Tekken is still a great series, but the qualities of the old days have lost their sparkle. Especially the story mode disappoints. Therefore solo players lose interest soon, multiplayer however presents nearly endless fun.

Assassin's Creed is graphically stunning, acoustically impressive, innovative and brilliantly staged. But one thing's definitely lacking: replay value! And a certain degree of monotony can’t be denied either. Like a colleague of mine once said: "It could have been way better then that!" Personally, I simply keep hoping for a massively improved AC2 and lots of merchandise! May Ubisoft Montreal concentrate on many, many successors and spin-offs. [May 2008]

Split/Second may not revolutionize the genre, but its screenfilling explosions and stunning looks are making it a title, that may not only be interesting for racing-fans, but also for everyone, who simply likes to blow stuff up - Hollywood-Style!

Dead Rising 2 is like its predecessor with a lot of new features. Fans of the first game will like the second quite a bit and can consider it a must have.

The concept of LEGO Games blends perfectly with the Harry Potter franchise. Possibly the best LEGO Game to date!

Absolute Power will give you everything a good add-on has to give: a new single player campaign with some unusual scenarios, additional buildings and some improvements, but it doesn't reinvent the gameplay.

The newest instalment in the series has the same simple goal as its predecessors: Entertain the player. And it totally delivers!

King Arthur - The Roleplaying Wargame is a typical turn based strategy game with magic and role-playing elements.

What at first glance seems like a cheap clone of the genre-predecessors turns out to be truly better than the original! The battles are of the highest standard and the well-implented roleplay-system leaves a lot of freedom for character-evolution. King's Bounty: The Legend – the sweetest seduction since round-based strategy has first seen the light of day! [Issue # 16]

A really good combination of retro charm and puzzle fan for an absolutely cheap prize. Puzzle fans must definitely take a look at this game.

In terms of RAGEs story, there is a lot of wasted potential in this otherwise brilliant shooter. The same could be said for the technical side of things, as RAGE undoubtedly looks good, but far from brilliant, "thanks" to its multiplatform-roots. Nevertheless: id's newest IP offers great atmosphere, spot-on gunplay, cool weapons, funny vehicle-combat and solid graphics; that leaves us hoping for Carmack's promised texture-patch.

Dragon Age II is still a good role-playing game, but in more than one way it is inferior to its great predecessor.

The concept of LEGO Games blends perfectly with the Harry Potter franchise. Possibly the best LEGO Game to date!

The concept of LEGO Games blends perfectly with the Harry Potter franchise. Possibly the best LEGO Game to date!

While The Sims 3: Pets won't convert new players to the Sims Franchise it's an absolute must have for fans. The pets are a really nice addition to the gameplay and the new neighborhood also add some nice stuff like the ranch or the dog park.

A delightfully brutal romp through dismemberment-land - coating Manhattan in mutant-blood has never been this much fun. Definitely one of the hottest games of 2009!

Overlord II could do many things better, but its delightfully malicious humor is without compare. Do yourself a favor and buy this game.

F.E.A.R. 2 doesn’t offer anything particularly new, which – in my opinion – is a bad thing. But on the other hand that’s just what I personally hoped for, as both F.E.A.R. 1 and F.E.A.R. 2 are brilliant horror shooters with good graphics and awesome multiplayer components.

The Settlers 7 looks easy but is despite of the looks really complex. Especially the multiplayer part is not only fun to play but really hard to master with three different ways of winning. Strategy and simulation fans will love it!

The concept of LEGO Games blends perfectly with the Harry Potter franchise. Possibly the best LEGO Game to date!

A must-buy for fans of Disgaea, even though there's no telling why this was only published on PS3 – the graphics (not the style, mind you) are anything but up-to-date.

Dead Rising 2 is like its predecessor with a lot of new features. Fans of the first game will like the second quite a bit and can consider it a must have.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 disappoints due to the weak AI, the sterile level designs and its “only ok” graphics. Is it too much to ask for more missions in the dark, a better AI and more innovations in the sequels? [Issue#14]

Two Worlds II: Pirates of the Flying Fortress is two worlds all over again. Many problems of the main game remain, while the add-on presents a great, cineastic story with many entertaining quests. For fans of Two Worlds II a real must buy.

Thanks to the Devil Bringer, the amount of fun you’ll have with the gameplay skyrockets and the new turbo-mode brings even more twists to the already sublime action. DMC4 may well commit the sin of backtracking through levels, but its barely noteworthy a sacrilege this time around, due to the fact that the gamer then controls a different character. [Issue#15]

CoD:MW3 hits shelves without even the slightest surprise up its sleeve. It packs the exactly same pros and cons as all its predecessors, which officially makes the CoD-Series the FPS-genres FIFA. So: you can always be exactly sure of what to expect, when buying the latest installment: A short Singleplayer-Campaign, that offers some absolutely stunning moments, a great multiplayer, in which little kids at the age of 4 (according to their voices) will probably destroy your self-confidence within minutes and a pretty much non-existent AI. One could like that - or be bored about it. We'd understand both.

