In 2010, Guitar Hero: Van Halen should have never been released in stores at full price. It’s absurd. We’d rather applaud you to wait for the release of Guitar Hero 6, since Guitar Hero Van Halen has the same lack of content as it has lack of love for our frettapping guitar legend. Or as Eddie would probably put it: Aint Talkin’ Bout Love.

In 2010, Guitar Hero: Van Halen should have never been released in stores at full price. It’s absurd. We’d rather applaud you to wait for the release of Guitar Hero 6, since Guitar Hero Van Halen has the same lack of content as it has lack of love for our frettapping guitar legend. Or as Eddie would probably put it: Aint Talkin’ Bout Love.

Alien Breed has high production values for an Xbox Live Arcade game. It is polished and looks beautiful. Unfortunately, Team 17 did not succeed to get the gameplay up to the same level. It is too repetitious and straight-forward to be interesting until the end of the first episode, let alone through all three episodes.

The fluid dynamics of Pixeljunk Shooter touch something that is inside every human. The satisfaction of setting up a chain reaction and and letting all elements interact almost can't be topped. The addition of a co-op mode only adds more to the fun. The low difficulty and the omission of a level editor is a bit unsatisfactory.

The Saboteur had a lot of potential thanks to the unique setting, but this hasn’t resulted in a good game. The story never gets really interesting and the gameplay is too bare-bones to really make an impression. Not a great farewell for Pandemic Studios.

The Saboteur had a lot of potential thanks to the unique setting, but this hasn’t resulted in a good game. The story never gets really interesting and the gameplay is too bare-bones to really make an impression. Not a great farewell for Pandemic Studios.

Quotation forthcoming.

Hyrule is a world where you want to be in. It’s so beautiful, with countless interesting people and exciting dungeons. So it’s no surprise that playing Spirit Tracks is truly a pleasure. The fighting, riding the train or solving puzzles: it’s all great to do. Spirit Tracks is a fantastic new addition to the series.

A better name for Stop Stress would have been Start Stress. The game tries to frustrate you as much as possible. That’s admirable in some ways, but in the end it’s a waste of your money.

There’s no shortage of ambition here, but the game is too simple and repetitive to really consider it fun. The game wants to be an RPG sometimes, but it always results in dumb, simple action without any tactic. Avatar is a misses opportunity.

There’s no shortage of ambition here, but the game is too simple and repetitive to really consider it fun. The game wants to be an RPG sometimes, but it always results in dumb, simple action without any tactic. Avatar is a misses opportunity.

Building MX vs. ATV Reflex from the ground up has had a positive result in a way. Rider Reflex and terrain deformation make the motocross- and ATV races very challenging. The rest of the vehicles seem to have been neglected by the developer and disturb the balance of the game during the mixed races. Despite the flaws the game will still be very much enjoyed by fans of the sport.

Building MX vs. ATV Reflex from the ground up has had a positive result in a way. Rider Reflex and terrain deformation make the motocross- and ATV races very challenging. The rest of the vehicles seem to have been neglected by the developer and disturb the balance of the game during the mixed races. Despite the flaws the game will still be very much enjoyed by fans of the sport.

At last, another one of those unexpected fantastic games for the Nintendo DS. Each DS-owner should buy this game, just to let publishers know games like this are the games we want for the platform. The unique features of the Nintendo DS are well used in this colorful RPG.

Resident Evil Zero is a classic, but it hasn’t aged very well at all. So it’s a strange choice for Capcom to add nothing worth mentioning to this second release, not even motion control. If you already have this game, there’s no reason for you to buy it again, and if you haven’t played it yet, it’s hard to recommend.

Bigger doesn’t always mean better, as proven by Tekken 6 for the PlayStation Portable. This pocket-sized game impresses more than its console counterpart. It’s quite possibly the best fighting game on the PSP to date. The minor improvements in the game play make the game as a whole more balanced. Only point of critique is the weirdly chosen final boss, but when you look past that, the game is packed with quality.

The slow gameplay and sensitive controls ensure that Gravity Crash isn’t for everyone. When you take the time to master the controls, you’ll get a game with very deep gameplay and warm, vector-like graphics that are a joy to watch. Both the multiplayer and the level editor lengthen the experience.

