More an evolution than a revolution, but it certainly has enough new features to drag you back in. [Christmas 2007, p.62]

Not quite the inspired sequel we had all hoped for, but there's still enough in DiRT 3 to bring the fans back. [Aug 2011, p.96]

UT2003 may not be a revolution, but after a raft of unexciting "Counter-Strike" clones over the last couple of years, it’s the finest game you’ll find gracing any server right now.

The most perverse thing though is that the most enjoyable moments have little to do with Tokien or his wonderfully overactive imagination; it's much more to do with Turbine's ability to knock out a compelling MMO experience. [June 2007, p.56]

There's none of the groundbreaking innovations of the "Total War" series or the gloriously strange "Perimeter," just a conventional game made very enjoyable (more so than it perhaps deserves to be) by a brilliant franchise and spectacular animation... Stunning to behold. [Oct 2004, p.88]

Easily the most important MMO launch in years, and a much needed shot in the arm for the genre. [Dec 2008, p.90]

Not without epic moments, but even they can't shift the 'lazy console conversion' feeling that permeates the pant-soiling atmosphere. [Christmas 2008, p.90]

A must-have for anyone who has fond memories of the golden age of games, whether you played the original or not. [Oct 2008, p.108]

It feels like a retro collection, but it's pretty much a no-brainer for flight sim fans until "Storm of War" arrives. [Feb 2007, p.65]

Visceral game changer that provides almost too much bang for 15.8591 bucks. No innovations that further the title, though. [Mar 2011, p.104]

A worthy sequel with all the parkour fun and swashbuckling joy of the original, and a bunch more game for your money. [Apr 2010, p.88]

It seems that Oblivion wears insanity quite well, and it's a refreshing approach to the established universe. [May 2007, p.65]

Intoxicating. [Jan 2011, p.104]

Still great fun, but do you really need to buy it again? [Jan 2005, p.90]

A little bit lightweight for hardcore tactical shooter fans but still an action-packed, top-class game in multiplayer mode. [Feb 2007, p.54]

A real romp to play, and there’s very little grind involved – an achievement for any MMORPG. In addition, it doesn’t require you to put your life on hold to get a lot out of the game, unlike the "Everquests" and "Star Wars Galaxies" of the world.

Top-drawer felon-neutralising action that will have you hooked for ages. [June 2005, p.99]

Dawn of War 2 is relentless, grindy, beautiful, but never less than an utterly compulsive real-time strategy game.

Zero innovation evident, but greased eel-slick presentation and explosive, ripping action go a long way to make up for it. [May 2007, p.54]

A High Fantasy MMO for the discerning player, which now has an expansion that, if not quite ruling them all, will keep many in its thrall. [Mar 2009, p.96]

This isn't a game, it's a trip into the human psyche's darker spaces. Not for the faint of heart, but horror junkies will lap it up. [Issue#246, p.107]

A slightly confused combination of intimidating depth and unnerving shallowness: on the one hand, a monstrous physics engine that'll stir a petrol-head's soul, on the other some patchy graphics and a slightly home-made techno soundtrack that calls up wholly unflattering comparisons to EA. However, it does push the realism harder than the more entertaining "Live For Speed." [March 2005, p.102]

Football Manager 2011 isn't likely to draw in any new players, but it's also not going to lose any either. There are other new features, but essentially it's still that footie RPG with the addictiveness only FM and free-base cocaine can offer.

Rarely have I seen such a jam-packed expansion, or one with such variety. [Nov 2007, p.54]

Flawed genius - but so captivating while it lasts that you won't really care. [Oct 2005, p.94]

For the second time in as many series, the fourth episode is by far the best. [May 2008, p.114]

It's as accessible and charming as any Pixar creation, and it's completely won over this reviewer's heart. [Christmas 2009, p.95]

Puts its core mechanics before everything else and with good reason - they're as near-perfect as we're ever going to get. [Sept 2011, p.102]

It might not be universally perfect, but it’s certainly the king of infinite space.

