Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

Traditional and fresh in all the right ways, this strategy sequel is an absolute joy for veterans and newcomers alike.

The Good

Campaign offers a lot of variety
Awesome cinematics and great voice acting get you involved in the story
Element of choice gives campaign lots of replay value
Excellent online play featuring three disparate but balanced factions
Challenges and practice league ease neophytes into competitive play.

The Bad

Some Battlenet inconveniences
Only one campaign

Some sequels radically reinvent what has come before; others simply buff up a formula that already soars. To suggest that Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty does only the latter and not the former would be to sell short the fresh ideas and exciting gameplay that makes this superb real-time strategy sequel so enjoyable. This package delivers more than simple fun--it serves up incredible amounts of variety, from the cinematic and multifaceted campaign to the competitive and tightly balanced multiplayer. You might scoff at the fact that the game only includes a single campaign and, perhaps, at the high price point (the game retails at $59.99; $10 higher than the average PC game). But these are nitpicks, forgivable quibbles in a high-quality game that provides plenty of bang for the buck. Starcraft II is the natural next step for the series: it both embraces and updates the core components that made the first game a huge hit while layering on important features that give the game endless replay value, both online and off. This is one of the finest real-time strategy games in years, and whether you're new to the genre or have been studying Protoss build orders for the past decade, there's something here to delight you.

Turba

Turba's pleasant, beat-based block matching is good, rhythmic fun.

The Good

Interesting beat-based puzzling
You can import tunes from your own music library
It's fun to score big by getting into a rhythmic groove
System of unlocks keeps you invested.

The Bad

Inconsistent beat detection
Ascend mode on medium difficulty is much, much too hard
Lackluster presentation.

Games that mold themselves to your personal music collection seem all the rage these days, and Turba is the latest in this import-your-own-tunes craze. This isn't the prettiest puzzle game you've ever seen, but it's breezy entertainment, the kind that might keep you occupied for a few hours on a rainy afternoon. Like the beat detection in many games that utilize your music collection, Turba's rhythm recognition isn't exact, which might impact your drive to triumph on the online leaderboards. But the game's block-matching mechanics are appealing, and the unlockable gameplay enhancements and Steam achievements provide a reason to experiment with different tunes to see which ones best suit each of Turba's three modes.

Blacklight: Tango Down

Blacklight: Tango Down is a decent, cheap multiplayer shooter for the budget-minded gamer looking for a change of pace.

The Good

Action-packed multiplayer
Smart map design with a great deal of cover that rewards tactical thinking Customizable weapon and equipment loadouts
Good price for what you're getting.

The Bad

Worthless single-player/co-op mode
Can't play solo without being connected to Games for Windows Live
Map architecture is a little generic, and set spawn points can bog down matches No dedicated servers or in-game chat
Can't join a multiplayer game in progress.

Cheap and nasty aren't two words generally used to extol the virtues of anything outside of a red-light district, but they accurately describe Blacklight: Tango Down. Developer Zombie Studios has done a good job with this multiplayer first-person shooter for the PC, delivering a remarkably feature-filled game for just $15. While there are some rough spots, like the worthless single-player/co-op mode, a few grievances over map design, and the absence of dedicated servers, you get a lot of action for the low price. Most of the shooter basics are covered, and the design also incorporates a few twists so that it doesn't feel like you're playing a bargain-basement Call of Duty.

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

The prince's high-flying adventure is marred by camera issues and weak combat, but the excellent platforming is still loads of fun

The Good

Platforming sections have lots of thrilling moments
New abilities spice up the standard jumping action
Clever puzzles require careful thought to complete
The prince's narration adds personality to the story.

The Bad

Combat is shallow and way too easy
Camera restrictions makes certain sections difficult to navigate
Early portions are too familiar
Copy protection scheme requires constant Internet access.


The 2008 release of Prince of Persia took the franchise in an invigorating new direction, employing open-world design and a painterly artistic style to great effect. It breathed life into a series that had been treading water for years, but you won't see any of those new elements in The Forgotten Sands. This is a throwback to the superb Sands of Time, focusing on elaborate level design and the sort of acrobatic wonder that would make even the most agile monkey jealous. Unfortunately, the leap back in time is not entirely smooth. The early portions have a paint-by-numbers feel, offering no surprises for those familiar with the franchise, and the combat is shallow and lacks the flair the prince so often exhibits. But those missteps fade away once the prince gets into a groove. The intricately designed levels are full of surprising twists and the deft maneuvering required to pass the more challenging sections makes completing a particularly tricky room rewarding. A few problems keep The Forgotten Sands from reaching the level of its timeless predecessor, but playing through this gravity-defying adventure is still time well spent.

ArmA II: Operation Arrowhead

This stand-alone expansion improves upon the original in almost every way.

The Good

Gorgeous new setting
New weapons, both retro and modern
More accessible for newbies Same great Arma combat
Avoids Arma II's bugs.

The Bad

AI drivers still terrorize the roads
Online play can be annoyingly unpredictable

Although 2009's Arma II set a high standard for the all-purpose military simulator, its buggy single-player campaign held it back from achieving its full potential. In contrast, Arma II: Operation Arrowhead, its stand-alone expansion, boasts all the beauty, realism, and action of the original and none of the game-breaking bugs. Improving upon its predecessor in almost every way, Arrowhead introduces a new setting, new weapons, and new adventures to a great military sandbox.

Dragon Age: Origins - Leliana's Song

This add-on doesn't reach for the stars, but it features a couple of great characters and a smattering of quality moments.

The Good

* Fantastic voice acting
* Great new music
* Effective storytelling casts Leliana in a darker light.


The Bad

* Party is maxed out at three characters
* None of the battles are very interesting, including the final fight.

