PC Action Games

Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing

Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing

Platform: PC
April 22, 2010
(Dowloadable Content) Left 4 Dead 2’s "The Passing" brings the original Left 4 Dead Survivors down south for a meeting with the L4D2 cast, while delivering new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay.
Metascore:
75
User Score:
7.5
Beat Hazard

Beat Hazard

Platform: PC
April 15, 2010
Experience your music collection like never before with this intense music driven arcade shooter. Each of your songs will have its own unique ebb and flow based on the music. Power up your spaceship and watch as the music boosts your firepower. Unleash hell on the enemy ships when you max out with weapon pickups! Beat Hazard seamlessly mixes the love of gaming and music. Together they become greater than the sum of their parts.
Metascore:
70
User Score:
7.2
The Scourge Project: Episodes 1 and 2

The Scourge Project: Episodes 1 and 2

Platform: PC
April 9, 2010
Set in the near future, The Scourge Project throws you into the boots of Echo Squad, an elite group of mercenaries hired by The Tarn Initiative to deal a decisive blow against the power-hungry Nogari Corporation. Your mission: First, to locate and rescue Dr Reisbeck, Tarn's double-agent inside Nogari; Second, to recover a piece of the meteorite fragment that Nogari has used to develop Ambrosia, the powerful new energy source with which they now control the world economy. Stranded on Nogari Island shortly after being mysteriously attacked during your covert insertion, and surrounded on all sides by hostile forces, you'll need all of your skill to stay alive as you fight your way through the chaos that has consumed the alien-infested facilities that lie before you... The Scourge Project is a 3rd-Person Shooter created using Unreal Engine 3 to deliver exciting single, co-op, and multiplayer game play. [Tragnarion Studios]
Metascore:
44
User Score:
4.5
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West

Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West

Platform: PC
April 8, 2010
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West is a third person shooter delivering an intense team based multiplayer experience. Relive the violent era of the Wild West as it ought to be with adrenaline fueled action and fast paced gunfights. Fight gritty battles in beautifully rendered classic western settings. Test your mettle in genre specific game modes and levels tailor-made for satisfying team play. Lead and Gold features the unique Synergy system, a power up system encouraging co-operation and team tactics. The Synergy system permeates the frantic shooter gameplay and rewards the player for objective oriented gameplay. [Paradox Interactive]
Metascore:
70
User Score:
8.2
Plain Sight

Plain Sight

Platform: PC
April 5, 2010
Plain Sight is a multiplayer arcade game about suicidal ninja robots. Fly through space, leap over planetoids and destroy opponents with your trusty katana. Killing fellow robots lets you steal their tasty, tasty energy. Packed with spinach-like goodness; energy makes you bigger, stronger, faster and generally more awesome. Being all big and badass is great, but in this game it doesn’t win you the match. It makes you a target. To win, you have to convert your energy into points. How do you do this? Simple. Kill yourself. Press the button and turn your happy little robot into a vicious ball of enemy-absorbing plasma. The more opponents you take out, the better. Upgrade your robot, respawn and get stuck in again. [Beatnik Games]
Metascore:
76
User Score:
7.4
Metro 2033

Metro 2033

Platform: PC
March 16, 2010
Set in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow, Metro 2033 is a story of intensive underground survival where the fate of mankind rests in your hands. In 2013 the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the earth’s surface into a poisonous wasteland. A handful of survivors took refuge in the depths of the Moscow underground, and human civilization entered a new Dark Age. The year is 2033. An entire generation has been born and raised underground, and their besieged Metro Station-Cities struggle for survival, with each other, and the mutant horrors that await outside. You are Artyom, born in the last days before the fire, but raised Underground. Having never ventured beyond your Metro Station-City limits, one fateful event sparks a desperate mission to the heart of the Metro system, to warn the remnants of mankind of a terrible impending threat. Your journey takes you from the forgotten catacombs beneath the subway to the desolate wastelands above, where your actions will determine the fate of mankind. [THQ]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
8.1
Shatter (2009)

Shatter (2009)

Platform: PC
March 15, 2010
Shatter is a retro-inspired brick-breaking game that merges familiar action with unique twists and a modern crafted production approach. [Steam]
Metascore:
84
User Score:
7.3
Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Platform: PC
March 2, 2010
In this installment, the Bad Company crew again find themselves in the heart of the action, where they must use every weapon and vehicle at their disposal to survive. In Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the 'B' company fight their way through snowy mountaintops, dense jungles and dusty villages. With a heavy arsenal of deadly weapons and a slew of vehicles to aid them, the crew set off on their mission and they are ready to blow up, shoot down, blast through, wipe out and utterly destroy anything that gets in their way. Total destruction is the name of the game, delivered as only the DICE next generation Frostbite engine can. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
87
User Score:
8.2
Disney Alice in Wonderland

Disney Alice in Wonderland

Platform: PC
March 2, 2010
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fall down the rabbit hole? Explore a visually stunning world filled with whimsical settings, optical illusions, curiously challenging puzzles, and formidable adversaries. Play as the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat and other memorable characters from the film. [Disney]
Metascore:
63
User Score:
5.6
Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx

Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx

Platform: PC
February 25, 2010
(Downloadable Content) Borderlands goes to ELEVEN! You may have seen some games raise their level cap by 5, or maybe even 10, but with The Crimson Lance Assassination Squads wreaking havoc and Crawmerax the Invincible being all invulnerable and stuff we knew you'd need more than just 10. And that's why Borderlands goes to ELEVEN! The Secret Armory of General Knoxx is an add-on pack for Borderlands that adds new guns, new Class Mods, new vehicles, new missions, new enemy types, and increases the level cap to 61. [Xbox.com]
Metascore:
86
User Score:
7.1
Aliens vs. Predator

Aliens vs. Predator

Platform: PC
February 16, 2010
Developed at Rebellion by the team responsible for the original 1999 PC classic, the all-new Aliens vs. Predator allows players to take the role of three infamous species: Colonial Marines, Predators and Aliens. The game features a unique three-way online multiplayer experience, allowing gamers to battle for survival and the right to be crowned the deadliest species in the galaxy. Each race also has its own distinct action-packed single-player campaign mode, with a storyline that cleverly interweaves with the other two species’ paths. Set on planet BG-386; a human colonist mining group discovers an ancient pyramid containing a dark and horrible secret. Across the galaxy, a race of warriors is alerted to the discovery of their pyramid and a hunting party is dispatched to ensure that it remains sealed at all costs. Deep inside the ruined pyramid meanwhile, nature's deadliest species awakes from centuries of hibernation intent on finding new prey. The Colonial Marine's story is an incredible fight against all odds from horrors lurking in the dark. Surrounded on all sides yet armed to the teeth, the Colonial Marine represents humanity's last stand with the firepower to fight back. As the Alien, players discover what it's like to be the scariest, most murderous creature in the universe, with the ability to traverse any surface at lightning speed in order to get close enough to unleash its deadly claws, tail and teeth. A master of the hunt, the Predator grants the player an arsenal of exotic weaponry with which to stalk from the shadows. Earn the greatest honor by ambushing prey up-close, before butchering them for a gory trophy kill. [Sega]
Metascore:
68
User Score:
7.4
BioShock 2

BioShock 2

Platform: PC
February 9, 2010
Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. You are the very first Big Daddy as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and your own survival. Multiplayer in BioShock 2 provides a rich prequel experience that expands the BioShock gameplay. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of Plasmid test subject in the underwater city that was first explored in the original BioShock. Players will need to use all the elements of the game's toolset to survive as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a unique multiplayer experience that can only be found in Rapture. [2K Games]
Metascore:
88
User Score:
8.2
Max & the Magic Marker

Max & the Magic Marker

Platform: PC
February 8, 2010
In the game Max has a magic marker, that makes it possible for him to draw anything he wants – and it becomes real! Unfortunately the monster he drew also became real – so he's got to find and catch it before it causes too much trouble. [Press Play]
Metascore:
71
User Score:
5.7
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

Platform: PC
February 2, 2010
The events of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat unfold shortly after the end of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Having discovered about the open path to the Zone center, the government decides to hold a large-scale military "Fairway" operation aimed to take the CNPP under control. According to the operation's plan, the first military group is to conduct an air scouting of the territory to map out the detailed layouts of anomalous fields location. Thereafter, making use of the maps, the main military forces are to be dispatched. Despite thorough preparations, the operation fails. Most of the avant-garde helicopters crash. In order to collect information on reasons behind the operation failure, Ukraine's Security Service send their agent into the Zone center. From now on everything depends on the player. [GSC GameWorld]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
8.6
Toki Tori

Toki Tori

Platform: PC
January 28, 2010
The gameplay in Toki Tori is a blend of two genres. While it looks like a platform game, it's a puzzle game at heart. To progress through the game, the player must pick up each egg in a level using a set number of tools. Players will have to look and plan ahead carefully while using items such as the Telewarp, Freeze-o-Matic and InstantRock. Additional tools are gradually introduced as the player progresses through the game's 80+ levels covering four unique worlds. [Steam]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
7.6
Bob Came in Pieces

Bob Came in Pieces

Platform: PC
January 22, 2010
Bob has crashed on a strange planet, lost a bunch of parts for his ship and above all, is late for work! Find the lost parts and rebuild your ship along the way to solve challenging, physics-based puzzles. You can build your ship any way you like in the ship builder – try to find the coolest ship-design for the puzzle at hand. [Ludosity]
Metascore:
73
User Score:
4.8
Dark Void

