I recommend Puzzle Quest to all those who love the Heroes series, artworks, the number 4 and, of course, puzzles.

Just like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines before it, Alpha Protocol is a diamond in the rough, yet another chance to create an excellent RPG, but ultimately sabotaged by technical issues and questionable design decisions.

I was never a fan of racing sims, of complicated control schemes and the need of a wheel attached to the desk to be able to enjoy a game. On the other hand, the Burnout series, Split/Second, even Blur, offer easy controls and focus on the thing I like: explosive shows.

Although FIFA 11 isn't a bad game, being above its predecessor in many regards thanks to the new engine, it still suffers from issues such as poor teammate AI and dubious referee decisions, plus an awkward default keyboard control scheme and the features still exclusive for consoles which could have significantly improved the gameplay (like Pro Passing).

The short duration of the adventure is balanced by the constant number of puzzles and the fact that they had to be designed for solo and co-op play. But the first time you fire up Trine 2, the best way to do it is with patience and taking time to contemplate the scenery.

But yes, I do recommend it to anyone passionate about spatial puzzles that require switching dimensions (and more). Some of its shortcomings, like the platforming sequences, could be regarded as relative, because some people will be better than others at appreciating distances and the moments at which they need to react.

It has it flaws and shortcomings, but it can also make you laugh out loud on more than one occasion, which is truly something for a strategy where the main goal is world domination.

By far the best strategy released under the Star Wars banner and a real success for Petroglyph Games.

In the end, it all depends on how you look at DiRT. If you want a serious racing simulator, perhaps this is not the best choice, but if you are looking for a really fun game, one that offers long hours of gameplay , great replayability options and looks great in the process we have a winner.

Even so, Assassin's Creed remains one of the best games of the year. It's not THE game most probably expected it to be, but it's a solid base on which Ubisoft Montreal can build the rest of the series, now that they have the solid backing of the impressive worldwide sales.

Although I personally wished for the game to have more cut-scenes between the missions, more show-downs with other ninjas and samurais and not with fairytale creatures, I can definitely recommend Ninja Gaiden Sigma to all those who want to experience intense action, with very few interruptions.

What I have to admit, in the end, is that Borderlands doesn’t have too many technical obstacles or annoying bugs, and compared to the other (few as they are) representatives of the so-called First Person Roleplaying Game genre, it’s a clear winner.

It might be a one-way road, a one-time ride in a fancy car, but considering the alternatives it’s a pretty neat little gem. Let’s hope Activision will drop the bad habit of launching a game without seriously ironing out all the bugs in the process.

Ultimately, Singularity is a first-person shooter that you'll enjoy over a weekend (preferably on Hard difficulty, in case you find the standard one too easy), but which stops at the "Ok" level, missing that little something to make it memorable.

Ultimately, LoL's minor disadvantages are pretty damn redundant – we could complain about the details if it actually cost anything. Well, it doesn't. The main pro and con of the game is the same feature – the concept of a slow, simple DotA.

Yes, it's full of clichés, I saw them coming from a mile away, but it's exactly what you need to create that feeling of respect and even appreciation for what really were (and still are) cruel murders, blood baths, territorial fights, extortion or drug traffic. But all of it elegantly done, in a tie and suit, in fancy restaurants and (stolen) luxury cars.

However, considering how slow, confusing and unappreciated the 3D versions seemed, a lightweight remake for today's networking capabilities is more than welcome if you're longing for this stuff.

The main attraction is still the single-player experience, which uses the same approach as James Cameron's Aliens: more action, puns in the dialogues and a touch of military presence in the backdrop. It's too bad though that the flaws dragging it down are there to stay: the multiplayer is underwhelming and problematic, and there are far too few additions when it comes to gameplay and narrative.

In the end, Bulletstorm will make you smile and also grin with an almost maniacal satisfaction. It's true that the colorful language gets annoying, the action is in the end repetitive and only the wish to unlock new Skillshots keeps you playing through the story, but you mustn't expect anything other than a first-person Gears of War with a touch of Serious Sam's humor and a little of Duke Nukem's personality.

For those who never played a Warhammer 40K : Dawn of War 2 title, Retribution is a very good introduction, giving access to all six factions and an improved multiplayer mode, from a technical standpoint. For the veterans, however, the novelties may be a bit too superficial and the campaigns may disappoint those who appreciated Chaos Rising.

Thus, I can't recommend buying this unless you (still) like the fast pace, the customizable weaponry and the short matches, of about 10 minutes each. With the very important mention that, essentially, nothing has changed.

Yet as a finished result and, finally, as a product with an interactive purpose, Alan Wake suffers enough from trying to mix so many influences, ending very close to the "you love it or hate it" model. Eventually, maybe these are just the "pains of childbirth" for something more complex or for something else as deserving as interactivity, a new „species" that needs to be judged less for its interactive aspects and more for the ones that regard its style.

Choosing between Barbara Jo and Morgan was pretty damn hard. The letter L doesn't come just from Larry, but from lust or love also.

