As a pure single-player action game, the expansion is a mixed bag, but there's still some great gaming to be had with the whole "Black Hawk Down" experience. [May 2004, p.64]

It all comes down to you and a rock, floating together in space, with all the action and serene beauty of the docking sequence from "2001." Play some Strauss and go make another sandwich. [Sept 2003, p.78]

Everything about Rogue Trooper screams "competent," which doesn't amount to memorable or particularly inspired. [Sept. 2006, p.76]

Aloof and distant, Secrets of Da Vinci isn't a bad game, just an unfriendly one. [Oct. 2006, p.72]

While Wild Arms 4 isn't as wonderfully radical....it still makes returning to the weary world of Filgaia for the fith time far more enervating than it has any right to be. [Apr 2006, p.93]

Despite the excellent manual, the cumbersome interface and maze of data make it seem more like a first draft of the future than mission accomplished. [Sept 2005, p.56]

Most of the guns are uninspired and even boring - even the shotgun seems dull. [Feb 2004, p.60]

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]

Parallel Lines proves that effective story-telling sometimes makes up for mediocre gameplay. [July 2006, p.87]

It's a lot of clicking, looking at things, tweaking routes, and clicking a little more, and as with most of these types of games, is oddly compelling in an Excel spreadsheet kind of way.

The learning curve is extremely steep, so if you decide to take the pilot's seat, be prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride. It's exactly the sort of title you would expect from a small, grassroots developer—made with obvious enthusiasm but lacking a lot of the polish of its market-dominating competitor.

May be too complicated for many real-time strategy players and a little too silly for hardcore wargamers. If you don't mind making some compromises in either direction, however, there is ample fun to be had.

Surprisingly well made and entertaining. [Jan 2004, p.76]

Wings of War isn't perfect, but beautiful; stylistic design and creative mission structure go a long way toward disguising the game's few drawbacks. [Dec 2004, p.93]

The racing is at best mediocre and at worst awful, so it's a good thing they included missions you can complete for cash. While they're a terrific idea (more variety is a very good thing), they're also completely brain dead.

While Gladiator has excellent production values, its gameplay is fairly pedestrian compared to some console offerings. However, its style of gameplay is still fairly unique in the PC world, making it oddly compelling in very short bursts. [June 2004, p.80]

There's simply no way to get your fingers around it all. [Feb 2006, p.93]

Parallel Lines proves that effective story-telling sometimes makes up for mediocre gameplay. [July 2006, p.87]

Iron Storm has its own versin of the "what if" game: what if WWI had never ended? Unfortunately, it may leave you wondering, "What if I was playing a game that was more fun?" [Feb 2003, p.80]

The lack of difficulty is only surpassed by the lack of control. [Apr 2004, p.74]

Over the course of seven games and three acronoyms, the Tony Hawk series has inexorably morphed into the Hot Topic of the videogame universe, a game that glitzily packages and commodifies the skater subculture it glorifies. [May 2006, p.54]

Taken purely as a game, Getting Up works. But whoa, its message is a mess. [May 2006, p.49]

The ease with which you can jump into Typhoon makes it intriguing at first, but the simplicity of combat and repetitiveness of the campaign makes the excitement short-lived.

The lack of support for AI in dogfights, a bad padlock, and a half-assed view system make this a second-rate multiplayer flight sim. [Jan 2003, p.66]

Seems like one of the better bland, forgettable shooters out there, if there is such a beast. [Aug 2005, p.72]

One mean mother of a four-wheeled game. Warts and all, it still offers classy pick up n' play handling, efficient interface, and stupendous presentation.

What it was designed to do, it does very well. It barely makes a pretense of doing anything else, however—extra bells and whistles are definitely not part of the package.

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.