Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem delivers exactly what it should, and is yet another challenging puzzle games for the Nintendo DS. Fun and well made, but without much innovation.

Thirteen steps forward, two steps back? Final Fantasy XIII-2 resolves most of the main problems that the first game had, while introducing a number of new ideas, of which a few feel underwhelming or completely out of place. The characters, visuals, story are engaging and the narrative better told. It will be a hard sell for skeptics of the first game, but for fans it's an essential play.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn delivers many hours of fun for role playing game lovers out there, and both the main story and the sidequests get better as the game progresses. The story may be a little jumbled at times, but the combat mechanics more than make up for it.

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.

The game mechanics are even better than the third game, but it still lacks quality in the story and this time even in the AI. Play this with your friends or get ready for gears of frustration.

Baldur's Gate is still among the finest RPG's out there and this is truly an enhanced version of the original. It still has flaws but overall it is a big improvement and the developers has made the game available to a whole new generation of players.

Yakuza 4 isn't as compelling as the third game, nor does it introduce a lot of new, interesting features. But it's still a fun romp, and sometimes when I walk down the streets in Kabukicho it feels like I'm back in Shinjuku, and that's a rare feat. Not for everone, but fans of the series could do worse.

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.

A real classic that shouldn't be missed if you can't play Metal Gear Solid HD Collection or the older versions with better controls. You'll need the classic controller as well to enjoy this properly as well.

There is really no reason not to buy MotorStorm RC on Vita; the price tag is merely 5 euros and if you are in the least interested in racing and just a tiny bit competitive you will have many hours of fun. This is mobile arcade racing as it is supposed to be.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy stands tall on the merits of the soundtrack – picking up solid tunes from the first 13 numbered games. Combining the best-of practices of other rhythm games and blending in some light roleplaying elements freshens up the mix. With a lesser game franchise behind it, or with less epic music, it would likely fall flat. With three varied playing styles, lots of incentives to perform better, makes this a hard game to put down. From the sheer nostalgic moments induced by the soundtrack, to the high-intensity tapping required to master the harder difficulties - this is a monumental experience.

Tomb Raider Trilogy is an essential collection for PlayStation 3 owners that neatly wraps up Crystal Dynamics' work on the core franchise so far. Anniversary ends up being the shining gem of the collection, and despite some flaws it still delivers an immersive experience.

Tales of Xillia doesn't so much innovate as it does refine the stable foundation laid by the previous games, at least not from a gameplay mechanics standpoint. Where it really shines is in the characterization, the world building and the mature, dark story. Choosing to play as either the young care-free Jude Mathis or the supernatural Milla Maxwell determines partially how the story is perceived and told. Tales of Xillia is one of the finest games to come out of Namco's Tales Studio and easily rivals, and in some cases clearly outshines, the competition within the JRPG genre this generation.

Stealth Inc. is packed with great level design and has a nice balance between tactics and reaction speed.

The main focus in EA Sports Active 2.0 is the training itself, and not the game aspect. The different training options are varied, and give a really good excercise, but the best part is that I want to keep working out even after the session is complete.

A brave restart of a game that arguably should've never been made. For a series primarily resting on the solitary player experience, it manages the transition to a multiplayer environment beautifully. There's enough content, races, classes and things to do to keep both new players and old MMO-foxes occupied for a long while, and all of it well realised with the worldbuilding skills of the Final Fantasy teams.

Killzone: Mercenary fills an important void in the PS Vita game library. Finally it has a great exclusive first person shooter.

Skullgirls is a joy to play, and the price tag of 1200 is amazing, seeing as it contains just as much as its full-priced counterparts.The only negative point is the lack of characters, which shortens the games longevity, but that doesn't stop it from being amazingly fun. Skullgirls are here to stay.

The highly anticipated return to Dunwall gets tainted by the fact that Dishonored's sum is greater than its parts. When these parts are separated from each other in uneven trial the brilliance is somewhat lost. Great concept art sketches, though.

Some games are larger than the sum of their parts, but in this instance the individual parts are greater than the sum. If you can disregard the lowly story mode told in a painful and often embarrasing manner, this is a rather good arena-based rpg/fighting game hybrid that requires a good mixture of reflexes and tactics. Also, the music and character selection is a love letter to fans of the Final Fantasy series.

A charming and beautiful minimalistic puzzle platform game that offers both a gripping and amusing story through its great narration.

Grid 2 will speak to fans of the original game, but it doesn’t really do anything brand new or different. But in the end, sometimes we don’t need a revolution, just something that’s bigger, faster and prettier.

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.

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.

Mario will always be Mario, but the constant coin-chasing has ironically enough led to some inflation. It's a great game, but we won't remember it as one of those immortal Mario classics.

A slight step forward for a franchise that has struggled just behind the competition for almost a full console generation. Better ball and player physics plus improved player graphics for the top tier players brings something extra. Arena atmospheres are also great. Sadly the last PES of a generation is slightly marred by choppy frame rates.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Origins offers two great fighting experiences with mechanics that hold up even today. It might stand in the shadows of the sequels, but for those of you who want to see what it looked like the first time Gambit beat up Mega Man, you can't go wrong with this game.

Julian Gollop is back with yet another masterful turn based strategy game, and if you can see beyond the weak story and the gimmicky 3D effects - that don't to much to enhance the bland graphics - you'll find a spiritual successor to his old games. Laser Squad: Shadow Wars would have been an equally good name.