The feeling you get when you're sure that the universe you're in either bows in front of you, or gets destroyed (in most cases you'll be forced to choose the second option) is a very exciting one and after a while it makes you fight until you've given your last breath. Dragon breath, of course!

I just hope you will enjoy it as much as I did and if you start playing it, please try to finish it, so you could experience the really emotionally touching ending, reminding you about one of the best human emotions. Love.

Aside from a couple of bugs and irritating gameplay elements, the combination between "Caesar III" and "Civilization" works pretty well. And considering that the game also has a level editor, I can safely say that both novices and veterans alike will play it until "Caesar IV" and "Anno 1701" hit the shelves.

Despite its high technical requirements and some weird choices made by the developers when implementing the control system, TDU is a nice experience for both single and multiplayer.

For some, Global Domination won’t be a real challenge, seeing as it’s not a multiplayer mode, but a skirmish one, against the AI. For others, Global Domination will increase the add-on’s replay value, especially if they’re fed up with the LAN and Online matches, where you can still find cheaters and players that prefer to disconnect rather than lose a game.

Overall, I smell Hexen, I’m sniffing Undying and there’s a distinctive scent of The Time Machine, with the one note that Zeno Clash is very, very far away from the potential it could reach.

Ultimately, in some regards, Dungeon Siege 2 is clearly better than its predecessor. But some questionable design decisions, as well as a few less evident problems manage to stop it from becoming one of the better games of 2005. Nevertheless, for hack & slash fans this is a must have title.

Yes, it lacks certain features, but it shows potential. On the other hand, exactly this kind of simplicity makes it more accessible to everybody.

One of the most original games released this year, not to say ever, and it’s perfect for those breaks between two "UT2004" deatmatches.

A decent first person shooter, that you can easily finish during a weekend, without being sorry for the time spent in his company, especially if you're a "Deus Ex" fan, like myself.

Impressive because of the combination of these genres, making it recommendable to RTS fans (offering more than just a closer look to units in the form of total control) and simulation fans alike.

Replays are stunning with all the cameras and visual effects and the game comes with a built-in track editor which lets you import, modify and create tracks. What more do you want?!?!?

Nine episodes times around six months is a really long love relationship (and expensive), but it may very well prove to be the next best thing in mature gaming.

The game will probably be patched in the future, but for now, you will have to prey to the dragons of Ashan each time a multiplayer map is loading and why not, when playing. Thumbs up for Arkane, thumbs down for Kuju!

Medal of Honor: Airborne, is a game that’s generally good, but with a few problems here and there.

It's short enough to come across as an appetizer, this pilot episode's ending leaving you more confused than when entering the first tunnel of the mines

The AI is pretty dumb, the pathfinding is indirectly and randomly reliant on the cursor’s direction, and there are some pretty ridiculous situations in which a “highly” intelligent person would think of “real sex”, but it’s at the same time the game is extraordinary through its “heart-pounding” addictiveness and the fact that it made me laugh out loud a few times.

Mirror's Edge is a game with an innovative approach, but unfortunately it is rough around the edges, and with a little more work on it would have been an amazing title.

It’s the kind of game with good gameplay, nice graphics, spectacular battles and over the top brutality, with the RPG elements being neglected a little.

The result is that Red Faction: Guerrilla can be described as a technically sound game, but with no soul.

What's important is that Runes of Magic is an excellent starting point for players who haven't tasted MMOs before, thanks to its free2play model. Players who will most certainly move up to pay2play titles after they've seen and done all there is to see and do in RoM.

But one thing is certain: LEGO Batman reminded me of the good old times when I was a kid.

It's true that it has some issues such as clumsy menus, the fights aren’t as dynamic as they could have been and the multiplayer suffers from lag, but otherwise the producers did a good job.

For its current price, Bionic Commando: Rearmed is close to a free lunch.

The potential of Spellborn is huge, with the game being so different from the others, in a good way.

In the end though, barring the tactical possibilities offered by the suit modules and the burn-in spawn, Section 8 isn’t all that different from other similar titles. It’s true that the DCMs make every match an interesting one, but the fact that you depend on your teammates more than usual will be the reason you’ll either fall in love with it, or ignore it completely. It all comes down to what you like most.

But for the rest of you adventure fans or for those who have ever dreamt themselves detectives, Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper should not be missed.

And yes, Blur is probably less spectacular in graphical terms, even if there’s enough detail on the cars, at least. But it comes with a simple enough control scheme (that you can’t change) to be arcade and a tactical enough gameplay to attract even those who usually prefer simulators.

That said, I’m sure that a lot of “serious” gamers scoffed at the score, so if you’re a member of the group, you can take down some 10 points to get an “objective” mark and sleep soundly tonight. For everyone else, I strongly recommend that you at least try the demo, because it would be a shame to miss out on one of the most fun and relaxing games of the year.

It would have been a true gem if it had more complex puzzles, extended multiplayer options and a replay value backed up by more than some achievements. The potential is certainly there.