Dark Void

Platform: PC
January 19, 2010
Dark Void is a sci-fi action-adventure game that combines an adrenaline-fuelled blend of aerial and on-foot combat set in a parallel universe called "The Void". Players assume the role of Will; a pilot dropped into incredible circumstances while on a routine air cargo flight crashes in the Bermuda triangle leading him to be trapped in the Void. This unlikely hero soon finds himself swept into a desperate struggle for survival at the head of a group called The Survivors. Trapped in the Void, these resistance fighters are battling to hold off a mysterious alien race that plans to threaten Earth. Dark Void's unique combination of in-air and on-ground combat creates a thrilling new gameplay dynamic to the third-person shooter experience. Taking 3D action to a whole new level, Dark Void's vertical combat system allows players to dangle from thousand foot drops as they take cover and drop enemies from above and below, bringing a whole new sense of vulnerability and thrill to the player. Defying gravity in vertical combat is only half the battle as, over time, Will is upgraded to a powerful rocket pack which allows for fierce in-air combat as gamers are able to fly through the void at unparallel speeds shooting down anything that gets in their path. Blasting away at massive bosses has never been this much fun as Dark Void offers a unique grip system made up of a variety of grip-based mini-games including skyjacking UFOs mid-flight. [Capcom]
Metascore:
57
User Score:
5.2
VVVVVV

VVVVVV

Platform: PC
January 11, 2010
VVVVVV is a retro styled 2D platformer by Terry Cavanagh, creator of dozens of free games. You play as the fearless leader of a team of dimension exploring scientists who inadvertently crash, and are separated. The game involves exploring the strange world you've found yourself in, and reuniting your friends. VVVVVV explores one simple game mechanic: you cannot jump - instead, you reverse your own gravity at the press of a button. The game focuses on playing with this mechanic in a variety of interesting ways. The game is designed not to artificially gate your progress. In VVVVVV there are no locks, no power-ups, no switches, nothing to stop you progressing except the challenges themselves.
Metascore:
81
User Score:
7.9
Borderlands: Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot

Borderlands: Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot

Platform: PC
January 7, 2010
[Downloadable Content] Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot is an add-on pack for Borderlands that includes a new cooperative arena game mode and a stash to store your gear. Are you god's gift to gun fights? Think you're the best? Wanna prove it? Then help us celebrate the grand opening of Marcus Bank (a subsidiary of Marcus Corp) by killing hundreds and hundreds of people in Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, the only competitive arena around where your next of kin can be assured that you're coming back famous . . . or not at all. [Microsoft]
Metascore:
58
User Score:
3.8
Borderlands: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned

Borderlands: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned

Platform: PC
December 8, 2009
(Downloadable Content) The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is an add-on pack for Borderlands with new enemy types, new missions, and new ... surprises. The Jakobs Corporation would like to invite you to experience the splendor of a corporate owned small town known as Jakobs Cove. Any rumors you may have heard about the "undead" walking our streets are completely preposterous and we officially deny them all. If those rumors turn out to be true simply purchase a firearm from the conveniently located Jakobs Brand Vending Machines and aim for the head. Also, would you mind saving our employees? (Non-union only please).
Metascore:
84
User Score:
7.4
Altitude

Altitude

Platform: PC
December 4, 2009
Welcome to Altitude, the best multiplayer 2-D aerial combat game on the internet. Altitude is a fierce contest of ace vs ace, battling for supremacy of the skies in a fast paced combat that is way more fun than a flight simulator. It is a game of steely nerves, hair-trigger reflexes and brilliant tactical thinking. Altitude will stretch you to the limit from the upper reaches of the stratosphere, the relics of a long forgotten city, to within the deepest hollows of underground caverns. It offers five unique planes to choose from and an online community that will provide you with hours of entertainment. So stretch those fingers, get your game face on, and prepare to blast your way across the cartoon skies in this fast-paced game of aerial combat. The sirens have sounded, bogies are coming in hot… so jump into the fast and agile Loopy and drop your enemies from the sky with a tactical EMP blast - but get out of the way before your Biplane support tears them to pieces with 20mm cannons blazing! Barrel roll through the enemy minefield and arm your nuke as you enter the drop zone. There it is - the enemy base - but two Mirandas just warped in with lasers hot, and an Explodet is lumbering into position over their hangar decks — will you carry your team to victory? [Nimbly]
Metascore:
79
User Score:
8.5
Rogue Warrior

Rogue Warrior

Platform: PC
December 1, 2009
Rogue Warrior is a character-driven, first-person-shooter, featuring Richard "Demo Dick" Marcinko's explosive personality in an action-packed single player campaign, and intense multiplayer combat. Playing as Richard "Demo Dick" Marcinko, you go behind the iron curtain to disrupt a suspected North Korean ballistic missile program. Soon into the mission, you uncover a conspiracy that could turn the tides of the Cold War in the communists' favor. You must then take the mission into your own hands as you enter into the bowels of the USSR to destroy a technology that could change the balance of geopolitical power, leaving a trail of destruction in your wake! [Bethesda Softworks]
Metascore:
29
User Score:
3.4
James Cameron's Avatar: The Game

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game

Platform: PC
December 1, 2009
Based on James Cameron's film, the game takes you deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is beyond imagination. Gamers encounter the Na'vi, Pandora's indigenous people and discover creatures and other wildlife the likes of which have never been seen in the world of video games before. When conflict erupts between the RDA Corporation, a space-faring consortium in search of valuable resources, and the Na'vi, players find themselves thrust into a fight for the heart of a planet and the fate of a civilization. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
59
User Score:
7.1
Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

Platform: PC
November 24, 2009
The indie sensation Serious Sam: The First Encounter is reborn in glorious high-definition for legions of long-time fans and a whole new generation of gamers around the world. Featuring dazzling visuals and revamped design, gamers take control of the legendary Sam ‘Serious’ Stone as he is sent back through time to ancient Egypt to battle the overwhelming forces of Lord Mental and the Sirian army.
Metascore:
68
User Score:
8.1
Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2

Platform: PC
November 16, 2009
Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) is the highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning Left 4 Dead. This co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns. Play as one of four new survivors armed with a wide and devastating array of classic and upgraded weapons. In addition to firearms, you'll also get a chance to take out some aggression on infected with a variety of carnage-creating melee weapons, from chainsaws to axes and even the deadly frying pan. You'll be putting these weapons to the test against (or playing as in Versus) three horrific and formidable new Special Infected. You’ll also encounter five new "uncommon" common infected, including the terrifying Mudmen. Helping to take L4D's frantic, action-packed gameplay to the next level is AI Director 2.0. This improved Director has the ability to procedurally change the weather you’ll fight through and the pathways you'll take, in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match your performance. L4D2 promises a satisfying and uniquely challenging experience every time the game is played, custom-fitted to your style of play. [Valve]
Metascore:
89
User Score:
8.4
Star Trek: D-A-C

Star Trek: D-A-C

Platform: PC
November 12, 2009
Star Trek: D-A-C allows fans to pitch battles between Starfleet and the Romulan Empire. Up to 12 players can compete in thrilling team combat. There are three game play modes - single player, online multiplayer and online co-op. For each mode, there are three different game types - Team Deathmatch, Assault and Conquest. Players can now choose from four ship types for each faction, including the new U.S.S. Enterprise featured in the "Star Trek" film. Each ship - the powerful Flagship, the aggressive Fighter, the nimble Bomber and the all-new Support Frigate - offers its own unique capabilities for players to master and manipulate as they fight for victory. The Support Frigate allows players to heal friendly ships and easily target enemy escape pods. New gameplay updates in Star Trek: D-A-C for PlayStation Network include variable AI difficultly settings, customizable goals that allow players to set game time limits and number of kills needed to win, improved mechanics for capturing control points in Conquest games, and host migration, which will allow games to continue even if the host player disconnects. [Paramount Digital Entertainment]
Metascore:
50
User Score:
3.8
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Platform: PC
November 10, 2009
Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. An entirely new gameplay mode which supports 2-player co-operative play online that is unique from the single player story campaign. Special Ops pits players into a gauntlet of time-trial and objective-based missions. Rank-up as players unlock new Special Ops missions, each more difficult. Missions include highlights from the single player campaign, fan favorites from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and all new, exclusive missions. Setting a new bar for online multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer delivers new capabilities, customization, gamestates and modes, including: Create-a-Class Evolved. Secondary Weapons - Machine Pistols, Shotguns, Handguns, Launchers. Riot Shields. Equipment - Throwing Knives, Blast Shield, Tactical Insertion. Perk Upgrades. Bling (Dual Attachments). Customizable Killstreaks - AC130, Sentry Gun, Predator Missile, Counter-UAV, Care Package. Accolades (Post match reports). [Activision]
Metascore:
86
User Score:
4.7
Guns of Icarus

Guns of Icarus

Platform: PC
November 4, 2009
In an apocalyptic steampunk future, you are a privateer ferrying goods across treacherous airspace. Protect your airship and yourself from an onslaught of pirates, and safely reach your destination to reap the rewards. [Muse Games]
Metascore:
47
User Score:
3.8
Shattered Horizon

Shattered Horizon

Platform: PC
November 4, 2009
Shattered Horizon is the first game from Futuremark Games Studio that immerses you in the cold reality of combat in space. This multiplayer first-person shooter is played entirely in zero gravity. A catastrophic explosion on the Moon has filled near-Earth space with billions of tons of rocky debris. You and your friends will join intense 32 player battles to control hollowed-out asteroids, huge fragments of Moon rock and the ruined remains of the International Space Station. With simple and intuitive controls, you have complete freedom of movement in the distinctive zero gravity environments. Not only can you use your rocket pack to fly anywhere but you can also land on any surface to attack your enemies from unexpected angles. Shattered Horizon challenges you to take your FPS skills to the next level adapting what you have learned on the battlefield to create new tactics in a fully three dimensional battle space. With your rifle at the ready you can handle anything the enemy can throw at you. But if you let go of your gun, chances are you're already dead. [Steam]
Metascore:
72
User Score:
8.0
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition

