Unbelievably intense and absolutely beautiful on a high-end PC. [Christmas 2005, p.93]

Silly and linear, but still remains compulsive desire the repetitive gameplay. [Nov 2009, p.96]

Doesn't broaden Civ IV's appeal any, but a must-have if you have any Sid Meier love in you. [Oct 2007, p.80]

This game may well manage to suck some of the harder gamers into its clever paws thanks to sharp wit and genuine originality. [July 2009, p.86]

It's rare that a game with almost exactly the same engine and characters as its antecedent matches it blow for blow, but this is the exception to the rule. [May 2005, p.95]

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

As human mercenary enemies make way for the dreaded aliens, the AI suffers a brain haemorrhage and the game needs to distract you with spectacular visual events to distract you from your stand and shoot enemies. It's as good as any recent shooter at epic moments and gun-toting drama, but it feels a little shallow once you realise how remedial the all-conquering alien force actually are.

Not a huge leap on from CoD4, but still a fantastic single-player action romp and quality multiplayer if you can get it to work. [Jan 2010, p.86]

There’s immense replay value here, there’s a mixture of modes and difficult levels, and there’s a damn fine game, even if it’s not quite the revolution that the first Max was.

It's not all bad - a few neat touches will bring a tear to old-skoolers' eyes, such as the random random generator for invasion battle odds. It's not enough to wow those spoilt by "Civ IV," though. [Apr 2006, p.95]

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.