Lego Batman 2 is packed with fun DC Universe content, tricky puzzles and compulsive collecting, but it's let down by the repetitive and often tedious combat mechanics. It's virtually impossible to fail, making the real challenge one of player interest. Combined with clunky controls, there's enough wrong to prevent this game from becoming a Lego classic.

Fans of Skyrim should almost certainly grab it in recognition of the fact that it's hard to get too much of a good thing.

Religion and espionage alone do not a revolutionary gameplay experience make, but combined with the strategic combat overhaul and a generous helping of new content, it all adds up to far too much time spent playing into the wee small hours.

There is certainly room for a thoughtful shooter or fifty among the brain-dead gorillas that currently populate the genre, and what is on offer here in that regard is encouraging, even if it's not executed to the highest standards. The Line's dramatic punches would have landed with a lot more force had the in-game macho quotient been dialled back a few notches and had all involved not made the choice to speak through clenched teeth, but it does represent a welcome step in the right direction.

The impression is of a blown-up iOS game rather than a game developed and designed for the PlayStation 3 console.

There is no doubt Lollipop Chainsaw is heavily marketed to be an indulgent romp through pop culture and appeal to our baser sensibilities. But once the façade of plastic fantastic is stripped away the game has to survive on basic combo repetitions and mediocre game play.

There is still an extremely functional, good, even, racer beneath the surface, but in this genre that isn't enough to save the game.

Mario Tennis Open is light, comfortable fun, yes. This much is a given. But, like many franchises that have run for seventeen years or more, it raises the question of what, exactly, it's doing to stay relevant. How is it trying to be something that commands players' attentions in a sea of works fighting for their money and time? How is it justifying its existence, the resources that went into creating it? In Open's case, it seems the answer to all these questions is 'by being on the 3DS'. And that's really not good enough.

Sorcery isn't the game that will bring the hardcore to the Move. It's not the game that makes the Move indispensible. In fact, there's little or nothing that couldn't have just been mapped to a standard controller. But it's a novel and polished experience that offers something fun for the younger player, while their gaming parents can at least appreciate it objectively. They may even end up finishing it, while no one is looking. It's a surprisingly enjoyable experience.

For a title with a famous author's name brandished on its cover like a medal of honour, frankly, Future Soldier's writing stinks. There's little to recommend the singleplayer experience, but ironically, those heading online to the plot-free pleasures of team multiplayer will discover the game's true strengths.

All in all, Waveform is a fantastic casual game which revels in both frustration and addiction. And best of all, this extreme enjoyment will only set you back the tidy sum of USD $7.

It's still an exciting, tough fighting game, and it's infinitely preferable to some of the attempts at shaking things up that we saw in the past.

Pandora's Tower doesn't offer anything appealing or unique, and is not a Wii title that will find a home with many gamers.

Sniper Elite V2 has includes many enjoyable and memorable sequences. It's just a shame that it these moments are so padded out. When Karl is at the top of a ruined church shattering skulls from 200 metres, the game soars, but sadly transitioning to these instances is too often a chore. Let's hope any third game in the series adds better stealth gameplay to complement the sniping mechanics and presentation that Sniper Elite V2 does so well.

So yes, there's a good game in Rhythm Thief. It's a game that's not shy about its commitment to accurately evoking the skill and dexterity required of a master thief and master dancer, and as a result it's a fun and formidable challenge, regardless of whether Raphael is stomping the yard or stomping some goons. However, that game's built into a story so anodyne, so unimaginative, so resolute in its seriousness, that it's almost not worth the pain.

It's surreal. Altogether, the impression is of a work that feels like an addled and hazy reflection of the truth. It's far removed from what we know, but unlike so many games there's a real sense that our world and our lives are just beyond the horizon.

Much like its protagonist, Assassins of Kings stands in defiant contrast to the crowd, but in doing so CD Projekt RED has come away with a product that appeals on many different levels – a strong draught of dialogue, action, and coordinated gameplay that ought to slake the hunger, thirst, and yearning loins of any lonesome traveller of the road.

Battleship is one part generic and one part simplistic. The link that binds the two parts together is exasperatingly cumbersome, and that's probably the biggest problem with the game. It starts out fun, but quickly gets repetitive: The same old story.

