An example of mediocrity dragged much further downward by sheer ineptitude. It could have been another so-so tactical stealth shooter, but the saves, the idiots, the cliches, and the crashes shove it into coaster territory. [July 2003, p.72]

No, you never, ever get a weapon. All you do is creep around avoiding conflict. This is supposed to be suspenseful. It's not. It's tedious. [Jan 2003, p.102]

It has a few great moments, but it seems like an incomplete collection of half-finished ideas. [Nov 2003, p.126]

Further compounding the game into sheer mediocrity is the downward spiral of the A.I. [Sept 2003, p.102]

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

The problem: I've played Serious Sam. I've seen Serious Sam. And this, sir, is no Serious Sam. [Nov 2003, p.131]

A long exercise in target practice, with lifeless enemies in dull levels. There's no saving during a mission, the graphics are weak, and there's no team-based action. What's worse, there's just no depth, artistry, or genuine thrills to be had. [Aug 2004, p.79]

A huge letdown that only the most hardcore Empire Earth fan might enjoy. [Jan 2003, p.125]

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]

In the end, though, there's just not enough fruit underneath all the rind. If it's an all-in-one medieval strategy game you're after, just Alt-Tab really quickly between "Medieval: Total War" and "Castles II"--that'll come closer than Stronghold 2 does.

Frightful fun is ultimately obscured by an even more frightful co-op camera. [Aug 2005, p.88]

Comic aficionados may be eager to become a part of an interactive comic world, but fanboys, prepare yourselves for a terribly average adventure. The only reason to consider Fantastic 4 is to cope with PC gaming's summer drought.

A decent-enough RTS bogged down by a lame RPG and the mistaken belief that milk is funny. [Feb 2004, p.77]

Coercing people to buy Core Combat so they can get more-potent weaponry seems shady. This expansion should cost a lot less - or be free. [Feb 2004, p.76]

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

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

All tension drains away as the game turns into the equivalent of a deathmatch against sheep. [July 2003, p.74]

Republic would have been good as a pure strategy game with more varied gameplay, or as a straightforward role-playing adventure with developed plot, characters, and actions. Instead it feels like the effort put into both parts prevented either from really being finished. [Dec 2003, p.134]

Slow. Frustrating. Not the best idea for an escape. [July 2002, p.81]

Fighting endless hoodlums, mercenaries, and thugs is not necessarily a bad thing -- monotonous fighting in repetitive missions is. [Dec 2003, p.136]

There isn't much variety in character appearance, which is disappointing, since other games are offering an incredible amount of customizability. [Aug 2004, p.74]

A cheap excuse to shoot things out of the sky. [June 2005, p.88]

It's the exact same game you've been playing for about the past four years. Except with ninjas. [Feb 2005, p.81]

Although it offers a mix of strategy, vehicle-based shooting, and third-person action, none of these elements surpass mediocrity due to the lukewarm gameplay. [Feb 2003, p.84]

With a total of four hours of gameplay (eight if you count the times technical failings made me repeat the first half), you don't get much for your money. [Oct 2002, p.110]

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 lot like "Freelancer," only boring and with a monthly fee. [May 2005, p.94]

Adult gamers will find it too basic, children may find it too frustrating, and fans of lord of the Rings will prefer a more authentic Tolkien experience. [Feb 2004, p.73]