Dragon Age: Origins' Leliana may have seemed sweet enough, but her initially faithful and spiritual demeanor masked an unsavory past. In Leliana's Song, the most recent downloadable content released for last year's superb role-playing game, you explore the bard's dark side and glimpse the circumstances that led her to pledge to the Chantry in Lothering. Effective storytelling makes this add-on worth a look for dedicated Dragon Age fans, particularly those that experienced Leliana's personal quest in the original game. Unfortunately, you won't find many surprises lurking within this fun but unremarkable adventure. The combat remains enjoyable, but because your party is capped at three rather than the usual four members, battles aren't as exciting as they might have been with a larger party. Though some later encounters in an atmospheric alcove grant a little variety, you will fend off the usual foes in a number of well-worn environments. This isn't Dragon Age at its best, but Leliana's Song is an appealing slice of character-driven content.

APB

APB delivers periodic awesomeness, but fundamental imbalances and repetitive objectives make this persistent-world shooter a tough sell.

The Good

* Fantastic customization options let you stand out from the crowd
* Occasionally incredible moments of team-based action
* The backup system is a great idea
* Rewards come at a smooth pace.

The Bad

* Fundamental imbalances and flawed matchmaking lead to lots of frustration
* Missions get very repetitive, very fast
* Shooting and driving are both under par
* Broken voice chat.

APB is a fascinating, sometimes fun, and very troubled team-focused third-person shooter that occasionally drops moments of intense joy in the midst of its major flaws and frustrations. You may have heard it touted as a massively multiplayer online shooter, but that is somewhat of a misnomer: The maps you share with up to 79 other gun-toting urban soldiers are fairly large, but most shoot-outs occur on a small scale. APB's greatest irony is that its persistent MMO trappings offer more in the way of smaller, less invigorating battles than the larger, consistently exhilarating ones you encounter in more typical online shooters like Battlefield: Bad Company 2. That isn't to say that APB doesn't occasionally explode with intensity. You might chase an escaping criminal in a four-door sedan while three fellow law enforcers hang out the windows, taking down the criminal's reinforcements. You may create a tiny fireworks display by tossing a well-cooked grenade at a carful of rivals. It's just unfortunate that to discover these pleasures, you must tolerate frustrating, unbalanced skirmishes against teams touting more powerful weapons and monotonous mission objectives that do nothing to invest you in the crime-ridden but otherwise generic San Paro.

Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge

Classic gameplay and vibrant new visuals mix with timeless humor and inventive puzzles in this revamped blast from the past.

The Good

* Entertaining characters and quirky humor
* Wacky puzzles with clever solutions
* Lively new visuals and voice acting
* Improved gameplay options.


The Bad

* Some puzzles require finicky timing.

As Guybrush Threepwood celebrates the 20th anniversary of his arrival on the adventure game scene, the Monkey Island series continues to enjoy a renaissance with the release of Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge. Like its revamped predecessor, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, this game takes a classic point-and-click adventure and spruces it up for the modern era. Once again, you guide Guybrush through traditional pirate activities, such as searching for buried treasure, making voodoo dolls and competing in a spitting contest. The quirky humor and involved puzzles are engrossing regardless of whether you're playing with the original visuals and subtitles or enjoying the attractive new art and full voice acting. A few new additions make this Special Edition even slicker than the last, ensuring that treasure seekers from all walks of pirate life can enjoy this entertaining adventure.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior

Poor AI and insane difficulty get between you and the sniping in Sniper: Ghost Warrior.

The Good

* Challenging sniping mechanics
* Some satisfying moments, especially when watching the bullet cam
* Attractive tropical visuals and atmospheric sound effects
* Multiplayer holds some promise, once you get over the learning curve.


The Bad

* Sniping mechanics are overly twitchy
* Absurd difficulty in spots
* Poor stealth mechanics
* Spotty enemy AI that ranges from mindless to so magical it can spot you instantly.

Snipers are some of the deadliest and most frustrating soldiers to deal with in shooters, so it's very appealing to be the one behind the scope in Sniper: Ghost Warrior. The trouble is that a lot of design miscues by developer City Interactive make it almost as aggravating to play a sniper here as it is to try to avoid the insta-kill headshots that snipers deal out as bad guys in other first-person shooters. Maddening difficulty, irritating enemy AI that hides its stupidity by being prescient, and terrible stealth mechanics make the game as annoying as a mosquito in your bedroom. Only sharp jungle visuals, cool slow-mo camera effects that let you get up close and personal with bloody headshots, and a somewhat promising multiplayer save the game from being a total disaster.

Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer

Despite a touch of monotony, Age of Conan's atmospheric first expansion is an absolute delight.

The Good

* The new areas are gorgeous and well realized
* Excellent new dungeons and boss fights
* Great quest writing gets you involved
* Awesome new music
* Flexible alternate advancement system.


The Bad

* Gaining faction favor can be a grind
* Meaningful rewards are slow to come
* Not much for players between levels 40 and 80.

ts 2008 launch was plagued with various fits and starts, but the grimly gorgeous Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures was a brutal and atmospheric dark pearl among fantasy online role-playing games. In the years since, developer Funcom has plugged in most of its gaps, giving the game's first expansion, Rise of the Godslayer, room to shine in its own right. Players between levels 40 and 80 may feel left out in the Frost Swamp, but newer players--and veterans looking to reroll a new character--will enjoy the scenic new lands in the Gateway to Khitai. And if you've reached Age of Conan's level cap and don't mind some tedious grinding, there are plenty of violent pleasures waiting in the new high-level areas. If you've strayed from Age of Conan's blood-smeared trail, Rise of the Godslayer is the reason to return to the service of the Aquilonian king.

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