Falls just short of the oppressive tone it's aiming for but makes up for it with a satisfying and well-written narrative.

While the gameplay is far from perfect, Dragon Age II is an absolute must for anyone interested in the world, the lore and a good story - but anyone hoping for something that feels and plays like Origins might want to adjust their expectations accordingly.

de Blob 2 is hardly going to set the world alight but it's a fun game that doesn't take itself at all seriously. It's simplistic, it's repetitive, it's primarily aimed at kids but, if you're looking for a silly, entertaining, easily digestible experience, you could a lot worse than spend a weekend with de Blob 2.

Brain-achingly clever and hypnotically fascinating, SpaceChem is a must for any puzzle aficionado or anyone with a passing interest in programming.

It's not without its quirks but Cities In Motion is a dependable heir to the transport sim genre's throne.

Wacky characters, inspired design and engrossing gameplay make Beyond Good & Evil HD as relevant today as it was eight years ago. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy.

A visual feast that's a joy to play in multiplayer but fails to impress to the same degree in single player. Its campaign is competent and technically impressive but ultimately forgettable. Get it for the multiplayer.

An exceptional, unique strategy title with near-endless customisation and unparalleled post-release support.

A fast, flashy, exhilarating fighter that largely manages to combine aesthetic wizardry with technical gameplay. High-level SFIV players are unlikely to be won over but everyone else should be suitably impressed.

If you're not bothered by the prospect of paying £12 GBP for something that needs a few more months in the oven, you'll be rewarded with a fun and unique arena battler.

The spark of a fine idea, extinguished by fussy mechanics, jumbled ambitions and tonal inconsistencies.

Pretty much what you'd expect if PopCap made a shooter. Who's That Flying?! is a quirky, amusing, and hugely replayable shmup at a wonderfully low asking price.

Starts out fun but soon becomes a tedious exercise as one 'extreme' jump, boost or corner leads blandly into the next; the lack of variety quickly muting the initial pleasure.

An accomplishment for a downloadable title and absolutely worth a look, but don't be surprised if you find yourself pining for Nuketown or Arica Harbour before long.

Tense, intense, and surprisingly replayable: Dead Space 2 is in every way a worthy successor to the excellent first game, and probably the finest game in the genre since Resi 4.

A great game let down only by some missing lobby features.

Brilliant.

Good-looking and intelligent game with GSOH but bad temper seeks high-caliber players for many hours of fun. Those with high blood pressure or without significant platforming experience need not apply.

In many ways this feels like a total conversion of Bad Company 2's multiplayer, which changes the way the game plays a surprising amount. Not everyone will welcome this, but there's certainly a lot to love.

One of the absolute best fighting games on the market, catering to button-mashers and league competitors alike.

It's amusing and playful but Little Big Planet 2's clunky controls still ruin what could have been a wonderfully whimsical experience. Catered more to the creator than the platformer, Sack Boy is still a delight to play with.

Far more competent than it has any right to be, Splatterhouse is an entertaining brawler that's over-the-top in its tackiness that you really have to fight not to grin.

Great (and funny) writing, well designed quests, respect for the player's intelligence and an open approach to character creation make The Dragon Knight Saga an outstanding.

A beautifully crafted game that more than lives up to the expectations that arise with any Castlevania release. This is an epic, stylish and enormously entertaining adventure that deserves to be played by anybody with a passing interest in the genre or the series. Applause is in order.

Shallow but entertaining gameplay tied to a staggeringly disappointing plot renders The Force Unleashed II a weekend's worth of popcorn entertainment.

Namco Bandai once again shows us how to take your old properties and make them relevant and fun for modern audiences. Top notch.

Wedged between survival horror and arcade shooter - but succeeding at neither - Descent is a poorly designed, camera-hampered end to an already weak trilogy.

Visually and aurally stunning, and delightfully clever in places, but marred by repetition and frustration.