That Treyarch and Activision aren't just resting on their laurels, and are happy to inject new ideas into the experience, is something that should be rewarded by your interest. Interactivity in the way the campaign flows, in particular, is rewarding and fresh, and is something I hope we see more of.

While it's definitely not going to win any awards in the gameplay department, it does dial up the level of detail that we can expect visually from an open-world game. It also delivers enjoyable, intensely violent action for anyone who wishes they could fill the boots of Chow Yun Fat or Jet Li.

If you like fighting games, Persona, or - better yet - both, you’ll be well served by Persona 4 Arena. It’s familiar yet unique, and has enough stuff that’s all its own to warrant its existence.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 wont be for everyone. But if you think you're a player off the course and don't mind getting your balls deep in the rough, go grab your Wii-mote and head for the eighteenth. Because Woods on the Wii is one of the most authentic golfing experiences you're going to get – without writing off your Sundays.

If you want tough, technical races where you'll get disqualified for cutting corners and time penalties for driving recklessly; if you want long races where it might take two or three laps to set up one passing manoeuvre; if what you want is a great racing sim; then, yes. F1 2010 has been well worth the wait.

Snoopy Flying Ace has leapfrogged to the top of the downloadable pile and easily makes the shortlist of the best games on XBLA. Highly recommended.

If you absolutely must have Plants vs. Zombies on your Vita, or haven't already got it on another platform, it's an excellent - if now familiar - experience. Just be aware that the asking price means it falls somewhere short of the deal of the century, even if twenty bucks isn't exactly expensive for a title of this quality.

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.

It looks fantastic, bold and bright, just like the television show. The voice acting is perfect.

Extreme weather variables add substance to the racing.

A worthy continuation to the original Company of Heroes and is every bit as enjoyable.

While it might not be all that suited to the quick 'pick-up and play' format, Gravity Rush's novel combination of platformer, beat 'em-up, RPG, and puzzler make this a very worthy game for the Vita.

Hellgate: London presents a wonderful story set against an artfully designed world but never goes that extra mile to separate it from the masses.

Likely a platform for Splash Damage to build upon in the future, this will be one aspect of a future 'Enemy Territory 3' that they'll hopefully succeed in producing.

While the talented (and surprisingly small) team of developers at Giant Sparrow deserve immense credit for their efforts here, I think Sony also deserve a pat on the back for publishing unique art-house titles like this.

Not only is SteamWorld Dig a fantastic way to spend a few bucks (and a few hours), but Image & Form have used it to prove they’re a developer worthy of paying close attention to.

The tweaks made to the formula perhaps hold Dark Souls II from being quite as good its precursor (and it’s for this reason I’d suggest serious newcomers to give Dark Souls a try first), but it’s still an excellent game that will keep Souls series fans hooked for months to come.

This game pleasantly surprised me: simple in concept, but with an incredible amount of depth to it.

There are a bunch of features I have not mentioned; teleports, a well thought out maps, network play, and a storyline that has a fair amount of depth - to name just a few - however there are some aspects you just need to play and experience to understand why I have rated this game reasonably highly. Yes, I liked it, and I was a fool to dismiss it so easily. The game is available now on Steam, and at a very reasonable price given its quality. Check it out.

Tough but rewarding.

It consistently challenges you to make use of your latest ability and 'Metroidvania' nuts can take great pleasure in the rewards of backtracking, while it doesn't penalize players who don't.

It's easy to recommend this game if you're a) a fan of the series, b) a fan of Lego titles, c) have children, or some combination of all those things.

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.

If you are looking for a game that you can pick up and play a few rounds on your lunch break, or spend a few hours playing with friends while laughing, strategizing, and blasting your way to victory, I’d say quelling the menacing alien forces is well worth the enlistment price.

Call of Duty: WW2 brings the series back to its roots, but parts falters when trying to find a balance between fun, and respect for the past. The singleplayer avoids the patriotic pitfalls previous games fell into, while injecting some much-needed humanity. But elements on the fringe of the multiplayer – the crass nature of the loot boxes when contrasted against a historically bloody setting – are at odds with this. Enjoying the game hinges on your ability to detach your appreciation for mechanics, from the dark subject matter.

If post-nuclear apocalyptic thrillers are your thing, then Metro 2033 should be on your “must buy” list.