Platform: PC
November 3, 2009
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed casts players as Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" and promises to unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The expansive story, created under direction from George Lucas, is set during the largely unexplored era between "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" and "Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope." In it, players assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny. Unleash and upgrade the Secret Apprentice's four core Force powers - Force push, grip, repulse and lightning - throughout the course of the game, and combine them for ultra-destructive, never-before-seen combos. The Secret Apprentice doesn't just Force push enemies into walls - he Force pushes enemies through walls.
Metascore:
65
User Score:
6.2
Painkiller: Resurrection

Painkiller: Resurrection

Platform: PC
October 27, 2009
William "Wild Bill" Sherman, an ex CIA Agent and specialist for dangerous missions in the Black Ops Special Unit has a big problem: during his last job, he has managed to not only kill the head of an illegal drug operation and a slew of innocent civilians, but himself in a fatal mistake. Trapped in a hostile place between heaven and hell, his soul flickers between the millions of faceless infidels and good and evil forces start to use Wild Bill for their own needs. But, it turns out that nothing is as it seemed at the beginning - solve the mystery and give the equilibrium between heaven and hell a little flip! [DreamCatcher]
Metascore:
38
User Score:
4.1
Borderlands

Borderlands

Platform: PC
October 26, 2009
As the first title in an all-new sci-fi action franchise, Borderlands combines the best elements of Gearbox Software's first-person action titles with player customization and vehicular combat. Borderlands features a unique content generation system allowing for near-endless variety in missions, environments, enemies, weapons, item drops and character customization. Borderlands is a cooperative experience, allowing for multiple players to share the same game experience simultaneously online. Players can freely join or leave each other’s games at anytime, or choose to play in the full single-player mode. Borderlands features life-like character animations, impressive real-time physics, and customizable vehicles. More details to follow. [2K Games/Gearbox Software]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
7.6
Dreamkiller

Dreamkiller

Platform: PC
October 12, 2009
Dreamkiller takes gamers inside the world of dark and twisted nightmares. Gamers take on the role of Alice Drake, a psychologist with the extraordinary ability to enter the minds of her patients and combat the ravenous foes haunting their dreams. Utilizing a host of fantastic weapons and her own special abilities, Alice confronts our common demons only to discover an even deeper menace reigns within. The ultimate showdown becomes inevitable between that which would torment and she who will protect, and only one force will prevail amidst a variety of dreamscapes as varied and bizarre as the human mind itself. The world of dreams and nightmares allows for each level to be a completely different environment with different sets of enemies. In each dream world players can enter a secondary level of the subconscious - a world within a world - and encounter new enemies, weapons and power-ups. Players can use Alice’s teleportation powers to quickly zoom around rooms to dodge enemies and achieve a tactical advantage over enemies. Alice's weapons are massive and fierce, each featuring two unique attacks and outlandish ammunition including lightning bolts, lasers, sticky grenades and even "Happy Thoughts." [Aspyr]
Metascore:
47
User Score:
5.3
Lucidity

Lucidity

Platform: PC
October 7, 2009
[Downloadable Game] From the team that re-imagined The Secret of Monkey Island, comes Lucidity, an addictive puzzle platformer set in the surreal childlike dreamscapes of the little girl Sofi. In this challenging puzzler, keep Sofi safe as she drifts deeper into the strange new world of her dreams. Featuring stunning hand-illustrated visuals, a spellbinding original score and unique puzzle platformer gameplay, Lucidity challenges your wits, tests your reflexes, and mesmerizes your senses. A surreal fantasy: Take a trip into the surreal childlike dreamscapes of Sofi, a little girl filled with a persistent desire to explore new worlds and overcome all obstacles in her way. As she drifts into a vivid dream world where, beckoned by the kind words of her grandmother, she learns to overcome her fears, test your skills in this addictive puzzle platformer where through quick reactions and placement of unique puzzle pieces, you must create a path to help Sofi traverse safely through 27 visually stunning, hand-illustrated dreamscapes. Mesmerizing dreamscapes: Like a children's storybook come to life, get lost in mesmerizing dreamscapes detailed with beautiful hand-drawn contemporary art. Addictive puzzle-platformer gameplay: Skillfully place unique puzzle pieces designed to propel Sofi to and from suspended platforms, or over and under obstacles, in an effort to maintain her state of perpetual motion. [LucasArts]
Metascore:
59
User Score:
4.8
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Platform: PC
October 6, 2009
Taking gamers as close to war as they'll ever want to get, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is the much anticipated return of the genre-defining military conflict simulator. Set to deliver the total combat experience, Flashpoint: Dragon Rising challenges players to survive the chaos and rapidly evolving situations of modern warfare in a new contemporary theatre. Players experience the intensity, diversity and claustrophobia of a modern conflict from the unique perspectives of an infantry marine, a helicopter pilot, a Special Forces officer or a tank commander, each engaged against the full force of the Chinese PLA on a scale never previously experienced in a military action title. Gameplay simulates an immense conflict between advanced forces and provides unparalleled scope with different military disciplines, vehicles and equipment for players to utilize. [Codemasters]
Metascore:
76
User Score:
5.0
Adam's Venture: The Search for the Lost Garden

Adam's Venture: The Search for the Lost Garden

Platform: PC
October 2, 2009
In an old Templar church in Luz, France, young explorer Adam Venture studies relics that were brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades. He comes across the memoirs of Charles L'Heureux, a knight who joined the Third Crusade with Richard the Lionheart. The knight writes that during his travels in the year 1191, he, Charles L'Heureux, was given an old scroll. Once he understood its meaning, he asked permission to split off from his regiment that was headed for Jerusalem, and instead traveled East by himself. The memoirs then point Adam to the hidden scroll, buried in a tomb underneath the church. The scroll is filled with ancient symbols. They mention a mysterious labyrinth of caves and grotto's, guarding the headwaters of four rivers: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, Euphrates. [Vertical]
Metascore:
52
User Score:
5.9
Left 4 Dead: Crash Course

Left 4 Dead: Crash Course

Platform: PC
September 29, 2009
(Downloadable Content) Left 4 Dead's latest DLC delivers an all-new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay experience, expanding the game universe with new locations, new dialogue from the original cast, and an explosive finale. At the finale of No Mercy, our four Survivors fought their way to the rooftop of Mercy Hospital, where they were flown away to safety in a helicopter. Crash Course continues the story moments later, taking our heroes from a fiery helicopter crash in the outskirts of Riverside to the escape vehicle that will lead them to the events in Death Toll. While containing both Survival maps and a Co-operative Campaign, one of the primary goal of Crash Course is Versus mode. Crash delivers a complete, streamlined Versus mode experience in just 30 minutes. A recharge timer for infected teammates has also been added, so you can better coordinate your attacks. Item spawn behavior has changed for more balanced gameplay. [Valve]
Metascore:
78
User Score:
6.9
Madballs in Babo: Invasion

Madballs in Babo: Invasion

Platform: PC
September 17, 2009
Combat revolved! In Madballs in … Babo: Invasion, campaign across distant worlds either solo or with four-player online co-op, taking no prisoners in your wake. Challenge your friends (and your enemies) to see who's the baddest ball on the planet in no-holds-barred 16-player multiplayer arenas with freaky characters! Or really push your limits and try your hand at Invasion Mode where combatants create the very worlds where they wage war. Dozens of unique character classes, weapons, special abilities, worlds, unlocks, secrets, maps, and game modes give you limitless gameplay!
Metascore:
79
User Score:
8.6
Zuma's Revenge!

Zuma's Revenge!

Platform: PC
September 15, 2009
Enter an all-new world of Zuma where evil tiki bosses rule the land! Conquer over 60 levels by firing stone spheres to make matches and destroy the deadly stream of balls, then take on six tiki boss battles and guide your agile amphibian to victory! Leap into action in four game modes with explosive new features and amazing new gameplay: Slide and hop for smarter shots, hit targets for exotic bonuses, and detonate new power-up balls! Will you succumb to the perilous pitfalls, or can you tame the jungle in this PopCap ball-blasting challenge? [PopCap Games]
Metascore:
78
User Score:
7.5
Red Faction: Guerrilla

Red Faction: Guerrilla

Platform: PC
September 15, 2009
Red Faction: Guerrilla is a 3rd person, open-world action shooter set on Mars, 50 years after the events of the original Red Faction. Players assume the role of an insurgent fighter with the newly re-established Red Faction movement as they battle for liberation from the oppressive Earth Defense Force. Throughout their fight for freedom, players carve their own path, wreaking havoc across the vast, open-world environment of Mars, from the desolate mining outpost of Parker to the gleaming EDF capital city of Eos. Utilizing improvised weapons, explosives and re-purposed mining equipment and vehicles, Red Faction: Guerrilla allows players to tear through fully destructible environments in an unforgiving Martian landscape swarming with EDF forces, Red Faction resistance fighters, and the downtrodden settlers caught in the cross-fire. Red Faction: Guerrilla also features a robust multiplayer component, including several modes focused on destruction-based gameplay. [THQ]
Metascore:
82
User Score:
7.5
Darkest of Days

