Reviews

A pretty formulaic MMO underneath a thick layer of neat little twists and gimmicks that elevate the experience, Guild Wars 2 can serve as a bridge between single-player RPGs and their online counterparts. Add in the fact that it doesn't require you to pay a subscription fee, and you get an MMO that's very easy to recommend.

The latest sandbox action-RPG from Soldak Entertainment, Drox Operative is a bit more minimalistic than the studio's earlier projects and can get somewhat repetitive. But its unique setup where you're playing a space action RPG while the AI factions are playing a 4X game make it intriguing enough to at least try.

A stand-alone expansion for Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, Jagged Alliance: Crossfire is short and basic, and does nothing to improve the shortcomings of the already less than stellar title it was supposed to expand upon.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is exactly what a reboot should be: it refines the formula of the classic alien-hunting series, while adding and simplifying enough to make it a truly engaging game.

A traditional dungeon crawler following in the footsteps of titles like Eye of the Beholder, Swords and Sorcery: Underworld Gold has some issues with its balance and can get a bit repetitive, but it still offers plenty of entertainment for its price.

Tunnel Tail is a mixed bag, but it's a free mixed bag. It is great to spend a bit of time with some cute characters duking it out, but the simple combat and uninnovative gameplay hampers it.

The Secret World is a nice enough game. While it uses the building blocks of a standard MMO, it also does a few things that are original and new, including clever quests and fluid character progression. However, lackluster cinematics and some rote gameplay hold it back.

In a world dominated by multiplayer and cinematic games aimed at the broadest audience possible, Dishonored is the rare big-budget mechanics-focused title. And so, even though in some areas it falls short of its acclaimed predecessors, it's still a game that's very much worth playing.