Blades of Time is a step forward compared to X-Blades, Gaijin Entertainment's previous offering. Alas, the hack and slash action is too monotonous to enjoy, and there is nothing else to draw you in.

A small step forward for Activision's value titles, a huge setback for Bond video games. At this point, I simply wish they'd ported GoldenEye to modern (Wii notwithstanding) consoles.

Even the so-called "hardcore" games should be fun to play, but Geo-Political Simulator 2 is too stodgy to let you have any.

In the end, you are forced to entertain yourself, because all levels look the same, differing only in gravitational force and the amount of enemies. What's worse, the game ignores the traditions of the arcade genre. Monsters randomly walk about levels instead of moving along pre-determined routes, and there are no bonuses or pick-ups except for boring med kits and ammo.

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

Mata Hari should have been made as a casual title. A handful of active screens, simple controls, and a few forgettable mini-games would have easily satisfied unpretentious gamers.

While Lair of Shadow Broker is a brilliant example of a properly made DLC, Arrival will be appreciated by only the most devout fans. If you want a completely tricked out save file for Mass Effect 3, then please pay $6.99.

Besides the handy automap and the journal, the only other positive thing about Arcania is that it's at least better than Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods.

Crossfire is such a shallow, boring, predictable experience that asking money for it should be a crime.

There is a seed of wisdom hidden somewhere deep in Trauma, but it cannot break through the thick cement crust of a poorly executed concept.

Cold language of numbers is the best way to describe Wanted. 9 levels, 5 enemy types, 4 hours to complete, 2 weapons, 0 multiplayer modes, 0 "wow" moments, 0 thoughts about playing this game again…

An idea, no matter how fresh and original, doesn't worth squat without a good implementation. Doc Clock is a prime example of that. The construction mechanics are too awkward, and the game does nothing to encourage our creative thinking.

Cold language of numbers is the best way to describe Wanted. 9 levels, 5 enemy types, 4 hours to complete, 2 weapons, 0 multiplayer modes, 0 "wow" moments, 0 thoughts about playing this game again…

Compared to the original, this Death Rally is twice as better, but that is hardly a compliment. We've played many great racing games since then, both with and without shooting, but this one still tries to party like it's 1996.

The Steam version of Jagged Alliance 2 Gold is two times cheaper and at least two better than JA: Back in Action.

Glitches can be fixed, but no patch can make Breach a deeper game. It takes a day or two to study it inside out, and come to a realization that you have wasted 15 dollars.

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

Frequent boss fights, excellent cinematics and great animation keep you glued to the screen for the first thirty minutes. Alas, oversized bugs which use the same attacks over and over, tiresome QTE sequences, useless combos and weapon upgrades will get under your skin.

Cold language of numbers is the best way to describe Wanted. 9 levels, 5 enemy types, 4 hours to complete, 2 weapons, 0 multiplayer modes, 0 "wow" moments, 0 thoughts about playing this game again…

Distinctive games like E.Y.E. are a rarity these days. Its colorful characters, good dialogue, entertaining non-linear story, and multiple ways to develop the main characters are enough to offset the shortcomings.

G-Force lacks in character and originality, but gadgets, robomonsters and nice little details make up for a nice pastime.

Despite the picturesque sights of the fictional Venice, Venetica is bleak and mediocre in everything, from two-bit quests and meager weapon selection to tiresome combat. Don't expect proper character development, because there are only four stats, two of which are health and mana. Don't expect colorful characters, because the entire city went through a copier two or three times. Don't expect brain-teasing puzzles, because there is only one variety: "Push four buttons in a correct order".

Even if this game had nothing but this graveyard of creaking, moaning, almost talking ships, it would have still made a lasting impression. The developers created something more than an all-new location or the floating “prison” concept – an exciting feeling of initiation in a big, dangerous secret.

Forget about clever puzzles and “social stealth”. Instead of presenting various solutions to a problem, Velvet Assassin will beat you on the head with a stick and point to an “X” on the map.

Moore and Gibbons bestowed Watchmen with incredibly rich atmosphere, but you can’t make a masterpiece out of atmosphere alone. Too little of everything. Too monotonous. Too unoriginal.

Hunted is one of those action games that fly into one ear and exit through the other without even touching your brain.

This decent strategy game is bogged down by lots of aggravating mistakes that stem from Colossai's lack of experience with the genre.

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

Six hours of your life, roughly one hour per each level, will drain away, leaving you only with disappointment.

Zombie Driver is simply a dull, unpalatable game.

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.

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.

Instead of trying to cram everything but a kitchen sink into a low-budget game, the developers should have polished its core concept. Faery could have become a very beautiful, touching fairy tale, but turned into a weird made dish.

