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.

If you can summon up the courage to try a flight game for the first time, Ace Combat 5 - Squadron Leader will be a great place to start.

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.

With a little extra polish it could have been an absolute masterpiece, but instead Rockstar have brought us a solid, if a tad unspectacular title, which totals up to far more than the sum of its parts.

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

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.

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.

Water effects are much prettier and the added bump-mapping makes the massive tanks very impressive. It’s not much, but it’s nice to see that the graphics have evolved.

It's the best realistic shooter on Xbox Live and it's only real rival might be the forthcoming "Operation Flashpoint Elite," which may steal some of it's thunder.

It serves as the perfect introduction to the franchise or indeed MMORPG games in general, as the quest system is exceptionally easy to follow, while the presentation and visuals are top notch.

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.

I have had both the best and worst multiplayer battles in this game because the game is balanced very well, but I can’t help but feel like putting a complete focus on multiplayer, and missing out on any tutorial system (besides the odd tip that pops up mid-game occasionally) will lose the game fans.

The core element of the game is solid and all that needs to be done is some polishing. Hopefully, the next installment in the series will do just that and then we really do have an undisputed champion.

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.

If you’ve been searching for a strategy game that really puts you in the line of fire and in which you always feel the consequences of your actions, look no further than this.

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.

It’s a game that has ideas and refuses to be diluted by mediocrity. These days that’s a rare and brave thing to do.

Overall, it doesn't stray far enough from the parts of "Jak 2" that made it a let-down and, while tolerable, it's a bit of a shame.

For an action adventure it's the almost the complete package; great graphic design, attention to detail, excellent controls and camera and well thought out levels and encounters.

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.

It doesn’t take too long to get the hang of things, and while more professional moves will take practise, feeling like each match relies on you isn’t too far away.

While it’s a great game, if you bought your 360 to see high definition graphics and all new gaming experiences, N+ won’t satisfy your modern hunger for High Definition. But if you liked the flash game, rate gameplay over graphics and don’t mind paying just over a fiver for some old fashioned entertainment, buy it… but be prepared to destroy the odd controller at certain difficult levels.

Although the main quest line is not as long as previous content releases, Point Lookout has a large game environment, with lots of places to explore and several other side quests.

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.

A good bit of arcade racing fun. It just won’t keep you hooked for that long.

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.

What we've been given is a game that looks like rallying, but the cars have so much grip, so much power in the brakes, that in the rally sections there's no feeling of driving off road at all.

Tecmo has once again shown other developers how much graphical splendour can be squeezed out of the Xbox.

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.

It’s fun, fast and furious. Play single, against your friend or online, it’s all good.

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.

CMR2005 is a competant and at times exciting game, but it has two better rivals in "Rallisport Challenge 2" for Xbox owners and the excellent "WRC4" on PlayStation 2.

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.

Few will tire of the almost endless possibilites available to England, Germany, Russia and so on. There will probably never be a more realistic and detailed WW2 game for the PC, and if this is the sort of thing that floats your boat, go buy it now.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 is by no means perfect, but it's a wonderful evolving experience that it's a pleasure to be part of.

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.

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

If only Codemasters had at least given us the option of something a bit more slippy then this might have been one of the best driving games released this year.

It’s not quite the genre defining game it could have been, but EA is definitely heading in the right direction.

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

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.

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 camera, for instance, is more often than not pointing in entirely the wrong direction. It points in the direction that you were last moving but rotates very slowly.

The entire game runs on the well-known Unreal Engine, which has been extensively modified, and is now called the Vengeance Engine. Player models sport lots of detail, and the landscapes are both pretty and varied.

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.

If all you want is a well-executed platform action game, with no innovations, you can have a really good time with Maximo vs. The Army of Zin, but otherwise steer clear. You’ve seen it all before.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this new game is that instead of some series being good and others (such as rallying) being very poor, the general quality level of each type of racing is very high.

