A Fork in the Tale
A
May '97, p. 129
Adventure
AnyRiver Entertainment
280 Utah Avenue
South San Francisco
CA
94080
415-742-7932
Lots of great comedy from Rob Schneider; fast-moving, lag-free video.
Tedious, uninteresting story; banal gameplay; frustrating repetition.
Think FMV sucks? You'll think it again.
34
A-10 Cuba!
March '97, p. 160
Simulation
Activision
11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1000
Los Angeles
90025
(310) 473-9200
Detailed and frisky flight model; outstanding sound; smooth, simple graphics.
Somewhat irksome controls; no printed manual; only 12 missions.
An immersive but very limited flight sim that thrives in the Win 95 environment.
68
Absolute Zero
March '96, p. 114
Action
Eidos
303 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Tip Line: (900) 288-GAME
Playing as a variety of characters gives AZ depth; the story is well-written.
Only persistent gamers will be able to deal with the linear gameplay.
An exercise in frustration that will put off all but the most patient gamers.
61
Abuse
January '96, p. 202
Crack.dot.com
Austin, TX
(800) 810-0022
Great design, lots of hidden goodies, and built-in level editor.
The interface takes some getting used to, so you won't be hooked right at first.
One of the most enjoyable shooters of the year.
88
Editor's Choice!
Aces of the Deep
February '95, p. 105
Sierra
3380 146th Place SE
Suite 300
Bellevue, Washington  98007
When everything works right, AOD is dramatic and convincing.
Everything might not work right all the time. In places, the graphics are disappointing.
Aces of the Deep is a worthy, ambitious, and detailed submarine simulation.
82
Achtung Spitfire
December '97, p. 268
Wargame
Avalon Hill
4517 Hartford Road
Baltimore
MD
21214
(410) 254-9200
Stirring battles, rich historical context, an elegant interface, involving campaign mode.
If you're used to flying hi-tech sims, you may find this concept too abstract.
A remarkably intelligent design that captures the essence of WWII aerial tactics.
85
Across the Rhine
November '95, p. 129
MicroProse Software, Inc.
180 Lakefront Dr.
Hunt Valley, MD 21030
(410) 771-1151
Operational level feels authentic; "alternate history" campaign mode can be fascinating.
Interface is all but impenetrable; learning curve is steep; even the shoot-'em-up mode fails.
What works in ATR works impressively; be prepared to invest many frustrating hours for the payoff, however.
76
Addiction Pinball
September '98, p. 164
Arcade
MicroProse
2490 Mariner Square Loop
Alameda
94501
(800) 695-4263
Bright 'n sparkly graphics; great ball physics; nice music.
The tables are a little slow; lack of gameplay options; only two tables.
A solid offering, but it won't replace Timeshock as the king of pinball games.
65
Admiral: Sea Battles
February '97, p. 164
Strategy
Megamedia Corp.
47381 Bayside Parkway
Fremont
94539
(510) 623-1100
Great graphics, intense action, challenging scenarios.
The manual needs to be translated into real English; some awkward design elements cause needless irritation.
A tight, clean, unpretentious little game that could become a classic.
80
Advanced Tactical Fighters
June '96, p. 74
Electronic Arts
1450 Fashion Island Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94404
(415) 571-7171
Beautiful graphics; lots of high-tech planes to fly; high replay value.
Frequently too tough; hardware requirements are still pretty steep.
With its good looks, variety, and playability, ATF belongs in every air combat fan's collection.
90
Aegis: Guardian of the Fleet
July '94, p. 66
Time-Warner Interactive Group
2210 Olive Ave.
Burbank, CA 91506
BBS: 1-818-295-6730
A realistic but manageable sim of one of the world's most sophisticated ships.
May be too high-tech for some; the lack of full-screen battle images mutes the intensity.
Easier to get into than Harpoon, perfect for players scared off by that game's complexity.
Afterlife
October '96, p. 132
LucasArts
P.O. Box 10307
San Rafael, CA 94912
(800) 782-7927
Humor; novel concept; a fully-fleshed, complex and challenging sim.
Blocked graphics, puzzling terminology, and thin documentation.
A great sim for the diehard simmer. If you loved the SimCity games, you'll like this.
Age of Empires
December '97, p. 240
Microsoft
1 Microsoft Way
Redmond
WA
98052-6399
(800) 429-9400
Intuitive interface, attractive graphics, robust map editor.
Annoying artificial intelligence, lots of micro-management.
It's very much a products of WarCraft II cloning, but AofE is a surprisingly sound and enjoyable real-time strategy game.
86
Age of Rifles
November '96, p. 238
SSI
675 Almanor Ave.
Suite 201
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Wide variety of campaigns; detailed, accurate historical info; great editor.
Disjointed campaigns, several bugs, and only average graphics and sounds.
A great title with tons of customizability and months of gaming stuffed into one CD.
Age of Sail
March '97, p. 141
TalonSoft
P.O. Box 632
Forest Hill
21050-0632
(410) 933-9191
Huge number of scenarios; solid campaign mode; excellent battle-editor.
Controlling big engagements too often means zooming out and missing some of the fun.
A sumptuous looking, smooth-playing recreation of a fascinating era.
Agile Warrior F-111X
May '97, p. 116
Virgin Interactive
18061 Fitch Avenue
Irvine
92614
714-883-8710
Numerous missions to accomplish; lots of ammunition to play with.
Bland landscapes; jerky control; targets difficult to find.
Even die-hard shooter fans will find this insipid and uninspired.
40
AH-64D Longbow
July '96, p . 74
Gorgeous sights and sounds; incredible realism and detail, balanced by a great tutorial.
Very steep hardware requirements; occasionally long load times; only one campaign.
AH-64D Longbow isn't just the best chopper sim ever--it's one of the best flight sims, period.
94
AHX1
February '98, p. 177
GT Interactive
16 East 40th St.
New York
NY
10016
(800) 434-2637
May help chopper pilot wannabes ease into more righteous sims.
Choppy graphics; no 3D card support; no multi-player; unsatisfying gameplay.
Like that old song always said, "Sim and action DNA just don't splice."
38
Air Havoc Controller
January '95, p. 136
Trimark Interactive
2644 30th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 314-2000
Truly beautiful 3-D animations and realistic stereo sounds.
No provision for saving or restoring scenarios; little variation in gameplay.
AHC's outstanding graphics and sound make it stand out from the crowd.
75
Air Power
March '96, p. 144
Mindscape
88 Rowland Way
Novato, CA 94945
(415) 897-9900
Imaginative concept and strategy elements; beautifully executed graphics.
Control feels unresponsive; unusual keyboard commands.
So close to being a classic, but misses it by just an inch.
Air Warrior III
May '98, p. 92
Interactive Magic
P.O. Box 13491
Research Triangle Park
NC
27709
(800) 789-1534
Improved graphics; 3D acceleration; tons of missions; force-feedback support; refined AI
Solo games feel lifeless compared to multi-player games; $9.95 a month to play online.
One of the best historically accurate air combat sims on the market.
Al-Qadim:  The Genie's Curse
July '94, p. 79
Roleplaying
Strategic Simulations Inc.
675 Almanor Avenue
Suite 210
The game's series of simple challenges makes it accessible to beginning players.
The series of simple challenges isn't very likely to satisfy experienced players.
Good for the very young, maybe ages 8-11, as an introduction to the world of fantasy RPGs.
Albion
November '96, p. 268
Blue Byte Software
870 E. Higgins Rd., Suite 143
Shaumburg
IL
60173
(847) 995-9991
Entertaining story; lots of items, charcters, and places to explore; tons of magic.
Movement can be frustrating at times; story is fairly linear; some graphics are dated.
Albion has all the elements of a great roleplaying adventure. It may not be as non-linear as Daggerfall, but it's still a blast.
Alien Breed
May/June '94, p. 88
MicroLeague
1001 Millersville Road
Lancaster, PA 17604
(717) 872-6567
Delivers plenty of fun.
Not much variety involved.
A good, solid shooter lacking in razzle-dazzle, but full of solid, no-brain game play.
Alien Incident
February '97, p. 129
Gametek, Inc.
3 Harbor Drive, Suite 110
Sausalito
94965
(800) GAMETEK
Colorful graphics, good writing, and a solid game at the core.
Flaky sound drivers, some setup troubles, no in-game voice acting.
A good choice for adventure gaming beginners, or something to take out when the whippersnappers come over.
73
Alien Legacy
August '94, p. 78
Sierra On-Line
Smooth and challenging with solid graphics and an intriguing storyline.
The same things occur every time you play, so it can get too easy to cheat the fates.
A fresh new feel in strategy gaming--although the straight-arrow storyline that makes it fresh also hurts replay value.
Alien Odyssey
February '96, p. 124
Philips Media Inc.
10960 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(800) 340-7888
Nice graphics and environments; good sound effects.
Enemies are weak and uninspired. The gameplay is confusing, and only moderately challenging.
This game would be a winner if it stuck with one style.
70
Alien Virus
August '95, p. 92
Vic Tokai
22940 Lockness Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 326-8880
Crisp high-res graphics; simple point-and-click interface.
Very slow, uneventful gameplay. You're a space-age locksmith, trying to open doors just to play the game.
The puzzles aren't very challenging, and there's little else to hold your interest
59
Aliens
February '96, p. 120
Great graphics and cut scenes
Extremely weak voice acting and dialog; timed puzzles make most of the game unnecessarily frustrating.
A troubled and disappointing adventure for only the most patient gamer.
Aliens versus Predator
August '99, p. 128
Fox Interactive
2121 Avenue of the Stars, 25th Floor
90067
http://www.foxstore.com
Spooky atmosphere; Species Deathmatch is a riot.
Unambitious; multiplayer has latency issues; no Save feature.
Action fans can't go wrong with Aliens versus Predator -- just don't expect anything as suspsenseful as Half-Life.
79
Allied General
April '96, p. 109
675 Almanor Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94086-2901
Many of the same qualities that made Panzer General a winner, plus multiple-window interface.
Not enough new here, and some desirable features are missing.
A good beer-n-pretzels wargme for Windows, but it could have been a bit better.
89
Alone in the Dark 2
May/June '94, p. 58
I-Motion
1333 Ocean Avenue
Suite J
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Fantastic graphics and gameplay sure to please all but the most jaded gamer.
Alone 2 lacks the same eerie atmosphere and devious puzzles that made the original game such a hit in the first place.
A great game; superior to the already excellent original in all but atmosphere.
Alone in the Dark 3
May '95, p. 103
Fluid motion; inventive puzzles and gameplay; and good atmosphere.
Finding a good shooting angle is tough; it's still just Alone in the Dark.
A rip-snorting good horror western, with the right blend of chills, humor, action, and puzzles.
Amber
May '97, p. 133
Puzzle
Changeling
2507 Albata Avenue
Austin
TX
78757-2102
512-419-7085
A promising opening; nicely rendered graphics.
Illogical puzzles; mostly static backgrounds; very small amount of gameplay.
Amber falls more than a few steps short of achieving its potential.
53
American Civil War:  From Sumter to Appomatox
September '96, p. 106
(919) 461-0722
Excellent balance between political and military aspects; clean interface.
Some aspects of ACW become clear only after many hours of play; manual could be better.
An admirable but somewhat recondite game with a steep learning curve.
Amok
May '97, p. 125
16 East 40th Street
212-679-6850
Fast, frenetic action; it runs from the CD!
Frustratingly difficult; stingy password allotment; no mouse or joystick support.
Although it won't win any prizes, Amok is a decent, but somewhat dated and repetitious, shooter.
Andretti Racing
March '98, p. 112
Sports
1450 Fashion Island Boulevard
San Mateo
94404
(800) 245-4525
Indy and stock cars; nice track selection; customizable, fun multi-player game.
Lots of draw-in; control suffers when too much is happening on the screen.
Arcade racing fans and even die-hard sim fans can have a lot of fun with this.
84
Angel Devoid
May '96, p. 144
Good use of video technology and a good story line.
Compatibility problems; less patient gamers may have a hard time sticking with it.
Angel Devoid isn't a perfect full-motion video adventure, but it's encouraging proof that "interactive movies" can be enjoyable games.
78
Anvil of Dawn
March '96, p. 113
New World Computing
PO Box 4302
Hollywood CA 90078
(818) 889-5650
An easy-to-learn interface and some solid, if mindless, RPG action.
Mediocre graphics and sound effects; an almost complete lack of innovation.
An attractive and enjoyable RPG that doesn't stretch the boundaries very far.
Anyone for Cards? for Windows
January '95, p. 115
Capstone
501 Brickell Key Drive
6th Floor
Miami, FL 33131
A wide variety of card games to choose from, many not available in other Windows game packs.
The price ($49.95) seems a bit steep considering the overall quality of the game.
A decent CD if all you're after is the occasional game of cards.
72
Apache
October '95, p. 84
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Terrific flight model; countless options and missions; great gameplay.
Explosion graphics could be more impressive.
A flight game with such broad appeal that everyone from arcade players to hard-core  sim hounds should delight in it.
95
Apache Havoc
July '99, p. 114
Empire Interactive
580 California Street, 16th Floor
San Francisco
94104
(800) 216-9706
Excellent terrain graphics; nifty campaign system; good flight model.
High hardware requirements; cockpit art limited to 640x480; choppy textures.
An admirable attack helicopter sim with great visuals and a few flaws.
APBA Baseball
October '95, p. 122
Miller Associates
11 Burtis Avenue
Suite 200
New Canaan, CT 06840
Harwell's play-by-play; great SFX; realistic replays.
Somewhat clumsy integration among the game's modules.
Digital commentary has all the wonder the national pastime had when it was the national pastime.
Archimedean Dynasty
March '97, p. 138
870 Giggins Rd., Suite 143
(847) 995-9951
Great graphics; sophisticated combat engine; plenty of strategy; involving story line.
May run slow on older machines, gameplay is fairly linear, and there are no multi-player options.
This intriguing sub combat game will please action lovers everywhere.
Archon Ultra
May/June '94, p. 90
Modem play; strategically challenging.
Very picky about sound cards and mouse drivers.
The combination of strategy and arcade sequences give it great replay value.
Area 51
February '97, p. 167
Midway/GT Interactive
(212) 679-6850
Lots of enemies to kill. Loads of ammo, power-ups, and aliens.
Grainy graphics, sluggish pace, one-dimensional gameplay.
Unless you absolutely adored the arcade version and can overlook some glaring flaws, don't bother.
58
Ares Rising
November '98, p. 260
Imagine Studios
(877) 272-7747
The E-mail system; interesting story line; cool radar.
The control system is irksome. Graphics are behind the times. Nondescript atmosphere.
There's a lot of gameplay content, but the bad simply outweighs the good.
Armed and Delirious
May '98, p. 133
Sir-Tech
Ogdensburg Business Center Suite 2E
Ogdensburg
13669
(800) 447-1230
The five CDs worth of graphics are top of the line.
The interface needs major work. The puzzles are crap. The threadbare plot proves there really is such a thing as too much weirdness.
Dadaists need only apply.
31
Armor Command
June '98, p. 86
Ripcord Games
4701 Patrick Henry Drive, Suite 1601
Santa Clara
95054
(800) 800-4880
Emphasis on tactics over brute force; plenty of freedom; cool 3D view of the action.
The graphics are so-so; missions become too difficult; interface is cumbersome.
A good, solid real-time strategy game that fans of the genre should enjoy.
Armored Fist
February '95, p. 102
NovaLogic
19510 Ventura Boulevard
Tarzana, CA 91356
Good mission editor and some entertaining shooting action.
Spotty graphics; lack of important options; frustrating play.
Graphics cripple the play so much that Armored Fist doesn't work as either a detailed tank simulator or as an arcade  shooter.
Armored Fist 2
January '98, p. 309
26010 Mureau Rd.
Calabasas
91302
BBS: (818) 880-3444
Good tutorial voice-over. Fun as an action game for a little while.
Small, repetitve battles. Annoying controls. No realism. Chunky terrain and framerates to match.
Not fun as either sim or action game, AF2 shows little attention to detail.
Armored Moon
July '98, p. 154
Microforum
One Woodborough Avenue
Toronto
Canada
M6M 5A1
(800) 685-3863
There's a rebate slip packed in the box.
Weak graphics, tired sound efects, terrible artificial intelligence, and no real resource management.
This is the worst real-time stategy game ever.
12
Army Men
August '98, p. 111
Studio 3DO
600 Galveston Drive
Redwood City
94063
Fast-paced, often tricky, and quite addictive.
Dodgy controls. Some missions are too puzzle-like and require repeated attempts.
If you take it for what it is -- an arcade game -- then Army Men is a blast. Just don't expect a real strategy game.
77
Army Men II
June '99, p. 136
3DO Company
(800) 336-3506
Cool weapons; some fun missions in kitchens and backyards; playable on low-end PCs.
Ho-hum graphics; few improvements over the original game.
A passable action/RTS hybrid with a moderately interesting gimmick.
Arrival, The
June '97, p. 80
Live Interactive
15400 Sherman Way, P.O. Box 10124
Van Nuys
91410
818-988-5060
Outstanding graphics and sound, eerie and atmospheric.
Some puzzles too easy; moderate amount of CD swapping.
An engaging adventure despite the simplistic puzzles.
81
Ascendancy
November '95, p. 160
Broderbund
500 Redwood Boulevard
Novato, CA 94948
(415) 883-5889
What's not to like? Just re-read all the adjectives in the review.
It can be tricky to make your way through all the information that accumulates as your empire expands.
Ascendancy is the best game if its kind, period.
93
Ashes to Ashes
February '97, p. 145
Corel Corp.
1600 Carling Ave.
Ottawa, Ont., Cananda K1Z8R7
K1Z 8R7
(800) 772-6735
Attractive graphics, multiple vehicles, and interesting outdoor environments.
Disorienting, confusing. Uninspired.
There's no reason to recommend this. It's bland, confusing, and tiresome.
25
Assassin 2015
January '97, p. 236
Inscape
P.O. Box 251829
(800) 741-3043
Adrienne Barbeau's husky voice-overs are nicely done.
The game is very short, not very challenging, and, aside from the cut-scenes, looks very dated.
Assassin seems to miss the point of what first-person shootin' fun is all about.
35
Assault Rigs
August '96, p. 101
Psygnosis
919 E. Hillsdale Blvd.
Foster City
(800) 438-7794
Fast action on later levels; wide range of viewing options; varied graphics.
Slow to start; maddening menu animations; clumsy viewpoints.
Assault Rigs provides a modest amount of fun, but it could've been so much more.
Asteriods
April '99, p. 132
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica
90405
(800) 477-3650
Good 3D; a few new twists on the original.
Improvements are largely cosmetic; underneath is a boring and repetitive game with little replay value.
This isn't so much an update of Asteroids as a quick-and-dirty facelift.
AstroFire
October '94, p. 75
ORT Software
2A Berceau Walk
Watford, Herts WDI 38L
United Kingdom
The prettiest version of Asteroids we've seen; plays well on a 286.
Pretty or not, it's still just Asteroids; no music; loads slowly on that 286.
A good trigger-finger workout; and it's easy to try before you buy.
Atari 2600 Action Pack
May '95, p. 86
11601 Willshire Boulevard
Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Perfect recreations of some genuine gaming classics; killer nostalgia-fodder.
The games themselves just aren't as much fun as I remember them. They're simplistic and repetitive.
Don't buy it for the games, but do buy it for the memories it'll evoke.
Atari 2600 Action Pack 2
October '95, p. 113
Happy reminders of good days gone by; some truly classic games.
Bafflingly slow performance; some agonizing reminders of how bad some of these games really were.
If you're willing to time-warp back a dozen years, get it. If not, stay away.
66
Atlantis: The Lost Tales
November '97, p. 291
Cryo
1592 Union St. #155
94123
(800) 468-3772
Stunning scenes; gameplay is reasonably entertaining; good variety.
Same old puzzles. Same old pop-up dialog boxes. 3D character movements are jerky and unbelievable.
It's a standard graphic adventure that will only do in a pinch.
62
Atomic Bomberman
October '97, p. 210
Interplay
16815 Von Karman Ave.
92606
(800) 969-GAME
Fast-paced action; multi-play for up to ten players; entertaining time killer.
Takes up way too much hard-drive space; no advancement system; ugly playing boards.
Good clean fun for you and your buddies -- if you've got the hard-drive space to spare.
Avery Cardoza's 100 Slots
May '98, p. 129
Cardoza Entertainment
591 Camino de la Reina  Suite 728
San Diego
92108
(800) 577-8467
Excellent variety; great layout of a PC slot machine.
A slots-only sim is too narrowly focused for many casino ethusiasts; none of the machines are actually used in casinos.
A fine sim of slot machines that is an excellent addition to any casino collection.
Azrael's Tear
February '97, p. 160
Beautiful in high-res; interesting plot-line; well-developed characters.
Runs poorly even on high-end machines; lots of hunting for yet another key.
A good graphic adventure with lots to explore, but you need a powerful PC.
The Abyss
January '99, p. 207
Sound Source
(510) 204-8950
A reasonably fun game for the whole family; playable on a Pentium 75
Retro graphics and interface will alienate many; not exactly an original.
A decent, solid, adventure game that's refreshingly unpretentious.
Back to Baghdad
B
September '96, p. 121
Military Simulations, Inc.
5 Tannery Drive
Medfield, MA 02052
(360) 254-2000
Lots of options; extremely thorough recreation of instruments, radar modes, etc.
Very expensive; demanding system requirements; unimpressive terrain.
While the system demands and price are a bit hard to swallow, Back to Baghdad delivers an exciting F-16 simulation that's a great addition to your flight sim arsenal.
Bad Day on the Midway
August '96, p. 88
Bizarre, hallucinogenic style keeps you guessing and wanting more.
Occasionally too hip for its own good; quirky camera angles; some abstract graphics.
Weird and wacky-- this adventure plays out like a David Lynch film.
Bad Mojo
February '96, p. 140
Pulse Entertainment
246 First Street, 402
San Francisco, CA 94105
(310) 264-5579
Absolutely unique; well-conceived and executed; intense and disturbing.
May be too intense & disturbing (and possibly too easy) for some players.
Until they make a game out of the movie Eraserhead, this is as weird as it gets.
Baku Baku
January '97, p. 251
Sega Entertainment
P.O. Box 8097
(510) 371-3131
Nicely rendered animals; great two-player mode; extra strategy makes it stand out.
May be too "cute" for some; PC conversion loses a little.
Despite its full-screen failings, Baku Baku is a puzzle game not to be missed.
83
Baldies
April '97, p. 121
Panasonic Interactive Media
4701 Patrick Henry Dr., Ste. 1101
408-653-1898
Cute. A new twist.
Much of the game relies on luck. You have little control over the baldies, which is very frustrating.
It's a great attempt at making something fresh and funny, but it falls flat after the first few levels.
55
Baldur's Gate
April '99, p. 94
Interplay Productions
16815 Von Karman Avenue
92714
(800) 969-4263
Intriguing story; beautiful graphics; simple yet powerful interface; multi-player capabilities; huge game world; excellent manual.
Some boring quests; a few minor bugs.
This is the best roleplaying game you can buy. Period.
Balls of Steel
June '98, p. 103
Lots of tables; good ball physics; cool extras like an Internet ranking system.
Tricky installation with some video cards; nudging effect is a be exaggerated.
Balls of Steel is a solid, well-rounded pinball game.
87
Banzai Bug
May '97, p. 134
Grolier Interactive Inc.
90 Sherman Turnpike
Danbury
CT
06816
800-356-5590
Lots of originality; good graphics and sound; cute touches throughout game.
Flawed basic design; often frustrating to play; technically spartan.
A promising title that didn't quite live up to its potential.
56
Barrage
February '99, p. 176a
Sugar-sweet graphics from guys who seem like they know what they're doing.
Wacky controls; bad acting; short length.
Though Barrage's graphics are lovely, the gameplay just ain't there.
Baseball Edition 2000
August '99, p. 103
Good artificial intelligence; fielding interface works pretty well.
Poor graphics in nearly every area; pitcher-batter matchup sucks; technical glitches.
Easily the worst of this year's crop of baseball games.
Baseball Mogul
December '97, p. 255
Infinite Monkey Systems
21 Burr Ave.
Middletown
06457
(888) 226-6485
A new perspective on baseball. Actual players depicted. A clean sharp design.
Actual MLB team names are not used. Very few bells and whistles. No hard-copy manual.
You'll learn more about running a baseball team than Marge Schott will ever know.
Bass Masters Classic T.E.
December '98, p. 228
THQ
5016 North Parkway Calabasas, Suite 100
Lots of detail and choices; 3D rendered lakes with total freedom of movement.
Shoddy graphics; weak 3D engine; non-interactive tutorial.
While there's still no perfect fishing sim, this is a leap in the right direction.
Batman Forever
June '96, p. 115
Acclaim Entertainment
1 Acclaim Plaza
Glen Cove, NY 11542-2777
(516) 656-5000
Lots of different gadgets to use.
Clumsy interface makes using those gadgets a real pain; gameplay is stupefyingly unoriginal.
It's all been done before, and done much better. For Batman completists only.
Battle Arena Toshinden
September '96, p. 101
Playmates Interactive Ent.
16200 S. Trojan Way
LaMirada, CA 90638
(310) 407-1490
Fast, colorful fighting action--if you have the right hardware to run it.
Choppy animation and sluggish control if you don't.
Stay away unless you've got confidence in your machine.
Battle Arena Toshinden 2
June '98, p. 114
Fujitsu Interactive
128 Spear St.
94105
(415) 538-2900
Lots of characters to choose from.
The control is really, really bad. Even through 3Dfx, the graphics and animation leave a lot to be desired.
If your'e in the market for PlayStation ports, make sure you look for good games.
Battle Beast
December '95, p. 270
7th Level Inc.
P.O. Box 832190
Richardson, TX 75083-2190
(214) 437-5531
Wonderful graphics, inventive story, and a whole lot of silly humor.
Controls are sluggish; lack of a "tournament" structure makes for repetitive battles.
It's a decent fighting game, but one with significant flaws.
69
Battle Bugs
October '94, p. 69
380 146th Place SE
Idiot-proof interface; funny animations; and a thorough online help system.
The two-player mode suffers greatly from lack of modem support.
A real winner! This is the perfect wargame for people who normally don't like wargames.
Battle Isle 2200
October '94, p. 58
Accolade
5300 Stevens Creek Boulevard
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 985-1700
It has the most important qualities of any good wargame: it's easy to learn, yet tough to master.
Only one unit can attack an enemy at a time; the graphics and sound are average.
A wargame you can jump right into, but that offers plenty of challenge.
Battle Isle 2220
May '96, p. 129
A truly unique strategy game packed with fascinating details and subtleties.
Steep learning curve; oddball rules and conventions will be a turn-off to players who find the mass of detail overwhelming.
One of the most eccentric games of its genre, but also one of the most imaginative. If you can get into it, it can be quite addictive.
Battle of Britain
November '94, p. 62
Deadly Games
38 Wayaawi Avenue
Bayville, NY 11709-10115
(516) 482-4000
Gives a realistic impression of what the RAF command was up against in the autumn of 1940.
That's all it does. The graphics are drab, and there's just not much depth of gameplay.
Competent, but uninspiring. There are a lot of better choices out there.
July '99, p. 126
PO Box 43730
White Marsh
21236
Historical accuracy; strategy is deep and richly detailed.
All that detail causes gameplay to bog down under its own weight.
It'll reward gamers who have a passionate interest in the subject.
Battlecruiser 3000 AD
January '97, p. 208
Take 2 Interactive
1004 Ligonier St.
Latrobe
PA
15650
(412) 472-2000
The intro animation is very cool.
Annoying bugs; frequent crashes; features that don't work; a pathetically inadequate manual. This game simply wasn't finished when it shipped.
Maybe Take 2 can still fix this game. Until then, don't buy it.
15
Battleground 4: Shiloh
October '96, p. 192
Forst Hill, MD 21050-0632(
800) 211-6504
Beautiful map, slick interface, great videos and music.
This is a complex, hard-to-control battle; novices should not attempt total command until they get used to things.
Another superb addition to the growing shelf of "Battleground" titles.
Battleground: Ardennes
January '96, p. 205
13220 Wisteria Dr.
Germantown, MD 20874
Colorful and dynamic gameplay, first-rate interface, excellent use of video enhancements.
Some players simply won't want another Battle of the Bulge game, no matter how well done.
A remarkably fresh and original design, executed with real flair.
91
Battleground: Gettysburg
March '96, p. 146
PO Box 632
Forest Hill, MD 21050-0632
(800) 211-6504
Magnificent graphics, near-perfect interface; dramatic and creative use of video clips.
A few might-have-been scenarios would have been nice - like giving Lee all of his cavalry to see what difference J.E.B. Stuart might really have made.
This is a classic wargame in every respect.
Battleground: Waterloo
August '96, p. 82
Forst Hill, MD 21050-0632
Colorful; simple to learn; "what-if?" scenarios will yield hours of replay value.
You have to be very much "into" Napoleonic history to get the most out of this game.
A vividly colorful recreation of one of the most epic battles in Western history.
Battles in Time
January '96, p. 193
QQP
495 Highway 202
Flemington, NJ 08822
(800) 880-1718
Good strategic-tactical gaming with lots of unique twists; the usual thorough QQP head-to-head support.
Larger armies tend to move woefully slowly in the strategic section.
Lots of replay value and an innovative design make this a truly entertaining wargame.
Battleship
March '97, p. 110
Hasbro Interactive
50 Dunham Road
Beverly
MA
01915
(617) 746-2903
Hey, it's Battleship -- with snazzy cutscenes and great multi-player support.
Those snazzy cutscenes refuse to go away, and there's no option for turn-based combat during the scenario modes.
A pretty good port of a classic.
Battlespire
April '98, p. 154
Bethesda Softworks
1370 Piccard Drive
Rockville
20850
(301) 926-8300
Character design system; level design; multi-player
Slow, choppy, buggy; ugly up-close; doesn't take advantage of Win95 or DirectX support; no 3D support; difficult levels.
Wait until Battlespire is in the bargain bin. Until then, it ain't worth it.
Battlesport
August '97, p. 127
Glen Cove
11542-2777
516-656-5000
The name is kinda nice.
Ancient graphics, lackluster gameplay, and shoddy controls deal a triple does of death on this clunker.
Simply terrible. Trust us on this one--you'll want to avoid it at all costs.
20
Battlezone
June '98, p. 94
Sharp graphics; slick interface; excellent single-player and multi-player missions.
Some fuzzy AI; fussy keyboard re-mapping.
Activision has delivered a fine-tuned mix of action/strategy that's destined to change the way we look at this new genre.
BC Racers
October '95, p. 110
U.S. Gold
(415) 693-0297
Great music; humorous animation; challenging racing.
Can't customize racer; no network or modem play.
If you want simple racing action and don't mind the few flaws, you'll enjoy this game.
Beast Wars: Transformers
September '98, p. 142
(800) 997-7455
You can play as your favorite Transformers. The explosions are neat.
Pointless gameplay; annoying and unnecessary resource management.
Action fans will find it all a bore; Transformers fans will be outraged.
28
Beast Within:  A Gabriel Knight Mystery
April '96, p. 92
Superb script, excellent videos, a fresh "take" on the traditional werewolf theme.
Extreme system demands; if you get hooked on it, you may have to invest in a quad-speed CD-ROM drive, whether you're ready to or not.
A great horror adventure, driven by a script that puts the competition to shame.
96
Beat the House 2
April '98, p. 153
Great tutorial and online coach; Sklansky's Poker Challenge is fun.
The Craps game is so bad it's no longer worth playing.
BTH2 has excellent tutorials, and most of the games are well done, but Craps lovers will be disappointed.
Beatdown
September '99, p. 96
Hot-B
www.hotb.com
Audacious if wrong-headed premise; cool soundtrack.
Obnoxious; offensive; crudely designed; displays total lack of creativity.
Products like this make gaming look bad. It's just plain garbage.
11
Beavis and Butt-head: Bunghole in One
May '99, p. 134
Fun for the first several holes; Mike Judge provides the voices.
Only one course; limited commentary gets tedious; slow play.
This might be a good party game, but the party will be over when it reaches the end of its limited humor.
Beavis & Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity
February '96, p. 114
Viacom New Media
1515 Broadway
New York, N.Y.,10036
(800) 469-2539
A real, no-foolin' graphic adventure with all the funny elements of the MTV show.
You'll want a fairly fast machine, and gamers who don't have Win 95 are out of luck.
Fans of MTV's delinquent duo will adore it, but people who miss the point of the show won't understand the game, either.
Bedlam
January '97, p. 225
Easy to control, lots of explosions.
No multi-player mode, questionable level design, tedious switch-hunts, enemies too easy to kill.
A reasonably workmanlike effort with some drawbacks.
Beneath A Steel Sky
December '94, p. 130
1806 Fitch Avenue
Irvine, CA 92714
(714) 833-8710
Some of the funniest dialog ever; simple interface; runs entirely off the CD.
The difficulty of the puzzles in the final third of the game is disproportionately high.
A slick, funny, and absorbing adventure that will appeal to a wide variety of gamers--two thumbs up!
Betrayal in Antara
October '97, p. 214
3380 146th Place S.E.
Bellevue
98007
(800) 757-7707
Engrossing story line; tried-and-true interface; huge game world.
Traveling becomes repetitive; interface needs streamlining; lack of a professional writer's touch.
If you liked Krondor, buy this game. It's deep, it's engrossing, and it's fun.
Big 3 (The)
May '95, p. 85
Alliance Interactive Systems
1859 N. Pine Island Road
Plantation, FL 33322
(305) 423-4289
A sincere and well-intentioned game with lofty design goals.
Scale doesn't work; elements of gameplay are murky; no real feeling of strategy.
Here's a classic case of "ten lbs. in a five-lb. bag."
57
Big Red Racing
July '96, p. 89
Nice graphics, multi-player features and unique vehicles.
Annoying commentary, fuzzy controls, limited gameplay.
One of the better arcade racing titles out there, but only in small doses.
Bio Freaks
October '98, p. 209a
Midway
www.midway.com
Bloody good graphics and animation, innovative gameplay.
The camera can et confused during spirited fights and the over-the-top amounts of gore may offend.
Bio Freaks isn't the best fighter in town, but it's good for a few morbid laughs.
BioForge
June '95, p. 80
Origin Systems
12940 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX 78750
(512) 335-5200
A good mix of action and puzzle-solving; outstanding animations and graphics.
Way too much text to read; camera angles aren't conducive to combat; steep system requirements.
Despite a few flaws, you'll play this one all the way to the end.
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance
December '97, p. 234
Detailed strategy module; different play modes.
Unbalanced, incomplete play elements; poor adventure mode.
Birthright had all the earmarks of a classic strategy game, but its gameplay and design flaws bring it down.
Black Dahlia
July '98, p. 151
(900) 28-TAKE2
The compelling story and great graphics will keep adventure fans hooked for hours...
...until they reach a dreary mid-game sequence with confusing mazes and puzzles.
The gripping plot and unbelievable characters make up for the game's shortcomings.
Blackstone Chronicles
February '99, p. 211
88 Roland Way
Novato
94945
(415) 895-2000 x1
Classic-style adventure gameplay; atmospheric visuals; compelling story.
Empty feeling because no real character interaction; some tacky production elements.
If you like leisurely, puzzle-based gaming with an actual story, this is a good one.
Blackthorne
January '95, p. 141
17922 Fitch Avenue
(714) 553-6655
Great animation, cool music and sound effects, and plenty of bang-bang make this the best action-adventure since Flashback.
You'll find yourself doing the same thing over and over again; weak enemy animations.
A great mix of gunplay and puzzles, sure to please any arcade fan.
Blade Runner
February '98, p. 110
Westwood Studios
2440 North Tenaya Way
Las Vegas
NV
89128
(702) 228-4040
Incredible atmosphere; faithful to the movie; lavish production; original gamplay elements.
Branching stroy means you can miss major scenes; some hokey characterization.
One of the best graphic adventures recently, and certainly the most innovative.
Blake Stone: Planet Strike
February '95, p. 79
FormGen
7641 E. Gray Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(602) 443-4109
Four skill levels; some mighty mean monsters; and impressive firepower.
It can get a bit repetitive. The graphics are only average.
Not a bad game--in fact better than a lot of the first-person stuff we're seeing. But it's no Doom, though.
Blood
July '97, p. 208
(800) 305-3390
Good fun; lots of dark humor; simply awesome Deathmatches.
Very difficult. Doesn't feel quite as 'solid' as Duke.
An excellent implementation of the BUILD engine that makes for a truly wicked shoot-'em-up.
Blood Bowl
August '95, p. 91
Original concept; clean design.
AI is really slow and none too bright; promised modem support is a no-show.
A faithful translation of a popular board game, but the PC version adds nothing new.
71
Blood II: The Chosen
February '99, p. 216
Cool looking monsters; creepy atmosphere; all the gore you can handle.
Long load times; shaky AI; some bland level design.
Creepy, mostly excellent gameplay marred by a few glaring technical and design problems.
Blood & Magic
March '97, p. 118
Tech Support: (714) 553-6655
Lots of terrain variety, good graphics (for VGA), great single-player game.
Flat sound effects, constantly clicking on basal golems.
It's not just another WarCraft, Blood & Magic has some interesting, new ideas.
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
December '97, p. 242
11601 Wilshire Boulevard
Good playability; great story; lots of variety.
Hard-to-distinguish graphics; monster AI is generally dumb.
An excellent console-style RPG and a definite change of pace from the current crop of action games.
Bloodwings
September '95, p. 121
MPCA Interactive
1401 Ocean Avenue
Suite 301
Easy to install; high-quality sound effects and music.
Choppy animation; so-so graphics; uninteresting gameplay.
The most die-hard horror fans won't stick with this one long enough to make it worthwhile.
46
Blown Away
February '95, p. 89
IVI Publishing
7500 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(800) 432-1332
Good full-screen video and some really nice puzzles.
The video and puzzles are a lot better on their own than combined; not very interactive.
Another "multimedia" game. There's just not enough interaction here to satisfy most gamers.
Blues Brothers' Jukebox Adventure
October '94, p. 50
Titus Software
20432 Corisco Street
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 709-3692
Mindless arcade fun, and you can play it straight off the disk!
Weak graphics; repetitive action; a disappointing soundtrack.
You don't have to be a nostalgia hound to enjoy this side-scroller, but it helps.
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
March '95, p. 99
Mission Studios
P.O. Box 1265
Palatine, IL 60078
(708) 991-0598
Excellent for beginners.
Graphics in play mode take you back to EGA days.
The excellent beginner lessons, historical reference, and strong AI can't outweigh that ugly 2-D board.
67
Boggle
March '98, p. 138
If you're desperate for a game of Boggle and don't have friends, this will probably fill the gap.
Waiting for a game to reload. And waiting. And waiting.
Get yourself a few buddies and play the real thing -- you'll have a lot more fun.
Brainstorm!
October '96, p. 171
Simon & Schuster Interactive
175 Fifth Ave.
Suite 2122
New York, NY 10010
Interesting and challenging puzzles.
Dry, clinical feel; limited replay value; and too few puzzles.
If you're into puzzles that really make you think, this is for you.
Bravo Romeo Delta
June '95, p. 121
R.A.W. Entertainment Inc.
957 NASA Road One, #146
Houston, TX 77058-3098
(713) 286-2386
Generates loads of tension; has a marvelously authentic feel to it.
As we say down in the South, "It looks like it's been whupped with an Ugly Stick!"
For those who can stomach the prospect of nuclear war -- and the horrid graphics -- it's a unique gaming experience.
Breach 3
January '96, p. 222
Impressions
222 Third St.
Suite 234
Cambridge, MA 02142
Entertaining squad-level combat. Good mission builder.
Retro graphics; lack of narrative thrust.
An entertaining squad-level game that doesn't quite measure up to the current crop.
Breakthru
December '94, p. 137
Spectrum HoloByte
Alameda, CA 94501
A lot like Tetris, but with more bells and whistles.
The action and strategy quickly becomes familiar, then frustrating, and eventually tiresome.
Good for a while, but isn't unique enough to have the staying power of a Tetris.
Brett Hull Hockey '95
July '95, p. 98
Accolade Inc.
(800) 245-7744
Great player and goalie animations.
The limited elements put BH 95 far behind in the simulation stakes.
Not for sim fans who like to manage all aspects of their team; those who don't want frills should hit the ice.
Bridge Baron for Windows
August '94, p. 84
Great Game Products, Inc.
8804 Chalon Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
Basic strength of play is its best feature, but there's so much more.
If you don't like bridge, there's nothing here for you.  Any faults beyond that would be petty nit-picking.
Stacked with well-thought-out features, Bridge Baron really delivers the goods.
Bridge Olympiad
September '94, p. 84
(505) 837-5447
Great graphics and a smooth interface make for quick play against strong opponents.
Playability is slightly hampered by lack of minor features, such as auto-playing forced moves, and cancelling a rubber match.
A really solid program.
British Open Championship Golf
July '97, p. 204
Eidos Interactive
303 Sacramento St.
94111
(415) 616-2022
Easy to get into; tremendous atmosphere; gorgeous graphics; good commentary.
Only two courses; lack of Internet options is a bummer.
The tournament setting, presentation, and ease-of-use makes this a winner.
Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror
February '98, p. 142
(800) 874-4607
Improvements to the interface, graphics, and voice acting over the original.
Some of the puzzles aren't always sensible. The story isn't as thrilling as the first game.
More of the same solid adventure fare found in Circle of Blood.
Bruce Jenner's World Class Decathlon
October '96, p. 158
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709,
Wide variety of events.
Gameplay is little more than clicking your mouse at the right time; limited multimedia elements.
One or two times through is probably enough, unless you want to invest enough hours to challenge Bruce one-on-one.
52
Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling
January '99, p. 181
Awesome physics engine for truly realistic pin action; flawless and easy-to-use interface; nice graphics; lots of extras.
Limited camera angles; crowds look funny.
This is a bowling game anyone fcan get into, whether you're a bowler or not.
Brutal: Paws of Fury
November '95, p. 139
GameTek
2999 Northeast 191st St.
Suite 500
North Miami Beach, FL 33180
Nice cartoon-style characters, a variety of special moves, and some genuine humor.