For those gamers who are all about the action, who care only about how many times the lead character can swear, and only want to smash everything in sight there is still a decent experience to be had. Certainly, if playing simply to relieve some stress, there's plenty of relief in gallivanting around a virtual world shredding enemies with giant knives.

The novel integration of singleplayer and multiplayer is a brilliant feature in its own right, but it's yet to be seen how region-locking of the servers will factor into this automaton's staying power.

For those looking for the complete reinvention of the wheel will have to wait a bit longer. But Mario Party 9 has had enough tweaked in it to breathe some much-needed life back into the series.

Sakurai has done the impossible - resurrected a franchise long thought dead, given it some fresh new kicks and produced something glorious. Irreverent, self-referential comedy has rarely fit a Nintendo game so snugly.

It's a Tekken game, but stripped bare. That's all anyone ever really needs to know.

After a decade of development, and thousands of years of bloodshed and territorial domination, it seems the Total War series has come full circle. Fall of the Samurai is the resounding conclusion, a well-thought out, well-crafted game that puts comparable expansions to shame.

Yakuza: Dead Souls is a strange fruit sitting between the Yakuza that fans love and the zombie horde gameplay so overused in recent game development. While it doesn't really do either perfectly, there is enough here to keep players entertained. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing their characters in this new role but newcomers could easily be put off by the clunky control system and watered down gun-play, while zombie fans will enjoy the varied killing methods, but will be disappointed in the lack of challenge the aiming system allows.

It's a shame because Raccoon City is not entirely unpalatable, most of its flaws seem as though they could have been ironed out, but it's doubtful whether it can seriously compete on its own merits with comparable titles currently on offer.

In Unit 13, there's no confrontation. There's no challenge. There's pointless bloodshed, but it doesn't ask the player why they did it, why they wanted it; it just assumes that's what gamers want and moves on to the next setpiece.

Mass Effect 3 is an utterly brilliant bookend for an outstanding franchise.

SSX's first foray since 2008 is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the core game is as addictive as it ever was. In lieu of any other serious contenders on the horizon, there's enough of it here to keep the groms happy until the next run.

However, as a long awaited cross-over of two of the most important fighting titles in gaming history, it ultimately feels like an opportunity missed - the whole being nowhere near the sum of its parts.

Considering three games in a single package makes for a difficult reviewing process. Those who consider themselves fans of the previous games, but who missed an installment, or those who sold or lost the games ought to consider this collection closely. Similarly, gamers who enjoy 3D platformers will find something to love in these PlayStation 2 pillars of the genre.

Look past certain design flaws - and certain mechanical issues – however, and you'll find a highly enjoyable, highly addictive golf game that's accessible to all types of player, from the kid in the back seat during a car ride to the most dedicated gamer.

Starbreeze's Syndicate may be a far cry from the isometric squad-based tactical shooter of yestercentury, but it delivers a solid campaign and great co-op. Sadly, civilians cannot be gathered for use as meat shields using a persuadertron, and there are no comical car-related deaths to be found, but what is on offer here is - for the most part - slick, violent and most entertaining.

It's a shame that so much of Little Deviants is so difficult and (literally) painful to play. There's a handful of games in it that really work, and a further set of minigame concepts that could have been pulled off if they hadn't been bogged down in unnecessary control complications.

Asura's Wrath has a great story, and manages to offer genuinely enjoyable entertainment despite being light on real gaming substance. As a full price game though, it is hard to justify the cost. For those who can get it on special, it is something worth playing simply as a new experience.

WipEout 2048 may not have a particularly challenging multiplayer campaign, and it may have particularly challenging loading times, but that's not to say it's a failure. The singleplayer component alone is worth the time and money, easy to access, difficult to master, and deeply satisfying to play; combined with stunning graphics and the surprising presence of a pervasive artistic statement – rare in video-games generally, let alone racing games – 2048 is a fascinating and entertaining beast.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss gets most of the way there; it is a stunning exhibition piece for the Vita's power and graphical capabilities (and a more subtle exhibition piece for its gimmicks), and it's a smart, modern take on treasure-hunting fantasies with enjoyable characters and classical themes.

A largely uninteresting game populated by awful characters that is a chore to play, NeverDead deserves to spend eternity alongside those infamous Atari 2600 ET cartridges, or perhaps digesting forever in the belly of The Biggest Loser's loser.

