The basic gameplay of Metal Slug Advance is quite entertaining and fun - whilst slightly marred by additions that are rather pointless and don't add anything worthwhile to the experience.

Ultimately very few players will wish to repeat the experience and for such a high profile release questions have to be asked just what went wrong.

Dragon Age 2, like the first, feels like a whisper of a promise rather than a burst of fresh air, always heralding that maybe – just maybe – the next sequel will be better. For now, it is robust, enjoyable and promising. But most of all, it's safe. It's safe.

Tower defence games have been done to death, yet here Anomaly adds an excellent twist to the genre. If you have the PC or mobile version, then this may not be an instant purchase, but if not, then you just need to pick it up.

The depth of the career- and online play make MTX Mototrax a superior choice. The game has virtually no glitches or flawed design.

Overall, Pool Nation does nothing new for the genre, but it does play a good game of pool, that is easily accessible from your XBLA library. It is worth having for the Endurance mode alone, if you are a fan of pool, then this is a must own title and at 800 Microsoft Points, it is a bargain.

There isn’t anything else like it on the DS, and with various multiplayer modes and plenty of gold medals to earn, it will keep you busy for quite a while.

While one of the the biggest issue with the series lies decidedly with the console's controls itself, it's hard to lay all the blame on the game itself completely; but it remains difficult to recommend this over its home console versions, as ubiquitous as they are.

Everything else is just as you'd expect from the blue blur's 2D exploits; dynamic momentum and solid-but-clunky feedback making for a satisfying game regardless.

Throw in a clutch of two-player options and you've got an entertaining offline game that will satisfy many.

One of the finest RPGs to appear on any format. Though bettered by latter incarnations of the series, the original remains both innovative and a pure joy to play.

We admire a series that is willing to shake things up and try out new ideas, and we really commend Climax for being daring enough to make such a bold and inventive game. However, the problems we’ve highlighted are compounded by the fact that the game is now entirely reliant on its scares, and those just don’t make you fear for your virtual soul as the original games did.

For those expecting a triumphant Mario title, you'll have to wait until Mario Party 8 for the next opportunity.

Overall there is a lot CastleStorm has to offer with a reasonable size campaign and multiplayer options too. Minor control niggles aside, if you are looking for something to play other than Angry Birds on the Vita you could certainly do with picking up a copy of this to see you through those winter (K)nights.

Muramasa Rebirth is a showcase for what visuals the PS Vita can produce. It does have solid gameplay, but lacks enough variation to be an absolute must have purchase. There is fun to be had for sure though and would be a solid introduction to the genre thanks to the simple to use mechanics that take plenty of mastering.

Whether or not Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is an essential purchase depends on your own point of view. The thought of starting again for many regulars will prove too much, as will the additional cost. The extra features and game changes are beneficial and potentially the Playstation Move support will be a convincing reason.

Bound in Blood is certainly an improvement on the first Call of Juarez. Its impressive visuals and smooth gameplay are let down by repetitive levels and an uninspiring story, however, and the online multiplayer just isn’t good enough to compensate.

By far the best aspect of this game, which really separates this from number 2, is the ability to play musou mode with 2 players cooperating.

Its sheer difficulty will put off all but the most hard core of gamers (and even then it’s gonna take a lot to convince.)

The presentation is still an issue, but the gameplay advances make this quite possibly the best Madden game on the current generation of consoles.

If you’re a fan of the genre and are tired with the lack of decent RPG’s on the Xbox 360 then you can’t go wrong with Lost Odyssey.

One of the weaker platformers for the Wii U where sadly a beautiful game can’t hide the rather poor level design.

It is great that Overkill has turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year, completely reinventing the series in the process.

The first half of the game is certainly an edge of your seat horror fest, it's only in the latter stages where the game starts to come undone with a plot that soon falls into Evil Dead 2 levels of hilarity.

It really is a shame that all the improvements are ruined by the online aspect. This may not be a deal-breaker for many people, and the offline multiplayer is as good as previous versions.

