Ape Escape 2 just hooked me by being just plain fun while being different and original from today’s generic platform games. Oh and it has monkeys in it.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a top effort by Namco.

A wonderful party game that should be making an appearance at your next event.

Overall, Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is a real surprise.

Brutal Legend is a great game to visit and experience but the gameplay doesn’t make us want to stay.

Stumbles just shy of greatness.

An average game that lacks the spirit of the sport.

Perhaps the first Sonic game that had Gamestyle reaching for the instruction manual. It starts a bit vague in regards to how it should be played, but it soon clicks into place.

The AI is symptomatic of a larger malaise which envelops the game and hems in the player.

At the increasingly regular price point of 1200 points it’s hard to recommend Marvel Vs Capcom 2 to everyone. People who live, sleep and breathe fighting games will snap it straight up, others should be a bit more cautious. This isn’t the friendliest fighter around.

The game could be tightened up in a few places and we'd rather not have the stealth level at all, but if you're after a game that successfully marries old-school platforming with contemporary physics and interface, you could do a lot worse than NyxQuest.

The main downfall comes with the closing areas of the game; they seem rushed and are indicative of the sale of Rare to Microsoft, but don't let that prevent you from thoroughly enjoying one of the best videogames of this year.

A mixed bag. The single player game, on the one hand, feels rushed, with bugs all over the place, ropey AI and cut scenes that can't be skipped; on the other hand, it offers some lovely missions and action. Multiplayer is Call of Duty 3's saving grace.

Split/Second is at its core an amazing and visceral experience and the true successor to the Burnout series, even more so than Criterion's own Burnout Paradise.

DDS2 is a great RPG telling a challenging and mature story, over a foundation of solid, if unspectacular, game mechanics, learning from the mistakes made by its predecessor.

You're actively encouraged to exploit one manoeuvre: trying to suppress and outflank your opponents. While it pretty much becomes de rigueur throughout the game (and extremely important when commanding large numbers of men), its appeal is shortlived - utilising the same tactic can become tiresome.

Quibbles aside, Gamestyle would be hard-pressed to name a better RPG it has experienced on the current crop of consoles.

Play takes a fair amount of dedication, but thanks to well balanced difficulty levels (and a higher share of the plunder being given to you to tempt you to try them) makes the game feel welcoming and deep, and it feels like the complete antithesis of many PSP games.

The bottom line with Command and Conquer 3 is if you're a huge strategy nut who doesn't own a decent PC then you'll absolutely love this. If you're not or are hoping for this to break you into the world of RTS' then it's best to look elsewhere for your thrills because before you know it the game will absolutely hammer you into the ground before you have time to blink.

For the completist, Mark of the Assassin offers 5 achievements, over 20 Codex entries, 19 Quests including optional ones and sizeable experience points. It all adds up to a viable package, a decent running time and value for money at last. If this is the shape of downloadable content to come for Dragon Age II, then there's life in the game for sometime yet.

Less endearing is the proliferation of 'bleeped' language.

FIFA 08 represents an enjoyable if limited take on the beautiful game.

The mixture of Mario Kart racing and Little Big Planet's customisation should be a recipe for hours of fun. Unfortunately, the long loading times leave a bitter taste.

Halo Wars proves that an RTS can be done on a console, as long as it's built around the pad and not forced to fit it.

Despite a poor single player mode, a half finished RiderNet feature and some suspect track design choices. SSX has that something special, that bit of magic that keeps you coming back for more.

Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is an entertaining game that is an ideal fit for the Vita, but one for fans of the genre, rather than the casual audience.

Overall Blacklist is a sublime entry into the Splinter Cell series, it takes the fun but flawed gameplay of Conviction and polishes it a little. It’s not the greatest game ever made, but that doesn’t matter. You enjoy your latest adventure with Sam Fisher and that is all that matters at the end of the day.

On the whole though, Steamworld Dig is a fascinating game and one that will bring plenty of joy. It is a game you can take your time with and enjoy. Taking some elements from other games in the genre and tailoring them to make a wonderful experience. It is just a shame about that Cross-Save

It’s an interesting idea taking both of these two distinctively different genres are brought together, and for the most part they work.

The biggest fear with a Joe Danger sequel was that it would be just more of the same, but Hello Games have done a fine job producing a game that demands you spend your money. The game isn't an improvement on the original title, but the tweaks and additions to the mechanics, make it a vital purchase.

