Of the 'big three' computer gaming magazines, I think I would recommend Computer Gaming World in between "PC Gamer" and before "Computer Games Strategy Plus".

The reviews are so good that I usually end up even reading those on games that I had no intention of buying or playing. When they really like a game, it will usually inspire me to at least try the demo. However, the walkthroughs are usually the worst of the three, and usually are more like mere lists of cheat codes.

I'm impressed with how unbiased they are. I've seen them insult games even after they were given an exclusive preview beforehand. I've seen advertisements of certain games placed very close to their negative reviews. Some other magazines are far more hesitant to slam a game the way they do. They are also pretty unbiased when compared to their competitors, since they will actually mention or show what the other magazines game ratings are every now and then.

Their hardware reviews are just as detailed, and are probably the best of the three competitors. They tend to be the only magazine that will review the very expensive or obscure hardware that very few gamers would ever be hardcore enough to buy.

The magazine also comes with an optional CD of demos that I've only recently started getting. With each issue I could see what is on the demo discs however, and usually they were about a month behind of PC Gamer's free CD. The issue with the CD costs $7.99 at the newsstands. Without, it is still $4.99. The subscription rates, even at 3 years, will only knock it down to $3 per issue. I have never seen them offer a subscription deal like the other two computer gaming magazines have.

It is certainly worth reading, but one of my biggest complaints about the magazine is that their review policy is that they only are written after the game has been finished, and various styles of game play have been tested. This is a good thing, but they don't always get a game ahead of time, so often their review won't appear until two months after the game has been released, and some people like me have already finished the game and shelved it.


Recommended: Yes

Primary Reason for Buying: Product Reviews/Information
Recommended For: Hobbyists/Enthusiasts