The Bit.Trip-series are about short, simplistic games and Void fits like a glove. You immediately understand the goal of the game and everyone can have a go at it, but the difficulty ramps up fairly quickly. It’s a shame there aren’t many levels and an online leaderboard would have been the perfect addition, but still, this experiment has succeeded.

PopCap and Square-Enix come together to create a successful puzzle-RPG. The well thought out game mechanics ensure that you keep on playing to get another reward. On the other hand, the game costs a lot of time and after a few hours you can’t help but wonder what on earth you’ve been doing for the past couple of hours.

Assassin's Creed 2 is an excellent game. It's impressive to climb a massive cathedral from which you can overlook the entire city. The game surpasses the original game in almost every aspect, but the flawed AI and weak ending hold it back from becoming what we hoped for. It's still a beautiful adventure from the very beginning until the end.

Assassin's Creed 2 is an excellent game. It's impressive to climb a massive cathedral from which you can overlook the entire city. The game surpasses the original game in almost every aspect, but the flawed AI and weak ending hold it back from becoming what we hoped for. It's still a beautiful adventure from the very beginning until the end.

Unfortunately this is not a new chapter in the main series, but it’s still a good effort for a on-rails shooter. It looks good, has lots of hidden items and the main story will last you close to nine hours. The Darkside Chronicles also has a fantastic multiplayer. Still, you can’t escape the feeling that it could’ve been so much more if it wasn’t on-rails.

Tired of zombies in games? Left 4 Dead 2 makes the done-to-death genre come to life once more! Compared to the original, this sequel is better in every way. The weapons, settings, multiplayer: everything in Left 4 Dead 2 is near-perfect. There’s still no room for single players though, the game is all about working together. But that’s exactly what makes the game so incredible.

Lego Indiana Jones 2 searches for balance between all the previous Lego-games and the new elements introduced in this game. But the game never really feels like a classic. The Lego Creator, however, is fantastic. You can build whatever you want and that makes us very happy.

Lego Indiana Jones 2 searches for balance between all the previous Lego-games and the new elements introduced in this game. But the game never really feels like a classic. The Lego Creator, however, is fantastic. You can build whatever you want and that makes us very happy.

We would have liked to see more innovations in Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja 3 other than the added online capabilities. The game is still one of the better and most accessible fighting games available for the Wii. The lack of a Japanese voice option and the inconsistent difficulty remain something that holds this game back from true greatness.

This is an impressive port of the PS3 classic. The new levels made by Sony Cambridge are filled with fantasy and smart puzzles. Still, the game could have done with a few more levels, because the level editor might be a bit too deep for the PSP. Still, all the charm from its big brother is still present here and it’s one of the best and most original games you can buy for the handheld.

The God of War Collection offers a unique possibility to experience two of the best action games ever for a reduced price. The addition of HD-graphics set it on par with temporary games. The ruthless hack-and-slash action and the fantastic level design are even now a step above many other games on the current console generation.

Let's face it, every RTS lover is waiting for Starcraft 2 and Red Alert 3. But don't get too focused on these two titles, because you'll miss out on, for example, WorldShift. A strategy game than looks more than fine and plays like a perfect mix between RTS and RPG. Waiting for a triple A title will be easy with WorldShift.

A good racer that feels sort of unfinished in places. It’s fast and controls fantastic, but the bad AI, dated graphics and long loading times don’t exactly help. There’s a solid start for the future here, but it’s not quite there yet.

Braid is a rare gem in the gaming world. It combines a wonderful audiovisual presentation, a philosophical story and ingenious puzzle gameplay into a brilliant gaming experience. If one game would deserve it to be called art, Braid would be that one game.

Buzz! Quiz World offers great entertainment on the couch in the living room, but the tweaks made here aren’t really big enough to make this a necessary purchase if you have the previous game. If this is your first time in the wonderful world of Buzz!, please, come on in and make yourself comfortable. This is the best Buzz!-game out there.

The singleplayer knows no competition and the multiplayer and brilliant Special Ops-mode make Modern Warfare 2 a phenomenal package. There are truly some scenes in the game that can affect the way you think and feel. After five games, the series seems to have found its high mark. One of the best shooters ever.

