ModNation Racers is a wonderful continuation of the Play.Create.Share principle. It’s compared to LittleBigPlanet and Mario Kart – high class games – but it manages to easily set foot next to them. Everything is keenly thought out and invites you to play, whether it is single-player, online or split-screen. Racing hours on end, while laughing and cursing for all the tricks that are being pulled is what this game is all about – and will continue to be about with the support of the community. Too bad the loading times are a tad too long. In any case: casual or hardcore, it doesn’t matter, because ModNation Racers is awesome.

Red Dead Redemption is without a shadow of a doubt a top game. The story alone will tie you over for at least fourteen hours, not adding random events and mini games. Add the extensive multiplayer and you'll get at least twenty hours. Small tip: Play the game all the way to the end - a few surprises will definitely please you.

At first, Lost Planet 2 seems to impress with wonderful graphics, huge bosses and 4 player co-op. The sub-par AI for both enemies as allies, the hampered controls and the lacklustre design really strangle the gameplay. Playing alone is enough to annoy you completely, but even in co-op it’s repetitive and frustrating. This abomination is only good as therapy for casual gamers who crave graphics and online chat, but who don’t care for decent gameplay.

Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake is a welcome addition to the PSP’s arsenal. It’s cheery, colourful, and just plain fun. Titan Studios has done well to bring the experience to the handheld without having to sacrifice. You’re even getting more than with the version for the big brother although it’s not entirely certain whether it merits such a price tag, seeing how the PS3 version was a mere 15 euro.

Dead To Rights Retribution can be considered one of the better action games of the year. It’s bloody and brutal, gameplay and controls feel good and the switches between Jack and Shadow help to fight off repetitiveness. If you don’t like blood and extreme violence, stay away from this game, but they are bountiful in the game. Recommended for those who like over-the-top action.

Nier is an average game trying to blend RPG with hack&slash. Unfortunately, it fails. The storyline is averagely delivered and the game starts out slowly. Gameplay-wise not much is there to entice you and that's without having to face mediocre graphics. Luckily, the dialogues are funny sometimes, otherwise there would not be much to enjoy in this game.

Street Fighter IV already was one of the best fighting games of this generation, but this Super-version adds to it. Ten new characters, better balanced gameplay, a replay channel and a lot of new game modes make this a fan’s wet dream. In all honesty, this is a mere addition to an existing game, that for some reason is only available as a full retail-game. It’s a nice thing for newcomers, but unfair to gamers who already have the original.

2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa isn’t a bad game, but not worth it to be sold for full price. Its good gameplay is borrowed from Fifa 10 and it merely adds a new penalty system. It seems the developer relaxed a bit too much, knowing how good the gameplay from Fifa 10 was. Luckily, the exciting qualifying moments and a reformed Fifa 10-mode keep the fun in this world cup edition. Nevertheless, it should’ve been released as a cheaper expansion or a huge downloadable content pack.

Left or right? Hide or run? Take care of yourself or keep running while bleeding? These are choices in Hysteria Project. It’s short and has basically no replay value, unless with friends, but it’s gripping and often intense. It’s an experience craving for more. More choices, more options instead of a fixed path, more revelations about the who, what and where. But also less: less savepoints to interrupt the game. For 1.49 euro’s you can be content. Let’s get a sequel.

Monsters (probably) stole my princess is an addictive game, which is way too short unfortunately. You will spend some time trying to get the top scores and the perfect combos, so because of this and its low price, it's definitely worth a shot.

The first impression you will get is positive. Unfortunately, that quickly fades. After several hours you’ll be bored with the game due to a lack of depth and content. After Burner: Climax is only recommendable if you love hunting for high scores and eternal online leaderboard glory. If not, then wonder if you really want to spend ten euro’s on this.

It’s about time that Monster Hunter found its way to the west. With Monster Hunter Tri, the Nintendo Wii has another wonderful game. Graphically good-looking and more than enough depth to keep you locked to your console for many hours. At first you will have to fight through the repetitive parts and the gameplay is not for everyone out there, but don’t let that discourage you. Once you’ve battered the first giant enemy into submission, the game will grab you and pull you in for a long adventure.

