Could have been a really good game—one of the best of the year—despite some of its flaws. But the twitch requirements and the insult sword — errrr… sarsaparilla duels, combined to cast a deathly pallor over the entire experience.

While not creating anything new, per se, Ubisoft has taken the venerable Adventure Game and, once again, raised it to a new height.

It's so annoying when a game is so near being great and falls short because of a lack of attention in a few areas.

This is a very good game for those who love a good story.

Simply put, this really isn’t an adventure game. You don’t have to think, you don’t have to work, you don’t ever have to put pen to paper. The paths are literally laid out for you with neon signs, and you just have to follow them.

To say this game is short is too kind. I think the credits are longer than the game. I think the endless loading screens at Lionhead Studios are longer than this game.

It is a mediocre game that would have probably gone unnoticed under a different title.

A tightly integrated game, well thought out and brilliantly executed. An unbelievable effort for a single individual.

Possibly the least original shooter released this year. The enemy AI is standard but effective, the guns are big and beefy and it's basically a case of running around and pulling the trigger.

An okay game, marred mainly by its repetitiveness.

This time around, however, the puzzles are a little too organic. Or, rather, a little too literal. Mostly based on farm chores, they quickly become ... well, chores for the player as well.

Still uses the same sucky navigation system/interface. No real surprise. Ubisoft was obviously trying to recoup their expenses from Uru Online and didn't want to spend any more time on development then they had to.

Streko Graphics put great care into developing this little graphical gem and I feel that even with the frustrations I had with a few of its puzzles and the occasional cursor issue, I found Aura to be a thoroughly entertaining escape from the day to day humdrum of work and classes.

The puzzles have the potential to cause extreme frustration even with the most patient of gamers. Using the internet as the backbone for the game may not be ideal as, sooner or later, the websites will come down and the game server will no longer be sending emails to players.

Ultimately frustrating.

The game has two great general strengths. The first is a simply spectacular presentation and attention to detail. Despite the grim environments depicted, this is one of the best-looking XBox titles I've seen. The details are breathtaking.

Players tired of lugging around AK-47s, Uzis and rocket launchers in the cookie-cutter shooter assembly line should hop into Garrett's shoes. It's a slower game, a deeper game, a more cerebral game. If another is released, which is probably too much to hope for, I'd steal it...ahem, I mean, buy it, in a heartbeat.

I found this game to be a little on the slow side, as well as frustrating from time to time…hey, let’s face it…when you have been on the path for a while and fifty clicks later…ahhh look…more path! It can get a little tedious.

As for me, I had a surprisingly good time helping Maya struggle to bring all of the events back into the bosom of the benevolent gods. Tight story, excellent puzzles, attractive graphics -- what else could we grouchy adventure game players ask for?

While not perfect, the virtues of the game overwhelm its minor shortcomings like a tsunami over tinkertoys.

I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome which was a very unconventional ending – this one will leave you with your jaw dropped and mentally revising the interwoven parts of the story for a while.

Not only is it a wonderful effort, but it is also one of those rare games where the sequel is better than the original.

I walked away with a lacking plot, some silly graphics, and a less than satisfying gaming experience. While this game is not a turkey and definitely worth a look, The Far Realm proves that it is not all that far away from its original.

The game itself is a delight. It is comparable to "Myst" in that it uses a sideshow technique to further movement.

As an X-Files game - directed to fans of the show - it should receive an ‘A’ as it features everything an X-Files episode would and the player gets to participate.

The worst news is that, by the end of the game, the creators of Jack the Ripper betray their game’s best feature: its story. The game’s conclusion is a utter boondoggle, meaning all of the information you’ve so painstakingly gathered means absolutely nothing.

I waited several days after finishing the game before writing this review, so that the initial enthusiasm would subside and I could be objective. Now I can honestly say that with Fatal Frame 2 we are presented with what is probably the scariest, most haunting and most unsettling of survival horror games!

Everything in the game feels well thought-out. The interface works like a charm, and the controls are easy to master.

One big graphical and phonetic experience. If you like to solve logic-based puzzles and didn’t play hooky during your math lessons then this game really is a must. But be aware; besides your own calculation skills, this game requires quite some capacity from your computer and video card as well.

A triumph. It’s at the same time a real 3D game and a crackerjack pure adventure. High levels of craftsmanship and designer TLC are evident throughout the game. Playing it is like falling into an exciting movie thriller. [Grade = A+]

Be a good parent and plop them down with a paperback version of The Hobbit and allow Middle-Earth to exist in their imagination rather than as a lesser version of "Super Mario World."

