The crescendo of the plot builds to a ludicrous point - the influence of (now canceled) 24 is extremely apparent, but as the one-man-army that is Sam careens towards his final goal the narrative goes a little over-the-top - not Metal Gear lunacy, but certainly a climax uncharacteristic of the series.

Monster Hunter Tri is well worth a look for JRPG aficionados and a welcome new step in the right direction for the Wii, though casual gamers may not enjoy the opening grind.

At just under twenty bucks, Shank is great value for money. The look and score is sex on legs, the gameplay is solid and racking up combos is painfully addictive.

Game Freak wanted to reel people back in with Pokémon Black, and they have made an outstanding new addition to the series.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a well-made fighting game that is at its best in a room full of friends with a passing interest in Tekken in general. It's a love letter to Tekken fans, and people who want to see a kangaroo beat the **** out of a dinosaur.

Perhaps the largest compliment we can bestow is that it feels very old school, like a spiritual remake of Silent Hill rather than a bold new statement.

If you like racing games and customising your car get Midnight Club: Los Angeles. Apart from the fact that the AI difficulty setting is locked on "Nightmare" it's a flawless street racing experience. Just be prepared to scream at your TV a couple of times until you come to grips with the fact that You. Will. Never. Win.

Multiplayer races do capture a bit of that spirit, but the Single Player gameplay is more exploratory in nature - and the true heart of LBP Karting lies in its creation mode. Making tracks and playing them with friends and checking out the awe-inspiring work of others is what LittleBigPlanet has always been about - and LittleBigPlanet Karting is no different.

Valkyria Chronicles II is a great game. While it feels a bit more like a spin off than a sequel to the first Valkyria Chronicles story-wise, the gameplay is even better and much more involving.

If you don't have time for an incredibly long game, don't buy Final Fantasy XIII.

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.

I'm a casual metal fan, and I have a pretty decent knowledge of the tropes of the metal universe, so most of the humour and the overall theme of the game wasn't lost on me, but I'd hesitate to play the multiplayer if it's simply more of RTS lite gameplay. If you're big on your metal, Brütal Legend was made for you and you'll learn to deal with the quirks in the gameplay. Alternatively, if you hate metal there isn't much appeal for you here.

Darksiders 2 "the game" is worth your time. Darksiders 2 the story is a little forgettable - and that's a bit disappointing, considering the first game contains one of my favourite moments in recent video game history.

Its remarkable graphics and well thought out and voiced characters mark it as a definite achievement, and the sheer length and breadth of it means dozens of hours of entertainment. Plus there is a dog smoking a pipe.

It's definitely worth your money if you're a fan of arcade racers.

Crysis 3 almost knocks it out of the ballpark on so many levels. The controls and visuals are certainly spot on, but the level design and pacing both have sporadic moments that let it, and you, down.

With almost every aspect of the game improved and streamlined, one disappointing thing - and something that seriously limits the game's potential - is the lack of a good ladder & match-making system right out of the box.

It's a solid effort from a veteran of arcade PSN titles, and unless it's a part of some meta joke from Creat Studios about it flying under the radar, it's definitely a title which deserves a little more love than it's received.

Need for Speed Most Wanted does a great job at what it's supposed to - the cars feel good, the game looks pretty and the multiplayer is phenomenal. Some curious decisions hurt more than they help, and I'll never get used to the LSD inspired intro videos, but overall it's evidence that Criterion are getting ever closer to nailing that balance between arcade and simulation racing.

It may be strange to say, but part of me wants to live in the Shanghai portrayed in Army of Two: The 40th Day. Not the world crumbling around you part, or the millions of civilians dying part either, more so the absolute black or white dividing line between good and evil, without even the slightest shade of gray.

At the end of the day Guitar Hero: Metallica offers just enough to justify it not just being another track pack - just barely offering enough to be worth purchasing yet another Guitar Hero game.

By and large, PixelJunk Shooter 2 is actually a better game than the first. There are more toys, more variety, online play (in theory) and arguably a better use of colour and sound as well. The drawbacks actually arise out of being a massive fan of the PixelJunk games and expecting more.

One hell of a surprise. I thought I'd have fun playing it, but didn't think it would be this much fun. If you're looking for something a little lighter during this bumper release schedule and dig some fast paced intergalactic action, Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One has you covered.

I wouldn't suggest purchasing a DS for Ghost Trick - it isn't a system seller. While it's definitely worth experiencing, it is more a story than a game and while I've reread plenty of my favourite books more than once, some time needs to pass before I can.

It's well paced, offers cool vehicle sections to break the routine and still has you wanting more at the end.

Any fan of wrestling - old or new - with friends should pick up All Stars (and a case of Stone Cold's favourite beverage) - though it doesn't have the same strength for those playing alone.

Tropico 4 carries similar almost A-grade production values to its predecessors, is thematically identical, is bug-free if not entirely polished visually and it has a raft of new features for you to enjoy - it just struggles to earn that numerical update to its name.

So while World Cup South Africa definitely has some improvements, FIFA 10 is the better game.