Brain dead bot AI and a lackluster campaign can make it a frustrating and less than enjoyable single player experience.

Although it suffers from a few problems and annoyances, overall Divine Divinity is an expansive and quite enjoyable RPG.

It provides plenty of challenge for sim fans, and does a great job of giving racing rookies a chance to gain racing skills without the need for countless hours of frustration.

A deep and gameplay-packed treat for fans of racing whether they are looking for casual play or a more serious racing sim.

If you are an Empire Earth fan, then you'll more than likely enjoy this expansion and appreciate the gameplay provided by the new campaigns.

If you haven't experienced The Sims before, now's your chance. This bundle will provide you with plenty of gameplay and introduce you to the enjoyable addiction that The Sims can be.

It can be an enjoyable game, especially when you are just starting out to build your corporate empire. However, some gameplay quirks and the need for too much micromanagement will cause some players to lose interest in it before too long.

A fun and accessible multiplayer universe, but probably too simplistic for the veteran space sim crowd.

Features an interesting story and great atmosphere, but its gaming aspects fall a little short.

Strictly for the anime, console-style RPG crowd, but if you’re in that group you may find yourself having a good time.

A natural for online play.

Outside of my complaint with the racing level and a few very minor issues, Mafia is a really immersive game. The story is very good, and the cutscenes and voice acting are of the highest caliber.

Overall, SOCOM is definitely at the top-tier of PS2 games in terms of sound, and can hold its own in graphics.

There is so much to manage and so much waiting to do, that many people might not enjoy it too much. If you love slowly building up a complex economy, though, you'll find a lot to love in Cultures 2.

Designed for RPG veterans and particularly those familiar with Dungeons & Dragons. The game comes with an excellent and thorough manual, but at well over 100 pages it might be overwhelming to a newbie.

Pretty basic. Without the need to manage resources beyond controlling villages, the game's economy is about as simple as it comes.

More interactive movie than third-person shooter, The Thing is an enjoyable diversion loaded with atmosphere.

An homage to "Diablo II" that fails to capture any of the magic that made that game so much fun.

Although the strategic aspect of the game is merely average, this game can be recommended based on the strength of its incredible real-time battles.

If you found the first game to be very challenging, this expansion has the potential to frustrate you to no end. It also lacks the elements that made the first game suspenseful and packed with atmosphere.

A lot of gameplay modes and some pretty darn good football to boot; you can't go wrong with Madden NFL 2003.

The player faces are expressive, and you can see their eyes move as they look around.

A lot of gameplay modes and some pretty darn good football to boot; you can't go wrong with Madden NFL 2003.

To really enjoy the game in all it's glory, though, you'll need to play it in dynasty mode.

As for control, it is fluid and precise.

If you're a college football fan, you can't go wrong with this game - you'll love it.

If you're looking for some "war gaming lite" or are new to war games, Strategic Command's simple play mechanics and grand scale might make it an enjoyable diversion for you.

If you loved "Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis," you'll definitely enjoy this game. However, the degree of difficulty, taken with the poor save game system and non-intuitive squad command system, might make it a frustrating play for some.

The yardstick that will be used to measure strategy games for some time to come.

The disappointing business simulation and the drone-like guests make it difficult for the game to hold your interest for too long.

A well-researched and designed game that's a bit of a departure from your standard war game.

In serious competition, it suffers from the same drawback as the real world version of the game - players with deep pockets can buy themselves more powerful decks.

Unless you really, really love monster trucks, the game's poor execution will prevent it from keeping your interest for too long.

The sheer variety of units and maps alone make for a wide variety of strategic approaches - unlike some games you can not rely on the same basic strategy while mowing your way through the scenarios.

A poor single-player campaign and quirky interface issues make the game frustrating to all but the hardcore death match crowd.

If you're looking for a challenge or an in-depth game covering the Roman Empire, you might want to look elsewhere.

Both fun and challenging, and very nicely walks the fine line between realism and playability.

The designers did a good job of capturing Duke's persona, and he makes his way through the game with his signature one-liners. However, the biggest question is the game's staying power.

A simple, yet enjoyable and somewhat addicting game best enjoyed in small doses.

Veteran players and die-hard baseball fans will probably find it too simplistic and ultimately unsatisfying.

It can be fun at times for fans of the movie, but it is too inconsistent to recommend to the casual action gamer.

An ambitious game that falls a bit short on execution, Warrior Kings is not suited to casual gamers but RTS veterans may find it intriguing.

And for being a “suspense” game, there are times when the music sounds like you’re on a carousal. Not good at all.

Great graphics and some innovative concepts make this one worth a close look, but a thin plot, linear play, and monster AI issues prevent it from achieving true greatness.

A game that provides a lot of fast-paced and exciting action, and does a great job of conveying the feel of the Star Wars universe.

The game has a lot of good ideas, but falls a little flat in the execution. Strategy gamers looking for something a little different or those with an interest in the period should give the game a look, but will need to approach it with a bit of patience.

Carnivores just plain falls short in its execution and its repetitive nature makes it difficult to hold the player's interest for long.

You'll get more face time with a Hooters Girl if you go down to your local Hooters for lunch.

If you are a Sims fan, you'll more than likely enjoy the new places Vacation provides to let your sims loose to enjoy themselves.

Multiplayer aside, Freedom Force is a thoroughly enjoyable game. You'll often find yourself wanting to play the next mission just to gain one more hero, or see what happens next.

