My biggest complaint is the excruciating grind, where you hunt creatures for experience points and money. [July 2004, p.66]

The intricate level construction and enhanced AI are appreciated, but I still felt like I was playing nothing more than a glorified expansion pack. [July 2004, p.66]

Even while telling myself that I should be revolted - especially since Cash is a thoroughly unsympathetic protagonist - I finished the 15-hour game in three sittings. [July 2004, p.72]

A huge improvement (thanks to a ground-up rebuild) over last year's version... Hardball fanatics everywhere owe it to themselves to try this great game. [Oct 2004, p.96]

Simulation purists will have issues with the game's "faked" vehicle physics, overly forgiving damage model, and rigidly structured Career mode, but ToCA Race Driver 2 offers more than enough high-speed thrills to rope in even the most demanding PC racing fans. [July 2004, p.71]

Visually, Painkiller is sumptuous. I won't disclose the awe-inspiring setting of the last level except to say that it's one of the most dazzling displays I've ever seen in a game. [July 2004, p.76]

Combat is largely devoid of any tactics, and the only interesting aspect of the fighting is a two-fisted system that lets you swing a sword with one hand and fire a gun with the other. [July 2004, p.68]

Shockingly un-shocking, it's too much mood and little "boo." [Mar 2004, p.73]

It's as if the designers had never even seen a computer game, let alone played one... It's just a terrible game. [July 2004, p.61]

Aside from some frustrating quirks and unrefined space missions, Breed is a good shooter that offers "Halo" fans a veritable add-on pack. [May 2004, p.72]

Doesn't offer anything worth even a cursory glance. Even squad-based strategy-game fantatics should take a pass on this lousy $20 beer coaster. [July 2004, p.55]

It's unfortunate that the same level of fun didn't make it into the single-player campaign. [July 2004, p.73]

If you're a more casual type who's not anal about realism, Desert Rats will satisfy your inner tank commander. [June 2004, p.66]

A lot of fun in the short term. It's just a shame Namco didn't put more work into the graphics and more creativity into the mission design to give it some legs. [July 2004, p.73]

The fact is, Syberia 2 doesn't top the first game. It starts out strong - Kate second-guesses her leap of faitih, yet perseveres to outwit a misogynistic monk - but there's just not enough narrative thrust to support a compelling second chapter in the story. [Apr 2004, p.71]

It's quite simply a foul-mouthed stinking piece of adolescent crap. [May 2004, p.73]

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

People don't typically play action-RPGs for their riveting narratives. They want fast-paced combat, lots of environments and beasties, and tons of cool magic weapons, armor, and loot. Sacred's got all that in spades. [June 2004, p.69]

Northland is really a sim posing as an RTS game. I doubt it'll fully satisfy fans of either. [July 2004, p.69]

Well, slap me silly, because not only does Far Cry offer utterly sensational visuals and jaw-dropping gameplay, but it also heralds the arrival of developer Crytek, which now joins id Software and Valve at the head of the shooter class... A stunning achievement. [June 2004, p.62]

All multiplayer modes have the spy needing to complete a set of objectives, like swiping top-secret vials, while the mercs try ot keep the spy from succeeding. The resulting match-ups are breathtaking. [June 2004, p.68]

The downside is that Dark Motives regurgitates the static, "Myst"-style point-and-click gameplay and fuzzy backgrounds of last year's CSI game. [June 2004, p.77]

Crystal Key 2 isn't an adventure; it's a slide show with the occasional puzzle thrown in. And we've had enough of these kinds of games. [July 2004, p.65]

A surprisingly engaging shooter that manages to turn what could have been another routine FPS into a rousing costume saga with a genuine feeling of epic sweep. [July 2004, p.64]

Given the series' heritage and the long buildup to this entry, it's hard not to feel let down. [July 2004, p.70]

I really wanted to like this game, but its repetitiveness and frustration make it an island to skip. [July 2004, p.69]

Eventually I had to venture online, and the first sounds I heard (no lie) were "Oh yeah, you f******, I am the mother-f******'s s***!" It turns out UT 2004 has built-in voice support, and as easy as it is to set up, it's mercifully easy to turn off. [June 2004, p.79]

Just an utterly fantastic multiplayer shooter, and while it doesn't replace "Battlefield 1942," it's a perfect complement. [June 2004, p.64]

We love the new look, but we're not thrilled about the tarnished gameplay. [May 2004, p.64]

While not the most ambitious add-on we've ever played, Athena Sword packs enough solid, challenging content to appease "Raven Shield" vets. [June 2004, p.72]