Undisputed 3 is a hearty revival of a franchise that has successfully managed to bottle the essence of a sport rapidly growing in popularity, and the brutal strategy contained within offers a little bit of everything for stalwarts and newcomers alike.

Despite some issues, Resident Evil: Revelations is a damn fine demonstration of what the 3DS is capable of, and can be acknowledged as the best action game currently available on the handheld. However, where it falters slightly is as an ambassador for a return to former glories for the Resident Evil franchise.

SoulCalibur V is meant to be played with people; anybody expecting a rich experience from the singleplayer, like that found in earlier entries in the series, will be disappointed. Play with friends or online and it's easy to quickly discover a deep and rich fighting system that can be a lot of fun.

It's not doing anything revolutionary on it's own, but serves the loyal audience with the best offering Nintendo can muster – and that's pretty good indeed.

The Darkness II's less dour, more fantastical take on the shooter is a welcome change of pace to the string of samey combat scenarios publishers have assured us we can't get enough of over the past five years.

Catherine is very challenging, even on normal difficulty, and the waking life segments aren't for everybody. It is, however, extremely rewarding to finally make it to that next landing after 30-odd heartbreaking attempts, and the controls are seldom to blame for an errant death. At Catherine's centre is a sharp, cel-shaded look, but the periphery is a soft-focus blur, reflecting Vincent's uncertainty and the slippery nature of his reality.

Much will no doubt be made of the similarity between Reckoning and Skyrim, but both offer sufficiently different experiences to keep all RPG fans attentive. Those growing weary of Skyrim can certainly look to Reckoning to provide another world in which to become wholly absorbed, and although not professing quite the sophistication or polish of Bethesda's juggernaut, there's plenty here to cause Hallmark to run out of "I'm Sorry, Please Forgive Me" Valentines cards this year.

A fair instalment in the series that should leave fans happy enough but eager to move on.

An also-ran in a stacked genre that somehow further lowers the stock of the most overused enemy type of the past decade, All Zombies Must Die! makes both a bad case for its title and as a game in general.

Voltron: Defender of the Universe lacks anything beyond the main campaign, save an arena mode DLC available for an additional 240 MSP that really should have been included in the main game. It is also too short.

Xotic is terrible in most respects and unremarkable or flat-out boring in all others.

BioWare has largely delivered and will have answered many of its critics, but there is not much in the way of innovation here. The Force alignment structure may be systemically unsalvageable, and with little end-game content currently available for those characters who have reached level 50, one wonders whether BioWare will be able to hold on to the more serious gamers and guilds who yearn for a variety of large-scale challenges.

By combining the slick 3D polish of modern-era console Mario with the pure and simple challenge of the classic platform era, Nintendo have created a true gem. The frustration one encounters falling off a slick edge for the 14th time is outweighed by the addictiveness of achievement. It's linear, to the point and perfectly tuned for a portable experience.

While it's by no means perfect, Bond fans and nostalgic gamers alike will be drawn in by this modern recreation of a competitive classic.

Tekken Hybrid is a pretty reasonable bundle for the hardcore Tekken fan.

For anyone looking for the ultimate in expression and aesthetic satisfaction, or merely searching for a game that will virtually limitless exploration and achievement, Minecraft offers it all.

Some teething issues aside, Saints Row: The Third offers up an expertly mixed concoction of hilarity and stupidity that's arrived just in time for the silly season.

Ultimately however, the strength of Origins lies in the whimsical subject matter tied into a surprisingly strong platform foundation that manages to both enthral and entertain. There's real intelligence behind the unfolding action, and the sense that the title has been slaved over by developers who understand not only the franchise, but the very concept of what it takes to make a compelling 2D platformer.

Regardless of the validity of pushing Anno away from a historical setting, Anno 2070 once again proves that the real-time strategy genre is alive and well, and should be considered seriously by any armchair dictator with a lot of spare time.

War in the North, by being a blunt object of a hack-and-slash game with a facile story and an aversion to genuine characterisation, adds itself to the long list of Lord of the Rings games that just aren't Lord of the Rings games.

The problem here is that The Run fails to really come together to form a solid package.

With the holiday calendar chock full of titles, Saints Row: The Third stands out as a holiday retreat, to be sampled again and again whenever a healthy dose of stress relief is required.

