I cannot say I was too disappointed by this third title, but I would have enjoyed better graphics, a new storyline without any recycled characters and last but not least, a save anytime option.

Therefore, Machinarium can be considered a very successful adventure game, which I recommend to any player, be it or not a passionate of the genre.

If we consider they worked for this game for about 4 years, a massively multiplayer add-on being cancelled 2 years ago, its presence on just one CD doesn't really justify the absence of a true nonlinear gameplay, the imbalance between the economical and military aspects, the lack of some options which are considered now a standard of the genre, the low difficulty of the game due to the poor quality of the AI and the short period of time after which both modes don't offer any more challenges.

You want to freely drive through Africa, set the savannah on fire and run over zebras with your car, Far Cry 2 is the right choice.

Frankly, if your pocket allows it, skip the demo version and just buy the game directly - I guarantee you won't regret it.

The game’s finale however left me a little disappointed, because it ends too abruptly, leaving behind more questions than answers.

The result is that Red Faction: Guerrilla can be described as a technically sound game, but with no soul.

Battlefield: Bad Company is, in my opinion, the best console shooter that has been released so far this year.

If you add the two new Last Stand heroes that actually change the overall mechanics of the mode (you can now spawn creatures yourself) to the overall package, I think you’ll be pretty satisfied with what Chaos Rising has to offer.

After Fallout 3, veterans of the series had lost any kind of hope they would ever set foot in a new post-apocalyptic world that they could appreciate without the help of mods. That's why New Vegas is all the more impressive, because despite its problematic foundation, it turned into a game that even the most elitist and conservative of fans will play until exhaustion.

The 3D graphics is exceptional, the units, the buildings, their animations also and the visual effects are very detailed and very well done for such a game.

Fans are probably loving it, and also completed it several times on all difficulty levels in order to find all its, but for me, Resident Evil 5 is just a 3rd person action game that could have done more.

The freedom of movement may be a tribute to Elite, but strategy fans will be amused by the depth of the land battles, arcade freaks will complain that hyperspace is way too short, and adventure fans will have a condescending smile at most.

I recommend Puzzle Quest to all those who love the Heroes series, artworks, the number 4 and, of course, puzzles.

In the end, it all depends on how you look at DiRT. If you want a serious racing simulator, perhaps this is not the best choice, but if you are looking for a really fun game, one that offers long hours of gameplay , great replayability options and looks great in the process we have a winner.

For veteran players, Factions offers little in terms of PvE but more than makes up for it in PvP, especially if you’re a member of an experienced guild.

To me, Spore is an impressive creature in a purely technical sense – the world, the box, the engine that make it live and breathe are a big leap for humanity and allow an almost overwhelming freedom both for the producers as well as players living the experience.

The decision whether to buy it or not is fairly easy to make: Just Cause 2 is a dynamic sandbox game, very gritty and not big on demands, losing some points in the atmosphere and storyline departments, but totally making up for those by aesthetic variation, fiery car chases and grappling hook gymnastics.

Crysis Wars is fun, and although it didn’t keep me glued to the monitor like the multiplayer component in Call of Duty 4 did, I do appreciate its merits.

Although it was more complex and more ambitious in scope than Rise of Nations, Rise of Legends has proven to be another hit for Big Huge Games and as such is a serious contender for the title of “Best real-time strategy game of the year” award. The only negative thing that can be said about it is the singleplayer campaign, which oddly enough should have been one of its strong points. Fortunately, the multiplayer modes, the three different but very well balanced factions, lots of strategies and the art design recommend it to all RTS lovers.

The game’s atmosphere also plays a key role in creating a quality feeling, which in Defcon’s case is a very dark and sinister one.

Content wise, Guild Wars Nightfall is an excellent purchase for the Guild Wars community, but also for those who want to see why Guild Wars is so popular with MMORPG players who prefer competitive PvP gameplay above all else.

For the casual player however, the original campaigns remain the most attractive, because of user-friendliness and server popularity.

The short duration of the adventure is balanced by the constant number of puzzles and the fact that they had to be designed for solo and co-op play. But the first time you fire up Trine 2, the best way to do it is with patience and taking time to contemplate the scenery.

It's true that the soul trees offer outstanding flexibility for character development and the rifts bring a welcome sense of insecurity into Telara's everyday life, but for some players this simply might not be enough.

In the end, it's a decent game, but with a pretty steep learning curve, one that only true fans and yoga practitioners can handle on the long term.

Even so, Anno 2070 is one of the best titles released in 2011 and without equal when compared to other games in the genre. The three defining elements of the series (alongside the almost infinite replay value) – urban planning, commercial routes and opponent interaction – are now more complex.

