Despite its stability problems, impenetrable plot, localization issues, and repetitive missions, Tarr Chronicles will likely still find an audience with long-suffering space simulation fans. [Jan 2008, p.87]

Apart from its bonus Exploration option(a travelogue mode where you can hop to the island's prettier locales), Anacapri: The Dream is as compelling as cold espresso. [Dec 2007, p.76]

For it's user-friendly interface alone, Galactic Assault is a noteworthy entry in the genre and serves as a good starting point for anyone looking to cautiously dip a toe into war gaming. [Dec 2007, p.66]

EA Sports has once again screwed PC owners over with a cut-rate edition of one of its big fall sports games, and NHL 08 is even more of a disappointment than its football and golf comrades. [Holiday 2007, p.83]

This latest Medal of Honor proves to be the best of the series, and one of the deepest and most challenging World War II shooters I've ever played. [Nov 2007, p.68]

Eye of the North is mainly for those players who have exhausted Guild Wars' three chapters and just need more content. [Dec 2007, p.64]

But Sega's expansion for Medieval II does add around 80 hours of gameplay to the franchise--all for the price of a regular($29.99)expansion pack. [Dec 2007, p.69]

Just a few years back, golf ruled the PC scene. Now we've got one game left, and it's a crappy third-rate console port. [Dec 2007, p.76]

Also, the stability of the mission is precarious--it may crash abruptly and cause you to restart from your most recently saved information. [Mar 2008, p.78]

If you've been jonesing for a return to a huge, open-ended roleplaying world with a ton of depth and a rousing storyline, you'll find yourself right at home in at least one of these Two Worlds. [Dec 2007, p.78]

Even diehard grognards may be turned off by its complex interface and esoteric control panels, and newbies will be frustrated to no end. [Nov 2007, p.70]

Those niggling criticisms aside, Bioshock is one of the best 15-20 hours of gaming nirvana you'll spend this year or any other. [Nov 2007, p.66]

Destination: Treasure Island may not break any significant new ground, but it nevertheless delivers one of the PC's better adventure-gaming yarns since "Monkey Island".

Although Madden NFL 08 isn't all that it could be, especially in light of the console omissions, it plays an intelligent game of football. [Dec 2007, p.62]

It's a little shy on realism, challenge, and gameplay depth but Attack on Pearl Harbor still delivers an accessible and diversionary ride in some terrific old WWII warbirds. [Oct 2007, p.60]

Basically, Beyond the Sword is more of a director's cut of the fantastic original game than the usual expansion grab bag of scenarios and units. [Oct 2007, p.68]

But despite the visual inadequacies of the graphics engine, the game more than compensates for deficiencies with its constantly challenging gameplay. [Oct 2007, p.54]

If you're tired of the grind, make your way to Granado Espada, where life is exciting, convenient, and most importantly, fun. [Nov 2007, p.70]

Enemy Engaged 2 has potenttial, but remains a patch or two away from completion. [Nov 2007, p.77]

I spent my first hour in Dead Reefs spinning my character in circles while trying to WASD him through doors. [Oct 2007, p.66]

I apologize for the inconvenience, sir, but Call of Heroes doesn't come with any multi-player, though it does have 15 single-player levels and a few boss battles added for extra flavor. [Oct 2007, p.70]

Sane people. however--folks who don't take their new Leader Class Optimus Prime to bed with them--should probably play something else. [Oct 2007, p.72]

I guess it's true what they say: Bad guys have more fun. [Oct 2007, p.64]

This Xbox 360 port retains all the high-octane thrills of the original snowy adventure while incorporating features for the PC like mouse/key support and DirectX 10 effects(finally!). [Oct 2007, p.62]

Parallel Lines is an energetic driving/action/shooter with loads of personality and twice the depth of its underperforming predecessor. [Nov 2007, p.76]

Die-hard Potter fans will thrill throughout to checking Hogwarts' huge and detailed environs, but Order of the Phoenix's repetitive gameplay will make many wish someone would cast an Avada Kedavara spell in their direction and put them out of their misery already. [Oct 2007, p.66]

Starting a medieval crime family may not be everyone's idea of fun, but for those who are willing to place a daggar in a rival's back or to bribe a magistrate to get ahead, Pirates is a worthwhile expansion to its predecessor. [Oct 2007, p.70]

If your PC is powerful, however, and you stick to its infectious single-player game, DiRT delivers in spades. [Oct 2007, p.60]

Story-wise, the device would work better if the player characters were more likeable. [Oct 2007, p.56]

This is one monster mash that leaves me mortified. [Oct 2007, p.57]

