If you're craving a good hack 'n slash beat 'em up you can enjoy with a friend, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is one of the best around. Check it out immediately to see if it's your cup of bloodstained tea.

What matters most with Mortal Kombat (and, indeed, any fighting game) is the fighting engine. It's good. It's fun, it's tight and it rewards skill.

You won't find an experience quite like this on the iPad (or anywhere, for that matter), and I for one hope we see more games that offer something just a little bit different.

And though SOCOM: Special Forces is, at heart, a tactical shooter (and I suppose many will buy this game more for the multiplayer aspect than the campaign itself), I couldn't help thinking that if it had a bit more flexibility in terms of completing missions, there'd be a much greater replayability factor.

Feels like an intern, in that it knows what it wants to be - but it isn't quite sure how to do it yet. From a simple consumer point of view, this isn't THE game. But from an industry standpoint, it's an exciting warning shot to Turismo and Forza.

If you think you'll get a giddy thrill when the game's visuals change to look like a Gameboy, a Virtual Boy or the sounds switch to something clearly inspired by Tetris, Pix'n Love Rush is a must-buy.

With crisp graphics, great sound (mainly in the form of the excellent commentary), and surprisingly playable gameplay, NBA Jam for the iPhone is well worth picking up, even if (or perhaps especially if) you're not a basketball fan.

If you've got a 3DS and like good games, this one is a no-brainer. Get it. Love it. Fight me. Go on, I dare ya.

Smooth controls, gorgeous visuals, and memorable online combat prove that this game is still dressed to impress. Recommended for fans of Halo and Vanquish.

Fundamentally a good game, but don't expect anything different from what you are used to.

It's this frustration that turns Crysis 2 from a raging river into a swollen lake. Everything it does well, it does really well. As an overall experience it looks great, feels great and tells a great yarn. Its bells all whistle and its trinkets all sparkle. But this dazzling array of graphical and technical wizardry hides the fact that water has quietly seeped into this title's few cracks. Some of the core gameplay mechanics that you'd expect a tier one developer like Crytek to knock out of the park, are instead a little rusted over.

You pay more for the brand, but you do get quality alongside it.

The gaming equivalent of buying a gourmet mince and cheese pie - you'll be uncertain you've got your money's worth, and pretty sure you could have done a better job.

PlayStation Move Heroes has attempted to combine certain aspects of the platform, shooter and party game genres without being pigeonholed into any one of them. While the overall effect is a little disjointed, it will still hold plenty of short term appeal for younger gamers, being better looking and more sophisticated than the Buzz Junior-type games they are used to.

A lot of the enjoyment you'll get from The Sims Medieval is not in completing quests as quickly as you can, but in taking a bit of time to just wander around the kingdom, interacting with different characters and throwing a tomato or two at the sim stuck in the stocks.

I feel bad for Kaos Studios because I think the outcome of Homefront was influenced by possible combination of either a lack of time, budget or talent.

A perfectly good movie tie-in game. It has familiar, but well executed gameplay with the occasional road-runner or bat-riding diversion. This, together with good graphics and sound, makes for a tidy enough game for fans of the film. While there have been movie games to hate, this isn't one of them.

There is just so much content to the game, that players will find themselves inevitably in the middle of a frenzied grab-a-thon.

Even if you don't have a 3D telly (and who does?) and despite the issues with the career mode, you still get a game that's enjoyable looks fantastic and plays great.

It's not a terrible game, but it's agonisingly close to being SO much more.

Liqua Pop is not what we'd call a 'chill out' game; however it's perfect for killing a few minutes here and there, has good replay value, and is suitable for all ages. Just be prepared to work up a sweat… and for some puzzled looks from passersby, if you're playing it in public!

Even without a multiplayer option, it is well worth the download… and with Torchlight 2 on the not-too-distant horizon, a good lead-in to what looks to be an excellent sequel.

So if you like boxing games in general and enjoy iPhone games that you can use to kill some time on the bus with, then you really cannot go too wrong with Fight Night Champion.

Overall, this is a solid, if not utterly spectacular, adventure game carefully wrapped up with a beloved license.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

If you like your RPGs old-school with plenty of Tolkien and Dungeon Master mixed in with sword wielding warrior women and moody elves, then Dragon Age is for you.

Provides the thinking gamer with a satisfying adventure experience.

I still find it refreshing that in a time where so many games assume the "more is more" addage, there are still a lot of thoughtful games out there that take their time to build atmosphere and story, and give players a bit of pondering time, rather than relying on reflexes (or frequent use of the autosave function). Gray Matter is definitely one of these games.

An improvement in every way on Fight Night Round 4. That said, I wouldn't necessarily run out and buy it straight away, especially if you own a previous game in the franchise.

It has taken all the boring bits of the genre, reworked them and delivered a well polished game that continues to surprise and delight.

The intriguing plot and engaging gameplay make Beyond Good & Evil well-worthy of the 800 Microsoft points it costs to download.