A candidate for indie game of the year as far as I’m concerned. Many awards were already given and they were absolutely deserved. It barely has a flaw and money-wise it’s worth it. Fantastic atmosphere and well-thought out puzzles will entice anyone with a brain. Unfortunately only a demo on Xbox Live is available, but don’t worry, just go ahead and buy this.

Beat Hazard is a rather traditional Asteroids clone, with the fun addition that your own music can influence the game. Whoever thinks this suffices, will enjoy this game as a way to pass the time. However, the game does not contain the originality we have expected from indie games, and the influence of your own music could’ve been way better.

The 3rd season of Sam & Max gets a great start with this entertaining and very original first episode. Max' special powers allow some cool and innovative puzzles, and the smart humor and storyline will keep you playing till the end credits. To make the game more suitable for mainstream gamers however, point & click is replaced by a simplified controller scheme and also the difficulty of the puzzles is dumbed down again. But even experienced adventure gamers will enjoy this episode, despite the lack of a real challenge.

To be honest: Magic Sword doesn’t matter, Final Fight is the reason to buy it. That game offers more interesting gameplay and it will remain that way all throughout the game. Unfortunately, there are a few downsides, making Final Fight: Double Impact a decent purchase, but not a wonderful one.

Splinter Cell: Conviction is a game you have to play. Not only has Ubisoft managed to breathe new life into the franchise, but it has also succeeded in offering a wonderful action-stealth game for fans and newcomers. Not only does it excel graphically and sound-wise, but on top of that – one tends to forget all too often these days – a giant leap forward gameplay-wise. Definitely worth a purchase.

Freekscape: Escape from Hell is worth its money as a PS Mini. It’s a challenging puzzle-platformer with long longevity and replayability. Aside from a few niggles (such as jumps going wrong), you can be sure to spend a few hours with this game.

All in all, Mega Man is enjoyable. It’s consciously been kept retro to invoke nostalgic feelings for whoever was playing the ‘blue bomber’ 23 years ago. It just feels right and the game just doesn’t need fantastic graphics. Mega Man 10 is a game with a potential high difficulty, that’ll keep you busy for hours on end. The 800 points you have to pay, feel like it’s a bargain.

Avalanche Studios has given us one heck of a game with Just Cause 2. The gameplay is pure action and the grappling hook, the many vehicles and the stunt moves give a variety of moves. The main story doesn’t bear much weight, but the bulk of the game is on the free missions and the possibility of chaos. You’re getting a huge island, filled to the rim with detail and graphically impressive. Haven’t had this much fun with a sandbox game since GTA 4, and you can be sure that’s a compliment to the game.

Ubisoft delivers a wonderful sequel to Red Steel. It looks amazing and the diverse special moves connect well with the fast-paced action. Unfortunately, the sword fighting doesn't feel 100 percent realistic, because there's a slight delay between your own move and the one on the screen. This isn't a bothersome factor, because the difference is minimal thanks to the Wii Motion Plus. If your Wii hasn't seen action in a while, Red Steel 2 is the perfect opportunity to change that.

All in all, MotoGP 09/10 is a decent game. It’s somewhere in between sim and arcade racer, although arcade fans will like it a tad more. Sim fans won’t be completely satisfied, but whoever wants to race without knowing too much about all the details will definitely have fun with the game.

Command & Conquer 4 will come as a disappointment to many. It’s basically a new game, with some old elements. A step in the right direction? Definitely not. It tries to include elements from other genres, but doesn’t manage to make them come together. The disappointing and short singlep layer is partially aided by a fun multiplayer, but we expected more from the end of the Tiberium-saga and its iconic figure Kane.

God of War 3 offers blood, death, brutality – in all: fun – on a gigantic scale. Kratos wanted his revenge and it’s up to you to guide him on his blood-red journey where graphics, sound and tension come together to form a spectacle from start to finish. We cannot condone violence, but if it helps Kratos to reach his goal, there ain’t no mountain high enough, there ain’t no god strong enough. Amazing end to the trilogy.

