Kill Team from the outset looked like nothing more than a PR stunt to help boost the sales of Space Marines, it's just worrying to think that all the time and effort that went into making Kill Team would have found better use improving the big brother Space Marine game.

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.

If you are in the mood for a new, fresh, and strange videogame with elements you've never seen together, then I suggest you give Catherine a whirl.

Boulder Dash XL is a very fun simple yet fun game and extremely addictive for those of you who love to keep improving your scores and getting higher and higher on the leaderboards. With a price tag of 800 Microsoft Points, it is definitely worth the cash and will last you a good amount of hours.

Akimi Village is a very fun game and if you like to spend hours and hours collecting resources and building a small empire then for less than ten pounds, this is the game for you.

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.

That said Alive comes across as rushed and to be honest, could probably have been released as a DLC pack to Reflex. Terrible career mode unlock system and progression combined with difficult and frustrating handling means this game will only appeal to fans of the MX vs. ATV series.

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 amazing to look at, the music and rhythm of the game is second-to-none and the game's compatibility with Microsoft's latest peripheral makes for one of the better Kinect titles.

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.

Overall Trenched is a fun action game that can require teamwork and planning to complete with the highest rating, that being a gold medal. It has a few online issues, but is still very enjoyable - and with a good four hour campaign if you blaze through it. The game is very replayable, especially with the medal and challenge systems; plenty of unlockables to be had.

Overall, Ms. 'Splosion Man is a great old school styled platformer that takes what the first game did great, and makes it even better. With single player being around the twelve to fifteen hour range, and multiplayer weighing in at around the same, it's a great value. And for only 800 MS Points, you can't beat it.

While it would be easy to scoff at the game's repetitive level design, a refreshing combat system means that Infamous 2 is still great fun to play. The addition of user generated content doesn't excuse the game's shortcomings, such as poor characterization, a predictable story and repetitious level design, but it does go some way to prove that Infamous has a lot more to give. There's a fantastic game tucked away inside in Infamous 2. Unfortunately, it's up to you to build it...

If you missed the previous Dirt titles, then Dirt 3 will certainly bring you up to speed with Codemasters's finest racing series, and comes thoroughly recommended to any petrol-headed gamer who loves to power slide through gravelled forest tracks.

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.

If you've never played a Red Faction game you will have a lot of fun with this one, but fans of the series may be a little put off with the changes to multiplayer however, the campaign should be enough to satisfy all your destructive needs.

Shadows of the Damned doesn't quite hit the heights of either Suda51 or Mikami's history, but as long as you're willing to accept the sometimes vulgar humour there's an experience well worth its weight, and comes to a clever climax finale around the 10-12hour mark that leaves me hoping there's enough demand to warrant a sequel.

If you are looking for something with a bit more depth, beefier online options and something to tax your brains, then the game might be worth a quick try, but Dungeon Siege 3 is not doing anything revolutionary for the ARPG genre.

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.

Overall, Truth or Lies: Someone Will Get Caught is a rental at best and even that is being generous. The game is more frustrating than fun but will earn achievement junkies easy points.

Bakugan: Defenders of the Core is not only a fantastic piece of fan service but a competent brawler in its own right. Its stunning cel-shaded visuals, beautiful environments and well-rendered characters perfectly capture the essence of their animé-counterparts, and it's safe to say that fans of the franchise will be in seventh heaven. Street Fighter fans need not apply but if you're on the lookout for an upbeat brawler you can't go too wrong with Bakugan: Defenders of the Core.

Overall Shift 2 is an excellent racing game that really tries to throw you behind the wheel of a professional driver. With great graphics minus a few debris issues and impressive car mechanics, Shift 2 will challenge the best of drivers during the single player campaign and online. Fans of Forza Motorsport 2 and Gran Turismo 5, or just racing games in general, should definitely think about getting Shift 2 to keep you busy.

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.