Sumptuously realised, stuffed with action and pushed along by an engaging plot. Far Cry 2 is how shooters should be made. [Dec 2008, p.86]

The connection with the song and tapping into your musical taste is enthralling, but the project ins't quite all it could be... yet. [May 2008, p.110]

An adult plot, new techniques to unlock your team's back-story, exciting levels and planets, divergent light and dark paths, and a black sense of humor all contribute to a nicely rounded RPG. [Apr 2005, p.94]

Thief contains a level more terrifying than anything we've ever encountered before. [Aug 2004, p.76]

Naturally wanting to be played with a PS2 joypad, the controls are difficult to use and can’t be changed, although a secondary keymap allows for the more familiar [W], [A], [S], [D] combination.

A super expansion, bringing great new toys to Dawn of War's broiling funbox. [Dec 2005, p.94]

The production remains awesome, but everything is cluttered and ultimately the game is just shallow. [Christmas 2004, p.108]

An excellent expandalone that irons out many of the original's flaws and adds some welcome variation to the equation. [June 2010, p.97]

It's not a painful experience by any means; it just feels like it's little more than extended Fallout 3 DLC.

A must-see blockbuster with that ineffable star quality. [Christmas 2005, p.94]

It graphically depicts some very horrid things, and on a fundamental level, trivialises the kinds of international, cultural and religious issues which affect us all. Apart from that, it’s ace.

A splendid marriage of speed, style, and sophistication. [Nov 2005, p.94]

Like "Pirates!" in space, but not as good as that suggests. [Oct 2005, p.92]

One of the most fun puzzle games since "Bookworm Adventures." [Jan 2008, p.74]

A gloriously pretty and tacticle world to hurl a wide variety of cars around in. It's just a shame I can't share that with friends. [Aug 2007, p.46]

Solid, and cheap enough to warrant dipping into instead of devoting your life to. [July 2006, p.88]

Despite a clunky couple of stages and too much micromanagement, it's the vast galactic toybox that we've prayed for. [Nov 2008, p.98]

An absolute bargain. [Nov 2009, p.101]

I can't think of any game recently that's got me so hooked on insane combat. Step aside GTA, you're about to be overtaken. [May 2010, p.91]

Crysis: Warhead offers another six hours of more open-world shooting at a bargain price. Still a shame about the aliens. [Nov 2008, p.102]

The same, and happily just as oops-where-did-the-weekend-go addictive. Buy it, and resign yourself to some five-hours gaps in your memory you may have difficulty explaining to the police at a later date.

Despite advances in the game’s graphics, and a few extra tracks, we feel a little underwhelmed – it’s just too similar to its predecessor. Don’t get us wrong, MotoGP 2 is a fine racer, but it could have been so much more of a dream machine.

Intense strategy monster that almost lives up to its predecessor's legend. [June 2006, p.94]

A slight affair, but tense, focused and the best finger-on-the-button sim ever. [Nov 2006, p.96]

Tron 2.0 is shockingly flawed. Given that there are so many good ideas – the skill system, the gorgeous and unique textureless neon design, the mistakes are that much more upsetting.

Not the advance you may have hoped, but the co-op mode deserves medals. [Dec 2005, p.98]

A visceral, engrossing epic noticeably lacking in refinement. [Apr 2006, p.82]

An enormously rewarding and complicated game Battlefield Vietnam is then, and unquestionably an improvement upon its predecessor. At the same time, it’s so remarkably similar to BF 1942 it’s almost not worth buying if you’re an existing fan.

The amount of content, features and the fact it's still free of subscriptions makes Guild Wars Nightfall a great MMORPG title. [Jan 2007, p.69]

A rewarding, exciting and technically proficient shooter that encourages imaginative and varied play. Recommended. [Dec 2007, p.52]

Doesn't fix what ain't broke; but does tweaks on an excellent formula to produce the best post WoW MMO so far. [May 2011, p.88]

Great sim thrills with EA's trademark slick presentation. [May 2011, p.94]

A luxury item, unless you've already gorged yourself on Civ's online modes. [Sept 2006, p.98]

For the first time in a good seven years there's a decent Formula 1 game on the PC. An impressive return to form. [Issue#246, p.102]

A new classic. It will change every gaming instinct you have. [March 2005, p.110]

Unfortunately, there’s still the irritating third-person camera and chugging graphics to remind you of BGE’s console origins, and it never comes remotely close to justifying the pretentiousness of the title – at a mere 12 hours or so it’s undoubtedly far too short.