It remains the best incarnation of the franchise.

A brilliant game – not only because of its amazing gameplay but also because the game combined with "City of Heroes" creates a complete comic book universe with heroes and villains.

The game is beatifully made even if we miss the possibility of smashing through a house with a tank, as one could in "Heroes: Soldiers of WWII."

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.

With a full range of attack subs, surface vessels and the introduction of aircraft it's amazing that a simulation can remain so detailed and focussed.

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.

If you’re looking for a single player FPS then you really can’t go wrong here, the story is excellent and really drives the action along perfectly, and the attention to detail is superb.

It's not perfect, but for me it's the racing and driving game I've always dreamed of playing. Well done Eden.

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.

It’s Football Manager, but online on a vast scale. You can’t beat playing against human managed teams.

SOCOM 3 doesn’t innovate in any way at all, but it does entertain.

The atmosphere of the game is so thick that you can cut it...Even though it all ends kind of sudden[ly], S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is still one of the best First Person Shooters I’ve played in a long time, especially if you like the post-apocalyptic atmosphere from games like "Fallout."

It’s possibly the most mainstream Hitman yet but it’s also the most accessible and dare I say it the most fun. It’s certainly the most accomplished.

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.

If you haven’t played Butcher Bay before then that will surely be the highlight and the graphical overhaul really disguises the fact that the game is nearly five years old. However, if you’re a fan of the franchise and looking for a true sequel, then it’s ultimately a let down.

It seems like this project has received more loving attention than Deus Ex 2, and this is why it is still a pleasure to become a master thief, even though the game is rough around the edges.

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.

After creating this masterpiece, Bethesda has a mighty task creating something just as good. I can’t recommend Broken Steel highly enough. If you have Fallout 3, you need Broken Steel to go with it.

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.

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.

The controls are intuitive, proving there’s life in console RTS games yet, and the game itself is as diverse, challenging and enjoyable as the series ought to be.

If you do decide to pick it up you’re unlikely to be disappointed, but it’s also unlikely to set your gaming world on fire.

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.

Whether you enjoy one of the many solo modes or take on friends with the excellent and – in my experience so far – lag free online multiplayer, you've a football game that's going to stick with you all season.

If you’re the patient and careful type it’ll suit you. Otherwise, you’ll have to put in a lot of effort.

Too lightweight to be a truly great RTS. Instead it's an amazing looking diversion that won't tax an intelligent player very much. A missed chance at something very special.

It’s solid with good visuals and enjoyable racing, but it does nothing new.

Saints Row is an explosive mix of gameplay elements that will always provide you with something to do, something to see and something to destroy.

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.

This PSP inception of the franchise will definitely be remembered as an important part of it, rather than a bastard child desperate to cash in.

The Quake 4 we have is ultimately not the Quake 4 that was born of four years worth of development. There is just no way in hell. And from a developer this kind of game is appalling.

It's about being scared out of your wits one minute and then bellowing with laughter at something gruesomely humorous the next.

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

The one aspect that does feel out of place though is the game’s approach to sex. Geralt can basically one-night-stand his way through many of the world’s female NPCs, with the game issuing incredibly tacky “sex cards” of the women in each encounter.

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.

Even out of Lucasarts' hands, Tales of Monkey Island remains right a staple of the genre. Any adventure fan should have this in their collection. We recommend you buy the whole package right now.

Even with "Halo 3" and "Bioshock" adding to my 360 game collection, Assassin’s Creed has stepped in and stopped me worrying about what to choose for our ‘Game Of The Year’ article this year. Clear enough for you?

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

No-one’s going to argue over a couple of quid really, and if you’re looking for a lateral thinking puzzler, there can be no doubt that Sony has brought another unique product to the ever diversifying PlayStation Network. Just try not to fall off the edge.

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.

Napoleon: Total War shimmers with genius at times. The series is still the undisputed king of strategy games, but this latest expansion takes two steps forward and one step back. The numerous improvements are greatly welcomed, but the core element that is the AI still remains broken and until CA fix it the game remains a flawed diamond.

