The core gameplay is so well done and the mechanics are so clean. Thanks to the great A.I., there's no question of the game's longevity.

Star Chamber freshens up the CCG genre by blending traditional card play with a strategic game of planetary conquest. [Mar 2006, p.85]

The development team used some real forethought when creating this trilogy. From a plot-development standpoint, think of it as the anti-"Star Wars." [Feb 2006, p.82]

Short but sweet - and you get to be a giant gorilla. [Feb 2006, p.75]

Good, but we crave more. MORE BRAINS! [Feb 2006, p.78]

Does Most Wanted feed my adrenaline addiction from start to finish? No - repetition, while unavoidable in a game ilke this, ultimately does in the game's ability to raise your blood pressure. But while it lasts...damn, it's good. [Feb 2006, p.80]

One of the most addictive and enjoyable games you'll play this year. [Jan 2005, p.84]

Fun... but you'll forget which side you're on until the police drones zap you. [Feb 2006, p.69]

Surprisingly strong Star Wars combat. [Jan 2005, p.92]

A tad creaky, but pepped up with plenty of spine-tingling and head-scratching action. [Jan 2005, p.106]

Like a good meatloaf, it expertly scratches that comfort food itch, leaving you well-satisfied until the craving hits you again, months later - just in time for the inevitable expansion. [Jan 2005, p.94]

If you harbor any interest in strategy games and want something with more depth than the average mindless RTS, then you would do well to immerse yourself in Civilization IV and let it soak in.

Sam II's wild, random charm makes for a twisted Duke Nukem meets Alice in Wonderland sort of roller coaster ride-a perfect change of pace from the scads of grim 'n' gritty shooters steeped in WWII war zones and dystopian postapocalyptic futures. Just don't take it too seriously, OK?

F.E.A.R.'s troopers try so hard, you almost hate not fighting fair. [Jan 2005, p.96]

In many ways, Blood feels like the polished game Gearbox couldn't completely nail last time around. Most of the evolution takes place under the hood.

Offers amazing depth of play for even the most discriminating hockey fans. [Jan 2005, p.88]

For $35, you get a ton of replayability plus new downloadable planes and campaigns each month. For those who don't mind abstraction in the name of fun, DIF is a must-have.

Winter Assault further cements Dawn of War as one of the great next-gen strategy titles. If you thought you were sick of the genre, come back. This is worth it.

Indigo Prophecy marks a tremendous rebirth for a very stagnant genre. Let's hope its mature style serves as an inspiration for other developers.

If you happen to be an X-Men fan and enjoy running through fairly linear, enemy-filled levels, smashing up highly destructible environments, and collecting scads of shiny items, Rise of Apocalypse ain't a bad way to spend a few Friday nights with some friends-and it's still a hell of a lot better than those damn comics.

Tiger 06 is a hardcore character-building RPG wrapped up in a sports game, letting you craft your own story of spectacular success or crushing failure. If a nongolfer like me can love it, pretty much anyone can.

Wisely focuses on humankind's hedonistic tendencies, with less emphasis on acquisition and more on enjoying life outside the house.

Another incremental step, but still a great game of football. [Nov 2005, p.100]

If anything, it reminds us that ridiculous production values and high-powered rigs aren't always necessary to make a game that's just plain fun.

FlatOut doesn't have nearly enough variety in its tracks. Though the layouts will change (sometimes only slightly), there are only a few landscapes, and they do get repetitive. This minor complaint aside, FlatOut is a great arcade-style racer.

Above all, the writing and voice acting are far superior to most other videogames'. [Oct 2005, p.76]

The neat thing is that none of it—the chain of command, the elitist bands of E-brothers, the Patton-approved battle plans—needs to matter, at least to the curious weekend commando looking to pop into a public server and simply shoot somebody.

This latest GTA is an epic, involving experience, no doubt--but when you get past the expansive world and the RPG-like elements, it's the same epic, involving experience it was last year.

An epic strategy game for conquerors who want more than just the standard RTS. [Aug 2005, p.86]

Fate isn't going to glue new brain cells inside your skull, but it isn't going to murder the ones you have. It's a good time, it really never reaches an end, and it may be the best way to while away the lifetime between now and "Diablo III."

Casual gamers may find a hefty learning curve, but the tracks are so inventive; it's ultimately worth the work required to unlock them.

