Expands the Great People Points system of Civilization IV to the battlefield and adds vassalage, a new lopsided relationship between states. The new features are conservative and scarce but fit the whole perfectly. [Sept 2006]

Excellet budget-priced action game. Looks good, plays well and sounds awesome. [Dec 2005]

Army of Two is a very good team shoot 'em up. It's reasonably realistic and the enemies are quite intelligent. Many weak-looking objects provide perfect cover, which is a bit odd. Army of Two is quite short, too. [March 2008]

Army of Two is a very good team shoot 'em up. It's reasonably realistic and the enemies are quite intelligent. Many weak-looking objects provide perfect cover, which is a bit odd. Army of Two is quite short, too. [March 2008]

An excellent war game. Blitzkrieg fixes almost all of the problems the first game had (a small Africa etc). The AI could still be better, though. [May 2006]

A great example of how to use the special abilities of the DS cleverly and how to make a familiar series feel fresh. The only gripe in the game is the backtracking that is required quite often. [Nov 2007]

New areas and races are well thought out and there is tons of stuff to do. Some hardcore raiders will not love the new 25 player raid cap, though, and the guild aspect of the game could have used more improvements. [Jan 2007]

An entertaining digital playground/action-adventure. Do whatever you want, whenever you want, as long as it is something criminal. [Jan 2007]

Adds a PvE campaign that is better than in many single-player RPG's. The new hero system is excellent and brings a new aspect to PvE play. As a result, Guild Wars now appeals also to those who are not so interested in PvP. [Jan 2007]

New missions, flying lessons and articles make FSX a huge, immersive and fun package. Graphics settings that work everywhere are hard to find. [Dec 2006]

The change of scenery to the Pacific is refreshing, but unfortunately it is pretty much the only thing that has changed since the last version. The new graphics are nice, but what is really needed is a better damage model and other gameplay improvements. [June 2007]

The combination of Holmes and Cthulhu works very well. The puzzles are challenging but realistic, and the plot is intriguing. On the minus side, there is too much running to and fro and sometimes the 3D environment makes it hard to find the needed things. [Feb 2007]

Harder and larger successor of the best game of the Year. [Dec 2006]

The first real time strategy, that can be truly called a strategy game. Awfully long game times in space are troublesome only because they steal so many hours from my life. Very addicting experience though, thumbs up! [Mar 2008]

A solid adventure with a good story. Good value for money. [Jan 2007]

As fantastic a puzzler/racer as it has been for the past few years. Familiarity is also its biggest problem. Good as it is, the underlying game is still the same it was the last time. [Apr 2007]

Many of the new planes are a bit odd, although admittedly pretty fun to fly. As a collection Il-2: 1946 is a true masterpiece. The best version of the greatest simulator of all time. [Jan 2007]

Valve hits gold again and turns zombie apocalypse into year’s best co-op-shooter. The tank doesn’t really fit the game, otherwise it’s a winner. [Jan 2009]

Takes the best stuff from Sims 2 and its add-ons, adds a story mode and makes the whole experience a bit lighter on the hardware. What is there not to like? [Mar 2007]

The Orange Box is great and atmospheric fun on PS3, too. Only major gripes are the occasional slowdowns, which luckily don't make the game unplayable. [Feb 2008]

Quotation forthcoming. [Apr 2008]

Devil May Cry 4 is, well, Devil May Cry. That's both good and bad, depending on how you see it. Mainly it's a very good thing. It's quite beautiful and shows of the muscle of PS3 quite nicely, though. One for the PS3 -shopping list. [Feb 2008]

Pure adrenalin rush. Shoot ‘em ups don’t come much better than this. [Aug 2007]

The best Guitar hero game so far. The song list is full of great hits and the raised difficulty level makes playing even more enjoyable than before. The new battle mode is boring, though. The new Les Paul controller has annoyingly sharp edges that eat through players' wrist in longer sessions. Otherwise, it's a slam-dunk hit. [Nov 2007]

Soulstorm should have introduced decent air forces, not just these handful of hovering tank-like units. Otherwise a fun expansion as always. [Apr 2008]

Great immersion, good graphics and awesome sounds... and absolutely fun to play! In the other hand, not much evolution compared to earlier Simbin games. Still no real-like rain (like in GP4) and still too low damage sensitivity and too simple damage model. Two formula cars are welcomed add-on, however their drivability and grip feel should be better. I hope these formula cars are profecy of F1 racing game from Simbin in future. Again great game for sim veterans and normal players. [Nov 2007]

The best PSP game in a while. Drumming and chaining your attack, defence, advance and retreat commands is fun and intense. Wonderfully animated and stylish graphics with cheery songs create a great atmosphere and building and improving your troops adds depth to the game. Some of the missions could have used more variety when it comes to the needed tactics. [Apr 2008]

