Buyers Guide

BIG GAME HUNT

The definitive guide to the best games on PC
MODERN GREAT ALTERNATIVE FAR CRY
Ubisoft Crytek www.farcrythegame.com/uk Demo in PCG 133 Stunningly beautiful, if occasionally frustrating. Shed a tear for your PC and fire up the future. PCG 134 91%
GENRE CLASSIC HALF-LIFE GENERATIONS
Vivendi Valve http://half-life. sierra.com/ Demo in PCG 68, 82 A benchmark for aspiring developers to match. 3D life has never been this perfect. Make sure you live it. PCG 63 96%

FIRST-PERSON SHOOTERS

CALL OF DUTY
Activision Infinity Ward www.callofduty. com/index.asp Demo in PCG 128 It lands you, bomb like, in more memorable moments-per-minute than any shooter in the last two years. PCG 129 91%
Also recommended Halo: Combat Evolved Medal of Honour: Allied Assault No-One Lives Forever 2 Serious Sam: The Second Encounter Star Trek: Elite Force 2 Thief 2: The Metal Age

MEDIEVAL: TOTAL WAR

RISE OF NATIONS
Microsoft Big Huge Games www.microsoft.com /games/ Demo in PCG 126 A stunning synthesis of Civilization and Age of Empires that no serious strategy fan should be without PCG 124 88%

WARCRAFT III

Vivendi Blizzard www.blizzard.com/ war3 Demo in PCG 117 Spell-binding. Just what the witch doctor ordered. Classic strategy with a splash of role playing. PCG 112 90%

REAL-TIME STRATEGY

Activision Creative Assembly www.totalwar.com Demo in PCG 111 A magisterial strategy game with equally honed real-time and turn-based elements. The king of strategy games PCG 113 93%
Also recommended Age of Mythology Perimeter C&C: Generals Homeworld 2 Black & White Total Annihilation Sacrifice Age of Empires 2 Sacrifice Ground Control Starcraft

ROLEPLAYING GAME

KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC
Activision Bioware www.lucasarts.com /products/swkotor/ More polish than Vaders helmet, more charisma than Han Solo. We can recommend this to any gamer PCG 130 92%

NEVERWINTER NIGHTS

Interplay Bioware http://nwn.bioware. com A masterful and comprehensive roleplaying package, with a gripping campaign. At the very forefront of gaming. PCG 112 94%
BALDURS GATE 2: SHADOWS OF AMN
Interplay Bioware www.interplay.com Truly epic role-playing of the very best vintage. The benchmark for traditional RPGs. PCG 89 93%
Also recommended Planescape: Torment System Shock 2 Fallout 2 Deus Ex Diablo 2 Elder Scrolls: Morrowind Anachronox Ulitima VII: The Black Gate Ultima Underworld 2 Nethack

MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER

PLANETSIDE
Ubisoft SOE www.planetside. com Client on PCG 127 (DVD) Vast fronts of virtual warfare rage across an absurdly beautiful alien planet. The experience is timeless. PCG 124 93%

EVE ONLINE

Crucial Crowd Control www.eveonline.com Client on PCG 132 A slow burning, complex and utterly beautiful MMORPG. Live that Iain M Banks dream. PCG 124 90%

ULTIMA ONLINE

Electronic Arts Origin www.owo.com
A spell-bindingly addictive RPG and a genuine milestone in gaming history. An ever-changing wonder. PCG 52 90%
Also recommended EverQuest Star Wars: Galaxies Dark Age of Camelot Ferion Shawdowbane Neocron Time of Defiance Asherons Call Anarchy Online Final Fantasy XI

ADVENTURE

BROKEN SWORD 3
THQ Revolution www.brokensword. com Demo in PCG 130 The rebirth of the genre. A beautiful story, told in a brand-new way. A lot of love has gone into making this game. PCG 129 87%

IN MEMORIAM

Ubisoft Lexis Numerique www.inmemoriamthegame.com

GRIM FANDANGO

LucasArts In-house www.lucasarts.com /products/grim Demo in PCG 83 The slickest, cleverest and most enjoyable adventure games this world has seen. Play a gaming legend today. PCG 62 95%
A new idea, executed with macabre finesse. A fantastic surprise.Youll not have played anything else like it. PCG 130 81%
Also recommended Sam and Max Hit the Road Day of the Tentacle The Longest Journey The Secret of Monkey Island 2. Beyond Good And Evil Blade Runner Little big Adventure 2

CIVILIZATION 3

TURN-BASED STRATEGY
Atari Firaxis www.civ3.com
COMBAT MISSION: AFRIKA KORPS
CDV/Battlefront www.battlefront. com Demo in PCG 131 Another scrupulously convincing, tactically sumptuous masterpiece. A canteen of cool water for gasping grognards. PCG 132 86%

UFO: ENEMY UNKNOWN

Microprose Mythos Games www.x-com.co.uk Demo in PCG 5 Brilliantly presented, absorbing and extremely addictive. Great alien-kicking fun for everybody. PCG 5 91%
A turn-based strategy superpower, and a justified sequel. Savour the subtlety and splendour of a true great. PCG 104 92%
Also recommended X:COM Apocalypse Fallout Tactics Age of Wonders 2 Alpha Centuri Galactic Civilisations Worms 3D Freedom Force Worms World Party Laser Squad Nemesis

GRAND PRIX 4

Infogrames Simergy/Microprose www.grandprix games.com

TOCA RACE DRIVER 2

Codemasters In-house www.codemasters. co.uk Demo in PCG 135 Diverse, clever and aggressive: this is how we like our racers to be. Near essential for the average racing fan. PCG 135 89%

