The game is still enjoyable, taking down a metallic T-Rex and seeing those limbs fly off in all directions as your katana rips through an enemy’s body is extremely satisfying. The issue is that the game feels empty, soulless; Tecmo seem to have released it for the sole reason to generate additional revenue as they no doubt begin designing Ninja Gaiden 4.

It is a shame as the game has potential that wasn't really delivered upon.

So if you dabble in the Zumba arts from time to time, Zumba Fitness – Core is a perfect game to compliment your normal lessons and for getting your gamer friends to laugh at you.

The idea of Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is great, the execution is poor and what could have been an excellent game now warrants just a single run-through on the single-player campaign before being sold over eBay. Whilst the actual sniping experience is very realistic and on a harder difficulty very immersive, it’s let down by poor visuals, a short campaign, a bare boned multiplayer and thick enemy AI.

Overall I think there are far too many issues with this game to advise you to go out and purchase it. It is good fun in dribs and drabs so if you had a friend to play it with a rental will probably do you, but the severe lack of inspiration from the developers is evident throughout. It just feels like such a lazy game and it’s clear that EA wanted to capitalise on the fans of Army of Two. Sadly.

Overall Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is a love letter to the 1980s cult classic. Sticking to its platforming roots, the game presents a classic difficulty with a new twist on the genre. While it may not be the best of its class by today’s standards, if you’re looking for a challenging platformer with a new visual twist, you may want to give this title a shot.

This is a great starting block for what future MMO gaming and online gaming could be like on consoles and while some seasoned MMO players may be left wanting more, for me it’s enjoyable enough.

You may think this is beginning to sound like a gimped versions of our beloved Trials, and you’d be right. Feeling flat and uninspired, it seems like the folks at Tate Interactive were simply trying to bring a whiff of the Trials gameplay to PlayStation owners. Sadly, what they received was a gutted version that lacks the fundamentals, and fails to add anything new. While it is playable and even enjoyable at times, you will still find yourself asking ‘Why am I not playing Trials?’ But if you don’t own an Xbox, sadly this may be your best bet.

In the end Special Forces: Team X presents us with a shallow multiplayer-only experience that falls short in areas that should be business as usual, and with all the other shooters available for consoles, it’s hard to recommend.

Perhaps Arc System Works need to take their time to rework the engine and bring the game into the new millennium rather than relying on nostalgia. I approach XBLA in hope to find retro classics or inspiring new ideas and while some may consider this a retro classic it just didn't offer me the fond memories I thought it would. Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus may be someone's guilty pleasure but unfortunately it isn't mine.

Overall Pid is an artistic, visually and audibly beautiful game that offers a lengthy experience for the Xbox LIVE Arcade. The majority of the game has the fun, retro platforming we all know and love, but comes along with the extremely tough boss battles that haunt us in our dreams.

The Midway Arcade Origins pack gives modern gamers the opportunity to play through a fantastic collection of some of the best arcade titles, but for those who are used to playing these games from an arcade cabinet, the nostalgic feel may be dampened by awkward controls.

If Sports Champions 2 contained all the previous game’s sports and added a bunch of new ones, it would have resulted in a much more complete title than the current offering we have here. So unless you crave endless character customisation with a few regular sports (that have been done better in other games) thrown in, then you are better off picking up the original title over this sequel, as it will be much cheaper and far more enjoyable.

Ratchet and Clank Q Force is not a bad game, but it’s not a great one either. If you are a fan of the franchise there is definitely something here for you however you may be under whelmed.

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of two is a real mixed bag. While some of the original's problems have been addressed many of the issues still remain making for a somewhat frustrating experience. The look and feel is back, as are the great characters and locations with some great new content thrown in. Unfortunately however for every step forward Epic Mickey 2 takes, it also takes a step back with issues both new and old. Add to this a flawed co-op AI system and you end up with a competent sequel if not a great one.

The game brings nothing new to the shooting genre; it's predictable and seems to be nothing more than a stop-gap before EA's behemoth Battlefield 4 is eventually released. Warfighter could have been so much more, but alas it wasn't.

It is no Elder Scrolls but is perhaps worth a look for RPG fans who want to keep themselves busy over the coming months. It is just a shame I can't recommend it to those new to the RPG genre as it fails to live to its full potential.

Overall Zombie Driver HD is an enjoyable fast paced driving game where killing zombies comes as standard. Despite the lack of multiplayer, if you're looking for a game that you can just relax and play without getting stressed out, but still want a challenge if desired, then you'll enjoy what's on offer here, and if you have 800MS Points ready to spend, just go for it.

