Darkspore

Darkspore looks nice and its combat should prove instantly accessible to anyone who has played an action RPG. What’s more, it delivers satisfying rewards in the form of 100 unlockable heroes and countless pieces of ability-altering equipment. Indeed, many players will spend almost as much time in the hero editor as they do on the battlefield, striving to create the most powerful squad possible to take on what often turns out to be extremely challenging missions.

Indeed, the difficulty may end up turning off some players, especially if they aren't adventuring with experienced players. It’s unfortunate that the game isn’t more conducive to people interested in a solo experience. It could also do with a meatier story. None of our heroes talk -- the game’s only voice comes from a cold, computer-like narrator -- and the story feels a little soulless as a result. There’s no human element for players to latch onto. Still, if you enjoy a good challenge, fancy multiplayer gaming, and appreciate a well-designed and rewarding action RPG battle system, there’s a lot here to like.

Online interaction: Players are strongly encouraged to team up with others -- including strangers -- to play cooperative and competitive games online. Players are automatically logged into a server at the game’s outset and can see other players freely communicating with one another in a dialogue box at the bottom of the screen. An optional profanity filter is capable of blocking most curses, but doesn’t stop players from discussing inappropriate subjects or sharing personal information.