If you're looking for the very best Pokémon game yet, you'll find it in Black or White. The changes they've made tweak the formula in good ways and the all-new world in which the all-new Pokémon live in is worth exploring...If, however, you're hoping for a significant revamp that addresses the myriad of fiddly quirks the series has collected over its 15 years or simply brings the title inline with other modern RPGs, you'll be (yet again) disappointed.

Let's use a food-based analogy: imagine you had only a few minutes for lunch and had to grab a snack. The Facebook version of Bejeweled Blitz would be a Maccas Happy Meal, on the house; whereas Bejeweled Blitz Live would be one of those low carb protein bars in a shiny foil wrapper. Both provide sustenance on the run, but one is meatier and more satisfying than the other… and it's free.

What I enjoy the most is the fact that there is no right way to come up with a solution. If it works, you win.

Even from that distance it's quite clear that Telltale games have produced an admirable replication which is commendably loyal to the original – but with enough new depth to make it worth a return to Llewdor.

The concept seems to get lost in the transition to the big-screen living room television.

PixelJunk Shooter 2 is the faster, more difficult second half of the original game. But in no way is that a bad thing. There are more frustrations than the first, with a lot of levels demanding multiple replays to avoid some surprise deaths.

It felt like a delicious goulash of past shooters like Duke Nukem, Unreal Tournament, Serious Sam and Borderlands. But I still found myself laughing shamefully, cringing sympathetically and then replaying levels over and over to unlock a new kill achievement or just to let off some steam. It's the best kind of guilty pleasure.

Overall this is a great little game for fans of drifting. It's not easy, but represents a real challenge that rewards perseverance. If you are grounded, without a car, or without a licence, then this game will put you back in the driving seat. Remember folks: don't drink and play!

Stacking possesses many elements of a great game: challenge, humour, well written plot, user friendly, great sound and visuals… and for the casual gamer it's easy to pick up and play for brief periods of pleasant distraction. We reckon you'll love it, but if further convincing is required you can download the trial from XBLA, which costs nothing but time and bandwidth.

A pretty solid product, but it would have made a better impression had it been a little less punishing.

A competent helicopter simulator. It will most certainly push some gamer's buttons and become a well loved addition to their military combat collection. But I'm not sure how large that market is.

On top of the irritating cinematics and clunky non-driving gameplay elements, the game continues to feature some unpredictable AI when racing computer drivers.

Far more than just a fun novelty. It's backed by a pure, serious fighting game engine and it manages to deliver on all levels. It's fun, approachable by the novice, works with any number of players from solo through online to a local party environment and has incredible depth.

Far more than just a fun novelty. It's backed by a pure, serious fighting game engine and it manages to deliver on all levels. It's fun, approachable by the novice, works with any number of players from solo through online to a local party environment and has incredible depth.

I can honestly say I haven't been this captivated by an RPG since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and have joined the legion of fans eagerly awaiting the third instalment.

Even if this is your first taste of the franchise, if you like horror, violence, severed limbs and bodies crushed into seeping bloody pulp, then the dark depths of dead space is just the place for you.

Even with the continued existence of the human race at stake, there's plenty of fun to be had just eating heaps, getting to be the size of a bus and just blobbing out.

Killzone 3 is one spectacular game - sure, it's really only doing the basics in terms of gameplay, but it does it in the balls-to-the-walls, damn-the-expense, ultra-intensity manner that only a top-shelf, big-budget, mega-spectacular can.

Frustratingly, there is a perfectly good game lost in there somewhere. It should be a polished, sleek and enjoyable ride. But, the whole things plays like such a rusty old clunker that if you found it on the side of the road, wouldn't even be worth breaking up and selling for spare parts.

Levels are fun to play, with a good variety of play mechanics and ever escalating challenge that keeps you pushing for a ridiculously large improvement in your skillbase, only to find an even harder chunk of gameplay around the corner.

If you're a first person shooter fan, and you have an iPad, and you care much more about blasting mindless aliens with a shotgun than being immersed in a riveting story, then Nova could well be for you.

It's worth every penny and many more besides - highly recommended.

Overall, Around the World in 80 Days offers an hour or so more playing time than Call of Atlantis – and is very similar; however it's not quite as much fun.

Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like there's enough to do to maintain any long-term interest.

Casual gamers: if you're looking for something a little different - with bags of character, that will challenge your wits and reflexes (and test your patience!), then this is well worth a look-see.

I can't quite say that this is the worst Kinect launch game, but it's right up (read: down) there.

It's a clever concept, and the game offers surprising depth once you get past the repetitive 'weak enemy' battles of the first half hour.

EXTREME Sheepdog trials is certainly unique, but I am unsure whether the activity required videogame translation. For enthusiasts (if they exist) only.

No real innovation to speak of, but well worth the purchase price.

The AI can be a bit dense in the team games, though, which end up feeling rather shallow and pointless as a result. Again, the hollow disappointment of finding so few random games to play will rear it's ugly head here and this, as a result, is likely to be the point at which you stop playing it.

The feeling that DCUO is a brand-new game, that hasn't quite ironed out the wrinkles, is palpable.

There are plenty of similarities between the latest and previous incarnations, but PopCap have achieved their brief of introducing innovative ideas while maintaining the classic Bejeweled gameplay we know and love.

