Earthworm Jim HD is the very definition of a remastered classic.

Being let loose with the Force and given some spectacular scenarios to work with makes for an excellent game in premise, but LucasArts just haven't nailed the basics. Disappointment of the year? Quite possibly.

SNK Arcade Classics Vol.1 ticks all retro-gaming boxes admirably, offering a satisfying and varied selection of authentically emulated games that deserve to be played, rather than left to gather dust in SNK’s vaults!

So while it’s hard to fault the efficiency of Visceral’s final product – all carping aside, the controversial license has at least been handled with a certain care given that this is a videogame and not an academic study – Dante’s Inferno is too familiar, too regressive and too content to do the necessary minimum to recommend wholeheartedly

Every now and then, a videogame genre can get shaken up by the arrival of a title that pushes it in new or interesting directions, and Ridge Racer: Unbounded is one such title; through its inspired drift mechanic, weighty physics and ingenious level creation tool, it pushes the genre to new heights of challenge and is all the more rewarding for it.

Castlevania: Mirror of Fate is stupid in a good way and robust enough to be an enjoyable challenge. While the boss battles go on a bit too long and the plot is bonkers, it’s a good use of a platforming style often forgotten.

RACE Pro is a racing game for racing fans and, to its credit, never tries to be anything else.

Overall then Cars 2 is a loveable excursion into the world of Pixar. Built with all the efficiency and character that you'd expect from the movie studio's cinema work, it demonstrates that what may not work so well as a film (unless of course you are six, in which case Cars is the best thing ever) does just fine in the style of a knockabout children's action racer. Grown ups can play as well.

But, whilst its flaws bring it down, the game always remains charming, consistently throwing friendly, lovable moments in your direction.

In spite of some medium-sized annoyances, there are no game-breaking problems here, and there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had for players who like a sprinkle of terror on their gaming pie.

There really is no denying that MK vs. DCU is a simple game at heart, which makes it ideal for playing with a few mates who don't really specialise in fighting games. But its simplicity ultimately proves to be its downfall as, after a week or so of playing, your fighting skills will have outgrown everything that the game has to offer. Competent but unessential.

That said, should you have a penchant for beating your personal score and an extra 240 points to spare, then this Indie outing may well be worth a look. Everyone else can (probably) leave the princess with the monsters.

Though it may dip a little in the middle Papo & Yo finishes strongly, making good use of the game's evocative musical score and themes to create a resonant conclusion that may be a little on the nose, but still feels risky and experimental compared to the narrative tropes typically used by most games.

In short, Monumental Games has done all the hard work – MotoGP 10/11 is genuinely deserving of a place alongside the cream of motorsport simulators; now all the series needs to do is pop open a magnum of Champagne and celebrate the sport just as confidently as it simulates it.

Elsewhere, the full offering of Guitar Hero 5's multiplayer and party play modes return, as do the addictive mini-challenges for each track (there's even a challenge which uses the Quest powers).

The visuals and treasure-hunter plot (and the role that the tarantula and scorpion will play in it) hold just enough intrigue to keep you playing, but as a whole, it’s more a chore than an adventure.

To its credit, The Cave has amusing writing and a neat visual style – but charm alone cannot make up for its many technical flaws.

With a toe-tapping soundtrack, glitzy presentation and obvious accessibility, Sonic 4 Episode 1 has much to be proud of. Gamers who recall the early nineties and yearn for a simpler time when true 3d was restricted to bad sci-fi movies should lap this title up, but there's definitely a sense that it could, or indeed should have been more.

While DodoGo! Robo may not do a great deal to expand on the ideas laid down by the original, it delivers a cheap, cheerful and challenging package that is more than worthy of a place on your DSi. It's a prime example of a simple premise being taking to a satisfying and engaging conclusion, and stands head and shoulders above most of its 200 DSi Point brethren. Extinction would be a cruel fate for this particular Dodo.

On the surface, Dead Rising 2: Off the Record has more than enough content to satiate, but the question really comes down to this: are you sick of Dead Rising? If the answer is 'yes', then it would be wise to avoid this re-imagining of the previous game in the series. For those who say 'nay' however, it's still good advice to remember that this game, in spite of its better parts, is still something you've mostly experienced already.

All in all, Freedom Cry is an excellent addition to Assassin’s Creed IV.

Fans of the series will no doubt relish the opportunity to spend some more time with the duo, and even those not so enamoured with them will still find something to enjoy – that is if they are able to put up with its shortcomings.

As a platform-hopping back street brawler, Shank succeeds in carving its very own niche, earning a place on the hard drive of anyone looking for a brutal treat with which to stave off the remainder of the gaming drought.

It is, however, hard to open-handedly recommend it to everyone: One Piece fans will find far more to like in it than non-fans, and the stylisation can be a divisive visual look.

Playing Dead Island is similar to going on holiday – it's nice to try something a bit exotic and different, but after a while you begin to yearn for home.

If you’re a fan of the WWE, or even better the original WWF, then you won’t be disappointed.

A flawed, yet incredibly enjoyable, history lesson.

You could quite easily just watch Asura's Wrath and be raucously entertained; the fact that it places you firmly in the centre of the action makes its achievements all the more impressive.