In closing, The Testament of Sherlock Homes is a solid adventure game. The puzzles can be extremely complicated and at points infuriating, but what comes with this is a great sense of achievement that I haven't experienced from playing a game in a long time. While it didn't look as pretty as I had hoped and the puzzles became tedious and unnecessary at points, this was a good attempt at a Sherlock Holmes game and has raised my interests in playing another title if we were to see one released.

It's a shame as Angry Birds is a great game and in terms of high production quality and smoothness, this is possibly the definitive version. However, definitive or not, its certainly not enough of a tune up to warrant the difference in price.

Unfortunately Capcom have once again spent too much time fixing what didn't need to be fixed and not enough time addressing the real issues of this series. The game is long because it's drawn out or challenging because of a flawed control system rather than displaying these positive attributes through balanced game design. Resident Evil 6 is not a bad game, but it's not a great game either and this is a real shame. Despite this however, it still has many amazing elements that should not be overlooked and at its core is a decent horror experience.

Aside from these nit-picks, Hybrid is a brilliant game and deserves its place in the Summer of Arcade. While there are better squad-based games available out there, Hybrid offers a very different style of gameplay and has a decent levelling system that will have you fighting for your side for quite some time. If you have the spare MSP it might be worth giving this one a go.

With its slick Adidas branded and presentation, a pumping soundtrack and real-life sport stars, there is a coating of gloss that covers what is quite a frustrating and technically flawed game.

There are elements of the game that are both enjoyable and disappointing and for me I would recommend saving your money until this Summer Arcade title gets put on sale and just enjoy the summer.

If you've never played a Superbike game before, Generations isn't a bad place to start. Just don't expect to get sucked into the game as it lacks some oomph and pizazz.

Overall, London 2012 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games is the best attempt at an Olympics video game to date. There's a great range of mini-games and the title has been brilliantly developed, though is let down by general repetitiveness and the lifespan of the game isn't ideal. If you like the look of it, this is definitely worth at least a rental.

It is aimed at the wrong market, they should have made MUD suitable for the hardcore MX fans, despite this Milestone have done it again, well, they nearly did it again.

Overall, Prototype 2 is an enjoyable title that is plagued with a number of problems. The repetitiveness and the easiness of the title are big factors in preventing it from being a truly great game. Nevertheless, this is a must purchase for fans of the original.

Overall, Fable Heroes is a mediocre title that is lacking in depth. While the game is fairly enjoyable, it's certainly short-lived and, at 800 Microsoft Points, there's not a lot on offer. Needless to say, this will definitely whet Fable players' appetites until Fable: The Journey's release in September.

With some changes to the gameplay such as restricting some access to early tower placements, an improved tutorial and less aggressive AI, Defenders of Ardania might have been a more enjoyable experience, but with a better selection of tower defences games available out there it might be worth spending your precious pennies elsewhere.

In summary, The Run provides yet another aspect to the NFS series and with its Hollywood-like cut scenes and storyline, easy to pick-up-and-play driving; The Run is definitely one to run out for, however I wouldn't run a marathon for the game. If you're not a NFS freak, a simple rent will keep you occupied for more than enough time.

I'll give credit to Gelid Games for their first attempt, but I feel with the experience they claim to have under their belt they may have played it too safe. A game of this type needs a dash of originality, a dollop of risk and plenty of online players in its servers. For someone fresh out of the gates I can see getting player numbers up will prove to be very tough for the developer. Releasing after the marketed juggernaut Twisted Metal and a few other online vehicular titles on PSN hasn't helped this game's progress either.

Wrecked: Revenge Revisited has the potential to be a fantastic spiritual successor to Mashed, but it fails to get off the starting line. While the game strives in multiplayer, it's difficult to recommend a title that has poor single player content, a weak camera and unimpressive audio.

Overall, American Nightmare is a great follow-up to Alan Wake. While the script lacks real depth and tension, the gameplay makes up for it and there is enjoyment to be taken fcrom it. If you're an Alan Wake fan, this will certainly tickle your fancy until a full sequel releases.

Armored Core V has all the ingredients to be a truly awesome mech title, sadly From Software has cracked the eggs too early and cooked them at a high heat, and the result is merely an average game that will barely keep you occupied for an hour or two.

Sadly though, at the end of the day, you can't hide the fact that this game is nothing more than a downloadable content package that has been put on a disc and packed into a Xbox 360 case.

If you're an avid fan and follower of the Creed, you're sure to find plenty to please you but for those longing for answers and a step further for the series will find one step forward, two back, along with a thick fog covering up the path ahead.

By all accounts, the game itself is fantastic and much deserved of the score we gave MvC3 but there just isn't enough in UMvC3 to really set it apart as a title in its own right.

