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.