X3 is a great game, but if Egosoft grasped the challenge and offered immersion of the type seen in "Freelancer" and similar ship handling, combined with its own beautiful and complex universe, then we might finally have a game that deserves to called the new "Elite."

Fantastic stuff. It’s the sort of game non-sports fans can pick up and love. Not only is it the best SSX to date, it also features Apply Some Pressure by Maximo Park.

The main issue I have with the game is that the units, even with their team colours, lack individuality.

I’d rate it similarly to Battlefield 2142, purely for the team-based interaction and gameplay, but it doesn’t have the “must play, need upgrades” system that Battlefield has nailed.

The massive database of over 32,000 players & staff and also over 3,000 teams is not something that can be sniffed at. And it is clear that a lot of thought has gone into the game so as not to disappoint the legions of loyal Ice Hockey fans.

With little additions to the franchise, a decent but not mammoth amount of maps, and some pretty standard gametypes saved by Warfare (that I’m not even so keen on) it’s only the extension to the Single Player Campaign that saves the score from being considered little more than an expansion pack.

Should you buy it? Only if you’re willing to buy another 8 more somewhere down the line.

The new maps nicely supplement the old ones and the expansion adds plenty of mileage for fans of the game.

Ridge Racer 6's major irritant is the world's most annoying DJ. He'll make you want to smash the game to bits within a few minutes with his insane banter while you're racing.

The game plays very smoothly. The controls are a little sluggish but the frame rate is smooth and it feels right. Perfect Dark Zero isn't a killer reason to buy the new console but it does stand out amongst the launch titles as a good game.

Darkness Rising brings a lot of new features to a great MMORPG.

I'm actually having more fun online with this game than "GRAW" thanks to the even greater emphasis on team play, role types and big robot things exploding.

Happily, NBA 2K6 continues the series’ legacy of producing the best basketball games around. Everything is solid, fun to play, and there’s lots to it.

With solid Xbox Live play, NBA 2K6 is a professionally rounded off package. Special enough to be the best out there and satisfy the fans, but not friendly enough to encourage most newcomers to take up the challenge, which is a shame as this game deserves all the attention it gets.

Valve's insistence on quality over quantity has paid off – this is a small but perfectly polished package.

The online mode is not entirely satisfactory, and even has specific graphical errors such as a lack of shadows underneath the cars, and this mars the general picture a bit. And the graphical performance on certain tracks should perhaps also have been optimised.

If it is the last in the series it’s truly a shame. But Project Zero 3: The Tormented definitely goes out with a bang... a big spooky bang.

In spite of the odd struggle with the controls, this is a good adventure through and through, and that’s what makes the game worth playing.

The game looks and sounds delightful, and is every bit as good as you expect.

All in all I'd say that EA can do better.

A flawed masterpiece.

The game isn’t perfect, in-fact I would be pushed to avoid calling it a poor version, but the mere fact that I am still addicted to it, and playing it must count for something in this world.

With a good ten hours plus of single player game, even on the easiest difficulty, and the multiple endings the choice system provides adding to that, and a great co-op and multiplayer game on top this should provide you with plenty of enjoyment doe your money and keep you sneaking around for a long time to come.

What we have in The Battle For Middle Earth 2 is a good title, very good at times, that could become rather great with some patching.

The turn-based gameplay works surprisingly well on the PSP and the gameplay is easy to pick up and play, but packed with nuances and subtleties that you'll learn over time.

In spite of some minor ambiguity as concerns the control interface, it's a game that has a fairly shallow learning curve, yet promises much in the way of long term amusement for those who don’t like their 4X to be too taxing.

If Daxter can be accused of anything it’s playing it too safe. It’s a title never feels anything less than solid, but outside the impeccable presentation Daxter is rarely inspired; it’s enjoyable rather than exhilarating.

A refreshing newcomer in the world of adventure gaming.

In Ankh’s case, the gameplay’s spot on, the story is funny, and it looks and sounds great. It’s nothing new or special, but what it does, it does very well.

The similarities between it and the first Killzone are tenuous at best, but each and every change is a welcome one when a game as polished as this gets released.

