Hardcore RPG players will probably hate AC2, deeming it too simple to be worth their while. It is simple, certainly far simpler than AC1 or EverQuest, but it’s not simplistic. Turbine has merely removed much of the annoying faff and limitations from the genre and concentrated on the game itself.

A successful resurrection, but not quite worthy of legendary status. [May 2006, p.92]

NWN2 is the sequel we've been waiting for. With the graphical and systematic changes to give bedroom RPG makers a boost, and a solid single-player campaign to play through while we wait to see what they can do, it's hard to think of anyone who could be disappointed with the contents of this box. [Dec 2006, p.102]

More of the same, but it's a good same, and it's an essential purchase if you're a fan of the first game at all. [June 2010, p.96]

Barbarian Invasion doesn't devalue the achievements of its precursor. This isn't a great triumph or a fall, just a gentle decline. [Nov 2005, p.95]

The focus on wizards adds far more of an edge than Heroes of Might and Magic’s army action, and the increased level of tactics puts Disciples to shame.

A fantastic concept struggling against the weight of realism, and a community that can be frustratingly silent. [Mar 2009, p.99]

There are game that cost five times as much that don't come close to its levels of satisfaction and perfectly-formed miniquests. [Issue#246, p.100]

Despite clumsy menus, the game itself looks utterly beautiful, and as the community grows, the game will expand and become more involved. [May 2005, p.98]

A visceral, well-written and worthy sequel to an excellent game, with huge potential to become a modern classic.

Broken. Absolutely and utterly broken. Not the game, oh no, it's my fragile nerves that have been shattered. Adrenalin is still coursing through my veins as I type, and what's more, I absolutely love it. STALKER is a thoroughly affecting game, and it's got me by the short hairs. [Apr 2007, p.56]

A surprisingly competent indie game that can't quite fulfill its ambitions. Time and patches should be kind to it though. [Mar 2011, p.106]

The fact that there's sod-all to do in the city apart from racing and upgrading means that it soon becomes little more than a glorified menu screen; the chance to pull a burnout in front of a crowd would make it more involving. [Christmas 2004, p.106]

To all intents and purposes, this game is identical to "Football Manager." The difference is while Brits understand the beautiful game, we haven't a clue about ice hockey. [Aug 2005, p.95]

A bright, bold and lovably off-the-wall FPS. [Apr 2011, p.96]

Essentially more Sam and Max. [Jan 2008, p.73]

If, however, you've played Myst before and hated it for its slow pace, its limited movement and the distinct lack of (perceived) gameplay, then this new version will do nothing to change your mind. [Dec 2004, p.88]

Unfortunately, what with this being a simulator, the faster you go, the more difficult the flying becomes. [Christmas 2007, p.67]

Even bolder and louder than ever. [Christmas 2008, p.92]

Shiny graphics and slick production can’t hide the tedium.

While beautiful, the sometimes frustrating combat and last-minute rescues aren't quite a patch of the "Sands of Time." [Feb 2009, p.88]

A strong game, but be aware that you'll have to put in plenty of gruntwork before you'll have the chance to see it at its best. [Aug 2004, p.80]

While LOTR: BME has the makings of a great strategy title with its "Kohan II" fixed-bases and unit regeneration elements, the lack of consistency in the campaign, mixed with its more generic elements, make it a difficult game to love. [Christmas 2004, p.103]

Gleeful and entertaining, but sloppy finishing holds it back. [July 2006, p.84]

Games this good are extremely rare things, and as such they should be applauded. [Dec 2005 p.80]

Well worth the price in entertainment value. [Jan 2010, p.90]

Hugely repetitive action game. Hugely repetitive action game. Hugely repetitive (you get the idea).

An amiable enough RPG, once you escape the first two hours, but it's let down by an appalling translation and glitchy combat. [Christmas 2007, p.58]

Translates remarkably well to keyboard control. [Apr 2007, p.72]

While it's nowhere near as theatrical as "GTR2," there's a solid core of tight, exciting racing and impressive physics here. [Jan 2007, p.56]

Hardcore RTS fans are well catered for. Casual players should look elsewhere. [Christmas 2005, p.98]

Assuming that the humour clicks with you. This is a first episode as awesome as the Bad of Much Strong himself. [Nov 2008, p.109]

Incredible looking with atmosphere you could cut with a butcher's knife, but survival becomes frustration too often. [May 2010, p.94]

Luckily, thanks to inch-perfect arcade handling, you'll have few complaints. [Aug 2006, p.100]

It's smarter and faster than its Ubisoft competition, but it's still the same sort of racer you've played many times. [Aug 2010, p.96]

Now here’s the clever thing – there are three sides fighting for the planet Auraxis but the battle is worldwide. It’s not the simple small arenas of Counter-Strike and Team Fortress, nor is it the enormous maps but frustratingly futile team versus team of Tribes 2.

They're not perfect, but these beloved characters are definitely in capable hands. [June 2010, p.100]

We wanted to love it, but Borderlands doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from thew current slew of desert games. [Dec 2009, p.84]

It's a far tighter package than Empire was. [Apr 2010, p.98]

Not the groundbreaking action-RPG it's billed as, but sweeping your malevolent minion hordes across the screen is great fun. [Aug 2007, p.54]

Just more of the same beautiful game, but will remind you why you loved Oblivion like your own family in the first place. [Jan 2007, p.60]

Worth every one of your 680 pennies for a bit more Fallout 3 and the lack of a proper ending to put a stop to your fun. [July 2009, p.92]

Evolution doesn't happen, according to this particular history book. [Dec 2005, p.98]

At heart, this is hands down the best theme park building game to date. [Christmas 2004, p.112]

If we're going to have Sims add-on packs, let's have them like this. [Apr 2005, p.106]

Remarkably polished for something so infant-friendly. [Aug 2004, p.91]

Its duffer solo moments are masked by imaginative and visual whizz-band-fizz. [Jan 2011, p.100]

Fantasy RTS with a very level head.

