Pros

• graphics are (can be) excellent
• good screen size for gaming
• latest firmware prevents almost all instances of memory error quits

Cons

• games almost never provide decent sound volume controls
• button layout on N95 is not conducive to action gaming
• games are frequently too short, lack good replayability

Gaming on the N95 is a tragic experience. The N95 has the capability to render impressive 3D graphics and high speed experiences, and the screen is large enough to create detailed, immersive visuals. The button layout, however, makes action gaming on the phone rather difficult.

The dpad, fire, and softkeys are enmeshed in this cramped area that also sports call and hang-up buttons, a clear button, cancel button, application launcher button, and multimedia button. This adds a whole new level of skill requirements to adventure gaming—before you can even begin to learn the game mechanics and improve your playing style, you must learn how to be fast-yet-delicate on the hardware, so that you can hit the proper buttons quickly without triggering any number of program launches, switches, or—worst of all—fast exits without saving.

That leaves, for all but the fine-fingered and the truly dedicated, puzzle and strategy games. Luckily, over 2007 a slew of s60 3rd edition-compatible games have come out, and there’s now a great selection of games. Below are a few of my favorites, along with longer reviews in some cases.

Ancient Empires II - a turn-based strategy game similar to Advance Wars or Age of Empires

Megacity Empire New York - a well-designed but generic city building sim.

Supermodel Empire - you’ve won a design competition and now own your own label. Can you make it work?