It combines generic strategy values with combat tactics as well as the empire management element, presenting an overall result that keeps the gamer glued (as long as you don’t expect a Starcraft clone). [February 2013]

Despite limited environments and unstable puzzle design, Critter Chronicles is saved by the subtle charm of its characters and by some witty ideas. [February 2013]

This is not a pure-blooded adventure game with strong puzzles and great challenges. Kentucky Route Zero can be best described as a well-written novel, with strong narrative elements, offering a different gaming experience. [February 2013]

We would very much like to state that we have found an underdog in this game but unfortunately we can’t ignore the lack of interesting content, nor overlook the technical shortcomings. [February 2013]

Little Inferno has a story to tell. It has neither beginning, nor end. It sports but a few characters, and does not care for correct narrative structure. It will leave you with plenty of questions, all of them unanswered. But it will accomplish what few games can. It will mesmerize you. It will awaken your imagination and force you to think of your own ending. It will move you and make you beg for more! [February 2013]

Chivalry is slightly… bipolar. The spectacle of a duel (especially if the two opponents are seasoned veterans) can be spectacularly breath-taking, a complex choreography that one can only marvel at. Blocks, feints, slashes, back-steps, side-hits: despite initial impressions, this can be a truly intellectual game of tactics, requiring high skills, observation and deviousness. On the other hand, the spectacle of a massive battle of fifty warriors can be ridiculously chaotic: especially if the players are inexperienced and go for blind “hack and slash” tactics, it’s more like a metal concert mosh pit than a battle for glory and honor. [February 2013]

Mark Yohalem has penned a truly impactful story, more profound than first impressions would suggest. Its strength lies with the characters, the deep symbolism and various philosophical questions raised. [February 2013]

Thanks to the online features that work flawlessly, the magnificent commentaries and perfect gameplay, as well as the variety of historic rosters and Olympic teams, NBA 2K13 is undoubtedly a classic hit in the sports games genre. [February 2013]

A rare creation, a unique study on human behavior that exposes instincts, fears, desires that most of us would not even care to admit to ourselves. [February 2013]

It might look overly complicated, but PlanetSide 2 is nothing more than your average class-based, objective-oriented competitive FPS. What makes it stand apart from other F2P games (aside from the huge servers, of course) is the co-operation factor with other players. [February 2013]

If your favorite movie was 'Tron' or if you were a UT99 fan, chances are, you will love Shootmania. If you were expecting a single-player experience, you're out of luck! Shootmania is one of those games: you either go crazily addicted with it, or you ignore it. You can pick it up in no time and there's a strong nostalgic gameplay element- and that will undoubtedly gain Shootmania quite a few followers. [September 2012]

If the first episode made us face difficult situations, the second one assaults us with a symphony of horror. [September 2012]

The potential for something strong was here- but the mediocre level design and the repetition of the mechanics, hold Inversion back from 'diamond' status. That's not to say that it's a bad game: the 9 or 10 hours of gameplay are fun, but only that… there's not enough thrill and excitement to hold you from other games. [September 2012]

The final picture of the game, as well as the unbelievable, beautiful, emotionally charged adventure that precedes it, are clearly on a league on their own. Kyratzis's writing is edgy and through a Monty Python lens, displays a need for action, for awakening, for breaking a damned sleep that makes people fade away. It's an unforgettable, dreamy journey that every adventure-gamer should experience. [September 2012]

A clear improvement from the original game, OMD2 incorporates "deep" ideas to a shallow game concept (kill orcs/goblins/gnolls that come towards you), and does that in the best way possible. When you are done with the campaign mode (and the advanced 'nightmare' mode), there's also the endless mode, which is even more fun if you go co-op with a friend. [September 2012]

Prototype 2 (the swan song of Radical Entertainment) is a decent open-world action game, that does not invent the wheel, but it does manage to offer solid amounts of entertainment, splattered with generous servings of blood and mayhem. [September 2012]

