A lively, imaginative and fun RPG, with a football element charmingly blended in. And while some may wince at the unbearably chipper voice acting, there is considerable depth and human drama hidden behind its boyish enthusiasm.

The best Japanese RPG of this generation. The fact that it looks like it's from the last generation is its only drawback, but its technical limitations are offset by imaginative artistic direction, innovative and compelling combat, and thoughtful design.

Memorable, beautiful and unique, something that stays in your mind long after you've moved on to something else. It's a game that's as fascinating to watch as it is to play, a thought-provoking spin on the power fantasies of the traditional god game.

It's a true original, beautiful to look at, lovingly made, characterful and always ready to surprise you with some mad, bizarre new idea.

For the already-converted, Labyrinth of Lost Souls is a more than solid dungeon crawler. Its fulsome selection of side-quests, items, and expansive dungeons could keep you exploring for many hours, making it excellent value. But it's hard to imagine it winning over the unconvinced or the uninitiated.

If you were hoping for a remastering that goes beyond a hi-def polygon upgrade and new 3D features, you're out of luck. If the minimal lick of paint isn't an issue though, you could do far worse with your money, whether you're new to the trilogy or simply clamouring to revisit Prince of Persia's heyday.

It doesn't add anything new to Ridge Racer's well-worn formula, nor does it do anything particularly daring with it, but the 3D overhaul combined with a surplus of content are enough to blow away the dust that's settled on the series over the years.

It's one of the most exciting series in motorsport, and this year it's got a game to do it justice.

Yet, in spite of its obvious flaws during 3D platform sections, there're still moments of genuine bliss to be had as you stumble through lovingly-recreated cartoon classics and muck around in Junction Point's wonderfully warped world.

More so than ever before it's the game's unrivalled charm and meticulously constructed world that makes the sprawl of Albion such a unique pleasure to explore.

Excellently choreographed, amusingly varied and much better-presented than the original, Just Dance 2 is refreshingly uncomplicated fun.

It's the Layton series' uniquely endearing atmosphere and the developer's obvious love for its creation that makes this return visit to the good Professor feel like a genuine pleasure, rather than an over-familiar chore.

Its rich imagination, restrained narrative and charming cast of characters place it a significant step above its often clumsy story-obsessed brethren - and, while easy to find fault with, it's harder to knock Enslaved in terms of pure entertainment value.

Its rich imagination, restrained narrative and charming cast of characters place it a significant step above its often clumsy story-obsessed brethren - and, while easy to find fault with, it's harder to knock Enslaved in terms of pure entertainment value.

It's a game we've been wanting to play for more than a decade, a real modern re-imagining of the Fallout series, complete with that deliciously black humour. But it's also more of the same, aesthetically and technically identical to Fallout 3, wonky facial animation and all.

It's a game we've been wanting to play for more than a decade, a real modern re-imagining of the Fallout series, complete with that deliciously black humour. But it's also more of the same, aesthetically and technically identical to Fallout 3, wonky facial animation and all.

It's a game we've been wanting to play for more than a decade, a real modern re-imagining of the Fallout series, complete with that deliciously black humour. But it's also more of the same, aesthetically and technically identical to Fallout 3, wonky facial animation and all.

DJ Hero was always worth a spin in the right crowd but, with so many new ways to get everyone involved, it's no longer just a living room curio - it's a genuine, bona fide dance floor-filler.

DJ Hero was always worth a spin in the right crowd but, with so many new ways to get everyone involved, it's no longer just a living room curio - it's a genuine, bona fide dance floor-filler.

Like the disaster movies it takes inspiration from though, Day of Crisis is ultimately more than the sum of its parts. When it works, it’s a relentless, thrilling assault on your senses; a huge grin of game. And when it doesn’t, when it starts to wobble precariously on its own flimsy parts, it’s still compulsive in its creativity, inexplicable in its uniqueness and, most importantly, one thoroughly fun ride.

While it’s frequently breathtaking in its ingenuity elsewhere – from impressively reductionist point-and-click design to intelligent, inventive puzzling – ultimately, it’s the melancholy atmosphere that lingers when it’s all over.

While Invizimals' technology can't quite deliver on its ambition, it works enough of the time avoid condemnation. The real issue is the restrictiveness of the mission structure and ultimate lack of real depth to the critter combat.

It mightn't be especially original but Lords of Shadow's rock solid core mechanics, creative flourishes and assured sense of pacing all combine to form a game that, despite a few rough edges, is a beautifully atmospheric, undeniably entertaining experience.

It mightn't be especially original but Lords of Shadow's rock solid core mechanics, creative flourishes and assured sense of pacing all combine to form a game that, despite a few rough edges, is a beautifully atmospheric, undeniably entertaining experience.

FIFA 11 doesn't redefine the football game, nor does it bring with it bold or surprising ways to play. What it does, however, is refine an already superlative game, taking nearly every aspect and polishing it to help create a whole that's notably superior to its predecessors.

FIFA 11 doesn't redefine the football game, nor does it bring with it bold or surprising ways to play. What it does, however, is refine an already superlative game, taking nearly every aspect and polishing it to help create a whole that's notably superior to its predecessors.

Easily the best Grand Prix game since Geoff Crammond was on the beat. Its driving is second to none and is brought alive by a dynamic weather system, while its racing is as thrilling as the real thing.

Easily the best Grand Prix game since Geoff Crammond was on the beat. Its driving is second to none and is brought alive by a dynamic weather system, while its racing is as thrilling as the real thing.