It has a near flawless presentation and expertly juggles the two genres it incorporates.

An excellent example of storytelling, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a journey well worth taking.

Hi-Rez has created a fast paces fun FPS that has successfully bridged the gap between MMO and shooter. Well worth a look.

Medal of Honor is a rollercoaster. It's fast and exciting and over all too quickly, and although you're on rails, you'll want to ride it again and again...My heart wants to rate this so much higher for all the enjoyment of the first ride, but my head doesn't quite agree.

Another solid expansion for The Sims 3 that, while not changing any fundamental aspects of the game, provides yet more charming ways for your little computer people to fail or succeed in their virtual lives.

Falls just short of the oppressive tone it's aiming for but makes up for it with a satisfying and well-written narrative.

With some new areas, some new enemies, a great new main quest, and a welcome spike in difficulty, Traitor's Keep provide hope for any Fable III DLC to come.

A fine version of Bejeweled that, as with other games in the series, is a surefire way to see those precious hours tick away.

From the first moment to the last (and the final boss fight really has to be seen to be believed) Ms. Splosion Man urges you to succeed by dangling forthcoming treasures in front of your nose, while at the same time trying to kick your legs out from under you. It's a vicious mistress, but one with rich rewards.

Even more so than the likes of Child of Eden or Okami, El Shaddai is one of those rare games that's worth playing simply for the quality of its art direction alone, crushing the idea that only games with standout gameplay are deserving of your time.

If you're a fan of Formula 1 and/or F1 2010 then this is a must buy, the new features and improvements making it more than worth your time, money and effort. Anyone not so ingrained in the sport will struggle to see the upside of spending another £40, however. No matter what though, this is a better game than last year and (once again) the bar of expectation has been raised going into F1 2012.

If you're a fan of Formula 1 and/or F1 2010 then this is a must buy, the new features and improvements making it more than worth your time, money and effort. Anyone not so ingrained in the sport will struggle to see the upside of spending another £40, however. No matter what though, this is a better game than last year and (once again) the bar of expectation has been raised going into F1 2012.

It's a light game but with a lot of entertainment for 800 Microsoft Points, and while you might not play for hours at a trot I daresay you'll keep coming back to it. Burnout Crash doesn't quite have the weight for me to call it a must-have, but it's certainly a must-strongly-consider.

It's a light game but with a lot of entertainment for 800 Microsoft Points, and while you might not play for hours at a trot I daresay you'll keep coming back to it. Burnout Crash doesn't quite have the weight for me to call it a must-have, but it's certainly a must-strongly-consider.

Those who've never played Crysis before and who fancy an excellent shooter with a goodly amount of freedom shouldn't hesitate to pick this up. This sort of action hasn't really been done much since the game first launched, and it's rarely been done better. If you already have Crysis and a PC that can run it, though, you can safely skip this: while a worthy port, it doesn't quite match its originator.

Cheesiness aside, Assault Horizon is an endlessly thrilling and mature addition to a franchise that continues to soar above its competitors.

Overall this is a wonderful addition to the PixelJunk stable and the pick of the bunch in terms of executing a single minded approach.

This is just the kind of game to remind you what smaller, imaginative developers can do while others are focused on big explosions and less personality.

As a whole package Call of Duty is soundly, confidently and expertly put together.

The joy here comes from the interaction and the allowing of yourself to be caught up in the world on offer. Yes, if you're over the age of 12 or not a Disney fanatic you'll grow bored of it but everyone else will be having a great time.

You will either love or hate Sam 3 based on what it does, and what it aims to do. It's a Serious Sam game, in every way, for better or worse.

If you like RPGs, strategy or even action games, you'll love this; it looks great and it's pretty addictive. The free-to-play model means you've got nothing to lose by trying it out. Whatever the case, this is one of the finest free-to-play MMOs to date.

For the most part, I'm deeply impressed. In terms of sheer gameplay mechanics SWTOR is a WoW-alike, yes, but it's a highly polished WoW-alike, and that does make a difference.

If you're lacking the time-attack obsession gene, or get easily discouraged by tricker games, Dustforce probably isn't for you. Everyone else, get your brooms at the ready.

