As a translation of a peripheral based game to a button based portable game this is without a doubt a great experience. The concept of playing different instruments in sections to clear the tracks actually works really well and the formula in the stationary Rock Band games has been well translated to the portable format. If you're looking for a portable rhythm based music game on the PSP this is definitely a recommended purchase. There are some stains on the canvas though: only 41 tracks, no multiplayer and no interoperability with the PS3.

This is the first game to support Nintendo's new add-on Wii Motion Plus and the additional precision does benefit the game a whole lot. Without the add-on the controls are somewhat flimsy and imprecise, but with Motion Plus added in the mix the controls really feel natural and precise. Unfortunately there are still a whole lot of motions that aren't registered correctly, and the presentation isn't somewhat shoddy. Grand Slam Tennis is proof that Motion Plus does improve precision but it can't save a mediocre game.

Just like the sibling franchises of NHL and FIFA there are constant strides made forward in EA:s golfing series Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Putting has been improved, the realtime weather does improve the overall realism and there are more things to do online. Unfortunately there are still too many things in here that are downright bad for us too really enjoy the experience to it's fullest. If you're not that much into online play you'll do fine with last years edition, otherwise this is a great game for golf fans everywhere.

The latest iteration of the Tiger Woods franchise is as close to golfing perfection as you can come. There is a wealth of content to be found here, the controls work great and the overall atmosphere is great. If you're into golfing in any way this is a must buy.

Like it's predecessors the gameplay in Red Faction: Guerilla is heavily focused on the destructible environments, this time focusing on the environments rather that the geography. And smashing your way through the game is pure entertainment - despite some bugs and odd sudden deaths. With a solid and equally entertaining multiplayer mode we have no problem recommending this game for gamers everywhere.

On the surface you might get the impression that little has changed between the second and third installment of EA's life simulator, but when you delve deeper into the experience you'll find a game that offers you more unique characters, an increased ability to participate in social activities outside of the confines of the house and less focus on tedious daily chores. For the first time your sim and the world surrounding him/her feels truly unique. As per usual you only get the basic features in the package, leaving an almost clean slate ready for future expansions. Nevertheless, EA's done it again and you'll find countless hours of great fun here.

The massive world and tons of secrets to be found in it are two of the few strengths in what is otherwise a really bad racing game. Poor AI, horrid driving mechanics, shoddy physics and tacky design. Put simply, avoid at all costs.

Sucker Punch, known for the phenomenal Sly Cooper series, has introduced one of the best PS3 games to date and what could very well be the best superhero game ever. The storytelling, although aesthetically impressive, is executed somewhat hastily and could have been a bit more fleshed out. This is just a minor flaw in a game that does everything else extremely well. The controls are flawless and the electrical powers are absolutely awesome. The city is grand - to take a leap from a tall building is nothing short of exhilarating - and it feels very much alive. Having superpowers in a game has never been as cool as this.

Smash Party is the typical sequel to last year's phenomenal party game Boom Blox - you're simply treated to more of everything. This means that you'll find an impressive quantity of content but a meager supply of new features. One feature to note is the ability to download and play content created by other player - a feature that will in theory provide an endless supply of new content for fans of the first game.

Terminator Salvation is a typical run-of-the-mill action game with no unique or innovative qualities. The game is built on a reasonably solid foundation but the lack of any gameplay innovations makes it a very repetitive game, and when you only get circa five hours of playtime there are few reasons for you to purchase this game. The only redeeming quality in this package is the co-op mode, making the game at least worth renting with a friend. Charging full price for this game is nothing short of a ripoff.

Bionic Commando is a fun, although somewhat unfinished, action title where the main attraction being the swinging mechanic the series was made famous for. Not only good for swinging, the bionic arm is also a vital part of the combat gameplay as it allows you to toss enemies and rubble alike with ease. Although the straightforward action setup in the game is an homage to the 20 year old original it fails to really motivate the player. A poor excuse for invisible walls, bleak level design and unimpressive firearms does hurt the overall impression of what could have been a really great game.

