*sigh* From the moment I came accross RF Online I've wanted to play this game. I firstly did the expected, I signed up for the US Closed Beta as fast as possible... but this still wasn't enough. I want the game, I want it now!

This morning I download the Open Beta installer, installed it, and attempted to run it. As fate would have it, it wouldn't work. After a very short browse on the online forums I discovered that a few countries has been banned from accessing the Open Beta as they would be getting their own server in due time. I live in Australia, and Australia is not on the banned country list, but all my data goes through the US, so by default I'm banned.

Luckily however they have an appeals process. Unluckily however is although they are quite quick in responding to you if you are missing some required data, they take a very long time to decide once they *have* all the data... all day in fact *sigh*

Long title, long game. It stands up to its predeccesor KotOR quite well. You once again start as a character with memory loss, waking up already in the thick of things. The only difference is instead of having absolutely no idea that you have Jedi powers, you have *some* idea of what the hell is going on.

From what I have played so far it is a fairly detailed game. They have thankfully added in abilities and item creation that actually make use of those skills that you forgoed in the previous to become a combat god. Skills and stats now definately make a difference. They will determine what you can make, what you can use, and what you can wear. The only drawback to this is that you will have to become commited to your choices. Once you start down a particular path there will be many things you will miss along the way had you played a different character. Granted this makes for great replayability but for someone like myself who has a "Gotta-catch-em-all" mentality, it can be quite frustrating.

I have yet to play much of this game even though I have had it in my hot little hands since the very day it hit the shelves. At the moment it sits idly installed in my computer waiting for an update. Why? Well various bugs. On 3 seperate occasions the game has crashed resulting in loss of gametime (having to reload back to a distant location). This was *extremely* frustrating. Also there are minor graphical glitches, and a couple of gameplay glitches (ie when you walk outside in a spacesuit your graphic is insanely accellerated so you appear to be like the roadrunner with your legs a-blur).

All in all however this seems to be a good game, and I will be sure I will enjoy playing it ONCE they release a patch.

Put simply this is the game Homeworld 2 SHOULD have been. Based in the year 2138 you are the prodigal son of a Captain who lead the colony ship Noah through a wormhole, catapulting into an unknown region of space, and is lost to Earth. Through a twist of fate you grow up fatherless and become a war hero, given command of your own warship the 'Stilletto'.

Space combat is very rich and compelling, keeping a "realistic" feel to it all. Humans have advanced in technology but their best space drives still means a voyage to jupiter takes 8 months. Your ships also have momentum so that when you issue a command to your ship you can see front mounted thrusters firing to slow your ship down in order to perform a tight turn before bringing your main rear engines to bear before firing in a flash of brilliant light.

Ships can be outfitted with 4 different types of weapons - Laser (for knocking out enemy ships devices), Ballistic (for doing large amounts of general damage to the hull), Energy (overloads an enemy ships shields), and Missile (limited ammunition but LOTS of damage). You also have 2 types of squadrons - Commandos (invade enemy ships or stations) and Fighters (useful for taking out enemy missiles, fighters, or attacking a ships devices).

To fans of space combat I HIGHLY recommend this game.

When I first started playing this game I didn't think much of it. The graphics didn't seem as sharp as the original... then I remembered to turn of light and speed blurring...

This game is as good as the original, and then some. Gone is the linear gameplay where you outfit your ride and then race the next race in the line. Now you can choose to cruise the streets doing not much else besides finding a few hidden shops, and street racing the occasional hoon you come accross. Of course this is a slow way to make money because once you have proven yourself in a few races (2 new race types in this game) you can get yourself a sponsor... and they pay well... VERY well.

My only beef with this game is the garage system. Gone are the days of only having one vehicle, and trading up. Now you have a garage with up to 5 car slots. At the beginning you only get one, but as the game progresses you unlock more via your sponsors. The main beef is once you have bought a part for your car, and attach it, gone is its realistic value. You might have a dumped 200SX in your garage fitted with a turbo kit, NOS, and a variety of visual effects (kit, neons, etc) but if you run out of garage slots and you want a new ride, or are low on cash and want to upgrade your new sweet ride, you're screwed. Gone is the days of selling a vehicle, you can only overwrite it. Keep this in mind as you play the game, because every cred you spend is lost for all time.

Besides this one glaring fault I still find this a VERY enjoyable game to play, especially head to head with a friend running the streets...

THIS is the game we've all been waiting for. Based on the original game Pirates released on the C64, it is a faithful duplication of the essence of the original game.

Sid Meiers has succesfully recaptured everything that made the original game and took it into the realm of modern gaming. The graphics were kept deliberately "cartoonish" but are sharp and detailed. When you are in ship to ship combat on the high seas you can see men upon the deck of your ship, and cannon ports opening up on the side as each connon is made ready to fire... and don't forget the joy as you watch small figures being blasted overboard has your cannonballs strike your target :)

Sid Meiers: Pirates! is a rich mix of ship combat, fencing, trade, and even dancing to woo a governers daughter. You can choose to either follow the games plot (rescue your family) or simply choose to increase your wealth and land holdings by privateering for any of the 4 nations.

If you have a like for any of those poor imitation pirate games out in the market, then Sid Meiers: Pirates! is the one you have been looking for.

Let me just start by saying this is the ****TEST game I have ever had the misfortune of hiring out. The reviewers of this game stated that it is almost identical to its predecesor, Transport Tycoon Deluxe. That statement was almost correct. The new game is in actualy fact WORSE.

You'd think with modern technology that you could take such a simple concept and produce a reasonable product. Atari on the other hand has done the complete opposite. It seems that Atari got the original graphics package, dumbed down the pixel level, added new musics, and adapted the game to run on modern OS's.

Even the menu system looks rough and ready. To make the game look more *realistic* rather than using solid colour schemes (ie grass being solid green) they have pixelated the ground in multiple colours, making the game world appear EXTREMELY rough, and half-arsed.

Do yourselves a favour. STAY AWAY!