A very addicting puzzle game where you solve different physics-based block puzzles. The Wii controls work great in this game and everything feels very natural. The game has hundreds of levels and a very easy-to-use editor, so you can create your own levels after you have completed the game. Maybe the best part of the game is the multiplayer which has lots of different options and game modes that will keep you interested for a long time. The worst part of the game is the shooting levels that just are not very fun to play. [June 2008]

After a great fourth episode I was expecting a little drop in the season finale, but for my surprise the Telltale team played with unholy magic and season finale is almost as good as Chariots of the Dogs. I know it's kind of weird just keep praising the game episode after episode, but what else can you do if the story, humor, gameplay, characters and music just charm you? Nothing. So, if you don't own it, go get your Season two right away. [June 2008]

Little King’s Story is (hopefully) the sleeper hit of this spring. The cute Japanese visuals hide a surprisingly deep, varied and at times rock hard game that is a joy to play. This is an old school game with a capital G and just what the Wii needs. [June 2009]

An excellent racing game. The tracks and the cars are very interesting. Too bad the cockpit view slows things down. [Sept 2008]

A very good racing game, which feels suitably realistic. Not too real, though, that would be undriveable. The career mode is a bit dull, since cars are practically given, not bought. [Mar 2009]

Even the shoddy conversion can not destroy this fine game. But as agme, GTA IV shows worrying tendency slipping towards oversripted missions. [Jan 2009]

One of the best games on Nintendo DS. The game is as funny and mean-spirited as it should be. [Apr 2009]

Boom Blox: Bash Party takes what was good (and there was a lot of it) on first Boom Blox and builds on it. An excellent action-puzzler. [June 2009]

A positively over-the-top beat 'em up -adventure. The battles are simply stunning - sexy, bloody, brutal and above all: fun. [Jan 2010]

The sequel to the first single player Battlefield definitely has its flaws, but the game is fun to play. Bad Company captivates the feel of the authentic 80's action flicks, which is not a bad thing. If the game has explosions, rubble and a lot of unintentional violence, how bad can it go wrong? [Mar 2010]

Sins of a Solar Empire: Entrenchment is a nice addition to an excellent game. [Apr 2009]

Elven Legacy, like its predecessor Fantasy Wars warms the heart of everybody who has played Fantasy General. General game system is far superior to dominating Heroclones of Might & Magic. Game could even interest Joe Public with less garish, more realistic graphics. [Mar 2009]

DRM aside, quite possibly one of the years best PC games. [Apr 2010]

With Plants vs Zombies, Popcap cements its place as masters of polished, casual gaming that still hits its mark even with grizzled gaming vet. Even though the first playthrough of Plants vs Zombies is far too easy, second one combined with the survival mode and the multitude of minigames offers a lot of replayability. The biggest star though is in the graphic design, all the plants and zombies in the game are drawn and designed with funny wit and style. One can't help but love those little flowers fighting it out. [June 2009]

Red Steel 2 is a very good FPS-esque action game with heavy emphasis on swordplay. The cartoon graphics are excellent and the MotionPlus-sword works really well. [Apr 2010]

Bioshock 2 is basically the same game as Bioshock. Luckily the original was great and the sequel is just as much fun. Rapture is still one of the most amazing places to get lost into. [Feb 2010]

Rock Band Unplugged proves that music games can work surprisingly well on handheld consoles, too. The Amplitude-like gameplay works great and the song selection is good. A game worthy of the Rock Band name.

An original and modern 2D-platformer. NyxQuest blends action and puzzles into one seamless entity. [Aug 2009]

A very good and addictive action RPG. You kill a lot of monsters and collect even more stuff, which are used to upgrade your equipment. The missions are a bit samey, though. [June 2010]

Advances the game's storyline a bit and adds some fine new features, the best of which is the simply fascinating skirmish system. However, the actual Mirkwood content is pretty slim and doesn't take more than a few nights of heavy gaming to run through. [Feb 2010]

Fixes many of the original game's annoyances and continues the story of the Blood Ravens with a bunch of excellent missions. Only the final mission is a bit of a letdown, otherwise an absolute must for fans of futuristic warfare. [Apr 2010]

Takes an old and tired strategy game series and works it into a glorious puzzle game with light RPG elements. The game concept is truly fresh and with graphics and UI to match, there's absolutely nothing to complain about here. [Feb 2010]

A very pretty, charming and quite original action-puzzler. [Jan 2010]

It's slightly dazzling that the best Wii game of 2009 is based on a formula from 25 years ago. However it's used imaginatively and the new multiplayer mode is great fun. The tight controls and challenge of yesteryears are still charming. [Dec 2009]

One of the most imaginative games Treasure has ever made. The care and though spent on every stage and boss encounter is impressive. The gameplay is tight although quite not as polished as Treasure's best. The only true criticism can be leveled at the length of the levels which often feel too long for such intensive action. [June 2010]

An excellent online FPS. The player limit is huge and the matches are huge. Intensive stuff. [Mar 2010]

A simple and very stylish build-a-tower game. The physics work really well. [May 2010]

