It provides a solid and refreshing online shooter for the hardcore and casual alike.

Knights in the Nightmare is not an easy game to get into, and its complicated mechanics might be too overwhelming for those looking for simpler fun. Regardless, few games can reward your efforts as well as this one can. Pick it up if you want something different. Long live the king.

All criticism aside, this is a title that winds away the hours and, for the most part, is a joy to play. What I first considered to be a silly, childish story turned out to be a true portrayal of what most players will go through learning the ways of Peggle, in that you have to be patient, disciplined and sometimes lucky, too.

A true diamond in the rough.

Once I started playing, it was hard to stop. Sometimes I just needed to be reminded about all the great ways that chaos can be caused. Other times, I just had to sit back and watch the sunset. Panua, after all, is a paradise.

It doesn’t just copy a certain plumber’s early adventures verbatim like so many before it – some of them excellent in their own right – did, but seeks to plant the seeds of growth that the genre has lacked for so many years in showing that, by imprinting its own identity on a well weathered template, incredible things can happen.

Virtua Tennis 2009 is probably the best tennis game on the Wii.

The fully realized Adventure Tours makes a great introduction for players picking the title up for the very first time, and the breadth of modes and extras should extend the life of the game for a good, long while.

Unexpectedly brilliant, then, Motorstorm: Arctic Edge is an extremely likeable addition to the Motorstorm family, which provides a hectic racing experience that will get the blood pumping through your veins.

So addictive, charming and entertaining that everyone could be converted to its cause.

Katamari Forever has some of the best gameplay you’ll ever find in the series. So if you’ve never played any of the other games, give this a go. Katamari is on the roll again.

While the replayability of Episode 2 is somewhat limited due to its single-solution design, the overall experience is simply too much fun to pass up. Any fan of adventure titles will find Wallace and Gromit: The Last Resort to be well worth the money.

Even after you’ve finished the extended campaign there’s plenty to go back to with the new level cap, including a way for all you dog lovers to bring Dogmeat back from the dead - Awww.

The style is vibrant and entertaining, and the overall presentation is lighthearted and easy to enjoy, regardless of your familiarity with RTS games coming into this bizarre take on the genre.

Overall, though, Aliens vs. Predator is a dream game for fans of the source material and, despite lacking a slick coat of whiz-bang graphical polish, ranks as one of the most unique and absorbing first-person titles for the PS3.

It’s an eight hour thrill ride with only a few poor missions and GTAIV’s dated gameplay holding it back. For the relatively cheap price it should be a must buy for any GTA fans, particularly those with a fondness for either Vice City or San Andreas.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is a step in the right direction for flight-sims on consoles. It’s accessible for both newcomers and hardened veterans alike, and its variety of locales and mission types should hold your attention for a good few hours at least.

It is a much more refined game than Left 4 Dead and an improvement in every way.

While bloodless and far from a definitive version, it’s a still a fun and challenging game that any action fan worth their salt should play.

From a strictly footballing point of view, FIFA 10 has once again cemented the series’ position as the football game of choice by succeeding in taking the genre forward as EA Canada – seemingly by themselves these days – comes ever closer to capturing what is so alluring about The Beautiful Game.

It’s not cerebral and it’s not subtle, but it’s bloody good fun, and exactly the sort of quick blast one might expect from downloadable games.

It is by far the most entertaining, thought-provoking, and possibly the longest game in the series. Fans of the show are in for an especially grand adventure.

For curious fans of the new Persona games, and people who enjoyed the mangled port for what it was, this PSP edition is a must-play.

Despite my frustrations with the crashes and glitches, I still enjoyed Point Lookout more than any of the DLC so far. The whole map is an awesome place to explore, the new enemies are a real treat and the quests are some of the best yet.

If you’d rather play a whimsical, self-deprecating adventure that makes no assumptions and might just be quietly shaping the genre to come, give Trine a shot - it absolutely deserves your attention.

It has a perfect price point at just £4.79/$5.99, and represents a worthy successor to Super Stardust HD as possibly the most addictive game on PSN.

It has the clever writing and style that made the previous games so amazing.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex Edition does have a few little niggles that bring the game down, but this is the best FPS on Wii and will have you hooked for hours on end, both online and offline.

