Traveller’s Tales have put plenty of care into this title and it is sure to please Narnia fans of a younger audience. Even as a 27 year old, I got plenty of enjoyment out of it.

You’ll get a fantastic selection of Shakespeare’s plays, the complete works of Jane Austin, adventure stories like Treasure Island and The Last of the Mohicans. Dickens is in there, two of the Brontes, Eliot, Twain, Henry James… you won’t get bored quickly, because there’s a book for every taste and mood. That is, unless you shun the classics.

Vita Pets isn’t an original purebred, but it is a winner in the league of it’s own genre recognized for its triteness. There are a couple of problems with repetitiveness that may feel like you’re chasing your own tail, as well as the irksome voice acting. Look beyond this, and you’ll find an entertaining world of activities and a virtual best friend you’ll be happy you invested time with, even if it does feel monotonous at times.

Dragon Ball Z for Kinect proved to be surprisingly impressive. Graphically it really pulls off the anime to video game jump, and the gameplay matches well by allowing you to play through the original storyline.

This is a good game on mobile devices where retro games seem to have a solid following. I am not convinced though this is a good game for the PC. Sure the Leap Motion system is a point of difference, but it’s not enough to raise it above being an average game.

The Wii version doesn’t look as pretty as the other next gen consoles, but delivers back in spades with the realism that is offered by the Wii remote and nunchuck.

Not the snafu it could’ve been and a decent war strategy game.

BioWare Montreal’s latest sci-fi RPG is massive, but the quality of its writing and sidequests varies too much for the combat alone to make up for it. Its size and scope delivers on the limitless possibility that a new galaxy should represent, but that complexity has paved the way for bugs that remove you from the experience. Mass Effect: Andromeda occasionally makes good on the legacy of its predecessors, but it never eclipses them.

No, it's not perfect, but it is good and the atmosphere herein is valuable all by itself. A must-buy for retro enthusiasts.

Imaginatively beautiful but with a couple missteps.

This is the game to get if you're set on buying a Move controller or two. It's a shame that we couldn't have more involved experiences at launch, but Sports Champions should tide you over until the mythical bunch of 'second generation' Move games arrive.

A solid game that achieves most of what it sets out to do: provide a compelling first-person shooter set in World War II.

This is definitely the weakest iteration of Vegas 2; if you have a PS3 or 360, it’s easy to recommend those versions over this one, even if the controls aren’t quite as tight.

A charming, fun old-school-style action-platformer that’s about twice as long as it should have been.

But what you do get - a quick, smart, fun challenge that you can sit down and play with your mates while you're waiting for the pizza to arrive - is definitely not to be sneered at.

It's worth renting or borrowing the game if you aren’t into the One Piece phenomenon. If you’re a massive fanm it’s a must buy - especially given the fact you won’t see this particular One Piece adventure anywhere else.

For someone under time constraints and with little patience for having to repeat a long, slow, tough, scenario multiple times, I have to confess that although I wanted to like it, Blackguards 2 hasn't been one of my top gaming experiences.

AwesomeNauts is a great multiplayer game and although it lacks a story mode, the singleplayer practice mode is still compelling - despite a the odd AI quirk.

In Sheep's Clothing was something of a letdown, especially compared to the calibre of the previous episode. It's an exposition-heavy hour and a half that does little to move the plot or develop the characters, and would have better as a concise, 15 minute introduction at the start of the final part.

Well worth a look, especially if you like point & clickers.

The sheer volume of content is really good, and the "entry level" program was well pitched for me at my beginner level.

Does what it sets out to - just don’t expect a revolution, Dance Dance or otherwise.

A surprisingly complicated shooter that could prove worthwhile for those who invest the time.

It was a good adventure while it lasted but once I was out of Arkham City, I had no desire to go back there and this DLC does not change that.

Classic Zelda puzzle-dungeons in a simple, in-and-out format.

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen shows promise early on, and the controls are near perfect - other than the transformation quirk, of course. It’s the first Transformers title to feature a multiplayer mode – and pulled it off well. Unfortunately, the single player falls flat with repetitive combat. Check this out for the online play.

I'd say it was a pleasant experience, but forgettable.

