Jaw-droppingly beautiful...If you are into hotting up rice-rockets, drag racing supercharged yank-tanks, or delicately carving through the twists in a finely tuned Italian thoroughbred, you'll find Forza 4 to be the best console racing title around.

Apart from the above foibles of game play, Another World: 20th Anniversary is a fine piece of work. It's going to be a satisfying fix for nostalgia junkies (you can even opt for 16-bit aesthetics instead of HD if you so desire), and damned good fun for those of you who have only recently been transported to Another World.

Dark Soul's weakest aspect lies in failing to draw the player into something deeper, other than just leveling up and managing to stay in one piece after crossing swords with a Black Knight.

Like most years, NHL 12 is a mixture of gameplay tweaks, roster updates, and surface polish. Although this year isn't a major upgrade, the changes that have been made make NHL 12 the closest thing to playing professional hockey this side of sharpening up your skates, moving to Canada, and signing up with the Halifax Mooseheads.

You'll either love or hate it, but El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is impossible to ignore.

Admittedly, this probably isn't the Burnout game fans were expecting when it was announced earlier this year. But for $18.90 NZ or 800 Microsoft Points, Crash! does offer up a manic, entertaining couple of hours for anyone with severe destructive tendencies.

Hours of futuristic sporty goodness to be had. To my old Amiga buddies, come on over for a round of King of the Court. Just remember to bring those steel balls of yours.

Compared to most games on the market, Madden NFL 12 is fantastic. But, what Madden is always compared to is last year's model. And in the end it's the same old game, with the same old caveat. If you have Madden 9, 10, or 11, you don't need to worry about 12.

As a game it is by no means revolutionary - but titles don't need to be the new black to be good. Anomaly: Warzone Earth has definitely got enough bells and whistles to keep casual players entertained.

Its multi-player options will appeal to the hardcore co-op zombie crowd and its disaggregated gameplay elements set it apart from its peers. If you're addicted to zombie titles, and you want something with a little more depth, then it might be worth a rental. But unfortunately it just doesn't live up to its own hype.

It's fun, looks and sounds great, has loads of content, and integrates very well with your friends lists and the leaderboard system...It is, in a word, awesome.

The Gunstringer is fairly short, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Half the enjoyment, after all, is in the freshness of the game's insanity. The problem is that there's little incentive to go back and play levels again.

Epic has not re-invented the wheel with Gears 3, they've simply improved on a formula that was pretty awesome in the first place.

If you are only flying solo or plan on running with strangers online, it is simply not as a good a game when played this way. So like my mother always said, stay close to your friends and be wary of strangers.

Space Marine is solid. Dependable. If intense combat carnage is your thing, you will enjoy this game. If you're a fan of the 40k universe, you will enjoy this game even more. If you are into neither of these things… well, there's always the demo to try out. It never reaches the heights of the top echelon of third-person action games, but it's a good start.

The game as a whole is a charming package suitable for all ages. With its user friendly interface, addictive gameplay, generous number of levels and multiple modes, Crazy Machines Elements is worth the download.

The game as a whole is a charming package suitable for all ages. With its user friendly interface, addictive gameplay, generous number of levels and multiple modes, Crazy Machines Elements is worth the download.

While Street Fighter 3: Online Edition is the least beginner-friendly of the series, that's precisely why it's favoured among the series' biggest fans. The parrying, super moves and timing make this a challenging and surprisingly addictive game.

It's repetitive and full of admirable yet ultimately failed experiments, and there are many better titles worthy of your attention.

Don't write Driver: San Francisco off as 'just another driving' game (despite the fact that you'll behind the wheel of various cars for 99% of the time). There is a lot more on offer here and this game will certainly be a pleasant surprise for players of the previous Driver games.

If you want more DeathSpank, or if you haven't tried him before, then The Baconing is old fashioned gaming with a comedic twist. But, if you've played the other games, don't expect too much different.