It cannot be said enough that underneath all the padding remains that same excellent stealth assassination gameplay. Brotherhood's multiplayer returns largely unharried, and fans enamoured with the series will certainly be able to see through the surplus soft tissue to appreciate the singleplayer's unquestionable inner beauty. The rest will rightly conclude that Assassin's Creed: Revelations is the most disappointing entry in a spectacular series.

All 4 One is a worthy addition to the Ratchet & Clank stable and, judging by the popularity of the drop-in/drop-out style of co-op gameplay that the Lego series has proven so popular, might just be where the future of the franchise lies.

This remake of one of the most memorable campaigns in FPS history is an anniversary worth celebrating, but if you were never a fan of the original it's unlikely to change your mind.

Put that aside and enjoy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for what it is: a brutal and rewarding game that knows what players expect, and delivers it with well-earned confidence.

Where Oblivion may have caused many to sit on the fence when faced with any new Elder Scrolls release, Skyrim stands tall in redemption. It is, without any shadow of doubt, the best RPG experience available right now.

It would have been nice to have seen Call of Duty evolve with more determination over the last four years. Perhaps a newer engine, a longer campaign, or a change of location outside of those already featured. But it's hard to deny that Call of Duty – the Modern Warfare brand in particular – is a product of its own success, and a product of its consumer appeal. It exists in the way it does because it sells, and it sells because it's predictable.

Uncharted 3 has the ability to elicit high excitement from its players through a tight and polished combination of gameplay styles, and through it's unmatched art direction. It's let down only slightly with a kind of shallowness, and a linear quality unbefitting a game of this quality. But these small niggles aside, Uncharted 3 will have players leaning forward through some of the best action sequences in gaming, and will be a favourite for both long time fans and those new to the series.

The campaign may be pants, and the co-op may struggle to find a niche, but DICE knows multiplayer – that much is evident. In this regard, Battlefield 3 exceeds expectations.

Arkham City does what everyone hoped it would yet feared it couldn't; expand and improve on Arkham Asylum. Indeed, Arkham City is a bigger and better game in all regards, delivering an immaculately presented, rich, compelling play experience and gripping story while simultaneously respecting its source material's legacy and pushing the Batman myth further forward.

It's certainly not a bad game by any measure, but having played Dead Rising 2 there's little to get excited about with this release. That said, those unfamiliar with the series should dive in here, as shorter load times, a smidge of new content and a checkpointing system do offer a marginally more pleasant experience than that offered by prior games in the series.

Rage is a strange beast, at once very deep and very shallow. Though unlikely to win game of the year, there is still much to like about what is on offer. There is heart here, and there is fun to be had, but unlike in the past this most recent release by id Software is not going to change the world.

Initially appearing to be a kid's title, or glorified mobile game ported to the Xbox, Rotastic quickly proves itself to be 70 levels of great action puzzling full of zany humour, lovely backgrounds and nice attention to the smaller details. The physics are perfect, and Tarzan-ing it up is extremely enjoyable, even if you generally prefer games that use more than an eighth of your controller's buttons.

Do yourself and the industry a favour and seek out the original.

For all the minor problems at hand, Forza Motorsport 4 is the most complete car experience available today. Vast in scope, with many new features, it is slickly present and well executed. Other titles will cater to hardcore racing specialities better, but for those looking to race, tweak, tune and participate in a community, this fourth iteration offers more than enough entertainment.

It may lack the open-world versatility of S.T.A.L.K.E.R and Fallout 3, the weapon diversity and sheer madness of Borderlands, yet it manages to provide thrilling corridor action and surprisingly well crafted racing that reasserts id's lofty position in the studio charts.

Just don't expect a lot more than some slick fantasy-style arcade brawling and it'll be money well spent.

Get into the Dark Souls mindset and be prepared for repeated failure in one of the most engrossing gaming experiences available.

Incredibly fun and worthy of a multiple playthroughs, Avalanche's latest will hopefully spur other developers to construct similar love letters to arcade gaming's glory days, whether they have a triple-A engine at their disposal or not.

Dead Island caters to a variety of play styles. Those after a quick, tense singleplayer campaign can race through it, or alternatively players can take their time and explore the expansive island of Banoi. Either way, the zombie horde will occasionally prove overwhelming and the game includes more than a few frights, but the best way to play the game is co-op with friends.

