The game's main failing is its short length, mostly because it's so fun while it lasts.

With a skilfully written story in a small but immersive world filled with charm, emotion, and more than a few blush-inducing jokes, Dosa Divas takes a warm and meaningful approach to linking food, family, community, and memory. You'll be sweet on this.

Taken on its own this is a sophisticated fantasy RPG executed with consideration and thought, but Lords of the Fallen never really escapes the spectre of Souls, and it can only blame itself.

Fleeting, forgettable fun at its most flamboyant, you’ll likely enjoy Strange Brigade for a jiffy before shortly moving on to bigger, better things.

Summon Night: Twin Age isn't going to set the world on fire. However, if the world happens to already be on fire, you might find yourself just distracted enough by this game that you won't notice the flames until your dog comes in bald and smouldering.

A solid-if-not-spectacular entry, and fans will appreciate that they haven't been forgotten and will doubtlessly eat this up and ask for more. But anyone who hasn't already invested hours in the three previous Broken Sword games will have a hard time seeing Secrets of the Ark through to the end.

A few technical hiccups and minor quibbles aside, Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 tops off a great year for comic book properties with a fun, varied adventure.

While not perfect, it's immensely playable and plenty of fun.

Rocket Arena turns an old standby into a new take on shooters, and what's lost in the translation is made up for with easy-to-learn fun.

If the name Hybrid means anything – other than some story point that obviously didn't grab us – it's the way the game has blended third-person shooting with tactical, almost turned-based combat. Moving from cover to cover on autopilot doesn't make for restrictive gunplay, it facilities furious flying combat and desperate mid-air maneuvers.

If you're not a serious DDR fan, then playing any one of the games in the series means you've basically played them all. Still, SuperNOVA is a riot to play against live competitors, and makes a perfect entry point for series newcomers and a must play for any fan.

Zombie hacking at its purest, Dead Island 2 takes some simple ideas and works them to perfection in a well-made and fun game. It's a one note thrill, but does well to make that note absolutely sing.

Even Guitar Hero III, which publisher Activision is milking like a heifer that squirts fine vintage wine instead of calcium-rich cow juice, boasts more than 40 tracks. There should be more here, period.

It's perfect for children, for whom things don't have to "be integrated" or "logical". A series of semi-amusing, unconnected activities: sounds a lot like a sandbox, which, once you graduate middle school, loses its charm unless you can bring your gat.

With a huge (and mostly up-to-date) roster, a Stone Cold-obsessed Showcase mode and a fine-tuned MyCareer, the WWE 2K series finally delivers the best wrestling game since Here Comes The Pain.

A mighty multiplayer brawler brimming with content, and carefully crafted characters that will delight both comic book veterans and MCU fanatics.

If you're a comic-book fan, this is probably the most satisfying videogame ever made for you.

Its most impressive feat, though, is that it throws down the gauntlet and laughs in the face of every competing developer. We're still trying to wrap our mind around this as an indie game, because, in terms of quality, it's on the same level as any AAA shooter out there.

Worms Revolution isn't going to alter the gaming landscape anytime soon, but that doesn't stop it from being a good time. Its combat is as solid as ever, the addition of new classes and environmental effects work just fine, and it's still a blast to play with a pal or two.

Wii games use the Wii controller brilliantly. Old arcade games simply don’t, and shoehorning them into the latest innovation/gimmick feels awkward and robs the game of its fun. Dig out an old GameCube controller – that’s the difference between enjoying Metal Slug Anthology or simply remembering how much fun it used to be.

It’s all good, but it’s still a simple premise that wears out sooner rather than later for most folks – a free game that lasts this long is great, but when we’re shelling out actual money, we have higher expectations.

A new approach for the sports genre, with welcome results: this offers more than a roster update, and at a very appealing price.

It still looks great on the aging hardware and accurately represents the popular anime/manga series, but the statute of limitations for similar last-gen sequels expires now - it's time for Atari to take this franchise to next-gen consoles and put some real force behind these extraordinary characters and settings.

Renegade Squadron scores for being a great game that offers hours of satisfying multiplayer, while simultaneously using its license to its fullest potential and improving over its predecessor.

Starts out strong, but falters. You’ll soon grow so bored with the repetitive boss fights and brain-numbing exploration that only the reveal of the next sex object will pique your interest.

