Unfortunately for When Ski Lifts Go Wrong, however, it exists in this world, where Bridge Constructor is a thing and this game just feels like a so-so imitator. Given that Bridge Constructor is between half a decade and a decade old (depending on where you first played it), there’s still room for a so-so imitator, but be aware of the fact that much of the time when you’re playing When Ski Lifts Go Wrong, you’ll be kind of wishing you were playing something else instead.

Here, nostalgia probably adds to your enjoyment, but even if you strip all that away, you’re still left with a pretty solid kart racer that adds one or two things to the usual formula.

If you don’t care about history, of course, then Cosmic Top Secret probably isn’t worth your time. Like I said, the 3D platforming element is wonky at the best of times, so if you don’t want a deep dive into Cold War history, it won’t be worth it. But if you’re in the mood to be educated as you play, Cosmic Top Secret is about as engrossing as historical games come.

ININ has done a fine job bringing these classics together. Even if the complete package offers nothing new outside of a game selection screen, these are all still pretty fun games. As before, 7 out of 10 games in this collection can be downloaded from from the eShop under the “Arcade Archives” line of games. Solitary Fighter, Darius II and Dinorex are Exclusive to this collection, but if those titles don’t appeal to you, then you aren’t missing anything by skipping this release. As for the overall presentation, not much has changed from the first TAITO Milestones, but since most of the games offered are much better this time, I can recommend this collection more than the first.

It’s one of the most good-natured games I’ve played in recent memory, and even if it was over almost as soon as it started, it’s still an extremely pleasant way to pass half an hour.

The competition today is a lot more fierce than it was a decade ago – and yet, even with that tougher playing field, Yooka-Replaylee still manages to stand out as being one of the better 3D platformers you’re likely to come across.

I was a little concerned at first that this was going to be another shovelware title but I was quickly assuaged. Blowing up hippies (and zombies and old people) with a few friends and the South Park children is a great time; which is why I highly recommend this title.

I’d love for every iteration of Assassin’s Creed to be great, as I genuinely enjoy the series. Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood, Black Flag…these are all fantastic games to me. But Unity doesn’t compare favorably at all to the better entries we’ve already seen.

Mercenaries 2, much like their in-game avatars, succeeds by getting the job done with no frills and nothing more. To many gamers that just may be enough.

You won't be sinking days after days into Valley — but the one day or so you do spend with it will be enough to stick with you for a long time.

In other words, it does exactly what games like Trials HD and Joe Danger do to keep you coming back for more. That may not win Action Henk points for innovation, but you'll be too busy obsessively having one more go at each level to care.

As I said up top, it’s intriguing, if nothing else. Probably not intriguing enough to sustain a whole game, but there are still some interesting ideas to be found in Mail Mole that make it worth your time if you feel like taking a bit of a risk.

Much like Dragon Quest Treasures last year, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a fun entry point into a long-running series that doesn’t ask too much of players in terms of prior knowledge (though that surely helps). If you’re after a solid monster-training game with colourful cast of characters, it delivers solidly on that front.

From the new 3D areas, to the completely re-imagined boss battles, there is something for everyone to like in Castle of Illusion. The main game might be a bit short, but you will want to keep going long after Mizrabel is dealt with.

Telltale fans and Marvel fans won’t be disappointed with the first episode of Guardians of the Galaxy, but they might have expected more from it. The soundtrack is a perfect example of this; it uses licensed music just like the movie, but it almost seems like B-sides. Clearly the game didn’t have the same budget of the movie or the same people who picked the music, because it just doesn’t seem to be on the same level as the movie, and let’s be honest, these comparisons are inevitable. Telltale announced they would be working on a Marvel game nearly 2 years ago, and I guess they decided if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, because they didn’t take any chances with this release.

If you enjoyed Patapon back for the PSP, it’s a safe bet to say you'll still enjoy it in this glorious HD remaster. The remaster is completely barebones and features no new special features, which is kind of disappointing. I also wonder why they didn’t just remaster all three Patapon titles and release a pack, similarly to what they did with the Crash N-Sane Trilogy. The Patapon titles got better with each new sequel and going back to the original can seem like a bit of a step back, but I still recommend Patapon overall. Patapon is a great looking, affordable digital remaster for rhythm fans, and of course it plays and holds up much better than PaRappa the Rapper.

I think that Rocket Knight is a great attempt at revitalizing the character, and while I know there are people put off by the new design and the use of "2.5D" instead of traditional pixel work, I think the game looks great in action.

True fans of the anime (like myself) will get their moneys worth just by watching the opening scene, and hearing the Robotech theme song.

The most innovative and clever thing to come to golf video games in a long while is Outlaw Golf's Composure Meter.

I was absolutely impressed by how much of a full-fledged racing game Hot Wheels Unleashed is. It’s right at home with some of the better arcade racers on the market today, and offers up a whole lot of fun for the whole family, regardless of whether you’re a Hot Wheels fan or not. The track customization is pretty solid, with a decent enough opening tutorial to get you started, and the sheer number of vehicles you can obtain right out of the gate is pretty impressive. The multiplayer could use a bit more fleshing out, but at least works great, and the game controls fantastically overall. If you’ve been in the mood for a new racing experience that everyone can enjoy, then look no further than Hot Wheels Unleashed.

Fate/Unlimited Codes isn't going to take the fighting community by storm, and it certainly doesn't hold a candle to current gen fighters on their respective systems, and for a $30 downloadable title on the PSP, it's a little pricey for the content given.

There's enough new content stuffed into this expansion to warrant a purchase, especially if you play both PvE and PvP. Even for a player like myself, who tends to only play the co-op stuff, the adventure is well worth experiencing. With a new Record Book detailing new quests and how to obtain specific items, I anticipate playing Destiny for a very long time to come.

Traditionally tabletop games are getting more and more attention on screens, and Blood Bowl is one that benefits from the evolution.

Of course with all the features already being touted about for Rock Band 3 this year it's hard to think of Warriors of Rock as a really progressive entry into the genre, but I think there's enough fun to be had with the on disc content to make it worth a look for everyone that already generally enjoys these types of games.

Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter isn't an awful game by any stretch, but it barely manages to get past that average mark. If it weren't for the whole hero creation aspect, there'd hardly be a game here worth mentioning, so I wish the core platforming stuff were a little more interesting than it is.

I have very few negatives to level at Binary Domain; I think its single player mode is a stand-out shooter that I feel a lot of folks might glance over. But that would be a mistake, as you'd definitely miss out on a really fun experience that doesn't break the mold, but builds upon a solid foundation already laid by other cover based shooters.

It's a real shame that the online wasn't better implemented; otherwise this would have been one of my bigger surprise hits for this year. Just a few key changes could have made that experience great, and I'm not sure why the developers felt the need to make it so limiting.

The presentation is brilliant, there are more teams..., new modes, and the slowdown has been fixed. Top all of this off with fantastic and engaging gameplay and you have a great soccer title that should hold you off for another six months when EA releases '07.