A pretty decent football game that unfortunately has more bugs than Starship Troopers.

Zen Pinball 2 is the game for the more casual fan, but pinball enthusiasts will also have a great time, despite the physics not quite being 100% realistic. The buttery smooth 60fps in 1080p also does wonders for the experience and this is the best version of a Zen made pinball game yet.

If one game could attract the masses, then the satisfaction and stimulation gathered from communicating is the shining example. Gamestyle expectantly awaits the next release from Yoot Saito and his Vivarium team.

A showcase of what can be achieved if you have the talent and creativity to take a chance.

The single player is where Blur starts to show it faults. While the constant progression via the fans is good, after the first few sets of events the game difficulty ramps up and soon enough we found ourselves coming up against a brick wall.

This is simply one of the most entertainingly laid-back titles of the year.

Whether you like this or not depends on whether you like Kingdom Hearts. There is nothing here to change any minds, whichever way you look at it.

Monolith resort to every trick in the book to scare and confuse players (along with cut sequences and voice direction that are professionally placed to enhance the experience). It's just a shame the developer couldn't expand upon the promise of forensic options and truly deliver something novel and terrifying.

This is a challenging game to say the least, but it's the lack of a decent learning curve that really hurts it.

If you’re not into your comic books then a lot of the games appeal might be lost, but for fans of the genre and DC, this is a match made in heaven.

For a launch title, it's surprising that so much imagination has been tapped from every available feature of the Nintendo DS.

Refreshingly, the size of the game is just enough and avoids the titanic proportions of GTA.

Splatoon just screams Nintendo. Everything about it from the bright, colourful world, to the addictive gameplay make this a great online shooter.

An extremely good game which just doesn’t feel properly finished. It’s not quite a final draft. It’s still damned good fun though.

Sure, it's no Halo; it's a simpler game free of such complexities, but it's a reminder of a time when bits of brightly-coloured plastic and an imagination were all you needed to have a good time.

While the third in the series Trials and Tribulations remains the high point in the Phoenix Wright saga, Dual Destinies comes up as a very close second. Managing to wash out the bad taste the Edgeworth spin-off left, this is an incredible return to form for the series. With each case being as intriguing as the last it’s a game that is hard to put down till you’ve reached the games dramatic conclusion.

A great example of how to make a survival horror game that affects you in the right way.

For 1200 MS points, this is a steal, and there is much worse that you could spend more money on. Virtua Fighter appears to be entering in to its twilight years now, and it remains to be seen if it can keep up with the ongoing battle with the rejuvenated Street Fighter and Marvel fighting games, but there is still some fight left in the old dog yet.

It just remains for us to say, if you’re looking for a quality title to download, go with SWOS. It’s the sensible choice.

Gives Nintendo fans another dose of the old faithful cast and crew, with a few new[ish] faces bolstering the otherwise familiar line-up of characters.

Toy Soldiers: Cold War is without doubt one of the best games you can purchase on XBL and is a truly great sequel to what was a fantastic game

Assassin's Creed is a brilliant game wrapped up in a less brilliant one.

Another good title from Nintendo, but with a bit more content, could have been a great one.

The graphics and sound are utterly superb, providing a huge level of atmosphere.

The highlight of the extras would have to be the two hidden games, Mega Man The Power Battles and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, both of which are quite entertaining to play (especially with a friend) but are only really enjoyable in short bursts.

Helldivers isn’t game that has come out of nowhere, but it is one that has fully exceeded expectations.

Excellent fun, occasionally hilarious, very American and worth your time.

While not the most riveting game experience ever, Rockstar have still done the table tennis community (if there is one) proud with this game.

Phantagram has gone for sheer strength of numbers, which means draw distance and animations have suffered. Not a major loss, but it does diminish the high-gloss presentation.

Some people might like its micromanagement approach, whereas others will find it very tedious.

The first three worlds certainly are great fun and the boss design and different babies help add some invention. But as soon as you have seen the back of the third world it all becomes a frustrating mess of a game.

It's more of a loving homage to the original, updating the aesthetics and stages while retaining everything that made the original so great.

While it's admittedly too easy and a little simplistic in structure (albeit with plenty of extras to unlock), it's nevertheless ideal for young ones or anyone looking for an easy-going few hours.

What you do have here though is a game that doesn't hide what it is. It is pure unadulterated violence and it makes sure you are having fun with it, you come out the other end covered in blood and loving the feeling.

