The series has had a good run, but it just hasn’t really evolved much from it’s initial outing and unless they can do a complete reinvention on the next installment then Actvision should just call it a day.

It’s a word I keep repeating through the review, but much like flOw gave us something resembling a game but that was definitely an experience, this remains a game that is artistically painted into an audio-visual experience that can be both challenging and rewarding.

Some might say that Valve is crazy, putting all these gems in one box. But in doing so it has provided a clear statement of its place among the top ranks, offering value for money as well as truly superb gameplay.

A highly capable albeit niche fighter which plays to the strengths of the DS hardware.

Whether you enjoy one of the many solo modes or take on friends with the excellent and – in my experience so far – lag free online multiplayer, you've a football game that's going to stick with you all season.

It’s not quite the genre defining game it could have been, but EA is definitely heading in the right direction.

While the next gen consoles got a new facelift the PC version seems to have been an afterthought.

It's lacking graphical glamour, but it more than makes up for it with superb sound effects and music – not to mention deep customization and solid multiplayer. It may be running on an old engine, but it's got life in it yet.

This may be little more than a last generation game with upgraded visuals, but it does what it’s supposed to, it’s a fun platformer that‘s not too taxing on the brain.

I’d rate it similarly to Battlefield 2142, purely for the team-based interaction and gameplay, but it doesn’t have the “must play, need upgrades” system that Battlefield has nailed.

It’s hard for me to think of anyone who would find Hot Pixel entertaining, even at its reduced RRP of £19.99. It would be too fast and frantic for young kids, too ridiculously camp at being street for young teenagers and too brain-numbingly dull for anybody with an IQ over 50 to play it for more than half an hour.

Buzz Junior: Jungle Party has all the fun of the buzzer in a much more child friendly game - and if they ask you to play along it really isn't the end of the world, it is quite good fun. Until they beat you, of course.

Flatout Ultimate Carnage is a very solid racing game, it’s fast, it’s fun, has an extensive single player side to it with plenty of variety, which is carried over to a decent online multiplayer, doesn’t hurt that it looks great too. Sadly though that just isn’t enough in this day and age for it to be successful, in a market that is flooded with similar games and coming in hot on the heels of more publicized games it is unlikely that this will get the recognition it deserves.

No substitute for the Orange Box, in short, but without peer on the PSP. And there’s that free Combat Ops multiplayer demo, of course.

The real joy of PGR action is online and the racing is brilliant, especially with friends.

Phantom Hourglass absorbed me and ate my time more so than the Wii Zelda has done. Maybe it’s because it can sit in my bag calling to me, tempting me to do just one more thing. More likely, it’s because Phantom Hourglass is uncluttered, pure and wonderful Zelda gaming at its best.

A big improvement over last year. EA has put a lot of effort to get a well presented, well commentated game of basketball.

Naturally, the game is highly detailed, and the transition to the current console generation has certainly been successful. But you can’t help but notice the amount of aliasing, and it really doesn’t suit Halo 3 in any way.

Reinventing the franchise in a simplistic but addictive manner, the self-proclaimed interactive screensaver is a surprisingly addictive game that will confuse onlookers and anyone within earshot.

Smart and thrill a minute really can go hand in hand and strategy fans used to more hardcore options should try World in Conflict.

Lots to see and do, although I doubt there’s any replay value there.

There is no denying that it is wonderful, and narratively and graphically speaking perhaps Heavenly, but it falls into the trap of many a young console’s first games, an attempt to show off what the console can do rather than what the player can do.

If you are looking for an Ice Hockey game with lots of big hits and injuries then NHL 08 isn’t for you. However, if you’re looking for a good looking, great playing game that makes you think and actually challenges you, then look no further than NHL 08.

If only Codemasters had at least given us the option of something a bit more slippy then this might have been one of the best driving games released this year.

That's one of the main problems with Fatal Inertia, it feels like a half-baked mod to Unreal Tournament rather than a proper game in its own right.

Somewhat tellingly, there isn’t much more to say about NHL 08 – it’s a very good game, but the genre’s moved on and once again PC gamers haven’t been given the chance to see how.

Airborne was supposed to be a WW2 masterpiece, but it failed to be nothing more than a disappointment.

I have had both the best and worst multiplayer battles in this game because the game is balanced very well, but I can’t help but feel like putting a complete focus on multiplayer, and missing out on any tutorial system (besides the odd tip that pops up mid-game occasionally) will lose the game fans.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is by no means perfect, and we'd expect something of an engine overhaul for the next version, but this is no mere cynical yearly update. Recommended.

Chipping in a shot from the rough on the far side of the green, and watching it sink really does come with a sense of achievement, you feel like you earned it. However the number of small glitches and design issues really hinder the enjoyment.

In the end, Two Worlds is a bit like when you know there’s a five pound note hidden under a pile of rancid, squishy, steaming manure – sure, you’d like the money, but is it really worth wading through all that poop to get to it?