It's only the poor provision for mech-fans in recent years that hold this game's score up to a respectable level so if you don't count yourself in their number, you're probably best advised to avoid this one.

There are certainly some good features in Web of Shadows, but they’re wrapped up in a pile of poor implementation.

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.

Don't get me wrong; Island Tour's not particularly bad in any way; it's really not, but… unless you're hankering for a pretend board game and know a bunch of people who'll be keen for regular sessions, it's hard to imagine this being one of those purchases you'll look back on and think "that was the right decision."

Because you don't control the pace of the game or have control of the pieces the game chooses for you, I found Lucidity quite unsatisfying, a bit hands off, if you will.

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.

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.

If I were to take a pick, I’d say this game would be perfect to play with your son or daughter – you can play the actual levels, and go make a cup of coffee while they sit and watch the cutscenes.

But, good or bad, it's just more of the same. Not a recommended buy, unless you've lost your copies of the original Dawn of War and the other expansions, and still have a hankering to play.

Despite its flaws, Get Even is still a very worthwhile experience. The game’s narrative is a little predictable, but it’s told well. It builds tension unlike anything else, and uses jump scares sparingly to give maximum effect. It’s a great game, with unfortunate quirks holding it back – which will hopefully get patched out.

While it is disappointing to find no substantial changes apart from the touch screen kicking and lineouts, and outrageous how old some of its content is, Rugby Challenge is still the best rugby video game on offer.

Because of the way the story progressions are designed, with most missions clocking in at around fifteen minutes, CounterSpy would be a decent PS Vita title.

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.

Not recommended for anyone with hands big enough to hold the buzzers. But for your very young children, it could well be a goer if you're looking for another use for your Buzz! buzzers.

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is a good first person parkour game, provided you keep your momentum going. Chaining move after move while running across rooftops feels very satisfying, but putting the brakes on to fight or pick up collectibles grinds the fun to a halt. An okay storyline keeps you running, but ultimately, graphics that are above-average at best, and an open world that is essentially corridors stitched together means Mirror’s Edge Catalyst falls short of what we really want out of this franchise.

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.

Arcade fun, short and sweet and cheap like a short sweet cheap thing.

It's a decent adaptation of a fun card game, and at 400 Microsoft Points it's priced just right. If a few things were tidied up this would be one of the elite card genre titles, but it still holds its own against the competition.

An irritating bug severely holds back this setup episode.

The game is great, the Singstar Mic app isn’t.

The biggest draw here is the inclusion of many movie clips and sound bites. It’s pretty cool sitting back and watching a clip, and then pretty frantic as you realize you should have been paying more attention when the questions continually stump you. Oh, and if you aren’t much of a movie buff, you may as well stop reading now.

Whether you're new to the series or a veteran, you may find the later levels to be pretty challenging - and by challenging I mean annoying.

This game is a bit of a conundrum: the fighting engine has been successfully translated, but then the developers did practically nothing with it. That's a big disappointment, and seriously hampers the value proposition of this roughly $80 [NZ] cartridge - not an insignificant amount of money, that's for sure.

The grenades take an age to equip and throw. Considering that chucking a grenade the moment before I die has been the only thing to get me close to a positive kill / death ratio through the years, this is a major concern.

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.

A solid trio of games, let down by two lesser entities and a control scheme that can be laggy.

Inversion is at its best when played cooperatively, and the gravity mechanics are built around that fact.

Newcomers might be flummoxed by the dynamics while seasoned gamers will quickly crack this, but you could do a lot worse if you're after a platforming fix. [Dec 2008, p.70]

Compared to the big budget, 3D, slow-motion CGI movies, there is no comparison. The graphics, gameplay, and voice acting is serviceable, but hardly ‘amazing’ as the title would suggest.

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.

It’ll leave you in hysterics, for better or worse.

Fun to be had, but ultimately disappointing.

I want to finish the story, but not play the game to do it.

For 400 Microsoft points, this Basketball DLC is worth a go for those loving Kinect Sports 2, but probably not good enough to breathe new life into the game if it's been stored away since Xmas.