Limited in gameplay; fast animation can be hard to follow.
The simple nature and less-than-demanding gameplay keep it from standing out in the growing field of fighting games.
Bug!
January '97, p. 259
P. O. Box 8097
Cute characters; solid control.
The game itself is incredibly dry and uninspired. Not Sega's best title to choose to port over to the PC.
Unless you're a die-hard platform freak, stay away from Bug!
44
Bureau 13
May '95, p. 79
1004 Ligonier Street
Latrobe, PA 15650
(412) 539-3077
Simple interface; a good variety of puzzles; and lots of replay value.
Numerous flaws will frustrate you; the voice acting is embarrassingly bad; the game world lacks vitality.
If nothing else, Bureau 13 provides a good fix until a better graphic adventure comes along.
Buried in Time
October '95, p. 91
Sanctuary Woods
1825 S. Grant Street
San Mateo, CA 94402
(415) 286-6000
Beautiful graphics; strong story line; and rich soundtrack.
In the beginning, it's all too easy to become frustrated by the movement interface. Runs slow on 486s.
A good sci-fi yarn with plenty of interesting puzzles; just don't expect to get through it in a weekend.
Burn Cycle
January '96, p. 214
Philips Media, Inc.
10960 Wilshire Blvd
Cool cyberpunk atmosphere, great soundtrack, complex story line.
Graphics are sometimes chunky; the plot is too linear.
The blend of puzzles, arcade action, and cyberspace won't be enough for die-hard adventure fans, but it should interest the casual gamer.
Burnout
June '98, p. 96a
1370 Packard Drive
Efficient interface; sharp graphics; good sound effects.
Needs more classic cars. Mplayer support not up when it shipped.
If you're a speed freak that doesn't mind getting your kicks a few seconds at a time, look no further than Burnout.
Byzantine: The Betrayal
January '98, p. 246
Discovery Channel
7700 Wisconsin Ave
Bethesda
20814
(301) 986-1999
Rich, voluptuous graphics combined with a slick interface.
Too many egregiously frustrating puzzles and illogical plot devices, especially if you're a newbie.
It's a game that can't decide what it wants to be, but it sure is pretty.
Metaltech: Battledrome
April '95, p. 110
Bellevue, WA 98007
The ability to play over modem or network.
Mediocre graphics and shell; repetitive combat scenarios.
Rather uninspired and a sore disappointment after the terrific EarthSiege; head-to-head could sell this to dedicated modem players.
C.E.O.
C
October '95, p. 107
1341 Ocean Avenue
Box 417
An adequate train and bus simulation.
Never jells into a cohesive whole; clumsy design elements, scattershot gameplay; sparse statistical data.
More a transportation sim in disguise, C.E.O. never convinces you that you're running a huge corporation.
C&C: Sole Survivor
April '98, p. 104
3540 West Sahara Ave. #323
89102
No hourly or monthly charges.
Monotonous, poorly conceived game that is overly dependent on randomly clicking here, there, everywhere.
Feels like an online-only quickie that cashes in on the C&C name.
Caddyhack
December '96, p. 289
Virgin Interactive Entertainment
18601 Fiitch Avenue
The animations, graphics, and course design are nicely done.
Lousy ball physics, bad controls, and cheesy horror theme.
Miniature golf gone bad. The poorly executed gameplay has given miniature golf sims a bad debut.
29
Caesar II
January '96, p. 172
Sierra Online
Magnificent graphics; well balanced strategy elements; highly addictive; rewarding.
Some may find routine city-building monotonous; the frustration level may be a bit too high.
Caesar II provides a colorful, rich, absorbing, game-experience and should delight a large, diverse audience.
Caesar III
January '99, p. 169
222 Third Street
Cambridge
02142
Stunning graphics, addictive gameplay, a decidedly "epic" quality throughout.
Economic odds are stacked against you; a custom map-editor would have been nice.
A great game, but exceedingly tough -- perhaps too tough -- to win.
Caesar's Palace
February '98, p. 185
The graphics are as good as could be expected.
There's an irritating flaw in every single phase of the program.
If you're serious about getting a quality casino simulation, look elsewhere. There's a better game on its way from the same publisher.
Callahan's Crosstime Saloon
May '97, p. 139
412-474-2000
There are some genuinely funny jokes. Gameplay is just right: not too easy or hard.
There are some genuinely unfunny jokes. Some puzzles were pointless.
A traditional adventure game with a good story, funny bits, and decent puzzles.
Campaign II
May/June '94, p. 86
Empire Software
4 Professional Drive
Suite 123
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Fans of the original will probably like it.
This game has weak graphics, a clunky interface, and very confusing arcade sequences. It's just not much fun.
It all adds up to frustration with a capital F. Only the games' designers (and possibly their mothers) could love this gobbler.
Cannon Fodder
November '94, p. 56
Impressions Software
222 3rd Street
Order Hotline: (800) 757-7707
Incredible fast-paced gameplay; solid graphics engine; good sound effects.
Sometimes hard to get exact control from the mouse interface.
A great arcade game in every sense of the word; a simple idea that has been done up right.
Capitalism
December '95, p. 238
Broad and deep business simulation, helped along by an excellent tutorial.
Too complex for some gamers; too tedious for others.
If you're the least bit interested in the subject, give this one a try.
Captain Quazar
February '97, p. 141
600 Galveston Dr.
It's easy to set up and start playing.
No fun, plenty of annoying faults.
Half-hearted arcade dross to be avoided.
19
Carmageddon
October '97, p. 211
Guts and gore! Very playable and addictive.
An unfinished feel; feeble graphics engine; too many minor nags.
An incredibly fun game, but rough around the edges and technologically inferior to other action racing games on the market.
Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now
April '99, p. 96
Scores of secrets and surprises; just plain fun.
Sluggish graphics engine; touchy controls; no Internet or modem support.
For adults only; but not to miss if you've got a fast machine and a stomach for comical gore.
Carnivores
April '99, p. 130
WizardWorks
Lush terrain graphics, outstanding dinosaur animations.
It takes too long to get in killing range; there are only three weapons to use and only four dangerous dinosaurs.
With a sticker price of only $19.95, it's worth a look if you're into hunting dinos.
Carriers at War II
July '94, p. 80
SSG
P.O. Box 30085
Pensacola, FL 32503
Simple interface, a wealth of information, and varied scenarios make it a winner.
Graphics could be a lot better (16 colors just doesn't cut it anymore), and a decent campaign mode would be welcome too.
The best carrier wargame around; easy to get into and deep enough to last.
CART Precision Racing
May '98, p. 137
Realistic driving model; nice graphics; gearheads will love the garage.
Alpine-steep learning curve; presentation lacks pizzazz.
CART is the game of choice for all-out realism freaks, but it can be hard for regular gamers to have fun with.
Casino Deluxe
October '95, p. 87
(615) 225-0848
Beautiful graphics; accurate representations of popular casino games.
No options for multiplayer competition; weak strategy guides.
A great way to get your gambling fix without taking a big hit to your wallet.
Casino Expert for Windows
August '94, p. 57
Expert Software
800 Douglas Road
North Tower, Suite 355
Coral Gables, FL 33134
You won't be risking much even if you don't like the game.
You just can't lose, so this ain't gambling. And the games are all quite average.
If realism doesn't matter to you and you're tight on cash, you might like it.
51
Casino Tournament of Champions
June '95, p. 122
Modem/network features mean you don't have to wait for Saturday night to play a little poker.
A less-than-intuitive user interface makes for a lot of delays and unnecessary clicking.
Plenty of casino gaming for the buck. A little tweaking could've really made this baby sing.
Castrol Honda Superbike World Champions
August '98, p. 145a
Intense Entertainment
(888) 240-6172
Nice handling on the RC45; learning features are helpful for newbies.
Graphics and sound are merely so-so; crashes and collision need work; the game needs more bikes, dammit!
A valiant effort, but there's plenty of room left for a definitive PC bike sim.
63
Catfight
October '96, p. 183
Atlantean Interactive Games
15127 Califa St.
Van Nuys, CA 91411
(818) 908-9663
At least it's better than the same company's Island Peril.
Truly awful on all accounts. Bad graphics, tiresome action, and lame controls.
A complete bore. Avoid this one like the plague.
18
Cave Wars
March '97, p. 162
Order Hotline: (410) 254-9200
A novel concept, with a multi-tiered world and bizarre subterranean milieu.
A lack of update screens, diplomacy, interaction, custom options, tactical combat.
Bare bones strategic gaming with few frills; fresh ideas but poor execution.
Celtic Tales:  Balor of the Evil Eye
September '95, p. 111
KOEI Corp.
1350 Old Bayshore Hwy.
Suite 540
Burlingame, CA 94010
Detailed control; great historical background; absorbing storyline.
Confusing gameplay; poor instructions for beginners.
It's a great game for experienced strategy gamers, but the average gamers will find the game confusing.
Chaos
July '96, p. 106
Multimedia 2000
1100 Olive Way
Seattle
98101
(206) 622-5530
A great story with tricky puzzles.
Graphics could be smoother, and some online hints would be welcome for the toughest puzzles.
A refreshingly different sort of adventure game--it will surely inspire many players to learn more about Chaos Theory.
Chaos Continuum
May/June '94, p. 89
Creative Multimedia
514 N.W. 11th Avenue
Suite 203
Portland, OR 97209
Very impressive graphics and sound.
Pretty short on actual gameplay.
Like many CD-ROM games, it looks great, but you'll have to decide if that's enough.
Chaos Control
December '95, p. 220
1341 Ocean Ave.
The graphics and animation are as good as they get.
It's a tough game, and it could have used a bit more variety.
The graphics and story elements help raise an otherwise monotonous shooter into an absorbing tale of adventure.
Chaos Gate
February '99, p. 218
675 Almanor Avenue, Suite 201
Sunnyvale
94086
(800) 601-7529
Excelltn turn-based tactical gameplay. Rich, diverse world.
You can only fight as Ultramarines. Minimal keyboard support. Some minor bugs.
Excellent tactical combat, with lots of units, good graphics, and an interesting system.
Chaos Overlords
September '96, p. 138
Could be mildly diverting when played on the Internet.
Mediocre graphics and dull, monotonous gameplay.
A good idea executed without a trace of wit, energy, or style.  About as dull as dish-water.
Chasm
January '98, p. 312
Nice looking polygonal monsters; some impressive graphic effects.
Bad mouse control; levels are throwback to Doom; no Internet support.
With better games on the market, you're better off staying away from this one.
Chessmaster 5000
November '96, p. 236
Very strong AI; instructional aids; graphics -- all detailed and customizable.
Supports Win 95 only.
The flexibility of almost every aspect of this program makes it inviting for chess fans at any level.
Chessmaster 5500
February '98, p. 167
Every area is outstanding; best graphics, instructional aids, and sound of any chess game.
Er...there's no feature that will automatically order pizza for you.
With the new features, the latest Chessmaster is the best PC chess game you can buy.
Chessnet 3
November '94, p. 73
Masque Publishing
P.O. Box 5223
Englewood, CO 80155
(303) 290-9853
For playing over third-party BBSs, networks, and direct modem connections, this program is the king daddy.
As a stand-alone chess opponent, this program bites.
If you're a chess player with a modem and $20, buy Chessnet 3.
Chronicles of the Sword
September '96, p. 126
2nd Floor
Foster City, CA 94404
Nice, high-res graphics and a decent game engine.
Not enough story; gameplay dissolves into a series of pixel hunts.
Synthetic Dimensions draws on neither the strength of their game engine nor of the subject matter for this lackluster title.
Chronomaster
April '96, p. 105
501 Brickell Key Dr.
Excellent graphics, variety of puzzles, raning from no-brainers to hair-pullers; good plot and lots of interaction keeps things interesting.
Too much time is spent traveling; newcomers may find the options overwhelming.
It doesn't break any new ground, but it delivers a mighty big dose of puzzle-solving fun, even for experienced gamers.
CIA: Central Intelligence
June '95, p. 91
Ocean of America, Inc.
1855 O'Toole Avenue
Suite D-102
San Jose, CA 95131
This could have been a great premise.
Not entertaining; not exciting; not really much of a game.
A lesson in wasted potential, Central Intelligence is strictly for those who like stats-based, slow-paced gaming.
Circle of Blood
January '97, p. 234
Simple interface; beautiful, crisp graphics; challenging puzzles; intriguing story line.
Voice acting isn't exactly professional; some puzzles require too much pixel-hunting.
It's entertaining, challenging, and worth playing, but it's not a graphic adventure that will blow you away.
Circuit Racer
November '97, p. 230
2300 Berkshire Lane North
Plymouth
MN
55441
(612) 559-5301
Runs on low-end systems; only takes up 7MB.
Blah, circa-1995 graphics; no convincing sense of speed; unrefined gameplay.
You can do a lot better than this -- unless you have an older system, there are no reasons to bother.
City of Lost Children, The
July '97, p. 194
(415) 655-8000
The graphics are sensational; dark mood.
Incredibly short playing time; pointless puzzles; Euro-crap interface.
Rent the cult movie instead; it'll blow your mind. The game will just blow your temper.
48
Civil War: 1861-1864
May '95, p. 83
13220 Wisteria Drive
(401) 252-5332
It's packed with fine-grained detail and achieves great balance between the strategic and the tactical.
Graphic style may alienate as many as it pleases, especially the miniatures-style battle scenes.
The most ambitious Civil War game ever designed for the PC. Very impressive indeed.
Civil War Generals II
February '98, p. 140
Campaigns cover entire war. Lots of historical detail. Excellent victory system.
Victory system encourages suicidal stands. Underestimates effects of cannon.
Don't compare it to any other games; CWGII stands quite well on its own.
Civilization 2
July '96, p. 82
180 Lakefront Drive
Hunt Valley
21030-2245
Improved artificial intelligence and play balance; strong, new interface.
Some rough spots in the initial release, but they've already been smoothed out.
An immensely addictive and playable strategy game that's the rightful heir to the Civilization crown.
97
Civilization: Call to Power
July '99, p. 98
Cool new units and tecnology; space- and water-based cities; streamlined.
Lacks spark; clunky interface; overpowerful superunits; poor performance; no autosave.
Impressive but not much fun. Wait for MicroProse's Civilization II: Test of Time.
Civilization II: Test of Time
October '99, p. 130
Core Civ gameplay is rock solid; multiple levels add a twist.
Muddy, dark graphics; not backward-compatible with SCN files; doesn't replace Multiplayer Gold.
It's Civilization II, and if you already own that, you don't need this update.
Clandestiny
March '97, p. 157
Order Hotline: (800) 874-4607
Nice rendering, and there's a hidden book with some good Scottish recipes.
Cheesy animation, bad dialog, lame-o puzzles.
If tired puzzlers ye buy, best give it a try. If ye're nae inta it, ye'd best let it sit.
30
Classic Five
July '94, p. 91
Mouse interface is easy to use; lots of games for one price.
No bells or whistles; you'll probably yearn for a more intelligent computer opponent.
Individually, these games have been done before and done better.
Classic Jackpot!
September '94, p. 90
Suite 0234
Five fast-playing casino games; perfect for work breaks.
Three of the games require little or no skill, and there's no tutorial to help you master the other two.
A fun--and safe--way to enjoy casino action.
Claw
December '97, p. 230
Monolith Productions
10516 N.E. 37th Circle
Kirkland
98083
(425) 739-1500
Really nice animation; 64-player mode is interesting; realatively low gore factor means that the game is kid-safe.
Boring. A rehash of a dead genre.
Buy Claw for the kids, but not for yourself.
Clockwerx
July '95, p. 108
(510) 522-1164
Intricate movement system adds new dimension to an otherwise standard puzzle game.
Lack of humor and the limited variety of puzzles affect the games' longevity.
As puzzlers go, the idea behind Clockwerx is clever enough to demand a look.
Close Combat
October '96, p. 162
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
(206) 882-8080
Realism, strategy, immersion and action combine in one close quarters wargame.
Minuscule men, control problems, no elevation, and a limited choice of scenarios.
Close Combat is brilliant and engaging, a bold new chapter in wargaming, but not without its drawbacks.
Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far
January '98, p. 225
Great new Battlemaker; as personal as you can get to WWII on your PC.
The real-time might turn off wargamers, while the realism will confuse C&C fans.  Campaign status is roughly handled.
Ready for something new?  A Bridge Too Far should fit the bill.
Close Combat III
April '99, p. 120
Beautiful graphics, smooth gameplay, and a much better campaign mode than its predecessors.
Off-map artillery is weak and arbitrary; no air support.
One of the best East Front games.
92
Comanche 3
July '97, p. 148
18510 Ventura Blvd., Suite 200
Tarzana
91356
818-744-0600
Overall fun gameplay and sharp graphics engine.
Idiot wingman, small game world, dippy AI in general.
A fun, good-looking game that will keep you playing -- just don't expect Longbow-level sim quality.
Combat Flight Simulator
February '99, p. 200
Top-notch flight models. Engaging missions. Incredible terrain graphics from altitude.
Terrain graphics look flat down low. A real system hog. Canned campaign missions.
Excellent flight modeling and entertaining mix of missions make this a winner.
Command & Conquer
November '95, p. 108
18061 Fitch Ave.
(714) 833-9710
A great real-time wargame set against a well-executed cinematic backdrop.
More could have been done to upgrade the Dune II engine, such as an additional zoom level.
If you like strategy games, get Command & Conquer.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
December '96, p. 238
It's a follow-up to one of the best games of all time, and it's faithful to the original.
Some changes are merely cosmetic; the AI hasn't improved that much; some missions have too much of a "puzzle" element.
Red Alert will be liked by the legions of the faithful, and win new converts as well.
Commander Blood
May '95, p. 81
Novato CA 94945
There's certainly nothing else quite like it.
Once the novelty wears off, there's just not enough gameplay to hold your interest for long.
If a friend buys it, it's worth watching him or her play for a few minutes.
Commandos
November '98, p. 240
651 Brannan Street
94107
(800) 617-8737
The tactical action and mission-based puzzling can be fun...
...although much of the time the linear campaign and very difficult missions are frustrating.
Commandos has a lot to offer, butless patient gamers should look elsewhere.
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
July '99, p. 124
Historically inspired scenarios are cool; puzzles will challenge.
Ponderous interface; lock-step puzzle design; silly restrictions on units.
Only the most patient gamers should bother setting out on these missions.
Congo: Descent Into Zinj
April '96, p. 137
New York, NY 10036
Simple interface, above-average acting.
The solutions to puzzles are often far-fetched; inability to examine the items you pick up; steep system requirements.
Die-hard adventurers may like it, but most folks will toss up their hands in confusion.
Connections
December '96, p. 293
Discover Channel Multimedia
7700 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
James Burke and his collection of videos; great graphics.
Not much gameplay; thin connections; only five levels.
Burke is entertaining to watch, but that doesn't necessarily make Connections a great game.
Conquer for Windows
August '96, p. 110
Micro Star
2245 Camino Vida Roble
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(800) 444-1343
Slick, fast-paced, strategic exploration and combat. It has a nice balance between strategy and production priorities.
Pig-ugly; a brazen rip-off of a better game.
If you liked Empire, you'll like Conquer. They're practically the same game.
Conqueror, A.D. 1086
March '96, p. 141
Looks great, sounds great, and the field battles are good, bloody fun.
Hopeless mouse control in jousting segments, big logic-holes in the economic system, no siege warfare, numerous skimped details that could easily have been corrected.
A beautiful but half-baked game from a company that should know better.
60
Conquest of the New World
July '96, p. 113
17922 Fitch Ave.
Irvine CA 92714
Flexible gameplay lets you focus on what you want; best combat model of any nation-building sim; network play.
Not a lot of variety in the graphics; interaction is dry and lifeless; no map editor.
An enjoyable strategy game for fans of the genre; good change of pace for any gamer.
Conspiracy
May/June '94, p. 87
Virgin
The video clips, and Donald Sutherland's fine performance, really stand out.
Aside from the new high-tech shell, this is a very basic game with a linear plot and confusing tone.
A case of new clothes for an old game -- and not a very good one at that.
Corridor 7:  Alien Invasion
July '94, p. 75
Fast-paced action, plenty to do, and some nice extras.
The sound and graphics aren't all that great, hurting the overall package.
If this is the sort of gameplay you love, Corridor 7 is worth a look. If it's not, though, this won't be the game to convert you.
Corsairs
August '99, p. 126
Microids
(415) 433-5765
Good blend of sea combat, land sieges, and trade in one game.
No real replay value. Interface and map weirdness.
Simple yet entertaining gameplay. It's a small game and is likely to be overlooked, but it's still a great deal of fun.
Cowboy Casino
September '94, p. 79
Intellimedia Sports, Inc.
Two Piedmont Center
Atlanta, GA 30305
The interaction with each character is good for a few hoots and belly laughs.
Limited gameplay; what's here just isn't very challenging.
The game's best feature is the live action video. When the novelty wears off, though, you're left with a mediocre game.
64
Creature Shock
March '95, p. 100
Incredible graphics, great atmosphere...did I mention the incredible graphics?
The gameplay is thin; the controls are occasionally frustrating.
The visuals earn it a high rating--but if you're hoping for depth and replay value, keep looking.
Crime Patrol
February '95, p. 119
American Laser Games
4801 Lincoln Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Nice, bright video; good B-movie soundtrack.
Some truly cheesy acting; low on interaction.
One of the best titles from American Laser Games, and a fun arcade romp. Don't expect a lot of strategy, though.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos
June '98, p. 122
Colorful graphics, nice characters designs and animation.
The camera angles don't assist you in the jumping puzzles, which are around 90 percent of the game.
If you're waiting for a PC equivalent of Mario 64, keep waiting.
Crossword Wizard
September '94, p. 86
Cogix Corp.
419 Redwood Rose
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Easy to use, tons of puzzles, and lots of options to personalize the game.
Obviously, if you don't like crossword puzzles, this one won't hold a lot of appeal for you.
A great way for crossword addicts to get their fix.
CrossWorld
July '96, p. 121
Aventura, FL 33180
Lots of crosswords; lots of ways to cheat.
Outdated and lame clues; nearly unreadable 
"Decoder" section; lazy design.
There's nothing new here; for crossword fanatics and cheaters only.
Crow: The City of Angels
July '97, p. 205
Acclaim
(800) 759-7800
Lovely backgrounds. Lasts longer than the movie.
Bad audio, bad control, bad movie. The Crow walks funny.
The worst movie license fighting game since Expect No Mercy.
32
Crusader: No Regret
November '96, p. 248
Origin
5918 Courtyard DR.
Austin, TX 78730
(512) 434-4263
Gamepad support, cool new graphics and weapons, and brutal new levels.
Extremely violent. Too tough at times, sluggish response at times, and touchy controls.
If action, adventure, and a little multimedia hamminess is up your alley, look no further than Crusader: No Regret.
Crusader: No Remorse
December '95, p. 202
5918 W. Courtyard Dr.
Incredible graphics, sound and gameplay.
Graphic violence, unsuitable for youngsters; no joystick support.
A great alternative to first-person shoot- 'em-ups, and a definite must-play for action fans.
Crush! Deluxe
November '97, p. 250
MegaMedia
94538
(800) MEGAMEDIA
Unique, turn-based style of play; multi-player mode can be entertaining.
Bore-o-rama graphics and sound; the higher math can get tedious.
A mediocre thinking-man's game of blood, sweat, and tears.
Crystal Caliburn
December '94, p. 157
StarPlay Productions Inc.
P.O. Box 217
Greeley, CO 80632
(800) 203-2503
Realistic graphics combined with seamless arcade play make this one a classic.
No screen-scrolling option; sound effects could have been a lot better.
Shows that you don't need a CD-ROM to find extraordinary arcade fun.
Crystal Skull, The
February '97, p. 172
Maxis
2121 N. California Blvd.
Walnut Creek
94596-3572
(800) 336-2947
A few okay puzzles; some of the acting is good for its unintentional comedic value.
Mostly puzzles; less-than-great graphics.
If you want a Multimedia Aztec Adventure, try Inca instead. If you want a good adventure, go buy The Beast Within.
33
Curse of Monkey Island, The
February '98, p. 108
San Rafael
94912
Sharp writing; glorious graphics; madcap humor; voice-acting puts most games to shame.
The "insult-duel" section oustays its welcome by several hours.
If this isn't destined to be a classic, I'll swallow a cutlass.
Curse You! Red Baron
October '99, p. 167
n/a
Custer's Last Command
November '95, p. 168
HPS Simulations
PO Box 3245
Santa Clara, CA 95055
(408) 554-8381
Does exactly what it sets out to do, and does it with real style.
The interface is annoyingly sluggish for some functions.
For anyone interested in Custer and the Battle of Little Big Horn subject, this game is a must.
Cyber Judas
October '96, p. 188
Merit Studios
13707 Gamma Road
Dallas, TX 75244
(800) 238-4277
Interesting facts from CIA book; different players each game.
Interface can be clumsy; repetitive gameplay in some scenarios; long load times on slower machines.
Offers a lot to those interested in the presidency, but most will find it dull.
CyberBykes:  Shadow Racer VR
January '96, p. 213
Supports head-to-head play via modem or over a network, and there's a built-in editor for creating custom levels.
Unconvincing graphics, irritating soundtrack, frustrating gameplay.
The single-player game is a bust.
CyberGladiators
February '97, p. 117
Attractive graphics; smooth animations; intuitive controls.
Minimal story line or options; uninspired, angular characters.
CyberGladiators is a real arcade-style fighter for the PC that's more than capable of standing up to a fight.
Cyberia
April '95, p. 87
Lots of arcade action and gut-grabbing graphics.
Experienced gamers may be disappointed with this fancy shootin' gallery.
Lots of flash and a few puzzlers, but like Chinese food, it may leave you hungry an hour later.
Cyberia 2: Resurrection
July '96, p. 101
Virgin Interactive Ent.
It's easy to get into, attractively presented and good for a few aimless thrills.
Very little to get your teeth into, and even less to keep you playing after a few hours.
Cyberia is one game that really didn't need to be resurrected.
CyberMage
April '96, p. 96
5918 Courtyard Dr.
Austin TX 78730
Gorgeous graphis, excellent sound effects; a very effective blend of action and adventure.
Not a lot of interaction with other characters; pretty steep hardware requirements.
A fantastic mix of all the best elements from several gaming genres.
Cybermercs
June '99, p. 148
JC Research
606 North First Street, Suite 101
san jose
95112
(408) 977-0250
Grammatical errors make the manual an entertaining read.
Bland, boring, repetitive gameplay.
This Diablo wanna-be doesn't even deserve the publicity generated by this review.
22
Cyberstorm 2: Corporate Wars
October '98, p. 232
Tons of design elements; great mission variety; interesting tactical possibilities.
Real-time straightjacket all but ruins the good stuff; the manual is, literally, unreadable.
This had the potential for greatness, but the real-time virus brings it to its knees.
CyberStrike 2
April '99, p. 103
989 Studios
989 E. Hillsdale Boulevard, Fourth Floor
Godo multi-player gaming; decent terrain graphics, lighting effects.
Poor single-player game, with bad AI and confusing missions.
The only reason to play is its multi-player action, and you can get it free from the web site. Forget the box and fire up your modem.
Cyclemania
February '95, p. 117
Full-motion video backgrounds look pretty sharp in high resolution mode.
The graphics are blocky in full-screen mode, and the odd perspective can be frustrating.
Cyclemania's nifty backgrounds just aren't enough to make up for mediocre gameplay.
Cyclones
March '95, p. 110
It has all the good things that make a first-person shooter tick.
Moving while shooting in the heat of battle can be awkward at times. And that full-motion video--why?
Cyclones shows that Doom-like games are here to stay, and they're not all cheesy  rip-offs.
Cydonia -- Mars: The First Maned Mission
February '99, p. 208
Dreamcatcher Interactive
(416) 638-5000
Puzzles galore makes for dozens of hours of game time.
Almost no character interaction, paper-thin story, clumsy interface, and distressingly bad graphics.
Makes a great entrance test for Mensa, but fails as an interactive adventure.
Sid Meier's Colonization
January '95, p. 132
(410) 771-0440
An effective interface for gaming complexity to satisfy the most exacting player.
Graphics could be a lot better, and a decent campaign mode would be welcome too.
Strategic simulations as only Sid can do it. Need we say more?
The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes:  Case of the Rose Tattoo
December '96, p. 282
Great story; gorgeous graphics; good puzzles.
Typical graphic adventure complaints; jarring lapses in realism; snail-like pace except on fast machines.
A must-have for Sherlock Holmes fans and anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
D
June '96, p. 102
Well-paced, compelling, and genuinely creepy.
The game is too linear, too simple, too short; there's very little replay value.
D is fair entertainment, for about two hours.
D.A. Pursuit of Justice: The Sunset Boulevard Deuce
August '97, p. 124
Legacy Software
5340 Alla Road
90066
310-823-2423
Interesting and original; and even educational.
Short lifespan, game procedures can be repetitive and frustrating.
A game of limited appeal, but armchair attorneys willing to do their homework will find it interesting.
D-Day: America Invades
October '95, p. 117
Beautiful graphics; smooth-as-silk gameplay; exceptional historical depth.
You may find the fighting a bit too claustrophobic for your taste.
This game is excellent in every respect.
D-Day: The Beginning of the End
August '94, p. 72
Simple interface, good graphics, and a fun campaign game.
Micro-Miniatures combat is often confusing, making tactics nearly impossible.  Few battles are less suited to this kind of warfare system than D-Day.
Some interesting qualities, but they don't add up to a satisfactory whole.
Daedalus Encounter
July '95, p. 105
Smooth, beautiful video; variety of gameplay; and plenty of puzzles.
Excessive sit 'n watch segments, and some really dumb dialog.
A sincere attempt to make a program that works both as an interactive movie and game.
Dagger's Rage
December '95, p. 243
1 Woodborough Ave.
Toronto, Canada M6M5A1
(800) 465-2323
Excellent graphics; more than just an arcade game.
Action is repetitive and simple; strategic elements are frustrating, clunky interface.
It's all been done - and done better - many times before. Only worth a look if you're tired of play Raptor or Tyrian.
Dame Was Loaded (The)
July '96, p. 90
Lots of puzzles; good interface; multiple endings give the game good replay value.
Poor save-game option and inventory access; static photos make for a lifeless feel.
A fun adventure in spite of a few design problems.
Dark Colony
November '97, p. 235
675 Almanor Ave., Suite 201
94086-2901
Good graphics and mix of units; the chance to play the "Grays."
Not too original; almost idential units for both sides. Simple AI.
Even though it doesn't improve on the real-time strategy genre, it's an enjoyable sci-fi romp with a good campaign mode.
Dark Earth
February '98, p. 121
Nice animation, environments; logical puzzles; intriguing, well-integrated action.
Fuzzy narrative.  Difficulty level and storyline make this game for patient players only.
If you're looking for a classy adventure with a bit of everything, Dark Earth is it.
Dark Eye
August '96, p. 119
Truly inspired and evocative presentation of Poe's story.
Actual "game" content is lean; structure can be confusing.
A weird, wild, not altogether understandable nightmare journey, though not terribly interactive.
Dark Forces
May '95, p. 64
San Rafael CA 94912
Terrific Star Wars atmosphere; tons of weapons; and true 3D action.
No multi-player support, and some of the levels are a little too busy.
It's easily the best first-person shooter since Doom, and a must for Star Wars fans everywhere.
Dark Legions
July '94, p. 58
Outstanding graphics, sound, design, and gameplay--with modem play to boot!
Multi-creature combat would have been a nice touch.
A rare, winning combination of strategy and arcade combat. Expect folks to be talking about this one for a while.
Dark Reign
December '97, p. 186
Smarter units; more control options; good multi-play; excellent editor.
Units occasionally make bonehead moves.
Dark Reign should have no trouble distinguishing itself from the current flood of WarCraft and C&C clones.
Dark Side of the Moon
May '99, p. 113a
SouthPeak Interactive
One Research Drive
Cary
27513
(919) 677-4499
Great script, solid acting, marvelous graphics; you'll become emotionally involved.
Lots of disc-swapping; some tough puzzles.
SouthPeak is coming on strong -- this is one of hte better adventure games in recent memory.
Dark Sun:  Wake of the Ravager
January '95, p. 119
Strong interface with playable combat and good interaction with NPCs.
Graphics aren't great, hard-drive requirements are horrendous, and handling objects can be clumsy.
If you liked the first Dark Sun game, buy this one immediately.  If you want to try just one of them, take Ravager without question.
Dark Vengeance
April '99, p. 140
Three playable characters, three quests; tons of weapons.
Wacky cameras, bad combat control.
Action-fantasy fans may bget a few giggles form it, but there are a lot of better games out there.
49
Darklight Conflict
July '97, p. 158
P.O. Box 7578
Ca
94403-7578
415-513-7171
Gorgeous graphics, impressive effects, and challenging missions.
No modem or TCP/IP options; poor control and limited joystick support; extremely difficult missions.
A beautiful and challenging alternative to cinematic space combat games.
Darkseed II
May '96, p. 141
CyberDreams/MGM Interactive
2500 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 449-3000
Giger's artwork and backgrounds provide a menacing atmosphere.
Bad dialog, bad animation, bad puzzles.
It's not nearly as troubled as the original Darkseed, but it's certainly not a good way to spend your gaming dollar.
45
Darkstone
October '99, p. 147
Gathering of Developers
(877) GOD-GAME
Lovely to look at; a joy to play; it breathes new life into an old genre.
Veterans may find it easy; characters get hungry too often.
The best "everyman RPG" since Diablo, and a welcome kick in the pants for the slumbering fantasy genre.
Dawn Patrol
March '95, p. 75
13220 Wisteria Drive, Bay N-2
(301) 916-9302
Some of the finest plane graphics and forgiving flight physics.
Flight physics may be too forgiving; many missions feel the same; confusing keyboard commands.
Doesn't knock Red Baron from the skies, but makes a good addition to your flight-sim library.
Daytona USA
February '97, p. 171
(888) SEGA-SALES
Realistic driving physics; smooth graphics.
Choppy frame-rate; limited number of cars and tracks; port could have been done much better.
Daytona USA is a solid, if limited, racing experience.
Daytona USA Deluxe
February '98, p. 188
Racing
Sega
PO Box 8097
(415) 802-4400
Touched-up graphics and control; three new tracks; inexplicably cool music.
Daytona is showing its age; There's no 3D support; clipping and texture problems.
Daytona is still a solid racer, but these improvements aren't enough.
Deadline
August '96, p. 96
Vic Tokai, Inc.
22904 Lockness Ave.
Nice variety of missions, a few interesting concepts.
Maddening interface, mediocre graphics, occasional problems with controlling your team.
Despite its interesting concept, Deadline is dead on arrival.
Deadlock
December '96, p. 304
5300 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Deep, engrossing, and handsome, it's one of the best conquer-the-planet strategy games in years.
Surly and ungrateful colonists get pissed off too easily and too often.
This may well be the long-awaited inheritor of the Master of Orion crown.
Deadlock II: The Shrine Wars
May '98, p. 90
San Jose
95129
It's big and deep and turn-based.
Micro-management requirements may overwhelm some players; the interface is baroque.
If you liked the original, you'll find more to like; if you hated the original, you'll find more to hate.
Deadly Tide
January '97, p. 260
One Microsoft Way
(206) 637-9308
Damn fine graphics, a semi-playable 360-degree shooting mode, and plenty of cool rendered bubbles.
Too bad it's still a cookie-cutter rail-shooter. Gets real boring, real fast.
The Waterworld of gaming.
Death Rally
February '97, p. 142
Beautiful graphics; fast racing action; it's fun playing dirty!
No race map; merely average computer opponents.
You can take revenge on all those bad drivers in this fun little arcade racer (without all those nasty legal consequences).
DeathDrome
April '97, p. 130
10036
800-469-2539
Runs fast, looks good, and it can be fun.
Once you figure out how to exploit a glaring design flaw, it's far too easy.
With a little more care and attention paid to gameplay, DeathDrome could have been a lot better.
Deathgate
April '95, p. 79
Legend Entertainment
14200 Park Meadow Drive
Chantilly, VA 22021
(703) 222-8500
Great visuals; unusual and absorbing storyline; and scores of challenging puzzles.
The lack of any animation or action may turn off gamers looking for more "modern" fare.
The best of Legend's text-and-pictures games--but perhaps a bit too bland for some.
Deathkeep
November '96, p. 272
Each of the levels is different from the others.
Blocky graphics; difficult control; few roleplaying elements; jerky first-person movement; stupid monster AI; unoriginal story.
SSI has made some good RPGs using the TSR license, but this is not one of them.
Deathtrap Dungeon
October '98, p. 238
Inspiring visuals, level design; good atmosphere; many enemies.
Crap save game feature; auto-camera interferes with gameplay; "clipping" problems; lack of Internet play.
This is challenging and enjoyable, but it falls short of greatness.
Decisive Battles of WWI: The Ardennes Offensive
October '97, p. 258
Surprisingly good AI. Good replication of classic tabletop wargames.
Some questionable victory requirements. Retro design (which some will consider a "High").
Sure, it's just another Bulge game, but it's a very good one.
Deer Hunter II: The Hunt Continues
February '99, p. 220
New weapons; a variety of locations; and the ability to walk around each area.
Waiting or walking is not very exciting gameplay; bitmapped animations can be jerky.
It's a big improvement over Deer Hunter, but it won't convert non-believers.
Delta Force
January '99, p. 182
(650) 571-7171
Intense action, nice controls, great positional sound effects, and solid Internet play. Lots of fun in single-and multi-play.
Resolution is limited to 800x600.
A sleeper hit that fans of unrelenting action will definitely want to check out.
Delta-V
December '94, p. 153
Rockville, MD 20850
Visually stunning with lightning-fast 3D gameplay; controls are easy to master, so you can concentrate on flyin' and shootin'.
It may be pretty, but it's just too repetitive and frustrating to play for very long.
There's a great game lurking in here.  I hope we get to see it one day.
Demonstar
May '98, p. 122
ionos, inc
7944 East Beck Lane Suite 240
Scottsdale
AZ
85260
(602) 607-3785
Delivers the button-mashing adrenaline rush found in classic arcade games.
The motherships at the end of each mission are too easy to beat.  Lack of level variety.
Demonstar is an intense, blood-pumping shooter with an arcade flavor.
Descent
May '95, p. 91
Terrific graphics; non-stop action; and true 3D movement.
The complex controls can take a while to master.
Parallax did a magnificent job -- easily one of the most addictive and entertaining action games you'll play.
Descent 3
September '99, p. 90
Leading-edge graphics; mesmerizing level design; great AI; tons of multiplayer options.
Guide-Bot AI is dicey at times; steep system requirements.
Descent 3 lives up to the hype, and then some. An instant classic, we say!
Descent: Freespace -- The Great War
September '98, p. 152
Great graphics and smooth control. Robust mission editor and multi-player options.
Short single-player campaign; thin story line.
Freespace sets a new standard for sci-fi shoot 'em ups with its first-rate production.
Descent II
June '96, p. 82
Great new weapons, features, and graphics.
Too many labyrinthine and claustrophobic levels; very, very tough.
If you thought the original Descent was a walk in the park, you'll meet your match in Descent II, but stick with it, and you'll enjoy the ride.
Descent to Undermountain
April '98, p. 125
Excellent  incorporation of the AD&D Forgotten Realms campaign setting and rules.
Poor graphics; poor engine; poor story; long load times.
It's a good idea gone horribly wrong, then apparently rushed out the door too soon.
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
February '95, p. 75
Gremlin
2551 N. Clark Street
Suite 496
Chicago, IL 60614
The graphics are decent, and the missions are varied.
Childish story; ticklish control; and some truly annoying sound effects.
If you wondered if you should have bought a cartridge system instead of a PC, Desert Strike will convince you that you made the right call.
Destiny
January '97, p. 242
Strategic level play has great detail and epic sweep.
Tactical combat and 3-D modes just don't work; Discovery system is poorly explained.
An admirable contender, but it won't replace Civilization in the hearts of many gamers.
Destruction Derby
March '96, p. 99
Sony Interactive
Great slam-bang action; modem and network play.
The computer opponents are pretty wimpy.
Destruction Derby is a blast, and a welcome change of pace from high-end driving simulations.
Destruction Derby 2
March '97, p. 124
Psygnosis/Sony Interactive
(415) 655-5683
Sensational graphics, bone-breaking action; about as subtle as a shower of anvils.
Hardware requirements are steep if you want maximum performance.
If you liked the original, you'll love this sequel.
Dethkarz
April '99, p. 122
Melbourne House
www.melbournehouse.com
You get to drive around and blow things up; the cars and scenery look real pretty, too.
Learning the controls is a chore and makes the game harder to get into.
Futuristic racing combat games are nothing new, but Dethkarz sure is fun.
Detroit
July '94, p. 62
A well-balanced, thoughtful, and enjoyable strategy game.
The graphics and sound aren't nearly as good as the game deserves.
One of the best economic strategy games to come along in quite some time. It's almost too much fun.
Deus
April '97, p. 137
ReadySoft
2221 Yonge St., Suite 400
Toronto, Ontario
M4S24B
416-322-7350
Immersive sound; two play modes; an improvement over its predecessor.
Irritations still outweigh any enjoyment you might find.
Interesting ideas are sabotaged by poor implementation and dated design.
Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol
December '96, p. 265
Lots of Devo influence, and some pretty funny moments.
It's too bad it's held together by a lousy game.
It's much better than the CDs coming from Queensryche and that little thing known as Prince, but that ain't saying much.
Diablo
March '97, p. 102
Blizzard Entertainment
P.O. Box 18077
92713
(714) 953-7669
Beautiful scenery; stream-lined interface; multi-player support.
Load times long for slow  PCs; quests are fairly linear when you get them; limited options with ranged weapons.
RPG fans have waited for this one for a long time, and they won't be disappointed.
Die by the Sword
June '98, p. 84
Solid graphics and fun gameplay; innovative control.
The VSIM control is difficult to master (especially with a mouse). The roaming camera can make you dizzy.
