If Colin McRae: DIRT was a sign of Codemasters regaining a foothold in the racing market, the latest Race Driver is evidence of the publisher taking full control. GRID makes the high points of its rivals feel like false dawns, and if what’s on offer here is a sign of things to come, we’re all in for a remarkable ride.

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.

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.

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.

If Colin McRae: DIRT was a sign of Codemasters regaining a foothold in the racing market, the latest Race Driver is evidence of the publisher taking full control. GRID makes the high points of its rivals feel like false dawns, and if what’s on offer here is a sign of things to come, we’re all in for a remarkable ride.

The epic feel, ease of control and attention to detail all round makes this a joy to play. You really won’t feel that you are playing a strategy game, but you’ll get the kind of rewards from it that only hours spent on a game like this can bestow on you.

The graphical upgrades and presentation improvements are certainly noticeable, while the game continues to have some of the best set-pieces of any first-person shooter. We do hope though, that for the next outing Valve puts a little more focus into creating all new gameplay scenarios and interactive experiences.

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.

Now that it has arrived however, we can safely say that it's firmly up there as one of the best games released this year.

Admittedly there are no truly grave punishments in the game, but the violence is often more comical than serious anyway.

Very close to being a near-essential addition to any Wii owner’s collection which we dearly hope will get a sequel.

The effect that all this adds to the game is more a sense of realism than a sense of camaraderie. The harrowing, dangerous nature of war is shown here in its truest form in a video game.

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.

These are thankfully relatively minor criticisms when considering the enjoyable new multiplayer mode, and how impressively cinematic and fun the stronger single player levels are, but they should still be kept in mind if you’re considering giving UO a purchase.

With its generous two new campaigns and refined online capabilities, there’ll certainly be no argument from us that it’s nothing less than an essential purchase.

The fact that Psychonauts isn’t on the radar as one of this year’s big releases is a major shame, as it is, quite simply, superb.

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.

Widely available for about fifteen quid, Dark Crusade is a ridiculously attractive prospect for RTS gamers.

If Colin McRae: DIRT was a sign of Codemasters regaining a foothold in the racing market, the latest Race Driver is evidence of the publisher taking full control. GRID makes the high points of its rivals feel like false dawns, and if what’s on offer here is a sign of things to come, we’re all in for a remarkable ride.

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

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.

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.

Undoubtedly the expansion is better value on the PC, and you don’t have to worry about logging into Xbox Live in order just to play it, but both packages still represent good value at a solid 20-40 hours of additional gameplay.

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.

An ‘original’ title based on previous games. Think of it as "Burnout 3+."

Aside from the lack of internet play (although there is the option of 8 player gaming thanks to the joy of the multitap), it could be said that this is as close as gaming has ever come to a classic Ice

Resistance is very much like the PS2’s Killzone: overtly grey, rather good fun and nothing groundbreaking.

Mercenaries has superb graphics and a sublime soundtrack, but the fact is that it can just be boring unless you're willing to invest a little effort into creating your own excitement.

Patapon is far more than just a unique new mix of genres – it’s just so damn charming it could tell you kill a puppy and you would.

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.

What it is though is a linear (and we don’t mean that negatively) RPG with an emphasis on tactical combat, more than a nod to the classic comic books, and a sizeable helping of fun.

It trumps the already brilliant original by being based on the classic trilogy of films and, in terms of gameplay, is the multiplayer co-op game of the decade so far.

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.

For fans of the genre, this is pretty much the only game you need, or will do for a long while, while for those who are just curious, now is as good a time as any for a little experimentation.

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

You just want to continue and roll up a one and half kilometre katamari, picking up the White House, the Sphinx and Big Ben in the process, and listen to the incredible soundtrack again and again and again.

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.

The third and arguably best Fight Night game is a fantastic fighter, but also stands out as the most flawed in the series, and reprehensible in its commercialism.

With very little in the way of downtime and a seemingly endless stream of things to do and new things to see, the future is looking very bright.

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.

There’s not much here that’s new, but at least it’s accomplished, and has been put together with style.

This is as close to a proper skateboarding simulation as we’ve seen, and is up there in the fun stakes with the best of the x-sports games, but for added realism we’d like to see fewer loading screens, civilians that behave with a mote of intelligence or self preservation and even the ability to get off and walk once in a while.

In the end there’s no accounting for taste, but if you have any serious interest in MMORPGs, you owe it to yourself to at least try Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

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.

Psychonauts is one of those games that truly stands out from the crowd. With its eclectic mix of styles and outstanding design, it’s likely to be remembered in the same kind of way we look back at games like Beyond Good and Evil.

Undoubtedly the expansion is better value on the PC, and you don’t have to worry about logging into Xbox Live in order just to play it, but both packages still represent good value at a solid 20-40 hours of additional gameplay.

It would be impossible to point out one area where it significantly outclasses its brethren, but from the choice of tracks to the game’s competitive spirit, it’s hard to imagine Bizarre Creations ever compiling a better package, or a better advert for racing on the 360.

