After last year's excellent installment, it's disappointment to see Madden 06 take a step backward. Maybe next year, the game will focus more on the fundamentals and less on razzle-dazzle. [Nov 2005, p.70]

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]

It hurts to see an awesome game in a series I love be diminished by bugs. With some good patching, SFC III will be an excellent game. [Feb 2003, p.64]

A fun, unconventional RPG with interesting new ideas that aren’t entirely overshadowed by its repetitive nature and stale combat.

The second problem is that your squad will heal each other and you: you "die" only when your entire squad has been felled. [Apr 2005, p.76]

Black Plague actually made me scream aloud in fright at one point. Even horror movies don't have that effect on my anymore. [July 2008, p.68]

An accessible, customisable off-road racer let down by a half-hearted career mode.

Fixes most of Elemental’s technical and design problems, making it an addictively complex and rewarding strategy game.

More LOTR action is always welcome, be aware that Rise doesn't add a whole lot on. [Feb. 2007, p.67]

Doesn't do enough to be the uncontested definitive version, but provides a fresh perspective on an exceptional RPG. [March 2014, p.72]

Unfortunately, there's so much frantic micromanagement involved in keeping your biz going that you scarcely have any time to do anything that feels like play. [May 2006, p.102]

A first-rate RTS game that just may revitalize the genre. [Sept 2000, p.110]

Lots of flash, low substance. Try "Freespace" or "Tachyon" for a more fulfilling experience. [July 2000, p.84]

This one goes right back to the roots of hardcore action gaming. [Nov 2000, p.118]

Not even close to being a worthy successor to "NBA Live 2000." [May 2001, p.60]

An entertaining but unambitious sequel that collects up the best features of previous games and adds in some interesting new twists.

No flashy new features or buzzwords, just magnificent racing stemming from a refinement of Grid 1’s greatness.

NightSky delivers a short but sweet physics puzzle experience. [April 2011, p.76]

Despite its strengths, Solar Ash fails to skate free from the gravity of its influences.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 fulfills the promise of being the most true-to-life and detailed game of its kind.

A much-needed and fun refresher for Blizzard’s card battler, although the next card expansion will need to be more sizeable.

The new maps make getting into the heart of the battle much quicker and easier, and the new vehicles make battles go by much faster. [Feb 2005, p.64]

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]

Crashes booted me to the desktop a dozen times. And a save corruption resulted in the loss of a level-17 garden and my last shred of patience. [Feb 2008, p.83]

The freshest shooter to sprout in recent memory, PvZ is shackled by asinine DRM.

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]

An approachable and thought-provoking meditation on life's only certainty.

As far as looks go, Red Faction is more like the cute girl next door than a hot fashion model from the Upper West Side: It’s pretty, but it won’t make a man drop to his knees and thank God for giving him sight.