"Expansions" like this one should be released as patches or included as bonus in reprints of the original game.

If development of multiple bases, careful upgrades planning and intricate micromanagement make your blood boil, you will embrace StarCraft 2. Had it been released 7 years ago, we would have wholeheartedly recommended it to anyone even remotely interested in the RTS genre. But that era is gone now. Today, StarCraft 2 is just a remedy for nostalgia.

The entire Spanish campaign, despite the great music, colorful scenery and a handful of new features, is just a rehash.

Despite a lucratively low price, Blacklight has no future. Modern Warfare 2 and Bad Company 2 are much better replacements if you want to just shoot at somebody, and if you're itching for some classic multiplayer gameplay, Counter-Strike Source is an excellent remedy for nostalgia.

Disciples 3 is a strategy game that is neither appealing nor intelligent. It lacks the kingdom-building aspect so much that it feels like a faux Japanese RPG.

The linear structure of the original game masked many of the game's shortcomings; the expansion highlights them instead.

Puzzle Quest 2 offers more tactical variety in battles, but it is best consumed in small chunks, otherwise endless skirmishes with goblins and orcs will put you to sleep.

Singularity feels almost like 2009's Wolfenstein: the same dull corridors, anemic shootouts with simple-minded AI, and feeble attempts at creating dramatic tension.

Operation Arrorhead is a big disappointment. Not only this expansion is boring, but it failed to realize its potential.

With only a few shortcomings, Reign is a good excuse to get familiar with the grand strategy sub-genre.

This is CITY Interactive's worst FPS since Code of Honor: The French Foreign Legion.

LEGO Star Wars was an inspired experiment of a talented team. LEGO Harry Potter is a mediocre product of seasoned craftsmen, complete with old mistakes but not a single spark.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior is unlikely to get a storm of applause anytime soon, but at least this CITY Interactive shooter can be played not only by game reviewers.

A worthy purchase for all fans of tabletop games.

War for Cybertron is a huge leap forward compared to previous Transformers games.

Toy Story 3 offers entertainment for any taste. License-based games of such quality are few and far between.

Only those who never saw previous games in the Prince of Persia series, will find The Forgotten Sands interesting. By ripping off their 2008 Prince of Persia in everything except for backdrops, the developers failed to keep their promise and didn't even try to fill in the blanks between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within. Ah well, who cares about some old plot holes when there is a Hollywood blockbuster to milk?

Truth be told, Semper Fi is just a ginormous patch that should have been given out for free to all Hearts of Iron 3 owners. Its improvements and new features are unarguably great, but it is not a good sign when you have to shell out $20 more in order to enjoy the game.

The brisk single-player campaign is reason enough to overlook the boring cooperative multiplayer. Unfortunately, the lack of blood, same-looking environments, and cheap-looking comic strips let it down.

A role-playing action about the modern world felt like a jolt of fresh air in the ocean of high fantasy, ancient myths, and space operas. But, as it usually happens, a good idea was killed by poor execution. It doesn’t matter if it was because of too many cooks in the game-design kitchen, or Sega’s meddling. The spy already got his burn notice.

Players who prefer to control a single character will happily dive deep into the whirlpool of daily grind. The rest will face a classic dilemma: stellar career or domestic bliss.

Online multiplayer is what keeps Blur afloat. Without it, this somewhat blocky and unshowy game would have been forgotten even faster than a one-trick pony called Split/Second. So far it is the best online racing experience you will have this year.

Judging by the collection of excellent works published at the ModNation Racers website, this fun, half-childish, half-grownup arcade is destined for success.

UFC Undisputed 2010 is definitely a step above its predecessor.

Remedy loves to compare its game with television hits like Heroes and Lost, but if you look at gameplay rather than story, it becomes clear that Alan Wake is not a “complete first season on DVD”. It is more like an unbearably long pilot episode that gave all its cards away well before the third act. Judging by the final titles, Alan Wake’s journey through the night will continue (in fact, two DLCs are already shooting for your wallet), so it’s high time to switch gears and introduce new ideas.