Taking the simple and aged concept of Punch Out and updating it for a modern day console is no obvious feat, but Next Level Games has definitely pulled it off with grandeur. The boxing is fun, the roster of fighters is both charming and well assembled and the different modes offered does give this title some bang for it's buck. Although there are some flaws to be found they are nowhere near enough to deter gamers from punching their way through what's definitely one of the most entertaining experiences you'll find on the Wii.

When Sacred 2 was released for the PC in 2008 it offered us a decent action adventure experience. The console version - although identical in appearance and structure - is somehow a more appealing experience. Even though it's not a top tier game it still offers you a great amount of enjoyable hours making your way through the massive world.

This is one quirky combination of a rhythm and strategy based game that is sure to test your patience. In order for you to truly appreciate the finer parts of the experience it helps if you normally appreciate really fine grained micromanagement of a typical Japanese flavor. You also need to be able to enjoy and handle the rhythm based gameplay. This might be too much of a niche experience for some, but for those who can appreciate the formula this is one fantastic title.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat was released in 2004 for the Nintendo Gamecube. Although it garnered favorable reviews it sold poorly. Now, with the advent of porting Gamecube titles to the Wii with new controls under the "New Play Control" moniker, gamers everywhere once again get the opportunity to enjoy the game. Though it might be a rehash of an old title we can't hold it against such a fun and entertaining experience perfectly suited for the Wii audience.

Since X-Men Origins: Wolverine is all about combat it's fortunate that the combat is both fun and intuitive. Unfortunately there is an abundance in recycled content and there are a couple of areas in the game that needs polish. But at the end of the day this is still a fun action game well worth your attention.

When it comes to presentation and overall atmosphere Velvet Assassin does a great job of conveying the sense of being alone behind dark and threatening enemy lines. Unfortunately the gameplay is bogged down by repetitive executions, predictable events and a far too slow pacing. Looking beyond these issues you'll find a qualitative action title well suited for those keen on stealth based gameplay.

Demigod had a lot of potential and could have, with some minor tweaks, been a really great game. The is no introductory tutorial and since the game also lacks a single player portion this game will appeal only to the hardcore audience. But for experienced fans of real time strategy games there is a lot to be liked in this game.

This entertaining package offers you three main components: an improved and modernized version of Escape from Butcher Bay, an expansion called Assault on Dark Athena that matches the length of the original game and a multiplayer mode that does offer some unique takes on existing concepts. Even though the expansion doesn't match the original game in quality and the multiplayer does grow tedious in the long run the overall quality and size of the content offered is well worth your attention and money.

This sequel does manage to do a couple of things right. The strategic elements are interesting, the sound is great and the way you overlook your influence in the different cities is implemented in an impressive way. Despite these great features the urge for spreading your influence never really takes off. Since both the presentation and gameplay feels dated you're better off waiting for upcoming gangster related games.

Ninja Blade is like an old school b movie with a total lack of taste and gory fighting to boot. Even though the actual fighting is done well here the tasteless and somewhat schizophrenic design leaves much to be desired. If you're in the market for some ninja action this is a fun brawler, but a lesser game than the recent entries in the Ninja Gaiden series.

If you're a fan of either Metallica or Guitar Hero, this is a must have gaming and music experience. There are 49 songs to play in the package and all of them works great on any of the supported instruments. Great music, presentation and atmosphere makes this one of the best rhythm game experiences available on the market.

If you mix together gameplay elements from Driver, Grand Theft Auto, Burnout and then throw some Vin Diesel in there the result is The Wheelman. An action filled experience where driving cars actually offers an entertaining experience during the somewhat repetitive missions. There is a total lack of storytelling in the game, and the sequences on foot are quite mediocre, but if you can look past this you'll be treated to a decent action experience.

Movie tie in games have had a long track record of really poor experiences, but this has begun to change recently and the Monsters vs. Aliens game is a pleasant example of this improvement. This experience is both fun an varied, and this very fact make the somewhat patchy presentation very unfortunate since it can make progression difficult at times. Despite this we can recommend this game to young and older gamers alike.

