Anyone who owns a gaming PC will be well served by this outstanding effort. [Oct. 2006, p.108]

Pure fun that increases exponentially has you add more friends to the mix. [Nov 2005, p.138]

The sandbox gameplay is among the best in the genre, and its lengthy single-player campaign largely makes up for some questionable multiplayer.

One of the most in-depth and cerebral role-playing games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. [June 2002, p.84]

I desperately hope that this game garners enough attention to afford some sequels, if for no other reason that I'd like to see the team experiment with other genres. [Dec 2005, p.171]

A fantastic title...I would have liked more depth to the single-player experience and a little bit more story, but that's nitpicking really. [Dec 2003, p.176]

Something any strategy gamer shouldn't be without. [Dec 2003, p.181]

Destiny 2 is a massive and rewarding game that offers the potential for hundreds of hours of fun and discovery with friends. Quibbles aside, Bungie has crafted a fantastic follow-up to a wildly popular formula, and one that no other developer has come close to equaling in sophistication. Many of the streamlining choices welcome a new crop of Guardians into the mix, but also make this new game more playable and understandable for even returning players. As I settle in for what I hope to be another several years of adventures, I hope Bungie can nail the elusive balance between depth and accessibility.

The handful of new characters and modes won’t entice newcomers, but considerable changes and balances have been made to the engine. It isn’t groundbreaking, but it keeps the venerable Street Fighter IV on top of the fighting game hierarchy.

Titles like Invisible War are why video games are the superior entertainment medium. You mull over puzzles, weigh ethical dilemmas, and ponder the universe. [Jan 2004, p.143]

After playing so many shooters in recent years, Thieves in Time’s old-school platforming is a breath of fresh air. While it doesn’t innovate, its subtle craftsmanship and varied gameplay reasserts what we’ve always known: This genre still has something important to add to the game industry. I hope this game meets with the success it deserves.

The most interesting of the mechanic additions is the implementation of red focus – a souped up version of a regular focus attack. Red focus cancels moves that you normally could not, creating more aggressive playstyles. Additionally, you can absorb more attacks, giving characters a defensive boost.

The Final Cut opens this strange world up to a wave of new superstar detectives on console, and the additions provide a rewarding return trip for the rest of us.

The Final Cut opens this strange world up to a wave of new superstar detectives on console, and the additions provide a rewarding return trip for the rest of us.

Offers more of what made the original so unique, and succeeds at making a phenomenal game even greater. [Oct 2005, p.148]

I ripped through Observation in one six-hour sitting, propelled forward by the novel blend of challenging puzzles and gripping storytelling. Though at first glance, Observation may appear to be your traditional first-person horror game, I’ve never played anything quite like it. Challenging and unnerving in equal measure, Observation shouldn’t be missed by anyone in search of a mind-bending and unsettling thrill.

NBA 2K16 is the first true classic sports game of this console generation. I can only hope other sports games follow Visual Concepts’ steadfast dedication to innovating on both the gameplay and game mode fronts.

I'll be the first to admit that SUmmoner has a few problems; but, for whatever reason, I am utterly mesmerized by it. [Apr 2003, p.88]

I can only hope other sports games follow Visual Concepts’ steadfast dedication to innovating on both the gameplay and game mode fronts.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission feels like it came out of nowhere to quietly prove that familiar genres can feel like new experiences with the aid of virtual reality. While the medium is capable of creating entirely new interactive experiences, Rescue Mission serves as a great reminder that the styles of games we already like can be translated to VR, and when it is done as well as it has been here, you get a chance to experience something that feels genuinely new and exciting.

Given just how fully featured this adventure is, Lost Legacy could have easily been Uncharted 5. Where Naughty Dog goes next is anyone’s guess, but I would love to see Chloe and Nadine return for another hunt, as they’re every bit as engaging as the Drake family. They make a hell of a team.

The fielding is the only aspect of that could still use some work. Otherwise, this is as good as digital baseball gets. [Apr 2002, p.76]

Playing against friends or Xbox Live strangers can be entertaining, but the real fun and challenge of Trials Evolution lies in the single-player experience. Even though you may not be facing off against live opponents, the social element of the game does a remarkable job conveying a sense of competition.

I suggest you heartily plow into the game's wealth of career options, lose yourself in the Lighting Challenges, and laugh all the way to victory lane. [Oct 2002, p.87]

Features some of the greatest cutscenes in video game history, giving Conker a run for its money as the funniest game ever. [Dec 2001, p.88]

This year's PES title won't change anyone's mind about the series. It hasn't gotten any less complex, but it also hasn't lost any of its brilliance. In that sense, its success is all its own.

Although the drift racing is too dependant on the hand brake and I’d like more emotional investment in the cars in my garage (some tweaking would be nice, as would more of a sense of pride in each car I own), Grid is a shining example of how to make a fresh racing game that captures that age-old, fundamental desire to go screaming down the asphalt like a rubber-shredding, hell-bent maniac.

Some areas shine brighter than others, but the developer's inspired Champion mode is the star feature that must be experienced.