Although the puzzles are simplistic, and occasionally frustrating, they won't stop the hardened Castlevania fan. The impressive vistas, detailed cutscenes and huge bosses will keep players hooked.

In many ways it's even better than playing it on the PC. Highly recommended.

This is the first sign we’ve had that Destiny just might become the game many think it could be.

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.

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.

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

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure is about as connected an experience as you'll find in the genre. The characters are cool, the narrative interesting, and the gameplay (mostly) very enjoyable.

While the tutorials could see some work, and the tooltip text and other UI elements of the PlayStation 4 version are inconsistent in their size, this doesn’t detract from the game’s solid foundation.

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

Pokken Tournament is an impressive game that carefully treads the line between a deep, complex game for fighting aficionados and an accessible, approachable one for the more casual audience.

Ironically, one of the most meaningful games you’ll play.

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

Socom is a solid package; it looks good, has loads of options with a detailed single player and extensive multiplayer. It moves at a good speed, never gets boring, has boatloads of content and the core gameplay is not just well executed it's also a hell of a lot of fun to play as well.

With its gorgeous graphics, finely crafted gameplay, and plenty of content, Spec II is definitely a winner for fans of racing simulations.

Despite a little wear and tear, the original Ratchet and Clank Trilogy more than gives you bang for your buck.

While at times frustrating (like all good adventure games), Resonance is an interesting combination of gritty, creepy, and above all else, humorous. Working with memories, and different characters' perceptions of events makes for a satisfying approach to the story.

Graphically the game is great, aside from the multiplayer, and the storyline is one of the most gripping and enthralling we've seen. If you were thinking of buying it for the single-player alone, you could easily give it a rent, but the multiplayer makes it worth the buy.

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.

I've been playing Supernatural for the better part of a week now, and it's still surprising and delighting me with its cheery take on magic, horror and gothic. It's an expansion in the very best sense, and now up at the top of my list of Sims 3 must-haves.

A glorious return for the hardcore tactical stealth genre.

Although it offers nothing new, it refines the series with crisper visuals, improved flight controls and the addition of Clank’s solo missions. If you weren’t a fan of the series before this won’t change your mind, but fans will enjoy it.

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

More akin to a great part one of a television two-parter – awesome, but not the whole story.

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.

You won't beat survivor mode on your first playthrough, you'll die a lot, and you'll fear the dark more than in the majority of survival horrors released in the last generation of gaming. While the game isn't perfect, it's easily the best title available in the survival horror genre at the moment.

Overall, Prey is a polished game that does a lot of good storytelling, despite not having a particularly original plot. Prepare for a lot of notes and emails, and a lot of cups attacking you. It also doesn’t try to be anything it's not, but its beautiful music and audio creates an amazing atmosphere.

Guitar Hero on the DS is an ambitious idea which could’ve easily failed but here we are with those ambitions fulfilled. Rock on, Vicarious Visions; let’s hear an encore soon.

Apart from the poor solo game, every other aspect of the game felt well polished. In fact is was a pleasure to play a game without any discernible graphic or control issues. Stetsons off to the game testers!

It’s worth the nightmares it leaves you with.

There is a stack of gameplay here, both in the singleplayer story (which is heavily connected to Assassin's Creed II) and in the multiplayer, which is a series first.

Forza Horizon is a game that really needs to be judged on its own merits, and not compared strictly to its predecessors, as they're related largely in name only. If you can put aside your preconceptions, then Forza Horizon is a very tidy package indeed.

I am going to have to point out that the guts of the action is really quite basic: see zombie, kill zombie. But this game was always meant to be more of the "see zombie, make pithy remark to friend via Xbox live, kill zombie" type.

Episode 1 succeeds as one of the most poignant stories in episodic gaming. In just a few short hours you’re prone to a cacophony of emotions which all stumble and fumble together into a narrative which feels like it was never written, because it feels plausible. Such is the story’s persuasive power. However this is not a game for those with a grudge against passive experiences. There’s probably even less meaningful interactivity here than usual, and is probably the most film-like episode I’ve played since the genre was resurrected.

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.

SteamWorld Heist is a fascinating game; a strategy RPG through and through, but with a central hook that sets it apart and makes it worth a look even for people with little interest in the genre. It’s not a good game, “for an indie studio” - it’s just a great game, and one that anyone with a 3DS should look into.