An original, unconventional arcade that caters to the visceral needs of a modern gamer. Yes, it lets you go with ease, but every show has an ending, right?

Red Dead Redemption is much easier to describe than the complex predicament of its principal character. "Grand Theft Auto 4 meets Wild West" – and this is it.

Red Dead Redemption is much easier to describe than the complex predicament of its principal character. "Grand Theft Auto 4 meets Wild West" – and this is it.

Fans of Shrek will be better off watching the movie or replaying Shrek SuperSlam – the best game about the green ogre to date. Fans of platformers, better look elsewhere.

Absolute Power is made for those who loves the original Tropico 3. The developers didn't want to shake foundations, but it doesn't mean that this expansion is not worth its $19.99.

Rocket Knight requires perseverance and perfectionism, but offers nothing in return.

There are some nice things to be done in the HD version of The Second Encounter: set new high scores in the endless Survival mode, take part in two-team matches or play cooperatively with four or five cutthroats like yourself. But as for the single-player campaign, it's better to set it aside… forever.

Conviction is just a casual-oriented actioneer with simplistic gameplay mechanic and big-budget production values.

If you're really interested in the "2D shooter" concept, try Soldat, which is still popular despite its age. It has much smarter AI, ten times more levels and a wider arsenal of weapons.

It is sad to see so many good ideas killed by their implementation.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is a stylish farce. Its sheer originality and incredibly low price are enough to overlook clumsy gameplay balance and poor code optimization.

Rig'n'Roll tried to set the bar too high and failed. It's an interesting game, but way too off-balanced.

Conviction is just a casual-oriented actioneer with simplistic gameplay mechanic and big-budget production values.

The Scourge Project is a perfect example of how an inexperienced developer bit more than they could chew. They wanted to create a multi-platform action title with a great story and a four-player cooperative gameplay, but made a threepenny whangdoodle instead.

There is a slim chance that Fatshark will eventually manage to fill Lead and Gold with content, like Valve did with Team Fortress 2. But right now the game is not worth its $15.

Future Wars is simply a mediocre game. If you want a pick-up-and-play wargame, dust off Massive Assault or buy a Nintendo DS and play the real Advance Wars.

The “alternative look” at the familiar events is hardly a bait for Prison Break aficionados. Other players will be turned off by horrible stealth, incoherent storytelling and outdated visuals.

Warband is not just a great expansion pack that makes this medieval "sandbox" even more enticing. By adding multiplayer, the developers cemented the game's cult status.

If you liked Majesty 2, don’t pick up Kingmaker. Better wait for the inevitable Gold Edition that is bound to hit shelves sooner or later.

Code Force is a small company, but it succeeded where more experienced studios failed – it created a worthy rival for Galactic Civilizations 2. Distant Worlds has its share of technical and ideological kinks to iron out, but this is definitely a step forward for the 4X genre.

Excellent helicopter controls and highly polished code are, unfortunately, the only things that put Just Cause 2 above the other GTA clones. If you’re in the mood for silly fun, the game’s simple “jump-shoot-explode” routine will be more than enough, but it could have been much more than that.

Despite a few nagging shortcomings, The Settlers 7 is the best game in the series so far. It is good-looking, well-made, complex and accessible at the same time.

Command & Conquer 4 developers tried to make a fast-paced game for a wide audience, but they failed miserably. For the fans of the “classic” C&C, this is an abomination. For the rest, it’s a worthless mediocrity with boring gameplay, lousy graphics, and an overly paranoid online DRM scheme.

Metro 2033 is a collection of unforgettable images, a shining example of a great book-to-game conversion, and last but not least, amazingly gruesome post-apocalyptic world.

God of War 3 not only easily overshadows all of its rivals, but casts new light on the abilities of Sony's platform. Don't think that this is a quality product for the connoisseurs of the genre; God of War 3 is an achievement for the whole industry.

New enemies and ordeals, a bunch of killer abilities, fat loot and a couple of well-fed dragons – what else can a level 20 character wish for?