This is why Fallen Earth isn’t really for everyone, but if you have the patience to discover its secrets, you will not be disappointed.

All in all, if you ignore the obvious drawbacks – I feel compelled to repeat that Torchlight would have won a lot if it had any form of multiplayer in it – the title at hand managed to reproduce the Diablo recipe succesfully.

Loses a few points in the strategy department, but makes up for them in atmosphere, one in which I'm sure Uther Pendragon himself would have felt quite at home. On my part, I would have loved a deeper economic system and a better unit balance during the battles, but on the other hand, I was pleased by the character complexity and the RPG elements.

Yes, you can easily say that Din's Curse is another Diablo clone. And it actually is, since it uses the rules made law by the Blizzard creation. But it also has good parts that will make you come back to Aleria for at least a few hours as therapy after a hard day's work.

Still, for a title which is worth less than five Euros, the Misadventures of P.B Winterbottom are recommended to any indie-loving player.

Fans are probably loving it, and also completed it several times on all difficulty levels in order to find all its, but for me, Resident Evil 5 is just a 3rd person action game that could have done more.

The great aspect is their flexibility, the how and when to use them being at your disposal. You don't get too much time to breathe in this kind of game, but overall R.U.S.E must be appreciated for having the guts to be innovative and implement its features in a way that makes them the basis of the gameplay, not just an option thrown in for the sake of it.

It's true that it's a decent Need for Speed, but it's a far cry from what it could have been.

Judged on its own, Flames of Vengeance isn't that tempting, although the price is decent for an expansion pack. But the Dragon Knight Saga is a very good package, especially for those who didn't play the original in the first place.

It could have used more variety in the mission area, a bit more content and definitely multiplayer, but it remains a game that gives a player freedom to explore, trade or fight as he sees fit, with little restrictions.

However, all of this comes under the unpretentious cover of a very self-conscious price: 9,99 Euros. And thanks to it, you can't really hold the length against Anomaly, because cost-efficiency didn't get left out. So I can only encourage its purchase if you're into sweet small deals with sweet small prices in sweet small packages.

All in all, Space Marine captures the essence of the Warhammer universe: huge, classic factions and their infinite fight for control, the weapons and the power of the high tech future.

The Shift ability is the element that makes Driver: San Francisco an interesting game. No matter how stupid the idea behind it is, the possibility to use any car (not just those affordable to you) gives huge freedom. And mixed with varied missions and a good multiplayer, but with a crippled AI and some control issues, Driver manages to revive not only the cop, but also a series that almost no one believed to be viable anymore.

World of Tanks is a nice alternative for anyone who is passionate about armored mayhem, with a good mix of fun and strategy to meet every gamers' expectations. The large number of vehicles, the customizing possibilities and the variety of equipment will please every action and strategy passionate. It all depends on how willing are you to grind your vehicle into the upper Tier, how much can you stand a faulty matchmaking system and disregard the curiosities of Clan Wars, but overall I can only recommend the game as a solid product.

Ultimately, whether you like Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning or not depends on what you want from an RPG: a special story and endless hours of reading or spectacular action, tons of items and great hero customization, but at the expense of the narrative.

So the bottom line is that, depending on how much you love the franchise, Gods & Kings can be seen as a sum of natural improvements for an add-on or a breath of fresh air for the series as a whole.

If you’re a fan of the first B&W and you were just itching to see how your favorite game could get better, you’ll probably be disappointed by the sequel and be left to ask, like me, how on Earth could Peter Molyneaux have released such a game in the first place?

If you’re a fan of the western era and you want a decent single-player experience, you can give DMH a try.

Although it doesn't excel in any way and the additions brought by it hardly justify the characterization as a sequel, FFvt3R is a fun game, which manages to bring to the PC the look and feel of comic-book super-heroes, sporting some colorful characters and vivid graphics.

A rara avis (rare bird) of the interactive entertainment landscape. You keep playing, you lose track of time and you think that you haven't played such a good single-player game in years.

Better than its predecessor, but unfortunately, it doesn’t pack enough novelties to really make you to want more, unless you’re a Star Wars fan.

To sum things up, Savage 2 is an enjoyable experience, and even though the mix of genres brings nothing new to any of them, it is still well-implemented and fun to play.

Army of Two is a game with new ideas, most of them very good. But, the rush to launch the game on the market and the lack of attention to details lower its value a lot.

Despite its flaws however, regarding the story and multiplayer, the people at Midway have translated Woo’s films rather well on the PC. The game is exactly what we would’ve expected from such a migration and will not disappoint those who only wanted to shoot the bad guys from Hong Kong.

Not what we’ve hoped for, but it’s a step ahead and may be one of the best adventure games released this year.

Although Force Unleashed does deserve your money to a certain extent, be aware that your patience for technical and design issues will be tested.

As a full package, Overlord 2 certainly deserves your money if you can get a good deal on it, because it’s still a breath of fresh air in the gaming world of today.