A new benchmark for hardcore racing sims...mostly. [Oct 2005, p.81]

It has the same kind of addictive magic, suspense, and excitement that the X-Com games had, with the bonus of devious human minds in place of stilted A.I. [June 2003, p.88]

The player economy, crafting aspects, and general sociability aren't nearly what they are in a full-fledged MMORPG, and even ArenaNet labels Guild Wars a "competitive RPG." Still, for less-social gamers thirsting for high-octane, real-time online action without a monthly fee, Guild Wars is a solid choice.

Empire Earth II builds upon many of its predecessor's strengths to deliver a sprawling RTS conquest game that is still remarkably user-friendly.

A triumph of art direction, a prime example of exquisite aesthetics and of how well an imaginary world can be beautifully conceived.

Simply put, SWAT 4 is just about the best tactical shooter available. Its outstandingly realistic and gripping play delivers everything a tac-sim fan craves. Now, if you'll excuse me, there are more perps in need of cuffing.

More monsters to kill and guns to shoot them with. You were expecting, maybe, a love story? [Aug 2005, p.72]

More so than any other stealth-action game, Chaos Theory really makes you feel like a spy.

The A.I. is quite good, particularly at the tactical level, where you don't have to baby-sit an army.

"Dangerous Waters" is a superb modern naval combat simulator but Silent Hunter III is destined to be a Sim Hall of Fam all-time classic. [June 2005, p.94]

Just when you think the story is winding down, an incredible twist sends the narrative spiraling dramatically in another direction. [May 2005, p.86]

This is one shooter in which your tactical skills are rewarded more than your ability to line up targets. [June 2005, p.76]

Still, given the intensity of the combat, you won't have a lot of time to brood over the sometimes monotonous environments. Somebody deserves credit for making a gritty, Jedi-free Star Wars game without any fruity Force powers or lightsabers.

There's nothing transcendently brilliant here, but there's enough new stuff to keep you happy. Everyone else, you can keep scratching your heads.

Technically great but lacks the heart that makes fans into fanatics. [Aug 2005, p.84]

Dangerous Waters is a superb modern naval combat simulator but Silent Hunter III is destined to be a Sim Hall of Fam all-time classic. [June 2005, p.94]

Far from perfect, but far beyond the competition. [Aug 2005, p.85]

It's all here: the virtual keys to the teensy-weensy pearly gates of micromanagement heaven. [May 2005, p.93]

This is a very good follow-up to the best single-player role-playing game in years, and that's OK with me. KOTOR II is a big, often complex, mature piece of storytelling—and I'll take it over anything that's been onscreen with the Star Wars name in 25 years.

You can turn a guard's own gun on him, shank him with a homemade shiv, snap his neck with your bare hands, or drop down on his head. [March 2005, p.71]

A decent RTS that makes great use of a movie license. [Feb 2005, p.90]

Calling it an homage, an interpretation, a clone, or even a rip-off doesn't change the fact that it's a damn fine game. [March 2005, p.75]

Gorgeous and exhilarating, though needlessly gory and combatcentric. [March 2005, p.72]

It's designed to let players make significant progress without requiring a decisive committment to sitting motionless in front of the computer for days at a time. Unfortunately, the game's so addictive that you may end up with a case of bedsores anyway. [Feb 2005, p.73]

The simplicity of the gameplay and charm of the presentation are happy reminders of a more innocent age when games were just fun for kids rather than targets of congressional hearings. [Feb 2005, p.86]

More guns, more vehicles, and lots more action. [Feb 2005, p.81]

The biggest and only serious bummer of Half-Life 2 is the installation -- and it's so bad that we're knocking the game's final score.

Where Bloodlines really shines is in the world it creates, a nightmarish hell lurking just beneath the seedy surface of nighttime Los Angeles. [Feb 2005, p.82]

Ranks among the most entertaining games I've played in a while. [Apr 2005, p.85]

It might be too friendly for old-school, hardcore EQ players to make the jump, but for gamers looking for a classic fantasy MMO, EverQuest II should fit the bill very nicely. [Feb 2005, p.72]

This game is truly all about the cinematic, dramatic single-player campaign, and it is there that it shines, often brilliantly, but a little too briefly. [Jan 2005, p.92]

The original art design and wide array of funny and original characters keep the experience fresh and engaging. [Holiday 2004, p.88]

