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]

Sackboy's shrinked adventure suffers from sloppy controls and unbalanced level design. The cool level editor is also included, so after the disappointing solo content, you can entertain yourself with downloadable levels almost indefinitely. With proper finishing and some reasoning to the control methods, the game would definitely fight it's way to the platformer elite. Now the result is somewhat medium. [Dec 2009]

A really interesting combination of a cave shooter and a action puzzler. The liquids are fun and they work really well. [Jan 2010]

Two new ok races and a new ok-ish campaign. As with BfME’s War of the Rings, War of Kronus feels like a series of random battles rather than actual war. WH40K is still one of the few excellent RTS’s. [Dec 2006]

Like in its predecessor, the gameplay is quite shallow, and because of the easy difficulty level the button-smash oriented fighting is not very rewarding. [Oct 2006]

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

A very pretty platform adventure with highly entertaining combat. Clank's simple time related problems are a nice diversion. [Dec 2009]

With an engaging story, great characters, top-notch production values and highly original game-system this is a truly unique RPG-experience. Respect, Atlus! [Mar 2008]

An excellent and original platform adventure. The logical puzzle-elements are interesting and they work very well. [Dec 2009]

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]

Supreme Commander is Total Annihilation 2007 and that is enough to make me happy. The user interface should be the role model for the whole genre. The only slight letdown are the blandish robotic units. [Mar 2007]

The Boshin War marked the end of one era in Japan's history. The civil war, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the Tokugawa shogunate and the Imperial troops, provides an excellent basis for a Total War game. Caught between the crossfire of different factions, Western influences and rapid technological development, Japan was reshaped. Fall of the Samurai draws successfully from this interesting setting. The battles are as massive and tactical as ever and conquering Japan province by province is immensely satisfying despite the familiar feeling of the game. [Apr 2012]

A unique experience that only Nintendo DS can offer. Stylus, touch screen and Kirby is a match made in heaven. [Jan 2006]

Quotation forthcoming. [Dec 2012]

The Secret Armory of General Knoxx shows how DLC packs should be done. It raises the level cap from 50 to 61, it is extremely challenging, and it offers violent, yet addictive, item hunting. Most delightful of all, the tongue-in-cheek humor is kicked into high gear. Simply put: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx delivers on all fronts. This add-on is a must-have for every self-respecting Borderlands player. [Apr 2010]

Call of Duty 2 has near-perfect visuals and great gameplay, but suffers from a serious case of same old, same old. Where is the innovation? [Nov 2005]

A great launch game for PS3, but it could have been even better with precise aiming controls and more open battlefields. [Feb 2007]

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]

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]

Although not as good a game as four, five is still extremely entertaining and this time even very well converted! [Nov 2010]

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]

Guitar Hero with Metallica i.e. same old but for the fans. Neversoft isn’t the top dog when it comes to notation but the good thing is that Metallica’s songs nevertheless translate well into game form. [June 2009]

A faithful and extremely professional remake of one of the great classics of the FPS genre. Despite slight niggles, like the marines' aimbot-like behavior, it actually manages to achieve the impossible: Black Mesa is Half-Life, only better. [Oct 2012]

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 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]

Another brilliant add-on for an excellent strategy game. The new content is well designed and makes the somewhat dull endgame more interesting. Also the mods and scenarios are quite nice, some being actual games in their own right. [Sept 2007]

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]

The Sims 3 delivers most of its promises. Modeling an entire small town works extremely well, and even though many features from previous installments will be available only in later add-ons, there's still a ridiculous amount of stuff to do. Technically it's pretty awesome as well. [June 2009]

The handling of source material is excellent: plot, sound acting, characters, Secret Origins and all. Sadly, the game is pretty generic, and the lack of friendly AI makes the real-time gaming tedious. [May 05]

Tomb Raider is a solid action adventure that offers a thrilling ride, but adds very little new to the genre and sadly falls short of the idea of open-ended survival adventure it was first marketed as. [March 2013]

Tribes: Ascend is a surprisingly good version of a classic shooter. The Free-2-Play aspect is well implemented. [Apr 2012]

Combines driving and puzzle-elements into one seamless and addictive game. There's nothing else quite like it. Trials HD is simply fun. [Aug 2009]

Punch-Out!! shows how little games have really changed in a decade: Quick Time Events are still a trend. Luckily the game still has it old charm.

