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]