Almost the opposite of its predecessor: a lesser story that isn't particularly well told, but with a staggering amount of exploration, side-quests, post-game content, and surprisingly deep mechanics.

Soul Calibur V is a game worth your time and effort, mastering its systems and dispatching opponents in a blaze of high-tempo violence is immensely satisfying. Newcomers may find the going a little tough, but the well-balanced cast means you'll not be left biting the dust for too long.

Submission system issues aside, UFC Undisputed 3 is a great recreation of an incredibly complex sport. Compared to a TV broadcast, fights can still feel slightly mechanical but perhaps that's a symptom of videogames in general rather than the design of this particular one. If you like the UFC, this one's a no-brainer.

Essentially, WipEout 2048 is the perfect advertisement for what the PS Vita is capable of in terms of in-game aesthetics. It also serves to demonstrate that the system's games do not need to engage with all of its features to pass Sony's certification criteria.

Asura's Wrath is, without doubt, one of those games that some people will love for one reason and others will hate for the very same reason. I say embrace the madness and run with it. Let your inhibitions regarding quick-time events and cut-scene heavy games go and, if you like the kind of anime this is based on, you might just find a gem. I did.

Like its PSP ancestor before it, Lumines is once again a must-have title for a Sony handheld. Simple, yet full of depth and a still a pleasure.

Instead of playing on former glory, EA have done an exceptional job of ensuring the series continues to evolve. New accessories, cleverly designed mountain ranges and an addictive multiplayer mode make this an attractive investment.

Good old-fashioned fun that never takes itself too seriously, but packs a surprising level of depth and complexity.

Big guns, big explosions, big waves of enemies, and full co-op support. A bit like a side-scrolling Serious Sam, then, only with more guns and more fishnets.

The new direction works; it's brilliantly fun and nicely diverse. Easily the best Fifa Street to date.

Overall, MLB 12: The Show is another solid installment of the baseball franchise that any fan of the sport will love. Sony took some risks in the gameplay department, which I particularly didn't care for. However, after switching to the ones I prefer it was just like last year's version.

Gameplay-wise, this is the best golf game you can buy. It's just a shame that the aggressive DLC structure constantly attempts to suck your wallet dry.

Sure, you can dig out your old Tribes titles to fulfill the same craving, but Hi-Rez has provided a contemporary alternative that's free at the point of entry and not exactly costly to pick up long-term. That's something of a triumph.

For the price, it's an admirable effort. Expedition mode alone will keep you occupied long after Euro 2012 is over.

Slow at first, but incredibly rewarding over the long-term. Just make sure you play with real people, not bots.

It's a fun, frivolous sci-fi narrative with just enough strength of writing to provide some memorable moments of dialogue; satisfying combat and set-pieces; and a competent grasp of pacing. After some bad experiences with the genre, Binary Domain has convinced me that there's still some value in cover shooters.

A diverse and well balanced multiplayer game, given extra value and intrigue through its single player mode.

A largely successful spin-off for the series, and one that thrives in multiplayer.

An intelligent and rewarding puzzler in the Portal mould, highly recommended for genre fans.

A very good example of why point-and-click adventures still deserve plenty of notice.

A surprisingly successful effort at wrapping an RPG around a rhythm game. Come for the Final Fantasy name, stay for the music.

Veterans of this game type will rightly nit-pick at aspects of the combat, lack of espionage diplomacy options (this one does hurt a bit) and certain AI behaviours, but there should be no argument that Endless Space is one of the best 4X titles to appear for a good long while. It hasn't quite delivered the incredible potential it offers; but it's tantalizingly close.

A rather good multiplayer first-person shooter which can be enjoyed without the need to plonk down any hard cash.

Not just another indie platformer, Thomas Was Alone is a unique narrative-driven experience that succeeds in combining its many different elements.

It's inevitably going to be lumped together with other "zombie games" in the minds of some, but it actually does something fresh and unique both with the theme and with the inspirations it pulls together from games as disparate as Another World and Mirror's Edge, and it puts them together with enough aplomb that – for my money – it's certainly worth the asking price.

The nature of the title means repetition (both in the reuse of assets from the original and the game's mechanics getting a little over-familiar) will burn players out eventually, and for OMD veterans this may be accentuated by the short gap between releases.

