The difference between Diablo III and II isn't as big a leap as the previous iteration, but again, nobody can say it's a surprise. The modern Blizzard plays it a lot „safer" and they've mastered that art. The final product, however, was lighter than I expected and a lot more shallow in points where I'd hoped for more from one of the biggest juggernauts in the videogame industry.

In the end, it’s all about player satisfaction and if it’s of any importance to you, I’ve played it all in one session. It’s that captivating.

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.

I was never a fan of racing sims, of complicated control schemes and the need of a wheel attached to the desk to be able to enjoy a game. On the other hand, the Burnout series, Split/Second, even Blur, offer easy controls and focus on the thing I like: explosive shows.

Unfortunately, the audio of the game simply sucks.

Just like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines before it, Alpha Protocol is a diamond in the rough, yet another chance to create an excellent RPG, but ultimately sabotaged by technical issues and questionable design decisions.

The fact that it’s very solo friendly, the large number of missions, the interesting universe and the artistic design will surely convince a lot of newcomers to the online gaming world to give it a try.

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.

But yes, I do recommend it to anyone passionate about spatial puzzles that require switching dimensions (and more). Some of its shortcomings, like the platforming sequences, could be regarded as relative, because some people will be better than others at appreciating distances and the moments at which they need to react.

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."

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

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).

Too Human isn’t perfect, but it’s not a bad game either.

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.

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.

Thanks to the good implementation of voice commands, EndWar manages to tackle one of the most problematic aspects of strategy games on consoles and enter the club of good games.

Ultimately, Singularity is a first-person shooter that you'll enjoy over a weekend (preferably on Hard difficulty, in case you find the standard one too easy), but which stops at the "Ok" level, missing that little something to make it memorable.

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.

By far the best strategy released under the Star Wars banner and a real success for Petroglyph Games.

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.

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.

Although I personally wished for the game to have more cut-scenes between the missions, more show-downs with other ninjas and samurais and not with fairytale creatures, I can definitely recommend Ninja Gaiden Sigma to all those who want to experience intense action, with very few interruptions.

Thus, I can't recommend buying this unless you (still) like the fast pace, the customizable weaponry and the short matches, of about 10 minutes each. With the very important mention that, essentially, nothing has changed.

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.

It has it flaws and shortcomings, but it can also make you laugh out loud on more than one occasion, which is truly something for a strategy where the main goal is world domination.

However, considering how slow, confusing and unappreciated the 3D versions seemed, a lightweight remake for today's networking capabilities is more than welcome if you're longing for this stuff.

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.

The main attraction is still the single-player experience, which uses the same approach as James Cameron's Aliens: more action, puns in the dialogues and a touch of military presence in the backdrop. It's too bad though that the flaws dragging it down are there to stay: the multiplayer is underwhelming and problematic, and there are far too few additions when it comes to gameplay and narrative.

Even so, Assassin's Creed remains one of the best games of the year. It's not THE game most probably expected it to be, but it's a solid base on which Ubisoft Montreal can build the rest of the series, now that they have the solid backing of the impressive worldwide sales.

Yes, it's full of clichés, I saw them coming from a mile away, but it's exactly what you need to create that feeling of respect and even appreciation for what really were (and still are) cruel murders, blood baths, territorial fights, extortion or drug traffic. But all of it elegantly done, in a tie and suit, in fancy restaurants and (stolen) luxury cars.

Ultimately, LoL's minor disadvantages are pretty damn redundant – we could complain about the details if it actually cost anything. Well, it doesn't. The main pro and con of the game is the same feature – the concept of a slow, simple DotA.

It might be a one-way road, a one-time ride in a fancy car, but considering the alternatives it’s a pretty neat little gem. Let’s hope Activision will drop the bad habit of launching a game without seriously ironing out all the bugs in the process.

Despite its high technical requirements and some weird choices made by the developers when implementing the control system, TDU is a nice experience for both single and multiplayer.

I just hope you will enjoy it as much as I did and if you start playing it, please try to finish it, so you could experience the really emotionally touching ending, reminding you about one of the best human emotions. Love.

Choosing between Barbara Jo and Morgan was pretty damn hard. The letter L doesn't come just from Larry, but from lust or love also.