I encountered a number of bugs on my play through, to varying degrees of seriousness.

If you hanker after some great fights with an equally good story to carry things along then you really can’t pick a better game and it’s one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played on the Playstation 2 this year.

It’s a perfect handheld game and something that’s bound to always keep a smile on your face.

The potential of the technologically disruptive DS is just beginning to be exploited. Metroid Prime: Hunters is a great game, and one that really should shift systems. Buy it, play it, and you’ll understand.

Welcome back, Mario. Each day without you was like another dagger through my (S)NES, and your return is triumphant if short-lived.

One of the most fun, convincing, action-packed and atmospheric football games released on a console. It’s not merely a tournament cash-in, the choice of teams and game content mean it’s a full game in its own fight and bodes very well for the next full FIFA game.

It's a fun little romp that returns to some of the classic elements of the GTA series after the stylistic bump in the road that was San Andreas.

As such, the game has to be recommended but with certain caveats. Be aware of the skill levels needed to do well in both single player and multiplayer and if I’ve done my job correctly, you have now been well warned. If you have the mettle for the game, you’ll be delighted at what Rockstar has done and you’ll no doubt go on to great things on Xbox Live.

It looks and plays fantastically well and recalls the days when flight sims were something fun and accessible as well as requiring intelligence.

The slight frame rate issues do grate, but Midnight Club 3 is so un-ashamedly arcade like - and refuses to even attempt to act like anything more – that it stands out as a true racing gem.

If you're someone who spends hours making movies with the game though the add-on is well worth you taking a look at. A bit more variety in the next expansion is warranted though as are some tweaks to the core gameplay.

The only question is whether or not you like the sound of the track list, so take a gander, and maybe join me in a never-ending quest to collect noise pollution charges.

Despite finding the storyline enjoyable, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was only there to prepare me for PvP action.

The real meat of the expansion though are the new scenarios which offer plenty of variety and interesting gameplay nuances. However they do tend to be rather tricky, even for experience players.

Rarely do I find myself so absorbed by the characters I play and the world in which they live, and that's a true homage to Techland for creating such an absurdly assimilating game. But the feeling is shattered at times.

No matter what you decide, Hearts of Iron II and Doomsday represent some of the best turn-based strategy you’ll ever play.

It gets annoying at the end and it isn't a long game by any stretch of the imagination but it works well.

Buy it, play it and love it as that’s what the Street Fighter games are all about.

Eidos should be commended on breaking out of the current fad for very similar and rather dull shooters and providing console owners with something so different. Battlestations Midway reminds me a lot of the kind of games we used to get from Microprose and that's a compliment indeed.

A great game, perhaps unfortunately overshadowed by the number of higher profile FPSs being released around this time, and let down only by an overly confusing plot.

At the end of the day you get a very good game here, albeit a bit on the short side at about 5 hours long.

If you don't own Madden and you're keen to get into the NFL games then this is the one to get.

It is arguable that no game that is directly comparable to Jade Empire in the past two years has been better than it, and that in all probability none will be until "Mass Effect" is released later this year.

The scope for large online battles and some great fun action in the single-player mode make this a worthwhile purchase. Fans of "Call of Duty 2" will really have a lot of fun with it. But Call of Duty 3 could have and should have, been better than this.

It is a great game, and I am inches away from giving it a higher score than I am doing, but with the potential the Playstation 3 has, I don’t think we should set the bar too high too fast, despite my full recommendation of the game.

There is no denying that it is wonderful, and narratively and graphically speaking perhaps Heavenly, but it falls into the trap of many a young console’s first games, an attempt to show off what the console can do rather than what the player can do.

I’m sure it won’t appeal to everyone, but go on, admit it; you kind of want to try it.

Phantom Hourglass absorbed me and ate my time more so than the Wii Zelda has done. Maybe it’s because it can sit in my bag calling to me, tempting me to do just one more thing. More likely, it’s because Phantom Hourglass is uncluttered, pure and wonderful Zelda gaming at its best.

It is a fantastic yarn beginning to end, with a satisfactory noir ending that leaves just enough unresolved stuff to allow a possible sequel.

