Even though this game is an indie effort, the art and sound production are professional-quality. [Jan 2006, p.57]

Streets of Rage doesn't do much to innovate, but it's a beautiful brawler with just enough depth to stay engaging through multiple runs.

It's good, but yet another dramatic tale of intrigue in a game already packed with them. [Feb 2015, p.77]

Flashpoint's fresh subject matter, clever approach, and deep strategies make it worth playing. [May 2005, p.]

I never grew bored or frustrated with SimGolf, but I didn't lose countless hours of my life to it the way I did to "The Sims" or "RollerCoaster Tycoon." [Mar 2002, p.62]

Can occasionally drag, but is a mostly funny and intelligent puzzler that may improve your lexicon to boot.

A less dramatic reimagining than it pretends to be, but hopefully enough to breathe new life into the coolest MMO universe around.

A habit-forming FPS for its strategic possibilities and tactical depth, but the lack of matchmaking is especially worrisome.

Attacking settlements, especially your own, is good fun, but there’s hours of chores to complete before you can really become a raider.

Aside from the newly balanced weapons, you won't find many tweaks or fixes to the tried-and-true BF2 formula--long load times and the red nametag bug still hinder the game. [Jun 2006, p.52]

A quck-and-dirty port that's worth trying, especially for "Deus Ex" fans. [July 2005, p.60]

Wonderful and distasteful all at once, it entertains and fails in turns, like Frank Worthington. But I loved watching Frankie.

Owns its bleak theming completely, even if it can get a little repetitive.

Another witty Turnip Boy adventure chock-full of eccentric humour and enjoyable if not simple gameplay, I wish Snoozy Kazoo gave this root vegetable lad a little more room to commit his dastardly deeds.

A long game of choose-your-own-chosen-one with high highs to balance the lows.

This game should tickle the hell out of most "Diablo" fans. [May 2003, p.78]

The game's dimly lit rooms, haunting musical score, and aggressively edited cut-scene sequences (reminiscent of the movie "The Ring") more than compensate for the lackluster models and animation. [Feb 2004, p.71]

Mixing a mostly tried-and-true formula with some interesting new ideas, Conquest succeeds as a competent new entry in the genre.

Fresh out of the box, it's disappointing. But with patches, it could be the king of RPGs. [Sept 2000, p.95]

Unintuitive controls make this game a little mangy, but kids will get a kick out off treating over 100 animal ailments. [Dec. 2006, p.122]

It looks incredible and controls beautifully, but Inside’s best ideas are spread too thin.

Adds a chatty, entertaining social angle to the addictive stable of PopCap-type games that otherwise lead to loneliness, depression, and suicide instead of glory on the lawless oceans. [Aug 2005, p.76]

Not a classic, but it's a desperately overdue addition to the tank-sim library. [Sept 2005, p.58]

To be clear, Destiny 2 is still an engaging shooter that—when you step back and take stock of all it has to offer—is absolutely packed full of stuff to do. Shadowkeep is both an entertaining assortment of new activities and a solid base from which the game at large can build and improve. But Shadowkeep also doesn't feel like Destiny 2's final form, and there's a real sense that there's still much left to be tweaked and tightened. The subway is being refurbished slowly, one station at a time. That doesn't stop me from enjoying the ride.

Excellent VR combat and movement wedged inside a repetitive quest system.

Unsettling and narratively ambitious, this is the best Alone in the Dark game since 1992.

A beautiful, if simple, puzzle game that remains faithful to Myst without feeling dated.

I'm a sucker for giant robots. Especially when it's giant robots dishing out beautifully rendered displays of mass destruction. With Arena Wars, that's exactly what you get, wrapped in an extremely simple but nonetheless fun RTS package. [Holiday 2004, p.94]

With a local co-op buddy Aegis Defenders becomes a fun mix of genres, but when playing solo it can be an exercise in frustration.

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

A satisfying, if conservative, return to the seminal roguelike's 2D roots.

While Toy Story 3 may not be all that it could've been, there's still a lot of enjoyment to be had while interacting with the Toy Story cast of characters in their natural environment. [Nov 2010, p.83]

A smart, stylish adaptation that beats the odds to capture Metal Slug’s spirit in another genre, with a few irritating bugs.

Little Nightmares 2 understands exactly what it wants to be, and mostly pulls it off.

The clips provide great primers for how you should approach many of your starting hands, and for that reason alone, World Class Poker can be a valuable learning tool. [Dec 2005, p.96]

Brings a generous number of new elements to the Sims 2 core game. But you're forced to focus on the more mundane, tedious aspects of Sim life, and that makes it a bit too hard to enjoy all the cool new stuff. [May 2005, p.68]

A confident mishmash of a few different Resi games. [July 2015, p.70]

Sadly, the one thing that's fairly consistent is the opposing AI's late-game heroics. [Dec 2003, p.114]

Quality point-and-click puzzle adventuring among impeccable artwork.

Never quite the sum of its parts, Octopath Traveler is a game with brilliant moments rather than a brilliant game.

A beautiful and difficult action-RPG that rewards risk-taking—the complex magic system makes up for the bits that just aren’t worth playing over and over.

A great combat system is restrained by thoughtless multiplayer mode design.

Beyond a fairly daunting control and difficulty curve, Brigador is a gorgeous top-down shooter with a remarkable level of strategy.

Pitfall has enough charm to win me over, even if linear platformers are a bit dated. [Jan 2005, p.81]

A shining indie gem, yours for a throat-cuttingly reasonable price.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is by no means perfect, but it’s a solid RPG that very efficiently covers the entire Dragon Ball Z saga. The game sometimes crumbles under the weight of its own systems, but Kakarot is still a fun way to revisit (or even experience for the first time) the Dragon Ball Z saga.