Consider this game a creative homage rather than a remake of all things Lara Croft, and a perfect chance for newcomers and diehards alike to jump back into the series' seminal single-player action. [Aug 2007, p.60]

After the frenzy of battle wears off, so does the appeal of SpaceForce. It's not a bad game; it just goes through the motions. [Sept 2007, p.62]

Rough spots aside, the game represents a worthwhile expansion and is a welcome addition to the genre. [Nov 2007, p.71]

Be warned...You Are Empty isn't so much a title as a disclaimer. [Mar 2008, p.74]

Halo 2 for the PC is too little, too late. [July 2007, p.66]

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

A decent adventure game may be lurking beneath The Secrets of Atlantis' tiresome pixel-hunting, nonsensical puzzles, and substandard imagery, but you'll have to work to find it [Sept 2007, p.58]

It's all by-the-numbers stuff that gets old quickly, and the game's muddy graphics, slim single-player options, and comically mistranslated dialog certainly don't help. [Oct 2007, p.57]

Action-adventures this blah should be sunk to Davy Jones' Locker. [Sept 2007, p.56]

Free mode is definitely worth trying, but don't go out and buy the store copy unless you're comfortable spending extra cash for in-game items. [Sept 2007, p.60]

Survival horror and action-adventure fans cannot afford to miss this one(especially at its $19.99 price tag), even if you have to take off your glasses to appreciate it. [Oct 2007, p.62]

Infernal isn't offering anything really new, but if you're just out to have a good time doing the devil's dirty work, blasting through legions of soldiers and using gadgets like some kind of demonic James Bond, then you'll find it to be a good use of your time. [June 2007, p.62]

The finished game doesn't live up to expectations. [Sept 2007, p.64]

Given UFO:ET's $39.99 price tag, it's hard to recommend over the $5 copy of "X-COM: Terror from the Deep" on Steam, unless you're really itching for a minor graphical upgrade. [Aug 2007, p.68]

Even if you have the skill to complete the single-player game, you'll have only scratched the surface of this thorough war simulator. [Aug 2007, p.62]

Unfortunately, it's the monkey's paw of game ports. [Aug 2007, p.70]

Flashy weapon effects partially mask the mediocre gameplay, and to the untrained eye, Alpha Prime could almost pass as "Doom 3". I trust that PC Gamer readers are smart enough not to be fooled. [Apr 2008, p.66]

The actual meat of the game--"battling" by comparing card stats--is very smooth. [Aug 2007, p.68]

In context, the conclusion causes more of a ripple than a splash. [Aug 2007, p.70]

But, overall, Lord of the Rings Online serves as proof that a major license can inspire an excellent MMO that immerses you in a beloved setting. [Aug 2007, p.58]

Sparta doesn't have much meat on its bones - we've all been there and done that, just maybe not as Spartans. [Sept 2007, p.62]

It's simply an average two-bit thug. [Aug 2007, p.63]

What could have been a latter-day "Close Conbat" or a visually splashier "Combat Mission" is instead a tedious and underwrought quagmire. [Sept 2008, p.70]

Resist, chopper fans. You'll thank us later. [Aug 2007, p.63]

Masochists and suicidally confident RTS veterans might embrace the challenge, but for the rest of us, Frontline: Fields of Thunder delivers an entirely one-sided ass kicking. [June 2007, p.59]

It may not be Best in Show, but it's slavering in the top dogs' general direction. [Aug 2007, p.66]

All in all, this episode doesn't quite reach the pinnacle of excellence that episode four managed, but its gags and puzzles are as clever as ever. [June 2007, p.71]

It's action-packed gameplay; attractive, colorful visuals; and star-studded videos are sure to draw in both hardcore fans of the series and large numbers of new players. [Apr 2007, p.20]

As Sheogorath would state in a melodious Scottish accent, Shivering Isles is "more of the same, only completely different." [July 2007, p.62]

Getting from point A to point B doesn't get any more wearisome. [Aug 2008, p.74]

Installing and playing through S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was like discovering and opening a long-forgotten Christmas present. [June 2007, p.54]

If you can maneuver around its speed bumps, Test Drive Unlimited delivers a satisfying and visually opulent ride. [July 2007, p.56]

Though the storyline takes a while to ramp up, it's very engaging and provides a really enjoyable ending. [June2007, p.58]

In the weeks ahead--maybe even by the time you read this--Silent Hunter 4 will likely grow into the sub-sim classic its ambitious designers intended. It's just too bad that the out-of-the-box version narrowly missed the boat. [June 2007, p.64]

With a little more polish, Silverfall could have made a run at toppling the genre's heavyweights. [June 2007, p.68]

Ugly and simplistic, but surprisingly likeable. [June 2007, p.89]