Radiant Silvergun is bewilderment and frustration at the same time. With excessive amount of weapons, breathtaking boss rushes, killer difficulty and a complicated combo system Radiant Silvergun is just too much - and awesome for that reason. [Nov 2011]

Tries much too hard for its own good. The writing is mostly passable, but dialogue lacks the feeling and nuances of the original, hence the game is morally much more black and white. The combat is also much too easy. It's still good fun for some of the time, though. [Feb. 05]

A fun and interesting RPG. The clever combat system works almost perfectly. Too bad the touchscreen is not used. [Mar 2006]

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]

A beautiful, balanced and technically solid beat 'em up. The character editor and the light strategy elements are nice additions. Too bad the game does not save versus statistics. [Dec 2005]

NHL 12 is without a doubt better than last year´s edition. New physics engine reflects that size does matter in hockey and AI´s offensive movement is actually pretty solid. However, there are not any significant innovations that would really change the way the game is played. [Sept 2011]

Shows that the Monkey Island still got what it takes. The new art and musical score are beautiful and voice acting is of good quality. Story and writing are still superb, puzzles are inventive and the game is witty. On the minus side the interface is a little obsolete and there's also a little bit too much running to and fro. Also the imitators of Monkey Island series have eaten away a little bit of the original's magic. Nevertheless the game's still well worth it’s price. [Aug 2009]

Great looking and fun, albeit a little shallow in the space combat and resource management departments. [April 2006]

About living the life of a cute animal in real-time. The imaginative gameplay is as delightfully Nintendo-like as ever. Sit back and relax either on your own or with friends. [Mar 2006]

Ninja Theory has done a fine job transforming the über Japanese game to their own image. Westernized Dante is a true devil, and there's no crying about it. [Feb 2013]

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]

The sequel for the best Kinect game doesn't fail. The two player mode is the biggest improvement. Training leads to results, so this game is edu-tainment as it's best. Second Dance Central is – as it's predecessor – a Kinect application for both casual and hardcore gamers. [Dec 2011]

A pretty-looking, competent boxing-simulator. Besides graphics, there are not any other major improvements over Round 2. [May 2006]

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]

An excellent multiplayer adventure. The levels are suitably compact and the team-based puzzles are interesting. [Jan. 05]

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]

A solid fantasy MMORPG that looks good, plays well and is faithful to Tolkien’s work. It could have broken out of the traditional EverQuest format a bit more, but even now it is one of the best games the genre has seen in recent years. [June 2007]

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

An excellent and atmospheric military shooter. The cover and command systems work really well. The multiplayer modes are good, but nothing special. [Apr 2007]

Max Payne 3 is a great action-movie experience with life-like characters that Rockstar is famous for. It does fall a bit flat on the actual action part, however. The controls on consoles are confusing and hard to get used to. Still very much worth a play-thru. It's also one of the best looking console games in the current generation. [June 2012]

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

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]

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]

A massive MMORPG that provides players the chance to really make a difference. Great game for those who have the time and energy, though the action gets a bit repetitive at times. [Aug 2007]

By far the greatest adaptation of a digital dance experience. It's fun to play, you break a sweat an the music track is excellent. The third game comes with a wacky story and some minor improvements. [Nov 2012]

A polished Breakout-clone with very interesting gravitation effects. It's a bit too easy, though - there's too many extra lives. [Dec 2009]

