The concept, gameplay, challenge and atmosphere of Choplifter HD are quite good. It is a nice trip back in the 80's, even if it is far from being a must-have today, as the game is particulary repetitive and its price is quite high.

If iOS becomes the new favourite platform for puzzle games, Blueprint 3D is one of the most original and well designed that we have seen. The amazing controls turn the game into a thrilling experience that can capture your attention in an instant...

With the hugely popular Angry Birds, and the unique Sword and Sworcery, Jetpack Joyride forms up the tryptic of the smartphone/tablet typical must-have games. It's pure action, through a single move : touching the screen to control the Jetpack, and survive the randomly generated traps as long as possible. It's highly addictive, filled with nice bonuses to unlock and blessed with a very nice artistic touch, typically referencing the video game world... just grab it!

If I were to recommend the game to a friend, I'd argue that it would be better to know, beforehand, that the production values and the playability really lack polish, before choosing to purchase it. It's so much so that it can, from time to time, completely ruin the experience. Despite this huge shortcoming, Amy has an atmosphere, stress-inducing and game world that are all powerful enough to overthrow the rest... if you're one to be hugely tolerant and really in need for a horror fix.

I found this on Desura, an indie-only Steam-like, and it could raise an interest among several people : an adventure game where a metalhead is trying to survive a zombie invasion. The two australian developers are aiming at giving us fun, and I must confess that the dialogs and brilliant situations are, indeed, quite funny. It's not hilarious, but it's nice. other than that, sure the 8-bit metal music feels weird, and the visuals are clearly ugly... but one can get used to it, and if it wasn't for the quite perfectible interface, it's 6 hours of decent fun and adventure for a very low price.

CRUSH3D is not only characters that look like the ones of my german schoolbooks, it's also a very good way to relive those horribly solitary moments, standing in front of the blackboard, trying to solve some math problem in front of everybody. It's so difficult that you may get a headache from playing it, trying to use the perspective, and to play with the size of 2D and 3D elements in order to progress in the subconscious of the hero. It's smart level design, no doubt, but the overall art direction isn't really strong, and the difficulty may seem too much too soon. Those who will stick around despite those shortcomings will find true bliss in torturing their brains in order to wrap them up around it.

Katawa Shoujo is more of an interactive ebook than a full fledged dating sim, but by using a faire, smart, and humourous tone in dealing with its disabled characters, it takes by surprise all those who could have tagged Four Leaf Studio as a band of pervs.

If BioWare can deliver a good load balancing for the real launch of the game, The Old Republic is geared up for success: the franchise works as well as we'd have hoped, the game remains pretty classical, but well-rounded, and there's this added bonus of the BioWare games that we came to know and love: the story. Actually, Eight stories, one for each class, supported by other narrative elements for every quest. It makes for a massive content to discover, enough to remain occupied until BioWare fixes the little balancing issues, refines the interface, fixes some bugs and the like. With Wookies, it would have been nearly perfect for an MMO launch.

Zen Pinball 3D offers four tables to be played : Excalibur, El Dorado, Earth Defense! and Shaman. Too bad those aren't new from the XBLA and PSN versions, and that the comfort of the 3DS screen isn't really one that suits certain camera angles. But the game still remains a good flipper title, with fair visuals, and once its 3D has been tamed, it's a good companion for nomad players who love to get extra balls.

A PlayStation 2 success coming to the 3DS, Tales of the Abyss is a modest but polished adventure. A riche heir, a quest, and all of a sudden, the truth. A "lost in time" episode that comes back from 2006, with dated 3D graphics, without the in-your-face attitude from today, nor an open-world extravaganza with weird looking characters ; only to tell a good story that already proved itself as such. It's a classic, smooth, JRPG experience for 2011.

Chair took everyone by surprise with the first episode. This follow-up strengthens the basics, and adds up to the formula with deeper tactical elements in its combat, and more variety (alternate routes, etc.), even though the concept remains the same. For this price, it's a good experience to be had, but mind the fact that it's designed for the latest gen iOS platforms, and may not be as pretty or fluid on previous ones.

The trio of heroes is back in Trine 2 with an identical concept, but an adventure that got richer in terms of gameplay, also showing more mastery. In terms of visuals, they will probably set a mark in the history of videogames : it's a real success that needs to be played by both fans of the original an newcomers.

It may have "Super" in its title, but that's not how we'd describe this title. Extremely repetitive and plagued by a gameplay that's as deep as a dry pond, Super Pokémon Rumble is a one-button action game where you bash Pokémon toys in tiny areas to add them to your collection and benefit from their powers. Arena combats are available as well, but if the fans may see that as a simple yet enjoyable venting entertainment offer, most will see that as an underwhelming title designed to squeeze out some quick bucks out of an over-successful franchise. Guess where we stand.