As a game for older pre-teens, Ratchet & Clank succeeds by its vibrant artwork, humorous cutscenes and painless gameplay – for anyone needing a decent challenge or engaging co-op, however, it's all been done better elsewhere.

Overall, Rabbids: Alive & Kicking is a good compilation of mini-games, though it's hard to recommend a purchase, especially at full price. The title could have done with more single player based content; however, it's a great game for a family who are looking for some light-hearted entertainment.

Dungeon Defenders may not be everyone's cup of tea but for those willing to give it a chance, they will have a rich game that will last quite some time if you intend to experience each class to its fullest. With a hefty price tag of 1200 Microsoft Points, some may be put off but with so many short arcade titles out there these days, it's good to finally see something that will actually be worth your money.

Mercury Hg is a nice little game that is easy to play but hard to master for some of the later levels. Although it has some frame rate issues, for 400 Microsoft Points you will happily find yourself with enough play time to justify your purchase and some easy achievements if that's what you are going for.

The Adventures of Tintin is very much a product created to sell more units and promote the film but its co-op side manages to shine. If you can forget about the poor vehicle sections or you just want a fun co-op experience with your kid, you could fare a lot worse than Tintin.

Overall, Just Dance 3 is a great title, though there is certainly room for improvement. The track list is one of the best seen on any dancing game to date and the 'Just Create' game mode has been well incorporated and works like a charm. However, simple factors such as the poor menu navigation and difficulties with multiplayer are problematic, which could have been resolved with better implementations.

The War of The Worlds is a stylish looking and sounding game that tells a story any H.G. Wells fan would be satisfied with. Sadly, the game is brought down by poor controls and design choices, making it extremely difficult for the wrong reasons.

Overall, if Certain Affinity had pushed their ideas further, Crimson Alliance could have been a truly fantastic title. Nevertheless, despite its repetitiveness and generic story, the game is great fun, especially in multiplayer.

For fans of the DeathSpank games, The Baconing will be 1200 Microsoft points well spent and continues on exactly where the second game left off but this doesn't mean new players will have to play the previous games to understand what's going on. If you like your bacon and thongs sprinkled with some fantastic humour, then look no further than The Baconing!

On the whole, Call of Juarez: The Cartel had the potential to be a fantastic game. The plot's many twists and turns would have been superb if it wasn't for the game's poor execution and the multiplayer could do with improving. Nevertheless, it's still a solid game. If you're looking for something to fill the time during the summer drought, this is the title for you.

Sadly, for non-wrestling fans this game will be very short lived, but I'm sure dedicated fans will find hours of enjoyment if they can look past the horrific loading times. The arcade feel is a nice change from the usual simulation and aside from playing online, which suffers from some lag, local multiplayer would provide the most fun from this over the top edition to the world of wrestling games.

Fighting game enthusiasts will have a great time with Arcana Heart 3 and probably spend a decent amount of time playing it well into the next year, but for those who only like to dabble in the fighting genre every now and then this may be one to miss. Unless you are truly bored until the big titles come out at the end of the year, I'd say save your cash, unless of course you have a fetish for girl on girl action…of the fighting variety.

Overall, Cars 2 is surprisingly enjoyable. While there's a distinct lack of storytelling, this isn't a particularly bad thing for a racing title. The campaign could have done with being a bit longer and there's little replayability after it has been completed but, other than that, this is a great title that shouldn't be overlooked for being a kid's game.

For some strange reason the cost of this game has gone down rapidly and can be found for as little as five pounds, so even if you find it's not the game for you, you can't complain at that price.

In short, Under Siege is a fast-paced, good-looking, accessible RTS that falls down only due to its sudden difficulty spikes and unremarkable story.

It's certainly a worthwhile investment for the intended audience, particularly in co-op, but one to trial before a purchase for the more hardcore audience.

Level 5 have once again created a vast and competent RPG, but it has failed to reach the upper echelons the best in the genre achieve, being more slow-and-steady rather than thrill-a-minute. JRPGs have fallen out of favour recently, so buyers need be aware that this is very much JRPG-centric. There's plenty of content to keep fans of this type of RPG happy, but it certainly won't appeal to everyone.

Fighters Uncaged is a nice addition to the Kinect library but ultimately is lacks substance, which prevents it from ever becoming a 'Must Have' game. An interesting diversion but once the game has brutally punched your face off, you will be unlikely to return for a second round.

Yar's Revenge is a bold, daring and ambitious reinvention of a classic franchise, but one that's ultimately difficult to recommend over the competition. It's a competent on-rails shooter - and a beautiful one at that. However, with shoddy controls, repetitive combat and no online multiplayer, Yar's Revenge isn't quite worthy of the game's 800-point asking price.