Star Fox 64 was a phenomenal game and it's even better the second time around. This is the definitive version of one of the most important games of a generation. You absolutely need this game if you have a 3DS, and if you don't have one, this game is genuinely good enough to justify looking into rectifying that. Get it. Immediately.

The unique puzzle and adventure elements are challenging, while the artistic elements set them apart from any other games you have played before.

Not a bad game. It's a game for fans that's both short on story and fairly limited in scope. What there is, is okay, although it gets repetitive fairly quickly.

If you were ever thinking you could have had enough of the series, these two games will rekindle your love for button mashing madness. We highly recommend it and look forward to seeing the Cosplay of "Two Girls and a Spartan" - thank you Ares!

The above-average graphics do an adamant job of carrying you through what really matters in Resistance 3 - the gripping and harrowing story. Think of it as an interactive blend of Cormac McCarthy's The Road meets District 9. It's a must play for fans of the previous games, but a solid sci-fi shooter for those new to the Resistance franchise as well.

Everything about this game screams "minimal effort".

Rugby Challenge is not without its problems. But there is depth behind its flashy veneer. Perhaps most importantly, there doesn't seem to be anything that ruins the game by overbalancing it. It embraces different playing styles, and rewards learning the skills associated with each.

Whether you go to whole-hog and play in 3D, or your budget only extends to 2D, the games are all largely the same as when they were originally released - only brighter and sharper.

With around 25 hours of solid gameplay in one sitting and a huge replay value to try out new endings and character developments, this game deserves a proper outing. Don't expect to sit down and blast your way from start to finish – because although it might be possible to do so, you'll definitely be missing what Deus Ex has on offer if you do.

The strangeness of The Sims Medieval is still here, of course; the title is not-quite a strategy game, not-quite an RPG, not-quite The Sims. And fans of each of these different genres will still find the gameplay to be a bit odd. But for all its quirks, it's still extremely more-ish, and the Pirates and Nobles expansion just brings even more good stuff to the game.

As a complete package its clearly an impressive, engrossing experience. Its storyline is excellent, its characterisation, voice acting, score and script are very well done, and its aesthetic is deliciously dystopian. The only fly in the ointment is its binary combat mechanics.

Given it completely fails to use any of the 3DS functionality in any meaningful way, chances are good you'd get a better experience with a DS game, too.

In the end, what you can count on is two to three hours of the same Dragon Age II. It looks the same, plays the same, and depending who you pick in your party, the chatter, while entertaining enough, is the same.

With its well crafted, cleverly designed levels and impressively high production values, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a 'must play'... but like that fanciful Friday night party, such a pity that it's all over too soon.

But considering the speed of your movements, the hardware still does an admirable job of tracking your Ninja gymnastics.

As a driving game, it actually handles pretty nicely.

It's sad, scary, kooky, weird and wonderful: everything that we love about the Fallout universe.

A rental at best, but better we just sweep The Cartel under a sombrero and forget about it.

If you're after a simple, mindless distraction that can be enjoyed by you and a buddy on the couch… well, there are plenty of other games on Live Arcade and elsewhere that can do that, and do it better.

There is no doubt that this is a quirky game; however it hangs together well and delivers an entertaining gaming experience.

Naruto Shippuden 3D: The New Era feels like an original DS game with texture filtering, poorly executed 3D, and game breaking motion sensor controls tacked on.

This is by far the best free to play MMO out there at the moment. Its well polished, with good sound effects, well detailed tanks and terrain and regular updates and maps.

If you know what you're letting yourself in for, go for it. It's a pocketable version of a minigame, with online play, and 3D that doesn't need glasses. It's honestly little more than that.

As mentioned, the traditional PS3 controllers work perfectly with SEGA Rally Online Arcade. But for a true, arcade-esque experience I recommend using a wheel.

Bastion is a fun and engrossing ride, and I highly recommend grabbing the demo to see if it's your kind of thing. Allow the soothing (well, gravelly) voice of the narrator to wash over you, and go find out just what happened to this destroyed, understated, beautiful world.

Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy is a game for history buffs and war game enthusiasts. If this is your bent, you will not find a more enthralling and historically accurate game.