The same highly addictive and fun game as on other platforms, but the Wii-only features in the guitar are just mostly irritating. The only new thing that works is the vibration that handily announces the availability of star power. On the other hand, the sound from the controller makes you want to smash the whole thing in true Nirvana style. The visuals are ok on old television, but on never HDTV sets the picture quality so bad that the game becomes almost unplayable at times. Also the sound is only mono, which is a really strange thing for a music game. Worst version of a great game. [Jan 2008]

A wildly imaginative platform adventure. Framerate and visibility issues are a bit of a letdown, though. [Mar 2006]

A must buy and hopefully only the first of many map packs and add-ons! [Jan 2012]

Fun and action-packed. Las Vegas is the perfect setup for action. It does get a bit repetitive towards the end, though. [Sept 2007]

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

Radiant Historia's take on time traveling is a bit of a letdown, but it's nevertheless a strong and addicting JRPG. [Oct 2011]

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

Gets old pretty quickly as solo play experience, but luckily the online modes are entertaining for quite a while. The bikes are fun to drive against human opponents and drifting with the cars is still fun. The core game hasn’t lost its basic charm but there is very little properly new. The single player game has a “been there done that” feeling written all over it. Multiplayer matches are still fun. [Nov 2007]

Metroid Prime Hunters has the Metroid Prime atmosphere, but suffers from simplified content, which is not compensated in any way in the adventure mode. Nice multiplayer options, though! [May 2006]

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]

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]

A stunningly beautiful and bittersweet adventure about love and loss, burning brightly with the magic of Studio Ghibli, hampered only by a repetitive combat system lacking tactical elements. [Jan 2013]

An excellent action-adventure. Not perfect, however. It is basically more of the same and the ridiculous trap tunnels are anything but believable. And where is the widescreen support? [Dec 2005]

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]

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]

A smooth, portable platformer that looks gorgeous. It is very traditional, but the playability is flawless and the levels are top notch. Hilarious minigames are a nice bonus. [June 2006]

Technically a very impressive FPS. The single-player game is dull, but the fast and high-flying Live games promise to more than make up for it. [May 05]

Fun and action-packed. Las Vegas is the perfect setup for action. It does get a bit repetitive towards the end, though. [Sept 2007]

A fast and pretty arcade beat 'em up. You can do several hard special moves just by touching the lower screen, but that's fine, since you can't use an arcade stick. [May 2011]

An original superhero MMORPG that has excellent character creation and a well-designed world. Gameplay is quite combat-intensive and the game lacks sufficient content to stay interesting for longer periods of time. [Feb. 05]

Pretty impressive for a debut game. Excellent mechanics, I really wouldn't mind playing an enchanced PC-version. [Feb 2012]

The best Pokémon role playing game so far. [Sept 2007]

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]

Offers the same outstanding stealth action than its predecessors, but fails miserably on the story department. Also, the much-advertised choice between good and bad does not really affect anything at all. Could we please get the next one with a decent, engaging story? [Dec 2006, p.82]

Stunningly beautiful, but the straightforward nature of the single player mode starts to annoy after awhile. The AI could use some work, too. [Oct 2005]

An interesting attempt to re-invent RTS genre. It does many things right, like reward system, and is generally fun to play. As a game it feels like a prequel to Dawn of War -series: Bit too simplistic combat without any real threat of defeat and too many generic missions with, my God, end bosses! Those are yesterdays news even on Japan. Hopefully 0-day patch reakly makes things better and more varied. [Feb 2009]

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]

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]

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]

LocoRoco 2 is basicly the same game than LocoRoco 1. That is by no means a negative fact as gameplay is exceptionally clever and fun and makes you fall in love with guiding the cute little LocoRocos to the goal. A platform game with a bit of puzzle and action in between has rarely been this much fun and never as heartwarming as now. [Jan 2009]

Recreates the black pits of Moria faithfully and is arguably the prettiest rendition of an underground environment ever seen in a video game. A highly recommended expansion for one of the best MMORPG's on the market. [Jan 2009]

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]

Forza Horizon tries to appeal to younger generations, fortunately that does not spoil it. Not bad, but previous Forzas are better. [Nov 2012]