But Forgotten Sands, I feel, was only made for fans and with a terrible fear of "not ruining the recipe". Or maybe it was only made simply as a movie tie-in for the Prince of Persia blockbuster, which can more easily be digested, both by Jordan Mechner fans as well as newcomers. In any case, this is not the glorious return of the Prince that I'm sure many were expecting.

Ultimately, Endless Space can be a fun experience, even though I disliked the superficial combat mechanics and the skinny tech-tree. Yet the game's biggest problem is the low replay value, with each game being eerily similar to the previous one, which is not a very bright point for a 4x strategy.

I cannot say I was too disappointed by this third title, but I would have enjoyed better graphics, a new storyline without any recycled characters and last but not least, a save anytime option.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a quality tactical shooter with excellent feeling and addictive multiplayer, you should definitely give Advanced Warfighter 2 a try.

And although I hate to admit that the replay value is reduced because of a precarious balance between characters and also due to the multiplayer options, which aren’t too varied, I can recommend this game to any fan of the series and also to those who only wish to relax with a title worthy of being called Mortal Kombat.

And although BattleForge doesn’t always perfectly combine the genres it belongs to, with delicate attention and a thorough balancing of gameplay, it could actually become an electronic sport. Maybe one to match StarCraft.

It's not a title for the books, but it's a game crafted with care and should be tried out even if you're not a fan of the genre.

Nevertheless, the combat is intense and dynamic, thanks to the reloading times, low clip capacity and the enemies themselves.

Although at its most basic level, Majesty 2 is more of the same, there are many interesting elements that make it attractive. The economic system is well-designed, watching the heroes wandering by is not nearly as boring as it sounds, and the strategy will keep you at the monitor long enough to become entertaining.

So without wanting to beat a dead horse more than it’s necessary with details that border the cheat / spoiler region, I wholeheartedly recommend Dragonica to anyone who doesn’t have a problem with big eyes on a small face that sports a pink hair style. Because it’s simply worth it.

We still have a decent title on our hands, with two sides different enough to warrant a replay of the single-player campaign, a well-designed economic system and a factions / research tree which can seal the deal.

So even though HAWX 2 is a step forward when compared to its predecessor, it's brought down by an almost empty multiplayer, despite the numerous options, a boring single-player and a pretty "dense" AI when it comes to allies, while the enemies do their job very well, ironically. So well, in fact, that you'll be tempted to stick a fork in it and finish the story in co-op, which ultimately is a good thing. Too bad this decision is encouraged in such a brutal manner.

The design ideas are great, but the implementation resulted into a lackluster story and boring missions in limited levels, coupled with intense, but ultimately boring fights. There's loads of adrenaline, but no consistency to maintain the motivation level up, an aspect partially visible in the multiplayer too. But even so, for a serious chunk of mayhem and destruction, the end of the world has really come to Mars.

Even if it's short and single-player only, From Dust has at least one statement to make: that there are still special ideas around. Not necessarily perfect, due to the control and pathfinding issues that will annoy the not so patient players, but with a huge potential to evolve in totally new directions.

If you've never played Heroes though, the current installment isn't that bad: 50 campaign hours, Hot Seat to keep my friends close, online multiplayer and many customization options. If the bugs are solved and the designers actually listen to the criticism, the next game will gain more favor.

I was expecting something else from the Need for Speed series and, although it’s not a bad game, ProStreet goes into territories where there are strong competitors and, in this types of battles, it doesn’t come out on top.

Even though it’s closer to real life football, FIFA 08 seems like it could’ve been just a large patch. The main issue with this version is that the developers showed that they could implement an even better graphics and physics system on the next gen consoles, but PC fans will have to wait to see it in action, at least until the next title in the series.

All of these things only take me to one conclusion: the stream of conceptual smoothness from the Sands of Time trilogy is gone, replaced by a lot of glossy plastic that can be seen by anyone, anywhere, anytime.

In the end, it's a decent game, but with a pretty steep learning curve, one that only true fans and yoga practitioners can handle on the long term.

Even though With Fire and Sword can be considered a mod for the original game, it does bring some nice features. The firearms are well integrated in the gameplay, the economy is a lot livelier, and the graphics update is a welcome addition. However, there is still need for balance, particularly in the case of the sieges, and I cannot understand why some fun aspects of Warband were left out, so I fear that many players will go back to the original game, once the fascination for firearms has ran its course.

Ultimately, Revelations leaves behind a bittersweet taste: it's the end of a saga (or two, depending on how you view things) and integrates fairly well in the timeline of the series, but... it's nothing more than a detour that answers a few questions, not an actual step forward.

I’m utterly disappointed by Invisible War. And nothing makes me madder than knowing what a masterpiece it could have been, if it was developed only for the PC (as it should have been in the first place) and THEN ported to XBOX.

An interesting game for those who love the genre and a totally unimportant one for the rest of you.

The fans of the series will gladly play this add-on. On the other hand, I don't know if they will enjoy the few changes in terms of gameplay and graphics.