The graphics and art direction, the slow unveiling of the story of Rapture’s fall, the sheer creepiness of it all, and the gameplay which, quite often, makes almost every shooter until now seem rather dull in comparison.

Bioshock is a real triumph, a wonderful story told in a beautiful world gone terribly wrong. Xbox 360 owners may balk at a game that doesn't feature multiplayer action but this really shouldn't put you off.

There are 10 basic levels, plus a bunch of challenge-style bonus levels that can be unlocked if you can bear the plodding, outdated gameplay, unresponsive controls, uninteresting graphics, and average sound. Otherwise, frustration and boredom are likely to see Operation: Vietnam being traded in very quickly indeed.

It tries so hard to be all things to all people but for me it tries to walk before it can run. Oh well, no invite for me next year then!

A damn good remake of a damn good game.

The Marathon fan base out there who played the game over 10 years ago will most likely be the only ones to get any real enjoyment out of this one.

It’s certainly not the most incredible PS3 experience out to date, and if you’re going to buy just one PSN game, I’d say unequivocally go for Super Stardust HD, but if you’re a fan of that kind of shooter and fancy a challenge, Nucleus remains a unique, challenging, entertaining if simplistic shooter.

A challenging single player game will last a while, but take it online for some real longevity.

A great concept and it really should have been a great title. But with a poor track list and a front end that implies even Activision views this as a cheap cash in, how can we view it as anything else?

A rewarding endeavour for those who share a passion for this type of sport, though in all honesty will feel considerably flat to those who prefer to spend their time doing more than taking a hard left.

Perhaps not a game for tennis nuts as it's too simplistic to be a realistic representation of the sport but a great fun light-hearted look at the world of tennis and good for some multi-player action.

Screw it, buy the thing as it’ll give you geometry wars beating action, and cheaper than a couple of beers. (At my local anyway).

Ultimately, the game provides plenty of enjoyment, and sits very happily on the 360, slotting itself in as a console game well. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of mindless destruction, and a justification to empathise with the ‘other side’?

Control niggles aside this is a great game. There's imagination in the storyline, context and setting, humour throughout and plenty of fun to be had.

Is it worth purchasing the PC version of Lost Planet if you already own the 360 one? Not really, no. You’ll only play using your 360 controller anyway, so there’s not much point in owning both copies.

If you’re looking for a single player FPS then you really can’t go wrong here, the story is excellent and really drives the action along perfectly, and the attention to detail is superb.

If you’re looking for an action/adventure game for your Xbox 360, which is what this is despite the pretense of an RPG, then there are a lot better ones available than this. But, if you can’t get enough of Harry Potter then this could well be just what you’re looking for.

An incredibly disappointing and frustrating experience.

It's a shame really as EA could have done a whole lot better. The control system could be a lot better, the animation could be better and the cut-scenes could be better.

What we've been given is a game that looks like rallying, but the cars have so much grip, so much power in the brakes, that in the rally sections there's no feeling of driving off road at all.

There are, however, times when the game betrays it's cross-platform development (such as telling you not to switch off your computer while it saves your career progress), yet there's a lot here to make the game worthy of purchase if you're even remotely interested, while snapping this one up should be a no-brainer for established fans of the series.

For anyone curious about the Sims phenomenon that wants a nicely accessible entry point, this will certainly do the job; but avoiding the structural elements and heading straight for the sandbox mode would serve a much better initiation.

Three decent puzzle games with plenty of modes, options and even an online and offline multiplayer.

Rarely do I find myself so absorbed by the characters I play and the world in which they live, and that's a true homage to Techland for creating such an absurdly assimilating game. But the feeling is shattered at times.

Indeed, while it’s not an abomination by any means, and can provide some mild entertainment (more so on multiplayer mode), it’s by no means worth more than a rent.

This is a flawed but decent conversion of an older title based on a flawed but decent movie. That level of consistency is pretty rare these days.

If you’re a Dragonball Z fan this comes recommended, as knowing the characters and understanding the plot will only add to what’s already a decent game. For the rest of us, it’s a fun card-based game that’s only let down by its lack of difficulty and length. Worth looking at.

Sadly rather disappointing. It's all the more disappointing because it promises so much and because it is so reminiscent of the classic "Theme Hospital."

There are so many reasons why Forza Motorsport 2 is a great game. But the main one is that it displays a love of cars that you can engage in, it offers such good handling that you'll believe you could be a racing driver and gives you a taste of how tough that really is.

I can’t help but think that if Microsoft had worried less about putting PC gamers on Xbox Live and more about giving us 360 owners a complete game we could have had something special here, but it just hasn’t happened.

By no means a complete disaster, but by no means worth spending money on.

Cheap, cheerful and a good laugh, even if it does lack a little longevity.

While it remains simplistic overall, Calling All Cars is undeniably a great little multiplayer game, easy to pick up and very fun to have a quick blast on.

The action is very well done, sometimes enthralling, but never progressing beyond the 'shoot him, find key, open door, shoot him...' formula makes the game just a tad too empty to proficiently prosper.

