It has its moments - managing the family business and conquering the cities one building after another is compelling, as is the decent crime story told within. But this game looks dated, as if the GTA IV never happened. Roaming the city and the brushoffs with the police feel awkward, like an afterthought. [Mar 2009]

It is war on a personal level - instead of entire units, battles are fought by carefully selected small groups of individuals. It would be possible to come to know each of them, were it not for the short span of this standalone expansion. [May 2009]

It's fast, spectacular and full of action - three attributes I require from every good racer are there, and in double helping. I can get new vehicles without stopping even for a moment. But the missions on foot are much worse and as a consequence the overall experience is rather unidimensional. [May 2009]

Real time strategy with mediocre features, twisted storyline and boring gameplay looking for experienced gamer with a Vista PC. No takers? I am not surprised. Issuing orders is such an unnecessarily complicated task here that it takes a real effort not to throw the mouse in frustration. [May 2009]

The gameplay is quite enjoyable despite its apparent simplicity, and the best thing is the spinning glaive, the most dangerous boomerang thingy in the universe. It chops off hands, legs and heads, and when powered up can even cut people in half. Overall, Dark Sector is a very decent shooter - or slasher? [Apr 2009]

Multifaceted fantasy world, wide horizons, storyline deeply involving the player in politics - this game has it all. But it's about combat beyond anything else. Who doesn't like constant tactical match-ups, has a problem. It's also a pity that it takes over a dozen hours to make sense of this all. [May 2009]

This game is just as enthralling as the movie, but why it has to last about as long? What saved it is the novel gameplay that makes replaying fun. But it's a great pity that there's no multiplayer at all, I'd love to see what bullet curving would do to it. [May 2009]

Despite it simplicity it's a well made action game that provides lots of fun not just for kids and not just thanks to the movie characters. The two player mode is also a definite plus. [May 2009]

If the name of Clancy has led you to expect a solidly researched factual background, wake up, it's the XXI century and the entertainment value is the key to the treasury. Despite throwing around real aircraft and weapon systems names this is just an arcade shooter with nice looks and lots of action. [Apr 2009]

Lack of original ideas is not damning, it just means that the work is derivative. This real time strategy has not a shred of a concept of its own, and yet it turns out quite decent. Sometimes all you need is a sensible mix of tried and tested ingredients. It's worth a try, if you want to once again command the II World War troops in Russia, Europe and North Africa. [Mar 2009]

The missions on Soviet side during an assault on NATO are fierce, but require replaying the entire campaign. World in Conflict is a brilliant game, but not everyone wants to play it again just for the sake of the new content. Which is sparse, to boot. [May 2009]

This beat-em-up appeals outright to my instincts with its old school simplicity and intuitiveness. Unfortunately the more I play, the more I long for the end. What initially appears so attractive, becomes stale and boring after about 40 minutes. The specials are worn after two uses, it's more efficient to use one and the same combo all over again. [May 2009]

It's amazing how much variety can be squeezed out of such a simple game concept. There's even place for character development, new ship acquisition and commerce! All that is done just by arranging colour tiles in patterns of three or more. [Apr 2009]

Frantic shoot-outs in the Vietnam jungles and tunnels return in a game that has not much to show besides an amazing level of gore. Enemies often lose limbs, and during the close quarters combat blood starts to overflow the field of vision, but the confrontation with legions of mindless drones (only some of them have an excuse) is simply tedious. [Apr 2009]

Just a few attack moves in a fighting game - that does not bode well. Sometimes a thing or two flashes in the chaos of the combat and draws our attention, but in the end this tired Devil May Cry imitation gives out the moan of a loser crushed by superior contenders. [Apr 2009]

The first mini add-on can be beaten in an hour, but it's fun anyway. Especially for those who are about to start their Fallout 3 experience, since it allows to beef up the character just after the beginning of the whole adventure. [Mar 2009]

The concepts that work in an online shooter not necessarily translate directly to a game consisting of swordplay, archery and area spells, as this example proves. The simplified and shallow rules don't leave much room for skill development that is crucial in every game that aims to foster longtime online competition. [Mar 2009]