A pleasure to experience from start to finish. It’s thorough, pretty, sometimes challenging and downright fun to play.

If you’re looking for a serious racer this isn’t for you, but if you just want some quick arcade style action this could be right up your street.

It’s simple, addictive, compelling and innovative all rolled into one.

Though it may not be the best example of whip-cracking fun in Castle Dracula, it’s got a damn sight more in its favour than a great many other games out there at the moment.

Kojima’s cinematic direction is a massive asset to the project, but in many ways has overshadowed the core gameplay that makes it less fun to play than its predecessors for those that love the style; Play them first, they’re better games, and then you’ll forgive the weaker elements in MGS4 to see how it all plays out.

You can climb to the tip of the cities tallest skyscraper and look out over the whole city, take a sniper rifle up there and look through it’s scope and you can even see some of the smaller details, the draw distance is immense.

The game works well because it doesn't stray from the known formula, but at the same time it leaves you with a strange sense of having done it before.

Yes this game is very linear and you can wonder why you’ve paid £40 to wander in pretty much a straight line. But don’t forget what you’re playing Final Fantasy for; the story and battles. And Final Fantasy XIII delivers big time.

Again, it’s nice to see the duality of the FFVII games, (it is Zack that falls into Aerith’s church this time), and a genuine attempt to develop the universe so many of us love, but simplifying the battle system, story and general style of discovery and transport leaves Crisis Core being a welcome spin off, but no replacement for a real sequel.

There are, however, times when the game betrays it's cross-platform development (such as telling you not to switch off your computer while it saves your career progress), yet there's a lot here to make the game worthy of purchase if you're even remotely interested, while snapping this one up should be a no-brainer for established fans of the series.

Epic Games has done a great job in returning the series to its roots, and while there are plenty of new additions in there, the core gameplay remains fast, frantic and as action-packed as ever.

Any "Diablo" fan should lap the game up. It's a detailed, entertaining and long-lasting adventure with plenty to do and see.

A highly capable albeit niche fighter which plays to the strengths of the DS hardware.

It was fun to play a space action game that used trading to get you into opportunities for a fight rather than study for a degree in advanced intergalactic economics.

Battle for Europe is a detailed and historically accurate look at the age of grand armies of Europe and the classic clash of Empires. While not offering anything particularly new or groundbreaking it succeeds in providing an entertaining and thoughtful strategy game for those tired of meaningless tank rushes.

The utter diversity in gameplay, the sometimes nail-biting tension coupled with the often laugh-out-loud deaths and kills are exactly what makes The Ship into a brilliant, if flawed game, and just the change in scenery that the FPS genre needed.

A great recreation of the sport and a fine game to boot and is perhaps my favourite title among the PlayStation 3 launch line-up.

This is no mere cash-in update to appease gamers with little knowledge of what makes a decent game.

The single player campaign is beautifully mad, full of the insanity of modern warfare, huge explosions and action that always feels fresh and exciting.

With the new tutorials and the improved interface, the game is very inviting for new people to the genre, but the complexity, possibilities and atmosphere is preserved and expanded.

The only charge that can really be brought against the game lies within the the aesthetics of the environment.

Coming from an adventure game fan, I found it a very fulfilling addition to my collection, and from a relatively unknown German game developer (Fusionsphere Systems) I can offer only congratulations to them for a decent brain testing continuation of the genre.

My main gripe is that the single player game doesn't have the durability I would have hoped for, so if you don’t plan to go online then it’s not a game I’d recommend you pick up.

Lots to see and do, although I doubt there’s any replay value there.

While there are no songs that give the same sense of glory that More Than A Feeling had in the first game, it offers plenty of fun for the non-musician and musician alike and is one of the better party games available for PlayStation 2.

Buzz Junior: Jungle Party has all the fun of the buzzer in a much more child friendly game - and if they ask you to play along it really isn't the end of the world, it is quite good fun. Until they beat you, of course.

The variety and quality of songs is the finest Sony has given us, though of course that sort of judgement comes down to personal taste.