The singleplayer knows no competition and the multiplayer and brilliant Special Ops-mode make Modern Warfare 2 a phenomenal package. There are truly some scenes in the game that can affect the way you think and feel. After five games, the series seems to have found its high mark. One of the best shooters ever.

We can recommend Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans to both Dragon Ball-fans and RPG-enthusiasts. The story is well told, the turn-based fighting system is top notch and the ability to customize your characters on many levels is a great addition. You do however need to take the slow pace of the game and a vast amount of text for granted, because the game never powers up to its true potential.

Reflex is a very decent shooter on the Wii. The multiplayer is especially convincing. Pretty much all things you’ve experienced in the version on other consoles is present here, only the weak controls and bad graphics make the game much less of a classic compared to the original. Still, it’s a little late but the release of this game on the Wii is a reason for owners of Nintendo’s console to be happy.

Dragon Age: Origins should be mentioned alongside games like Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights. The average gamer may wonder why hardcore RPG-players are drawn to a game filled with fantasy-clichés, long conversations, screens filled with statistics and mediocre voice acting. But the hardcore RPG-player knows that Bioware delivered a game that's epic, expansive, dynamic, classic and contains enough elements to make even the biggest critic shut his mouth. Dragon Age: Origins can rightfully be called a masterpiece.

Jak and Daxter are finally back, but the quality of the gameplay in The Lost Frontier isn’t quite up there with the games on the PlayStation 2. The game tries to hide this by swapping different styles of gameplay very often, but this only ensures that the platforming isn’t getting the attention it deserves. However, the presentation is of high quality and it lifts this game above the average.

Lego Rock Band tries to cater to adults and kids, but in the end isn't too successful in that. While the game certainly looks fun for everyone thanks to the use of Lego, the choice of music certainly isn't for everyone and the lack in online options can be a deal breaker as well. It's still an enjoyable music game, but not very balanced.

Lego Rock Band tries to cater to adults and kids, but in the end isn't too successful in that. While the game certainly looks fun for everyone thanks to the use of Lego, the choice of music certainly isn't for everyone and the lack in online options can be a deal breaker as well. It's still an enjoyable music game, but not very balanced.

Lego Rock Band tries to cater to adults and kids, but in the end isn't too successful in that. While the game certainly looks fun for everyone thanks to the use of Lego, the choice of music certainly isn't for everyone and the lack in online options can be a deal breaker as well. It's still an enjoyable music game, but not very balanced.

PES is slowly creeping back up and it might have a chance to fight back FIFA if it keeps up this way. The return of some serious simulation ensures this is one of the better editions of the past years.

PES is slowly creeping back up and it might have a chance to fight back FIFA if it keeps up this way. The return of some serious simulation ensures this is one of the better editions of the past years.

Star Wars has brought us many games and the quality of those have been as varied as the galaxy George Lucas once created itself. Elite Squadron isn’t one of the good ones, unfortunately. The fights are epic and the multiplayer works fine, but the bad controls, weak story and boring missions pull this one down.

C.O.P. The Recruit's greatest achievement is a technical one. To deliver a GTA-like city in 3D on the DS is something we didn't believe was possible. It's a shame the gameplay doesn't achieve the same level. Driving around the city is fun but not enough to compensate for the problematic shooting-mechanics. The game provides variation and an entertaining story, but never is fun to play.

Band Hero is Guitar Hero 5's casual sister in almost every way. All the elements from her big brother can be found in this game, along with the new Sing Along-mode and Party Play. The new features, the casual style and matching tracklist have made this a game that can compete with SingStar on every party. Add the ability to import the songs from Guitar Hero 5 and World Tour into the game and Band Hero is a game that is truly for everyone.

Band Hero is Guitar Hero 5's casual sister in almost every way. All the elements from her big brother can be found in this game, along with the new Sing Along-mode and Party Play. The new features, the casual style and matching tracklist have made this a game that can compete with SingStar on every party. Add the ability to import the songs from Guitar Hero 5 and World Tour into the game and Band Hero is a game that is truly for everyone.