When playing Pokémon Platinum it's almost embarrassing to see how minuscule the changes or additions are when compared to the previous entries Diamond and Pearl. But despite the lackluster list of new features we can't protest that this is still a very deep and engaging adventure with tons of hours for those who simply got to catch em' all. The story is somewhat pointless and the roster of missions often turn into a trudge, but for those that didn't experience Pokémon Diamond/Pearl this is still a very worthwhile purchase.

Resistance: Retribution is a third person action game where you're treated to a side story taking place in between the two installments on Playstation 3. The game's protagonist is new but environments and the characters that populate them are familiar. The controls represent the major issues in this game, despite an overly helpful auto aim. Somewhat flawed controls in conjunction with an unbalanced level of challenge leads to way too many game over screens. Despite all these flaws this is still a good action game.

If you want to play with your friends offline or love playing master league without any changes - this is the football game for you. But if you want to play online or look forward to the new game modes Champions League and Become a Legend - prepare to be dissapointed. It's a great game on the pitch and a lot of small improvements has been made, but everything outside the pitch is far behind the competition.

This is a title that treats us to a charming combination of puzzles and platforming. You gain bonuses in the upper screen of your DS by solving puzzles on the touchscreen below. The pacing can become a tad bit stressful at times but that's the only major caveat in what's otherwise a charming experience that should appeal to all fans of these two genres.

This is the first title in the Suikoden series for the DS, and a spinoff at that. If you're expecting a traditional Suikoden game you might be disappointed by what you get here, but the fact is that you'll be treated to an equally fun and unique experience. There are some flaws to be found, such as way to lengthy sequences of text driven dialogue and battles lacking challenge, this is still a game we'll highly recommend to all.

At a glance this could actually be a really fun game. Everything from graphics to characters look really great and entertaining. The problems turn up in numbers as soon as you try to actually control the game. The controls are utterly broken, making it impossible to actually do anything intentionally with the controls. Flailing about randomly is no recipe for a fun experience.

To control your soccer team by giving them orders via the Wiimote can be difficult and frustrating at first, but the fact is that this is a really excellent interpretation of the PES concept for the Wii. If you own a classic controller you can experience this in a fashion similar to the PS2 editions. Had this title supported two player matches in all the modes this would have been a triple A title. Instead it's just a really good soccer experience for the Wii.

The fifth installment in this long running and popular series is likely to split its fan base in two camps: the ones that dislike the more action oriented gameplay and those who just wanted more of the same sweet stuff they experienced in part four. Resident Evil 5 is in every aspect a natural progression from the previous installment. Updated visuals and fabulous environments do a great job of framing the intense action. The entire game has been modeled to be played in co-op, and playing through the game with a friend is truly a great gaming experience. It might be quite the leap from the first Resident Evil game, but it's an amazing experience none the less.

Zubo is a turn based roleplaying game with music as it's theme. Although overly easy and child friendly it still offers a fun experience even for the seasoned gamers. As a quick and easy piece of entertainment, Zubo does deliver.

My Sims should never have made the transition into a party game. The main flaw here is that it, quite simply, is no fun at all. Most of the minigames are utterly dull and since the control scheme is basically broken there's no chance that the younger audience will be able to master the game. There are a whole slew of party games for the Wii that offers a better experience than this.

With Soviet Assault we're treated to an exiting and realistically detailed experience of war set in the year of 1989. As with the original game the presentation is as attractive as it is detailed and realistic. The expansion adds an intense war campaign and a truckload of red flags. The increased intensity is unfortunately hampered by an equally increased complexity of gameplay, but overall this is a great experience for all fans of strategy and warfare.

The classic board game is converted to a digital format, literally. Even though there are three modes in total, of which one is faithful to the board game original and another offering online play, the concept hasn't been adapted enough to the console format. What we're offered here is an expensive and somewhat cumbersome digital version of the board game original.

Four years have passed since Mario Power Tennis was released for the Nintendo Gamecube, but for this released nothing new is to be found except for the addition of a motion sensing control scheme. Mario Power Tennis was a somewhat mediocre game when it was released and that still holds true to this day.