Arguably the best of this year's crop of Summer of Arcade games. Dust is a visually stunning love letter to gaming's past and a great Metroidvania game in its own right, and you shouldn't hesitate to pick it up.

The best Madden of this generation and the only one to have made genuine progress. Some new features still need work, but at least there finally are some new features.

Accessible but sophisticated, whacky yet charming. Best Tekken of this generation.

A tense and engaging spaceship command roguelike, FTL's only real flaw is that it doesn't differ enough after multiple playthroughs.

The best the series has ever been at welcoming newcomers, but veterans might find the improvements lack impact.

A heartfelt love letter to gaming's past that's sometimes a little more smitten than is healthy.

It's not easy to identify with specific characters as a result, meaning (despite their historical origins) they can feel throwaway because they don't stick around long enough to grab your attention and tickle your curiosity. That's not to say they're poorly written, there are just too many to make things feel cohesive. I guess what I'm trying to say is that sequences in Assassin's Creed 3 tend to feel like episodes of a TV show, rather scenes from a movie.

Fresh enough to be relevant, traditional enough to remain nostalgic.

It might not be what Devil May Cry fans have been praying for, but it's a damn good game in its own right. It's like that, and that's the way it is.

A puzzle title with the same careful attention to subverting perception, while adhering to its own strange set of rules, as the Escher drawings it emulates.

This is the first entry of a rebooted franchise and it’s a really, really good one. There’s still plenty of room for both Lara and the game to grow, and I’m eager to see these mechanics – and Lara’s character – evolve as this series hopefully continues.

Runner 2 is a bit of a one-trick pony, but it’s a trick that’s done so flawlessly and with such variation that I don’t mind seeing it again and again.

Though it sometimes struggles to reconcile its genre-constrained combat with its lofty storytelling goals, BioShock Infinite exhibits ambition and a boldness of theme rarely seen in FPS titles.

Anomaly: Warzone Earth was a well-designed and entertaining alternative to typical tower defence games, and Anomaly 2 is its bigger, badder sibling. Levels are better designed and more varied, you have more unique units and abilities at your disposal, towers are generally even bigger bastards than they were before, and the dev team’s experience means that the basic mechanics are generally more polished.

The combat is generally tight, while the visuals and overall sound should keep the non-hardcore gamers glued to their monitors.

It takes some risks, and as a result ends up feeling gimmicky and repetitive in a few rough spots. However, the game does succeed in making a great action game by including a colorful cast of characters and adding a few RPG elements for good measure.

An improvement but still lacks the depth and sophistication of FIFA. Fans of the series will be pleased but there's little here that'll sway FIFA fans.

Good-looking and intelligent game with GSOH but bad temper seeks high-caliber players for many hours of fun. Those with high blood pressure or without significant platforming experience need not apply.

It's the best Hydrophobia yet, and it's absolutely worth a look, but it still falls just shy of greatness.

de Blob 2 is hardly going to set the world alight but it's a fun game that doesn't take itself at all seriously. It's simplistic, it's repetitive, it's primarily aimed at kids but, if you're looking for a silly, entertaining, easily digestible experience, you could a lot worse than spend a weekend with de Blob 2.

This is the antithesis of thought and strategy. It is a carnival ride, an action movie and an all-you-can-eat-burger bar. This is the quintessential twitch game.

I wanted a great deal to love this game. X-Com, after all, owned me. UFOA throws few surprises your way, resulting in monotony...The game is good, but with a little more depth and clarity it could have achieved greatness.

There are flashes of comic genius in Whiplash, but equally as many missed opportunities. While this game is good, it narrowly misses the mark.

Lock-on will mature as more patches are released and it could well become one of the great flight sims but with the initial problems it's made this a tough game to score. It's a shame the Q&A process failed this game, it would have been better if the developers had just held off and the Beta testers had got off their backsides and spotted some of the more nasty bugs.

It has a bad sci-fi fascination to it, assisted by some excellent graphics, and kept me involved like a Sunday afternoon serving of "Star Gate."

In short, if you own the original or a similar game go buy a copy you'll love it. Everyone else should keep their sanity by going out, buying a good book and reading it.

The sense of speed is exhilarating and winning a race is a cause for celebration. If the multiplayer community grows this could be a title RC fans will spend a lot of time with.