It's not hugely long, offering only a couple of hours or so worth of unique content, but that's really not the point.

It's not the most amazing thing ever by any stretch of the imagination but if you like the idea of a suped-up Snake, with a bunch of modes, and don't want to lower yourself to lugging a dated mobile phone around with you, it's hard to beat.

For fans of the series, it's a no-brainer. There's so much Gundam here I'm surprised it doesn't leave little Manga stains when you put it down.

It won't be to everyone's taste, but if you can find a way to try it out before buying, then you may be surprised at just how much you get into it.

A weekend's worth of entertainment for just under US$10, or a week's worth of casual gaming. If puzzles are your thing, it's worth a look.

While (in my opinion) the single player game is pretty weak, with its short running time, linear gameplay and predictable structure (fight off wave after wave of enemy, until you reach the end of the level and fight the boss), DotM's competitive multiplayer may prove to be its saving grace.

It's not perfect but, instead of the faults (little things like visual glitches, etc) piling up to become an unbearable thorn in your side, they're more like the eccentricities of a favorite uncle. It's whacky, weird, and wonderful.

As lovely as Alice: Madness Returns is (and if you've not seen any screenshots, Madness Returns is a very good looking game), it can also be horridly repetitive, and there's a same-ness about subsequent levels, in that they, and the baddies that people them, don't feel as if they get any more challenging as you go along.

If you worship at the altar of Ken and Ryu, you'll have Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition already. If you're simply a casual fan, with Super Street Fighter IV already, there is no reason to get this as a stand-alone game, considering that the only noticeable additions are the four new characters which you can just download as DLC for Super Street Fighter IV.

Despite these respectful niggles, UFC Personal Trainer is successful purely because it's fun. Summoning up the will-power (and body-power) to exercise in the middle of Winter can be a daunting task.

An engaging and refreshing survival horror, if that's what it truly can be called. Its got solid combat and challenging puzzles, all wrapped up in excellent atmosphere.

A mediocre title that fulfils the basic requirements of a console role playing game. At times, it shows promise and it does have enough going for it to keep casual gamers entertained.

It promised a lot, however the more we played it the more disappointed we became.

In the end, this is a game that will attract its share of fans for what it does do well - namely, transplant some Call of Duty elements into a more horror-like setting with some novel multiplayer modes. But that phrase, "horror-like", also works in another way: it has the appearance of being a worthy sequel to the atmospheric, creepy Fear games, but in the end it's a mere shadow.

Magic: The Gathering is a great game and Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 does a great job of bringing that experience into the virtual space – even if it's in a somewhat simplified form.

This is the definitive Zelda game, don't just buy it - put it on display. Zelda transcends the quirks that time has revealed in her and shines just as bright in the light of a new millennium.

Something that will be eagerly demanded by the children of your household, only for that eagerness to be replaced by boredom and irritation.

No matter which way your see it - 2D or 3D - Dead or Alive is one of the best titles on 3DS and, potentially, the best handheld fighting game ever.

While the action is fun, there is no way to avoid feeling it's stuck in the past.

At the very beginning of the game the United States President tells Duke Nukem he is a relic from the past. As sad as it seems, perhaps he was right.

Should have been a great game. It has all the necessary components and the innovation to make it so, but all of the great thinking and ideas were spoilt when the coders and graphic designers got hold of it.

Some of the original game's grandeur and visual impact may have been lost in its transition to the small screen, but much of the original charm remains. The story is engaging and you're guaranteed many, many hours of playing time.

Armageddon can't help but feel like a poor cousin to the top games in the genre. It shines brightest when it's doing its own thing, but when it tries to fall in line with genre tropes, it comes up short.

Judged purely on its racing, MX vs. ATV: Alive is a good game. But that's not what most people will judge it on.

A good sequel, but not one that ups the ante in any real way. Anyone who enjoyed the first game will most likely love the sequel, just don't expect a leap in quality like you see in some other sequels.

