The Burning Crusade adds some much-needed high level content to a game that had grown pretty stagnant for the Level 60s who spent all day and night dancing in front of the Auction Houses in Ironforge and Orgrimmar. [Apr 2007, p.58]

This is not a stingy game. Nearly everything you do will earn you some sort of profit, but it's about the long-term gratification. [Oct. 2006, p.66]

Throwing super-powerful native tribes into the mix may not mesh with the history we all know, but it does make every map they inhabit a more dangerous and challenging place. [Jan. 2007, p.57]

Overall, Out of the Park Baseball 2006 is the most ambitious text-based baseball GM simulator ever, and one of the best games of the year. [Sept. 2006, p.65]

This little game is addictive, if not more so, as gems like "Bejeweled", "Bookworm", or pretty much any downloadable puzzle game out there. [Sept. 2006, p.76]

DEFCON is a simple idea developed with style by a group of obviously talented game designers. [Mar 2007, p.73]

But if you're willing to look, there are very few games that show you as much as you'll see here--a nearly infinite variety of rising gods and dying empires and a fat man with a magic belt--and no games that do it with focus, depth, and extraordinary economy of Dominions 3. [Jan. 2007, p.60]

Dark Crusade is another real-time feather in Relic's cap, even without the Tyranids. [Jan. 2007, p.56]

Everquest II has come a long way since its original launch. With Faydwer and other recent enhancements, though, it's pulled alongside "World of Warcraft" in the race to be an MMO for everyone. [Mar 2007, p.68]

The translation ot what seem like a bazillion Yu-Gi-Oh! cards to a handheld game isn't easy, but for the most part this is as perfect a translation of a CCG as you could wish. [July 2006, p.88]

It's ultimately Forza that ends up with the win for its more comlete features and player friendliness. [July 2005, p.85]

Truly makes gamers feel as if they're controlling a lost episode. [July 2004, p.7]

The best bond game since "Goldeneye." [June 2004, p.11]

As a single-player game, Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain is quickly lost in the crowd. But thanks to its online cooperative mode, the game truly shines. [June 2004, p.12]

From its training mode (which teaches players all the ins and outs of racing a bike) to its responsiveness and intuitive nature, the gameplay is incredibly fluid. [May 2004, p.12]

Batting can be a hit or miss experience, however, offering players control over where the ball goes but ultimately making the effort a matter of timing. [June 2004, p.11]

By far, it's more fun to play against a human player with experience, than to play against the weak A.I. - the one area of the game that was glossed over. [Aug 2004, p.6]

The gameplay is comparable to someting like "Devil May Cry" or "Otogi" in that gamers have two weapons and are capable of unleashing combos on enemies using both of those weapons with just a few simple button taps. [Nov 2004, p.NP9]

The voice acting is so good gamers will think it's actually the original cast. [Aug 2004, p.7]

The best online fighting game released to date.[Feb 2005, p.NP-9]

The best bond game since "Goldeneye." [June 2004, p.11]

For action-game fans, Otogi 2 is one of those titles they won't be taking out of their Xbox any time soon. It's stylish, fast-paced, and loads of fun. [Nov 2004, p.NP9]

From a graphics standpoint, Sphinx looks incredible. [Apr 2004, p.9]

By far, it's more fun to play against a human player with experience, than to play against the weak A.I. - the one area of the game that was glossed over. [Aug 2004, p.6]

Batting can be a hit or miss experience, however, offering players control over where the ball goes but ultimately making the effort a matter of timing. [June 2004, p.11]

The voice acting is so good gamers will think it's actually the original cast. [Aug 2004, p.7]

From its training mode (which teaches players all the ins and outs of racing a bike) to its responsiveness and intuitive nature, the gameplay is incredibly fluid. [May 2004, p.12]

The best bond game since "Goldeneye." [June 2004, p.11]

The voice acting is so good gamers will think it's actually the original cast. [Aug 2004, p.7]

Batting can be a hit or miss experience, however, offering players control over where the ball goes but ultimately making the effort a matter of timing. [June 2004, p.11]

With a better interface and a more explicit manual, The Corporate Machine would be one of those thankfully rare and accessible strategy games that you can't tear yourself away from.