Tower Wars looks colorful and steampunk-y, but doesn't offer much. Three maps, one race… And this is in a multiplayer-oriented game?

What is the point of this "improved" edition if it looks much worse than the original DOOM 3 with the fan-made Sikkmod installed?

Not every shooter gives you a chance to abuse the laws of physics. Too bad that Saber Interactive could not flesh out its original concept, leaving us with a mediocre Gears of War clone.

Repetitive levels, same-looking explosions and faked car damage kill all the fun.

“Never get out of the car”, the heroes of Interstate ’76 used to say. If the developers of Wheelman decided to follow this credo, they could have focused their efforts on turning lifeless Barcelona into a real city, instead of churning out boring TPS sequences. Or they could have made a menu for editing keyboard shortcuts. Or re-do boring side missions and build them into the story.

Here is hoping that Paradox will fix the bugs, iron out the glitchy AI, and add more multiplayer modes. And if not… well, Defenders of Ardania will not be the first game with a great concept to get crushed under an avalanche of flaws.

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.

All you need to know about the second Transformers: The Game is that it is a humdrum, lifeless thing.

If not for its poor technical execution, Game of Thrones would have taken its rightful place in the 80+ range.

Propaganda Games failed to create anything that even remotely resembles the brilliant TRON 2.0.

In a desperate attempt to stand out in a crowd of silly arcade games, Naval Warfare lost its drive as well as accessibility.

“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.

A fantasy version of "Star Wars: Battlefront 2" with all the boredom intact. It’s like a poorly made pasty – too little jam, too much unleavened dough.

Severed is not bad for a $6 DLC, but I can't shake the feeling that this (severed) piece is just to whet our appetite for bigger things to come.

It's hard to judge The First Templar by the usual standards, since almost everything here has two sides. Fairly good story, but dated graphics. Interesting combat system – annoying stealth sequences. Big levels – linear corridors. But ultimately, you will be remembering these 10 hours of non-stop swashbuckling with a smile on your face.

Do not waste your money on this trainwreck. If you really want to know how it ends, go to the Fallout Wikia and read the article on Ulysses.

Fans of the Men of War series have already had their fill of World War II long before Condemned Heroes, and newcomers will get stuck on the very first mission. There's no life left in this concept.

It took CITY Interactive just a year to churn out a sequel to Art of Murder (and produce AoM’s clone, Scorpio Ritual, at the same time). Without belittling the many flaws of Hunt for the Puppeteer, I have to admit the studio’s progress. Sleepless nights and the publisher’s whip have pulled up the series to the level of a second-rate blockbuster.

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.

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

Monster Kingdom is too uninspired and weak to entice the veterans of the original Majesty, and it will definitely won't attract any new fans.

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.

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.

CreaVures looks really nice... when viewed as thumbnail-sized screenshots in Steam.

I'm not sure if we should be calling Iron Front a game. It's more like a huge target range where people can run around, drive tanks and shoot each other.

Medal of Honor: Warfighter is a slavish imitation of Call of Duty, while its multiplayer doesn't hold a candle to EA's own Battlefield 3.

If Saw were a scary game, we would have given it a free pass for clumsy action and silly endings. Alas, there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark. After a couple of rooms, you’ll be ready for anything.

I imagine that some of the SpellForce fans will love this expansion. For the rest of the world, it's a weird genre hybrid with horrible graphics, silly premise and dubious gameplay mechanics.

Despite the promising premise, an original character development system and spectacular finishing moves, The Cursed Crusade will scare away many people in just 20 minutes. The problem lies in poorly-placed checkpoints, stiff controls and overly annoying attempts at realism. Rapidly degrading weaponry is a definite buzz-kill.

«Meanwhile, you'd better spend your money on something better» - we usually reserve verdicts like this for amateur-made games. It's hard to believe that this empty shell of a game was made by a team of industry veterans.

Tyler Bates' excellent music, great voice-overs and amusing banter of Jason's companions are the only things that elevate Rise of the Argonauts above value-priced drivel.

All attempts to turn Duke Nukem Forever into a fancy scripted shooter look pathetic not only when compared to the Call of Duty series, but even to much cheaper games.

Jurassic Park is trying its best not to spoil the player with variety. Its three pillars of entertainment are "alternate between two buttons", "press one button to fill a gauge", and "press the same button, but very, very quickly". If not for a few primitive puzzles and the ability to select replies in conversations, it would be not a game, but a collection of movie clips.

"Just another Sonic game" is the best description of Episode 2. A colorful, but flavorless platformer.

Captain Morgane is a bland story with one-dimensional characters, weak attempts at humor and mini-games that reek of desperation.

Is it worth it to release a Quake 3 clone in 2012? I don't know. In fact, Nexuiz is doomed not because it lacks fresh ideas, but because it lacks people who want to play it.