An excellent turn-based combat game. It's deceptively simple and fast-paced. The harvesters and destructible ground are really good ideas. [Apr 2010]

Blessed with a first-class story and some great dialogue and voice acting. The RPG elements feel a bit too simplistic, but the game is much too interesting to let that bother you. [May 05]

A frantic military action game that does not hold its punches. Great graphics, sounds and atmosphere. The AI could have used more work, though. [Feb. 05]

A hockey simulation for game consoles that is too much like its predecessors. The online leagues are welcomed but the franchise mode needs improvement. [Jan. 05]

An excellent multiplayer FPS. The different soldier types and vehicles keep the game fresh for a long time. Too bad tanks cannot drive through small fences and over small rocks. [Jan 2006]

The game itself is quite simple and short, but the story folds out in a great way. One of the best games of 2005 so far. [Sept. 05]

A great action-RPG. It has a very good selection of heroes and superpowers. The clunky inventory system needs improvement. [Nov 2005]

A very good RPG adventure. The structure is too conventional and the storyline is nothing special, but the real-time combat system is great. [Jan. 05]

Feels a little bit too familiar for the first half of the game. Still, it is one heck of a game with huge vistas to explore. The multiplayer section is a bit of a letdown, though. [Jan. 05]

A beautiful role-playing adventure with an above-average plot and some novel ideas. The otherwise interesting combat system relies a bit too much on luck, but overall Baten Kaitos is definitely one of GameCube's top adventures. [May. 05]

It has a great combat system, a unique world to explore, and a difficulty level that made me count the hours to the review's dead line. One of the best action RPGs ever made. [Oct 2011]

A very pretty racing game, which focuses on drawing racing lines. Deceptively simple and addictive. [Oct 2011]

A fast-paced tactical game that is easy to approach but has depth in spades when you dig into it. The mix of randomness and determinism isn't quite optimal, but the end result is mostly excellent. Despite some lacklustre storytelling, even the single player side provides hours and hours of quality gaming. A cult classic. [Aug 2011]

At first L.A. Noire seems a bit too easy, then it gets interesting and reading people's reactions makes for some of the best gaming this year. The atmosphere is spot on and the late 40's LA really feels like an authentic, living place. [June 2011]

Almost as good as the first one. Main reasons are lack of cake, unfunny Wheatley and slightly boring one-solution middle-levels. Otherwise Portal 2 is as clever as it is well written. And now Half-Life 2: Ep 3, please. [May 2011]

The Missing Link is one of the best DLC releases ever. Even though it's a bit pricey, it's very much worth the price. There's a lot of stuff to do, interesting combat and best of all, the new in-house made boss fight is infinitely more fun than the useless bosses at the original Human Revolution. [Nov 2011]

Forza Motorsport 4 is pretty much the same game as its predecessor, this time only with added Kinect controls and somewhat limited Autovista functionality. Luckily Forza 3 was a great game and Forza 4 is too. Best new feature is larger player cap in online matches. [Nov 2011]

Interaction with Yorda (in Ico) and the moments of befelling the colossi still hold the unique feel they had 2001 and 2005. [Nov 2011]

Dungeon Defenders is a co-op focused tower defense game where four heroes try to stop huge monster waves from destroying magic crystals by building all kinds of defensive structures such as walls and cannons. There are also some roleplaying and hack & slash elements so players can level up their heroes and fight enemies with swords and spells. The singleplayer side of the game is lacking but the multiplayer mode is always very fun and addicting. Technically the game is quite polished and doesn't have any fatal bugs which is always a good thing. [Dec 2011]

"Like Oblivion but far better", but after Dead Island, Skyrim blade swinging feels like shadow fighting. [Dec 2011]

It's too bad that the company that made L.A. Noire went under before the fully realized PC version came out. The detective playstyle and the 1940's ambience of L.A. Noire are something completely different from what we usually see in games nowadays. At times the interrogations can be a bit frustrating, but that only adds to the overall atmosphere of the game. [Dec 2011]

Oh man, is Rayman Origins beautiful or what? The anarchistic humor and vivid landscapes made me enjoy my adventures with Rayman even more than New Super Mario Bros. Or Donkey Kong Country Returns, and that's saying something. Thank you Michel! [Dec 2011]

A very beautiful, balanced and original puzzle platformer. [Dec 2011]

An excellent and original rhythm puzzle game. [Apr 2012]

Guild Wars 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but does a refreshing makeover to stale MMO mechanics. Great audiovisual quality and quest systems that draw you together with other players make this game really fun to play too. [Oct 2012]

The concept of four separate, intersecting campaigns is difficult to pull off, but Capcom succeeds pretty much perfectly. Also the game is visually stunning and despite not being "survival horror" anymore but rather "action horror", the gameplay is engaging. Still, the familiar Resident Evil problems like the horrible inventory system and awful UI are constant annoyances. [Oct 2012]

Technically maybe not the best port, but who cares, as the game is pure diamond. [Sept 2012]