If all you want to do is play football with friends then PES will still provide you with everything you need. Just don’t go expecting miracles as it is still very much another evolution in the series, we might have to wait until next year for the revolution.

One disappointment is that no new classes have been introduced, and there's no denying that the scales are probably tipped slightly in favour of newcomers and/or those looking to start a fresh alt, but it's also undeniably a well rounded and substantial package that deserves a look from anyone even remotely curious about the game.

But if you don’t already have the other versions and you love your puzzle games, especially this type, you really can’t go wrong here.

NCSoft's latest RPG has gotten off to a flying start and will be hoping to steadily gain altitude until it climbs to the lofty heights of long term RPG greatness.

Flatout Ultimate Carnage is a very solid racing game, it’s fast, it’s fun, has an extensive single player side to it with plenty of variety, which is carried over to a decent online multiplayer, doesn’t hurt that it looks great too. Sadly though that just isn’t enough in this day and age for it to be successful, in a market that is flooded with similar games and coming in hot on the heels of more publicized games it is unlikely that this will get the recognition it deserves.

My only real problem with Shivering Isles is the not-so-great mission structure and how the worlds of Sheogorath seem a bit more dead than the regular game - despite the beauty of the new world. As a supplement to Cyrodiil, however, they work great.

It's not perfect, but there’s a lot of fun to be had here and it’s something a bit different from the usual Wii titles.

It’s expansive, fun, challenging and most of the time, plain hilarious. Yet, concurrently, it’s also in dire need of a makeover and the combat system could do with a refined dusting.

For those of you who have always loved Unreal Tournament but no longer game via your PC than there's really no need to deliberate. You need UTIII on console, and either the X360 or PS3 versions will scratch that UT itch in a very satisfying way.

Unfortunately, overall, it just falls short of the mark. Though you'll definitely be aware you're playing a God of War game – so much so that it's hard to write a review without an odd sense of Déjà vu – it makes itself apparent quite early on that it's a diet version.

It's a foundational package, far from threatening the professional music development studios, but it's a gateway piece of software, bound to inspire aspiring musicians to pursue the real deal.

Each character has the classic Tekken combination of throws, punches, kicks and spinny flying kicks that never fail to impress, and since the game is simply about fighting, the characters are balanced beautifully to provide easy to pick up, hard to master gameplay that feels far in advance of the current £6.99 price tag.

A real victory for blue skies in games and the very welcome return of a great franchise.

This is a great game for kids, adults and families and makes a refreshing change from some of the stuff in the shops at the moment.

It may however still end up being my game of the year; 8/10 for a £180 game is still a pretty incredible recommendation.

Pop Hits remains a solid addition to the series with a lot of great songs that you’ll know, and enjoy singing, but watch out for the style of singing you may require during some of the songs.

Would your parties be better with a quiz show to add to your Karaoke marathon? If so, Buzz: The Mega Quiz is the one for you.

It’s not going to break any records or receive any awards, but in this early content dry PS3 time, I’m more than happy to play a game that seems to embrace the nostalgic simple level gameplay of old for less than the price of a "Guitar Hero 2" song pack on the 360.

Criterion has made a major mistake removing crash junctions and replacing them with the rather poor red-headed stepchild showtime. But the racing events and seamless online integration mean that Burnout Paradise remains a game that I can still highly recommend.

Criterion has made a major mistake removing crash junctions and replacing them with the rather poor red-headed stepchild showtime. But the racing events and seamless online integration mean that Burnout Paradise remains a game that I can still highly recommend.

Even the fast turning speed with beautiful motion blur seems to add to the sometimes frantic feel of the game.

A challenging single player game will last a while, but take it online for some real longevity.

Really this is the definitive Dragonball Z game, for the fans anyway, there’s not much they can do to improve it, bar maybe a class system and some working net code.

Whatever stance you take, though, the game's biggest problem is its length, coming in between five and six hours, depending on skill and just how important it is to you to complete the levels with absolute precision.

No substitute for the Orange Box, in short, but without peer on the PSP. And there’s that free Combat Ops multiplayer demo, of course.

It remains the best incarnation of the franchise.

