It's far from perfect, but Universe of War accomplishes what few RTS games have dared to attempt--introducing three sides that have completely unique gameplay experiences. [Jan 2008, p.76]

Cozy, meandering fun for One Piece fans, but swabbies should set sail from other ports.

Fae Tactics takes an enjoyable swing at streamlining a complex genre, but doesn’t reinvent it in the process.

A fine combat system soured by poorly explained complexity, and a lovely looking game let down by a lack of graphics options.

If you can forgive some small gameplay faults, Nexus pleases like a deep space production on the scale of a Roddenberry saga. [Apr 2005, p.74]

Simpler, with a more muddled story than SupCom, but still more complex and packing more huge mechs than any two other strategy games combined. [Apr 2010]

A novel perspective on totalitarian surveillance. Orwell may not make you think, but it should keep you entertained.

Back 4 Blood is an exceptional FPS that sets a new standard for co-op zombie murderfests.

Fans of Penny Arcade will get a good laugh out of playing alongside Gabe and Tycho, but the game is a little more than interactive comic strip fun. [July 2008, p.82]

Donut County is a short, entertaining tale of a trash panda who just wants a sweet quadcopter.

A beautiful game to look at, and wonderfully polished, but a thimble-deep RPG.

At times, Watch Dogs can seem like a game we've played before, just another open-world city to speed through in a series of stolen cars, another crowd of hoods and hitmen to add to your body count, another moody, growling protagonist to endure in cutscenes. When it deviates from the familiar, however, it really soars: hacking the city of Chicago and all its cameras, utilities, and communications is freeing and fun, and invading the games of unsuspecting players is an unusual and welcome thrill.

Whether you're an old-timer who wants to revisit the past or a noob looking for an accessible economic sim with a great theme, Railroads! should be on your shopping list. [Jan. 2007, p.62]

A great one-shot adventure or an enjoyable grindfest, depending on which you want.

The Paris Hilton of motorcycle racers: rich, pretty, but a little too easy. [Nov 2005, p.72]

A little abstract in nature, but Genesis Noir is an all-around stunning audio-visual adventure.

An accomplished Lovecraftian adventure with a bunch of potential that gives up its deeper secrets too easily.

A treasure of a wargame. It aptly portrays his fight to conquer the world, and it works hard to transport you to the scene of its battles. [Feb 2005, p.75]

And, unfortunately, despite extra time on the grill, Heroes V's ribs are tasty, but still a bit undercooked. [Aug 2006, p.48]

A diverse array of factions to try, that drag the Total War series back into the Medieval era.

A fun, imaginative platformer that’s full of ideas, but prepare to die, a lot.

A greater focus on raiding tombs, and massively improved stealth combat, make this one of Lara Croft's best modern adventures.

I was bowled over by the level of quality of all this one person has achieved. Olija is clearly Olsson's personal work, and its story, of Europeans lost in mysterious and frightening Eastern waters, in part reflects his own experience of moving from his birthplace in France to Japan to be with his wife. But I felt sometimes a disquieting air of orientalist fantasy, as we encounter an inscrutable culture headed by the beautiful Lady Olija, who we chase into submission. But I also loved the clash of rough and ready mariners facing a strange and terrible world of corrupted beauty. I only wish their voyage was a little longer.

A supremely satisfying turn-based strategy spin-off, and one of Persona's best ever stories.

An emotive story that is equal parts terrifying and traumatic.

Short, sweet, and utterly charming, Herdling's evocative beauty more than makes up for its superficial gameplay.

The combo of roguelikes and gambling should probably be more addictive than this.

Another incremental upgrade, Magic 2014 is still just the bastard child of Magic Online and the physical card game.

Fun combat and a sophisticated city burdened with the unfulfilled potential of a far scarier experience.

Dropping into multiplayer battles in Prejudice's armored suit is a thrill, and its battles are never over 'till they're over. [July 2011, p.68]

The immersion of VR elevates this strong action RPG journey into something special. [Oculus Tested]

A tubthumping tribute to the 40K universe, with perfectly grim design. Multiplayer definitely needs work on its balance though.