Not for the faint-hearted, L.A. Noire rarely pulls punches when discussing (or indeed showing) the victims of some truly horrific crimes, from paedophilia and rape to arson and cold-blooded murder – but it's well presented in a tasteful and mature manner, meaning it's less about baiting the Daily Mail and more about creating a unique, captivating experience. By turns disturbing, idling and utterly compelling, L.A. Noire is a triumph for Team Bondi and Rockstar that will no doubt earn the latter yet another nomination for Game of the Year. All things considered, they deserve it too.

With a gripping solo campaign, its depth of online modes and its passionate following of online players, SOCOM 4 has enough ingredients within its makeup to keep its disc firmly locked inside your PS3 console. Even if you are not a fan of the online element I recommend that you still check out its solo campaign. You might even be surprised that after you have beaten the single-player mode you might transfer over to its online side. At least that is what its developers hope you will do.

Overall, 2K has addressed most of the issues gamers had with the previous game and produced a quality game for both casual and hardcore gamers. If you are looking for a tennis game that delivers a unique control system, coupled with an interesting levelling based system for your created player, and have enough replay value for your cash, then its match point to Top Spin 4.

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 love playing team-based shooters with strong team elements and multiple objectives, plus you have the patience to work through some clunky game choices and technical issues, Save Brink. If you're the exact opposite from above, Escape while you still can.

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.

Ultimately, Outland harks back to a time before celebrity voice-overs and glossy cutscenes, before the industry exploded into the multi-billion-dollar behemoth it is nowadays. It's straight-forward but intelligent, occasionally bastard-hard but never impossible, repetitive but never tedious and, though Outland might not make much sense story-wise, it more than delivers in every other department.

Out of the three titles I found MotorStorm Apocalypse to be the weakest of them all. I'd admit, it is brave for its developers to take this new approach to the franchise but as a result I feel the game as a whole has been harmed, but not in an apocalyptic way, as there is still some good to come out of this game.

While it's fair to say that Mortal Kombat is flawed, it's also fair to say that we all expected it to be – and because of that it's actually far better than we could have imagined. It isn't particularly clever or sophisticated, but it's slick, sick and gruesomely entertaining. Complaining that Mortal Kombat is all style over substance is like complaining that Michael Bay's films have a lot of explosions in them – if it's not your cup of tea, go drink somewhere else. But if you want your action loud, colourful, exciting and unpredictable, you know exactly where to kome (last one, I promise).

The plot is thinly spread like a small knob of butter over a whole loaf of bread and the rigorous tedium of slaving through hours on end would drive the best of us to an enraged psychosis. Local multiplayer, however, is always a nice touch and if you've got some friends who are fans of virtual brawling, slip in the disk and prepare for a more subdued form of Fight Club to make its nest in your front room.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is one of the best Arcade titles of the year so far, and one unlikely to be surpassed by many other releases in 2011. Its mix of pure arcade fun and pitch-perfect difficulty, likably-sinister art direction, complimentary angry-rock soundtrack and wallet-pleasing lifespan make it a must for anyone with a connection to Xbox LIVE. In a word: essential.

This is definitely more of a refinement than a reinvention, but everything we loved about the original game is here in spades. If you're willing to look past its occasionally-repetitious gameplay and excessive hand-holding, you'll find de Blob 2 to be one of the wittiest, most intelligent and innovative platformers around. What's more, if you've yet to experience the joys of the timeless original, then you absolutely owe it to yourself to pick up de Blob 2. This comes highly recommended.

Overall, Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime has some great ideas that would have made for an excellent game if the execution had been done well. The repetitive nature of the game, the unintelligent AI and the lack of drop-in/drop-out play are key problems within the title that let it down massively. This is one Xbox Live Arcade title that should be avoided.

Overall Swarm is a game that is highly addictive yet contains a certain frustrating aspect mainly in relation to the demand for a high score in order to progress. Fans of Lemmings should definitely pick up this game as well as gamers looking for that extra brain teasing challenge. The 1200 MS Points price tag shouldn't put you off though, and if it does, download the trial and give it a bash.