Marks a new era for the Far Cry series and delivers more explosive action and adventure than ever before, even as the story fumbles some of its more upsetting plot points.

Mobilized cannot completely emulate its older brother and should get better at what makes it unique.

Outriders is a brash and bold looter shooter that will keep you entertained through the campaign and side missions, but its endgame content gets repetitive fast.

Excellent mechanics and incredible playability make up for Killer Instinct's shortage of single-player content.

If these (songs) seem a little tired to you or you don’t want to pay for the whole collection, maybe just hold off and see if these make their way into the online shop eventually.

For me, the surprises, historical reverence and inspired platforming creativity make this the Wii game of the year...It's a life-affirming tribute to both forgotten characters and game genres well worth remembering, with an all new added twist. And contrary to how it looks, there's a startling amount of maturity and replayability wrapped within this family-friendly package.

A good time when taken in small doses. The multiplayer mode is where the action really shines, so here’s hoping the community builds a bit more.

The strongest expansion yet. Whether you've been playing consistently for three years or your Sims have been long abandoned, this expansion makes the game feel new again.

Sonic Superstars is like a modern version of the Genesis classics, with all the good and bad that entails. The four-player, same-screen co-op functionality works surprisingly well, and the new Emerald powers keep things fresh. While it isn't as good as Sonic Mania, Superstars is a fresh twist on classic Sonic action.

Spread over four-five chapters and a few hours this could have been a great superhero experience, but stretching it out to a longer run time dampens what few magic moments it has.

Rage 2 has a fun core gameplay loop, but everything around it falls flat on its face.

With its ability to attract new gamers, the Wii is a perfect home for Hottest Party, which may be the most mainstream-friendly series entry in years.

All in all, the scaled-down warfare is quick paced and fun, but it doesn't provide the level of strategy it purports to due to the convoluted nature of its layout.

Regardless of how you choose to play it, Evil West feels like the best version of the AAA "B-tier game" that we don't see as often as we used to. It's not technically polished and I wouldn't call it innovative, but it's mechanically solid and comes equipped with a lot of fun ideas that mostly pan out. Sometimes you just need a game to punch out some bad guys; it can feel familiar and straightforward, just as long as the punching feels good. Evil West fills that specific, but very relatable need quite well.

Many will dismiss its satire as meaningless vulgarity, and fail to appreciate the intricate and satisfying ass-kicking. But for those able to dig it, God Hand is an excellent old-school game in a bizarre, new-school shell.

If you loved sinking hundred of hours into earlier NIS strategy-RPGs, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy in Soul Nomad. If, however, you’re new to the genre, we recommend picking up "Disgaea" instead. While Soul Nomad has its entertaining moments, it doesn’t quite meet the bar the previous games have set.

While there is plenty to do around the park meeting characters and finding collectibles, the minigame experience is not enough to keep players, even young ones, coming back.

Single player is slowed down by an obnoxious and unnecessary presentation. But given how well the game works with friends, the sheer variety of trivia, and the brisk pace of the game, we don't feel out of line saying that Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action could be the best and most definitive version out there.

A great benchmark for future footie games to beat. The full commentary, slick graphics and deep Master League make this a console quality game and by far the best handheld footie experience you can buy.

Though you can't take this version on the road, if you like puzzles, you won't be able to put Mercury Meltdown Remix down.

We would have liked for this year's 360 FIFA 07 to combine all the best parts of its current-gen cousins and its older World Cup brother; rather, we got a good, not great, title that in several ways is outshined by those same games.

Though occasionally likable and basically inoffensive, Mario Strikers: Battle League struggles to build on its ideas and ends up feeling pretty undercooked as an experience.

If you're not too keen on soccer or table tennis, then feel free to knock a few points off this score, since those are the main reasons to play the game.

However you felt about Man of Medan, Little Hope surpasses it, promising a lot for The Dark Pictures' final act.

It's almost heartbreaking how much wasted potential there is here, and lonely RPG fans are better off playing Tales of Vesperia co-op until a better competitive option comes around.

If you miss Beautiful Katamari... you're just missing out.

It's not even close to just being a roster update to last season's title. We love it, and who knows…maybe notching that three-NBA-title accomplishment won't be so ridiculous after all.

