Microsoft Games
Microsoft Train Simulator
Trains are a part of the magic buried in our collective dreams.
Age of Empires II: Age of Kings
As Mel Brooks put it in History of the World Part 1, “It’s good to be the King!” Now everyone can grow up to be the king.
Zoo Tycoon
Developed by the new Blue Fang (headed up by former developers at Sierra Online), this is their first game and the first zoo-related sim on the market.
Age of Empires
It's rapidly becoming apparent that there are fewer and fewer truly well-designed games on the market, especially in the real-time strategy category.
Age of Mythology: The Titans
Atlantis has fallen, but don't count the Atlanteans out just yet.
Midtown Madness 3
First, let me warn you away from the single player mode. Without a doubt, this is the game's biggest weakness, featuring boring, repetitive missions, and the worst voice action this side of Aliens: A Comic Book Adventure.
Rise of Nations
Stretching from the beginnings of civilization to the Information Age, history here is divided into seven eras.
Halo 2
The graphics are hotter than ever, and the bump-mapping technology, which gives even simple textures an illusion of depth and reality, looks even better than you could've imagined.
Age of Empires Expansion: The Rise of Rome
This could also be titled “Take the Best Overall Game of 1997 and Make It Better.
Pandora's Box
Game developers may well have the most demanding jobs in the world of PC computing.
Zoo Tycoon 2
There's the Freeform game, with unlimited money -- that is, no money worries at all -- and all animals and buildings, etc., available. Pick a region anywhere in the world for your zoo and start building.
Midtown Madness
Welcome to Chicago. Home of the world’s tallest building, the Cubs, Navy Pier, and madness.
Age of Empires III
Anytime a game hits its third full iteration, I expect a remarkable and enticing gameplay for starters.
Conker: Live and Reloaded
A few years ago, a game for the N64 was released, that well, raised a few eyebrows and caused many parents to pay closer attention to the type of games their kids where playing.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century of Flight
Without a doubt Microsoft clearly has outpaced any competition with their flight simulator series and continues to increase the distance with Flight Simulator 2004.
Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots
Added here are six new cultures to play (Iroquois, Lakota, American, Dutch, Persian and Indian) and new units -- including the indispensable War Elephant.
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved is arguably the finest console FPS to date. Originally released as a launch title for the Xbox, it was the one title that made it worth owning an Xbox.
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
Well it definitely leaves a similar mark, but not in the way of innovate gameplay.
Motocross Madness 2
So you think you’re a pretty good dirt bike rider, do you? Think you can handle even the most extreme air? Is there nothing you won’t use as a ramp to launch yourself?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
Flight enthusiasts have been using MS Flight Simulator for years and have watched it evolve from monochrome line graphics up to graphics so real..
Impossible Creatures
With the flood of successful RTS games released last year, you have to wonder if there's anything left to accomplish in this genre.
Freelancer
After over five years and who knows how many changes, it's finally released and is well worth the wait.
Fable: The Lost Chapters
Controlling your character is quite easy, since controls match configurations found in most FPS titles.
Gex
Crystal Dynamics' famed gecko Gex has finally hit the PlayStation with his witty humor and excellent game-play intact.
Kameo: Elements of Power
Not that Kameo doesn't deserve that accolade on its own, because it really is an enjoyable game. As the titular heroine Kameo, you have been betrayed by your own sister who has chosen to ally herself with the sworn enemy of all Elves, the Trolls.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000
About every two or three years since 1980 Microsoft has released an updated version of the most successful flight simulation program of all time.
Dungeon Siege
You're on your way to Stonebridge, though not by choice. After krug raiders killed your neighbors and set fire to your farm, however, it seems to be the only option left to you.
Kung Fu Chaos
All right, I admit it; I loved those campy old 70's kung fu movies.
Blinx: The Time Sweeper
You control Blinx, one of many cats working at the Time Factory. Your job is to keep time flowing and fix time glitches.