The biggest problem is that it's practically impossible to walk an AI batter. [June 2004, p.76]

It's too bad Firestarter is executed so poorly because the graphics engine is fantastic, packed with reflections, great textures, and all manner of flashy high-tech visual doo-dads. [May 2004, p.67]

This buggy clunker wouldn't be worth playing even if it was being given away for free. [Oct 2004, p.99]

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]

SNS's powersliding physics, six-player GameSpy action, and assertive AI are as entertaining as ever, but a horribly unrealistic "Velcro Wall" effect (lightly grazing the outside barrier now slows your car to a virtual standstill) and some persistent graphics, audio, and controller glitches eventually thrown an unwelcome wrench into the proceedings. [June 2004, p.77]

It seems that my best efforts to "train" [my fellow climbers] in the various arts of climbing, they all seem to lack the most basic cognitive thinking. In fact, they keep insisting on trying to walk through rocks (as opposed to simply walking around them), and they bunch up when it comes time to climb, crawling around on the ground like common baboons. [Sept 2004, p.63]

No flight sim has ever been more convincing...IL-2 Ace continues the series' climb as the runaway leader in the World War II prop-sim wars. [June 2004, p.72]

Gets an "A" for design, and a "C-" for execution. Let's hope major patches can revise this game to greatness. [Apr 2004, p.81]

Staving off complete suckage, multiplay is where Thrones actually works. [May 2004, p.69]

The scripted predictability of the missions and the relative sameness of each helicopter's flight characteristics significantly reduce the overall replayability. [May 2004, p.71]

As a $20 retail product, it's a slap in the face. Games like this one make a mockery of Darwin's theories. [May 2004, p.69]

Entertaining futuristic aerial action, and a good value at the price. [May 2004, p.66]

A failed attempt at a cross-genre historical hybrid. [May 2004, p.70]

But unless you prefer games that you watch and don't play, there's simply no reason for either history or strategy buffs to waste the coin. [May 2004, p.75]

Even with the minor gameplay additions and the thrill of deadly creatures, this value-priced game is really just another slow-paced hunting sim. [May 2004, p.61]

The real issue with ALA is its brevity...Even so, Apache Longbow Assault delivers an entertaining ride while it lasts, and I suppose that's all one can reasonably expect from a budget title. [Apr 2004, p.81]

The level of freedom afforded is quite unparalleled for a game of this type. [Apr 2004, p.72]

Adventure fans could find worse ways to spend $20, but the game's emphasis on storytelling with few engaging puzzles may leave some wishing this tale had more involving interaction. [May 2004, p.75]

Gearheads may be temporarily amused, but for the rest of us, Monster Garage delivers about as much entertainment value as a fender-bender with a Hell's Angel. [July 2004, p.65]

First up is the AI, which, for both the enemy and your squad, is simply dreadful. [Apr 2004, p.66]

Refreshingly different, Silent Storm is a must-own for fans of the squad-tactics genre. [Mar 2004, p.61]

More of an interior-design sim than the Vegas epic you're probably imagining. [Mar 2004, p.61]

Simply missing too many features to justify the purchase. Collectible-card-game fans should opt for "Magic: The Gathering Online" instead, so they can face truly challenging opponents: other human players. [Apr 2004, p.83]

It deserves some credit for its realistic physics and attempts at creativity, but it's just not a whole lot of fun. We still await the "Virtua Tennis" of bowling games. [Apr 2004, p.78]

Underlying all the advances made in bot technology and the updated maps, Condition Zero is still fundamentally a five-year-old game...but this standalone package should satisfy both the Counter-Strike-curious and the broadband impaired. [Jan 2004, p.90]

The resolution maxes out at an ultra-cruddy 800X600, the sound effects are wimpy, and the dialogue is like a sad butchery of Hong Kong subtitling. [Apr 2004, p.70]

The online option has potential, but fighting human opponents doesn't improve the core gameplay, which hasn't evolved since I was talking all that college smack 10 years ago. [Mar 2004, p.74]

The terrible camera angles will force you to constantly use the manual camera adjustments, which is part of the reason you get killed so often and have to restart levels. [Mar 2004, p.62]

Despite - or maybe because of - its stripped-down gameplay, RC Cars surges ahead as one of hte better recent miniature-car racing games. [Mar 2004, p.80]

Many of the game's varied track environments are on par with those in A-list arcade racers. [Mar 2004, p.80]

A distinguished sim of the most fascinating and closely run campaing ever fought on the Western Front. Grognards will love its depth, and newbies can catch up fairly easily. [Mar 2004, p.77]