Let’s be clear – Fossil Fighters isn’t for the self-proclaimed “hardcore gamer.” No, it’s for kids – no doubt about it. That being said, it’s a quality title that, though somewhat shallow and straightforward, is a great fit for budding gamers.

PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe has charisma, content, clarity and a cracking heart.

Quite frankly Zombie Apocalypse isn’t stellar in any of those categories but what it does allow you to do is a get a great deal of entertainment out of some mindless, arcade-style shooting. The amount of amusement that it offers is certainly worth the price of admission.

If you’re a fan of Fallout 3 and also a PlayStation 3 owner there really isn’t much reason to pass on Broken Steel.

It may be hard to swallow, but this former iPhone exclusive is easily the best puzzler found on the PlayStation 3.

Although The Pitt is a bit on the short side overall, it offers the perfect mix of the core Fallout 3 experience with a great new story, location, enemies, quests and weapons.

It may have its problems with repetition and unfair AI, but there's no doubting the joy to be had engaging in its phenomenal action.

Though racing purists may not get as much out of it, arcade racing fans won't be able to put this down.

Carrying the influence of several ex-Blizzard executives, some having oversight in the development of the first couple Diablo titles, Torchlight comes into its own as a recommended purchase and a good placeholder for Diablo III.

While I did not personally find “The Bogey Man” to be as enthralling as “Muzzled”, it is certainly one of the best games of the series and will no doubt appeal to fans and newcomers alike.

Despite the occasionally high frustration levels of Braid, the game is cleverly designed and often very rewarding.

The new setting and enemies offer a refreshing change of pace, and the comedic writing, characters and pop culture references are as good as ever.

If you own a DS, and you agree that touching is good, then The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is for you, and anyone looking to embark on a casual quest that looks and feels good will feel right at home here.

Started as a project at the University of Southern California, Winterbottom has traveled a long journey to make his debut on Xbox Live Arcade. Although it has a few small issues, it is an otherwise stellar first offering from the promising folks at The Odd Gentlemen.

If you’re looking for a fair value and a unique take on two stagnant genres, you can’t do much better than Darwinia+.

It’s got all the addictive puzzle solving that made the first game so awesome. The switch to 3D made things far more interesting; rather than relying on a grid, you’ve got to rotate the entire puzzle and search it piece by piece to figure everything out.

A quality game, but one lacking in longevity and incentive for those already invested. It would be difficult to justify a purchase for existing FIFA 10 owners.

It’s got gorgeous graphics, wonderfully detailed stadiums, professional commentary, and gameplay mechanics nearly as fine-tuned and realistic as those found in its acclaimed PS3 cousin. It is also extremely customizable.

The absurd number of things to do after the main quest has been completed almost makes the adventure feel like a side-mission to a much grander story that unfolds as you dig deeper into the goodies that lie buried after the first 8 badges.

The absurd number of things to do after the main quest has been completed almost makes the adventure feel like a side-mission to a much grander story that unfolds as you dig deeper into the goodies that lie buried after the first 8 badges.

The poor net code is a disappointment that drags the score down a touch, but as a complete package this is the ultimate recreation of Mixed Martial Arts. EA's very own MMA game has some tough competition.

While the game's not for everyone, players with enough patience to wade through the tutorial, however, will find an enjoyable, lengthy campaign, complimented by a promising Xbox Live mode that just doesn't have the backing of a strong community.

Unlike the last episode, there are no half-assed puzzles to deal with or keys to be fetched and out of the two Desperate Escape provides the most entertainment value for your virtual dollars. It’s a fun little send-off for Resident Evil 5—nothing more, nothing less.

Its clever use of environmental destruction creates a faster paced game while its light feature set cuts down the steep learning curve the genre can be known for. Greed Corp. puts strategy first, delivering a game that fits the venerable bill of easy to learn but hard to master.

After Burner Climax is as good as arcade conversions come.

Honestly within minutes of jumping into Plain Sight I was wearing a stupid grin on my face. The aesthetic is charming, the action is chaotic and the level of depth is quite surprising.

ModNation Racers' is a huge beast of a kart racer with a never ending list of fun and challenging things to do.

Despite the lack of exhilaration, it's a haunting, beautiful journey. The music is perfect. The water is inviting. Lulls in the action are filled with fascinating dialogue and plot development.