If you like a game that rewards teamwork and strategy as well as hair-trigger reactions and steady nerves, then SOCOM becomes immensely rewarding. Take the game seriously, learn quickly and bring a headset. This package will keep you entertained for a long while.

With ample moves, special attacks, dozens of characters and a couple of extra good modes to boot, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything that matches the level of quality seen in SNK’s latest release.

On the whole the writing is poor quality and the dialogue risible, embarrassingly so at times. It doesn't quite make Gears of War seems like a quality drama but it's not far off. At least Gears of War features memorable characters.

Darksiders is far from original with a story stolen from religious mythology and gameplay borrowed from other titles, but it's great fun.

It would be difficult for me to say Mirror's Edge reached its potential as a fresh take on the FPS genre because it's held back by a shallow story and dubious combat mechanics. However, you won't find another game like it.

If you are looking for an Ice Hockey game with lots of big hits and injuries then NHL 08 isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking for a good looking, great playing game that makes you think and actually challenges you, then look no further than NHL 08.

It doesn't have the sense of a bustling metropolis like inFamous or GTA4 do, but then again, inFamous and GTA4 don't have shape-shifting, 50-story elbow drops or five-foot blades that grow out your arm. Prototype is a simple pleasure.

In actuality, in spite of these congruities, all of its parts are tailored toward the shooter genre, so it's not an RPG at all really, it's just a multi-layered FPS, which, to be honest, is brilliant.

In actuality, in spite of these congruities, all of its parts are tailored toward the shooter genre, so it's not an RPG at all really, it's just a multi-layered FPS, which, to be honest, is brilliant.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is by no means perfect, and we'd expect something of an engine overhaul for the next version, but this is no mere cynical yearly update. Recommended.

It's lacking graphical glamour, but it more than makes up for it with superb sound effects and music – not to mention deep customization and solid multiplayer. It may be running on an old engine, but it's got life in it yet.

It’s a word I keep repeating through the review, but much like flOw gave us something resembling a game but that was definitely an experience, this remains a game that is artistically painted into an audio-visual experience that can be both challenging and rewarding.

It's not perfect, if you ask me the sandbox element is a little superfluous and brings the game down a little, it's still a great game though, lots of fun, makes you use your brain, great story and varied gameplay.

Previous control schemes have always worked well with Mario Kart, and you can still use variations on these by adjusting your options, but the new wheel just feels so intuitive you’ll be wondering why they bothered including them.

It’s something worth experiencing even if you end up coming to the conclusion that it isn’t for you, your gaming perspective will have been broadened.

Sitting down for half an hour will quickly lead to you looking at the clock and only to discover its 5 am three days later.

With one of the most engaging and mature stories that I have played in quite some time, great visuals and well designed and acted characters (not to mention Nobuo Uematsu’s expectedly brilliant soundtrack), Lost Odyssey did not let me down, despite great expectations.

As a videogame it's no great shakes really. But as a way of adding some interesting and fun exercise into your life it works very well indeed.

It is a lot of game for your money, especially if you have the patience to slog your way through it all, much like more classic video games that we remember fondly, but it does bear more than a passing resemblance to ‘Desktop Tower Defence’ (Google it) in its gameplay choice.

Really good, easily approachable games are pretty hard to come by – especially on the Wii, but Boom Blox is a triumph in many respects. Whether you're playing on your own or with your friends or family, the game's difficulty slant and physical appeal drags in players and voyeurs respectively throughout the entire duration.

This is a good videogame adaptation and none of the flaws prevent it from being immersive and enjoyable to play. You won’t find another game quite like this. American Football and the fantasy world of Elves and Orcs make undeniably strange bedfellows and their unholy offspring may be ugly but it is entertaining.

Grid won’t be for everyone, the handling is to blame for that, but Grid is far from stale and is exceptionally good at delivering wow moments, something that many other games in the genre fail to do.

Volition's game is an excellent and worthwhile resurrection of an old franchise. One hopes its success results in Volition returning to an extremely well-loved space shooter series.

A really terrific game of football. The pace of play, the ball physics and the AI combine to make a top notch simulation of the sport. On the higher difficultly levels there's a very strong challenge ahead of you.