Resonance of Fate breathes new life into the stagnating JRPG genre with a unique battle system that unites real-time and turn-based combat. Visually the game might not excel and the steep learning curve may mean it's not for everyone, but the strong, strategic gameplay more than make up for these little downsides. JRPG fans who don't mind getting their hands dirty should pick this up.

Sol Survivor is one heck of an indie game. It’s an enrichment of the tower defense genre and worth its small price. The singleplayer alone offers more fun than your average top game and the different multiplayer settings make it required purchase for fans. Everyone should give this game a chance and download the demo. It’s a fantastic mix of casual and deep gameplay.

It pains me to say that Scrap Metal hasn’t turned out to be a good game. Mainly the lousy controls are to blame. Never do you get the sensation of being in control over your car and this leads to frustration which in turn leads to a lot of fun vanishing. All other upsides and downsides balance each other, but that doesn’t salvage the game. Control is needed in a race game and Scrap Metal has slipped way off track with it.

The Eye of Judgment: Legends is a step forward from its PS3-version. That’s partly because of the lack of a camera and expensive cards. The campaign, however, doesn’t interest much as its story is unclear and the presentation is static. The graphics barely show any detail and the tutorial is too short to get a grip on the gameplay. Fans of card battles will love it, especially if they appreciate fighting online to learn how the cards work.

Square Enix has brought some RPG elements to the forefront, while putting some away in the back. This might offend some gamers, but with a mix of tactics, a deep battle system and action-filled battles Final Fantasy XIII will entice plenty of players. The interaction between the characters and the gradual revelations within the story are placed within a wonderful audio-visual jacket and manage to grab the gamer without letting them go. The linear aspect shouldn’t bother anyone in this thirteenth step of one of the most popular franchises out there.

Assassin's Creed 2 maintains the character of the first game, but gets rid of the repetitiveness and brings along a more atmospheric storyline. It fascinates from the start; the smooth gameplay and fun free running are enjoyable and liberating. Missions are based on the foundations of the first game, but are given more variety and that’s a big positive.

Yakuza 3 does a couple of things quite well. The cutscenes are nice; it’s a atmospheric Japanese game and there’s plenty to do. Still, the game carries tads of problems along, despite / because its one year delay. In-game, the graphics and the depiction of the story are lamentable, especially compared to what recent games have accomplished. Some stuff needs to be re-examined so that the series is up to speed with the current standard in games.

If you're looking for a quick fix with plenty of challenge, then Max & the Magic Marker is something to consider. It's presented beautifully and with its combination of puzzle and platforming elements, it plays quite fluently. All in all, it's not that novel though. We have seen such elements in other drawing games before, but still Press Play knows to keep us tied to the screen and that's why this game deserves a place in your WiiWare collection.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 does what it does best: create a multiplayer experience which lifts it head and shoulders above the other shooters. All the pieces come together perfectly in an online that brings out the best of the Battlefields, with Rush as the pièce de résistance. Too bad that the sub-par singleplayer brings down the score quite a bit.

Essentially, Silent Hunter 5 is what it is: the fifth installment of a submarine simulation series. Graphically, it’s bounds and leaps forward and the new inside perspective adds to the realism. Sim fans will get what they want, with loads of options to make the game even more realistic if required. It’s accessible for those not particularly seeking realism. Sailing, simple manoeuvres, firing torpedo’s. The new interface adds to this ease. Everything is reached with simple mouse clicks and intricate menu’s are nowhere near this game. However, everything takes its time, which some people might not appreciate. Sailing from one point to another, searching for enemies, sinking them, getting new supplies, finding enemies again, etc. SimCity and Anno also require lots of time investment, which is what this title also has, and that’s how you discover the true strength of the game. That’s what makes Silent Hunter 5 mainly a game for those with patience.

Alice in Wonderland for Wii is a decent licensed game, with a few fun and original elements. Visually, it also manages to deliver. The boring fights, low difficulty and repetitive gameplay are a blow to its aspirations as a top game. Too much potential was left untouched. Are you willing to look past these flaws, then you’ll be getting plenty of fun to justify a purchase.