If you’ve played any side-scrolling games, chances are you’ve incidentally played this one. Odin Sphere is undoubtedly fun, but its 40-hour quest etches too long to repel the armies of repetition. It’s charm and aesthetic character are the real arrows for its quiver - the crux to get your attention and to keep it.

All design style with no narrative substance.

There are other driving games that have just as much content and perform better, but right now, Sébastien Loeb Rally Evo is the only one covering the rally discipline. So it’s not a case of the best rally game out there, but rather, it’s the only rally game out there.... for now.

A solid interactive companion to the television show and will please fans in the right age group, even if it's just for a weekend.

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

It will take casual players around seven hours to complete, but there is little reason to come back to the game after the climactic finish, which makes this title difficult to recommend to everyone.

Developer Swordfish Studios have delivered a game as blunt, as fun, and in your face as… well, as a sold-out 50 Cent concert.

The learning curve ain't too steep for your average punter, but the overall difficulty is. The many, many deaths of Kurt can be demoralising and extremely frustrating; however despite this it does grow on you after a while - especially with another player to share the experience.

The music and dialogue is standard fantasy epic fare, although delivered flawlessly. The locations and graphics are adequate, without being spectacular, and the character models are smooth and serviceable, perhaps a consequence of the game’s online focus.

Halo Wars 2 retains itself as serviceable fun, if only by being unbearably approachable, and enjoyably Halo.

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.

Agents of Mayhem is a fun ride if you want more of Saint’s Row while you’re waiting for the fifth main game to trundle along, or if you want a different take on the hero-based shooter. It’s by no means a bad game, just not a great one. You’ll play it once, have a good time, and forget about it.

Overall, it’s a tepid entrance into the ring for EA Sports and their new UFC title.

It's packed full of collectibles and secrets to keep players entertained and while it's aimed at the younger ones, parents who pick up the Vita after dark can while away an hour with it too.

Snappy fighter in a lacklustre package.

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.

There's enough blasphemy here to put you off the franchise for life. But there is some good news for Star Wars fans at least... It comes in the form of Microsoft's superb limited edition, pimped-out Xbox 360 Kinect Star Wars console.

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.

With Buzz! Quiz World however, the future is pretty much set. It now fits nicely, and willingly, in with the other continual release titles. You know the ones. The same music based games with another new song list, or the same sports game with another team roster.

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.

What we all deserve is a solid, faithful, and fun Sonic the Hedgehog game. While Episode 2 is closer to this than Episode 1, there is still a way to go. Let's just hope that the Hedgehog still has the legs.

It’s not Tenchu, but it’s the next best thing.

Driving and customising the buggy is a lot of fun, but not at the expense of tight parkour.

Charming tabletop presentation, let down by boring combat.

I wanted more. I expected more.

Does it offer anything amazing on a platform that's becoming increasingly weary? No. It doesn't even try. Forget the kinaesthetic Wii remotes, you could easily play this game on a jury rigged calculator.

A unique sandbox experience once you get into it and figure out how to play.

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?

Could have been so much better, but it's not garbage.

If you absolutely must have another zombie game, Zombie Apocalypse is far from awful. The most frustrating and disappointing thing about it is that the premise has so much promise - none of which is delivered on here. It's decidedly average.

It's nothing new, kinda hard and far from the prettiest game in the room.

If you've still got a 14" monitor or are looking for something to play on your GeForce 2 equipped monster of a PC (this would probably work well on a netbook), Din's Curse is a pretty addictive way to flit away the winter hours.

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 by no means a terrible game, but the plot's lack of cohesion, the frustration factor of some of the puzzles, and the inappropriate content has tarnished what could've been a triumphant jewel in the DE crew’s crown.

Skate will definitely appeal to the serious skaters out there. Tony Hawks’ Proving Ground is better suited for the casual gamers who enjoy the speed rush and gravity defying tricks.

Questionable gameplay decisions, quirky AI, and lacklustre online play really dog NASCAR 08 from being up there with the premier racing titles on the 360, but with some improvement - like some of EA’s other franchises have had since starting next-gen - then it too might find itself one day in the winner’s circle on pit-lane.

Its gameplay style and combat mechanic were clearly designed with the console player in mind. When transferred to the PC, the entire experience is undercut.