Give it time to circulate and new content will come pouring in, but what's there is by far the best in the series, and I can say that because the advent of seamless city exploration, fully integrated character traits and less dumbfounded AI in The Sims3 would make it difficult to return to its predecessors.

If you like your puzzle games then Soul Bubbles is well worth a purchase, it’s fun, well structured, and whilst it does have a couple of very minor faults, is a very compulsive game that you’ll want to keep picking up until you’ve completed it.

I really enjoyed playing Dawn of War II and If you're considering taking the plunge into realtime strategy this is a good place to start.. It is very accessible and Relic has obviously worked hard to release a very polished product that’s immense fun and has a multiplayer side that is entertaining to play and varies enough from the main game to give great value.

For what you get on the disc Blastworks is a fantastic package, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like your scrolling shooters, or have an inclination towards game design then this really is a must have.

Midnight Club LA Remix is not perfect, the early races are two easy while the harder races can come with a sudden harsh spike in difficulty, the race markers I've already mentioned and draw distances can seems a bit short when traveling at full throttle, but i can forgive it all of this just for the smile it can put on your face when it all comes together and you get lost in the race.

In conclusion EA Sports has put together is damn good game here and one worthy of your money. There's still some work to do though before the Tiger Woods franchise becomes the definitive home of the sport it aims to simulate - as the FIFA franchise has become.

The action in the ring is never short of brilliant. For fans of the sport it really does represent a loving recreation of the skills and strategies required for victory - and reservations about the role of counter-punching aside - Fight Night Round 4 is really very good indeed.

Bethesda has done the Fallout series justice and should be proud of the game they made, unfortunately, the scope of the project was too much for them and the PC game felt unfinished in places, but simply outstanding in other areas.

Take the time to master the nuances of minion combat and you will find a lot here to keep you entertained.

The story and general game play is very good. The game on a whole is good but is no better than Star Wars or any worse for that matter. It’s just a shame it’s let down by some poor finishing in places.

There are no deal breaking major issues with World Tour, only the hardcore will be annoyed by the over-charting at the harder difficulty levels. Guitar Hero: World Tour is a damn good game. But in a month that sees the release of Fable II, Far Cry 2, Dead Space, Midnight Club, Gears of War 2 etc. it needed to be a bit better.

I really did enjoy the experience, as unchallenging as it felt (whether because the puzzles rarely required timing threatening death beyond falling, because the enemies even have visible health bars or due to the friendly checkpoint system) but felt that it was too quick to get through to justify a full £40 purchase.

Yet while the game has plenty of niggles such as duplicated left-right mirrors, texture shimmer, dull lighting and the like the truth is that it plays better than any other racing sim I've played on console. There are better racing games out there for the current crop of consoles, but there isn't a better handling one whose aim is simulation.

Wolfenstein is not going to set the world on fire with anything new but what it has done is reaffirm my faith in the fact that old ideas can still be brought up to speed and used to create a fun experience that is well worth the money spent on it.

This is a great game and is only let down by the dodgy bit of vehicle control.

As frustrating as it can be to constantly have to keep your eye out for sources of electricity, the power it gives you is particularly enthralling. With an intriguing story and original, if painfully skillful, enemies, the game offers engagement through both narrative, likeable characters and respectable challenge.

There’s a great game underneath the gimmickery.

FIFA 09 is very much like Arsenal actually; great to look at, at times an absolute joy to play and has a fantastic future if they can build on what they have, but it’s just made too many silly and needless mistakes to stop it from being great this year.

And there's very little to touch it in graphical terms on a console. So if you're a graphics whore and a fan of action go right ahead, most gamers will enjoy Far Cry 2, just don't expect something as cerebral as the hype has lead you to believe.

This is a step up from last year so if you were on the fence then this might be time to take the plunge.

As far as an expansion goes, it has to be said, that this felt a little light weight.

Sure, it’s probably not going to win any awards, but Geon remains a fun and replayable crazy action puzzle sport pacman hybrid. For a fiver, it’ll give you way more than just a weekend of entertainment, but probably in short blasts over the course of a long period of time.

