It's a lot of distraction for not a lot of money. [July 2012, p.109]

By far the biggest problem here is how Sonic himself handles. [July 2012, p.106]

It suffers from a couple unfortunate problems but counters these with some neat new innovations. [July 2012, p.101]

It works well and is reasonably enjoyable at first as cartoon underlings are crushed by your mighty powers. The difficulty eventually ramps up the challenge, and special characters like element-immune priests are there to shake things up. It only partially works though, and overly long missions and an objective that gets stale too quick stops this building anything impressive on its solid foundation.

Give me the option of a night in with the first season's Blu-ray boxset or this mostly shabby spin-off and I'd go HD Sean Bean chivalry every time.

Despite its presentational flaws – the script is married to some deeply underwhelming visuals – and lack of true inspiration, solid implementation of both the basic mechanics and the wannabe game-changer mean it floats our boat, even if we're not flipping out.

Mad Riders' only real problem is a lack of originality, as most of its makeup is borrowed from ATV games that have come before. But it's tweaked and mixed these ingredients together so well that it deserves to be called the best of them – and at £7.99 there's more than enough value on offer to appeal to anyone out there.

Its insistence on your covering the screen in fingerprints is occasionally frustrating, but otherwise this suggests a very bright future for the FPS genre on Vita.

An irritating experience. [June 2012, p.115]

As fugly as it is inventive, this is an addictive if unpolished treat. [June 2012, p.115]

It never reaches the breakneck speeds you're hoping for. [June 2012, p.115]

There's no question that the content on offer here is stronger than a Nigel De Jong reducer. [June 2012, p.114]

It's these impossibly dull missions that let Crash Time 4 down so severely. [June 2012, p.113]

Fish are boring. Not sharks, obviously - they're great. [June 2012, p.107]

The format's best sports game. [June 2012, p.105]

Compellingly charming. [June 2012, p.104]

It's got multiplayer appeal that deserves a busy community, pick-up-and-play appeal for the casual speedster, and a clear sense of character that gives even experienced players a genuine challenge (and a unique play style). So while it stands out for lack of serious competition rather than ingenuity, new Dirt is nonetheless a show worth buying a ticket for.

With a multiplayer option – which would alleviate the unpredictability of your companion when playing single player – and plenty of collectibles as well as stacks of puzzles, The Eternity Clock has a lot to offer but there are just too many frustrations to wholly recommend this.

Kat is the perfect, charmingly reluctant heroine, and stylish, interactive cut-scenes reveal her to be endearing and smart-talking. Sharp characters and an utterly bonkers narrative combine with gorgeous visuals to create a wholly unique experience, and this is the thrilling and magical adventure that you and your Vita deserve.

The dialogue's sharp and well-acted, and the puzzles never stray into the ridiculous or contrived. It simply feels like playing the comic, and that's as strong an endorsement for a season pass as you'll hear. Roll on episode two.

Only a slight lack of polish lets things down. Although it's generally a pretty game, poor character models and clipping make the cast of genero-men look like beardy versions of Morph. For all the novels sold, Clancy's PS3 titles still can't tell a compelling story, either. Yet with such a brilliantly playful toolset and strong online features (including four-player campaign co-op and a compelling wave-based Guerrilla mode) this is the most impressive soldier since that blue American bloke with the indestructible shield.

Adventurers both young and old will appreciate the frantic battles against a range of fairytale monsters in medieval villages and deep underground caverns. As if by magic, it seems that Move has finally found its happily ever after.

If you were in a bad mood, you could hang Dragon's Dogma out to dry for its clumsy camera and controls, simplistic warrior-rogue-mage class choice, shallow combat and bad dialogue (which frequently misuses the words ere, e'er, aught, ought, ill, and so on.) But it's hard to be in a bad mood while playing such a brave, sprawling, original take on role-playing. Accept its failings and you get to enjoy its beautifully esoteric successes.

A dark, cinematic single-player campaign lasting around ten hours coupled with a compelling multiplayer offering make this a worthy addition to the genre, even if it can't quite compete in the very top tier. But for legacy's sake, we hope that this time Max's retirement is permanent.

While it's short there is some interesting imagery (although visually the polish varies between adequate and woefully poor) and with an open mind it's a fascinating experience you'll mull over for a while.

A boiling pot of real time strategy, vehicle combat and third person shooting, designed for gruelling tugs of tactical war. If the space setting appeals and you like shooters with a cerebral bite, there's plenty to love. Just don't buy it for the solo campaign alone – the story is thinner than the lunar atmosphere and essentially an elaborate training tool.

There's an element of novelty in the first few minutes of play, but it doesn't last long. It isn't even the sketchy gameplay that sinks this Battleship – it's the abhorrently commercial objective apparent in every second of rushed gameplay. There's no artistic vision here, and the original idea at its core hasn't been given the time and love needed to build a coherent or enjoyable game.

The mechanics of Awesomenauts initially feel overly shallow – to its detriment. Combat mostly consists of repeatedly pressing one or two face buttons, and there's no real diversity in your objectives. But as you become more familiar, the game's tactical options reveal themselves, and honing your approach to capitalise upon your favourite character's skillset is an enjoyable process.

