Once you get past the uninteresting story, the rather patronisingly bad voice acting, and a few minor gameplay finicky bits that remind you that this is a game now and again, R.U.S.E. offers a revitalising outlook on the strategy formula with just a couple of new additions.

With the original receiving praise from some, criticism from others, it was always going to be interesting to see whether or not the issues with the first were going to be addressed and improved upon, and for the most part, Hawx 2 is a definite improvement. Still though, something doesn't feel quite right, and there's something about the series that feels slightly "last-gen" to me, and I can't help but feel like the game could have been so much better.

Spider-Man fans should own Shattered Dimensions.

It seems a bit odd still that this is an XBLA title, though for 400 Microsoft points, Achievements and a prequel to the sequel, this is most certainly worth the extra change and will provide countless hours of entertainment in zombie slaying and re-playability.

If you're looking for a solid action game with an Italian flavour then Mafia II is worth the investment it's just a shame 2K Games opted to ignore all the things gamers love about open world activities hence their absence here.

Lara Croft's return to the XBLA is very good, and as part of the Summer of Arcade series a welcome addition to the great line-up we've had thus far.

Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is not without its problems, and as a modern third-person shooter it appallingly lacks some gameplay elements that are considered standard in games of this type. Despite these shortcomings it still deserves to be played, largely due to its great visual style and atmosphere, easy to pick up and enjoy multiplayer modes and co-op offerings.

Monday Night Combat is a decent offering to the XBLA line-up and well worth the 1200 points investment if you're after a quick fix non-committal type game.

In the end, Harmony of Despair is a paradox. Konami wants Castlevania fans, the gamers who are most likely to enjoy the game to its fullest, to pay for content they've already played. First-time players, on the other hand, will probably enjoy the game less, even though all of the content will be new to them.

Not much has changed with the gameplay in the 11 years between games, but it does stay true to its arcadey racer roots that provides fun for everyone.

This game maybe shrouded with uncertainty, but what is for sure is that it's an arcade game worth bending over backwards for at the very least to experience the workings of its aesthetic genius.

Its funny, its well-crafted, it has more polish than most full-price games and its only 1200 Microsoft points. This is as close to a no-brainer as it gets in video games. Buy this game.

Deadliest Warriors is childish, in all the best ways, It takes a ridiculous premise and makes it work by doing everything over the top.

Since there is no other option for console gamers, it is take it or leave it but those who take it will be left with a well rounded game, but not elite enough to lure gamers uninterested in the genre into the loop.

Blacklight Tango Down is one of the best looking XBLA titles to hit the marketplace and players will find that it may even surpass some retail games they have previously bought.

Simply put, Monkey Island 2 is one of the industry's most widely regarded titles, one that stood at the top of it's genre for years to come, and now looks set to do so for many more to follow. It's place in any self-respecting gamers' library is vital, and without doubt, incredibly as well deserved now as it ever was.

Crackdown 2 is so similar to Crackdown 1 that it ends up feeling a lot more like an expansion pack than a completely new game.

Staying true to its origins Puzzle Quest 2 delivers the addicting gameplay of two genres and makes some wonderful changes to be considered more than just a sequel.

If you are one of those players that are looking for the innovative game of tomorrow, then I think this is probably the worst game you could purchase. Singularity is not about renovating the FPS genre, but more reinstating it with some well known mechanics and a common setting.

Harry Potter is a fantastic game to play for both kids and adults. Traveller's Tales took the risk of going in another direction with this and have made a little gem of a game.

Sniper Ghost Warrior screams budget title unfortunately, and whilst there's some good ideas thrown into the pot, the execution and levels of polish let the game down.

The new visual flair and improved combat system can only hide the dreadfully tedious grind for so long. It is simple and repetitive and doesn't look or sound as nice as the best the Xbox 360 has to offer...

Naughty Bear isn't a bad game per se, and features some neat ideas, but is ultimately lacking in vision and variety.

Based on our experience and challenge that is on offer with Onslaught mode, we'd most certainly be happy to recommend Onslaught mode for Bad Company 2 veterans, as there's enough replay value to warrant the price tag, and with new maps on the horizon Onslaught will undoubtedly be a mode to revisit in the future.

If you're new to the delights of Risk and are after a game that isn't overly taxing but challenging all the same, then this is worth checking out.

Transformers fans can rejoice at the strong performance of War for Cybertron.

While it feels a little expensive at 800 Microsoft points, Space Ark is still a fun game.

Toy Story 3 is obviously not so much for older gamers, but is fun non-the-less, and will surely be a hit with the kids with it's familiar pick up and play gameplay, and the ability to have a co-op partner jump in for 2-player is sure to adds tons of value to their experience.