Despite all the ongoing updates and patches, the most critical element is missing: The game hasn't received a fun patch. [May 2004, p.68]

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]

Gets bogged down in a few of the traps created by its ambitious, free-form design, but an invigorating game emerges anyway. It's certainly in the same constellation as "Freelancer," if a lot more challenging. [Mar 2004, p.66]

Not only the most accessible wargame on the market, but it's also a rich and fascinating tactical simulation. It's war on your computer. [Mar 2004, p.76]

Waiting tables is reduced to repetitive and frenzied clicking in Diner Dash, a $20 restaurant sim that turns simple game-play into an addictive treat. [Apr 2006, p.100]

The worst part is that Sands uses a save-point system - and wouldn't you guess it, save beacons materialize only after you've destroyed every last zombie. [Mar 2004, p.58]

Its dull level design is a shame, but Armed and Dangerous is still a hoot. If you're looking for mindless action mixed with scenes of sheer hilarity, you'll be well-entertained here. [Mar 2004, p.60]

With the right hardware, Invisible War offers a thought-provoking, multi-layered journey with a side order of free choice. [Jan 2004, p.81]

Playing alone with bots is unbearable - the AI players run into walls and can't aim for squat. [Apr 2004, p.74]

Hordes' goodness mostly comes down to its deliciously vicious weapons, brawnier spells, phatter loot, and more monumental ass-whupping (allowed by the higher level-cap). [Mar 2004, p.64]

It not only brings nothing new to the RTS table - it takes stuff away, too. [Mar 2004, p.70]

The lack of any real challenge makes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hard to recommend for all but the very young set. [Mar 2004, p.75]

Even worse are the ridiculously tough environmental puzzles. Unless you're a member of MENSA, chances are you'll need a walkthrough to finish the game. [Mar 2004, p.62]

The fighting is BG&E's weakest element, and there's a bit too much of it for the game's own good. [Mar 2004, p.71]

Not much of a party game. [Apr 2003, p.103]

XIII is rounded out by a tantalizing multiplayer component. [Feb 2004, p.62]

There's no knocking the stellar visuals, solid storyline, and unrelenting blood-spilling. But the overall design is weak, and you'll have to slog through a lot of frustration to get to the good stuff. [Apr 2004, p.82]

Its plot is arguably more satisfying than the ham-fisted narratives of the recent Star Wars films, and it certainly does a better job at conveying moral complexities. [Feb 2004, p.65]

A curious amalgam of campy storytelling and abysmally simplified flight dynamics. [Feb 2004, p.68]

A frustrating action/strategy hybrid where you miss the action while flailing to control the strategy. [Mar 2004, p.67]

I grappled with Victoria for a solid 10 hours before I actually started having fun, and most folks will deem this figure unacceptable. Even then, the game's glaring bugs had a tendency to disrupt the deep and absorbing machinations that eventually develop. [Mar 2004, p.65]

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

Good but not great, it's sweetly bland adventure porridge. [Feb 2004, p.79]

Although the vehicle dynamics are still conspicuously slot-car like, the game itself is easily one of the finest EA has ever produced. [Jan 2004, p.118]

An awesome achievement, and if you can make the time investment, you'll be amply rewarded...If you have a high tolerance for micromanagement, you'll love the depth of gameplay. [Apr 2004, p.76]

Any repetition is mollified by the fact that you really do have the run of Springfield. [Jan 2004, p.105]

I dream about its puzzles, contemplate solutions in my spare time, and imagine what lies beyond. But most importantly, I've had fun - and that's what adventuring is all about. [Jan 2004, p.100]

Thin and familiar, but it offers some terrific hacking and slashing. [Feb 2004, p.72]

The game's still far from perfect, but NBA Live 2004 is much more enjoyable than last year's version. [Mar 2004, p.77]

Fun, but too short and shallow to be a full-priced expansion pack. [Jan 2004, p.104]

It continually sidetracks you with diversions that aren't in the book, when all you really want to do is get to the good stuff that Tolkien crafted. [Feb 2004, p.76]

A solid action game, but it's no "Max Payne 2" (or "Max Payne, for that matter). [Feb 2004, p.84]

For some reason, Greek developer Anima PPD thought the world was yearning for a new FMV game, <I>and</I> one with the production values of a Malaysian music video. [Jan 2004, p.105]

Finding opponents (on the internet) proved a chore given that there's no central lobby or matchmaking service - you have to know the IP address of another player. [Feb 2004, p.67]

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]

What makes each Conquests scenario so compelling is that it demands a unique strategy. [Feb 2004, p.75]

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