Hello Games! came out of nowhere and dazzled us with the disarmingly clever racing-platform-puzzler Joe Danger a while back, and now they're back on a different platform and showing their more sadistic and cruel side with the introduction of the 'Laboratory' – a new set of fiendishly difficult levels for Joe to traverse. This is a fine gem, a proper love letter to the Excite Bikes of yesteryear.

Kinect: Disneyland Adventures is a very entertaining game, even though it sometimes just feels like a big product placement with waving and jumping, and despite the fact that the quick game option only works in games you've played before. It's hard to not get sucked into a nostalgic daydream and just smile your way through the game.

If you are looking for a Playstation Move-game that is fun for the moment, you can do a lot worse than Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest. It could last longer though.

Do you like videogames? Do you like horror in your videogames? Do you like life in general? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, stay as far away from Afterfall: Insanity as possible.

Super Pokémon Rumble is an entertaining and action filled game for younger players, but lacks depth (except for the 3D effects) and isn't very challenging. Well worth it if you thought Pokémon Black and White was a bit too complex and slow but still would like to experience the Pokémon universe.

Kirby has always managed to be fun for both kids and adults, but his latest adventure is only for the young ones. Never before has the pink little creature felt so average.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is a game experience as refined as it is typical. You get to follow Harry Potter and his friends as they finish their epic fight against Voldemort in this light hearted adventure puzzle game. It will delight LEGO and Harry Potter fans alike, but if you were already bored with the previous game, this is one to skip.

Kung Fu: High Impact is far too expensive for its own good. It's fun alright, and will probably make you feel like the Star Wars kid did, and the short amount of hours that it delivers are clearly entertaining. Well worth it if you find it in a bargain bin.

Carnival Island uses the Move-controllers in a great way. So it is too bad that the developers seemingly ran out of ideas after creating just a few minigames.

It's the lower price point that saves Grease Dance, as the fun is limited to an evening or two. The dance mechanics leave a bit to be desired, but the songs themselves are entertaining. If you like Grease, that is.

Mario Kart 7 is a solid Nintendo sequel. The only real obvious flaw is probably that the formula is starting to feel a little old. In most other aspects its a very good product, with great graphics, varied tracks, good online functionality and overall very entertaining gameplay.

The formula still holds in this game, but for a fifth iteration some new blood is needed. See this as a swan song for the DS, competent and still fun. But we're ready for the 3DS version now.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is fun in short bursts, but lacks the well-made modes that are needed for families who only want to spend 30 minutes or so gaming to see who is the fastest, highest and strongest.

Sonic Generations is a great history lesson about the series descent from greatness. It starts off fantastic and the 2d-part is good overall, but the 3d-versions of the tracks are filled with the same problems the series has had in the later half of its lifespan. On top of that there are way too few levels and the quality of them is anywhere between great and horrible.

A repackaged version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 with added characters, gameplay balancing and slightly improved netcode. For newcomers to the series, getting into this will be a harsh and unforgiving journey, but for fans it's a must thanks to the added characters and slight balance tweaks.

A monster collector game that draws on the Dragon Quest series fauna of iconic monsters. Being more complex than Pokémon, this is a game to be played primarily for the joy of breeding and raising little monsters, as the story offers little interest. If you like Dragon Quest and Pokémon, this is the a game for you.

Saints Row: The Third has both highs and lows. The freedom, entertaining sillyness and some good ideas are held back by what too often is a tasteless, repetitive and mindless game. While the flawed controls and lack of technical polish frustrates further, there is certainly a lot of fun to be had with the over the top action, not least in the online co-op mode.

A competent update of the updated cult classic from Rare, pushed out to die in the worst possible release window, almost guaranteeing it will go unnoticed by all but the most hardcore Bond fans. The single player campaign is polished and enjoyable, the multiplayer mode is a quick, frantic affair enjoyed either over internet or in a more limited four player split-screen locally. Easily the definitive GoldenEye-experience.

The long loading times, clumsy controls and bland presentation make Rabbids: Alive and Kicking a disappointment of old Rabbids fans. However, the minigames are fun and the four-player modes help a lot. If you're looking for a Kinect game that doesn't involve fitness or dancing this may be worth your while.

The puzzles are practically non-existant, the quick time events are sloppy and the voice acting sounds like it was written by eight-year olds. It's more like a modern day Dragon's Lair than an exciting adventure game.

In Need for Speed: The Run the linearity is almost drawn to it's outer edge. It almost feels like everything you do is planned before you even start it and all you do is learn when certain events in the race will poop up and then act accodingly. The good parts - the Challenges, the varied enviroments and in some aspects the multiplayer - is drowned by poor design of basic game mechanics.