Set aside some time to learn the ropes of this game; you won't be disappointed.
Die Hard Trilogy
June '97, p. 82
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills
90213
310-369-5369
Successfully captures the Die Hard spirit in three different, enjoyable game styles.
High system requirements, somewhat sluggish controls, gets a bit repetitive.
Great value for your gaming dollar, provided you have the horsepower.
Dig (The)
February '96, p. 110
Good story line, challenging puzzles and satisfying gameplay.
It's a slow starter. Some puzzles are too vague at the beginning.
The Dig is yet another fun and rewarding adventure game from the masters of the genre.
Diggers
April '95, p. 84
Millennium Media Group
234 North Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-8888
The variety of equipment keeps things interesting.
Controlling your miners can sometimes seem more trouble than it's worth.
A combination of Lemmings and Populous, Diggers doesn't quite offer the appeal of either.
Dilbert's Desktop Games
December '97, p. 207
DreamWorks
640 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
90049
(310) 234-7000
The screensaver isn't bad; remains true to the Dilbert spirit.
The games aren't any fun.
The free versions of Solitaire and Minesweeper on your PC's desktop are more entertaining diversions than this.
24
Dinotopia
June '96, p. 109
Turner Interactive
1050 Techwood Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-7972
Lush graphics; delightful, creative details; compelling, non-violent story.
Some episodes out-stay their welcome; occasionally tricky movement controls may cause frustration.
A handsome CD-ROM adaptation of a fantasy classic, and definitely a game for the whole family to share and enjoy.
Discworld II: Mortality Bytes
April '97, p. 102
919 E. Hillsdale Blvd., 2nd Floor
(800)438-7794
Terrific animation, great music, and a huge story to work your way through.
Too much pointless dialog, working knowledge of Discworld books required.
Discworld fans will have fun, but everyone else will simply be confused.
Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3
September '98, p. 174
Most units are well designed and look sharp; good way-point system.
Resource management is a pain; environment graphics are sub-par; AI will drive you crazy.
We've seen this all before, but if you're desperate, Dominion delivers on a basic level.
Dominus
January '95, p. 127
The ability to create your own monsters and discover new spells is a plus.
The manual could be better; it's easy to get lost in the clunky interface; and more combat views would be nice.
With real-time action and a variety of paths to victory, Dominus is a worthy addition to the growing pantheon of fantasy games.
Don't Quit Your Day Job
November '96, p. 234
Philips Media
(303) 739-4131
There's quite a lot of stand up comedy included in the game.
Bathroom humor; limited interactivity; mediocre graphics.
Avoid this really lame attempt at graphic adventure -- it's not worth the time or money.
Doom II:  Hell on Earth
December '94, p. 134
More Doom than you can shake a stick at; nice new levels; tough new enemies; excellent Deathmatch play.
It's still just Doom, and a few more new additions would have been appreciated.
Go ahead and buy Doom II--if you think you can take the heat.
Double Talk
February '95, p. 87
Boyle and Elggren Games, Inc.
77 W. 2nd S.
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(800) 634-8255
One plus: The PC acts as a convenient timer.
There's only so much of these word puzzles one can stand.
Not a very successful mix of sports trivia and word game, or... ah, it's just disappointing, that's all.
54
Dragon Dice
November '97, p. 303
A good way to learn Dragon Dice. You can get dice combos without spending tons of money.
It's difficult to track the number and movements of your units. Lack of useful information.
It's a good learning tool, but the tabletop version is a deeper strategy game.
Dragon Lore
May '95, p. 73
Great graphics; an entertaining story line; and enough action to keep it all pretty interesting.
Character animations are very stiff looking and many of the game's creatures are unrecognizable.
A solid adventure that goes beyond graphic gimmickry to create an intriguing story in an absorbing new world.
Dragon Lore II: The Heart of the Dragon Man
December '97, p. 226
Good plot, characters, music, and visual effects.
Interface from Hell; incomplete and confusing documentation; necessary objects are impossible to find.
Adventure games are enjoying a renaissance; but this shoddy effort isn't part of it.
Dragon's Lair
August '94, p. 68
375 14th Avenue
Suite 7
Marham, Ontario, Canada L3R OH2
It plays exactly like the arcade original.
If you liked the coin-op, you'll probably like this new CD-ROM version. But if you didn't, this won't change your mind.
Dragonheart: Fire and Steel
April '97, p. 113
One Acclaim Plaza
516-759-7800
Them dragons are good eatin'.
Clumsy controls, repetitive gameplay, and chunky graphics. A terrible use of a good movie license.
It's pointless and it has little to do with the movie. Don't bother.
Dragonsphere
May/June '94, p. 78
An exciting new graphic adventure, packed with people and places to discover.
It could be longer, allowing for more detailed interaction with the characters you meet.
It's easy to lose yourself in this fresh, engaging adventure game.
Dreamweb
January '95, p. 117
Bay N-2, Germantown, MD 20874
A gritty story and style and almost unlimited exploration.
Tiny view window and graphics give the game a dated look; more depth would be nice.
An involving gameworld and premise; not as polished as the best adventures, but definitely worth a look.
Drowned God
February '97, p. 110
Visually sumptuous and atmospheric, with interesting conspiratorial content.
Many familiar and frustrating puzzles, with almost as many bugs and frequent dead ends.
A fair twiddle-ware game that's undermined by bugs and mediocre gameplay.
Drug Wars
June '95, p. 123
American Laser Games Inc.
Lots to shoot, and with the ALG Game Gun, Drug Wars should play just like an arcade game.
The video is pretty grainy; the repetitive action means there's little replay value here.
Easy-to-understand action that will more than satisfy fans of previous ALG games.
Druid: Daemons of the Mind
March '96, p. 123
Sir-tech
PO Box 245
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Inventive story and game content; simple magic system.
Fussy interface, repetitive combat sequences.
An engaging adventure/RPG that purists may hate and newbies and adventure gamers enjoy.
Duke Nukem 3D
July '96, p. 78
3D Realms
P.O. Box 496419
Garland
75049
(800) 337-3256
Incredible graphics; more non-stop violence than a John Woo film; level editor; addictive multi-player action.
Some levels are disorienting, and some bosses are very, very tough.
There's no subtle way to put it...Duke kicks ass!
Dune 2000
December '98, p. 188
3540 West Sahara Aveune, Suite 323
Excellent full-motion video sequences and challenging missions.
Boring in-game graphics, weak artificial intelligence, and all-too familiar gameplay.
An underwhelming remake of one of gaming's true classics.
Dungeon Keeper
September '97, p. 142
Highly addictive, lots of subtle detail, and very attractive graphics.
Slow pace in multi-player battles; no built-in Internet support.
The line on the box is right; Evil is good.
Dungeon Keeper 2
September '99, p. 88
Amazing graphics; wonderfully twisted sense of humor; addictive gameplay.
Multiplayer is lackluster and buggy; lack of difficulty settings hampers replay value.
We've said it before and we'll say it again -- it's good to be bad.
Dungeon Master II
November '95, p. 154
Irvine, CA 94086
Good character development, nice magic system, and a nostalgic feel.
There's nothing new here; graphics and sound are extremely dated.
A return to the classic Dungeon Master universe; but is it really necessary?
Dust:  A Tale of the Wired West
December '95, p. 231
Cyberflix, Inc.
4 Market Square
Knoxville, TN 37902
(615) 546-7846
Realistic 3D environment; highly interactive characters; intuitive interface.
Lots of dialogue trees; slow story line; and bad voice acting.
If you're in the mood for a conversation with your computer, check it out. Otherwise, you'll probably get bored rather quickly.
The Elder Scrolls:  Daggerfall
December '96, p. 242
A huge world with tons of dungeons, monsters, characters, spells.
Bugs that should've been smoked out before release. Some of the generic dungeons are boring to explore.
Without a doubt, one of the most realistic, involved, and impressive RPGs on the market. A definite must for any roleplaying fan.
11th Hour, The
E
April '96, p. 141
Looks and sounds great (with the proper hardware).
Puzzles still seem unrelated to the game's story; limited innovations are not worth the performance penalty.
A good puzzle game; lots of patience and a nitro-fuel burning PC recommended.
1830:  Railroads & Robber Barons
June '95, p. 105
Baltimore, MD 21214
A unique and entertaining approach to familiar subject matter.
The design is too focused on a tiny area of a large subject; it doesn't allow the free-wheeling, open-ended gameplay it could.
A well-executed and entertaining game that sticks too close to its boardgame origins.
Earth 2140
May '98, p. 106
Cool opening. Accurate clone of C&C.
Keeping track of your units in dark-terrain; dim-witted pathfinding abilities of units.
Even though it manages to clone C&C with lock-step precision, it lacks the fun, intensity, and personality of its inspiration.
EarthSiege 2
June '96, p. 90
Superb SVGA graphics and music, lots of missions, and a sleek interface.
Complex controls, steep system requirements, and a lack of variety in missions.
No matter how you look at it, EarthSiege 2 is an all-around good time.
Earthworm Jim 1&2: The Whole Can of Worms
August '96, p. 123
Playmates Interactive
Excellent animation and level design, challenging action that never gets stale.
Sometimes touchy controls; very difficult levels; silly password/save system.
An incredible value for one of the best arcade titles available for the PC, period.
East Front
February '98, p. 148
Gritty, down-in-the-mud atmosphere; tons of interesting battles.
Plenty of rough edges and a worthless manual.
It's a shaky start for TalonSoft's new line, but a must-have game for any Russian Front fan.
East Front II
August '99, p. 122
Solid graphics and interface; huge assortment of scenarios and campaigns.
Recycled material; supply rules are still awkward and annoying.
East Front II dominates the whole Russian Front subgenre.
Eastern Mind:  The Lost Souls of Tong Nou
November '95, p. 135
Sony Imagesoft
2400 Broadway Ave.
Suite 550
Highly stylized, with a unique flavor and a metaphysical slant.
May be too obscure for many gamers; inspires the use of words like "metaphysical."
Pretty pictures, plenty of puzzles, but it's very strangeness may be off-putting.
Ecco the Dolphin
January '96, p. 197
Sega of America
255 Shoreline Dr.
Redwood City, CA 94065
A welcome departure from the usual platform game.
The controls can take some getting used to, and the graphics aren't great.
A solid, unusual bit of videogaming.
ECO: East Africa
August '95, p. 105
Minneapolis, MN 55344
Beautiful graphics; timely subject matter; good concept.
Monotonous game play; not enough action to keep your interest.
Only those who are interested in East Africa--and have a great deal of patience--need apply.
Ecstatica
February '95, p. 93
675 Massachusetts
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-7794
Ultra-realistic character movements; near-perfect perspective scaling; and fantastic graphic vistas.
Extreme violence and a touch of nudity may offend some.
A game that will delight and consume you in one fell swoop.
Ecstatica II
September '97, p. 170
415-655-5683
Excellent graphics; lots of gameplay.
No joystick support; incredibly difficult and repetitive.
Despite its flaws, Ecstatica II is more than the sum of its parts, delivering hours of challenging, attractive gameplay.
Eddie Kantar's Bridge Companion
April '95, p. 83
Lifestyle Software Group
63 Orange Street
Street Augustine, FL 32084-3584
(904) 825-0220
Good lessons on playing out those difficult hands.
Lessons on advanced bidding theories are non-existent.
Overall, Eddie K delivers a strong program capable of competing with the better bridge programs on the market.
EF2000
March '96, p. 124
Ocean of America
1870 Little Orchard St.
San Jose, CA 95125
(408) 298-1411
Cutting edge graphics; good flight engine; network play.
Very steep hardware requirements; a few bugs hamper the realism of the game.
A must-buy for hard-core flight simmers and a great game for novices.
Elder Scrolls, Volume 1:  Arena
May/June '94, p. 70
Fantastic graphics and sound; a very intuitive interface.
The storyline is a little thin, and there's not much meaningful interaction with NPCs.
A stunning technological achievement; give this game a better storyline, and you might have the best FRP ever designed.
Elements
October '94, p. 74
Villa Crespo
1725 McGovern Street
Highland Park, IL 60035
A novel concept with nice graphics and sound.
Having to repeat things so often can be a pain.
A simple puzzler, but entertaining and challenging enough to keep you coming back.
Elite Darts
August '99, p. 125
Patch Products
(800) 524-4263
Detailed, accurate dart throw; many contest options.
One-game matches only; captures little of teh enthusiasm of real-life darts.
A dart sim which forgot that the game is supposed to be fun.
Elk Moon Murder
October '96, p. 172
11601 Wilshire Blvd.
High quality production of video sequences; fairly good acting; unique setting.
No replay value; lame murder mystery; doesn't add anything new to FMV game genre.
This is a good FMV game. Just don't expect to be entertained for very long.
Emergency
November '98, p. 272
Lots of opportunities for life-saving goodness in a variety of missions.
Confusing gameplay, idiotic artificial intelligence.
Even though the concept is solid, Emergency is another half-baked RTS game.
Emperor of the Fading Suns
May '97, p. 138
SegaSoft
150 Shoreline Drive
94065
415-802-4400
It's epic in scale, atmospheric, and full of extremely deep gameplay.
Inadequate manual; stratospheric learning curve; solo play becomes a real trudge.
A lot of people are going to love this game; I didn't - but I respect it greatly.
Empire II: The Art of War
December '95, p. 249
P.O. Box 4302
Hollywood, CA 90078
(818) 899-5650
The most powerful, flexible, wargame construction set ever published.
Some preset scenarios are pathetic; scenario builder is staggeringly complex and wretchedly explained.
One of the biggest disappointments in years.
Empire Soccer 94
September '94, p. 69
Fast, fun and easy to play, but it presents a real challenge at higher levels.
Passing is tough because you can't see very far up field. Hold on to your seat--it may run too fast on the faster 486 machines.
There's plenty of entertaining soccer action packed into this little game.
Endorfun
December '95, p. 267
Time Warner Interactive
2210 West Olive Ave.
(800) 482-3766
If you like no-brainers, Endorfun is as fluffy as they come. It's the Lite 1990's version of Tetris.
Excruciating color combinations; annoying New Age music; boring gameplay.
Endorfun just isn't fun. There are much better puzzle games out there.
Enemy Infestation
May '99, p. 137
Good story line; interesting weapon effects.
Numerous design issues make it difficult to play; hambone voice-acting; no settings for difficulty and game speed.
Worth playing if someone gave it to you as a gift -- maybe.
Enemy Nations
August '97, p. 110
Head Games
P.O. Box 2698
Reston
VA
(612) 321-9470
Solid core gameplay; good balance of elements; lots of replay value.
Gameplay glitches; poor memory management. Needs better way of presenting resource information.
Entertaining; just the right blalance of construction, research, resources, and combat.
Entomorph
January '96, p. 187
Both the cutscene animations and gameplay graphics look great. Puzzles are also terrific.
As original as it is, the plot tends toward chaos, and often leaves the player confused. Combat can be more frustrating than rewarding.
Entomorph is an attractive, innovative break from the usual RPG fare.
Entrepreneur
March '98, p. 126
Stardock Systems
17292 Farmington Road
Livonia
MI
48152
(313) 762-0687
Simple interface; good multi-player support; sense of humor.
Often hard to tell why performance of products is up or down; more on-screen advice would be nice.
This is an economics-based game that's easy to get into and fun.
Eradicator
January '97, p. 212
5300 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 500
PIP; new enemies to kill; a few good weapons.
A few bad weapons; aggravating levels; repetitive, uninspired music.
It's a decent shoot-'em-up, but Eradicator needed to do more to take on Quake or Duke on their home turf.
ESPN: Baseball Tonight
March '95, p. 106
2400 Broadway
Suite 510
You get to hear Dan Patrick say "whiff" when a batter strikes out.
Once you go past the set-up screens, the visual quality turns "foul" with graphics that look at least five years old.
A decent baseball sim, but in today's market, that just isn't enough.
European Air War
February '99, p. 182
Lots of planes and campaigns; great flight physics; stellar interface; tons of options.
Multi-player support needs improvement; several other features and options are absent
Buy this even if you plan on getting another WWII air combat game; it's that good.
Evasive Action
August '94, p. 66
Fast, fun and easy to play, especially in two player mode.
Planes stall too easily, and the machine guns are set to semi-automatic.
Great fun, but probably too simple for serious flight sim fans.
Evel Kinevel 3D Stunt Game
December '98, p. 227
Valuesoft
(612) 442-7701
The unintential "crash and your PC crashes" feature keeps you on your toes.
Gameplay, graphics, animation, sound, manual, and box.
This game is truly...evel! (Heh, heh.) Do yourself a favor and don't buy it.
EverQuest
June '99, p. 122
(650)  665-8000
Beautiful graphics; great interface; huge world to explore.
Server uncertainty; terrible manual; other little niggles.
Give Verant a little while to iron out a few problems, and EverQuest will be everything you could want in an online RPG.
Evolution
May '98, p. 132
Discovery Channel Multimedia
(301) 986-0444
A refreshingly different kind of game; good graphics; a high level of challenge.
It's extremely complicated to learn and requires a lot of patience.
If the concept appeals to you (and you're not a Creationist!), you might just love it.
Excalibur 2555 AD
February '98, p. 128
Sir-Tech Software
P.O. Box 245
A handful of good adventure elements.
Dreadful combat sequences; claustrophobic levels; protagonist's butt is visible at all times.
Another second-rate console port bites big time on the PC. Sigh.
Expect No Mercy
September '96, p. 118
Gory finishing moves; plenty of blood-and-guts; neat box art.
Ludicrous controls; lame puzzles; tie-in with a grade B movie doesn't help it any.
Further evidence that movies should be seen and not played.
Expert Chess for Windows
January '95, p. 125
(305) 567-9990
Graphics are the strong suit here with plenty of zany piece sets.
Weak AI; poor time controls; and no modem play.
There's really nothing new here. Even at $14.95, it's not of much value to anyone but the novice player.
Exploration
September '95, p. 123
A good, solid addition to a very popular genre.
Sub-par graphics; decidedly weird interface; too similar to other strategy/trading games.
Nothing new here, but if you haven't burned out on colonization games, it's a good time.
Extractors
July '95, p. 120
A good variety of mining tools; challenging gameplay; and plenty of levels.
Weird plot and characters; the interface can often prove more challenging than the puzzles.
If you like Lemmings-style puzzlers and can get past the convoluted story line, it's worth a look.
Extreme Assault
October '97, p. 224
Blue Byte
33 S. Roselle Rd., Suite 201
Schaumburg
60193
(847) 534-7950
Incredible graphics; fast action; slick presentation.
Complex control mode is a pain to master; steep difficulty curve.
It looks great, and sometimes plays great, but the fiddly control is too much of an obstacle for the average gamer to overcome.
Extreme Chess
April '97, p. 131
Davidson/Simon & Schuster
19840 Pioneer Ave.,
Torrance
90503
310-793-0600
Powerful chess engine; many classic games; strong analysis and annotation features.
Poor documentation; occasionally awkward and confusing interface; no Internet play.
This is the chess game for serious chess players. It may help improve your game.
eXtreme Paintbrawl
February '99, p. 212
The box and manual can be recycled.
The actual game disc is not biodegradable; uses a four-year old engine; AI is so bad, it's funny.
It's gaming garbage taken to the eXtreme! Avoid at all costs.
6
Extreme Rodeo
July '99, p. 109
The manual comes with a special offer for the 1999 "Women of Rodeo" calendar.
Oh, we could go on all day. Primarily, moronic gameplay and inept graphics.
Whoo-ee! Extreme Rodeo is stinkier than an outshous at the Chili Convention.
9
Extreme Sports
May '96, p. 117
Unique idea; varied gameplay; good contols.
Limited replay value, too few courses, and less-than-stellar graphics.
Extreme Sports is a limited diversion from the usual sports game. Just don't expect more than a few hours of fun.
Extreme Tactics
October '98, p. 236
Piranha Interactive
(602) 491-0500
Designing units is sort of fun; no convoluted unit trees.
Once the novelty wears off, this game is very simplistc and repetitive.
With so many RTS games out there, this does little to distinguish itself.
47
Extreme Tennis
May '99, p. 120
HeadGames
www.headgames.net
It's better than eXtreme Painbrawl; graphics are decent.
Bad control scheme; sloppy programming; compatibility problems; abysmal computer opponents.
We'll spare you the "extreme" jokes this time -- this game is just plain bad.
14
Extreme Watersports.
August '99, p. 110
The uninstaller is functional.
When smashed, the CD broke into many sharp and potentially dangerous pieces.
Horrible beyond all imagination. Rotten to its stinking core. Like a nightmare from which one cannot wake.
5
Extreme Wintersports
August '99, p. 116
Snowboarding mini-game is fun; more-than-passable graphics.
Not enough tracks; some truly irritating design; abysmal audio.
If it's extreme wintersports you crave, turn on ESPN2, 'kay?
50
Extreme-G2
September '99, p. 113a
11542-2708
Strong accelerated graphics; cool weapons set; available under $30.
No multiplayer features; frustrating password system; uninspiring sound design.
A good value for fans of inexpensive and enjoyable action racers.
5th  Fleet
F
January '95, p. 98
4517 Hartford Rd.
Ease of play masks the depth of authentic data in this game. Exciting scenarios; crisp graphics.
Lovers of high-tech micro-management, a la Harpoon, may find it too streamlined.
An elegant conversion of a board-gaming classic; a must-have for fans of naval war who relish action above all other elements.
F-15
July '98, p. 130
Strong feature set, flight model, avionics; almost everything you oculd want in a flight sim.
Average multi-player fatures; steep learning curve; high system requirements.
An awesome achievement in flight simulation.
F-16 Aggressor
August '99, p. 112
Solid flight modeling; stable multi-player features.
No key or joystick configuration utility; irrelevant mercenary element; countless other niggling nuisances.
This sim has potential but suffers from frustrating design and logic lapses.
F-16 Multirole Fighter/MiG-29 Fulcrum
April '99, p. 110
Beautiful graphics; free multi-player gaming; easy-to-use mission editor.
Random technical issues; misleading "co-op" mode and reaslism features; no universal 3D support.
While not perfect, these two mainstream sims are fun to fly.
F-22 Air Dominance Fighter
April '98, p. 94
95125
(408) 289-1200
Detailed, state-of-the-art weapons and defense systems, niftly AWACs mode; gorgeous graphics.
Linear campaigns can be frustrating; occasional graphic glitches in Direct 3D mode.
A great simulation of a fascinating jet; as much fun to fly as it is to look at.
F-22 Lightning 3
August '99, p. 121
Rock-solid Internet play; remarkable Voice-Over-Net feature; nukes!
Scripted campaigns; short missions; useless manual; too simple for serious simmers.
An above-average "relaxed realism" combat jet sim.
F-22 Lightning II
December '96, p. 246
NovaLogic Inc. 2
6010 Mureau Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
Beautiful graphics; easy to get into; multi-player sessions require only one CD.
Too simplistic, and too easy, to satisfy most hard-core air combat fans.
F-22 Lightning II is hardly the realistic, detailed simulation NovaLogic claims it is, but there's still fun to be had here.
F/A-18 Hornet 3.0
July '97, p. 167
Graphic Simulations Corporation
15400 Knoll Trail #104
Dallas
75248
(972) 386-7575
Authentically modeled aircraft and systems. Smooth frame rates.
No real campaign; not enough missions (or an editor); kinda tough for beginners.
A realistic simulation that's also fun to fly once you get the hang of it.
F/A-18 Korea
April '98, p. 139
Graphic Simulations Corp
(800) 580-4725
Good flight modeling. Sharp graphics. Detailed manual and training videos.
Weak features (interface, campaign structure, mission control) carried on from Hornet 3.0.
A solid sim with a rich game world and awesome avionics.
F1 Racing Simulation
May '98, p. 118
Ubi Soft
625 Third Street, Third Floor
415-547-4000
Full-featured sim with both realistic and simple modes.  Great graphics, frame rates.
Inability to re map the keyboard, all-or-nothing realism modes.
Appeals to both the super-hardcore and the arcade audience at once.
Fable
July '97, p. 190
Ogdensburg Business Center, P.O. Box 245
(315) 393-6633
Gorgeous backgrounds; good voice-acting; straight-forward puzzles.
Writing is mediocre, inventory is clunky and difficulty level is low. Allegedly "improved" ending is lame.
Beautiful production but only modestly challenging, or interesting, gameplay.
Fade to Black
November '95, p. 126
Nice animation; exciting combat; adventure-style puzzles.
Commands are pretty complex; control is choppy on a 486.
A strong balance of battles and brain-teasers that should be a nice break from shooters and adventures.
Faery Tale Adventure II: Halls of the Dead
April '98, p. 140
Encore Software
83rd Street
90045
(310) 342-0600
Beautiful graphics; large game world; variety of items, creatures, landscapes.
Annoying and difficult interface, character movement, combat.
If you're a die-hard RPG fan, you might enjoy it. Otherwise, wait for better ones that are in the works.
Falcon 4.0
March '99, p. 100
Unprecedented depth; detailed tutorials; beautiful graphics
Steep hardware requirements; a few bugs and graphic glitches
Can you believe it? It's finally out -- and the four-year wait was well worth it.
Fallen Haven
June '97, p. 113
P.O. Box 3491
919-461-0722
A simple approach that allows for quick play.
Too few units. High unit expendability in a turn-based game doesn't really work. No multi-player.
A fair bet if you want some quick gameplay, but it could use some refinements.
Fallout
January '98, p. 221
Excellent introduction; engaging story line; eerie music and visuals; slick interface.
Movement interface can be a bit creaky.  Steep system requirements and occasional bugs.
This sequel to an all-time classic is one of the standoutt RPGs for the 1990s.
Fallout 2
February '99, p. 178
Deep character developement, large gameworld, challenging quests.
Numerous bugs; the game has a sluggish starting pace.
If you value character developement, old-fashioned gameplay, and a good plot, this game delivers on all counts.
Fantasy General
June '96, p. 88
675, Almanor Ave.
Slick; colorful; easy to sink into; lots of exotic units and spells.
It lacks the depth of Warlords II; occasional lock-ups necessitate frequent saves.
It's not the best fantasy wargame out there, but it's still a terrific diversion.
Fast Action Paq
July '94, p. 92
Quackers (Mallard Software)
3207 Justin Road
Flower Mound, TX 75028
It will not interfere with normal Windows operations.
There are only four games, and none of them are fun.
There are better ways to spend your gaming dollar, and better choices in Windows entertainment.
Fast Attack
June '96, p. 93
Excellent design provides a you-are-there feeling; smoothly integrates the numerous complex elements into a working game of substantial depth.
Milquetoast enemies; no way to save a game in progress; mission time limit.
It's flawed, but Fast Attack is still the best nuclear sub game in many moons.
Fatal Abyss
March '99, p. 128
Segasoft
(888) 734-2763
Depth boundaries adds some originality to a tired formula.
No Direct3D support (it's 3Dfx-only); outdated graphics; boring, unoriginal gameplay; quirky control.
Fatal Abyss lives up to its name; it's fatally abysmal.
Field & Stream Trophy Buck
April '99, p. 138
Better deer animation than in other sims; good variety of weapons.
Controls can't be customized; trees are just 2D sprites; uninteresting career mode.
It's better than most, but it's still just another clumsy hunting sim.
41
Fields of Glory
August '94, p. 62
(800) 695-4163
Epic sweep combined with a fantastic amount of detail; very friendly interface; stunning graphics.
The AI routines are dodgy and tend to spoil the realism.
The finest tabletop miniatures wargame yet released, and a true joy to play.
FIFA International Soccer
October '94, p. 48
Looks great, plays smooth, and has all the extras that a fan could want.
Difficult passing and power kicks take a great deal of the fun out of play, at least at first...
A very deep soccer sim for players who have the patience to deal with some quirky controls. Another winner from EA!
FIFA: Road to World Cup 98
April '98, p. 144
EA Sports
Fantastic graphics; addictive multi-player action; a blast to play.
Something of a steep learning curve; AI falters every now and then.
Quite simply, this is the best soccer simulation on PC.
FIFA Soccer 96
December '95, p. 207
11450 Fashion Island Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94404-2064
Multiplayer and modem options; brilliant graphics; realistic play; comprehensive league and tournament play.
You'll need a Pentium 90 or better to really enjoy the high resolution graphics.
If you're in the market for a top-notch sports sim, look no further.
FIFA Soccer 97
March '97, p. 152
Authentic, fun, gameplay; exquisite presentation.
Players occasionally behave erratically; tournament modes could be better defined.
FIFA 97 is a great leap forward for PC soccer games, and terrific entertainment in its own right.
Fighter Duel
January '96, p. 209
Outstanding two-player dogfighting, excellent frame rate on modest systems.
Weak single-player game; no real compaign mode.
Modem dogfighters are in for a treat, but solo players should stick to in-depth sims.
Fighter Pilot
February '99, p. 217
Nice graphics; very easy to get into.
The slow pace and simplistic nature make this game dull and unchallenging.
This game is for novices only, and even then, Fighter Pilot is so disjointed that it's a little hard to recommend it to anyone.
Fighter Squadron: Screamin' Demons Over Europe
June '99, p. 126
Excellent physics and object modeling. Interesting roster of planes.
Arcade-like flight model. Frustrating cockpits. Heavy fogging. No sun. Staggeringly bad manual.
A clearly unfinished game that could be good with a heavy-duty patch.
Fighter Wing
June '95, p. 125
Looks great; and multi-player games in low resolution can be fun.
Abysmally slow on the best systems.
It's better than Operation Airstorm, but not by much.
Fighting Steel
September '99, p. 122
Stunning action graphics, especially in night battles; well-designed interface.
Repeated crashes and lock-ups; unfinished ship models; missing features.
A few more months of bug-squashing, and this could have been a contender.
Final Doom
November '96, p. 233
New York, NY 1006
All the good features of Doom -- this game is still great.
The game is three years old now, and starting to show its age.
If, for some unfathomable reason, you've never played Doom and you can't find the original, Final Doom is worth picking up.
Final Fantasy VII
September '98, p. 136
Beautiful graphics; huge, compelling story; unique gameplay.
Large hard-drive requirements; console save locations.
This giant PlayStation hit isn't destined to change the face of PC roleplaying, but it's still a blast.
Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000
February '98, p. 172
Excellent gameplay with the feel of the classic table-top system.
Unit graphics are often cheesy. Needs more races.
Quality where it counts -- in the gameplay.  The campaign game and quick battles are terrific.
Fire Fight
August '96, p. 91
It's fast, it's slick, it's action-packed, and it's multiplayer. What more do you want?
Only 18 single-player missions, so not much longevity for those without friends to play with.
The best out-and-out sprite-based blaster on the PC.
Fireteam
May '99, p. 133
Multitude
www.fireteam.com
Voice-chat feature is a real achievement; game's community supported by Multitude.
A meager arsenal; shortage of opponents and teammates; awkward control scheme.
One great feature doesn't make for a great game.
First Encounters
August '95, p. 98
GameTek Inc.
2999 N.E. 191st Street
Impressive depth and variety; nice texture-mapped graphics.
Can be painfully repetitive, and combat is frustratingly tough.
First Encounters is an ambitious game--but it has a lot of problems that drag it down.
Fleet Command
July '99, p. 94
Jane's Combat Simulations
Excellent 3D graphics; simplified controls clarify complex navel warfare elements.
Cumbersome interface quirks; lacks some info and control functions; weak manual.
A great naval wargame for novice and hardcore gamers alike.
Fleet Defender
May/June '94, p. 60
Great graphics and sound; multiple realism options make it as challenging (or as easy) as you like.
Much horsepower needed to keep it airborne; learning the controls can be time-consuming.
MicroProse has scored a direct hit with Fleet Defender. If you enjoy modern air-combat sims, this is definitely for you.
Flesh Feast
October '98, p. 210
It's got zombies in it!
Poor graphics; no gamepad support; gets tedious; not scary; crappy interface.
Once you get past the fact that there are zombies wandering around, this is just another boring "find the key" action game.
Flight Commander 2
March '95, p. 90
A thoughtful, intelligent simulation, and one that really has no current competition.
May be too leisurely for many flight-sim fans; pedestrian graphics just barely pull the plow.
If the subject interests you, by all means give it a try. It's different, and it's designed very cleverly.
Flight Sim Toolkit
May/June '94, p. 80
651 Brannan St.
(415) 547-1200
A super program that really does let you create your very own worlds.
It's in dire need of better documentation and can prove frustrating at first because of it.
Despite its limitations, a clever and original program worth sticking with.
Flight Unlimited
September '95, p. 101
Looking Glass Technologies
1 Alewife Center
Suite 450
Cambridge, MA 02140
Best graphics ever seen in a flight sim; excellent flight school puts an instructor right beside you.
You'll need at least a Pentium 90 before the game really starts to cook.
With its incredible graphics and great flight school, Flight Unlimited soars above the pack of flight simulations.
Flight Unlimited II
May '98, p. 102
Incredible graphics; realistic flight models; wonderful recreation of air-traffic control.
Emphasis on realistic communications and procedures might bore some players; fairly small flying area; steep system requirements.
As close as you can get to flying a civilian plane without a pilot's license.
Fly!
October '99, p. 160
Detailed, interactive cockpit; decent flight modeling; impressive navigation; airport info.
Requires top-of-the-line hardware; poor terrain detail and elevation modeling; no crashes.
Superb systems simulation and good flight model, but visuals will disappoint.
Flying Corps
May '97, p. 120
Empire
13220 Wisteria Dr., Bay N-2
Germantown
20874
310-916-9303
Visually gorgeous and full game world. Detailed flight model; strong gameplay.
Useless Win95 mode; screwy keyboard layout and viewing options; joystick problems.
A flawed gem, but a gem nonetheless. A wonderful sim with an authentic feel.
Formula 1
September '97, p. 190
Pretty; 30fps with 3Dfx even on a P90; lots of tracks, teams, drivers.
Driving engine is terribly unrealistic; only supports four accelerator cards; no multi-player functions.
It's fun for a bit, but the lack of replayabilitiy will disappoint many die-hard fans.
Forsaken
August '98, p. 106
Awesome graphics and gameplay to match.
Cramped levels; some unfair enemy tactics; weapons don't carry over in levels.
This addictive and pretty blast-fest is sure to breathe new life into the tunnel-shooter genre.
Fortress of Dr. Radiaki
February '95, p. 85
1307 Gamma Road
Good character graphics and a great sense of humor; plenty of action.
The level graphics and architecture leave a lot to be desired; no joystick support.
Fortress of Dr. Radiaki may not be the best shooter around, but it's definitely worth a look.
Fox Sports Golf '99
September '98, p. 161
Fox Sports
http://www.foxsportsgames.com
Options galore; tournaments are well done; strangely appealing graphics.
Fussy control methods; putting is too easy; some ball physics problems.
A few gameplay adjustments short of being a really good game.
Foxhunt
May '96, p. 113
Capcom
475 Oakmead
(408) 774-0400
Slapstick comedy and antics make the non-interactive sequences worth watching.
Bad video; long load times; little interaction.
If you're starved for low-brow entertainment, Foxhunt will do in a pinch, but if gameplay is your thing, you'll be disappointed.
FPS: Baseball '94
December '94, p. 101
The career play, physics-based action, and unmatched graphics and sound set a new standard for baseball simulations.
Weak stats and a few annoying bugs keep it from earning an Editors' Choice Award.
If you love baseball and own a computer, you must have this game.
FPS Baseball Pro 96
October '96, p. 155
3380 146th Place S.E. Suite 300
Bellevue, Washington 98007
Same as in 1994; Good graphics; rich career play; physics-based action.
Same as in 1994: Steep system requirements; big statistical and gameplay problems.
Could've been great if gameplay had gotten as much attention as graphics.
FPS: Baseball Pro '98
September '97, p. 174
Incredible depth; statistical accuracy; totally customizable; loads of play options.
Sterile, unexciting gameplay; primitive graphics; no sense of "being there."
Achieves what it sets out to do, but baseball has never looked less inviting.
FPS: Football Pro 96
March '96, p. 138
Gorgeous and realistic-looking SVGA grahpics; still the best football sim around.
Steep hardware requirements; few reasons to upgrade.
A minor upgrade, but still the champ of football sims.
FPS Football Pro '97
April '97, p. 116
3380 146th Place S.E., Suite 300
800-757-7707
The original design is there; you won't find a better way to make leagues and plays.
Dubious multi-player action; numerous bugs; Windows screen clutter, DOS hangovers.
You'd be better off with an earlier DOS version of the game.
FPS:Football Pro '98
March '98, p. 112a
Improved interface; incredible depth as a simulation; fast sim mode.
Action play is horrendous; presentation is from a bygone era.
If you shun arcade action and want a deep and customizable simulation, this is a worthy purchase. Otherwise, forget it.
74
FPS: Ski Racing
May '98, p. 128
Nice selection of ski equipment; good sound effects.
Difficult for beginners; bland graphics; not much event variety.
Even after you get past the steep learning curve, there's not enough excitement to keep you playing.
Fragile Allegiance
July '97, p. 176
(800) 969-PLAY
Nice production; good ideas (taken from other games).
Familiar themes; boring gameplay; repetitiveness; too much screen hopping.
A competently programmed yawn with limited replay value.
Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball
September '96, p. 98
Realistic pitching highlights excellent action play; and there are enough stats to keep purists interested.
Awkward keyboard controls.
One of the best action-oriented baseball games available for the PC.
Frankenstein
February '96, p. 136
Looks great; the sinister mood is well done.
Exploration is unnecessarily frustrating, game's solitary nature can get boring.
Folks who loved Myst might find it appealing, but if you demand more depth, you'd probably be better off reading Shelley's book.
Frogger
April '98, p. 132
Nice graphics; bouncy soundtrack.
Control is terrible. You can't see enough of the levels to make head or tails of your surroundings.
A definite case against the whole retro-gaming craze.
Front Lines
May '95, p. 111
Beautiful graphics; a friendly interface; and a challenging variety of mission scenarios.
Experienced wargamers will probably feel like they've seen it all before.
This is a well-designed product that should have wide appeal.
FSP: Golf
August '97, p. 114
TrueSwing is intuitive and realistic; fun, tough courses; realistic ball movement.
TrueSwing is tough to learn; pointless player commentary.
The truly revolutionary swing style makes FPS: Golf intuitive and fun.
Full Throttle
August '95, p. 80
A head-long adventure that will take your breath away from the very start.
Veteran players will finish the game quickly; gameplay is rigidly linear; arcade sequences get old.
It may be a little short, but it's one wild ride while it lasts.
Full Tilt! 2 Pinball
March '97, p. 149
2121 North California Blvd., Suite 600
94596
(800) 33-MAXIS
Great graphics and sound; many clever enhancements over the original game.
We wish it came with five or six tables, instead of three.
No pinball addict should miss Full Tilt 2!
Full Tilt Pinball
March '96, p. 108
Walnut Creek, CA 94596-3572
Good sound effects; slick graphics and nice table design.
Only three different tables; not enough graphic options for some.
As pinball simulations go, Full Tilt Pinball is hard to beat - but there are still better ones out there.
Fury 3
December '95, p. 260
Redmond, WA
3D action fans will love the nonstop flyin' and shootin'; excellent terrain graphics.
High system requirements; gameplay gets old; where's the modem-play option?
This is a first-rate 3D game that proves Microsoft is serious about gaming.
Future Cop L.A.P.D.
February '99, p. 197
Great blasting action. Solid graphics and decent muli-player modes.
A handful of targeting problems; some of the acting is pretty cheesy.
If you're into action titles, and you're on a budget, Future Cop won't disappoint.
FX Fighter
September '95, p. 117
GTE Interactive Media
1035 Corte Del Nogal
Carlsbad
92009
800-438-86329
The best fighting game ever created for the PC.  Period.
Sparse manual; a few extra features like instant replay or a full-install would have been nice.
A stunning and impressive piece of work that sets a new standard in PC fighting games.
FX Fighter Turbo
March '97, p. 105
GTE
2035 Corte Del Nogal, Suite 200
(800) GTE-TODAY
It's more of the same for FX Fighter fans; the network play is a plus.
Inferior graphics; little innovation; and clumsy controls.
If you must have network play, you might as well go for this one, but there are plenty of other, better 3D fighters.
G-Nome
G
May '97, p. 117
7th Level
P.O. 832190
Richardson
75083-2190
800-884-8863 Ext. 77
Pretty graphics; the ability to eject and enter enemy 'bots and buildings adds variety.
Choppy animation; sluggish control; inadequate manual.
G-Nome had the goods to be a hit, but poor execution makes it a disappointment.
G-Police
February '98, p. 160
Magnificent visual effects!  Among the prettiest games available.
Limiting flight model; frustrating missions; no multi-player options.
All looks and no brains may be appealing, but consider yourself warned.
Gadget
December '94, p. 159
Synergy
605 W. 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 891-9636
Fantastic visuals and a powerful soundtrack give Gadget atmosphere to spare.
Where's the game? A few good puzzles could have put this in game-of-the-year territory.
Cinema meets gaming; cinema wins with a TKO.
Galactic Civilizations
May '95, p. 96
Stardock Systems, Inc.
Gibraltar, MI
(313) 782-2248
Great AI; computer players have distinctive personalities and respond to your playing style.
You'll need OS/2 to run this one; graphics could be better; it's just another resource management game.
If you're wondering if a good game can be done under OS/2, you ought to check out Galactic Civilizations.
Galapagos
February '98, p. 158
Anark
1730 15th Street
Boulder
CO
80302
(650) 572-2787
Revolutionary AI; beautiful graphic design.
Very short. Serious gameplay drawbacks.
Galapagos is a revolutionary piece of software. Unfortunately, it's not a very good game.
Game Creation System
June '95, p. 93
Pie in the Sky Software
1596 Ayrault Road
Fair Port, NY 14450
(716) 425-8782
A simple interface; plenty of tools; and a library of objects to get you started.
The basic engine you're building on doesn't stand a chance against the current crop of 3D games.
A reasonably priced construction kit that lets you show your friends how games should be made.
Game, Net & Match
September '98, p. 170
870 E. Higgins Road, Suite 143
(800) 933-2983
Excellent online play; good shot control; Blue Byte's leaderboard.
