Maybe I am missing the point slightly, and this is purely edutainment for the little ones to expand their mind? Even then you would be better off with a DS and Brain Training.

The game constantly adds something new to the mix without straying too far from the traditional first-person shooter formula and is sure to be worth the wait for fans everywhere.

A very nicely delivered RPG with loads of content to explore, plenty of replayability and genuine options to choose in the branching dialogue.

While the new flying sections are fine and the characters and cutscenes are good, the game is beset with targeting and camera angle problems, which simply make it feel old. The problems detract greatly from what might have been an engaging addition to Daxter and Jak's adventures.

The game isn’t designed to be a videogame masterpiece, but it succeeds in doing what it attempted to – entertain.

Ultimately, this all adds up to a disappointment for the vets. Band Hero, simply, is not for them. It is an introductory title, a gateway drug for those who are yet to experience the near-saturated market of music games.

Big splash in the grand scheme of quarter four 2009? No. Big splash on the Wii? For what it is, absolutely.

The Ballad Of Gay Tony is the most enjoyable by simply upping the ante a notch, reminding us that even in a city 'where the money is making the plan', you can still have a little fun.

Highly recommended if you have a serious grudge against grizzly bears too.

DJ Hero isn’t exactly a step forward, but an impressive leap sideways into a new musical genre and an innovative gameplay mechanic.

Forza 3 may have 'something for everyone', but for me the heart of the game is how damn satisfying a good lap feels in the hot lap mode. And I guess at the end of the day, the most important thing in a DRIVING game is how much fun you have kissing the apex.

It looks stunning, plays nicely and has enough gadgets and hardware to keep Ratchet and Clank, together or on their own, hitting those platforms for a while yet.

It’s not going to knock the socks off you, but Runic’s Torchlight may be just the title to slake your fantasy-grinding thirst, while we wait for Diablo 3 to make its way to our shores.

Eye Pet is one of the most innovative virtual pet titles around, and a seemingly natural step in the evolution of the genre. Although it’s marketed towards the kids, even adult gamers may find a spot in their collection for this innovative little pet simulation.

Despite the bizarre you-failed-because-the-Germans-surrendered quirk this is one of the top turn-based strategy titles of the generation. On the down side it isn’t something casual gamers will get into easily. Play the trial first.

Overall this is a simple title that anyone can pick up and play. The multiplayer modes make it good for keeping the younger gamers occupied so they don’t get into the booze, or a drunken night on the couch, while the single player will last a while and is fairly addictive.

The jump-in, jump-out aspect of multiplayer mode is great for people who like to play both solo and multiplayer. And while FPS/multiplayer extremists may find the questing a bit grindy (as one confided to me after a few days of playing), there really is a je ne sais quoi about this game that totally rules.

If you were ever looking for a WWE title where you write the story or spam the online services with b-grade knock offs of Cloud Strife, look no further.

But for all those FIFA fans who are annoyed at the dodgy AI and lack of real control in FIFA ’09 – I think it’s safe to say you won’t be disappointed with this year’s edition. Whether playing single player and pushing your team through tournaments or taking your personal ‘Be a Pro’ player online and making a name for yourself – there are hours upon hours of pure football brilliance here.

Got a PSP? Awesome! Strike now. This is well worth your time and money. You won't be disappointed. Got both? Get the DS version. Better graphics don't trump the touchscreen.

The game is worth experiencing for the atmosphere alone – it's a great world to get caught up in, yet at the same time it's very easy to simply dip your toe once in a while.

Sam & Max represents fantastic value.

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

It oozes atmosphere and totally delivers a believable world which you'll long to spend time in, long after the game is done. It's genuinely funny 95% of the time and feels like a solid story experience, rather than a tacked-on justification for the action.

Graphically Uncharted is almost entirely phenomenal. Not just good, great or awesome but truly and utterly incredible. The metallic surfaces and the jungle stand out as being more amazing looking that actual, real things.

Explorers of Sky is a bizarre mix of child-like presentation with hardcore gameplay mechanics which have long since been abandoned by most other hardcore games. It's simultaneously simple and obtuse, easy and challenging.

Pretty sick stuff. But apart from teaching children to become sadistic pet torturing horrors, Squeeballs is a good time waster and young male players will most likely enjoy getting through the main bulk of the 150+ mini-games on offer over a rainy afternoon.

And while I found the avatars to be quite hideous looking (I opted for a red-afroed freak in grey boots and a red mini skirt), they have little actual bearing on the rest of the game, which looks and feels excellent.

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.

