Not only is the game accessible, it has a couple of novel game-modes to kick back with and offers a pretty exhausting career modes too. It's also quite technical, but it reveals itself in layers, a bit like "Pro Evo." [Mar 2007, p.72]

A bit more attention to the puzzles, the pace and the script, and this old-school adventure might have been more of a turtle's dream than a turtle's head. [June 2007, p.77]

A decent bit of strategy, but it's hardly treading new ground. [July 2007, p.84]

The definitive "IL-2" collection. [Feb 2007, p.79]

The quality of the content on offer is above cynical expectation - in fact, I'll come right out and say it: Northern Strike is a good expansion pack. [Apr 2007, p.79]

It's just a dull succession of (il)logic puzzles, stuck on an ugly, incomprehensible hub. [Dec 2007, p.80]

A near perfect port at a perfect price point. [July 2007, p.76]

Addictive and happy. [Aug 2007, p.76]

If you've finished the original and want to keep that mouse finger in shape, this expansion is worth a trip to the land of the dead for. [May 2007, p.83]

It's nothing more than average, and occasionally nothing less than irritating. [May 2007, p.76]

As far as Sims expansions go though, it's mediocre. I mean, come on, it's bloody weather...And gardening. What's next? "The Sims 2: Picking Your Arse?" [June 2007, p.86]

With a great story, tons of missions, beautifully rich settings, satisfying fighting and brilliant characterisation, all swaddled in over 20 hours of play, Jade Empire has transcended its Xbox roots to reincarnate itself as a high-kicking, epic RPG for PC. The chi is strong with this one.

Make no mistake, this game is two oversized coal sacks of crap - but The Mark has a redeeming hilarity. [Apr 2007, p.68]

Apart from throwing in a fair few wacky units converted from steampunk, like ice-spitting Rooski tanks and jetpack-wearing Nazis, and wrapping the game in the counter-factual, War Front is about as unique as a new series calling itself "How Clean is Your Wife?" [June 2007, p.75]

A series that increasingly looks stuck in the past. [Jan 2007, p.77]

It feels like someone at Telltale noticed the baloon was deflating, and brought out a comically oversized pump. [May 2007, p.71]

Maelstrom is certainly interesting, but it just lacks that magic spark needed to transform a collection of ingenious ideas into a thrilling RTS experience. Innovative? Certainly. Thrilling and essential? Not quite.

While Supreme Commander may be slightly flawed in places, it's still a wondrous rendition of futuristic combat, and one of the finest specimens of 21st century RTS gaming you can currently buy. [Apr 2007, p.62]

There's simply no reason to play Dreamlords. The RTS is a shallow, boring experience, and the Web interface is a jerky, abysmal joke of an attempt at an MMO. Don't touch this even with your longest of sticks. [May 2007, p.83]

It's hard, its opening acts don't match the quality of those which follow and some characters grate - but as a modern rendition of a traditional formula, The Angel of Death has both pointed and clicked wisely. It's another nail out of the adventure gaming coffin. [Oct 2006, p.58]

Sure, the emphasis on tactics and cover etc make it slower than today's bells-and-whistles RTSs, but the time you get to think makes it one of the cleverest. Some games just don't seem to get tired with age. Chess and Close Combat are among them. [June 2007, p.79]

For most, wrestling with Battlefront's sprawling intricacies will be an approximation of hell, but for some it will be a strategy-bong heaven. [June 2007, p.74]

Paying money for something like this shameless and undercooked feels like shaking the hand of the guy who's shagging your wife. [May 2007, p.76]

Had Life Stories...been a little more mature in its scripting, I might have even recommended this. As it is, your mum would find it patronising. [June 2007, p.86]

Send him (and the game) to the dogmeat factory. It's the most humane thing you could do. [Oct 2007, p.87]

A hollow, mind-numbingly dull MMORPG grind that stretches the boundaries of good taste and sensible design decisions.

It's not terrible by any means, but it's just not very exciting either. [Apr 2007, p.76]

It's the shortest and easiest yet, with the episodic formula's skeleton (office/street intro, on-location puzzle, three-pronged task, conclusion) showing more obviously through the tighter, more linear flesh.

The beauty of it is that the game doesn't place any restrictions upon your ambitions (or lack thereof). [Mar 2007, p.77]

It's too hard to be any fun. Not hard in a challenging way - more in a stupid, dull way that has EASY opponents refusing to shoot, and HARD opponents taking perfect cover and sniping you from the moon. [July 2007, p.84]

"Must-buy" doesn't seem strong enough. There should probaby be some kind of law forcing every player to have it. For their own good, of course. [Apr 2007, p.73]

One of the most impressive pieces of indie programming we've seen in recent months. [June 2007, p.88]

The interface is so abysmal you'll want to tap out within minutes. [June 2007, p.89]

Any sense of believability is quickly shattered the moment you shoot an enemy. The gargling that emerges from your TV sounds as though it was obtained by someone with gastroenteritis taping a mic to the inside of their toilet.