This year it is really a pity that Konami forgot to properly convert PES to the PC because Pro Evo could have won the virtual football battle against EA Sports - especially with graphics.

Whether you liked the first Call of Juarez or not, Bound in Blood offers a great story, a nice multiplayer-component, great graphics and solid gameplay-mechanics. The only real flaw is the missing coop-mode.

Due to some weaknesses in terms of story (extremely disappointing ending) and gameplay (savepoints), Mafia II turned out to be a good game, but not the masterpiece we've hoped for. Most of these problems can be quite easily forgiven though, thanks to its overwhelming atmosphere and charm.

It's a shame the developers obviously didn't have enough time to finish ArmA II properly before they shipped it: There are many bugs in the game and the AI's actions mostly just don't make sense at all. One piece of advice: Get patch 1.01 – with it the game is at least moderate fun. Still, we hope that some further patches will follow and fix ArmA II's major flaws so that it will finally become the great game it could be – next time, however, we'd like to see the game finished by the time of its release!

FIFA 09 for PC has blown the personal bar I’ve set out of the water – but not in terms of presentation and complexity of the comments thrown about during a game. [Issue # 16]

Left 4 Dead minus the Zombies, plus a truckload of skittering aliens. Pure brilliance, and free to boot? Valve knows how to make their customers happy. Get to downloading it, stat!

As a story-player I enjoyed Kane’s Wrath mainly because it finally closed some gaps in the storyline. But there is much left for those who enjoy multiplayer more: Be it the new subfractions or the global conquest mode, they all make buying Kane’s Wrath worth your money.

Singularity is a solid SP-Shooter with some technical issues and many good ideas that haven't been pushed to their limits. It's still worth your time if you're in search for a decent story and some nice new gameplay-elements, but definitely not something anyone HAS to own.

When a sleeper turns out to "only" be recommendable to hardcore fans, something must have gone wrong. In the case of UaW, it's the realization of the sensational ideas and hugely announced features, that, in the end, apparently didn't totally work out. Yet UaW offers RTS-gameplay at a very high level, that may help to overcome the waiting time for "StarCraft 2." [March 2008]

Tales of Monkey Island got a little better with episode 2 - I just wish they wouldn't recycle backgrounds and offer a better control scheme.

Hearts of Iron III does not even attempt to be beginner-friendly, it rather remains what it always was: One of the most complex and challenging strategy games that are currently available.

Veteran Supreme Commander fans will be not very happy with the successor, but it's still an excellent RTS with a classic strategy gameplay.

LEGO Indiana Jones turned out to be a good game despite the fact that it isn’t as much fun as LEGO Star Wars was. The gameplay with its increased number of puzzles, however, leads to several frustrating moments, especially since you can’t save as often as you might want to. Nevertheless: Fans should definitely give the game a try. [Issue#14]

Rise of Flight offers a great simulation of the planes of WWI, lacks however in terms of campaign design and multiplayer.

Lost Horizon could be one of the games that could stand the test of time and become a classic. However, only time will tell.

The Chronicles of Spellborn is definitely not a game for everyone. Compared with other MMORPGs, there’s little “typical” about it and you have to get accustomed to a lot of things, especially the completely new combat system. If you, however, like games to bring up new concepts you might like Spellborn just well.

Might & Magic Heroes VI is a solid installment of the series but definitely lacks innovation, but fans should check it out anyway even so it's not another Heroes III.

Risen is a great role-playing experience, it is just fun to investigate every corner of the mysterious island. The story and quests are quite varied and the game world gives you an credible feeling of being a part of it. The developers have focused on the strengths of the first two Gothic parts and didn't make any technically mistakes. Role-players should go and grab it!

The Sims: Medieval is a really nice standalone game, which combines the beloved Sims gameplay with roleplaying and medieval elements. Altogether a really nice combination, which no Sims-Fan should miss.

From Dust is an exceptional game with outstanding art design and gameplay mechanics. Unfortunatly the PC port is not that good on the technical side and you can't play it offline. If you want to play that game, which I would recommend that you do, stick to the console version.

Singularity is a solid SP-Shooter with some technical issues and many good ideas that haven't been pushed to their limits. It's still worth your time if you're in search for a decent story and some nice new gameplay-elements, but definitely not something anyone HAS to own.