MotoGP 10/11 is a solid enough racer once you get to grips with the somewhat iffy handling. There are plenty of options to play with, a career mode that will keep you going and although the online racing aspect is likely to disappoint due to lack of opponents, it's decent enough when you find a lobby to your liking. The real drawback here is that things are identical to MotoGP 09/10, which again is identical to MotoGP 08. If you already have the previous title, it's debatable as to whether there's enough content here to warrant a full-price purchase, especially given the free 2010 season update for the last game. It's one to wait till the bargain bin beckons.

MotoGP 10/11 is a solid enough racer once you get to grips with the somewhat iffy handling. There are plenty of options to play with, a career mode that will keep you going and although the online racing aspect is likely to disappoint due to lack of opponents, it's decent enough when you find a lobby to your liking. The real drawback here is that things are identical to MotoGP 09/10, which again is identical to MotoGP 08. If you already have the previous title, it's debatable as to whether there's enough content here to warrant a full-price purchase, especially given the free 2010 season update for the last game. It's one to wait till the bargain bin beckons.

Yu-Gi-Oh fans will enjoy the game and those with knowledge of the rules will have an easy ride at the beginning, but as far as trying out a Yu-Gi-Oh game for the first time I wouldn't recommend spending your hard earned cash here. The blurry cards, repetitive music and steep learning curve won't make for an enjoyable experience and the lack of players online means the game will be very short lived unless you enjoy repeating the same style tournaments against AI characters over and over.

If you have cash burning in your pocket and you have to pick a sports title to go with your shiny Kinect, your options are pretty limited. If you want a charming sports title, with replayability, humour by the bucket-load and a great use of motion controls, MotionSports is not that title.

Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is a fun little game that does resemble any of the LEGO games that you may have played but it doesn't quite have the same charm and leaves you wanting more with a short story mode and only local co-op. Unless you are a mad Marvel fan or you are buying it for the kids then I would say give this a miss or wait until it comes down in price.

Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is a fun little game that does resemble any of the LEGO games that you may have played but it doesn't quite have the same charm and leaves you wanting more with a short story mode and only local co-op. Unless you are a mad Marvel fan or you are buying it for the kids then I would say give this a miss or wait until it comes down in price.

Overall, Nail'd is a good title, let down by some poor development choices. The stunts aren't as spectacular as players would have hoped and the lack of variation in the race types means the title can get quite repetitive quickly. This is one title worthy trying before buying as it doesn't quite hit the nail on the head.

Ultimately Crash Time 4 becomes samey and repetitive, and you soon become bored driving around trying to find those spots to place the CCTV cameras in – adrenaline filled chases aside.

For all of its problems, TDU2 is still a fun game to play and it's very easy to lose an hour or more simply driving around the roads and taking in the views.

Overall, The Biggest Loser: The Ultimate Workout is a great tool to help gamers lose weight. Whereas it doesn't work as a video game, mainly due to the lack of enjoyment, if you're looking to lose a few pounds without leaving your house, this is a great way of doing so.

Splatterhouse is a strange one because there will be times when you will be having a ball, ripping limbs from zombie clowns or shoving your hand down a gremlins throat, but at other times the frustration of dying on the side scrolling levels and having to wait ages for the game to load up again is beyond words.

Dance Paradise is a good dancing game for those of you who spend a lot of time playing party games with your friends and are looking for something to just jump in to and have some fun.

It's too short and too flawed to recommend completely, but if you just want a quick, fun game you could do much worse than Tron Evolution.

For children, this is definitely a winner. For fans of casual, laid back gaming involving owls, again, I can recommend this. If you're expecting value for money, however, then you'd be far better off looking elsewhere. It's a fun thumb-twiddling experience but your feathers will be itching for something new before long.

Terrifying nights aside, Saw II: Flesh & Blood is perfect for any Saw fan as a week's rental. While the game does challenge you, you'll be able to complete it within that time due to the lack of multiplayer both online and off. It is an improvement on last year's effort however; I just hope the games don't follow the never-ending movie route.

Arcania turns out to be a passable RPG, it has pleasant enough locations and plenty of quests to get stuck into, even if they do feel a bit similar to each other. The timing of such a generic release couldn't have come at a worse time however, and with Fable III and Fallout New Vegas also vying for attention, Arcania is a pretty hard sell.

The Shoot doesn't make a convincing reason to purchase the Move controller, and if you're after a game in this genre it might be worth checking out Time Crisis Razing Storm first.

This one feels like a middling experience, so think carefully before jumping in.

Look out for this one in the bargain bins.