Even if your shoot-'em-up experience is limited to Contra or Metal Slug, I still highly recommend giving this game a shot (again, gratuitous pun intended). Let's hope that SideQuest Studios's Final Prototype isn't actually… well… final.

The progression system certainly encourages multiple replays, as do three endings based on your final decision.

It's telling that Earthworm Jim HD is most fun when it's playing with ideas that go beyond its core gameplay mechanics. But it's also telling that this wide range of inventive ideas manage to elevate the game far above its obvious flaws.

A well-crafted game. It has plenty of polish, an absolute ton of things to see and do, and plenty of spot-on references to past games in the series (the combat text is still the best in the business).

Better than "Grand Theft Auto"? From what I’ve experienced, both games focus on entirely different concepts of crime, so much so it’s almost a treat to flick backwards and forwards between each series. GTA is far more high flying, with huge drug raids and mafia troubles and I found Saints Row to be more down to earth, focusing on petty crimes and taking over gang turf.

That's the entire point. Adventure Rebirth thrives on nostalgia. It's about reliving the old days, when skill was the only thing keeping your character alive.

For fans of mobster movies, Mafia II is the ultimate toybox. It has period clothes, music, and architecture that perfectly evoke pre and post-war Americana, and a gritty script to boot.

As a whole, Dead Rising 2 is a tuned, tweaked and polished sequel.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is marred primarily by its own high standards, and as a result it feels less like an XBLA title than a cut down full release; it's a full game struggling under the shackles of the downloadable medium.

With refinements in some core areas, particularly the controls, this could be a near perfect downloadable title.

As expected, FIFA 11 plays a fantastic brand of football, but its depth and nuance is surprising all the same.

It's best not to go into the game expecting a true Final Fantasy experience, but diehard RPG fans won't be disappointed.

There are still some issues with hideously long loading times and certain impracticalities, particularly when putting survivors into the safe room, but the game design presents an oddly satisfying change from the norm that can be easy to love and hate at the same time.

The game would have benefited from a bit more freedom. Don't let that stop you, though. Super Scribblenauts is a fine game. Give it a chance and see what your imagination can do.

But the bottom-line reveals that Bejeweled 3 does nothing unexpected. It is the same game that you've played before, with a fresh coat of paint and a couple of new modes.

It brings back a style of platforming that hasn't been seen in over a decade, and it pulls it off with a great assortment of well-designed levels.

It's Fallout 3 with a wild west coat of paint to go along with its twisted 1950s aesthetic. That will mean more to some than it will to others, but either way, it's a great adventure.

Despite the numerous glitches and eerily similar gameplay to its predecessor, Fallout: New Vegas is a quality game through and through with lots of replay value and slight improvements made to the formula.

Although it's visually dated, New Vegas is a bona fide Fallout title that contains well over 100 potential hours of quality post-apocalyptic RPG gaming that ought to please existing fans and gain the series many new ones.

If anything, Kirby's Epic Yarn definitely lives up to its name.

It isn't perfect. It gets repetitive. Most of your time is spent in the same environment fighting a few bug types. And spending 20 minutes and not making much progress can induce a controller throw (or two). But the little touches - like noticing a swarm of small bugs scurrying away from a body as your flashlight interrupts their munching - immerse you fully into the experience.

The vastly improved graphics offer a kind of detail you normally wouldn't find on the DS.

With ten different courses to select and multiple challenges for each (mostly time trials and score challenges), there's quite a bit to Pac-Man Championship Edition DX to keep players busy.

No game juxtaposes so many stunning, grand moments as it does with as many smaller quiet touches, such as Gabriel crossing himself at the sides of his fallen comrades. It is a dark, somber game and a promising new beginning for the Castlevania legacy.

But if you have the stomach for the surreal and the patience to ride its flaws, there's much to appreciate.

As the first of New Vegas' DLC, Dead Money fits firmly into the 'good' category and has set the bar at a high level for any future additions. As for what the legendary Sierra Madre treasure itself actually is, well, let's just say be sure to leave at least 90lb worth of room in your back-pack.

ilomilo is a complete joy from start to finish; exactly what XBLA needed; and exactly what's needed after fighting some non-cuddly alien maggots with a size 13 boot.

