Driver: San Francisco would be an easy game to recommend if the mission design of the single player campaign were on a par with the quality of its technical elements. As things stands though, it seems that some good gameplay ideas have been wasted on level designers that simply didn't know how to make best use of them.

Driver: San Francisco would be an easy game to recommend if the mission design of the single player campaign were on a par with the quality of its technical elements. As things stands though, it seems that some good gameplay ideas have been wasted on level designers that simply didn't know how to make best use of them.

Despite the flaws, disappointments, and learning curve, I'd certainly recommend Star Ruler to 4X fans with a warlike bent. If you're prepared to spend a good few hours getting into it and learning via trial and error, if you won't get too upset by the outlined problems, and if you're not scared off by lots of numbers, then you'll find an entertaining, substantial, and surprisingly cheap game of galactic domination.

TS:CW provides plenty of semi-mindless macho thrills, but, like a one-hit wonder, if you ever tire of the main hook it'll all fall down. Much like ... well, toy soldiers.

Despite the quality of the combat, the emphasis on gameplay options, the diverse set of augmentations and the substantial side-missions, what will stay with me about Human Revolution is its focus on creating a rich, believable world filled with interesting characters, themes and conflicting ideals. The mere fact that it aims for such lofty narrative heights is commendable, the fact that it achieves them is worthy of celebration.

An aggressively contemporary take on a classic series that'll divide as many as it conquers.

Although the game is hampered by a collection of small problems (camera blur, imprecise controls and dubious AI pathfinding), there are enough moments of simulated natural wonder to submerge those doubts. It really feels good to be a divine dick again.

It's nice to see Dragon Age II content that avoids the pitfalls of its base game, but it's a shame that there isn't more to it.

Visual, audio and narrative tones are all in harmony for this short but memorable journey.

From the first moment to the last (and the final boss fight really has to be seen to be believed) Ms. Splosion Man urges you to succeed by dangling forthcoming treasures in front of your nose, while at the same time trying to kick your legs out from under you. It's a vicious mistress, but one with rich rewards.

Bastion does plenty of talkin' for itself, and it's all worth payin' attention to. Been a long time since a game came along with a story this well told, too. For those who need it, the combat's smart and satisfying; sharp as a machete and firey as a mortar. There's a world out there to discover, rich and unique. Seems to me that should be something worth your while.

Whether you rent it, borrow it, buy it or visit a friend that owns it, you should play Child of Eden.

It is, however, a game with truly stunning production values. There's some great animation, fantastic voice acting, and the levels have jaw-dropping visual design. It's also painfully repetitive.

Aside from those minor complaints, The Adventures of Shuggy is a superb 2D platformer deserving of a much wider audience (the leaderboards paint a slightly depressing picture of the game's sales to date). Smudged Cat Games have created a game with heart, intelligence and a mansion-load of well-applied ideas.

Archenemy is a neat concept, but one which doesn't quite come off due to balance issues. So while DotP 2012 will provide an engaging distraction, it's unlikely to hold you spellbound.

Lucha Fury is a prime example of video game design gone wrong… very wrong. From the opening 'tutorial' to the repetitive, lacklustre levels that make up the rest of the game, there's almost nothing endearing, charming or enjoyable about this experience.

As I said earlier, Arcade Edition is the finest outing of the series. Capcom have said that this third edition of the game is to be its final outing which, is both a relief and a shame.

It's difficult to wrap my head around just who Dungeon Siege 3 is aimed at. It doesn't offer the depth that fans of dungeon crawlers have come to expect and, on the other hand, it refuses to incorporate enough modern elements to appeal to the new generation of RPG fans. The result is a game that generally functions as intended but largely falls flat and struggles to impose a sense of personality.

Crude humour, intricate design and a genuine sense of uniqueness make Shadows of the Damned one of the finest games 2011 has served up thus fa

When it comes down to it, Infamous 2 is not the game we were hoping it would be. It starts off fun but, due to a lack of personality, originality and complexity, soon feels tiresome and repetitive.

If you're after a stop-gap before Gears of War 3 comes out, this might well fit the bill. Take your time, root around for secrets, play sporadically, and chances are good that you'll warm to the game. It's just a shame that the wonderful ideas aren't pushed nearly hard enough and that the game, as a result, feels overwhelmingly generic.

But it is a game, and as a game Duke Nukem Forever doesn't succeed at being a good modern shooter, a good retro shooter, or even a worthwhile successor. The shooting is bland, the level design is uninspired, the jokes and ideas are old and tired, and the synthesis between old-school PC shooter and modern console shooter has resulted in a hideous chimera that rarely works as either. It's not utterly without merit, but it rarely manages to raise itself above mediocrity and often falls well below. Unless you're desperate to once more kill the aliens and save the babes with Duke, there's little here for you.

Ultimately, Armageddon feels like an opportunity missed. It feels like the series has taken two steps backwards after the promise shown by Red Faction Guerrilla, the focus moving away from destructible environments and coming to rest on generic shoot 'em up action.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is everything the first game should've been and more. Combat is swift and brutal. The graphics are gorgeous and the animations flows. The unfolding plot is well-written and compelling. It's shorter than its predecessor, but there's more replayability than in pretty much any other RPG in recent memory. Don't get me wrong – The Witcher 2 demands a lot of the player, in terms of both understanding the combat and understanding the plot – but for those willing to put in time and effort, this is a must.

While Honest Hearts didn't quite grab me like Dead Money did, it's another satisfying few hours in a fresh Fallout location. Once you get over Joshua Graham being an actual person rather than a myth, his character is expansive and refreshing (it's rare that to find a religious NPC this nuanced in RPGs), and the hiking trails of Zion make for decent exploration. It definitely favours players who will stray off the guided track though, as those who focus exclusively on the main quests will miss out on some of the add-on's hidden narrative treasures.

The First Templar is uneven, inconsistent in tone and, to be blunt, wonky in execution.

Granted, this is a budget arcade title, but that doesn't justify the attempt to get away with a bare minimum of content. Vehicle numbers and the variety of game modes are adequate, but the paltry five tracks are a grievous error that put paid to any longevity.

In combining traditional events with those (like Gymkhana) that videogames have not before attempted, DiRT 3 manages to feel both fresh and traditional. Codemasters have been churning out top-quality racing games for a long time now and their experience ring through in the way they've expertly crafted and balanced distinct modes of play into one cohesive whole.