For some, Global Domination won’t be a real challenge, seeing as it’s not a multiplayer mode, but a skirmish one, against the AI. For others, Global Domination will increase the add-on’s replay value, especially if they’re fed up with the LAN and Online matches, where you can still find cheaters and players that prefer to disconnect rather than lose a game.

The feeling you get when you're sure that the universe you're in either bows in front of you, or gets destroyed (in most cases you'll be forced to choose the second option) is a very exciting one and after a while it makes you fight until you've given your last breath. Dragon breath, of course!

Overall, I smell Hexen, I’m sniffing Undying and there’s a distinctive scent of The Time Machine, with the one note that Zeno Clash is very, very far away from the potential it could reach.

Aside from a couple of bugs and irritating gameplay elements, the combination between "Caesar III" and "Civilization" works pretty well. And considering that the game also has a level editor, I can safely say that both novices and veterans alike will play it until "Caesar IV" and "Anno 1701" hit the shelves.

Impressive because of the combination of these genres, making it recommendable to RTS fans (offering more than just a closer look to units in the form of total control) and simulation fans alike.

But one thing is certain: LEGO Batman reminded me of the good old times when I was a kid.

This is why Fallen Earth isn’t really for everyone, but if you have the patience to discover its secrets, you will not be disappointed.

Yes, you can easily say that Din's Curse is another Diablo clone. And it actually is, since it uses the rules made law by the Blizzard creation. But it also has good parts that will make you come back to Aleria for at least a few hours as therapy after a hard day's work.

What's important is that Runes of Magic is an excellent starting point for players who haven't tasted MMOs before, thanks to its free2play model. Players who will most certainly move up to pay2play titles after they've seen and done all there is to see and do in RoM.

It could have used more variety in the mission area, a bit more content and definitely multiplayer, but it remains a game that gives a player freedom to explore, trade or fight as he sees fit, with little restrictions.

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.

Mirror's Edge is a game with an innovative approach, but unfortunately it is rough around the edges, and with a little more work on it would have been an amazing title.

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.

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.

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.

A decent first person shooter, that you can easily finish during a weekend, without being sorry for the time spent in his company, especially if you're a "Deus Ex" fan, like myself.

The potential of Spellborn is huge, with the game being so different from the others, in a good way.

For its current price, Bionic Commando: Rearmed is close to a free lunch.

Yes, it lacks certain features, but it shows potential. On the other hand, exactly this kind of simplicity makes it more accessible to everybody.

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 AI is pretty dumb, the pathfinding is indirectly and randomly reliant on the cursor’s direction, and there are some pretty ridiculous situations in which a “highly” intelligent person would think of “real sex”, but it’s at the same time the game is extraordinary through its “heart-pounding” addictiveness and the fact that it made me laugh out loud a few times.

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.

It's true that it's a decent Need for Speed, but it's a far cry from what it could have been.

The great aspect is their flexibility, the how and when to use them being at your disposal. You don't get too much time to breathe in this kind of game, but overall R.U.S.E must be appreciated for having the guts to be innovative and implement its features in a way that makes them the basis of the gameplay, not just an option thrown in for the sake of it.

The game will probably be patched in the future, but for now, you will have to prey to the dragons of Ashan each time a multiplayer map is loading and why not, when playing. Thumbs up for Arkane, thumbs down for Kuju!

That said, I’m sure that a lot of “serious” gamers scoffed at the score, so if you’re a member of the group, you can take down some 10 points to get an “objective” mark and sleep soundly tonight. For everyone else, I strongly recommend that you at least try the demo, because it would be a shame to miss out on one of the most fun and relaxing games of the year.

One of the most original games released this year, not to say ever, and it’s perfect for those breaks between two "UT2004" deatmatches.

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.

The Shift ability is the element that makes Driver: San Francisco an interesting game. No matter how stupid the idea behind it is, the possibility to use any car (not just those affordable to you) gives huge freedom. And mixed with varied missions and a good multiplayer, but with a crippled AI and some control issues, Driver manages to revive not only the cop, but also a series that almost no one believed to be viable anymore.

It’s the kind of game with good gameplay, nice graphics, spectacular battles and over the top brutality, with the RPG elements being neglected a little.

Nine episodes times around six months is a really long love relationship (and expensive), but it may very well prove to be the next best thing in mature gaming.