Shatter’s Story Mode is really just an appetizer. Additional modes are the most addictive things in this game.

Only the most hardcore fans of Tower Defense will enjoy Sol Survivor.

Chaos Rising’s single-player campaign is too short to call it a breakthrough. The show ends just when you get the taste of it. Here’s hoping that the next expansion will be more epic.

A fun racing game if you have family or friends to play it with.

Games that inspired Binary Tweed's little arcade became cult hits thanks to their fresh ideas and contributions to the genre. Alas, Clover can’t boast any of that.

Bad Company 2 is an excellent game and the best modern warfare shooter to date. Despite the cookie-cutter campaign, it beats Modern Warfare 2 in both single-player and multiplayer.

The first Supreme Commander was unique even despite its problems. The sequel turned into a “just another RTS” with a couple of nifty ideas and flawed balance.

Heavy Rain is fast, violent and very emotional. Every now and then the story stumbles over a tired cliché or a “No-o-o-o!” scene, but you try hard to ignore them, because you want to believe the heroes, to accept them with all their maladies and inner turmoil.

Napoleon is a great gift to fans of the genre. If only at least some of its innovative ideas would seep into Empire.

Only the most hardcore fans will appreciate all the changes and improvements that Arsenal of Democracy brings to Hearts of Iron 2.

A boring game that even doesn’t attempt to draw you in.

If you don’t have access to PlayStation Network or you have no one to play it with, Fireteam Bravo 3 is a waste of money. The game’s single-player campaign reminds of age-old Spec Ops and Conflict series and is basically a complimentary bonus to the multiplayer mode. And the latter is a solid contender for the title of “portable Counter-Strike”.

This incarnation of AvP is a second-rate shooter in the most typical form, with overly repetitious game design, coding mistakes, threepenny visuals and dialogues scribbled on a rumpled napkin.

BioShock 2 is a sequel inspired not by the Muses, but by quarterly financial reports.

The fatal flaws of Dante’s Inferno are not even its dated graphics or depressing lack of originality. It’s monotony and endless repetition that will drive you nuts.

The fatal flaws of Dante’s Inferno are not even its dated graphics or depressing lack of originality. It’s monotony and endless repetition that will drive you nuts.

GSC’s third attempt at creating a post-apocalyptic world reinforced my belief that PR is the only thing this company does best.

If you like designing interiors, Hotel Giant 2 will entertain you for hours. Too bad there is nothing else to do but to put overpriced items in rooms.

Remove the ho-hum gunplay, and the rest is an interactive action movie that's decent enough for one walkthrough. Don’t go for seconds, though. And if you’re still craving for a space opera fix by the time you’re done with Mass Effect 2, better rent all five seasons of Babylon 5.

MAG is a multiplayer game to the core. It doesn’t have a single-player campaign, scripted sequences or AI-controlled bots – only online battles and nothing mode. In the times, when Battlefield and Unreal Tournament feature storylines, cinematics and dialogue, Zipper’s creation feels like the last of the Mohicans. But the lack of a story is not what killed MAG. The concept, the release time frame and the rivals did.

“If nothing helps, change your tactics”, reads one of the game’s loading tips. I have a better suggestion: change the game as soon as possible.

“The game that plays you” is the core idea of Shattered Memories. And it is really so, apart from some quirks. Climax has succeeded in adding a second layer to a Silent Hill game.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is a wild mix of brilliant thoughts, violent firefights, stolen ideas, and lazy design.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is a wild mix of brilliant thoughts, violent firefights, stolen ideas, and lazy design.

All the charisma of the protagonists is not enough to make up for the lack of substance. The gameplay tactics are primitive, and there is no feeling of fellowship that made Army of Two so fun to play.

By stitching together successful ideas of the last decade, Vigil Games created a bulky, unfriendly Frankenstein monster, and failed to breathe life into it.

Adrenaline-filled, lightning-fast battles are so exciting that I'm willing to forgive Bayonetta for its clumsy, clichéd storyline, awkward camera and dubious soundtrack. The only thing that’s beyond forgiveness is horrendous quality of the PS3 port.