Darkest of Days

Platform: PC
September 7, 2009
In Darkest of Days, you'll get to experience some of the most varied gameplay ever released in one title. Thigns will never get stale as you travel to distant times and fight alongside people from that time period. Fighting in Antietam (the bloodiest day of the American Civil War) feels much different than fighting on the side of the Russians at Tannenberg (where the Russians withstood 140,000 casualties in WWI). [Phantom EFX]
Metascore:
51
User Score:
6.0
AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!!: A Reckless Disregard for Gravity

AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!!: A Reckless Disregard for Gravity

Platform: PC
September 3, 2009
BASE jump through a floating city, creating your own stunts to delight your fans. You dive off a skyscraper, relying on quick reflexes to negotiate the intricate tangle of girders that make up the floating city. All eyes are on you as the judges mark your score. One hundred points for hugging those exposed struts as you fall. A thousand for planting a kiss on the side of that building. Twisting and turning, you thread the needle between two billboards, earning cheers from your fans. But while reflexes are important, it's quick thinking that gets you the win. One block away, you spot a crowd of protesters decrying your sport, and make a split second decision. You break off course, stare them straight in the eye, and flip them the finger. They explode into a burst of fury, but the judges absolutely love it, bumping you up to first place. Now all you have to do is to make that landing without ending up a loose sack of broken bones. [Steam]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
7.1
Section 8

Section 8

Platform: PC
August 25, 2009
On the war-torn planets of tomorrow, mankind's greatest battle is about to begin. With its frontier colonies devastated by a growing insurrection, Earth dispatches the elite 8th Armored Infantry (nicknamed "Section 8") to repel the coming onslaught. The nickname refers to an old United States military regulation where a soldier would be dismissed from service through being mentally unfit for duty. The near-suicidal missions that this division volunteers for brands them as insane by other military units. Section 8 deploys by 'burning in' from their orbital drop ships tens of thousands of feet above the battlefield, utilizing the most advanced arsenal of military hardware known to man. Their mission: to scout and secure difficult objectives and smash enemy defenses in lightning-quick assaults. An intense first-person shooter, Section 8 allows players to dynamically alter the flow of combat as they see fit. Employing tactical assets and on-demand vehicle deliveries, players are given unprecedented strategic control over epic sci-fi battlefields. [SouthPeak Interactive]
Metascore:
72
User Score:
6.9
Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger

Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger

Platform: PC
August 25, 2009
Raven Squad puts players in control of two groups of mercenary squads who crash land behind enemy lines in the Amazonian jungles. It requires tactical planning and a liberal amount of brute force to escape to safety. Each of the eight squad members possesses distinctive skills and weaponry that the player has to use wisely to progress through the game's story driven objectives. Raven Squad sets itself apart by allowing players to switch freely between real-time strategy and first-person shooter gameplay. Only by mastering both of these modes of play, and becoming adept at switching between the two, can players make it out of the jungle alive. [SouthPeak Games]
Metascore:
39
User Score:
3.1
CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft

Platform: PC
August 25, 2009
CrimeCraft is a Persistent World Next-gen Shooter (PWNS) that blends a gripping, action-packed shooter experience with the best community and role-playing elements found in massively multi-player games. CrimeCraft is set in a gritty fictional city of the near future, following an ecological disaster of unprecedented scale, where the price of life is far less valuable than one’s reputation. Join thousands of players online as you learn the rules of the street, build your own gang and do whatever it takes to survive amidst the chaos. Earn a reputation. Build a gang. Kill the competition. [Vogster]
Metascore:
57
User Score:
5.9
Wolfenstein

Wolfenstein

Platform: PC
August 18, 2009
Set within a near-fictional, historical WWII setting, players take on the role of the heroic OSA agent BJ Blazkowicz as they are thrust into the unknown and unexpected to battle against combat troops, otherworldly forces, and the dark science created by a supernatural Nazi force hell-bent on world domination. Wolfenstein offers players an action-packed experience as they investigate the powers of a dark parallel dimension, join with resistance forces, and employ an arsenal of conventional and otherworldly weapons in attempts to annihilate the Nazi war machine. Ensuring a deep variety of action, Wolfenstein provides gamers with an assortment of interlinked missions that drive an intense, story-driven combat experience; while the Wolfenstein multiplayer experience continues the world-renowned tradition of class-based team objective gameplay with a full arsenal of conventional and supernatural weapons for addictive online warfare. [Activision]
Metascore:
74
User Score:
7.6
Watchmen: The End Is Nigh Part 2

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh Part 2

Platform: PC
July 29, 2009
[Downloadable Game] It's June 1977, and any day now the passage of the Keene Act will outlaw all masked vigilantes not sanctioned by the government. Rorschach has uncovered a mysterious missing person's case. Together with the help of Nite Owl, the pair has set out to find the young girl in Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2. Their search takes them deep into the depraved, sleazy corners of the city, and eventually face-to-face with the mysterious Twilight Lady. The seedy underbelly of New York beckons … will you take the call? The journey continues: Rorschach and Nite Owl once again prowl the back alleys of the city in their quest for justice. Play as either character throughout the game. Voice acting: Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earl Haley reprise their roles as Nite Owl and Rorschach from the film, supplying voiceovers for the characters. Game modes: Play in single player or split-screen co-op multiplayer mode and bring justice to the city. [Warner Bros.]
Metascore:
44
User Score:
5.2
Bionic Commando

Bionic Commando

Platform: PC
July 28, 2009
The first true sequel to the classic 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System original, Bionic Commando sees the return of the bionically-enhanced Nathan "Rad" Spencer, voiced by Mike Patton, the former lead singer of Faith No More. Time has not been kind to Spencer: 10 years after his heroic defeat of the Imperials in the original game, he has been betrayed by the government he swore to serve, imprisoned for crimes he didn't commit, and sentenced to death. On the very day of Spencer's execution, terrorists detonate a massive experimental weapon in Ascension City, unleashing an intense earthquake that has turned the city into rubble and wiped out its population. With the terrain in ruins and the city's air defense grid now in the control of a massive terrorist force whose goal remains unclear, the FSA have only one option left - a behind-the-lines assault. The perfect job for a Bionic Commando. Bionic Commando transposes the swing-and-shoot gameplay of the 8-bit original to a stunning 3D environment of towering buildings, suspended roadways and monorails, deep canyons and sheer rock faces, where every environment is scalable using swinging, scaling, climbing and wall-walking techniques. [Capcom]
Metascore:
69
User Score:
6.6
Disney G-Force

Disney G-Force

Platform: PC
July 21, 2009
G-Force is a fast-paced action-platform game featuring a unique elite team of specially trained guinea pigs that use high-tech gadgets and specialized talents to complete a dangerous government mission. G-Force puts players in control of both Darwin, the guinea pig leader of the covert intelligence G-Force squad, and housefly surveillance sidekick, Mooch, as they team up with the other G-Force agents and use their gadgets, stealth mastery and pint-sized teamwork as mankinds only hope to complete a dangerous high-level government mission. G-Force uses innovative gameplay featuring a unique sense of scale, puzzle solving that requires players to manipulate environments and enemies, including diabolical waffle irons among evil household appliances. [Disney Interactive Studios]
Metascore:
61
User Score:
7.9
ArmA II

ArmA II

Platform: PC
July 7, 2009
Building on 10 years of constant engine development, ARMA II boasts the most realistic combat environment in the world. It models real world ballistics & round deflection, materials penetration, features a realtime day/night cycle and dynamic wind, weather and environmental effects. The simulation of a combat environment is so effective, the engine forms the basis for training simulators used by real armies the world over. Although ArmA II is set in the fictional ex-soviet state of 'Chernarus' the gameworld is actually a 225 square kilometer chunk of the real world! ARMA II's highly detailed landscape is a meticulous facsimile of real terrain, modeled using extensive geographical data. This recreated region is brought to life with spectacular environmental effects and populated with dynamic civilian settlements and wildlife. Wild animals roam the atmospheric forests while the people of Chernarus try to live out their lives among the war-torn streets. The 27th U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit have been deployed to the former soviet country of Chernarus in this third installment in the series of award winning PC war simulators from Bohemia Interactive, creators of Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis and ArmA: Combat Operations. Force Reconnaissance Team "Razor" are among the first to fight. This elite five-man team are about to fall down the rabbit hole, trapped in a war not only for control of the country, but the hearts and minds of its people. With the might of the USMC offshore and the Russians anxiously watching from the north, the stakes couldn't be higher. The fate of Chernarus is balanced on a razor's edge. [Steam]
Metascore:
77
User Score:
7.5
Trine

Trine

Platform: PC
July 2, 2009
Trine is a physics-based action game where three characters allow clever solutions to challenges created by hazardous puzzles and threatening enemies. The gameplay is based on fully interactive physics - each character's different abilities and tactics can be used to invent new ways to overcome obstacles and save the kingdom! [Frozenbyte]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
8.1
Street Fighter IV