As hardcore as a driving simulation can get. Driving feels very natural and but where is the excitement and atmosphere of the real races? [Apr. 05]

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

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 4-in-1 add-on that delivers a staggering amount of new units, characters, events and maps. Gameplay is unchanged, though. [Sept 2007]

Armoured Edition is an excellent superhero's sandbox. The BatGamePad-gadgets work nicely. [Jan 2013]

An entertaining action flick with nice special effects and some amazingly innovative puzzles. Not recommended for those who do not like huge level bosses and playing the same episodes again and again. [Mar. 05]

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]

I'd say Chariots of the Dogs might be the best episode in the new Sam&Max series yet. The environment is fresh, puzzles are challenging and logical and simply put toying with the time muchine works just great. As for me this time nearly all of the jokes hit the spot. Hail Sam and Max! [June 2008]

Machinarium is a successful mix of unique audiovisual atmosphere and traditional point-and-click adventuring. While the character control is a bit flimsy, beautiful hand drawn graphics and funny puzzles make it a true gem among indie games. [Feb 2010]

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]

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

A well-written, inventive and laugh-out-loud funny platformer with great puzzles. Unfortunately, the quirky game has not been polished to perfection, which can be seen in the lack of details, the faltering visual style and some dragging sections. [Sept 2007]

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]

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

A very relaxing music game where you pilot a futuristic vehicle and race different tracks. You can add your own music into the game and the songs will be transformed into new racing tracks, so you will always have plenty of different types of tracks. The game mechanics and graphics are pretty simple, which is a bit disappointing. [May 2008]

Episode 3 doesn't quite reach the high points of the previous episode, but it still manages to deliver some really memorable moments. The decisions are brutal and there are some really unexpected "that didn't just happen!" scenes along the way. Also props for Telltale on creating the most believable child character ever, Clementine. [Oct 2012]

Second best of the Battlefield 3 add-ons. [Feb 2013]

Simple and easy going strategy game has a good board game feeling: easy to learn, harder to master. Battle of Bulge works well on a touch screen too, thanks to excellent user interface. The main flaw is that it is quite expensive and has only one map to play with. [March 2013]

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]

Even with Retro Studios helping the 7th installment is pretty much the same game. At minimum unfair elements like the blue shells should be corrected. Still even with the ultra-conservative approach multiplayer is satisfying. [Jan 2012]

A couple of small tweaks makes the game even better: stronger horse units and better character customisation. The only disappointment are the bland graphics, GameCube could do much better. [Dec 2005]

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]

The best Pokémon role playing game so far. [Sept 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]

A very good MMA fighter and fighter in general. You better watch out, Fight Night. [March 2012]

Transforms a rather stupid movie into a fun beat 'em up adventure with ugly graphics. [Jan 2006]

An excellent guerrilla fighter's sandbox adventure. You can destroy every building, no matter how large. Piece by piece. It's simply amazing. [July 2009]

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]

Bike Baron is a refreshing relic from the shareware era, but it takes some from the one of the greatest XBLA successes. This iPad version of the TrialsHD is sometimes painfully difficult, but extremely fun at the same time. [Dec 2011]

A fun and especially challenging action game, although the formula invented over ten years ago in Symphony of the Night is getting a bit stale.

The operation was a success, but the patient died! Actually, not really. While making the game simpler cut's the depth of the single player mode considerably, ut at the same time makes multiplayer games more fluent and entertaining. [Aug 2008]

Dawn of War's game mechanics should be the role model for the whole stagnant RTS genre. Boosted with Winter Assault, Dawn of War is pretty much the best action-RTS ever. Tyranids next, please. [Nov 2005]

An excellent GTA-style superhero-sandbox. There's nothing major to complain about – it doesn't need any multiplayer-modes. [June 2009]