Contrary to the classic gameplay of an FPS that requires constant cover, slow advances, crouching and prone positioning, the battles of Ascend happen on the ground, as well as in the air and in tremendous speeds- thus changing drastically the classic tactical approaches of the genre. It's a breath of fresh air in the online FPS world. [September 2012]

Witnessing my armada nearing their home planet, the Sophons desperately try to buy peace, offering 'earth and water'. Woe to them! A few turns later, the race of the Sophons is wiped clean from the map and the United Empire controls most of the galaxy, the friendly Amoeba Empire being the only competitor. I have no reasons to attack. They have behaved and show no aggressive attentions. But their territory stops me from painting the universe with the colors of the Empire. My ships slowly move to their borders. Yes, now I completely understand the villains who want to conquer the world. [September 2012]

A fantastic adventure game, featuring some extremely intelligent riddles that require deep thinking. At the same time, it narrates a beautiful story, one that takes place in a setting very different than those of most games. [September 2012]

It's basically a single-player game, disguised as an MMO and brimming with awkward combat mechanics. There's no group/dungeon finding tool. The inventory is horrendous and the available abilities and builds are chaotic. It's also completely, utterly irresistible. [September 2012]

It's definitely a strong "fix", reminiscent of the single-player joy that we experienced throughout Arkham City, but Harley Quinn does not include some fascinating set piece or an essential scene that will ascend the general experience. [August 2012]

Sporting brilliant, nerdcore humor that burns everything, from the Cthulhu mythology to internet fanboyism, a sinister yet pleasantly modernized combat system, a low price and 8-to-10 hours of pure, crazy gameplay, it was made with a sense of dark love for every soul out there, that still has a 20-side die… and is not afraid to use it. [August 2012]

Traditionally, the problem with these games is that the developers churn them out mechanically, in short development cycles, without attention to detail. London 2012 is no exception. Despite its flaws however, some games are actually fun and that grants the game high replayability values. [August 2012]

Hoodwink's scenario is unusual and at the beginning, it looks interesting. That is the only good thing happening with this game, a title that sinks in a flood of disappointments that never stop appearing as one struggles through the game. [August 2012]

If you enjoyed Portal, puzzle games in general, or… Mirror's Edge (due to the first-person platforming), buy Quandum Conundrum with no second thoughts. It's not a perfect game, technically it's somewhat mediocre and the humorous personality of Portal is absent, but the gameplay is fun and- like always- that's what it's all about. [August 2012]

There's something vaguely heroic when you have set your desperate, one-in-a-million trap and you pull the lever, just when Kasabian's 'Club Foot' crashes in and you witness the satellite plummeting from the heavens, while oil-rigs explode all around you and the Taken scream for your blood. American Nightmare is a journey that you can't abandon, until you have reached its end. [August 2012]

WIB might not be an innovator, but it's balanced, addictive, is backed up by a dedicated dev team and the community has reached the critical mass point that guarantees a match, 24/7, There are aspects that can be improved generally, but WIB is a worthy game, particularly for shooter fans. [August 2012]

Definitely superior to its predecessors. The, admittedly few, improvements are more than welcome, as is the case with the new Planechase mode ('Archenemy' will be missed, however). [August 2012]

Mixed emotions… Krater tries to be a squad-based action RPG, but ultimately it does not fully deliver, neither as squad-based, nor as action-hack/slash, nor even as an RPG- and that is truly a shame, for there was something really brilliant here. Still, it remains a fun way to pass many game-hours. [August 2012]

From the random clicking and solving the first strains by mistake, up to the most complex efforts of deliberate scheming through the last sequences, Splice can make someone feel stupid and genius, at the same time… [August 2012]

A noteworthy stealth/action hybrid, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier executes successfully some nifty features, while offering a solid multiplayer mode- but the developers' insistence on including foreign elements, will probably alienate fans of pure and demanding tactical gameplay. [August 2012]

Dodging the reef of bugs, portraying a beautiful story, incorporating solid technical components and a plethora of riddles that will keep the gamer busy for a while, Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav, is a sure contestant for 'Adventure game of the year'. [August 2012]