Street Fighter IV

Platform: PC
July 1, 2009
At the completion of the second World Warrior Tournament, the Shadaloo crime syndicate was left in ruins, its grandmasters defeated and scattered to the winds. Now, the mysterious Seth, CEO of the S.I.N. Corporation, has set up yet another tournament and invited a blend of old friends and new faces to battle again for the title of the world's strongest. With 25 characters (including the original 12 street fighters), a blend of 2D and 3D graphics, and the new focus-attack system, Street Fighter has returned with a vengeance.
Metascore:
91
User Score:
7.8
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Platform: PC
June 30, 2009
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs reunites fans with Scrat, Sid, Manny and Diego in an all-new quest based on the upcoming film from Twentieth Century Fox. As the unlikely herd travels across the tundra and beyond, they stumble upon another world - a lush Dinosaur World teeming with jungles, mysterious plants, fierce dinosaurs, wild new adventures and several new friends. Taking on the role of more than six playable characters, including everyone's favorite Ice Age friends and newly introduced characters, players master their unique skills and abilities across more than 15 action-packed levels. In addition to the expanded features of the single-player gameplay, for the first time in an Ice Age game, players can team up with friends and family in eight competitive multiplayer mini-games. Experience continuously changing gameplay through more than 15 levels - Every level presents new and exciting challenges as players learn and master each character’s abilities in order to defeat enemies, traverse dangerous landscapes, avoid obstacles and escape from perilous situations. [Activision]
Metascore:
67
User Score:
8.0
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

Platform: PC
June 30, 2009
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood transports players from a ravaged Civil War-era Georgia to the Aztec ruins of Mexico. In the wildest West ever depicted, players can embody both McCall brothers in an intense storyline full of greed, lust and lawlessness that takes place during a legendary period of American history. Become a Gunslinger - Harness a variety of weapons from various revolvers to heavy-caliber cannons and machine guns. Every accurate shot increases concentration, which allows players to unleash deadly shooting modes when outnumbered and even deadlier ones when the brothers work together. Dual Collaborative Gameplay - Players choose to embody Ray or Thomas, each with a distinctive gameplay style (close or long range), specific abilities (lasso, dynamite, etc.) and arsenal of deadly weapons (dual guns, long-range carbine, etc.). Take advantage of each of their strengths and join in the fiercest fights imaginable. Never Before Seen Western Experience - Experience the iconic settings full of outlaws - the West before it was tamed. The McCall brothers face a renegade Apache Chief, a greedy Mexican bandit, a vindictive Colonel, and others, all driven by greed with moral disregard. Enjoy a wide variety of situations, using horses, canoes and wagons to explore the vast natural landscapes of the fabled Wild West and its legendary period. Innovative Online Multiplayer - Developed in unison with the single player mode, multiplayer offers numerous modes and maps, resulting in endless hours of Wild West mayhem. Gunslingers, bandits and marshals struggle online for the bounty. Multiple characters are unlocked for team-based objective modes or the straightforward team death match. With a new Bounty system, players increase the bounty on their head with more kills. Get rid of the deadliest among you to increase your bank roll. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
78
User Score:
7.9
Battlefield Heroes

Battlefield Heroes

Platform: PC
June 25, 2009
Battlefield Heroes is a brand new Play 4 Free game from the people that brought you the multi-million selling "Battlefield 1942" and "Battlefield 2" It's a fun cartoon-style shooter which caters to players of all skill levels – easy to pick up and play, but with deep character development. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
69
User Score:
6.1
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Platform: PC
June 23, 2009
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen thrusts players into a battle for supremacy across the globe as either AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS to drive, fly, fight and blast their way through intense, pressure-packed levels. Delivering more control, players can select from a diverse range of playable TRANSFORMERS - each with distinct personalities, abilities and weaponry - and jump straight into action as they instantly switch between robot, vehicle and weapon modes to fight for the preservation or annihilation of all mankind. For the first time in the TRANSFORMERS universe, players can also fight the epic war between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS online in explosive, multiplayer combat. Players can take on the role of their favorite AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS such as Optimus Prime, Starscream, Bumblebee and Ironhide, along with new characters making their first appearance in a game. With two distinct campaigns that allow players to save or destroy the human race, players can unlock and play missions in any order and with different characters for a whole new experience. Instantaneously convert from a colossal robot to a dynamic land or air vehicle such as a diesel truck, sports car, military chopper or fighter jet. New, ultra-fluid transformations can be performed in-motion anytime and anywhere, allowing players to strategically propel through and decimate hordes of enemies with incredible agility. [Activision]
Metascore:
58
User Score:
5.5
America's Army 3

America's Army 3

Platform: PC
June 17, 2009
Download AA3 Today and Become a Member of the elite America's Army Team! Start playing America's Army 3 today. America's Army fans and new players alike can now experience America's Army 3, the official U.S. Army game, which has more authentic military elements including training, technology, weapons, and audio than any other military game. Built on Unreal Engine 3, AA3 delivers stunningly realistic characters, environments, lighting effects, animations, and team-based experiences. In the game where Every Detail Counts, players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and gain experience as you navigate challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. With 15 different map/mission combinations and exclusive advanced training that allows you to unlock new abilities and customize your gear, you'll experience Soldiering in the U.S. Army like never before. Find strength like no other in a game like no other. Start your mission now! When you play AA3 on Steam, you'll earn Steam Achievements, ranking up among your friends as you earn distinguished status, badges, medals and ribbons. With AA3 on Steam, you can also save your keyboard bindings to the Steam Cloud - just login to your Steam account and fire up AA3 on any PC to utilize your custom settings. [Steam]
Metascore:
70
User Score:
7.7
Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Platform: PC
June 16, 2009
The Ghostbusters are back in an all new story penned by the original creators. With Manhattan newly overrun by ghosts and other supernatural creatures, it's up to you to take on the role of a new recruit joining the original film cast of the famous Ghostbusters team. Equipped with a variety of unique weapons and gadgets, you will hunt, fight and capture a wide range of uncanny phantasms and demons in an all new funny and frightening battle to save New York City from its latest paranormal plague. To deliver a special gaming experience to the tremendous Ghostbusters’ fan base around the world, the game features the original film cast from the classic Ghostbusters films, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson, back again for the first time in more than 20 years. Supporting the ghost busting crew are the talents of Annie Potts, Brian Doyle Murray and William Atherton. [Sierra Entertainment]
Metascore:
74
User Score:
7.8
Blueberry Garden

Blueberry Garden

Platform: PC
June 10, 2009
Blueberry Garden is a short experimental game about curiosity and exploration. You take on the role of a creature investigating a mysterious world to find out what is going on there. It’s probably not very much like anything you’ve played before but I hope you will find it enjoyable! [Eric Svedang]
Metascore:
68
User Score:
6.7
Delta Force: Xtreme 2

Delta Force: Xtreme 2

Platform: PC
May 27, 2009
The world's most deadly fighting force is back in all new multiplayer combat Delta Force: Xtreme 2 (DFX2) for the PC. The sequel to Delta Force: Xtreme is supported by the NovaWorld Community, a multiplayer network that provides smoother, faster and seamless gameplay for up to 150 players per game. With 10 single-player missions and nine co-op missions within two campaigns, players immerse themselves into the Delta Force experience by battling enemies in Asia. Now available for download from www.novalogic.com, Valve, Direct2Drive and RealNetworks and at retail locations nationwide, DFX2 carries the recession busting price of just $29.99 (MSRP). DFX2 offers intense military gameplay in stunning 1080p Full HD and Dolby 7.1 Surround sound, and with game servers placed strategically around the world, the NovaWorld Community provides the gameplay that fans demand. Featuring 20 content-rich multiplayer maps, DFX2 supports five of the most popular game types: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Team King of the Hill, Capture the Flag, and Flagball. Each detailed map has something for everyone, from large, vehicle heavy battlefields to small, intense engagement zones. In addition to the feature-loaded multiplayer experience, gamers of all skill levels can mix it up in two heart-pounding single-player or co-operative campaigns where players assume the role of a Delta Force operator sent to Asia to bring a drug cartel and former Soviet mercenaries to justice. The NovaWorld Community allows every element of the gameplay, from the enhanced ballistics to the innovative in-vehicle spawn system, to be carefully coordinated to support a fully balanced experience where teamwork is deadlier than individual firepower, and in DFX2, intelligence and creativity are rewarded as much as fast-twitch reflexes. The game also ships with a powerful MED level editor, which will allow gamers full utilization of game assets to create their own levels, including additional multiplayer game types. [NovaLogic]
Metascore:
40
User Score:
5.0
Damnation

Damnation

Platform: PC
May 22, 2009
Evolving the shooter genre with its unique combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation features huge, open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts. Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fire conflict, Damnation features vast, breathtaking landscapes, each covering miles of distance and thousands of vertical feet. Billed as a "shooter gone vertical" and visually inspired by iconic elements of American history, these massive streaming landscapes form the battlegrounds for a post-industrial conflict between humanity and an unstoppable arms dealer hell-bent on total world domination. Players choose their own paths and navigate the world by performing daredevil feats on the edge of human ability. Intelligent enemies give chase and engage players in frantic gun fights and attacks that can come from any direction. With up to three hours of actual gameplay stretching out in front of them per level, players need more than just muscle power to get across each level safely. Damnation offers players a selection of vehicles, from motorbikes capable of launching across seemingly infinite chasms, to huge, armour-piercing marvels that induce mayhem with every huge shell. The high action is supported by an epic and in-depth story which, while focusing on the exploits of the hero character Rourke, is truly an ensemble piece. Players meet and become involved in intricate story plots that reveal much more than the obvious. In addition to the single player experience, Damnation comes complete with a unique set of multiplayer options that take full advantage of the game’s expansive levels. [Codemasters]
Metascore:
41
User Score:
4.2
Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation

Platform: PC
May 19, 2009
Assume the role of John Connor and battle for survival against the far superior forces of Skynet.
Metascore:
49
User Score:
4.7
NecroVisioN

