Dead Space 2 is unlikely to win any prizes for originality and, as a result, despite all the chaos and terror on screen it feels like a very safe sequel. It's still one though that will frequently leave you gasping for breath and, on more than one occasion, take it away; a game that, like the body of a dismembered Necromorph, is the result of some precision execution.

This game truly feels like a Bond game. Moreover, it makes you believe you are playing the legendary James Bond and few other Bond games achieve this. For this reason, I whole-heartedly recommend it to fans of the James Bond franchise. However, those looking for a high-quality game should exercise caution.

My impression is that Quake Arena Arcade is a half-hearted reboot of a dying game.

Megamind: The Blue Defender is a below than average attempt at a platformer.

It won't win any new fans nor will it disappoint the market it was aimed at. Worms: Battle Islands is a thoroughly addictive game and must be played amongst friends to truly enjoy it.

Put simply, there's nothing quite like Fable III on the market, and if you're willing to look past the game's simple combat and limited quest interaction, you'll find Lionhead's latest to be one of the most unique and enjoyable games this year.

Simply put, Time Crisis: Razing Storm isn't going to win over the doubters.

Overall, Rock Band 3 is a huge success that, in all honesty, should put Guitar Hero to rest.

In essence, Alan Wake: The Writer is just the conclusion to Alan's current journey. There is very little new content. What's there is brilliant; the gameplay is straightforward and fun, the animation is top quality, sounds are spot-on and there are some really innovative set-pieces.

Just the simple chance to be able to get behind the wheel of a car that controls like a ballistic missile with cup holders and a stereo, and do all you can to contradict the stern message of TV shows like Police, Camera, Action that high speed police pursuits aren't the coolest thing in the world is worth the price of admission on its own. In fact, the only potential crime that could be committed here would be if you allowed Hot Pursuit to escape your attentions.

NHL 11 isn't a headline grabbing advance on NHL 09 or 10, it's an extension, the next logical step in a yearly franchise that brings something to a sport many thought they would ever see – sophistication.

Apparently clocking in at around 60 hours and with DLC promised, this is a gargantuan slice of epic adventure that will keep you well and truly immersed for weeks to come – you can bet your bottom bottle-cap on it.

Medal of Honor may not be perfect but it has more than enough going for it to live with the big boys of the genre. As a package, it's a robust offering with extremely high production values and plenty of content to keep shooter fans happy.

It doesn’t happen very often but a hidden gem has slipped under the radar with Scorpion: Disfigured. On first inspection you might dismiss it as ‘just another shooter’. I implore you to look a little deeper as you will find that this game blossoms.

Somewhere in Comic Jumper is a solid game, but it's buried underneath muddy controls, terrible jokes and some odd design choices.

It's a high-quality game and a very successful reboot of a failing series – it's just not as good as it should be.

FIFA 11 isn't as instantly enjoyable, comfortable or easy a game as FIFA 10, instead it's one that rewards your perseverance with perhaps the greatest simulated soccer ever to grace a home console.

Taken as a whole, F1 2010 is a maddening experience as, in spite of the numerous flaws it undoubtedly has, it is capable of throwing up some of the most intense, exciting racing moments you are likely to find in a game.

Civilization V is an awesome game and one of the best (if not the best) empire management games available.

Blade Kitten is, overall, a disappointing experience. While functional, it does little to impress and even though it may last a while, there is little impetus to play beyond the first level.

Halo: Reach is undoubtedly one of the biggest games of this year, and although it's sad to know that there isn't going to be another one any time soon (well, not from Bungie anyway), it's also good to know that – over the eight years that Halo has been around – Bungie have managed to take every part of each game, and mix them together into one big recipe for success – for avid fans and newcomers alike, for years to come.

Amnesia is a very difficult game to sum up. The best way to describe it is the slow, spooky, chilling, atmospheric train ride to Hell rather than the insane, kill all monsters action game concept usually associated with the Land of the Dead.

The story might be forgettable, the cut scenes are unimpressive and the first few hours are extremely slow. Get over these faults however and Ruse reveals itself to be an intuitive, complex but nevertheless accessible experience.

Highly recommended for lovers of action and near essential for Spider-Man and comic book fans, Shattered Dimensions is amazing, spectacular and a damn good game.

Those who love Kingdom Hearts will get a kick out of the combat and story arcs leading to the original games. As for everyone else, they'll find a fun RPG designed with the PSP in mind which ultimately lacks the certain je ne sais quoi that would make it something truly memorable.

