It's a game that asks for a bit of effort at the beginning. But, that's the kind of game it's meant to be. It's a big world to explore, and with plenty of downloads planned, it's only going to get bigger.

FEAR 2’s core is essentially a heart-stopping first person shooter, filled with memorable scenes and terrifying action. It makes shooting people fun again, unlike a lot of FPS titles where it feels like you’re killing mindless drones over and over. But the game also has mystery, suspense, horror and a brilliant storyline driving the whole experience that takes it to a new level.

With simpler play calling, more online options, plenty of in-game advertising and a ton of ways to spend your hard-earned cash, the game manages to make it easier for new players to get into, while still catering to its veteran fans.

If you like the sound of a retro-inspired shooter, want a massive nostalgia hit, or just want to have a lot of fun with your Vita, TxK is a no-brainer purchase.

World Adventures brings an intriguing addition to the Sims game mechanic, some beautiful new locations and tons of great new material.

The presentation of the game is top-notch, with quirky enemies (from flying cakes to something that can only be described as an evil flying comedy nose / glasses / moustache combo), great voices (and sounds in general), and an excellent story. It's funny, and very Nintendo - without feeling at all like any kind of rehash.

The game is so charming that the gameplay doesn’t feel particularly repetitive. The visual style is gorgeous, the ‘romance dance’ for each type of piñata is clever and imaginative, and there’s some great music here too, in a range of styles that won’t have you reaching for the mute button any time soon.

While the hand-to-hand battle mechanics are a bit spongy - the targeting system especially so - the gun fights are a joy to control.

Ms. 'Splosion Man's gameplay provides a manic, engrossing, and dizzying experience. But its feel and its humour add so much more.

Heart of the Swarm is a solid expansion that builds on and refines the Starcraft experience. As a stand-alone game, its campaign is oddly paced, it's got unnecessary bells and whistles, and it lacks strategic complexity. But whatever grumbles gamers might have, Blizzard’s devotion to good storytelling and character development still makes the experience worthwhile.

It can be especially useful for busy people, stay-at-home parents, the self-conscious, or people who simply dislike the gym atmosphere.

DiRT is one of the prettiest and most accessible racing games you’ll ever lay hands on.

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

It’s fun, accessible to all gamers, challenging and very easy on the eye graphically.

Grand Theft Auto IV is very much a console-friendly game, and the PC port brings enough problems – albeit ones that won’t apply to everyone – to make me hesitate to recommend it over the original.

It's a fun first person shooter. One with story issues and awful characters, but also with hunting and manta rays and hang gliding over beautiful scenery.

Just about everything in SSX works well. It looks fantastic and is easy to play. Though there is little point to the story, for once that doesn't matter. SSX is thrilling and, most importantly, fun. And like the best things in life, it can be summed up in a very few words. Board, snow, mountain, awesome.

It is a solid, well presented title with a hell of a lot going for it.

Visual Concepts have again made good on their name, developing a visually stunning game. The changes to some of the modes are beneficial, but the overhaul to an open-world MyPlayer feels pointless. The dependency on Virtual Currency and the ease of spending them compared to the challenge of earning them makes for a longer singleplayer experience, but greatly hampers the multiplayer. Hopefully 2K Sports reins it in, because if this continues, they will find resistance.

But if you're looking for a narrative driven experience that is going to shock, scare, perplex and amaze you, then Metro 2033 might just be your next stop on the line.

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.