Hamburg  - High expectations can lead to serious disappointment and PC gamers are all too acquainted with that feeling. Many games that are heavily hyped before hitting stores often turn out to be nothing special at all. That's why flying under the radar can be advantageous sometimes.

The makers of the titles for release in April certainly hope so - these games have been less hyped up than some of their predecessors. Those are perfect conditions for pleasant surprises, such as supposed software wallflowers like Age of Pirates 2, which might just turn out to be entertaining and a good play. Those who prefer big name products won't be left out in the cold, either. The Godfather 2 is unlikely to sneak quietly onto the shelves. Other games include Demigod and the new instalment of The Chronicles of Riddick.

Pirates are among the more frequent backdrops for computer games. Yet sometimes there is a significant gap between titles of that ilk. The last time the Jolly Roger flew high in the world of computer gaming was late 2004, with the reissue of Sid Meier's Pirates! There were games made about Jack Sparrow as tie-ins to the Hollywood Pirates of the Caribbean series, although they disappeared quickly from shelves and were hardly worth further mention.

Just when it seemed that pirates might recede into the mists of PC games past, Dutch game maker Playlogic announced out of nowhere the April release of Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships. The game itself is a combination of action-adventure and role playing game.

Users can decide whether to slip into the role of trader, pirate or adventurer in the virtual world, exploring the open seas and islands of the Caribbean. Depending on the player's preference, goods can be traded peacefully or entire cities plundered. Each of the different character classes also brings its own story to the game. Age of Pirates 2 is due out in late April for around 40 dollars.

While the world of pirates is relatively easy for everyone to imagine, other software reveals the eccentric fantasy minds of their developers. That might provide a plausible explanation for Demigod from Atari: "Ever since a god fell into disrepute and lost his place in the pantheon of immortals, vicious battles have raged among the demigods as all seek to take his place."

This may sound nebulous, but the game itself turns out to be a real-time strategy title that, for once, is not centered around World War II or antiquity. The gamer instead must lead one of eight demigods and his or her battle-tested troops against all opponents in their path. The game is slated for an April 30 release at a price of around 50 dollars.

Classic strategy with a classical background is on tap from game maker THQ: Company of Heroes - Tales of Valor is an expansion to that well-known franchise, although it can be run on its own. The action this time is indeed focused on World War II, either on the German or US side: it is expected on April 9 for roughly 30 dollars.

The new title for April that has generated the most buzz is probably Godfather 2 from Electronic Arts. The underworld of the Mafia has long fascinated many - a point not lost through the direct nod to the legendary trilogy of films. Yet this is definitely a game for adults, since the Mafia's doings can be quite brutal.

The Godfather 2 falls squarely into the realm of action-adventure, with criminal activities and firing off of munitions heavily in the foreground. There is another playing mode, however, referred to as the "Don view." It is used to direct the mafia activities across a 3D world map of the type usually found in strategy games.

The pattern of using films as the background for games is so common as to be unremarkable at this point. Yet far too often the quality of the adaptations has been just mediocre.

Two new PC titles hope to change that trend this April. Atari is releasing a new member of the Chronicles of Riddick franchise, this time with the tagline Escape from Butcher Bay. It follows the antics of Richard B. Riddick, played in the movies by Vin Diesel, after his adventures in Assault on Dark Athena.

Even though all of the heroes die at the end of the film Wanted with Angelina Jolie, Warner Interactive is nevertheless releasing the new game Wanted: Weapons of Fate to explore how the story might have continued. Whether these titles will innovate or just rehash remains to be seen. (dpa)