Perhaps not the groundbreaking world-beater a lot of us were expecting, Crysis 2 is nevertheless a worthwhile experience with enough collectibles, unlockables, multiplayer modes and gameplay paths to keep you entertained for a few weeks at least. If nothing else, you'd have to buy a PC and pick up the original to see another game as beautiful as this any time soon. Definitely recommended.

Bloodier, muddier and cleverer than Origins, this is a story as much about Kirkwall as about Hawke, a stepping stone setting up what I can only imagine will be one hell of a conflict in the threequel. Perhaps above all, though, it's still the most fun you can have with dragons without being eaten alive.

For those looking for something to tide them over until Diablo III finally comes out, Torchlight should be your first port of call. However, if you already played the PC version, there is little here to make you buy it again.

Ultimately, despite the flair and lushness of the presentation, the game is pretty monotonous, with the same hack and slash, or in some cases run-and-gun gameplay over and over again.

Whilst there may not be a huge amount of content available in MvC3, it doesn't seem to suffer too badly for it. There's still a lot to the game, such as learning to play each and every character to perfection, or if that's not you thing, then sticking the game on very easy along with the simple control system and just enjoying the amazing and impressive animation and artwork on offer.

It's certainly not the worst game I've ever played, I just struggle to find a good reason for you to go out and buy it. Give it two weeks at least and you'll be able to pick this game up from the bargain bucket.

To write off Beyond Good & Evil on the count of such trivial issues, though, would be folly. Michel Ancel's seminal action adventure remains one of the wittiest, most charming and intelligent games on the market, and you absolutely owe it to yourself to give it a go if you haven't already.

Of course, if you are interested in poker this game will certainly interest you, but for those of you like myself who have hardly played poker and don't understand the rules, I can assure you this is a whole lot of fun!

It's difficult to describe everything that exists in an MMO without writing an essay but I hope what I've written here has helped you make up your mind whether or not to play DCUO. One thing that will be the deciding factor is the game does have a subscription based fee of around £10 a month which you must pay in order to play any aspect of the game, so just be warned before purchasing.

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.

The Sly Trilogy marks developer Sucker Punch at its hilarious best, and even if you've only a modicum of interest in platforming games, there's no getting around the fact that this is a must-buy.

Well, let me put it this way; if you have a PlayStation 3, then without a doubt, you need to experience its single player campaign. If you are not going to touch the multiplayer then given this game's campaign length, as much as I hate to suggest it, then maybe a rental would be your best choice.

Overall, Def Jam: Rapstar is a one-of-a-kind karaoke game that fans of rap music will appreciate, despite the censoring of the songs. There's just about enough content in the game to justify a full price purchase and with downloadable content on offer, this could be a title that's around for some time to come.

The appeal doesn't come in the form of the game's sheer accessibility or variety, as attractive as they are, but instead the breadth of content available. Media Molecule saw fit to carry over the vast majority of user generated content from the first Little Big Planet, a decision that extends Little Big Planet 2's replayability beyond that of any other title from day one. With so much bang for your buck, why wait?

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.

In many ways, Majin and the Foresaken Kingdom feels very much like Enslaved to me. It's a fantastic, gorgeous game that is pretty flawed but is still a joy to play.

Dead Space 2 is a title that insists you to turn off the lights, whack up the sound and grab your comfort blanket as you walk the creepy infested corridors with gore at every turn. Don't feel diminished in any way though if you resort to a little illumination to calm the nerves as Dead Space 2 will shock you, stab you and slaughter you at every turn.

She likened the game to the various dance routine videos she owns, which I feel is a fitting comparison for Zumba Fitness for Kinect; a non-interactive set of dance routines where you try to replicate the on screen trainer, with little to no feedback or interaction. Then again, if you wanted a non-interactive dance routine video, you could buy something like Carmen Electra Strip Aerobics and follow that instead of Zumba Fitness's rainbow rhythms disco sensation.

Overall Sports Island Freedom is probably the worst game I've ever had to review. The best advice I can give you is don't purchase this game and instead purchase Kinect Sports or Motion Sports, either or will be a thousand times better and much more fun.

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.

