Unoriginal, unexciting and uninspired: a cheap collection of poorly conceived mini-games and show references, held together by a script resembling bad fan fiction. If a good use of a license appeals to fans while spinning its successful elements into a game, then Lost: Via Domus is the opposite of this.

The Club takes a somewhat tired and overused genre and genuinely does something new with it. Don’t let the lack of a full-blown story mode put you off giving it a try, even if it is sadly the one thing you’ll miss the most.

It’s good, harmless fun and the strategy side of things is still pretty tight, albeit without the wonderful management of the Empires games.

Despite the undeniable popularity of the series, this third game would do well to take time off to reinvent itself for the inevitable sequel next year. While it doesn’t shirk on the number of game modes available, the actual substance of these offerings doesn’t add up to much.

The multiplayer seems to work well enough and we hope for some tasty downloadable content to coax us back in later in 2008. However, it’s a tough market out there right now for average fantasy fayre and as a single player game, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements just doesn’t quite have the spark to stand out.

While a touch reluctant to get going, Lost Odyssey soon builds pace and lavishes the player with its wonderful blend of familiar elements, unique concepts and genuine emotion. With solid mechanics and some top-notch presentation, this one comes heartily recommended for those with plenty of time on their hands.

Turok isn’t just another below average shooter. It’s slightly better than that. While it may seem a little short and over-familiar come the end, its positive points are at times excellent and it does come with an extra layer of polish that's often lacking in other games. Plus, you can stab dinosaurs in the neck. And that’s awesome.

Replay value, self-improvement and the challenge of later stages are what really make DMC4 a classic and if you’re unwilling to succumb to these, you’re not getting the most out of what is a truly special gaming experience.

A barely passable movie cash-in that shoehorns the film’s plot into a simplified adventure game and offers little to nothing beyond this.

By taking you down to an open city Burnout Paradise has just hidden its sublime greatness behind what really could be regarded as an interactive menu built into a city. If there were an option to just line up races we wouldn’t bemoan this padding at all, but there isn’t and so we have. Regardless, Paradise is yet another elegant foray into the world of Burnout and the tightest experience yet. It’s two steps forward, one step back and one to the side.

If only Blueside had maintained the game's strategy element, rather than trying to make this too action-heavy. It's definitely a missed opportunity, but at least the developer is trying to do something different for a change, we suppose.

This could be a standard Xbox release.

Mass Effect is a rare example of a game that shouts about how many things it can do well for years and then actually delivers upon its promises on release. Every bit as good as it ever could be, this is right up there with the best of what the Xbox 360 both is capable of and has to offer.

Well, it’s pretty much everything we expected it to be. And given the massively high expectations we had for Rock Band, that’s damn good going. Not only are the individual parts a joy to play but the sense of camaraderie, of accomplishment and of ultimate success you get when it all comes together is just incredible.

There’s just no way to justify spending seven-odd quid on something that wouldn’t be out of place on a mobile phone and that’s exactly what this is – a decrepit and distinctly dull few seconds of gameplay repeated ad infinitum, failing entirely to cash in on what is a potentially brilliant concept. Keep your points in your pocket for now.

Kane & Lynch promises much more than it actually delivers. It’s still a fine game, but is let down far too frequently by a number of minor issues that could have been corrected with more development time. It’s got some great elements, just not enough of them.

Combat is largely optional, as is fitting an assassination game. But then so is actual assassination. It’s as entertaining as having a balcony with a beautiful view, hence the score.

It’s a perfectly sound release but with so many top-notch shooters to choose from already, this is barely going to factor on the radars of many people. The shame.

Additional features, from on and offline co-op to the new playable characters and revamped classic levels give it a wide appeal, meaning every type of gamer should at least give it a go.

We made the mistake of playing Mandate first and were really shocked by how average it looks in comparison to any other FPS game currently available - character animation is excellent but the environments are dire. Thankfully Extraction Point, though still not top-notch graphically, looks more like a 360 game and plays sweetly.

With its sights set not only on being the first for fast-paced military action offline, but also on being a strong contender in the online multiplayer scene. The verdict? A stunning success on both counts.

With a satisfying campaign, backed up with a truly unique multiplayer experience, TimeShift certainly isn’t a run-of-the-mill title anymore, and for sci-fi fans this may be one of your most rewarding titles this year.

While not miles away from "VF4: Evolution," the new features, characters and possibilities here propel this to the top of the genre with style, poise and unending potential. Once you get a taste, you’ll never want to go back to the simplicity of DOA or the retro charms of the XBLA fighters – the finest fighter known to man is here in one definitive 360 package.

A compelling introduction to next generation consoles, and a break from the normal formulaic anime genre, if you don’t like the game, you’re asking too much of it. Great action and good fun throughout with a multitude of missions and mini-games, Rise of a Ninja is a delight for both anime fans and casual gamers new to Naruto's great adventures.

Worth it if you’ve got a gaggle of screaming kiddies to keep quiet or you simply want a quick 1000 Gamerpoints (the game is very generous), Party Animals certainly won’t be cut the mustard with anyone who’s gaming habits extend beyond the casual.

Capturing the feel, if sometimes not quite the look, of the universally loved animation, The Simpsons Game displays momentary glimpses of ‘the game that got away’ before falling back on tried and tested design and easy laughs to carry it through. It’s a generic romp, albeit one guaranteed to tickle you on at least a few occasions.

By failing to cater for one-off coop songs and leaving the boss battle songs out of multiplayer altogether (until you get the DLC pack at least, which is something PS2 and Wii players won’t be able to do), Legends of Rock doesn’t come across as quite as huge a step up from II as that in turn was from the first game. Don’t get us wrong, though – it’s clearly amazing and the new guitar is to die for.

Jericho works really hard to build up a tense and involving game environment, but then can’t quite deliver the game to match. Confusing at the points where it needs to be clear and, only sporadically showing glimpses of what should have been, Jericho is a perfectly reasonable experience, but hardly essential.