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

Life is Strange 2 promises a classic roadtrip, but fails to put you in the driving seat.

Remember Me is a third-person action-adventure teenager. It tries to act insouciant, and tells its story with the breathless zeal of a youngster flushed with first love. But ironically for a game that requires you to build ‘Focus’ in order to achieve great things, it feels greatly lacking in that department.

This game was just meant to be single-player. [Feb 2003, p.75]

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and Ubisoft Romania's Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII executes an awkward face-plant immediately upon take-off. [Holiday 2007, p.84]

Tartarus shows off some excellent puzzles aboard a disappointingly empty spaceship, but it’s usually more charming than frustrating.

The Division is a challenging co-op cover shooter and a gorgeous open world diminished by bloated and unnecessary RPG tropes.

I'd really love to know how Corruption 2029 came to be. It feels like a very stripped down, bare bones game—a space for the designers to experiment with concepts in a turn-based tactics space. The big problem with Corruption 2029 is that the same developer put out a very similar game with the same strengths and far fewer shortcomings only two years ago. Fans of Mutant Year Zero might want to check it out to get a bit more of that stealth tactics fix, but anyone else should opt for its more illustrious predecessor.

Two great maps and a poor one make Expedition an over-expensive proposition. Respawn also squander a great chance to extend Titanfall’s fiction.

A savage, sometimes frustrating space exploration game that succeeds because of beautiful design and a compelling universe.

Barely noticeable differences to Black Flag make Freedom Cry an inessential add-on to Assassin's Creed IV. [April 2014, p.66]

It takes slightly longer to finish the game than to watch the movie -- I got through it in about severn hours. [Holiday 2002, p.96]

The Bergson's are charming but their quest is a bit too lifeless. A middling dungeon crawler elevated by its style.

There's a good story here, but it's marred by carelessness. [May 2017, p.89]

Generic Shooter # 7,491, but with some cool weapon upgrades. [July 2005, p.70]

A decent revival of the N64-era 3D platformer, but with all the flaws that carries, as well as some new ones of its own.

A moderately entertaining, albeit retrograde, arcade driving experience. [Jan 2003, p.112]

EoW fans should pick up this expansion for its space battles and new multiplayer units, but the campaign is forgettable. [Jan. 2007, p.83]

For $19.99, you get 25 different Vegas-quality one-armed bandits(plus video poker)for solo or online multiplayer competitions. [Jun 2006, p.105]

BPM is a great concept somewhat fumbled, redeemed when it breaks its own rules.

A promising concept that needs better graphics, camera controls, and AI to really shine. [Feb 2004, p.70]

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]

The story's perplexing, the AI is unimaginative, and the Predator and Predalien missions just aren't that interesting. [Nov 2002, p.146]

I can't recommend NHL 07 to anyone who owns NHL 2001 or later. [Dec. 2006, p.126]

Wurm Online is one of the most innovative MMOs around, but damn, will it make you work to appreciate that fact.

If you're a new player, this is not the expansion you're looking for. [Aug 2005, p.56]

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]

The PC game is actually a late-to-the-table port of a 2005 Xbox and PS2 release, and it shows. [Apr 2006, p.98]

Realm of Shadows indicates that it might tell an interesting Batman story, but takes time to get there and suffers from Telltale’s tired design and engine limitations.

It's not the most ambitious game ever, but All-Stars can become oddly addictive. [Sept 2002, p.81]

Galactic Civilizations 4 is a vast and dependable grand space strategy. But there's little here that radical, and expect to meet it halfway.

Starseed Pilgrim is composed of interesting elements and neat twists, but suffers from the assumption that you can encourage exploration simply by refusing to tell the player what to do. [Aug 2013, p.73]

I love the new snowy setting, and there are some fun moments here, but ultimately Valley of the Yetis plays it too safe.

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.

Invigorating arcade racing let down by lightweight multiplayer and campaign modes.

Aside from the move to 3D graphics and the requisite new spells and characters, changes or enhancement are surprisingly lacking in this sequel. [Feb 2002, p.67]

Immortals of Aveum tells a dull tale in an extremely irritating way, but at least has some fun, engaging shooting. I just wish it had a few ideas of its own.

A faithful recreation, but why go back when Stardew has since perfected the genre?

An accessible online heist game with some fun systems that wrestle with clumsy combat and an ugly presentation.

This Cleopatra is no legendary beauty, but it is an adventure that will appeal to genre fans. [Sept 2008, p.69]

My biggest gripe involves gangland's implementation vehicles. You're occasionally given cars for drive-by shootings, but their awful handling makes completing those levels a chore. [June 2004, p.74]

The Great War: Western Front is a bleak, conservative attempt to capture the brutal battles of World War I.

A good squad-wargame for those patient enough to forgive the awful interface for making the strategic component a chore. [May 2012, p.74]

Evil West delivers on its big dumb action game premise, for better and worse.

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]

There's virtually no plot, and a lot of the mid-level game seems like a repeat of the novice-level game. [Jan 2005, p.84]

Great physics and blood effects give fights more depth and oomph than many arcade beat-em-ups, but tutorials and more options are needed to enhance its gut-kicking goodness. [Mar 2007, p.65]

Early missions can be a bit of a grind, and you can't buy anything fancy right away, even if you have the cash. [March 2005, p.66]

More ambitious than its predecessors, but ultimately less balanced. [Jan 2001, p.148]

A fiddly take on management, survival and city building that you can still lose a weekend to.

A prickly 2D Metroidvania with a curious twist, Dandara admirably finds something new to do with the genre, but it's tough work to get onboard.

An often spectacular space shooter that lacks the variety and depth to justify serious investment.

