This could have been a great game. Heck, it still is, but it is a real shame they did not put more effort into the player instructions instead of relying on the player to work things out as they went on. Despite this, if you are a fan of space trading and combat games, this will light up your night sky and deliver you hours of happy game play.

So it's frustratingly difficult, then - frustrating not just because it makes it hard to progress, but because it makes it hard to love; an emotion that the game otherwise does fairly well to engender. The presentation - aside from the narrative, which is horrible - is charming, poppy, and fun. You want it to be good, and it mostly is - if you can handle the annoyance factor.

It looks dated and there have been many arcade racers since this debuted in 1994, each iterating and experimenting - taking the arcade genre to thrilling new heights.

Should you buy it? Almost certainly not. It's dull and has been done a thousand times before - and most of those attempts are superior.

A slickly presented, entertaining city builder, which manages to fill a niche between 'serious' sims and the glut of sim-plistic offerings found on Facebook. Sure, the freemium limitations are sometimes frustrating, but we can definitely live with it.

Radiant Silvergun is a triumph and arguably one of the best (if not the best) game of its type available - on any platform.

This is a mindless game really. Catching virtual fish, trying to beat a game clock, and working out the right lure to fool the fickle fish. But - and this is a qualified but - it is still strangely entertaining.

Whether the uDraw (and Instant Artist) becomes a necessary peripheral, spawns new art talent, or just winds up in the technology drawer with your pre-Bluetooth headphones, still remains to be seen. But in the meantime, it's yet another fascinating look into the development of the integration between life and technology, and pretty fun to boot.

One of the top-quality Sonic games, even if it's a bit weirder and a bit patchier. The lack of slickness ends up being a positive - this is a game that'll stick in your memory, and encourage you to keep coming back to it. Like Sonic? You'll like this one.

We liked this game a lot. It is not going to break any new ground in the genre but it is a very well designed game that is challenging and rewarding to play. Well worth getting from Steam and great value at less than $10.

At $9.99, SkyDrift is an absolute steal. There's not a huge amount of content, but what's here is excellent, and developers Digital Reality have already demonstrated that they're ready and willing to support the game with affordably priced DLC.

If you've been hoping for a hardcore, mega-challenging, controller-tosser, this probably isn't for you. But if you like the idea of exploring an incredibly well realised world, with loads of variety and gameplay that won't rule out the very young (or very old...), Kirby's latest adventure is a rare treat - doubly so if you've got friends or family to enjoy it with. Highly recommended.

If you like a little Bejeweled, or something like it for your PS3, then 4 Elements is for you. You can blow up blocks, check your scores on the online leader boards and stomp your controller into expensive little pieces of plastic as you time runs out and the sheer mind-melting complexity of the whole thing finally gets the better of you. But, isn't that the whole point of a good puzzler?

Four great maps and a bunch of tweaked weapons and vehicles, all for the annoying price of about NZ $30. Casual fans might want to wait until this thing sees a price drop, but if you're heavily invested in your Battlefield 3 multiplayer then you'll get a lot out of these new maps.

Combine this originality with the great music, cute characters (including a rival called Pudding!), and entertaining premise - it might just keep a lot of people hooked in there until the very end... those of whom haven't run off screaming into the night at the idea of a kitschy dance rhythm game, keeping them away from their precious FPS time.

While there's nothing in the way of innovative new features, Glee Karaoke Revolution: Volume 3 would make a pretty decent stocking filler for any Gleeks in your household. Plus it will provide a few hours of family entertainment after the Christmas Day feast.

If you have a 3DS, and can handle the idea of a cartoon-like racing game, you absolutely must get this game. Believe it or not, Mario Kart 7 is the very best version of the formula yet.

If you're a fan of the series and want a game that delivers, go watch the show while you wait for a different Voltron game - one where you have more control over the super robot than simply pushing buttons on cue.

The worst thing about the game, believe it or not, is that it's occasionally good - great, even.

This game is not going to break new ground in innovation but what it does do is deliver a good solid game that has well thought out online play, a good three player co-op mode and a solid single player experience.

Overall WWE '12 is a solid game, but far from perfect with a dozen graphical glitches and camera issues holding it back.

Arkham City, despite its squalor, is fantastic to look at.