In conclusion, Worms Reloaded is simply the tried-and-tested Worms formula jazzed up a bit with nicer graphics and a few additions.

It's doubtful many will come away under the belief that Mafia II is in any way a better game to Mafia, but fans will find little to complain about over the efforts 2K Czech have poured in to this sequel.

As a single-player experience, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is at best a modicum above average.

The best advice i can give is to trust your own instincts: even after reading this, if the concept and setting still appeal to you, definitely give it a chance. Just don't expect to feel the same way when it's over.

While it's not the worst game every made, it's certainly not going to win any awards, and there are plenty of other puzzle titles on the DS that do what 7 Wonders II does only better.

If you're seeking a fast-paced shooter to tide you over through the Summer of Arcade but also want more than the usual mindless killing sprees, look no further!

Once again then, Madden has produced a highlight reel of new features which, while including something for everyone, still probably won't make it anyone's perfect American Football experience.

Sure, it has its share of faults; the visuals are a bit hit and miss and its long term value is dependent upon a required penchant for time attack chasing, but my God, give in to Hurricane's OTT aesthetics, its arcade handling and its complete disregard for the laws of physics and you'll be in for one hell of a ride.

Starcraft 2 may feel a bit too familiar, given the accepted trend for sequels to reinvent themselves with every iteration but it comes across more as a tried and tested success with enough fresh nuances to keep old school fans happy and attract many more players looking for a new challenge.

For anyone who bought Alan Wake, played through to the end and loved every minute, be sure to download The Signal. It is largely more of the same than an innovative step forward, so if you were not wowed by Wake's adventure the first time round, this new episode is unlikely to convert you.

And it's the fact that the game is free that makes it hard to criticise. Ultimately all you'll be loosing here is time, but then again, there's no shortage of cheap, budget racing games that have more content that World currently showcases.

At approximately four hours in length it's not a long game at all, but while those four hours last they're magical, beautiful and really quite affecting.

Alien Swarm is a free game and has been updated regularly to try to iron out the remaining bugs (excuse the pun). All things considered, as it stands the game is a little disappointing and falls short of its true potential.

Blacklight: Tango Down isn't going to set the world alight – it suffers from a few too many annoying design choices, is lacking any form of serious innovation and can't quite stand toe-to-toe with the big boys of the genre. What it can do though is offer up a largely enjoyable online shooter with a huge array of options at an unbelievably low price.

On the surface, Pacific City is bigger and more vertical than before, the enemies are thicker and quicker, the Orbs are more plentiful and the controls are far tighter, but on the whole, Crackdown 2 ain't no revolution.

Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans is filled with important (and child-pleasingly gory) facts and does to a certain extent succeed in making learning fun. The mini-games are enjoyable overall and well put together, with only some suffering from irritating controls and the game is well aimed at young children, forming almost a love letter to the fans of the original books, although it is quite text-heavy, so don't expect your children to forsake Mario and Zelda for it altogether.

There are problems, but fans of the genre will be able to look past these imperfections and see that this is a far superior game to Agatha Christie. But even so, this is still an average game, especially when compared to the best of the Wii library.

At just £2.39 Ice Road Truckers will provide you with a couple of hours of inexpensive and inoffensive racing fun, but while it’s certainly not a game that will leave you feeling cold it’s also not one that will give you Goosebumps either.

XG Blast! is an entertaining and addictive shooter but Geometry Wars does it better.

There is more than enough content here to keep the majority of fans happy for weeks on end – just expect the occasional twinge of disappointment to tarnish the experience.

So perhaps Electronic Arts are on to something and the best way to enjoy this year's game is to buy it second hand and pay to access the online features. It's certainly an option because, as far as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is concerned, EA get a pass – but only just.

Joe Danger isn't quite Mario on a Motorbike – it doesn't have the depth, variety or genre-shaping progressiveness for that. Instead, it's a warmly nostalgic tribute that manages to land itself in between the inventive, physics-based precision of Trials HD and the frenetic speed runs of Excitebike – which is a pretty impressive trick for anyone to pull off.

There's nothing colourful about Colour Cross; it's a simple puzzle game akin to Picross or a painting version of Sudoku that hasn't been implemented very well.

Although home to some of the longest load times since the Commodore 64, ModNation Racers is nevertheless a hugely entertaining kart racer and certainly the first major threat to the Mario Kart throne since Diddy Kong racing way back on the N64.