Supreme Commander 2 is actually a simplified version of the first game. Some adjustments, such as the way to upgrade, make the game better, but others – like the classic resource management system – make it lose some of its own identity. It’s not a revolution like Supreme Commander, but definitely something that fans of large-scale, spectacular RTS games should love. The story is forgettable, but the decent and varied missions make up for this.

Greed Corp has the appearance of a board game, but manages to survive perfectly as a video game. The game sucks you and in doesn’t let go easily. The destructibility of the playing field adds to the replay value and gives the player lots of tactical options. All in all, you get a game that’s tremendous fun and offers a great deal for the price you pay.

Echoshift is a puzzler of the highest level. If you get frustrated easily, don’t come anywhere near this game. If you love to torment your own brain, then this game will give you plenty of levels that won’t bore you anytime soon. Too bad that the creators didn’t add a level creator. That would’ve lengthen the game considerably.

Heavy Rain isn’t just a game. It’s the next step in commitment, a wonderful experience for whoever is open to it. Some moves are a bit heavy and there are some technical errors, but the perfect marriage of story, gameplay, sound and a proper use of quick time events make this a unique, unforgettable adventure that will make lots of games pale in comparison, considering its involvement. Heavy Rain makes you choose between some heart-breaking options, but to the question "should I buy this game?" the answer is simple: Yes.

Napoleon: Total War adds a few important changes. The new reinforcement system and the multiplayer definitely add to the game. The lack of freedom and different factions may detract from the replayability though. You wouldn’t be making a wrong decision to buy this game, but it’s stagnation more than revival after Empire. The next game will have to prove if Total War can be brought back to (new) life.

Adding a storyline was an attempt to meet the requirements of the action-oriented gamers. The essence is still reconnaissance of the ocean though. Varied locations, new objects, improved graphics and the possibility to go on land, give Endless Ocean 2 plenty of innovation compared to its predecessor. If you are not looking for a challenge, but if you merely want to study sea life, then this is the perfect to dream away on after a long and stressful day.

The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom is another unique puzzle game to the Xbox Live’s library. The well-done challenges and the moody style match perfectly and easily justify the purchase of this game.

SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 is an excellent shooter, with fluent controls, wonderful graphics and a smooth campaign. The overactive auto-aim and the immortal team members limit the challenge though and make tactical choices unnecessary. This is countered with ease in the online co-op and the custom missions. The competitive multiplayer is well-designed, giving you hours of fun.

Aliens Versus Predator offers a good mix of tension, horror and stealth, which fans of the series will definitely appreciate. Gameplay is fun and extensive thanks to the different play styles of the three races. Multiplayer matches are hectic in a good way and audio-visually, the game delivers. Single player is short though and the shady balance between the three races messes things up sometimes. Luckily, that doesn’t detract from the game too much. If you’re into hectic fights and if massive amounts of blood don’t deter you, then try Aliens vs Predator.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief can only be described as mediocre. Light variations on the classic turn-based concept won't keep your focus long. Hardcore turn-based RPG gamers will find this game too limiting and the fans of the books and movie will not get into this genre deep enough to create a massive buzz.

Bioshock 2 lives up to the high expectations and manages to surpass them. The small improvements in gameplay give you a smoother ride. The audiovisual style brings you an interesting setting; moral choices have an impact on the storyline and the addition of multiplayer options create a higher replayability. Fans of the first game will be enticed for hours, and newcomers looking for a new shooter won’t be disappointed by Bioshock 2. Highly recommended.

Dante’s Inferno borrows quite some gameplay from other successful franchises, but that doesn’t mean that this game knows exactly how to weave them into a fun and interesting game. The fights are fun and bloody, the enemies and surroundings offer enough variety and its gruesome atmosphere fits the game perfectly. Whoever is looking for a fun action game and doesn’t care about a pint of blood more or less, will want to take a look at Dante’s Inferno.

Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll is a fun game that will be appreciated by fans, but that doesn’t give much content for the casual gamer. You have to have tremendous patience to get through most levels, as they suffer from lousily handled controls. The multiplayer aspect does make up for it. Everything looks joyful and the soundtrack is pleasant. This doesn’t cancel out the lack of good controls and the measly content.