Not even high production values can save a game that isn't fun to play. Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi is a game that want's too much and fails with a lot, except the beautiful graphics.

Super Mario 3D Land is a perfect blend between the new and the old. It's a near perfect piece of Nintendo entertainment and the best game in the series since the masterpiece Super Mario 64.

Supremacy MMA is a fighting game sporting brutal combat and brutal graphics. Caught somewhere between sport simulation and entertainment violence, it fails to achieve much success with either, resulting in a title that is probably only of interest to those too young to buy it.

Go Vacation is perhaps the 20th party game I've tried on the Wii system. You would think that these games would have to evolve to give us new experiences, but the truth is that very few titles actually do. Go Vacation is not bad if you're a bunch of people who want to have fun – but you played it all before.

If you are a The Sims-fan this is a no-brainer and you probably already playing this. For the rest of us, not already commited to this game, the expansion adds to the already massive micro management of The Sims 3 which in turn disturbs the flow of the game and at times becomes rather tedious, almost a chore. Don't let the cute furballs fool you, this is The Sims 3 and if your not into this game before then this expansion, solid as it may be, will not make you a believer.

HAL Laboratory have developed an adventure with amazing puzzles, exporations, unlockables and bonuses. Everyone with a Nintendo DS ought to own this game.

The first classic book in Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson's legendary book series. Although the presentation is rather sloppy, the PSN-game is loyal to the original adventure - and anyone who's been dying to know what lurks around the next corner in the halls of Red Mountain should try this one out. Good, but needs polishing for future books.

Storywise The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a very important game that reveals and explains certain points in the series. And as a game it's great fun, but still two full heart containers from being completely fantastic.

NBA 2K12 came out of nowhere and took me by complete surprise. Fans of the sport have no excuse not to own this game, and 2K Sports should be applauded for creating the best basketball simulator ever made.

While Ezios final chapter is a fun romp through Istanbul, it could just have well been incorporated into Brotherhood with a bit of editing. The saving grace is the fleshed-out multiplayer modes and the interesting effects the bombs have on it. With a bit of luck the series will get back on track after the two latest interim-games, so fingers crossed that Assassin's Creed III dares to evolve the series as much as the second game did.

An ambitious remake. One of the most memorable campaigns in the history of first person shooters can now be relived with wonderful HD graphics. And six of the best multiplayer maps from the original rounds off what is a fantastic package with great value.

Mario just got some stiff competition, and this platforming masterpiece has amazing comic timing that's a joy to play. However, even though the multiplayer modes have been hyped, the experience is far better when played alone.

A fun and lighthearted action RPG for kids ages 5 and up where you control Spyro and his friends as they battle the evil Kaos. The unique toy based character system, where each game character corresponds to a unique plastic toy, makes playing at your friend's house easy, though the cost of buying all the optional figures is substantial.

A charming adventure with a genuine feeling of love for the source material. It's certianly a very well made game compared to most other movie tie-ins. The only real negatives is the terribly short campaign and nearly no difficulty at all.

An interesting attempt to tackle the Middle Earth franchise, but lacks new source material. Snowblind Studios has attempted to tell a side story to the story established by the books, casting it in their familiar style of hack and slash games, but it fails to spark any direct interest in either story or characters. Combat becomes slightly tedious shortly after being introduced, but can still be fun for frantic multiplayer sessions either locally or online. For Middle Earth fans, this could be enjoyable in well-paced out dosages.

Just Dance 3 is an excellent game if you just want to dance without caring too much about the competition. The strong set list, choreographed dance routines and songs with different steps for different players sets it apart from the rest. The four player mode is impressive as well, and turns this game into a no-brainer for any fun-filled party.

H.G. Wells fantastic science fiction novel is interpreted as a retro-feeling action platformer reminiscent of Flashback or Another World, with fantastic voice acting by Patrick Stewart and music by the legendary Chris Huelsbeck. It draws upon its inspirations quite well, and delivers a moody, atmospheric experience.

Off the record is hard to recommend to anyone who has already played through the original Dead Rising 2 campaign. There are however quite a few improvements and it is surely the definitive version of an already very entertaining zombie adventure. Anyone who missed last years effort has a nice opportunity to experience it now at a nice low price.

Disney Universe may be a calculated copy of the most prominent features in the LittleBigPlanet series and the LEGO games, but who cares when it's this fun? Not to be played alone, this game shines when experienced with another person, preferrably a younger family member.

The best game for Kinect just got better. Dance Central 2 improves on practically every feature in the original, and adds a much-needed two player mode, a must for everyone who likes to have fun.

