Graphically sublime and with well-paced and refined gameplay throughout, Inafune’s second ode to the 360 is one that cements Capcom’s rightful reputation as the format’s premier publisher right now, as well as adding another title of real quality to the console’s second wave.

With no fuss and no nonsense, this is a title pulling off into the distance, watching its rivals fluff and flounder in its mirrors.

The soundtrack is better, the characters more convincing and, for our money, the racing experience just that little bit more enjoyable.

It really (for us, at least) holds very little appeal when by yourself. With a group of friends though, it’s easily the most fun you can have with a PS2.

As a finale, it’s far superior to last year’s effort. As an adventure game, it’s quite simply one of the best you’ll find on the PC today.

It might no longer be the best in its field, but it’s still ready and waiting in the shadows, looking for the perfect opportunity to fly in, behead you and take your life orbs while you’re not looking.

An RTS that’ll be remembered for years to come. It’s ambitious and challenging, yet rewarding...The depth and involvement required to play mean it’s just as demanding on your ability to manage, and indeed micro-manage, as it is on your PC’s ability to cope with all the action.

It’s not as often as we’d like that a shooter comes along in which can you plough through the single player and then spend many more hours in the multiplayer without feeling like you’ve seen and done it all before. Battlefield: Bad Company is definitely one of those games, and the tongue-in-cheek tone and dialogue of the game is perfectly matched to the intense and chaotic action.

It may not be the most technically accomplished game to have graced our screens, but the plain and simple fact is that it's so much fun to play, it's almost indescribable.

What they have done is filled a gap in the current console market we didn’t even know was there. They have made a video game that is an essential purchase for anybody interested in arcade shooters. It’s outstandingly good fun for the first weekend or so that it will take to peek at what it has to offer, and it’ll be outstandingly good fun for the next couple of years when you dip into it from time to time in order to have a breather from "Gears of War 5" or some other interactive movie.

For music game veterans, World Tour is still well worth getting, but not exclusively so and not if you’re looking for drastically new gameplay. 2008 has definitely been the year of music games, and while this one is definitely among the cream, it’s no longer alone.

It does lack GTA4’s overall polish and sense of parody, but it at least doesn’t it take itself too seriously and there’s something to be said for absurd levels of comic violence. Crucially, what the game sets out to do best it does do better than the GTA series, and that’s depth of customisation, structure of missions and online co-op.

A truly extraordinary game, and easily one of this year’s landmark titles. Evocative, unique, original, atmospheric and gripping – most contemporary releases struggle to lay claim to just one of Fahrenheit’s strengths.

One of the many factors that elevate WoG beyond mere construction puzzles is the excellent physics engine.

SWAT 4 doesn’t have the entire package. While a fantastic, engrossing and entertaining game, there’s a constant, nagging feeling that something’s missing.

Okay, so there’s nothing majorly new here, but if this isn’t a game to showcase the PSP and spur on other developers, we just don’t know what is.

The PS2 version of the game looks every bit as good as on the more powerful Xbox, and gamers would be hard pushed to distinguish it from the arcade version.

It would seem Polyphony Digital’s claim that Gran Turismo is the world’s ‘Real Driving Simulator’ is well and truly under threat.

With more than seventy hours of tactical RPG battling, intricately woven story and an army of characters to build up, Final Fantasy Tactics is an immensely addictive and rewarding experience, even for those who managed to import a copy of the PSone original.

Invest some time in Silent Hunter III, learn how to play it properly, find out what all of the dials do and memorise all of the keyboard shortcuts and it will pay you back with countless hours of cinematic, realistic, and brilliant gameplay. But remember, this ain’t for the casual gamer.

One of the many factors that elevate WoG beyond mere construction puzzles is the excellent physics engine.

Despite there being only one major change to the game, and a couple of slightly smaller ones, Ratchet & Clank 3 is still an improvement and genuinely one of the best platforming games on PS2.

Grand, ferocious and full of drama, the battle elements combine with Medieval’s excellent take on diplomacy to create a fully-rounded experience – one that will pay off for years to come.

The controls are easy to pick up, which makes flying and combat both simple and fun.

A truly extraordinary game, and easily one of this year’s landmark titles. Evocative, unique, original, atmospheric and gripping – most contemporary releases struggle to lay claim to just one of Fahrenheit’s strengths.

It’s not as often as we’d like that a shooter comes along in which can you plough through the single player and then spend many more hours in the multiplayer without feeling like you’ve seen and done it all before. Battlefield: Bad Company is definitely one of those games, and the tongue-in-cheek tone and dialogue of the game is perfectly matched to the intense and chaotic action.

A great management game almost in the same league as Theme Park coupled with a fairly versatile and endlessly amusing movie-making tool makes for a compelling package, but the online options add the kind of polish that’ll potentially keep you coming back for months.

It’s easy enough for complete beginners to pick up and play, and it has more than enough content and depth for hardcore gamers to enjoy. It’s beautiful and engrossing with literally days of gameplay.

It may not be the most technically accomplished game to have graced our screens, but the plain and simple fact is that it’s so much fun to play, it’s almost indescribable.

