Big on detail in theory, but slow and heavy in practice. [Deluxe Edition; Christmas 2006, p.98]

There's a vast array of technologies to research and build, but the true joy lies in lovingly crafting your empire, species and ships. [Apr 2007, p.73]

Just don't blame us for the clumsy controls, dodgy camera angles and ultra-frustrating gameplay. [Sept 2006, p.104]

Ambitious and complex throughout, but lacking the fun factor. [Dec 2006, p.109]

It's a good golf game, admittedly, but it's also unnecessarily ugly. [Dec 2006, p.108]

An ace expansion to an already ace RTS. Essential for fans. [Christmas 2006, p.102]

Not awful, but there's not enough crack in the world to choose it over "GTA." [Christmas 2006, p.101]

Generic online gaming with a single, barely attainable good idea. [Christmas 2006, p.100]

Make no mistake, this is the best version of FIFA ever and maybe even the most fun-to-play arcade footie game ever. [Christmas 2006, p.97]

Brazen plagiarism it may be, but this shooter is a worthy tribute to its forebears. [Nov 2006, p.103]

A sensory feast, GTR2 takes you so close you can almost smell the burning rubber. The best PC racing sim there is. [Oct 2006, p.90]

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

JC isn't perfect. There are some stolid, on-rails bits, the missions get repetitive, and did we mention the physics is crap? But there's abundant pleasure to be found. [Dec 2006, p.116]

Paraworld may not be earth-shattering, but it has depth in spades. [Nov 2006, p.98]

We can't think of a time throughout the history of the PC when this might have been considered a well-executed title. [Christmas 2006, p.92]

Not as complex, but more focused than "CivCity." For resource geeks only. [Dec 2006, p.112]

Interesting ideas, but far too shallow. [Apr 2006, p.91]

There's a well-crafted basketball game here for the fans. [Dec 2006, p.108]

If you were hoping, like I was, for some old fashioned, arcade dogfighting action, then look elsewhere. [Sept 2007, p.63]

Boog, the 900lb grizzly bear, would make a good rug and nothing more. [Christmas 2006, p.96]

At once familiar and surprising. A monster slice of historical strategy fun. [Nov 2006, p.100]

Still a superior RTS, but it's not as impressive an update as we'd have liked. [Dec 2006, p.113]

Explosive fun with a conscience; refreshing and interesting stuff. [Nov 2006, p.92]

Gloriously fun and deeply silly, it's the happiest platform game of all. [Oct 2006, p.98]

The goals are satisfying, but there's nothing new. [Dec 2006, p.108]

Tense, drawn-out battles ahoy! Combat at sea has never been such fun. [Sept 2006, p.96]

Another dreary RTS to avoid. Ho hum. [July 2006, p.102]

It looks lovely, but plays like an out-of-tune banjo, thanks to the notorious trial-and-error gameplay. [Sept 2006, p.104]

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

Solid, but hampered mostly by a terrible lack of depth. [Oct 2006, p.95]

Hour after hour of repetitive gameplay. In space, no-one can hear you snore. [Aug 2006, p.99]

This is an expansion pack for Dungeon Siege II, and little else. [Oct 2006, p.96]

Satisfying and technically proficient carnage. Watch that bodywork fly. [Sept 2006, p.103]

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

A decent game. If the subject matter grips you, or you're coming to it from "Civilization," it's compelling and well designed. Exciting it isn't, and in the end, the glory of Rome demands a level of oomph that it just can't quite muster. [Aug 2006, p.101]

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

Slow progress and lack of originality detract from a fun if bland title. [Aug 2006, p.100]

An Xbox port that looks a little green around the gills. [Sept 2006, p.99]

If you can stand the aesthetics, fun lurks within. [Sept 2006, p.97]

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

All our fond memories shattered in a heartbreaking instant. [Aug 2006, p.97]

A beautiful ancient-myth-set "Diablo" clone with nothing to be ashamed of. [Aug 2006, p.102]

A good expansion that lacks a bit of depth. [Aug 2006, p.94]

Ignore the lumpen campaign and you have an RTS with some big ideas. [July 2006, p.91]

Hard to get your head around, and not rewarding even if you stick with it. [Aug 2006, p.96]

Nothing special, but Da Vinci nuts will lap it up. [June 2006, p.96]

A bridge too far for managers, but a wonderland of opportunity for film makers. [Aug 2006, p.96]