James Noir's Convoluted Title 3D makes for a largely disappointing experience. If you're a hardened puzzle nut and want to progress through a game by way of your intellectual capacity alone, it's not a total waste of your time. But if you've been thinking about dipping your toes into narrative-driven puzzle gaming and are wondering if this is the title to try, it's not.

It's the best game on the 3DS and it justifies the purchase of the system all by itself.

Although the game isn't ground-breaking, it's well worth that trip down memory lane - especially to anyone who didn't play the Wii version.

Skyward Sword is not only a fitting tribute to the long running series, but also a milestone in the life of the Nintendo Wii itself, as it finally delivers a game that shows the true power of the control system. Besides, it is fun and challenging to play in its own right. Very highly recommended.

The graphics and sound are predictably polished, and should delight any Harry Potter fan with their faithfulness to the movies… albeit in block form.

So what are you getting for your $70, then? To be honest, not a lot. The remake's cool and all but you'd be hard pressed to justify paying more than $20 for it alone - even if you're a hardcore Tekken fan.

For the strategy gamers who love base-building rather than raiding and for the keen traders who want to settle down and establish a port and a merchant navy, I can imagine little better: Anno strikes a very interesting balance that you won't find elsewhere, and it should provide a lot of gameplay hours.

Despite feeling overwhelmed, and despite still feeling occasionally confused delving through the ridiculous amount of information and menus, there's something really addictive about Football Manager 2012.

Rayman Origins is so obviously a labour of love for its developers, and it shows in the artistry, in the care and attention to every detail, and in the feeling of uplifting whimsy that permeates the game.

It's also a fun game for adults to play in a party situation, and is likely to provide some level of entertainment to people of all ages - just keep in mind the high waggle factor and the convoluted controls; this will definitely lead to frustration for some.

It's not Forza but it doesn't set out to be; instead, it aims at being the very best arcade racing game available and it succeeds most assuredly at that goal. A balls-to-the-wall thrill-ride, beginning to end, and definitely worth a thrash - if you can handle it.

In the end, it's hard to justify a purchase if you already own the original Marvel vs. Capcom 3, as there just isn't enough new content for the $89.99 launch price. However, those who didn't pick up Marvel vs. Capcom 3 will find this a great fast-paced fighter with a challenging boss and familiar Capcom and Marvel characters beating all shades of red out of each other.

It's a genuinely good game with a lot to offer both Lord of the Rings and action-RPG fans, and it definitely has that "Snowblind" (Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance) feel to it. As long as you go into it expecting a diamond in the rough, that's exactly what you'll find.

Good for the tactical, logical brain trainer, methinks, and engaging in that 'I really want to work this puzzle out' kind of way, as opposed to the 'I really want to rip the spinal cord out this level boss' kind of way.

For all of its crude and juvenile content, it's a hell of a lot of fun - albeit shameful fun. Sometimes we tend to take videogames a bit too seriously and, although this game probably goes too far in the other direction, you can't discredit Volition for letting loose.

Older fans like me can enjoy the nostalgia factor, but then there's not the level of depth to gameplay I now tend to enjoy.

The game is very playable and is an absolute bucket-load of bloody fun. And who doesn't fancy joining the undead for a night, or sending a few of the blood-sucking freaks back to their graves for good?

The ability to jump into the game without much introduction though is certainly appealing.

While Spider-Man: Edge of Time is disappointing, ultimately, the main problem is that thanks to Batman the bar for superhero games has been raised. So unless Spider-Man can send a Terminator back through time to kill the makers of the Arkham games before they ruin it for all the other superhero game developers, then I'm afraid, despite all the web-slinging and wise-cracking, most, including Spider-Man, will fall to Gotham's Dark Knight.

It's a classic for a reason and Popcap continue to demonstrate their fanatical quest for perfection through ongoing dominance of the genre. Get it. You won't be sorry you did.

A fairly simple arcade title that offers a so-so experience. Some of its gameplay is fun and it is challenging. But it doesn't offer you anything particularly engrossing.

Some way of teaching the players its mechanics were really required (even if it was just pages of text with pretty pictures, just something... anything). Unfortunately Nuclear Dawn has none of this and is instead a confusing game that isn't all that much fun to play.