And if you love Guitar Hero, but don't have deep enough pockets to fit out a whole band on the World Tour game then this is a good substitute, just mind the funny looks you'll get rocking out on the bus.

Certainly better than last year's, so it’ll definitely last until next year, possibly longer.

The sheer ingenuity of each stage keeps you going, but the scope of collectibles keeps you going back.

Excellent value for money and something every PSP owner must experience: it's fun, visual and audibly impressive and is perfect for a quick blast to and from the shops on the bus. Although it isn't perfect, it's more down to the hardware than it is the software, so I'll let it off just this once.

At last Maxis has tapped the right vein and found pure gold and how long it lasts depends on how much people can tap their imaginations.

Rockstar has embellished the world it created with GTA4 with a story that is not only original in its own right, but functions as another element of Liberty City as a whole. Rather than just a few new missions and weapons, TLAD adds a whole new dimension to the experience, setting a high standard for what DLC should be.

Behind the exaggerated, sexualized and silly exterior conceals a complex and masterfully designed combat system.

The delicate grace of the gameplay and the equally elegant music create a rather moving experience unlike any other. It's up to you whether or not it's art or simply a pretentious tech demo, but I'm all for the former. Flower is a very unique game indeed. Put this and Ico next to each other and I'll cry my eyes out.

Maybe not for the hardcore gamer, Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble will really only appeal to niche market, but it is a wonderfully crafted game that rewards those who just want to sit back and be enthralled by a simple yet clever game that is completely unique in many ways.

But for my money, it's time well spent, as it succeeds more often than not in recapturing the spirit of some of the more highly regarded CRPG titles of the earlier part of the decade.

The main gripe of Battlefield 1943, however, is its staying power, considering just how shelled-out it is in comparison to previous entries in the series. It's quite superb in small doses, but with only two game modes, one of which has only one map, and both of which are only minutely customisable, there's no chance of losing a day to it.

SingStar Queen is a superb addition to the franchise. Ironically it’s not for the die hard fans, since they’ve already bought most of the songs from the SingStore, but for those fans that haven’t got Queen songs yet, it’s an absolute must buy.

If you fully explore the world, and don’t use game guides to find all 100 Ingots, you have more than four hours of game time here. The storyline is much better, and because of all the choices that can be made throughout the game, the replay value alone gives this game extra score. In my honest opinion, any Fallout 3 owner must get this DLC.

Just Cause 2 is silly, action-packed, funny and a huge time-sink. Avalanche Studios has created a wonderful game here and if it can solve those control/finesse issues for a third release we'll be seeing a game of the year contender next time around.

There are two issues that make the campaign less than perfect. First is the length. Given the price gouging Activision has embarked on with this release the centrepiece of the game is insultingly short. Played on normal you have one evening's play here for your 50 or so pounds...Secondly the pace of the game is very one note.

Infinity Ward has created a solid shooter which raises your adrenaline to dangerous levels in a number of places with some of the best set pieces I have ever seen in any game. If only it had changed the pace here and there and made it longer, MW2 would have been a classic.

On the whole though the racing action is very good, with a strong range of cars, attractive visuals and an international approach to motorsport that doesn't seem false or forced.

On the whole though the racing action is very good, with a strong range of cars, attractive visuals and an international approach to motorsport that doesn't seem false or forced.

It's not the prettiest looking game, and it does have some minor issues, but the motion controls make all the difference, they do take a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of them it really makes it feel authentic.

Not since Escape from Butcher Bay have I see melee combat so superbly integrated into a first-person game, and so it's clear that ACE Team has put their heart and soul into bringing Zeno Clash to life.

MotorStorm feels like an appropriate entry in the series, and a remarkable feat given the technology.

The game's story mode and character customization are so much more fun than your usual career mode.

There are very few games on Wii that are this good, and it's nice to see that someone other than Nintendo are making full use of the Motionplus, rather than just making it an optional extra.

For all that's been added, it was never going to recreate the dumbfounding awe of Rapture when experienced for the first time, which, unfortunately, played a pivotal role in the first game's appeal, and something required to allow the sequel's combat to flourish.