The controls are intuitive, proving there’s life in console RTS games yet, and the game itself is as diverse, challenging and enjoyable as the series ought to be.

It’s not going to break any records or receive any awards, but in this early content dry PS3 time, I’m more than happy to play a game that seems to embrace the nostalgic simple level gameplay of old for less than the price of a "Guitar Hero 2" song pack on the 360.

It's not perfect, but there’s a lot of fun to be had here and it’s something a bit different from the usual Wii titles.

Special praise also has to be dealt to Turbine for creating an MMO that managed to ship in a fairly completed state, and with stability issues kept to a minimum.

It's a shame more effort wasn't put into this release as it just feels rushed and unfinished. The loading times alone are enough to make you want to give up and play something else instead.

A decent, side-scrolling action romp, with admirable multiplayer offering and enjoyable gameplay. This, comrade, is well worth an investment.

The control issues will kill interest in all but the most determined casual gamer, however, and the graphics will cause even those with 20/20 vision to squint from time to time.

Pop Hits remains a solid addition to the series with a lot of great songs that you’ll know, and enjoy singing, but watch out for the style of singing you may require during some of the songs.

The only charge that can really be brought against the game lies within the the aesthetics of the environment.

There is very little to fault Metal Slug: Anthology. Big guns, big vehicles and some colossal enemies is a combination that seldom comes under serious scrutiny, and of all the big platforming shooters out there, Metal Slug owns the field.

This is a great game for kids, adults and families and makes a refreshing change from some of the stuff in the shops at the moment.

It feels rushed, it looks dated and it’s filled with annoying glitches that should have been ironed out during play testing.

My only real problem with Shivering Isles is the not-so-great mission structure and how the worlds of Sheogorath seem a bit more dead than the regular game - despite the beauty of the new world. As a supplement to Cyrodiil, however, they work great.

The atmosphere of the game is so thick that you can cut it...Even though it all ends kind of sudden[ly], S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is still one of the best First Person Shooters I’ve played in a long time, especially if you like the post-apocalyptic atmosphere from games like "Fallout."

Fairly shallow as racing games go but provides upwards of 40 hours of single player action and a never ending supply of online entertainment.

The overall impression is of a game which was created in pieces like a puzzle, and then put together by someone who didn’t quite have the full picture on the front of the box.

This is a slice of simple fun, and a better one you’ll be hard-pressed to find, but it’s simplicity is just a little too basic to hold your attention for long.

The ending is abysmal, although it is nice to see that the crew decide to have a party to ensure that they feel that enough has been accomplished for one day.

GoW2 is exactly what every action/adventure game should aspire to be. Everything from the puzzles to the action to the story are so perfectly in sync that the game becomes less of a game and more of a personal conquest.

For those looking for a strategy game that matched the Second World War in intensity then you may wish to look elsewhere as Making History fails to storm the beaches of excitement and in the end is driven back into the sea.

A backward cousin that tries but fails to live up to the previous achievements of the series. The blame cannot be placed with Amaze Entertainment, as these issues are suffered by other FPS titles on the PSP. The lack of a second analogue stick really impedes the control capability of the machine, and is the main downfall of such titles.

It's generic Pirate fare with caricature characters and plots derived from any Pirate film you care to mention.

It’s expansive, fun, challenging and most of the time, plain hilarious. Yet, concurrently, it’s also in dire need of a makeover and the combat system could do with a refined dusting.

Each character has the classic Tekken combination of throws, punches, kicks and spinny flying kicks that never fail to impress, and since the game is simply about fighting, the characters are balanced beautifully to provide easy to pick up, hard to master gameplay that feels far in advance of the current £6.99 price tag.

A great recreation of the sport and a fine game to boot and is perhaps my favourite title among the PlayStation 3 launch line-up.

Broken, broken, broken.

After playing "Portable Ops" the other week, it's great playing a game that doesn't really demand too much of you, and that's nothing but a plus point. There's no variation in game play, and I'm not too sure about using a mass of people to increase difficulty, but as a whole, the game is just too fun and addictive to allow the faults any right of passage.

It’s very hard to recommend this game, not only do the combination of strategy and button mashing not sit well together, but the game is exactly the same as the PlayStation 2 version.

It is arguable that no game that is directly comparable to Jade Empire in the past two years has been better than it, and that in all probability none will be until "Mass Effect" is released later this year.

This is not actually a bad game but it has some technical flaws going against it. If you’re bored of using guns and in the mood for slicing up some nasty-looking monsters without getting scared out of your wits, by all means pick it up.

While part of the beauty and pure artistry is that it doesn’t hold your hand the whole way, I can’t help but feel that it does lack direction, but it shows off the PS2’s Sixaxis in a more than appealing way, and gives the PS3 an edge of experimentation and originality that could sway the odd savvy gamer.

You can climb to the tip of the cities tallest skyscraper and look out over the whole city, take a sniper rifle up there and look through it’s scope and you can even see some of the smaller details, the draw distance is immense.

It’s all so utterly forgettable so, I guess, just forget it.