A Valley Without End is your typical ugly duckling; an intriguing concept marred by shoddy execution. It's worth a brief look just to see how they managed to mix all these genres, but not exciting enough to play it.

X-Blades has nothing exciting to offer, although it is hardly a shoddy game. The interface is comfortable; the music is full of pep. Sometimes it’s fun to run into a crowd of stupid lizards and hack them all to pieces. Alas, thirty minutes of boring click-fest and humdrum bloodbath on each level will war down anyone.

Not giving a damn about sponsors and marketing, Pierre Gilhodes made Gobliiins 4 almost single-handedly. A classy, but ill-advised deed, because there was no one to tell him that horrible-looking 3D scares people even faster than pixelized sprites. That autosave-only policy is an insult to PC gamers. That even a puzzle game should have a coherent story.

Tracks are what makes Resurrection so memorable. It’s hard to forget battles on the decaying streets of once-beautiful cities. Forgotten, overgrown San Diego, rainy Bangkok, mysterious Prague, snowbound Moscow...These places look fantastic.

Interesting ideas, mediocre execution – it's an all-too common verdict for a game made by a B-list studio.

Once again, the excellent idea was killed by ambitions. If Stardock's risky bet had paid out, Elemental would have been a masterpiece, but to make one is not as easy as cramming a bunch of "new" features together. You actually need to glue them with a rock-solid concept. And, in violation of the second clause of its own The Gamer's Bill of Rights, Stardock had released a game as buggy and unfinished as Disciples 3.

This game will bring you only pain and humiliation. It will drive you insane, filling your nightmares with many-colored bears.

The developers promised us an atmosphere of real horror, love, friendships, suspicions, paranoia, but delivered none of these things. This game has no spark, no aftertaste... In fact, it has no taste whatsoever.

KTX Software has to draw people's attention to Haunted's original multiplayer modes, otherwise the game's already humble potential will be lost in brainless monster-bashing matches.

There is no connection between the actual investigation and actions of our zit-faced detectives. Horrendous dialogue, complete with the “American dream” philosophy, syrupy jokes about prepubescent love, and tear-jerking lectures of the characters, only widens this gap.

If it weren't for sci-fi elements, Darkest of Days would be indistinguishable from History Channel's Civil War shooters, although this game covers a wider period. Scenery changes, extras don different uniforms, but the lack of imagination is everywhere.

A couple of hours into the game, monotonous running back and forth, punctuated with repetitive encounters, will inevitably put you to sleep.

Afterfall began its life as an ambitious CRPG, but turned into a mediocre shooter somewhere along the way.

Legendary is a breakthrough, a revolution as compared to Spark Unlimited’s previous shooter - Turning Point. This one has a story, better graphics, more frequent checkpoints and almost no slowdowns. However, it still can’t hold a candle to more serious competition.

Lesta Studio created a decent RTS game, but, alas, Elements of War is far from the major league. Pure enthusiasm is not enough to take on World in Conflict; you'd also need exceptional talent and a serious budget.

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.

If only Daggerdale could offer fun gameplay, we would have forgiven it for dull story, horrible visuals and buggy multiplayer. Alas, the combat is beyond redemption as well.

Theatre of War 3: Korea brings a welcome change of scenery to the series, but the boring strategic mode is a poor replacement for the traditional single-player campaign.

Flat and boring. Terminator: Salvation fails to earn other, more favorable adjectives. The only bright spot is the soundtrack incorporating Brad Fiedel’s signature theme.

If Cannon Fodder 3 had been released a decade ago, it would have become a cult hit. Now, it's a just a decent old-school arcade game.

The worst thing about JASF is not that it's an unrealistic arcade game. It's just very, very boring.

Flat and boring. Terminator: Salvation fails to earn other, more favorable adjectives. The only bright spot is the soundtrack incorporating Brad Fiedel’s signature theme.

Despite some interesting ideas and huge ambitions of its creators, APOX is just another low-budget RTS.

And yet again, the only bright spot in a game about zombies is a CG promo that has nothing in common with the actual gameplay.

Both the gameplay and attempts at satire are equally pathetic.

Try as they might, none can’t clear the bar that was set by Painkiller. Left to its own devices, without People Can Fly’s support, Mindware Studios created but a pale imitation. Some people can’t fly, indeed.

Stronghold 3 is boring beyond redemption. The blurb on the retail box should have been written along the lines of "We've run out of ideas, our artists forgot how to draw, and our programmers can't produce stable code anymore, but hey, a long, long time ago we made one really great game!"

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.

It’s easier to escape death in a hyperdrive and chop twenty tons of scrap metal with a lightsaber than overcome boredom and finish Republic Heroes.