PC gamers deserve a much, much better game for $40.

User Rating: 4.5 | Turning Point: Fall of Liberty PC
This is a unique game ... not uniquely good by any stretch of imagination, but unique in a sense of featuring a rather good (if not very original) story and was built on the first class game engine, and then in the end when you expect at least an average execution by the developer ... the game totally flops. Possibly the most similar experience to this one is Midway's Blacksite Area 51, where like here all the elements of a good game are present simply to be turned into a pile of crap by a sloppy execution. So, what's so bad about this game:

First, graphics/video -- all the materials a student of game graphics/design will ever need to learn on how NOT to design. A real shame indeed -- frankly, if the big Unreal logo was not displayed at the game start one would never guess that this game was build on one of the best engines.

Second, yes, another sloppy porting job. Very sloppy. Mouse doesn't work in main game menus (so you need to use keyboard). Graphics/Video "options" pretty much non-existent. No AA. Very, very, very limited screen rez supported. Alt-TAB, WINkey problems -- often gets into problems where you won't be able to continue the game in progress. No manual saves. No quick save. As, I said a very sloppy job with no PC optimization whatsoever.

Third, the game AI is close to horrible while rag-doll physics are just plain unnatural. Hit detection is questionable at best. The enemy is predictable and and often waits for you to shoot them.

Fourth, related to the total lack of PC optimization (as mentioned above), the huge issue that prevents even a minimalistic enjoyment of this game is the constant stuttering to partial freezing on any system.

Fifth, another developer who forces you to install AGEIA PhysX software regardless of whether you have the card or not. Ironic that the developer could think that the abysmal graphic/video performance could be "enhanced" by this well known but relatively unpopular (and unnecessary) addition.

Sixth, a very short game.

On the positive side there are 4 things: a decent story, relatively well done parts of the city, OK sound (especially weapons sounds), and weapons that are maybe above average in their feel and looks. And ... that's about it on the positive side.

Well, to conclude ... sad, that this game turned out as it did. The game still could be enjoyable for those of the WWII/alternative history fans who can willingly overlook a number of technical issues. All the negatives I wrote above may be simply an indication that the game needed more development time and we may be dealing with a seriously unfinished, definitively unpolished, and totally unoptimized product. The only hope is that the game could be rescued by some serious and profound patching ... but, IMO, that's very unlikely to happen. PC gamers deserve a much, much better game for $40.

Score: 4.7/10