Considering there's nine years' worth of work here, there's relatively little in terms of content, and you'll tear through the career mode in a couple of sessions.

This is an adventure game for anyone who loves adventure games, anyone who loves to laugh, and anyone who loves seeing animals represented as gun-toting sociopaths. And who can't admit to at least two of those? [Mar 2007, p.78]

If you're into the surreal, love your puzzles or you're simply sick of formulaic puzzle/adventure games, this could just be the perfect tonic for you. [Nov 2007, p.89]

The real problem is that it simply isn't as good as it could have been. Erratic AI, overly impervious sidekicks, some suspect voice-acting, patchily impressive and hugely power-hungry visuals. It's a list that adds up to a missed opportunity if ever I've seen one, but while Vegas may not quite have hit the jackpot, it does still manage to walk away a winner.

It's decent, short-lived fun, but is this really what you bought your games PC for? [Mar 2007, p.79]

Sad to say, the lumbering combat, laborious controls, frankly bizarre collision detection and remarkably glitchy graphics really put a bit of a kibosh on things. Disengage. [Mar 2007, p.70]

With the War Of The Ring turnbased campaign also receiving some minor though effective tweaks, this is one add-on pack you should snap up like a slavering Warg. Amazing what's possible when consoles don't get in the way, isn't it?

While there's still a decent driving model underneath, it's hard to see RACE appealing to fans who've driven Simbin's other titles, and so, this time at least, the hare comes out on top. [Jan 2007, p.87]

The dialogue is disappointing, being a case of exhausting the options rather than picking the right thing to say. [Apr 2007, p.68]

The problem is that most of the downloadable content is aimed at specific character types: a pure combat character probably won't give a stuff about spell tomes or a Wizard's tower, while the average mage will find the powerful new quest items totally useless. You're far better off just choosing the content you want online, and this works out a hell of a lot cheaper too, even if you buy everything (£12).

I normally hate banging on about graphics - but the stark beauty of TM should be clear to one and all. Every time I shut my eyes I see those shimmering blue skies and blinding flashes of colour - and, yes kids, that's because it's been burnt into my retinas. TrackMania United is officially, totally great.

A massive improvement on "Cossacks" and its kin, and it's a real pleasure to play. [Nov 2006, p.86]

Tactical yet still accessible. [Jan 2007, p.60]

It's just a shame that the blocky menu system and overly generous built-in aim-assist smack of console pandering, because otherwise, this is a very competent piece of programming.

It has nothing to offer that we haven't already seen in a thousand other hack-and-slash adventures. [Feb 2007, p.82]

The game manages to blend just the right amounts of combat, NPC interaction, character development, exploration, and epic save-the-world storytelling into the sort of potion that your typical beardie will gulp down with wild-eyed abandon. [Dec 2006, p.94]

A massive pile of crap. [Feb 2007, p.80]

Having just reached HOMMV's end-game, I'd rather have waited a bit longer and received a bit more. [Jan 2007, p.83]

While the slightly glitched real-time battles may not be all that much different from Rome's, and naval battles and new multiplayer options are still conspicuous by their absence, there's simply no way that any selfrespecting strategy fan can spend this Christmas doing anything other than rampaging across the world on a whirlwind of medieval conquest.

As attractive as it is bolstered with new content - everyone from hardcore trade-skillers to constant raiders to newbies are catered for. [Feb 2007, p.83]

Double Agent comes close to earning a Classic award, let down only by the fact that we wanted to see them run a bit further with the trust system idea.

If your machine is up to the task, then don't hesitate to snap up what is undoubtedly the best indie game we've ever had the pleasure to paw. [Feb 2007, p.86]

One of the most challenging and addictive city-builders we've played this year. [Jan 2007, p.70]

Deal or No Deal is a monstrosity - an unforgivable mess of arse-lint with less value than your average free flash game, as it has no real "game" to speak of beyond the arbitrary picking of boxes. Giving this piece of heinous excrement anything but a snide, cruel lambasting would be too generous. [Mar 2008, p.79]

A near-perfect sequel. [Jan 2007, p.78]

Fans of the series will still find it entertaining, and newcomers will have plenty to see and do, but there's simply not enough new content to recommend it over "NFS: Most Wanted." [Jan 2007, p.90]

An adequate and traditional (read 'hugely dated') point-and-click, and there's some charm to the puzzles and story. [Jan 2007, p.76]

Absolutely gorgeous to look at. [Jan 2007, p.66]

Phantasy Star Universe is nothing more than the laggy, repetitive tranvestite cousin of "Zelda." Avoid this like a Paris-Hilton-borne strain of bird flu. [Feb 2007, p.78]

If the game suffers, it's from over-explanation, the occasional lapse in the combat, and the repetitive nature of the environmental weaponry. But I was kept entertained all the way through, and I've never felt so directy responsible for chopping off a goblin's arm. [Dec 2006, p.70]

Just because this game isn't as cynical as "The Godfather's" art-slashing antics, doesn't mean it's any good - it's with great regret I have to say it's not. [Nov 2006, p.74]

Boss battles are explosive, brutal encounters, while some perfectly cast actors bring each character to life with genuine aplomb. If you leave your brain at the door, you just might find hours of mindless fun here.