The best shooter available on console right now, Gears 3 is an experience not to be missed.

However, it is hard not to think more could have been done to capitalise on the improvements that have been made and make this year's Madden a milestone title. Instead Madden NFL 2012 is, well, 'just' another Madden title.

If you haven't already delved into the Deathspank universe, The Baconing is definitely worth checking out for its humour and zany cartoony feel. However, those already familiar with Spanktopia should be advised that they have already played this game, it just went by a different name.

The Gunstringer spins a familiar yarn – a double-crossed outlaw is back from the grave and out for revenge – but the conceit that it's all a play (complete with cuts to a live audience whooping and hollering a victory or booing the introduction of a corrupt banker) works brilliantly, and it's impossible to participate without a grin mysteriously emerging where a player's game-face scowl normally resides. Fun and funny, it shows that perhaps Kinect has a use beyond dance and exercise games after all.

There's potential in expanding the Warhammer: 40,000 license beyond the strategy genre – something Relic has done with great success in its Dawn of War series – but there's also clearly a lot of work to be done.

Since its arcade version dropped, Street Fighter: 3rd Strike has been released in various forms on the Playstation 2, Dreamcast and original Xbox over the years. However, this version is the definitive one, and is nicely priced at 20 bucks too.

Resistance 3 gets a whole lot right with a handful of inspired design choices that help it to stand out in the largely predictable first-person shooter market. Even so, some of that first-person shooter unoriginality remains meaning Resistance 3 never quite reaches its true potential.

At the end of the day, it is frustrating enough for New Zealand sports fans and gamers that rugby and cricket titles are so few and far between, and that they will never be made on the sort of budgets that Madden or Pro Evolution Soccer enjoy. To then be presented with such a cynical, half-hearted effort as Rugby World Cup masquerading as a legitimate contender with a full-retail price tag only adds insult to injury.

Ultimately, anyone wanting the next level in rugby titles, or just a fun game with a local flavour, could do a lot worse than Rugby Challenge.

However, Toy Soldiers: Cold War easily shrugs off these complaints and will force a grin onto the mug of even the most sceptical player for the duration of its campaign. There is not a lot of offer beyond that, but for twenty bucks it'll fulfil your hankering for both action and '80s nostalgia with winking enthusiasm.

For gamers who loved the first game, there is much to enjoy and rediscover here. Those new to the series you will find it nothing short of a revelation.

Unfortunately a complete lack of characterisation, derivative gameplay, and a difficulty setting that's clearly meant to make a winner out of even the most incompetent makes Shadow Planet 2011 Xbox Summer of Arcade's first inessential release.

With this release, Supergiant Games has set a new high-water mark for not only for budget-price RPGs, but XBLA games as a whole. Highly recommended.

The Cartel isn't a Call of Juarez title; it's an extremely average paint-by-numbers shooter channelling the Juarez fanbase for a modicum of credibility it simply doesn't deserve.

Both Deathly Hallows titles are a disappointment, and it's abundantly clear that there was never enough quality content to fill two instalments from the outset. Again, the poor collusion between a game studio and official licensing channels has produced a weak platform to support such a vibrant fantasy as Harry Potter.

Perhaps then, the biggest THQ has made is that they have explicitly created a fitness game rather than camouflaging exercise within the game, such as Fighters Uncaged or the plethora of dance titles on the market. Until this happens, and until the social aspects of the game are improved or a punchable man-shaped peripheral is released, gamers are going to find few reasons within UFC Personal Trainer to take their workouts from the gym into their living rooms.

Players who have never taken on the adventure and those who are old masters will find joy in unlocking Hyrule's hidden secrets, and felling its foes.

As much as fans may be hoping for that great Transformers game, and as much as Dark of the Moon offers occasional moments of enjoyment, this is a game that will ultimately frustrate fans with robotic precision as it underutilizes or undermines every defining aspect of the Transformers franchise.

Luckily for Dungeon Siege III, the loot – generally a major in games like these – and the flaws in the multiplayer can be covered for by the many other positives brought to the table. The slick action, the tidy levelling system, and the presentation all create a game well worth playing. Grab a friend, grab a couple of drinks and any problems seem to vanish.