No bells or whistles; some ugly graphics; you'll yearn for more intelligent AI.
There's fun to be had, but only those with multi-player in mind need apply.
Gangsters: Organized Crime
April '99, p. 102
Richly detailed and engrossing; open-ended gameplay means replay value.
Soupy interface; limited control when carefully laid plans are executed.
It's not The Godfather of computer games, but it's good fun.
Gazillionaire
April '95, p. 109
It's addictive; you just can't stop yourself from visiting one more planet.
It would be nice if there were more planets to choose from.
The funky atmosphere is much of what makes this simple but fun game work.
Gearheads
7th Flr.
It's a fun and catchy game built around a unique idea.
It can get old quickly, so it's best taken in small doses.
It's a simple little game that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Gender Wars
December '96, p. 281
New York, NY 10016
A fun squad-based combat game.
Degrading to both sexes, and some weird screen flicker takes away from the enjoyment.
This one should hold you over 'till Syndicate Wars arrives in town.
Gene Wars
December '96, p. 285
Clean interface, sharp graphics, and moody sound effects.
Uninspired combat and resource management, lack of variety in missions and unit types.
With more variety and less repetition, Gene Wars could've been something special.
Genghis Khan II
Koei Corp.
A detailed sim with sweep, drama, and depth.
Might be too complex for some.
One of the best Koei titles in some time. If you like historical sims, get this one!
Get Medieval
October '98, p. 215
98033
(425) 739-1584
Simple gameplay; an option to turn off the gore makes this nice for young kids.
It's Gauntlet with better graphics and wisecracks; but that's not enough to save it.
Okay for the kiddie set, but serious gamers will tire of the repetition.
Gex
April '97, p. 141
206-882-8080
A few interesting additions to the genre, and you can turn off Gex's voice!
So-so graphics; not all that amusing
If Microsoft tells you something's funny, run for your life. I found more humor in Windows 95.
Glider 4.0 for Windows
December '94, p. 156
Casady & Greene
22734 Portola Drive
Salinas, CA 93908-1119
(408) 484-9228
Addictive, challenging gameplay makes it fun.
The simplicity and 2-D gameplay may discourage hard-core gamers from giving it a chance.
A fun, relatively non-violent game that will appeal to gamers of all ages.
Global Domination
April '99, p. 97a
989 East Hillsdale Boulevard
Who wouldn't want to kill world evildoers?
With only two drab views, bad documentation, and a frustrating interface, maybe it's best to let the evildoers have their way.
The quest for world domination has never been so uninteresting.
Glover
March '99, p. 142
Colorful graphics; unique (though odd) idea.
Sloppy control; playing with the keyboard is simply not an option; senseless concept; drunk camera system.
It definitely ain't "Glove at first sight." Leave this one on the shelf.
39
Goblins Quest 3
May/June '94, p. 79
Terrific gameplay, graphics, and sound.
A few of the puzzles might be a little too tough.
Part puzzle game, part graphic adventure, this is sure to please fans of either genre.  A very good title!
Golden Gate
May '97, p. 128
4701 Patrick Henry Drive
Nicely done watercolor style graphics.
Really bad acting; tedious puzzles; complete lack of originality; one of the worst endings in gaming history.
If you've played Myst, you don't need to play it again in San Francisco.
Golden Nugget
May '97, p. 132
800-874-4607
Adam West! Pure West!
Pitifully slow, even on a fast computer; no instructions; bad controls; poor recreation of casino games.
Golden Nugget makes you appreciate shareware casino games.
Golden Tee Golf
November '98, p. 274
Simple but effective swing method; good physics model; quality 'net play.
No replay or computer opponents; only three courses and two play modes.
Golf fans and gamers of all types will have a good time with this one.
Gone Fishin'
April '95, p. 93
Amtex
P.O. Box 572
Belleville, Ontario, Canada K8N 5B2
(613) 967-7900
Captures the relaxing and thrilling feel of fishing. It's simple, addictive stuff.
The artwork could be better in spots, and the action may be too low key for some.
Try it. Even if you don't fish, you may be surprised how much fun this game is.
Good to Firm
September '94, p. 80
Wizard Games of Scotland
P.O. Box 498
Wilmington, MA 01887
Loaded with all the statistics and the information you need to go horse racing.
Primitive graphics and lack of sound effects severely handicaps the racing action.
A solid horse racing sim, but a visually weak presentation.
Grand Prix II
October '96, p. 140
(800) 879-7529
Amazing graphics, unmatched detail, and a great sense of speed.
Steep learning curve; multi-player options don't include network support.
At least until Sierra releases the next title from Papyrus, Grand Prix II is the best racing sim you can get.
Grand Prix Legends
January '99, p. 176
Superb physics model. Strong driver AI.
No true difficulty settings. Coupled with the over-modeled physics, this means a very steep, steep learning curve.
For racing sim junkies only; if you just want to drive fast, look elsewhere.
Grand Prix Manager
April '96, p. 103
An exhaustive and intriguing simulation of a big-league racing operation; user-friendly interface.
Not enough action for some gamers.
If the subject of big-time racing interests you, you'll love GPM.
Grand Slam
September '97, p. 146
800-847-4607
Unique control meters for pitching and batting; good graphics and sound.
No network or Internet play; simplistic arcade feel; not as fun as other baseball games.
Grand Slam does not score a grand slam. You'd be better off with Triple Play '98.
Grand Theft Auto
May '98, p. 136
ASC Games
9 Old Kings Highway South Suite 301
Darien
06820
(203) 655-0032
Killer music, non-stop action, and bucketloads of violent fun.
No save game feature; no 3Dfx support in Windows 95; missions can be rather difficult.
Grand Theft Auto is a fun, anti-social game with a few annoying faults.
Grandest Fleet
July '94, p. 74
Plenty of depth; easy to learn but tough to master; good graphics.
Contrived scenarios require suspension of disbelief.
If you like The Lost Admiral, you'll probably love this near sequel, even though there are as many differences as similarities between the two.
Great Battles of Alexander
September '97, p. 178
Rich graphics; historical accuracy; a good manual; a real sense of spectacle.
Slow battle development due to animation; steep learning curve; somewhat messy interface.
If you're at all interested in this era of warfare, this is the only game in town.
Great Battles of Hannibal
February '98, p. 129
Nice graphics; a new and fascinating strategic layer of play.
Some scenes are still very slow to develop; Hannibal is a more specialized taste than Alexander.
Nicely captures the epic, ultimately tragic, curve of Hannibal's career.
Great Naval Battles II:  Guadalcanal 1942 - 1943
July '94, p. 72
Sound; graphics; realism.
Steep learning curve.
A detailed, rich, and terrific-looking naval combat simulation.  Good job, SSI!
Great Naval Battles IV
February '96, p. 159
Great graphics, sound; a fascinating range of historical might-have-beens.
It's still a very complicated sim, especially if you haven't played the previous installments.
If you're really into the subject, you'll have a great time changing history.
Great Naval Battles Vol. III
June '95, p. 126
Strategic Simulations, Inc.
Gripping intensity; great graphics/sound; exceptional complexity.
Definitely an advanced simulator; for newcomers, a steep learning curve.
The balance between epic sweep and war-movie detail is ideal. Simply the best WWII naval sim on the market.
Greg Norman Ultimate Challenge Golf
March '96, p. 137
Grolier Electronic Publishing
Danbury, CT 06816
(203) 797-3530
Unique golfer profiles and great graphics.
Not enough features to make it competitive; looong load times.
An interesting new take on golf simulations, but one that needs something more to make it work.
Grid Runner
March '97, p. 144
Fast-paced action, good-looking graphics.
Network play would have been great, and the split-screen two-player mode wears on the eyes.
Grid Runner dares to be different, and succeeds, but where's the 'net-play?
Grim Fandango
January '99, p. 186
(888) 532-4263
Great story, soundtrack, voice actin, and graphics; good puzzles integration.
A few crash bugs; some puzzles are poorly designed.
A sure bet for the adventure crowd and anyone who appreciates a great story.
Gulf War
October '99, p. 128
Some entertaining mayhem; cool 3dfx boosted enemies and terrain.
Boring stretches; lousy AI; multiplayer won't hold your attention.
Goofy tank fun for the not-so-serious gamers in the family.
The Golf Pro
June '98, p. 102
Great feel-based gameplay; stunning course graphics.
Only two courses; some mice can be difficult to calibrate.
Despite the meager course selection, real and virtual golfers will appreciate the good gameplay.
H*E*D*Z
H
March '99, p. 149
Cool graphics and NASCAR theme; good ball physics.
Unchallenging tables; not enough table variety.
It's an original idea, but the lack of variety means this game won't last long on your hard drive.
H.U.R.L.
August '95, p. 110
Millennium Media
234 N. Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA (
215) 625-8928
The idea is there for a great, non-violent kids game with Doom-like qualities.
There isn't much challenge, satisfaction, or fun here.
It fills a void in the kids market, just not very well.
Half-Life
January '99, p. 166
Superlative gameplay and outstanding content. Incredible atmoshere and suspense.
More variety among the friendly NPCs would have been nice.
This is The Big One, and it's even better than we could've hoped.
Hammer of the Gods
March '95, p. 104
Vikings, this is your game.
If the whole Nordic thing turns you off, you probably won't get it.
A fresh and original concept, realized with energy and zest. The whole is decidedly better than its parts.
Hannibal
Good strategic elements.
No real tactical component.
Beautifully detailed graphics, but it lacks the depth to make it great.
Hardball 4
March '95, p. 113
5300 Stevens Creek Boulevard #500
Stunning SVGA graphics; more extensive statistics than previous HardBall games.
Unrealistic play on the field; disappointing sound effects.
If you're a HardBall fan, or more interested in fun than realism, this latest version will surely satisfy.
HardBall 5
January '96, p. 217
#500
Excellent arcade play; improved league play and modem options make this the best HardBall yet.
Unrealistic replay statistics.
It's still weak on realism, but HardBall 5's the best action baseball game available.
HardBall 6
July '98, p. 135
Good arcade play over the Internet. Good customization options; decent AI.
Sub-par graphics and sound. Poor camera angles, missing stadiums, and skewed statistics.
If you've been looking for a dugout management game, check this out.
Hardline
May '97, p. 109
1861 Fitch Avenue
Video quality is good; the graphic sex scene is sure to tick off the busy-bodies in Washington.
Held together by the worst arcade sequences in recent memory.
Go watch a Troma movie instead.
Harpoon 2
September '94, p. 70
Three-Sixty Pacific
2105 South Bascom
Suite 165
Campbell, CA 95008
Sleek interface; extraordinary realism; excellent scenarios; a massive database.
A tough game to learn and master; appeal is limited to those with an interest in modern naval warfare.
Simply the best modern warfare game ever. This is a classic made even better.
Harry and the Haunted House
December '94, p. 149
Living Books
P.O. Box 6144
Novato, CA 94948-6144
(800) 776-4724
The well-written story stars four funny friends and a gang of deliciously ghastly ghouls.
The story's message is a bit confusing.
Harry and the Haunted House entertains children with an excellent story and surprising electronic embellishments.
Harvester
December '96, p. 276
13707 Gamma Rd.
(214) 385-2353
A serviceable adventure with an unflinching approash; delivers the gory goods as promised.
Outdated interface; unrelenting unpleasantness bound to offend some.
Definitely not for the squeamish.
Haunted Casino
October '97, p. 231
2245 Camino Vida Roble, Ste. 100
(760)931-4955
Doesn't take much hard-drive space.
Casino games are ugly and poorly designed; adventure game element doesn't work.
Haunted Casino attempts to combine two wildly different game genres and succeeds in making both look bad.
Havoc
July '96, p. 109
Reality Bytes
1 Kendall Square
Bldg. 400
Plentiful multi-player options.
Solo action is pretty humdrum, thanks to uninspired enemies.
Havoc can be fun over a network, but the one-player action just doesn't cut it.
HeadRush
December '98, p. 217
Trivia
Fun, engaging trivia delivered with flare; lots of teenage humor.
Some borderline questions; animations aren't up to usual Jack quality.
Despite the fart and sex jokes, this is a great trivia game for teenagers.
Heart of Darkness
November '98, p. 224
Good animation, audio; neat level design; back-to-basics gameplay.
The motion gets choppy; the game is mind-numbingly difficult.
This is a long-overdue action game. If you're a fan of classic side-scrolling adventure, Heart of Darkness is freaking hardcore.
Heavy Gear
March '98, p. 120
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.
Custom features; good replay value and online support; interesting world.
The bugs and uneven coding aren't critical, but they are a nuisance. Some weak graphics.
Niggling bugs hurt good gameplay, but overall, this is a strong mech game.
Heavy Gear II
September '99, p. 118
Great blend of squad management and action; wonderful effects; variety of Gears; superb AI.
A few graphics hitches; tricky customization screen.
Heavy Gear II takes the robotic combat genre into new territory.
Helicops
July '97, p. 201
75081
(800) 884-8863
Nice arcade-like feel; solid (if antiseptic) graphics; interesting Japanese touches.
No real flight model to speak of; little replay value.
The lite beer of 3D shooters.
Hell
March '95, p. 82
Take 2  Interactive
3rd Floor
Great story, puzzles, graphics, and believable voice-acting.
The nudity, violence and strong language may be a bit too much for some folks.
Hell draws the latest line in the sand for other designers to cross.
Hellbender
December '96, p. 268
Microsoft Corporation
Nice accelerated graphics and, if you enjoyed Terminal Velocity, here's more of the same.
TV has been through enough incarnations. Big chunky graphics and nasty subterranean play equal frustration.
We've seen this before, and it really is time to move on...
Hello Kitty's Big Fun Piano
December '94, p. 144
Big Top Productions
548 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 978-5363
A beautifully executed program with smooth graphics and clever options.
Limited scope might not hold a child's interest for long periods at a time.
Does one thing very well rather than spreading itself thinly across several activities.
Heretic
April '95, p. 103
id Software
Town East Tower 180601 LBJ Freeway
Suite 615
Mesquite, TX 75150
Slick graphics; new enemies; and the chance to change your friends into chickens.
Heretic's mystic setting just doesn't equal Doom in bone-crushing atmosphere.
The same kick-in-the-teeth violence buffet as Doom, but with great new trimmings.
Heretic II
February '99, p. 190
New and interesting gameplay elements; funky magical visual effects.
Some annoying load times; Corvus gets stuck sometimes; and their arr lot's of typoes.
A great-looking action romp through the familiar world of Heretic.
Heroes of Might and Magic III
June '99, p. 132
Classic, satisfying strategy; improved graphics; replayability.
Gameply is not a huge leap beyond Heroes II; not a lot of depth.
Fans of this series will find new units, somewhat deeper strategy, and lots of pretty maps to sink their teeth into.
Heroes of Might & Magic
November '95, p. 153
Remarkably strong, simple strategy gaming. You won't stop playing!
It ain't flashy -- but that doesn't hurt the gameplay any.
One of the most enjoyable games of the year. This one will have a long life on your hard drive.
Heroes of Might & Magic II
February '97, p. 138
Hollywood
90078
A very well-designed strategy game. Anything this hard to stop playing has to be good.
The wait-your-turn, multi-player option for network and modem play can be tedious without any type of time limit imposed.
If you enjoy strategy games, you simply must have this one.
Hexen: Beyond Heretic
February '96, p. 143
id Software/GT Interactive
Beautifully executed, with a wide variety of weapons and non-stop action.  Many novel twists.
Gameplay is limited to the same mindless slaughter found in previous shooters. Not many secrets or puzzles.
A solid action game with terrific fantasy trappings, but ultimately familiar gameplay.
Hexen II
December '97, p. 190
Stunning level graphics, textures, monsters, and special effects.
Spotty level design. Too much running around. Some questionable puzzles. No automap. Long load times.
A visual treat with plenty of action and killing, but some frustrating gameplay elements.
Hexplore
November '98, p. 226
Infogrames Entertainment
New voxel technology is interesting. Lots of gameplay, monsters, items, secrets, puzzles.
Poor graphics; interface is frustrating; story line is nothing special.
Hexplore does try something new, but comes up short in too many ways.
Hexx: Heresy of the Wizard
July '94, p. 84
675 Massachusetts Avenue
Nice atmosphere, fast action, and a cleaner interface than in most RPGs.
There may be too many puzzles and not enough variety to keep your interest alive.
A well-designed, straight-forward game, well worth considering if you crave a similar form of roleplaying.
Hi-Octane
September '95, p. 87
Real sense of speed; great graphics; and plenty of gunplay.
The game just ends, and much too quickly.
A very good game--but it could have been a great one.
High Heat Baseball
July '98, p. 122
Top-notch arcade play; the best baseball game AI; pretty stadiums; solid animations.
Hideous batter graphics; some bugs; lack of some options will disappoint stat freaks.
Even though it's a "no frills" game, the action alone will satisfy most gamers.
High Heat Baseball 2000
July '99, p. 101
Brilliant pitcher-batter interface; the prettiest stadiums around; tremendous depth.
Many small but frustrating bugs; some speed issues need tweaking.
If you're into baseball games, you need to add this one to your collection.
High Seas Trader
June '95, p. 100
A good, solid trading sim with enough variables to keep gameplay fresh.
There's just not much to do besides trading; too many still screens.
Plenty of fun if you're a big fan of economic sims, but not enough variety for most gamers.
Hind
December '96, p. 272
A solid flight model with crisp graphics and a slew of gameplay options.
Dodgy joystick calibration and support. Explosions still chunky.
Just about everything a flight hack could want in a sim is here. Buy it.
History of the World
September '97, p. 192
21214-3192
410-254-9200
Fans of the original will enjoy the multi-player options.
Solo play is predictable and routine, and the game quickly becomes boring.
Thisis for fans of the boardgame only.
Hive (The)
May '96, p. 133
2644 30th St..
(310) 310-2000
Gorgeous visuals and lots of button-pushing action.
Thin gameplay, rail-shooter design restricts interaction.
Pretty to look at, occasionally fun, but ultimately repetitive.
Hodj 'n' Podj
October '95, p. 132
A truly "G-rated" game that's fun for the entire family.
Veteran PC gamers have seen it all before and may not care to see it again.
Within its modest parameters, this is a solid and successful game design.
Hooves of Thunder
April '96, p. 129
750 Dawson Dr.
Newark, DE 19713
(717) 872-6576
Exhaustive simulation of a horse racing operation.
Not enough action for some gamers; better sound effects would help the track ambiance.
If the subject of world-class horse racing interests you, you'll love this game.
Horde (The)
May/June '94, p. 84
Crystal Dynamics
2460 Embarcadero Way
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Good acting in the video clips; a great soundtrack; and fast-paced gameplay.
The interface is somewhat clunky, and gameplay can get a little repetitive.
This is a solid mix of strategy and fun that anyone can start enjoying as soon as they pop it in their CD-ROM drive.
House of the Dead
December '98, p. 218
Awesome gameplay, dozens of gameplay branches, and solid Direct3D support.
Arcade fans will miss the sweat-inducing Sega Stunner light-gun.
House of the Dead is a horror buff's dream come true and is a blast to play.
Hoyle Poker
August '97, p. 125
Many variations of poker, some you might not be familiear with; free access to SIGS.
The "attitude" gets tiresome real fast.
Sierra's put its experience to good use, with an attractive, easy-to-use, and fun poker simulation.
Hunter Hunted
February '97, p. 155
It looks good, sounds great, and is easy to pick up and play.
Addictive while it lasts, but it won't last for long. The two-player mode isn't so compelling.
Impressive example of 2D action gaming, showing what the PC can do in this genre.
Huygen's Disclosure
April '97, p. 153
M6M5A1
800-465-2323
Well designed interface; some challenging puzzles.
Some of the puzzles are of the abstract, 7th Guest variety. Bad voice acting, graphics and dialog.
A decent graphic adventure with a handful of significant flaws.
Hyper 3-D Pinball
April '96, p. 138
Photo-realistic graphics; fantastic sound; plenty of great tables.
Steep system requirements; 3D perspective takes getting used to.
If you're a pinball fan with a fast computer, this one's a keeper.
HyperBlade
February '97, p. 120
Fast action, smooth graphics, and built-in 3D accelerator support.
Odd controls, erratic artificial intelligence, and disorienting environments.
If you're willing to accept a few minor flaws, HyperBlade can make you a superstar in the sport of the future.
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
I
January '96, p. 218
CyberDreams
23586 Calabasas Rd.
Ste 102
Narrative elements that go deeper than any previous adventure game.
Extremely grim subject matter means the game isn't exactly fun.
An intriguing adult game that definitely won't be everyone's cup of entertainment.
Icarus: Sanctuary of the Gods
September '98, p. 133
JC Research, Inc.
Turn-based combat is a breath of fresh air; characters look nice; easy interface.
Some combat encoutners are too long; no spoken dialog; minimal sound effects; bad soundtrack.
It won't win awards for originality, but it's fun if you're into turn-based gaming.
Icebreaker
August '96, p. 127
Twentieth Century Fox/Magnet Studios
3255 Grace St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(800) 996-0011
Lots of levels; good difficulty range; mildly fun.
Below average control and movement; becomes boring; no motivation to keep playing.
This is not the worst puzzle game out there, but it's certainly not the best, either.
iF-16
March '98, p. 129
Good flight modeling and gameplay.
Poor frame-rates and medicore graphics. No Internet play.
An interesting, mostly realistic sim that doesn't quite measure up to the current state of the art.
iF-22
October '97, p. 206
First detailed simulation of F-22 Raptor; dynamic campaign engine.
Graphics aren't that great; huge hard-drive and hardware requirements; some significant design flaws.
The ideas behind it are sound; but lackluster execution keeps it from taking off.
iF/A-18E Carrier Strike Fighter
December '98, p. 206
PO Box 13491
Great flight model, good avionics; very strong campaign generator; mission options.
Very buggy. Terrain graphics are mediocre. Crashes are common. AI could be better.
The major crash bugs need to be fixed; then iF/A-18 may be a good sim.
iM1A2 Abrams
June '97, p. 100
An exciting and challenging game, with solid graphics, excellent sound, and plenty of battlefield action.
Graphic presentation has some rough edges.
An exceptional, heavyweight sim, and a worthy successor to its forebearer.
Imperialism
November '97, p. 297
Original, engrossing, and fun; for connoisseurs of raw strategy.
Artificial victory conditions; clumsy ocean maps; non-historical geography; no edit options.
Fresh, well-balanced gaming that serious strategy gamers shouldn't miss.
Imperialism II
June '99, p. 151
Refines a sharp and meaty game system. Endless hours of play.
Feels too similar to the original. The increased need for food can be tedious to manage.
A well-balanced, famliar-feeling conquest and resource management game.
Imperium Galactica
July '97, p. 186
It's an elegant, challenging, addictive take on the classic space-strategy themes.
The interface is burdensome, and the manual is almost as confusing as it is helpful.
A surprising and delightful product for fans of conquer-the-galaxy gaming.
In Pursuit of Greed
August '96, p. 95
Softdisk Publishing
606 Common St.
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 221-8718
A semi-interesting twist on the action game idea; fair head-to-head play.
Pre-Doom graphics; not really challenging.
Why bother? There are so many better games in this genre, this one is hardly worth a look.
In the First Degree
December '95, p. 255
500 Redwood Blvd.
(800) 521-6263
A great idea; quality video segments; good acting and story line.
It would be more fun if there were other cases; slow access times; excessive sit-and-watch segments.
A quality game. If you don't mind lots of video clips and some repetition, you'll like it.
Inca II
July '94, p. 60
Great diversity of gameplay; and at $34.95, it's a real value.
Some of the gameplay is too simple, and the acting is pretty cheesy (not necessarily a bad thing!).
It's a weird mix, but Inca II is ultimately a winner. It's fun to play, easy on the wallet, and often stunning to look at.
Incoming
September '98, p. 169
Rage Software
www.rage.co.uk
These are some of the best visual effects ever seen in a game.
The action gets repetitive fast in spite of the various vehicles; the top-down strategy game is an afterthought.
It's initially fun, but players looking for more substance will quickly tire of it.
Incredible Machine 2
January '95, p. 123
Dozens of clever puzzles; a do-it-yourself mode and near open-ended game play.
None, really, unless you consider a somewhat sensitive cursor and a bit of hunger for base memory to be fatal flaws.
How often can you say you really got what you paid for?
Incubation
January '98, p. 281
Good multi-player support; challenging gameplay; good use of the 3D graphics.
Infrequent cut-scenes are pretty cheesy; multi-player games could use more variety.
A refreshing, addictive strategy game with charm -- on the surface and underneath.
Independence Day
July '97, p. 181
(310) 369-5369
Looks great, and runs well on minimum ( though high) spec machine.
Insanely difficult, repetitive, uncontrollable with analog joystick.
Gamepad slingin' console freaks will love it, but true PC gamers will probably (and rightly) expect more.
Independence War
November '98, p. 214
877-INFOGRAMES
Great graphics, excellent flight model, terrific missions, and nice story line.
No keyboard remapping. Curious method of playing opening cinematic.
If you're looking for a good, challenging space epic, I-War will float your boat.
Indiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures
September '96, p. 117
Simple to play; low hardware requirements; and the price is right.
Repetitive structure means limited play life; poor graphics.
Desktop Adventures isn't spectacular, but it doesn't pretend to be. As time-killers go, it's a refreshing change from Solitaire.
Industry Giant
November '98, p. 271
It's fun watching this world of yours grow as you nurture it.
Not very original. Keeping tabs on your transportation network becomes a chore.
It's an interesting idea, but it ends up to basic and sterile to remain compelling.
IndyCar Racing II
February '96, p. 127
Papyrus
1 Arsenal Marketplace
Watertown, MA 02172
(617) 926-7575
Stunning graphics and sound; very detailed car physics. The replay mode is really excellent.
You'll still need a fast Pentium to enjoy the SVGA graphics mode.
Racing simulations don't get any better than this.
Inferno:  The Odyssey Continues
May '95, p. 113
Impressive graphics and outstanding music.
Complex keyboard commands almost make a programmable controller a necessity.
If you're itching for something new, Inferno's worth the trouble.
Inherit the Earth
August '94, p. 54
(800) 251-9582
Beautiful VGA graphics; good voice acting; and an exciting new game world.
Slow-paced, with tedious gameplay, and puzzles that just never seem to entertain.
It has everything going for it, except the thing that matters the most--enjoyable game play.
International Tennis Open
December '94, p. 126
Philips Interactive Media
10960 Wilshire Boulevard
Seventh Floor
Excellent animation and digitized speech, plus a good selection of difficulty options.
Doesn't save player statistics; no option for doubles play.
Terrific graphics and sound wrapped around a top-notch tennis sim make this game an ace.
Interplay's 10 Year Anthology:  Classic Collection
August '94, p. 82
A great collection for nostalgia fans with some surprisingly playable old titles.
If you already have the two newer titles, the rest might not be worth the asking price.
A solid collection, and one of special value to those with a serious interest in the history of PC gaming.
Interstate '76
June '97, p. 76
11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000
310-473-9200
Original premise; great gameplay, graphics; built-in Internet support.
Steep hardware requirements; some frustrating missions.
Full of 1970s atmosphere and attitude, I76 proves that Activision has more tricks up its sleeve than giant robots. It's a blast.
Invasion of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom
Pop Software
P.O. Box 60995
Sunnyvale, CA 94088
Cheap, challenging, and runs on almost any system.
Gets very hard very fast.
If you're a shooter fan, there's no excuse not to get this one.
iPanzer '44
August '98, p. 146
Tank interiors are realistic.
Ugly maps, dated graphics, laughable infantry, and the interface is almost as complex for these primitive chariots as it was for the Abrams sim.
What were the designers smoking when they worked on this?
Iron Assault
August '95, p. 83
(714) 833-1999
Easy to manage; fun for two players in the city scenarios.
Primitive enemy animation and ill-conceived play areas.
Pretend it's an old Amiga game, and you'll love it.
Iron Cross
January '95, p. 103
Much more attractive than the real war.
But then again, it doesn't have anything to do with the real war.
A lightweight combat game packaged as a tactical simulation. Not as fun as The Perfect General.
Iron Man/X-O Manowar In Heavy Metal
April '97, p. 129
Umm, I'm thinking...
Poor graphics; sluggish control; no AI to speak of; lack of innovation; outdated comic book license.
Avoid this dog like it has rabies, and don't say we didn't warn you.
Ishar 3:  The Seven Gates of Infinity
March '95, p. 103
3375 14th Avenue
Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R OH2
(905) 475-4801
Thoughtful character development; sumptuous graphics; and a vast world to explore.
The combat system stinks, and the automapping function is frustratingly limited.
Hard-core FRPG fans will probably like it--novices will find it tedious, overwhelming, and frustrating.
Island Peril
August '96, p. 120
It all fits in one subdirectory on your hard drive, so it's easy to delete.
Terrible graphics; anemic sound; appalling acting; thoroughly unoriginal and uninteresting gameplay.
What more can we say? Island Peril is an unmitigated dog.
13
Israeli Air Force
December '98, p. 182
Lots of planes, lots of missions; intriguing step outside usual East-vs.-West fare.
Some missions feel like puzzles; terrain graphics can be blocky; steep hardware requirements.
It doesn't have the detail of Jane's F-15 or Longbow 2, but IAF is just plain fun.-
Jack Nicklaus 4
J
August '97, p. 100
5300 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 500
(415) 985-1700
Much-improved graphics; superb play; marvelous course designer; your chance to play with the Golden Bear.
Some aspects of play are too easy.
Required equipment for computer golfers.
Jack Nicklaus 5
March '98, p. 150
Improved views and gameplay; course designer is better than ever.
Lack of difficulty levels; slow play by computer golfers.
Jack Nicklaus 5 is a worthy upgrade to Jack Nicklaus 4 and a great reason to take another look at this series.
Jack Nicklaus 6
July '99, p. 117
Seamless Internet play; stunning graphics; great ball physics; addicting course editor.
Glitchy long-distance putting; disappointing sand and rough effects.
One of the most complete sports packages and a must-own for golf fans.
Jack the Ripper
April '96, p. 133
2999 N.E. 191st St.
Good, traditional, Sherlock-Holmesian detective game.
May seem hum-drum to players weaned on high-velocity, graphics-intensive adventure games.
Nothin' fancy, but a solid addition to the ever-growing Ripper canon.
Jagged Alliance
July '95, p. 117
Sir-tech Software, Inc.
Ogdensburg Business Center
An utterly engrossing experience, equal to the best fantasy RPGs.
As in a complex fantasy RPG, there are a zillion things to keep track of, which makes it frustrating.
Whatever you choose to call this hybrid genre, Jagged Alliance is right at the top of it.
Jagged Alliance 2
September '99, p. 138
Talonsoft
Rich, humorous characters; engrossing business model; entertaining action.
Huge install; oversimplistic combat; occasionally muddy graphics.
A diverting mix of genres that will entertain fans of squad-level combat.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2
September '98, p. 128
Epic MegaGames
3204 Tower Oaks Blvd., Suite 410
20852
(800) 972-7434
Nice animations; good control; even-handed dificulty; the level editor and multi-player adds oodles of replay value.
Side-scrolling formula means repetitive play.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 proves that side-scrolling can still be fun when it's done right.
Jazz Jackrabbit CD-ROM
June '95, p. 114
Epic Megagames Inc.
3204 Tower Oaks Boulevard #410
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 983-9771
Beautiful graphics; great music; and high-speed action.
Control with a standard joystick can be a little awkward.
If you find yourself missing the simple excitement of your old Sega or Nintendo machine, you need this game.
Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
December '97, p. 174
Exemplary designed; beautifully presented; incredibly fun to play.
It's over too quickly; those 20 levels leave you begging for more.
All-round, the best 3D action game to date, and LucasArts' best game since the excellent TIE Fighter.
Jeff Gordon XS Racing
September '99, p. 130
9 Old Kings Highway South, Suite 301
Flashy graphics; wings allow for momentary flights.
Incredibly short tracks; poor physics; hack AI.
Jeff Gordon fans will like the video clips and the chance to see him in action, but the game istelf is XS-ively monotonous.
Jet Moto
April '98, p. 126
Great sense of speed; lots of well-designed tracks.
Control is a little floaty; tracks are difficult to unlock; lots of annoying ads.
Jet Moto delivers unique and solid racing action.
JetFighter: Full Burn
October '98, p. 220
Extremely accessible; playable; downright addictive.
Virtually everything about this game feels old; non-intuitive controls.
JetFighter is still a good pick for the casual sim fans out there, but it's past time for a new game engine.
Jetfighter III
March '97, p. 142
Great action; impressive graphics, controls.
Fuzzy physics model, demanding system requirements. No multi-play.
If you can forgive the occasionally unrealistic action, you'll be rewarded with one of the most thrilling sims to date.
Jewels of the Oracle
July '95, p. 102
Discis
P.O. Box 66
Buffalo, NY 14223-0066
(800) 567-4321
A generous selection of good logic puzzles nicely integrated into SVGA scenes.
Some spotty graphics and choppy animations; action is minimal.
If you like puzzle games of the Myst variety, you'll certainly enjoy this.
Jimmy Houston's Bass Tournament U.S.A. 97
November '97, p. 289
Sammy USA
901 Cambridge Dr.
Elk Grove Village
60007
(847) 364-9787
Tournament play makes for a challenging day on the lake.
Unimpressive graphics, limited fishing areas, touchy casting interface, dull multimedia elements.
Anglers who prive diversity and challenge should stick to Trophy Bass or Gone Fishin'.
Johnny Herbert's Grand Prix World Champions
April '99, p. 128
Intense Games
www.intense-games.com
Good for newbies; sharp graphics for 3Dfx owners; excellent force-feedback.
Despite its claims, this is not a realistic racing simulation; weak cockpits; low budget.
Inferior in many ways. Stick with Monaco Grand Prix 2.
Johnny Mnemonic
September '95, p. 112
2400 Broadway Avenue
It's a step in the right direction for IM games.
Substantial system requirements; initially confusing; not much replay value.
An acquired taste; if you're a traditionalist who shuns the video movement or have a slow system, forget it!
Jonny Quest: Cover-Up At Roswell
January '97, p. 240
Virgin Sound & Vision
122 South Robertson Blvd.
90048
(310) 246-4666
Excellent production value for animation and sound.
Entirely too easy. The puzzles are very childish in nature.
The colorful animations of the "Jonny Quest" universe aren't enough to propel this breeze of an adventure.
JSF: Joint Strike Fighter
April '98, p. 111
Pretty graphics with or without 3D hardware; good head-to-head options.
A shortage of data makes the campaign feel vague; touchy controls; no tutorial missions.
JSF is a lightweight sim with some heavyweight problems.
Judge Dredd
October '96, p. 187
Cool concept borrowed from the film.
Boring graphics, fussy controls, and forgettable gameplay.
A cookie-cutter side-scroller that doesn't explore the potential excitement of its big-budget film license.
Jumanji
90024
Sharp graphics; no violence; kids may enjoy the movie tie-in.
Too easy for skilled gamers; nothing to keep you coming back.
There are better arcade games out there for kids and adults.
Jump Raven
September '94, p. 67
Paramount Interactive
700 Hansen Way
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(415) 812-8255
Nice graphics and voice acting; a lot of work went into creating this game world.
Little variation in background graphics, in-flight dialogue, and gameplay.
Die-hard arcade fans will probably love it, but others may not feel they're getting their money's worth.
Jungle Strike
June '95, p. 83
Gremlin Interactive
Good, solid, shoot-'em-up action.
The action can get repetitive, and the sound is pretty thin.
If you like shooters, this one's worth checking out.
Jurassic Park
Ocean
(408) 289-1411
Solid graphics and two types of gameplay.
The action quickly becomes repetitive.
There are much better action games out there.
The Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time
April '98, p. 114
Red Orb
PO Box 6121
94948
(415) 382-4400
Graphics; puzzles well integrated with story line; great story and historical information.
Poorly written dialogue; unchallenging, easy puzzles.
Legacy of Time is a good game that could have been much more.
Kick Off 97
K
September '97, p. 148
800-33-MAXIS
Simple and easy to get into; above average control.
Nonexistent AI; slow pace of play; some presentation bug problems.
Yet another mediocre soccer sim to gather dust in the bargain bins.
King's Quest: Mask of Eternity
March '99, p. 106
Good scenery graphics; excellent puzzle variety; large world.
Too much combat and not enough plot development; shamefully long load times; NPCs are just talking heads.
A fun game, but improving the interface and story would make it so much better.
Kingdom O' Magic
June '96, p. 116
Funny dialogue; the unexpected is the only thing you can count on.
Non-linear gameplay can leave you lost; the need for lots of backtracking makes it tedious at times.
The quirky adventure has comedic flair. If you like off-beat games, pick it up.
Kingdom: The Far Reaches
September '95, p. 126
Excellent sound and music. It'll make you nostalgic for Dragon's Lair.
It's repetitive, frustrating, and almost arbitrary in the many ways it kills you.
It just doesn't seem to have been made by people who play games.
Kingdoms II: Shadoan
February '98, p. 134
TIG Publishing
7810 Trade St
92121
(619) 566-1900
The box has a neat moving label that will scare your cat. Great music score.
Stiff animation; gameplay isn't there.
After this pointlesss effort, it's time to flush any influences from Dragon's Lair out of the system. Permanently.
Kingdoms of Germany
August '94, p. 80
Realism Entertainment
6N 522 Pine Street
Bensenville, IL, 60106
The game's easy-to-learn, easy-to-use interface gets you into the fray fast.
There's not much in the way of chrome, and the relative simplicity of gameplay limits overall complexity.
A good, solid wargame--although perhaps not as detailed as it could be.
Kingmaker
July '94, p. 89
An historical soap opera in the best blood-and-guts tradition.
So-so graphics and steep base memory requirements; complex gameplay will frighten newcomers.
A great game for hard-core strategy fans that has the added value of unraveling a confusing historical era.
Kingpin: Life of Crime
October '99, p. 136
Stellar scenery; goriest wounds and deaths ever seen; puzzles.
Weak AI; glitchy 'net play; lengthy (and frequent) load times.
Blood's thicker than water -- but even an endless stream of it isn't enough to hide this game's problems.
Kings' Quest VII:  The Princeless Bride
March '95, p. 72
Sierra always delivers pretty, enjoyable graphic adventures.
The interface doesn't leave much for the gamer to do, and the save-game method stinks.
It's not the best graphic adventure--or even the best in the KQ line--but it's fun and pretty and not too hard.
KKND2 Krossfire
February '99, p. 207
Beam Software
(425) 398-3051
Plenty of depth, nice graphics, great documentation, and a rare lack of bugs.
It's all been done before; the different races aren't all that different.
Although KKND2 offers nothing new, it's still a solid title for new RTS fans.
Klingon Honor Guard
January '99, p. 196
A couple of interesting weapons and a few decent levels.
Mostly mediocre lefvel design. Laregely uninteresting visual style. Has a cheap, rushed feel.
This is not a terrible game, it's just not a particularly good one. For Trek fans only.
Knight Moves
Interesting concept that mixes chess-style thinking with arcade reflexes.
The 3D interface is awkward; the no-frills manual and lack of features makes this as slim as some shareware releases.
More fun than Under Pressure, or Endorfun, but it's not Tetris.
Knight's Chase
September '96, p. 129
Graphically stunning; detailed and historical story line; simple interface.
Obscure puzzles require a lot of luck; bad camera angles; occasionally poor voice acting.
If the puzzles weren't so poorly done, it would be a fantastic adventure. As it is, it's probably best to wait for the next Time Gate game.
Knights and Merchants
January '99, p. 211
Will appeal to megalomaniacs who must play every god game. Graphics are okay.
Confusing mission goals. AI is pathetic. There's a frustrating lack of worker control.
There are many better "god-games" out there already, and more on the way.
43
Krazy Ivan
April '97, p. 154
919 East Hillsdale Blvd.
Lots of weapons and power-ups; smooth gameplay; multi-player.
Easily finished in a few sittings; occasionally wonky controls.
Even as a PlayStation game, Krazy Ivan was a little too simplistic; most PC gamers will find it a hollow experience.
Krush Kill 'N Destroy
May '97, p. 112
94403
Polished graphics, nice variety, decent multiplayer options.
Weak artificial intelligence. Extremely difficult missions.
Like most me-too games, some of the touches that made the originals great aren't here, but KKND is still worth trying.
Kuba
October '98, p. 208
This little game is faithful to the board game version and will please its fans.
It lacks the magic ingredient to make it a classic; drags when only a few marbles left.
Kuba is exactly what it appears to be; fans of this type of game will enjoy it.
Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny
L
January '98, p. 245
Huge, detailed world.  Excellent story line. Good balance.
Dated 3D engine. Certain scene transitions can be jarring. Some performances are less than stellar.
Lands of Lore is a very good game, it is just a little behind the times.
Lands of Lore III
July '99, p. 106
Lots of spells, items, weapons, and creatures; intriguing story line.
Bad graphics; awful voice acting; abysmally long load times.
A decent RPG clouded by lousy production values.
Last Bounty Hunter
November '95, p. 145
Fun arcade action, plenty of challenge, and lots of bad guys to shoot.
Some scenes are ridiculously difficult; the acting occasionally gets too cheesy.
If you're a fan of ALG shooters, or looking for some mindless arcade action, check it out.
Last Bronx
June '98, p. 100
(800) USA-SEGA
Great Virtua-style gameplay. Stunning graphics on fast machines like a Pentium II.
Agonizingly slow performance on any lower-end machine; no D3D support.
This is a good fighter, but the performance issues make it hard to recommend.
Last Dynasty
November '95, p. 162
It tries really, really hard to do something different and stylish.
Play is confusing, uneventful; sound, video are below par.
The story is just a mess; the action is nothing special; and the adventure game is a muddle.
Last Express, The
June '97, p. 108
415-382-4400
Lovely graphics and mood are complimented by good acting and a rich story line.
Puzzles are often quite difficult, and the save-game system is off-putting in the extreme.
A unique and polished adventure game with a strong, sustained, historical flavor.
Lawnmower Man
May/June '94, p. 62
Sony Electronic Publishing
Sounds great; lots of animation; addictive.
32-color palette; no save games--three strikes and you're out.