A beautiful recreation of Star Wars, and a solid if simple shooter. This is a game you'll love intensely albeit for a short space of time.

We're definitely keen on the PSP version, serving up some solid racing fun that'll get your heart pumping and your fingers moving. Just be sure to get by with a little help from your friends.

An extremely solid little sidescroller, with intricately designed levels, hidden items you'll love and originality to spare.

It's truly everybody's game - if you can swing a stick, you can play this (even if you're a lefty). It's perfect for parties, or for players willing to trade next-gen graphics and fancy options for the chance to swing a club instead of button mashing.

There's no forward movement that evolves Scribblenauts. This is a collection of craziness, laser sharks, and silly robots all clamoring for happiness, and you can certainly oblige them--but don't expect a real challenge.

Warp strikes a good balance between stealth-focused sneakery and brain-teasing puzzles.

War of the Roses is an online experience unlike the vast majority of competitive war games out there. After you get over the initial clunkiness of the controls, wading into battle with a massive two-handed sword and bringing it down on some poor soldier's head is even more exhilarating than getting a multikill in most online shooters. The combat is fast-paced and the customization is addictive.

In short, it's pretty much everything you’d expect from Dragon Ball Z, only good.

Anarchy Reigns may be a case of style over substance, but if quick-and-dirty brawling is what you're in the mood for, it's guaranteed to scratch your savage itch. It's a shame that the multiplayer, which could've prolonged the game's frenetic fun, will serve as an amusing distraction. But when you just want to turn your brain off and pummel waves of baddies, it doesn't get much more gratifying or outrageously stylish than this.

Neither great nor terrible, Crisol: Theater of Idols lands with a wet, inoffensive plop precisely between the two. It largely fails as a horror and struggles as a shooter, but stands solidly as a curiosity that follows its own rules.

Contact does sport an incredible surprise ending that adds depth and changes your perspective on all the main characters in the game. However, its impact is greatly diminished by the extremely short play time.

This is a love letter to longtime fans first and a cheap means for new players to meet the series second. Head-On is a complete game and fun for a while, but the extra features are the real reason you'll want to sniff around.

With no online play and only two-players a time, there's little chance people will still be revving up Excite Truck in a few month's time.

While the leveling mechanics are a little too shallow to keep true RPG fans invested, the dark cel-shaded visuals and easy-to-pick up combat system can make for a fun weekend with friends. Just be sure to make the right choice if you're only willing to buy one character.

Combined Assault feels more like an average expansion pack. The new multiplayer maps are welcome and well designed but there are only 10 of them, making it feel like you're playing SOCOM 3 1/2 instead of the legitimate sequel you paid for. Combined Assault does introduce a 4 player co-op mode into the mix, but why would you opt for that when 32 player matches are going on all around you?

A lackluster military versus monsters soap opera that just about redeems itself with an extravagant final third and unmatched co-op mechanics.

Simple in design, but almost to a fault. The tower defense mechanics just don't work as well as we had hoped, but we did enjoy crushing hundreds of buildings and townsfolk with our rolling rock of doom. Oh, and steamrolling your friends so hard that they cry themselves to sleep? That's pretty neat, too.

The original PS2 and Xbox versions of Capcom Classics Collection - which had an undeniably better selection of games - debuted at $19.99, yet this portable version is twice as expensive. We're guessing Sony's PSP publishing rules have more to do with this than Capcom's bank account does, but it sucks either way.

If you're interested in losing weight, Wii Fit U is definitely worth your time. Fans of the original Wii Fit will definitely notice some overlapping content, but it brings enough new to the table to, if nothing else, get you active and moving in your living room.

Besides some seriously bad camera angles where you lose sight of the action briefly and a skimpy wireless multiplayer mode, Brothers in Arms DS is a solid WWII action experience. It lacks the high gloss HD-ness of its console counterparts, but makes up for it in cinematic quality and pacing.

It's not perfect, but Evil Dead: The Game is the most approachable asymmetrical horror out there and breathes new life into a genre with badass survivors, wonderfully ruthless demons, and a palpable love for an 80s horror icon.

The Champions League is an amazing showcase of the drama and passion of the Beautiful Game, but EA has mostly wasted an opportunity to transition it to the 360 by repackaging FIFA 07 with a shinier coat of paint. It’s fine enough for a lark, but not enough to claim the crown.