Parappa the Rapper 2
Given its relative success and memorable marketing campaign, there's a good chance that if you've been playing PSX games for a while, you've heard of Parappa]
Fuzion Frenzy
Call up your friends and buy three more controllers because this party game is the perfect venue for battling with your buddies over a plate of hot nachos and surly competition.
Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species
Added here are some of the endangered creatures of the title, but the game is not too blunt an instrument in the politics of animal salvation.
Age of Mythology
Highly detailed buildings, animals, and vegetation are simply eye-popping.
MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf
For those of us who love to control 90 ton walking battleships (and who doesn't), waiting for MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf has required some patience.
Brute Force
Although not the tactical squad game that it was built up as, it does provide an exceptional third person shooter experience that overshadows its earlier claims.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 98
So you've had a rough day. The boss is on your case, the kids are whining and the car's making that noise again.
Project Gotham Racing 3
So what stands out as a next-gen game? Well the most obvious place to start is with the graphics. Everything is gorgeous from the city streets to the cars themselves, it's definitely eye candy (at least running at 1080i).
Rallisport Challenge
First, the game looks and sounds much the same, which is to say, fabulous.
Motocross Madness
Hop on, kick the start pedal and don’t fasten that seatbelt -- you’re about to do some incredible stunts and racing in vast, hilly, three-dimensional wasteland environments and supercross arenas.
Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
When the Shadowjumper broke free of its prison and stole the fabled Staff of Stars, it spelled certain extinction to the remainer of the Utraeans, one of the fabled elder races of Aranna.
Dungeon Siege II
It is near the end of the Second Age. You have been hired as a mercenary by Valdis, prince of the North, to eradicate the enemies of his reign.
Grabbed By The Ghoulies
First, like any good arcade title, especially one built for kids, there's stuff to destroy and unlockables to be found.
MechAssault
First, MechAssault is on the Xbox. That makes it good because console games are generally clean and refined versions of their PC cousins.
Project Gotham Racing
Like most race titles there isn't anything by way of a storyline, but then there doesn't really need to be.
Blinx 2: Masters Of Time & Space
You've got basic run, jump, grab and gun gameplay, mixed with some interesting time controls and a weapon that can suck up any nearby junk to shoot back at the enemy.
Gears of War
Now that the 360 has been out a year, it's about that time when the developers are finally figuring out the system and how to take advantage of it.
Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far
Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far lets you replay one of the most critical battles in World War II.
Perfect Dark Zero
First, I'll say that I have a love/hate relationship with this game. As I usually like dispensing bad news, I'll start by complaining about the storyline.
Counter-Strike
One team is given an objective, whether it 's rescuing hostages or planting a bomb, while the other team has to prevent the other team from completing those objectives.
Project Gotham Racing 2
Fishtailing is a good thing - air, drafting, two wheels, much better.
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
Finding flight simulators that present a complete package is a rarity as some handle great with a solid interface but the missions are lame or the graphics may be excellent but the game is over almost before it started.
Sudeki
There are a number of extremely promising RPGs headed for the Xbox this fall such as Fable and Knights of the Old Republic II and it was hoped that Sudeki would be leading the charge.
Whacked!
What _Whacked!_ does offer is highly unique characters like a rabbit who had his feet cut off and made into key chains and an emaciated, narcoleptic guy who competes in a recliner.
RalliSport Challenge 2
No matter how you feel about Microsoft, it can't be denied that they produce some outstanding games.
Microsoft Entertainment Pack: The Puzzle Collection
Microsoft has a long tradition of Entertainment Packs for Windows, beginning in 1990.
Zoo Tycoon
Just because a game has a sliver of success on one platform certainly does not guarantee that it will translate well to another.
Fighter Ace
Darwinism has truly reached the gaming community, and now only the strong will survive.
Monster Truck Madness 2
"Lean into it!" -- that’s exactly what you will find yourself doing in Monster Truck Madness 2 (MTM2).
Links 2003
In the past couple of years, console golf games have taken encouraging strides in competing with their PC cousins.
Bicycle Casino Games
Time to hit the ATM, pull out your life savings, amble up to the roulette table and put it all on red. Don't like roulette?