Unlike most adventure games, you'll often find multiple solutions here. [Apr 2005, p.88]

Even with the completely new engine, the core RCT formula remains intact and as strong as ever. [Feb 2005, p.88]

Best pastime for hockey fans until the NHL and NHLPA get their collective heads out of their asses. [March 2005, p.77]

A slick and highly enjoyable production, and what it lacks in realism, it makes up for in pure entertainment value. [Holiday 2004, p.86]

The mechanics for pulling off tricks have been perfected. [Jan 2005, p.104]

A fairly polished and comical game. It's too bad it didn't emulate "Toy Story" a little more, though, and provide a better plot and stellar acting. [Holiday 2004, p.98]

The most significant improvement over past Myst games is a stronger integration of the story with the puzzles. [Holiday 2004, p.90]

With any luck, this game is only the beginning of a rich, rewarding series. [Jan 2005, p.96]

A stroke of brilliance. With its unparalleled scope and enough strategic gameplay for two top-flight games, let alone one, Rome is a game that triumphs over its minor bugs and A.I. glitches and once again redefines what a historical strategy game can - and should - be. [Holiday 2004, p.100]

Because of the fantasy setting and the powerful new graphics engine, cranked-down zoomed-in battles can be spectacular in a way that Creative Assembly's "Shogun" and "Medieval" battles can only dream of. [Dec 2004, p.90]

A shot of pure-grade real-time strategy adrenaline straight into the veins. [Holiday 2004, p.78]

Those who've never played a computer golf sim may discover that this is one of their favorite games of the year in any genre. [Holiday 2004, p.84]

The Sims 2 is as big as life and as consuming. At heart, and with heart, it is a masterpiece.

This expansion is a compelling, dramatic WWII shooter with some of the most cinematic action ever converted into 1s and 0s - just like "Call of Duty." [Dec 2004, p.92]

You don't need a barnburner system to get all of Madden's eye candy. [Holiday 2004, p.86]

Offers a great, replayable mix of strategy of action. [Holiday 2004, p.92]

For computer war gamers, there really isn't anything better out there. [Jan 2005, p.98]

As uniquely unnerving as its predecessor. [Holiday 2004, p.92]

A political campaign would be nothing without dirty tricks, and The Political Machine gives you a whole arsenal of them. [Nov 2004, p.84]

It's the execution that makes this game so damn good. The stellar visuals, amazing audio, and incredible attention to detail draw you into another world.

A little rough around the edges, but if you like a challenge, you'll love it. [Nov 2004, p.76]

The only thing missing from this great, innovative puzzle game: an ending. [Oct 2004, p.78]

A beautiful RTS with solid single- and multiplayer gameplay. What more can you ask for? [Oct 2004, p.76]

When it all comes together, Joint Ops is a great game that offers a solid combat experience on a scale far beyond anything in the "Battlefield" series. [Sept 2004, p.74]

Works so well in third-person mode that it makes you wonder why it wasn't offered earlier. [Sept 2004, p.70]

We're all still playing this game night and day, long after the review is over. We love it, and sadly, we don't have much of a life outside of it. Thank God there aren't more MMO's like this one. [Aug 2004, p.72]

Honestly expands upon the original with four new campaigns that provide the absorbing single-player experience the original lacked. Unfortunately, some stability problems keep it from being perfect.

The truest and most gratifying shooter since "Doom." [July 2004, p.69]

A well-played game of Winning Eleven 7 gives the impression of having watched a TV soccer match and controlled the results. It's that good. [Oct 2004, p.84]

And therein lies the game's beauty—it's expertly balanced. For every Goliath tank driver, there's a Manta master or Raptor pilot who can rip you a new one.

The only real bummer in the new stuff? The M-60 machine gun, which is so powerful and easy to use that it lets even blundering newbies rack up ridiculously high frag counts. It needs tuning down.

The ability to fire behind cover effectively in Vietcong is a notable feature lacking in almost every shooter game to date. [May 2004, p.82]

Bad A.I. and no realism, but who cares? The nonstop rat-a-tat-tat of automatic weapons in hostile environments gives Team Sabre its charm. [Apr 2004, p.91]

The sort of game that has you thirsting for the expansion moments after you complete it. [Apr 2004, p.81]

Takes the original game, upgrades it slightly, expands its cope, and adds and editor. Put together, it's a pretty good package. [Feb 2004, p.91]