Blur is very much a straight forward welding of the kiddie Mario Kart style racers with adult-friendly realism. The result is something that is far beyond expectation. The action is fast, unrelenting and 'on-the-edge-of-your-seat'.

ModNation racers on PS3 is worth all of the praise it is getting right now, but sadly some subtle alterations for the handheld version make those who only own a PSP at a major loss. If you're interested in a Play Create Share experience with Kart Racing, go for the full fat console version instead of this.

There are not many reasons not to buy this game – it’s a bit difficult to get used to at the start and the graphics aren’t as high quality as they could have been. Ignore these minor issues and buy this game – you will not be disappointed!

At times breathtaking, often awe-inspiring and never, ever dull, Red Dead Redemption is already one of 2010's biggest hitters, and is likely to become one of this generation's greatest achievements. A staggering work of art.

It’s an original, varied and faithful rendition of life on the frontier, filled with the kind of quality and eccentricity that we’ve come to expect from Rockstar, and stands on its own merits as one of the best games on PS3.

In every sense Split/Second brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "prime time".

Unless you’ve slavishly scoured every inch of the first two Skate games, it’s hard to recommend throwing down a large slab of cash for this update.

There will be some gluttons for punishment out there who will love Silicon Studio's tribute from end to end, and more power to them for their perseverance against all good reason, but the vast majority of gamers in this day and age will find that 3D Dot Game Heroes wears out its welcome all too soon.

While the added content may not be enough to entice gamers who have already bashed their way through the PC version, Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition is a near essential title for any 360 owner looking to unleash their freakier side and experience the finest that indie gaming has to offer.

What you're left with is a hastily put together, barely competent multiplayer shooter that looks as though it fell out of the PS2 ugly tree and scraped its poorly rendered face on every branch on the way down.

Overall Free Running has done something right in regards to ensuring you know what Le Parkour is all about. Unfortunately as an enjoyable experience Free Running hasn’t quite successfully transferred from the real world to the confines of the Wii.

All in all, Dead to Rights: Retribution is a solid action title, elevated above many others by dint of a canine companion who finally manages to make having a dog in a videogame completely worth it.

Provided you can make it through the disappointing introduction and swallow your outrage every time Kaine makes a show of bending over, Nier is a classic action RPG with some refreshing elements and a reminder that streamlined gameplay need not mean a restrictive experience due to its minimal but innovative weapon and ability upgrade system.

Of course, it’s impossible to avoid the fact that the omission of the myriad of domestic club sides and competitions that form the spine of normal FIFA titles will mean that interest in the game is sure to wane once the Soccer City stadium has emptied for the last time. But the fact that 2010 World Cup is better on the pitch than FIFA 10, combined with the diversity of its modes and its host of official content mean it’s the best piece of tournament merchandise you’ll buy this side of Brazil 2014.

Dark Fall: Lost Souls is aimed squarely at the Myst crowd: if you like taking your time pondering over clues, taking meticulous notes and solving some brain-bending puzzles, then you’ll render a considerable degree of enjoyment from the game. If not, then its tension and suspense will be lost on you thanks to the snail’s pace it takes and the distinct lack of anything remotely exciting happening.

Telltale Games have created a charming little adventure – a rare low budget gem tucked away amongst the PSN dross.

Some people will hate Splinter Cell Conviction just because it’s different – you know what, it’s there loss. Bar a few pacing issues and a little too much emphasis on gunplay towards the end of the game, Conviction nevertheless delivers a fantastic experience that is great when played alone and nothing short of terrific when played with a friend.

The game will let the experienced player build a unique team and lead them to glory in the league or against like-minded PSP owning friends. But it's a game that a huge portion of the playing public simply won't enjoy due to the lack of actual sport in what looks on the surface to essentially be an American Football game.

Lead and Gold’s biggest problem is how it doesn’t take advantage of its setting in a meaningful way. The Wild West was such an iconic time, and has been immortalized in countless classic movies and books, but the game doesn’t really get across that creaky old west vibe that it should.

Maybe if it had a modicum of quality – I mean you would think that the extra development time provided by the wait for a new publisher might have led to a more polished, refined experience, sadly, just as in the case with nearly every other primetime TV tie-in, Prison Break: The Conspiracy is little more than a rushed, poorly developed title with very little in the way of a saving grace.

And, well, that’s about it. You jump between islands (well, still shots of islands), you give and receive arbitrary gifts from Zack and the other girls which supposedly determine who will and won’t be your friend (these girls really are quite shallow y’know) and you play a bunch of dire mini-games. If that sounds fun – Paradise is the place for you, or Zack Island, or, whatever it’s called.