Shatters the shackles of mediocrity and stands atop the PC hockey hill as the undisputed king of the genre.

Offbeat humor, spectacular graphics, and excellent gameplay are the high points, it’s just a shame the journey through the bizarre world of MDK is over so soon.

Great level design, satisfying weapons, and unique enemies make this a title that any shooter fan will definitely want to check out, even if the thought of going to a KISS concert gives you hives.

You can finally enable player names to appear below each player on the pitch, and this makes is so much easier to tell who is who. The game is loaded with modest and subtle changes like this that end up adding a lot to the game.

Enemy AI is solid-indeed, absolutely unshakeable on higher difficulty settings—and you'll certainly know it when there are enemy aces in a mission. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for your wingmen.

An ideal game for the 4X gamer who prefers managing armies over micromanaging cities. It doesn't quite have the panache of "Civilization II" or the drama of "Alpha Centauri," but it's colorful, relatively fast-paced, and it has that "one more turn" addictiveness that will keep you burning the midnight oil.

A smooth blend of game styles, solid execution, and quite a bit of fun.

Simulator-style combat, scripted missions, spectacular graphics, and most of all, honkin' big robots.

Jumpgate is a huge exception to the unofficial rule for online-only games. It is stable, solid, and virtually lag free even over a dial-up connection.

Achieves exactly what many series games usually don't: it really gives you a feel for this much different theater and the combat that occurred there.

Compelling yet demanding, Conflict Zone is best reserved for grizzled recruits who demand a rugged challenge.

If you are looking for a diverse lot of cars and some stunningly beautiful roads to drive them on, then Rally Trophy is squarely at the front of the rallying pack.

Nothing else on the market offers the chance to recapture the glory of model railroading on the cheap and, more importantly, without the basement-sized mess.

This is a slightly better game than its predecessor, though the improvements are in a "Godfather vs. Godfather II" vein.

The uninitiated will find the game monstrously intimidating, and it takes a bit of playing before you really start to engage. In order to get the most out of it, you need to sit down, learn its ins and outs, and suffer a lot of early setbacks while you get familiar with the game's complex mechanics.

Easily the most polished, intelligent and satisfying wargame since "Combat Mission." [Sept 2002, p.78]

A great expansion pack seriously improves the core game. Marine Mania does not. [Mar 2003, p.80]

The ultimate nostalgia trip—a classic game that plays just as you remember it, untouched by the hand of time.

While Sheep isn't a good choice for the die-hard fragger on your shopping list, puzzle fans, Monty Python lovers, bad punsters, and anyone with fond memories of Lemmings will find hours of challenging fun within this appealingly ridiculous game.

Has something for everyone who has a joystick connected to his computer. [Mar 2003, p.83]

The uncanny shortage of "Diablo" fans with an interest in the obscurities of Chinese history probably limits the game's appeal. [Nov 2002, p.87]

Elaborate story, dialogue, and characterization draw you into one of the most believable role-playing game worlds ever created.

This is an attractive and challenging game that, unlike so many other racing games, really does penalize you for running the pedal to the metal all the time.

Rises above its own occasionally clichés and standard third-person action gameplay with an effective atmosphere, solid voice-acting, and an episode-quality storyline.

It has terrific graphics, better sound and music (the LEGO songs are great), and surprisingly entertaining gameplay. [May 2003, p.87]

All of this comes at a price; that game has what may be the steepest system requirements ("I need how much RAM?") of any product in the history of computer gaming.