A highly addictive and ruthless (in a good way) 2D-platformer with an endless supply of random roquelike-levels. You won't beat this one in a hurry. [Sept 2012]

Halo 4 is perhaps the best-looking Xbox games out there. While as a first person shooter Halo 4 isn't breaking any new ground, 343 Industries has done a terrific job retaining the classic Halo gameplay. The Prometheans are a bit of a let down, but luckily the Covenant hasn't been forgotten. While I enjoyed the new Reclaimer storyline, the touchy-feely stuff between Master Chief and Cortana feels a bit forced and awkward. Unsurprisingly the multiplayer is great fun, though the matchmaking could use a little speed-up. [Nov 2012]

The Unfinished Swan is more than just black and white. The Unfinished Swan is simply a fantastic fairytale adventure. [Nov 2012]

This mix'n'match of brands is by far the best adaptation of Angry Birds. It combines all the best sides of the game series and throws in a really nice set of characters. The force is strong in this one. [Dec 2012]

Hotline Miami is a gem of a game. It has satisfying gameplay, an atmosphere that is both disturbing and gripping, and it provokes thoughts like no other game this year. What more could you want? [Dec 2012]

This Lego adaptation is by far the best block adventure yet to come. Although the game still suffers from the trademark issues of Traveller's Tales, the package is a solid adventure. The Middle Earth is available for roaming, the levels are constructed with care and the overall feel of the game is excellent. [Jan 2013]

Although Mario's newest adventure isn't the most innovative platformer, the game sticks to the basics and does them right. The chaotic multiplayer mode, sweet graphics and excellent controls ensure, that the plumber stays on the throne. [Jan 2013]

A fresh and novel take on the runner genre. Instead of magical reflexes, you need to the rattle the ol' brain box to progress through the ever-darkening day. [Apr 2013]

Luigi's Mansion 2 is a clever and original action adventure with nice puzzles and interesting combat. [May 2013]

Terraria rules also in console format. [May 2013]

An excellent game, but should have been far more ambitious. Now it is like update for SWAT 3. How about at least a decent wounding modelling? [Apr. 05]

The long-awaited add-on for Star Wars Galaxies pretty much delivers what was promised. Space combat relies on player skills rather than character abilities, which is a refreshing change compared to most MMORPG's. [Sept. 05]

A great sequel packed with speed, style and deep gameplay. Be warned, though, the game is incredibly hard, especially in the beginning. [May. 05]

The king is dead, long live the king. [Jan. 05]

A good-looking puzzle-oriented horror game. It has an innovative panic system and a dramatic storyline. The adventure and the puzzles are well balanced, which makes Haunting Ground a very enjoyable experience. [May 05]

The first add-on to Sims 2 paints a pretty picture of the party-heavy student life. The new influence system, career studies and mounds of extra stuff make it a worthwhile expansion. [Mar. 05]

A solid racing game with amazing variety. The new Pro career keeps even the best racers busy for a while. The game feels a bit too familiar, but it is still a great sequel to a classic game. [Feb 2006]

Psychedelic King of Cosmos makes stars out of stuff his heir, small and weird-looking prince, rolls up from the belongings of Earth residents. The strangest, most refreshing game in ages. [Jan 2006]

Has the Battlefield-series jumped ship to Activision? Actually Quake Wars is even better, thanks to its mission-based gameplay. Now fighting really needs team effort, not only flag capturing guerrillas. [Oct 2007]

Comes surprisingly close to being perfect. When the game flows, the action is really sweet. The stealthy parts are much less enjoyable. [Dec 2005]

Medal of Honor: Airborne brings some very nice ideas to an already dead genre. Without the embarrassing enemies and the harsh difficulty level this could be the best MoH game to date. [Sept 2007]

Like a breath of fresh air. The gardening and raising of piñatas is great fun and good pastime for the holiday season. [Jan 2007]

Command & Conquer: Tiberium Wars shows that the original Command & Conquer is back with a vengeance. Very good work all around except for some of the early missions that are annoyingly easy. [Apr 2007]

The survivor AI stinks and the lack of a persistent world hurts the atmosphere. Still, as far as sick and bloody violence goes, you could do a lot worse than Dead Rising. [Oct 2006]

Desperados 2: Cooper’s Revenge continues on its predecessor’s path. The gameplay, graphics and characters are great. Add to that the Morricone-like music and you have a Wild West addict’s dream. Still, the game falls short of masterpiece status, because of too much frustrating sneaking, some graphics bugs and the occasionally stupid AI. [June 2006]

Warhawk is simple and tight net combat game. There is only five maps, which sounds bad, but the levels are huge. Everything works just fine and flying with awesome planes is sooooo fun. [Nov 2007]

Just as frighteningly good on 360 as it was on PC. The combat works extremely well and so does the atmospheric storyline. The repetitive levels are still there, though. [Dec 2006]