Control niggles aside this is a great game. There's imagination in the storyline, context and setting, humour throughout and plenty of fun to be had.

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.

One hell of an addictive golfing game. If you played any of its incarnations on the PS2, you will know what to expect here.

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.

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

The songs from the radio are nothing short of brilliant; they sound exactly like actual songs without being recognizable but they are of course in “Sim-ish”.

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.

It's scrubbed up good, it's smarter and it's more varied, but it's fundamentally the same as the first Kohan game. Fortunately for Timegate, that means they've still produced an entertaining, rather individual game.

If you do decide to pick it up you’re unlikely to be disappointed, but it’s also unlikely to set your gaming world on fire.

As for actual challenge or feeling of gaming accomplishment it doesn’t always succeed in making its mark and it falls all too readily into genre clichés that are already beginning to look stale. A finger across the lens really.

It’s horribly unbalanced (you can walk out of one boss fight straight into another with no save ability in-between). It’s still a goof game on a purely destructive level – where the hacking and slashing is as good as the series has to offer.

The phrase fan-service has never been so apt.

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.

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.

Violence is what makes the game so enjoyable in the first place. It's a little disappointing just how much the game looks and feels like every other Rockstar has released recently, but the shining story and brutality of it all make it all a worthwhile endeavour.

By no means a classic, and the online multiplayer modes aren't quite as instantly gratifying for Halo 2. But it's a very good solid game that offers value for money and a chance to get involved with a prolonged war online.

Not only will you be giving yourself the chance to sample some of the best driving title delights in recent memory, but you’ll be encouraging all those other publishers and developers to keep on tweaking those much-loved, but ridiculously over-looked classics and offer up more of the same.

It's a casual approach to the genre, but that doesn't hurt gameplay at all. If anything it improves it.

This is loooooong term fun. This is rich in character and beauty. This is an ode to an author who started something huge.

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

There’s a good game here, with at least twenty hours of gameplay to keep you occupied, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before, even if this wasn’t essentially just a re-release with a few added extras.

The changes made could have easily spelt a disaster in the GR series, but they've been skilfully handled and form the basis of a good, solid shooter that's entertaining and tough without being overly difficult.

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.

The historical period is beautifully realised, and the included onscreen encyclopaedia is great reading. If you have an interest in this period, pirates, the age of sail - you'll find lots to enjoy, especially if you're a fan of the works of Patrick O'Brian or Alexander Kent.

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

There is very little to fault Metal Slug: Anthology. Big guns, big vehicles and some colossal enemies is a combination that seldom comes under serious scrutiny, and of all the big platforming shooters out there, Metal Slug owns the field.

The continued concentration on stat-grinding rather than creating a game where player skill matters and the lack of real change in the sport really does make me believe that the Tiger Woods franchise needs to take a vacation next year while the whole basis of the franchise is rethought.

If your nerves are shot to pieces with the glut of zombie gore 'em ups out there Osmos will do a sterling job of rubbing those aching temples and making the nightmares go away.

Despite being about one of the great composers, music is not an integral part of the game.

Judged on its own merits, Invisible War is a great example of a game that offers meaningful freedom of choice, that rewards different approaches and that creates a coherent, intelligent world wrapped up in a very well paced and expertly written plot.

It can’t possibly sustain its ardour, but nevertheless, purely for reasons of bringing Spider-Man to life in the best way possible, this is a spectacular experience.

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

To be honest this is pretty much a no brainer if you like Wii Sports, and that's most people really, the selection of sports is nice and varied, as are the methods of playing.

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

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

Apart from the game giving our PC a bit of a rough time the story is the only other area where we have to mark it down. The story is there to guide you through the intense carnage however, and it doesn’t plead to be taken seriously. Which is a good thing because it clearly isn’t.

