But fight fans beware - this isn't Street Fighter IV or Tekken. This is as real as it gets.

We'd get rid of power-ups completely, or at least, implement them so they don't murder the flow of each race.

Playing through the game you can't help but be aware of the minds behind this marvel. This is not just ingenious, but also well balanced, always fair and never inconsistent. You know where you are with Super Mario Galaxy 2 because you are spending time with some old friends. Not really the characters themselves - familiar and cute as they are - but the creative talents behind it all.

Alan Wake is a good game. But as well as a recommendation, I'd suggest you take your time with the first play through, because it's a game you can also only really experience once properly. You will most likely play it more than once - but that first time is the real charm of the thing.

Perhaps not only the best game Rockstar has made thus far, but it's one of the best games we've ever played - an unreserved work of genius. It has its flaws and is by no means perfect, but Red Dead Redemption is to the Western what GTA is to the crime genre and should be held up as a definitive example of how open-world games are supposed to be made.

I find myself strangely drawn to its slightly old school re-imagining on the arcade racer. You might be tempted to wait for a fleshed out sequel, but I suspect that in hindsight this will be the version to play - before it feels the need to grow up or add more complexity.

With a fairly engaging storyline and compelling gameplay, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is a worthy addition to the series. It is nonetheless dragged down by short-lived narrative with few extras and the nagging feeling that the franchise is taking a backwards step rather than a stride forward with this instalment.

Ultimately though, Lost Planet 2 leaves a sour taste in the mouth as an immense disappointment, because it really should have been one of the year's biggest blockbuster action titles, yet it sadly falls some way short.

Skate 3 doesn't deviate much from the series' winning formula, but by heavily focusing on the multiplayer it ignores some of what made the first two games so unique. Still, the subtle changes all work for the better and the underlying design mechanics are still as entertaining as ever.

The only potential upset for those fond of Picross DS is that there are no nods to other Nintendo properties, so that means no more Mario-themed objects to be carefully unearthed. That's the smallest of minor quibbles, though, and it's silly to be anything other than delighted by the sheer glut of perplexing content available here.

The Second Encounter was (and is) arguably the best entry into the Serious Sam series, juggling the right balance between flippant colourful whimsy and pelleting grubby monsters so hard they turn into a crimson paste.

It's a big game, and one that requires a serious amount of dedication and commitment. You can't just dabble in Street Fighter, but you shouldn't really want to: spend a few hours trying to learn it and you'll be hooked for life. This is the epitome of hardcore gaming, a masterclass of competition that demands the u[t]most in technical proficiency and mental clarity.

2010 FIFA World Cup is a brilliant football game and a perfect example of how to build a proper game around a one-off tournament. It's hands-down the best football game out there at the moment until FIFA 11 at least.

This is a glorious, wonderful world to explore, a painterly land bristling with character and emotion. It pains me that I can't recommend it wholeheartedly.

Monster Hunter isn't the most difficult game of all time, of course, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a contemporary title that places such rigorous demands on its players' dedication and skill. In the same respect, it tends to either terrify its audience off within a couple of hours or engulf them completely.

A game that more than makes up for the protracted wait, with both a fantastic single player campaign and brilliantly worthwhile multiplayer component to boot.

When the only reason you're compelled to continue playing a game is to point and laugh at how badly the entire thing has been thrown together, you know that it has major problems.

Such a regressive, unexciting game deserves nothing but our collective scorn: it insults the medium and its audience. The greatest kick in the teeth, though? Every website and magazine will go to the effort of writing a review because it's guaranteed to provide a steady stream of traffic. Look - I'm doing one right now! Sex sells no matter how loathsome and uninspired the tacked-on game proves to be, and everyone at Tecmo obviously knows it.

It accomplishes what it sets out to do, but the Stimulus Package feels closer to a shot of caffeine than it does adrenaline.

More than most games your personal level of satisfaction with WarioWare DIY will be directly proportional to what you expect out of it.

You're effectively getting two games for the price of one with Just Cause 2. The first is a creative but flaky action game with a criminally stupid story. But the second is a budget-priced holiday to the most remarkable and culturally diverse nations in the world, one where hilarious cartoon violence is just a part of everyday life.

Red Steel 2 is a series of hugely entertaining combat skirmishes linked by some slightly formulaic level design. It's a lot of fun to play, with the steady rhythm of combat proving hugely satisfying, and it's great to see the Wii MotionPlus being used outside of Wii Sports Resort.

Settlers 7, may not be to everyone's taste but it does offer a great opportunity to settle down, kick back and enjoy a more cerebral and regally-paced gaming experience.

Some might still feel that this is severely lacking in the challenge department though, so approach with caution.

It's clear that EA are onto something with their new-age C&C formula but, as it stands, the core needs a little work. The series, once the most explosive game of the medium, looks like it's going out with a whimper.

On a very basic level it's little more than a conventional corridor shooter, however, it's draped in such atmospheric finery you'll hardly notice.

Some of the most engrossing combat and visceral action the PS3 has to offer - presented expertly.

Quite simply one of the best games you'll never play.