Running over zombie dogs is always fun. [Apr 2010, p.91]

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]

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.

Wannabe "Age of Empires". [July 2007, p.82]

A hollow experience. [Feb 2010, p.80]

If horror films where the screams are sufficiently high-pitched to get the neighbourhood dogs howling are your kind of thing, then ObsCure II is easy to get into, not too taxing on the brain and just about competent enough to keep you playing for its 15-hour duration.

The problem is that déjà vu quickly sets in as there are only a handful of map templates. What's more, without a proper Skirmish or multiplayer option, if you're adverse to such hardships it won't be long before you're pining for something more upbeat.

Persevere a little and you'll soon be having a lot of fun. [Apr 2009, p.72]

It's sad that there are no great Gauntlet-style hack-and-slash multiplayer games anymore. Despite its flaws, this is the best that an old workhorse of a genre has to offer so, if you must play it, play it with friends. Don't expect too much though.

A proper ship simulator. And within that bracket, it faithfully reproduces long, combatless floating sessions. [Sept 2006, p.75]

Alpha Prime, with a passable storyline and passable gameplay, is a little passable anomaly. [July 2007, p.77]

For anyone who hasn't already got a helicopter license though, playing Enemy Engaged 2 is about as much fun as eating a pair of sheep's testicles. Yum. [Sept 2007, p.84]

Style over substance. [Oct 2010, p.74]

At best, this DLC is thoughtless, unoriginal and for those who simply must have two extra skill points. At worst, it's a waste of time and money, and poor form by Gearbox. [Apr 2010, p.88]

Awful on-foot controls. [July 2009, p.72]

So tough it's nearly impossible, and so it's almost unplayable. [Sept 2009, p.72]

A good, cheap laugh, and if you can get some friends to play, it's worth giving it a whirl. [July 2007, p.78]

This game fails to bring anything of any lasting substance to the standing-room only tactical shooter party. [Apr 2006, p.82]

While the story is light and terribly translated at times, the quests are rewarding enough (resource-wise) to keep you doing them. [June 2008, p.78]

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.

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

Vancouver 2010 isn't a bad game, just very limited by its subject matter. [May 2010, p.90]

You'll be left scouring the floor for items no bigger than a gnat's nutsack. [Jan 2008, p.78]

A tired old rehash of Blitkrieg - the last RTS game from developers Nival. [June 2007, p.76]

If it's multiplayer automotive giggles you're after, "FlatOut 2's" party mode is far superior. [Sept 2006, p.78]

A criminal waste of time and energy, as standard and generic a game as you could hope to find. [Feb 2010, p.74]

Part Age Of Empires and a dollop of Civ, what's missing is a memorable game experience. And as for the visuals - line it up against Total War or Rise Of Nations and it's almost laughable.

LOTR deserves a better action game than this, and with the rich source material available to them, Pandemic and EA should be ashamed of themselves for unleashing this on the general public - even if we know it'll go straight to the top of the charts regardless. [Apr 2009, p.52]