Neither a pure adventure, nor a pure RPG in the sense of "Final Fantasy" or "Warcraft." It is an astonishing synthesis of the two, taking the story and puzzle elements of the adventure and the graphic flexibility of the RPG. Adding in a dash of online gaming, and Cyan might just have created a game that will appeal to gamers from all genres. This could be the first true blockbuster, cross-genre game.

Despite some minor issues here and there, this is a MUST have for any adventure lovers.

Those looking for a true and original real-time strategy challenge will be very disappointed with War of the Ring. Those looking for a game that truly captures the atmosphere of the Lord of the Rings trilogy will also be equally disappointed.

Virtually unplayable.

I found Ariane to be a tad fidgety when standing in one place and while other characters are speaking to her. Her abundance of mannerisms proved rather distracting to me, particularly at first. Fewer would have been better.

The puzzles are a monotonous nightmare accompanied by hordes of zombies that make your finger numb by the repeated clicking on the left mouse button to kill them. Almost 85% of the puzzles involve finding a key to unlock a door, chest, or anything that could be locked.

While The Haunted Mansion can not be classified as a children’s game, it does have a genial, yet spooky feel about it and is easily accessible by both novice and veteran gamers.

Truly the game that Nancy Drew and mystery fans have been waiting for. The puzzles are better, the concept is better, and the historical piece of the puzzle is intriguing, as well.

The more I played the game, the more I just sat there staring at my computer screen, shaking my head sadly.

I don't know if it's a classic - only time can tell if Runaway deserves a place alongside the timeless - but this is the one of the most balanced and enjoyable adventures of these last years.

The tightness of the game’s construction, plot and location mean that the game is pretty short. This is not a complaint. Nancy Drew books aren’t long, and it wouldn’t make sense for the games to be epics, either.

The best independent adventure game since "Cracking the Conspiracy."

Although the engine and interface are quite antiquated and there’s no innovation here; for you Myst and Riven fans, I’d like to stress the positives. There are unbelievable opportunities for exploration. The game is truly gigantic. The many puzzles are varied and very challenging.

Those who love Evil Dead will enjoy the game and the one-liners. The ending alone is worth playing through the game for.

Those who love Evil Dead will enjoy the game and the one-liners. The ending alone is worth playing through the game for.

Technically I should say that the game deserves an A rating but after completing Salammbo I was left with the strange feeling that I ought to have enjoyed it more. I think this was partly due to the subject matter – being a pacifist by nature, war and all of its accompanying paraphernalia is not really my scene.

The bonus crap isn’t worth it, unless you want to see a character through stages of weight loss or areas with Martha Stewart remodeling before they were added into the game.

Not many developers would take the time and energy needed to recreate these famous sites with the care and attention that they require or conduct the many hours of research that this game calls for. Not many games can claim to give you the feeling of actually being there.

A creepy, challenging, intelligent and atmospheric thriller.

You can’t begin to experience the complexities of this game or reap its full benefit during a review period. If I had more free time right now, I would embrace A Tale with all of my gaming heart and dive deep into Egypt.

Other than the “save” issue, I found this to be a very professionally produced and enjoyable game. If you enjoy puzzles, this game is for you, and given the relatively low MSRP, there’s a lot of bang for the buck.

If there is one carryover from the Playstation 2 version that I wish would have been changed, it is the ability to only save in the middle or at the end of a chapter.

It has been so long since we have had a comic adventure game that I think it is a relief to just have some fun and enjoy some ridiculous puzzles (and, might I add, puzzles that are purposely meant to be ridiculous).

One thing that amazed me about this game was the realistic clarity of the faces of the characters. Awesome! I sometimes thought I was playing an FMV game. Almost photo-realistic.

Provides a huge dose of what adventure gamers are hungry for: a rich story, complicated characters, tons of puzzles and exploration of a series of beautiful and intriguing environments.

Although I found the game enjoyable and challenging (you'll have a jigsaw puzzle to solve -arghhhhhhh), the game does not present much in the innovation department, and the storyline is a little weak. But, hey, this is the real deal - a good solid adventure yarn, and I recommend it.

If the few minor annoyances were to be corrected - the 3D clipping, the languid music, the pixel hunting - then Watchmaker could possibly develop a devoted following especially in the wake of foreign upstarts like "The Longest Journey."

Easily the most addictive game I have played this year on either console or computer and would be a welcome addition to any adventure gamer's collection.

No singing, no punch lines, no double entendres. Just rats, dark alleys, murderous thugs, and mysterious religious cults. Thank goodness Road to India is a short game or I may have sacrificed myself to an eight-armed deity just for the comedic relief.