An expansion that is about as good as it gets for the core community. [Feb 2003, p.67]

There is a great deal of depth in the game's history for the developers to build on, and a great deal of depth in the skill system for players to explore. [Mar 2003, p.82]

A fine game in its own right, a throwback to old-school epic strategy at a time when turn-based games are starting to feel like a dying breed. [Oct 2003, p.86]

The fires look great, the strategy and tactics are interesting, and it's exciting to rescue people and property, rather than trying to destroy it. [Nov 2003, p.96]

The missions are challenging, with a nice, even learning curve spicing things up with some dynamic victory conditions and other such swerves along the way to keep things interesting. [Jan 2004, p.71]

It delivers an excellent single-player game with some caveats, and a blah multiplayer experience that lacks the best feature from the Xbox version. [Dec 2003, p.92]

This game will definitely bring a smile to your face when that black number three bumps you, just before he takes the lead away from you on your last lap at Daytona.

Though none of Poseidon's new features changes Zeus' core gameplay in any meaningful way, there is an awful lot of new content here.

Don't let its budget price fool you, MoonBase Commander is an incredibly entertaining game regardless of its price tag and quirky online support. [Nov 2002, p.86]

It's a guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless, and as action-adventures go you could certainly do worse.

The stars of the show here are clearly the new maps. It's as if the team at Digital Illusions discovered exactly what everyone like about the game and created new battlefields made to directly stimulate the adrenal gland of its players. [May 2003, p.73]

This is as unconventional as a conventional real-time strategy game can probably get, at onece like everything and nothing you've ever played. [July 2003, p.66]

From start to finish, Circle of Blood is a professional, polished work of art. All elements of game play are refined to the extreme, and as with any great novel (or after you've thumbed past the picture section of certain adult magazines,) you'll feel a sense of loss when the story concludes.

Once Undying gets up a head of steam, it woos you with sheer atmosphere and production values. On looks alone, it sucks you in for hours at a stretch. Its landscapes and architecture are spectacular.

This add-on won't win over any new converts, but it will keep the old ones happy. That is what expansions are really all about.

Mixing down and dirty hack-and-slash action with some light puzzle solving; Blade of Darkness makes a simple concept work. With enough blood spurting and gib spraying to send Joe Lieberman and his cohorts running for cover, this is slicing and dicing at its finest.

If you like big bangs, you'll get unlimited enjoyment when nuclear explosions pepper the late game carnage and shake the entire screen with powerful force. Along with this visual feast, audible devastation also drives the scene.

It’s a very solid, attractive, and entertaining game, in a very traditional way.

Provides a justification for buying a Pentium V; the best of its genre.

The most detailed and elaborate simulation of its type, a game whose sheer scope makes it compelling even if it hasn't changed much over the years. [Jan 2003, p.76]

Its faster pace, simpler city design, and mythological elements open the game to more casual players, but it retains enough depth to entertain long-time fans and adds the broader world-view they have requested for years. In other words, it's fun!

Anyone looking to quickly dismiss it as just another ripoff in the same vein as "MTV Sports: Skateboarding Featuring Andy Macdonald" had better take a long second look, as this game is a great experience in its own right.

The most incomprehensible issue is the lack of multiplayer support. It is interesting that Hasbro found the resources to include multiplayer support in the computer version of Battleship while omitting it in a game that literally begs for a human, network-connected crew.

For the adventure purist, Riddle of the Sphinx is an intriguing journey that should not be missed. For those who do not typically enjoy lonely exploration, this game may still be a trip worth taking for the sake of learning and experiencing a bit of the Toblers' Egypt.

The only thing you won't like is the deadly accuracy and preternatural instincts of the enemy. [Feb 2003, p.83]

Return to Castle Wolfenstein has all the right pieces to become an online classic.

This is the best dose of pure visceral excitement to hit shooters in years.

It's certainly not intuitive and it's not always streamlined, but there's a unique sense of satisfaction when you've won not by out-harvesting the other guy (which still happens far too often), but by throwing a rock when he threw scissors.

A thoroughly worthy addition to the Civilization family. [Feb 2004, p.56]

How can you not love a game where people clap for you when you successfully complete a scenario? Brilliant.

A beautiful game full of memorable moments, suffering only from a clumsy attempt to mimic the writing style of old detective novels.