Whether you're on the go with your PSP or if you need something to greatly occupy yourself between paychecks, we can be thankful for the fact that the option of killing space cretins is available as an alternative to spending the evening hitting up the drive-thru window.

The gameplay may not be completely new, then, but this kind of chemistry certainly is. There's no denying it - Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is the best escort 'game' ever made; a spritely little cracker with a lot of heart.

There's also no doubt in my mind that the game will be supported with great DLC and amazing user generated content, but as a player who fell in love with the original's level design, as well as it's infectious personality, this sequel never quite met my admittedly lofty expectations.

While Zombies may not feature a definite storyline and doesn't prompt an extensive play-through outside of a lame achievement system connected to the player's profile through the official game site, it does play pretty well, for a touch screen FPS and manages to capture all the things I like about the Nacht der Untoten level from World at War.

Dead Space 2 provides an innovative and haunting gaming experience; it competently continues on the foundations laid by its innovative predecessor and serves to massively expand what is already a popular cross-media franchise.

Vanquish manages in many ways to be quite literally awesome though; from the bombastic battles you partake in, through its outstanding technical performance, brilliantly ridiculous cutscenes and superb twists on an established genre.

Despite its rougher edges, Tales from Space: About a Blob is a genuinely fun – and funny – romp through classic sci-fi tropes. The feeling of piloting a gelatinous character is more than enough to set the game apart from its sidescrolling brethren, but, it's the unique gameplay and sense of style that truly absorbs you.

Stacking doesn't strike us as a game focused on difficulty. It's a game for those interested in creativity, humour and fun - a toy box full of variety and imagination that rewards playfulness and exploration.

The dearth of features is disappointing, but the main draw for PES 2010 is its refinement. This isn't a simulation by any means. Rather, it's the best soccer game on the iPhone and boasts more realism than any of its competitors.

Visually and acoustically pleasing, easy to control and with a future update bringing a multiplayer mode, Infinity Blade is incredible. This is one iPhone game you need to have. Whatever you do, don't skip the end credits.

It's beautifully made with attention paid to every aspect of its visual and musical presentation.

Papa Sangre is survival-horror, where you're cast into the land of the dead, using 360 degree sound to avoid creatures, save lost souls and avoid being torn apart; intense.

Though the new gear is lackluster, the path opened to the level 35 cap and new perks is fair compensation.

It's hard to tell if Bulletstorm's silly demeanor and in depth combat mechanics are going to catch on, but despite the problems that keep it several rungs away from the gold it's a very entertaining and unique take on the genre.

While I would prefer to do my shooting in a well-written comedy or a dark drama, the opinion that Bulletstorm fails at both doesn't invalidate the fact that its creative gameplay is new, refreshing, and a total blast to play.

It's also arguable that by emphasizing the ladies love pillows to the extent they have in this and the two sequels they have undermined their claim that the Dead or Alive series can offer a rewarding fighting experience and not just plenty of virtual bosoms to ogle.

Besides this awesome little cartridge, the drama of Metro City is limited on this generation of gaming machines. Maybe it's the dying out of beat 'em up games and general that has lent to this game's obscurity.

While this game not necessarily the most difficult game in the GBA library, it's still packed with solid and challenging gameplay.

For all of you Castlevania followers out there, be prepared for yet another intriguing story of vampires, the undead, and the supernatural.

The transition between the Gun del Sol and the multiple weapons is decent, implementing a slew of new features necessary to see you through the game unscathed.

And with this highly interactive, jiggling way to play - clearly the portable precursor to the modern innovative wonder known as the Wii - Wario serves up yet another delicious feast that gamers who are never satisfied with their high scores, or who prefer games that revolve around plenty of action and reaction, will no doubt enjoy digging into.

Fable doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does offer an enjoyable and focused modern gaming experience which is both streamlined and accessible to all. It may not be the best RPG ever, but it's certainly one of the best.

Dave Attell, the famed comedian and host of Comedy Central's "Insomniac" show provides the color-commentary, and while it does eventually get repetitive, it's pretty funny. He fits the game nicely.

For all its annoying faults, inconsistencies and peculiar glitches, the game manages to provide a solid ten hours of thrilling, kick-em-where-it-counts, shoot-em-up action.

