Portal is a sum of contradictions: it’s an FPS game with no weapons, no human characters, no complex scenery, but one that uses a simple and incredibly fun concept, with a well thought-of story and accessible to people of all ages (given they have minimal notions of moving the character around with the mouse and keyboard).

As the game progresses, the initial familiar sensation disappears and we get caught up in the story again, there are many open spaces and we’ll be able to drive another car (a modified Dodge Charger) on more types of terrain.

Gentlemen, I think we’re looking at a masterpiece, in the same sense in which Portal is one too. A cerebral and pleasant experience, never frustrating without proper reward, never dull or monotonous.

The outstanding combination of stealth, adventure, exploration and action, correlated with a superb technical presentation has created a game unlike anything before it, raising the bar in regards to how a console port or a movie based game should be made. Is it better than Doom 3? Without a doubt.

Silent Hunter 3 is without a doubt a step forward for the series, not just regarding graphics but through the introduction of new game options as well.

So don't go running, because Civilization V has its iron fist well hidden inside a fine velvet glove. From beginners to veterans, each will feel at ease remodelling the world's civilizations.

Forza 2 is an exceptional game, realistic, difficult and complex, with features rarely found in other racing titles. It's the type of game which has managed to attract people who otherwise wouldn't have touched a racing sim for the life of them, and showed them the "path". A must buy, for sure.

So despite the odds being stacked against it, Eidos Montreal accomplished the impossible and brought us a Deus Ex in the true sense of the word, probably the best one that we could have hoped for considering the current "requirements" for being commercially successful nowadays.

In short, the best Grand Theft Auto so far and an interesting platform for a sequel in the spirit of Vice City or San Andreas. A pity that its launch on the PC was eclipsed by so many technical issues.

The mix of turn based strategy (with economical, political and diplomatic ramifications) and real time battles is still wonderful, but the need to balance timing and aggression is more important than ever. Aggressive players will feel a little cheated, while diplomats will hate Realm Divide stage. Still, Total War was always about realism and the AI's scripted actions make logical and historical sense.

In the end, what we have here is probably the best Total War in terms of concept, but with a launch shadowed by a multitude of technical issues and the fact that it didn’t have a multiplayer campaign.

So Left 4 Dead is basically the „Royale with Cheese” of this year’s multiplayer shooters. Just that the french fries next to it aren’t covered in mayo, but blood.

Mass Effect is without doubt the best Xbox 360 RPG at the moment. But we’re on PC market here, so it’s a bit more obvious that BioWare just wanted to test the waters a bit with its very own Star Wars brand. Not to mention that Mass Effect simply has too many alternatives on the PC.

The success of Guild Wars lays in the lack of a monthly fee as well as in its core principles and game mechanics. This has attracted an important number of casual players, which are very happy that they can play PvP without having to invest a lot of time into repetitive actions, focusing instead on learning and developing new tactics and strategies.

On the one hand we have the brilliant graphics, excellent physics and devious AI, while on the other we have the disappointing sound department, a few glitches in the AI, the save system that will probably not be to everyone’s liking and the system requirements which can prove too great for some gamers out there.

So that's the story of Mass Effect 3, turned from potential masterpiece into a game sabotaged by greed and the „it's good enough" approach. It's unbelievable how easy BioWare passed over the opportunity for greatness and, despite the sales, I have a feeling that their reputation as great RPG makers is going downhill fast. Especially after this "back to back" performance with the fiasco called Dragon Age II.

It's all a matter of taste, after all. They each provide a certain type of entertainment – when talking about Battlefield 3, it involves a bigger game, more open in its possibilities and more spectacular. But on a longer timeline, less frantic and with fewer Bruce Willis scenes than the mass appeal beast it set itself to dethrone.

Battlefield 1942 is a living proof of an exceptional game in its simplicity.

Although there are some good racing titles on the Xbox 360, Burnout Paradise entertained me the most.

The missions are very well linked between them and in the background you thought of a very interesting but somehow sad story.

Timeline that, to be honest, will be quite short. An hour, maybe two. That's if you don't want to get all 13 achievements, in which case you'll most likely need more than one playthrough.

Although you can't say that it's an impressive evolution compared to Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood is without a doubt a more polished version of its predecessor, and the introduction of a captivating multiplayer has turned it into the best game of the series yet.

With superb graphics and sound, good storyline and an above average AI, F.E.A.R is without a doubt the best first person shooter of the year and probably one of the scariest games ever made, topped only by the likes of "Aliens vs. Predator 2" (another Monolith masterpiece) or "Clive Barker’s Undying."

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.

Fans of the Dark Ages will definitely get a nice playing experience, and for them as well as for the rest of the RTS fans, Medieval 2 can easily be considered one of the best games this genre has to offer.

If what you're looking for is a very fun game, with a large variety of well-structured and well-presented options, Tekken: Dark Resurrection is a good bet.

Although I understand why BioShock 2 was made, I appreciate some ideas the designers had and acknowledge that it improves certain areas, I can’t help but feel that some of the magic was lost along the way.

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.