To me, Spore is an impressive creature in a purely technical sense – the world, the box, the engine that make it live and breathe are a big leap for humanity and allow an almost overwhelming freedom both for the producers as well as players living the experience.

Unfortunately, the number of players in multiplayer is small.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is not revolutionary.

The Bourne Conspiracy is one of the better movie-based games out there, with intuitive and spectacular hand-to-hand fights, interactive cut-scenes and more than decent graphics.

If the release would have been delayed a couple of months (the time required to fix the large number of bugs (some of them being very bad), Underworld could have been labeled as a fruitful combination of Legend and Anniversary. But the impression of an unfinished product also reflects in reduced replay value, puzzle simplicity and insufficient use of the level design. And some options, like (at least partial) camera control, are yet to be seen.

Elven Legacy is not a bad game by all means, but its high difficulty will most likely drive away the casual gamer looking for a relaxing turn based strategy.

Although it’s technically sound, it loses serious points because of the same old story about the end of the world, but especially because the puzzles that defy the most elementary logic.

So is Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island as good as The Curse of Monkey Island? Not really. The truly funny moments can be counted on one hand, and the puzzles lack that spark of genius that could have made Bill Tiller's latest offering a memorable one.

I can understand why DICE didn't want to build a multiplayer too similar to that of Bad Company 2, but the current approach has turned the new Medal of Honor into a hybrid that won't be able to attract the fans of either Modern Warfare or BC2 in the long run, because it doesn't have any good incentives.

There aren't enough words to describe my disappointment regarding Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. I honestly can't understand how Activision could release such a poorly optimized and unfinished game on the market.

To be honest, I expected a lot more from 2015.

Had it been released in mid-summer at a lower price, TimeShift would have done very well. Do not misunderstand me; it’s a decent game, which unfortunately does not have too strong points, especially when compared to the likes of Crysis, Gears of War, Call of Duty 4 or Unreal Tournament 3.

Splinter Cell: Double Agent could have been a wonderful product if tested properly and adapted from the console version by adding a useful PC interface.

Although Mark of Chaos doesn’t have a terrific story and the system requirements can be a bit high, the gameplay can prove to be fun.

Genesis Rising is a game with impressive graphics and some innovative ideas. Unfortunately, the stability problems and the questionable implementation of some ideas as well as the unexplained lack of some de-facto features in an RTS drag this title down.

And even though I played Halo 2 on the Xbox, I personally didn’t wait three years just for the map editor and dedicated server or to be charged for wanting to host an in-game server or talk to my friends via voice chat. Sorry Microsoft, but this time you really screwed up.

So if you want to buy Splinter Cell: Conviction, you have to be aware of the metamorphosis the series went through and accept the fact that the stealth has become nothing more than a hobby for the old wolf, a simple break from the numerous action sequences.

The new Colonization manages in some weird way to capture that conquistador feeling that its 1994 ancestor made popular. But you need to play fast, if you don’t want to lose in one way or another, and a big chunk of feeling is lost when the game itself pushes you onto dark alleys just to finish it.

Rejoice that Wolfenstein has more to offer than the simple serious shooter, oversaturated with wars and consequences.

For a man like me who has seen most of MMO’s on the market, 9Dragons is something different. It is a way of getting away from the elitist atmosphere of Eve Online, from the crazy chase after equipment in World of Warcraft or from the PvP frustrations in Age of Conan. And for me it is a great game only because of this reason, in the end. It is a game that respects one of the most important aspects of a video game – to relax.

Drakensang is interesting and can keep you glued to your seat, but its replay value isn’t quite as high as it could have been and the sometimes overzealous difficulty can be a turn-off for newcomers.

The small levels, map recycling and superficial storyline are only partially saved by a multiplayer that would have been a lot of fun had it not had such major technical scars.

So if you are patient enough to overcome the technical issues, Metro 2033 will truly suffocate you with darkness, blood, claustrophobia and nearly suicidal missions.

The sound, except the voices (Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime, who else?), isn't remarkable either, so in the end the question boils down to: is War for Cybertron worth it? The answer is yes, but with some minuses, because there are plenty of problems ruining a nicely done story and the thrilling multiplayer is killed by technical hick-ups that shouldn't have been there in the first place.

In other words, Dead Rising 2 is to Left 4 Dead what Saint's Row is for Grand Theft Auto. It's got a lot of customization options, it's unpretentious, fun in a lightweight, stupid sense, while losing points in the atmosphere, storyline, complexity and production value aspects.

It's not a technical failure, but it just doesn't offer anything new to the genre that was created and has remained the same since Caesar and SimCity.

Being limited to single-player, nail'd doesn't stand chances for a long stint on your PC, but it has an adrenaline filled offer.

Do note that it looks good, it's fluent, excellently optimized, loyal to its universe(s) and eclectic in design. Poor, patterned and boring when it comes to mechanics, so therefore recommended rather to casual gamers, preferably diehard fans of anything Spider-Man since his first appearance.