NecroVisioN

Platform: PC
May 18, 2009
NecroVisioN is a first person shooter that immerses gamers in the claustrophobic trenches and bunkers of the First WorldWar. Reminiscent of a Lovecraft horror, NecroVisioN seamlessly mixes the harrowing battlefields with a nightmarish demon and vampire underworld, unleashing a truly visceral experience. The year is 1916 and the Great War has been raging for two long years when Simon Buker, a US army soldier, joins the front line with the allied forces. During the ferocious fighting, Buker and his battalion get lost behind enemy lines while trying to break through to allied positions. While being pushed back into defensive positions they stumble across a series of mysterious trenches where all is not as it seems. As they push forward they discover that there is a greater evil hiding underneath the battlefields of the Great War, an evil which is forcing its way to our world and threatens to change the delicate balance of power. Battling his way through the trenches, Buker uncovers an enemy more deadly than anything he has ever encountered. Demons and vampires wage a brutal underground war, which is spilling into the human world, and Buker finds himself fighting not only for his own survival, but the survival of Mankind. [505 Games]
Metascore:
63
User Score:
6.2
Tunnel Rats: 1968

Tunnel Rats: 1968

Platform: PC
May 15, 2009
Tunnel Rats is a dark and intense single-player shooter for PC that depicts the horrific realities of the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a young US soldier. As member of a "Tunnel Rats" squad, the player is trained to clearing out the huge tunnel systems underneath the jungle of Vietnam. After all of his mates got killed in an ambush, the young GI finds himself all alone, fighting against the Vietcong, their deadly traps and his growing inner madness. [Steam]
Metascore:
30
User Score:
3.3
Killing Floor

Killing Floor

Platform: PC
May 14, 2009
It’s a co-op survival horror game. Up to 6 players in online co-op mode, or just you, on your own, playing the Solo mode. The aim - cleanse each area of zombies, in waves, until you get to the last one. The Big One. The Patriarch. Then exterminate him, too. Actually, they aren’t "zombies". They are the left-over "specimens" from a cheap and dirty government program to clone soldier-monsters. The basic ones will just munch on your arm and try to disembowel you. The bigger ones were the first ones they tried arming. Nothing much. Just a chainsaw or a blade for starters. They had just got on to the chain gun and rockets when the government tried to secretly shut down their secret program. But, in the typical way these things go, the program didn’t want to be shut down. The specimens got loose. No-one was left alive to turn off the specimen-cloning equipment. And now they are running amok. Well, some of them are running amok. Others are shambling amok or even jumping amok, but you get the idea. The police were sent in, but that wasn't even a challenge for the specimens. The first army units hadn't been warned what to expect. The screams of its got a bloody chainsaw!" over the radios probably didn’t do much for morale, as whole units were chewed up. Quite literally, in some cases, of course. And now, there is just you. And a few friends. The few survivors from the first police and army units thrown in. Of course, you can’t tell anyone anything, because that would be a breach of the Official Secrets Act 1911, 1920, 1989. And that would be a disciplinary offense. So just get in there and do your bit for Queen and Country. Zombies. Lots of them. Big ones, little ones. Armed and Dangerous. JUST MAKE THEM ALL GO AWAY! [Tripwire]
Metascore:
72
User Score:
8.6
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Platform: PC
May 1, 2009
Unleash the razor sharp adamantium claws, feral instincts, and mutant regeneration powers of the world's fiercest Super Hero - Wolverine - and uncage the story of how the ultimate weapon was created. The team at Raven Software has dedicated Wolverine's development to unstoppable, true-to-character authenticity. Take on impossible odds and exact revenge. [Activision]
Metascore:
77
User Score:
7.9
Velvet Assassin

Velvet Assassin

Platform: PC
April 30, 2009
Velvet Assassin is a stealth-action game set in World War II and is inspired by real-life British secret agent Violette Szabo. Players assume the role of Violette Summer and head deep behind enemy lines with no support or official backing from the British Government. Violette risks her life fighting to defeat the German war machine one stealth mission at a time. Velvet Assassin combines lush, surreal visuals and a ground-breaking stealth combat system to deliver a gaming experience which is truly the first of its kind. [Gamecock Media]
Metascore:
61
User Score:
6.3
Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason

Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason

Platform: PC
April 24, 2009
Cryostasis takes place in 1981 on a nuclear ice breaker called the North Wind, which has become shipwrecked near the North Pole. The main character, Alexander Nesterov is a Russian meteorologist who must investigate what happened onboard the ship. But he’s not alone and the North Wind is now plagued by dead crewmen who have undergone a bizarre metamorphosis due to the effects of the incredibly cold climate. Alexander must try to unravel the mystery of the ship captain’s death and discover whether it was the cold or, possibly, something far more sinister. [1C Company]
Metascore:
69
User Score:
7.6
Zeno Clash

Zeno Clash

Platform: PC
April 21, 2009
Zeno Clash is an action/fighting game set in a punk fantasy world. The game is played from a first person perspective and the combat is generally up close and brutal. Experience a deep storyline set in a fantastic world. Play the role of Ghat, a man banished by his own brothers and forced to begin a desperate journey past the forbidden desert and to the end of the world. [Steam]
Metascore:
77
User Score:
7.7
Braid

Braid

Platform: PC
April 10, 2009
Braid is a puzzle-platformer, drawn in a painterly style, where the player manipulates the flow of time in strange and unusual ways. From a house in the city, journey to a series of worlds and solve puzzles to rescue an abducted princess. In each world, you have a different power to affect the way time behaves, and it is time's strangeness that creates the puzzles. The time behaviors include: the ability to rewind, objects that are immune to being rewound, time that is tied to space, parallel realities, time dilation, and perhaps more. Braid treats your time and attention as precious; there is no filler in this game. Every puzzle shows you something new and interesting about the game world. Braid is a 2-D platform game where you can never die and never lose.
Metascore:
90
User Score:
8.6
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

Platform: PC
April 7, 2009
Taking advantage of new hardware technologies, this package presents a reinvention of "Escape from Butcher Bay", delivering 2004's award winning experience in high definition with enhancements. Also included is the Dark Athena chapter, an expansion of the original game with a new story and new gameplay features. With The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, players are not only be challenged to survive Butcher Bay, but also engage in a new single-player experience and, for the first time in the Riddick universe, take action in intense multi-player combat. The game introduces the ominous Merc-ship Dark Athena, which sits silent like a marauding spider, awaiting helpless prey in the dark reaches of the galaxy. Players must face a large, bloodthirsty operation led by the dreaded Captain Revas and her slaves-turned-controllable combat drones, storm though death-defying events and fight fierce enemies in a battle of malice and gore. [Sierra Entertainment]
Metascore:
80
User Score:
7.8
Flock!

Flock!

Platform: PC
April 7, 2009
FLOCK! uses a sophisticated physics engine that drives the challenging puzzle elements of the game. Whether it's using the Tractor beam to move obstacles out of the way, or the Depressor beam to stamp out crop circles to guide your herds, being an extraterrestrial has never been this addictive. Friends can also join in through co-op play. And when all the levels have been completed, users can make their own with the level editor that comes with the game. Flock comes packed with so much content, the potential fun is out of this world! Over 50 levels of pastoral puzzle challenges. Explore levels to find secret collectables and upgrades. Level Editor allows players to make their own "plushie" and puzzle-filled levels and share them with their friends online. Two-player local co-op mode makes the "flocking" exponentially fun. Compelling environments complemented by a whimsical art style, beautiful lighting and distinctive textures make this one of the most graphically-advanced downloadable titles to date. Real-world physics engine creates all new types of puzzles: pick up wooden planks to form bridges, move items to create obstructions, crush wheat into pathways. [Capcom]
Metascore:
65
User Score:
4.8
And Yet It Moves

And Yet It Moves

Platform: PC
April 2, 2009
And Yet It Moves is a puzzle-platformer, set in a unique world, made of ripped paper. Within the paper collage, you can jump, run and last but certainly not least: rotate the world. Learn how to apply the physical consequences of rotation to master the many tricky situations you may encounter. You can play a race against the clock on different levels, too, competing against previous clocked times. Your run will be recorded, as a »Ghost« which can be submitted, along with your time, to the global high scores online. You can download other users' Ghosts to compete with friends and strangers around the world and see who found the fastest route. Following the acclaim of the previously awarded prototype for And Yet It Moves, we present the full version, containing three exciting and beautiful environments and lots of new challenges. [Broken Rules]
Metascore:
75
User Score:
6.2
Dark Sector

Dark Sector

Platform: PC
March 24, 2009
An all-new and original action-thriller designed exclusively for next-generation consoles, Dark Sector thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, an elite black-ops agent sent on a dangerous mission into a decaying Eastern European city that hides a deadly Cold War secret. Attacked by an unknown enemy, he awakens to find part of his body altered by an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities and he must learn to evolve along with his powers, to survive and to become a hero. A dark, gritty experience packed with fast action, incredible superpowers and an engaging story. [D3Publisher of America]
Metascore:
66
User Score:
6.4
Wanted: Weapons of Fate

Wanted: Weapons of Fate

Platform: PC
March 23, 2009
Based on Universal Pictures' action-thriller Wanted, this game promises to deliver the same fantastic visual style, in-your-face attitude and edge-of-your-seat action as the blockbuster motion picture. The game continues the story of hero Wesley Gibson, picking up the action where the film leaves off and creating an entirely new chapter exploring both Wesley's journey to becoming an unmatched überassassin and the epic fiction of "The Fraternity." Featuring intense third-person action, the Wanted video game will take combat to the next level with iconic moves -- such as "Curving Bullets" and "Assassin Time" -- drawn directly from the film, as well as an innovative, multi-layered cover mechanic.
Metascore:
62
User Score:
7.1
Mevo & the Grooveriders