Band Hero is Guitar Hero 5's casual sister in almost every way. All the elements from her big brother can be found in this game, along with the new Sing Along-mode and Party Play. The new features, the casual style and matching tracklist have made this a game that can compete with SingStar on every party. Add the ability to import the songs from Guitar Hero 5 and World Tour into the game and Band Hero is a game that is truly for everyone.

Football Manager 2010 provides a rare blend of accessibility and depth. The excellent foundation was laid years ago, but now the other elements can finally match up to it. This is pure pleasure for fans of football.

The game is easy to play and looks colourful. So it’s a shame that it’s all a bit boring really. Matches have some excitement thanks to a few odd movements you have to make, but especially the mini-games in between the games in the story mode grow old fast. Young gamers will be able to get some enjoyment out of this, but it’s hard to recommend this when Mario’s own football game is already out – with online options no less.

"The rabbits can do much more than just play silly games, as Rabbids Go Home proves. Still, the creators didn't manage to create a challenging adventure game, because the game is too repetitive and easy. What remains is a good looking game that will make you laugh more then once, but never really becomes great.

We should’ve known that Ghostbusters on the PSP wouldn’t be up to the standards of the console version. But the concessions are made in all the wrong area’s. The cartoon-like looks make the nostalgic feelings disappear and the ghost hunting is plain boring. A bad port of the PS2-version, which in itself was a bad enough port.

A great addition to GTA IV and The Lost and Damned. The trailer made us think that the fun, over the top gameplay of San Andreas was making a return, and while the end result doesn’t offer that, the story, characters, humor and the unbelievable amount of detail are still to be topped in any other game.

Midnight Carnival brings the series closer to adulthood. The difficulty has been raised quite a bit and the game offers much more of a challenge. The Boing!-move is also a very handy addition in the open levels. There’s not much new here, but it’s worth every penny for every fan of platformers.

Tekken 6 is like the previous games, only with some badly thought-out new ideas. If you play Tekken 6 for the old, familiar modes, you’ll have the most complete and balanced game in the series. If you try out anything else, like the not so clever scenario-campaign, be prepared to be disappointed. The online-mode also has terrible lag at the moment of writing.

Tekken 6 is like the previous games, only with some badly thought-out new ideas. If you play Tekken 6 for the old, familiar modes, you’ll have the most complete and balanced game in the series. If you try out anything else, like the not so clever scenario-campaign, be prepared to be disappointed. The online-mode also has terrible lag at the moment of writing.

DJ Hero is all about one thing: experiencing music, that one moment where you are totally in the zone and the music becomes part of you. With 93 great mashups that is no problem at all.

DJ Hero is all about one thing: experiencing music, that one moment where you are totally in the zone and the music becomes part of you. With 93 great mashups that is no problem at all.

DJ Hero is all about one thing: experiencing music, that one moment where you are totally in the zone and the music becomes part of you. With 93 great mashups that is no problem at all.

Forza 3 is the most complete and impressive racing game of this moment. The race cars really feel spot-on and the Storefront can be very addicting. If you have any interest in realistic racing games, this is the game to play – both online and offline.

A fantastic finale of this colourful franchise. The story is pure genius, the action well thought out and the puzzles offer a lot of challenge. Let’s hope Insomniac Games keeps offering ways for us to enjoy this virtual world, perhaps through a subfranchise. We can’t miss the great one-liners from Captain Quark or the visual beauty and exotic weapons!

Fairytale Fights is a product Dutch gamers can be proud of. When playing alone, the game offers many hours of enjoyment in lush environments. Better yet, these environments will soon be painted red with the blood of your opponents. The multiplayer is a little hectic and falls short, though.

Fairytale Fights is a product Dutch gamers can be proud of. When playing alone, the game offers many hours of enjoyment in lush environments. Better yet, these environments will soon be painted red with the blood of your opponents. The multiplayer is a little hectic and falls short, though.

Torchlight is the ultimate rival for Diablo. The game doesn't introduce something new to the genre, but that's forgiven by the atmosphere it provides and the Blizzard-like level of polish. Thanks to its small price tag and the addictive nature of the game, it comes highly recommended for everyone.