If superhero games such as Batman: Arkham Asylum is a well composed three course dinner in an atmospheric restaurant, this is the equivalent of a greasy, sloppy fast food meal. It satisfies some base instinct for the moment but will not leave a lasting impression. A lesser game than its predecessor, this feels rushed and sloppy. The story and voice acting impresses with its cleverness and realization, but is ultimately dragged down by repetitive and substandard gameplay.

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One is in essence a fun game, but it's hard to overlook the fact that the game is a bit too repetitive and shouldn't really be a full-price title. But if you have three friends standing by you'll still have a lot of fun.

Taking inspiration from games such as the Call of Duty-series, this is less of a flight simulator and more of an action game played in the air, and is all the better for it. The somewhat tedious flight missions are mixed up with much more entertaining helicopter-missions and the online modes for both competition and co-op work well.

Tetris for the Nintendo 3DS may not win over players who didn't like the game in the first place, but old fans can look forward to plenty of fun modes, including an excellent online experience for up to six players.

DICE's latest shooter combines an extremely in-depth multiplayer experience with a fully fledged single player game. But the two brightest stars are the game's lighting and sound, which set new standards within the realistic FPS genre. Battlefield 3 is a Swedish war export we can be proud of.

Despite being a fun game, it's obvious that Kinect Sports: Season 2 contains both good and bad sports. Hopefully Rare will actually learn from their mistakes in future and have activities that are optimal for the motion controls, instead of just glancing at their competitors.

Following on the best game of 2009, Uncharted 3 doesn't disappoint. The action is even more over the top, the close combat is improved and the acting is amazing. The controls are a bit too loose though, and Drake's platforming antics border on being a parody of itself, but apart from that this is a real gem.

As a grindhouse-esque story House of the Dead: Overkill - Extended Cut doesn't impress much. Neither does it as an on-rails shooter, or as a fun experience. However, with a friend this can remind you of gaming sessions of old at your local arcade, and that's at least something.

With graphics, gameplay and an approach to female gamers from the past, this game is just average. Battlefield: Play4Free is free to play, but my time is worth a lot more than this and I want my money back.

Football Manager 2012 is still the best manager game out there, and delivers a solid and fun experience. But Sports Interactive would do well to let go of the past and actually keep innovating the series, as stagnation may be an issue based on the small amount of improvements this year.

Nadeo trims away the unnecessary to make TrackMania 2: Canyon an arcade racing experience that is as focused as it is brilliant. Selection of tracks is a bit uneven, but the good ones are great. Simplistic yet complex racing that really comes alive in online mode.

Rocksteady Studios surprised us all back in 2009 by delivering one of the best games that year with Batman: Arkham Asylum. This year they show us that they are a force to be reckoned with when Batman: Arkham City more than lives up to expectations; it surpasses them in what is a very strong contender for Game of the Year 2011. No multiplayer? Who gives a bats a**?

If you love Formula 1 games this is an absolute must, and it's the best F1 simulator on the market. Unfortunately it's not accepting of newcomers, so if you haven't watched the sport on tv or played a lot of heavy racing simulators the high difficutly level, time consuming races and the lack of tutorials may prove a problem.

One of the more understated games in the Resident Evil franchise gets a facepaint and a new release for the current generation platforms, but without fixing any of the archaic gameplay problems existing in the earlier games. New players beware, this is a harsh, unforgiving game compared to the newer entries. Nostalgics will likely already own this in one or more format, and have little reason to repurchase it in this upgraded version. A little more love and polish could have gone a long way to make this more appealing.

Forza Motorsport 4 is a work of love and an absolute gem of a racing game. The feel of the actual racing has been tuned somewhat and now feels a little more playful.There´s realy not a whole lot of new content compared to the last entry in the series, but the polish and improved graphics is incredible. If you'er only going to get one racing game this year, this should be it.

Dark Souls is the girl you had a crush on in high school. The one that really enjoyed teasing you, making fun of you or punishing you. But you couldn't help being drawn to her. And even when she was as mean as she could be, you still loved her. You knew in your heart of hearts that the torture was her way of saying she loved you. As harsh and unforgiving as Dark Souls can be to casual players, the pleasure and gratification received from completing seemingly impossible tasks are still off the scale. Bigger, harsher and even more atmospheric than Demon's Souls, this is an immersive and immense experience.

A multiplayer centric WW2 shooter that puts great emphasis on realistic mechanics and ambiance. Unfortunately realism does not always translate into fun, resulting in a game with little appeal except to the hardcore fans of the era.