Perhaps one of the most unique, stylish and absorbing games for the DS, and remains one of the best adventure titles for the system. Whether this says a lot about the game or rather the dearth of alternative adventure games is another matter; but given a chance Hotel Dusk will almost certainly keep you hooked to the end.

The strong visual style is yet again backed up by the all-purpose Renderware engine; environments are highly-detailed, the resolution is crisp and the lighting effects are startling. The sound too is impressive.

Live and Reloaded is a fun and entertaining package for a short while in single player, but dated gameplay and some technical issues ensure that it won't last long.

Overall OMG HD Zombies is a fun little time waster, it has a mix of touch screen controls or physical controls, depending on player preference. Despite the randomness of layouts on levels, when you hit a mammoth chain the feeling is great. Laughing Jackal have a fine game here and one that should have a pennant home on your Vita.

A game of this overall technical sheen that can really make you smile and take notice, doesn't come along every day... in fact it comes along every nine years. If you've not sampled it before, now is the time.

Given the importance of the flamethrower, the fire effects are splendid and are consistent with excellent lighting throughout.

Apollo Justice is a likeable guy (because he is just a carbon copy of Phoenix Wright, to be honest) and even four games into the series, this still remains fresh, thanks to the clever writing and plots.

If you go into 400 Days expecting the same intense, emotional, roller coaster of a ride that Season 1 produced then you could be disappointed. With characters leaving almost as quickly as they are introduced there’s no time to get any sort of attachment, particularly when playing as a different person in each chapter. Keep your expectations in check however and there’s still plenty to get out of 400 Days, with an ending that could tie into the next season, this is still a worthy chapter in the series.

Stealth Inc: A Clone In The Dark is a special game and one that shows off the sort of thing the Vita was made for. A game that is simple to play, both in quick bursts or for hours on end, that offers up a challenge and doesn’t hold back just because it is on a handheld, At just £7.99 you will struggle to find another game that offers as much content for the price. This is one game that won’t be hiding in the shadows for long.

Pocket-sized foibles aside, what keeps Origins out of the big-leagues that its brethren inhabit is what saved the title from disaster in the first place- it's simply too conservative by far, with none of the occasionally misplaced inventiveness found in the other titles.

For those unexcited by the prospect of actually being Bond, some problems, the most predominant of which is the games failure to engage or innovate on any other level than being an above average jaunt through an enormously exciting fictional world, may be too much.

Having spent considerable hours grinding through DDS, the ending does come as an anti-climax. The only consolation is that the sequel will award bonuses if it reads a DDS save on your memory card.

Ultimately though it is one long drawn out cutscene cut up by little bits of gameplay that do not seem to fit in as well.

Unfortunately, due to the irritating camera, steep learning curve and lengthy missions, Gamestyle can only recommend Heroes to the most avid of strategy enthusiasts.

Rock Band 4 is bare bones sequel to a spectacular game and your mileage will depend on how desperate you are to play these games on the newer consoles.

There is a lot of positives to take from Skullgirls, everything from the art direction, to the game play itself. The game seems to have been made from the ground up by a team who love the genre and wanted to make a game that everyone could share. It is a great title and a wonderful addition to the library, but to get the most out of it, you need to spend out on that fight stick.

It's certainly not a 'Klassic' by any stretch of the imagination - and it may not feature the cutting-edge style of other titles - but its furious fighting and mostly wonderful boss encounters provided many hours of enjoyment.

Control of the players feels very responsive, and every charge and slapshot feels suitably weighty, despite the fact the controller didn’t rumble on Gamestyle‘s first play (even though we thought it did).

This is a hulking beast, a deep, engaging experience and already one of the year’s standout titles. Xbox Live has offered gamers many gems since its inception and this is one of the more precious.

As far as rhythm games go, Retro/Grade is up there with the best.

There is still work to be done on this series; the physics still need work and the difficulty still needs to be more carefully balanced. However, it's hard to hate any aspect of this game, even the parts that don't work so well, as it's the most successful attempt yet at recapturing the magic of the original games.

