IGN

Characters engage in deep conversation, revealing all sorts of nuance and helping to strengthen this game's unique mood. Be warned, if you don't like watching lengthy conversations or if you generally disregard a game's plot, you'll be absolutely dissatisfied with Dreamfall. However, if you're in the mood for one of gaming's best and most recent narratives, by all means pick this one up. Just be aware that Dreamfall's appeal lies largely in its narrative and characters, and not in the gameplay.

Condemned: Criminal Origins isn't a long game and it only has one game mode, but it's an unforgettable experience while it lasts. At no point in the game will you be calm or feel comfortable, and that's the best part about it. Even if you're squeamish, be sure to play this at least once at night with all the lights off and by yourself and you'll understand just how frightening it really is. The graphics, animations, enemy behavior, and utterly unnerving sound make this easily one of the most immersive and atmospheric games I've ever played.

For diehard folks who loved the first console version, this Xbox 360 version is an interesting conundrum. It's better, but not by much. The 360 version of Burnout Revenge offered more advancements than Battlefield. So, it's hard to recommend this, if you've already played the hell out of the last fall's game. The other side of the coin is this: It's still a hell of a fun game with a great online mode that functions better now that it did before. Plus, you'll get achievements. Such a difficult choice to make!

Be that as it may, there really is a ton to do here. There are a lot of varied mission types and extra gameplay outside of the core experience and it becomes really addictive to get that next great ship to become more powerful. This is a fun game that deserves some recognition even though it has some flaws.

If you're an RPG fan, it's an incredible experience. If you regularly beat RPG fans with hockey sticks, you should still try this one out. It's got combat issues, the hotkey system could have been implemented better and some may be ticked off by the environmental loading stutters. Also, keep in mind your loading times aren't going to be seamlessly smooth unless you're playing on a high-end rig. For most gamers with mid-range PCs, you're going to experience hitches.

The controls are simple and intuitive and anyone can jump in and learn the game in a few minutes. Flying through the historical battles are fun the first time, but after you complete the game you'll feel more of a sense of relief than elation because, without any real story, the game lacks emotional appeal.

Its visuals are technologically superior to WoW's without suffering from EQII's unsettling mannequins and relatively bland environments. But DDO doesn't hold a candle to either in terms of breadth or replayability. If only they'd had more time, or a larger team, then I might be singing DDO's praises to the rooftops. Instead, it's a cool experience that's essentially over all too quickly.

If you're a fan of The Sims 2 series of games and have the previous expansions, I'd say this is definitely worth a look. But if you're not into micromanagement this may be one that you can skip. Open for Business has some great ideas, but they aren't always realized as well as they could have been.

Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is a next-generation game in the fullest sense, whether it's the loaded package of impressive graphics and special effects, the top-notch sound, or the tactically enhanced gameplay. Red Storm's four-plus months of extra time have served the game incredibly well and you can see the difference in the screenshots and you will feel it in the gameplay.

Some of the underlying concepts (technology in particular) aren't quite as intuitive as they ought to be but the game is full of personality and offers up hour after hour of strategic satisfaction. The AI in particular is one of the high points of the game, providing an experience that's as unpredictable and challenging as just about any we've seen in games of this type.