Eyepet delivers a cute and touchable critter right on your screen. But when the initial surprise is over, a very minimal game that lacks any form of challenge remains. The special features, like making your own drawings come to live in 3D, show that there is potential for much more in the future. At this moment though it's fun for children, but only if someone is there to solve the abundant control problems.

Tower Bloxx Deluxe offers the most enjoyment in the Build City-mode. Other than that, it’s a cheap effort to get money from Xbox Live users.

Borderlands mixes up RPG and shooter and this works well. Don’t expect a Fallout 3 though, because this is an entirely different product. This really feels more like a shooter at most times.

Borderlands mixes up RPG and shooter and this works well. Don’t expect a Fallout 3 though, because this is an entirely different product. This really feels more like a shooter at most times.

Brings the political and economical facets of running your own little island to life with vivid colors and tropical music. The game also adds a lot of humor and stays true to the original game.

The collision detection seems off sometimes and the game isn’t exactly an example of original gameplay, but this is the game you need to buy if you want to get to know the WWE-franchise. Smackdown vs. Raw can be played by anyone thanks to the simple gameplay and is also a looker. The game is also filled with different modes and options to make your own content to share it with friends online.

The collision detection seems off sometimes and the game isn’t exactly an example of original gameplay, but this is the game you need to buy if you want to get to know the WWE-franchise. Smackdown vs. Raw can be played by anyone thanks to the simple gameplay and is also a looker. The game is also filled with different modes and options to make your own content to share it with friends online.

FIFA 10 is a great football game. On almost every level it outclasses its predecessor, and that was already a fantastic game. The 360-degrees-system, the emphasis on physical elements and the improved passing-abilities ensure that this game appears even more realistic on your screen. With the adding of some interesting game-modes and the improvements over the last game, FIFA 10 is the best football game up to this date.

FIFA 10 is a great football game. On almost every level it outclasses its predecessor, and that was already a fantastic game. The 360-degrees-system, the emphasis on physical elements and the improved passing-abilities ensure that this game appears even more realistic on your screen. With the adding of some interesting game-modes and the improvements over the last game, FIFA 10 is the best football game up to this date.

Rockstar has made only one mistake: keeping the minigames of the DS version. Without the stylus-support they aren’t nearly as fun. But the game is still a classic after half a year of waiting and the graphics and sound have improved a lot. A lovely distraction to the GTA-games on consoles.

The biggest fans of Bakugan might not be bothered with this game’s many flaws, but the average gamer won’t have a lot of fun playing Battle Brawlers. After a promising start, the game starts to get boring very fast. The repetitive and frustrating minigames don’t help either, but the worst offender is the fighting itself: it should be the highlight of the game but it’s over in a blink.

Winter of the Melodias continues right where the solid original left off, but adds tons of new puzzles that are there thanks to new moves and abilities (like changing the season) and a bigger world. A lovely snack that’s secretly a lot more fun than most ‘full’ games.

The beautiful style and animation is the only thing keeping Axel & Pixel on its feet. The gameplay itself is too boring: you just point and click to look for useful objects but there aren’t any puzzles worth mentioning. A good example of style over substance.

Eddie Riggs is the character that brings together the entire metal world and the smartly written story. His charisma and wit make Brütal what it is. The game mixes genres in unusual ways, but it’s a shame the side-missions all look alike and the game is pretty short. But it’s always a sign that you’re playing a good game when you’re left wanting for more. Brütal Legend isn’t the best game of this year, but it certainly rocks the most.

Eddie Riggs is the character that brings together the entire metal world and the smartly written story. His charisma and wit make Brütal what it is. The game mixes genres in unusual ways, but it’s a shame the side-missions all look alike and the game is pretty short. But it’s always a sign that you’re playing a good game when you’re left wanting for more. Brütal Legend isn’t the best game of this year, but it certainly rocks the most.

No game is perfect. But Among Thieves does so many things incredibly well, that any miniscule faults that may have crept in the final game don't matter at all. Gamers that buy Uncharted 2 will be breathless after playing through one of the most incredible and intense adventures ever. The dialogue and the humour are the icing on the cake.

A well done sequel to the successful first game. The controls and AI could’ve used some extra attention, but the large selection of different sports and a few fictional ones, combined with the familiar faces of Mario and Sonic and their friends, make up for it.