With Halo Wars we're treated to an easy to play strategy experience on a home console. The control scheme might not be on par with what you'll find in PC-counterparts, but it serves it's purpose without giving you too much grief. If you love the Halo games and are in the market for a great strategy experience you should definitely give this title a try.

This is in every way an epic strategy game. With great music, graphics and structure this game perfectly frames one of the most interesting eras in history. If you're in any way interested in going in depth with either land or naval warfare, this is a must have. This is quite simply a massive buffet of warfare fan service where every plate is nothing short of delicious.

If you look at Hawx from a feature standpoint, there is much to be found here. But despite impressive features such as co-op play, a great number of available fighter planes, fast paced action and an intuitive yet advanced control scheme this title never really becomes interesting. A weak story combined with oh so repetitive missions quickly erodes the lure from the feature sheet. And when the multiplayer mode only offers the same thing but with human opponents, the overall experience is a mediocre one.

Even though it might sound odd that the central premise of the plot is a big sword it actually works in this game. The main issues we have with Sonic and the Black Knight is the controls and overall gameplay. It's just not that fun to flail about with your arms in the long run. This is sadly yet another mediocre Sonic game without redeeming features.

If you can look beyond the fact that this game suffers from meager content, horrible controls and total lack of any challenge, this could actually offer your family a couple of hours of entertainment. But the fun doesn't last long and because of this we can't recommend anyone to pay full price for this experience.

Technically it's a masterpiece with unparalleled graphics. Online it's only beaten by "Call of Duty Modern Warfare." The campaign is a bit short, but there are some really impressive scenes that I just wished were longer. Overall it's one of the best games in recent years and the most impressive-looking game ever.

This is a game that doesn't take itself or the videogame industry seriously. The main focus here is humour and taking cracks at stereotype content in different gaming genres. There are some laughs to be had here, but since the game is utterly mediocre in every category it tries to make fun of the overall feeling is that the parody aspect is just a way to mask a poorly executed game.

This game had the potential to bring the Star Ocean franchise back to the forefront of great Japanese RPGs. This potential has been hampered by an apparent lack of innovation and ambition on the developer's behalf. The battles rely on a really solid battle system that could have been truly engaging, had most of the other not been as horrendous. Dialogue in the game is embarrassingly bad, cinematic sequences are dull and bland and the voice acting performances are laughable. Patient gamers willing to overlook the major flaws will be treated to a decent adventure.

This an addictive and equally fun puzzler that actually manages to throw in a storyline in between the puzzling. Even though the plot is quite superfluous it does work. If you're in the market for a fun and addictive puzzler for the Nintendo DS you should definitely give this one a try.

Swedish developer Simbin has been a long time supplier of great racing simulation on the PC-platform, and now they're debuting on consoles with Race Pro. Even though they're using a new game engine the presentation is still a bit flat and deprived of detail, but what this game lacks in visual flair it makes up for in great content and control mechanics. If you're in the market for a realistic racing experience on a console, this is about as good as it gets.

The expansion to Rockstar Games' blockbuster hit Grand Theft Auto 4 doesn't attempt to expand the scope of neither Liberty City nor the content to be found there. Sure, there are some new cars and multiplayer modes, but the main focus of this expansion is to flesh out the story of Liberty City and it's inhabitants. With Lost And Damned we're invited to join Johnny and his biker associates on their journey through the hardships and seedy sides of Liberty City. This expansion is worth every penny in the price tag.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon continues the series' trademark strategic gameplay, this time on the Nintendo DS. If you're a sucker for the combination of strategy and roleplaying elements, this game will let you burn countless hours on your DS. Upgrading your units and making sure they survive is very addictive and fun, and the intuitive online mode is a great bonus. This is not an easy game though and not for the casual player, but for all of you strategy nuts out there, this is one great buy.

Flower can be seen as a statement about society versus nature, to be interpreted by the player as he or she wishes. To be specific it's a game where you fly a leaf from a flower through nature, in the process gathering other leaves. As time goes by your entourage of leaves grow in size and before you know it you've got enough to bring life back to the previously barren fields. Flower is as much of a meditative experience as it is a beautiful piece of art. A subjective experience as this is hard to grade, but a great experience it is if you're susceptible.