A competent story, challenging gameplay and a good blend of several genres make it a game that should please the crime-game fan.

The game is almost too difficult at times, and will probably appeal only to the die-hard RTS fan. If you want a challenge in the WWII arena, this is just what the doctor ordered.

This effortlessness is, to my mind, Music Generator's greatest threat: it makes everything seem so easy that living rooms everywhere will be exploding with dreams of electronic dance greatness.

A good game. I enjoyed playing it, but felt so frustrated initially that it left a bad taste in my mouth.

A solid game, but the lengthy pauses that occur whenever you access your inventory can really become frustrating.

One of the best features of this game has to be the audio. During early training missions you're introduced to the game's two commentators who come out with some cracking one-liners which really helps the game feel fun and rather tongue in cheek.

Doesn’t deviate much from Champions of Norrath—not nearly enough to be convincing as a true sequel. It carries the torch from the first game and is still just as fun as the original. Players expecting new advances in gameplay may be disappointed but don’t let that detract you.

The physics are realistic even though they will probably turn off anyone who is not willing to put in a good deal of time. However, if you have ever dreamed of sailing, this is a good place to start.

What matters in the end is if a game is entertaining. Kong is, in spades.

If there’s a redeeming factor to the game, it’s that it’s a bargain at £19.99, considering you get the original Chaos League too. If you like your sports games with a touch of evil and a pinch of sadism, then you’ll definitely want to check it out.

Fans will overlook the average graphics, slow down and terrible draw rate, but other gamers with frown upon this as well as the lack of an online mode. Having said that, the cop chases add a huge fun factor to the game.

The vastness of X3 means its replay value is extremely high. For gamers looking for an offline version of "EVE" or a slightly more cerebrally taxing version of the popular "Freelancer" then X3: Reunion might just be the very thing you need.

It has just enough to keep you enthralled despite these shortcomings, yet the relatively low reply value means that it is not a title you’ll keep coming back to time after time.

Gameplay wise it's everything you'd expect from EA's FIFA series and no more, it's an improvement on the previous Road the World Cup title but still lacks that little something in the gameplay department.

The vehicles look and sound good, but I would have preferred an update to the sirens used in the US version of the game.

When it comes down to it, Infamous 2 is not the game we were hoping it would be. It starts off fun but, due to a lack of personality, originality and complexity, soon feels tiresome and repetitive.

Visually and aurally stunning, and delightfully clever in places, but marred by repetition and frustration.

While the gameplay is far from perfect, Dragon Age II is an absolute must for anyone interested in the world, the lore and a good story - but anyone hoping for something that feels and plays like Origins might want to adjust their expectations accordingly.

A fairly solid space shooter with a few niggles but worth it if you're a fan of the genre.

It lacks depth, and could not be considered a truly involving challenge. Nor does Castlevania have the instant appeal and playability of other titles.

It’s a confident attempt at tackling the platform genre, but the playing mechanics don’t quite meet the expectations set by the accomplished artwork and graphics.

Marred by some awful path-finding. The problem isn't in the units ability to find their way around the map, in fact they are very good at calculating routes through some very tricky terrain. No, what LoE suffers from is the inability of units to move out of the way of each other, to allow troops at the back to pass.

There simply will not be enough variety in this package to keep many players interested. For others, the difficulty level will prove frustrating.

The bottom line here is that Pandora Tomorrow is a care taker game. A filler. The starters course before the main meal. If you go silly for sneaking or are hungry for hiding in shadows then by all means pick this up and have a quiet, tip toeing blast.

Pretty, very pretty but PvE gameplay is one long level grind.

I applaud the developer for trying to do some new things in the resource-gathering arena and making good strides at giving the game depth.

Ignore the trivial narrative, focus on the grim business of war and you should find this a satisfying and challenging game.

Not a "Diablo II" killer or a vast improvment over the first Divinity title, it is however a sometimes frustrating game, with limited replay value.

Without a gripping story line you're more likely to come back to this every once in a while when you feel like a quick zip around in a magnificent flying machine. Worthy of a look if you own a joystick or have played this type of game with your trusty mouse.