Ultimately though, I can only recommend you Magicka. At 10 euro it's a good offer and the closest thing to PC Mortal Kombat; sporting spells, monsters and Scandinavian heroes, but with that drive to learn combos and experiment.

Ultimately, Dragon Age II will be judged depending on the player camp: RPG veterans will throw it away, while casual gamers will find themselves at home in this simplified world. Because Dragon Age isn't necessarily a bad game, it just fell victim to the money grab started by the success of Origins, with all the negative things that come with it.

Just like Din's Curse, Demon War is fun, but I still recommend it in small doses. The action tends to get repetitive after 4-5 towns and, if you're no collector of sets and rare items, you won't find many interesting rewards in the idea of endlessly killing brainless monsters; not to mention that the dynamic side of the world can frustrate less patient players. So if you don't get along with the idea that in a game you get random, uncontrollable events that are out of your influence (just like in real life), then Demon War won't keep you interested for too long.

A platformer, a rare sight nowadays, has to be technically perfect, otherwise it shoots itself in the foot because this kind of gameplay is essentially repetitive. The same thing goes for the puzzles (too easy ) and fights. Still, the game catches you in its crazy universe enough so you really want to see if Alice remembers that faithful night and if it really was somebody else to blame or it was her that gave life to a criminal fantasy…

So that's the story of Mass Effect 3, turned from potential masterpiece into a game sabotaged by greed and the „it's good enough" approach. It's unbelievable how easy BioWare passed over the opportunity for greatness and, despite the sales, I have a feeling that their reputation as great RPG makers is going downhill fast. Especially after this "back to back" performance with the fiasco called Dragon Age II.

The Darkness II is indeed short, but it does achieve part of its goals: a few fun hours for a rainy spring afternoon, with some interesting characters, a dark story and, most of all, two demonic arms always hungry for beating hearts.

If you are a true strategy fan you probably wouldn't want to miss this one, as it is by no means a bad game, only a mediocre one.

Jack Keane is addressed to those who are more attracted to the ridiculous humor that LucasArts were able to produce before endlessly milking the Star Wars cow, rather than somber, logic-oriented gamers.

Sure, it’s worse than the first two stand-alone episodes and I can understand why some might be angry with the producers, myself expecting a tad more out of it. Even so, I consider the 10 dollar cost money well spent, but it’s important to know that you need the second game of the series previously installed to run this expansion.

But just as its predecessor, it remains a game sentenced to struggle on the line between interaction and presentation, a space where compromises must be made by at least one of the sides, with the game proper still taking the larger hit. Because when it comes to its interaction degree, Alan Wake really doesn't have much more than a flashlight, a gun and, occasionally, a flashbang.

Taking into consideration the awful unit micromanagement I can’t really recommend the single-player campaign, other than for those who are really interested in the storyline. For the rest of the RTS fans out there, the multiplayer will be the main course.

With many games supporting widescreen out there, it’s a shame that EA’s games still ignore it.

Considering the official announcement for Dawn of War 2, Soulstorm can be considered the epilogue for this Warhammer 40.000 generation, and I can’t escape the feeling that the producers wanted to squeeze the last cents with minimum efforts, especially because it's only a half stand-alone expansion which only allows the two new races to be played online, the earlier version being required if you want to play all factions.

Yet even if it can’t be acknowledged as one of the best games in the genre, Velvet Assassin does its job decently. Barring some obvious flaws, it’s a good weekend title. Just have some patience in the beginning, so you can accommodate with the gameplay style.

So in the post-Call of Duty/Battlefield/Team Fortress 2 world of today, Nuclear Dawn will not have an easy time finding a safe place, not only because of the risk it has taken as a genre combination, but mainly because of the work that the FPS side still needs.

Similarly to Civilization V, combat elements are the most evolved and those of you who favored that particular battle system will get right down to business, helped a lot by the map's visual familiarity. The positioning of units on hexagons allows for attacks from multiple directions and, just like in the eternal source of inspiration, in the lower left you get an approximate report of a fight together with any bonuses given by unit type or terrain type.

Although Spartan is quite complex, it is faulted by some ill design decisions, like the inability to build new cities, or the way battles are fought, to which we must add the mediocre technical department.

The main quest is pretty short and unimpressive, but this was never the “backbone” of a Fallout game. I’d estimate that an uninterrupted run through the main story could take around 3-4 hours, while not being particularly juicy.

The overall impression left by Nitro Family is that it needed a little more polish, an opinion which is reinforced by the fact that you only have co-op mode as a multiplayer option.

So, what’s left? A decent game, annoying at times, a bit buggy, fun in multiplayer and boring in single-player, pretty to look at, which justifies the money you’ll need to pay for it only if you’re very bored, or you have nothing else to play, or maybe you’ve quit World of Warcraft, or maybe you need a gift… but overall, there are better shooters out there.