Were it not for some technical issues and console-related shortcomings (gamepad controls and no anti-aliasing), Spec Ops: The Line would be one of the best games for 2012. But, things being as they are, it remains merely a diamond in the rough, destined for wicked crazy status within the following years. Definitely superior to the related series of Kane & Lynch, it proves that, with a steady vision and soul, a genre so clichéd like military shooters, can not only surprise us pleasantly, but totally overwhelm us. [August 2012]

2D, pixilated graphics are not the best thing to happen in a 2012 game ("oh, how the years have gone by, etc"), but those of you who judge solely a game from the graphics and reject it, think again: it may look simple and outdated but through its simplicity, Lone Survivor is extremely profound, content-wise (definitely more profound and "horror" than other failed horror blockbusters that we have witnessed the last years). [July 2012]

Botanicula can't hide its shortcomings, mostly the short duration (about three hours for completion), the non-existent replay value and the tiresome transitions between riddles in the hub. However, its magic atmosphere, the surrealistic portrayal of nature and the happy disposition that sips through from this strange world, compile a unique title, true to the standards of its Czech developers. [July 2012]

Many better shooters out there, where you can assume a sniper's role as well. What does V2 have to counter-offer? Had it followed another path, with more emphasis on stealth and the preparation of the shot, it could have made a difference, as a game of another subgenre. [July 2012]

Warlock does not offer something truly new to the genre and the components borrowed from Civilization far outnumber its renovations. The gameplay options offered may feel many, but are in fact, very limited: combat is over-simplified, diplomacy is poor, the religious element is non-existent and the actions you take in one turn are 90% the same. Despite that, the 'one more turn' magical effect can be felt at times. [July 2012]

Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land is obviously a tablet game and if judged in comparison to PC titles, it falls behind in production values. This confirms the notion that tablet and smartphone games don't display the necessary depth to hold the gamer for long, however, when compared to the average tablet game, it really shines. [July 2012]

It's Wadget Eye Games' most ambitious game, but is it their best? In the technical department, as an adventure game, it is. Excellent speech, intelligent use of short/long-time memories, interesting riddles and simultaneous use of four heroes. But, alas, Resonance's scenario can't surpass that of Gemini Rue. [July 2012]

Fans of the books and the series will be thrilled, as all the classic features are here: multi-faceted characters, schemes, betrayals, incest, twists and genuine anti-heroes that seek redemption desperately, but in vain. [July 2012]

A decent fighting game, up to par to Capcom's usual quality standards, Street Fighter X Tekken is a sound investment, whether you already own Street Fighter IV, or not. With an extended character roster and rich content, it's guaranteed to keep you hooked for a long time, as you struggle to master its secrets. Some temporary issues however, regarding online functions, refrain us from whole-heartedly recommending it. [July 2012]

Its deviation from the mood instilled by its predecessors might annoy some purist fans, but Max Payne 3's undisputed quality standards in all accounts will make them look the other way and enjoy the game as it is. [July 2012]

This abomination is something like a poorly-executed HAWX, gutted from even the slightest hint of realism, where airplanes dodge like belly-dancers and Quick Time Events are the basic components of dogfights. [June 2012]

Sub-par presentation, naïve A.I., that can easily be tricked, many meaningless missions, almost dead multiplayer, many technical problems and crashes. But Naval War has one thing working, that always adds interest: the unpredictability factor. [June 2012]

Well-designed, brimming with beautiful and intelligent puzzles, a simple yet smoothed-out plot and of course, Tim's wackiness. [June 2012]

An interesting and honest action/shooter, it should have worked more on the features that strive to set it apart from other games of the genre. But even in its current version, Binary Domain is fun and worth investing time into, especially if you are a fan of sci-fi and frenzied shooters. [June 2012]

Better than expected. It might be lacking in important realism aspects and it is most certainly inclined towards arcade elements, but MUD is loaded with many features that will keep you entertained for hours. [June 2012]

