Great game, but a bit off from perfect. One of the things that irks me most is the race creation options. Getting to choose from only 4 similar governments is not enough.

One of the best role-playing games of 2001. With just a few tweaks, Piranha Bytes could have given us one of the best role-playing games of all time.

Few strategy games this year have offered so much in the way of enjoyable story and gameplay.

A stunning game. Graphics, sound and online play benefit the most from the treatment, but there isn't an aspect of gameplay that hasn't received attention, making this the most comprehensive slapshot sim available.

This is almost certainly the best release in the history of the NHL series and one of the most authentic action-oriented sports games currently on the market.

The PC can support insanely high resolutions that put even the Xbox to shame. The frame rate is better on the PC, as well.

While it's not any kind of gameplay revolution, it's the best, most polished and creepiest of the series.

The only downside to the heavy reliance on the achievements of VF4 is that the graphics engine is beginning to age.

Remember this is a die-hard, slow-paced, no-nonsense strategy title, and chances are you'd be better served with one of Koei's Dynasty games if you're not prepared to invest plenty of thought and patience into building an empire.

A perfect place to jump into the Age of Wonders series. It's "Age of Wonders II," only sporting a few refinements and a lot of extra content.

The competition may have a few small details and features over Sega, but no one can touch this gameplay. With subtle but effective tweaks made to all areas of the offensive and defensive games, ESPN NFL is certainly the toughest and most satisfying simulation currently available.

By building gameplay around non-lethal weapons, they've honored not only the police they're modeling, but the power of guns.

It's a cracking title, which makes excellent use of its 3D premise for genuine gameplay improvement. Its rendering of battlefields is superb and strategical, and ranks up there as one of the most enjoyable RTS titles we've been fortunate enough to play this year.

For our money, the crown jewel of the bunch is the most atypical boss battle we've seen in a long time -- a long, absorbing, drawn-out, paranoid, grueling sniper duel of attrition, spanning three maps, and requiring all the focus and patience you can muster.

Striking a balance between cinematic, story-based gaming and free-roaming fun is harder than most people realize, and True Crime manages to pull it off in a way that brings excitement, challenge, and even a few laughs here and there (some of the voice work, particularly that of one Mr. Walken, is priceless).

Packing serious star power, astounding production values, and surprisingly entertaining gameplay, Everything or Nothing delivers on all relevant counts, providing for a rousing escapade that ranks among the best to feature Her Majesty's finest.

Strangely enough, the key to the game's success may very well be the restricted camera. Yes, saying so is likely to get us branded as gaming heathens, but for Castlevania, it works and it works well.

The most impressive difference between the Xbox and PC versions is that you can play online with up to 15 other players and, with the increased resolution, sniping is much more accurate and fun.

It may be short on innovation, which is surprising with close challengers like Konami's "Enthusia" and Microsoft's "Forza" in the pipeline, but racing enthusiasts won't be disappointed.

It's cliche to say those with heart conditions should stay away, but the game is truly one of those rarities that has you so caught up in the action, you don't realize that you were holding your breath until the mission ends.

Has the appeal of a 2D run-and-jumper and inflates the action to a surprisingly 3D world with a groundbreaking degree of fluidity.

Climax has created a game which is not only addictive and playable, but keeps you constantly cooing over its lovingly crafted details that so many other rally games leave by the trackside.

What makes it great is the fantastic level design and AI, the solid cut-scenes and storyline, the inventive character abilities and the fact that the designers have squeezed so much into it.

What makes Wardell's game stand out from other recent 4X space empire games is a blend of simplicity and depth.

Any game that excels while using a morally incorrigible theme, rather than solely relying on that theme to sell, deserves our praise and is definitely worth checking out.

The gameplay is solid and fun for any skill level, but what's really amazing is just how good this game looks. The faces are scarily accurate.

It not only completely satisfies the wants of any eager strategy player, it also covers those who like more action in their games, and then appeals to practically everyone in between. If you don't have Command & Conquer, buy this immediately.

While it has its flaws, is by far the best console racer on the planet, and betters its predecessors in nearly every respect.