An atmospheric and compulsive experience. It's only taken three versions of the same game for you to notice it exists, and if you can ignore the clunky controls and concentrate on aiming that gun, there's much to enjoy.

Only hardcore annelid lovers need apply. [May 2012, p.116]

From awful to appealing. [May 2012, p.116]

The AI appears to have all the intellect of an overcooked marrow, which might very well make a more appealing videogame. [May 2012, p.116]

This quirky platforming exercise raises man smiles. [May 2012, p.116]

If you liked Shank before, you'll still get on alright with this. [May 2012, p.116]

Up-'til-3am immersive. [May 2012, p.108]

A surefire way to induce nausea. [May 2012, p.107]

Feels like a two-wheeled Dirt imitator without the polish. [May 2012, p.107]

Charming. [May 2012, p.107]

As an exercise in Playstation fear, it doesn't come any purer than this. [May 2012, p.104]

A far stronger game than the original in every aspect, and a compelling counterpoint to inFamous 2, Prototype 2 is nothing less than a gore-packed sandbox masterpiece throughout. Like the nefarious Alex Mercer himself, it's absolutely worth hunting down.

Whether you find its t&a-heavy stylings cheap or charming, the unique combat and constantly entertaining animations are almost enough to elevate it into the realms of the genre's giants. At present though, without an on-screen moves list it's too fiddly to put the hours of training into – which is frustrating, because you will want to put those hours in.

A survival game that gets way more right than wrong. Resources are genuinely scarce, a real sense of danger permeates the whole thing, and the post-apocalyptic setting has been well crafted. That a game with such a troubled development has turned out so well is impressive, and as a different gaming experience it's well worth a play – even if it does feel like a warm up for The Last Of Us.

The real problem, however, is that these are not the kind of games that should be remade in hi-def. With titles such as Shadow Of The Colossus or Metal Gear Solid 3, it figures: these are unique experiences that no game since has been able to recreate, outdo or even capture the spirit of. Devil May Cry was lauded at the time, but the games simply aren't classics in that same bracket.

There are many things to like about Warriors Orochi 3. The over-the-top madness, enormous scale battles, and – bizarrely enough – gibberish storyline all have varying levels of charm. Sadly the overly familiar mechanics and uninspired level design somewhat undermine all of this.

It's fun, but only in the same way wanging around plastic trucks was back when you wore Bananaman pyjamas. [Apr 2012, p.118]

Feel dirty. [Apr 2012, p.118]

It's basic, ugly and lacks any sense of excitement. [Apr 2012, p.118]

This never quite gets free of its cell of mediocrity. [Apr 2012, p.118]

A maddeningly addictive top-down shooter. [Apr 2012, p.118]

It's so ugly that your Vita will likely look embarrassed at having to play it. [Apr 2012, p.115]

A bit inconsistent. [Apr 2012, p.115]

Solid, if slightly dreary. [Apr 2012, p.115]

The stealth lacks Ezio's style. [Apr 2012, p.115]

Engrossing pick-up-and-play action. [Apr 2012, p.115]

Brainteasers are trapped in an overly punitive framework. [Apr 2012, p.113]

The restrictive and repetitious combat is too simplistic to keep your attention for dynastic periods. [Apr 2012, p.113]

Sadly, at more than four times the price of the iPhone version, it's hard to recommend too highly. [Apr 2012, p.113]

Touchscreen is implemented nicely. [Apr 2012, p.113]

20 new trials - feats of skill that perfectly complement the flawlessly translated controlset. [Apr 2012, p.113]

It's also overly familiar, too short and full of irritating load times. [Apr 2012, p.113]

Jak can still turn heads. [Apr 2012, p.112]

A surprisingly satisfying cartoon RPS that scratches that itch to war a binliner as a cowl very nicely. [Apr 2012, p.105]

The combat is still woeful. [Apr 2012, p.97]

Ten quid is a steep asking price. [Apr 2012, p.97]

It quickly becomes repetitive nonsense. [Apr 2012, p.97]

A good, solid racer, but not a great one. Its main problem is that it undeniably compares unfavourably with its closest competitors (it's secondary problem is its grating soundtrack, but I'll charitably let it off the standard -2 dubstep modifier). With a less inhibited approach to level design and slightly more refined handling its success would be less qualified.

This is still a fine package, though. A new Country Clubs feature enables you and your friends to compete against one another and rival clubs, boosting your XP and coin-earning potential all the while, and the career mode is still huge. There's also the new Tiger Legacy Challenge, where you relive Eldrick's career from the age of two right into the future – it's a massive, well-executed addition narrated by the man himself.

For the large part, whether offline or on, Operation RC manages to successfully inject old skool Resi charm into an enjoyably frenetic shooter. If the idea of battling rooms full of stretchy-tongued monstrosities with athletic controls in iconic surroundings has your Umbrella sense tingling, this is well worth a look.