Medal of Honor: Airborne, is a game that’s generally good, but with a few problems here and there.

Loses a few points in the strategy department, but makes up for them in atmosphere, one in which I'm sure Uther Pendragon himself would have felt quite at home. On my part, I would have loved a deeper economic system and a better unit balance during the battles, but on the other hand, I was pleased by the character complexity and the RPG elements.

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.

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.

Still, for a title which is worth less than five Euros, the Misadventures of P.B Winterbottom are recommended to any indie-loving player.

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

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.

But for the rest of you adventure fans or for those who have ever dreamt themselves detectives, Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper should not be missed.

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.

It's short enough to come across as an appetizer, this pilot episode's ending leaving you more confused than when entering the first tunnel of the mines

All in all, Space Marine captures the essence of the Warhammer universe: huge, classic factions and their infinite fight for control, the weapons and the power of the high tech future.

In the end though, barring the tactical possibilities offered by the suit modules and the burn-in spawn, Section 8 isn’t all that different from other similar titles. It’s true that the DCMs make every match an interesting one, but the fact that you depend on your teammates more than usual will be the reason you’ll either fall in love with it, or ignore it completely. It all comes down to what you like most.

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?!?!?

Despite its flaws however, regarding the story and multiplayer, the people at Midway have translated Woo’s films rather well on the PC. The game is exactly what we would’ve expected from such a migration and will not disappoint those who only wanted to shoot the bad guys from Hong Kong.

Army of Two is a game with new ideas, most of them very good. But, the rush to launch the game on the market and the lack of attention to details lower its value a lot.

To sum things up, Savage 2 is an enjoyable experience, and even though the mix of genres brings nothing new to any of them, it is still well-implemented and fun to play.

Not what we’ve hoped for, but it’s a step ahead and may be one of the best adventure games released this year.

As a full package, Overlord 2 certainly deserves your money if you can get a good deal on it, because it’s still a breath of fresh air in the gaming world of today.

Better than its predecessor, but unfortunately, it doesn’t pack enough novelties to really make you to want more, unless you’re a Star Wars fan.

Although it doesn't excel in any way and the additions brought by it hardly justify the characterization as a sequel, FFvt3R is a fun game, which manages to bring to the PC the look and feel of comic-book super-heroes, sporting some colorful characters and vivid graphics.

But Forgotten Sands, I feel, was only made for fans and with a terrible fear of "not ruining the recipe". Or maybe it was only made simply as a movie tie-in for the Prince of Persia blockbuster, which can more easily be digested, both by Jordan Mechner fans as well as newcomers. In any case, this is not the glorious return of the Prince that I'm sure many were expecting.

Although Force Unleashed does deserve your money to a certain extent, be aware that your patience for technical and design issues will be tested.

If you’re a fan of the western era and you want a decent single-player experience, you can give DMH a try.

If you’re a fan of the first B&W and you were just itching to see how your favorite game could get better, you’ll probably be disappointed by the sequel and be left to ask, like me, how on Earth could Peter Molyneaux have released such a game in the first place?

A rara avis (rare bird) of the interactive entertainment landscape. You keep playing, you lose track of time and you think that you haven't played such a good single-player game in years.

Ultimately, Endless Space can be a fun experience, even though I disliked the superficial combat mechanics and the skinny tech-tree. Yet the game's biggest problem is the low replay value, with each game being eerily similar to the previous one, which is not a very bright point for a 4x strategy.

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.

It's not a title for the books, but it's a game crafted with care and should be tried out even if you're not a fan of the genre.

We still have a decent title on our hands, with two sides different enough to warrant a replay of the single-player campaign, a well-designed economic system and a factions / research tree which can seal the deal.

Even if it's short and single-player only, From Dust has at least one statement to make: that there are still special ideas around. Not necessarily perfect, due to the control and pathfinding issues that will annoy the not so patient players, but with a huge potential to evolve in totally new directions.

If you've never played Heroes though, the current installment isn't that bad: 50 campaign hours, Hot Seat to keep my friends close, online multiplayer and many customization options. If the bugs are solved and the designers actually listen to the criticism, the next game will gain more favor.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a quality tactical shooter with excellent feeling and addictive multiplayer, you should definitely give Advanced Warfighter 2 a try.