Overall, Faery: Legends of Avalon is a great attempt at bringing the RPG genre to the Xbox Live Arcade. Very few downloadable titles contain as much depth as this and, at 1200 Microsoft Points; this is certainly a game to purchase if you enjoyed the trial.

Overall, Dance Evolution is a great attempt at using the Kinect technology to create a rhythm-action game.

To conclude, Sonic: Free Riders makes a good launch title for Kinect, utilizing it well, though you can't help but feel more could have been done with the technology. Whilst it initially lacks in content, this is a game for those casual racing fans that aren't looking for anything overly intense.

The Fight is a good attempt for a more serious motion controlled beat-em-up game, but it is not one I can see myself coming back to that often if at all.

EA Sports have achieved moderate success with their first step into the MMA space providing a game that plays well and contains some promising features that give incentive to dedicated play, however it unfortunately falls short by failing to introduce the player to the game's complexities and missing core issues such as player disconnects cutting stat tracking short.

EA Sports have achieved moderate success with their first step into the MMA space providing a game that plays well and contains some promising features that give incentive to dedicated play, however it unfortunately falls short by failing to introduce the player to the game's complexities and missing core issues such as player disconnects cutting stat tracking short.

If you're a fan of this type of game, there's definitely plenty here to keep you satisfied for quite a while.

Dance Central is an accomplished start that could well herald a series of follow-ups. The Kinect technology is used effectively and whilst it appears basic at first, is quite possibly one of the hardest launch titles if you have no rhythm. Overcome the initial fear of looking a fool and you'll find the fancy footwork and body movements are the perfect way to enjoy some drunken tomfoolery with your friends.

Overall, WRC: FIA World Rally Championship is a mediocre racing title. There's nothing in the game that hasn't been seen or done before within the genre, this is offset by the handling and official WRC support, making this more of a must purchase for the fully committed car rally fan.

Front Mission manages to step just above the average mark and if you like tinkering with your Mech designs and load-outs, even if they don't have a massive impact on play, there's a fair chance you'll enjoy the experience. If Wanzers don't appeal to you, then you might want to get your third person shooter fix elsewhere.

In conclusion Blade Kitten is a mixed bag, providing some fluid platforming with mediocre combat. Whilst the game never really blows you away, it never stoops to being anywhere near terrible. It's certainly unfortunate that Kit's first outing is one that is very forgettable and brimming with repetition, as there is certainly potential here.

In conclusion Blade Kitten is a mixed bag, providing some fluid platforming with mediocre combat. Whilst the game never really blows you away, it never stoops to being anywhere near terrible. It's certainly unfortunate that Kit's first outing is one that is very forgettable and brimming with repetition, as there is certainly potential here.

HAWX 2 is a nearly game. It does provide a wealth of different aircraft and mission types, co-op and single player and adversarial multiplayer across Xbox Live, but what the game offers in variety, it lacks in overall polish. No discernable differences in aircraft, mission difficulty spikes and control issues deliver plenty of frustration.

To conclude, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a significant improvement over its predecessor though still fails to live up to the spectacle created by other third-person shooters. Whilst there are some aspects of the game players will enjoy, it's not enough to encourage a full purchase, deeming the title one to procure when it comes down in price.

If you're prepared to put up with a little bit of grinding and can deal with some of the more repetitive missions outside of the main quest, there's a lot here to enjoy. For those hankering for an Elite style fix, there's definitely an amount of homage and given that there's a distinct gap in this genre, DarkStar One is ahead of its competition.

If you are good at fighting games then NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is right up your street at a reasonable price of 800 Microsoft Points, but for the beginner I wouldn't advise picking this one up unless you are prepared for the steep learning curve.

When it's working it’s brilliant fun, making you feel like a spy, the rest of the time is an exercise in either manic depression or frustration

Voodoo Dice is relatively cheap weighing in at 800 MSPs, and there is enough here to keep you going for a couple of hours. The question really is, will you want to play it for that long? The answer is probably not.

Overall, Aqua has a solid single player campaign which will last a couple of hours with great visual and audio, but unfortunately, the lack of online multiplayer and very few modes for local games means that you might not be too tempted to play the game again after finishing the campaign.

In short, the game presents a slice of quick-action pie to pass the time but won't keep you anchored for any impressive stretches of time. At the hefty ol' price of 1200MSP, I can't recommend a purchase, 800 would have been far more reasonable.

Rocket Knight certainly bares it's 16-bit brethren well, taking an interesting character with plenty of uniqueness and not spoiling it with a remake and re-visioning.

For 1200 MS Points, the asking price seems too high for what it is. It's definitely more of an intriguing look rather than an instant classic.