The interface is mostly excellent, but it doesn't properly tell you why a train can't reach a station. That can drive any player to distraction. [Dec 2006, p.88]

Fun with physics, if you're happy to dig to find your treasures, Universe Sandbox has them in spades. [Dec 2011, p.112]

This year's first essential wargame. [July 2006, p.76]

Make the effort, see past the spartan maps, the sparse sound, and teh square counters, and you're rewarded with one of the most believable battle simulations ever created. [Sept 2006, p.100]

CTF steals the show. [June 2013, p.97]

Good, excellent, tip-top, neat, sound, and indeed marvelous. A casual adventure for even the most hardcore word geek. [Oct 2009, p.86]

The combat is a bit rubbish. [June 2006, p.96]

Epic in both space and time. [Apr 2008, p.72]

It might sound trivial to criticise the lack of a good in-game tutorial, but when each game takes hours to play out, discovering which technologies are most useful by trial and error can be a painful and tedious process. [Apr 2006, p.76]

Without doubt, it is the most realistic, rewarding and compelling football title around, so we can only hope that this prosaic update is a blip, rather than a sign of serious stagnation.

One of the most refreshing things about Rogue is how powerful you feel, and how well equipped you are. [June 2006, p.66]

If only it could have retained its sense of humour, this would be really good stuff. [Dec 2007, p.90]

The game is an aesthetic pleasure to lose yourself in. [Feb 2012, p.101]

This is one of the biggest expansions that EVE has seen, with some far-reaching changes. However, I can't help feeling that it was delivered now for the sake of bringing in some new content, when really it could have waited a few months for something more comprehensive. [Feb 2007, p.82]

If you were ever in your life a child, you'll love it. [March 2012, p. 107]

A sturdy sense of humour, and canny logic to its proceedings, raise Evil Genius above a noisy crowd. [Apr 2006, p.95]

Eugen Systems put the "real" back into RTS. The result is spacious, subtle, deeply satisfying tactical gaming. [June 2012, p.84]

Often beguiling and sometimes infuriating, FM 2012 remains a compelling and comprehensive sim of footie strategy and tactics.

A smooth operator. [Christmas 2006, p.86]

Demands more work than its predecessors. Get it right and there's little as satisfying, but it's easier than ever to get it wrong.

A colourful, campy and unfrustrating caper. [Oct 2009, p.84]

The co-op is a nice topping on a delicious slice of retro action – but you might still feel hungry afterwards.

A surprisingly deep and well-designed FPS/RTS hybrid. A Team Fortress 2 alternative that needs a community to thrive.

Immersive, absorbing, annoying, and very long – if you're after getting a tan from your monitor, get in there.

Watch out EA, 2K have turned up and shattered the backboard. [Jan 2009, p.91]

Delightfully drawn and packed with both personality and innovative game ideas, but more tiny than big. [Sept 2012, p.86]

Packs goofy characters, great loot, and a few bugs into an interesting new zone for the Fallout series. [Oct 2011, p.86]

Distinguishing between friend and foe is the most brutally realistic touch of all, and the first thing you'll hve trouble with. [May 2006, p.82]