There's a lot of entertainment to be found in this game, but you'll need to wade through a lot of problems to get to it.
If any game offers the chance to understand just how impossible the heroic events of war movies would be to accomplish, Commandos 3 is it.
Conflict: Desert Storm II isn't without problems, but it's decidedly improved over last year's game.
Overly linear missions and noninteractive 3D action get in the way of the deep political strategizing of Republic's later levels.
Despite being a rough composite of a half dozen other first-person shooters without much personality of its own, Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter is still pretty good.
For all that The Hulk misses on, the game gets enough of it right to tip the scales in its favor.
Interplay's Lotus Challenge for the PS2 will let you get behind the wheel of over 40 authentic Lotus sports cars.
This soccer management sequel from Sports Interactive is much more than an annual season update, and will be the first in the series to feature a real-time match engine.
Vietcong has a lot of great qualities, so it's unfortunate that some technical issues detract both from its performance and its presentation.
Despite a few shortcomings in its interface and its presentation, Restaurant Empire provides a deep and enjoyable experience for fans of management simulations.
Despite its minor flaws, Raven Shield is still a very impressive addition to the series and a very worthy heir to the Rainbow Six name.
Praetorians is an excellent choice for real-time strategy fans looking for a stiff and satisfying challenge.
Line of Sight is something of a one-trick pony--the game doesn't offer much more than its stealth-based gameplay.
Perhaps IGI 2's biggest problem is that instead of drawing you into a thrilling adventure, it makes you feel like you're just going through the motions in a generic shooter.
Colin McRae Rally 3 isn't necessarily a game that should replace Rallisport Challenge in your collection, but it's definitely one that deserves a space right alongside it.
This psychedelic shooter borrows ideas from a number of classic games including Llamatron, Robotron, and Smash TV.
Hegemonia's solid, innovative gameplay and technically impressive graphics may seem very appealing to space strategy fans, but it's too bad that the game isn't more accessible and more polished.
Panzer Claws is a decent game, but if you're looking for another Earth 2150, or even an Earth 1942, you won't find it here.
If you're already worn out on the gameplay of other rail-based light-gun games, The House of the Dead III won't draw you in.
Newcomers will likely find RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 enjoyable, but if you were a fan of the original, you'll probably have a hard time believing that you waited so long for ...
Hitman 2 fixes virtually all of the problems of its predecessor and stands tall on its own merits as an outstanding action game.
No games on this platform have been released yet!
Put simply, X-COM is a bona fide modern classic, standing proudly alongside Civilization and Populous as a benchmark in the evolution of strategy gaming.
Deus Ex's gameplay features and story elements, as well as the expansiveness of the game's environments and the scope of its setting, add up to a satisfying and unusual experience.
Super Hornet contains none of the extras that make a flight simulation a complete package, even though there's a good flight simulator at its core.
It can be a difficult game, especially at first, but Commandos 2 truly evokes the intensity of World War II that you've probably seen in film or on television.
It's a beautiful, sprawling, and open-ended game that lets you play pretty much however you like as long as you're willing to fill in a few blanks using your imagination.
Renegade makes great use of the source material, yet it's suitable both for C&C fans and for those who enjoy team-based multiplayer competition in general.
1nsane is the only 4x4 racing game to date that truly offers a sense of the freedom--and the chaos--found in real-life off-road racing.
The Art of Magic is an interesting game whose every strength seems to be hurt by a related weakness.
Those players familiar with the original Soul Reaver should have a good idea of what to expect from the sequel and its innovative blend of action and puzzle-solving.
The logical environment-based puzzles in Project Eden represent what may be the best hope for the continuing evolution of adventure games.
Red Alert 2 offers lots of challenges and variety for real-time strategy players of all skill levels, and it'll be particularly fun for fans of previous Command & Conquer games.
Undying has superb graphics, truly impressive sound effects, and fast-paced, enjoyable action sequences. The entire game is very atmospheric, and a lot of fun to play.
It features a blend of stealth, covert surveillance, and high-powered firefights at secret military bases, though the game also has several significant shortcomings.
Even if you like the basic premise and action of the game, a number of very serious flaws quickly sap its entertainment value.
Zeus is a major improvement for Impressions' line of city-building games, and it's a significant advancement for city-building games in general.
It's a testament to Startopia's fundamentally sound design and attractive presentation that you'll enjoy it despite the fact that, at times, it'll make you feel slightly alienated.
The vivid and inviting setting in Desperados can't make up for some substantial gameplay flaws.
It's got some problems and takes some time to get into, but should otherwise appeal to players who've enjoyed previous hack-and-slash action games, or like the idea of them.
SimCoaster dismisses the elegant design of its predecessor, and instead favors the often-overwhelming amount of management found in the original Theme Park.
Though it's worth considering that this game was essentially developed by a group of amateur designers, there are many first-person shooters available that are much more worthwhile.
Without exceptional gameplay or style, Steel Soldiers ends up as a fairly formulaic real-time strategy game.
Aside from a few novelty options, Codename: Outbreak is an uninspired first-person shooter that really doesn't stack up against the glut of similar games currently out on the market.
Far Cry isn't just a stunning technical accomplishment. It's quite possibly the best single-player first-person shooter experience for the PC since Half-Life.
Quite simply, Mafia is one of the best games of the year.
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