It’s the kind of game that will get inside your brain, and several hours of playing will see you splicing together tactics that you would never have thought possible on your first few goes.

We'll happily put our hands up and admit to our slight over-reliance on the phrase “if you like Command & Conquer, you’ll like this” when reviewing the more arcadey RTS games over the years, but this time it’s a necessity. Fans of the C&C series will quite simply find this to be nothing less than absolutely essential.

Ultimately it’s shiny, it’s new and it’s a majorly streamlined edition of a much-played online game. The esoteric game modes are gone and there are considerably less maps, but those that there are are generally of the highest standard. If you meet the system requirements then it could be worth a look – even if you’ve moved on to other series – if only for the sensory aspect of it.

The story mode can be frustrating, but never fatally so, and in any case the combat is ridiculously moreish and often highly amusing.

Just another great basketball game, packed with features and modes that are sure to keep fans and determined newbies happy at least until the 2K9 comes along or a rival franchise gets its act together.

In fact, though a good bit shorter than the original Half-Life 2, Episode 2 quite possibly rivals it in terms of memorable sequences. These include some lengthy vehicle sections, some stunning scenery, some stand-out plotlines and a good few damned enjoyable fight sequences.

It’s by no means a perfect game and it’s stuck in an over-populated genre, but it’s just so enjoyable and refreshing that it really doesn’t matter. Persona 3 is yet another must have for JRPG fans, as the PS2 slowly shuffles itself out of the limelight.

A truly extraordinary game, and easily one of this year's landmark titles. Evocative, unique, original, atmospheric and gripping – most contemporary releases struggle to lay claim to just one of Fahrenheit's strengths.

Afternoon of Darkness feels at home on the PSP, with its battles short, sweet and addictive in exactly the right way a portable RPG should be. Its innovative nature might no longer be the cutting edge of SRPGs, but it stands alongside Final Fantasy Tactics as one of the best RPGs on the PSP, if not one of the finest titles you can get on a console adrift in cheap PS2 port hell.

It may not be the most technically accomplished game to have graced our screens, but the plain and simple fact is that it’s so much fun to play, it’s almost indescribable.

Whether borrowed, reworked or completely original, all the elements have been expertly crafted and put together.

Ultimately it’s shiny, it’s new and it’s a majorly streamlined edition of a much-played online game. The esoteric game modes are gone and there are considerably less maps, but those that there are are generally of the highest standard.

But perhaps the biggest conundrum of all is how to put the game down completely and do something else.

Perhaps only a third party can produce a title that so glorifies a series that revolutionised cinema, because it's Pandemic and not LucasArts that has created a game that lives up to the vast shadow created by the films.

This is a big, bold and brassy FPS packed to the rafters with ways to play and sure to last fans of the genre right through the holiday period.

It’s a shame that more wasn’t done with the story, as the shallow characters and lack of moral depth sits in stark contrast to the hard work spent on some of the most impressive game technology we’ve ever seen.

A general clean up of what was already a consummate package, with the addition of some incredibly absorbing new campaigns.

The beauty of the game, as well as the depth of the immersion and the fun of the gameplay, is still here in abundance. Knights of the Nine is an essential addition for any Elder Scrolls fan.

Space Invaders Extreme is easily one of the best games we’ve ever played on the DS and it has some competition. As far as DS shooters go, it is king.

The beauty of the game, as well as the depth of the immersion and the fun of the gameplay, is still here in abundance. Knights of the Nine is an essential addition for any Elder Scrolls fan.

If you already have "Soul Calibur II" then it’s a much harder call. You’ll get a few new characters, a create-your-own character mix-and-match style feature and, basically, almost exactly the same fighting game as before.

This is a monster expansion for a monster game; a total must-have that breathes new life into what is now a fairly old game.

Undoubtedly Catacombs is the best thing to hit DAoC in a long while, but although it does make the game more beginner friendly, it’s hard to see it competing with the mighty WoW.

Even though the PSP and Wii versions weren’t great, the PS2 version of Metal Slug Anthology shows just how fantastic retro game collections can be.

A 'merely' very good game that’s addictive, original, relaxing and exceptionally well-designed, and will literally keep you coming back for months.

Sod all the talk of the Japanese original – Elite Beat Agents is a truly superb title that’s a joy to play from start to finish.

An incredible amount of raw fun to play, remaining so similar to previous titles yet being so fundamentally different.

Republic Commando does so much right – the squad-based elements do enough to add another dimension to the game without bogging down the action; the Star Wars presentation is executed brilliantly; the action and set-pieces have been designed and paced superbly.

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that, as nice as all the extras are, it’s still essentially a two-year-old game with a new camera.

The pinnacle of the sub-genre and while not the "Forza" or "Gran Turismo 4" of biking, is currently about as good as it gets.

Were it not for the online issues – and we pray Codemasters fix these sharpish – SWOS would be getting a 9/10 if not more. As it stands, we’re going to cop out and give it that annoying almost-amazing score.

Fable was, and still is, a cracking and practically beard-free role-player. Maybe in five years from now, we’ll see a sequel that actually resembles what we were initially promised.