Far Cry Instincts: Predator would be something special on the Xbox (the original was given an 8, after all), but we've seen it all before and Ubi-Soft have clearly forgotten that we are now entering the next generation of gaming.

Both a surprise and a disappointment. It is nice to see a Simpsons game that is finally worth playing - unfortunately, it is only worth playing for a few hours because anything after that sends the player tailspinning into a cul-de-sac of repetition.

Despite a few niggling problems Max had lost none of his charm and this title comes highly recommended to both Payne and shoot'em up fans a like.

For every improvement there's an unnecessary change, for every addition there's a prohibitive linchpin unaltered and the biggest changes lie firmly on the spine established in 2009. But it is greater than its predecessor, attune to the legacy of the franchise, less abusive to fandom than Smash Bros. and will reward as much effort as you put in.

If you liked Mercury (or slightly dull games in general), you can cope with garish colours and you want a game that will last you a long time, then this isn't that bad an option.

We loved GRID and it is still our favourite racer of the generation, GRID 2 is a competent follow up, but doesn’t quite reach those new heights we were hoping for.

Deep in Gamestyle Towers we have a closet called "hidden gems" where some of the best and most overlooked video games reside. Rebelstar Tactical Command fits this criteria perfectly, if you are in need of a new handheld challenge, then this is a must have purchase.

If you're a fan of the Ghostbusters (who isn't?), there's enough here for you to really sink your teeth into.

Another solid, if unspectacular episode in the Borderlands series.

Alien Hominid might lack a scripted storyline, but trying to reach the end is a wellspring of emotion.

Where Ubisoft's teams have exponentially raised the bar for squad-based titles, the LucasArts kowtowers have inconsolably brought the entry level down. Troops: step forward and press 'A' at my command. [Sir, yes sir!]

R.U.S.E. is a refreshing real-time strategy game that works well on a console.

It features a huge amount of wanton fun, a massive sprawling challenge and plenty of items to collect and skills to improve. The only downside to the game is that once you’ve played for a few hours it all starts to get a little stale.

Potential tension is sorely lacking. However, the challengingly physical and rewarding nature of the actual ghost-catching sequences does go a way to make up for this.

But overall, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is an enthralling tale, told with aplomb, leaving just enough to interpretation to provide a satisfactory conclusion for everyone.

This iteration is no different, but also like the other games is the fact that the script, characters and story once again make this a very endearing entry in the series, and another that is well worth checking out.

Gamestyle had a lot of fun with this one, but unless you're a fan of Crash you might want to consider one of the Donkey Kong Country games for a similar dose of multi-faceted platforming.

On the whole this review may seem incredibly downbeat, but when you’ve set the bar so high it’s going to be hard to reach, and episode 4 is where the big stumble happens. It’s not a bad episode per se, just a disappointing one.

A very clever and well crafted game. The constant climb up the castle and gradual revelation of the mystery within it are engaging and will likely keep you striving until you reach the end.

An intriguing tale, coupled with lenient stealth gameplay that will exclude no-one.

Overall this is a package that can be had at a fairly budget price, so if you are a fan, then go ahead and pick it up and enjoy reliving some of the your favourite moments.

Overall, it feels like a very rocky beginning to a potentially exciting series.

I loved playing Rayman 3, its fun, colourful and very funny... Just don’t be expecting either a major leap forward for the platform game genre or a stiff challenge as its lacking in both.

A strange beast. Initially captivating for its haunting atmosphere and impressive plotline, Gamestyle soon uncovered sanity effects that pushed us over the edge - of despair.

Proteus isn’t a game in the usual sense of the word, it won’t appeal to every demographic, but it is an experience we would urge as many people as possible to take. There is something special about this that will leave a lasting effect.

If Ham Ham Games had a stronger RPG element (a Mario Golf GBA level of involvement would have been fine) and the ability to record high scores by name (it just saves the score, not the scorer) and it would have scored a point or two higher.

On a console starved of the genre, Banjo-Kazooie really stands above all the others and for a ten year old N64 game, that’s some achievement.