FEAR 2 is a typical sequel in every sense. There is more blood, more enemies, more variation, more slow-motion action and more creepy ghosts. It's fun to run around blasting enemies for a while, and the environments do create a great overall atmosphere, but FEAR 2 lacks that certain edge that would make it stand out from the competition. It a good shooter - just not a great one.

The second installment in the Loco Roco franchise offers us much of what we were offered in the first installment, with some minor yet appealing additions. The graphical style is just as cute as it was the last time around and the music is absolutely charming. Minor additions, such as a rhythm based minigame, really does a lot for the experience. The levels are more varied than in the first game and there are tons of things to do and find. It might not be a revolution, but it's an incredibly entertaining platforming experience.

This is a typical on rails shooter with zombies. When you first boot up the game you're treated to a horribly disappointing first impression, but the game grows with each hour thank to weapons and level becoming a bit more interesting later on. Unfortunately the game is plagued by a healthy number of technical issues, flaws that dampen the experience severely in the long run. House of the Dead: Overkill doesn't do anything new at all, but mowing down zombies is always a hoot.

This is an embarrassing and crude production with few to no redeeming traits at all. Dated graphics, poor control scheme and lacking gameplay are just some of the reasons as to why this title shouldn't end up in any self respecting gamers library. This is a poor excuse to show of scantily clad women and nothing more.

Despite being quite shallow, internally as well as on the surface, this downloadable title still has some depth to it. Sure, there are few rules, modes and teams offered here, but the most important ingredient is in place. If you're in the mood for a fast paced arcade hockey experience there is tons of fun to be had here. It's not a game you'll be setting up tournaments in, but if you like some easy going hockey fun there are fun games to rival this one.

Another Code R is a game filled with great atmosphere and laid back entertainment. The control scheme is well adapted for the Wii and the same can be said for the presentation. We do have some major gripes with this game though. Dialogue sequences are often far too long and tedious and the puzzles are few and far in between. With some minor alterations this could have been a fantastic game, instead it's only a good one.

This is a collection of games, containing the first and second installments of R-Type. These games can still hold their own, even by today's standards, but they're certainly not for the casual gamer. The ability to switch between 2D and 3D is a nice option, but apart from that nuance these games are still as excruciatingly tough as they were back in the day.

Funtown Mahjong is a simplified version of the more complex Chinese board game mahjong. The main issue plaguing this title is the fact that it's not simple enough to attract the uninitiated while not being challenging enough for the veterans. The game could very well have utilized the possibilities that a console game offers to the gameplay mechanics, but since this isn't the case you'll be better of taking a closer look at the real deal.

A simple hack n' slash-action title based upon a cool anime comic - a concept that could have led to an equally cool game. Unfortunately the experience is marred after only an hour or so into the game when numerous bugs and other issues related to an overall lack of polish starts to surface. There are some great moments in here though and it's a great shame that the developers didn't use their funds to do some final polish to the game instead of paying Samuel L Jackson to lend his voice to the game.

Skate 2 is just like its predecessor - a great skating simulator. The only thing holding the game back is the technical expertise of developer Black Box. There are a good number of questionable collisions, running while being off the skateboard feels a bit awkward, framerates are unsteady at times and numerous other minor flaws are just some reasons as to why this game doesn't earn a higher grade. Skate 2 is everything we wanted after the original was released - more of the same great content.

With platforming games being somewhat of a rarity these days The Maw is a welcome addition to the Xbox Live library. The game is both charming and fun, especially the main character Maw. If you look beneath the charming surface you'll find quite an ordinary platforming adventure though. But with a reasonable price tag we can't but recommend this title for those in the mood for a new platforming experience.

Conquest is yet another movie tie in game that utilizes a famous brand to push a rather mediocre experience. This is a hack and slash action title where the campaign feels like a multiplayer game with a story shoehorned on top of the experience. The presentation is bland and the challenge is uneven. In multiplayer the game does gain a bit ground, but the fun doesn't last for long. It seems that we'll just have to wait a bit longer for a great game based on the LoTR-franchise (not counting LoTR Online that is).