Despite the well designed battle system, the game doesn't manage to surpass mediocrity. Slow advancement, mediocre graphics, clichéd story and insanely difficult trophies will be a thorn in the side of many a gamer. Only crazed fans of JRPG's will manage to keep themselves busy for hundreds of hours. This part of the audience will definitely get their money's worth.

Chime is a surprisingly good game. The puzzle concept in combination with the rhythm is addictive and more complex than you would think at first glance. This alone makes Chime worth the purchase. Its low price and good cause are extra reasons to make this game a must-have purchase.

GSC Game World delivers the best game in the franchises with S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. For many gamers it’ll feel like coming home because the developer has finally shown ‘The Zone’ as it should have been all along. Despite bugs and flaccid textures, everything is used to create the atmosphere in and around Tsjernobyl again. Fans of the series will be able to sigh a breath of releief and enjoy the moody setting. Even gamers who haven’t heard of this series before will enjoy it. Welcome to The Zone.

The combat system is deep and manages to impress. The lack of classes is a downside, but luckily, the tactics and combat setup are able to overcome that – making it possible to create your own classes. The story pulls you along from the start and the cut-scenes are delicious. Enemies aren’t always unique or original, but the total package of small and humongous enemies gives you variety. The addition of multiplayer creates a whole lot more gameplay and fun. In that sense, it’s an important addition. Finally, it’s wonderful to become the White Knight while we wait for the next JRPG. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but definitely not a lousy game either.

Legends of Exidia definitely isn’t a bad in-betweener. It carries a retro-ish feel with it and with tiny variations in its gameplay, it manages to keep you busy. Unfortunately, there are multiple reasons to leave the game where it is. It’s not an engaging story and there are a few flaws in the gameplay, such as not being able to choose the magic you’re going to use. The biggest setback is that after completing the story, you can start all over again when you want to complete the side missions. Those that are in the game itself are not really worth it, but the Hero Mode can surprise you.

Hustle Kings is a excellent pool game with sublime graphics, intuitive controls and an extensive multiplayer. The degree of finishing and the amount of options are recommendable for such a cheap PSN game. Boredom quickly sets in in the single player though, making this mostly a game for pool fanatics who want to challenge others online.

All in all, Toki Tori is a wonderful puzzler, giving you hours of entertainment. Looking for something to play on your netbook or laptop while heading for school, work or friends? Toki Tori is a good choice, especially considering its 4 euro price tag. Also recommended as a Steam present if you have friends that love this genre.

Gamers looking for a beautiful action game with exciting storyline and an interesting setting need to look no further than Mass Effect 2. The improved gameplay formula creates a fluent experience and audio-visually the games goes all out. It may be a bit early to dish out “game of the year”, but Mass Effect 2 has everything to get that title. Highly recommended for every game lover.

We don’t exactly mind being ‘stuck’ with such a top-class game so soon in the year. The bar has been raised tremendously high for the RPG-shooter genre in 2010. If you want to dethrone Mass Effect 2, you’re going to have to pull out all the stops. If you’ve just begun your Mass Effect adventure, we suggest that you buy the first one cheaply, so you can continue playing with your own Shepard in part two. That way you can fully enjoy the spectacle BioWare has provided. We can’t wait for the third and final act of this trilogy.

It’s been a while since I’ve happily played a beat’em up. Tatsunoko vs Capcom struggles a bit with its matchmaking online, but even there it’s relatively fluent. It looks decent and everyone can create sparks on-screen by a very simple control set-up. Want to go back in time, then nostalgia will kick in when you play it with an typical arcade controller. Worth a shot? Definitely!

All in all, MAG is a more than decent game and it comes recommended for anyone loving multiplayer. The tactical element is deep enough to make MAG a very good game, but it can also tackle it. You’ll be dependent on the tactical skills of your fellow players to get good results. If everyone does what they are supposed to, then the satisfaction will be high. When things go awry, then frustration will soon follow. Aside from the occasional map that is too large, there are no structural errors a gamer will get stuck on. The question is whether the lack of a single player will deter some gamers.