EndWar will most likely represent a disappointment for real time strategies fans, as it was created for a totally different market, that of “casual gamers". Because barring the voice command system and a mildly interesting multiplayer mode, EndWar unfortunately doesn’t have anything to keep you interested in long run, being more of an appetizer than the main course.

And although the game lacks the visual splendor of "Ground Control 2," or the physics engine of "Soldiers of WW2," it has a lot more problems at launch than these two titles had.

In the end, I can only express my disappointment, since kill.switch could have been one the best titles this year, if a little more effort would have been put into its development.

Since we’re in need of good games right now, I’d rather be playing an original episodic game than one of the sequels flooding the market these days.

Although the levels are pretty big and they’re full of vegetation, they look, well, dated: some of the textures are really low res, the objects are kind of blocky, there’s no AntiAliasing option in the game and I couldn’t force it from the video drivers either (Catalyst 6.2).

The game's strong points remain the atmosphere and the script, but if you're not willing to compromise when it comes to graphics and game length, you won't be able to enjoy the two things the producers got right.

Ultimately, Turok is the kind of game which you either like very much, or you hate and uninstall it after the first 10 minutes.

The main problem of Perseus Mandate is that follows the same pattern set by the previous two titles a bit too closely.

It’s simple, direct, linear, sometimes spectacular, so Wheelman can actually inject a rainy weekend with a dose of fun, but it’s not grand enough to bring the sun to a week spent in London.

Political Machine has a major flaw, its low replay value, as each game varies very little, and aside the "unlockable" content, there are few reasons to play single-player.

Considering the current drought of the genre, The Abbey is a title which can satisfy adventure lovers, but also those that have had enough of frantic shooting and want a calmer game.

Battlestations: Pacific is a “light” title in all respects, but if you enjoy air and sea battles and would like an eye-candy icing, you will be fully satisfied. There is little else than that, however, and while the Island Capture mode does offer some interesting strategic features, I wouldn’t really recommend the campaigns, unless you enjoy being a simple crosshair on the screen.

On the other hand, Tales of Valor’s main argument for purchase is that it grants access to all the factions in multiplayer, with no need to purchase the previous titles of the series, so those who just want to see what Company of Heroes has to offer in the online mode can consider this an interesting option.

If Grand Ages: Rome had been a real time strategy, it would have had a lot more value. But, seeing as it lacks the adrenaline, we are left yearning for details, for culturally and historically correct references, or for the magic of ancient lives.

Because no matter how you look at it, paying 15 Euros for six single-player missions and two multiplayer maps which can be downloaded for free isn’t much of a bargain. Moreover, Ubisoft already released the Complete Edition of the game, which contains both World in Conflict and Soviet Assault.

Because Uprising doesn’t lack a certain charm, but even the people it addresses – devoted fans – will have to be very tolerant towards what the game can offer.

The Last Remnant is only recommended if you call JRPGs an addiction, especially if you don’t own a console, as there aren’t a great deal of JRPG titles on the PC digital entertainment market.Everyone else can probably find more coherent and compelling worlds to explore elsewhere.

It looks well, it moves well, the sound is good, but there are edges to be polished before it can become a serious online phenomenon.

Ultimately, I was impressed by the length and complexity of Ego Draconis, and also by the stubbornness with which the producers wanted to present a high quality title. Indeed, if the game would have been bug-free, had a better voice acting and a more polished interface, it could have been a serious thorn in the back of Dragon Age: Origins.

Surely the strategists among you will be pleased with the new content, but those who expected more from this expansion have every reason to be unsatisfied.

In the end, Disciples III it worth a try, but I can't just say "go and play". It's full of technical flaws, some of them affecting the gameplay quite a lot.

With a price tag of 11 Euros and some spare change, Alien Breed: Impact should have been a pretty easy to recommend title, but the recent release of the free remake of Alien Swarm has further thrown a wrench in the works, besides the above-mentioned issues.

But on the other hand, Blood Stone doesn't rise up to its price tag unless you're so into James Bond you're wearing George Lazenby boxers.

Fable III proves to be a pretty unstable mix, with good visual value, but an excessive simplification of the gameplay. You might get to finish it once and then go on with any remaining secondary missions. Still, there's no life after that; the fights are boring, enemies stupid and the story too thin.

It just has such a bad story that you won't play it after a while.

Being quite simple and with a short learning curve, it's mainly focused on players who are new to the strategy genre. Micromanagement can scare off a fresh gamer, but it can really make the difference when it comes to hardcore strategy fans.

The saving grace of the game comes from the fact that it is, on occasion, fun. It could have been better, sure, but, well… it isn't. So you either are a diehard fan of 3rd person shooters and will get it because there isn’t much to play this time of year anyway, or you'll probably just wait for the price to drop.

After a few hours, the lack of variety will take its toll. Overall, nostalgia is the only reason why you would want to play Restricted Area. If you miss those sleepless nights in the company of Diablo 2, you will probably like Restricted Area. I for one prefer the dead to stay dead.