The DS-version of the return of Mario & Sonic is a great product. The nice story mode, enjoyable gameplay and online options make it a top choice for Nintendo DS-owners. All these aspects make it a better game than the Wii-version.

Magna Carta 2 has potential, but doesn't use it properly. The battle system works well and with the real-time elements it shows JRPGs can be quick and action packed. It's sad the rest of the game doesn't match up with its characters, story and mission structure.

The marriage between Pokémon and Mystery Dungeon should end up in divorce right now if it were up to us. Nowhere have there been any improvements implanted compared to the previous games in the series. It’s also not a very clever concept: making a game that’s for the hardcore Pokémon fan simpler so anyone can play it? Who’s going to play it besides the hardcore Pokémon fan then? The little critters are still cute, but that’s the only positive thing to be said here.

With a beautiful, dream-like style Lucidity grabs you almost instantly. But while playing it slowly loses its grip. The concept knows too many flaws and irritations to keep you fascinated and the story is too minimal to provide a counterbalance.

With a beautiful, dream-like style Lucidity grabs you almost instantly. But while playing it slowly loses its grip. The concept knows too many flaws and irritations to keep you fascinated and the story is too minimal to provide a counterbalance.

The wall that Tower Defense Play! hits is the fact that there are better tower defense games available. Its badly executed and the jokes have all been heard before. The only thing that makes this game worth a chance is the co-op mode, so you can try and enjoy it with three friends.

Dragon Rising has become a very attractive and action packed shooter in a genre that's mostly associated with slow gameplay. This game could even be the missing link between hardcore and casual shooters. If you're looking for a lot of freedom, Dragon Rising isn’t that experience. Still, the game is a worthy successor of the first Operation Flashpoint.

While controlling the game is easy, the game itself bores you from beginning to end and the story and presentation never reach the level of the animated series. The platforming is frustrating and the graphics are terrible. Another bad game based on a movie or series, when will they learn?

While controlling the game is easy, the game itself bores you from beginning to end and the story and presentation never reach the level of the animated series. The platforming is frustrating and the graphics are terrible. Another bad game based on a movie or series, when will they learn?

While Saw becomes a bit repetitive towards the end of the game, it has surprised us in a positive way. The game has a good story, oozes with the typical horror-flick vibe and a lot of the characters and bizarre contraptions of the movies have made their way in the game. The gameplay itself however is pretty frustrating. But if you love the movies and want more, this might begin to fill your thirst for blood.

While Saw becomes a bit repetitive towards the end of the game, it has surprised us in a positive way. The game has a good story, oozes with the typical horror-flick vibe and a lot of the characters and bizarre contraptions of the movies have made their way in the game. The gameplay itself however is pretty frustrating. But if you love the movies and want more, this might begin to fill your thirst for blood.

This is a very well rounded basketball game, made by and for fans of the sport. The countless details and different facets of the sport are perfectly recreated in the game. The graphics are insanely realistic, but the frame rate suffers sometimes because of it. Still, this is the best basketball game of this season.

This is a very well rounded basketball game, made by and for fans of the sport. The countless details and different facets of the sport are perfectly recreated in the game. The graphics are insanely realistic, but the frame rate suffers sometimes because of it. Still, this is the best basketball game of this season.

Demon's Souls offer plenty of satisfaction to players that don't want to be guided through every challenge they encounter. The rich, deep gameplay make this a pure action-RPG.

Dragon Rising has become a very attractive and action packed shooter in a genre that's mostly associated with slow gameplay. This game could even be the missing link between hardcore and casual shooters. If you're looking for a lot of freedom, Dragon Rising isn’t that experience. Still, the game is a worthy successor of the first Operation Flashpoint.

Race On is one of the best simulation racers, but Simbin should take a good look at their series and perhaps breathe some new life in it. There’s little change here and the game could use the option to damage your cars.

Wii Fit Plus is not a game for gamers per se, it’s a game for people who want to exercise. That should be enough for one to know if this game is something they should be interested in or not. It combines the playfulness of the first Wii Fit with some great options from EA Sports Active, like a counter of how much calories you lose.