Relentless, exhausting and unique, although Full Spectrum Warrior is certainly one of the most innovative strategy games we’ve played for some time, it’s not always a wholly satisfying one- it often feels too much like hard work. Good, but not quite the classic it could have been.

It won’t set your gaming world on fire, and FIFA might even be the better option (it’s a close call, much closer than on the PS3/360) but if you do have the PS2 version and fancy carrying on with your Master League on the move (and are prepared to put up with the control foibles), or just have to have the latest version, PES 2008 is unlikely to disappoint.

Sepulveda has so lovingly created? No, absolutely, unequivocally not. Darwinia+ deserves to be experienced by as many people as possible. It’s not going to be for everyone, that’s for certain. Some won’t even give it longer than the first couple of levels (which are painstakingly slow and confusing to boot) or be able to forgive it its frailties.

Expertly crafted resourcing and development tools prevent stagnation of the game's simple conquest objective, and the sheer scope of ships, maps and difficulty levels – not to mention co-op – is likely to keep this gem afloat for some time. RTS fans rejoice.

Square have tried to give us a chance to tell our own stories through this game, but their rules and prerequisites are often too restricting and the rewards not always enough.

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.

Simply put, EA has genuinely raised the bar in the world of golfing games and Tiger Woods 07 will become the benchmark game that all others will be compared to for some time to come.

As it is Tekken 6 comes highly recommended to those who can play it regularly with friends, or to those that are prepared to wait to see if the soon-to-be-released patch really does sort out all of the online issues. Just stay away from the Scenario Campaign mode. It’s six hours of your life you’ll never see again if you don’t.

There’s a great game underneath the gimmickery.

Regardless of the often frantic pace, there’s bountiful strategic potential here, which should keep potential Sun Tzu’s happy.

If there is to be a sequel, and I join the rising chorus of voices demanding one, it is going to have to properly develop the core (design) gameplay that Tomb Raider: Legend gets back to.

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.

As good as Trine is it left me slightly wanting due in part to its length-at about 6 hours maximum it’s very short for its price tag. If it’s a higher price, it should be full length.

It plays superbly, the management mode is certainly addictive in the extreme, the AI is great, the graphics detailed and crisp and there are so many modes to enjoy. So it all comes down to those stutters, which seem to affect some gamers more than others.

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.

If you can get past the problems or are fortunate enough not to care you are going to find a great biking sim with amazing depth and longevity. It’s one of the best loved games on Live, and this release shouldn’t do too much to change that.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is a system selling game, it's too beautiful in adverts and demo mode not to. But it marks a failure of evolution in a series that was once groundbreaking and is now becoming a little stale.

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

Those with an interest in White Wolf's property may find that it remains truer to its inspiration than the first game, and as an example of the action RPG sub genre it's definitely one of the finer titles to emerge in recent years.

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.

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.

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 the sort of game that even the most ardent tactical shooter fans are going to find frustrating.

And when atmosphere is the only new thing that you bring to the table, it had better be damn near perfect to make a good impression. Hitman: Contracts is just short of that, but is more than enough if you haven’t played Hitman 2.

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.

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.

Electronic Arts have delivered a pretty good package here for the fans, it looks the part, plays well, and has a good selection of game modes to keep most people happy.

Geo Wars offers you the same, basic and fun gameplay but with the added twist of a level structure. However, it really is all about shooting and avoiding getting shot. After a few hours play I found I was just stuck in the same groove and the game doesn’t offer much in the way of variety.

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.

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.

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.

The real bonus for this version of the sim comes from pilot immersion. The focus on high quality 3D cockpits instead of 2D panels combined with some excellent new default aircraft with convincing flight dynamics makes for a wonderfully engaging experience. [Deluxe Edition]

It’s not groundbreaking in any way, but what it does offer is a solid MMORPG that can be just as engaging as the likes of WOW and yet is completely free. This game has quashed the age old myth that free games lack quality.

