It's still intelligent and sometimes witty. But this time it's ringing with emptiness. [Nov 2006, p.94]

Penumbra is very likeable and accomplished. Clunky presentation holds it back, and wonky writing keeps you at a distance, but it shows potential. [May 2007, p.74]

Nor is Splatters terribly engaging. [Oct 2013, p.77]

It's not as life-affirming as "TF2" or as deep as "Quake Wars," but the "Battlefield" fan not into the cartoon war of the coming "Heroes" will find solace here. [May 2008, p.80]

That rare thing: a kids' movie tie-in game that wasn't made by Satan. [Oct 2006, p.93]

The combat and final mission are weak, but the story strands that bind it all together are excitingly unique to each other. [July 2010, p.87]

Fun, but not progress. [Apr 2008, p.64]

Not one to buy if you own the original. [Feb 2011, p.82]

The game's later levels get brutally devious, and the trial and error can become tiresome. [Apr 2012, p.113]

It's not a bad idea, but it's hardly high strategy, and definitely not high adventure. [Feb 2009, p.72]

X3: TC's inability to progress beyond its series template is painfully clear [Dec 2008, p.82]

It has grown in scale and scope, and become a worse game a result. [Dec 2013, p.83]

Imperfect spaceship engineering and asynchronous online dueling combine to deliver a flawed star. [Dec 2009, p.94]

An intriguing spanner in the strategy game works, but one that causes too many malfunctions to justify its existence. [Dec 2009, p.90]

This wet weekend in Wigan doesn't even come close. [Oct 2009, p.84]

7 quid is a good price for a universe. [Sept 2011, p.89]

Its worst sin is simply being too ordinary. [May 2009, p.71]

A great game, badly ported. [Christmas 2008, p.88]

Struggles for relevance as a commercial game. [Sept 2012, p.109]

A decent ride until you get off. [Dec 2008, p.72]

Turn-based strategy made accessible with a casual philosophy. [Feb 2007, p.90]

A pedestrian outing. [Aug 2009, p.74]

A mildly unsatisfying conclusion that still has enough charm and challenge to justify fans' faith in the project. [July 2014, p.88]

Becomes obscure and irritating. [July 2010, p.54]

Soapily melodramatic, inconspicuous consumption. [Apr 2007, p.100]

Disjointed and muddled, wth embarrassingly bad acting. [May 2007, p.83]

Its various components are limited, but this is a clever puzzler/simulation whose flaws aren't too bitter a pill to swallow. [December 2015, p.84]

A sturdy series well rethought, but it needs a gamepad. [Dec 2006, p.114]