No other game comes close to the major league statistical detail offered in this addictive simulation of our national pastime. [Sept 2007, p.60]

It has some good moments, but it shouldn't take an archaeological expedition to reach them. [Sept 2007, p.58]

Still, Top Spin 2 is a decent, enjoyable tennis game for a modest $19.99 price tag. [May 2007, p.70]

Air battles is a quality product that'll likely find an audience, but discerning PC pilots, new or old, can get much more bang for their buck by simply accessing the options menu in the original "BoB II" and toggling all the hard stuff to easy. [June 2007, p.57]

Occasionally amusing and sometimes bewildering, the latest "Runaway" is an odd mixture of flaws and fun. [May 2007, p.65]

Making History may not be the deepest historical epic out there, but it is one of the most playable and a good way to whet your appetite for something more filling. [Aug 2007, p.66]

For a measly 30 bucks, you won't find a better deal anywhere. [July 2007, p.64]

It's just that not enough of the missions stand out, and the majority feel like sleepwalks through pirate lore that would bore a pre-teen. [June 2007, p.60]

The real puzzle is why anyone would consider this entertainment. [June 2007, p.71]

Immortal Throne, which sends you to Hades to interact with numerous heroes and villains from Greek mythology, addresses a number of the most common complaints players had about Titan Quest. [Apr 2007, p.56]

That sloppiness nags at me because it blows what could have been a great immersive experience, but given that The Awakened managed to engage my brain without demolishing it, lets just say I wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crackers. [Nov 2007, p.74]

It was buggy at launch, and remains mildly buggy even after the latest patch(v1.06), but, even so, if you're the least bit into the concept of a band sim, Shady o"Grady is gonna rock your world. [June 2007, p.56]

The storyline is meaty but short by "Baldur's Gate" standards at around 30 hours, and although this iteration of Jade Empire gets the Special Edition moniker, it contains no new story content. [Apr 2007, p.48]

War Front is a solid and entertaining game, though far less original than it purports to be. [May 2007, p.62]

In short, Blitzkrieg II just doesn't cut the mustard. [May 2007, p.66]

Consider my wishes answered: Sam and Max: Abe Lincoln Must Die! is the best installment yet. [May 2007, p.69]

Overall, this is a game we recommend to any fan of collectible trading card games(or Marvel super heroes, for that matter). [Nov 2007, p.76]

The word Maelstrom's Danish roots mean "to grind" or 'stream'--I'll let you guess which one of those definitions is most applicable to this ponderous RTS. [May 2007, p.69]

This is all-out war on a scale we've never seen before, and it is glorious. [Mar 2007, p.23]

Swing and a miss! You can safely skip this one even if they cut the price in half. [May 2007, p.63]

Be prepared for a long journey either way because, as compelling as "Dread Lords" was, Dark Avatar will suck strategy game fans into its marvelously intricate and textured universe like light into a black hole. [May 2007, p.64]

In fact, everything about SoTA feels done in a perfunctory and barely interested way. [July 2007, p.58]

A free massively multiplayer tactical first-person shooter in the vein of "Counter-Strike" and the "Battlefield" games? Sounds too good to be true! And, guess what? It is! [June 2007, p.66]

Life Stories was designed to be laptop-friendly, and it shows: I had no problem controlling the game entirely by keyboard, sans mouse, thanks to numerous shortcut keys. [Apr 2006, p.49]

Ghost in the Sheet is an original, if low-budget take on the mystery/adventure genre, but poor narration and low-quality visuals make it a challenge to finish. [May 2008, p.64]

Sadly, I can't score the game based on what it might become. Right now, Vanguard requires that you turn a blind eye to too many nagging issues to fully enjoy it. [May 2007, p.68]

Forget the high-def TV and wireless Xbox 360 controller; Battlestations Midway plays better with a mouse and a joystick. [Apr 2007, p.58]

The third episode maintains the series' excellent standard for laugh-out-loud writing and voice-over work, and the puzzles, while tilting toward the easy side, are enjoyable and witty. [Apr 2007, p.54]

There's not another game quite like EU III out there. If it hooks you, it may be the only game you need this year. [Mar 2007, p.62]

Somewhat dodgy AI can mar certain missions and the game practically screams for a co-op mode, but unfortunately, it's strictly single-player. [Apr 2007, p.55]

However, if you've been level 60 for a while and let your account lapse, The Burning Crusade is reason enough to reactivate your account. [Apr 2007, p.46]

While Ubisoft was right in aborting its earlier incarnation--as a standalone subscription-based game, it would've bombed--Myst Online is a fantastic fit for Gametap.com, letting you drop in for brief visits without feeling like you have to linger. [July 2007, p.60]