Far from disappointing, it’s just not the best in its series and not the innovation that some people might have hoped for.

I don’t want to give the impression this is just another lazy Star Wars game, because it’s clear a lot of love has gone into the game. But there’s a lack of ambition at the heart of Empire at War that is the ultimate reason for its failure to be a really great strategy game.

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

A solid third person shooter, the control system could be a bit better, and the multiplayer is decidedly lacking, but it makes up for it in other areas. It is quite possibly one of the best looking games out there, production values all round are high, and the gameplay itself is a lot of fun, despite the flaws, but the short length of the game means the fun is quite short lived.

If you've a love for games such as Civilization and Settlers then this is one PC game you can't do without. While not as high-profile as those titles it should not be missed.

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

MX vs. ATV Unleashed is hardcore racing action. If you can handle it, you’re a god among insects. If not, say goodbye to any sense of feeling you had in your thumbs.

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.

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

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.

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.

Something of a disappointment. One cannot fault EA for trying to bring an intelligent strategy game to the console yet at the same time the removal of the dynamic campaign shows that the publisher wasn't quite convinced the game would fly on the console.

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.

It’s nice that no feeble attempt was made to force the stylus into the pinball format, but it would have been better to see some more multiplayer options and maybe just a couple more tables. Really, that’s the only thing wrong with this otherwise fantastic title.

The eight or nine hours it will take you to complete the game are hugely enjoyable.

A flawed masterpiece.

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.

Tales of Vesperia is a well polished, entertaining and charming adventure. It isn’t anything you haven’t seen before, however.

Personally I'm not a big fan of strategy games, but Greed Corp has made me look at the genre in a different way, if all strategy games had this kind of pacing and fun atmosphere then I think it would be a much more popular type of game right now.

There are times you want to be challenged, made to think, swept away by something unique and brilliant – and there are times where you just want to kick back and be entertained. For the latter, step up Project: Snowblind.

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

There has been an enormous development over the past 10 years in the shooter genre and Perfect Dark obviously can not measure up with the latest in this genre . But if you know what you're getting you'll have plenty of fun with this welcome re-release.

Not to be missed, in short. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s an abyss of self-reproach I should be wallowing in.

I really like Desert of Flames but the new mob lock system really doesn't work.

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

The new monsters are not as interesting as the original ones, and even though they’re still frightening, they just don’t fill the void left by DOOM 3.

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.

A worthy successor in the Far Cry franchise, the small single player game reflects is budget price, but the awesome multiplayer makes it more than worth the price tag.

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

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.

It’s heritage only goes to highlight its pedigree as solider sci-fi we’re all a little familiar with. Another pint of Saturn’s finest, barman.

If you like the humour in the game then I'd say it's a worthwhile purchase - I enjoyed the single-player adventure despite problems with pacing and some of the puzzles. However I found the online game initially maddeningly chaotic until I got to grips with the surprising complexity of the gameplay on offer.

If your emphasis is purely on strategic and tactical gameplay, AoE is unlikely to disappointment. It may lack soul and charm, but AoE has that essential ‘just one more turn before bedtime’ appeal to it. If however you want a more rounded package, something that has charm in addition to gameplay, and one that is likely to live long in the memory afterwards, there are many better suited titles to choose from.

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.

Underneath the tough exterior is an enjoyable game, but it's impossible to ignore the miserable, unaided struggle to get there and persistent balancing issues throughout.

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.

It may not be the worlds greatest game but it still brings a lot of funny perspectives into the world of massive multiplayer online games.

It’s certainly not going to convert RPG nay sayers, but fans of the genre should find something new here.

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.

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.

A damn good remake of a damn good game.

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.

SvR as a series is the MVP of videogames. It’s upper-midcard rather than Main Event status, but is destined for greatness if only it can be nurtured and refined in a few areas.

Big Red One comes across as rather flat and uninspiring online, and even though there's room for 16 players, most maps will feel quite empty.