Offers such a single-playerish leveling up experience, that it's often easy to forget that you are actually playing an MMO. As an MMO it still lacks a lot of important features like LFG tool for flashpoints and an interface that actually supports group play, but at the same time it shows a lot of promise. If Bioware can fix the most glaring omissions The Old Republic has a potential to grow into a stable and long MMO love-affair. [Feb 2012]

A technical masterpiece of a skateboarding game. It dumps the superhero antics of the Tony Hawk series and goes back to what it is all about: a man and his board. With the innovative controls and the great old-fashioned fun the player will have, Skate is sure to set a new standard for extreme games for years to come. [Oct 2007]

Playing cup matches in the middle of the season against Hartlepool and Macclesfield is refreshing, and the new passing system is a welcomed improvement. However, the controls are too complicated, AI knows how to cheat, the ball behaves strangely and tactically FIFA 07 is much too simple. [Sept 2006]

Episode 2 delves less on the zombies and more on the relations between humans. In that it succeeds and manages to pull off some of the best writing and atmosphere seen in games this year. Even if you don't care about the subject matter, episode 2 is most definitely worth a look. [Oct 2012]

A whole lot of fun. Managing your own studio is a real blast, although things tend to get a bit too simple and straight-forward at times. Creating movies from scratch is intuitive and strangely addictive. [Dec 2005]

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 is actually GRAW 1: Part 2. Although well made, military shooters could use some evolution. [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]

A chilling adventure that makes your skin crawl. The new FPS mode is simply great and makes playing the game much more effortless. [Mar. 05]

An intensive 3D shooter with a twist or two. The plot does not make much sense, but it is entertaining. [Mar. 05]

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]

Fast and furious platformer with an excellent co-op play. [Aug 2009]

At its best the game feels more a RTS than an ordinary football game. The set piece and defense will need a lot of work because the controls are still a little too automatic. [May 2009]

The incredible speed and freeform routes are the major high points. The tuning options are excellent, too. [July 05]

It is a beautiful thing when a game seems to pull all the right strings. The cars are absolutely stunning and the way they handle makes each of them feel unique. Driving has rarely felt so good. [Nov 2005]

A technically flawless, movie-like episode of the famous survival horror series, although this time the focus is on action and not survival or even horror. The game's representation of Africa and its inhabitants seems to be from the Colonial era and is therefore somewhat disturbing, detracting from the overall enjoyment. [Mar 2009]

Great storytelling, excellent gameplay and much to do and explore. You have got to love it. [Sept. 05]

Tetris DS jam-packs every conceivable Tetris game mode into one package. Some, like Catch, are unnecessary. The retro pixel graphics and the beeping soundscape will not appeal to everyone. The multiplayer features are great fun. [June 2006]

Battlefield 3 for Xbox 360 is a fine game in its own right, it's just tough to enjoy it after getting used to PC's larger scale, sharper controls and higher visual fidelity. [Dec 2011]

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]

Assassin's Creed III is definitely a step backwards for the excellent and popular series. The main plot is decent and the assassination action itself good as always, but the main character is totally uncharismatic and the gameplay a dull repetition of old rotes. The game world is indeed huge, but sadly it's filled with uninspiring busywork like trade caravans and a pointless crafting system. Assassin's Creed III is still a very good game, but disappointing as it could have been so much more. [Nov 2012]

One of the best downloadable titles of 2011 offers beautiful visuals and atmospheric andventuring, reminiscent of classics such as Super Metroid and Ikaruga. [May 2011]

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]

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]

The season upgrade has a lot of minor tweaks but lacks important major changes. For example near post corner goal trick is still there and press meetings are still as boring as in real life. I would rather buy a DLC than a new game every year. [Jan 2012]

Trine 2 has aged exceptionally well. This Finnish platformer is one of the best looking Wii U launch titles, although it's initial appearance happened over a year ago. This game is a solid platformer, which combines action and puzzles in just the right proportions.