It's not entirely awful. Scaling buildings with your previously mentioned rocket feet gives proceedings an enjoyable verticality. Smashing houses, tanks and 'copters is also empowering like breaking fine china with a giant smashy mallet. But with the most annoying AI this side of Johnny 5 and one-note combat, ACV is repetitive robot rubbish.

Solo play is as forgettable as it is fun, then, but there's a razor-sharp silver lining in the form of multiplayer.

It is, very much, a game of two halves. The production values are low – like kicking a three-legged kitten low – but the combat system is a crazy, unique joy. If someone, er, liberally 'borrowed' it in a title with a triple-A budget we could be looking at something really special.

Silent Hill fans will appreciate the atmosphere, but it's bogged down in old-fashioned gameplay that just doesn't cut it. Sadly, we grew up. Equally sadly, Silent Hill never did.

This is a fantastic alternative to the main series – offering up all the thrills of your Monday-night work league, without the worry about talk of P45s after 'accidentally' shouldering your boss into a wall.

It's hard to look past the massively fugly engine. While the copious cut-scenes are pleasing to the eyes, the in-game visuals look like a glorified, smudgy PS2 game. And yet for all its flaws, Dead Souls still lets you battle women in bloody cocktail dresses and wannabe Lickers with a sympathetic loan shark. It's this ludicrously bizarre charm that makes Dead Souls more than the sum of its reanimated parts.

This tries to be the History Channel when it might have been better off as the Memphis Belle, and despite some impressive physics and detail, it's that dull staging that cooks this bird.

Despite feeling the need to shower regularly during much of Twisted Metal, though, this should still be considered a successful return. A super violent serving of chunkily satisfying motor carnage, it offers a unique P53 joyride. Just tone down the Ronald McDonald homicide next time, eh?

Not a lot of games – almost no games, in fact – manage to establish the kind of white-hot emotional connection between player, cast and setting that Mass Effect 3 somehow conjures. That's the reason this story of Earth, the galaxy and Shepard's last stand is so harrowing, and why people will be talking about it for years to come.

Tekken fans will wait for Namco's own Tekken X Street Fighter to really sink their teeth into, but for the SF devout and series agnostic fighting fans, SFKT offers finely tuned and emergent action and a positively regal rumble of the genre's celebrated a-listers.

If you own Sony's handheld but haven't bought this yet, then quite simply you're doing Vita wrong.

It's one of the few games you'll genuinely reflect on after completion, and an object lesson in how less can be more when it comes to crafting narrative and eliciting investment. This is a game about which I would change nothing, and I can't remember having said that too many times before.

The difficulty curve is satisfying. [March 2012, p.115]

Clever and beautiful in places, Puddle's just too wet behind the ears to know when its players need a break. [March 2012, p.107]

It's mainly gore-splattered fun. [March 2012, p.103]

It's still worth going back to see where [Little Spiky's] come from. [March 2012, p.103]

Gallivanting through online co-op is an absolute hoot of the simplest and most addictive order. [March 2012, p.103]

The best tennis game on PS3. [March 2012, p.101]

Quite the bizarre experience. [March 2012, p.96]

This kiddie platformer couldn't be more by-the-numbers if it was presented in binary. [March 2012, p.95]

It does get repetitive after a while, but there's funny dialogue, simple yet effective mechanics, and 'copter unlocks to keep you hooked. [March 2012, p.95]

Stuttery. [March 2012, p.95]

Whether it's playing Buckaroo on your board for 15 seconds straight or hearing the game manually mix your custom soundtrack during an über-trick – bloody surreal when you're listening to Bankrobber by The Clash – there's nothing else quite like this on PS3. After years of waiting to get royally piste up, SSX's blizzardy brilliance remains as intoxicating as ever.

It's the best kind of 7/10. The gunplay is raucous, but never revolutionary. The relationships make you laugh, if not cry. Binary Domain is unpolished in all the right places – the rough edges make it a unique metal snowflake in a production line of identical, shiny shooters. Fill that Mass Effect gap with a game that loves you.

The impact of the visuals on Vita are impressive enough, but together with a solid control set and at least an attempt to include new features make this easy to recommend.

Taking a similar approach to Heavy Rain's storytelling-with-a-controller, Asura's Wrath is a brave, unique and beautiful interactive animation that's simply a bit light on gameplay. Unlike Quantic Dream's game, your mistakes have little consequence and you're not offered decisions about Asura's destiny. If you were, he could have ascended even higher.

As a means of getting both your head and hands around Vita and its multitude of interfaces, there's nothing better. Forget the pre-loaded Welcome Park – within a few minutes of loading Frobisher Says, you feel at home stabbing, smudging and shaking away at the handheld.

For a first-season effort, FIFA Football is a seriously impressive achievement.

It's an overly complicated system that screams of an attempt to be modern and forward-looking, but will actually end up with a bunch of pissed-off purchasers feeling like they've paid nearly 20 pounds for a trial version. Which, to be perfectly honest, is pretty much all this is.

A satisfying difficulty curve seals the deal and makes Rayman Origins one of the strongest titles in an already muscular line up. Not bad for a character without any arms.