Last year I raved over Madden NFL 11 and loved most of the features in the game. This year is either a transition year with small adjustments or my great score from 2010 was a product of my absence from the series for over ten years. If you are a hard core NFL fan that craves every small adjustment Madden NFL 12 may be for you but the rest of us can wait for a price drop or just go and play Madden NFL 11.

El Shaddai is the most visually interresting game I have seen so far. And beyond the visuals lies a game with great controls, balanced difficulty and an excellent mixture of fighting, 2D and 3D platforming. I love it when developers do something different and actually succeed.

Renegade Ops is an absolute blast in any sense of the word. The great graphics, weighty handling and character upgrades create a fantastic, explosive and entertaining experience, and the chaotic multiplayer is the most fun you'll have in a game in a long time.

ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are both timeless classics, and to re-experience them in HD resolution is an absolute treat. The 3D enhancements are nice, but more time could have been spent on ICOs controls and the graphical prowess of Shadow of the Colossus. But nevertheless, this collection is a must for anyone who hasn't experienced these two fine games, and for those who already have they're a wonderful reminder of how great gaming can be.

Sometimes it's very relaxing to just shut off the brain and perform some indecent acts of brutal shooting and hand-to-hand combat. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine delivers this experience in abundance. This is an enjoyable experience that falls a little flat due to pacing and repetitiveness, but for sheer brutal fun, it's hard to beat.

As a HD re-imagining, God of War Collection: Volume 2 does exactly what it should. With excellent controls, trophies and a solid 10 hour action blast split over two games this compilation really excels. Chains of Olympus may be a little outdated, but Ghost of Sparta is well worth your while, especially if you haven't played the PSP versions previously.

Deathspank: The Baconing is a fun game with first class humour that gets dragged down by repetitive combat. Brilliant in small doses, though.

A licensed game that tries to emulate the Dynasty Warriors formula, but fails rather miserably. Gorgeously animated celshaded characters are not enough to lift up the repetitive hack and slash formula and the more than slightly nonsensical storyline. The fighting system is fun, but extremely limited, and can be stimulating for a few hours, but after you've had your fill there really isn't much incentive to pick it up again.

Huge amounts of content can't hide the fact that this is pretty much the same old NHL with a few tweaks here and there. Thankfully the biggest changes have been made to the action on the ice and the result is more physical, smarter and all round more fun gameplay than ever before.

Newcomers to the series will get a lot of entertainment for their money, but previous fans can mainly look forward to the 3D effects and the portability. Thankfully that's more than enough to make us happy.

Gears of War 3 falters somewhat in its storytelling, but it's still a game I highly recommend. The story has never been the focus in the series anyway. Both the single and multiplayer modes are massive, and despite not being a perfect game it's still well worth your while.

Hole in the Wall is filled with flaws and becomes quite boring if you play it in long sessions. As a party game in shorter sessions, it's really fun to play and reminds me of a modern version for the classic family game Twister.

A descendent of classic PC-puzzler The Incredible Machine, almost 20 years down the line, and Crazy Machines: Elements manages to be the worse game. There is some enjoyment to be had in the unlockable challenge mode, but most of the experience lacks real creative freedom and is let down by control issues.

Despite trying to act as a gritty tale of survival, Resistance 3 is in essence just a regular shooter, with far more action filled firefights than lurking tales of humanity. Thankfully it's a well made game and has an impressive arsenal of excellent weapons, and the multiplayer - including a much-missed co-op mode - is a lot of fun.

As a single player game, Dead Island delivers a meaty experience that lasts absolutely ages, and the first person zombie adventure is an excellent pastime. However, the overall enjoyment is slightly marred by the fact that the online coop is infested with bugs.

The shift mechanic is the real star here, and transforms even the most ordinary sequences into thrilling race experiences. But there are flaws, such as logical mis-steps in the storyline and generic presentation. They don't matter too much though, especially in the multiplayer mode.

The concept in Rock of Ages shows a great potential, but humour and polish only takes you so far. After that the game mechanics really have to shine through, which happens quite frequently. But it could absolutely do more.

With the abundance of first person shooters we live in today, it's strange that some still persist in making mediocre games. Exactly who is supposed to be impressed by Bodycount, I don't know, when there are at least a dozen better games out there. I'm negatively surprised.

A world of anticipation rested upon Eidos Montreal's shoulders when they set out to create the prequel to the widely popular Deus Ex, released 11 years ago. Fortunately for both them and the players the results are very good. Deus Ex: Human Revolution has a more narrow storyline and the AI could have been better – but it more than accompishes its mission in delivering a great prequel to one of the most interesting stories in gaming history.

