Call of Duty 3 may not be vastly different to Call of Duty 2, but it is quantifiably better.

Although Strong Badia the Free is a shorter episode than Homestar Ruiner, it’s more perfectly formed.

Nintendo have managed to make the Wii-wheel work – something we were very sceptical about – and they’ve managed to bring Mario Kart online play to our TVs. Besides a few niggles with unfair A.I. and some average tracks, this is a valuable addition to the series.

Playing through Ice Station Santa not only reminded us, as most of the Sam & Max instalments tend to, that there really aren’t enough good point and clickers around, but also that there aren’t enough games with a Christmas theme to them.

If publishers and developers insist on making PSP games with big-console values, they could definitely learn a thing or two from Fireteam Bravo.

Overall this is definitely a game for the fans and not a game that’s likely to convert non-fans. If you’ve never played a Myst game then it’s easy to see why Myst IV might be frustrating.

The combination of varied mini-games, relatively short and highly replayable campaigns, a save anywhere feature and an addictive 4-player ship battling mode make it a near-perfect fit for the system.

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.

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

Red Alert 3 was never going to be genre-redefining game, but there can be no doubt that it has proved to be a damn good laugh.

Yes, the leagues are here; the players are here; the stadiums (well, some at least) are here. But FIFA 08 represents EA’s first real attempt in years to do something with the franchise other than just repackaging what has gone before. Here’s a game that makes a real (if occasionally flawed) effort to move the sports sim forward.

Shows an obvious fondness by the game’s creators for classic videogames, but that’s not really represented in the gameplay, which has sadly run its course here.

When you get down to it, Motorstorm: Pacific Rift is a bit basic in terms of overall structure, but the intense multi-disciplined racing still makes for a fun and relatively unique experience.

The game is simply a pleasure to behold and a joy to play; but be warned that it’s a simple pleasure – possibly too simple for some – and there is an element of nostalgia in effect here.

Despite its problems, BfME easily stands up to the extraordinarily high standard of RTS titles that we’ve been treated to this year.

Blood Money may be tough, disappointingly short, and plagued by stupid NPCs, but there’s plenty of replay value and the discovery of new and unique methods of elimination make this a game that should sneak its way onto anyone’s shelves.

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.

If you have aspirations to be a virtual Tiger Woods then the cheesily cheerful presentation might be off-putting, but look past that and you’ll find a game of golf as able to please veterans of the game as complete newcomers.

Good-but-unremarkable, lacking any significant problems, but equally any real innovation.

The keywords are creepy, realistic and atmospheric, and taken on those grounds, the combined whole works very well indeed. Aside from some muddy texture work here and there, the game is audibly and visually sublime.

Tony Hawk might be contracted for skating games until he’s far too old to be tearing it up on small planks of wood with wheels on, but at least the developers can still keep him going while he’s requiring medical aid to go to the bathroom and complaining about things being better in his day.

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.

The downsides don’t trash what is basically a fun and frantic experience that manages to combine realism on the ice with arcade action.

Volition has layered misogyny and brutality throughout what is an entirely civilian setting, and without GTA’s deft wit, Saints Row is the kind of title the British tabloids have been waiting for.

Very much a Ratchet & Clank game, just tweaked, refined and in some cases streamlined.

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.

The Witcher is actually one of the best RPGs we've come across in a long time. It may not quite be Oblivion in scope and all-round greatness, but it earns the right to call itself a must try RPG that will immerse you in its dark and mysterious world.

More than any previous episode, SBCGFAP Episode 4 does what the best web cartoons do, which is provide a highly amusing storyline and imaginative visual humour; but, it also suffers from some of the same problems as the cartoons do.