From its ship-based hub to its mythological roots via its highly linear attempts at non-linearity, Rise of the Argonauts is very much a case of ’seen it all before, done much better’.

From the moment you set sail aboard Buccaneer you get the immediate sense of quality thanks to a deliciously crafted gameworld, where beautifully sculpted islands nestle amongst the oceans, themselves as visually impressive as anything else you'll likely find in any big-budget equivalent.

Never mind videogaming, Chrono Trigger is one of the great recent examples of storytelling in any medium. In short, it's everything role-playing games are meant to be, sucking you into a unique world until your identification with the game is inseparable from the characters and their goals.

Metal Slug 7 is what it is; a resolutely old school, unashamedly non-progressive and brutally tough side-scrolling shooter and, in many respects, SNK should be applauded for bringing an authentic Metal Slug experience to the DS.

Sadly, the biggest advancement of Football Manager 2009 - the 3D match engine - is also the most underwhelming. Without eye-massaging graphical capabilities, it's hard to see why any FM veteran would choose the 3D option, relegating the much-hyped addition to an intriguing novelty, yet a novelty which will surely be slowly improved upon year after year.

Left 4 Dead transcends the black and white of 'single player' or 'multiplayer' – suddenly there's a realisation that four players have amalgamated into a single, unified body during play. It's an incredibly exhilarating feeling, and other games offering co-op modes that amount to little more than running and gunning together suddenly appear a little juvenile. Left 4 Dead has indefinitely raised the bar for true co-operative play.

For anyone already enjoying Shadows of Angmar, Mines of Moria is a near-essential purchase. Not only in regard to progressing further through the Lord of the Rings storyline, but in offering a fresh style of play through the new character classes and presenting a lengthy boost to the game's lifespan.

It's not just that Need for Speed Undercover is a bad game; it's that it's a bad game with an incredibly erratic engine. The flaws, problems and issues that exist in NFS Undercover are virtually inexcusable for a popular franchise from such an affluent publisher.

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.

Despite DICE's uneasy underhandedness to force players into more conventional situations that the game simply isn't built for, Mirror's Edge is an impressive experiment and a compelling title that revels in its unique mechanics.

Nuts & Bolts is a country mile away from being the instant classic that the original was, even though it can often be hugely charming, tremendously entertaining and filled with a bucket-load of humour. But it strikes us as having hit a brick wall midway through development, with its lack of ideas resulting in a clever concept falling somewhat short of the level it deserves.

Unfortunately a large shadow in the shape of last year's game hangs heavy over everything in World at War. Admittedly the feel is excellent, the visuals and audio work strong, but any overt enthusiasm is tempered by the knowledge that in twelve months time we'll perhaps be thinking the same thing about part six: that we've seen it all before, that in itself each Call of Duty is still one of the best rollercoaster rides outside of Hollywood's summer season, that Modern Warfare did it all better.

Though all the usual punches, grapples and reversals are present, the already weak SmackDown system crumbles under even the gentlest of nudges, a situation not helped after being treated to TNA Impact's impressive mechanics earlier in the year.

The story may be overambitious, inconclusive and undermined by some queasy sentimentality, but the fine-tuning made to the game's core shooting and cover mechanics make Gears of War 2 Epic's finest work to date.

The same flaws that have always plagued the game still persist, yet Exit is just too charming to be mad at. Its more fiendish levels are brilliant, and the visuals and general uniqueness produce a game that is simply enormously likable.

The glorious visual style in which the world is rendered is a long way from the bloody realities of war, yet the game still manages to present a challenging and believable conflict. Underneath its polished (and undoubtedly quirky) presentation is a confidently delivered and engaging experience that doesn't hold itself a prisoner to convention. It's tempting to think that SEGA may very well have delivered a cult classic.

There is a simple pleasure to be had if you leave all of your expectations at the door and, if you can overlook its painful neglect, the multiplayer may keep you occupied until the more prominent shooters arrive later in the month. But unfortunately, Quantum of Solace turned out to be a bit more George Lazenby than Sean Connery.

The latter part of Resistance 2 is altogether more successful than its opening, with some diverting puzzles, nods to Valve's storytelling technique and a well-considered balance between checkpoints. But the fact that its levels are so sparse and the production values so surprisingly low suggests this isn't a game in which every action should be savoured, rather one to plough through at full pelt. Look for revolution in Resistance 2 and you'll be found wanting.

Though it doesn't do anything particularly revolutionary, the level of artistry is so far beyond anything we've played recently that it almost doesn't need to. Standing uniquely in the busy Christmas schedule and indeed within 2008 as a whole, Fallout 3 is an experience to savour.

Frantic, fast-paced and undeniably fun, Pacific Rift is a substantial enough improvement to win over doubters of the original, even if some of the track design and vehicle balancing still isn’t perfect.

The King of Fighters deserves better than this sloppy port.

It doesn't do anything particularly outstanding to persuade MotoGP virgins to dip their toes in two-wheeled waters, but to say the game does little right would also be doing it a disservice. This instalment of MotoGP feels like a new beginning for the sub-genre, and as such deserves sampling by most. The petrol heads amongst us, especially.

LittleBigPlanet is gaming’s equivalent to YouTube: an unprecedented channel of collective talent that offers a level of creative freedom never before seenin a commercial videogame. It does for the platform genre what Half-Life did for shooters and what Gran Turismo did for racers; injecting innovation into a rapidly-staling genre and paving the way for the future of the side-scrolling platformer.

Sadly Guitar Hero is starting to succumb to its heritage of being Rock Band's old man, and slowly growing out of touch with the gaming generation. Guitar Hero: World Tour doesn't offer anything of any substance over Rock Band, especially with its less than stellar selection of tracks and a disturbing lack of atmosphere.

An endearing tale of courage and responsibility, and one of the most delightful titles you’ll find on Xbox 360.

The worlds have a vibrancy that recalls the original PlayStation games, special effects are suitably dazzling and the whole affair is efficiently produced whilst making the most of the host hardware. It's close to being the sort of Spyro game that, judging by their PS3 Ratchet & Clank adventures, series creators Insomniac would have made had they still an active interest in all things purple dragon, and an appropriate way to mark Spyro's 10th anniversary.

As far as sandbox games go, it is pretty rudimentary, with an incredibly limited range of mission types. If, however, you slip on Spider-Man's famous skin-tight costume expecting little more than a high-camp, sandbox beat 'em up, you will not be disappointed.

The impressive vehicle handling, sky-high production values and conscious decision to refine Midnight Club for its next-gen debut rather than reinvent ensure that MC: LA is the best in its class.