The overall single-player campaign of I of the Dragon will leave you under whelmed. In the 15-20 hours it will take you to finish you'll end up doing the same tasks over and over again.

The gags are often obscene, the women exaggerated in all of the important areas, and there were a few sexually explicit poses we had to look up in our well thumbed copy of the Karma Sutra.

Remember "Jungle Strike" and "Desert Strike" for any of the old school consoles? Make the game prettier and add control that is much more involved and you will have a good idea of what to expect.

It is addictive, and does have some brilliant and different features, but many RPG fans will feel that the flaws could easily have been ironed out with the extreme delays in this game’s production.

All things considered, JLS is a good expansion. If you are new to Star Wars Galaxies, I am not sure that JLS is a good starting point.

It is certainly not a rehashing of the former title and is a respectable entry into the crowded world of Tycoon-style games.

In Destroy All Humans, play from the Alien perspective and finally know what it feels like to have the upper hand.

Solid enough, yes, but nowhere near as awe-inspiring as the original. To be fair, it could easily be summarised as an expansion pack for "Sands of Time," with new missions and costumes to unlock, and that’s not a bad thing, either.

Gamers who enjoy sneaking around and going bump in the night should get some enjoyment out of Cold War.

Too many repetitive missions and clunky AI limit the overall experience for the player though. Scrapland’s concept is unique enough and there are enough quirks in the game to keep most players occupied.

Cossacks II wasn’t a giant leap forward from the original game. However, the real-time elements are a blast due to the good variety of unit and formation possibilities.

Clunky controls and an average presentation prohibit this game from being any better than it is.

Bet on Soldier would have been a great game had it not been for the poor computer AI, lack of variety in the models and the abysmal loading times/lag. Great levels, a smart presentation and immersing sound coupled with the betting aspect makes the game stand out in the crowd.

Offers the full-package of challenge, entertainment, and reward. In its own unassuming way it delivers on the promise of a fun, family-friendly platformer. While this is no "Jak & Daxter," it’s no "Vexx," either.

EA’s most recent effort at representing our spectacled wizard is good enough to please this rabid bunch as well as providing a somewhat entertaining game for the rest of us. Although it may be a little easier than most titles out there.

It may have dumbed down the puzzles a bit, but what’s there is a solid lump of gameplay.

The AI is top notch on both the opponent’s team as well as providing support for your own side, the overall atmosphere of each game is immersing and the gameplay reeks of realism.

SpecForce isn’t a terrible game, but it isn’t terribly good either. It’s a competent shooter, but the absence of everything that made its predecessor interesting is mysteriously gone. The graphics are virtually the same and the gameplay has been taken down a notch.

If you are bored with the current crop of samey sport sims or bland RPGs, then Trapt can provide you with some light relief and faith that there are original ideas out there that can be utilised.

While it’s far from a gaming masterpiece, UberSoldier does have its strengths that make it enjoyable.

Far more competent than it has any right to be, Splatterhouse is an entertaining brawler that's over-the-top in its tackiness that you really have to fight not to grin.

It's not without its quirks but Cities In Motion is a dependable heir to the transport sim genre's throne.

As I said, this is still Fable III which means it's as divisive as ever.

While Honest Hearts didn't quite grab me like Dead Money did, it's another satisfying few hours in a fresh Fallout location. Once you get over Joshua Graham being an actual person rather than a myth, his character is expansive and refreshing (it's rare that to find a religious NPC this nuanced in RPGs), and the hiking trails of Zion make for decent exploration. It definitely favours players who will stray off the guided track though, as those who focus exclusively on the main quests will miss out on some of the add-on's hidden narrative treasures.

Although the game is hampered by a collection of small problems (camera blur, imprecise controls and dubious AI pathfinding), there are enough moments of simulated natural wonder to submerge those doubts. It really feels good to be a divine dick again.

TS:CW provides plenty of semi-mindless macho thrills, but, like a one-hit wonder, if you ever tire of the main hook it'll all fall down. Much like ... well, toy soldiers.

As it stands this is a game that's quirky and fun, offering a welcome change from what we've come to expect from the genre, but ends up trying too hard to be smart and misses the target with many of its peripheral ideas.

Tropico 4 is a fantastic game, there's no denying it, but its core audience is the one that's likely to be most disappointed with it.