An intriguing, but flawed, first effort. You might want to wait for the 256-color sequel that'll be released later this year.
Legend of Kyrandia, Book Three:  Malcolm's Revenge
January '95, p. 130
Great characterizations; simple interface.
So-so graphics except in the Windows Mode; interface can get in your way.
Tricky puzzles; hilarious dialogue; no single right way to win;  provides a challenging and entertaining adventure.
Legends '98
December '97, p. 213
Interesting slant. If you like to break the big plays, this will entertain you.
Unforgivable gameplay errors including lack of a hurry-up offense and poor AI.
This is a game more for Nintendo than a PC. Not for those who want realism.
Leisure Suit Larry in Love For Sail!
April '97, p. 133
P.O. Box 85006
206-644-4343
Great graphics; Al Lowe's skewed humor; the return of the (optional) text-based interface.
Fairly high "been there, done that" factor; sometimes the tongue-in-cheek humor is tiresome.
If you can handle Adult Situations and Partial Nudity, this is a ship-shape winner.
Lemmings Chronicles
March '95, p. 107
Challenging puzzles; lots of levels.
New interface doesn't measure up to the classic.
Fans of previous Lemmings will still want to add this to their collection. Newbies should try the earlier games.
Lemmings Paintball
September '96, p. 108
Colorful graphics, easy to use interface and addictive gameplay.
Difficult puzzles in later levels. Half-realized multi-player games.
Psygnosis creates a wonderful new dimension of Lemmings fun that's every bit as challenging as the original games.
Liberation Day
September '98, p. 140
Good turn-based gaming that blends combat, city building, and unit improvements.
Missions feel puzzle-like; adequate graphics; screwy save game feature; no alien campaign.
It's not the sharpest turn-based wargame, but it's decent enough if the price is right.
Lighthouse
December '96, p. 290
Interesting world and story, many good puzzles with different solutions.
Some frustrating puzzles, pixel hunting, occasionally awkward interface.
A somewhat flawed but overall entertaining trip through a parallel world.
LineWars II
December '94, p. 128
Safari Software/Epic Megagames
10406 Holbrook Drive
Potomac, MD 20854
The use of light and shading is effective and eye-catching.
Controlling your ship is difficult, and the game screen is so dark that it becomes hard to even see the targets.  Levels quickly become redundant.
With so much good shareware out there, there's no sense in bothering with this.
Links Extreme
September '99, p. 128
The two courses look good; action is fun for a short while.
Once the novelty wears off, you're left with a shallow game.
A poorly thought-out and cynically executed notion that won't appeal to either golfers or "dudes".
37
Links LS
November '96, p. 228
Access
4750 Wiley Post Way
Bldg. 1 Suite 200
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Stunning graphics, multiple perspectives, modem play, and much more challenging golf.
High system requirements; it could be time for that new computer.
Golf on a computer can't get much better.
Links LS 1998 Edition
October '97, p. 240
4750 Wiley Post Way, Bldg. 1, Ste. 200
Salt Lake City
UT
84116-2878
Incredible visuals; stable Internet play; plenty of features and courses.
Some reports of bugs and video card problems; club selection quirks in off-line tourneys.
A small step forward for the best of golf sims, but a step forward nonetheless.
Links LS 1999
January '99, p. 212
Access Software
4750 Wiley Post Way, Building 1, Suite 200
84116
Graphics; ball physics; unlimited play; smooth online features; new swing methods.
New sand play method is questionable; PowerStroke could be better.
Simulates golf on your PCD better than any other game out there.
Lion
March '96, p. 129
1825 S. Grant St.
Another fine and intriguing simulation of predators in the wild.
There's still not much to do between meals.
As Doom II is to Doom, Lion is to Wolf. It's more of the same, but well worth playing.
Litil Divil
January '95, p. 107
Philips Interactive
11111 Santa Monica Boulevard
(310) 444-6600
A great title character; varied gameplay; and nice graphics and sound.
Meandering labyrinths can get tiring; some game elements are often repeated.
You'll love that cute litil divil despite what he may have done to end up in hell.
Little Monster at School
October '94, p. 72
P.O. Box 5144
Excellent graphics and music provide long-term interest for kids.
It doesn't make advances over previous Living Books; a little more educational content would be nice.
This is a program you'll really enjoy exploring along with your kids.
Live Action Football
April '95, p. 99
A quick, pretty dose of NFL action; good video and excellent audio play-by-play.
Video plays quickly become repetitive.
Kids will love it, but serious football fans may lose interest.
Lode Runner:  The Legend Returns
November '94, p. 60
Easy to learn but very tough to stop playing; perfect mood music and captivating character animations.
A modem-support option would give the head-to-head mode much more replay value.
Great fun for puzzle fans and arcade fiends alike--a real winner!
Longbow 2
February '98, p. 152
Jane's Combat Simulatuions
5918 West Courtyard Drive
78730
Dynamic campaign, new choppers, multi-player action, great graphics.
Needs support for more players in multi-player; wingmen could be more independent; mission recorder is greatly missed.
Longbow 2 is a masterpiece created by sim experts at the top of their form.
Lords of Magic
March '98, p. 134
Great strategic depth; well-designed units; strong AI; epic scope.
Combat system is awkward; the interface has a few problems; initial release buggy.
Lords of Magic is a deep, fun game; it just needs some tweaking to be really great.
Lords of Midnight
February '96, p. 132
Lords of Midnight does have an interesting idea or two.
Bad sound, bad graphics, bad interface, impenetrable gameplay.
An absolute mess.
Lords of the Realm
November '94, p. 89
A good balance between micro and macro management.
The battlefield screens could stand a bit of enhancement.   The happiness ratings also seem arbitrary.
Lords of the Realm has all the ingredients, and in the right proportions, to satisfy anyone interested in historical simulations.
Lords of the Realm II
February '97, p. 148
Excellent balance of strategic and tactical play; fun combat; superb realm-building.
More charts would help. AI is sometimes either too easy or too hard. No custom castles!
LORII is immense fun for both the empire-builder and the medieval combatant, with all the intrigue and bloodletting you could want.
Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzles Vol. 1
May '95, p. 115
Random House Electronic Pub.
201 E. 50th Street
New York, NY 10022
Super-friendly interface; tournament play option.
It is just a crossword game; non-abecedarians need not apply.
For crossword lovers, L.A. Times is a whole lot of entertainment at a great price.
Lose Your Marbles
November '97, p. 241
150 Shoreline Dr.
(888) SEGASOFT
Highly addictive gameplay; original concept; good graphics and sound effects.
Awkward keyboard configurations for multi-player games; no Internet mode.
Good clean fun that hooks you from the very start.
Lost Eden
June '95, p. 117
Beautiful graphics; wonderful music; and an original setting.
Lurking behind the innovative premise are some old adventure-game cliches.
If you're looking for something different and genuinely entertaining, Lost Eden is your paradise.
Luftwaffe Commander
May '99, p. 128
Detailed historically accurate; good general flight modeling; solid mission structure.
Unfinished feel; plenty of bugs; shoddy terrain graphics; weak AI on both sides.
With more care, this coulda been great; instead, it's just a bluebrint for a better game.
Lunicus
December '94, p. 147
(415) 812-8200
Nice graphics, sound, and music with lots of explosions.
Incredibly repetitive combat sequences; doesn't coexist peacefully with QEMM memory manager.
The lack of variety in gameplay gives this one little replay value. If you do stick with it to the end, you'll be glad it's over.
M.A.X. 2
M
November '98, p. 236
Varied missions, lots of interesting units.
No tutorial; countless bugs; this game simply was not finished when shipped.
This could have been a great game. But as it stands, Interplay's credibility has just taken another head shot.
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration
April '97, p. 124
16815 Von Karman Ave.,
714-553-6678
Great balance among units and structures; tough AI; multi-player options; loads of replay value.
No Internet support; manual should have been better.
This could end up being the best turn-based strategy game of 1997.
M1 Tank Platoon II
June '98, p. 106
A great blend of tactics and action, with graphics that bring it alive.
Crucial features are missing. There are some klutzy interface issues. Documentation is littered with errors.
If patched, this will be one of the great games of the year. But until then...
M4: Sherman Tank Simulator
July '94, p. 64
312 E. 23rd
Combat and navigation are easy to master.
Gameplay is very repetitive, and the graphics and sound do nothing to suspend your disbelief.
There's a good game here somewhere, but it's crippled by lifeless graphics and repetitive gameplay.
Maabus
June '95, p. 136
Microforum Inc.
1 Woodborough Avenue
Toronto, Canada M6M 5A1
(416) 656-6406
The graphics and animation aren't too bad.
A sluggish interface; vague documentation; and a zillion unavoidable deaths.
Buy it if you like flashy graphics and don't care about gameplay--otherwise, steer clear.
Machiavelli the Prince
July '95, p. 115
One of the best powermonger games around.
It is a revamped, repackaged title.
Colorful, complex, addictive, and subversive! Play with a friend (while you still have one...).
Machine Hunter
November '97, p. 232
MGM Interactive
2500 Broadway St.
90404-3061
(800) 586-2021
Addictive action. Unique strategy makes for varied gameplay.
Unimpressive graphics; sluggish gameplay on some systems.
Despite the chunky graphics and clunky control, Machine Hunter delivers a nice blend of fast-paced fun and puzzling.
Machines
July '99, p. 120
Realistic 3D objects and terrain; easy-to-use, eficient interface.
Unwieldy base management; mediocre pathfinding routines for friendly units; slow pacing for construction.
Machines proves that "me too" games are sometimes worthwhile.
Mad Dog McCree II:  The Lost Gold
October '94, p. 65
Good video, good acting and music; you'll need a calculator to keep track of the body count.
It doesn't take long to finish even if you play all three games.
It doesn't have a lot of replay value, but it's a real kick while it lasts.
Madden NFL 97
January '97, p. 216
Excellent graphics and animation; smooth interface; more than 100 teams.
The AI is suspect; questionable season simulation results; mediocre play-by-play commentary; numerous gameplay quirks.
There's a lot of fun to be had with Madden NFL 97, but not a lot of realism.
Madden NFL 98
January '98, p.278
Good AI; large team selection; easy to learn.
Fuzzy graphics; boring presentation and play-by-play; can't customize game.
If you can live with the sub-par graphics and enjoy arcade gameplay, this will give you a good fight.
Madden NFL 99
December '98, p. 172
Beautiful on high-end systems; loaded with features; franchise mode is great fun.
Needs some adjustments to both the on-field action and the difficulty levels.
Died-in-the-wool simmers will pass, but Madden fans will love the new look.
Mageslayer
December '97, p. 176
Nice audiovisuals; strong multi-player modes.
The gameplay is just about the same as the original Gauntlet; single-computer co-op play would have been nice.
A cool throwback to a classic arcade game.
Magic Carpet
April '95, p. 75
Amazing graphics; terrific sound and action.
No way to save a game in the middle of the level, which can take hours to complete.
There's a whole lot of game here, and it's all excellent. Magic Carpet may well become the talked-about game for 1995.
Magic Carpet 2
December '95, p. 217
A great game made better with new visual effects and loads of new spells.
Some of the visual effects get tiresome. The game doesn't forge as much new ground as it might have.
More of what you liked in the original - and then some.
Magic & Mayhem
August '99, p. 115
Good story and spell-creation system; nice strategic and tactical elements.
Questionable AI; awkward character control; average graphics; a few minor bugs.
A breath of fresh air in the me-too worlds of RTS and roleplaying.
Magic: The Gathering
June '97, p. 86
Order Hotline: (800) 695-4263
Stays true to the Wizards of the Coast card game; intelligent computer AI.
Adventure element is not very interesting; no multi-player support; high system requirements.
If you've played the card game, you'll like the PC version; it's also a good way to learn.
Magic: The Gathering -- BattleMage
May '97, p. 102
516-759-7900
It tries to capture the feel of playing Magic: The Gathering real-time.
It fails to achieve its goal with any sort of success.
A terrible game. If you want a Magic: The Gathering PC game, wait for MicroProse's turn-based version to come out.
Majestic
July '96, p. 98
Piranha Interactive Publishing
1839 West Drake
Suite B,
Tempe, AZ 85283
Sharp graphics; nice sound effects; efficient interface.
Long CD accesses, short game time and weak puzzles.
A few peculiar puzzles add stamina to an otherwise uninspired game, but only if you're really bored.
Man of War
December '97, p. 220
First-person view is beguiling; good scenario editor, campaign.
Inferior flagship graphics and vague command control.
A strong effort by a new company; its virtues far outweigh its flaws, and its good moments are very good indeed.
Man of War II: Chains of Command
September '99, p. 112
Strategy First
www.strategyfirst.com
Puts you in the thick of battle; immersive graphics and sound; intuitive interface.
Over-bearing music drowns out important voice cues; close-ups are pixelated.
A rousing experience for anyone who feels the allure of classic naval warfare.
Manic Karts
August '96, p. 124
(800) 847-4607
Sharp graphics; upgrade system lets you improve your cart.
No crashes, no bounces. It's just high-speed graphics bumping into each other through impossible turns.
Unless you just can't live without another arcade racer, don't bother.
Manx TT Superbike
February '98, p. 130
(800) 872-7342
Pretty graphics; fun for the first few plays.
Lame control means that you'll be quickly frustrated; there's not too much to the game for what you're gonna pay.
Not even close to the high water mark set by Moto Racer GP.
Marble Drop
July '97, p. 159
2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 600
Gorgeous DaVinci-style graphics; low system requirements.
Tedious and repetitive gameplay; no level editor; not much fun.
Marble Drop is a love-it or loathe-it title. Proceed at your own risk.
Martian Chronicles
February '96, p. 160
The Ray Bradbury interviews are interesting and provide some appeal.
Stunningly boring, cliched, lifeless, and bland.
A tragic waste of brilliant source material.
Mass Destruction
May '98, p. 114
9 Old Kings Highway S. Suite 301
(800) 474-7595
With moutains of objects to destroy, Mass Destruction equals addictive action.
No Internet play or 3D acceleration; can look pretty chunky.
If you can find this one on the cheap, go for it.
Master of Magic
January '95, p. 109
Fantasy world has a vast array of races, spells, and combat units.
Uninspired sound; graphics could be better; and the artificial intelligence routines are sub-par.
A powerful mix of empire building, wizardry, and combat.
Master of Orion: Battle at Antares
March '97, p. 134
280 Lakefront Drive
Endless replay value, thanks to randomly generated universes and gameplay variables.
The amount of micromanaging required is almost overwhelming.
A great update of a classic game, even with the micromanaging.
Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow
Disney Interactive
500 South Beuna Vista St.
Burbank
91521
800-426-3306
Smooth animation and Disney's attention to character design.
Reliance on traditional platform formula makes it predictable.
If you're nostalgic for a mindless action/platform thrill, this could be it, but there are much better action games for the PC.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! for Kids
December '94, p. 139
Kids will easily identify with the charming main character.
The actual typing exercises are presented against an environment that can be distracting to kids.
Kids who respond well to the main character will learn to type, but there are better children's typing tutorials on the market.
MDK
July '97, p. 166
La Mirada
90638
Silky smooth performance; difficult levels; incredible graphics.
Complicated interface, vague puzzles and objectives; too short.
If you can warm to the console-style sensibilities of MDK, you'll find a brief but well-done action game.
Meat Puppet
October '97, p. 244
Playmates Interactive Entertainment
611 Anton Blvd. Suite 500
Costa Mesa
(714) 428-2112
Impressive character animation. Great music and sound effects.
Controls are awful and make playing the game a chore. Puzzles are annoying. AI is baffling.
Watch "Aeon Flux" instead. You get great animation without carpal tunnel syndrome.
MechCommander
September '98, p. 156
Mech configurations and options immerse you in the BattleTech world; good graphics.
Tought battle management; linear campaign; no speed or difficulty settings; no in-game saves.
It definitely has its flaws, but there's still a lot of fun here.
MechWarrior 2
September '95, p. 78
Cinema-quality visuals and sounds; silky-smooth control; demanding missions.
Demanding system requirements for hi-res modes; full-fledged net gaming will have to wait for an expansion disk.
If you can only play one battling-robot game a year, make sure it's this one.
MechWarrior 3
August '99, p. 101
Classic mech mayhem; top-flight graphics and production values.
Some crashes; few new weapons and mech designs; really just MechWarrior 2 with a face lift.
The game remains much the same, but looks a lot better.
MechWarrior II: Mercenaries
December '96, p. 252
New business model, improved graphics make Mercs even more fun than Mech2.
New graphics options mean steeper hardware requirements.
If you liked MechWarrior 2, you'll love Mercenaries.
Medieval
September '98, p. 163
Incredible Simulations
www.incrediblesimulations.com
Solid production values; exciting scenarios; lots of smash-mouth action.
The editor sometimes deploys made-up archer units but forgets to give them arrows.
A colorful simulation of a neglected but fascinating period of history.
MegaRace
July '94, p. 56
Psychedelic tracks alone are nearly worth the entry price.
The cars handle like motorized shopping carts; aside from different track designs, there's not much variety in gameplay.
If you like non-stop action and killer graphics, you'll love MegaRace.
MegaRace 2
December '96, p. 254
Gorgeous graphics and big, branching tracks.
Dodgy controls; long video segments; and underwhelming sense of speed.
Where the original MegaRace shined on the track, MegaRace 2 merely putts along at a leisurely pace, letting the world race by.
Men in Black
March '98, p. 111
One Research Dr.
The backgrounds look cool.
Really bad puzzles; nonsensical control; long load times; doesn't have much adventuring to offer gamers -- instead it's just combat, combat, and more combat.
Go rent the movie. This sucks.
Menzoberranzan
February '95, p. 81
Good graphics and sound, and, eventually, a good plot.
Hack, slash, hack, slash. Are we having fun yet?
Features excellent production, a solid engine, and a good premise, but is combat oriented in early levels and takes its sweet time getting to the narrative elements.
Merchant Prince
May/June '94, p. 76
If smooth, addictive gameplay packed with skull-duggery appeals to you, so will this.
The graphics aren't anything to write home about, and look rather dated.
With its balanced gameplay, Merchant Prince is one of the best new trading games around.
Metal Marines
May '95, p. 88
Delightful graphics and animation; fast and furious action.
Solo play is too damn fast for you to enjoy all the details.
Excellent for modem play; a bit too frustrating in the solo mode.
Metaltech: EarthSiege
March '95, p. 85
Plenty of action and a wide degree of control.
Hard to master the controls; some overly difficult missions.
A super battling robots game; undoubtedly the best on the market; a challenging but rewarding game.
Micro Machines 2
October '96, p. 180
Going against a friend in head-to-head competition is a blast; excellent track editor.
Lacks network options; all multi-player action has to be played off the same PC.
Good clean fun. That's the reason it's been around so long, it's a good game.
Microcosm
July '94, p. 65
Fluid animation and a good soundtrack keep the game moving.
Frustration levels are high, and the gameplay value is low.
It could only appeal to the most hard-core arcade shooter fans, and even then there's not really enough gameplay on display for that crowd.
Microsoft Baseball 2000
August '99, p. 109
Very pretty; improved fielding and much faster play; cheap.
Boring pitcher-batter confrontations; lack of options; poorly balanced gameplay.
It's only 20 bucks but should have been a free patch to last year's game.
Microsoft Baseball 3D
August '98, p. 120
Nice ball-park atmosphere and graphics; good texture maps and animations.
Nearly impossible fielding; some realism lapses; takes too long to complete a game.
Multi-play is fun, but solo gamers are advised to look elsewhere.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 98
January '98, p. 273
Spectacular graphics, depth of subject material, best helicopter simulaton available.
Lacks documentation. Some buggy lessons.
Both beginners and experts will find challenges and learn something new, but the hint book is a required purchase for beginners.
Microsoft Golf 1998
August '98, p. 113a
Pretty graphics; good sound; nice selection of gameplay options.
Unrealistic physics; poor game interface.
This can't compete with the big boys. Whatever it is you look for in a golf game, you can find it done better elsewhere.
Microsoft Golf 3.0
April '97, p. 136
206-635-6100
Easy multiplayer options for playing over the 'net.
The graphics should've been updated; the menu-driven interface is sorta clunky.
If Internet competition is your thing, MS Golf delivers a seamless entry onto the web; if you're a die-hard duffer, stick to Links LS.
Microsoft Monster Truck Madness
December '96, p. 248
Great-looking trucks; outstanding racing; fun network play. The horn plays "Dixie."
Really needs a monster system to run. More tracks would have been nice.
More fun than you can  have at the state fair arena.
Microsoft Soccer
March '97, p. 129
Redmond,
98052
Easy installation; network play.
Frustrating gameplay; average graphics; cheesy sound effects; only one view of on-field gameplay.
In the market for a great soccer sim? You won't find it here.
Microsoft Space Simulator
March '95, p. 80
Stunning high-res graphics; realistic approach to space travel.
Poor or non-existent sound; the interface can be awkward and confusing.
Solid science combined with a sense of wonder equals an entertaining, educational way to explore the galaxy.
Midtown Madness
August '99, p. 102
Addictive Cruise mode; spiffy vehicle physics; rocking multiplayer modes.
Racing is tricky; a few odd physics bugs.
If you've ever wanted to plow through rush-hour traffic in a semi truck, you are strongly encouraged to buy this game.
Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor
September '99, p. 95
Tons of items; good monster variety; lots of quests and skills; huge gameworld.
Gameplay gets very old very quick; story isn't involving; mindless fetch-and-carry quests.
There are much better things for roleplayers to do with their valuable time.
Might & Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
August '98, p. 128
Tons of depth; vital, interesting world. Good old-school party-based exploration.
Some chunky graphics, some hokey monsters. Peasants often hamper movement in towns.
The best pure FRPG since Ultima VII.
Millennia: Altered Destinies
January '96, p. 225
Innovative approach combining time-travel, strategy, and narrative elements.
Some sense of frustration over how to deal with certain problems or dead ends. Awkward and unnecessary combat sequences.
A refreshingly different type of narrative science-fiction game.
Millennium Auction
August '94, p. 60
Eidolon
5716 Mosholu Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
Lavishly rendered solid 3D characters, surreal animated sections, and lovely digitized photos flesh out this engaging sim.
Little variation from game to game.
A believable game world that's entertaining and (gasp!) educational; much fun for CD-ROM owners.
Mind Grind
November '96, p. 264
Toronto, ONT., Canada M6M5A1
Ten categories and five playing arenas make for loads of possible questions.
No clear variation between easy and hard questions; mediocre graphics.
Unless you simply adore trivia games, don't bother with this one.
Mirage
October '95, p. 131
Atlantis Interactive
15127 Califa Street
The graphics are pretty attractive.
Stilted video, puzzling transitions, bad acting, and clumsy interface make it almost painful to play.
Nice visuals aren't enough to save this disjointed, confusing game.
Mission Critical
February '96, p. 155
P.O. Box 10810
14200 Park Meadow Dr.
Fine graphics and sound, silky interface, good acting, exceptional script.
Inadequate online help, a bit too much corridor-prowling between the more intense sequences, and an anti-climatic ending.
A mature and thought-provoking adventure that plays the way a good science fiction novel reads.
MissionForce: Cyberstorm
October '96, p. 136
Slick production value, no-nonsense mission structure, and lots of options.
Hex-based movement is a pain; steep learning curve; limited multi-player excitement.
A solid and demanding strategy game that's every bit as exciting as the real-time shoot-'em-ups.
Mode
January '97, p. 248
Ottawa, Ont., Canada
Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z8R7
K1Z8R7
Hitting the escape button gets you out of the game very quickly.
It exists. It takes up four CDs that would have been better used for John Tesh music.
The nadir of non-interactive video junk.
10
Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2
March '99, p. 148
Numerous features and settings will appeal to hardcore simers and newbies.
Frame rates drop seriously in a full field of competitors; still no graduated difficulty levels.
The overall improvements make this one of the best racing games on the market.
Monday Night Football '98
December '97, p. 219
OT Sports
120 Lakefront Dr.
21030
(410) 771-8550
The manual is a pretty good read, albeit mostly fiction.
Tiny playbooks; poor graphics; and abysmal control.
It's a simulation without any of the qualities that make a simulation worthwhile; it's an arcade game that's hard to control.
Monopoly CD-ROM
December '95, p. 275
Super smooth animations, Internet play, slick interface and plenty of options.
It is, after all, still a board game conversion, and so ultimately has a flat feel.
We bet that even Monopoly-haters will be charmed by this clever and well-executed game.
Monopoly Deluxe
November '94, p. 86
Smooth VGA graphics and enchanting animations; change the rules to suit you.
Some of the animation is repetitive and merely slows down gameplay.
Enjoyment for gamers of all ages and skill levels.
Monopoly: Star Wars CD-ROM Edition
February '98, p. 187
Tried-n-true gameplay combined with Star Wars multimedia flash.
The multimedia flash gets really old. It's just Monopoly in sci-fi garb.
Just like an aging Jedi, Star Wars Monopoly slowly but surely loses its fizz
Monster Truck Madness 2
August '98, p. 138
Graphically superior to any other monster truck game.
No career mode. Weak keyboard options and competition modes. Adequate AI drivers.
A fun romp through the mulch that should have had a few more features.
Montezuma's Return
December '98, p. 230
Sweet graphics and animation in 3Dfx version; great combo of action and puzzle-solving.
The lack of an in-game save makes for a high frustration factor.
If you've got a little patience, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
October '96, p. 168
Lots of Python for the Python lover.
Not much game play. Finding necessary items is a pixel hunt on the screen.
Only the most dedicated Python fan would play this game. Otherwise, just rent the film.
Mordor
November '95, p. 150
TDA
720 132nd St. SW
Suite 202
Everett, WA 98204
Plenty of stats-heavy roleplaying for gamers who miss the classics.
Almost no graphics or sound to speak of; very little gameplay apart from combat.
This is a dungeon crawl from the old school, but it's worth a look from the uninitiated.
Mortal Kombat
May/June '94, p. 83
Ultratech
584 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
Great fighting action; clever graphics; and near-perfect gameplay.
A little bit too violent for some people--but hey, it is a fighting game.
If you've been burned by watered-down IBM action games in the past, here's your chance to make up for it!
Mortal Kombat 3
October '95, p. 98
Acclaim Distribution Inc.
71 Audrey Avenue
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
(516) 624-9300
Network options; more special moves than you can shake a bloody spine at.
The look and feel of the Mortal Kombat series is getting a little stale.
Yet another excellent arcade experience from the king of fighting games.
Mortal Kombat 4
October '98, p. 224
Lightning-fast gameplay; amusing fatalities.
Board-stiff animation, cheesy special effects, and questionable depth.
Mortal Kombat 4 is a competent addition to a mediocre series, but there are better PC fighting games out there.
Mortal Kombat II
May '95, p. 71
All of the blood and gore and gameplay of the arcade version; excellent control with a gamepad.
If you've already spent a fortune in quarters playing MKII, you won't find anything new here.
A great arcade fighter that makes the transition to the PC with no compromises.
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
March '98, p. 117
Solid gameplay; plenty of of wild special moves; inclusion of every MK character.
Steep requirements to get full-screen action; no saved game feature for the tournament mode.
Though nothing new was added, Mortal Kombat Trilogy is timeless and addictive.
Moto Racer GP
December '97, p. 181
Great graphics with or without 3D card; dead-on play; sensational multi-player racing.
There's an itsy bit of scenery pop-in on some courses.
A dynamite package that blows away the competition.
Motocross Madness
November '98, p. 222
Feels like the real thing! Awesome graphics, sound; great control.
There could have been more terrain detail on the stunt and baja tracks; limited track editor.
No time to write bottom line. Must return to Motocross Madness. Now.
Motorhead
October '98, p. 203
Graphics create a true sensation of speed; you can spawn many muliplayer versions.
Limited tracks and cares until you place high enough; no damage to cars during crashes.
Motorhead is satisfyingly hot arcade-style racing action for your PC.
Multimedia Celebrity Poker
September '95, p. 98
New World Computing, Inc.
Hollywood, CA 90078-4302
Nice full-motion video footage; simple and intuitive interface.
Motions and comments by the stars become repetitive very quickly, so there's not much replay value.
Don't expect to stay up late nights with this one.
Mummy: Tomb of the Pharaoh
April '97, p. 150
714-533-6678
The music and sound effects provide a wonderful atmosphere.
Plot and puzzles are ordinary, without anything new to offer the seasoned player.
A good introduction to the adventure game genre, but there's better out there.
Muppets Inside
September '96, p. 125
Starwave Corporation
13810 SE Eastgate Way
Bellvue, WA 98005
(206) 957-2000
Colorful, entertaining, and extremely user-friendly.
It's the same old song; the better your system, the better the game performs.
You'd have to be either Statler or Waldorf not to enjoy this game.
Mutant Penguins
June '97, p. 96
Three Harbour Dr., Suite 110
800-GAMETEK
Whimsical graphics, nice music, and tough puzzles.
Repeated access of the CD-ROM under Win95 will frustrate most players.
A new take on Lemmings with a budget price, Mutant Penguins is a wannabe winner.
Myst
May/June '94, p. 64
(415) 382-4567
Graphics, sounds, and gameplay that pull you in and never let go.
It's a crap shoot as to whether or not your particular hardware set up combo will bring even more woe to Myst Island.
Finally a game that validates the hype of CD-ROM. If you were looking for a reason to move up to those silvery little discs, this is it.
Mysteries of the Sith
April '98, p. 96
New weapons, enemies, levels, and Force powers; solid level design.
Some levels too puzzle heavy; colored lighting overdone at times.
This is a great expansion pack for an awesome game.
Myth II: Soulblighter
May '99, p. 101
Bungie Software
350 West Ontario, Seventh Floor
Chicago
60610
(800) 295-0060
Brutal graphics; great multi-player; solid physics model.
Weak pathfinding; many changes are cosmetic in nature.
Myth II has wanton carnage, great multi-player action, and killer graphics. What more could you want?
Myth: The Fallen Lords
February '98, p. 180
1935 S. Halsted, Ste. 204
60608
(312) 255-9600
Revolutionary engine and gorgeous graphics; true 3D terrain and realisitc physics.
Some troublesome unit AI; "friendly fire" a little too unfriendly; no in-game music; no level editor/map generator; need larger view of battlefield.
Myth is a melee of a good time.
Nahan: The Ultimate 3D Puzzle Game
N
June '98, p. 111
Global Star Software
20 Barnes Ct., Bldg. G
Ontario
L4K4L4
(905) 738-5645
A large assortment of puzzles, tilesets, and graphics.
Lacks that addictive quality to sustain interest; awful music unless you like that techno crap.
A Mahjong-like game that relies more heavily on style than substance.
NAM
October '98, p. 225a
The multiplayer game can be pretty fun.
Awful hi-res graphics; the claim of "realistically bringing the Vietnam War to life" in asn out-and-out farce.
You might get your money's worth out of the multi-player game.
NASCAR Racing
February '95, p. 94
35 Medford Stree
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 868-5440
Great graphics; stirring sound; hair-raising action.
A mid-range 486 is barely adequate to run the game, even in standard VGA mode.
If you're a race fan with a fast computer, your life simply isn't complete without NASCAR Racing.
NASCAR Racing 2
March '97, p. 116
Improved graphics, framerate, interface; great multi-player options.
Demanding system requirements. Occasionally fishy AI.
If you're a fan of the original, this is a worthwhile upgrade. If you never tried the original, here's your chance to catch the fever.
NASCAR Revolution
June '99, p. 128
Some great animations and eye candy; outstanding car models and textures.
Horrible control; frustrating AI; a real system hog; and more!
Like racing games? Stay away from this one.
National Lampoon's Blind Date
December '94, p. 150
Santa Monica, CA 90405-3009
(310) 392-3243
Realistic depiction of the tribulations of strategic naval command.
Limited appeal, and the usual drawbacks of the Windows environment.
An entertaining revival of the "dating simulation" concept.
Navy Strike
February '96, p. 119
4 Professional Drive.
Ste 123
Good graphics; campaign mode adds new dimension.
Bewildering keystrokes, menus; unrealistic flight models.
With its emphasis on fun air combat and the intriguing Command Module, Navy Strike is a good introductory sim.
NBA Action 98
June '98, p. 88
Players perform realistically; great motion-capture work; free throws!
High system requirements; a bit behind the technology curve all around.
If you can live without the glitz and glitter, the gameplay will win you over.
NBA Full Court Press
January '97, p. 247
Slick presentation; great commentary; what you'd expect from an NBA license.
Bland graphics; unsatisfying feel; doesn't pack the kind of attitude an NBA license suggests.
There have been better basketball games; there's better to come. Why buy this?
NBA Live 95
June '95, p. 85
San Mateo, CA
You name it. Everything about NBA Live '95 is a treat for the eyes and ears.
You can't edit players, and coaching and strategy options are limited.
If you're a hoops fan, and you have a high-end machine, you shouldn't be without this game.
NBA Live 96
May '96, p. 97
Brings expansion teams, a player-creation feature, on-the-fly play-calling, and multiple camera angles to an already great game.
Too many blocked shots and out-of-bounds passes; tricky to find a good camera angle; steep hardware requirements.
A great simulation that can be enjoyed on a variety of levels.
NBA Live 97
April '97, p. 98
(415)-571-7171
Incredible graphics, full rosters, all the stats, and unequaled presentation.
Slippery control, poor frame-rate on slower systems, and some flaws as a sim.
The best-looking, best-playing, basketball game available, even with its flaws.
NBA Live 98
January '98, p. 234
Awesome visuals, presentation, and interface; new features that enhance gameplay.
Lack of fouls called against the CPU.  There are a few graphical glitches during replays.
For those who enjoy a great looking, great playing game, NBA Live 98 is the best.
NBA Live 99
February '99, p. 219
Brilliant graphics and animations; exciting on-court play; improved AI.
Too many steals and blocks; career mode is poorly implemented; sports ticker bug.
The closest any of us may get to a real NBA game this year.
NCAA Basketball Final Four '97
July '97, p. 154
415-897-9900
Unprecedented variety of post-up moves.
Sloppy control; basketball is too big for the rim; speed is a little slow.
It's the best college hoops game on the PC, but, there isn't much competition out there, either.
NCAA Championship Basketball
December '96, p. 308
GTE Entertainment
2035 Corte Del Nogal, #200
(619) 431-8801
Good oncourt gameplay; recruiting and multi-player optinos give it a good shelf life.
Results of simulated games are questionable; only one viewing perspective; no out-of-bounds; inaccurate physical stats and jersey numbers.
A fun college basketball sim, but one that can clearly stand some improvement.
NCAA Footbal 98
February '98, p. 168
Great running game; smooth animation; lots of teams to choose from.
AI problems with the offense; no career mode.
If the offense problems don't bother you, you'll have a great deal of fun with this soild addition to EA Sports' lineup.
NCAA Football 99
November '98, p. 254
Stunning graphics; perfect atmosphere; astounding game play; Dynasty Mode.
Save game problems seen in the first game still exist; no play editor.
Don't hesitate to add this to your sports collection -- it's da bomb.
NCAA: Road to the Final Four 2
February '95, p. 114
Rockville, MD 20850-4304
Three seasons of NCAA tournament fields; handsome graphics and some exciting action.
Choppy animation; awkward coaching interface.
If you've been waiting for a good basketball sim, Road to the Final Four 2 is definitely worth a look.
Necrodome
February '97, p. 114
675 Almanor Ave., Suite 210
(408) 737-6880
Many play options; Internet support; lots of things to smash and shoot.
Murky, circular levels; too many stops and starts.
Fun and playable, but not really remarkable.
Need for Speed
November '95, p. 112
Great hi-res graphics; cool videos of the cars.
Limited number of tracks; no crashes; the single-player mode gets old.
If you've been looking for a slick action game with the right mix of realism and arcade gameplay, look no further.
Need for Speed: High Stakes
September '99, p. 111
Multi-tier career mode; free 'net play; impressive stable of supercars; exquisite scenery.
Unsophisticated driving and damage modeling; screwy save game feature in career mode.
One of the most complete arcade racers on the market.
Need for Speed II
July '97, p. 180
(415) 513-7171
Pretty graphics, lots of cute touches; mucho multi-player options.
Short tracks; no cops; slower than molasses on low-end Pentiums.
Try as it might, this just can't touch the original.
Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
December '98, p. 177a
The graphics are amazing at full detail; kick-ass cars; the cops are back!
Not enough variety in tracks; opponents' AI is shaky; steep system requirements.
If you like fast cars and outrunning Johnny Law, you can't do much better than this.
Nemesis: The Wizardry Adventure
February '97, p. 134
Sir-tech Software
P.O. BOX 245
Pretty graphics; unique puzzles; variety of creatures, dungeons.
Awkward combat interface; story line isn't involving.
A decent graphic adventure, but if you're dying to play more Wizardry games, you're bound to be disappointed.
NetStorm: Islands at War
March '98, p. 153
Innovative design; good for both beginners and experts; easy set up for Internet play.
Susceptible to cheats and hacks; the usual Internet idiots can detract from the experience.
Activision's "quick and dirty" RTS game for the Internet is a winner.
netWAR
July '98, p. 116
Headland Digital Media
Great visuals, balanced team-play, and it's a fun online game.
Control is a bit screwy. The frequent server outages can be extremely annoying.
If you want a quick-and-easy online blastfest, netWAR should do the trick.
Neverhood Chronicles
December '96, p. 258
Dreamworks Interactive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Wonderful claymation animations and backdrops.
Repetitive and pointless puzzling; almost no interaction.
The tiresome puzzles and limited interaction squash the life out of what could have been an amazing adventure.
New Horizons
July '95, p. 125
Plenty of variety gives this one good replay value.
Way too cutesy, with cliched dialogue, videogame-looking graphics, and little real challenge.
Light, lively entertainment, but nothing new; not for the serious strategist.
Newman/Haas Racing
May '99, p. 111
It looks nice; replay mode.
Bugs and more bugs; crashes constantly; baroque interface; unrealistic driving models, damage modes.
There's no reason to own this game with so many good, better driving games from Ubi Soft, EA, Microsoft, and Sierra.
NFL Blitz
January '99, p. 192
(888) 335-597
Late hits; killer graphics; great cheats; fun multi-player; non-stop action.
May turn off football purists; the arcade version's language has been toned down.
A fun, in your face, smack-talking football game that is simply a blast to play.
NFL Gameday 99
November '98, p. 242
(888) 426-3702
Good sound, commentary; solid two-player arcade action; good 'net play as server.
Robotic player movement; poor clock management for AI teams; poor 'net play as client.
A decent action-oriented football game in need of a few major and minor repairs.
NFL Pro League Football
October '95, p. 104
MicroSports
One Northgate Park
Suite 103
Chattanooga, TN 37415
Lots of players, teams, and statistics; accurate and lightning-fast replay results.
Rough animation; sparse sound effects.
As a number cruncher, this is a solid football sim, but if you demand graphics as well, you can do better.
NFL Quarterback Club 96
May '96, p. 121
Unprecedented degree of control on the field; great animations; an extensive playbook.
Lack of trades or a draft; simulations of historic games only support one player.
The best action-oriented football sim yet.
NFL Quarterback Club 97
November '96, p. 244
Lots of pre-built plays, customizable camera views.
Annoying camera shifts during possession changes, confusing four-button gamepad controls, and chunky player graphics.
For fast, furious, football action QBC '97 delivers a rousing amount of playability, options, and fun.
NHL 96
December '95, p. 227
Knockout graphics, thrilling sound effects, modem options and the best hockey action around.
Some camera angles don't give the optimum view of the rink; steep system requirements.
If you love hockey or sports games in general, be sure and add this one to your collection.
NHL 97
December '96, p. 298
Current high-water mark for sports sims, especially in its use of polygonal characters. Commendable AI.
No customizability, little management, sluggish fights, and some slanted scoring results.
If you've got the system and are even remotely interested in hockey, pick this one up!
NHL 98
December '97, p. 250
Jaw-dropping graphics, fast gameplay, and a better AI make this the best NHL to date.
The AI still needs work; experienced players can exploit game flaws with ease.
A no-holds-barred sports action game with sim-style options, NHL 98 is tops.
NHL 99
December '98, p. 187
Presentation is second to none; tighter control and more realistic results.
Computer goalies are supermen; promised draft feature missing; sim crowd won't like it.
An already great game gets a minor face lift and some adjustments under the hood.
NHL Hockey 95
January '95, p. 142
Professional presentation and great game play.
There's not much other than improved game presentation and stats to separate this from the original NHL Hockey.
If you don't own the original, this is as good as it gets. If you do, try before you buy.
NHL PowerPlay 96
August '96, p. 87
Fast-paced action; detailed player animations.
The look and feel of NHL PP 96 may seem a bit dated.
For accurate and controllable hockey without excessive extras, NHL PP 96 is one of the best hockey sims on the market.
NHL Powerplay 98
February '98, p. 114
Decent gamplay; low system requirements.
Poor player animations; slow pace; and skewed results.
NHL Powerplay 98 has lofty ambitions but simply cannot compete on any level with the far superior NHL 98.
NHRA Drag Racing
March '99, p. 140
Mind Magic
www.mindmagic.com
Nice graphics; excellent racing interface.
Simplistic vehicle management drains the challenge and longevity out of this game; no multi-player options.
Died-in-the-wool drag racing fans should look elsewhere.
Nigel Mansell's World Championship
July '94, p. 86
Gremlin Graphics
2-4 Carver Street
Sheffield, England
Driving is a snap because you couldn't wreck if you tried.
There's no real challenge whatsoever; racing has never been this tedious.
There are much better driving sims around, especially at this price.
Nightmare Creatures
April '98, p. 149
Constant action, incredible graphics, and awesome atmosphere.
Poor control in certain situations; has a bad case of consolitis with no save game feature.
Even with a few unforgivable faults, this is a bloody blast to play.
Nihilist
March '97, p. 158
10960 Wilshire Blvd., Seventh Floor
The soundtrack is vaguely rocking.
Shallow gameplay and generally mediocre design make this game a downer even in the bargain bin.
Flashy graphics mean little when a game is this bad.
26
Noctropolis
February '95, p. 76
Gorgeous SVGA graphics and challenging but fair puzzles.