EA finally brings long-awaited family pets into the game. The surprisingly realistic-looking animals are fun to train and play with, and make the add-on yet another must-have for The Sims fans. [Oct 2006, p.82]

The physics engine is now several years old and starts to show its age. An exhilarating experience. [Oct 2006]

An enjoyable action-adventure which takes the best bits from the first Tomb Raider and updates them with better playability, nicer graphics and deeper puzzles. A surprisingly good rehash of the old. [June 2007]

A visual treat and pure arcade shooting fun. The missions are full of action and while you always end up saving the day, it certainly feels like there’s a war going around you. It’s a pity that the cutscenes are so full of phony melodrama and corny dialogue. [Nov 2007]

Wii's first online title and also Wii's best multiplayer game. The action has a very polished feel to it, and there are plenty of different tactics and teams. The graphics and single player modes could have been better. [Aug 2007]

The soul still burns! Yes, it's very familiar and the changes that were made like the critical finnish aren't 100% successful, but the game still puts up a great fight both for novice and advanced players. Beautiful HD graphics, internet play and a versatile character editor add value to the update. [Sept 2008]

Literally a golf game for everybody. The new swing system is a huge step forward, and yet it is simple enough for novices. Courses look great and the atmosphere is lovely. The main problem is, that the game is a little too easy for veterans. [May 2008]

Mario Kart Wii against 11 real opponents is intense and exhilarating. Sometimes it's also infuriating but in the end that too is mostly a good thing. Still, something should have been done to the power ups of old. Fire and forget weapons and small chances of escape aren't the best combination. While the multiplayer side shines the single player parts are a let-down. Driving against cheating opponent and being constantly bombarded is frustrating. [May 2008]

An excellent racing-game. It's not just a glimpse of the future, although the future looks really bright. [May 2008]

An excellent action adventure. It's suprisingly difficult to draw a straight line with wiimote, though. [June 2008]

Bangai-O Spirits is a hybrid shmup with brains. Tough as nails gameplay with imaginative levels makes for refreshing change amidst today's games that try to cater for everybody. [Sept 2008]

Race 07 was just a season update for Race, and GTR Evolution continues to same direction. It adds the game some cars and legendary Nordscleife track, but basicly that's all. Everything is quite nice but nothing rises above the minimum level of hardcore racing simulators. Graphics engine looks like 5 years old. Production cars, that should shine brightly, look like plastic cars with plastic shine. In race cars that effect didn't bother, but with production cars graphics engine show its lack of ability to draw realistic lighting effects. Race 07 with GTR Evolution is very good game, but nothing else. Hopefully Simbin starts to do something completely different after these season updates, which have been continuing for too long now. And I hope I don't ever have to copy my review from one year old game anymore. [Sept 2008]

Chrono Trigger is a timeless classic. The game's first European release was long overdue but it isn't too late even after 14 years. Of course the game can't deliver the same impact as it did back in the day but there's still a lot to love. [Mar 2009]

A solid tower defence game with interesting offensive and local multiplayer -elements. Too bad there's no internet play. [Dec 2009]

An incredibly immersive and original adventure in the midst of snow and ice, with one of the most memorable plots in a long time. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoy slow paced and intelligent games. [Apr 2010]

A true video-game equivalent of a Jerry Bruckheimer/Michael Bay action movie. The singleplayer is engaging while it lasts, but the game's true value lies in the multiplayer. The online matches are fast, fun and highly addictive. [Nov 2010]

Trine integrates physics in to a platformer and the result is beautiful, innovative and fun to play. Unfortunately the storyline is far from original and the slaying of enemy hordes isn't as fun as solving the puzzles. [July 2009]

Nice addon for a really great game. Add decent diplomacy (with chrome for immersion. Superpowers do not negotiate with SMS-messsages) and Master of Orion is finally beaten.

Metro 2033 is Stalker done right. Gone are the half-working sandbox elements and infuriatingly underpowered weapons. Instead Metro delivers an expertly paced train ride though the spooky post-apocalyptic underbelly of Moscow. The English voiceovers are horrible, but in the end that doesn't really matter. Great game. [May 2010]

Metro 2033 is Stalker done right. Gone are the half-working sandbox elements and infuriatingly underpowered weapons. Instead Metro delivers an expertly paced train ride though the spooky post-apocalyptic underbelly of Moscow. The English voiceovers are horrible, but in the end that doesn't really matter. Great game. [May 2010]

Indiana Jones is one of the greatest adventure game heroes of all time. It's a shame, that the official games have degenerated in to platformes. This adventure is so close to the Indy's heritage, that you can almost taste it.