Few recent graphic adventures get as many things right as Exile does. It reminds you of why you began playing adventure games in the first place.

What adventure lovers will appreciate the most about this game, I think, is the fact that, with all its polish and rich production values, it's still at heart a completely traditional third-person point-and-click adventure.

The interface is intuitive and smooth. The graphics, sound effects and music generally meet expectations. However, the game suffers greatly from the pixel hunting and the cumbersome inventory system.

A breath of nostalgic perfume for the point-and-click enthusiast. I was sorry when it was over, and I fervently hope that the Count finds a way to come back and haunt us for third time.

Top-notch writing, memorable characters, beautiful 3D animations against 2D backdrops, and a musical score that is more complementary than ornamental all unite for a once-in-a-lifetime gaming experience.

EFMI brings nothing new to the table. It will not attract a new generation of gamers and was made for the hardcore adventure gamer who enjoyed the previous episodes.

One of the hardest I've played. It's DEFINITELY not for the novice adventurer. Rather, it's a rich, multi-course feast for the adventure connoisseur.

The game is beautifully designed to be an addictive multiplayer extravaganza, as you pit yourself against swarms of enemy ships controlled by human opponents.

Irrational Games and Looking Glass have produced one of the best games I've ever played. System Shock 2 is truly scary, smart, challenging, fascinating, and disturbing. I recommend it to any adventurous adventure player.

It's hard to find any fault when you have a fantastic story, unique gameplay, and good graphics and sound to back it up. It's difficult to even categorize it in any known genre.

It features a fully interactive environment that's a blast to play through. It's really like an interactive movie because it's so immersive. It's easily the most revolutionary shooter since "System Shock."

Quite possibly one of the top five adventures of all time, and certainly in the Top Ten. The style, atmosphere, wit, creativity and inventiveness are what makes Grim Fandango remarkable.

Imagine, a game that played like Gabriel Knight, but set in the world of "The X-Files."

The gameplay is very repetitive and tedious as players will have to work with the manual and take notes about the sins apparitions are guilty of, the color they can be redeemed by and what their artifacts are. Designers should have thought of ways to make the game more intuitive and playable without consulting the manual every ten seconds.

One way this game falls a bit short is that the story seems a bit rushed and confused. The main villain is so far in the background that he's almost invisible.

After playing, and enjoying this game for so long, you really need an ending that gives you a sense of completion and satisfaction. Unfortunately, CMI fails to deliver it. The ending is extremely brief and anticlimatic. With the ending aside, The Curse of Monkey Island is a wonderful game that no adventure gamer should be without. Period. I can safely say that no other game has given me this degree of enjoyment.

It's not only phenomenal gaming, but it's a work of art.

This is one of those rare games that oozes quality from every pore.

And this is probably what I liked least about The Last Express. You often don't know what to do. Nobody is giving you any clearly defined quests (recover this, deliver that, kill this). I suppose that's part of the mystery, but I prefer slightly less mysterious games.

One of the true classics of the adventure genre.

By far the shortest RPG I've ever played. Surprisingly, this may be one of its strengths. An RPG that only takes about thirty hours (or much less if you are experienced) to play is easy to play again. And Diablo has serious replayability virtues. [Grade = A+]

The game has little merit, as either an adventure or a story. The premise is ludicrous, the graphics are mostly pedestrian, the voice-overs distinctly amateurish, the puzzles unimaginative, and the ending quite unsatisfying.

The game's story is not uninteresting, although it is perhaps a little too complex and it's not easy to keep track of who's who, especially at the beginning.

A unique game and a nice change of pace to the "standard" adventure template. It puts you in a very strange scenario, one you won't see in many other releases. Some will find it disturbing, some will find it intriguing, and I'm guessing that almost all will find it just plain different.

The game has great atmosphere and style. Ben is a likable fellow and makes a good - if slightly atypical - adventure hero.

This is a classic adventure game. If you enjoy adventure games, then you will enjoy this one. The fact that it was created by a single person is just amazing.

This is a perfect game for a Halloween scare or for taking care of your mother-in-law when your father-in-law is away on business! Despite some flaws, this independent game deserves an A.

A charming old-school comic adventure which holds its own, courtesy of its beautiful 3D graphics and an engaging plot.

Honestly, if you played it and were rubbed the wrong way by the glitches, apply the patch and give it another shot. Mona may be only a campy vampire, but her heart, and the game's, are in the right place.

Really, this is a cleverly designed and entertaining game.

In the final analysis though, Mata Hari the game is something that Mata Hari the person never was: boring and pedestrian.