A competent game, but more of an entertaining distraction than something you will invest much time into.

Fans of Call of Duty games will probably be shocked by the level of realism thrown into Dragon Rising. At times this level of detail can be overwhelming. It is gritty, painful, depressing and raw. Just how war should be. But at the same time, the game can offer an enjoyable experience to the more serious gamer.

NBA Live ’10 certainly delivers on a lot of levels with decent graphics, excellent realism and detail but most importantly is plenty of fun.

With 2K10’s ruthless difficulty and learning curve, casual sports fans might want to grab EA’s friendly and more forgiving Live 10. But all those wanting the full, balls-out NBA experience, 2K10 is the better game to buy.

Demon's Soul is it. It will kill you, cap your health, break your sword, make you replay the same half hour ten times over and then kill you some more. But, because of this its rewards are infinitely more exhilarating and satisfying. However, the game isn't completely heartless.

I wanted more. I expected more.

If you're at all interested in playing a strategy game on a console, there's not many better options - that realtime guff belongs on the PC, turn-based works so much better on a 360 controller.

If you like yakking about the finer points of the game and the legends of yesterday, get into it.

I wouldn't say you're ready to start your own label with a PSP and a pocket full of dreams or anything, but certainly your start in the world of commercial hip-hop and electronic music making has never had a more accessible leg up, or been so much fun.

Innovative in terms of gameplay and most importantly, is pushing the boundaries of what we can expect on the “kiddie-friendly” console in terms of adult subject matter.

It ain't a revolution, folks, but racing on ice probably isn't something you're going to get to do in real life, so you take what you can get.

There's nothing to save this shambles and no way to recommend it to anyone. If you're a fan of the movie, this will ruin it for you and if you like brawlers, there's a thousand better ones (some from more than 20 years ago outstrip this easily) to satiate your desires. Avoid.

Ion Assault is a well presented package that is a blast for short plays. It doesn't have as much meat as some other XBLA games, but I do see myself firing it up every now and again to kill some precious minutes (and asteroids).

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.

If you're looking for something with a different storyline to WoW, don't play WoW for reasons other than its gameplay or want something more than combat, Aion is well worth checking out. It's arguably the best MMO at launch that we've ever seen.

Most importantly though, it appears that Bungie are learning how to write and present an excellent single-player story to match the multiplayer prowess of Halo.

If you're looking for updated gameplay, you'll find nothing here to satisfy you. It's still very hard (the modus operandi of arcade games in the 80s) and little gameplay niggles (like the oddly backwards-feeling button layout or enemies getting trapped places you can't get at) keep twitching at you as you play.

At the end of the day, this certainly is an enjoyable download, and value for money. Honestly though, I can't recommend it to people with PC's. The download is huge and it's not the best introduction to the series. Who does that leave?

In the end the game gives you a dirty sense of satisfaction and some cheap thrills.

This is a game that a lot of people can potentially enjoy; it’s a welcome return to form for Need for Speed, and worth checking out.

There's not much new here. But if you have a decent PC and have a desire to check this one out, you can rest easy in the knowledge that it's a pretty decent conversion.

NHL 10 is a great game, hampered only by a lack of anything new.

Among all the worlds shooters, action adventures and fantasy RPGs, that a game like Scribblenauts should come and capture the imaginations of gamers and game journalists all over the world is truly delightful.

Fresh and vibrant graphics, and brilliant sound effects and music round out a near perfect score for Mario and Luigi.

So very obviously a labour of love, above and beyond being simply a money spinner. If you like The Beatles, and want to play their music, this is the game for you. If you’re not into them at all, of course, stay well away – while the minor gameplay enhancements are well and good, it’s not enough to keep non-Beatles fans captivated.

It would have been better if 2 and 3 were just released with the Sonic & Knuckles content instead of charging for a brand new download.

Combine all of the above with a plentiful array of button mashing moves and abilities, and you’ve got a heck of a lot to play with.

Moving through the levels is fairly straightforward.

When all is said and done, what you have here is a true SoulCalibur console experience in your pocket.

Guitar Hero 5 still rocks the set and is a must buy for those getting a tad bored with World Tour.

As well as being wonderfully constructed, the environment drips with atmosphere.

Because of the unusual gameplay characteristics, Dissidia is not a pick up and play game. You really have to invest yourself into the experience to really get anything out of it. Once you do though, the bite sized battles are a great way to pass five minutes.

Prime is great, Echoes is great, Corruption is great, and in this release gamers have been given a real treat.

At the end of the day, Shadow Complex is about shooting things, which is good as that's what the game does best.