Interpol is a game that few will return to after the first session. The game's main strength is that it's easy to understand, but when the overall experience is monotonous, short lived and lacking in the challenge department there isn't much to motivate a buy here.

Crash Commando offers a lean yet deep gaming experience all at once for up to twelve players online. The controls work brilliantly and the expansive arsenal of weapons is greatly suited for the experience. The different modes available in the game are great, but a few more wouldn't hurt. This is one of the absolutely best downloadable games from the Playstation Store and with some more content the grade would easily have jumped up a notch.

Even though it's been over ten years since Banjo and Kazooie made their triumphant debut on Nintendo 64 their adventure still holds up very well when released again on Xbox Live. Everything from gameplay to level design is ingenious and this game is still one of the best in it's genre. A few flaws mar the experience though, such as aged presentation and an unwieldy camera, but overall this is a must buy on Xbox Live.

Prince of Persia is reeks with atmosphere and appealing graphics, definitely one of the graphical highlights of the year. It's an easy going adventure where you utilize the ever so limber prince and the beautiful princess in order to traverse the courses and their obstacles. Fighting enemies certainly looks good, but they seldom turn out to be very exiting, a feeling that can be applied to the overall experience. This is a beautiful gaming experience but you won't find much in the way of excitement nor challenge.

One of the best roleplaying adventures ever made is revived for the Nintendo DS, and it's as fantastic as it ever was. Despite being 14 years old this game still manages to wipe the floor with most games released in it's wake. Design, script, sound, characters, the time traveling mechanic and a number of other features are simply so ingenious that more than a decade of subsequent games has seen few titles to rival this experience.

Speed, pacing and quick reaction skills is what we've always associated with Sonic. And when you go for your first run in Sonic Unleashed everything feels just right. But then night comes and all of a sudden Sonic turns into a werewolf. And here's where ugly turns to bad. Sonic Unleashed becomes an uninspired action title, completely bereft of any finesse. When you're actually out running on the fast levels the game is pure fun, but the dull button mashing moments as a werewolf is enough to destroy the overall experience.

EA's latest skateboarding foray, Skate It, does a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong. The only part of the formula that truly impresses is the controls, everything else is limited by the technical limitations of the Wii. Skate It does share a lot of what made the original Skate great, but if you want the full experience you're better of with Skate for the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3.

Underworld is yet another solid title from Crystal Dynamics featuring the adventurous dame Lara Croft. Levels are as grand as they are beautiful and they certainly feed the urge to go o an adventure. The puzzles are well designed, and Miss Croft gets around well thanks to well implemented controls. There are some issues though, the game is a bit on the easy side, something badly balanced by less than stellar camera angles that will put you in a pickle from time to time. Despite this, Underworld is still a fantastic adventure.

We would have loved to see Lips give Singstar a good run for it's money. Singstar as a series is in need of a good kick in the behind, but alas Lips is not the game to force any innovation in the genre. The major problem we have with Lips is that there are way to few modes and features, rendering the game useless for anything other than a simple karaoke experience.

Metal Slug 7 offers you a fantastic action experience wrapped in two beautifully pixelated dimensions. You'll have to enjoy every minute you can though since the content being offered is meager to say the least. Seven levels in total is all you get, and even though you can challenge yourself with three stages of difficulty there is just way to little content to motivate a full retail price. It's a great game though, so keep an eye on the bargain bin.

The 2009 edition of Football Manager is yet another solid title in the series. Having to interface with mass media is a welcome addition, as is the new streamlined interface, improved playability and the new 3D engine for match presentations. Even though all these additions are welcome they are also in need of some extra levels of polish, but put these flaws aside and you've got a great footy manager title.

Compared to a lot of the other games released this fall the content offered in Left 4 Dead is on the meager side. You can breeze through the campaign in one sitting, and the multiplayer versus mode isn't all that interesting in the long run. Left 4 Dead should be enjoyed with up to three other players in co-op, a mode where this game really shines and offers you intense non stop action where cooperation is a must. If you enjoy playing with others, this is a must have. If not there are more meaty games to invest in this fall.