Guild Wars: Factions expands the original game with a new, fresh-looking Oriental-style campaign and new play modes for PvP. Its greatest asset is still the lack of monthly fees, but it is also a good MMORPG with lots of PvP content and a fantastic skill system. [June 2006]

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle is almost pop art. The sequel is still rough around the edges but the fury of the combat, bizarre dialogue and style with 8-bit gaming homage make it loveable. [May 2010]

Spore is a surprisingly charming game/toy. Except for the civilization part, most subgames are funny, and the final part even feels like a game. [Sept 2008]

The incredible speed and freeform routes are the major high points. The tuning options are excellent, too. [July 05]

This year's F1 game delivers something for everyone. The feel for the driving is as deep as you want it to be. [Oct 2012]

Delivers very solid and atmospheric racing experience. Updated engine, physics and AI makes it feel more than a season update glued over its predecessor. [Nov 2011]

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

A strange mix of a decent side quest and a Mass Effect sketch comedy show. It's nice having the whole crew together for the last time, but the jokes are really not that funny or entertaining. Fan service meets fan fiction meets cheesy writing. [Apr 2013]

A very good reboot for the series. 3D-arenas have been axed, so the combat system is simpler and at the same time more refined. [May 2011]

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]

A technically sound and entertaining sandbox for arcade racers. The name should be Need for Burnout, though. [Dec 2012]

The second game from Big Huge Game designer Brian Reynolds takes careful steps to renew real-time strategy gaming, but does not dare step far enough. The game is beautiful and has lots of great ideas, but lacks in feeling, mostly due to bad sound effects. [June 2006]

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 light but very enjoyable flight sim with great weapons and a well written story. It is technically flawless and the best Ace Combat game so far. [PELIT Feb. 05]

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

Yet another stylish, superbly designed game from Introversion. Not the most long-lasting single play experience, but for the price, who dares to complain? [Dec 2006, p.82]

Skate 2 makes the best skate game out there even better. [Jan 2009]

More like an add-on than a real sequel. Despite that, Earned in Blood has better AI and is overall better than the first one. The best WW2 team leader game at the moment. [Nov 2005]

Really inventive space odyssey proves once again that cheap X-Wings of innovation win Death Stars of Evil AAA-Empire. [Oct 2012]

Same game has different name. Only die-hard fans should buy this DLC, because it doesn't add much to the experience. Samurai units are too powerful making other new units nearly useless. [Nov 2011]

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]

Doesn’t have an instant appeal to it, but after a while Borderlands can get seriously addictive. It’s really quite impressive when you realize, that you've put 40 hours into a single player fps game! Still, the game could offer a bit more depth with the character builds. One active skill per character is really not enough. The laggy co-op in Xbox Live is a sore disappointment. [Nov 2010]

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]

Innovative, fun to play and a joy to watch. A breath of fresh air in the stale real-time strategy genre. [Mar 2006]

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]

Does not offer anything drastically new compared to its predecessor. An excellent strategy-RPG, nonetheless. [Jan 2007]

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]

A beautiful RPG with absolutely superb battle mechanics. Unfortunately, the game takes place in a bland fantasy realm and has a virtually nonexistent plot. [Sept 2007]

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]

Fun arcade-style shooting game combining light roguelike elements, black humor and disgusting things of all sorts. [Nov 2011]

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

An interesting and entertaining combination of shoot 'em up gameplay, electro music and technoesque visuals. Very much like Rez, then. [June 2011]

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]

So stylish it looks like art, but surprisingly it is also a very good game. [Apr. 05]

Has a huge amount of interesting wrestlers and game modes. Too bad the clunky and buggy fighting system is so clearly outdated. [Jan 2006]

An excellent and incredibly addictive puzzle game/RPG hybrid. [June 2007]

The idea of mixing elements of role playing games and first person shooters with Diablo style item hunting might seem absurd at first, but Borderlands proves that such unique combination can actually work. The two DLC packs, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and Mad Maxxi’s Underdome Riot, expand the Borderlands experience further, but in their own different ways. The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is a story-driven adventure that, as the name suggests, involves a lot of zombie shooting, whereas Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot concentrates on multiplayer and arena battles. Both are good in their own right, but Ned’s Zombie Island offers more fun moments and bang for your buck. [Feb 2010]