FIFA 09 is by far the finest football game of the year, if not ever, but there’s still a way to go before EA Sports’ series can be classed as perfect.

Whether or not the single player was necessary (it certainly wasn’t unwelcome), T:V is definitely a highly enjoyable multiplayer experience.

Football Manager 2008 is without a shadow of a doubt the best football management game available. It’s the same game it has always been, with more features.

An incredible amount of raw fun to play, remaining so similar to previous titles yet being so fundamentally different.

Playing the game is fun defined. While Pro Evolution has managed to slowly botch its own previously stellar system with each release, EA’s FIFA has been making steady progress over the last few years, culminating in this climax.

Even though Call of Duty 4 took the series out of World War II, developer Infinity Ward raised the bar significantly, and that has left stand-in Treyarch with a lot of work to do. In the end World at War hasn’t topped that effort, but it has at least benefited from the attempt, with the result being another really good, very comprehensive WW2 shooter.

FIFA 09 is by far the finest football game of the year, if not ever, but there’s still a way to go before EA Sports’ series can be classed as perfect.

Whereas CoH can be lacking in immediacy, WiC never lets up on the fast action pacing.

Playing the game is fun defined. While Pro Evolution has managed to slowly botch its own previously stellar system with each release, EA’s FIFA has been making steady progress over the last few years, culminating in this climax.

Basically, using the time elevator is enormous fun – far more so than clicking on the Desoto, which may pose Telltale with an interesting problem in deciding how to keep the quality rising in future episodes.

The graphics, sound and gameplay are extremely well polished; the AI is also good with your platoon mates actually helping rather than hindering.

Even though Call of Duty 4 took the series out of World War II, developer Infinity Ward raised the bar significantly, and that has left stand-in Treyarch with a lot of work to do. In the end World at War hasn’t topped that effort, but it has at least benefited from the attempt, with the result being another really good, very comprehensive WW2 shooter.

Halo 3 is a fantastic game: a magnificent example of multiplayer gaming with an enjoyable side order of single-player, but it’s really hard to justify as being a true classic.

With a quality single player campaign, custom game modes, split-screen co-op and a very strong multiplayer component, Black Arrow is hard to fault even if it is very similar to Rainbow Six 3 – which is not in itself a bad thing.

MMOs are not for everyone, but this is certainly the closest they get and this new expansion just cements that fact.

We’re just counting the weeks until the first expansion comes along.

At the end of the day, Burnout 3 is a little too simplified for our tastes.

In terms of visuals, features, quality of courses and online play, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 is a really great golf game. It would probably be easier to recommend if the series wasn’t prone to such inconsistent yearly updates, but at least EA has focused on making the game better than just bigger.

With plenty of unlockable extras, a strong line-up of games and virtually faultless emulation, Sega Mega Drive Collection is easily one of the finest retro collections in years.

The visuals push the PS2 to its limits, the combat system is incredibly unique and enjoyable, and there are countless hours of gameplay to be had in reincarnating every Einherjar during Silmeria and Alicia’s wonderfully written adventure – even if you never really get to know them.

It’s hard to really dislike Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for being so similar to the other games in the series – it’s just disappointing that Retro Studios didn’t try anything new.

Twenty quid for dozens of modifiable cars, 4 well realised cities and plenty of online and offline races is a good deal in anyone’s book, and especially ours.

No More Heroes is a punk video game: it’s loud, violent and actively rebellious, and it’s so goddamned fresh and fun it shames every other Wii game aimed at mature gamers – and even more that aren’t.

In terms of visuals, features, quality of courses and online play, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 is a really great golf game. It would probably be easier to recommend if the series wasn’t prone to such inconsistent yearly updates, but at least EA has focused on making the game better than just bigger.

While still similar in many ways to Midnight Club 2, the two remain sufficiently different that neither negates the other.

On the one hand it’s a fantastic game, and on the other, so was Here Comes the Pain, which has a good deal of what SvR does and some things that it doesn’t.

If you are lucky enough to have 5 friends with copies of the game, then 6-way wireless play is catered for, with the usual selection of races and team-based games making for an excellent diversion.

Twenty quid for dozens of modifiable cars, 4 well realised cities and plenty of online and offline races is a good deal in anyone's book, and especially ours.

While Kingdom Hearts II might boil down to button mashing, levelling up and some crap mini-games, the experience itself is second to none.

One of the most enjoyable if short-lived gameplay experiences. The game is practically a work of art, but that may not be enough for everyone.

Considering the sparse amount of survival horror titles on the Xbox, it's no surprise that Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly – Director's Cut drags itself to the top of the pile with ease.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 carries on the fine tradition of the series and, a couple of stylus issues aside, is a natural fit on the DS.

As a game Everquest II improves on many aspects of the original, boasting some of the most detailed graphics in any game to date, a feature rich community toolset, a very well thought out crafting system, meaningful character choices, highly interactive combat and a lot more besides.

At the end of the day, Burnout 3 is a little too simplified for our tastes.

One of the most enjoyable if short-lived gameplay experiences. The game is practically a work of art, but that may not be enough for everyone.

NHL 08 is the kind of makeover that this series has been waiting for for years.