Mevo & the Grooveriders

Platform: PC
March 20, 2009
In MEVO's quest to reunite his band, bring back 'FUNK', and defeat the enemy SILENCE, players must successfully progress through five beautifully crafted worlds (Ocean, Jungle, Desert, Space and Wormhole), finding avatars along the way that will help our reluctant hero unlock other levels and reach certain scores. Using a simple 2-key tap system (space bar and enter), players tap out the beats to re-energize MEVO and push him forward. As the game progresses, the beat sequences become more complex, evolving from basic single beats to rapid beats, combinations, sequences and long-hold sustains with breaks. By successfully completing the levels, players can access new areas and songs, or be rewarded with in-game items, such as avatar pieces that are needed to activate power-ups. Power-ups include slow mo, shield up, "perfect boost" scoring, and autopilot. No matter what skill level, players are rewarded with avatars, dance packs and badges to help progress through the game. Even though the game is accessible and easy to play for all levels of players, advanced players will be challenged with the game's multiple layers of game play, including hidden levels, power-ups, badges and dance packs. [Steam]
Metascore:
72
User Score:
6.0
Tom Clancy's HAWX

Tom Clancy's HAWX

Platform: PC
March 17, 2009
Tom Clancy's HAWX (high-altitude warfare) promises to revolutionize the way players think about combat in the sky. The story begins in the year 2012. As the era of the nation-state draws quickly to a close, the rules of warfare evolve even more rapidly. More and more nations become increasingly dependent on private military companies (PMCs), elite mercenaries with a lax view of the law. The Reykjavik Accords further legitimize their existence by authorizing their right to serve in every aspect of military operations. While the benefits of such PMCs are apparent, growing concerns surrounding giving them too much power begin to mount. The Enhanced Reality System is the backbone of the HAWX flight experience: radars and incoming missile detection, anti-crash system, damage control system, tactical map and information relay, and weapons trajectory control. E.R.S. also allows players to issue orders to their squadron, making this system as iconic to HAWX as the Cross-Com system is to Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Players can ease into their flight missions and gain a level of comfort with the use of the assistance mode. Once employed, players can take full advantage of their technological support through the E.R.S and gain maximum piloting security. If the situation calls for the player to unleash the full potential of the aircraft, the assistance mode can be switched off and all safety features will be deactivated. For the first time ever in the air-combat genre, players can experience the entire solo campaign in four-player JUMP IN co-op mode. In PVP mode, players can challenge up to 15 friends in intense dogfighting sessions and find out who's the top gun. Winning players are rewarded with experience points and money to unlock more weapons. Players have the opportunity to take the throttle of over 50 of the world's most famous aircrafts, as well as being able to dogfight over realistic modern landscapes that have endured years of post-war trauma. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
70
User Score:
7.2
Drug Wars (2009)

Drug Wars (2009)

Platform: PC
March 17, 2009
In 3100 A.D., global warming has caused the sea level to rise and engulf the streets of Brooklyn. The land is gone, but society rebuilds the city on top of existing structures, connecting buildings through a network of sky bridges. As the upper class literally moves higher, law enforcement abandons the lower parts of the city, and its less-affluent inhabitants. To meet the upper city's demand for laborers, city leaders contract the Brooklyn Institute of Technology (B.I.T.) to clone a new working class. At the time, the B.I.T. Labs had made incredible advances in cloning; Neanderthals were chosen as the main focus of the research based on their physical resilience. The city's contract called for far more Neanderthal clones than were required, causing the excess and sub-standard Neo-Neanderthals to be discarded to the dregs of the city. The well established mob entity known as the Merchants of Brooklyn saw a lucrative opportunity here - use the bottom dwellers for high stakes fights to the death. It became the new sport of under-city kings. In MERCHANTS OF BROOKLYN, You take the role of an elite Neanderthal fighter with a taste for blood. Having had your arm unwillingly detached from your body courtesy of a chainsaw, your new prototype biomechanical arm transforms into different twisted and brutal weaponry to aid you in the slaughter. Your goal: escape from the under city and free your brethren to take over the upper utopian empire to do with as you please. [Paleo Entertainment]
Metascore:
35
User Score:
4.5
The Maw

The Maw

Platform: PC
March 9, 2009
The pinnacle of alien evolution, Maw is a cowardly fat blob concerned mostly with snacking and lounging. He can, however, absorb the traits of anything he eats, is virtually indestructible, and can grow to unlimited size. If he wasn't a danger to all life in the universe, he'd make the perfect pet. In this action/adventure game, he's the best friend of our hero Frank, and only by working together can Maw eat their way to freedom. The Maw was honored with the Audience Choice Award in the 2008 PAX-10 showcase of independent games, and is a finalist at this year's Independent Games Festival for Technical Excellence. [Twisted Pixel]
Metascore:
75
User Score:
7.2
Watchmen: The End Is Nigh

Watchmen: The End Is Nigh

Platform: PC
March 4, 2009
[Downloadable Game] The episodic videogame based on the Watchmen film is a mature action-brawler, which delves into the past of characters from the film and adds new challenges and rivalries for players. The game provides gamers with visceral superhero combat as urban vigilantes Rorschach and Nite Owl. A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, the film "Watchmen" is set in an 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" – which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion – a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers – Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity . . . but who is watching the Watchmen? [Warner Bros. Interactive]
Metascore:
61
User Score:
6.9
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails

ShellShock 2: Blood Trails

Platform: PC
February 13, 2009
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails is a violent, first-person, survival horror game set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Gameplay centers on the use of psychological horror and fear, relying on the power of suggestion, mood, tension and foreshadowing - implying the notion of danger, potential danger, imminent danger, and horrifying acts that have or are implied to have occurred or will come to pass. On course for war torn Vietnam, a plane carrying a top-secret cargo known only as Whiteknight is lost over the uncharted jungles of Cambodia. The special ops squad sent in to retrieve it disappear wtihout trace. Until, a month later, one of them walks out. Something in the darkness has driven him insane... Something from the darkness has followed him out. [Eidos Interactive]
Metascore:
40
User Score:
5.3
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

Platform: PC
February 10, 2009
The sequel to F.E.A.R. continues the original game's spine-tingling supernatural suspense story of an escalating paranormal crisis that threatens to destroy a major American city. At the center of the calamity is the mysterious Alma, whose rage against those who wronged her triggered a chain of events that have spiraled completely out of control. Now that she has free reign, the consequences will be unimaginable. [Warner Bros.]
Metascore:
79
User Score:
7.7
X-Blades

X-Blades

Platform: PC
February 9, 2009
In the game, players control an anime-style heroine that destroys anything in her path using guns, blades, magic, and a healthy dose of cinematic flair. X-Blades features a special combination of cinematic style, beautiful animation, and relentless, high speed gameplay. Players assume the role of Ayumi, a stunningly seductive yet tenacious heroine who battles enemies with her pistol blades, acrobatic ability, and magic spells. With full anime cut scenes, the story unfolds revealing demonic powers and spectacular landscapes, all ripe for exploration and battles. [SouthPeak Interactive]
Metascore:
54
User Score:
6.3
Mirror's Edge

Mirror's Edge

Platform: PC
January 12, 2009
In a city where information is heavily monitored, agile couriers called runners transport sensitive data away from prying eyes. In this seemingly utopian paradise, a crime has been committed, your sister has been framed and now you are being hunted. You are a runner called faith - and this innovative first-person action-adventure is your story. Flow is what keeps you running, what keeps you alive. Mirror's Edge delivers you straight into the shoes of this unique heroine as she traverses the vertigo-inducing cityscape, engaging in intense combat and fast paced chases. With a never before seen sense of movement and perspective, you will be drawn into Faith's world. A world that is visceral, immediate, and very dangerous. Live or die? Soar or plummet? One thing is certain: in this city you will learn how to run. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
81
User Score:
8.0
Closure (2009)

Closure (2009)

Platform: PC
January 1, 2009
In the mysterious world of Closure, only what you see exists. Manipulate lights to phase objects in and out of reality in this multiple-award-winning puzzle game. Play as a strange spider-like demon who explores the stories of three human characters through beautiful, eerie environments such as a decrepit factory, a murky forest, an abandoned carnival, and the strange, surreal realm that connects them together.
Metascore:
78
User Score:
6.5
Puzzlegeddon

Puzzlegeddon

Platform: PC
November 27, 2008
Puzzlegeddon features an inventive mix of puzzle, action and strategy. Select your island of choice and puzzle for resources to defend yourself and to defeat opponents throughout the many galaxies, game modes and challenges which awaits you in Puzzlegeddon. Join the battles online in multiplayer games for up to 6 players. Fight evil robots or puzzle for survival on a poisonous planet in the game's challenging and addictive single player modes. Puzzlegeddon is a game for all tastes and play styles which challenges players both to think hard, play smart and act fast. [Pieces Interactive]
Metascore:
74
User Score:
7.3
Legendary

Legendary

Platform: PC
November 18, 2008
(Also known as "Legendary: The Box") Legendary tells the story of Charles Deckard, an art thief who is duped into stealing Pandora’s Box. When he inadvertently opens it, he releases hordes of beasts thought to be fictional – such as werewolves and gryphons – into an unprepared modern world. A full scale war between man and myth begins, and it is quickly complicated by the actions of powerful secret societies. As the person responsible for releasing this terror, Deckard’s unwittingly become the only person capable of containing it once more and saving civilization from being destroyed by the terrifying creatures. [Gamecock Media]
Metascore:
50
User Score:
6.4
Left 4 Dead