Unless you can't get enough of the original game or you're a Star Wars fanatic who's been hankering for some new plot developments, then it simply isn't worth corrupting your hard disk with what has sadly turned out to be another promising but ultimately inadequate add-on.

While Extraction Point certainly does pick up towards the end, providing some absolutely sublime moments of action, ultimately it feels far too much like the worst bits of F.E.A.R. all over again, masquerading as something we love.

Despite my own selfish reservations, the switch to an attack focus is a very good thing. [Christmas 2006, p.78]

Sadly, much of the novelty wore off soon after and the rest of the game left me, just like many in the film, dead in the water.

More polished than I ever dreamt it would be.[Christmas 2006, p.86]

It's certainly not gong to supersede the increasingy popular "Battlefield 2," as most of its merits merely held over from its predecessor, but nevertheless it's a brilliant evolution of one of the greatest online shooters ever made. And it's got giant walking tanks. [Dec 2006, p.62]

An accessible business strategy game with choo choos - but behind the faintly sickening opening video, there's a silo full of deep fun to be had here. [Christmas 2006, p.85]

It still doesn't address the simplistic combat. [Christmas 2006, p.77]

So while it's a Sims 2 expansion, and while it's about pets, it's a wellmade, superbly polished addition to the original game.

The biggest advancement the series has seen since polygons. [Christmas 2006, p.73]

Hardcore fans of the series will no doubt love the additions; for the rest of us, the most fun you'll get out of this will be dropping your visitors into the shark tank. [Feb 2007, p.83]

Slow paced and processor intensive...Saying that, like swimming in a vast body of molasses attached to a couple of long-necked ungulates, once dry land is spotted, the drive to continue is strong. [Mar 2007, p.73]

DMC3 has a few conversion issues - low-res textures and fiddly joypad setting-up - and lack of quicksaves can be infuriating when you have to begin a boss battle all over again, but overall it's infernal fun. [Oct 2006, p.78]

It looks fairly dated, and is only really for the devotee of life-sim games, feeling as it does like a semi-precious curiosity. [Dec 2006, p.68]

A lacklustre affair that we've seen many times before. [Dec 2006, p.85]

The maps are still a bit bland. But by god, holy war's never been so much fun. [Christmas 2006, p.80]

Despite design cleverness and an engaging cityscape, there's just no joy here. [Christmas 2006, p.90]

The shallowness of the gameplay quickly starts to show through the cracks. [May 2007, p.69]

It ends up being a fun MMO romp for casual players and a rich PvP hamster wheel if you're sitting out there with an axe to grind. [Christmas 2006, p.84]

An intelligent, realistic, absorbing simulation of football. [Dec 2006, p.98]

Championing pre-rendered backgrounds in this day and age immediately makes Neverend feel dated, and the gameplay does little to lift that 'samey' feeling. Despite its decent character models and combat system, there are plenty of other RPGs far more worthy of your time.

Everything about it feels floaty and disconnected, slowing down time makes you feel really sluggish and inaccurate, and you can forget about hitting anything while driving as your crosshair is jerked about rudely like a pogo-stick at a sexy bikini photoshoot. [Dec 2006, p.80]

As far as driving sims go, Simbin have yet again proved that the PC is <I>the</I> platform for real racers. If you're after realism, forget "Gran Turismo" and "Forza" - this is the sim that you want to take the wheel of. [Nov 2006, p.70]

DEFCON is such a clever blend of inspired simplicity and deceptive profundity, presented in such a powerfully evocative way, that I want to get Introversion to decorate my house and invent the rest of my life for me. [Dec 2006, p.76]

In injecting regime change with such sheer raggedy-ass size and balls-out bluster, the developers have joined Rico Rodriguez in pulling off something of a coup. [Dec 2006, p.86]

These dinosaurs may be beautifully drawn and animated, but there's just not enough blood and thunder pouring out of them to generate that shaking-glass "Jurassic Park" 'Oh my God, here comes the T-Rex' moment. [Dec 2006, p.90]

MKA's unresponsiveness and emptiness gives it the air of an MMO that was canned and crammed into a single-player format, or was designed for the soloing MMO player. [Jan 2007, p.82]

A worthy successor to the Caesar family of titles. But chances are, you already know if this is going to be your cup of tea - follow your heart, young governor. [Christmas 2006, p.92]

The handling is fairly woolly and there's no real sense of speed, but there's probably 20 quid's worth of fun.

It's still one of the best basketball sims available, just don't expect much beyond recycled goods. [Dec 2006, p.85]

Horrifically dated graphics, a sparse online population, tedious gameplay, and unfathomable online interface and a lack of progressive challenge. [Sept 2007, p.75]

Roma Victor is one of the most staggeringly lacklustre and awkward-to-play MMORPGs ever made. [Oct 2006, p.80]