The bottom line is that this game is a lot of fun, does what it sets out to do with ease and I'm sure you'll find yourselves going back to this again and again if you get hold of it, especially if you can talk your mates into buying it too.

Though some of its concepts were probably lost or underappreciated by this reviewer, the game is sure to please fans of the growing card game genre, and pretty much anyone can fall in love with the story.

It has a story done perfectly, and the action is slightly above tolerable, so most of the serious problems can mostly be overlooked. This game comes recommended, whether you like martial arts films or not.

There is just something incredibly satisfying about a great 2D shooter. Metal Slug 3 may be a few years old and minus a dimension, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best action games currently on the Xbox.

If you've already got the 04 version, then all you're really paying £40 for is the online mode, and whether that's worth it is debatable. If you're new to the series, then by all means spend the money on what is a superb rally game.

The sheer amount of destruction is satisfying and the sense of humor is refreshing, but the short length and lack of saves during lengthy missions are what makes this potentially great game merely a good one. Even so, it's still hard to resist the Destroy All Humans' charm.

There's really only one word to describe Sid Meier's Pirates! and that's 'charming'. The excellent presentation, clever gameplay design and exquisite pacing mark it out as a unique and well thought out game.

So yes, it's fun, charming, addictive in a kiddy way, and a bit too short. But it's very Star Wars, so that's alright then.

A pretty good bet if you fancy your warfare old fashioned and a bit bonkers.

Role-playing fans are going to dig all the characters to level up and customize, comic book fans are going to go nuts over all the cameos and references, and action fans are going to be satisfied with all the different enemies they can kill.

Though it might not be as great as "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2" in my mind, it's still a pleasure to play.

A fast-moving experience that will be quickly finished by even the most novice gamers. I was able to get through the game in about seven hours and that's including the time I spent on side-quests (several completed to 100%).

The inclusion of the early Doom games with multiplayer is a great perk which really increases the longevity of this package, which is pretty important because this game is pretty short.

But despite an old story, this legend is still holding his own on this new front of gaming consoles.

There's only on thing that irks me though. All of these characters have distinct voices and wonderfully rich attitudes. The voice acting is superbly done with so much clarity and excellence. But despite all of the quality, the characters' cel-shaded lips don't move.

An awesome game. It takes everything fans loved about the previous installment, and amplified it ten fold to create another vivid adventure for one of Nintendo's most celebrated characters.

Sure, this game is nowhere near as difficult as its SNES and GBA predecessors, but it still requires all the strategy and thought required to make it great.

Mega Man X Collection features the triumphs and failures of Capcom's most dynamic duo. It faithfully renders all of the aspects of the games, be it the quality platforming, the tough bosses, or the less savory things like bad level design and ridiculously challenging obstacles.

Does such emphasis on multiplayer make it a bad game? Not necessarily. But solo gamers who've been spoiled with previous games may not appreciate the new gameplay style. Thus Viewtiful Joe's epic saga continues, with justice and style for all.

A great game for fans and on the whole, but a handful of the features it boasts come accompanied by disappointing sacrifices that are particularly painful to those who have come to love and expect so much from the series.

It's no-hold barred old-school shmup action. If stripped of its additional content, Deathsmiles could have been an XBLA title. Instead Rising Star Games have created a niche product – a well presented old-school shmup with plenty of additional material to bring you back.

Runic have created a highly-accessible dungeon crawling game that's highly competitive with the best of the genre.

WWE All Stars is best at capturing the flamboyance and nostalgia that fans of professional wrestling have long embraced.

A triumphant game. It's wonderfully complex and detailed, and vibrantly decorated with historical trappings that will satisfy anyone with a passing interest in military strategy. While the presentation and multiplayer are a little rough around the edges, there's more than enough content to make the game a more than worthwhile experience.

The combat and level design can become repetitive during long sessions and its difficulty may put some people off. But when it plays so well, looks unique, is filled with zest and the fun doubles in co-op, it's ultimately a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Swarm can be summed up in one sentence: There's a big red button with a giant sign stating 'DO NOT TOUCH'. Regardless of the mission at hand you can't help but interact with everything along the way and Hothead have embraced this by making death as much fun as success. It's silly, immature, creative and ultimately lots of fun from beginning to end.