Ultimately, if you're looking for some Worms mayhem, we'd recommend sticking to the 2D variants - the recently released Worms Reloaded, for example.

A thoroughly enjoyable Kinect experience and highly recommended for the wee ones this Christmas.

The worst thing about X-Men: Destiny however is the complete lack of any multiplayer whatsoever. A game like this screams for at least 2 player co-op, along the lines of far superior games like X-Men Legends. Even if it's just so you can share your pain with someone else.

This is a great game and one that fans of the series will really love. If your style of online play is "small unit combat, up close and personal" then this is easily the best available option. Despite stiff competition, the team at Infinity Ward have delivered yet again.

An old-school side-scroller, with the occasional throw-away 3D sequence included, that makes no concessions to the trend of making games so simple you can complete them by just pressing a button occasionally.

This game has taken the best points from the first three titles, and improved upon them yet again. It comes highly recommended: it looks great, it sounds great, it plays great. It's great.

Halo is an experience worth repeating and CEA is the treatment that the original deserved. Highly recommended.

There's a lot of caveats here, though, and if you're going into this hoping for the fun of Orcs Must Die! but in a multiplayer context, you're going to be disappointed.

A small evolution in multiplayer and a definitive end to the story. Despite being a solid, well-rounded experience, I felt there wasn't enough difference or progression in use of technology to really rate the game higher.

Glitches aside, Skyrim is a big, beautiful game, that will overwhelm with its physical and emotional depths. And after thirty-five hours of playing I feel like I've only experienced a hint of what the Skyrim world has to offer. I love the way it manages to combine sandbox-style gameplay without sacrificing story progression or big political moments that lend credence to the experience of a real culture.

There's good in here, but too much mediocre or just plain bad moments to recommend paying full retail price for the game.

Probably not a game for anyone born too far before the millennium. But it is sure to bring some joy for younger players this Christmas.

While it's true that the market is currently experiencing a bit of a glut in the Zombie genre, in our view the modern take of most of these games is not a patch on the old B-Movie style. So, Melon Farmers, if you want a game filled with blood and tatties, get your artichoke down to the store and grab this one.

While it's probably best suited to fans of the franchise, the game's gorgeous animal antics are guaranteed to generate warm fuzzies in all but the coldest of hearts.

Despite its faults, I really like Revenant Rising. It's a meld of gaming and literature that we haven't seen for a while, and that I found I've missed.

Unfortunately the gameplay feels equally uninspired.

It's the only recent player in the genre and, while not bringing any monumental innovation to the genre, its high definition graphics certainly give it a bunch of new clothes.

When you take into account that Payday is an indie game and the promise of potentially more levels down the lines as downloadable content, there is very little reason to not pick this game up.

Very similar to its predecessor, but it now comes with a proper two-player mode, an improved Break it Down mode, and lots of other small improvements. If you enjoyed the first game, you will certainly enjoy this one.

Despite online idiots, NBA 2K12 is a very big win. The players, game modes, gameplay, and incredible attention to detail make sure of that. It's complex and very tough to learn, but in a good way.

Despite some frustrating nuisances, this is still one of the best showcases for the impressive Kinect technology.

Ms. 'Splosion Man's gameplay provides a manic, engrossing, and dizzying experience. But its feel and its humour add so much more.

If you enjoyed Dead Nation and are the kind of player who wants that high score challenge, then Road of Devastation could be the perfect expansion to scratch that twin-shooter itch for you.

Offers more content than you are bound to find in most games and is one of the best value / fun for your money games to come out this year.

Regardless of your particular alignment on the question as to the value proposition, Skylanders is a very well executed and fun game. It's appropriate for the entire family and delivers a compelling new hook that isn't just the same stuff re-skinned for a new generation.

A great game, and it has largely delivered on all of the pre-release hype. We do however warn you that if you are looking to buy the PC version, don't be surprised if you have some issues. It certainly knocked some of the gloss off the game for us.

Red Bull X-Fighters just doesn't measure up and is therefore destined to disappear without a trace amongst a wealth of other titles.

Although the campaign mode is flatter than an anorexic stingray, the multiplayer is easily worth the price of admission alone. It's also one of the most phenomenal looking games you'll have the pleasure of playing this year.