This is a good FMV game. Just don't expect to be entertained for very long. [Oct 1996, p.172]

A streamlined, easy-to-play strategy game with a uniquely dark premise that's ideal for sporadic sessions. [Nov 2017, p.83]

A great PC port and lovely open world don’t give depth to Watch Dogs 2’s shallow combat and stealth design.

Unaware of its absurdity, Blacksad: Under The Skin fails at much of what it attempts.

An ambitious attempt, but substandard physics and AI demote it to the B-list. [Sept 2005, p.62]

My chief criticism of Missing is that it relies too heavily on arbitrary puzzles and too little on sleuthing. [Oct 2004, p.100]

A pretty but simple action game that makes the right decision to not attempt to be something more than it is and concentrates on a well-executed bullet-curving gimmick. It just happens to be overpriced at $50. [May 2009, p.76]

Exciting combat and a plethora of sexy costumes can't totally save Stellar Blade's middling story and occasionally questionable level design.

Being so devoted to Final Fantasy 7 means that there’s a lot of love to be found in Rebirth. And as a fan of that original game, it was so easy, for a while at least, to be swept up in the dazzling sights of Gaia, in the vibrant amusement park of games and sidequests at my fingertips, to hop on this rollercoaster journey with many of my all-time favorite characters and give myself to the joy of being able to spend more time with them. But all the charm and pageantry in the world can only distract me for so long before I realize: nothing has happened this whole vacation. The ship hasn’t even left the dock.

Capy’s tough-love approach and well-worn survival systems makes it harder to appreciate Below’s singular look and feel.

Sunset's themes, setting, and plot are plenty interesting, but the player's interaction with them feels incongruous.

Moscow to Berlin doesn't bring much to the RTS table, but war gamers familiar with "Desert Rats" will enjoy the new missions for the budget price of 30 bucks. [Sep 2006, p.60]

This modern remake of the classic puzzle game doesn't stop it from feeling out of date.

Enjoyable in places and very pretty, but sadly blighted by sloppy design, terrible boss battles, and a lack of new ideas.

A dreadful-looking but surprisingly playable simulation of a truly complex game. [Feb 2004, p.84]

An underwhelming finale that's a must-buy for Myst completists only. [Dec 2005, p.86]

Extremely social chatters will enjoy it, but everyone else will be thumb-twiddling. [Mar 2003, p.96]

Van Helsing is long and unwieldy, but its schlocky tone prevents it becoming too frustrating of a grind. [Oct 2013, p.65]

Ghoulish creature design and fun combat are weakened by long boring stretches, clueless AI, and snickering obscurity.

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]

AO addicts should buy this add-on - solo-ers and MMO noobs, not so much. [Jan 2005, p.97]

Combining moody and gratifying ship-on-ship combat with shallow live service trappings, Skull and Bones is great within the claustrophobic parameters of what market forces allow it to be.

Definitely a solid strategy game, but lacking in depth and story. [June 2004, p.70]

The resource management is deep, but the city itself never quite feels like a city.

Fun hero designs and solid combat offer a promising start, but it needs to shed its grind and borderline game-breaking bugs.

A few well-designed systems struggle to overcome lifeless presentation. Capable, but ultimately hard to recommend.

A fun relic of the early PS2 days that I still like a lot, but slightly too dated for most players to enjoy.

Between the scares, your interactions with living characters are hampered by poor voice acting, an inability to skip conversations, and constant dialogue sync issues. [June 2008, p.71]

The biggest problem is that despite the increased focus on action, combat remains unchanged--a couple of new monsters, but few new tricks. [Sept 2012, p.71]

If you're already hooked, pick it up. Otherwise, the benefits aren't worth the investment. [Mar 2001, p.68]

There are some brilliant, original ideas in here, but Vampyr tries to do too much at once and suffers for it.

Steep costs and microtransactions taint an otherwise dreamy life sim.

A well-made stealth game that becomes tedious before too long.

A bare-bones basic shooter that's good for some fun with friends, but there are other, better co-op adventures out there.

A mostly fun, realistic football sim with wonky AI.

The immersiveness that made "Black & White" so appealing is distinctly absent. [Mar 2002, p.56]

Fascinating, fast, and friendly but far too forgiving. Wait for the patches and iron man/lady mods.

The game wields enough classic strategy and roleplaying elements to make up for its lack of visual flair. [July 2003, p.86]

Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is a brief but fun foray into a well-worn genre. The mode-swapping and elemental attacks are enjoyable, but the game is over just when it starts to reach a proper crescendo, with 100 percent of the map revealed (and presumably all the gear and spells) in under six hours. Not quite a full symphony, but a fun little ensemble.

A JRPG for people who haven’t played one in a while, basically. Well-made, but disappointingly safe.

A disappointing campaign, and a sandbox rework that shows promise, but feels like it's still some major balance patches away from leaving the game in a good place.

A tightly written story with multiple endings and difficult choices would make this the best "Splinter Cell" game to date...if it had been released in a finished state. [Feb. 2007, p.62]

2020 marks the third year Madden has been back on PC since the franchise's prodigal return to the platform in 2018. The novelty hasn't worn off for me yet. There is still something inherently weird and exciting about playing such a console-targeted franchise on my desktop; to type in my player's name and college with a keyboard. But that won't sustain many players for long. Madden is desperate for some new ideas, so let's hope some of 21's more exotic ventures foreshadow a more substantial rebuild in the future.

An attractive medieval survival sandbox that unfortunately gets bogged down in too many demands for time.

An exciting concept begging for structural refinements and more meat on its robot bones.

Sledgehammer’s second swing at a DLC pack is a modest hit, but lapsed Advanced Warfare fans may return to find that few others have.