If it wasn't for that second act, Resistance 3 would be looking at a higher score. However, given its duration and the disappointment it heaps upon you, it's that middle third that prevent it from living up to the potential it clearly possesses. It's certainly worth playing but, equally, it's certainly not a classic.

Think of Dead Island as a B-game and you'll be fine. It seems like a bit of an insult to reel off the old cliché of "if you can ignore the bad stuff and only look at the good," but for Dead Island that line actually rings true.

Despite flaws it's a cheap and extraordinarily satisfying way to scratch that racing itch – and if enough people do so, that multiplayer problem might cease to be a problem at all.

That being said, PES should still be top of your shopping list if you're after a game that takes the most exciting elements of the beautiful game and concentrates them into one package.

That being said, PES should still be top of your shopping list if you're after a game that takes the most exciting elements of the beautiful game and concentrates them into one package.

If Red Orchestra 2 appeals then I daresay you'll have a great deal of fun, but you might want to leave it a month to see if things improve.

Each one has its flaws (with linearity being Lonesome Road's biggest drawback), but overall they're a fantastic, collective achievement by Obsidian and should make the (surely) inevitable New Vegas 'Collectors Edition' a must-buy for anyone who hasn't yet sampled these expansions.

Each one has its flaws (with linearity being Lonesome Road's biggest drawback), but overall they're a fantastic, collective achievement by Obsidian and should make the (surely) inevitable New Vegas 'Collectors Edition' a must-buy for anyone who hasn't yet sampled these expansions.

And that's where the final fact comes in to save the day: the price. Mercury Hg is a mere 400 Microsoft Points, and it's certainly worth every penny. It doesn't do enough with the interesting concept and it's not a hugely lengthy title, but it'll give you a good few hours of enjoyment, and it's hard to ask more than that for £3.50.

If you're a rugby aficionado then you'll probably be picking Johan Lomu up simply because of the lack of choice. However, while not perfect, this is no rush job and worth a look for those who consider themselves causal fans of the sport. It's by no means perfect but, for a series that has been gone for so long (and one that many presumed dead), there's a lot to be impressed by.

The series' domination of the management genre is not in question, but there are still areas where it could step up its game.

Still, as a complete package it in no way lives up to the expectation. Only one of its three core elements (single player, co-op and multiplayer) is worth your time, the other two feeling as though they've been added merely to increase the number of potential bullet points on the back of the box. Depending on which elements you're interested in Battlefield 3 will either be your game of the year, or your letdown of… well, the year.

It's no longer as astonishing as it once was, but MDK2 HD is a solid update to a solid platform/shooter/puzzler that anyone who isn't afraid of a lack of signposting should contemplate.

The War of the Worlds is absolutely not for everyone – those with high blood pressure or weak wills need not apply - but if you fondly remember the games name-checked above, or if you enjoyed Limbo but want something less artsy, less creepy, and less spider-y, this is certainly worth a shot. I'm not going to pretend it doesn't have issues or that it didn't drive me half-mad with frustration, but equally I'm not going to hide the fact that I had a lot of fun dying my way through a ruined London.

It's still Hydrophobia, but I'll happily state that this is the best version of the game yet.

It is the best Sonic game we've had in years - though that's hardly saying much. Flawed at times, Sonic Generations is an enjoyable game and one that's easy to like. The failings of Modern Sonic bring the quality down, yet some moments also show what can be done well with a 3D Sonic game.

Despite the faults though, Revelations remains an intriguing proposition because of gaming's finest Italian hero after that plumber in dungarees. Seriously, if there was an Oscar for game characters Ezio would walk it more often than not. If you're less entranced by Mr Auditore then Revelations is a more difficult sale.

As it stands though, this is a very accomplished fighter that offers well executed gameplay and some enjoyable modes.

Like almost all DLC it falls well short of mimicking the impact of the original game, but that's to be expected from a three hour/1200 MS Point experience.

As an affordable, accessible leap back into the shoes of a space fighter ace, Sol: Exodus is a success.

There's no doubting that The Darkness II is a fun game, but it could have been so much more than that. Improved pacing could have solved the second act woes and defining a more meaningful way of communicating the narrative would have made the plot and character development more engaging.