Undercover is in almost all aspects a return to the well for the Need for Speed series. Adrenaline filled races with the police hot on your heels is as fun as it always was and the online mode Cops and Robbers is a blast. The presentation is also solid, building on top of the foundation laid with ProStreet with a design more resembling Burnout Paradise. Unfortunately the framerate occasionally grinds almost to a halt, a big problem in a game so utterly focused on speed. Undercover is also way too easy, not offering any form of challenge until the very end. It's an unfortunate example of great potential gone to waste.

Once and for all the iconic figures in the Mortal Kombat franchise squares off against the heroes and villains of the DC Comics. It's a novel idea and done right it could have been an interesting reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise, but alas it isn't so. The violence has been toned down and gameplay wise it's just not that much fun or varied. It can entertain for a short while, but at the end of the day the only redeeming thing about this game is the ability to play as (or beat the crap out of) your favourite character in either Mortal Kombat or DC Comics.

The basic mechanic of riding a snowboard down a mountain covered in white bliss is pure fun and beautifully framed in Shaun White's Snowboarding. Unfortunately, the actual meat of the game is severely flawed which cripples the overall experience. Competitions and other game modes are riddled with issues, bad AI and poorly designed challenges being two of them. Shaun White's Snowboarding does the actual gameplay right, and just about everything else wrong.

The third iteration of this lovable franchise makes it's way to the Wii, but not much has happened since the days on the Gamecube. There are few new features or content to be exited about this time around, but if you liked the previous games this is more of the same.

The main sales argument of Decades is the ability to play against a friend with a copy of the game, or it's predecessor On Tour, anywhere via wireless networking. This game is a whole lot of fun playing with a friend, and it works for solo sessions as well, but unfortunately the grip around the keys will be straining for your hands during longer sessions of play. The presentation could also have been given a fresher coat of paint and a more rock like aesthetics. This is a good supplement to the more mature siblings on the stationary consoles.

The second expansion to the gargantuan behemoth of a game that is World of Warcraft, titled Wrath of the Lich King, sets you on the quest to defeat the evil Lich King Arthas. The presentation has been improved and the overall design of the new continent Northrend is nothing short of impressive. A lot of the caveats found in World of Warcraft, and the expansion The Burning Crusade, have been removed. The only major issue is that it feels as though World of Warcraft is becoming a tad bit too easy, but nevertheless this is a fantastic expansion and a must for gamers everywhere.

This is not a game for everyone, but a truly revolutionary title for the true believers. There isn't a wealth of content to be found here, but what you do get is wrapped in a beautiful presentation with amazingly fluid controls to boot. Controlling the protagonist Faith is as fun as it is rewarding. If you've got the patience for some serious trial and error gameplay, this is one of the most original games released in a long time and a revolution for the platforming genre.

In this third iteration, Rare has morphed the platforming roots of Banjo-Kazooie into a racing game where player imagination is the main tool of the game. You build your own vehicles and in that process you decide how to tackle an obstacle. The main problem with this game is that a lot of the challenges simply aren't that much fun and there is too much emphasis on building vehicles. Nevertheless, this is a solid title.

This isn't necessarily a bad game per se, but it's simply uninspiring. The content is meager and what's in here doesn't really do it's job particularly well. There are a lot of minigame collections on the Wii that offer you a whole lot better content than this.

When it comes to playing soccer with your friends at home, few games can rival this version of PES. The tempo is higher and the player movement is a tad bit more realistic that it's new gen console counterparts. But with few additions and a lot of licenses lost it's hard to recommend this to anyone. Shame on Konami for basically letting us pay for the same content as last year.

Sticking with the premise of previous titles, the meat of this title is in the online mode. If this isn't your cup of tea the longevity of this title is limited to say the least. Treyarch were handed the best console fps-controls and online mode and all they've really done with it is to set it in a new era. If you're up for a great fps experience set in the WWII-era, this is a great title to buy.

Ubisoft's second game about Naruto for the Xbox 360 is very similar to the first game, Rise of a Ninja. There are few news to be had here, so if the first one didn't fit your bill this won't fare any better. It's a solid sequel, but the next iteration better offer us new content and ideas.