Remains the best game on the market for simulating fictional leagues and playing in a multiplayer league with friends, but after five versions, it's time to focus more on fixing what's broken rather than adding more features. [July 2003, p.86]

Couple this sort of tension with the cerebral challenge of building a hacking career and you've got a game that makes crime pay. [July 2003, p.87]

It might sit a little short of Transcendence, but at four o'clock in the morning you probably won't even notice.

What sets Cossacks apart from other games is its spectacular visuals and its attention to historical detail.

It's the perfect game to sit down with for a couple of hours, with a margarita in one hand and the mouse in the other, and just tinker with your whacked-out island.

Drop-dead gorgeous graphics, excellent story, talented actors, brilliant orchestral score.

One mean mother of a four-wheeled game. Warts and all, it still offers classy pick up n' play handling, efficient interface, and stupendous presentation.

It may not look like much, but it's got it where it counts. [Nov 2002, p.80]

It's the kind of racing game you might fire up just to find out what happens next, rather than to go once more around the track. [July 2003, p.81]

Enclave isn't a clever game, nor is it an ambitious one... If your looking for a quality fantasy beat-em-up with more brawn and beauty than brains, it's a winning choice. [May 2003, p.81]

Until the multiplayer is fully operational, URU is something of an incomplete book, but what's there is simply stunning. [Feb 2004, p.58]

Its mix of classic adventure-style gameplay, intriguing storyline, logical puzzles and just a touch of action make it a topnotch choice for fans of thought-inducing gameplay.

It's a game about nothing... It's a world entirely in the hands of its players, so the possibilities for creativity and expansion are virtually endless. [Apr 2003, p.74]

It's all atmosphere and, particularly when you're talking about horror, that's often enough. [Mar 2004, p.66]

Rarely inconsistent, often frustrating, and always flexible, the world of Gothic II is, for lack of a more appropriate term, the most believable virtual place you can visit. [Feb 2004, p.59]

Because of the high reliance on other people, diplomacy is a coveted real-world skill as well, and those who can use it wisely always have the most fun. [Feb 2004, p.62]

Some of the best medieval hack-and-slash to come along in quite a while. [Jan 2003, p.78]

An honest-to-god, deep, rewarding strategy game that is easy to play and fun to watch. They finally put the "Tycoon" name on something that deserves it.

Most fans will not be able to get away from it, repetitive and simple or not. Diablo II is simply one of the most potent drugs of the year 2000. Take it orally for a week, and intravenous use is sure to follow.

Despite the rather pale storyline (at least within the game itself), watered-down quests and a fair amount of necessary repetition, Diablo is a must for anyone interested in "just plain fun." Action gamers and RPG-ers alike will be enthralled.

Pick it up if you're looking for another 20 plus hours of reality dissolving entertainment. [Feb 2003, p.68]

Take ("F1 2000") and speed up the graphics a bit, add a new training mode, polish the AI, and offer rainy day racing and all the real-life grids from the 2000 Formula One season and you've got F1 Championship Season 2000.

Takes the genre to new heights of both realism and presentation. [Oct 2002, p.79]

The whole thing fits together elegantly, quickly becoming intuitive and fluid, which isn't something you can say about many computer wargames... This is traditional wargaming at its best. [Sept 2003, p.81]

Where "Diablo" now looks as dated as it is accessible, the WarCraft III franchise remains its exact opposite: luscious on the yes and hell on the brain. [Sept 2003, p.68]

With all the "StarCraft" and "Age of Empires" wannabes clogging store shelves, it's rewarding to find a real-time strategy game that does its own thing and does it pretty well.

Yes, you get tension, stress, and frustration in a way few other wargames can replicate, but you also get thrills and a strong sense of satisfaction at a job well done, at a plan that comes together just right. All-in-all, Antietam! may not be a major gaming leap over its predecessor… but then, given the quality of Gettysburg! it doesn't have to be.