Urban Assault
War and pestilence have brought the Earth to the brink of destruction. Since “The Big Mistake,” Earth's surface is up for grabs.
Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries
Somehow, even when I think I've found the Mech game that'll end my need for these silly action games, providing me with a title that really, really sucks.
Top Spin
While tennis games have never been main stream, the success of Sega's Virtual Tennis has helped push them in the right direction.
Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95
For experienced Flight Simulator users, this upgrade offers two new aircraft, new cities, more airports, more detailed scenery from around the world.
Amped 2
First, you may struggle with the way this game controls, especially if you're used to arcadey sports titles.
Starlancer
The solar system erupts in war! Eastern Coalition forces, led by the devious Admiral Kulov, have launched a surprise attack on the Western Alliance.
MechCommander 2
There are three things that I love to do when playing video games.
Quantum Redshift
I looked at the cover of this game and decided that it was the worst 'retro' looking piece of crap cover I'd seen since the Sega genesis game 'Eternal Heroes (phew!).
MechWarrior 4: Vengeance
“Your father murdered. Your world overrun. Take command... and... reclaim your bloodright.” With those words, a new story in the battletech universe is born.
Blood Wake
Betrayed. One minute you're calmly patrolling the Gulf of the Moon, thinking pleasant thoughts.
Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack
Tired of playing the same old Halo 2 maps over and over, but still not quite ready to let them go either?
Microsoft Golf 3.0
It's perhaps telling that if you visit the Microsoft Golf 3.0 website, one of the first things you see in the "Inside golf" link is the catch-phrase: "Adjust your grip on reality.
Crimson Skies
Nathan Zachary, gentleman air pirate and leader of the Fortune Hunters, is back at it again.
Fable
I found the puzzle-solving aspect of this game interesting, and at times even unique.
Outwars
You are an elite futuristic Marine protecting the universe from vicious hordes of aliens. This is not a 3D shooter, although it does at times have the feel of one; it is a combat simulation.
Amped
In order to give an accurate snowboard review, yours truly has traveled to the great state of Montana for a little R&R and some serious snowboarding..
Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
Both groups are trying to gather together a collection of artifacts that will grant their owners immortality, and of course the best way to gain artifacts is to beat the hell out of each other.
Links LS 2000
Whoever said that golf was a relaxing game should be slapped up side the head with a 1-wood, because in all my gaming adventures I never swear so much as when I’m playing Links 2000.
Forza Motorsport
As far as realistic racing games goes, the PS2 has Gran Turismo and the Xbox has ' .
Nightcaster
In a world of suffering, a hero will emerge. Hmm' that doesn't exactly rhyme.
Microsoft Soccer
Goal! Not! Microsoft takes a stab at the world's #1 sport, and unfortunately misses high over the crossbar.
NFL Fever 2002
In this day and age, it goes without saying but I will say it anyway; this game carries all the NFL licenses allowing for real players, real uniforms and real stadiums.
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Microsoft's Flight Simulator X is the 10th and latest version of the venerable entertainment title, one that played such a significant part in the history of the microcomputers and PCs.
Microsoft Golf 1998
Microsoft has a new developer to carry on its line of golf simulations.
Links 2001
The benchmark in the PC Golf genre has always been the Links franchise -- it has all but dominated the PC scene until just recently.
Voodoo Vince
With the numerous bland and repetitive platform games released every year, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the gameplay associated with them.
Hellbender
"Six years ago the Coalition of Independent Planets defeated their most fearsome enemy, a race of warriors they had created -- the Bions..."
NFL Fever 2004
Even more challenging would be pushing that lineman back and sacking the quarterback, which Microsoft is far from achieving.
Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings
Unlike many other reviews you will read, I will not start this review off by comparing MMORPG's to drugs and the players to drug addicts.
MechWarrior 4: Black Knight
I’m not a great fan of expansion packs. They’re usually a trite attempt at recapturing the same flavor or feel of the original game, which is usually well enough done on its own.