What MadWorld has in style it lacks in substance.

Controls aside for a second: the breadth of detail is stunning.

The biggest compliment in spite of our criticisms is that LostWinds leaves you wanting more and this is a rare commodity on the Nintendo Wii.

It tries to be Mario platforming crossed with all the goodness of lemmings but really it ends up showing only glimpses of the brilliance of each.

Another good entry in the adventure game genre. Just don’t go expecting a game changer.

Perhaps one of the most addictive games Gamestyle has ever come across, Pokémon Pinball is a must for pinball and Pokémon fans alike and won't disappoint for a second.

A playable release. The multiplayer mode is as excellent as ever, and even though the single player mode lacks the magic of the multiplayer, it isn’t that bad really.

A worthy sequel to the original release.

While it can be enjoyable at first, and certainly has some impressive graphics, it soon begins to reveal itself to be little more than an average title which only improves when played with other people.

It always impresses Gamestyle when a developer manages to successfully port a PS2 game onto the PSP - especially without resorting to five minute load times - and The Warriors does so especially well.

The best wrestling game we've played in a while. Finally listening to fans complaints with previous offerings; it's good to see the series taking a new approach with less of an emphasis on running around the ring like a madman, and more on planning how to wear down your opponent.

A thoroughly underwhelming package, with a few nice additions that don't really elevate it above 'average'. And its most notable feature - the Xbox Live multiplayer mode - feels somewhat dated and simplistic compared to current Live games.

A classic case of it "if it isn't broke, don't fix it", Trials and Tribulations carries on the series' high quality and is a fitting end to the trilogy, but it won't convert anyone waiting for the series to break out of its somewhat rigid menu-driven process of elimination.

With fast paced, realistic players, FIFA delivers a more enjoyable experience than previous entries in the long running series.

If you want a truly great 3D Prince of Persia experience, however, we’d recommend tracking down a copy of The Sands of Time instead.

An RPG that is screaming out for 'essential' status, but due to the complete lack of a learning gradient ends up being unnecessarily difficult and frustrating to play.

Continues the good work of the original release, and takes full advantage of the expanding Live universe. Few games today really represent value for money, but Gamestyle is confident in stating that this release is certainly money well spent.

Gamestyle can't recall any similar title that has been created for a peripheral so obviously detached from the maker's intent. If Nintendo really do want to concentrate on innovation moving forward, Jungle Beat is a most promising start.

Overall, Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance keeps the series trademark high standard of quality going.

A decent effort for a new IP and hopefully a sequel can build upon a solid base.

If you missed out on Bully first time round then this is the perfect opportunity to catch up.

Technically, the Xbox conversion of Shenmue 2 is a pot-pourri of highs and lows. Visually, it's two notches above its DC brother (AM2 have attached light sources to EVERYTHING - moreso at night, where neon bathes you in its "afterglow") but two notches below what the system is capable of.

A missed opportunity. It does nothing to ruin the memory of a groundbreaking 8-bit game, but everything to prove that games have moved on since then.

Max and Chloe’s adventure comes to an excellent end.

When it's all said and done, Assassin's Creed: Revelations is an entrancing game, with breathtaking visuals and a pulsating story that keeps the player glued to their seat

While it may lack the charm of Advance Wars and its complete appreciation of the format’s unique potential, there is much to overcome, saviour and keep you engaged until the next strategic release arrives.

It's fair to say that this is probably the best handheld football game available and certainly in the top two or three in anyone's book. However, compared with the home versions, this feels poor, like they knew the PSP version couldn't be as good so they didn't bother trying.

You would be hard-pressed to find a cheaper way to indulge your nostalgic streak, and few people deserve to live their lives without experiencing the giddy thrills on offer here.

All these minor faults are soon forgotten once Final Fantasy Tactics A2 starts to slowly take over your life.

A deep and rewarding time sink but a difficult one to initially get into.

Regardless of innovation, if you are looking for an adventure with plenty of action, this is a worthwhile candidate.

Single-player is great fun, but there is no depth to keep you hooked; the most fun comes from getting other people involved and so multi-player is where EyeToy becomes really special.

A gaming masterpiece, the very fact that it exists in this format is an unbelievable testament to the development team behind it. Absolutely essential for all adventure fans.

Overall, Blazblu Chronophantasma Extend is a must for anyone who is into their fighting games and this is right up there with anything on the PS4.