Regardless of how many awards it wins though, it’s a fantastic representation of the sport.

Despite the rough edges, Killing Floor can be considered a resounding success.

BlazBlue is a finely crafted fighting game with some real depth to it. Polished art, great character designs and some solid mechanics make this addictive once it gets under your skin.

This is a brave, thrilling and fun-packed game that sets out to entertain us with recreations of daring do from the last century. It really achieves those aims, but in also doing so while giving us a say in how we play it, it makes the game all the greater.

Halo: ODST is very much a traditional Halo game at heart but distinguishes itself from the second and third games in the series by having much more personality and a more engaging campaign.

If you're the type of gamer who wants depth and complexity to their games then Rocket Riot won't be to your liking, but if you fancy a great multiplayer game that demands no more of you than two functioning thumbs, you're sure to have a blast.

Why Team17 didn't just make this game the first time around instead of last year's abomination, I don't know, but it was worth the wait. Fortunately, this time it's actually worth looking into.

The control system can be labeled as interesting (sweeping the mouse around the screen to guide Guybrush around is one of the worst control schemes I’ve ever encountered) but thankfully this can be swapped for WASD keyboard controls.

The war waging is brilliant, but diplomacy, speed, user interface etc robs the game of a better score.

Ultimately, it is a relief for me, as a huge fan of the series, a little disappointed by Escape From Monkey Island to see it back to its full strength, and not being milked with sub standard entries just for the cash.

There are plenty of flaws and rough edges here but at the end of the day it retains the same feel that has made GTA such a success and it offers many hours of engaging gameplay.

A refreshing strategy experience.

THQ has delivered another strong RTS offering here, with the major put off being a relatively high price for an expansion pack.

Overall, Tales of Monkey Island Episode 3 – Lair of the Leviathan continues the excellent series, pretty much as expected, given the great previous chapters. Well worth a purchase for any of you silly enough to have not bought the full season already. If you’re not sold now, maybe Monkey Island isn’t for you.

Fans of Dead Space or F.E.A.R. will find plenty to enjoy in Metro 2033 and while it doesn't quite tick every box it's a very strong blend of survival horror and shooter.

Metro 2033 is a stunningly atmospheric survival shooter that deserves a high chart position.

Where we are now, no matter how great it seems, if the ending is lacklustre then we’ll all be disappointed. Given Telltale Games’ last four chapters however, I think we’re in for something great.

A very gritty game, full of foreboding and a sense of deep hopelessness that's more than the sum of its parts. It sucks you in and manipulates that little element of your brain that never seems quite sure what's going on. Fans and newcomers alike will react with awe and fear in equal amounts if they dare step once more into the Zone.

It's hard to imagine this is the story Gearbox has always wanted to tell, but judging by the craftsmanship behind all of its elements, from the crisp visuals to the hilarious writing, you'd be forgiven for making the mistake. With a greater duration and improved AI it would've been damn near perfect.

Obviously 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is going to feel rather dated in just a couple of months, but this is by no means a cynical release by EA Sports. This evolution of EA's football gameplay engine is a most welcome one and deserves the chart success it is already enjoying.

Obviously 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is going to feel rather dated in just a couple of months, but this is by no means a cynical release by EA Sports. This evolution of EA's football gameplay engine is a most welcome one and deserves the chart success it is already enjoying.

The simple addition of a useful targeting systems opens up so much gameplay that felt tedious in "GTA."

When you look at KUF:TC objectively, it seems to be very much more than a sum of its parts. The audio is flawed, the graphics can be dodgy, the plot is thin and the controls are iffy, yet it still proves to be a very compelling and accomplished little action/strategy game.

Both an exciting action RPG and an involving social simulation, Fable is a luscious folk-fantasy adventure teeming with clever details, hidden secrets, and moral possibilities. It may be too short but boy is it sweet.

It’s difficult to convey a story in first person form without the use of heavy scripting and this is something that Warren and the boys haven’t gotten quite right.

Doom 3 definitely has gameplay to back it up but it's gameplay from a few years ago while the rest of the world has moved on.