It's not stunning, but is a worthwhile bonus for any little fans of the film. [Oct 2006, p.97]

A well-executed sim, on the whole, but it lacks genuinely unique features. [June 2006, p.86]

Play it with your brain switched off and you'll cruise through the whole shebang in something like four hours, but take your time over the game, soak up the world's look and feel, listen to the refreshingly sharp NPC dialogue, experiment with different ways of approaching each conflict and puzzle, and you'll drag it out to a deeply satisfying six or seven. [Aug 2006, p.90]

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

Yet another unnecessary and unwarranted poker game. Avoid. [May 2007, p.69]

The naval combat and countryside levels make a change from the urban warfare that ran through the original, but it's the engaging, conspiracy-fuelled storyline that keeps this feeling fresh. [June 2006, p.96]

Fill your house with treacle and grenades instead. That's actually more fun. [Sept 2005, p.102]

A great flyer for beginners, but not enough new features for the hardcore fan. [Dec 2006, p.114]

Interaction can feel clumsy at times, and some levels suffer from stifling, linear design, but if you're a graphic novel or action game fan, you could do worse. [June 2006, p.85]

A good sequel that's faithful to its forebears in all the right places. [July 2006, p.98]

It's a one-trick pony, sure, but at least it's innovative and fun...Fun, but neat physics offset drab visuals. [Sept 2006, p.104]

Ignore the media furore, and enjoy this as a standalone puzzler. [July 2006, p.97]

A solo Nightcrawler game could rock, but this team effort is cash-in gibberish. [July 2006, p.100]

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

A bad trip down memory lane - this is the FPS circa 1996 incarnate. [July 2006, p.95]

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

Confusing, often nonsensical execution, and a bit slow on the draw. [June 2006, p.91]

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

As an accompaniment to school projects, Wild Earth is a worthwhile title, but as a game for your little 'uns it's unlikely to be long before they're begging for a quick round of "Quake." [May 2007, p.67]

Dull, dated, and deeply dim-witted. Let's snore together. [Dec 2004, p.104]

The PES series has always been about realistic football simulation rather then hi-octane arcade action. [Dec 2005 p.85]

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

More boring than watching gravel. [July 2006, p.102]

When a game is this gripping, who cares about a slightly cranky engine? [May 2006, p.91]

A cumbersome and confusing affair. Order a full retreat. [June 2006, p.86]

It may be unoriginal, but it's got the atmosphere. [May 2006, p.90]

It's a good representation of the sport, but "Pro Evolution Soccer 5" is still the benchmark for all PC football games. [June 2006, p.93]

Unfortunately all the flaws from the original are still glaringly omnipresent - from the awkward mouse cursor to the tedious mini-games. [June 2006, p.96]

Engrossing - if you enjoy building things, this is a must. [Sept 2006, p.104]

It's primary objective isn't to engage you as a gamer; it's to engage you as a human being. And that makes it worth your time. [June 2006, p.90]

It's picking the wrong fight - taking on MMOs on their own turf, instead of truly daring to be something different. It tries. Often it succeeds. Just not enough to stop the sound of its stalling engine ringing as loud as the gunfire. [June 2006, p.92]

You'll enjoy solving the puzzles and the story is bizarre enough to keep you clicking along happily. [June 2006, p.97]

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

Great sound and visuals, but unremittingly repetitive gameplay. [July 2006, p.101]

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 silent and deadly change from the usual WW2 percussion. Refreshing. [Mar 2006, p.98]

Leaves little up to the player apart from pulling the trigger. Repeatedly. [May 2006, p.96]

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

Worth a look for those who remember when shooters were tough (and own a good controller). [Aug 2008, p.109]

More expansion pack than full game, without the same level of challenge. [June 2006, p.89]

Photogenic arcade action lacking in any real long-term appeal. Wafer thin. [May 2006, p.94]

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

Repetitive action and a poor engine ground this flyboy. [July 2006, p.102]

Diverting mob brutality, but nothing like the films, and downright ugly. [May 2006, p.95]

The 21st Century's finest, most involving roleplaying game so far. [May 2006, p.85]

Highly implausible, but not entirely fun-free. [May 2006, p.90]

BF2 is an awesome game, the score is for the cheap and nasty add-on. [May 2006, p.90]

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

An atmospheric online version of D&D. Best with friends - but what isn't? [Apr 2006, p.86]

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

Playing shop is fun and there's enough here for Sim-ophiles. [Apr 2006, p.91]