The humor never gets tiresome or done poorly, which, if you're asking me, is pretty rare in the array of overused jokes in the recent mainstream market. Another memorable advantage Orcs Must Die! has is the pretty good replay value, guaranteed by the presence of a score and global ranking tab, aside from the achievements that require finishing the game on Nightmare or getting a five star rating (or skulls, in the game's visual grammar) on each map.

If it had been launched directly to the PC, Fable might have become one of the greatest games in history, because the potential was there and the early previews stand testament to the designer’s intentions. Not the Fable is a bad game, far from it, but I just can’t help feeling a little sad, thinking of what might have been.

Summing it up, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is what Legend should have been: a game with less emphasis on action and more on puzzles which require a combination of brains and agility.

It doesn’t matter that there are some technical issues, it doesn’t matter that the Carreer mode could have been better or the handling model should have worked better at default options: the main thing here is that the game is fun.

Although FIFA 11 isn't a bad game, being above its predecessor in many regards thanks to the new engine, it still suffers from issues such as poor teammate AI and dubious referee decisions, plus an awkward default keyboard control scheme and the features still exclusive for consoles which could have significantly improved the gameplay (like Pro Passing).

It's true that it has some issues such as clumsy menus, the fights aren’t as dynamic as they could have been and the multiplayer suffers from lag, but otherwise the producers did a good job.

A good story never hurts and this is what the Rainbow series lacks right now, storyline and emotional involvement of the player.

It is, however, a polished, entertaining product and while not a gaming milestone by any means, it represents a solid example of an AAA title, which delivers exactly what it promised.

In its own niche, Orcs Must Die! 2 is king. You may not be inclined towards tower defense games, but in this genre, the three-dimensional approach (your ability to use the walls and ceiling, to place down guardians, forming synergy between traps and character spells), the attractive graphics and the fast-paced gameplay are way above any other similar title.

And even though the single-player is extremely linear and might be a bit short for certain tastes – you can complete it in less than 6 hours – Prey manages to avoid being a game released just for financial reasons. And considering its finale – the one after the Credits mind you – I sincerely hope that Human Head will continue the series with even more wackier ideas.

Yet as a finished result and, finally, as a product with an interactive purpose, Alan Wake suffers enough from trying to mix so many influences, ending very close to the "you love it or hate it" model. Eventually, maybe these are just the "pains of childbirth" for something more complex or for something else as deserving as interactivity, a new „species" that needs to be judged less for its interactive aspects and more for the ones that regard its style.

World at War is a remarkable Call of Duty title, once again, but it’s clear that more could have been done on the multiplayer side. Unlike the rest of the games in the series, Treyarch studios can’t pride themselves with this latter aspect, which has always ensured the series’ longevity.

All in all, if you ignore the obvious drawbacks – I feel compelled to repeat that Torchlight would have won a lot if it had any form of multiplayer in it – the title at hand managed to reproduce the Diablo recipe succesfully.

So if you want to buy Splinter Cell: Conviction, you have to be aware of the metamorphosis the series went through and accept the fact that the stealth has become nothing more than a hobby for the old wolf, a simple break from the numerous action sequences.

The new Colonization manages in some weird way to capture that conquistador feeling that its 1994 ancestor made popular. But you need to play fast, if you don’t want to lose in one way or another, and a big chunk of feeling is lost when the game itself pushes you onto dark alleys just to finish it.

Unfortunately, the audio of the game simply sucks.

With a level editor and a multiplayer mode, Anno 1404 could have been a front runner in the race for the “Best Game of 2009” award. As it stands though, it’s just the best game in its category, featuring a complex and solid economic system that gives birth to a highly pleasant feeling of having functional and aesthetically pleasing cities.

And even though it’s not as complex as other MMORPGs on the market, the Destiny’s Manifest update (which should be launched this month) will resolve a lot of the drawbacks that the game now has. And face it, it’s really fun being the bad guy for a change.

In this regard, Crystal Dynamics deserve all the praise, but if they will continue to ignore certain aspects in the next Tomb Raider game and will choose to go down the simplification road, there are very good chances that the next Tomb Raider will end up like "Angel of Darkness."

The story, characters and the choices I had at my disposal made me overlook the bad AI, frustrating party micromanagement, gamebreaking bugs or the Spartan inventory system.

The attention to detail is impressive, even if we’re talking about the floating boats in the ethereal realm or just the white dragon bones. And BioWare sprinkled some new enemies into the expansion.

TellTalle keeps proving for some time now (even more so in the past three months) that the episodic game format works. Tales of Monkey Island came out more or less on deadline, the content disappointed few people (statistically speaking) and, in my opinion, you can see a clear evolution from one episode to the next.

Regardless of these problems however, Mask of the Betrayer is a triumph which should be saluted by all RPG fans, since it proves once and for all that “old school” RPG principles – wonderful story, interesting characters, great dialogues – which seem to have been forgotten by newer “RPGs”, are still as valid as ever.

