The game is aesthetically stuck in the past, the single-player campaign is a typical helping of fantasy storytelling, and the multiplayer experience feels way too familiar. [Mar 2004, p.76]

A competently done city building game with nothing to set it apart from the crowd. [July 2003, p.80]

Decent combat system, good-looking engine, mediocre scenario design.

Despite the somewhat rough production values, Original War delivers interesting small-scale RTS action. [May 2002, p.81]

It's idiosyncratic but exciting in a way games like "EverQuest" aren't, and it's getting better... Shockingly good when you consider it was developed by a team of three people. [Oct 2003, p.124]

Just like the last Blitzkrieg. No, really. [Feb 2005, p.89]

Attack Squadron's high points are in the bomber missions...The immersion is excellent. [July 2002, p.76]

The biggest problem with Trade Empires is that the absence of everything except the trade engine makes the game seem unusually flat. [Jan 2002, p.100]

You'll sleep through most of the challenges, though, as your vampiric superpowers are so unbalanced that you'll cut a bloody path through the action in no time...even if you suck at these kinds of games. [Oct 2005, p.80]

Invisible War's mechanics are often repetitive and frustrating, but the choices you make are not, which helps keep things interesting even when you're unlocking yet another door with another multitool for the upteenth time. [Mar 2004, p.72]

Although the horror element here suffers from one-trick-pony-itis, I was, over time, compelled enough by the story to keep going-not just because I had to, but because I was kinda interested to see how things turned out.

Everything from basic commerce to trade has been significantly revamped. [Jan 2005, p.105]

Checkpoint placement is consistent only in its inconsistency. [Feb 2004, p.83]

The camera pans and zooms as it pleases, so keeping tabs on yourself is tough enough, let alone pretzel-bending into a stamina-boosting lotus stance while ducking baddies. [Jan 2006, p.103]

For casual gamers and casual Harry Potter fans - diehards may be let down. [Nov 2004, p.82]

Delightful, disappointing, and frustrating.

If you're looking for RTS writ large (and slow), TOD is worth checking out. [Apr 2005, p.89]

Unfortunately, this stellar tactical engine serves as the only highlight in a game with a lifeless campaign and enough technical problems to give Data a run for his money. [Mar 2003, p.100]

Despite the patient sneaking this game encourages, Contracts seems a little rushed. [Aug 2004, p.73]

In spite of any number of small improvements, the new game feels more stale and by-the-numbers than the first one. [Aug 2004, p.78]

Here in beats the heart of a classic.but casual simmers should wait and see if patches fix the problems.

Decent but dated, this is best for the die-hard Matrix fans who still believe. [Feb 2006, p.70]

It's never outright terrible. Which qualifies Big Mutha Truckers for some kind of best in breed award. [Sept 2003, p.99]

Unfortunately, the game shipped with its pay-to-play multiplayer unfinished and nonfunctional, so the only groundbreaking you'll do until that's fully completed is the kind that results from plummeting off cliffs.

The game was pretty fun—for about two levels. After that, MHPBMX began to feel way too repetitive. [Jan 2002, p.118]

The only thing missing from Ryzom's customizable battling, harvesting, and crafting systems is a lack of bothersome bugs. [Jan 2005, p.102]

The incessant clicking is reminiscent of, but nearly as gratifying as, using a retractable ballpoint pen. [Apr 2005, p.86]

I'll live with the skewed strikeout numbers and the other quirks, because there isn't a better game. [July 2002, p.70]