The dialogue could have used another pass through the typewriter, and the acting is strictly amateur.
Noctropolis is a solid adventure set in an intriguing and visually stunning world.
Noir
February '97, p. 126
Cyberdreams
23586 Calabasas Road, Suite 102
(818) 222-9348
Well-chosen locations and music create the feeling of 1940s film noir.
Lack of interactivity; infuriatingly confusing movement interface.
Film buffs might appreciate what Cyberdreams achieved on a superficial level, but hard-core adventure gamers will be let down.
Normality
September '96, p. 111
Slick navigation interface and generally good puzzles.
Dialog falls flat at times; may be too easy for some gamers; annoying hero.
Some good fun in the 
"I want to be Sam & Max when I grow up" vein.
Norse by Norsewest
August '97, p. 122
It's more of the same for Lost Vikings buffs; nice presentation of cutscenes.
Sub-par graphics; very little improvement over the original.
Hardly a respectable follow-up, but it may keep fans of the series busy.
North vs. South
June '99, p. 137
The complex command structure will appeal to hardcore wargamers.
Dated and non-intuitive interface intended for ancient battles. Cumbersome command implementation. Bugs.
Patient wargamers may like it, but there are better Civil War games out there.
Nothing But Net!  Pro League Basketball
November '94, p. 79
Strategic Gaming Designs
659 Cary Towne Boulevard 176
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 552-1807
The draft and playbook features are as good as you'll find.
Lack of a schedule creator makes for a lot of needless work; no real NBA players used; gameplay is slow.
Nothing But Net! is a good coaching simulation, but it's shortcomings are too serious to justify a recommendation.
Novastorm
February '95, p. 91
675 Massachusetts Ave.
A good shooter; Uses CD-ROM enhancements instead of being limited by them.
No save feature; not everyone likes shooters, and that's all this is.
A refreshingly simple and effective CD-ROM title.
Nuclear Strike
January '98, p. 256
Great graphics; intense action; super-slick presentation.
Restricted field of vision can be annoying; difficulty level makes this less than ideal for beginners.
A great arcade blastfest with plenty of longevity and amazing intensity.
101: The 101st Airborne in Normandy
O
April '99, p. 123
Loads of atmosphere; plenty of bang-bang; dedicated authenticity.
Steep learning curve; slow soldiers' movements.
It's a sleeper, it's a keeper -- and it's teh only game in town for anyone interested in paratroop operations.
O.D.T.
March '99, p. 141
Combo of spells and weapons adds depth to gameplay; nice graphics effects; good story.
Frustrating control; primitive save-game feature; not enough combat; simplistic enemy AI.
Moderately interesting once the interface is mastered, but not much more.
Obsidian
May '97, p. 124
Great graphics and sound, engaging story line.
Lots of CD swapping. Brief gameplay for experienced adventure fans.
Obsidian manages to distinguish itself as a truly different adventure, where traditional puzzling melds with abstract thought.
Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
May '99, p. 127
Innovative and beautiful videogame-style fun with some nicely designed puzzles.
Gets very difficult very fast.
Abe's Exoddus is a unique action-puzzle hybrid with plenty of character.
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
April '98, p. 150
Gt Interactive
Loaded with personality; great level design; good sense of humor throughout.
Poor save game feature; some repetitive moments just like any side scroller.
For action fans, it's impossible to not be charmed by Abe and his friends.
Of Light and Darkness: The Prophecy
August '98, p. 140
Beautiful environments; some replay value.
Repetitive gameplay gets old quick; there's nothing unique about the game.
Although it has an attractive concept, this doesn't really contain enough variety or challenge to keep gamers coming back for more.
Official Formula 1 Racing
September '99, p. 98
Comprehensive teams and tracks; lots of modes and camera angles; good 'net multiplay.
Simple car physics and control; too easy to master; unnecessary car setup and pit stop features.
An amusing ride for entry-level racers, but semi-serious simmers won't like it.
Old Time Baseball
February '96, p. 139
Stormfront Studios
P.O. Box 11686
Beautiful graphics, especially the stadiums.
A few bugs and some questionable statistical results.
A couple of errors keep this from being a perfect game.
One Must Fall: 2097
February '95, p. 113
Excellent moves and variety; just the thing for bloodless carnage.
Repetitive commentary following each bout; the graphics aren't particularly exciting.
Grab your gamepad and buy yourself some Band-aids because your thumbs are gonna get sore!
Operation Airstorm
The computerized model-assembly instructions are kind of neat.
Stupid narrative context; crude flight models; awful explosion graphics; cretinous AI.
Experienced gamers beware; for the budget-conscious novice only.
Operation Body Count
February '95, p. 72
Having comrades that you control is nice, and one of the best ideas we've seen.
The flat, cardboard-cutout enemies are bad enough, but why does every floor have to look so much alike?
Check it out if you're a fan of the genre, but there's really nothing new here.
Operation Crusader
December '94, p. 123
A superb and wonderfully playable war game. It rules.
Disappointingly terse Tobruk scenario if you play the Allied side.
There are few PC wargames, past or present, that are able to reach a comparable level of excellence.
Operation Europe:  Path to Victory
December '94, p. 118
One Bay Plaza
1350 Bayshore Highway
The battlefield scenes are very good.
Complex, arbitrary rules will discourage novice gamers while veteran grognards will find the game risable in the extreme.
If you accept the game on its own terms, it can be quite entertaining; but it is not a serious simulation by any stretch.
Origamo
August '94, p. 74
One of the better Tetris-style games of late.
If your mouse is sluggish, you'll be frustrated; limited number of puzzles.
Plenty of options make it accessible to all skill ranges, and the backgrounds and music spice things up nicely.  Fun for a few minutes or a few hours -- it's up to you.
Orion Conspiracy
September '95, p. 96
An intriguing plot, and a fairly good cast of characters.
Sparse animation; lots of poorly written dialogue; and weak voice acting.
If you can endure the game's slow pace, there is a good mystery to solve.
Outcast
September '99, p. 114
Infogrames
www.infogrames.com
Captivating blend of action and adventure set in a massive game world.
Information overload early on; interface could use a little polish.
Just about the best action-adventure game so far this year.
Outlaws
July '97, p. 174
Nice graphics, cutscenes; very good multi-player action and musical score.
In single-player mode, some levels are frustrating; enemy AI leaves much to be desired.
Outlaws has more atmosphere than any ten other 3D shooters, but it's not perfect.
Outpost
September '94, p. 64
Unbelievable graphics; fantastic sound; addictive and ever-changing gameplay.
Windows slows it down, and there isn't enough info in the manual to get you started on your first colony. Might be hard for first-timers.
If you're a strategy fan, you simply must own Outpost. Period.
Outpost 2
November '97, p. 225
Variety spices up campaign missions; good multi-player action; free Internet play.
Inadequate manual; offers little originality.
A pretty enjoyable and solid game that doesn't deserve to be saddled with its predecessor's reputation.
Outwars
July '98, p. 138
Nice strategy elements; good mission variety.
Huge clipping problem; bad AI; multi-player is laggy; poor control configuration.
If you don't mind the problems, you'll have a lot of fun with this game, but don't shell out for it until it's fixed.
Over the Reich
March '97, p. 165
4517 Harftord Road
Elegant interface; exciting battles; engrossing campaign play.
High-tech sim-jockeys may find it too sedate, maybe too abstract.
A unique and singularly intelligent game; should captivate anyone with an interest in the subject of WWII aerial combat.
The Operational Art of War II: Modern Battles, 1956-2000
August '99, p. 98
Scenarios are well balanced and dramatic; editor is still a thing of beauty and wonder.
Airmobile operations are buggy; naval code remains as feeble as it was in the original.
It's a wargamer's dream come true in every way that truly matters.
The Operational Art of War Vol. 1 (1939-1955)
September '98, p. 126
www.talonsoft.com
The battles are exciting and often unique; the scenario editor is a thing of beauty and wonder.
The naval model is weak; watch out for that air-forces bug!
TOAW is a great wargame!
Pacific Air War 1942
P
May/June '94, p. 66
Great graphics; optional tactical control of carrier battles; lovely details.
Demanding hardware requirements for high graphic settings; thin sound effects.
A great simulation that both novice and veteran PC pilots can enjoy.
Pacific General
November '97, p. 312
(408) 737-6800
Many stand-alone scenarios are fun and historically interesting.
Lots of bad changes to the interface; Battle Generator is a nightmare; can't save at the end of a campaign battle!
One of the biggest disappointments I've ever experienced as a game reviewer.
Pacific Strike
August '94, p. 52
The story setting makes for a great flight-sim environment, and there are tons of great planes to fly.
Poor frame rate, touchy controls, and confusing setup instructions.
Hold off until a CD-ROM version comes out. It's bound to be the best choice.
Pandemonium
November '97, p. 246
Palo Alto
94303
(800) 262-7668
Attractive graphics, 3Dfx support, and large game world.
With a few exceptions, Pandemonium is full of repetitive, uninventive side-scrolling gameplay.
Even the most dedicated side-scroller fans will grit their teeth on this one.
Pandora Directive
October '96, p. 174
Deep, intricate plot; memorable characters; excellent acting all around.
Some puzzles are exasperatingly far-fetched and require much repetitious travel to complete.
This is a better game, in every respect, than its predecessor.
Panthers in the Shadows
December '95, p. 265
P.O. Box 3245
Santa Clara, CA 95055-2345
Unexcelled realism and detail.  A serious tool for study and a formidable game.
Drab graphics, wretched sound effects; demands a high level of commitment.
Overwhelming for casual wargamers; hardcore gamers will love its complexities.
Panzer Commander
August '98, p. 135
Plenty of tanks, good terrain engine, missions editor, and a wealth of engaging scenarios.
Bad driver AI, poor map and waypointing system, few platoon orders, a few annoying bugs.
Panzer Commander has all the elements of a good game, but its faults drag it down.
Panzer Dragoon
May '96, p. 114
(800) 872-7342 (USA-SEGA)
Great looking graphics (at a distance); more interaction than most rail-shooter games.
Graphics get blocky at close range; frustrating delays on all but the fastest PCs.
If you've already got the Edge 3D, Panzer Dragoon is a good addition to the lineup.
Panzer General
February '95, p. 100
A beautiful, superbly balanced, hyper-addictive war game.
May be deemed too populist by the crustier grognards.
The best wargame since Empire--and we certainly can't think of any higher praise for a game.
Panzer General II
January '98, p. 258
SSi
Stunning graphics; deeply satisfying gameplay; a spiffy scenario editor.
You can't completely cut off the music. But who cares?
It should be a sensational hit, and it deserves to be.
Paparazzi!
October '95, p. 126
Original idea; some funny riffs about Hollywood.
Tasteless jokes; repetitive gameplay; little interaction; not much challenge.
It would be too nice to say that it's mind-numbingly entertaining--it's actually just plain mind-numbing.
Pax Imperia: Eminent Domain
March '98, p. 116
(818) 225-5167
Real-time translation of turn-based space strategy models is handled adequately.
That's about all it does.
Devoid of imagination and the awe of interstellar contact and conflict, Eminent Domain, though mildly intriguing, is merely adequate.
PBA Bowling
May '96, p. 125
15235 Shady Grove Rd.
Ste. 100
Great bowling action; intuitive interface, nice graphics.
Lack of multi-player options or computerized opponents.
PBA is a one-of-a-kind simulation, and great fun for fans of the sport -- but you may tire of the solo action before the beer frame.
People's General
December '98, p. 201
Lots of new and interesting features; marvelous graphics; plenty of exotic units.
The chinese have perhaps too much of an advantage in the anti-aircraft department.
This is the crowning title in the General series.
Perfect General II
August '95, p. 107
Quantum Quality Productions
(908) 788-2799
A beautiful, addictive, smooth-playing game with terrific replay value.
The manual is a disgrace and fails to explain adequately a number of elements.
A sequel worth the wait! It will make you long for those days of playing with toy soldiers in the sandbox.  A masterpiece.
Perfect Weapon
July '97, p. 171
(203) 327-3326
Smooth animation and nice backgrounds.
Plays crummy; annoying sound effects.
Tedious, and for the most part unenjoyable. Perfect Weapon just doesn't live up to its name.
PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition
September '99, p. 135
Outstanding swing interface; uncanny physics model; good editor; strong online play.
Useless announcers; weak off-line tournament play.
This game's going to seriously cut into my Links LS 99 playing time.
PGA Tour 96
December '95, p. 241
Spectacular graphics, sound, gameplay. Good difficulty levels.
You'll need a Pentium to overcome the slow load times. More courses would be a welcome addition.
If you love the game of golf, this is a duffer's delight.
PGA Tour Golf 486
December '94, p. 111
San Mateo, CA 94403-7578
Outstanding graphics; real PGA pro playing partners; the best golf sounds yet.
Runs slow on all but the fastest machines.
PGA Tour Golf 486 is a serious contender--in fact, we'd say it's the current leader.
PGA Tour Pro
September '97, p. 184
Photo-realistic graphics and video-captured players; PIP windows are fun.
Poor club suggestion; targeting arrow limits play; requuires a monster system to enjoy.
PGA Tour Pro is great to look at, but the gameplay doesn't match the graphics.
Phantasmagoria
November '95, p. 156
Amazing graphics, a genuinely suspenseful ending, and a cat named Spazz.
Generally poor acting, a little too easy for veteran adventurers.
Phantasmagoria proves that a full-motion video extravaganza can be a good game.
Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh
March '97, p. 122
Original premise; good acting; generally good special effects.
Very little interactivity; far too easy; ending feels tacked-on.
A Puzzle of Flesh has great production values and more shock value than any previous PC adventure, but as a game it falls flat.
Philip Marlowe: Private Eye
October '96, p. 156
Byron Preiss Multimedia Co.
24 West 25th St.
(212) 989-6252
Wonderful animation, superior voice action, very easy to complete.
It's not much of a game; low interactivity; for novices only.
If you're a fan of Marlowe, it might be worth checking out. But don't expect a lot of gaming goodness from your investment.
Pictionary
January '98, p. 306
(508) 921-3700
Fairly good expansion of original; good for families.
Too easy for adult gamers; "witty banter" and "lively music" is "very annoying."
You'll have more fun playing the original Pictionary. The PC is not the place for this social, party-oriented game.
Pinball Illusions
January '96, p. 221
21st Century Entertainment Inc.
P.O. Box 415 Webster
NY 14580
(716) 872-1200
New display options, great pinball action and controls; authentic sights and sounds.
Can't change display options during gameplay; four tables may not be enough for some.
If pinball is your thing, you can't go wrong with Pinball Illusions.
Pitfall:  The Mayan Adventure
November '95, p. 136
Sutie 1000
A solid arcade game that runs well under Windows 95.
Jerky animation on slower machines; there are simply better games in this genre.
A promising first outing for Windows 95 arcade games.
Pizza Tycoon
June '95, p. 109
A detailed strategy/resource game graced with good graphics; it's practically an alternative career.
It's practically an alternative career...
If you like nano-management tasks and hanker to own a chain of restaurants, by all means go for it.
Plane Crazy!
November '98, p. 225a
Pretty nice graphics, but only if you have a horse of a machine to run it on.
Numbing gameplay, frustrating maps, and awkward controls.
The perfect gift for the masochist who has everything.
Planet Soccer
October '94, p. 52
Infogrammes
Great graphics; full team rosters; and plenty of options.
Bad documentation; awkward view of the action; and vague player control.
With all its stats and options, it has plenty of strengths--but you have to contend with a lot to enjoy them.
Play This, Play That
November '98, p. 233
Nnice presentation. Air Hockey and Memory Challenge are fun diversions.
Most of the games have been done before and one better. Not much replay value.
Low cost fun for youngsters, but not much value for regular gamers.
POD
July '97, p. 155
Ubi Soft Entertainment
625 Third Street, 3rd Floor
Beautiful with MMX and 3D accelerator; tons of replay value with Internet connection.
Control is imprecise; there's no real feeling of speed; high system requirements.
It's pretty to look at but not that much fun to play. Nice Internet options.
Police Quest: S.W.A.T.
March
Good graphics, interface; the ability to choose multiple careers.
Finishing a given scenario is tough.
The emphasis on procedure over gameplay brings an intriguing idea to a halt. Only wannabe police officers need apply.
Police Quest: SWAT 2
November '98, p. 249
Developing successful strategies and tactics is rewarding and fairly addictive.
Convoluted interface; tiny graphics; terrorist missions feel lik ean afterthought.
SWAT 2 falls short of realizing the potential of its thrilling subject matter.
Pool Champion
June '96, p. 101
A unique adventure mode keeps it interesting.
Stilted dialogue; an arcade-style interface.
It's no Virtual Pool, but it's well worth a look.
Populous: The Beginning
March '99, p. 134
Wild, ever-changing game world; spells and bonus effects are interesting.
Missions too puzzle-oriented; limited elements and units reduce this to a simple RTS game.
Pretty to look at and fun to tinker with, butmissions are drab and not very challenging.
Power F1
September '97, p. 150
415-616-2022
Fun arcade-style racing in a realistic setting; impressive graphics and sound; Big Red Racing is thrown in as a bonus.
Poor control; high system requirements.
A decent, action-based racing game that isn't good enough to lead the pack.
Power Poker
October '94, p. 61
Great new graphics and a million extra features add depth to a classic game.
The graphics seem a little spartan, even while you play in SVGA mode.
A great game if you're into playing all those crazy poker variations, but only fair to middlin' if you ain't.
Power:  The Game
August '95, p. 102
Power Games International
280 West 4800 South
Murray, UT 84107
(800) 671-6333
Good strategy game with simple rules; a potential for complex strategy.
No "chrome" on this one; just bare-bones graphics and sound.
As a player-vs.-computer strategy game it's OK, but the real strength is in modem, network, and internet play.
Powerhouse
September '95, p. 105
Engaging mix of economics, strategy, and dirty deeds; good interface; detailed SVGA graphics.
Long-term play seems redundant. Modest video quality adds little to game.
A good game for business sim fans and SimCity aficionados, but others might find it a bit of a yawn.
Powerslave
May '97, p. 107
611 Anton Blvd., Suite 500
92626
714-428-2112
Good level-design, novel setting, nice music. Well intentioned...
...But poorly executed, with a dated engine and inadequacies in everything from mouse support to modem play.
Pick up Duke or Quake, or wait for Shadow Warrior, Blood, Jedi Knight, etc.
Powerslide
April '99, p. 113a
Smooth visuals; immense racing worlds; off-the-wall physics.
Super-naturally slippery tracks;controls are a little awkward; some tracks not that fun.
If eye-candy and hellzapoppin' racing is your thing, Powerslide is a safe bet.
Pray for Death
February '97, p. 163
(714) 883-8710
Lovely graphics and audio design.
Everything else -- plays worse than Killer Instinct.
With good looks and lousy gameplay, it's the Myst of fighting games.
Primal Rage
December '95, p. 281
674 Sycamore Dr.
Milpitas, CA 95035-0782
(408) 433-3999
Killer graphics and animation, cool soundtrack, and enough hidden moves and goodies to satisfy hard-core arcade fans.
You need 16MB RAM and a 486/66 to see this game at its best; pulling off some of the special moves on a four-button pad is tough.
If you like fighting games, buy this one.
Prince Interactive
September '94, p. 62
Compton's New Media
2320 Camino Vida Roble
(619) 929-2500
Great full-motion videos and two new jams.
The gaming is silly with sluggish movements and a total absence of interaction with the artist formerly known as Prince.
If you are a true fan, you should consider waiting awhile for this baby to be reduced in price before purchasing it.
Prisoner of Ice
November '95, p. 120
1333 Ocean Ave.
A good mix of challenging puzzles; some of the cinematic sequences are nice.
Poor voice-acting; timed puzzles are unnecessarily frustrating.
A quirky adventure game that's only for the die-hard Lovecraft fan.
Privateer 2: The Darkening
March '97, p. 108
(512) 434-4357
Great graphics; good acting; lots of weapons and ships.
A few bugs apparently slipped by in the playtesting stages; joystick control doesn't support fancier features.
A terrific space shoot 'em up that has more to do between missions than watch movies.
Pro 18 World Tour Golf
Pro Bass Fishing
September '98, p. 132
You'll be fishing in five minutes or less.
Totally bereft of options for stuff like hooks, line, temperature, and other variables; fictional lakes; bizarre casting animation.
This one belongs at the bottom of a deep lake.
Pro League Baseball
September '94, p. 82
Micro Sports
A potentially solid combination of stats replay and action graphics.
The game locks up a lot, and the thin manual isn't much help.
Micro Sports supports their products, so there's a good chance this game could be excellent once they work out the kinks.
Pro League Baseball '97
May '97, p. 106
Micro Sports Inc.
Lancaster
17604-9975
800-334-2722
Hands-off general manager feature does an adequate job.
The game is buggy and the control interface is poorly designed. Practically useless manual.
Problem-plagued graphics and an unplayable arcade control system.
Pro Pinball: Big Race USA
April '99, p. 139
Realistic ball movement; detailed graphics; wonderful tweaking options.
Only one table!
Once again, Empire has created a great pinball game. But when are we going to get more than one table?
Pro Pinball: The Web
August '96, p. 112
Ste. 123
A well designed table, sharp graphics, and detailed touches make it close to the real thing.
There's just the one table to play on; sound effects are sparse.
One of the best pinball games out there.
Pro-Pinball: Timeshock!
October '97, p. 241
580 California St., 16th Flr.
(415) 439-4854
Great ball physics, superb realism, great table design.
Only one table. Gets repetitive in a hurry.
If you've got that itch to play some pinball, but can't get to the pub, this is the next best thing.
Psychic Detective
April '96, p. 113
1450 Fashion Island Blvd
This is an effective interactive movie, with good acting and an intriguing plot.
With its repetitive nature and low interactivity quotient, it's not much of a game.
As PC games go, Psychic Detective is one heck of a movie.
Psychotron
November '94, p. 68
The quality of the video is fairly good, as is the acting.
Veterans will find little challenge in this very linear adventure. The save-game routine is clumsy.
Another stab at "interactive movies" falls short of the hype.
Pure Wargame
July '95, p. 123
Good-looking; sweet-playing; drenched in authenticity.
So-so replay value (only seven battles); shoddy-looking documentation.
If you're at all interested in airborne operations, don't pass this one by.
Pursue the Pennant
P.O. Box 19703
Greensboro, NC 27419
Full rosters, realistic results and stats--and all in a flexible, easy-to-play game.
The company could have spruced up the display a bit. But nah, why bother?
You can't ask for anything more from a text-only baseball sim.
Puzzle Collection, The
November '97, p. 308
Some engaging and fun puzzles; wide range of puzzles may satisfy whole family.
Some real stinkers in the mix; wide range of difficulty may turn off whole family.
A decent package for puzzle fiends, but none of the puzzles comes close to Tetris.
Qin
Q
November '96, p. 275
Time Warner Electronic Pub.
Nice graphics, and it's an original setting...
...but the gameplay is still the same old tile-dragging drivel, and the lack of an inventory system is a pain.
It's Myst in a Chinese tomb. Take it or leave it.
Quake
October '96, p. 150
Great graphics; animated 3D monsters; excellent multi-player options.
Nothing really new in terms of gameplay or technology; unfriendly save feature; no automap.
Quake isn't destined to revolutionize action games, but it's a very good first-person shooter from the guys who invented the genre.
Quake II
March '98, p. 102
Creepy single-player play; top-notch multi-player play; accelerated graphics.
A few bugs affect multi-player; weak AI; some expected features didn't make the final version.
Quake is dead. Long live Quake II.
Quarantine
December '94, p. 107
2999 Northeast 191st Street
Super-fast action; lots of cool weapons and plenty of enemies to use them on; nice sound effects.
Some will think the action is repetitive; EMM386 compatibility problems can make it tough to get enough conventional RAM.
A high-octane addition to anyone's gaming library--it rocks!
Quarterback Attack
March '96, p. 104
Digital Pictures
1825 South Grant St.
(415) 345-5300
Decent video and a straightforward interface; learning to read defenses and time your passes provides a challenge.
It doesn't take long to start seeing the same clips over and over; playing for and against the same teams means things get old fast.
QBA provides a few kicks, but the video-based format kills any replay value.
Queensryche's Promised Land
August '96, p. 102
Virgin/EMI
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
(310) 260-4776
The rockumentary videos will be of interest to fans.
Confusing world exploration, uninteresting puzzles.
This is a bunch of New Age mumbo-jumbo wrapped in music videos and a crummy Myst clone.
Qwirks
November '95, p. 117
A good no-brainer; surprisingly addictive; cute little pieces will amuse youngsters.
Useless story line; gameplay challenging only to young players; there's nothing new here.
If you're looking for a good game for young kids, or a brainless time-killer for yourself, pick up a copy of Qwirks.
Rage of Mages
R
January '99, p. 200
Nice graphics; trying to combine roleplaying and strategy is an original idea.
No sense of roleplaying; boring quests; scripted character interaction; bad combat mode.
There are far better RPGs and RTS games than this monstrosity.
Rage of Mages II: Necromancer
October '99, p. 159
Lots of stuff to find; fairly non-linear quests; lots of levels; varied gameplay.
Although there are lots of sub-quests, the main story is pretty linear; combat gets tedious.
Serious RPG and real-time strategy players should skip this one.
Railroad Tycoon II
February '99, p. 172
(214) 3030-1202
The pretty graphics and stellar interface enhance the already deep and entertaining gameplay.
Difficult campaign scenarios; no tunnels.
Strategy gaming at its finest -- minus all teh senseless violence.
Rally Championship
September '97, p. 188
(888) 843-2661
Looks, sounds, and feels like a driving game ought to look, sound, and feel.
Once completed, you may be too exhausted to play it again. Some technical glitches.
An outstanding racer that should please arcade and simulation fans alike.
Rama
February '97, p. 152
A rich, faithful adaptation of the novels; lovely interface; gorgeous visuals.
The most complicated, convoluted puzzles you've ever wrestled with.
A monumental achievment; a landmark game that raises the bar several notches.
Rampage: World Tour
October '98, p. 216
It doesn't screw up the Rampage formula. And the three-player mode is fun, fun, fun!
Graphics and some animations are chunky.
Pretty good fodder for fans of the aging arcade game.
Raptor:  Call of the Shadows
Apogee Software
3960 Broadway, Suite 235
75043
(800) 276-4331
Satisfies the appetite for destruction and looks good doing it.
Like all shooters, it gets a bit repetitive after a while.
This one's among the best-looking PC shoot-'em ups around.
Ravenloft
May/June '94, p. 72
Great graphics; plenty of options; nice cut-scenes; new horror-setting adds much.
Weapons, spells, attributes, etc. all getting very familiar now.
One of SSI's best AD&D-based releases; packed with character; featuring just enough novelty; very nicely put together.
Ravenloft: Stone Prophet
July '95, p. 93
The same great engine, sounds, graphics and design as in the other titles in this series.
No surprises or innovations.  Material is very familiar.
This type of game seems almost retro now, but if you still like first-person RPGs, it's certainly a good one.
Rayman
June '96, p. 121
Ubi Soft Ltd.
Bridge House
11 Creek Rd.
Hampton Court, Surrey KT89BE
Great animation; lots of variety; precise play control.
Could be too challenging at high levels; chances to save can be few and far between.
Rayman is undoubtedly one of the best arcade-style games for the PC.
Re-Volt
October '99, p. 144
Detailed maps; phenomenal physics engine; competitive AI.
The track editor, while a thoughtful addition, is pretty much useless; multiplayer support could be better.
A delightful arcade racing game with limitless replay value.
Realms of the Haunting
April '97, p. 140
Large game world; devious puzzles; creepy atmosphere.
Clunky interface; sluggish beginning; occasionally vague plot.
If you've been looking for a good adventure yarn with genuine thrills, Realms awaits.
Rebel Assault II
February '96, p. 131
Great cutscenes, sound-track, effects; entertaining story.
Almost no interactive fun; ridiculously short gameplay.
If you want Star Wars, get X-Wing or TIE Fighter. If you want a challenging arcade game, look elsewhere.
Rebel Moon Rising
December '97, p. 256
Interesting missions; cool lighting effects.
Looks and feels very dated; boring level design makes play tedious.
All of its interesting features can't save Rebel Moon Rising from its lackluster and tedious gameplay.
Recoil
June '99, p. 129
Amazing pyrotechnics; flexible interface.
Smallish levels; fairly mediocre AI; single-player campaign too short; deathmatch-only multi-player mode.
By the time you start to tire of it, you'll probably be almost finished anyway.
Red Baron II
April '98, p. 119
Good sound effects; damage is modeled in great detail.
No 3D support; flaky multi-player; loads of bugs.
Maybe a patch can make this game worthwhile; until then, you're better off with Empire's Flying Corps Gold or the original Red Baron.
Red Crystal
May/June '94, p. 68
Your goals are clear, the interface is simple, and you'll be ready to play in no time.
The game won't blow you away with innovations.
It's fun, fast and addictive, but not particularly complex.
Red Ghost
June '96, p. 128
Bay N-2 Germantown, MD 20874
Diverse gameplay; many  options; the chance to step in when things get tough.
Coarse terrain graphics. Limited to single-player action.
A competent, enjoyable game, especially if you liked Midwinter and its sequels.
Red Sky at Morning
July '94, p. 83
Simulations Canada
P.O. Box 452
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Canada, B4V 2X6
Poor documentation; minimalist graphics; can be off-putting.
Naval combat buffs might get their money's worth--but all others should steer clear of this anachronism.
Redguard
March '99, p. 122
An enormous gaming world with dozens of characters and brain-bending puzzles.
Combat and physics are a bit fishy; monsters can attack during cut-scenes.
Reguard successfully merges action and adventure into one tasty package.
Redjack: Revenge of the Brethren
September '98, p. 144
Real adventure-game elements; well-realized locations; nice graphics.
Puzzles are too easy; action sequences are far too hard.
Without the poorly designed arcade bits shoehorned in, Redjack could've been a decent adventure.
Redline
June '99, p. 152
Great visuals and carnage aplenty.
Control can be a little over-whelming; the on-foot mode is weaker than the driving; not for the kiddies.
More "War Wagon" action than an entire season's worth of "The A-Team".
Redline Racer
November '98, p. 252
Attractive graphics, nice controls, decent track selection. Good multi-player options.
Easy tracks and easy opponents.
Redline Racer is a lot like a donut... it satisfies when the urge hits, but you'll still be hungry for something more substantial.
Redneck Rampage
July '97, p. 162
92696
(800) 468-3775
Wonderful audio/visual presentation; redneck humor.
Requires massive hard disk space. Offensive language may be rough for young ears.
If you bought a PC just so you could play this game, you might be a... oh, never mind.
Redneck Rampage Rides Again
August '98, p. 118
I'll give up my beer and pork rinds if you can show me a shooters as funny as this one.
Lack of hardware support; several levels are too dark; animations stutter on lower-end PCs.
If you like your gorefests seasoned with a helpin' of humor, this is your game.
Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure
January '95, p. 138
Great look; extremely easy to use interface; and nice sound effects.
Cartoonish storyline; poor voice acting; and a clumsy save-game feature.
Beyond the few flaws, Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure is a pretty unique--and enjoyable-- adventure game.
Renegade
May '95, p. 107
Great-looking graphics and some interesting roleplaying elements.
Long waits for data to load are frustrating; much of the in-flight speech is meaningless.
It has some nice touches, but lots of little flaws weaken the overall package.
Renegade II
June '96, p. 77
Attractive SVGA graphics, multi-player features.
Confusing interface, poor wingman control, and not enough mission variety.
A nice game if you're looking for some multi-player space combat action, but a forgettable single-player experience.
Renju
December '94, p. 145
Denver Software Development Company
1401 17th Street
Suite 1400
Denver, CO 80202
Simple to learn, but its tough AI makes it a challenge to master.
Minimal graphics and sound; nothing here will attract anyone other than hard-core strategy gamers.
Proves that simple and easy don't always go hand-in-hand.
Requiem: Avenging Angel
July '99, p. 96
Well-animated models; lots of pyrotechnics; awesome Angelic powers.
Generic weapons; levels are low on interactivity; graphical glitches.
Requiem might tide you over until Quake III arrives, but don't expect too much.
Resident Evil
November '97, p. 215
Terrific graphics, great atmosphere, loads of blood and guts to satisfy splatter fans.
Some silly control, inventory and save-game flubs mar an otherwise excellent game.
If you can overlook the minor niggles, Resident Evil comes highly recommended.
Resident Evil 2
June '99, p. 149
475 Oak mead Parkway
Whacking the undead is always fun; good graphics; creepy atmosphere.
Suffers from consolitis; some of the puzzles are too abstract.
If you're looking for a zombie-killing good time, you can't do any better than this.
Retribution
April '95, p. 107
Good graphics; high degree of challenge and action.
Missions get very hard very fast; narrative pretext is vapid; interactive scenes are ludicrous.
It's a good, solid shooter--no frills, but lots and lots of intense bang-bang.
Return Fire
Enough strategic elements to keep it interesting.
Cartoony graphics; lack of modem or network support.
The single-player game is good; the split-screen two-player game is a real throwback.
Return Fire 2
December '98, p. 195
Great game design; wonderful visual effects and music score.
Bewildering setup screens and a poor manual; controlling some vehicles can be tricky.
Kudos to Silent for turning an arcade game into a compelling strategy affair.
Return of Arcade
May '96, p. 119
1Microsoft Way
(206) 637-9309
Dead-on representations of classic arcade games.
Four classics just aren't enough; these games don't stand up to today's best titles.
If you just want a quick break in between printing spreadsheets, RTA is great.
Return to Krondor
March '99, p. 115
Exciting story line; lots of items, spells, weapons, potions; great combat system.
Too short; camera angles make it difficult to navigate; inventory managment gets tedious.
If you're looking for a fun, quick, RPG with a good story, this is one to get.
Return to Ringworld
October '94, p. 54
Tsunami Media, Inc.
48677 Victoria Lane
Oakhurst, CA 93644
An expansive game-world; challenging gameplay; all true to Niven's works.
The Ringworld landscape is a bit overwhelming, and the graphics could be better.
True Niven fans--and anyone looking for an enormous new world to explore--will enjoy this one tremendously.
Reunion
November '94, p. 94
Reunion's exploration, colony building, and military strategy provide its depth.
Takes a loooong time to get to the good stuff. Too much time is spent with busy work.
An interesting, accessible game undermined somewhat by a slow beginning and too much micro-management.
Revenge of Arcade
Ms. PacMan still holds her own as an arcade diva.
The entire collection of games is fairly weak; screen mode is too small to do each game justice.
The modest collection of arcade hits and misses is only for nostalgia buffs.
Revolution X
October '96, p. 191
The soundtrack is done by Aerosmith, the head villainess is named Headmistress Helga--who can resist a name like that?
Just about everything else.
If you buy it, don't blame us.
Richard Scarry's Best Neighborhood Ever
September '94, p. 76
The programs are true to Richard Scarry's style and are very nicely animated.
The graphics are so-so with the kind of jaggies we used to see years ago; little depth.
Both neighborhoods will engage children through words and pictures, but parents will wish each disc had more activities.
Riddle of Master Lu
December '95, p. 244
(800) 943-3664
Great graphics, great puzzles, and a fantastic story that most gamers will love to spend time with.
No real deviation from standard graphic adventure format.
If you love graphic adventure, you'll find your heart's desire here.
Ring: The Legend of Nibelungen
October '99, p. 168
PO Box 6125
Ripper
May '96, p. 109
Great graphics, a challenging variety of puzzles, and a simple interface.
Puzzles can be too tough; there's a lot of over-acting, even from the professionals; it takes forever to get from one place to another.
If you've got tones of patience and love tough puzzles, you'll probably have fun with this one. Otherwise, make sure you pick up a hint book when you buy the game.
Rise and Rule of Ancient Empires
July '96, p. 102
Ste. 102
Easy to use sliding buttons; luscious animated cutscenes; network play.
No map editor, less than informative unit status bar.
A decent, playable simulation of ancient empires.
Rise of the Triad
June '95, p. 131
Apogee Software, Ltd.
3960 Broadway
Suite 235
Garland, TX 75043
Huge, complex levels; rich multi-player features; the option to tone down the violence for the kiddies.
Mediocre graphics and a distinct 2D feel. There's nothing new here.
It's not a knockout, but it'll more than satisfy your most violent urges until something better comes along.
Rites of War
October '99, p. 129a
Fine art-work; exotic units; clean interface.
The game gets horribly difffiuclt during the sixth scenario, even on Easy setting.
For fans of Fantasy General. An agreeable marriage of the Warhammer license and SSI's tried-and-true concepts.
Riven
January '98, p. 289
Gorgeous graphics, good sound.
Puzzles make no sense; virtually no replay value; lots of disc swapping; frustrating gameplay.
Even if you loved Myst, you'll have a frustrating time time with this sequel. If you do buy it, get your hands on the strategy guide ASAP.
Road Rash
December '96, p. 310
Nice graphics; great action; multi-player support.
It gets dull, since it's basically the same old Road Rash that appeared on the 3DO.
It's repetitive and campy, but it's a chance to relive those irreverent days of youth.
Road Warrior
March '96, p. 133
Superior graphics and sound plus a great story line set this one apart from the crowd.
Vehicle control can be awkward; too many  missions end too early; inaccurate manual.
Mile-a-minute action with a snot-nosed attitude - I like it!
Robert E. Lee: Civil War General
December '96, p. 301
Easy to learn; excellent you-are-there video reenactments.
Simplified command structure forces player to control each unit; may be too easy for veteran wargamers.
A serious wargame, wrapped in a friendly multimedia package.
Robinson's Requiem
October '94, p. 67
30 Wertheim Court
Suite 2
Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 189
A well-thought-out world that might have been interesting in another game.
Pixel lovers will find a lot to cherish here. These are big juicy pixels you can really sink your teeth into. It's pixelicious!
The meaningless wandering puts this one high on the frustration index.
RoboQuest
April '97, p. 145
10960 Wilshire Blvd.,
800-340-7888
Since it doesn't include an uninstall program, you'll get some practice in deleting files.
Construction kit is linear and pointless; the sub-par Doom-clone doesn't make up for it.
Two poorly designed segments can't hope to make a good game.
Robot City
November '95, p. 165
Straight-forward and intensely atmospheric; wall-to-wall sound.
Sometimes slow; no way to skip conversations or animations you've already seen.
An original and entertaining adventure, but not for puzzle fanatics.
Rocket Jockey
February '97, p. 130
Addictive action, intuitive controls, loads of variety.
Demanding requirements, annoying time limits, no sign of the touted multi-player features.
Rocket Jockey is a raucous action game that pulls off a truly inventive theme with loads of style, humor, and addictive gameplay.
RogueSquadron 3D
March '99, p. 102
Great graphics; fast action; lots of cool little touches.
Short; no multi-play; some gamers won't like console action.
If you like your Star Wars action quick and to the point, Rogue Squadron 3D belongs in your collection.
Rollcage
July '99, p. 118
Exhilarating gameplay and hella-smooth graphics.
Some collision niggles, especially when you're lined up against walls.
A solid successor to the Wipeout series.
RollerCoaster Tycoon
July '99, p. 102
Lots of tools to design theme parks and rides; finances don't bog you down.
Irritating progression; minor interface problems; no discrete terrain or coaster editors.
Though not without annoyances, this game is entertaining and addictive.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire
May '96, p. 143
1350 Old Bayshore Hwy
The best graphics yet in the series; sieges are beautifully rendered.
Confusing interface; sad air of ennui hangs over the whole thing.
Koei should have stopped while they were ahead; this new version adds no luster to a classic series.
Russian Six-Pak
Six games in one; Windows environment makes for easy access.
Only two of the six are worth playing.
It may be from Russia, but Tetris it ain't. This collection will appeal to only especially dedicated puzzle gamers.
688[I] Hunter/Killer
S
September '97, p. 164
1450 Fashion island Blvd.
415-571-7171
Detailed; great sound effects; a good mission editor; some multiplayer support.
May be too complex; unimpressive 3D view; videos occasionally don't match performance.
A great submarine sim, but only hard-core sim nuts should apply.
7th Legion
January '98, p. 301
Microprose
Fast-paced action; nice graphics and music; a few innovative concepts.
Poor AI; limited units; no alliances in multi-player; even innovative concepts aren't good.
There are much better real-time strategy games to spend your money on.
Realms of Arkania: Star Trail
February '95, p. 70
P.O. Box 24
Incredibly detailed roleplaying; tons of options and a crisp interface.
Complex play will most likely turn off newcomers to the genre; graphics can get a bit repetitive.
A great title for those who're tired of adventure games masquerading as RPGs--but not for the uninitiated.
Sabre Ace
February '98, p. 184
Great subject matter. Some good graphic effects. Interesting missions.
Zero flight model. Sporadic graphical annoyances. Fatal view modes.
An adequate arcade sim, but that's not what Virgin claims it is.
Sabre Team
November '94, p. 84
MicroLeague Interactive Software
Bellevue Building
262 Chapman Road
Newark, DE 19702
Easy to get into; novices may enjoy it for a brief period of time.
Serious design flaws and impossibly jerky game-play; why should it cost 3 Action Points to turn my head?
This simulation simply does not measure up to the competition.
Safecracker
November '98, p. 235
PXL Computers
(416) 868-6388
Easy to get into and good pacing.
Contents of safes should be automatically included into inventory.
It's nothing fancy, nor does it try to be. If you're looking for puzzles but hate Myst-clones, Safecracker is for you.
Sail Simulator 2.1
October '95, p. 121
Amtex Software Corp.
Accurately depicts all aspects of sailing...
...except for most of the fun.  Other lows are rudimentary 16-color graphics and no sound card support.
An excellent instructional aid, but there's not much of a game here.
Sanitarium
August '98, p. 125
Wonderful puzzle integration; compelling story line; dozens of characters to interact with.
Lackluster voice acting; clunky movement interface; long load times on slower CD drives.
If you're a fan of traditional graphic adventures, this is a must have.
Savage
November '96, p. 276
Video sequences are informative; levels get progressively harder.
Unrealistic; choppy graphics; boring and repetitive gameplay.