It's riddled with sci-fi tropes, from blowing evil robots out of the airlock or burning them up with a parked shuttle's boosters, to the evil HEL-9000, and his banks of WOPR computers. It's just a joy. Go and buy it, and give it a little hug. [Mar 2007, p.74]

When it’s good, it’s exceptional, but when it’s bad it’s just OK. Witness the multiplayer, which, while it isn’t as social as Halo’s first incarnation, is brilliantly handled.

This year’s best RTS.

Enthralling, humorous, and a real must for all "Civilization" fans.

Flawed but irresistable - Fable is lifted by the weight of its ideas. [Nov 2005, p.93]

Expect no surprises, but do expect a polished multiplayer shooter and the perfect basis for some memorable matches. [Jan 2008, p.62]

It's the best Tomb Raider game in absolutely years, but it's very telling that this is still a remake of the 11-year-old version. [July 2007, p.60]

Tailor-made to please its boy-racer target audience, but if you want more sophistication in your racing go back to GRID. [Dec 2009, p.93]

This game is Hardcore, with a capital H-Bomb. Hardcore to the extent that even hardcore gronards will need a few quiet nights with the manual before heading out to invade Poland. [March 2005, p.104]

It's a great footie game, and the best we've seen on the PC. [Issue#246, p.104]

A shining example of the genre, and one that will be remembered for a whole twelve months. As the series carries on there are fewer defining moments which mark one instalment from the next: a little gameplay gloss here, a graphical rennovation there.

There’s little new that stands out in Icewind Dale II to recommend it. There's a lacks the style and emphasis on story that characterises the genre’s best.

An accomplished, silly and engaging game of a genre that's woefully under-used. [Feb 2007, p.69]

EQII beats any other MMO at release; the developers have learnt a lot from its competitors and there's a full game here, ready to play and have fun with. [Christmas 2004, p.116]

I'm rather impressed. [July 2010, p.101]

easily the best instalment yet – it looks great, plays great, and has oodles of expansion potential. The only downer is that even on higher-end machines, things can really chug in crowded areas. Still, that’s the price you pay for freedom.

Not the most innovative of games, but give Darksiders a go and you'll most likely be pleasantly surprised. [Issue#246, p.106]

Flawed but undoubtedly fun. An endearing spectacular shooter. [Sept 2006, p.92]

The 3D engine is hardly a revolution, but once the community get working the visuals will match the incredible simulation. [Jan 2009, p.96]

It's a slick shooter, but the ultra-generic Japan campaign makes it feel very much the cut price CoD4 remake. [Jan 2009, p.94]

A must-buy for RPG fans who can't wait any longer for Diablo III. [Jan 2010, p.92]

Functional graphics belie an exciting and sophisticated racing title with plenty of under-the-bonnet tweaks, since last year's effort. [Dec 2007, p.60]

Played the original? Then you'll probably enjoy this. [June 2005, p.92]

Glossy, engrossing, and still fun, but just not nearly as essential as it used to be.

A new, simpler breed of Splinter Cell action, though with enough of its hardcore gaming roots showing to please us all. [July 2010, p.90]

It's ceaseless fun, but it still falls just short of greatness. [Dec 2004, p.98]

The spirit of GTR lives on, but the engine needs an overhaul and even the hardcore's patience will eventually wear thin. [Dec 2008, p.98]

Best of all, Col08 brings multiplayer to the table for the first time, making it even more fun to smash the other European powers in your race to dominate the New World. [Dec 2008, p.99]

Plenty of depth and enough diplomacy to hold the attention, but it'll be too ponderous for some and too ugly for others. [Mar 2007, p.76]

After the beautiful, atmospheric adventuring in the last game, having your new nemesis introduce herself by slowing grinding her barely-clad buttocks in your face is about as welcome as having her suddenly fart into it. Modern? Mature? No. It's gratuitous, tacky and pointless. [Christmas 2004, p.98]

Low-end environmental destruction meets high-end global game world with sizzling results. [Nov 2009, p.94]

It's a beautiful, compulsive and rewarding world. [Sept 2009, p.99]

All the joy of "Heroes", with sinister eyebrows and crooked hats. [Christmas 2005, p.100]