King Arthur II is less ambitious but more refined than the glorious, sprawling reach of the original. Where that game threw everything into development and didn't seem to care what stuck, King Arthur II has opted to remove (rather than improve) the parts which didn't quite function correctly.

That being said, this is still an Uncharted game. Every Uncharted game comes with a certain base level of precision and execution, and that hasn't been lowered here. Golden Abyss gets a pass, but it doesn't come with honours.

There's not enough depth to justify long play sessions, but long sessions are not really the point here. What Everybody's Golf does is provide a great escape in short bursts and it packs just enough in to keep you coming back to it time and again.

The story mode is slightly worse than expected, but Arcade Action alone makes this a worthy purchase.

I Am Alive is a brave experiment, and one that works more often than not. In terms of creating tension through a scarcity of resources, creating combat that relies on something other than twitch action, and creating an atmosphere so thick you can taste it, it's a total success. It's a shame that it doesn't do more with all of this, and that the mechanics in question are never really pushed, but if you're interested in spending a few hours with a very unique game possessing a very unique atmosphere then it's certainly worth your while. Even at its absolute worst, it remains... interesting.

It's a title that will appeal to the adventurer, the explorer and the builder; not to mention those who appreciate a substantial amount of player freedom. If you happen to be all of those things, Terraria is a lightly tarnished treasure.

NWAC is a little clunky around the edges and could do with some mission-creation options, but it's worth two tentative periscopes up.

The focused free-roaming through procedurally generated realms (now there's a sentence for people unfamiliar with videogame terminology) is a very successful formula for drawing the player into the title, and I've found myself being lured back to the game a fair bit in my spare moments.

So yes, Warlock is a streamlined strategy game, at a cut price, and that is absolutely no bad thing. It has a few unfortunate quirks, but if you fancy something a bit lighter and a bit more combat-focused than the usual fare, then you'll get at least a few dozen hours of entertainment from this rather enjoyable title.

Not quite the sum of its parts thanks to awkward level design and a reliance on repetition. Technically sound, but the overall experience fails to hit the high notes.

A decent effort at a difficult genre. More polish and more charm would have improved Dragon's Dogma enormously, but it's still worth a trip for genre fans.

There's no denying that Game of Thrones will test your tolerance. There are so many negative idiosyncrasies and cost-cutting measures in place that you'll probably start to wonder when the game will just fall part entirely. But it never actually does. In fact, it stays on course to deliver a compelling parallel narrative to the opening book and HBO series, with characters as morally ambiguous and events just as horrific as any from Martin's pages.

Solid, enjoyable, and cheap. Duels 2013 gets Magic going on your computer with aplomb, although it lacks the flair to stand out.

A well executed game lacking much in the way of original gameplay. Play it for the story, grind it for the interaction.

Tiny & Big is at its strongest when it focuses on this semi-freeform puzzling approach.

The Secret World is different enough that it won't be for everyone even when its plethora of bugs are fixed, but when that happens, a lot of people are going to get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

For just over a tenner, I'd say it's absolutely worth a punt.

A series entry that puts pure stealth above silent slaying; afflicted by segmented levels and weak cinematic aspirations, but buoyed by an impressive Contracts mode.

Perfectly capable, and perfectly enjoyable. But... well, it's not quite Dishonored.

It’s a bit of a guilty pleasure – it’s like buying a birthday cake for no real reason and just eating the entire thing by yourself in one sitting. You’ll enjoy yourself more than you have any real right to, but you’ll probably feel a little bit ashamed. That’s Resident Evil 6.

A faithful recreation of the rapid-fire FPS’ of yesteryear, with Nadeo’s usual sturdy foundations for community development.

An expansion of Zeno Clash’s fantastical world and inhabitants, at the cost of some of the original game’s brutal tactility in combat.

There may be no backstory but there's plenty of combat. A solid wave-based space shooter for a bargain price.

What Metro lacks in pitch-perfect game mechanics, it makes up for with an atmosphere that you can taste.

An engaging, if niche, trading sim. Hampered by some obtuse user interface choices and unwieldy combat sections.

If you can put up with the visual inconsistencies, then Squad Assault is an okay choice but if not, then you should dig back through your desk drawer and grab one of those "Close Combat" discs for your battle-realistic, WWII RTS fix.

