Concise reviews of older games

Title - Fifa Soccer 2005
Genre - Sport
Platform - PS2
Rating - A-
Comments - Great game, if you like the previous games, you most likely will love this one. The career mode is also very good, it was improved from older versions. The new first touch control also adds some realism to the game. It felt a bit harder to play then the previous ones, but for me that wasn't really a bad thing, I like how it is more challenging.

Title - Counter Strike Condition Zero
Genre - First person shooter
Platform - PC
Rating - A-
Comments - The best FPS game I've ever player in game play, the graphics aren't amazing but it's definitely a game to try out. If you are familiar with the original one, its pretty much the same thing, they improved graphics a little, added a few maps and guns. It is still pretty easy on your computer, in terms of video cards and 3D accelerators.

Title - America's Army
Genre - First person shooter
Platform - PC
Rating - C+
Comments - The graphics were decent and it looks semi realistic, however the game play wasn't very good, and it seemed like there was more than skill needed to be able to play it well. The online option was also pretty bad, and the maps were in parts too confusing and claustrophobic sometimes.

Title - Rise of Nations
Genre - War Strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - C
Comments - The game is very similar to all other games of the genre, however it was even less entertaining than most of the other ones I have played before. I thought the campain option was well designed, but the the way they did the technologies was not as good as other games. Game also average on graphics, and it was kind of easy.

Title - Civilization III
Genre - Turn based strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - A-
Comments - The Sid Meyer's Civilization series is considered revolutionary, and this game definately shows why. It is a one of a kind game. I thought, at first, that because it is a turn based game, that I would be bored after playing it a little. I was surprised how quickly I became addicted to the game. The "Play the world" expansion is a rip off, but I got it anyway. The only advantage is that you get to play it online if you want.

Title - Galactic Civilizations II
Genre - Turn based strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - C+
Comments - If you have played any turn based strategy before, it is the same as this game. It is fun, specially because of the intergalactic scenario and the different species you can play with. Even make your own species if you want. But it is not as good as newer game of this genre, if you can choose, go with CIV4... Although, this one is worth trying, if you don't feel like being hooked to a game at the time.

Title - Populus: the beginning
Genre - God game/ strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - B+
Comments - The graphics weren't that great, but it was a fun game to play. I found that the first few levels were really easy but all of a sudden the level of difficulty increased greatly.

Title - Black and White
Genre - God game/ strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - A+
Comments - The best god game I have ever player. Really engaging, with amazing graphics for the time of its release. Very neat idea to add the animals. One problem I had with this game is that you could never start a game without having to go through the tutorials and the whole initial steps of the game. It becomes annoying after the first few times you play the beginning. I am really looking foward to the sequel.

Title - Sim City 4 + Rush Hour
Genre - Strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - A
Comments - I have always been a fan of the Maxis games, and Sim City specially has always been one of my favorite games. I have owned every single Sim City ever released. The new version however, adds many of the things I've always wanted on the previous ones. Rush Hour was also a very neat expansion, it seems like all the aspects that I found missing on the game, were added on the expansion. There are still a few things that I would add to the game to make it even more fun, but in general it is one of the most fun strategy/management games I've ever played.

Title - Evil Genius
Genre - Strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - B+
Comments - Very unique game, with some fun graphics. In this game, you play an Evil Genius, hence the title, and the main objective is to conquer the world with help from your minions, henchmen and other evil masterminds. It's not the type of game that you will remember for the rest of your life but it sure is fun while it lasts.

Title - Sid Meyer's Pirates!
Genre - Strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - B
Comments - A lot of fun, I love many things about this game, specially the physics of sailing and winds and all that stuff that makes the game almost realistic. The day I started playing it, I was immediately addicted, but the problem with this game showed on the 2nd and 3rd days, I got tired of it way too soon. The amount of things you can do is too limited for how much potential it has. I don't know about other people but I got sick of doing the same thing over and over even before I finished the game.

Title - Gran Turismo 4
Genre - Racing
Platform - PS2
Rating - A
Comments - I would have to say that this is the best racing game I've ever played. There are lots of cars, tracks and races. Soooo much to do, more licences and options than ever. I have played first game of the series and I owned #2, and playing this game made me see how much progress has been made throughout the series. It definately deserves an A, and I recommend it to anyone that likes racing or even if you just like cars, you might still get addicted to it. I loved the sounds of some of the cars, the graphics are pretty amazing and the physics of the game are the best I've ever seen.

Title - NBA Live 2005
Genre - Sports
Platform - PS2
Rating - B
Comments - Very good game, with relatively good graphics, and fun options of game. For a basketball game, I haven't seen a better game, but there are still improvements that could be made. Specially during seasons, I find that the budgeting is a bit limiting. Overall a decent game.

Title - The movies
Genre - Simulation
Platform - PC
Rating - B+
Comments - This is a great game, really fun to fool around with and it does get pretty competitive once your movies start competing for the "Oscars". The graphics are great, and I just love making characters and watching them get old and become drunks hehehe. It is a really fun game also in the sense that it has humour in it, specially if you listen to the radio station. It follows up with the years and the comments are really funny about communism, politics, war, technology and even some sexist comments in the old days. It is worth trying it out, I have to say all Lionhead games have been very good in my opinion, I hope they keep up the good work.

Title - Black & White 2
Genre - God Game / Strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - A-
Comments - Great game, with really cool graphics. I do wish there was a bit more freedom in terms of the story, the game is too great to follow a script all the time. It is a good game, the sounds is good but it does get tiring fairly quickly.

Title - Empire Earth 2
Genre - War Strategy
Platform - PC
Rating - B
Comments - I never reviewed the original game, which I use to love and at the time was the best of its kind, in my opinion. I was super excited for this game because it was supposed to look amazing. Well I got it and it is really good for playing multiplayer games but I found it dry if you play single player. I did like the whole city system, but the different traits that you can excell in are kind of annoying after a while. The graphics are good, and I love having the weather, but they aren't as good as I expected. I want to try Age of Empires 3 to compare, this time I think Microsoft actually won...