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.

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

If you enjoyed either of the first two games, then know that while Two Thrones isn’t revolutionary, it does combine the best elements of both and is still a fitting and worthwhile conclusion to a superior trilogy.

Guitar Hero may not be a universal pick-up-and-play party game in the way that, say, SingStar is, since there’s an initially steep learning curve, but for the inducted it’s a master in its class and no worse for a change of developer.

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.

As great a game as Unreal Championship 2 is for the Xbox though, anyone who has played the magnum opus of the series that inspired it will have an inescapable nagging feeling that somehow, something is missing.

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.

What we’ve seen here is a more-vulnerable Sam Fisher rather than the near-invincible super ninja of the previous games, which certainly gives Double Agent a distinctive feel.

The most immersive and beautiful FPS yet to appear on a console. The single player has great pacing, challenge and satisfaction, while the multiplayer is accessible and fun.

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.

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.

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.

It shows off, but doesn’t have the talent to cash the cheques its looks and potential are writing.

Pure is somewhat reminiscent of the old PC classic Motocross Madness, which was another highly addictive game. It doesn’t have the open-ended stunt practice, but everything else about the formula has been improved in almost every way.

It’s silly, elegant, strange, delightful, sometimes annoying, always cute, mostly easy (unless unlockables matter to you) a bit random, often clever and ultimately not that essential. It’s perhaps too whimsical for most people, and if you need meaningful story and immediate reward, it almost certainly isn’t for you. With the right mindset, though, it’s a real treat and something special for PSP owners to call their own.

It's not just a classic game, it's an essential purchase – no matter which version you decide to get it for.

It's not just a classic game, it's an essential purchase – no matter which version you decide to get it for.

You have to appreciate the effort and craft that's gone into Fable, even if much of it is pretty shallow or not as well realised as it might have been.

If only GTR had been more welcoming to casual racing fans, it might have found itself a bigger and deserved market. Unfortunately we just can’t find ourselves openly recommending it – and not for a lack of quality.

If you’re a fan of portable online gaming, Logan’s Shadow has a lot to offer, improving on Dark Mirror in a number of ways.

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

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.

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.

If you enjoyed either of the first two games, then know that while Two Thrones isn’t revolutionary, it does combine the best elements of both and is still a fitting and worthwhile conclusion to a superior trilogy.

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.

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.

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

While the game at its heart may be simple, and the presentation equally so, AudioSurf’s near perfect melding of music and gameplay guarantees your fiver will be well spent. That’s right – a fiver.

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

Whether you’ve played the first or not, KotOR 2 offers a complete RPG experience – with a full bodied story, a good experience points system and combat that’s fairly satisfying.

If you enjoyed either of the first two games, then know that while Two Thrones isn't revolutionary, it does combine the best elements of both and is still a fitting and worthwhile conclusion to a superior trilogy.

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.

Virtua Fighter 5 is, quite simply, about the art of fighting. Not destructible environments, super power moves or jiggling breasts, but technique, speed and strategy. As such, this is a game you have to be willing to work at to enjoy, and certainly won’t enjoy if you don’t.

It trumps the already brilliant original by being based on the classic trilogy of films and, in terms of gameplay, is the multiplayer co-op game of the decade so far.

As a movie tie-in, we can say with no authority whatsoever that it's totally authentic and sure to please fans (in all seriousness, the production values and treatment are extremely respectable).

A well crafted remake of a well-loved game. Nostalgics, completists and other Final Fantasy fans can buy with confidence, but newcomers are better off looking elsewhere to begin with.

F.E.A.R. is a game that you’re going to like a lot or you’re not going to like at all, depending on your tolerance for genuinely challenging gun battles, genuinely unsettling creepiness and genuine-looking bland industrial environments.

Civilization Revolution feels like a bloated XBLA or PSN game. Strip away the disappointing visuals, bloody annoying introduction video that plays every time you start a fucking match, all the bells and whistles and you’re left with something could have been a true revolution. As it stands, this is just a good case of Civilization Devolution.

It’s simply a superbly put-together RTS which, while lacking in the all-out strategy of "Rome: Total War," excels in traditional "Command & Conquer"-style action.

However, casual Tony Hawk fans should really think twice about investing, as there’s not a huge amount to set it apart from the rest.

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.

This is as close to a proper skateboarding simulation as we’ve seen, and is up there in the fun stakes with the best of the x-sports games, but for added realism we’d like to see fewer loading screens, civilians that behave with a mote of intelligence or self preservation and even the ability to get off and walk once in a while.

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.

The tweaks to the existing feature set and gameplay have certainly raised its game and will make you feel like you are close to experiencing a real football match.

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.

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.

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.

Forget tennis elbow – the only tennis-related injury you’ll be complaining of from now on is Virtua Tennis thumb.

There’s so much to do, so much to see and so many piñatas you can gently tap on the noggin with your mighty shovel it could keep anyone from 8 to 80 occupied until the moozipans come home.

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.

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.