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

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.

It looks like Nintendo have finally grown a pair and are willing to partake in an older gamer's market - delivering mature, dark, and often violent titles like Arkham City. It is also a comforting display of loyalty from a brilliant studio like Rocksteady, who haven't just ported the game, but honestly had some genuine fun with the new hardware of the Wii U.

Overly familiar multiplayer, but tells a compelling story.

A bit repetitive, but the later games make this worthwhile.

It’s the perfect blend of Borderlands’ humour and Telltale’s penchant for great writing and narrative-driven gameplay, and I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of the season.

If you're not a hardcore PC super-score hunter, the controls are fine (and you're competing in a walled garden with other 360 gamers anyway) and the addition of an excellent online mode only adds to the already comprehensive depth of content on offer.

The Club wears its heart proudly on its sleeve and makes no apologies for what it is: beautiful, finely crafted gameplay that grabs one by the throat and demands they play some more.

The fresh look and new faces, matched with the familiar game style, make it a must-buy for fans of the original trilogy.

Motorstorm 2 gives us the one feature that the original failed to deliver. The game is fun. No more repeated crashes into the side of a cliff because all of the terrain looks identical and you have no idea which way is forward anymore. No more frustratingly difficult AI that is always directly behind you no matter how well you’ve been driving.

If you want a co-operative multiplayer game that will keep you hooked for hours, this is the one for you.

WWE 2K14 isn’t a huge improvement over WWE ’13. It does a great job of representing the events of past WrestleManias, however, packing a roster that has almost as many legends as modern superstars - it might even rely too much on nostalgic appeal.

Despite the sickeningly cute presentation and naff music, it’s not hard to recommend this game to Wii owners.

After Burner's high-energy action, combined with next generation visuals and arcade pricing combines for a stellar package.

Sure, it's a little bit easy / forgiving but there's a lot of challenge in the stuff you unlock once you "finish" it. This is every bit worthy of a place in any discerning Shmup gamer's collection.

What they have done is modernised the look and feel of the game but by keeping the games true to the originals they have given new gamers the opportunity to experience some great platform gaming.

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.

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.

Minor technical problems aside, Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty is a game that recognises the limitations and shortcomings of the original. It addresses these, somehow making 17-year-old mechanics malleable, and shapes them into a mould that painlessly accepts contemporary production standards.

This could be the basis for a fully fledged, cross-franchise Nintendo rhythm game - now there's something I'd pay good money for.

But as far as exercise programs go, I've never seen anything as complete yet varied as Sports Active 2.

The game is a success thanks to what has remained unchanged. Though we're now 3D and have some wonderful cinematics, this is still the Final Fantasy IV you fell for in 1991. And for those who have yet to fall for the classic, this is a good place to start.

Overall, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round is the definitive version of a last gen game. Visually, it still looks great; however, it's still based on a last gen game. A new DoA running on current gen consoles with higher resolution textures can't come too soon, but for now, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round is satisfactory.

Colt is a great lead character. He's funny, angry, and an absurdly remorseless killer. The perfect lead for Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.

If you’re able to motivate yourself to exercise you can do no wrong in getting Wii Fit. Granted it’s not for everyone, but the ones it is for will be able to take a lot away from it.

There was a lot of wasted potential here. To its credit though, Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion looks fantastic.

There’s an excellent 50-hour game in here, but being needlessly stretched out to the three-digit mark waters down the whole experience. If it earned its size and made good use of the time, that’d be one thing, but Persona 5 spends far too much time treading water. In trying to be more, Persona 5 ends up being less, and we’re left with a game that’s simply very good, rather than the masterpiece it deserves to be.

The relationship between Lee and Clementine is handled extremely well throughout the game.

Thankfully the game is a lot of fun!

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

The ability to approach missions as you want to or just cruise around town in a tank, blowing stuff up is something you can't get anywhere else and simply must be experienced.

This is definitely a must for any ice hockey fan or anyone who enjoyed Speedball back in the 80’s.

The biggest title in the series and a huge step forward from the original - as it should be, with over ten years between them. TTT2's most notable feature - the inclusion of weapons – will split fans down the middle; it's a big change to a traditionally melee series, but hopefully one they can improve upon in future instalments.

Ultimately if you're into tower defense games and have a hankering to play one on your DSi, this is a no-brainer.

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

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.