Underperforming in crucial (for its genre) aspects, Blades of Time is nevertheless a decent suggestion for action game fans, when it inevitably finds its way to the bargain bin. [June 2012]

It could have been enriched with puzzles and endowed with a different interface, thus prolonging the experience and branding it a full-blooded adventure game. [June 2012]

Unique presentation, flawless voice acting, interesting plot, many promises for a sequel, plentiful puzzles, smooth design and memorable characters: in a nutshell, that's the first episode of Journey Down. [June 2012]

Some clichés (like the staff recruiting for the ship) and the usual winks towards the Monkey Island series are not dodged. Still, it will keep you pleasantly occupied, offering more than a handful of puzzles- even though the last one proven to be too easy. [June 2012]

Cyanide Studios used a low-budget production to bring a relatively unknown setting to our PCs. Unfortunately, the effort failed. Any good ideas were lost in repetition and underperformance. The script is a messy mix; the logic behind it is "pour as many components from the Aarklash setting as possible into a cauldron and cook it", but the result is something rather tasteless. [June 2012]

Every section of the game is either lacking or non-functional and, personally, I am trying to figure out what Capcom is trying to accomplish, launching a mediocre, even bad product, while the competition is light years ahead. Maybe it's expected to cash in on the brand name, but the end result is only a black page on the long history of the franchise. [June 2012]

Diablo 3 is what its ancestors were: simple, pure obsession in a beautiful wrapping. Those who chose to ignore the (justified) annoyance/discomfort of the ill-advised decision for a constant internet connection will enjoy many hours of sweet oblivion. The fact that it's Blizzard and not some other company is not reason alone to forgive without second thought. On the contrary, we believe that [Blizzard] must revise at this point and act as with StarCraft 2. This feature, as well as the lack of LAN support, severely influence the final grade. [June 2012]

The interface uses only the mouse, and you start out with three available classes and the option to chose different quests. Your aim is always to survive and make it to the end of the dungeon. Unfortunately, the extremely limited scope of the game is quickly made evident. Hack, Slash, Loot does nothing wrong, but it fails to impress. Limited foes, a handful of items, small maps and zero character development (no experience/skills/levels). [May 2012]

TLODK offers a rather poor package. The main quest, mildly disinteresting, will keep you company for about four hours (side quests included), the level cap is unchanged and only two new types of creatures are added (not counting the four bosses of medium difficulty). [May 2012]

Sadly, the riddles, despite rising in difficulty, fail to offer a true challenge for our brain cells, while boredom settles quick due to half-implemented stealth mechanisms and badly written A.I.. [May 2012]

A worthy sequel that handles most of the original's shortcomings and adds a wonderful survival mode… but would have made a more appealing offer, if there was more content and co-op support. [May 2012]

Recurring evil is not a bad game. It's just that Painkiller, in its current form, has ran its course. It's imperative to make that bold step ahead, to make sweeping changes across the board. With 5 or 6 new levels every semester or two, and all the rest features remaining absolutely the same, it only manages to shrink its target group. Revival, now! [May 2012]

Rayman Origins re-introduces an intense freshness to a genre that many gamers chose to remember by a couple of well-known brand names that monopolize interest… and the rest consider long dead. It delivers many hours of pure fun (and some discomfort for completionists) and does that in the best way possible. [May 2012]

Ignore Back in Action and just buy Jagged Alliance 2 to cherish the original version of a great game. Then again, if graphics are so important to you, go ahead and buy Back in Action- you might enjoy it but you will have paid four times more, for an inferior product. [May 2012]

Jeff Vogel's ability to conjure interesting settings is really brought forward in this game. It is extremely interesting to wander Avernum's world, collecting information about the inhabitants that managed to build a new society from zero. [May 2012]

It tries to set itself apart from the cornucopia of tower defense games, but fails. Despite the efforts for character and new features, the overall execution is messed up. If you are a true fan of the genre or you want all fantasy games in your collection, wait for it to enter bargain bin status and go for it. [May 2012]

If you love demanding arcade racing games, heavy on OCD, give it a chance, as soon as its price is lowered. Otherwise, you can find much better games of the genre out there. [May 2012]