Adding to this the possibility to choose from 23 heroes, each one with his individual abilities and powers, and also the challenge mode besides the campaign, comic-book fans will certainly spend more time in single-player.

The experience of the Crystal Dynamics designers and their investment to start this spin-off series on the right foot are certainly visible in every aspect of the game, and I can't help but be thrilled by the new way in which we'll be able to hunt ancient relics with lady Croft.

The big difference between this and "Midnight Club 2" is that the second one stunned me while I expected more from such a fine producer like EA.

Ultimately, Dragon Age II will be judged depending on the player camp: RPG veterans will throw it away, while casual gamers will find themselves at home in this simplified world. Because Dragon Age isn't necessarily a bad game, it just fell victim to the money grab started by the success of Origins, with all the negative things that come with it.

Despite its shortcomings, STALKER is definitely one of the “must play” titles of 2007, whether you’re a FPS fan or not, even though you might do it just for the single-player part, with it’s incredible atmosphere and unique game experience.

One of the best arcade racing games ever. The quantity and quality of the options available to you, the level design and the freedom of movement, the cars and their handling through traffic, the details, all these make NFS: U2 a winner.

And taking into account that dungeon-crawlers were considered dead and buried, Legend of Grimrock does a very good job of reminding new RPG players why the genre was so popular in the Golden Age.

In the end, Bulletstorm will make you smile and also grin with an almost maniacal satisfaction. It's true that the colorful language gets annoying, the action is in the end repetitive and only the wish to unlock new Skillshots keeps you playing through the story, but you mustn't expect anything other than a first-person Gears of War with a touch of Serious Sam's humor and a little of Duke Nukem's personality.

As Myst IV is concerned, I'll always be sad when thinking about it as the only impossible quest in my life. In fact, I'll give it a try from time to time as there is an old proverb saying practice makes perfect.

Barring some gamers’ repulsion towards graphics, many of the series’ fans should be content – the spirit is the same, the story got a couple of pretty interesting new chapters (with some of the most surreal twists, aside from funny clichés) and the multiplayer (be it the cooperative mode or the bloodbaths on the online ladder) ensure at least enough substance until StarCraft 2 is launched.

The tactical game mode also boasts a series of improvements.

All of these things only take me to one conclusion: the stream of conceptual smoothness from the Sands of Time trilogy is gone, replaced by a lot of glossy plastic that can be seen by anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Replays are stunning with all the cameras and visual effects and the game comes with a built-in track editor which lets you import, modify and create tracks. What more do you want?!?!?

The overall result is excellent and probably this game together with "Rome: Total War" and "Warhammer 40k" represent the best of the RTS genre these days. Unfortunately, the system requirements proved too high sometimes, the AI had its bugs despite its quality, and this is why Battle for Middle Earth will not be one of the greatest RTS games in computer games history.

The best Hitman game I’ve ever played. If you add the surprising ending to the mix, then you’ll be in for quite a treat.

A must have for Need for Speed fans. For the rest, it’s an interesting arcade racing game, thanks to its spectacular police car chasses and outstanding graphics.

Judged on its own, Flames of Vengeance isn't that tempting, although the price is decent for an expansion pack. But the Dragon Knight Saga is a very good package, especially for those who didn't play the original in the first place.

From a technical standpoint, Quake 4 exceeds all expectations, especially in multiplayer. Considering the game’s excellent performance on even the most modest rigs, cumulated with the traditional gameplay and countless modding options, I have no doubt that Quake 4 is here to stay.

But what prevents The Witcher from entering the gallery of truly great titles is what pretty much plagues other diamonds in the rough: lots of crashes, long and frequent loading times as well as an artificially limited freedom of movement.

But now, two years after its initial release, it’s only a good game with a phenomenal atmosphere but one which ultimately shows its age.

So if you are patient enough to overcome the technical issues, Metro 2033 will truly suffocate you with darkness, blood, claustrophobia and nearly suicidal missions.

And yes, Blur is probably less spectacular in graphical terms, even if there’s enough detail on the cars, at least. But it comes with a simple enough control scheme (that you can’t change) to be arcade and a tactical enough gameplay to attract even those who usually prefer simulators.

Ultimately, whether you like Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning or not depends on what you want from an RPG: a special story and endless hours of reading or spectacular action, tons of items and great hero customization, but at the expense of the narrative.

What I have to admit, in the end, is that Borderlands doesn’t have too many technical obstacles or annoying bugs, and compared to the other (few as they are) representatives of the so-called First Person Roleplaying Game genre, it’s a clear winner.

But if you’re willing to accept them, along with the awful AI and the linearity – the most controversial two aspects of NTW – then you’ll probably accept this game as a sequel worthy of the series’ reputation and a proper mise-en-scene for France’s closest call when it came to winning wars.