The swarmites are your people and you want to protect them. Maybe they're dumb, but spend some quality time with them though, and you'll find a lot to love, once you've come to cherish their eccentricities and predicament. Like any family they're a chore, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Mortal Kombat definitely provides a fighting experience like no other. With a return to the original all-star cast, the involving Challenge Tower, the best Story Mode in fighter history, approachable gameplay, and mindblowing graphics, this is an affair that definitely requires your attention.

In many ways it feels ahead of its time and once this technology becomes accepted as an industry standard, L.A. Noire will no longer feel as significant. Until then, it's a testament to Rockstar's ability to create characteristically rich worlds with top-notch production values and is also a pretty good homage to film-noir.

While not containing an extensive range of content, Mighty Fin does provide a consistently enjoyable experience on the move, one devoid of frustration or a 'buy in-game credits' system.

It was never going to be perfect but it hits a spot that's been left unappreciated for an awfully long time. While the likes of Call of Duty and Crysis continue down the road to absolute realism, Duke Nukem Forever takes gamers back to remind about how to have fun; surely that's why people play games?

One of the more challenging and satisfying titles I've played all year. It cleverly side-steps the tower-defense bottle neck by throwing things into reverse, creating a wholly unique tactical-strategy experience.

As long as Lexis Numerique continues down its exemplary path, the trouble with point-and-clicks might as well be considered an open and shut case.

Add in an epic, bombastic orchestral score by Kevin Riepl (he also worked on Gears of War) and a surprisingly robust and easy-to-use level creation tool and you have one of the better games to be released so far in 2011. Highly Recommended.

For FPS fans that want a break from modern warfare settings, F.E.A.R. 3 is this year's alternative - caked in blood, guts, mind blowing audio design and high-octane co-op action.

During a time when Japan's hit a creative drought with RPGs, it's great to see a game that's adopting this traditional style, and using it in a more imaginative way.

The sheer variety of playing styles and technical options at your disposal is staggering; this is easily the deepest and most demanding title currently on the 3DS.

These faults aside, Armageddon takes the core elements that attracted all of us to the series in the first place and combines them to create a solid game that series fans can't afford to miss.

Thanks to the handiwork of Ubisoft Shanghai, the small but passionate cult following and the burning sting of its original commercial failure, we all have a second chance to reconcile our differences with this flawed masterpiece – I'm glad I did.

It has a learning curve, it rewards those that think a round ahead and has piped my interest in the physical product. Bravo.

A truly unique, absurd action game that no one should miss. With the help of Shinji Mikami, Suda 51 has delivered his most palatable experience to date.

As with any episodic content, We Negotiate with Terrorists ends on a cliffhanger, a most amusing one at that.

Regardless if you choose to make the jump to the Arcade Edition or not, Street Fighter IV is always worth playing.

It's difficult to draw a distinction between the qualities of Hot Springs Story and Game Dev Story. The latter will be inherently more interesting for gamers and as such, probably fares worse on the iPhone, while Hot Springs Story is more casually slanted but skews for a unique cultural niche.

If i 002 is a preview of what's to come, then the The King of Fighters is making a comeback in style.

Certainly a huge step up from Honest Hearts.

Taking a rather large portion of influence from PopCap's games, Kickin' Momma is a great title; one that could of easily have been a low-priced XBLA release. It's also secured my interest in all future Hothead Games releases.

A fun Shmup that remembers to keep things simple. The appeal here is in the core action – never becoming confused with any half-baked mechanics or over-used ideas.

Catherine justifies its unique premise with unique gameplay, and works wonderfully.

Without equal in how effectively it exploits the senses.

From Dust has a simple concept, executed exceptionally well. It's almost worth the price of entry to see the physics alone, but there's plenty more beyond that to make a purchase worthwhile.

For a title that offers equal billing to both pirates and zombies, the latter get left backstage for a large portion of the game.

It's a fun experience while it lasts, even if that might not be as long as you'd like. Still, this is a marked improvement, and even as a kind of iteration, is a reminder of Signal Studios' potential.

Hector isn't innovative. It doesn't raise the bar for gameplay in adventure games, nor does it really bring anything new to the table. It does, however, offer simple gameplay - offering an experience that's easy to get into, along with a downright funny adventure to boot.

