Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light successfully captures the pure magic and essence of Final Fantasy. It is a game that is true to the heart and soul of the franchise, for better or for worse.

Massive, varied, challenging, rewarding and spectacular, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a fantastic reboot and a premier action adventure title.

FIFA 11 is still the best football game available right now, but it should have been so much better.

A competent adventure game hybrid in its own right, Twisted Lands: Shadow Town delivers what casual gamers will no doubt be familiar with. However, its poor story structure and rather steep price makes it a tough game to recommend to anyone looking for a fulfilling title.

Kit tries hard to win your heart, but sadly the repetition, disappointing controls and level design stop her from being able to.

Another gem from Codemasters. F1 2010 is everything that a racing game needs to be, and so much more.

Sid Meier's Civilization V is a fantastic sequel to the popular series and once again pushes the genre forward in polish, accessibility and insane depth.

Racket Sports could have been fun and sounds good in theory... but ultimately fails to hold any interest and is a bad example of Move technology.

While it hardly represents the pinnacle of the genre, as a complete package and fan service, Halo: Reach is just about the pinnacle of the Halo series.

The brilliance of Sonic Adventure can only be found within Sonic's Action Stages. The game hardly lives up to the lofty praise it received back in the day, but for what it's worth, Sonic Adventure will provide you with the most entertaining 3D Sonic experience to date.

A refreshing take on the RPG genre. Your preferences will decide how much enjoyment you gain from it, but as it stands, Phantasy Star Portable 2 is an accessible adventure for every PSP owner.

A few niggling gameplay elements can't keep Amnesia from succeeding in what it set out to do – offering players a true survival horror experience. If you're looking for a different horror game, Amnesia is for you. Just don't sleep with your lights off afterwards.

Sports Champions is likely the strongest of the launch titles for the PlayStation Move, as it not only provides some solid entertainment in its game modes, but showcases the potential of the Move itself.

With a short single player lifespan, Start the Party! is produced well enough, but is truly a multiplayer game at heart.

Easily adaptable yet deep in mastery, R.U.S.E. offers a unique and robust strategy package that deserves the attention of strategy fans and newcomers everywhere.

The story of Kingdom Hearts gets more and more complicated, but the gameplay gets better and better. Birth By Sleep plays extremely well for a PSP game, and has plenty of fun, depth and variety.

It may not evolve on its predecessor, but Tom Clancy's HAWX 2 is an entertaining air combat game with plenty of content and variety.

Slick visuals, a witty script, and a memorable tour of Spider-Man's compelling rogues gallery are ultimately undone by dreary pacing and a pervading sense that Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions remains sadly unfinished.

Experimental by design. It might not always work, but when it does its an experience hard to forget, wearing the Metroid tag with pride with its head held high.

More than just a glorified demo, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is a great little Arcade game in its own right and may prove to be better than the intended sequel.

A great ending to Sam & Max's best season yet, and the final reason why any adventure gamer should check this series out.

Being on a portable console definitely doesn't mean that Valkyria Chronicles 2 is a downgrade from the first game, but there are still a couple of gameplay issues that keep the game from reaching its full potential. Regardless, action-strategy fans will adore what the game has to offer and will keep on coming back for more.

Mafia II is a superbly told, mature and adult game that will entertain, shock and blow you away time and time again.

Lara is back in fine, downloadable form. A riveting quest from start to finish.

A unique experience that improves upon the original in almost every way, but the excitement of the story is washed down by limited content.

The best Xbox Live Arcade multiplayer experience since Battlefield 1943.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is an extremely accessible and entertaining arcade racing game. You're not likely to find a better game involving speedboats than this one.

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the definitive RTS experience that bends the genre to its will, and is one of the best PC exclusive titles to be released in years.

In a realm where creativity can so often be found lacking, Limbo stands out as one of the greatest independent games you're likely to find.

Make no mistake that Beyond the Alley of the Dolls is another strong episode in The Devil's Playhouse, with a nice line in Lovecraftian humour and a very epic endgame.

Crackdown 2 is just as fiendishly addictive and recklessly enjoyable as the original, but the single player game has been unwisely compromised for multiplayer and a lack of evolution.

Not only is this a poor fighting game by Wii standards, this is a massively wasted chance to create something unique and worthwhile. Your money would be better spent in the local arcade.

An immensely rewarding challenge, well implemented controls and a fair amount of bang for your buck make Pearl Harbor Trilogy – 1941: Red Sun Rising one of the better Wii aerial combat games, and not just on WiiWare.

Puzzle Agent's dark and strange story proves to be quite compelling, but the hit-and-miss puzzles keep this pilot episode from truly impressing.