One of the best games for Xbox: good missions, excellent story and puzzles. The biggest and perhaps the only problem is the inconsistent framerate. [Jan 2006]

Excellent. It is frantic, funny and violent, but in a good way. If you like "GTA" and "Max Payne," you will love Total Overdose. [Oct 2005]

A solid racing game with amazing variety. The new Pro career keeps even the best racers busy for a while. The game feels a bit too familiar, but it is still a great sequel to a classic game. [Feb 2006]

A hardcore Star Wars fan's dream come true. Decent solo game with playable jedi characters, furious space fights and awesome net play. What else can you ask for? As a PC game Battlefront 2 is a technically lacking hyperactive bunnyhopper. Again. [Dec 2005]

Definitely the best basketball game available. Give-and-go passing system is a big step forward and the shot stick helps score easy baskets. Unfortunately, the camerawork is not on the same level with the other aspects of the game. [Feb 2006]

Makes no excuses in its brutal retelling of a classic western story. The atmosphere of the gunfights is expertly created. GTA style free-roaming world fits the game well, and overall it is a magnificently fun, if a bit short, experience. [Dec 2005]

A great tennis game despite the overly gimmicky special arenas and extra game modes. The AI plays too predictably, too. [Apr. 05]

This game is a tribute to action-RPGs of SNES era. It's a cross-breed between Zelda and Secret of Mana. And it is cute as a button and it sounds like a charm. This little adventure is a must-buy for RPG enthusiasts. [Sept 2011]

Has it flaws when it comes to gameplay, but it more than makes up for them with its atmosphere, artistic tricks and some genuinely breathtaking moments. [Sept 2011]

The third installment in the Ezio series offers more of the same than the two previous episodes, only with a different plot and some new minor tricks and stuff. The Altaïr-flashbacks with the protagonist of the first Assassin's Creed are great, Desmond's platformer memories not so much, but overall it's yet another fine action adventure that feels just a bit too familiar. [Dec 2011]

The third Saints Row is solid proof that GTA ins't the only sandbox game out there. Dirty jokes, nice storyline and full-packed city ensures that you won't get bored at Steelport City. Haters gonna hate, but that's their loss. [Dec 2011]

Armored Kill brings Battlefield back to its roots after courting codofiles. [Oct 2012]

Swordigo is by far one of the best platformers seen on iDevices. The controls are sharp and they are coupled with marvelous level design. And the price is down right cheap as hell. [Aug 2012]

Darksiders 2 adds a lot of variety compared to the original. The RPG elements are decent fun, but what really stands out is the superb musical score composed by Jesper Kyd. [Sept 2012]

NBA 2K13 is not only excellent basket ball game, it is one the best sports games of the year. [Nov 2012]

With freedom comes great responsibility. With a lush world for free-roaming and with freedom to execute your objectives Far Cry 3 delivers. The story missions and characters are not of the same standard but are also not a big annoyance. [Dec 2012]

Giana Sisters may seem to be an ordinary brightly coloured platformer, but behind the beautiful surroundings there is a devilishly difficult old-school game, that takes nothing for granted. [Dec 2012]

Gabriel Knight is a prime example of an excellent adventure game. This tribute is almost as good as the Jane Jensen's work and it's just the first episode of the game.

A unique piece of beautiful and thrilling massive scale war. It's not for the lone warrior, but with a few friends or a larger outfit the battles become larger than life. Long term, some goals requiring and rewarding longer planning and actual defending your conquests are needed to keep things fresh, just farming certificates and unlocks goes only so far. [Jan 2013]

The Knife of Dunwall is a very good DLC for a great game! [May 2013]

Has the most impressive physics engine seen on consoles thus far, but the game does not take full advantage of it. The action is straight-forward, but engaging, and the whole game has a nice cinematic feel to it. One of the best shooters for PS2. [July. 05],

Thanks to PC controls, shooting is no longer a source of constant irritation and the game can really shine. CoC in an excellent horror adventure. Fear and loss of sanity can really be seen and felt. The game is faithful to Cthulhu mythos, full of memorable scenes and has the only ending there can be. [Apr 2006]

A very competent tactical RPG. There is nothing too revolutionary, though.

The judgement ring fighting system and the semi-realistic surroundings are the major high points. [Apr. 05]

A very intensive manhunt with a variety of puzzles. It uses the same graphic engine as Syberia I and II, which is to say the game is simply beautiful. [Apr. 05]

Takes a normal fantasy world and turns it into a refreshingly interesting place. Geralt is an excellent main character. The story moves along nicely after the boring old amnesia start and there are lots of things to do. The only major setback is the unresponsive combat, which doesn't give enough feedback to the player about what's really happening and if the commands are accepted or not. [Nov 2007]

It has been a while since the MMORPG genre saw an innovative game. Turbine's latest feels very much like the tabletop RPG in digital form. Although the combat system is a bit strange and the forced grouping is definitely not for everyone, the game is overall good, solid fun. [May 2006]

Looks and feels like "Scarface" the movie. Even though a more solid storyline would have been nice, the game plays great and offers enough things to do. [Oct 2006, p.54]

A stunningly beautiful real-time strategy with a powerful campaign and lots of fabulous action, although the AI is a bit on the silly side. Still, heartily recommended. [Apr. 05]