FM2012 will be delightful to its usual fan-base, by betting on its traditional qualities and strengths. By fine-tuning its simulation on details that matter, Sports Interactive clearly targets purists, all the while risking to lose the newcomers. For the fans, Football Manager 2012 is a success, but others will probably be put off by this demanding experience.

We'd have loved to have some finesse in the driving, or more subtle tracks, but it's not the case. NFS the Run on the 3DS is an arcade racing game in which you just drive straight. It still offers a nice speed feeling, numerous challenges and and nice solo adventure, but its gameplay is too rough. If it's a real racing game you're looking for, that's not it.

Sadly, when it's time to balance out the pros and cons of this 3DS version of Sonic Generations, it's clear the cons outweight the pros. It's pretty, fluid, offers player versus player races, it doesn't provide the thrill of the original Sonic Generation dual gameplay, old Sonic and new Sonic, because there are no 3D levels, only 2D ones you can play with either Sonic. The solo is super short, level design is flawed, and secondary missions dull. Clearly not on par with the HD versions.

With almost ten years of thrilling races behind them, even the most fine-tuned racing fireballs can show signs of fatigue. But rather than risking a break-down, Nintendo was smart enough to dismantle its Mario Kart core formula in order to correctly refreshen each and every one of its clogs before putting them back together. As an added bonus, the mechanic repainted it nicely and added some of the latest technologies. The end result roars at soon as the engine starts, and promises to run nicely for quite some time thanks to solid online features.

Serious Sam comes back to get rid of waves of ever-stronger ennemies. Something it doesn't quite do at the beginning, though, but the action starts to ramp up later on. Of course, SS BFE isn't the top of the crop technically, but it's the only FPS of the lot offering this type of gameplay... it will undoubtedly find its fans (if the price drops a little).

We were expecting a serious competitor against Layton. Lautrec is aiming for more than a succession of riddles, with added exploration, stealth, and a hint of RPG-styled combat. But it doesn't really seduce in any aspect of the lot. The only real success is the atmosphere, and the bits and pieces of knowledge you can get on the city of Paris.

We knew the Black Eyed Peas had the knack to excite dance floors, but now that they are invited in your living room, they become perfect home entertainers. The Black Eyed Peas Experience is a success, thanks to its positioning between the very casual Just Dance 3 and the requiring Dance Central 2. With a gratifying and fun gameplay, this Ubisoft title developped by the japanese iNiS nails it with a rich playlist, festive atmosphere and polished production.

Back to the roots for the little pink guy with Kirby's Adventure Wii. The creature eats again, and can now have three friends with it to join the party. The game is super easy, and doesn't invent anything new, but it remains the original Kirby we know and love, and it works.

Raw and beautiful Versus Fighting, here it is! KoF XIII gives its pride back to the series. But it sacrifices some accessibility in favor of this new richness, even though it includes some tutorial modes that are well-crafted. But if you have time and motivation to spare in order to dive into it, this episode is a really good one, even though it still doesn't come near a Blazblue or SFIV in terms of online play.

Raw and beautiful Versus Fighting, here it is! KoF XIII gives its pride back to the series. But it sacrifices some accessibility in favor of this new richness, even though it includes some tutorial modes that are well-crafted. But if you have time and motivation to spare in order to dive into it, this episode is a really good one, even though it still doesn't come near a Blazblue or SFIV in terms of online play.

This journey back to the roots of Professor Layton is as much a way of discovering his past as it is one to draft a first sum-up of the series before it moves to the 3DS pastures for a new trilogy. Confident about its formula, Level-5 offers treasures of riddles throughout an adventure that focuses on characters rather than on the plot, as enticing as it may prove to be. So, even though the formula doesn't really evolve, it still concludes this run with subtle touches here and there to improve the lot.

Undoubtedly prettier and more incisive, this WWE 12 still suffers from some deep technical issues that undermine the fun. Even though the gameplay really did benefit from an added dynamism, it lost in terms of precision and variety. The matches, are less enticing and more repetitive, and sometimes chaotic when there's more than 2 brawlers on the ring.

Undoubtedly prettier and more incisive, this WWE 12 still suffers from some deep technical issues that undermine the fun. Even though the gameplay really did benefit from an added dynamism, it lost in terms of precision and variety. The matches, are less enticing and more repetitive, and sometimes chaotic when there's more than 2 brawlers on the ring.

If you're new to the over-the-top combat games and didn't yet try the Marvel vs. Capcom series, it would be pure madness to miss this one. On several levels, it's purely spectacular. But if you already payed Marvel vs Capcom 3 last february and are not a pro, maybe it's time to say no, thanks. Unless you're rich.

If you're new to the over-the-top combat games and didn't yet try the Marvel vs. Capcom series, it would be pure madness to miss this one. On several levels, it's purely spectacular. But if you already payed Marvel vs Capcom 3 last february and are not a pro, maybe it's time to say no, thanks. Unless you're rich.