An Omega Force game in a new setting that plays exceptionally well, just lacks a little replay value.

Despite the annoying difficulty, the most frustrating aspect is that you fully appreciate the potential for a decent Killzone game.

But undeniably, Luxoflux have delivered BIG on their biggest undertaking to date, and have thus elevated True Crime: Streets of LA to sequel-worthy status.

Scarier than "Silent Hill 2" and harder than a dozen "Genma Onimusha"s, this is simply amazing stuff.

For every one thing that works, there is another that feels like it could have been done better. In saying that though, the overall package is one that Sonic fans have been waiting for and the first for a long time. Classic Sonic gameplay is there and it could well be the game that breaks the series' rot.

It all adds to a package that is much much more than could ever have been dreamed of. Arcade perfect conversion that supports wheels and pad. If it was just the arcade mode alone it would have been a wonderful, adding the extra modes makes it a must have. However at a very small 800 Microsoft Points, if this isn't added to the collection, then put the controller down, step away from the console and retire.

An interesting opening to what will hopefully grow to be something quite special.

Puzzle games have always been a highlight on handhelds, and Surge Deluxe carries on this tradition. It’s amazing that despite largely lacking the AAA blockbuster titles, the Vita has become something of an indie paradise. Surge Deluxe is the latest, and one of the best.

Make no mistake: within moments of the disk-tray closing, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II weaves an intoxicating spell that compresses hours into minutes with shocking efficiency. A most pleasurable enthralment blinds the eyes to any shortcomings for a time, but with each successive break from play the cracks begin to form.

The new features add to what was already an enjoyable and entertaining experience, only now you can kick, punch, shoot and strangle your way to the top and feel like you're actually doing it.

NFS:U2 is trying very hard to progress this franchise, but sadly the enhancements that EA seem most proud of (the free roaming map, refillable N2O and SUV racing) detract from, rather than enhance, the game play experience.

Somehow, Final Fantasy III is still amazingly enjoyable and as addictive as any in the series, despite its age.

If you enjoyed the Lego Star Wars games and didn’t feel that they were getting tired by the end of the second game, then you’ll love this release.

Gamestyle seriously can't imagine anyone NOT having a good time with the game; the story is strong, scripting is well-done, characters are likable and the humour is abundant and at times very sarcastic.

One word describes Ultimate Spider-Man: disappointment.

Overall Sonic Jump is a solid entry to the Sonic library, a game built from the ground up for a specific device. It plays well and looks good on the iPhone retina display. There are plenty of better games out there but it is just nice to have another solid Sonic game to play.

If you like destruction, shooting people and a game with a brain the size of a pea then there is no doubt that Stranglehold is the game for you. It’s not smart or clever, but despite the flaws it still managed to entertain us right to it’s conclusion.

LEGO Harry Potter: Year 5-7 is one of the best co-op experiences that you will have all year, matched only by the co-op levels in Portal 2. It is more of the same, but sometimes more of the same is just what is needed.

Whilst there are some really good ideas here, Carbon feels too unbalanced as a package – too many bells and whistles attached to an average racing game. Roll on next year’s instalment.

An original IP in a genre not associated with consoles during the Christmas rush may not be the best time for its release. Though perhaps it’s managed to carve out a niche and in doing so we’re hopeful this really isn’t the end of this war.

Dragon’s Crown is an amazing experience and whilst it may be easy to turn your nose up at it, due to the visual style of the characters, to do so you would be denying yourself the chance of playing one the the best side-scrolling beat-em-ups of all time. A game with simplicity, that is also as deep as you want it to be. Open to newcomers and experienced players alike, you need this in your life.

Overall Metro 2033 is a game that should be played. It is atmospheric, gripping and arguably one of the better stories told in a game.

If you are looking for a racer with an edge then Sky Drift is a definite must have purchase for any fan of the genre.

If you like Borderlands, then you'll like Borderlands The Pre-Sequel. It's simply more Borderlands.

After the shambles that is "Reservoir Dogs," The Godfather shows how to bring a film license to the world of video games.