Death by Cube seemed like a very good game at first. The first half hour I had incredible fun, but fast the notes were increasingly red, meaning bad, worse, impossibly bad. The game has potential, but having to replay a level eight times to unlock enough coins to advance, is a tad overboard. The pure chaos and difficulty make for a lack of tactic. You're basically raping your controller, in the hope of escaping the battlefield alive, realizing you've only gathered a measly 350 coins. That's with the next level costing 4600 coins. It's not a bad game, but it does pay homage to its title. Dying by cubes is your infernal fate in this game.

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment may not be innovative, but it is a decent turn-based RPG, pleasing both the fans as the newcomers to the genre.

Dark Void, despite its few fun and innovative perks, is a mediocre game. Particularly the story and the mission building makes it ...well… average. Fans of third person shooters may have some evenings of fun, but it lacks in length and multiplayer. That’ll probably make it fade into obscurity rather fast. Maybe it serves as a good basis for a better, more developed sequel? As a budget game and for the fans it’s a “yes”. For everyone else: there’s better out there.

Some fans may be disappointed with the lack of weapons at first, but the developers have managed to create an excellent alternative. The loneliness and the nightmares create a sensation of fright, increased by the game toying with you psychologically. It does so by using information you give it, whether consciously or not. Combining that with a strong storyline, wonderful graphics and entertaining puzzles, makes this game come highly recommended for every horror-survival fan looking for a change.

Army of Two: The 40th Day beautifully follows the footsteps of the first game, with quite a lot of innovation and improvement. Nicely created characters, varied gameplay and supporting soundtrack drag you through the story from start to finish. You need to get used to the camera stance, but quickly, you’ll appreciate its benefits when covering. Certain graphics could’ve been better, but all in all, it’s a decent action-packed game.

The total package is tasty, but not entirely satisfactory, after completing all the missions. The motion sensitive controls are perhaps not the best option, but they are the most fun. A bit of imagination gets you far, but the execution of the spectacular moves are handled by the game itself. If you want a decent flight sim on Wii - despite it arcade-ish feel - don't hesitate to buy this one.

Matt Hazzard is back and its impressive. The game is a very decent sidescrolling shooter and has humour to boot. It will probably get a bit much every now and then, but eventually, you will grab that controller again just because it’s so fun and addictive. It’s hard to find fault with the game, and entirely impossible to let it weigh down the final judgment. A top game for the virtual arcade halls.

Darksiders is surprising on every front. The right balance between story, a solid fighting system and challenging puzzles will make you want to finish this game. Add the unique graphical style and Darksiders is the first must-own of the year.

Bayonetta manages to (handily) surpass the high expectations from fans. The action is fluent and over-the-top, the images you see are very nicely done and sound-wise, the game is up there with the best. Combining a comical story with visually interesting settings and competitive online leaderboards will give you a game that every action fanatic should at least have tried. Highly recommended.

It was a long wait for Divinity II but it was worth it. It's a solid RPG in a wonderfully constructed world. It's alive and bustling; fighting is well-designed and novelties like 'mindread' are actually a surplus instead of some gimmick. Flying around like a dragon, spewing fire is the icing on the cake.

The Crystal Bearers has turned out to be a good game, doing graphically excellent on the Wii. Averaging 20 hours, it’s not too long and it provides plenty of variation with the min-games. The camera is a downside though. Despite it all, it is a good game for every RPG-lover who also owns a Wii.

This game isn’t worth a full release. The best Van Halen songs could’ve been offered as DLC. The whole game feels old and unpolished. It feels like a quick buck for Activision, without a deserving game for the fans in return. Compare this to Rock Band: The Beatles or even Guitar Hero: Metallica and you can’t deny it’s an inferior product. Only for fans who truly can’t wait. Everyone else, wait for the budget version.

Buzz! Quiz World tries to offer an alternative for the console version. Unfortunately this game doesn’t really succeed in bringing forth a real quiz feel, especially because of the limitations of the PSP. Its short lifespan – with all modes – will make you put down this game relatively fast.