A great combination of real time strategy and turn based larger campaign. Its greatest achievement is the complete lack of micromanagement. [July. 05]

Much better than Aftermath. Geoscape and RPG elements are excellent. Tactical fighting is far better than before, but still needs some work. Battlefields should be generated randomly, and structural damage is not good enough. Take Silent Storm for a role model, please. [Nov 2005]

A refreshingly original adventure. It feels like a comic book and the story centres around courtrooms. There are some mildly annoying repetitive elements, but nothing too distracting. [June 2006]

A visually stunning spacefaring game that is still radically different from mainstream fantasy games. Even after Exodus it is still a bit lacking content-wise, but getting steadily closer to being a massively multiplayer Elite. Definitely an acquired taste, though. [July 05]

A very good beat 'em up adventure with hundreds of simultaneous enemies. Too bad the awful Athens-level is a major pain in the backside. [Oct 2005]

Captures the frenetic atmosphere of the popular TV-show successfully. The game is fun to play, although the controls feel a bit clunky. The car chase scenes could have used a bit more thought. [Mar 2006]

Tomb Raider: Legend successfully brings the legend back in a movie-like experience. Great on atmosphere, tempo and diversity, but a bit short on content. The gunfights are passable, but the bike levels are just plain weak. [May 2006]

Tomb Raider: Legend successfully brings the legend back in a movie-like experience. Great on atmosphere, tempo and diversity, but a bit short on content. The gunfights are passable, but the bike levels are just plain weak. [May 2006]

Ten years of waiting has paid off: Prey is a fine shooter with good playability and graphics. It doesn't bring anything truly innovative to the genre, but what it does, it does pretty well, and stuff like portals and gravity tricks make preying a lot of fun. [Aug 2006, p.40]

An excellent football game. However, the expectations were a little higher this year knowing that there will not be any rivals. The new passing system is a little step forward, but only a little. [Oct 2005]

Looks stunning and contains some really clever gameplay. The game is really fun to play although some of the puzzles make no sense at all. The condensed co-op is a real downer. [Dec 2005]

Infernal borrows a lot ideas from classic action adventures like "Deus Ex," but manages to stand on its own two feet. Awesome graphics, brisk action and realistic environments make Infernal well worth a try. [Apr 2007]

PGR 2.5 would have been a more suitable name, since there is not that much new. The drop dead gorgeous graphics make the game a wet dream for sports car enthusiasts. Easy to handle, beautiful to look at. I can live with that. [Dec 2005]

A must-buy for any fighting fan and an excellent game for demonstrating the power of Xbox 360. It is not the revolution many expected, but it is still easily the best game in the series. [Feb 2006]

Savage 2 combines first/third person multiplayer action and real-time strategy and does it very well. The learning curve is quite steep, because the tutorial and the manual are lacking but that’s the only major problem with game. [Mar 2008]

An excellent bite-sized game that captures the feeling of space exploration nicely. A bit more new content in the upcoming patches would be appreciated. [April 2006]

The fusion of free driving in a huge, realistic game world and the mixture of single and multiplayer challenges works really well, even though many things could have been improved. [Oct 2006]

An excellent "Marble Madness" clone. It is all about skill. A few more levels and multiplayer modes would not have hurt, though. [Mar 2006]

Looks and sounds great and the free-form gameplay with the nanosuit never gets old. Unfortunately the choices player can make lessen more and more towards the end of the game, where you are just forced to shoot things out. The end of the game is simply stupid, everything stops just when the final chapter is supposed to start. It feels like the developers ran out of time and had to ship the game before the levels could be finalized. [Dec 2007]

Innovative features together with realism and playability make it a must-have for American Civil War enthusiasts and recommendable to all tactical-scale wargamers. The lack of strategic elements is a bit disappointing, though. [Aug 2006, p.55]

A fun tennis game, but it is too bad that it does not have internet play. Otherwise it is right up there with the more serious "Top Spin 2." [Mar 2007]

A very good beat 'em up that nonetheless feels more like evolution than revolution. The lack of internet play is a definite minus. [Mar 2007]

One of the best PSP games out there. Snake's dreary life is never fun but playing it is a true pleasure. What we have here is a stealth game par excellence. [Aug 2007]

Getting better every year. The 2D match engine is awesome and the only thing the game still needs is real-time line changes. Now it is done by AI only. [Dec 2006]

The true heir of the classic X-COM and almost as addictive. However, the game has a multitude of irritating design flaws that need correcting. [June 2007]

A very good FPS:esque shoot 'em up. The enemies are interesting and the glaive even more so. The surroundings are a bit too monotonous, though. [Apr 2008]

ArmA: Armed Assault is "Operation Flashpoint 2007" in both the good and the bad. The good far outweigh the bad, though, and I can hardly wait for the game to be properly finished. For a game of this calibre, I will gladly endure and finance the beta testing. [Apr 2007]