Heroes of Newerth makes a lot of fun. The heroes are cool, you have the typical DotA atmosphere and the matchmaking system ensure fair play. Nevertheless HoN is mainly a game for DotA veterans.

Aion has definitely more potential than other most recently released MMOs. Its already quite a polished game, but lacks still some content especially for the high level range.

In comparison to ARMAII, Dragon Rising is, though still very realistic and challenging, a bit more action-oriented and somehow "traditional". So while you don't get the innovative luxury of deciding what to do all by yourself, you are guided through eleven action-packed and comparatively linear missions. It's still fun though; especially when you team up with three of your friends!

This game isn’t just for arcade-aficionados, it’s truly enjoyable. [Issue # 16]

Singularity is a solid SP-Shooter with some technical issues and many good ideas that haven't been pushed to their limits. It's still worth your time if you're in search for a decent story and some nice new gameplay-elements, but definitely not something anyone HAS to own.

The Saboteur is a good "open world action game" with a great atmosphere, that unfortunately suffers from annoying AI-problems.

R.U.S.E. is one of few games who prefer brains over speed, which is a very good thing.

Greed Corp has a logical, well thought out and almost brilliantly simple set of rules, provides tactically challenging battles - but solo-players will maybe get bored very soon.

LEGO Star Wars III lacks new ideas and a well known movie as its base, making this game seem kind of lackluster in comparison to the old LEGO Star Wars games.

Demigod is definitively a good game and an extraordinary genre-mix, but because of lack of content and technical problems it can't tap the full potential of its profound and complex gameplay.

The Zombie-flair is a nice change that however loses its touch after a few minutes. Also the puzzles lost their sparkle which leads to a rather weak episode gameplay-wise that only shines because it finally connects the lose story threads.

An admirable port, even by the excellent standards of Square Enix. Should you count yourself among the honourable ranks of RPG-Fans, do not miss out on Star Ocean: Second Evolution.

Although the main quest is a little short and the rewards leave much to be desired one of the better Fallout 3-add-ons.

Black Mirror III looks technically dated, which is a shame cause it might hide the true qualities as an adventure for enthusiasts who prefer harder puzzles over great graphics.

Clear Sky may not be as action-orientated, polished and visually stunning as Crysis or other “Hollywood-Shooters”, but it definitely has got its very own charm, that it’s easy to fall for. In short: Who liked the original Chernobyl Lost, will love Clear Sky!

Back to the Future ends on a high note, yet still remains a game for the series fan and not for the hardcore adventure gamer.

MoHs singleplayer-experience can't match Infinity Ward's masterpiece, but DICEs Multiplayer part countervails that little shortfall pretty well. Bottom line: No Must-Have, but a good shooter nevertheless.

Two Worlds 2 has lots of different quests, lots of Multiplayer-ideas and lots of possibilities. Two Worlds II earned the crown for "Best roleplaying game" ... for now.

Quotation forthcoming.

The Peninsular Campaign is certainly an entertaining add-On for Total War Fans, especially the cooperative multiplayer mode. But for those who prefer to conquer the world and a long-term entertaining game experience, should rather remain with Empire: Total War or search for alternatives.

Due to some weaknesses in terms of story (extremely disappointing ending) and gameplay (savepoints), Mafia II turned out to be a good game, but not the masterpiece we've hoped for. Most of these problems can be quite easily forgiven though, thanks to its overwhelming atmosphere and charm.

The gameplay provides easy accessibility and still manages to be tactically challenging. Too bad that the MMO-RTS-concept of BattleForge is countered by the lack of a story.

Everybody who just can’t get enough of Tennis Games, should give this game a shot. Everyone else would be well advised to stick with Virtua Tennis.

Independent, unfamiliar and unknown: And Yet It Moves is the kind of game you rarely ever get to review – and yet I instantly fell in love with the fresh style, interesting concept and funny gameplay. It may not be a high-budget-production, but it’s certainly worth your while and money!

Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Episode 3 is both great fun and sometimes depressingly hard because of the wacky puzzles. However Episode 3 can't quite live up to the brilliant Episode 2.

The next big thing shows us how an adventure has to look in the year 2011, despite being far too easy for the most time. Only the hieroglyphics-puzzle is really frustrating because it's not logical in the game world.

Only the lack of the Global Conquest mode makes the PC-Version the better option, but Xbox360 Command & Conquer Fans can’t go wrong with this one.

Alice - Madness Returns is the kind of game that's retro in both a good sense and a bad: It's a tough game to beat, but lacks innovations and better graphics.