Despite the glaring flaws, there's a huge amount of enjoyment to be had with Singularity. It's not an essential title, but it certainly brightens up this dull time of year.

A spectacle of sights and scores. Treasure has committed the best of sins to ascend to shoot 'em up heaven. Why not join them?

Superb application of the Transformers license and story help, for once, make the gameplay issues in Transformers: War for Cybertron worth rolling through.

They Stole Max's Brain! is another superb episode, with a great twist.

Toy Story 3 is a fun romp where you can set aside your inhibitions and play like you are a child again.

Tales of Monkey Island is an extremely funny romp that is well worth its meager price tag.

Earthworm Jim HD brings back one of the most fondly remembered platformers made in a far superior form.

A groundbreaking achievement for portable games. The biggest, the best, and the most engaging title available on PSP.

Mega Man Zero Collection is a generous package that gives gamers a chance to catch up on a great series, all for a fair price of $30.

Jolly Rover is a charming and highly amusing romp that's pretty much a must for any self-respecting adventure gaming fan.

Alpha Protocol is a commendable attempt at story-driven, role-playing action which sadly doesn't live up to its promise, leaving many of us to wonder at what it could have been with a little more polish.

While not being a complete bomb, Ubisoft's take on arcade soccer is fundamental flawed.You're probably better off tuning into the World Cup itself rather than sitting down with Pure Football.

Though it will not appeal to all, UFC Undisputed 2010 is a polished product that does well to replicate the world of Ultimate Fighting and should satisfy UFC fans and fighting game fans in general.

ModNation Racers frees gamers from the shackles of the kart racer formula and injects a healthy dose of fun and creativity into the kart racing scene.

Bizzare hasn't broken any rules, instead choosing to fine-tune and streamline Blur into something that every racing fan should experience.

With interesting new modes and solid local multiplayer, Tetris Party Deluxe offers endless enjoyment with classic and additive Tetris gameplay.

High Tetris quality at a high entry price that ultimately comes down to disk versus digital.

As close to a perfect game as any you will play this year, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an exuberant masterpiece of game design. Challenging yet accessible, imaginative yet aglow with nostalgia, this is a game for everyone which posits Nintendo as a master at the height of its power.

Alan Wake is an absolute masterpiece of great storytelling engrossed in a deep backstory, accompanied with brilliant complementary gameplay to an amazing degree.

You have a straight-forward yet remarkably compelling story to follow, an ambitious and vast landscape full of discovery and extra tasks that complement the main game without taking away from it.

Split / Second: Velocity is frenetic, exciting and gorgeous, but beneath the glittering surface lays a repetitive, shallow arcade racer that is ultimately encumbered by an unfair level of difficulty which discourages long-term investment.

Far from being a mediocre tie in to the Prince's cinematic escapade, the Forgotten Sands is a platformer of the utmost quality, albeit one which unfortunately favours familiarity over invention.

Not to be missed by fans of point-and-click adventuring, The Tomb of Sammun-Mak represents the very best of Sam & Max, boasting ingenious puzzles and a surplus of imagination.

Skate 3 just barely surpasses its predecessor to become the best of the genre, but the lack of fresh ideas (along with the various bugs) will leave many people feeling as though their money could have been better spent elsewhere.

Capcom’s defrosted sequel offers some satisfactory multiplayer and co-op play, but fails completely as a solo experience. Lost Planet 2 may look and sound astonishing, but it is ultimately undermined by poor design and frustrating gameplay.

Nostalgic moments are crushed by poor design choices in an ultimately futile attempt to recreate classic gaming.

Fistful of Cake is exactly the same as its bigger sister on the PlayStation 3, only even fatter with loads of great new content and game modes.

A fascinating mix of varied gameplay, tried conventions and one of the best JRPG stories in a while make Nier a much better prospect than it intially seems.

Super Street Fighter IV is not just some money-grubbing upgrade, it's a revamp and re-energisation of a fantastic game. Must buy for anyone even considering it.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is an excellent football game for the fans who only come out every four years, and it plays a good game of football in its own right as well.

Hyperballoid HD is meant for the casual gamer, as it's a fun, accessible and very affordable piece of gaming.

After Burner Climax definitely delivers in the explosions, thrills and fun, but much like a Half Minute Hero, it's over before you know it.

A decent addition to any rhythm game enthusiast's collection, no matter what the age or experience level. However, older or more experienced gamers may find that the game lacks challenge and that the game's aesthetic is a tad too cheery.