This game is definitely not for everyone since the lack of a tutorial and inadequate manual act as hurdles for anyone who is new to this type of strategy game.

It became quickly evident to me that this game was created for consoles and ported over to the computer. This does not mean that the game is unplayable, but when movement and combat is designed for a gamepad, unless it is extremely simple, it does not transfer easily to a mouse and keyboard system.

Some good moments are suffocated by terrible level design and inept A.I. While a slight improvement over the original, HAWX 2 primarily serves to demonstrate that the series still has a long way to go.

Two Worlds 2 is disappointingly flawed and frequently clunky but, if you can tough it out, can also be extraordinarily rewarding.

So it’s not the most challenging of games, nor does it extend the downhill racer genre much. Despite this, it’s mostly a pleasant diversion.

Sadly the AI isn't particularly good. While enemies do dodge out of the way and hide behind objects there's no intelligence to the way they fight.

The more you play XIII the less you'll care about the gimmicky graphics, and the more you'll feel the drag of the "same old, same old" action.

All the fun elements of a are present: wave after wave of enemies, boss characters, various weapons etc. but some people will find it repetitive. There's no real variation from start to finish other than different enemies and areas to move through.

If you like to eat your dessert before your meal, this is not the game for you. However, if you are a patient gamer, you may find something satisfying in the end.

Despite incongruous story points and sometimes clunky camera work, Silent Storm deserves the support of all right-thinking strategy fans. With its turn-based combat and destructible scenery it signals something fresh in the stale mound of World War Two games.

While there’s something to be said for giving value for money, I’d have preferred a more tightly paced story; a good handful of levels are just making up the numbers, and Shade would have been so much better for a bit of trim.

Sadly, regardless of the time of day I played, I generally felt very alone in the world.

A reasonable 3D platform game which is occasionally let down by a slightly un-responsive control system. There's enough to keep you coming back for more and with the arcade games to play there's something to do when you're getting frustrated with a level.

I hope if they make a sequel or a similar game they include more ‘real’ puzzles and make it a genuine scare. Helping an old lady ghost find her ghost cat hardly pushes the terror buttons.

The inclusion of a teaching system, Kasparov videos (which I could only access via media player), etc, is a nice touch, but the interface is awkward at best. This is probably the best chess engine out there right now.

Bruce Campbell was great but, perhaps with a little more time, Crankypants could have done a lot more with this one.

The overall presentation (although a little strange) works well and the animated menus are especially nifty. However, the redesign of the attribute system and the inclusion of the corny ‘Trick Stick’ that takes all the effort out of the Uber tricks mars the good reputation of an otherwise impeccable series of games.

More of the same from KOEI; mindless hack and slash action that is fun in short bursts.

I would have given Battlefront II a strong recommendation if it had infrastructure mode (Internet) online multiplayer but unfortunately it doesn’t which is a show-stopper, especially when you consider the retail price of the game.

The truth is Farcry Instincts Predator is a great game for first time around players. For anyone else, it’s sadly more of the same.

With the absence of a multiplayer, WW2 Tank Commander has very little replay value. There’s just not enough interesting gameplay to warrant the budget £20 price tag. Still, if you enjoy tank games or WWII in general, you may find something here.

If it were possible for Marmite to return from the grave, Dead Rising 2 would be that game.

Another perfectly reasonable entry into the franchise, brought down by a mixture of being very similar to past titles, loading and framerate problems, and – worst of all – a lack of players.

Shallow but entertaining gameplay tied to a staggeringly disappointing plot renders The Force Unleashed II a weekend's worth of popcorn entertainment.

An accomplishment for a downloadable title and absolutely worth a look, but don't be surprised if you find yourself pining for Nuketown or Arica Harbour before long.

A competent shooter but one that fails to innovate, expand or better what we've already seen from this genre. The multiplayer is a bit of a diamond-in-the-rough but, due to its 'me too' similarities to the competition, it's unlikely to win over fans of the established franchises for long.

Ultimately, Armageddon feels like an opportunity missed. It feels like the series has taken two steps backwards after the promise shown by Red Faction Guerrilla, the focus moving away from destructible environments and coming to rest on generic shoot 'em up action.