MIT could use a few of this game's puzzles as its early admissions test, but Aura's still enjoyable overall. [Oct 2004, p.81]

All told, it's a solid and enjoyable game that should appeal to both business tycoon fans who want to focus more on their customers and fans of "The Sims" who want to play a more goal-oriented game. [Oct 2002, p.110]

The game's fast pace makes managing your turf a hectic, confusing ordeal. [June 2004, p.87]

In the played-out field of fantasy real-time-strategy games, SpellForce rises above the muck with ambition, a few original gameplay touches, and some truly spectacular graphics. [May 2004, p.80]

While I found the game a refreshing diversion from the usual slash-and-loot online fare I've become a little worn out on after years of play, I did find the heavy focus on interaction with other players to be too much of a good thing. [July 2003, p.82]

Planet Moon's Armed and Dangerous is "Kelly's Heroes" meets "Shrek" by way of Monty Python and Guy Ritchie. [Mar 2004, p.74]

It isn't a great game, but it's a decent challenge. [June 2002, p.87]

If only the camera system were half as responsive as the bad guys are. [July 2003, p.89]

Good for Potter addicts, but bad controls bog it down. [Jan 2005, p.103]

A game that, wile not cutting-edge, is simply fun to play... A great game for the money. [Feb 2006, p.86]

The surprise, given the unplayability of the strategic game, is that this is easily the best "Magic" rip-off ever done for a PC, handily beating the official game from a couple years back. [Mar 2002, p.93]

A textbook case of glorious buildup and shattered expectations. [Feb 2004, p.72]

While the visuals are good, they aren't nearly as spectacular as they could have been. [May 2002, p.76]

Despite a spectacular-looking engine, intriguing units, and some original gameplay, Generals doesn't capitalize on opportunties to be a shining light in the genre, and instead ends up as just decent. [Apr 2003, p.74]

You'll be praying for at least a competent if not sparking conversationalist... For now, the game is pretty boring. [Apr 2003, p.104]

As a simulation of the full flying experience, this one-man project can't compete with the refinement of "FS2004," but for the tinkerer or virtual pilot looking for unique flying experiences, it's a fun toolkit to dive into. [Ver 7.40; Apr 2004, p.93]

A complete lack of mouse support is the painful tip of this iceberg. [June 2003, p.104]

Victoria could be a classic after a few patches, but in the initial release, you're paying Paradox to beta test their game. [Mar 2004, p.79]

The great battle system, the witty main characters, and the play length aren't enough to overcome the lackluster graphical updates and the fact that the game doesn't really work for anyone who has bought a computer since October of last year. [May 2002, p.92]

While the game does suffer from the homogenization that the game system imposes, for traditional wargame-style play it works quite well. [May 2002, p.81]

Lacking ideas, Area 51 plays up its license (and lessons learned from finer shooters) for a solid but unsurprising foray into the FPS field. Pity that it isn't more.

A great concept but is filled with crippling annoyances that drag down the entire experience. [Nov 2002, p.120]

A fairly standard MMORPG that may be too little too late. [Aug 2005, p.80]

The dated visuals won't grab you, but the game's depth keeps things interesting if not addicting. [June 2003, p.98]

A good historical RTS, desite flawed infantry and some puzzlelike maps. [July 2004, p.71]

A faithful, fun retelling of the comic book - just too short. [Dec 2005, p.106]

A fairly standard action game redeemed by some true suspense and fear. [Oct 2004, p.79]

Unpatched, UFO will drag, stutter, and ultimately die a repeated death while a weird save-game bug devours hard-drive space. It's a profound shame, too, because lurking under the seven layers of ugly is an otherwise very good game.