VVVVVV's fusion of styles is exactly what lends it its endless playability; there's not a dull moment to be had in this tight, rewarding and above all blisteringly fun package.

Despite those small issues, BloodRayne: Betrayal works, and works wonderfully. WayForward has done an admirable job dusting off the BloodRayne franchise and resurrecting the red hair dhampir. In the process they did the unthinkable, finding a way to inject a welcome dose of class into the comically trashy franchise.

Simply put, it's consistently fun, never taking itself too seriously, and instead focusing on how enjoyable the act of driving can be when you throw in a supernatural curveball.

Renegade Ops is a fairly conservative game, in terms of scope and originality; where it succeeds is in its execution of a well-worn game type and by transporting its players back to a simpler time.

In just a few minutes the last painstaking levels were worth the time it took to get there.

Where Chains of Olympus was good, albeit a bit by-the-numbers, Ghost of Sparta stands proudly; the leanest and meanest the series has to offer.

OIO does not expect perfection from you, and you shouldn't expect perfection from it, but that's okay. It's an innovative game in its own right, with a unique world to explore and a style of its own. Maybe a part two will smooth out the kinks.

Defeated levels give you points to use in the mall, a shop for unlocking everything from concept art to an exclusive theme of the game. Did you succeed in acquiring the hidden pair of shoes? More points to spend!

This is without a doubt a sports game worth experiencing and one which feels both utterly unnecessary and entirely essential at once during this year's lockout season.

There is one ball that this game dropped, one feature that is very missed from the whole experience: co-op.

To say that 'this is the best FIFA' yet' has become a cliché, but again it's undeniable. The series' momentum continues and there's no doubt that EA have yet again outdone themselves.

We were prophesized a Senna, but instead delivered a Mansell.

A satisfying, occasionally exceptional romp through half of New Marais. In a lot of ways it's the best aspects of inFamous 2 without the fuss of karma decisions, experience points or tedious side-quests.

If you're part of the majority of fans who just want to skip straight into the online modes, there's no question: Battlefield 3 is stellar. The same can't be said for the rest of the package, so people uninterested in internet warfare would be best advised to stay away.

Slipping into their finest retro attire, Q Games has once again proven their ability to step into any genre and own it.

What's most surprising about Battlefield 3 is that even the things that are assumed to be poor are at least tolerable, if not conflicting with the scope of the multiplayer.

All in all, if you have even a mild respect for Bejeweled and you don't already have access to a copy of any version, download Bejeweled 3 without delay.

Combat Evolved remains every bit the essential, console-defining shooter it was ten years ago.

Despite its lacking online features and (Russian) roulette connectivity hoopla, KOFXIII is still an excellent game. For OGs desiring an honest, non-n00b friendly fighter, or for new schoolers wanting a unique challenge, don't miss out. It's time to knuckle up.

inFamous 2 doesn't make many missteps. It may lack the polish and big name license of the recent Batman games, but for a solid and dependable superhero videogame, there aren't many more enjoyable and more consistent than this excellent superpowered romp.

It's another Mario Kart game, through and through. The formula remains unchanged with Nintendo hesitant on adding anything more than minor details. Luckily, the formula's a good one.

There is a huge, jaw dropping world to discover at whatever pace you desire. Along the way you're free to author your own story, defining your unique character and experience through whatever style of play you prefer. When you're lost in its rich landscape and enthralled within its fiction, Skyrim thrives, and is truly unparalleled; it's when you take a closer look, you can't help but discover the seams holding this tapestry together.

Its premise of acrobatic janitors versus the forces of dust and debris is ridiculous, barely managing to tie together a series of levels that demand complete mastery to overcome. Only the strongest of will can hope to see their way to the end of this game.

The Darkness II is a worthy successor, even if it isn't any better than the original. It takes a story that was already well developed and continues it in stellar form, doing justice enough.

With more fluid and natural, mo-capped animations, better presentation and the introduction of PRIDE, Undisputed 3 showcases progression in all the right areas, giving fans the ultimate MMA experience.

There's that visual layer to it, an efficient backdrop that contributes to a kind of combined audiovisual experience. Nothing is added which isn't essential to the design.