Decent visuals, juicy combat system and the interesting character development are the games strong points, but a horde of glaring design errors pushes them aside. And it takes a lot of dedication to suffer through the incredibly boring preparations to the journey. [Feb 2009]

The good news is that it's the best snowboarding game in existence. Unfortunately it's also the bad news. Admittedly, riding off the trail, jumping over gorges and narrowly escaping the avalanches is lots of fun, but it barely makes up for burdensome assignments that are forced upon the player. [Mar 2009]

With a mix of cool critters, macabre and some old school running-with-guns, no-place-to-hide gameplay, this simple, entirely linear and heavily scripted shooter bravely fights for some respect and appreciation, and it succeeds, to an extent. [Jan 2009]

The only saving grace is the excellent, original voice acting. Instead of taking up the investigative work we are forced to partake in a string of minigames that could well serve as the developmental tools in the kindergarten, were it not for their gruesome matter. The ancient, two dimensional, low resolution graphics is also a grim joke. [Mar 2009]

The imposing list of supercars and the exciting showdowns on the motorway don't make up for lots of technical glitches and gameplay issues. This game looks like it was released six months early. [Jan 2009]

Unlike a typical movie franchise, this game is not just a pleasant reminder of the most hilarious moments of the film, but also a very decent arcade game in its own right. [Feb 2009]

Running, jumping, flying, smashing faces - that's superheroes' job description, right? But they usually have a reason to do it, a reason sorely lacking in this game. Unless it's just the aggression caused by the frustration caused by the general want of sense in life. [Jan 2009]

This edition of the classic motorcycle simulator concentrates on the championship competition to the detriment of the general populace who just want to have fun. Well, there's plenty of fun in there, but it comes as a reward for just a bit of commitment. [Dec 2008]

That's an interesting game, if you're a hardcore space sim freak. I mean fan. For us regular Earthlings it's too complicated and simply boring. [Dec 2008]

Ford and Land Rover licenses serve no discernible purpose here - the cars are devoid of detail and although the acceleration and cornering depend on mass and power, one would expect far more variety in handling. But when the bulky SUV hits a patch of reeds and suddenly stops, everything becomes crystal clear. It's just another repackaged budget racer. [June 2008]

The Heroes of Might and Magic series has traveled far away since its famed third installment and not always in the right direction. This return to the roots of the genre might help it get back in shape. There's a lot of heroics to be done fighting monsters, questing and gathering treasure, albeit the adventures are stretched too thin at places. While King's Bounty does bring back memories, at times it's about as exciting as napping by the fireplace. [Oct 2008]

The game deserves all accolades for its chillingly realistic depiction of the world in the struggles of a bloody global war. But the spectacular explosions can't cover up the fact that the graphics looks equally bleak as the near future presented here and the gameplay is too simple and repetitive. [Oct 2008]

There is no chance to be bored, some missions have surprisingly innovative setup (the surprise is not always a pleasant one though). All in all, a model add-on despite its flaws and unfixed glitches it shares with the basic game. [July 2008]

The life of the sims and their careers become even simpler to manage, hard as it might be to imagine, with the addition of new instant friend-making combos and... magic. That’s the farewell gift from the team - next expansion is inevitably expected somewhere in 2009, but for "The Sims 3."

Welcome to one of the most boring artistic endeavours of our age. The murder mystery on a sinking island is solved by talking, looking and walking - mostly by walking. The island with all the clues and evidence will vanish under the waves in just seven hours, but for our bummy detective hero that's no reason to hurry. So he strolls endlessly through empty locations, and with just the pretty pictures to cheer you up, it's hard not to get bored to death on this Island of doctor Boreau. [Apr 2008]

Neither fish nor fowl, this game fails on both counts, with character development not deep enough for a roleplayer and controls too clumsy for an action gamer. The presentation is at times truly stunning, but the dumbing down went too far. [Oct 2008]

It's just a hack'n'slash done (more or less) right, like Loki, Dungeon Siege, Titan Quest or grandpa Diablo. Nothing more, nothing less and it wouldn't be memorable at all, were it not for the cheeky cursor - a tiny winged lady sprite who offers helpful hints and abrasive but to the point commentary of our doings. [May 2008]

