I've got to recommend it as a purchase - if only because the fantastic free-running, beautiful Italian vistas and engrossing Animus world far outweigh any ludicrous ending or shaky start. If you didn't finish the first Assassin's Creed however, you would do well to find some background information on the story using the magic of the internet - something you really shouldn't have to do.

Maybe Platinum Games had deliberately pushed the game so far over the top it became ridiculous and stupid, not out of an attempt to circle on round from stupid back to awesome in that out-there-crazy-no-holds-barred-explosion way, but as a direct parody of all of the previous games which have tried to do that. Maybe Bayonetta isn't a terrible game, but is in fact the pure utilisation of irony to mock both the game manufacturers and its fans!

With an intensely addictive gameplay model - the sort usually seen in the likes of Angry Birds - and expertly created tracks and game modes, Trials Evolution is a must-buy.

The new music and radio stations are a testament to the attention to detail you'd expect from Rockstar. They went all out to secure new music for the game as well as create brand new shows, ads and news stories, which is fantastic.

Rather than merely adhering to a score like a Metacritic slave, I will say this: FIFA 10 plays a better, more realistic game of football than any football game that has come before it. To do this it has had to take some subtle liberties, but the overall outcome - as we stated up front - is the best footy game of its time. Until next year, or - our sadly frequent disclaimer - if Konami pulls Pro Evolution out of its funk.

What the game doesn't skimp on is the variation in the puzzles - though primarily physics based brain teasers, the game features its fair share of mind-bending timed based and even AI exploiting challenges as well.

For an arcade downloadable title Mark of the Ninja brings substantial value for money. A single playthrough will keep you entertained for over a half dozen hours and that's just the tip of the sword.

People with both a DS and a PSP will probably want to get the game on the DS - it's the better version of the game. If you're a PSP loyalist though, Chinatown Wars definitely rates as a must have on your handheld of choice.

The game plays like it was borne of a scientific experiment designed to test the best methods for delivering interactive horror fiction.

There’s a load of play modes to stop you doing the same old thing over and over again, including kickass, not internet play. The funny thing is most of us will settle for obsessively playing one mode anyway, and once again busting for just one...more...go. Not bad for a ten buck investment.

The lack of progress with the AI continues to be an anchor on the series, but on every other count the game is an outstanding experience, well worth the money.

There's the real sense of consequence to your actions, and it's something we've not seen in games for a long time. The augmentations are diverse and interesting enough to also force you into making some legitimately tough decisions.

FIFA 13 - by way of first touch control, improved Attacking AI and skill-bridging features - is the best football game on the market...Thanks to a few janky player collision interpretations, some frustrating AI decisions and a sub-par commentary it's not the best football game it can be - but that won't stop me from playing it for hours and hours and hours and...

The gorgeous graphics, proper radio customisation, the much better multiplayer and the phenomenal video editor and what it boils down to is... Grand Theft Auto IV on the PC is the definitive GTA IV experience. You haven't played GTA IV before now - not properly. I guess what I'm really saying is... PC Supremacy.

It takes a hard-line approach at strategy gaming and despite a few hiccups it conquers all those in its path. If it comes to a vote though, I say we go back to Rome and we fix that iffy AI.

It's expertly paced, cleverly written, gorgeously refined and beautifully executed. What surprised me the most is the sheer level of detail involved. Personalised character elements, the duel for loot system and the depth of your skill tree customisation makes playing for yourself more satisfying than ever. Symbiotic AI and meta-challenge systems give you more reason to fight on. And a combination of loot-chasing and story make Borderlands 2 a must own.

At the end of the day there will be gamers who buy Fable 2 expecting a masterpiece of coding finesse, with every bug squished and a seamless play experience. The nature of the game makes that hard. The reaal challenge is if you can handle the design elements that pull you out of the game world and into the mechanics of gaming. There's plenty of people who can meet that challenge – if you're one of them, you'll love this.

Series newcomers will be a little confused story wise, but they'll have the benefit of experiencing the game's combat at its highest level; the combat might be a secondary system in the AC series, but at least in Brotherhood it's delivered in a satisfying manner.

The biggest issue I face with Left 4 Dead however is that I can't stop playing it. And when I can't play it I'm thinking about it.

If you haven't already played it on the 360, get it right now and see what you have been missing. If you have played it on the 360, get it right now and play it properly, the way it should have been in the first place.

Dark Souls won't be for everyone - that is guaranteed - but if it hooks you it won't let go. When you do stop playing - for work, school or to get some plasterboard and caulk for the brand new holes in your wall - you know it will only be a matter of time before you go back.

Dead Space will play with your mind and keep your heart racing. While the horror element eventually gave way to action and thrills, I couldn't help but feel alert and ready for more the entire way through.

It's a different beast to its predecessors, but it's incredibly addictive and easy to start playing at 4:00 and only realise you haven't moved since at 11:00. The way Firaxis have used personalisation to give you a sense of attachment to what are otherwise personality free characters is excellent and makes XCOM an excellent addition to any gamer's library.

It's pretty easy when it comes down to it. If you're looking for an offline experience, look elsewhere. Battlefield 3 has a decent singleplayer - it's certainly better than some other games I've played recently - but it's not mind-blowing. If it's the best multiplayer game in the world that you're after, get your affairs in order. You're re-enlisting soldier.

From the multi-threaded plot down to the variety of suits Cole wears, LA Noire has an unmistakable charisma about it - it's a fantastic game. A few anomalous missteps hold it back from being 'the next big thing', but if it was perfect to begin with they'd have nowhere to grow. As it is now, I really want to see what Team Bondi do next.

The biggest problem with Peace Walker overall, is that it would be an amazing console title. The controls have been well worked out, but they would have been flawless on a DualShock 3 with a second analog stick for camera control. There is so much stuff packed into the game, with the Extra Ops, Mother Base, Monster Hunter Island and all of the other bonuses that it seems a shame to cripple it with the limited hardware of the PSP.

Modern Warfare 3 really is the best multiplayer shooter on console right now. It's not changing the landscape of shooters - it's honing it to its sharpest point. It's a no-brainer purchase for console gamers.

Dishonored, like Thief, or Deus Ex, is one of those timeless games you'll play a dozen times. The game world is gorgeous - a steampunk City 17, the story is spectacularly written and almost depressingly dark and the gameplay is wonderful - either as a stealthy game, or an action fighter... or anywhere in between. Dishonored is all about giving - it gives you the weapon, it gives you the name, and then it gives you the choice - vengeance is entirely up to you.