A few too many minor annoyances gang up to keep Paradox's most polished release from reaching greatness. [Nov 2010, p.76]

A PC port that minimizes Halo: Reach's flaws and highlights its strengths, from the unique campaign to the joy of a clean headshot.

For less than a buck per level, Fire Warrior is a bargain. [May 2004, p.74]

Wattam is a fun colourful playground for players to goof around in, even though it's controls have a few screws loose.

For over-the-top(literally) off-road racing action, Nail'd delivers on multiple fronts--just as long as you remember to keep your dirt racer in the air as much as possible. [Feb 2011, p.81]

Some well-judged bold calls in both mechanics and visual direction elevate a familiar arcade racer above NFS's previous monotony.

A great MP shooter, but overpirced and probably not worth the upgrade to Vista by itself. [Sept 2007, p.54]

Either I'm a masochist, or this game is worth the irritation. [Oct 2013, p.81]

Still, this is only a problem in the first place because Sanctum is a tricky and exciting game that left me wanting a whole lot more. [Sept 2011, p.81]

Now, some folks may be happy to rule over a leauge of made-up players, but it drives me insane. [July 2002, p.69]

A uniquely inventive and chucklesome puzzle game that could do with a little more substance.

Still a compelling sprint through human history, Civilization 7 sheds a little too much weight to match its excellent predecessors.

Sure, a little more aeronautic authenticity might have made this good game great, but for what it tries to deliver, Wings of War succeeds admirably. [Holiday 2004, p.104]

Not only does it give high-level characters new playgrounds, but it's also a second shot at life for AC 2. [Sept 2005, p.63]

I'm somewhat begrudgingly throwing this Indy the whip. [Sept 2008, p.68]

An elegant, pared-down stealth game with echoes of the original Deus Ex, driven by a compelling story of paranoia and betrayal.

Undoubtedly fun for the run-and-shoot fans, but a low-impact port all the same.

Old school strategy, sensibly modernised. Creaky cutscenes and character art aside, the visual overhaul works wonders.

A boon to hardcore fans of the original - but probably no one else. [Feb 2000, p.122]

SI’s gap year was well spent on a fantastic match engine update, but progress is still too slow between games.

Beautiful combat livens up Overload's tedious levels.

An eye-popping musical adventure that will leave you with a serious case of galaxy brain.

LEGO: Bricktales manages to be fun despite some structural shakiness.

Novel presentation and a masterful complexity curve, but The Pedestrian's very shy about storytelling.

Shotgunning AI baddies in a predictable story doesn't do much for me these days, but the tension of roadie running through a smoke grenade and dropping two human opponents at perfect range is a Gears thrill that still holds up.

A puzzle-platformer that's elevated by its winsome anime aesthetic.

Ambitious in the extreme, Shadow Empire is a unique sci-fi wargame that's a little lost in its own details.

Weedcraft, Inc is a tricky tycoon game that overextends itself—but almost nails it.

Better than RollerCoaster Tycoon World, but doesn't do much to innovate on the formula.

At $40/£30 it definitely isn't a steal, but for chatty entertainers who enjoy multiplayer storytelling over technical perfection, Friday the 13th can be thrilling, stupid, and hilarious.

World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic's endless grind is brutal, but the way it fosters community and relationships is still magical.

Indivisible's inventive battle system brings the thrill of a fighting game to a JRPG-like party system but its platforming sections aren't as magical.

Unlike other MMORPG's with admittedly better graphics, Endless Ages throws so much variety into the overall experience that there's rarely a dull moment. [Aug 2003, p.69]

That Dragon, Cancer tells a valuable story despite its uneven delivery.

Technical issues and lack of a substantial upgrade aside, Until Dawn remains the perfect interactive horror movie.

Ruined King’s innovative battle system is the highlight of an attractive but unexciting RPG.

Two groups of players should consider buying Notum Wars: High-level diehard clan members, and those who have never played Anarchy Online before but would like to try it. [Mar 2003, p.109]

Repetitive combat and an abrupt ending spoil what is otherwise a remarkable feat of worldbuilding.

The graphics get a little prettier, the story gets a little darker, and another Call of Duty counts time as we march together toward death.

An unapologetic arcade smash-'em-up that gets the important stuff right. [Aug 2005, p.70]

Another strong (yet stressful) management sim from Frontier Developments.

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

A tense, sweaty-palmed experience that will appeal to your inner sniper. [Feb 2006, p.39]

Visually stunning and meticulously staged, but hindered by limited depth and stifling linearity.

Smart, savvy, and satirical, but it evokes the drudgery of social media so well it can drag like a long-winded comment thread. [Feb 2014, p.70]

A superbly stylish and surprisingly challenging management game, Evil Genius 2 is let down only by its tendency to bloviate.

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

I wouldn't necessarily recommend Soulstorm for players new to the series, as mastering the interactions between nine different races is a serious endeavor, but you're getting a lot of game for $40. [May 2008, p.62]

A challenging and atmospheric platformer with a remarkable sense of tension, occasionally.

Enough new features to keep Sims 2 fans sated 'till the next expansion. [Dec 2005, p.84]

Uncomplicated but gratifying flying, in scenarios of increasing silliness and therefore likeability.

It was originally conceived for the keyboard only, and though you can reconfigure its commands, the game isn't very mouse friendly. [Mar 2002, p.61]