A fantastic story and characters, loads of style, and top-notch production value. [Sept 2002, p.2002]

A superior game in every way—action, design, graphics and overall presentation—and is one of the best (and bloodiest) pure action games of the year.

A dark, thrilling, and ultimately satisfying wargame, so long as you don't think too hard about the carnage and terror that accompanied the real-world event. [July 2003, p.76]

A satisfying, complete, and reassuringly familiar gaming experience.

The best simulation of modern tank (and maybe just tank, period) operations ever.

Despite some rocky stretches, FarCry delivers one of the best action game experiences of recent vintage, a superior blend of technical sophistication and gold old fashioned visceral combat. [June 2004, p.76]

DoD still has incredibly good gameplay, and with things like realistic gun recoil and the near requirement to stand still or go prone for any sort of firing accuracy, it's much more difficult than most WWII games. [Sept 2003, p.84]

For those tired of frantic building in fantasy worlds, Sudden Strike 2 serves up something pleasantly different and satisfying. [Jan 2003, p.82]

The difficulty is daunting, the missions feel like intricate puzzles, and the frustration factor is high. Still, nothing compares to the moment when you finally get it right.

Undeniably entertaining. In fact, it's addictive. You'll find yourself fidgeting through a day at work, eager to get back to the game so you can deal with that band of slavers or commune with the Hubbologists.

If you're new to immensely detailed simulation games, Restaurant Empire might be frustrating, but it's very accessible, since you can lower the difficulty until you get the hang of it. [July 2003, p.80]

Kingdoms doesn't blow open the walls of the RTS genre, it just bends them outwards a bit.

One of the results of all the additional options is that Europa Universalis isn't as straight jacketed by history as it used to be.

The voice acting in this game is probably the most widely competent you'll ever come across in a recent computer game.

An intense and unrelenting stealth shooter, and it treats its subject matter with respect. [July 2003, p.85]

It is, however, perfect for beginner to novice chess players since it candy-coats the ancient game with plenty of vivid 3D graphics, and a built-in adventure game. [Jan 2004, p.85]

While veterans of the series who like fast and loose gun battles might complain about the design changes, anyone who appreciates variety and a touch of realism in their WWII shooters should appreciate the new direction. [Jan 2004, p.77]

It's more of "more of the same," but the "more" of The Sims is always interesting and funny. [Feb 2004, p.85]

An orcload more of the almost anachronicstic same...It's simply Warlords, the best damn hardcore computer-fantasy-wargame series out there. [Jan 2004, p.66]

There's a great primal vibe that somehow makes you enjoy every minute the six sides spend at each other's throats. [Jan 2004, p.82]

It remains the place for massive (and social) battles, and changes in the wake of Core Combat should bring lapsed players back to the fold. [Mar 2004, p.74]

Although the extremely steep learning curve and unforgiving penalty for any "ooop" moment make this an exercise in frustration from time to time, the sheer volume of things to do, the amazingly detailed construction aspect, and the solid economy base make this a really good bet for hard-core sime fans. [July 2004, p.66]

Bright, colorful, and absurdly caroon-y, Worms 3D is great fun to watch. [Aug 2004, p.64]

There's more than enough refinement to bring the Descent franchise up to date, and those who liked the first two games will absolutely love Descent 3. Those who didn't really enjoy them won't be converted, though. Ultimately, Descent 3 is "more of the same," but it's MOTS done <I>really well.</I>

With multiple playable sides in each campaign, and an option to completely randomize the world history campaign, there's single-player gaming galore in here. [July 2004, p.63]

A sampler of many of the greatest game genres all in one, wrapped neatly with an RPG bow on top. [Feb 2005, p.64]

Even in such an obvious "as is" state, it remains the best turn-based strategy release since 1999's "Jagged Alliance 2."

This program is a simulation in the truest sense of the word, and offers few crutches to make up for those that don't like to take their entertainment very seriously...The grade may be steep, but for the combat-sim faithful, Flanker 2.0 is a work not to be missed.