Inevitably anticlimactic. But there are a few smiles within. [Dec 2006, p.115]

A thrillingly kinetic scramble through gaming's prettiest Orwellian dystopia. It has the feeblest fight sequences, yet its greatness shines through. [Feb 2009, p.94]

It's a simple, short thing, but the truly masterful handling of the lightsaber(s) this time around means it's also perhaps the most genuinely Star Warsy game in a long, long time.

Cute, weird, and very addictive. [Aug 2006, p.105]

Depth, detail and cars galore, but lacking the spark to be truly essential.

Defense Grid is fun while it lasts, but won't last you very long. [Feb 2009, p.101]

It’s interesting enough, but it’s lacking any real innovation. At all.

The puzzle elements are more like extremely simple exercises that you have to complete, rather than challenging problems that need solving, and the same is sadly true for the strategy.

Every bit as ambitious as it is visually stunning. A little more polish, and WoW could finally have serious competition on its hands. [Aug 2008, p.92]

There are no real uprisings to be found in THe Warchiefs' colonies. [Christmas 2006, p.102]

The simplicity of the design is where the game really shines. [Oct 2011, p.105]

The main problem though is that this one features too much aimless wandering, and nothing like enough danger or excitement. [Mar 2008, p.109]

Exhilarating stripped down action-RPG. Repetitive, but compulsive. [Oct 2005, p.86]

Had Deus Ex 1 not existed this would’ve been a godsend. But…

The stealth adventure genre doesn't get any better than this. [Christmas 2006, p.95]

Treads frequently to the brink of greatness, only to be tripped by its obsession with repetitive setpieces. [Christmas 2004, p.104]

A brilliant introduction if you haven't played before. [Dec 2006, p.108]

There are many reasons to dislike Diesel, this isn't one of them. [May 2009, p.92]

This game is most definitely not one for the faint-hearted; the sheer scale of the beast is truly something to behold. [May 2006, p.97]

A blast from the past, getting away with it this time, but possibly not a third. [Sept 2005, p.96]

Ample proof that thinking men are welcome in the modern army.

As an arcade blast it's an impressively polished and well worth a look if PC's lack of "SSX appeal" has graded for all those years. [Christmas 2008, p.98]

An intelligent update that gives you just enough to make it worthwhile. [Mar 2006, p.96]

Eminently likeable; as moreish as chocolate kittens, more addictive than smack-sprinkled kebabs. All the key ingredients of an RTS are here: well-balanced varied units, interesting missions, a surprising plot.

Lush, satisfying and thoughtful. [Jan 2009, p.92]

It's simply a tale of new areas and new monsters to left-click on with whatever over-powered kill-stick you have in your inventory. [Apr 2007, p.66]

The adamantium claws sure are sharp, but are they really all you have? [Christmas 2005, p.96]

Tries to include facets of two genres, and feels confused and compromised. [May 2006, p.94]

For intermediate and expert chess players in search of a genuine challenge, the powerful, mature engine and deep analysis available here probably gives Fritz 8 the edge over its rivals. [Jan 2005, p.98]

Stunning attention to detail throughout and beautifully fluid game mechanics are impossible not to appreciate. [Sept 2009, p.94]

Daft idea, but the basic game does all you'd wish for. [Apr 2005, p.113]

Addictive, simple, and enormous fun, Fate's only flaw is that the endless dungeons get depressing as the decor incessantly repeats, and that the simple fishing mini-game often nets you ridiculously expensive top-level items. [Sept 2005, p.102]

Not spectacular, but solid - a nice surprise for at least short-order strategy. [Dec 2005, p.93]

It's firmly a team game, rocketing from tense action to a tedious slog, based entirely on how the rest of your team plays. [Dec 2005 p.91]

Such ordinariness only reinforces the nagging sense that this is the same game with bits bolted on. That's always the case with Battlefield games, but this time it's too little, too soon. [Dec 2006, p.110]

So close to brilliance - but, again let down by premature release. [Jan 2005, p.82]

Worth grabbing when the price drops. [May 2011, p.92]

It's a hard game, but that challenge and scope will be what keeps you coming back after your arse is handed to you. Again.

Superlative urban combat, held back by poor AI and some grinding levels. [June 2006, p.80]

A refinement. [Christmas 2008, p.98]

If you're a fan of the sport, there's little bad to say about NBA 2K9. [Christmas 2008, p.99]

Filled with impressive engine technology and good fun to boot. Not really designed for grown-ups. [Jan 2007, p.68]

A fun adventure for a rainy weekend, and great demo of the indie scene. [July 2007, p.72]

This prison lies in a qualitative limbo. The monsters are gorgeous bundles of slime and metal; the atmosphere is dense and layered; it can, on occasion, give you real heebie jeebies. [Aug 2004, p.85]

Still lots of high-octane fun, but even the excellent community may not be reason enough for old hands. [Apr 2007, p.70]

A neat platformer that misses the final leap to triumph. [Oct 2005, p.98]

While certainly more approachable than its US Election themed follow-up "Political Machine," TCM is a much older game and really doesn't have the same smoothness or fun value. [March 2005, p.113]

The STALKER game that we've always deserved, it's just a shame that it's three years too late. [Mar 2010, p.90]

The visuals have lost their lustre in the transition from 2D. Instead of being the studious girl who had her own style who you always fancied, it’s turned into the bubble gum-chewing underachiever who, when she opens her mouth, spouts the worst kind of gutter drawl.

it is more a final sad swansong then a 21-gun salute. [Dec 2005 p.88]