A game with little expectation of itself, basically a title with today’s graphics featuring yesterday’s gameplay. The entire game can be best described like this: taken in small doses, it might seem interesting and fun, but even so you’ll get bored after a few days.

And so, Hinterland remains a nice little game, with a low price, relaxing gameplay, dusty graphics, and a questionable replay value.

The Run bragged about revolutionizing the NFS series with an enticing story and memorable gameplay. Unfortunately, the story was better off missing in action and the only things that are memorable from the gameplay are its shortcoming: no freedom of choice, no Free Roaming, no Replay, no cockpit camera, no choice of races in multiplayer.

War in the North is a hack and slash with some RPG elements and co-op, all assembled around one of the most beloved media licenses today, but with all this going for it, it simply doesn't manage to stand out. Sadly, it's just another product that tries to blend some popular elements, but with no true support or personal identity.

There's nothing innovative or original about it and even Karina looks pale from all those freezes and unfreezes.

As a spin-off for a legendary series, Tiberian Twilight would have been an interesting experiment. But as the final chapter of a saga that’s been waiting for its epic conclusion for 15 years, it’s a slap on the face which I’m not sure how many fans will be willing to forgive.

So after going through John Yesterday's amnesiac adventures three times in the row, the game is a journey with which I really want to be indulgent, although mediocrity follows it every step of the way. It's not a complete mess, but everything it does has already been done by others and much better.

The simplicity of the trade system, some shortcoming regarding the interface, the lack of variety for missions and solar system design – all these could have been forgiven if Darkstar One would have had multiplayer.

Personally, I think you need a lot of patience to understand Loki’s shady side, and an iron will in order to wait for the up-coming patches.

The game is too linear and the freedom of movement is limited, while Crysis, for example, offers a wider environment to explore. At least if this linearity was sustained by a good gameplay, things might have been different.

If someone will ever be able to re-establish this kind of games, to make them deliver the kind of fun I’ve had with all the games that preceded Desperados 2, then I’ll clearly admit it and promote it. Until then, all I can tell you is to stay away from this game.

In the end, I can’t really tell what was Bohemia Interactive thinking when it released this game. What were they after? Was it financial success? It’s hard for me to believe that they actually thought that such an unpolished game would enjoy any kind of success.

War Rock is not a special title, but it is a quite interesting alternative to people who’ve had enough of Counter Strike and Battlefield, though the attempt to combine them is not all that new.

Unfortunately, the control system ruins much of the game experience, and even though a patch could probably fix this major issue, the producers have yet to release one.

It’s unlikely that we’ll see another Bionic Commando in the near feature, as GRIN closed down soon after the launch of the game and the title’s poor performance itself clearly contributed to their inevitable financial problems, so it’s now up to other studios to see the potential behind Spencer’s story.

As it stands, Champions Online is not meant for the elitist MMO player, who craves for a lot of sudden changes of situation and coherent universes, but rather for your everyday consumer, who can escape work in the gross quantity of perks (read Achievements), in the mini-series heroes (read Vanity Pets) and in the overall lack of sense. And that, of course, only if their personal computer can handle it. And only if the producers will put a lot of effort into keeping up with the (still) growing community.

So if psychotic thriller shooters aren't your kind of game, Kane & Lynch 2 will not make it on your shopping list. For the rest of you out there, it offers too few hours of fun, so the price/quality balance might not be that attractive until you find a sale.

It's too short, too small in many ways and way too conventional in a market oversaturated with AAA alternatives. Alternatives which last longer and offer competitive modes, not just a few dozen hours of co-op runs in which you can't point anything out to your teammates unless everyone has a microphone for the game's VoIP.

The bitter taste I had since the beginning of the game is still there.

I would say that the only way you’ll want to play this game is if your house got robbed, you lost all of your CD collection and the Besieger disks were the only ones left. In which case, I’m sorry for you.

The maps are very detailed, which will become evident when you will use the zoom function of the camera - too bad the ambient life is pretty scarce.

The game is full of bugs which will crash the game in certain situations, like being followed by the Police and not taking the exact route during Michael’s escape from the restaurant.

For an episodic game – one that costs 18 Euros on Steam – The End is Nigh might just be worth its price, if you understand and accept its handicaps for what they are.

The main problem of SunAge is that without the patches released, the game is a disaster.

With the First Person Shooter marked being overcrowded and the standards being set pretty high by some excellent titles, it’s difficult for any new game in this genre to stand out of the crowd without outstanding graphics, realistic physics engine, above-average AI for the enemies or the hype to boost its sales. Unfortunately, Judge Dredd doesn’t have any of those.

Personally TMNT disappointed me because of its low quality, but even more because, in my opinion, this title has plenty of unrealized potential.

Space Siege is a mediocre game, trying to fool the audience with its high price of admission, which is completely unjustified compared to what you actually get in the package.

The developers probably wanted the game to have Action and RPG characteristics in equal doses, but the blend ultimately failed. And I personally regret that the mystifying ancient Greek missed its potential in this title.