United they stand, divided they fall doesn't apply. Each game stands alone as an example of inspired design. Together they are essential. [Dec 2007, p.94]

A paragon of single-player, story-driven gaming that outdoes "Deus Ex," "STALKER," and even "HL2." Taste the air, and smell the fear. [Oct 2007, p.52]

A hilarious slice of gaming glory. [July 2011, p.92]

An epic in every sense of the word, but it's a shame it feels so linear and that combat is still an epic fail. [Mar 2010, p.88]

Everything here is bigger, better, brighter, faster, longer, sicker, cooler than the series has ever been before (and almost any other game you care to mention).

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

It's the best strategy game released this year, and if you don't like it, there's something wrong with you. [Dec 2005 p.87]

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

Note to Epic: just give us more unique Onslaught maps – and new vehicles for them – and we’ll happily keep playing. But keep churning out endless samey maps and it’s back to "Battlefield" and "PlanetSide" for us.

Perfectly balanced multiplayer with old school elements intact, and rich and dynamic single player campaigns. [Issue#244, p.102]

There’s no reason to fear its Xbox origins – while you may occasionally long for extra depth on a mission or perhaps some more involved combat, the rapid pace and dedication to narrative and character will soon have you back hacking away in the thick of the action.

Broadly speaking, in MMOs you hit things, then fashion things to make your hitting more effective. World of Warcraft does that better than anything else on the market at the moment. [Jan 2005, p.96]

A jack of all trades and a master of some - San Andreas tries astonishingly hard to let you do anything. And so long as you don't crave any meaningful character interaction outside of mow down with a monster truck first, ask questions later, it very nearly manages to pull it off, too. [Aug 2005, p.88]

A brilliant reinvention that may stick to First Person Shooter convention, but applies cutting-edge production values. [Jan 2008, p.58]

Cool, dark and calculating, Splinter Cell finally plays as stylishly as it looks. [May 2005, p.100]

Crosses the rubicon of greatness with a Latin flourish; it's the equal of a hundred lesser games. [Nov 2004]

This particular Twilight makes the GalCiv 2 strategy universe burn brighter than ever. A gme for vets and newcomers. [Aug 2008, p.102]

Attractive, accessible and plenty to do – for a golf game, anyway.

Bigger, prettier and cleverer than before and for most the perfect evolution. [Jan 2009, p.90]

Very probably the greatest secret agent game around.

A massively polished and highly accessible shooter that just doesn't let up long enough to allow you to get bored of it. [Christmas 2007, p.50]

The bar for MMOs has been lifted even higher - it'll take something almost sexual in nature to topple the mighty WoW now. [Mar 2007, p.70]

The player might not be number one any more, but the game reigns supreme. [Nov 2004]

It's far from perfect, but still a damn good rollick through DC's well carved territory. [Nov 2009, p.88]

Exhilarating to the point of giddiness. This is a martial masterpiece. [Aug 2005, p.80]

Street Fighter IV can be spirit crushingly hard in single player mode. [Aug 2009, p.98]

It couldn't possibly satisfy all of our hopes, but Fallout 3 is still a glorious experience that will utterly nuke your social life. [Christmas 2008, p.86]

An excellent FPS, and easily one of the year’s best. It’s varied, funny, imaginative, challenging (on anything other than Easy mode, which you could complete blindfolded) and has a lot to offer. However, despite all this, it lacks its predecessor’s spark of genius and genuine originality. If we sound a little on the negative side, it’s only through mild disappointment that it’s merely a very good game rather than a repeat performance of a genuine classic.