The first gaming slap in the face of the year. Expectations grew as we learned news during its development as well as the early gaming experience. Alas, we are let down by a very low difficulty level, a very short gaming duration as well as bad story narration. All the major plot elements are revealed too soon, the game rushes to its finale and we are not met with the anticipated climax. [May 2012]

Legend of Grimrock is a gaming milestone, for more than a few reasons. First of all, despite being developed by a team of only four, it displays technical levels that smash the stereotype of the "indie game with mediocre/bad graphics". But Grimrock's greatest success lies in the fact that it reminds us why these games used to be so popular. It might be based on a decades-old formula, but Grimrock's gameplay feels fresher than ever, since you will find nothing like it in the market! [May 2012]

Risen 2 offers all those features that have become synonymous with Piranha Bytes throughout the years: a wonderful setting, interesting quests, a robust battle system, variety and replayability. But along with those, Risen 2 drags with it some known issues, which have always been around with Gothic and Risen. [May 2012]

Nitpicking aside, the fact remains: SOL Exodus is a first decent try from a new developer, especially if we consider the complete lack of titles in the story-driven, space combat sim genre. The game is entertaining, holds our interest until the ending of the campaign and the developers seem determined to support their game for a long time, given its initial commercial success. [April 2012]

Its character, when compared to contemporary games, is undoubtedly naïve and the game in whole does not avoid the occasional repetition. On the other hand however, it faithfully and successfully revives a legendary game of the nineties, is fun and rich in duration. [April 2012]

The catharsis that sweeps us in the ending can not be explained, nor foreseen. The game's immersion is not only intense, it's unprecedented. Surely it's not a title for everyone, especially for people that are used to "living" their games through interaction with other characters or objects. But it's groundbreaking and succeeds in its goal for the user to live a story, as in a well-written book. [April 2012]

The alpha and the omega of the game is the chilling mood. A man from the city, unaccustomed to dangers and hazards, is asked to survive in the middle of nowhere, alone versus all. It is an exemplary drama and as such, the psychological pressure on the protagonist manages to affect us, as well. It's like living the whole thing, like actually being there. [April 2012]

Shogun 2: FotS carries its legacy with honor and is an extremely robust title. Given that it's a stand-alone product, if there were more initial clans in the beginning of the campaign, it could easily pass as a unique sequel. It's a title worth investing in, as it offers many hours of entertainment. [April 2012]

You will definitely need a time to adjust, especially if you are not experienced with wargames and this is your first time tackling the genre. But if you are interested in a slow, methodic pacing, then it's worth insisting! On the other side of the rough tutorial course, you will find a rich, profound experience, a strategy game that rewards intelligent planning and advanced tactics, instead of fast reflexes and agility in build order placing. [April 2012]

Its presentation is poor compared to similar titles, but it's what is required. But in the most important element, gameplay, Crusader Kings 2 has no match. It offers a cornucopia of options that grant us the ability to organize our strategy plan in extreme detail. [April 2012]

Obviously, Syndicate does have the eye-candy factor, as well as interesting battle features, a large number of available weapons and palm-sweating moments of action. But its lack of personality betrays it, as does the completely predictable finale, the absence of remarkable opponents, the colorless locales and the lacking multiplayer mode. [April 2012]

Mafia and dark forces: check. Guns, violence and gore: check. Overwhelming lust and unfulfilled romance: check. The recent sequel manages to maintain satisfactory production values while paying homage to the cult status of the original game; however, it still falls victim to the inevitable design faults of recent first-person shooters and goes no further. [April 2012]

The efforts to approach a broader target group by ripping to shreds "complex" RPG mechanics, by cutting back on dialogue options and by emphasizing the action element, are painfully obvious. But the epic scale, the magnificent direction, the different story paths influenced by options that skyrocket the game's replayability and, in general, the whole "blockbuster" grandeur feeling outshine the various drawbacks. [April 2012]