Tetsuya Takahashi and Monolith Soft finally manage to deliver on the promises and visions underlying the earlier games sharing the Xeno-name, and the result rivals even the team members earlier works at SquareSoft. This is the finest japanese roleplaying game crafted for a home console this generation and will become a measuring stick against which other games are held up and scrutinized again in the future.

Fruit Ninja Kinect hardly contains any news, apart from a hefty price tag. Unfortunately, it's not as fun playing it with Kinect as on a smartphone, and the original version on mobile devices is far superior.

Being very similar to the original, game this is more an expansion than a sequel. There is a new focus on getting down on the battlefield yourself piloting tanks or helicopters, but some of the charm is lost in the process.

This is not Sid Meiers Pirates. It's a quest based single player game which happens to have its setting in the Caribbean. And the first hour just keeps on repeating itself.

This is probably the first actual 'mature' videogame, dealing with issues such as insecurity, infidelity and marriage anxiety. Atlus manages to cleverly marry a narrative-based story with clever puzzle based platforms levels and delivers a highly enjoyable, but odd, game. Yes, the story turns weirder than a Hunter S. Thompson novel about half way through, but even that turn doesn't diminish the overall package. This is as close to a must-buy as it can get.

With its outstanding design and smart puzzles, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet takes you on a ride through creator Michel Gagnés vivid imagination. The end result is a Metroidvania styled game that's well worth its 1200 MS Points.

Cars 2 is no Mario Kart-killer, but it's an okay game for us who don't have the Wii and Marios cart-racer. The game is challenging, has a good turbo-system and is great fun when played with a couple of friends.

Backbreaker Vengeance is very entertaining and lasts quite a while, but is far too lacking in content for a game that costs 1200 MS Points.

Bastion tells a story about a boy and his struggle to rebuild a broken world. Masterfully implemented game mechanics, innovative dynamic story telling and a setting that really captures the imagination makes this a real treat for the demanding gamer.

From Dust is a great playground that constantly impresses with its jaw-dropping technology and dynamic environments. A must for anyone that craves more than just an action fix.

Runespell: Overture is a puzzle RPG with quite a compelling story. The Battles are fought using a card based duel mechanic that seemingly tries to emulate the success of Puzzle Quest, but despite the nice graphics and a not-too-generic fantasy backdrop it still doesn't quite make it.

The Harry Potter videogame franchise goes out with a whimper, not a bang. Where the series could have ended on a satisfying note, this is a short, linear and ultimately unsatisfying ending that not even the most hardest core of Potterophiles will enjoy.

Ms Splosion is a very solid sequel that delivers great fun on the same basis as its predecessor. It's crazy, over the top and just as harshly difficult as Splosion Man, and then some.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D contains the same high-quality action as the bonus modes in Resident Evil 4 and 5, but this time in attractive 3D. Unfortunately it doesn't contain enough actual game play. Too few missions, missing favourite characters and areas and enemies that only have been taken from the latest two games. It's just not worth the money, and with the save file debacle there's little value in buying it used either.

Wii Play Motion is very much alike its predecessor as it is totally different. Since Wii was brand new the last time and since a much-wanted extra wiimote was included, sales went through the roof. This will not happen this time, as the wiimote plus is not that much of a difference and since Wii has already seen its heydays a few years ago.

A truly beautiful puzzle game that soothes the mind and engages your imagination as well as your intellect. Perhaps not for the most dedicated puzzle enthusiasts but surely something that will leave most gamers smiling afterwards.

Even thought it's a frantic and hypnotic shooter, Galaga Legions DX fails to live up to the brilliance of Pac-man Championship Edition DX. It is not difficult to get through – in fact it is perhaps too easy and definately too short – but the difficulty in posting a good score makes you come back for more.

F.E.A.R. 3 has a few misses here and there, but when it hits the mark it becomes incredibly entertaining. Considering the improvements compared to the second game we're really looking forward to another installment in the series.

Puzzle Dimension is a beautiful puzzle game where you guide a marble around in a three dimensional labyrinth. The gameplay is good but perhaps a bit too repetitive to be truly great. The PSN version surprisingly lacks online leaderboards, an omission that also subtracts from the overall impression.

Ape Escape for the PS3 is a title that turns your Move into a fan and the avid fan into a disappointed person. A year ago, Sony promised us that they would not just use Move for braindead titles where we just wave it around like fools. But this is precisely one of those titles, and even though Ape Escape with its 15 levels is quite short, it's still terribly boring.

Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition is a nice but a little thin update. The four new characters add to an already impressive lineup. The cost of the update is relatively small so fans of this fantastic fighting game should definately give it a go.