It's really too bad we had to give this version a lower score, but the game just doesn't live up to the potential of being a superior version of a beloved game. Instead, it's an inferior version due to the controls, and the graphical improvements are nearly nonexistent.

For all the risks Mirror of Fate takes in terms of story and aesthetic, its core gameplay feels mired in antiquated design that just doesn’t feel that relevant anymore. This castle may look elaborate and multilayered, but the foundations it rests on are shaky. What could’ve been an entirely new avenue for the franchise feels more like a dead end.

Not always thrilling, but Dead Rising 4 feels like the series getting its sense of fun back. And that's a great thing.

It’s pretty accessible, with simplistic interfaces and beautiful eye candy all around. But considering that those arcadey enhancements are what’s supposed to make this game unique, we can’t help but feel casual fans would be better off playing MLB 2K7 on easy difficulty.

NHL 21 is the best hockey game around by default – but it seldom genuinely stands out from this generation's pack.

Part mystery, part comedy, this is a classy point-and-click with dazzling art, charming characters, and crackling dialogue. Although slightly overlong and occasionally slow, it feel surprisingly fresh.

For true Monster Hunters, this is everything you could have hoped for in a PSP version – minus the “portable” part.

An inconsistently enjoyable experience. Its world provides an interesting glimpse into a could-be future, and the Memory Remix puzzles and Pressen system help offset its extreme linearity and stiff combat. There are enough good ideas here to keep you playing from start to finish, but Remember Me's rougher edges mean it'll fade from your memory far sooner than you might like.

The dev team clearly believes "more is more" and the funny thing is that sometimes they're right – other times, a bit of editing on the enemy numbers would have really tightened the experience up. Instead of more enemies, there should have been more colors in the palette and more variety in the level design.

In its self-aware campiness and macabre action, there is a contagious confidence in Zombie Army 4 that will leave anyone who plays it a fan of this exciting co-op shooter.

Final Fantasy Type-0 may have started life as a PSP game, but its mysterious world and fast-paced combat are still an exciting mix. Shame about the voice acting and interface, though.

DCUO is just a casual masterwork that any comic book fan should take for a spin, and we fear the $14.99 monthly subscription fee will be the kryptonite that brings this hopeful giant to its knees.

NBA 2K8's got the best on-court basketball experience on the PS2 this year. That's enough for us to declare it the champ.

All you need for a great shooter is solid control and intense action, and Omega Five has that in spades. Plus it’s got some extremely pretty visuals to boot.

A fun, supremely-playable game that can and will be enjoyed even by those who aren’t hardcore strategy fans.

If you know you're getting into a heady, deliberate, and involved game then you'll be rewarded well by Front Mission.

Offers a metric ton of activities for you to engage in. The sheer variety is unheard of for this genre (on a console anyway), and it all works. That said, little of it is outstanding, and while all the pieces are in place, there isn't a single aspect of this game that will blow you away.

It's a great concept, but the simplistic physics and repetitive puzzles let it down somewhat. You can never really put together any flowing moves, and the game runs out of surprises far too quickly.

Die-hard Sims fans will find plenty of ways to have fun during those weeks away at college, but once graduation’s over and the career path begins, University Life will become a distant memory.

With the promise of downloadable tracks, levels and game types in the future, GripShift is a decent way to spend 800 Microsoft Points. It might not be the most incredible kart racer you’ve ever played, but it’s solid and it’s fun, and that’s what counts.

Thus, as well as it plays, we can only really recommend a purchase to players who don’t have the last three. For everyone else, it’s a rental.

Robocop: Rogue City reflects its protagonist's qualities. It's well-built and robust, a few glitches aside, and capable of triggering explosive action. Yet it's also mechanical in its design, its dialogue slow and plodding, and limited in its forms of interaction. Short on engaging mission design and the film's punchy satire, Detroit's finest needs better backup to enliven this drawn out adventure.

Even without its wealth of extras, though, Tenkaichi 2 packs in a ton of fast, visceral and inexplicably addictive fighting action. Whether you're a fan of the series or you just want to punch a few guys through buildings, new Wii owners looking to scratch a fighting-game itch will want to check this out.

Team Sonic Racing, despite carrying a tidbit of fun, doesn't stand up to other kart racers today.