MIDTOWN MADNESS

Microsoft In-house www.microsoft.com /games/midtown Demo in PCG 75 The Gumball Rally but on the PC. Stupendous fun that genuinely lasts the full distance. PCG 71 91%

RACING

Consummately executed and ultra-realistic driving experience. The most accomplished F1 Simulation yet made. PCG 111 92%
Also recommended Need for Speed: Underground Colin McRae Rally 04 Trackmania Grand Prix Legends MotoGP 2: Ultimate Racing Technology Rally Championship Midnight Club 2

SIMULATION

IL-2: FORGOTTEN BATTLES
Ubisoft\1C:Maddox www.il2sturmovik. com Demo in PCG 103 IL-2 Sturmoviks ace status looks more unassailable than ever. A truly sensational flight sim. PCG 121 90%
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2004
Microsoft In-house www.microsoft.com Nine milestone machines put soul and simplicity back into simulation. Now with added clouds. PCG 126 90%

FALCON 4.0

Microprose Spectrum Holobyte www.falcon4.com Demo in PCG 83
Bursts out of the envelope like a bag of semtex and nails. The cutting edge of modern flight sims. PCG 67 91%
Also recommended Battle of Britain Combat Flight Sim 3 Flight Unlimited 3.0 X-Plane Trainz Railway Simulator 2004 Steel Beasts Gold Edition Command Aces of the Deep Orbiter

SPACE FLIGHT

FREELANCER
Microsoft Digital Anvil www.microsoft.com /games/freelancer Demo in PCG 122 Mind-bogglingly huge and entertaining, this is one of the great space games of all time. Its a classic. PCG 121 90%

X2: THE THREAT

Deep Silver EgoSoft www.egosoft.com

TIE FIGHTER

LucasArts In-house www.lucasarts.com
A universe in a box, hermetically sealed for you to make your mark on. Play it like youve made a lifestyle choice. PCG 132 87%
A faultless piece of 3D arcade action, threaded together beautifully by a rich storyline. PCG 9 94%
Also recommended X-Wing Alliance Freespace 2 Frontier: First Encounters X-Wing vs TIE Fighter Battlecruiser: Millenium Privateer 2: The Darkening Star Trek: Bridge Commander

MANAGEMENT

CHAMP MANAGER 4
Eidos Sports Interactive www.sigames.com Demo in PCG 121 New features make this a plush sheepskin coat among the managerial kagouls. Our social lives are already over. PCG 122 89%

SIMCITY 4

Electronic Arts Maxis http://simcity.ea. com

ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON

Hasbro/Chris Sawyer www.rollercoastertycoon.com Demo in PCG 69 If this were a real park, it would be Disneyland, expanded to the size of New York, with no queues. PCG 68 91%
The best yet, but sacrifices frivolity for realism. A must for all economics students. Literally deserves its title. PCG 118 87%
Also recommended Railroad Tycoon 3 Vegas: Make it Big Monopoly Tycoon Startopia The Sims Caeser 3 Dungeon Keeper Pharaoh Pro Rugby Manager 2004 Settlers 4

THIRD-PERSON ACTION

GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY
Rockstar Games In-house www.rockstar games.com One of the most mesmerising and consistently entertaining games on any platform, ever. PCG 124 93%

PRINCE OF PERSIA

Ubisoft In-house www.princeofpersia.com Demo in PCG 133 A wonderful adventure game that raises the bar, then backflips off it. Never less than wonderful. PCG 130 89%

MAX PAYNE

Rockstar Remedy maxpayne.god games.com Demo in PCG 108 Never has a darker game made the future look so bright. The most important action game yet made for the PC. PCG 100 95%
Also recommended Grand Theft Auto 3 Max Payne 2 Giants Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast MDK 2 Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow Hitman: Contracts Armed And Dangerous

PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 3

TIGER WOODS 2004
Electronic Arts In-house www.easports.com/ games/tiger woods2004 Play it off the bat or spend hours tweaking. Whatever you choose, youll love it. The most complete golf sim youll play. PCG 128 86%

VIRTUA TENNIS

Empire Strangelite www.strangelite. co.uk Demo in PCG 108 Everything about Virtua Tennis feels right. Its still the only PC tennis game worth having. PCG 108 80%

SPORTS

Konami KCET www.pes3.net Demo in PCG 130 The finest moment in footy gaming and one of the greatest PC titles around. Pure football. Pure genius. PCG 130 91%
Also recommended FIFA Football 2004 NBA Live 2003 Jimmy Whites 2: Cueball Pool Paradise NHL 2004 Links 2003 Typing of the Dead Madden NFL 2004

UNREAL TOURNAMENT 2004

BATTLEFIELD: 1942
Electronic Arts DICE www.eagames.com/ official/battlefield Demo in PCG 115 For those who want to snipe or play a role in a much larger picture, this is the flag to rally to. PCG 115 88%

QUAKE III: ARENA

Activision iD software www.idsoftware. com Demo in PCG 80 A masterpiece of both programming and design. The best multiplayer game ever made. PCG 78 95%

ONLINE SHOOTER

Atari/Epic www.unreal tournament.com Demo in PCG 134 Sexy, brutal, and now on wheels. If UT2004 were going clubbing it would wear slutty shoes and a sexy jacket. PCG 135 88%
Also recommended Battlefield: Vietnam Enemy Territory Counter-Strike Death-Match Classic Day of Defeat Team Fortress Classic Halo: Combat Evolved Savage: Batle for Newearth