Issue 85: May 2011

L.A. Noire (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Team Bondi / Rockstar
Publisher: Take 2
Genre: Action / Adventure
9/10
Summary: This is, very much, an adventure you cannot afford to miss.



DiRT 3 (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Codemasters
Genre: Racing
8/10
Summary: Gymkhana is the best part, the snow sucks, and the traditional rally stages are back.



Virtua Tennis 4 (PC, PS3, Wii, X360)
Developer: SEGA
Publisher: SEGA
Genre: Sports
5/10
Summary: I really don't know why SEGA has failed to deliver on one of their old beloved franchises, but with Top Spin 4 in stores, there is no reason to pout.



Brink (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Splash Damage
Publisher: Bethesda
Genre: Action / FPS
7/10
Summary: Brink is a decent action game with some really good ideas, but I was hoping for more.



Mortal Kombat (PS3, X360)
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Publisher: Warner
Genre: Fighting
7/10
Summary: Mortal Kombat is not the best, most advanced, balanced, or best-looking fighting game out there. But it is rich of content, fun, polished, and as vulgarly American as the series always has been. It is, after all, very fun to cut someone's arms off.



Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection (PSP)
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: RPG
8/10
Summary: Final Fantasy IV for PSP is simply the best PSP game of the year so far, even though the competition isn't as stiff as it could be.



Portal 2 (PC, PS3, X360)
Developer: Valve
Publisher: EA
Genre: Puzzle / Adventure / FPS
9/10
Summary: Valve has a reason to celebrate with a piece of cake, and you have all the reasons to get this game.



LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Multi)
Developer: TT Games
Publisher: Disney
Genre: Platformer
7/10
Summary: Jack Sparrow fits perfectly in a LEGO format, and the levels are colorful and charming. Some odd puzzles and technical hitches makes the score a firm seven, though.



The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (PC)
Developer: CD Projekt Red Studio
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Genre: RPG
9/10
Summary: The Witcher 2 is a fistfight with an executioner in the rain, to be running from elven terrorists and to be ripping off the face of a succubus. It's also one of the best games of this year.



Call of Duty: Black Ops - Escalation (X360)
Genre: Action
8/10



Outland (X360)
Genre: Platformer
8/10