There’s a lot to love in the core loop, but this diamond in the rough gets buried under a repetitive campaign and late game balance issues.

Not as rich an experience as it should be, but it is finally fun to play again. [Oct 2005, p.62]

It may not look like much with its dated 2D graphics, but beneath the surface is one of the richest empire-builders around. [July 2005, p.85]

A worthy end to Dragon Age: Inquisition. A lengthy quest with a satisfying pay-off makes up for some unimaginative encounters.

An island full of riveting mysteries, stuck with some truly awful and jarring combat.

And if I were developer Jonathan Mak, I'd ask for a lot more than $9 for a game this fresh, this unique, and this enjoyable. [Aug 2008, p.62]

Some deliciously well-rendered visuals have been used to re-create each of the 16 warships and submarines you control, and the ocean effects - which range from gentle swells to full-blown gales - are so convincing that you may find yourself reaching for Dramamine. [June 2003, p.68]

The narrative is strong and dark, but the game beneath it struggles to keep up.

Despite some shallow ancillary systems, Bannerlord is the master of medieval warfare

A fine superhero SWAT team tactics game smothered by a little too much admin.

Vast and obtuse in a way that is going to frustrate some and exhilarate others, Crimson Desert is a fascinating journey, even when the destination isn't all that.

A space strategy game that streamlines empire-building better than any other. Combat and AI could be better. [Nov 2012, p.70]

It’s got nothing on Final Fantasy at its best, but it’s still an excellent example of the genre with some fun twists on RPG traditions.

A well-formed slice of noir mystery, beautifully presented. Some writing issues aside, A Case of Distrust is well worth your time.

A peaceful and utterly charming adventure that left me wishing for more.

Atmospheric, imaginative, and enjoyably unpredictable—this is one of the year's best horror games.

A time-bending puzzle game clever enough not to be just another time-bending puzzle game.

Bigger than it first appears, Avowed is an engrossing and gorgeous action-RPG set in one of the most engaging fantasy worlds going, though it lacks the complex systems of its most beloved contemporaries.

Resident Evil 3 is essentially a chain of action set-pieces, threaded together with a paper-thin story and a few too many cutscenes. This is the direction the series started to take post-Resident Evil 4, when it seriously lost its way and we ended up with the abysmal Resident Evil 6, and I'd hate to see that happen again.

An entertaining game, and though it still can't quite match Konami's "Winning Eleven 6" on PS2, it's heading in the right direction. [Feb 2004, p.74]

Like "Starfleet Command," an untilmatey rewarding game that may demand a bit too much patience. [Mar 2001, p.70]

Too many rough edges ruin an otherwise smooth production: clipping problems, unexplained mission objectives..., save points strategically placed to artificially raise the difficulty of certain missions, and an emphasis on scripting over substance. [Dec 2002, p.102]

A strong sports sim, with depth to spare. [Jan 2005, p.83]

A triumph of sinister mood let down by archaic puzzle design.

A refreshingly asymmetrical FPS with terrific competitive depth, but the thrill of the hunt eventually begins to wane.

If you're a PC racing fan, you should buy this game immediately. If you aren't, buy it anyway - it'll make you one. [Mar 2006, p.102]

Wuchang brings some fun ideas to soulslike boss fights, but the rest of it is a pale imitation of much better games.

What Valhalla is trying to do is interesting, but playing it is boring. The dialogue drags, the main bartending mechanic is tedious and the day-in, day-out repetition becomes frustrating quite early on.

You'll be impressed by how much depth and fun it packs into its 10 hours. [Oct 2012, p.69]

Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft's most ambitious game in years, but it plays the basics way too safe.

An overhaul of the match engine and lively attacking play bring PES back into contention, but don't expect much from the AI.

Two very similar factions dull its edge, but Grey Goo’s old-school take on strategy still makes it one of the most interesting new RTS games in years.