If you're a fan of Bejeweled there's a good chance you'll also enjoy this variant. Be warned, though: it takes a little time adjusting to the different mechanics, but it does kinda grow on you.

The bear gameplay alone offers up around ten hours of fur-bonding adventures, packed with fun activities and even an over-arching mystery in which players can solve the Fiddler's quest.

What Just Dance 3 gets right is how easy it is to load up, choose a song, and get dancing with multiple players.

It's a pretty niche game, for sure, but if you like the sound of something action-y and strategy-y, you should definitely check it out - even if you've never heard of tower defense.

I may have come down hard on the story, but that's because I hate to see potential unfulfilled. Uncharted 2 remains my favourite, simply because I value well-realised characters above anything else. But if you're less of a fussy bastard than me, and if you want a game that will wow you with sheer spectacle and keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, then get this game.

While this is not an exciting or dramatic title, it is squarely aimed at a specific audience, and fits the brief well. Whilst it will definitely not appeal to anyone who enjoys action in their games, this will definitely have its fans somewhere out there, in our wide community.

There's been a lot of comparisons between SkyDrift and Wipeout - in fact it's how the game was pitched to me when I was given it. The thing is, Wipeout - and its sequels - while matching SkyDrift for fun, are quite different in style. In fact, I'd be more inclined to say that this is like the love child of Mario Kart and Crimson Skies. Crimson for visuals, and Mario for ridiculousness.

Overall, we liked Battlefield Play4Free. The formula of quick, full-on combat makes this a game you can pick up and play when you have a spare 15 minutes or so.

It's recommended as a good multi-player fun fest, but genuine fans might find it less satisfying than the last few iterations - which have been rip-snorters.

Might & Magic: Heroes VI is a refreshing look to the franchise, bringing it back to its roots without over-complicating its simple mechanics.

If you really enjoyed blasting through Dead Rising 2, and were keen to do so again, maybe you'll be satisfied with what's on offer here. But I find it hard to recommend an expansion pack masquerading as a full release.

Normally we recommend this level of product only to the serious fans of the series but frankly we cannot even bring ourselves to do this. Avoid it.

While The Missing Link does present an intriguing cast of mysterious characters, none of them feel particularly imperative or tug at your heartstrings.

Even Catwoman's playable missions, which I initially considered to be a cheap selling gimmick, add a lot of value to this game. Her titillating character plays in a completely different manner to the Caped Crusader's and the change in tempo works well.

With its solid list of national teams, good selection of competitions and game modes, including the Champion's League, and simple arcade-style gameplay, PES 2012 offers a footballing experience that's accessible and enjoyable.

A truly unforgettable experience - the only downside is the frustration level. With a bit of tuning, and maybe a minimap, this bad boy might well have scored maximum points - as it is, the difficulty is going to eliminate much of the audience as surely as a huge rolling boulder might squish a stray peasant.

The game's many levels and wide variety of zombie-crushing activities represent good value for money. It's simple to play, highly addictive, and entertaining... and best of all, it's portable.

The presentation of Leedmees is clear and crisp, but won't blow you away. You can get through the single player levels in about three hours, although naturally it'll take longer if you want to get good rankings. The multiplayer suite of levels also helps to eke out the longevity.

An average game that doesn't live up to the brilliance of the cartoon.

A good game and certainly worth experiencing, but not as cohesive or as impactful as what we were expecting the masters at id to deliver.

If you enjoy F1, there really is no excuse not to pick up F1 2011 - it's a wonderful balance between simulation and fun, although the learning curve is still relatively steep which may frighten off some gamers.

An interesting game. It attempts to combine an increasingly niche genre with one that couldn't be more populist right now. The danger it faces is to alienate its hardcore fans without luring enough FPS players over.

The improvements - while not always immediately in your face - add up into an extremely tight, polished gem. Very few people will regret buying FIFA 12.

Okay, so it's short and a bit repetitive, but you do get to blow a hell of a lot of stuff up.

Okay, so it's short and a bit repetitive, but you do get to blow a hell of a lot of stuff up.

For all of its amazingly fancy graphics and tech engines running the show, Rage still felt delightfully old-school during the action sequences.