Microsoft Games
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
Well it definitely leaves a similar mark, but not in the way of innovate gameplay.
Forza Motorsport
As far as realistic racing games goes, the PS2 has Gran Turismo and the Xbox has ' .
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.
Kung Fu Chaos
All right, I admit it; I loved those campy old 70's kung fu movies.
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..
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.
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.
Fable: The Lost Chapters
Controlling your character is quite easy, since controls match configurations found in most FPS titles.
MechAssault
First, MechAssault is on the Xbox. That makes it good because console games are generally clean and refined versions of their PC cousins.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gex
Crystal Dynamics' famed gecko Gex has finally hit the PlayStation with his witty humor and excellent game-play intact.
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.
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.
Project Gotham Racing 2
Fishtailing is a good thing - air, drafting, two wheels, much better.
Monster Truck Madness 2
"Lean into it!" -- that’s exactly what you will find yourself doing in Monster Truck Madness 2 (MTM2).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MechCommander 2
There are three things that I love to do when playing video games.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rallisport Challenge
First, the game looks and sounds much the same, which is to say, fabulous.
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).
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.
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.
Links 2003
In the past couple of years, console golf games have taken encouraging strides in competing with their PC cousins.
Fable
I found the puzzle-solving aspect of this game interesting, and at times even unique.
Amped 2
First, you may struggle with the way this game controls, especially if you're used to arcadey sports titles.
Crimson Skies
Nathan Zachary, gentleman air pirate and leader of the Fortune Hunters, is back at it again.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Hellbender
"Six years ago the Coalition of Independent Planets defeated their most fearsome enemy, a race of warriors they had created -- the Bions..."
Asheron's Call
Gameplay takes place in a 3D environment with a wide variety of views from which to play, including a 360 swivel view and a top-down angle which is very useful for wide-range mapping.
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!).
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.
Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Volume 1
One of the best things about having an Xbox 360 is its online component, Xbox Live. Connecting to this online service lets you download the game demos, trailers, and all sorts of arcade games.
Fighter Ace
Darwinism has truly reached the gaming community, and now only the strong will survive.
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.
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.
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.
Azurik
Azurik is a young 'Lore Guardian' who is given the task to protect the elemental discs that contain the souls of the Elemental Guardians.
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.
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.
NFL Fever 2004
Even more challenging would be pushing that lineman back and sacking the quarterback, which Microsoft is far from achieving.