There's so much stupid satisfaction to be had from Gunslinger's bloody headshots and from nailing sweet combos that its flaws quickly disappear in a flurry of gunpowder and shotgun shells. It doesn't look half-bad either, with a semi-cel-shaded design and some nicely detailed environments that drive the Wild West theme home.

Might & Magic Heroes VI: Shades of Darkness is a harsh challenge, but not often a fair one.

Multiplayer shines brightly alongside a short but dynamic campaign in the tower offense sequel Anomaly 2.

It's not just another frightening trek through the dark corridors of the metro, but a rhythmic symphony of surging dread and emerging hope.

Last Light is notably superior to its predecessor, merging storytelling, shooting, and sneaking into a remarkable and cohesive whole. And through this harmony of game design comes the caustic dissonance of a world so torn asunder that a single possibility can bring with it endless hope.

Game-crushing bugs overshadow the turn-based tactical goodness Eador: Masters of the Broken World offers.

This 4x space strategy game could have been something special, if it were finished.

An astonishing and moving postapocalyptic journey.

A great mix of characters and ample personality give Poker Night 2 some strong pull in its early stretches. The poker play works well enough to keep you trucking along to hear all of the funny tales and to experience the dialogue vignettes.

Though it lacks refinement in some areas, Strike Suit Infinity provides a better experience than its predecessor at a fraction of the cost.

In the enjoyable but bare-bones Leviathan: Warships, you customize a fleet of ships and pit it against your friends' fleets on the high seas.

This Director's Cut fixes a few things and breaks some others, but Deadly Premonition is still a highly flawed, utterly memorable mystery that never stops surprising you.

It may not be the most varied game of its type, but it's very good, and it's bent on leaving the genre in better condition than it was found in.

Just like its predecessor, Zeno Clash II is a mediocre first-person brawler memorable mainly for its psychedelic storytelling and art.

It's not without its problems, but Soul Sacrifice's strong identity and rewarding commitment to the decision-making process are reason enough to try your hand at ridding the land of foul archfiends.

Survival and crafting take a turn for the brutal in this fascinating adventure.

Its numerous bugs and linear missions make it frustrating to play, and the story never grabs you like a good sci-fi adventure should. Even the most devoted of Star Trek fans will be hard pressed to find something to like in Star Trek The Video Game: there are simply too many glaring problems.

Blood Dragon isn't just an homage to great memories, however, but a terrific game in its own right.

Packed with entertaining action and hysterical writing, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is an '80s-inspired blast.

You don't have to love the decade of Rubik's Cubes and Pac-Man Fever to get a kick out of Blood Dragon. But if you do, then all the better: this action-packed shooter will strike all the right synth-pop power chords.

Thomas Was Alone humanizes nondescript squares, creating an affecting and satisfying adventure.

In the transition to consoles, sharper controls empower you in ways that the stodgy keyboard wasn't able to, removing the slight frustrations entirely. Furthermore, there's downloadable content for those who don't want this journey to end.

God Mode may not be divine, but it delivers buckets of flawed fun for a few hours.

Dead Island: Riptide might look like an idyllic zombie-fest, but it's little more than a frustrating mess of half-baked ideas and repetitive combat.

And don't try enlisting a few friends for some four-player co-op: it doesn't make the game any more exciting. Sure, having a few friends around makes those hordes disappear a little faster, and there are some extra quests you can take on, but the core experience remains as glacial as ever.

The Redemption's varied missions and new powers are a lot of fun, but the predictable ending is a big disappointment for the series.

Dark Arisen adds some great new content to the excellent Dragon's Dogma, though the new dungeon's unbalanced difficulty turns fun into frustration.

Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine has noticeable problems that keep it from reaching its potential. The appeal of stealth ties in largely to how scared you are of being caught, and because it's so easy to escape in this downloadable game, the tension slowly evaporates.