The many identical henchmen start to grate and the boring and awkward free roaming gets also gets annoying pretty quickly. But, you also get and enormous amount of style, strangeness and violence.

A worthy successor to its elder brother. Compared to what came before, it's a more mature experience - and a more complete game.

What instead stays with the player is the fantastic setting, awesome quests, cool customisation that develops as the player progresses, and unusual gameplay.

Everything they've thrown in says "look what we can do" - and that' a sentiment New Zealanders can probably appreciate more than most.

There's a decent amount of content on hand here, but it soon felt like a bit of a chore to get through it all.

If you enjoy your old-school 2D action games played with a friend or two, Moon Diver could certainly scratch that itch. On the other hand, it doesn't really do anything all that special and if you aren't used to the punishing nature (read: difficulty!) of these games, then it might be best to avoid this one.

It's surprising how much you are driven to obtain 100% of the secrets or achievements - no more so than the younger players, who will happily explore areas again and again just to get that elusive gold brick.

It brings new humour, new methods of interaction, and a much more fleshed-out portrayal of personality for your Sims. In fact, it can be argued that this is the desert-island expansion pack; the pack you'd choose if you could only pick one. If you own the Sims 3 you need to buy Generations.

On top of the single-player, DiRT 3 includes a welcomed split-screen multiplayer for head to head racing. But more welcomed is the large number of mad online party modes to try out.

Still, for $10 US on Steam, Fortix 2 is a good 'un, definitely worth adding to the collection.

The concept is good and the combination of play styles almost works; however the driving and chase aspects of the game really let it down. When you strip away this and the action elements of the game, it is basically a puzzle solver.

A good option for those times when you have a few minutes to kill, and for less than the cost of the Dom Post, it's a real bargain.

You know it's not a masterpiece, but you're after a bit of escapist fun - nothing less, but nothing more.

Despite all of this nonsense, Virtua Tennis 4 still packs in plenty of authentic traditional tennis.

It's quite unlikely that any non-Glee-watching person will be excited by this entire list - but you really do have to give the show credit for being able to put its characteristic spin on such a range of different songs. Big fans of the show will love this one; the rest of us may simply be puzzled with the offering.

Gatling Gears is most definitely an entertaining arcade title. It's polished, action-packed and fun. But it is a limited experience, one unfortunately let down by a lack of narrative and variety.

It's a competent first pass 3D pocket football game, of that there's no question. It's fun to play and the 3D genuinely aids in comprehension of the proceedings.

It's a unique experience, even if it doesn't last long (a few hours, tops), and it does develop some challenge - especially when you start competing on times and try to fill in your decal collection.

But, with four player split screen and 3D support, those with a big enough telly are in for some incredibly intense, high revving racing. Sure it's chaotic and epic and it starts out too easy and hits a point where it becomes too frustrating. But, and this is most important thing, MotorStorm: Apocalypse is exciting and thrilling and awesomely fun from the moment you start playing.

What also makes Brink interesting is that it provides players different options for approaching the game, with four different roles available: soldier, operative, engineer and medic.

Another casual, family-friendly mini-game collection. If you're looking for a single such title to pop in your Xbox 360, I'd still recommend sticking with Microsoft's efforts: Kinect Sports and Kinect Adventures.

A good game, but one that requires tactical patience and some skill. A very hard game to play solo, but certainly with a partner or a whole squad of mates it's far more enjoyable, and in some ways more doable.

Despite the hazardous save system, Anomaly: Warzone Earth presents a fresh take on the Tower Defense genre. It's satisfying, but leaves a lingering hunger for a sequel - hopefully with a tighter save system and more units.

It's cheap enough, has loads of personality, and shows the kind of promise that suggests that a sequel (should we be so lucky) will knock it out of the park.

An average game with a few good ideas, some decent gameplay systems and some fun heroes to play. This would be fine, except that Darkspore depends on being a completely online experience - with bad servers.

Pretty light on content but it's (nearly) a launch title so it does its job well enough, particularly when it comes to demonstrating the value-add of the 3D depth.