers, bad punsters, and anyone with fond memories of Lemmings will find hours of challenging fun within this appealingly ridiculous game.

This is the best dose of pure visceral excitement to hit shooters in years.

Its mix of classic adventure-style gameplay, intriguing storyline, logical puzzles and just a touch of action make it a topnotch choice for fans of thought-inducing gameplay.

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

It's at times annoying, but mostly just challenging, presenting American RPG players with a welcome, exciting, and unique new arc. [Jan 2006, p.89]

For any fan of racing and/or handheld games, this is a perfectly laidback combination of user friendly racing and noncommittal handheld gaming. [Mar 2006, p.93]

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.

It is, however, perfect for beginner to novice chess players since it candy-coats the ancient game with plenty of vivid 3D graphics, and a built-in adventure game. [Jan 2004, p.85]

It's a grand maze without dead-ends. [March 2005, p.84]

It remains the place for massive (and social) battles, and changes in the wake of Core Combat should bring lapsed players back to the fold. [Mar 2004, p.74]

Ingenious new ways to beat the typically insane Myst enigmas lends a fresh feeling to an old hat, and gives you a greater sense of control. [Dec p.59]

It's impossible to ignore all of the changes and the improvements made in this version. It looks as if this formerly stagnant series has finally turned a corner. [Feb 2005, p.63]

With a better interface and a more explicit manual, The Corporate Machine would be one of those thankfully rare and accessible strategy games that you can't tear yourself away from.

The combination of fully adjustable flight parameters and complex 3D plane-editing tools turns X-Plane into the best "what-if" sim on the market. [May 2004, p.67]

Medieval II is a good game a couple of patches away from true greatness. As it stands now, it's a beautiful, well-crafted experience with some minor balance issues. [Feb. 2007, p.56]

This is an attractive and challenging game that, unlike so many other racing games, really does penalize you for running the pedal to the metal all the time.

Take ("F1 2000") and speed up the graphics a bit, add a new training mode, polish the AI, and offer rainy day racing and all the real-life grids from the 2000 Formula One season and you've got F1 Championship Season 2000.

Brilliant career mode. [July 2005, p.85]

Remains the best game on the market for simulating fictional leagues and playing in a multiplayer league with friends, but after five versions, it's time to focus more on fixing what's broken rather than adding more features. [July 2003, p.86]

It's a game about nothing... It's a world entirely in the hands of its players, so the possibilities for creativity and expansion are virtually endless. [Apr 2003, p.74]

This game will definitely bring a smile to your face when that black number three bumps you, just before he takes the lead away from you on your last lap at Daytona.

Luckily, it has that challenging, supremely polished, turn-based gameplay to fall back on. [Jan 2006, p.91]

Still, it delivers an excellent—albeit it extremely short—experience. [Dec. 2006, p.72]

For those tired of frantic building in fantasy worlds, Sudden Strike 2 serves up something pleasantly different and satisfying. [Jan 2003, p.82]

A must-have for hardcore players, most of whom undoubtedy already own it. [Jan 2005, p.71]

It's a modern-day "Spy Hunter", minus the oil slicks and smoke screens, and it's both repetitive and difficult, but in a very old-school "Ghosts 'n Goblins" way that makes it perfect for portable gaming. [Jun 2006, p.93]

Takes the genre to new heights of both realism and presentation. [Oct 2002, p.79]

Although the extremely steep learning curve and unforgiving penalty for any "ooop" moment make this an exercise in frustration from time to time, the sheer volume of things to do, the amazingly detailed construction aspect, and the solid economy base make this a really good bet for hard-core sime fans. [July 2004, p.66]

Mizuguchi is known for deftly combining action and music, from the classic "Rez" to other faves "SpaceChannel 5" and the recent "Lumines" for the PSP. And now he's done it again with Meteos. [Oct 2005, p.90]