A pure, stripped-down, focused shooter that handles the fundamentals of firstperson violence better than any other titles before it, while also managing to be the best-looking game on the PS3 by quite a margin. Bring on the multiplayer.

Matt Hazard was a good idea that could have been something like the gaming equivalent of Naked Gun. Unfortunately, Vicious Cycle messed it up, so as well as a bad game, we must now bear the disappointment of a wasted premise.

Good looks and a combination of basic challenges and unlockables add to a colourful arcade experience. Longevity may be an issue, but Blood On The Sand is a hip-hop hoot while it lasts.

Shellshock 2 combines technical inferiority as a shooter with a woeful attempt at survival horror. It’s kicked around and stomped to death by Call Of Duty and Silent Hill in their respective genres, and is thus left as an entirely useless exercise in gaming terms.

Aside from being in a league of its own, Noby Noby Boy is so charming it can transform you from a respectable adult to a child in minutes. Don’t resist the urge – rediscover why you decided to play games in the first place.

High price aside, Zuma is nevertheless a great puzzler that has you stopping a line of multicolored marbles before they reach the exit found on each stage's path. [Issue#182, p.83]

Endlessly entertaining and featuring a fantastic selection of fighters, Street Fighter IV is the best one-on-one brawler your PS3 is ever likely to see. It deserves to be experienced by anyone with even a passing interest in the genre.

If you're into games like "Devil May Cry" or "God Hand" where no punch is pulled, Prinny is totally worth a look, dood. [Issue#181, p.81]

It won’t appeal to some PS3 owners, but if you enjoy the smell of grass and have no objection to recycling, however, then Flower is definitely appropriate.

While not exactly original, Project Origin certainly offers FPS fans a vivid entertainment experience. If you’re a fan of the original and you’ve finished Killzone 2 and Resistance 2 then give this a look.

LocoRoco 2 is as amusing as the original, but the differences between the two are marginal at best. Luckily, the swell controls and endearing visuals will enchant the audience of the first all over again.

Some of these games are good – some aren’t. It’s only about £30 for 48 titles and it’ll make your house look tidier, and save your knees from too much bending down.

X-Blades is pleasing to the eye – and not just for the obvious reasons – but otherwise lacking in ambition, imagination or charm. Ayumi feels like a massive backward step for videogame heroines. Still, nice bum.

This does lack the longevity that other PlayStation Network games have and it's likely to be pretty forgettable. [Issue#88, p.89]

Savage Moon is a fine companion piece to PixelJunk Monsters. However, the learning curve is softer, visually it’s a lot less obscure and there are a few more options that make it the deeper strategy experience.

It’s a great-looking game, thick with atmosphere and brilliant music. Sadly, someone forgot to show as much care to the gameplay, so only fans of the comics and TV series are likely to finish the adventure with much satisfaction.

Improves on the original in many ways, but fails to address its most fundamental flaw – that its challenges are generally too narrow, prescriptive and frustrating. The fantastic new Hall Of Meat mode offers some considerable compensation, though.

It’s painfully slow for a PSP title at points, but it’s as old-school an RPG as you could wish for. The pseudo real-time combat makes things a little more interesting than your usual random battles, though.

Amusing and distinctive. [Issue#174, p.93]

It’s clear what has happened here, Pandemic was chosen to make a Lord Of The Rings Dynasty Warriors game, but it messed it up even more than if Koei had handled it itself. It’s best you leave this well alone.

Why fiddle with perfection? This is essential if you’re a newcomer.

An amusing game to play for short stretches of time. [Issue#174, p.92]

A host of intriguing ideas are severely undermined by weak presentation and far too many bugs. With another six months and an increased budget, Rise Of The Argonauts could have fulfilled its obvious promise.

This is far from the return to form many have expected, and we now see why Sega was so keen to keep its new take on Sonic’s character a secret. Despite some promising moments, Sonic Unleashed collapses under the weight of its flaws.

As a swan song to the PS2 Persona 4 isn’t the highest note and all the bizarre characters, storylines and Personas you unlock can’t change that. But if you don’t mind grinding too much then there is some enjoyment to be had.

Prince Of Persia creates a beautiful world, and offers a real sense of wonder, as well as fantastic exploration opportunities. Aside from combat and camera issues, this is fun and a return to form for the prince.

The PSN title will remain the preserve of retro fans, and those who prefer either a simpler or more affordable game than Street Fighter II's bigger and better sequel. [Issue#176, p.95]

The fixes and changes have dragged Alone In The Dark from being a god-awful game to an okay one. It can’t compete with the likes of Dead Space, but it can cosy up with other mediocrity such as Siren: Blood Curse.