Pixar has been lucky so far with computer game franchises of their titles. Even this simple platform/puzzle game is charming thanks to its hero and his flawless animation. [Sept 2008]

A horror that isn't scary? Fail. Awkward controls are tiring, gameplay is shockingly plain. There is a lot of new concepts, but technical deficiencies take out the fun from this game. For example the fires are amazing, but fireproof wood does the whole idea in. [Aug 2008]

Game mechanisms similar to the LEGO series don't help - the game is repetitive and boring. While the exclusive footage might appeal to fans, others will point out general blandness and lack of luster. [Aug 2008]

Well thought out, well made and generally cool game that altogether lacks any inspiration other than the original Turok. For adrenaline it relies on the masterfully directed shootouts and jungle close encounters with tons of muscle and pointy teeth. [June 2008]

Quirky humour, eccentric characters and strange combinations of everyday items - it's (yet another) return of the classical adventure in nicely rendered 3D environments. Pity that the wit and fun starts to gradually dry up around the midpoint of the story and some puzzles turn out less logical than expected, but all in all, this game is definitely worth playing. [Apr 2008]

One of the best series of hardcore strategies became envious of Total Wars' 3D graphics and accessibility. Consequently, it has lost its best features, becoming a game of moving the armies around. What barbarism! [June 2008]

The confrontation between the greatest Victorian detective and French gentleman burglar who never met each other on the cards of the novels provides hours of mind exercise and also frustration - search for the relevant details turns into a painfully irritating hunt for a changing cursor and unfortunately everything hinges on it. [June 2008]

An average adventure game with mediocre graphics and a hero who looks like he could use his own professional help (he's a shrink). On the other hand, dark story with a psychological twist, eerie piano music and screams of tortured girls in the background might do the trick for you, if you're into that kind of... entertainment. [June 2008]

It starts really poorly - even the disgracefully short tutorial uncovers the deficiencies of this title, namely units getting lost and jerky sounds resembling old electronic games. Then the first mission sucks you in for good. Diversity of situations you face precludes any possibility of boredom, but the presentation and unit AI deserved much more attention. [March 2008]

It’s not an action game, not with the scarce ammo and omnipresent puzzles, but it’s not Silent Hill either. Rather an adventure in a horror set created mostly with the use of flashlight, screams, whispers and lapping sounds – the monsters, when they finally appear, are somewhat disappointing. [Dec 2007]

A masterful example of expansion that leaves the game essentially unchanged. If it's good or bad, depends mostly on what you expected from your purchase. I expected more bang for my buck. If you wanted more of the same, lucky you - that's what you'll get. [May 2008]

This ancient city planning simulator got a bit more interesting, but is still lacking many managing options and the scale is certainly sub par, especially considering that the population of Rome at its peak was over 1 million. [May 2008]

I'm truly sorry to watch such a fine franchise brought to the brink of destruction by ruthless exploitation. Two races - all that's truly new here - are a weak excuse for selling a full priced game with tired graphics, boring single player campaign and imbalanced units. [May 2008]

In theory, all it takes to make fans of the series happy is giving them an interactive episode. And that's exactly what they got. Unfortunately the spirit of the series is lost and there is nothing mysterious about its disappearance: because there is no mystery in the game at all. It's just a guided tour through the well known set, only slightly masked as an adventure. Fans will be happy, the rest... well, whatever were you looking for, it isn't there. [Apr 2008]

The existence of sims comprised mostly of the same actions repeated over and over again gains some more colour now that cooking and cleaning up can be taken up as hobbies. Career and romance become even easier thanks to a new batch of options directed at starting and improving the relationships. There is nothing revolutionary in this rather utilitarian add-on, but if I can have a good time fixing the microwave, why not? [March 2008]

The concept of speed is central to this shooter and that's even more pronounced than in many racers. The challenge to meet both the body count and the time limit provides countless adrenaline-charged moments, the whole experience is so intense that it's hard to remain on the top and in control for longer than half an hour. The only weak spots are boring defence modes and the fact that without the Games for Windows Live account you can't even save the game. All the rest is fast, aggressive and wild action. [Apr 2008]