Everything about this game is either bog-standard and forgettable (audio and graphics fall under this heading) or broken and un-enjoyable (nearly all of the actual gameplay).

At no point in the adventure do you ever suspect you're playing a cellphone game, nor do you feel like the experience is ever less than it can or should be. It's fun to play with a cool (if formulaic and linear) tale to tie the various levels together. If you're at all interested in Kingdom Hearts and have a DS, there's no reason to leave this one on the shelf - just make sure you've played through Birth by Sleep before you do!

A simple, additive game and one which we found was a lot of fun to play.

Sonic Free Riders might look like just another board racing Kinect game, but it's a league above others like CrossBoard 7 in terms of depth and replayability.

If your creative heartstrings are tugging and heavenly ballet of the Wonderplane is calling, go grab LittleBigPlanet 2. Your inner child will be endlessly thankful for it.

Dance Paradise is guaranteed to get a party started if you have Kinect and the floor space at the ready.

It's an enjoyable game, and I have had the songs stuck in my head for a few days after playing it. If you're a fan of Glee, and enjoy having a sing along at home, you will most likely enjoy this.

f you like, you can also customise your darts; I was pleasantly surprised to be able to add purple skulls to my dart 'feathers'.

Still, the game is kind of brilliant. More importantly, and I can't emphasize this enough, when you first play it, or see someone you know play it, it is the funniest thing you will see in your life.

The majority of gamers looking for a satisfying third person action title would be best to look elsewhere.

Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is pretty short and very easy, and like any game aimed at the younger market you go in reluctant to pay full price and still come out the other side feeling a bit ripped-off.

While ultimately echochrome ii is a sparse puzzler where you point a light source at a cluster of coloured blocks, it is so lovely, so seamless, and so enjoyable to play (not to mention bloody difficult at times), I'm adamant if you are going to purchase a Move this Christmas, echochrome ii is an absolute must-have.

As a movie franchised game, it is better than most but the lack of variety and often difficult controls stop it from being a classic game.

The raw ingredients for a fun, fast-paced, high-adrenaline racer that the Kinect sorely needs are all in place. But sadly CrossBoard 7 is ultimately let down by a lack of fine-tuning in the motion-control and gameplay department.

Dance Evolution is not a bad game, but if you only want a single dancing Kinect title, forget this one immediately and buy Dance Central.

A rotting, steaming pile of awful.

Def Jam does include a token Career mode but it offers very little difference in the gameplay.

With a Christmas download already set for December release, it is a happy little title, simple enough for the kids but with a nostalgic vibe and enough humour to draw in those a bit older.

But ultimately The Force Unleashed II is let down most by the short campaign mode which most people will be able to plough through in around 5 hours with time added for a couple of unlockable Challenges thrown in.

But, hey. It's cutesy, its cuddly, and for the young or true blue Pokémon fanatics it won't be a regrettable purchase.

Dragonball Raging Blast 2 packs the characters, environments and plenty of extras making it a good for fan service. Unfortunately, that's all it's good for; it seems the developer, Spike, forgot about creating a solid fighting title.

Dragonball Raging Blast 2 packs the characters, environments and plenty of extras making it a good for fan service. Unfortunately, that's all it's good for; it seems the developer, Spike, forgot about creating a solid fighting title.

I don't know how this game will do in the sales charts, but personally it's turned me from a music-game-weary cynic into a fresh-faced jammer once again. I'm not sure how long that will last, but for now I'm loving it.

The result is a game that unfortunately showcases why controllers exist in the first place. If you've got a brand new Kinect, stick to the dance and fitness games and avoid this one.

No doubt about it, you'll definitely get your money's worth here. It may not be the most memorable or challenging RPG you'll play, and is definitely not without its frustrations, but Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a respectable package - with sufficient character and quality to hold your interest right through to the end. It's a good game for younger players to cut their RPG teeth on… and for the fans, of course.

The mixture of over-the-top action, outrageously powerful weapons and cinematic presentation ensures that the non-stop thrill-ride action keeps the adrenaline flowing throughout.

Those who have their turntable controllers gathering dust in the cupboard will also be pleased to hear that Activision have hardly changed the peripherals and they will work perfectly with the sequel.

This doesn't feel as much like a sequel to Scribblenauts as it does a better version of exactly the same game. It's Scribblenauts 1.1.

While Time Crisis 4 and Deadstorm Pirates are old rail shooters that deliver enough fun to bring back all those old good light gun memories. It all just needs to stay on the rails.

SingStar Dance is very party-game orientated with the full track listing accessible from the get-go.

Unfortunately, Shaun White Skateboarding doesn't really pull off all of its goals, but it's still a fascinating lateral shift for the genre.

Fans of the films will like the quotes and the general "Jigsaw-ness" of the aural experience but it's so perfunctory even they will have a tough time getting too excited about it.

Making what is a highly successful music driven rhythm game into a rhythm driven music game might seem like a potentially dangerous idea. But it works.

Michael Jackson The Experience won't make a real dancer out of you, but as a party game it sure is fun… and no, I still haven't learned how to moonwalk.