It's got fan service where it counts, too - familiar character themes appear in the soundtrack, win quotes will often comment on specificities of other characters, and there are even some custom introductions for certain pairs of characters.

It's not perfect, though. The camera controls are terrible; navigating the mission is a frequently annoying experience. The lack of other additional features and gameplay modes doesn't help, either. Despite its shortcomings, Snake Eater 3D is well worth playing.

Journey's worth playing for the unique experiences offered but the actual involvement with the mechanics isn't always engaging enough to match.

Whilst technically not as polished as recent 2D successes like Trine 2, Rayman Origins and Super Meat Boy, it has a strong enough USP with its Fluros to stand out from an increasingly-crowded yet creative genre that shows no signs of losing momentum.

The slippery movement commands make basic platforming a tedious chore. They make the potentially great online multiplayer into a convoluted mess. Despite such flaws, Uprising is still a great addition to the 3DS library.

Still, it's a very well-designed game that harkens back to the arcade era which adds a few new twists to what could've been a very dull game. Fans of brick-breaking titles will find much to enjoy with Wizorb. It adds a new wrinkle to gameplay with its magic elements, and its mimicry of the bygone NES days will charm the pants off anyone nostalgic for that era.

Its dialogue is superb and really gives credence to the choices you make, and we can only hope Telltale makes good on its promise to have these decisions mean something, and to impact the world and the way other characters view you.

For shooter fans craving something with a little more substance, Binary Domain is definitely the ticket. Behind its hokey yet self-aware characters and stereotypical premise is a hugely intelligent shooter, one that packs just as much heart as it does brawn.

Fez is quite a game, especially for people who look for interesting atmosphere and setting in their games.

It is a challenging game that demands precision and patience to master and in exchange it delivers tense, thrilling racing. It isn't perfect, but it's a step in a great direction for the franchise.

Sure, it carries with it some hereditary issues of the 16-bit era – lack of depth and flattened when playing without a friend – but when it works Awesomenauts is a needed break.

It's a safe house for the trigger happy but also an engaging tale, told with the sort of introspection missing in other games: Max is letting you in on his darkest secrets, and these are secrets to cherish.

It's not CAVE's best effort, but does further showcase their ability to nail a niche genre with near pixel-perfect accuracy, ensuring that those who grew up with similar titles aren't left with only nostalgia and a trusty Megadrive in storage for when the time calls to dust it off and bang in an indestructible copy of Thunderforce IV.

It provides a familiar formula wrapped in the guise of another familiar formula, and succeeds at picking the best parts of both.

The main story can be completed in a fraction of the time you'll actually end up devoting to the world, and ironically, it's one of the few sandbox games whose sidequests offer substantial rewards. Thus, don't be put off by Sleeping Dogs' troubled development for it's a meaty package you'll struggle to put down. And best of all, it's darn good fun.

Sleeping Dogs is a great action game with a compellingly melodramatic story and an atmosphere thick enough to cut with a knife. Control issues aside, it's a great PC port, too - on a beefy gaming PC, Sleeping Dogs looks far better than its console counterparts. For fans of Hong Kong cinema and/or open-world games, it's a must.

More than any of its clipping issues or framerate dips, it's Caballero's opening words that resonate throughout the entire experience, an emotionally raw dedication to his family that lingers in black and white, piercing each heartbreakingly symbolic interaction between Quico and Monster.

I'm pleased during this rather dull year to be surprised by Telltale's take on not only a monster that has been diluted by pop culture and monopolised for quick cash grabs (irony alert), but also on a decision making system that is constructed with functionality and maturity. As long as they don't botch the ending - I'm sticking by my guess of the final choice that came to me twenty minutes into the first episode, though I hope I'm wrong - this as one complete story will be the best of the year. Matt Sawrey was right, keep horror to the independents.

This is the kind of expansion that, if you haven't played Mass Effect 3 yet, you should add this to your first experience through the game. If you have played through Mass Effect 3 already, this will help make sense of some unanswered questions.

The Long Road Ahead continues The Walking Dead's fantastic storyline and presents a real case for episodic gaming on consoles via digital means.

With its assortment of tweaks and gameplay additions, as well as a story that evolves with Nintendo-esque pacing, Supermagical manages to feel like a whole lot more than merely another casual novelty.