If we were to summarize Gears of War 2 in one sentence it would be "intense and impressive action, preferably experienced together with a friend". There are some flaws here, such as a somewhat uninteresting storyline and some uneven levels, but when the overall experience is nothing short of outstanding we're ready to ignore these minor annoyances. Everything in Gears of War 2 is bigger, better and more bad ass and with an improved online mode this is the game to buy for all action buffs.

Even though this game is built on top of a great mythology, the one about Pandora's Box unleashing chaos onto the world when opened, developer Spark never manage to make the actual game interesting in any way. The game structure is linear, the presentation is bleak at best and the gameplay is rather poor. This sums up to one mediocre experience.

In a genre that hasn't really made progress since the era of 16-bit consoles, Valkyria Chronicles manages to innovate while at the same time being an utterly charming experience. The presentation is certainly easy on the eyes and is reminiscent of other aesthetically innovative experiences such as Otomos Steamboy, Miyazakis Howl's moving castle and Level-5's Jeanne D'arc. A welcome addition to the PS3-library.

This puzzler, based on the classic brain strainer Rubik's Cube, is a collection of challenges divided into a series of minigames. It's simple but both fun and challenging and suitable for anyone with a desire to solve the cube. There are two extra modes where you can create music and build with blocks, but they don't add much to the experience. Nevertheless, if you're in the market for a brain strainer on the Wii this is a good bet.

This game can be seen as a hybrid between Call of Duty 4 and Gears of War 2, with tons of action but unfortunately also a lack of identity. Despite being a movie tie in the game actually has a greater focus on Casino Royale than Quantum of Solace, making the overall experience somewhat incoherent. A great multiplayer mode is the killer feature in a game that will have a hard time competing for our attention this fall.

Resistance 2 is a great game in every way. The presentation is slick, the pacing is great, the story gains momentum after a somewhat slow start and the multiplayer is as meaty as it is fun. Even though this game lacks that little extra something to distinguish it from it's competitors this fall it's still fantastic experience and the robust multiplayer mode with support for up to 60 players is reason enough to give this title a try.

Madagascar offers what you'd expect from it - fun entertainment for the young ones. There's a lot of variation and the controls actually work really well, a not to common feat amongst movie tie in games. There are flaws to be found though, the game is far too short and the gameplay is a bit too simple. This isn't a game that will inspire you to play it through a second time, but the first time around will be pleasing enough.

This is a somewhat odd product. There are really excellent songs to be found here, but everything else in the package feels empty and lackluster. Since it's possible to buy a number of AC/DC albums in the Rock Band store already we're having trouble identifying the purpose of this game. Because of this we can only recommend this title for AC/DC fans, if at all.

Fallout 3 is a great realisation of the Fallout franchise in the third dimension, backed by the great tech that powered Bethesda's prior success Oblivion. But the game's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness. Although you have a wealth of great content to wade through there is also a great deal of repetitive environments and missions. This being said, these minor flaws aren't enough to dampen what is otherwise a great roleplaying adventure and of the best games of 2008.

To the dismay of fans everywhere, here’s another Singstar-title with no ambition to innovate. Being able to buy songs through your PSP is a nice nuance, but the new duet-mode is the one great feature in an otherwise familiar package. A set of great and fun songs saves this title from earning a really low grade.

With the first Motorstorm we were amazed by the stunning graphics, spectacular crashes and the aggressive AI. With Pacific Rift we are treated to some great new environments and courses but the developer Evolution Studios hasn't really found their direction for this sequel. Four player co-op is great but the news here aren't enough to redeem uneven graphics, unpredictable crashes and lack of direction.

Building on top of the creative concept of MySims and adding a flavor of adventure, MySims Kingdom adds up to a compelling adventure in the same vein as the Lego adventures. The humour is charming and funny, the puzzles are interesting and the characters are lovable. MySims Kingdom is a really great game, but there are some major flaws hampering the experience, such as potentially game breaking bugs, which ultimately leads to a lower score.