If you want a realistic and fun animal sim, go buy Lion or Wolf and leave Savage on the Serengeti.
Savage Warriors
October '95, p. 125
High-quality soundtrack; good variety of fighters; colorful backgrounds.
Blocky graphics and unconvincing animation; no way to reconfigure keyboard commands.
It just doesn't stand up to the current crop of fighting games.
SCARAB
June '97, p. 116
Internet play is good fun; an okay title for fans of Powerslave and Mechwarrior 2.
Poor graphics; you have to admit that Powerslave and Mech2 did it much better.
Unless you're extremely desperate for a different style of Deathmatch, skip it.
SCARS
May '99, p. 136
Nice visuals; no-holds-barred, screw-yer-buddy gameplay.
Lackluster multi-player support; too many features are console throwbacks.
SCARS is entertaining, but it doesn't hold up against other PC racing games.
Sci-Fi Pinball
July '99, p. 107
Fox Arcade
(800) 771-3772
Five unique tables; crisp sound clips; value priced; works well on slower systems.
Poor screen real estate; questionable ball physics; no music.
Sci-Fi Pinball is entertaining but suffers from a few inadequacies.
Scorched Planet
April '97, p. 146
Splendid graphics; good gameplay, and a slick morphing vehicle to control.
Music isn't great; full-motion video is only so-so.
This has the fun, creative spark that too many other games aim for and miss.
Scrabble
October '97, p. 230
Handy help features; multi-player options; plenty of challenge.
Takes some effort to find a suitable difficulty level; some of the boardgame's charm is lost.
Scrabble is best played on a board and not on a PC, but this comes really close.
Screamer
April '96, p. 121
Fast-paced action that never gets bogged down; rocketing these cares around the gorgeous VGA tracks is a blast.
There's little realism, few custom options, and no modem play; some veteran PC drivers may find it too easy.
If you just want to drive fast and not worry about the details, this is for you.
Screamer 2
January '97, p. 256
18601 Fitch Avenue
Astonishing graphics; great arcade driving "feel" puts Ridge Racer to shame.
Needs more tracks and more cars.
Pull this out when your Playstation-owning friends come over for tea, and be sure to wipe up the drool afterwards.
Scud: Industrial Revolution
April '98, p. 96a
The graphics are nice and the frame  rates are fast.
Repetitive gameplay. Dreadful music. Insanely difficult.
If you have the patience and the skills to beat this one, you are The Man. But you still won't enjoy it much.
Sea Legends
October '96, p. 179
Good naval combat and dueling scenes; story has some charm.
Cartoony graphics; absurd save function; obnoxious interface.
A derivative game with a cumbersome interface, but with enough going for it to make it marginally competitive.
Seaworthy
August '94, p. 56
Alliance Interactive Software
1859 N. Pine Island Road 103
These games should run fine on just about any machine. The simulations are fairly deep in historical data and play options.
Graphics are just too dated, and the games weren't top-of-the-line even when new.
Unless you just can't afford better, don't waste your money on these.
Sega Rally PC
May '97, p. 140
Great graphics; smooth control; excellent Internet play.
May leave you craving more tracks and cars; some pretty high system requirements.
This great conversion is a must-have for arcade racing fans.
Sega Touring Car Championship
August '98, p. 122
Graphics look good, and the requirements for full details aren't too steep.
It's cookie=cutter arcade racing. There simply aren't enough cars, tracks, or options.
There are better arcade racers. Sega's own Daytona USA Deluxe is one of them.
Semper Fi
June '98, p. 96
Impenetrable interface, ambiguous manual, limited number of scenarios.
Experienced wargamers may love it, but the timid need not apply.
Sensible Soccer
October '94, p. 57
Everyware
1119 Colorado Avenue
Good control and fast action combine for fun gameplay.
Sub-par graphics and a lack of options may have you shelving this one before long.
A semi-realistic soccer simulation that's relatively easy to learn, but lacks replay value.
Sentient
August '97, p. 118
A genuinely large gaming world; lots of characters to interact with.
Spotty Direct3D support; interface from Hell; dialog that reads like a third generation translation.
Those who are able to cope with its cumbersome shortcomings may like Sentient.
Sentinel Returns
January '99, p. 208
Simple design and interface makes it accessible for all ages.
Repetitive gameplay is boring, and the lack of Direct3D support or an auto-save feature is irritating.
For very gamer who gets hooked, another will be left asking if that's all there is.
Serf City
August '94, p. 58
Good landscapes and engaging gameplay.
So-so character graphics; cluttered interface; only moderate depth.
Fun if you're unfamiliar with kingdom-building, but it needs more variety.
Settlers II
September '96, p. 133
Charming graphics; some clever variations on a classic theme.
One-dimensional micro-management invites fatigue, frustration.
If you've got a passion for resource-management, you could do worse; you could also do a lot better.
Seven Kingdoms
March '98, p. 143
Deep and subtle strategy. Spies. Fresh multi-player gaming.
Cartoony graphics. Unimaginative AI opponents; single-player game lacks energetic gameplay of multi-player.
An all around terrific game lacking only a solid single-player mode.
Shadow Man
October '99, p. 151
Impressive graphics; cool baddies; plenty of acrobatics.
Endlessly respawning enemies can lead to frustration; sniper view is almost worthless.
Not the kind of game you'll play for hours on end, but one you'll go back to.
Shadow Master
July '98, p. 144
Pretty lens flare. Great animation and monster design.
Claustrophobic gameplay, spazzy controls, and dead-end idea.
It's fun to look at, but Shadow Master just ain't got it where it counts.
Shadow of the Comet
August '94, p. 64
It can be a lot of fun to play, especially if you're a Lovecraft fan.
Primitive interface; the game never really delivers on its horror premise.
Steadfastly average gaming.  It's not bad, though, and you might enjoy it.  There are a lot better games available.
Shadow Warrior
December '97, p. 199
Great level design, lots of personality.
It's still basically Duke 3D; and the limited number of single-player levels mean it's pretty short.
It's not revolutionary, but it's worth a gander for anyone who enjoyed Duke 3D.
Shadows of Cairn
June '95, p. 98
Masque Publishing, Inc.
The graphics are nice.
What little there is to do in this game is extremely frustrating.
This one fails on just about every level--there's no story to speak of, and the action is slow and repetitive.
Shadows of the Empire
December '97, p. 244
Some of the mini-games are really hot...
... but the rest of them are pretty tepid.
Shadows of the Empire is a better game than the N64 version -- but that's not much of a recommendation.
Shadows Over Riva
August '97, p. 130
315-393-6633
Engrossing story line; lots of NPCs, items, subquests, and stats for hard-core gamers.
Dated graphics; clumsy interface at times; annoying combat views.
It's a worthy sequel to Star Trail, and the old engine is still fun to play with.
Shanghai: Great Moments
July '95, p. 126
P.O. Box 67713
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 479-5644
Beautiful graphics, entertaining animations, challenging play.
Resource-hungry; long decompress time before new games.
The deluxe version of a popular puzzle game, it has something for everyone.
Shanghai II: Dragon's Eye
December '94, p. 136
A faithful Windows adaptation of an old favorite means a whole new audience can enjoy this classic.
We would like to have seen a few more tile sets included.
The perfect nerve tonic for burned-out arcade freaks.
Shannara
April '96, p. 125
P.O. box 10810
Sharp, hi-res graphics; a few challenging puzzles; solid interface and inventory system.
Frustrating combat interface, far too many easy puzzles.
Fans of the books won't like the simplified story, and gamers will find it too easy.
Shattered Steel
January '97, p. 239
Nice, fast graphics; great network play; more big-robot action than you can shake a joystick at.
A bit lacking on the strategy side.
For no-fault mech combat, Shattered Steel is a blast.
Shellshock
June '96, p. 87
Plenty of stuff to destroy; network support gives it good replay value.
Poor joystick support; limited weaponry; too few save-game slots; and annoying in-game chatter.
Not the slickest game, but it has enough strategy and action to make it worth a look.
Shipwreckers!
March '98, p. 158
989 Hillsdale Blvd.
Goofy animations; chipper music; fun, console-style action.
Unreasonably high system requirements.
A fun little game, especially for kids, but only if their parents have the horsepower to run it.
Shivers
March '96, p. 118
Stunning graphics; good sound; well-conceived plot; a good variety of puzzles.
Doesn't deliver any real horror; lots of backtracking; not much character interaction.
Puzzle fans who enjoyed Myst have a new one to add to their collection.
Shivers II: Harvest of Souls
July '97, p. 170
Intricate plot that will use all your detective and puzzle-solving skills.
The plot's vague early on, and loses momentum at the end.
A pretty good game with a little bit of everything that makes graphic adventures worthwhile.
Shogo
December '98, p. 176
Gorgeous accelerated graphics, fast paced levels, and excellent production values.
No DeathMatch-only maps. Short single-player game.
If you like your action games fast and furious, Shogo is your one-way ticket to nirvana.
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
April '99, p. 92
Extremely addictive gameplay and enormous depth.
Minor bugs here and there; fairly steep learning curve.
An incredible strategy game, Alpha Centauri is destined to go down as one of the best ever made.
98
Sid Meier's Gettysburg
January '98, p. 218
The gameplay, graphics, AI, and engine are meticulous models of strategy gaming.
Terrain popping during scrolling can be annoying.  A couple of infrequent bugs.
A cross-over wargame that has depth, beauty, smarts, and replayability.
Sierra Pro Pilot
May '98, p. 113
Beautiful cockpit panels with plenty of functionality; good nav and comm tools.
Very buggy; graphics are pixelated; accuracy of aircraft handling is questionable.
Pro Pilot had plenty of potential but is an incomplete, average simulation.
Silent Hunter
June '96, p. 106
Slick graphics, great gameplay, realistic control.
You can't play from the other side. Not enough diversity in the missions.
Simply a blast for anyone, from the dabbler to the true submariine buff.
Silent Steel
December '95, p. 284
Sigma Realmagic Interactive
46501 Landing Parkway
Fremont, CA 94538
(800) 494-8848
Excellent video (with MPEG hardware), acting, and writing make drama work well.
Wafer-thin game elements and very little replayability.
A surprisingly entertaining game, despite its lack of substance.
Silent Thunder
June '96, p. 97
Gorgeous terrain graphics; lots of action.
Grossly inaccurate flight model; sluggish controls; and no printed manual. Ground-based targets can be very diffcult to locate in some terrain.
As an action game, Silent Thunder's all right, as a simulation, it's a bust.
SimCity 2000
May/June '94, p. 75
2 Theatre Square
Orinda, CA 94563
(510) 254-9700
Great new graphics and a ton of extra features add depth to a classic game.
It can take an awfully long time to get to a stage where you can enjoy some of the game's new options.
One of those rare games that presents a different challenge each time you play.
SimCity 3000
May '99, p. 98
All the novel concepts and depth that have made the SimCity games legendary...
...along with some system-guzzling specs and a few mildly irritating new features.
It's not quite as fresh as it was, but this SimCity still delivers fun where it counts.
SimCopter
March '97, p. 150
Swooping around skyscrapers is a blast.
Control is too simplistic; and not all of the bugs have been cleaned up.
Think of it as a modern day Choplifter, and you'll be fine, think of it as a sim, and you're doomed.
SimGolf
April '97, p. 107
Robert Trent Jones, Jr., does the video tips. The profile view is well done.
Poor controls, ancient graphics, bad interface.
There are much better golf games out there.
SimIsle
January '96, p. 199
Orinda, CA 94563-335
Challenging mix of economic and environmental concerns.
Graphics and animations are dated; not enough action to keep the game engaging.
If you're a fan of Maxis sims, this is worth adding to your collection.
SimTower
August '95, p. 95
2 Theater Square
Good-looking SVGA graphics, and an interesting concept. Oh yeah, and little people to lord over.
Not enough to do, and not enough real challenge.
At first, you'll play it a lot. But then you'll figure out the strategy and find yourself just watching the thing.
SimTown
September '95, p. 108
There's a lot to explore and plenty of variety.
It can get boring if you don't take advantage of all the extra touches the program has to offer.
You learn valuable management lessons and have fun at the same time.
Sin
January '99, p. 164
Good looking graphics; cool weapons; multi-player is fun and stable.
Long load and save times; a few AI problems; some graphic bugs; disappointing ending.
If you're looking for a non-stop action ride, you can't do much better than Sin.
Skiing 1999 Edition
December '98, p. 220
Fairly convincing down-hilling sensation.
It's a still-buggy-even-
though-it's-been-patched follow-up to a recent game!
If you bought the other one, don't buy this. If you didn't buy the other one, don't buy this either.
Skins Game at Bighorn
December '95, p. 224
(714) 553-6678
Simple interface; decent sound effects.
Limited perspectives; incredibly easy to shoot low scores.
Unless you demand unrealistic scores from your golf games, don't bother with The Skins Game.
Sky Realms of Jorune: Alien Logic
March '95, p. 77
Beautiful graphics and intriguing plotline.
Real-time combat and a so-so side view will turn off cerebral RPG veterans.
If you're tired of "more of the same" in RPGs, then you'll agree--Alien Logic is a breath of fresh air in a stale genre.
Skydive!
SkyNET
February '97, p. 108
Clean SVGA graphics; slick interface; expansive mission areas; new multi-player options.
Extremely difficult at times; poor control layout for Hunter/Killer.
If you're into multi-player games or looking for something different, this is hard to beat.
Slam City with Scotty Pippen
May '95, p. 75
1825 South Grant Street
Suite 900
The full-motion video is high quality stuff.
Little interaction; lame acting; stereotypes straight out of "Sanford and Son."
It's just plain bad; even if you've got the hardware for the Pentium version, you'll want to stay out of Slam City.
Slamscape
February '97, p. 146
Viacom NewMedia
Uh, well, God Lives Underwater did do the soundtrack.
Overall lousy game play, no networking, audio design still sucks.
This sucks, Beavis -- even a dill-hole can figure that much out!
Slipstream 5000
July '95, p. 110
Fast-paced action and absolutely beautiful graphics.
Pretty steep hardware requirements; unfriendly game-saving feature.
Gremlin isn't known for knockout games, but they've got a real winner in this one.
Smart Games Challenge 1
September '96, p. 137
Pleny of variety; good puzzles.
Not every-one's cup of tea; limited replay value; no multi-player options; some puzzles are real stinkers.
Only brainiacs with time on their hands need apply.
Smart Games Challenge 2
February '98, p. 178
Smart Games, Inc.
27 Congress St.  Suite 211
Salem
01970
(508) 745-9900
Terrific gameplay; great puzzle variety; nice bells and whistles; good for the whole family.
Minor gameplay glitches; no multi-player options.
Fans of the puzzle genre are in for a good time with Smart Games Challenge 2.
Snow Wave Avalanche
April '99, p. 108
Intense Entertainment Interactive
(410) 321-0947
Good arcade-style fun; nice 3D graphics.
You'll need a beefy system to take advantage of all the accelerated visuals.
A fun little arcade game that should keep you amused for at least a couple of weeks; good for the kiddies to play.
Snowmobile Racing
April '99, p. 129
Not many games let you put a "Goat" between your legs.
Ho-hum gameplay and boring graphics; zero control options.
If there's any thrill to be had from real-life snowmobile racing, it certainly isn't reflected in this game.
27
Soccer Kid
October '94, p. 77
Sharp graphic detail; smooth animation; pleasant soundtrack.
Somewhat repetitive gameplay; may be a little difficult for beginners.
A good platform title if you're looking for some pretty mindless gaming.
SODA Off-Road Racing
February '98, p. 112
Attractive accelerated graphics; track editor; multi-player options.
Rendition-only acceleration. Steep system requirements for software rendering. Sluggish gameplay; touchy controls.
SODA is good for some off-roading fun, but it's far from perfect.
Soldier Boyz
September '97, p. 156
DreamCatcher Interactive
265 Rimrock Rd.
Ontario, Canada
M3J3C6
888-611-9999
Uh, um, let me think... you can kill people and not get arrested.
Sloppy video; nonexistent control; most definitely not a polically correct game by any stretch of the imagination.
Soldier Boyz is bad newz.
21
Soldiers at War
August '98, p. 143
Lots of weapons; plenty of scenarios; engrossing.
Feels very dated; tough-to-learn interface; limited multiplayer support.
Though Soldiers is a solid game, it could have been much better.
Solid Ice
February '97, p. 124
Flexible player editor; you can design uniforms.
Gameplay is slow, and the artificial intelligence is merely average.
There are better hockey games out there, and until this undergoes some serious revisions, customizability is its only saving grace.
Solitaire Deluxe for Windows
(714) 553-6687
It's an easy-to-use adaption of the classic card game.
If you've never cared for solitaire, there's nothing here that'll change your mind.
If you want to play a whole slew of variations on solitaire, this is for you.
Sonic CD
December '96, p. 267
Redwood City, CA 94063
A great conversion, every bit as fast and colorful as the Sega Genesis originals.
Formless gameplay; limited re-play value.
Tried and tested fun for kids, but just an MTV-style high-speed headache for the rest of us.
Soultrap
May '97, p. 113
800-685-3863
Funky graphics and a unique play system.
Frustratingly narrow levels cause you to die more often than not; a stinker of an ending.
3D platformer fans may dig it, but the rest of us may find it too frustrating.
South Park
June '99, p. 144
Cartman will make you laugh once or twice.
Mind-numbingly repetitive gameplay; boring levels; unfunny dialogue; bugs.
It's more mega-licensed cheese from a company that, by now, should know better.
Space Bar, The
October '97, p. 254
Hilarious dialog; engaging story. Good puzzles. Excellent interface.
Frequent CD swapping. Some of the voice acting is poor. Some difficult puzzles.
A return to the older style of adventure gaming, reminiscent of Infocom at its best.
Space Bucks
May '96, p. 126
Good concept; clean, high-res graphics.
Economics model too basic for serious fans; puzzling interface takes getting used to.
Sim fans who demand detail, customizable options, and realistic economics, will be greatly disappointed.
Space Bunnies Must Die
February '99, p. 198
Pokes fun at trailer trash.
Boring scenery, boring weapons, frustrating levels, bad control bugs, and foolish save game method make this a maddening experience.
Space Bunnies Must not be purchased. Trust us.
23
Space Dude
October '96, p. 149
15649 Greenway-Hayden Loop
Scottsdale, AZ 85260-1750
The box has one of those funny moving pictures that changes as you tilt it.
Installation, graphics, gameplay, music...
I hate to knock a family effort, but it must be done: This game stinks.
Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angles
September '96, p. 103
Sharp graphics, menacing atmosphere, and challenging squad-level excitement.
Damanding system requirements; occasionally tricky planning interface.
If you're a Doom fan looking for something with a lot more depth, look no further than Space Hulk.
Space Quest 6
September '95, p. 93
Plenty of the puzzles and sci-fi jabs you've come to expect from the SQ series.
Annoying narration; the animation feels too cute for the subject matter.
It's not the best of the series, but it's something fans of the previous Space Quest games will want to check out.
Spaceship Warlock
September '94, p. 89
Reactor
442 West Erie
Chicago, IL 60610
It doesn't take up any hard drive space; graphics are OK.
Boring, slow, and bereft of imagination; the lack of an install program costs this one about 15 points right off the bat.
It's a drag, man, a real drag.
Spaceward Ho! IV
February '97, p. 118
(818) 889-5600
Easy to learn, but with hidden depth; tenacious AI opponents; multi-player options.
A few gamers who insist on micro-managing all the fiddly bits won't go for it.
A great little strategy game with a street price that should be less than $30, it's a bargain.
Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way
July '98, p. 142
Great atmosphere; sharp accelerated graphics; challenging missions.
Stupid AI Rangers. Ugly, sluggish software mode. No multi-player. Infuriating mouse bug.
Once all the patches are released, this could easily be a classic. Until then...
Spectre VR
May/June '94, p. 81
Velocity
P.O. Box 2749
San Francisco, CA 94126
Can be mucho fun when a lot of players compete on a network.
Weak graphics, and the one- and two-player games get tiresome pretty quickly.
If this is Virtual Reality, I'm in no big hurry to "jack in."
Speed Busters
March '99, p. 112
Fantastic visuals; relentless speed; out-of-control and fun gameplay.
Physics need a little work; some controller configuration problems.
One of the best pure arcade-style racing games for the PC.
Sports Car GT
August '99, p. 106
Killer tracks and cars; a wide range of difficulty levels.
Interface glitches; weak manual;p no support for modem or Internet play; too many locked cars and tracks.
Not a hardcore sim, but it sure feels real enough -- and that's what counts.
Spycraft: The Great Game
June '96, p. 125
Innovative puzzles and top-notch video put Spycraft ahead of the pack.
A few of the puzzles fall flat; Internet-based content could be better.
An engrossing, unique adventure with top-flight production values.
SSN-21 Seawolf
August '94, p. 70
Sweet graphics and sound; modem play gives it life beyond its 32 scenarios.
Stupid interface decisions; spotty AI; bad campaign mode; and some unrealistic elements.
An entertaining game, but one that could have been so much better.
ST:TNG: A Final Unity
September '95, p. 81
The familiar faces, familiar voices--even familiar sound effects--ought to please any Trek fan.
The adventure game elements are a little too familiar, and at times this game is slow going.
If you loved the Next Generation, you'll want A Final Unity--just don't expect anything extraordinary.
Stalingrad
May '95, p. 99
The beautiful "World at War" engine has been refined even further.
Play balance is a problem in some scenarios, with the German forces placed in no-win situations.
It's got every feature seasoned wargamers want; also lets beginners jump right in.
Star Command: Revolution
June '97, p. 94
800-434-2637
Many units; some new gameplay concepts; long, non-linear campaign.
Low-key action; ho-hum graphics; token space environment.
There are some new twists here, but nothing really compelling.
Star Control 3
December '96, p. 260
Epic story line; wide variety of aliens; professional voice acting; tons of things to do.
Alien animatronics aren't as impressive as expected; lots of traveling time between star systems; strategic colony element gets boring.
Even with its few faults, Star Control 3 is a worthy successor, and a blast to play.
Star Crusader
November '94, p. 75
575 Broadway
New York, NY 10013
(212) 941-2988
A seductive, involving storyline;  Unequalled degree of campaign control.
The space combat--the very core of the game--could be more satisfying.
This promising first title from Take 2 is a terrific and innovative addition to your sci-fi collection.
Star General
March '97, p. 113
Good, jump-right-in gameplay with time-tested Panzer General play style.
Mediocre and often confusing graphics. Some scenario goals are far-fetched. Long waiting times when late in the game during multi-play.
A good beer-n-pretzels space wargame for those who like their combat without a lot of micro-management.
Star Rangers
January '96, p. 176
An exciting mix of strategy and combat keeps things cooking.
The linear nature of the campaign game robs the game of realism, as does the lack of character development.
If you're into space-combat games, check this one out.
Star Reach
November '94, p. 92
Fairly challenging and varied computer opponents; nice two-player mode.
Graphics and sound effects are mediocre, and there are very few things to build.
A simple space-strategy game, but without the depth to keep you interested in the long run.
Star Trek: Birth of the Federation
September '99, p. 121
Intriguing diplomacy features; some nice interaction between the different races.
Basic, uninspiring strategy; makes little use of its powerful license; dull combat.
A ho-hum space conquest game that doesn't capitalize on the Star Trek universe.
Star Trek DS9 - Harbinger
June '96, p. 118
Good story line, sharp graphics; full-speech from TV cast.
There's not much gaming going on; annoying arcade sequences and uninventive puzzles add nothing to experience.
A good license only counts for so much; if a game isn't fun to play, what's the point?
Star Trek: Generations
August '97, p. 96
Some Trek fans will enjoy playing as crew; good use of film footage.
Virtually worthless save-game feature; awkward controls; all the problems of the movie.
Pass this one up, unless you're an absolutely rabid Trek fan.
Star Trek: Judgement Rites
May/June '94, p. 77
Smooth play; excellent characters; clever storylines; a real Star Trek feel.
The space-combat scenes could be more realistic, and installing the game can be pretty time consuming.
Whether you're a true Trekker or a casual fan, you're going to enjoy this game.
Star Trek: Klingon
July '96, p. 97
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
(800) 910-0099
Surprisingly good production quality, and a curiously amusing storyline...
...for an hour or so, until you've reached the end or are just plain bored of it all.
Even die-hard Trekkers will find their faith tested by this sorry cash-in.
Star Trek Pinball
June '98, p. 101
The sounds and images from the original Star Trek are cool.
Weak flippers; no options to make adjustments ot the table.
All this feeble-flippery makes for a very quiet and lifeless game -- and that ain't what pinball's about.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
November '97, p. 255
Lots for Trek fans to like; decent multi-player mode adds longevity.
Unsuitable overall approach; uninpsired FMV; simplistic combat.
A promising idea that's inadequately executed -- budding Starfleet captains won't find the challenge they crave here.
Star Wars: Episode 1 -- Racer
August '99, p. 96
Incredible speed; great track design; impressive graphics.
Too easy; unrealized gameplay elements; weak multi-play options.
A good, fast racing game that fails to live up to its full potential.
Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace
August '99, p. 97
It's Star Wars; cool movie sounds; lightsaber aerobics.
Console-centric gameplay; uninvolving story line that apes the movie's.
Save the 40 bucks and go see the movie eight more times.
Star Wars: Rebellion
June '98, p. 83
Nice use of Star Wars characters as strategic assets.
The interface is monstrous; it never, ever becomes intuitive.
Star Wars fanatics and micro-management freaks might like it; all others should try before they buy.
Starball
Whimsical and action-packed.
One, low-res table, and three balls per game.
Moderately entertaining, but it's not the best or most complete PC pinball game you can get.
StarCraft
July '98, p. 114
Diverse Races, strong, interesting game world, and the classic WarCraft gameplay.
The few improvements to the fundamental WarCraft engine may not be enough for some gamers.
Strong strategy, great graphics, and variety makes this one of the year's best.
Starfighter
March '97, p. 166
3DO
(415) 261-3454
Smooth graphics; plenty of missions; the explosions are really cool.
Control is on the jumpy side; cruddy mission map; loads of scenery pop-up.
It's a clone of Terminal Velocity, but at least it's remotely enjoyable.
Stargunner
June '97, p. 91
Apogee
800-APOGEE1
A good, pure, arcade-shooter; clean, crisp graphics.
The game may be too hard, even on the easy settings.
If you're in the mood for an arcade-shooter, this is one of the best -- it may be as good as Apogee's own Raptor.
Stars!
April '97, p. 106
Rich in depth and flexibilty, intuitive interface, excellent manual, unmatched turorial.
The number of command windows can be confusing. May not interest casual gamers.
Proves there can be more to games than cute characters and big explosions.
Starship Titanic
July '98, p. 120
Simon & Schuster
175 Fifth Avenue
10010
Infocom fans will like these brain-teasing puzzles.
Story doesn't evolve; not enough charactesr; the "revolutionary" text parser sucks.
The recipe for great adventuring includes more ingredients than good puzzles, and this game is woefully short on them.
Starsiege
June '99, p. 140
Graphics; detailed manual; vehicle customization options.
Control scheme is somewhat confusing; some suspect AI; latency detracts from multi-play.
Learn the controls, and you'll get your money's worth out of this one.
Starsiege: Tribes
April '99, p. 100
Eye-popping graphics, smooth Internet play, furious combat.
Comand interface is a little complicated; no support for Direct3D; some Internet latency problems.
First-person combat might never be the same again. The new high-water mark.
Steel Panthers
December '95, p. 257
Sunnyvale, Ca 94086-2901
Beautiful to behold, easy to learn, and full of drama.
Inadequate manual (you'll definitely want to print out the READ.ME file!); artillery support system can be a little tricky to master.
One of the best tactical-level wargames ever designed for the PC.
Steel Panthers II
February '97, p. 158
Great graphics, silky-smooth interface, tremendous variety of scenarios.
Lots of niggling little flaws that indicate a premature release.
When and if the bugs are fixed with a patch, this'll be a helluva wargame.
Steel Panthers III: Brigade Command 1939-1999
February '98, p. 122
The same great core gameplay, with an interesting new layer of command.
Graphics, interface and DOS-only coding are showing their age.
An interesting twist for SP fans, but it doesn't feel like a whole new game.
Stonekeep
February '96, p. 147
Fantastic sound effects, nice graphics, intuitive and simple interface.
It's just not fun in the long term, and the graphics and sound can't carry it.
It's certainly not the best RPG out there, but if you're a roleplaying fanatic, it might be worth your while.
Stratosphere
November '98, p. 263
Great concept; neat fortress-building feature; broad unit library; high replay value.
Steep system requirements; buggy; unrefined multi-player support; weak combat.
A challenging, unique real-time strategy with some annoying imperfections.
Streets of Sim City
March '98, p. 125
Uninstalls easily. Bluegrass fiddle legend Darol Anger plays on some of the music tracks.
No sense of speed; unacceptable frame-rate; nasty control; high system requirements.
Great concept; atrocious execution. Even SimCity fans will be disappointed.
Strife
August '96, p. 104
Velocity Inc.
(800) 856-2489
Mission-based structure requires thought; good story line; nice modifications to the Doom engine.
Graphically inferior to other current first-person shooters; RPG elements are scarce.
Strife offers a lot in the way of a thinking-gamer's shooter.
Striker 96
December '96, p. 257
Straight-forward, unmuddled, and pleasant to look at.
Annoying sound effects, frustrating control, and bad AI.
Another failed attempt at an authentic and playable PC soccer sim. It's just not very much fun to play.
SU-27 Flanker
February '96, p. 163
Dynamic flight model, excellent missions and mission builder, challenging opponents, deep play.
Bugs, confusing interface, zero chrome.
If SSI does the proper patches for it, SU-27 might just be the next classic air combat sim.
Sub Culture
May '98, p. 123
Note-worthy graphics and incredible atmosphere.
A few bugs might get in the way.  More missions would have been nice.
An innovative entry in a once-deserted genre.
Subspace
June '98, p. 112
Fast-paced; low lag; good pricing model.
Gameplay is simplistic; graphics are a throwback to the days of Asteroids; player population should be higher.
Subspace is a simplisct (but stable) Internet twitch game.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo
August '95, p. 86
2999 NE 191st Street
Great graphics; solid control; white-knuckle fighting action.
All of this still isn't enough to bring a very old, 2D fighting game up to today's standards.
A great translation of the arcade game, if you're still interested in trying it.
Superbike World Championship
June '99, p. 150
Remarkable realism; excellent graphics.
Uncompromising focus on realism saps the high-speed thrill out of cycle racing; weak sound.
A very well crafted sim, but slightly overbearing.
Superhero League of Hoboken
October '94, p. 62
Good, solid gameplay with a high level of difficulty and plenty of humor.
Mediocre graphics and sound; movement can become irritating during exploration.
An exciting mix of adventure and roleplaying; perfect for the gamer who's more concerned with gameplay than graphics.
SuperKarts
August '95, p. 111
Williams Entertainment
(212) 686-9432
Lots of tracks with clever hazards; good modem and network options.
On tough settings, you'll have a hard time keeping your cart on track; single-player mode gets repetitive.
If you're frustrated by the demands of NASCAR, SuperKarts is a sure-fire way to driving excitement.
Surface Tension
February '97, p. 156
Gametek Inc.
Mission maps are large, and there are plenty of missions to fly...
Still, you have to put up with a crummy flight model, shabby acting, and sub-par graphics.
It's basically a sci-fi rehash of Commanche, but it may interest die-hards.
SWIV 3D Assualt
May '98, p. 138
The jewel case can be recycled, and the game CD fits very nicely into a grabage can.
Horrible graphics; no variation in game play; missions become very tedious.
This game blows chunks.  Go play Nuclear Strike instead.
Syndicate Wars
January '97, p. 221
Demanding real-time action; wonderfully dark and moody feel.
Dark graphics occasionally make details hard to spot; missions could use more variety.
If you liked the destruction and carnage of the original Syndicate, prepare to create a new world order all over again.
System Shock
January '95, p. 93
The most astonishing movement control in any game anywhere ever.
Some of the puzzles aren't very inspired; steep system requirements.
One of the finest, best-executed, and most enjoyable first-person RPG shooters ever; a landmark achievement.
System Shock 2
October '99, p. 122
Incredibly detailed story; great atmosphere; terrifying gameplay.
Long load times; difficult at times; steep system requirements.
One of the most immersive, emotive, addictive, and just plain fun computer games we've ever played.
The Settlers III
March '99, p. 108
Sharp new graphics and animations; diverse inter-dependent settlements.
Control over workers and soldiers is not great; gets tedious waiting for goods to produce.
There's enough to watch and build to keep a real-time strategy fan amused.
20th Century Trivia Challenge
T
December '97, p. 192
Some good questions; pretty interface.
British-related questions and humor will be lost on American audiences; questions and too-short video clips repeat quickly.
Not worth your time or money, even if you are British. It's just plain bad.
3-D Ultra Mini-Golf Deluxe
December '98, p. 219
Great-looking graphics, cool animations and effects; True Putt mouse swing.
Can't change views; once you win, there's no reason to play again.
Even if you're desperate for some mini-golf, you can find something better.
3-D Ultra Pinball for Windows
December '95, p. 237
Great graphics; innovative table design gives more bang for the buck.
3-D Ultra Pinball's physics model may be too forgiving for pinball purists.
A fun alternative to traditional pinball simulations, and a great way to spend an afternoon.
3D Lemmings
January '96, p. 179
Second Floor, Foster City, CA 94404
Tech/ Tip Line: (415) 655-5683
A great new look, plenty of control options, and lots of levels that'll keep you busy for weeks.
The controls may be a little awkward, even for die-hard Lemmings fans.
3D Lemmings is an addictive puzzler that's a bit out of the norm.
3D Ultra Mini-Golf
August '97, p. 123
Nice production values. True Putt option makes things interesting.
Annoying viewing angles; limited replay value.
For real putt-putt golf excitement, take a pass on Mini-Golf, load up the car and head for the nearest mini-golf course.
3D Ultra Pinball: The Lost Continent
Beautiful graphics; nice prehistoric setting.
Too goal-oriented; takes the fun out of the pinball; lame shareware-style games; story line doesn't work.
Sierra tried to expand the pinball genre, but instead it took the fun out of it.
3DO Games: Decathlon
June '97, p. 118
800-336-3506
Beautifully animated players, network compatible.
Sterile presentation, cramping fingers from button mashing.
While it may look pretty good, this game suffers from a lack of excitement. It's not worth the finger cramps.
T-MEK
June '97, p. 90
WizardWorks Software
2300 Berkshire Lane, No.,
612-559-5301
Two modes of play, good frame rate.
Poor graphics even in High Detail mode, limited gameplay.
The promise of a decent 'mech fighter is lost in the reality of this lackluster shooter.
36
TacOps
July '96, p. 118
Arsenal Publishing, Inc.
449091 Falcon Place
Ste. 108
Sterling, VA 20166-9531
Good enough to be played by professional warriors.
Homely graphics may be a turn-off, and some gamers may find it overwhelming at first.
All the detail and authenticity you could ask for, plus tremendous replayability.
Take No Prisoners
December '97, p. 206
Good sound and graphics (especially with a 3D card); nifty weapons.
Steep hardware requirements; perspective makes it difficult.
This isn't a bad action game, but its experiment with a new perspective isn't very successful.
Tanarus
July '98, p. 153
Good graphics; low latency connection; strong gameplay; good replay value.
No in-game music; very limited offline training; steep learning curve.
This has better balance between eye-candy and substance than most online-only games.
Tank Commander
August '95, p. 88
Some good features (way points, helicopter views), and multi-player action.
Inconsistent graphics and sound quality; thick headed crews; awkward controls.
A fair action game, but certainly not a sim or strategy title.
Tanks! War Game Construction Set II
July '94, p. 68
Incredibly friendly interface; virtually infinite replay value.
If you're not naturally fond of board wargames, this computerized adaptation isn't likely to convert you.
An old and honorable style of wargame, and loads of fun.
Tarzan Action Game
September '99, p. 127
500 South Buena Vista Street
(800) 900-9234
Nice graphics adn simple control scheme are perfect for the target audience.
Doesn't bring anythign new to the platform genre; pretty formulaic.
Fun for the kiddie set, and even an adult can get a little kick out of it.
Team Apache
October '98, p. 228
Unique flight command element; relaxed flight model. High frame rates; strong visuals.
Targetting and sighting is a bit odd. Cockpits take some getting used to.
Lots of fun; emhasizes human dynamics over twitching and hand-eye skill.
TekWar
February '96, p. 151
6th Floor, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 373-7700
Sharp, living game world with moving vehicles and innocent civilians.
Unsophisticated combat, inaccurate manual, tedious searches, and flat special effects.
It's a fun game to play on a high-end machine - at least for a little while - but it's no Doom-killer.
Tempest 2000
Atari Interactive
1196 Borregas Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
800-462-8274
It's still Tempest -- a classic.
The graphics are dated, and it's no fun to control.
If you're looking for a PC version of Tempest, this is it -- but if you're looking for something to take Tempest to the next level, keep waiting.
Temujin
January '98, p. 305
(916) 677-4499
Good and messy mystery plot; well acted; beautiful environment.
Tricky navigation; may be too serious for some gamers.
Great game if you like a sober whodunit, but not so great if you like your games frivolous.
Ten Pin Alley
July '97, p. 163
Good use of humor to mock the very sport it's based on.
Limited control over the action of the game Too much time is spent watching the action.
A great party game, and a nice relaxing time-killer even if you don't like bowling.
Terminal Velocity
October '95, p. 103
Highly playable, fast, and addictive with almost no learning curve.
Not much depth, but that's hardly a negative in this kind of game.
This is a great shoot-'em-up with lots of new worlds to destroy.
Terminator: Future Shock
April '96, p. 99
1370 Piccard Dr.
Lots of action and a large environment to explore; killer sound effects.
Occasionally clumsy controls when driving. Poor automapping. No multi-player mode.
A solid action game with sharp graphics and an exciting and familiar world that gamers will love.
Terra Nova
May '96, p. 104
100 Cambridge Park Dr.
(617) 441-6333
Multi-faceted gameplay, slick interface, and built-in mission builder.
Occasionally chunky graphics; some missions are extremely tough.
If you've got a thirst for first-person combat in a different vein, Terra Nova really delilvers.
Terrace
November '94, p. 87
Siler/Siler Ventures
P.O. Box 2405
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 635-6333
The rules are simple and the play is lively.
Finding an equal opponent might be a challenge in itself.
A game for all ages. Even with the Star Trek tie-in, it may not be enough to beat the Chess-Checkers- Backgammon barrier.
Terracide
December '97, p. 262
Nice explosions and colored lighting effects, cool box.
Dificult controls; zero fun; boring level designs.
If you absolutely must have colored lighting and transparent effects, go buy a lava lamp.
Terror T.R.A.X.:  Track of the Vampire
September '96, p. 135
There's some genuinely creepy material here...
...but it's far too brief, with little interaction and even less replay value.
Wait for the TV movie and spare your A and B keys.
Terry Bradshaw Fantasy Football
November '96, p. 263
Fantasy Sports Properties, Inc.
Reston, VA 22091
(800) 872-0335
Simple and flexible menu interface; plenty of options.
Few bells and whistles; Bradshaw only adds his name and expertise in the reference manual.
If you're into fantasy football, this is a top-notch league manager.
Test Drive 4
April '98, p. 143
Great 3Dfx support; cool tracks; cooler cars.
Lousy software-only perfomance; terrible interface; canned AI competition.
Test Drive 4 is a slap in the face to all of those who aren't on the cutting edge of technology.
Test Drive 5
March '99, p. 132
Mind-blowing terrain graphics on a variety of real-world tracks; cars look fantastic.
Weak sound effects; no options for tweaking car set-ups; sensation of speed isn't convincing.
Lots of fun, but check out the demo before buying to see if it's what you're after.
Test Drive Off Road
June '97, p. 112
800-245-7744
Network play is okay; groovy thrash soundtrack.
Scenery pop-in from hell; bizarre physics; chunck-a-licious graphics.
It would be better to find an Apple IIe emulator and get your hands on the original Test Drive.
Test Drive Off-Road 2
March '99, p. 147
My 9-month old son like the bright colors.
No Direct3D support; horrible driving physics; dated graphics; relentless, out of place soundtrack.
Somebody please bury this game in the mud.
Tex Murphy: Overseer
June '98, p. 118
Consumer-friendly, with online hints; film-noir feel and story.
Crashes and lock-ups almost ruin the fun; bloated narrative and world-weary puzzles don't help, either.
Series newcomers will like it; old fans will be disappointed. You can't win 'em all.
Theme Hospital
June '97, p. 104
Very original, deeply absorbing, and lots of fun to watch.
Intense micro-management can become daunting.
Oodles of gameplay and lots of laughs, for those who have plenty of patience and concentration.
Theme Park
September '94, p. 72
Terrific premise; great sound and graphics; more resource management than most strategy fans could hope for.
Annoying movement interface; control of the park is unreliable; little long-term play value.
A first-rate strategy game with some let-downs. Fans of SimCity will like it.
Thexder
April '96, p. 115
Good weapons variety; network and multi-player options.
Slow graphics, lackluster gameplay, confusing multiple windows.
If you're a side-scrolling fan, stick to Earthworm Jim or Pitfall.
Thief: The Dark Project
April '99, p. 114
Innovative blend of RPG and action elements; excellent world creation; solid visuals.
Long load times; game can be very hard; can't carry objects and gold from level to level.
A completely original, utterly captivating riff on the first-person action game.
Third Reich PC
February '97, p. 168
It's a solid, faithful adaptation of the boardgame.
But that's all it is -- there's no multi-play, no what-if scenarios -- just a conversion of the board game.
If it had come out five or six years ago, it coulda been a contender.
This Means War!
April '96, p. 142
Hunt Valley, MD 21030-22454
(401) 771-1151
Some of the explosion graphics are kinda neat...
Manual omits necessary information; interface is a muddle, graphics are primitive.
Go buy yourself a copy of Command & Conquer instead. You'll thank us.
Thunder Brigade
May '99, p. 112
Lotsa missions; colorful voxel landscapes.