It's hard to make a winning shooter these days, because it's so easy to make an average one. If you don't have anything original to show, you are lost in a crowd. And that's what happened to this really decent game. The weapons and the graphics are nothing to write home about, the heroes are a bit cliched, the cooperation between them is the best part, but that's just not enough. [Apr 2008]

Not your typical movie franchise - this one is actually quite decent. It has quests, secrets, simple yet satisfactory combat and scenes from the movie, but everything looks just a bit too much last year. [May 2008]

Drop the plural, there is only one story - and repeating it with a sim of the opposite gender doesn't change a thing. What's worse, however, is that there is nothing new about this whole affair. It's amazing to what lengths the creators went to ensure that this "castaway" adventure feels like any other sims on vacation tale. There is even a cell phone made from a shell! The story itself is quite interesting and compelling, pity that after finishing it you can dispose of the game. [March 2008]

The commander of the troops can enjoy this unique game much more than one of the hapless folks bleeding on the field of battle. And amongst them being a mage beats being a grunt in almost every respect. The hand to hand combat is so fast and random that it's hard to feel satisfaction even when you are winning. [March 2008]

Smash hit of the 80s returns in style - and sadly suffers from the budget constrains that gave it the look and feel of a rushed release. Sound glitches, occasional crashes and awkward interface detract from the fun of the ruthless fight. [June 2008]

One of the two original ideas - betting on the outcome of the race - effectively nullifies any challenge, small as it were. Contrary to its overly hard predecessor, Juiced 2 allows the player to instantly bounce back from defeat using this easy money. The other somewhat original idea, the DNA that is supposed to store information about drivers' traits and skills, is a complete fiasco. Raising the stats of your driver has virtually no influence on the handling of the car and who gives a hoot about the skills of all those losers who are seen mostly in the rear mirror? Other than that, it's a lackluster Need for Speed clone. [March 2008]

This standalone expansion to the respected fps released two years ago has all the telltale signs of a quick cash grab, and the time has left its marks on the engine. But turning the environment into swiss cheese among the sparks of ricochets hasn’t lost its appeal, and there is some new stuff to frighten the player and then his enemies with. [Dec 2007]

This series evolves even slower than FIFA and it’s equally spectacular at the expense of realism. The computer opponent’s play is based on repetitive sequences that are easily predicted. There are a lot of errors, like throws from behind the back line hitting the backboard, the ball teleporting into the hands during rebounds, stupid AI losses, outs and missed lay-ups. The graphics don't look good even at the highest detail setting. But all this is suddenly dismissed when I score three points after a 20-second sequence of seven passes ending in a masterful feint. Cool! [Dec 2007]

Design and build your own roller coaster? Sounds cool, but even making money on it is hundredfold less exciting than riding one. Don't get me wrong, the game is fun... unfortunately only the first time you play it. Then it becomes repetitive and boring until you get to the missions. Well, having a challenge always helps. [Dec 2007]

Built of ready blocks and with graphics stuck somewhere between realism and cel-shading, it looks like a homage to the old 2D platformers, but it’s a game for children who, alas, never played them…Spidey cocoons the enemies, shoots the web, topples the bigger baddies to save the day and this game. What a pity that the opponents pose absolutely no challenge, no matter their size. [Dec 2007]

Just like the original, the expansion is extremely realistic and hard. Unfortunately it also brings very few new features. The combat on gigantic maps where you can die from a sniper shot fired hundreds of meters away just became more attractive thanks to the addition of M16A4, motorbikes and two short campaigns. If that doesn’t appeal to your inner soldier, probably you are like me. [Dec 2007]

Vietnam veteran Joey Verolla is a really, really tough guy who can not only lift two kalashnikovs but also fire them simultaneously. And he does this trick with any other handgun, even SPAS. If it doesn't properly impress his enemies, it's because they are brainless. As is the entire game - despite some interesting mission designs, quite amusing (and gory) finishing sequences and virtually useless ability to seek cover by putting your back to the wall, this shooter is as simple as some precursors of the genre. [March 2008]