An unusual open world samurai adventure, with plenty of authenticity but little spit and polish.

Even if you enjoy Roguelikes this must be the worst special edition ever, with almost no new features.

It looks great but LucasArts' arthouse styled platform puzzler simply isn't much fun to play.

It's not the visual jaw-dropper that was promised but a virtual safari is better than none.

An intriguing antidote to Modern Warfare that's realistic to a fault, but never dull or predictable.

Spore hits an evolutionary dead end, as the "everything sim" becomes just another dull platformer.

LucasArts may have turned a page lately, but it's still got its cheap and nasty tie-in days bookmarked.

There's no gain without pain in this unusual and atmospheric, but incredibly punishing, action RPG.

Not the worst tie-in of the year but one that runs out of ideas even more quickly than the films.

It's an ungenerous expansion, but if you've not tried the original this is a slightly healthier option.

Hugely disappointing portable debut that replicates the basic look of Gran Tursimo but rips out its heart.

The old Advance Wars clone gets a remake, but somehow avoids getting a proper 21st-century makeover.

It may lack the scares of its big brother, but this proves an impressively progressive lightgun game.

It looks and plays just like the PS3 games, but alas this is just as pedestrian in terms of innovation.

Some may see it as dumbing down but for most this will be the most accessible and fun Ninja Gaiden yet.

Another perfectly crafted adventure that puts to shame most other retail games at five times its price.

Micro Machines remains to be beaten, but this top-down racer is still fun if you have enough friends.

It's not a game for the ages but it is a reasonable introduction to real-time strategy for action fans.

Another obnoxious sequel that seems to have forgotten that the whole point of the game was its originality.

Bungie plays it safe with a side story that seems designed to expand little but Microsoft's wallet.

Capcom's latest attempt to please a hardcore audience tries, and fails, to be God Of War on the Wii.

The Turtle edition of Super Smash Bros. has the same ingredients but plays like week-old pizza.

A fantasy real-time strategy that ignores conventions as readily as its heroes ignore your commands.

One of the best console real-time strategies in a smaller, easily digested (or at least afforded) form.

It wants to be an interactive grindhouse movie and it is: derivative, repetitive but mindless fun anyway.

The switch to turn-based strategy works perfectly but only fans will tolerate the endless cut scenes.

In their panic EA has made a game which has no place in the current market. Neither arcade racer, nor simulation it also pales next to the well-established rivals which manage to be both.

A clear improvement on Heroes Of The Pacific, but IL-2 Sturmovik is still the superior fighter ace.