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.

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.

What really sets NOLF2 apart is the game's sheer polish and professionalism. [Jan 2003, p.100]

Although it’s shot through with bugs and screw-ups that would remand a lesser title to the bargain bin, the game itself is so damn good you’ll forgive almost anything to keep playing. [Jan 2002, p.94]

A fantastic game - ridiculously fun, completely infectious, and one of the best massively multiplayer designs I've ever seen in an action game. [Jan 2003, p.116]

Comes close to being the massive, sprawling, open-ended, role-playing epic you've always dreamed of. [August 2002, p.68]

It can stand on its own as probably the best 4X strategy game of the past five years. [Feb 2004, p.67]

This game has so much more detail, realism, and flexibility than its predecessors that it effectively laps the F1 racing field. [Sept 2003, p.97]

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]

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.

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]

Probably the best shooter I've played all year. The only real knocks against it are that it's a relatively short game (I finished in about 10 hours) and the multiplayer is lackluster. But let's be honest: If you're into playing a World War II game online nothing compares to "Battlefield 1942" or Day of Defeat.

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

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 game presentation is like a television broadcast with an Emmy-winning director in the booth. [Mar 2003, p.106]

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]

As good as, if not better, than the original Playstation 2 best-seller. [July 2002, p.79]

The A.I. in this game is capable of some remarkably human-like behavior. [June 2003, p.99]

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.

Stronghold’s deft mix of economic, building, and combat challenges makes it one of the best strategy games of the year. [Feb 2002, p.79]

IO Interactive has fixed almost every flaw for Hitman 2; the result is an almost perfect blend of action and stealth. [Jan 2003, p113]

AOW2 effectively straddles that fine line between hands-on control and micromanagement busywork. [Sept 2002, p.86]

One of the best-designed games to come along in years. [Jan 2002, p.115]

Even without the numerous enhancements, tweaks, and goodies, Desert Siege is worth its price for the mission editor alone. [June 2002, p.83]

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.

This brilliantly desinged game breaks out of the cliches of the collectible-card-game genre ("Magic", "Pokemon", etc.) and provides gameplay that can rival that of the deepest of strategy games. [May 2004, p.84]

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

A fine blend of strategy, combat, and role playing. [Nov 2002, p.122]