A great game, also (or even) as a PC incarnation. But for marketing Vista and its DX10 graphics, Halo 2 is looking a couple years too dated. Hopefully Halo 3 will be converted faster. [June 2007]

Excellent expansion for an excellent game. Panzer Elite was a little disappointing due to politically correct whining and ze germenglish. [Nov 2007]

There's plenty of stealth action games around but there's always room for quality. Logan's Shadow is a hand-held game with a pride. Two thumbs up. [Feb 2008]

A very enjoyable RTS. Graphics, especially fireworks, are simply fantastic. The unit AI, however, seems to be lifted straight from the first Command & Conquer. [Oct 2007]

A well-polished remake of the excellent action RPG from PC. It is only due to the far too simplified and illogical character class system that the new version falls slightly behind the original. [Jan 2008]

A very good multiplayer FPS. The warzone mode is an excellent idea. Some vehicles and a little more visual variation would be nice, though. [Apr 2009]

Top Spin 3 is much more realistic than the previous games of the series, mostly because of the new control mechanics. It takes more than just slapping the ball around to beat the versatile AI. However, to succeed one does not have to use the whole shot variety, which takes some depth out of the game. [Sept 2008]

Top Spin 3 is much more realistic than the previous games of the series, mostly because of the new control mechanics. It takes more than just slapping the ball around to beat the versatile AI. However, to succeed one does not have to use the whole shot variety, which takes some depth out of the game. [Sept 2008]

The most fun NHL game to come out in a long time. The smooth skating and the nicely flowing action make it an enjoyable hockey experience. The AI could still use some fine-tuning, though. [Sept 2007]

GTA on steroids. Huge city, very brutal combat, cool super powers and an interesting plot ensures that Prototype is one of this summer's hit games. There's a lot of gore, so this game has 18+ written all over it. [July 2009]

An exhilaratingly brutal and brilliantly beautiful action adventure from the days of yore when ships were made of wood and men were made of iron. Some of the best barbarian entertainment we've had in years. [Apr 2008]

A true blast from the past, turn based fantasy strategy in the spirit of old classics from 90s. A bold move that succeeds. Commanding your own orc horde or mercenary army to victory through the linear campaign is simply fun, especially when the game mechanics have nothing to be ashamed of, and there’s plenty of complexity to keep you thinking. We need more of unhurried, turn based goodness like this in the future. [Nov 2007]

Not a masterpiece, but still a highly addictive football experience. The new AI system does not have great impact on gameplay. However, there are a lot of minor improvements, such as advanced set pieces and a brand new Master League. [Nov 2007]

The second season starts out nicely. Everything that made the first season so terrific is still in the game: nutty humour, witty dialogue, entertaining plot and interface that works. The puzzles are good, although still not hard on adventure game terms. The sub-games do need something new, though. Driving the car is nice, but starts to get a little bit dull. [Dec 2007]

Bows deeply to the classics like Monkey Island or Maniac Mansion but more importantly it still has a good, unique feel to it. Although Mr. Keane's adventure is an old-fashioned point'n click adventure the fresh environments, tricky puzzles and witty humour make it a great adventure game. It's not the best this genre has to offer, but it's a nice try. Thumbs up for Deck13. [Apr 2008]

Definitely feels like a part of the series but it's also refreshingly new. The new look doesn't really work and the amount and quality of the dialogue is off-putting but it doesn't really matter when the game itself works wonderfully and has surprisingly many medium and minor changes. [Mar 200]

If it has zombies, it can't be bad - at least not, when we're talking about Sam&Max adventure. After a little bit boring second episode NRV takes the series back where it belongs: to the top five of the recent adventure genre. Equipped with witty humor, funny characters and completely absurd plot the night of the living dead is worth every penny. Some puzzles are a little bit illogical and not all the jokes are funny, but so what? [June 2008]

It seems like Aerosmith composed it songs for the Guitar Hero. A marriage made in heaven. [Aug 2008]

The kings of the silly and witty make their way to the consoles. Sam&Max is still one of the funniest games on the shelves. The Wii version suffers a little inaccuracy of the mote control but fortunately it doesn't spoil the fun. If you crave for an adventure and haven't tried this out, now is the time. [Feb 2009]

A decent enough Track'n Field -clone. It looks nice and there's a lot of events. Too bad there's way too much waiting on one at a time -multiplayer events. [Aug 2008]

An excellent combination of platforming, racing, combat and freeform vehicle building. [Jan 2009]

A Medieval action RPG with a great battle system, and there are many ways you can play the game. The game doesn't have a storyline, which is why it becomes a bit boring and pointless after a while, but it does have many good mods and they will keep the game fresh. [Sept 2008]

A well made traditional fantasy RPG, even though the marketing department in Bioware would have you think otherwise. The world is well fleshed out and the story is traditional, but still interesting. The game lacks the truly epic atmosphere and realistic looking actors of Mass Effect, but it still manages to be great fun. Big plus for surprisingly challenging combat, which you don't see that much nowadays. [Nov 2010]