Beat Hazard has a brilliant premise, which is sadly let down by uninspired gameplay and lacklustre presentation. Still, if you're a fan of twin-stick shooters and love music, then this game is for you.

The Penal Zone is as charming and laugh-out loud funny as any entry in the Sam & Max franchise; intricate puzzles and sharp writing making it a smart download for any adventure game aficionado. Good job, little buddy.

Splinter Cell: Conviction features an engrossing campaign and superb co-operative mode. Ubisoft has implemented some serious changes to advance the series and create a worthy stealth-action game.

Samurai Shodown Sen is a competent weapon-based fighting game with some unique gameplay mechanics. Unfortunately, it suffers from far too many shortcomings to make it worth recommending.

Although there is still room for improvement, Warband's excellent combat system, respectable multiplayer and a lifespan that will prove to be a total timesink means that the game is well worth the USD$29.99 price tag on Steam. Fans of the action RPG genre and medieval games in general would do well to pick this one up.

Just Cause 2 reminds us why we play games in the first place: to have an utterly ridiculous amount of fun, and to surf jets because it's possible.

Red Steel 2 is a great little arcade shooter/slasher that will hopefully be a benchmark and catalyst for more Wii Motion Plus titles.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey is one of the most dense, addictive and compelling role playing games you can find on the Nintendo DS.

Moto GP 09/10 is a competent racing sim, but is never as exhilarating, beautiful or engaging as one would hope.

Supreme Commander 2 is a strategy game that plays very well for the casual market, but may turn off the hardcore fans of the original title. However, make no mistake that this is still a fun game with enough depth to be worthy of your time.

Infinite Space wonderfully replicates being in command of a fleet of spaceships, but is lessened by poor path-finding and unforgiving and prolonged battle mechanics.

As a single-player game Tiberian Twilight is a complete failure, though multiplayer is somewhat redeeming. Though long-term fans of the franchise would do better to crack out one of the older titles and reminisce over the series' glory days.

While some areas tend to fall flat and the world can sometimes feel a bit disjointed, Metro 2033 is a unique and unforgettable experience.

God of War III is as brutal and suitable a conclusion as you could have possibly asked for. Kratos WILL get his revenge.

Resonance is a bold and intriguing role-playing game which is held back by an atypically poor narrative and a preposterous difficulty curve which will alienate all but the most dedicated.

Whether you're an old-school trainer or a newbie to the world of Pokémon, you'll be hard pressed to find a portable role-playing experience as engrossing as Pokémon: Heart Gold/Soul Silver.

Whether you're an old-school trainer or a newbie to the world of Pokémon, you'll be hard pressed to find a portable role-playing experience as engrossing as Pokémon: Heart Gold/Soul Silver.

Chaos Rising is a lovingly crafted and highly entertaining stand alone expansion with a whole lot of content and a boatload of Chaos.

A brave step in a new direction for the series. It won’t please everyone, but Final Fantasy XIII succeeds where it counts.

Yakuza 3 is a delicious serving of bone cracking action with a dash of RPG sensibilities to boot. Those looking for a good dose of brawling action to sink some hours into should look no further.

Bad Company 2 is a great single player experience, but a near Godly multiplayer one. A must play for shooter fans, especially in the PC community.

Sonic Classic Collection compiles some of the greatest platformers of all time in one convenient portable package.

While slightly weighed down by its ambition, Heavy Rain provides a riveting mature-themed story, and an adventure driven by the decisions you make and the actions you succeed in. And best of all, there is nothing out there quite like it.

It’s Mario Kart with Sega characters, trading off originality for simple, enjoyable gameplay with a nostalgic twist.

Aliens vs Predator is a fanboys dream come true and works very well for the most part, though a bit of bug spray and polish could've pushed it through to the stratosphere. Recommended.

Miles Edgeworth provides another worthy addition in the Ace Attorney series, with plenty of charm, humour and intrigue. This spin-off isn't as different as you might imagine, but fans will eat it up.

Refined gameplay and a wonderfully imagined return to Rapture makes Bioshock 2 a must play experience, and one of the best games available this generation. Incredibly effective and, like the first, leaves an impression that lasts.

Dante’s Inferno is an enjoyable and technically impressive action game which is otherwise blighted by its unappealing aesthetics and wholesale lack of originality.

Diplomacy is a worthy add-on to an already stellar game, but those looking for more action and less negotiation may want to give it a miss.

On occasion, Star Trek Online comes together and provides an epic and fun experience. However, these moments are hidden deep inside the repetitive and boring gameplay.

White Knight Chronicles may provide some joy for the JRPG faithful, but it feels tired, bland and uneven in almost all aspects.