But is it worth paying full price for? Not in my books – give this one a rent instead.

Madden 10 is still, in almost every way, a quality title. It’s a game packed with detail, drama and fun. So don’t be surprised if it’s around for another twenty years.

Just playing through the game won't keep you occupied for a huge amount of time, but trying for top times and tinkering with the level editor will keep more dedicated players busy for absolutely ages.

Overall it seems that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-shelled has made the best of a game that hasn't aged well. Check this out only if you're desperate for some multiplayer gameplay.

Sheer awesomeness - for Queen fans, at least.

Sheer awesomeness - for Queen fans, at least.

Once you've had your fun with a few nifty control mechanisms, various weapons and other pieces of movieland technology, and seen enough explosions, I'm gonna hazard a guess at you looking around for something else to play.

Fat Princess, despite the dodgy premise, is heaps of fun. It’s old-school gameplay with a fresh new look.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is as great today as it was nine years ago. Now it’s back in semi-HD and, best of all, they have saved you hours of fun unlocking every character and scene; now you can play as any team you want from the start, online or off.

In the end the high difficulty will drive away casual gamers so trying the demo first is a must. But between the tough bosses and fast gameplay, this is a worthy successor to the NES original.

Wii Sports Resort perhaps doesn't go as far as a good sequel should, but it's still - yes, yes - damned good fun.

Taken as a whole, Shatter combines well-thought-out gameplay with a highly polished and immersive aesthetic. Only a particular type of person need apply, perhaps, but if you’re into Geometry Wars or other score-based titles, Shatter should keep you satisfied.

'Splosion Man is about the most fun I have had with a platform game since New Super Mario Bros, or Sonic Advance 2.

If you appreciate hilarity and good puzzles, check this out now!

Madballs may not be the flashiest, most original game on Xbox Live, but it's certainly the ballsiest. Seriously though, the single player game is a decent playthrough that gets better with a couple more players.

If you appreciate hilarity and good puzzles, check this out now!

It’s an interesting, stripped down version that still has a lot of fun packed in. This comes with the proviso of playing alongside decent players, of course.

It’s an interesting, stripped down version that still has a lot of fun packed in. This comes with the proviso of playing alongside decent players, of course.

It’s a great party game and a lot of fun with friends, and would be a great deal of fun for a baseball-savvy gamer or someone looking to dip their toes into an arcade-style sports title.

The campaign mode is genuinely good fun, mixing in puzzle levels that really do challenge you to think outside of the box.

The game lacks that sense of polish and depth that the franchise sorely needs. Gameplay is entertaining at first, but fails to remain so after extended play.

Bound in Blood has a lot to offer. Great, fun gameplay mixed with likeable characters, an unpredictable plot-twisting storyline and jaw dropping visuals makes up for a high-quality title.

It will be fodder for the haters who enjoy ripping things that don’t measure up to their high standards, but equally it will bring hours of fun to those that love the movie and eagerly rent the game.

Sure, it's hardly pretty and the chances are good you've never heard of it, but if you're hankering for a solid fighting game and don't have the wherewithal to import BlazBlue, you could do much worse than this.

Droplitz doesn't have any multiplayer modes, which is a slight shame. Luckily, then, the single player is fantastic.

Tough but rewarding.

As far as the Nintendo Wii goes, this game does a very admirable job. It possibly doesn’t beat the likes of Metroid Prime – but it does set itself up for a sequel that could potentially push the bars a lot higher.

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.

It's fun, looks great and will make you chuckle - you'll just be frustrated a little more often than is entirely forgivable. Very definitely worth a look, though, even if you thrashed the first one.

f you persevere through your first impressions, you'll discover a remarkably rich experience that just gets better as you go on.

As licensed games go, it's above average - but given that the film series it is based on was last seen at the cinemas over 20 years ago, it's a bit of disappointment that it still feels a bit rushed. It could have been (and based on pre-release media, seemed to be) so much better.

As licensed games go, it's above average - but given that the film series it is based on was last seen at the cinemas over 20 years ago, it's a bit of disappointment that it still feels a bit rushed. It could have been (and based on pre-release media, seemed to be) so much better.

Still – there is a lot to be said for the ability to sling on a proton pack and stand shoulder to shoulder with the four members of the Ghostbusters, to catch a ghost in your beam and drag it down towards a trap.

Can we honestly expect MySims Racing to become some sort of darling? Probably not. Everyone knows Mario Kart's all over it. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't give it a whirl.

It's a surprisingly competent package.