Unless you've got a fast Pentium II, graphics are ugly; stuck-to-the-ground physics and repetition hamper the experience.
Thunder Brigade offers little to hold your interest for long.
Thunder Truck Rally
January '98, p. 240
Cool character designs; the trucks are animated nicely.
Circa-1995 graphics; gummy control; annoying sound effects; bouncing trucks just aren't fun.
Keep on truckin' until you find a better game.
Thunderscape
November '95, p. 146
A new, innovative design with engaging gameplay.
Sound and graphics could have used a little more polish.
A fresh approach and a good start to SSI's new line. Considering the shortage of good RPGs, fans won't want to pass this one up.
TIE Fighter
October '94, p. 46
This is one of the most absorbing and satisfying PC games ever designed.
There are no add-on disks available--yet.
If I were stuck on a desert island (with electricity and a PC) and could only have one game to play, I'd choose TIE Fighter.
Tiger Woods 99
November '98, p. 216
Pristine presentation; many options; great graphics; easy gameplay.
Sub-par performance on low-end PCs; inadequate analog swing; Internet play can be too slow for comfort.
A solid all-around golf game, but Tiger can't dethrone the might Links series just yet.
Tigers On the Prowl
August '94, p. 83
More guns and tanks than you can shake a panzerfaust at.
Let's face it -- even Zhukov might get frustrated trying to move these units.
A wealth of detail, but badly in need of plastic surgery.  Game play is too cumbersome for all but hard-core war-gamers.
Time Commando
November '96, p. 258
Wonderfully cinematic gameplay, sleek controls, and detailed animations.
Restrictive game environment, horrendous ending, and brief gameplay.
This is a brief but enjoyable action game that delivers plenty of multimedia oohs and aahs with loads of interaction.
Time Out Sports Baseball
Great graphics; games are quick, clever, and easy to learn.
Lacks depth, but that's to be expected from a product like this; the ump-baiting game is pretty silly.
A nice time-out from work.
Time Warriors
November '97, p. 238
Malofilm Interactive
3575 St-Laurent St., Ste 650
Montreal
H2X 2T7
(514) 844-4555
It's funny to hear the announcer say "Dong Wins."
Crap control; bad animation; playing on different difficulty levels doesn't change gameplay that much.
Buy this if you want to learn how not to do a 3D fighter.
Timelapse
April '97, p. 110
800-GTE-TODAY
Beautiful graphics; intriguing story line; some interesting puzzles.
Too many meaningless puzzles; restricted movement; linear gameplay; standard point-and-click affair.
The graphics and story line aren't enough to save Timelapse.
Titanic
December '98, p. 210
Panasonic Int. Media
(408) 653-1888
The gme does hint at the excitement of undersea exploration. However...
...bugs, bad graphics, poor interface, and monotony ruin the effect.
Maybe someday there will be a good gameon this topic; this ain't it.
Title Fight Pro Boxing for Windows
February '96, p. 135
Comp-U-Sports
317 Stewart St.
Saltsburg, PA 15681
(412) 845-7843
Lots of boxers; historically accurate; runs on just about any PC.
Canned commentary seems random and often inappropriate.
Title Fight is a realistic and comprehensive simulation for boxing fans who can live without flashy graphics.
TNN Outdoors Pro Hunter
March '99, p. 110
This is the best hunting sim yet...
...but that's not saying much. It's choppy, unrealistic, and no fun.
If you want the thrill of hunting, get a license, grab your 16-gauge, and go stand in a field somewhere.
TOCA Championship Racing
October '98, p. 241
Realistic car handling; nice car graphics and weather effects.
Restricted access to tracks; some graphic pop-in; damage has no effect on car performance.
If you stick with it and develop your skills, you'l find some great racing.
Tom Clancy SSN
March '97, p. 130
10020
Great atmosphere, terrific sound, and plenty of gameplay to get your teeth into.
Missions can become repetitive; no facility to save the game within a mission.
Too flashy for the real experts, but one of the most fun and playable sub games around.
Tom Clancy's Politika
May '98, p. 105
(888) 287-3800
Gives you a chance to see what a Java-based game looks like; free paperback.
Inert, tedious gameplay coupled with a yo-heave-ho interface and cruddy graphics.
To experience Politika properly, buy the boardgame.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six
October '98, p. 198
Red Storm Entertainment
(919) 460-1776
Great premise with spot-on presentation. Sharp graphics, excellent control, nice tactical phase, and thrilling gameplay.
A few bugs need to be worked out.
Rainbow Six is undoubtedly one of the most original and best games of the year.
Tom Clancy's ruthless.com
March '99, p. 113a
Be as unethical and treacherous as you please.
Feeble tutorial and steep learning curve make it seem more complicated than it is.
It all adds up to good, wicked, fun; there's certainly no other business sim remotely like it.
Tomb Raider
February '97, p. 104
Terrific puzzle design, nail-biting action, sumptuous environments.
Very rare and minor though they are, some clipping or polygon-cracking bugs crop up from time to time.
Tomb Raider is one of the most addictive, original, and atmospheric games the PC has ever seen.
Tomb Raider II
February '98, p. 132
Beautiful visuals; better locales; awesome vehicle action!
Clipping problems; poor camera manipulation; too many bad guys; annoying overly-complex puzzles.
While this is definitely worth a look, it's not as good as the first game.
Tomb Raider III
March '99, p. 130
New moves and vehicles and an interesting plot add some spice.
Dated graphics; poor camera management; pointless puzzles; unresponsive control; way too difficult.
It's way past time for Eidos and Core to take a new look at Lara
Tone Rebellion, The
May '98, p. 93
Interesting visual style.  The way the floaters' legs wiggle is cool.
Tedious, confusing, flawed gameplay.
There are some really interesting elements in Tone Rebellion, but they never get into a satisfying game.
Tony La Russa Baseball 3
July '95, p. 87
San Mateo, CA 94404,
Outstanding graphics; solid stats; and dynamite career and league play.
CD-ROM access can be slow during menu transitions; the flow of action is not as fluid as it could be.
All negatives aside, this is a crowning achievement in sports sims.
Tony LaRussa Baseball 4
September '97, p. 196
212 N. California Blvd., Suite 600
800-336-2947
Pitcher/batter animations are slick; management and sim options are still solid.
Worse stadium graphics than in the previous game; sluggish; few improvements.
Not a very impressive outing from one of the giants of the sport.
Toonstruck
January '97, p. 254
Great presentation wrapped around a solid, playable adventure.
Tiresome interaction, predictable humor, and neverending cliches grind down the player's will to live.
Cartoon freaks will have some fun, but for everyone else, Toonstruck simply tries way too hard to amuse.
Top Gun
May '96, p. 101
Nice full-motion videos; slick tutorial missions; novice-friendly manual.
Hardware requirements are pretty steep; full-on graphic detail requires a premium computer; pixelicious terrain graphics.
A gentile introduction to flight sims that can still provide some punch for veteran flight jocks.
Top Gun: Hornet's Nest
May '99, p. 108
Terrain graphics aren't bad; James Tolkan is cool.
Extremely sluggish handling; wingmen and enemy pilots are brain-dead.
The faintest glimmer of fun may lurk somewhere in this morass, but even the most diligent and forgiving gamer won't find it.
Torin's Passage
April '96, p. 116
Wonderful graphics; simple control; hint button for tough puzzles.
Only a few tough puzzles. Seasoned players will finish it quickly.
It's great if you're looking for a game to share with your kid, but experienced gamers should find something more challenging.
Total Air War
January '99, p. 191
(877) 463-6472
Real-time, dynamic campaign engine and mission planner add depth to an already good sim.
No multi-player options in campaign; some bugs and design flaws cast a pall on the fun.
It has its shortcomings, but TAW is still a beautiful, engaging, and entertaining sim.
Total Annihilation
January '98, p. 295
Beautiful graphics; 50 single-player missions; smart AI; funky music.
AI could have been better; needs better rotation of music tracks.
A significant improvement in the genre, but it's not quite all it could have been.
Total Annihilation: Kingdoms
September '99, p. 92
Cavedog Entertainment
Improved AI; immensely satisfying single-player experience; lots of missions.
Multiplayer features are nothing new; greaphics haven't progressed beyond original's.
An excellent single-player RTS, but not a multiplayer classic.
Total Control Football
December '96, p. 294
This team management sim is comprehensive and unique.
On-field action doesn't measure up to currently available gridiron games.
If a suit and tie is your idea of a football uniform, this is your game.
Total Distortion
March '96, p. 130
Pop Rocket
1320 7th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 731-9112
Nice graphics, outstanding sound, and an offbeat sense of humor.
Some long loading time; bizarre premise and humor won't appeal to everyone.
Total Distortion is an entertaining and unusual rock-and-roll adventure.
Total Knockout Championship Female Boxing
August '96, p. 109
Digital Lobster Co.
810 W. Amy Trail Road
Suite 280
Carol Stream, IL 60188
Genuine arcade-style action at a bargain price.
The presentation is just a little outdated, and the juvenile theme wasn't really necessary.
While it's far from a true boxing sim, there's really nothing else like it for the PC.
Total Mayhem
August '96, p. 92
Nice graphics; good music; multi-player options (with Windows 95).
Extremely frustrating control problems; early and middle levels are too easy.
More than anything, the vexation factor drags Mayhem into the mediocrity zone.
Touche
April '96, p. 119
San Francisco, CA 9411
(415) 693-2097
Nice graphics, good voice-acting, and a humorous story line.
Long-winded dialog, a few obscure puzzles, and a finicky interface.
Touche is a satisfying adventure game that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Toy Story
April '97, p. 149
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Those cute Toy Story characters.
Sluggish control; children will find it overly difficult and frustrating.
This is just a lackluster side-scroller game; Toy Story doesn't come close to recapturing the magic of the film.
Tracer
October '96, p. 184
Decent graphics; good music; net multi-player add-on could add excitement.
Stark, bland playing field; tedious gameplay; nothing new.
After it's all said and done, it's just not addicting enough to hold your attention.
Transport Tycoon
March '95, p. 88
You name it--beautiful graphics, a near-perfect interface, and a chance to play god (or at least Andrew Carnegie).
The inadequate documentation is the game's only big drawback.
Buy it. Classic games like this don't come around often.
Trespasser
January '99, p. 172
640 North Sepulveda Boulevard
Atmosphere, innovative control. Impressive AI, when it works.
Ultra-demanding system requirements, bugs, and oddball artiricial intelligence at times.
If you have the patience and horsepower, this can be a memorable, if flawed, game.
Triple Play 2000
July '99, p. 111
Well-modeled stadiums; improved pitcher-batter interface; neat special effects.
Woefully inept AI; dodgy fielding control; not much depth.
Two-player slugfests can be fun, but don't expect a real game of baseball.
Triple Play 97
November '96, p. 241
Fantastic graphics; generous multi-player options; great fun.
If you're looking for action that captures the fun of baseball, you can't do better than Triple Play 97.
Triple Play 98
August '97, p. 106
1450 Fashion Blvd.
Awesome atmosphere; fast, instinctive play; oodles of options.
Requires a monster machine and a monster install for peak performance of the game.
Baseball on the PC doesn't get any more fun than this. Unreservedly recommended.
Triple Play 99
July '98, p. 128a
Still the best graphics and sound around; tons of options.
Buggy as hell; game speed is totally unbalanced.
The potential for a great game is here, but it's going to take a lot of extra work before it is achieved.
TriTryst
April '96, p. 134
Good variety and challenging puzzle gameplay.
Replay value depends on what you want; puzzle games just don't have a lot of depth.
TriTryst is a fun little puzzle game that's every bit as addictive as Tetris.
Trivial Pursuit Interactive
It has potential for being a party game.
Not very interactive; too many missing pieces.
A flawed attempt to bring Trivial Pursuit into the 1990s.
Trophy Bass
February '96, p. 123
3380 146th S.E.
Great graphics, plenty of options, and good fish AI.
The odd, "omnipotent fisherman" perspective isn't very realistic.
A great simulation, and a hell of a lot of fun.
Tubular Worlds
Dongelware Publishing
35 Howard Street
(617) 497-1130
A good-looking, good-sounding shooter.
If you don't like shooters, there's not much here for you.
A lot of fun, but it seems pretty pricey for what you actually get.
TuneLand
July '94, p. 87
5225 San Fernando Road West
Los Angeles, CA 90039
The sound and graphics are very well crafted.
There's not a whole lot to do in the program, and some of the voices are pretty hard to understand.
In spite of the admirably creative presentation, TuneLand could be more engaging than it is.
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
May '99, p. 107
Excellent enemy models; area-specific damage model; lots of cool weapons.
Short draw distance and horrible fog; sludgy controls; poor multi-player balance.
Only console gamers and die-hard Turok fans will like this game.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
March '98, p. 149
(516) 759-7800
Slick enemy designs; weapons kick some major ass.
No multi-player; repetitive textures; pea-soup fogging; lame jumping puzzles.
A straight port of a slightly flawed game that lacks features PC gamers expect.
TV Guide  Multimedia Crosswords
InterMedia
3624 Market St.
Suite 302
Philadelphia, PA 19104
170 crosswords; handy hint features.
Confusing clues; lack of difficulty levels; poor use of multimedia; little challenge.
If you want to do a good crossword puzzle, why not pick up a newspaper?
Twinsen's Odyssey
October '97, p. 220
Bizarre environments, characters; massive game world; tasty graphics.
Frustrating controls; crummy voice-acting; some difficult puzzles.
Fans of the original should line up and snag a copy, but newcomers should be aware of the game's flaws.
Twisted Metal 2
March '98, p. 154
Good control; impressive level design; destruction galore.
Replay value is limited after blasting through it a few times.
Cranking up the Carnage-O-Meter, Twisted Metal 2 is a must-have game for combative car freaks.
Tyrian
October '95, p. 96
Epic Megagames, Inc.
10406 Hollbrook Drive
Great  looking graphics; non-stop action.
It's an excellent shooter, but there's no great depth hiding under the surface.
Gamers looking for a break from complex RPGs and simulations will welcome this fast-paced challenge.
3D Ultra Pinball: Creep Night
U
Great graphics, effects, sounds, and gameplay.
Only three tables; limited appeal with the "creepy" theme.
Whether you love pinball or not, this game will grab your attention... and keep it.
U.S. Navy Fighters
February '95, p. 108
Great attention to the details of naval flight operations.
A couple of minor techno-gaffes, plus a dire need for the latest CPU in existence.
If you've got the horses, this sim will really show you what being a naval aviator is really all about.
U.S.S. Ticonderoga
June '95, p. 135
Super graphics provide a "you are there" feel as no other naval game has.
Game play is flawed, buggy, and confusing.
Harpoon 2 it ain't, but users looking for a warm, fuzzy naval warfare game might enjoy it.
Ultim@te Race Pro
June '98, p. 123
Fantastic visual effects; multiplayer support; excellent arcade physics model.
Buggy; really only four tracks; long load times; cars are only visually different.
It's the best arcade racing game you can get on the PC. URP II, anyone?
Ultima Online
January '98, p. 262
5918 W. Couryard Dr.
Gorgeous graphics; simple interface; huge world to explore; lots of people to meet.
Lag; poor documentation; lag; characters start with low skills; lag; lots of bugs; more lag.
Ultima fanatics might stick with it, but most players will give up in frustration.
Ultima VIII: Pagan
May/June '94, p. 56
Austin TX. 78730
BBS: (512) 346-2227
Great graphics, sound, storyline, and special effects.
The arcade emphasis is likely to turn off role-playing fans, and the role-playing elements will turn off arcade fans.
A really strange mix of gameplay that doesn't quite pay off.
Ultimate 8 Ball
September '99, p. 97a
www.thq.com
Lots of different game types, instructive School of Pool.
Lots of crash bugs; unrealistic ball physics; aggrivating mouse stroke.
Virtual Pool 2 is a much better way to spend your money and time.
Ultimate Backgammon
The easy-to-use interface allows for a quick game without a lot of setting up.
No way for two players to compete at the same computer.
No hoopla here, just a solid game. Capstone took a simple concept and kept it that way.
Ultimate Domain
July '94, p. 76
It has some of everything--great graphics, great strategy, and AI that will give even experienced gamers a  run for their money.
The game tends to get unbalanced towards the end, and a few more sound effects would have been nice.
An all-round excellent title.
Ultimate Football 95
November '95, p. 166
MicroProse Software
Hunt Valley, MD 21010
Modem play; fairly low hardware requirements.
Dated-looking menus; it's too easy to beat the computer coach.
Perhaps the most complete package among football sims. You won't be disappointed.
Ultimate NFL Coaches Club Football
December '94, p. 141
Great-looking graphics, modem play; super playbook editor.
Choppy animation on all but the fastest machines; questionable statistical results.
A solid effort, but this isn't quite the ultimate football simulation.
Under A Killing Moon
January '95, p. 89
4910 W. Amelia Earhart Drive
Truly interactive video with great characters, script, and puzzles.
Low frame rates for slower computers and all-but-forgotten art of disc swapping.
It's a game that challenges and entertains; it leaves you wanting more of this believable virtual world.
Under Pressure
December '95, p. 279
Starhil Productions
139 Townsend Street
(415) 442-5000
Intriguing puzzles, super graphics.
Slow and unwieldy, unless you have some considerable horsepower in your computer.
Only high-end Windows 95 users who love puzzles need apply.
Unnecessary Roughness
May/June '94, p. 85
Great graphics; an NFLPA license, and easy-to-use tools for creating custom leagues.
The football action is so unrealistic that it all but cripples the game.
Unless you just don't care about realism, pass this one up. Although it looks great, it just ain't football.
Unnecessary Roughness '96
March '96, p. 134
Excellent arcade action and play design; good sound effects and graphics.
Steep hardware requirements.
Definitely a Super Bowl contender, and a nice alternative for action-oriented gamers who want to do more than coach.
Unreal
August '98, p. 104
Superlative graphics and sound, lots of things to kill.
Multi-player mode (and weapons balance) need work; high system requirements; plot drags halfway through.
While it's got a few problems, Unreal is this years most vivid first-person shooter.
Uprising
February '98, p. 144
Fast-paced, original, and absorbing; great graphics, controls, and sound.
You''ll need a fast PC and a 3Dfx card to get the full experience.
Uprising combines two crowded genres and manages to be a very refreshing break from both.
Uprising 2: Lead and Destroy
May '99, p. 118
Excellent graphics; nifty looking ships and structures; streamlined interface.
Too much micro-management; poor unit AI.
A decent but flawed follow-up to the original game, Uprising 2 could have been much better.
Urban Assault
October '98, p. 192
Well-crafted and Interesting world, opponents, and missions. Easy interface
Some faulty "base rush" tactics. High penalty for not controlling units. Average AI.
A good balance between action and strategy elements.
USCF Chess
May '98, p. 96
It's got good AI, which is the heart and soul of any chess program.
The 3D graphics are useless; no Internet access.
Not worthless; after all, it does offer a challenging game, but it pales in comparision to most current chess games.
Vangers
V
October '98, p. 194
Superior terrain graphics; complex game world.
Driving over terrain is more frustrating than fun, and too-funny-for-its-own-good manual iand interface is confusing.
There's a decent game buried here somewhere, but only a few will want to find it.
Vegas Fever: High Roller Edition
(310) 342-0610
Vigilance
February '99, p. 184
Cool premise; lots of weapons and enjoyable gameplay...
...spoiled by a lack of a mid-level save, bad code, and lots of bugs.
If Segasoft actually finishes this game, it may be worth a look.
Viper Racing
March '99, p. 146
Excellent graphics; smooth Internet play; nice balance between arcade and sim.
Curious damage results; only eight cars per race; hope you like driving a Viper!
All the elements needed to make a quality racer come together beautifully.
Virtua Chess
September '95, p. 99
Titus Software Corp.
A powerful chess engine; sharp graphics and plenty of extras.
Players eager to gain insight into advanced techniques will be disappointed by the lack of a tutorial.
If you like a challenge, Virtua Chess is a surprisingly strong entry into the computer chess arena.
Virtua Fighter 2
December '97, p. 214
Mind-boggling animation; good control; packed with goodies.
Steep system requirements; no 3D card support; braindead AI.
Virtua fans with powerful systems will eat it up, but the rest of us should hold out for the promised 3D patch.
Virtua Fighter PC
November '96, p. 254
Remarkable graphics; sound, music; super-tight control, lots of special moves.
Very high system requirements.
The best fighting game on the PC, bar none-- as long as you've got the hardware to get it running.
Virtua Squad
January '97, p. 226
Spectacular to look at, and intense fun to play in the early stages.
Only three levels, which are over all too quickly.
An entertaining diversion and competent "twitch" game, but one that will likely be gathering dust a few weeks after purchase.
Virtua Squad 2
May '98, p. 98
Gunplay and destruction galore; solid D3D support.
Longevity is questionable, even with new "Random Enemies" feature.
Virtua Squad 2 is a blast -- while it lasts anyway.
Virtual Karts
March '96, p. 116
Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2245
Menus are straightforward, network play can be fun.
Dodgy controls, high system requirements, oddball physics.
Even if you're a fan of go-cart racing, you'll probably be disappointed with Virutal Karts.
Virtual Pool
July '95, p. 90
One of the most realistic and addictive sims ever.
Some of the multimedia stuff is bad and feels tacked on.
The basic pool engine is so impressive that everything else you get is just gravy. It will make you a better pool player.
Virtual Pool 2
January '98, p. 239
Excellent graphics; slick interface; informative tutorials; options galore.
Nothing to speak of.
Virtual Pool 2 is easily one of the best representations of any sport and a can't-miss for billiars fans.
Virtual Snooker
June '96, p. 78
A great simulation of a fantastic pool challenge.
Getting down the basics takes a while; minimalist sounds and music.
A ball-breaking good time for pool fans everywhere.
Virus
May '98, p. 96a
Comes with McAfee Anti-Virus; the concept is great.
Poor graphics, horrendous computer AI; difficlut control; frustrating gameplay; long load times.
Despite the clever idea behind it, Virus simply doesn't live up to its potential.
Vortex: Quantum Gate II
April '95, p. 100
Hyperbole Studios
2225 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
Good concept, impressive acting; some strong visual ideas.
An embarrassingly gooey script; total "playing" time is two or three hours max, which ain't much.
If I want a sermon, thank you, I'll go to church.
Voyeur II
October '96, p. 166
Soap-opera quality acting (which ain't saying much).
Little interaction; repetitive gameplay is frustrating; cheesy acting and storyline; lots of niggling little flaws that indicate a premature release.
TV offers plenty of trash, you don't need to waste your time on Voyeur II.
VR Baseball 2000
January '99, p. 193a
Pitcher-batter interface is well done; computer AI is failry good, comparatively.
Poor animations; bleak graphics; lame simulation features; high system requirements.
Not a bad performer on the field, but there's not much else to hold your interest.
VR Powerboat Racing
July '98, p. 136
Good track design; cool concept.
Control, audio, and interface need some major improvements, especially in the four-player split-screen mode.
It's unlikely that this one will flat anyone's (power)boat.
VR Soccer 96
August '96, p. 114
Virgin Interactiv
18601 Fitch Ave.
It looks great, sounds good and has gallons of options.
Annoying control, inconsistent AI, and unhelplful camera views combine to frustrate rather than compel.
Under the glossy presentation, there's not enough to engage the would-be soccer fan.
Wages of War: The Business of Battle
W
March '97, p. 106
The trimmings aren't much, but the basic game is a solid and rewarding effort.
Graphics are a little bland and dated; thin manual could've been better.
A few quirks don't keep this from being a good squad-level combat game.
War Along the Mohawk
January '99, p. 214
It's unique, refreshing, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
It cannot, for one moment, be considered a serious simulation of the French and Indian Wars.
There's no other game quite like it, so try before you buy, if possible.
War College
July '96, p. 110
GameTek, Inc.
2999 Northeast 191 St.
Hyper-accurate and fascinating battle sims; detailed online reference library.
Only for serious military history students.
A deep, richly-textured program that makes a unique, provocative break from genre traditions.
War, Inc.
December '97, p. 261
Challenging, well-balanced elements combined with lots of action.
Some campaigns are too hard to win; disgraceful manual.
If you have the patience to figure it out, it's one of the better C&C clones currently available -- but not the best.
War Wind
January '97, p. 230
A detailed approach to real-time strategy gaming, with complex units and a rich background.
Some goals are not clearly defined.
A strong, fulfilling strategy title; a good bet for people who want to move on to more complex gaming than WarCraft II.
WarBirds
October '97, p. 234
iMagic Online
1701 NW Hwy.
Grapevine
76051
(817) 424-5638
Top 'net technology; human opponents; realistic flight-modeling; 100 plus player arenas.
Poor graphics; lack of official documentation; high cost; tough online competitors.
Highly recommended to serious flight sim fans with time and money to spare.
Warbreeds
July '98, p. 128
The zoom mode and gene collectiong elements are interesting...
...but not that interesting. The rest of the game is a half-hearted retread of better games.
A competent game with some novel features, but hardly enough to compete.
WarCraft
March '95, p. 93
Irvine, CA 92713
(714) 556-6671
Good graphics, two-player options, and unbeatable play value.
It's so addictive, it belongs on the FDA's controlled-substance list with Civilization and SimCity 2000.
If you like action, strategy or fantasy games, check out Warcraft. It doesn't get much better than this, folks.
WarCraft II:  Tides of Darkness
March '96, p. 96
Blizzard
19840 Pioneer Ave.
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 793-0600
Diverse and challenging play; excellent mission editor; technically superb head-to-head play.
There's the usual occasional holes in AI, but nothing serious.
Engrossing strategy fun for the whole family.
WarGames
October '98, p. 204
Effective 3D engine. Large maps with shifting mission goals.
Poor pathfinding abilities for the units. Not overly interesting. No single missions or editor.
Strong gameplay and visuals, but suffers from a lack of mission options.
Wargasm
May '99, p. 124
DID
www.did-us.com
Superb graphics and a really classy soundtrack.
Dreadful interface in both strategic and simulation modes; inadequate documentation and tutorials.
Battlezone doesn't have anything to worry about.
Warhammer: Dark Crusaders
July '96, p. 85
(415) 987-9900
Quality full-motion video; attractive SVGA graphics, intriguing squad-based combat.
Weak companion AI; sluggish controls; crude sound effects; no multi-player support.
Warhammer is a modest value, but it lacks the punch to set itself apart.
Warhammer: Dark Omen
July '98, p. 145
Superb graphics, fresh gameplay; a faithful translation of the miniatures game.
Linear campaign; occasionally over-whelming tactical play.
Dark Omen is definitely one of the better strategy games on the market.
Warhammer:  Shadow of the Horned Rat
May '96, p. 137
A solid wargame with a good fantasy background.
Fuzzy interface, no difficulty options, and sluggish gameplay on anything less than a Pentium.
Some of the best fantasy wargaming out today, but only if you have the system and the patience to make the most of it.
Warlords III
October '97, p. 248
Broderbund/Red Orb
Stable program; lovely art; solid AI and scenarios; new TCP/IP and IPX support.
Little customizability; middling maps; no economics or tactical combat; lack of charisma.
Demanding and interesting, Warlords III offers a no-frills, focused challenge.
WarWind II: Human Onslaught
April '98, p. 101
Interesting, challenging missions with a real sense of roleplaying and story.
Visually somewhat dated and cluttered. Some annoying interface quirks.
WarWind II proves again that real-time strategy is more than slash and burn.
Warzone 2100
July '99, p. 110
Engaging story; brilliant interface; ability to design units; free Internet play.
Missions seem alike; hard to juggle design and research; okay vehicle graphics.
Still a blast to play even if the missions do seem a little same-y.
Waterworld: The Quest for Dry Land
April '98, p. 131
If you liked the movie, there are a lot of cut-scenes for your viewing pleasure.
Outdated graphics; poor artificial intelligence; no network support; sucky save game feature.
Waterworld falls short in almost every aspect of the RTS game genre.
Werewolf vs. Comanche
December '95, p. 268
26010 Mureau
Network and modem gameplay, challenging if unrealistic missions.
Flight model and missions are simplistic, games a little too similar.
An excellent value for people looking to play a helicopter game head-to-head.
West Front
March '99, p. 124
Excellent graphics; interesting scenarios; high replay value due to scenario editor, online options.
Arcane formulae in the maual may prove baffling to novices.
This is a substantial improvement over East Front and a thrilling combat sim.
Wetlands
January '96, p. 185
Gritty animation and graphic novel-style story-telling.
Touchy controls and action sequences that could've used some work.
If you really want arcade action with a story line, wait for Rebel Assault II.
Whiplash
June '96, p. 122
Varied, challenging, fun tracks; beautiful high-res graphics; network play.
Too slow in high-res; control is sometimes jumpy.
If you're a fan of arcade racing, you definitely want to pick up Whiplash.
Who Killed Brett Penance?
November '94, p. 66
513 NW 13th Avenue
Suite 400
Armchair detectives may be entertained for an hour or two.
No replay value; it's disappointing that suspect and witness stories remain constant for all three cases.
Good multimedia elements, but there's not enough meat in this mystery title for experienced crime-solvers.
Who Shot Johnny Rock?
September '94, p. 74
You couldn't ask for a simpler interface, and there's lots of bang-bang.
A game like this needs good graphics--and Johnny Rock doesn't have 'em. Video-card compatibility problems don't help, either.
If you want a CD-ROM shooter with live-action video, pass this one up.
Wing Commander Armada
September '94, p. 60
P.O. Box 161750
Austin, TX 78716
Solid arcade-like strategy and action.  Outstanding multi-player options.
In combat against the computer, the battles start to feel all too similar.
Wing Commander nuts will find a lot to like about Armada, everyone will enjoy battling friends head-to-head via modem.
Wing Commander III:  Heart of the Tiger
March '95, p. 78
A stunning visual and aural feast; good acting.
Requires the ultimate PC to work properly, and on a dream machine, it features a long wait during mission loading.
A fantastic interactive experience blending drama and action so skillfully that it will redefine multimedia standards.
Wing Commander IV
May '96, p. 92
Incredible video sequences with Hollywood production values; greater variety in combat sequences.
Not much new in terms of gameplay; very demanding hardware requirements.
WCIV is a great science fiction movie that also happens to be fun to play.
Wing Commander Prophecy
March '98, p. 106
Graphics; gameplay; more missions, less story; new weapons and ships.
Bad acting; no multi-player; simplistic flight physics; a few bugs.
Prophecy is a welcome step back to what made the Wing Commander series great -- gameplay over cinematic grandeur.
Wingnuts
December '95, p. 213
Rocket Science Games
139 Townsend St.,
Wonderfully goofy Easter eggs; a decent shooter with some interesting features.
Needs meat in gameplay; fuzzy controls.
If you're looking for the ultimate shooter, pass on Wingnuts, but if you enjoy fun surprises, pick it up.
Wings of Glory
May '95, p. 67
Wonderful graphics; superb sound; believable flight models; a corny-but-lovable narrative.
The primitive aircraft may be too ornery for some players.
The best WWI simulation ever; this one flies with the eagles.
Wipeout
July '96, p. 117
Nice graphics and a pumping techno soundtrack.
Steep system requirements; no multi-player capabilities.
Not bad for hover-racing junkies with high-end systems, but serious gamers should look elsewhere.
Wipeout XL
September '97, p. 161
Graphically stunning; excellent control.
No Internet or multi-player play (although it's promised in a future patch); requires a 3D card; limited replay value.
An adrenaline-soaked showcase of PC polygon-pushing prowess.
Witchaven
November '95, p. 149
A good engine at work here; multi-player options greatly extend gameplay.
Limited character animations; close-quarters combat gets old pretty quickly.
Not a bad entry into the shooter arena, but it could've been better.
Witchaven II
November '96, p. 253
Medieval hack-and-slash action in a setting that hasn't been done to death.
Awkward contols; poor enemy intelligence.
This game is bargain-bin bound, so if you must have it, do yourself a favor and wait a little while.
Wolf
November '94, p. 81
Suite 260
1875 S. Grant Street
Hours pass like minutes in this fascinating RPG for nature lovers.
In simulation mode, the game can get a little slow.
An unusual, entertaining game that gives genuine insight into one of nature's most magnificent and misunderstood creatures.
Wooden Ships and Iron Men
January '97, p. 262
Snappy graphics; marvelously intuitive interface; a good scenario generator.
The Campaign element is a bit thin, and those log entries grow tiresome rather quickly.
This game is easy to like if you have any interest in the subject matter.
Woodruff & Schnibble
August '95, p. 113
Looks great; fun and detailed storyline; solid, logical challenges.
Some characters are tough to understand; inability to skip through dialogues and animations gets tiresome.
A great graphic adventure, and further reason to praise Coktel Vision.
Word Puzzles, Vol. 1
Good range of puzzles for a little bit of cash.
Once you've done each of the puzzles, there's really no replay value.
Lots o' puzzles; lots o' fun--at least for a limited time period.
World Cup Golf
April '95, p. 113
303 Sacrament Street
It's pretty, and match-play options add variety.
There are so many little flaws, idiosyncrasies, and odd design choices that playing seems like a chore.
Not the best golf sim out there. Not even close.
World Hockey 95
September '95, p. 88
Training mode and penalty shots are welcome additions.
Retina-burning graphics; sluggish controls; and very weak AI.
Unless you're a die-hard fan of international hockey, steer clear of this one.
World Series of Poker
The strongest poker AI to date, plus you get to sit in on the World Series.
No tutorial option included; poor segue graphics.
One of the best poker sims on the market, and a true Las Vegas experience.
World Wide Soccer
December '97, p. 267
Excellent player animations; simple and fun to play; lots of action.
Framerate is choppy; some minor presentation glitches; doesn't live up to the FIFA series.
A good bet for arcade soccer fans, but it falls short of the Sega Saturn original.
Worms
March '96, p. 107
Clever design, cute graphics, and loads of fun with more than one player.
Turn-based action is a bit slow against computer opponents.
Worms is a humorous and enjoyable take on strategy games, and fun for the whole family.
Worms 2
April '98, p. 102
(510) 864-4550
Simple, fun, well-balanced combat; many excellent weapons; great multi-player.
The computer player's erratic shooting will baffle you.
Worms 2 has a combination of destruction and fun that shouldn't be missed.
Worms Armageddon
July '99, p. 115
Lots of fun; good for long and short sessions; adaptable; low system requirements.
Some single-player deathmatch quirks; many elements unchanged from Worms 2.
Quite simply some of the most no-fuss fun you can have with your PC.
Wrath of the Gods
July '94, p. 70
Luminaria
3288 21st Street
Suite 64
San Francisco, CA 94110
It has a load of puzzles, and the acting is good to excellent throughout.
Very choppy animation; moving between locales can take an eternity.
A good choice for novice or average gamers, but there's so much gameplay here that veterans can appreciate it too.
WuKung
September '95, p. 114
Abudoe Software Inc.
320 108th Avenue NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
It's a promising idea. There's some nice cartoon animation, and the interface is easy to use.
Long loading times; terrible voice acting; lack of subtitles; etc.; etc.
Man, this game sure is bad...
WWF In Your House
April '97, p. 120
Manages to be totally stupid and totally enjoyable; excellent network play.
This game deserved better graphics than it got.
Takes the dumbest phenomenon on cable television and makes it fun.
WWF Wrestlemania
Big characters, lots of moves, and nice control.
Two-dimensional feel, and no new characters to face in tournament mode.
Plenty of mat-slamming fun for the whole family.
WWII Fighters
March '99, p. 116
Visually stunning graphics and effects; plenty of mission types, flexibility, and planes.
Canned missions and campaigns; fairly soft flight models; long load times; a few bugs.
The most accessible and visually sumptuous WWII game for the mid-range sim fan.
The X-Files
X
September '98, p. 129a
Good acting; beautiful packaging and interface; original (but dated) story line.
Non-challenging gameplay; lots of pointless pixel hunting; not enough Scully or Mulder.
Less unpleasant than having an alien probe stuck up your butt -- but not by much.
X-COM
August '94, p. 76
The gameplay is great. Custom characters, great storyline, and simple combat interface make it completely absorbing.
Graphics and sound are simple fare. It's not for those who want to be wowed by imagery.
Well worth buying--what it lacks in flash, it makes up for in playability.
X-COM: Apocalypse
October '97, p. 202
(800) 659-GAME
A highly enjoyable strategy game. All the "first encounters" are as intriguing as ever.
Amount of micromanagement borders on the absurd; takes practice to get controls down.
X-COM fans will enjoy having another go at those menacing aliens.
X-COM Interceptor
September '98, p. 148
Strong strategic element; decent space combat; nice alien ship models.
Not enough mission variety. No way to skip dogfights.
Not as engrossing strategically as teh other X-COM games and not as cutting edge as the current crop of space shooters.
X-COM: Terror from the Deep
July '95, p. 101
MicroProse Software Inc.
It's almost a dead-ringer for last year's best strategy game.
That's just about all it is--there's very little new here.
If you're just dying for more X-COM, this is your game; but don't look for any major differences.
X-Men: Children of the Atom
September '97, p. 152
Great-lookinng animation, ultra-enjoyable button-mashing madness.
Runs in a bizarre resolution; a few joystick compatibility problems.
Though it has its flaws, X-Men is a perfectly enjoyable adrenaline rush.
X-Wing Alliance
June '99, p. 118
Great story; impressive graphics; cinematic battles.
Distracting sub-plot; unimpressive software-only mode; slow performance on some systems.
The best Star Wars space combat game yet; a new high watermark for the genre.
X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
July '97, p. 146
PO Box 10307
800-782-7927
Superior graphics, great multi-player action; well-designed cooperative missions.
No 3D support; limited single player gaming; lack of dramatic story; unreliable Internet play.
Primarily a multiplayer game, X v.s TIE is ahead of its time.
XCar: Experimental Racing
November '97, p. 210
Customizable; smooth frame rate; inventive concept.
Controls don't feel right; boring default cars; relentless AI.
XCar is great for tinkerers and pit crew wannabes, but casual gearheads will find it all too much to handle.
Yoda Stories
Y
July '97, p. 161
Simple and solid gameplay; 15 deceptively large levels; bonus multimedia movie.
The big head characters may be too cute for some. Graphics aren't great.
Yoda Stories is a fun, addictive little game in the fine tradition of Star Wars titles.
Yoot Tower
July '99, p. 125
It's got all the building-tinkering fun of SimTower.
Antiquated graphics, aging gameplay, and influence of Japanese with much translations badly.
This is the new SimTower? For lucky best game, get something else.
You Don't Know Jack
Berkeley Systems
2095 Rose St.
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 549-2300
Clever trivia questions; clean, thoughtful design; hilarious categories.
There's not much replay value.
Triva buffs will really dig it, and will find themselves coming back to it again and again.
You Don't Know Jack Movies
July '97, p. 200
2095 Rose Street
Berkeley
94709
(510) 540-5535
Great presentation, lots of humor and just darn tremendous fun to play.
800 questions will eventually run out, relegating it to the back of the shelf.
If you can round up one or two other movie buffs, this is a must-buy.
You Don't Know Jack TV
February '98, p. 159
In-depth TV trivia; great TV-themed animations, graphics and sound; difficulty level is a bit higher than other Jacks, but that's good.
Some questions are pretty obscure.
A must-have game for TV trivia buffs.
You Don't Know Jack Volume 3
Tons of questions; great humor; plenty of variety in types and difficulty of questions.
More of the same; this isn't significantly different from the original Jack or Volume 2.
If you don't have any of the previous Jacks, get your hands on Jack 3. It's a blast.
Z
October '96, p. 144
Looks great, and has plenty of originality to breathe some life into the genre.
Movement is sometimes annoyingly slow; ultimately limiting campaign structure.
A welcome addition to the genre which offers plenty to intrigue real-time wargamers and action freaks alike.
Zapitalism
September '96, p. 112
LavaMind
Highly original and creative game world; E-Mail Internet play.
Too many random factors and a lack of detail derail the economic gameplay.
Although amusing, it lacks the depth and sophistication of other business sims.
Zeddas: Servants of Sheol
July '96, p. 86
Synergy Interactive
444 DeHaro St.
Some genuinely weird and unusual visual elements.
A tired Myst rip-off with a dash of lame bloodshed to goose the action.
Some intriguing elements are undermined by familiarity and lame gameplay.
Zephyr
March '95, p. 109
Zephyr's sound effects and music are good.
Cluttered graphics, poor documentation, and a slight case of vaporware.
If Zephyr is any indication, New World should stay away from action games and stick to publishing good strategy and RPGs.
Zeppelin
April '95, p. 95
(410) 771-6411
Good concept; nice graphics; smooth gameplay.
Once you've played through WWI, you've seen and done all there is.
This coulda been a contender, if the idea was developed to the fullest; a paradigm of failed design.
Zig-Zag
August '95, p. 85
A classy brain-teaser that will challenge even the most experienced word-game maven.
The quest variants didn't turn me on, although others will surely respond differently.
A crossword puzzle with attitude--if you play one game and like it, you'll be hooked.
Zone Raiders
April '96, p. 130
Excellent concept with fast and nimble vehicle physics.
Occasional graphics glitches. No modem play.
Fun, fun, fun 'til your daddy takes the T-Bird away.
Zork Grand Inquisitor
May '98, p. 115
Visually stunning; lots of Zork humor; challenging puzzles; lots of gameplay.
Not all the puzzles make sense; not a huge technological improvement over Nemesis.
It's funny, it's fun, and anyone familiar with the Zork world will have a blast.
Zork Nemesis
July '96, p. 94
Activision Inc.
Beautiful graphics, Z-vision 360-degree rotation, and puzzles that actually make sense in the context of the story.
There's little replay value, once you're finished, that's it. Some clues are hard to find.
It's pretty, it's spooky, and it's immensely entertaining.
Zorro
June '95, p. 99
Intracorp
The full-motion video clips are pretty well done.
Poor control; boring graphics; and an ample supply of cheesy music.
You don't need this kind of frustration in a simple platform puzzler.
ZuluWar!
November '96, p. 271
Santa Clara, CA
The campaign games are fascinating and challenging.
The smaller scenarios would work much better as tactical simulations.
If you loved the movies Zulu! and Zulu Dawn, you must have this game.