With at least 40 hours of original, engaging role-playing packed into its relatively tiny install, Geneforge 2, like the previous Spiderweb games, is probably the best twenty-five bucks an RPG fiend can spend. [Feb 2004, p.85]

Feels like a breath of fresh air, an unpretentious and stupidly entertaining little game that has little grasp of reality but delivers serious fun. [Oct 2004, p.83]

The true standout here, though, is the area design. The zones are absolutely stunning with a palette of rich colors and textures. [Sept 2004, p.67]

Enjoy Battlefront's quick, heady, affectionate rush while it lasts and pray they don't dumb it down any further. [Dec 2004, p.82]

The Two Thrones addresses the balance between fighting and jumping around in brilliant fashion. [Mar 2006, p.51]

The combination of fully adjustable flight parameters and complex 3D plane-editing tools turns X-Plane into the best "what-if" sim on the market. [May 2004, p.67]

It's very short, and can be beaten in a matter of hours, but at $20, it's an excellent buy as it is inspired, and engaging. [Aug 2004, p.70]

Anyone who appreciates this particular corner of the genre, Myst fanatics especially, will find here a perilous, riveting, sometimes humorous journey through an awe-inspiring, breathtaking environment. Even with its limited exploration possibilities and a "puzzle grimace" here and there, it&#146;s a trip you&#146;ll want to take.

Even if you do solve The Elk Moon Murder the first time around, you're bound to be amazed at the richness of the setting, the fine acting, and the sharp design.

Dreamfall is the adventure-game equivalent of a page-turner, one that doesn't make it a hassle to turn the pages. [July 2006, p.54]

Gameplay is ultimately what we're interested in, and in this area, Duke is the king. But so what? If 3D Realms really wants to impress us, they can move beyond this type of gameplay.

The design throughout is superb, a model of how to drag the player through the game without making it feel like, well, like it's dragging players through the game. [Sept 2004, p.74]

If you're willing to stop, explore, admire, backtrack, and other verbs that don't involve hurtling forward continuously, it's a lovely ride. [Jan 2005, p.74]

The detective work is a blast. [Jan 2005, p.79]

Significantly more elaborate than any of the other [current tactical shooters]. [July 2005, p.49]

Camelot has never looked better, and Catacombs definitely gives seasoned players a good reason to stay, adn new ones a good reason to try this classic. [June 2005, p.70]

It doesn't reinvent the original, but it's a very solid and worthwhile addition to an already successful game, especially at the two-for-one monthly subscription fee. [Feb 2006, p.77]

Definitely gets points for its sense of humor. [Jan 2005, p.78]

Brilliant career mode. [July 2005, p.85]

A fantastic game full of personality, brains, and drop-dead looks with the backing of a popular license. [Dec 2004, p.80]

A must-have for hardcore players, most of whom undoubtedy already own it. [Jan 2005, p.71]

Once you break yourself of the mindset that trade is about money and that taxes are for a treasury, you find this new way of playing much more satisfying. [Feb 2005, p.68]

As long as you approach it with an understanding that the process is much better than resolution, Missing is one of the most gratifying adventure games you can play. [Oct 2004, p.82]

Despite the steep learning curve, it has more content and more unlockable secrets than nearly any other game to date. [Jan 2005, p.70]

The best modern military tactical shooter available right now. [July 2005, p.49]

While touted as a full-fledged sequel, Myth II shares so many similarities to the original that it feels somewhat more like an "expansion pack" than a brand new product. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing ("If it isn't broke, don't fix it"), some players might hope for more enhancements and alterations.

Simulation fans won't go wild for it, but this is perfect for everyone else to go fast through the countryside. [Jan 2005, p.72]

It's impossible to ignore all of the changes and the improvements made in this version. It looks as if this formerly stagnant series has finally turned a corner. [Feb 2005, p.63]

It's a grand maze without dead-ends. [March 2005, p.84]

Beyond multiplayer flaws, there are a few other things that keep Shogo from being the be-all and end-all of 3D shooters. Chief among these is the absolutely pathetic enemy AI. Enemies in Shogo don't move much, and very rarely pursue you.