A first-class multiplayer-FPS. It doesn't do anything new, but what it does, it does very well. It’s fun and entertaining. [July 2009]

Kid Icarus: Uprising is an underdog tale: how an action game can be thoroughly enjoyable even when it suffers from some severe control problems. [May 2012]

An enjoyable platformer that is all about sneaking. Running around mindlessly and smashing everything will not get you anywhere. Full of great details. [Nov 2005]

A refreshingly original platformer. The levels are magnificent and the physics work perfectly. [Aug 2006, p.43]

The newest iteration of the Anno series builds successfully on the previous Anno games. Setting Anno 2070 in the future gives the game a whole new angle. Managing the economy and mastering trade and diplomacy are of course vital, but it is the Waterworld-esque setting that distinguishes Anno 2070 from its competitors. Will you go green and use renewable energy? Or do whatever it takes to generate enough energy for your colony – even if it means polluting your surroundings? [Jan 2012]

An entertaining realism-oriented basketball game. A franchise game in both good and bad. [Feb. 05]

Fallout 3: Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta are Fallout 3's last two expansions and surprisingly from the opposite ends of the quality spectrum. Point Lookout is an enjoyable, well-made and immersive swamp adventure, whereas Mothership Zeta is boring as hell and plays like a crappy FPS. [Aug 2009]

A game that stirs up mixed feelings. The sword fighting is fun and the quirky originality of the dialogue, style and atmosphere make a lot for the negatives, namely the boring side jobs and the dead GTA style city. Also the visuals are a mixed bag. The cartoony characters look good and the retro touches are wonderful. On the other hand many places are bland and down right ugly. The bloodless European version feels neutered. Still overall, No More Heroes is a positive and refreshing experience. [May 2008]

Cartoony tower defense game is the perfect blend of strategy, hands-on FPS-action and ingenious trap designs. Killing orcs hasn't been this much fun since Helm's Deep. [Nov 2011]

The super powerful brakes and dumbed-down controls do a lot of damage to an otherwise decent off-road fest. Rallisport Challenge 2 did the same things much better. [Aug 2007]

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

Makes you really feel the power of Hulk. Destroying everything is fun, but in the long run it tends to get a bit boring. [Oct 2005]

Expands the original Xbox Fable with new adventures, equipment and other stuff. The PC conversion is beautiful and an all-around fine piece of work, but the main plot is still too short and the world does not feel alive. [Oct 2005]

Hopefully the public will see the gravity of this situation, because the newest Angry Birds game is the best of the bunch. The concept is more hardcorish than before and the space brings its own physics to the game. This is so addictive! [Apr 2012]

Calling a revised version of a five-year-old game Ultimate is a stretch, even if you do add a flawless multiplayer mode and propably the most beautiful graphics seen on Xbox. [Mar. 05]

A fine fighter, but the Tekken characters feel like Street Fighter characters. Multiplayer is also laggy. [Apr 2012]

Black Ops II is a mixed bag. The single-player features the most coherent and engaging storyline seen in the series so far. While the story really shines, the campaign itself feels over-scripted and underwhelming. It's hard not to enjoy the multiplayer, though. While one could argue it's the same old Ground War, it's still a lot of fun. [Dec 2012]

Loyal to the game of basketball in every possible way. There are more offensive options than one can even imagine to use and new defensive controls are a great addition. My Player mode is the best career mode in sports games so far. However, there are some issues with camera angles and a couple of awkward glitches that need to be fixed. [Nov 2010]

Wohoo, singleplayer campaign! Oops, its over already. Come on! [May 2012]

Super-fast fun. New engine makes the shooting look absolutely amazing and some balance fine-tuning fix the few things that didn't work in the 2004 version. The new hoverboard especially is a great addition; with it you can zip back to the action in seconds and there is no boring downtime anymore. [Dec 2007]