An amazing game with air races that can be suggested even to gamers that are not crazy for the genre- really difficult to find something to whine about in this fun, addictive game. [February 2012]

The puzzles are truly brilliant, in both concept and execution. No disagreements here. But this core should have been dressed with a more tasteful wrapper to make the whole package more appealing. [February 2012]

The few strong points of the game (the variety of well-designed aircrafts and the occasional exciting moments in combats) do not justify even half of the unreasonably high price. [February 2012]

Despite the moody atmosphere that is elaborately built and the smart puzzles, knowing that you always have another mediocre battle around the next corner turns the game into a chore with no real incentive. [February 2012]

Overall, Sonic Generations is a well-designed, welcome exception to the massive circulation of violent games in the market, a 'game' that represents perfectly the pure meaning of the word. [February 2012]

A worthy descendant of the original Serious Sam titles, it's a FPS that deviates from the standards of today's games: its difficulty level is high, it challenges your reflexes, it's utterly addictive and it's honest, as it delivers on what it promises. [February 2012]

Jurassic Park has as much to do with adventure games, as dinosaurs have to do with modern times. Save your money and don't encourage its developers, lest they decide to make a sequel… [February 2012]

One word is enough to describe the experience of playing E.Y.E.: variety. As an FPS/RPG hybrid, the game offers so many options for your character, from the DNA in the genes to the kind of armor worn. [February 2012]

The features of DR2:OTR would have been welcome in a DLC priced at 10 euros, but are unacceptable for a standalone product, despite the somewhat lowered price. [February 2012]

Putting aside minor hindrances, the game is a pleasant revival of the legendary franchise, displaying high replayability, relative to recent games. [February 2012]

As most of us are not even aware of its existence, expectations have been really low with Metal Dead, which proves to be a pleasant surprise. Pure fun, solid and satisfying action and some really intelligent puzzles. [March 2012]

Although I do not normally side with gamers who prefer digital versions of games, in the case of episodic games, it's perfectly rational, especially when it's accompanied by a very logical price- priced at 7 euros, Sonic 4.1 does not disappoint. [March 2012]

It somehow manages to mix cyborgs and aliens in the campaign, it offers two new weapons and eight new multiplayer maps (four are new, four are from the Hail to the Icons parody pack), it lasts for about 6 hours and it costs 8 euros- it's a decent package for Duke fans. [March 2012]

If you haven't played any of the franchise games and are looking for a recent sim city game, this will keep you busy for a while. To the rest, Cities XL 2012 will probably feel more of an expansion (fully priced though), than a new, independent addition to your collection. [March 2012]

Avadon's lore and setting are promising , but it's all ambition until the developers decide once and for all, if they want to stick to the hardcore or if they prefer to turn to a wider crowd. You can't win them all. [March 2012]

Choplifter HD might help you pass some pleasant moments with its arcade action and simple interface, but once you are done with it, you will put it aside and within seconds, you will forget it ever existed. [March 2012]

A solid suggestion if you are looking for a pleasant, polished puzzler/platform game. It will not thrill you, it does not invent the wheel, but it displays some clever ideas that are correctly executed, humor and, additionally, its low price is another incentive for its purchase. [March 2012]

A surprise hit indie for me. It fails to score some high marks in particular areas, but overall is an exceptional endeavor and will offer hours of entertainment if you take the time to know it better. [March 2012]

It's pretty ironic that Dead Mountaineer's Hotel could have been an amazing, strong experience of a game. But sadly, with all its flaws in design, the inconsistencies as well as the missing finale, it feels like a missed opportunity. [March 2012]

Despite its flaws, Operation Valkyrie proves to be a beautiful adventure game that manages to completely immerse the gamer in the most terrible war to take place in human history. It showcases exceptional atmosphere, a very intriguing story and has a low price to boot. [March 2012]

It's really a "diamond". The infinite options within the strategic map, the unique soundtrack brimming with symphonic choirs and the sheer "epicness" that accompanies your every move, all mark a game that will conquer the hearts of fantasy culture fans. [March 2012]