Left 4 Dead

Platform: PC
November 17, 2008
Fight together...or die alone. A new and highly virulent strain of the rabies virus emerges and spreads through the human population with frightening speed. The pandemic's victims become grotesquely disfigured, wildly violent psychopaths, attacking the uninfected on sight. One of the "lucky" few apparently immune to the sickness, you, unfortunately, are also trapped in a city crawling with thousands of the bloodthirsty Infacted. Together with a handful of fellow Survivors, you must fight your way to safety or die alone. A co-operative multiplayer action game from the makers of "Counter-Strike," Left 4 Dead is built atop the most advanced version of the Source Engine and introduces version 2 of Turtle Rock's artificial intelligence (A.I.) technology. [Turtle Rock Studios]
Metascore:
89
User Score:
9.0
Call of Duty: World at War

Call of Duty: World at War

Platform: PC
November 10, 2008
Utilizing the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare engine, Call of Duty: World at War throws out the rulebook of war to transform WWII combat through a new enemy, new tactics and an uncensored experience of the climatic battles that gripped a generation. As U.S. Marines and Russian soldiers, players employ new features like cooperative gameplay, and weapons such as the flamethrower in the most chaotic and cinematically intense experience to date. Call of Duty: World at War introduces co-operative play, bringing fresh meaning to the "No One Fights Alone" mantra with up to four-players online for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, or two-player local split-screen on consoles. Nintendo Wii will also support a unique co-op mode for two players. For the first time ever players can experience harrowing single-player missions together for greater camaraderie and tactical execution. The co-op campaign allows players to rank up and unlock perks in competitive multiplayer by completing challenges and earning experience points, adding continuous re-playability and team-based gameplay. Whether playing competitively or cooperatively – if players are online with Call of Duty: World at War – they always gain experience points. Based on a player’s experience rank and rank of the player's friends, Call of Duty: World at War scales dynamically to provide a deeper level of challenge. [Activision]
Metascore:
83
User Score:
7.6
Iron Grip: Warlord

Iron Grip: Warlord

Platform: PC
November 5, 2008
Grab your weapons and head to the battlefield in the debut commercial game from Isotx, Iron Grip: Warlord! Boasting both single and cooperative game modes, a rich and original steam punk universe, and an innovative blend of RTS/FPS gameplay, Warlord gives you and fellow players a different experience from most titles out right now. Experience the intense combat of total war and fight to the death in the crumbling nation of Atelia today. [Isotx]
Metascore:
59
User Score:
7.6
DreamWorks Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

DreamWorks Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Platform: PC
November 4, 2008
Join Alex the lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and their entire madcap MadagascarTM crew on a whole new action-packed journey to save the African savannah in the Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa video game. Your favorite characters from Madagascar return and you can play them all! In addition to Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman, you also get to play as the crafty penguins, the wacky King Julien and new hippo character Moto Moto! Learn all the moves of each character and choose which character is best for the situation at hand. Adventure through 12 levels and 10 tournament mini-games from othe movie and beyond. Experience the characters, settings and situations established in Dreamworks Animation’s new Madagascar movie. Unique new environments include the Watering Hole, a free roaming area that’s been expanded for the game, the volcano and the plane wreck. Master new and expanded tournament mini-games including twice as much multiplayer action as the first Madagascar! [Activision]
Metascore:
58
User Score:
7.1
007: Quantum of Solace

007: Quantum of Solace

Platform: PC
November 4, 2008
Introducing a more lethal and cunningly efficient Bond, the game blends intense first-person action with a unique third-person cover combat system that allows players to truly feel what it is like to be the ultimate secret agent as they use their stealth, precision shooting and lethal combat skills to progress through missions. Blending the action of the "Quantum of Solace" feature film with the "Casino Royale" movie, the title propels players into the cinematic experience of international espionage. Based on the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare game engine that has been specifically engineered to immerse players in the Bond universe, the Quantum of Solace game delivers high-definition graphics, reactive AI and visually stunning locations inspired by locales portrayed in the films. Quantum of Solace marks the first time players can become the dangerous and cunning Bond as portrayed by Daniel Craig. From silent take downs and sneaking through confined spaces, to one-on-one shoot outs and large scale battles, players experience a variety of gameplay that challenges them to think through situations and choose how they progress, whether it's through covert means or confronting enemies in full force. Advanced combat and Realistic AI: Players engage in both first-person and third-person gameplay that allows gamers to be Bond in unscripted battles against the world's most evil villains and mercenaries. Filled with armed combat, massive explosions and vertigo-inducing chases, gamers are immersed in an authentic Bond universe and drawn into epic movie moments with theatrical camera angles, split screen effects, picture-in-picture sequences, and amazing environments inspired by real world locations such as Montenegro, Venice, Bolivia and Austria. Bringing James Bond to next-gen consoles for the first time, gamers now have the ability to battle online in a variety of modes. [Activision]
Metascore:
70
User Score:
6.3
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Platform: PC
October 28, 2008
New York City has been invaded and only Spider-Man can save it. The fate of New York is in your hands...Take Control. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows gives you an unprecedented level of gameplay choice, including, for the first time, control over the game's direction and outcome. Choose how Spider-Man fights, which powers to upgrade, who in the Marvel universe to fight with or against, and the fate of New York City itself. Choose wisely. [Activision]
Metascore:
52
User Score:
7.7
Space Trader - Merchant Marine

Space Trader - Merchant Marine

Platform: PC
October 23, 2008
In the far future, humanity is ruled by The Ministry of Accounts, an oppressive bureaucracy that tracks, records and taxes every transaction of daily life. From the depths of Red Tape, a new breed of marketeer arises to challenge the authority and make a profit: the Space Trader is born! As a Trader, you will attempt to amass a fortune beyond your wildest imagination, buying and selling commodities and taking up arms against the oppressors or even accepting bounty missions, hunting down crime bosses and their thugs. [Meridian 4]
Metascore:
53
User Score:
4.4
Far Cry 2

Far Cry 2

Platform: PC
October 21, 2008
Caught between two rival factions in war-torn Africa, you are sent to take out "The Jackal," a mysterious character who has rekindled the conflict between the warlords, jeopardizing thousands of lives. In order to fulfil your mission you will have to play the factions against each other, identify and exploit your their weaknesses, and neutralize their superior numbers and firepower with surprise, subversion, cunning and, of course, brute force. Real-time story telling, systemic auto-healing, minimal in-game interface are just few of the features that make you feel the tension of being alone against barbarous warlords that threaten thousands of innocent lives. Choose from a wide range of weapons to make your way to your primary target. Meet the fight head-on with your machine-gun, go berserk with your machete or make stealth kills as a Sniper. If you feel that the atmosphere is not warm enough, light up your flamethrower and let your enemies and everything around them feel the heat. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
85
User Score:
6.1
Dead Space (2008)

Dead Space (2008)

Platform: PC
October 20, 2008
In the bold and often-bloody Dead Space gamers step into a third-person sci-fi survival horror experience that delivers psychological thrills and gruesome action. Set in the cold blackness of deep space, the atmosphere is soaked with a feeling of tension, dread and sheer terror. In Dead Space, players step into the role of engineer Isaac Clarke – an ordinary man on a seemingly routine mission to fix the communications systems aboard a deep space mining ship. It is not long before Isaac awakes to a living nightmare when he learns that the ship's crew has been ravaged by a vicious alien infestation. He must fight through the dead silence and darkness of deep space to stay alive. [Electronic Arts]
Metascore:
86
User Score:
8.3
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Platform: PC
October 17, 2008
Fire up the fretboard, crank up the amp and get ready to rock like never before. Guitar Hero III drops you into the spotlight of the largest and most legendary rock concert ever. The star-studded soundtrack includes more than 70 songs including master tracks such as Even Flow, Welcome to the Jungle and One. More than 70 of the most legendary rock anthems of all time. Added multiplayer modes: arcade inspired Guitar Battle and the dual shredding co-op career. Challenge Slash and other legends of rock and roll in boss battles. Take those axe shredding skills online and rock around the world. All-new tricked out venues. The franchise’s favorite characters freshly fitted with a few new faces. Fully playable with keyboard or keyboard/mouse. [Aspyr Media]
Metascore:
69
User Score:
6.3
Sniper: Art of Victory

Sniper: Art of Victory

Platform: PC
October 16, 2008
WW II was a theatre of war for many specialized combat units, working together to ensure an army’s victory. Among them a unique role was played by hidden and deadly marksmen. Their ability to lay motionless waiting for the perfect shot together with their professional equipment allowed them to change the course of the history with one pull of a trigger. Become a sharpshooter and take part in the turning points of the WW II. Eliminate the Nazi general, who came to support the Germans lying siege to Stalingrad. Make your way through areas occupied by the Third Reich to your unit. Aid the Alliance forces during their offensive on the Italian Peninsula to break the resistance of the retreating Wehrmacht forces. [City Interactive]
Metascore:
36
User Score:
3.5
World of Goo

World of Goo

Platform: PC
October 12, 2008
World of Goo is a physics based puzzle / construction game. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. [2D Boy]
Metascore:
90
User Score:
8.4
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

Platform: PC
October 7, 2008
Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway brings the critically acclaimed squad-based WWII shooter into the next generation of gaming with amazing graphics and sound, new cutting-edge gameplay features and a completely redesigned online component. Delivering on the franchise's compelling story, unrivaled authenticity and intense squad-based action, Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway drops you into Operation Market-Garden, the largest airborne operation of World War II. Lead Matt Baker, Joe Hartsock and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division as they fight to open "Hell's Highway" in a daring bid for a quick end to the war. [Ubisoft]
Metascore:
79
User Score:
7.7
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