As a long-standing TDE-Fan I am literally overjoyed to delve once more into the fantastical world of Aventuria – and if it’s this well made, all the better! Though of course there’s the usual parade of odds and ends to criticize, like the missing character customization, but they’re all barely affecting the myriad ways to have fun with this title. To me, TDE:Drakensang is without a doubt the greatest RPG of German origin – Gothic 3, watch out! [Issue#15]

LEGO Star Wars III lacks new ideas and a well known movie as its base, making this game seem kind of lackluster in comparison to the old LEGO Star Wars games.

As an adventure gamer i have to criticize the far too easy puzzles and the controls that feel too much like a console game. But as a Back to the Future Fan I have to say: Well done, Telltale, this feels like a worthy extension of the trilogy.

The complaints from the first episode remain as well as the great Back to the Future-Atmosphere which makes this game worthwile despite its shortcomings as an adventure game.

All in all it's an arcade-action game with a rather small and rudimentary RTS part best played with a game pad. Best thing to do is to go for the demo before grabbing the title from the store!

If you like to blow stuff up, RF:A is certainly worth your while. It simply knows what it's good at and delivers that without any aggravating flaws. Just don't expect it to be anything more than a "MichaelBay-esce" action-orgy. Because despite its quite interesting story, at its heart, it still nothing more, then an action-packaged homage to everything destructive... which is a good thing.

Ambitions is overall a good add-on but lacks some more content to make it really worth the money.

MoHs singleplayer-experience can't match Infinity Ward's masterpiece, but DICEs Multiplayer part countervails that little shortfall pretty well. Bottom line: No Must-Have, but a good shooter nevertheless.

The few technical discrepancies within AVS are more than outweighed by the pile of good things there are to say about this game. A Vampyre Story is reminiscent of the glory days of LucasArts and comes equipped with an awesome amount of humour. [Issue#17]

For Fans, Space Marine certainly is the action-blockbuster they were hoping for. Anybody else could find it a bit shallow and/or disappointing though.

Magicka might not be a perfect game concerning technical standards but is a total must have for every geek out there. The game is best played together with up to three friends, which is suported in all of the three gamemodes adventure, survival and versus.

For Fans of the Ghostbusters movies is Ghostbusters - The Video Game a must have. It is definitely one of the better movie adaptions. Even so the humor is like the movies and shows off in some very good cutscenes you can not deny the fact that it would have been a better movie, than a video game.

The singleplayer part of Wolfenstein is rather well done, but the multiplayer is alas rather lacking luster.

Due to some weaknesses in terms of story (extremely disappointing ending) and gameplay (savepoints), Mafia II turned out to be a good game, but not the masterpiece we've hoped for. Most of these problems can be quite easily forgiven though, thanks to its overwhelming atmosphere and charm.

Astroslugs unfolds quite not the addictive potential of a Tetris, but it packed a simple game idea into a challenging puzzle game with nice presentation and intuitive controls.

If you liked the Rome version of the Total War series, you will definitely be disappointed here. My advice is to download and test the demo version and afterwards decide, if you want to hurry to the local store to get the full game or not.

If you consider yourself "fairly interested" in racing and motorsport, you are probably better of with NFS:SHIFT or Race Driver: GRiD. But if you are a direct-injected, turbo-aspirated pedal-to-the-metal-Petrolhead, this might just be the perfect Racing-Sim for you... that is, if you don't already own GTR Evolution, which offers more content whilst not falling short in any other term.

Mysteries of Westgate hat many brilliant moments. But is it enough for ten Euros? For Fans of Neverwinter Nights 2, Mysteries of Westgate is a rewarding Investment but for Casual Gamer this expansion pack is not really useful.

Ceville isn't a masterpiece, but worth a recommendation for genre fans - despite technical flaws and too simple puzzles.

Frontlines managed to meet my expectations pretty well. Despite the fact, that I was hoping for additional graphical brilliance (especially in terms of the range of vision), the boys and girls at Kaos Studios managed to create a game, that nicely satisfies my personal multiplayer-shooter-likings: New ideas, uncountable (and well balanced) possibilities, cool vehicles, nice maps for up to 64 shooter fans and a single-player mode, that deserves its name. [May 2008]

There is no doubt that the concept of Line Rider is ingenious, but Freestyle doesn't offer much more fun than the charming original Flash-Game.

With 29 new multiplayer-maps, two new races and an already a bit aged AI Dawn of War: Soulstorm sadly fails to become, what many RTS-fans were hoping for: A great game. Fans of Warhammer 40.000 and the other Dawn of War-Games shouldn't miss this Stand-Alone-Expansion anyway, because it still packs the same great atmosphere, which made its predecessors famous. [May 2008]

The developers seem to have learned from their previous mistakes and have implemented some rather extreme but useful changes into Grand Ages: Rome. In technical respects the game may convince, although the user friendliness would still need some improvement. However, for those interested in this kind of game Grand Ages: Rome is a good choice nevertheless.