Having said that, if you’ve played every other racer and are just gagging for more speed, you can’t go terribly wrong with Anarchy. Just be sure not to aim your expectations too high for a game that implements every other feature from every other racer to a slightly lesser degree.

It’s still polished, still clever – shame it isn’t anything particularly special.

Just Cause 2 isn’t a bad game, but it’s not brave enough to see its expansive vision come to fruition. The next gen freedom it offers is scuppered in favour of strictly linear progression once you’ve chosen which of the missions you’d like to do next.

It’s is a huge-improvement over its erratic predecessor and the kind of top-notch, no-holds-barred, sandbox action game many people hoped Mercenaries 2 would be a couple of years ago.

Red Steel 2 has been carefully crafted from top to bottom, and with the exception of a few balancing issues and a weak storyline, it manages to excel, both as a game in its own right and as a showcase for what can be achieved with the Wii MotionPlus hardware.

How To Train Your Dragon does some things very well, and when you’re actually engaging in the battle sections of the game, it can be enjoyable. That said, this takes up a mere 40% of the experience, the rest being the titular ‘Training’ and upkeep of your dragon, along with all of the other menial tasks to get involved with.

Supreme Commander 2 is a much better venture than I originally expected, and overall it’s a very enjoyable RTS, despite the odd problem or two that crops up.

It’s like a favourite toy: well-loved, and good for a quick blast of nostalgia now and again, but nothing else.

Infinite Space is a good idea, and it does what it sets out to achieve.

Online Tiberium Twilight can be a fantastic experience, but it comes at the expense of a shallow and dull single player game. Together with some draconian DRM protection these things work against what should have been the crowning achievement in the C&C saga, a game that was destined to go out in a blaze of glory, yet one that will end up causing a huge division of it’s numerous fans.

Obviously it’s not for the faint hearted, but anybody who wants an intense shooter with a twist should really consider taking a trip down to the Metro.

If you’re the kind of person who loves to watch dramas like Survivors, Coronation Street or EastEnders on TV and are disappointed by the overuse of violence in modern games, then I recommend this game as there really aren’t many other titles like it that focus solely on drama. However, if, like me, you prefer games that blow your mind – steer clear of this one.

Well worth the pricetag and, frankly, essential for fans of the original.

Resonance of Fate, like so many eastern RPGs before it, is not in any way a bad game. In fact, it's actually quite a good game, and if it was the first of its kind or even a member of a rarer breed, it might be considered something of a masterpiece.

An absolutely fantastic remake.

The undeniable truth about Eye of Judgement Legends is that without the use of real life cards, the game simply doesn’t stand up on its own. Every element of the game has been carefully constructed, from the effective aesthetics to the longevity present; it’s a real shame that forgiving the game’s lack of depth is near impossible.

The linear beginning may disappoint hardcore players but Final Fantasy XIII is a journey from start to finish and it is worth losing a few days or weeks over.

Will Yakuza 3 prove the break out hit that Sega hopes it will be? Probably not – It will however remain a cult game adored by those who embrace its quirky but wholly undeniable charms.

While Final Fantasy XIII is ultimately an enjoyable experience, the change in pace will throw off fans of turn-based battles or those who enjoyed the immediate grandeur of the twelfth installment.

Competition has a natural tendency to breed innovation and excellence, and in this case the comparisons between Bad Company 2 and Modern Warfare 2 are very welcome as they only server to emphasize how excellent both games are, and how, after all their efforts and exploits, DICE and B-Company are now comfortably relaxing in the V.I.P section of the FPS genre.

It’s a solid package overall then, despite the let down of the rather limited single player.

A definite must play!

This really is nothing more than lazy emulation of a much loved series.

If you’re looking for a song pack then, you could do a hell of a a lot worse than Party Classics, and it’ll probably come out quite a bit cheaper than raiding the DLC store – just keep in mind that’s all your buying.

It's a shame it remains such a one-trick-pony, but at this price tag, you really shouldn't be expecting anything else.

Overall, Greed Corp is a highly enjoyable title, but one that needs your devotion in sticking it through a few plays before you truly appreciate it.

The art style and overall production of the game reeks of class, even if the mechanics aren't as responsive and enjoyable as they were in echochrome.

Enter Heavy Rain with an open mind and no expectations and it will grab your attention from start to finish. Although its sentiment will fail to hit home with everyone, this is a game that should be experienced by anyone with a love for gaming.