Yet another European RPG is weighted down by cement shoes of its ambitions and the developer’s lack of proper experience.

Flight model is the strongest point of Wings of Prey, even despite its arcade-style single-player campaign.

The third expansion introduces so many new facets to Europa Universalis 3 that it’s now truly an embarrassment of riches. Those hardcore players who like to delve into the smallest of details will have a blast.

Five years ago, The Saboteur would have been lauded for its fresh ideas. Today, the only praiseworthy thing is its out-of-time soundtrack.

A worthy successor to DiRT, although it doesn’t have enough fuel to become an instant hit.

Zombie Driver is simply a dull, unpalatable game.

Virtual Dick Marcinko said it best: “Dead piece of sh.t!”

Even if you watched Avatar two or three times, don’t expect to enjoy the familiar world in the game. Better save the money for the DVD.

At first, Serious Sam HD is a nostalgic experience, complete with familiar locations, low-poly monsters and terrible cinematics. The illusion is short-lived, though, because this 3rd generation Serious Engine remake lost all its original charm – as if it’s not a remake at all, but a poor clone.

Pretty graphics, solid gameplay, a well-developed setting – Neocore Games hit a bull's-eye. Despite some rough edges and a tacked-on multiplayer, King Arthur is much more interesting than Neocore's previous effort and head-and-shoulders above Warhammer: Mark of Chaos.

The Armored Princess is only a quarter shorter than the original game. How long ago have you played a stand-alone expansion that takes 30 hours to beat it at a normal difficulty?

Ubisoft has finally realized its darling dream by creating a world where substance and style go together. Virtual tours of Florence, Venice and Tuscany are as captivating as the main story. For once in a way, “open-ended” doesn’t translate to “boring”, “lifeless” or “empty”. The height takes your breath away every time Ezio scales a tall building; the excellent animation makes up for annoying bugs and quirky gameplay conventions. Yes, the final boss fight is borderline silly, but it’s just a smudged line on a last page of a thrilling novel.

Ubisoft has finally realized its darling dream by creating a world where substance and style go together. Virtual tours of Florence, Venice and Tuscany are as captivating as the main story. For once in a way, “open-ended” doesn’t translate to “boring”, “lifeless” or “empty”. The height takes your breath away every time Ezio scales a tall building; the excellent animation makes up for annoying bugs and quirky gameplay conventions. Yes, the final boss fight is borderline silly, but it’s just a smudged line on a last page of a thrilling novel.

It’s a well-done sequel – an evolution without revolutions.

The game keeps with the spirit of the original Assassin’s Creed, but fails to comply with the letter. Its technical flaws outweigh the artistic merits.

"Unpolished" – this word describes every facet of Armada 2526. Why bother playing this game when we already have the brilliant Galactic Civilizations 2?

Looking back at Left 4 Dead 2’s offerings, it’s hard to call it “just a $50 expansion pack.” All worries and boycotts were in vain; you can’t go back to the original Left 4 Dead after playing this one.

In the attempt to capture the feel of a Hollywood movie, the developers went so far that they completely turned Call of Duty into a mindless run from one objective marker to another. There is a mediocre on-rails shooter under all these blurry visual effects and nice music, a game no better than Secret Service or Code of Honor 3. It just looks and sounds nicer than its low-budget brethren. Multiplayer is the only worthy thing about Modern Warfare 2.

Futuremark could have made a great multiplayer shooter out of this concept, but, alas, they decided to sell a glorified tech demo.

You don’t need a thousand words to make you fall in love with Dragon Age: Origins. It has everything that is sought by the most jaded fans of the genre: at least 60 hours of adventuring, colorful, lively characters, flexible combat system, complex situations and quests, dialogues that are pleasant to read and even more pleasant to listen to… Dragon Age, like a good storyteller, captivates within minutes. It doesn’t rush the story, relishes in small details, goes into ornate lyrical digressions, and maintains the intrigue, keeping you at the edge of your seat.