For a paltry 10 bucks though, there's plenty here to enjoy, and the new cards and decks make it a worthy upgrade for those who own last year's Duels of the Planeswalkers. [Oct 2011, p.81]

With deep strategic systems, omnipresent dread, and clean turn-based combat, Xenonauts is a triumph of rebooted game design.

Delivers a winning combination of lively off-road driving physics and eye-popping graphics. [Jan 2003, p.82]

It may be a little short for some - you'll probably finish it in under 10 hours - but god kows there are worse licensed games. [Feb 2003, p.77]

The true Achilles heel of Substance is hardware support. [July 2003, p.92]

Most interesting when you're diddling with the terrain, but it gets old fast when the missiles start flying. Not the breakthrough it could've been, it'll appeal only to experimental-RTS fans. [July 2004, p.62]

A dark, violent comic book given light and heart. a ripping yarn that tears along as fast as you can tear through bodies.

More rich quail rather than plump-breasted pheasant, but still a rare and satisfying bird.

It's a fantastic expansion that adds even more gameplay depth to a game that was already incredibly complex. [Jan 2005, p.96]

BF4: Second Assault is a sound purchase. [June 2014, p.81]

Charm and a solid formula go a long way to smoothing over this roguelike deckbuilder's ungroomed edges.

If only Stranglehold wasn't quite so formulaic, quite so tamed, and quite so short, this shot of Tequila would go down a whole lot smoother. [Dec 2007, p.72]

ZZZ is a shallow, polished front for a relentless online store.

This third Law & Order game is not only the most faithful to the atmosphere of the TV show, but also offers an engaging story. [Jan 2005, p.90]

Eternal Strands is an unforgettable combination of intense action, inventive improvisation and an engaging story.

Dawn of War 3 has overly dominant elites, and a merely serviceable campaign, but it captures the power of mass battles well.

A superb tactics game that looks like an XCOM clone but really, really isn’t.

A good find for Star Wars fans who don't take the license too seriously. [July 2005, p.72]

Heavy grind will rightly put people off, but make it to grouping and its combat shines. Some of the races are still creepy though.

A Sisyphean challenge after which you'll never take pressing W to walk for granted again.

This great adventure is entertaining for adults and children alike. [Sept 2011, p.73]

In the interest of accommodating it all, the awful maximum resolution and the tiny sprites are just about excused. [March 2014, p.73]

The best adaptation of the Magic: The Gathering card game yet, but with too many frustrating elements still intact. [Oct 2012, p.70]

Not much innovation, but a solid 3D RTS that purists and online addicts should enjoy. [Oct 2000, p.139]

The graphics are lush without being garish, and the music is haunting and evocative. [Mar 2002, p.61]

Exciting, suspenseful gameplay is an innovative twist on survival-horror. [Feb 2006, p.38]

Unacceptable bugs and slowdown detract from an otherwise great expansion pack. [Feb 2006, p.36]

With its emphasis on roleplay rather than combat and borrowings from Disco Elysium, Sovereign Syndicate feels like another step forward for the CRPG.

A multiversal master of none, with a messy but intriguing combat system at its core.

A cinematic, high-octane, but short-lived adventure, lovingly remastered for a new generation.

In terms of the game experience, that’s great. In terms of labour politics, the substitution muddies how I feel about the studio and the game. It’s worth reading the various interviews and points of view online to make up your own mind whether you want to support the studio and this outing for the franchise. With that caveat in place, Before the Storm benefits from being more focused and more of a character piece than Life Is Strange. It gets rid of most of the clunky puzzling, provides emotional payoffs for Chloe fans, and puts a gay teenage girl front and centre in a valuable way.

The compelling story, gorgeous graphics, and innovative magic system are more than enough to make this journey worthwhile. [Jan 2003, p.86]

A smart but simple adventure that's exactly the right kind of spooky. It's short, but superb. More please. [Nov 2017, p.81]

Tight design and compelling mythology compensate for a few too many borrowed ideas.