Overall, Megamind: Ultimate Showdown is a fairly poor game. The lack of anything innovative makes it just like the other movie-based games currently on the market. This is only one to purchase if you're an achievement junkie, and even they might think twice.

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.

Overall, Apache: Air Assault is up there as one of the best simulations you can find on a console.

With a poor story, out-dated graphics and no real depth to the puzzles and with so many great titles in the genre already available for the same price, I would suggest you steer clear of this one.

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.

SBK X is one for the simulation fans, and although there is a substantial arcade mode included, if that's more your racing style, you're probably better off looking at MotoGP. There's a lot to this title and a lot to like; the career mode willl definitely take some dedication to get through, but it just doesn't quite put across the thrill of bike racing the same way its competition does. For that reason, it only gets second place on the podium.

Those wanting more from Ezio, and to revel in the period set in Assassins Creed II for a little longer, will find fond memories in Assassins Creed Brotherhood; however I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen it all before and was being dragged along for the same old ride.

Those wanting more from Ezio, and to revel in the period set in Assassins Creed II for a little longer, will find fond memories in Assassins Creed Brotherhood; however I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen it all before and was being dragged along for the same old ride.

Like some of the better Xbox Live Arcade titles, ilomilo is predominantly quality over quantity. While there's only a few hours play to be had, it's a thoroughly puzzling and enjoyable experience. Top it off with its heart-warming feel and ilomilo is certainly a game to consider purchasing, especially at 800 Microsoft Points.

To conclude, Raskulls is a fantastic Xbox Live Arcade title. The unique twist on the puzzle genre and its great multiplayer makes this a title to certainly consider purchasing, despite the lack of replayability after completion of the title's main quest.

With regret I must say that Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 is not a good fighting game because of its overly complicated controls.

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.

All-in-all Double Fine's Costume Quest is rather straightforward on paper, but it's the excellence of the game's design that brings it to life and gives the world around you character.

All-in-all Double Fine's Costume Quest is rather straightforward on paper, but it's the excellence of the game's design that brings it to life and gives the world around you character.

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.

For those that are willing to give it a shot, The Undergarden is just a joy to be in. It's so peaceful and wonderful that everything else doesn't seem to matter. It doesn't rush you and it's not too challenging and is perfect for a little break from the hectic real life.

To sum up A World of Keflings is a step up in class from A Kingdom for Keflings.

Veterans of the 2K series will need no persuading in picking this one up as it is by far the best game yet.

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.

Everything here feels too generic. Maps and characters, other than the primary ones, all look the same, combat is dull and repetitive and it feels like it was designed for a much earlier console.

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.

This is a title to rent rather than purchase because of its short term lifespan.

To summarise if you liked the first game then you'll love the second. Whilst the game is extremely short (having me finish it in a single sitting), quite repetitive in places and the mere eight challenges do little to add the much desired replay value, it's a blast whilst it lasts.

To summarise if you liked the first game then you'll love the second. Whilst the game is extremely short (having me finish it in a single sitting), quite repetitive in places and the mere eight challenges do little to add the much desired replay value, it's a blast whilst it lasts.

Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is as an exhilarating experience as its sibling, and provides enough differences from the previous game to make the aggressively priced 800 MSP title a worthy addition to your XBLA collection - a single go will have you gagging for more.

With a great set of mixes, a better line-up of artists and DJs, and with its progressive Empire career mode, there is enough here to keep your body swaying and your toes tapping. If you already have a set of decks from the first game and you are wondering if it is worth picking this title up, then I would certainly recommend it if you enjoyed the previous title - you will definitely enjoy this second outing a lot more.

Overall SDvR11 is an excellent game with fabulous offline features. If the online wasn't broken I'd most definitely be scoring this game higher, nevertheless if you're a wrestling fan or even a closet wrestling fan, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 is the game you should be purchasing or requesting at Christmas.

Overall SDvR11 is an excellent game with fabulous offline features. If the online wasn't broken I'd most definitely be scoring this game higher, nevertheless if you're a wrestling fan or even a closet wrestling fan, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 is the game you should be purchasing or requesting at Christmas.

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.