Gorky Zero: Beyond Honor

In a welcome change from the CIA/Navy SEAL norm, the elite secret agent you play in Gorky Zero is an operative of the European Union. His mission is to infiltrate a sect in Ukraine that's brainwashing folk into becoming soulless automatons.

The game (a prequel of sorts to the well-remembered strategy/RPG Odium) plays like a low-budget cross between Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell, with both isometric and third-person perspectives featuring. The usual stealth principles apply -hiding bodies, walking quietly, staying in the shadows - so it doesn't take long to feel at home. Slicker features, such as being able to make silent kills with any weapon if the conditions are right are also welcome.

Unfortunately GZ is a cut-price release, and its bargain basement credentials are evident in a lack of visual polish, poor mission balancing and dodgy enemy Al. Character animations are clunky, enemies fail to become alarmed by bullets ricocheting next to their heads, and the stealth mechanics are a little hazy.

It's not terrible - it would have been approaching state-of-the-art a few years ago - and if you're gagging for some passable action then at least you're only paying $20 for it. But if you're after anything near a top-class game, you're sneaking up the wrong tree.