To give Alien Breed Evolution a sscore isn’t easy. It has impressive graphics, atmoshere and brainless action. On the other hand, the gameplay is weak. When you get annoyed by it, there’s something wrong. It has a boring story, the controls are restrictive and after half an hour, you’ll have seen it all. Unfortunately, the strong graphics can’t cover this up. It had potential, but it hasn’t turned out to be a game of extraterrestrial heights.

Rubik's Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH isn’t aimed at every gamer. It’s mainly for the puzzle fan who wants to prove that he can tackle that darned cube very fast. It’s mainly for the seventy puzzles you’ll want to buy this, because it’s more satisfying to complete the cube with your own two hands.

Q-Games has succeeded in bringing a classic game genre back to life for the fourth time in a row, this time with a very innovative PixelJunk Shooter. Puzzling with water, lava and ice – while shooting enemies and saving miners – is surprisingly fluent and offers quite some challenge without getting frustrating. This game comes highly recommended. We look forward to PixelJunk Shooter: Encore.

Despite the few minor flaws in The Saboteur, this game is worth its money. If you want to give depressed Paris its colour back and in the meantime go mental on anything smelling of Nazis, then The Saboteur happily obliges. It keeps you coming back to your console for more. A wonderful final act for Pandemic Studios.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories has turned out a re-imaging of the original, more than a regular remake. The story has remained largely the same, but a deep experience it is nonetheless. Gameplay-wise there have been a number of additions. Fighting is no longer possible and running is sometimes all you can do. Mostly you’ll be doing puzzles with the Wii Remote, thusly unraveling the mysteries of Silent Hill. The changes in gameplay, from reconnaissance and talking to the psychiatrist, to the start of a nightmare give variation and a good pace. It can however become tedious. Nightmares in itself could’ve been done better too. Now it’s sometimes annoying and the overview is lacking, even though that doesn’t become too much of a burden.

Codemasters has delivered another racing gem with Dirt 2. If you’re into exciting multiplayer races, a varied and extensive single-player campaign and racing in beautiful environments, then this game is definitely worth it. For every fan of any type of racing, this is a must-have. If you look well enough, you’ll even be able to get this game rather cheap.

For me, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks definitely belongs in the world of Hyrule. It fits in perfectly with the other adventures of cell-shaded Link and that makes it a tad easy. Zelda-fanatics don’t need to worry, because there’s plenty of challenge to keep you occupied for a bit. Unfortunately, that means digressing from the storyline, something you’ll automatically do in a Zelda-tale. This lengthens the life of Spirit Tracks, but nevertheless it’s a short (but powerful) adventure.

Pop Island is a very simple game that revolves entirely around Capture The Flag. Because the game can be shared with seven other friends, that makes it a wonderful multiplayer-game. The matches are short, but pretty intense and chaotic. Odenis Studios has not forgotten those who fly solo, and also offers them a nice experience for only 500 DSi Points.

I think I know which game created those mad Raving Rabbids. Those poor creatures must have played Stop Stress: A Day of Fury and gone bonkers. Seeing how the gameplay creates chaos and frustration, playing this game doesn’t only increase your stress, but it gives you a sore shoulder to boot. Concept-wise, it was fine, but the execution is very disappointing.

Avatar: The Game hasn’t managed to avoid the movie-tie-in curse. Gameplay is repetitive and uninspired. Controls are lacking and the story isn’t deep enough. Audiovisually, the game definitely looks good, but graphics alone don’t make a game interesting. Avatar: The Game is a missed opportunity that could offer a nice little diversion for those who are waiting for the movie.

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game for Wii is mostly a teaser for the movie or an extra for after you’ve seen that movie. It’s not a great game, but doesn’t disappoint either. The atmosphere on Pandora and the rage against the intruders carry this title. If you don’t mind a rather low pace in your game, then you might as well ignore the repetition in the Wii Remote-swinging.

Despite the large offer of game types, off-road vehicles and race tracks, MX vs ATV Reflex doesn’t manage to kick up a lot of dust. The new Reflex system looks promising on paper, but in practice is a bit too unstable to guarantee an intuitive control system. Add the faulty graphics and the sometimes annoying sound effects and you’ve got a game that even fans of the genre will find hard to enjoy.

Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes offers a totally new battle concept for turn-based rpg’s. The puzzle-styled confrontations require patience and tactical guile, but despite the ingenuity, it remains accessible, challenging and varied. Recommended for rpg-fans and puzzle-lovers.

We delve into the archives of Resident Evil once again and reach part Zero. Capcom has ported the Camecube straight into a Wii-version and offers those who have missed to play it. Know that it’s a very challenging survival horror game, one that can even make you sweat at the lowest difficulty. Aside from that, the gameplay is dated and you will be cursing and searching at first.

Also on the PSP, Tekken 6 has turned out wonderfully. This fighting game doesn’t have to admit defeat to its bigger console-brother at all. Graphics and sound are of a high level, controls are perfect and the forty fighters – with their own moves – won’t quickly bore you. Too bad there’s no online multiplayer, a contemporary must of this genre.

Gravity Crash contains a fun diversity in planets and levels. The game is challenging and pushes the player to keep doing better. The graphics and the soundtrack finish it off. If you’re still not bitten by the retro-virus, this developer (Just Add Water) might give you the final push with Gravity Crash.

Assassin's Creed 2 manages to wipe away most of the criticisms towards the previous game and delivers a gameplay experience you shouldn't miss. It's varied and addictive; character animations are realistic and fluent; the story is excellent and audio-visually it is good looking. It deserves a place in your game collection.

Improved gameplay, dark atmosphere, unlockables and several surprises await purchasers of Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. This is yet another solid railshooter – after Dead Space Extraction – with some horror elements. Graphically, this is one of the better titles on the Wii console. Not getting any room to move is only a minor setback. If you’ve enjoyed The Umbrella Chronicles, this title won’t disappoint. Must have for Resident Evil fans.

Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues feels the strain of several downsides, but the overall setting and typical Lego-humour will entice children, adults and experienced gamers nonetheless.

It plays like and looks as nice as the PS3 version. Over thirty brand new, highly inspired levels await. Making your own levels and downloading others are child's play, which will make this game sit in your PSP for a very long time to come. It's unfortunate that there's no co-op, one of the nicer features of the PS3-version. That's why it's not getting 90%, but nevertheless, it comes amazingly recommended.

Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines has its flaws and should’ve received some tweaking here and there. Still, the game should not be underestimated. Storyline pulls you in, the open world invites you for many hours of gameplay and the side missions keep the whole interesting. Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines has laid out the basis for future Assassin’s Creed games on Sony’s handheld, with the addition of a few improvements.

Jambo Safari is a fun game, ideal for children aged 3 to 12. They can learn about African wildlife in a playful way. Family members and friends will be able to enjoy the minigames for a few hours, but replayability for them is rather low, making the graphically sub-par Jambo Safari more a treat for young kids or wildlife lovers.

Left 4 Dead 2 is – despite the same formula – a big step forward. People who have played the first game, will feel a little cheated, as there aren’t many changes. Following the umpteenth adrenaline rush with your friends however, you will have forgotten all about that. The many extra’s in this second installment justify it being a stand-alone version. Hours of gameplay await that you cannot find in every co-op shooter. Simple but deep, it’s not a given in every game.

Maxis has created a mature and complete expansion with Sims 3: World adventures. Fun puzzles, relic hunting and meeting new people will make you feel like the smashing holiday is over before you know it. It'll make you want to go on a next trip immediately. For all those adventurous Sims-fans out there: this addictive expansion is worth it!

Gratuitous Space Battles is an interesting mix of puzzles and strategy. Action fans won’t find this interesting, but those tactical puzzling fans who love a steep learning curve will definitely enjoy this game. It’s quite expensive for an indie game, but luckily, there’s an extensive demo for those who want to make sure they buy the right thing.

Codemasters can finally please all the Formula One-fans with a new game. It doesn’t disappoint, but doesn’t wow either. Real fans will have plenty to do with all the official tracks and cars. Someone looking for a simple racing experience will not entirely be satisfied. You can do a quick race, but a championship will be one of the long haul, requiring plenty of time per race.