Hard core flight sim veterans will find its simplified flight model and weak campaign to be disappointing.

In the AI department, Dark Planet is consistently inconsistent.

The heroes are a great touch that allows players to gain a feeling of personal attachment to their faction, and to enjoy the character improvement aspect of RPGs.

Those who prefer their RPGs to be the more serious experience typical of PC games might be better off passing on it.

Anyone who enjoyed those games might get a kick out of it and it is a good choice for those new to action gaming.

If you really love World War II naval combat and have a very high degree of patience, then maybe take a look at Destroyer Command.

Those looking for less scenery and pretty looking trains and more gaming, should probably pass on Trainz as they will lose interest in the game before too long.

Imaginative levels, great graphics, memorable enemies.

Kudos to the development team for speeding up the build times, including a plethora of new structures and edicts, and adding even more great tracks to the excellent soundtrack.

While this might seem to be a mall rat's dream, Mall Tycoon falls short of the mark as either a business simulation or a shopping center builder.

Sim racing fans will find that it is too easy and not realistic enough, and will grow tired of it before too long.

It has the magical ability to make hours melt away in gaming bliss without the player even really noticing the passage of time.

A fascinating game that provides a tremendous amount of gameplay.

The ability to so easily change between creature types and the opportunity to concentrate on the creature's development are very nice additions to the game that should please those who simply wanted to interact with the game's incredible AI, unfettered by the incursions of rival gods.

It is just one great mission in a series of great missions that provide players with a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive gaming experience. If you ever wanted to be a part of a great war story, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault is a must.

If you are a Star Wars fan and enjoy arcade-style shooters, you'll probably really like this game. Players looking for a more challenging or in-depth simulation, though, might be better off looking elsewhere.

The single player campaign is visually interesting and enjoyable to play, but the multiplayer mode is where the game really shines.

It might prove to be a bit frustrating for the casual RPG player, but those who enjoy the genre will be pleased by the intriguing world and huge amount of gameplay provided by Wizardry 8.

This is not a game for those new to strategy games - the challenge and complexity make Empire Earth too much to digest for these players and it may easily prove to be frustrating to them.

The intriguing, interwoven campaign games are excellent, and give the game a different feel when played from the different perspectives of the three races featured in the game. They may be a little on the short side.

At its best, Civilization III is addicting and enjoyable. Unfortunately, it suffers from some play balancing , AI, and occasional stability issues which bar it from realizing its full potential.

The unevenness of the campaign and awkward interface may prove to be too frustrating for some players. The skirmish mode can be enjoyable, though.

A benchmark game that future games will both try to imitate and be judged against as well.

The pandemonium of a castle siege can be fun to watch, but experienced gamers may find that this does not compensate for the game's frustrating points.

Imaginative new units and missions and an entire new faction, make this a no-brainer purchase for Red Alert 2 fans.

A unique game that is definitely worth a look by anyone looking for a gaming change of pace. Its long term appeal is questionable, though.

It's probably as close to real combat as you would want to get. It's probably too realistic for hard-core shooter fans, and not realistic enough for sim fanatics, but everyone else will find it to be a thrilling game.

It's unique setting and departure from more traditional RPG elements will certainly endear it to many players.

Incredible graphics, a compelling storyline, and an immersive experience. All of these features are expertly combined in Max Payne, creating a candidate for game of the year.

An excellent and enjoyable tactical combat game for those who don't enjoy base building or resource gathering.

It packs plenty of punch.

If you enjoyed Zeus, you'll be quite happy with Poseidon.

Those familiar with Westwood's prior strategy games will be very familiar with the game's controls.

Currently, the game is a labor of love - it takes a lot of patience, but can be rewarding and very enjoyable. If promised features are added soon, this could be a good game.

The lack of any control over the game's timescale is a serious drawback. Otherwise the game does have it's own, albeit quirky, charm.

Better AI and pathfinding and less reliance on such large quantities of resources would make Cossacks faster playing and more enjoyable.

A hearty "¡Viva Tropico!" for giving gamers such an innovative and fun game to play. While play may get a little repetitive during long game sessions, you'll definitely want to come back for more before too long.

Ground-breaking and very fascinating, but the game is hurt by an overemphasis on micromanagement. Improved village management and some poor level design kept this game from rating higher.

The game's AI is quite good and provides strong competition at its higher levels. Four different difficulty settings should help players new to war gaming to get their feet wet, though.

Some players may find the new quests a little hard, but serious Majesty fans will enjoy the new quests and game features.

Pinball purists might not get the level of simulation they require and smaller kids may find some of the tables' tasks a little difficult, but otherwise Adventure Pinball is a fun diversion for most players.

Trekkers will gain more enjoyment from this game than others based on its good storyline - they're also more likely to give the game more patience. Other gamers will find it too simple, linear, and restrictive.

Kohan took a chance by applying some new ideas to real-time strategy and it's gamers who will reap the rewards.

A very enjoyable game with an intriguing storyline, a captivating environment, and engrossing gameplay.

A great game that does an incredible job of bringing the player into its world. Just don't play it alone late at night.

Those that invest the time it takes to learn all of this game's subtleties will be rewarded with a rich and engrossing gaming experience.

Much too thin of a manual and buggy play keep Age of Sail from reaching its otherwise promising potential.

The game's campaign mode is disappointing. Most missions are not based on historical battles, and there are no consequences for losing a mission other than that it will have to be replayed.