If I wasn’t clear until now, Overlord is a great game. Even though it has a few quirks, it has something that most titles today lack: originality.

Adding everything up, Black Ops has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as a list of improvements on Modern Warfare 2's hit skeleton: lean, dedicated servers (but only for rent), as well as everything we bullied the last Call of Duty for, along with a campaign that can basically be described as a tram ride and a level of optimization that made our editor-in-chief wonder why he handed me the game without a solid upgrade coupon in the first place.

Being quite simple and with a short learning curve, it's mainly focused on players who are new to the strategy genre. Micromanagement can scare off a fresh gamer, but it can really make the difference when it comes to hardcore strategy fans.

The concept, the presentation and the execution of Mirror’s Edge makes it worth the money on paper, but it all feels like a slice of delicious cake, layered cream on top and the obligatory cherry, which leaves you hanging when you realize there is no more cake beyond that.

So Wargame: European Escalation isn't revolutionary, but it can hold its own against current strategy games and has a community with a passion for war that goes beyond history books and Discovery documentaries.

Dungeon Defenders is quite addictive, but after you spend enough time, this attribute dilutes its fun factor, turning what was initially a tactical advance and collaboration effort into a repetitive farm meant to improve your attributes, gear and obtain achievements and mana.

If you are a true strategy fan you probably wouldn't want to miss this one, as it is by no means a bad game, only a mediocre one.

The best thing about Age of Conan is its potential.

So the bottom line is that, depending on how much you love the franchise, Gods & Kings can be seen as a sum of natural improvements for an add-on or a breath of fresh air for the series as a whole.

However, all of this comes under the unpretentious cover of a very self-conscious price: 9,99 Euros. And thanks to it, you can't really hold the length against Anomaly, because cost-efficiency didn't get left out. So I can only encourage its purchase if you're into sweet small deals with sweet small prices in sweet small packages.

Ultimately, in some regards, Dungeon Siege 2 is clearly better than its predecessor. But some questionable design decisions, as well as a few less evident problems manage to stop it from becoming one of the better games of 2005. Nevertheless, for hack & slash fans this is a must have title.

Dead Island has plenty of reasons to be likeable: a satisfying duration, enough freedom and interactivity to create addiction and enough potential to become a classic. And although it isn't what the elitists would call a mandatory title, I think it's infectious enough for me to pull my friend's sleeve to buy the game too.

I’m utterly disappointed by Invisible War. And nothing makes me madder than knowing what a masterpiece it could have been, if it was developed only for the PC (as it should have been in the first place) and THEN ported to XBOX.

Splinter Cell: Double Agent could have been a wonderful product if tested properly and adapted from the console version by adding a useful PC interface.

An entertaining game with an excellent interface and decent AI.

When it comes to entertainment, Pure is a true success. The speed sensation is exhilarating, the gameplay is very challenging, the race tricks are at least spectacular and the multiplayer is extremely fun. A title that I can gladly recommend to everyone, especially to those that haven’t played a racing game before.

If the release would have been delayed a couple of months (the time required to fix the large number of bugs (some of them being very bad), Underworld could have been labeled as a fruitful combination of Legend and Anniversary. But the impression of an unfinished product also reflects in reduced replay value, puzzle simplicity and insufficient use of the level design. And some options, like (at least partial) camera control, are yet to be seen.

Separately, the RTS and the RPG aspects of the game can be considered mediocre – with a higher mark for the RPG if I compare it with the first title in the series. But, the game’s splendor comes from successfully combining these two genres, offering a unique experience, a friendly interface, and gameplay which is fun and addictive.

It would have been a true gem if it had more complex puzzles, extended multiplayer options and a replay value backed up by more than some achievements. The potential is certainly there.

World of Tanks is a nice alternative for anyone who is passionate about armored mayhem, with a good mix of fun and strategy to meet every gamers' expectations. The large number of vehicles, the customizing possibilities and the variety of equipment will please every action and strategy passionate. It all depends on how willing are you to grind your vehicle into the upper Tier, how much can you stand a faulty matchmaking system and disregard the curiosities of Clan Wars, but overall I can only recommend the game as a solid product.

There aren't enough words to describe my disappointment regarding Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. I honestly can't understand how Activision could release such a poorly optimized and unfinished game on the market.

For those who never played a Warhammer 40K : Dawn of War 2 title, Retribution is a very good introduction, giving access to all six factions and an improved multiplayer mode, from a technical standpoint. For the veterans, however, the novelties may be a bit too superficial and the campaigns may disappoint those who appreciated Chaos Rising.

So if you want to enjoy the looks of a Tiger tank and watch it perform exactly like the Discovery boys told us it did, then you don’t miss out on Men of War. For anything.