Much like "Shogo", Blood 2 excels in pure feel and fun factor alone. It may not have impressive scripted scenes around every corner and the plot is incredibly weak at best, but the core of the game-running around and shooting people-is extremely satisfying.

It's too easy, and over too soon, but for $30 it's nearly a comlete childhood on a CD. [Aug 2005, p.70]

As it gets progressively weirder, it also gets significantly better, making it one head-trip definitely worth taking. [July 2005, p.56]

Quotation forthcoming. [Mar 2006]

The elegant gameplay and low price make this an excellent purchase for gamers who still appreciate what operational-level Napoleonics are all about, and how good they can be if done right. [Nov 2004, p.86]

What's truly satisfying is these games make history entertaining. [June 2005, p.90]

The whole thing is animated by a catchy faux indie rock soundtrack. [July 2005, p.58]

What's truly satisfying is these games make history entertaining. [June 2005, p.90]

Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]

It's an underwater chess match that builds up to maybe only one chance to shoot. Some missions don't even allow you that...[It's] polished and thoroughly engaging, and the real audience for this game&#151;you know who you are&#151;won't be disappointed.

Most of the new scenarios are both challenging and interesting, the additional monuments are all superb, and the new features are welcome additions.

The perfect arcade classic package for hardcore retro gamers, parents looking for something simpler and less disturbing for kids and, of course, thirty-somethings looking to recapture a little of their past glory.

For grand tactical combat poured sweet and clear, Boku's Combat Command 2: Danger Forward is an excellent choice.

Ingenious new ways to beat the typically insane Myst enigmas lends a fresh feeling to an old hat, and gives you a greater sense of control. [Dec p.59]

one of the best-looking and wide-open Castlevanias since the series began. [Dec p.93]

It's at times annoying, but mostly just challenging, presenting American RPG players with a welcome, exciting, and unique new arc. [Jan 2006, p.89]

There isn't anything revolutionary in Phase Two, but everything is top quality. [Nov 2005, p.76]

They've left out the overbearing story elements and achieved a deliriously unselfconscious zaniness. [July 2005, p.91]

It's all just another example of how well Nippon Ichi's strategy role-playing games are continuing to evolve. [Sept 2005, p.87]

It's remarkably imaginative, whimsical, and full of life. [Nov 2005, p.68]

Mizuguchi is known for deftly combining action and music, from the classic "Rez" to other faves "SpaceChannel 5" and the recent "Lumines" for the PSP. And now he's done it again with Meteos. [Oct 2005, p.90]

Quotation forthcoming. [Mar 2006]

Quotation forthcoming. [Mar 2006]

It's brilliant and obscure and like all the best satire, you probably don't even know that it's laughing at you. [Oct 2005, p.88]

Following up a grand slam nuclear blast like "Nations" with a bottle rocket may seem like an odd choice. But in many ways, the smaller fiddle plays the sweeter music. [Sept. 2006, p.54]

"Advance Wars" is well and good, but this is a more mature, varied, and sophisticated strategy game, arguably as deep as you'll see on a handheld. [Apr 2006, p.93]

Complaints aside, GRAW is possible the best-produced and most engaging entry in the whole Tom Clancy milieu. [Jun 2006, p.89]

Trauma Center is an experience you can't really get anywhere else. [Dec p.89]

Quotation forthcoming. [Nov 2005]

There is certainly enough new here to recommend it to even casual fans. [Jan 2006, p.60]

What Special Forces lacks in innovation, it more than makes up for in new maps. [Mar 2006, p.50]

Caesar IV deserves an ovation, if not a triumphal procession, for merely reminding people what a good historical city sim looks like. [Jan. 2007, p.68]

Teetering on the edge of greatness. [Jan 2006, p.52]

Most certainly a pleasant console role-playing game of a faded breed. [Jan 2006, p.89]

Quotation forthcoming. [Jan 2005]