The checkpoints aren't that well-placed, which may lead to some frustration along the way... that's the only complaint we have. What we actually want to say is that Max Payne 3 is a fantastic shooter with an unseen filmic flair that even holds up nicely in comparison with Uncharted 3. And that's saying A LOT.

It's far from perfect, but nevertheless this is a great and addictive online shooter gamers will not mind spending months of their lives on. The singleplayer feels like an obligation rather than an inspired part of the package, but then again, nobody buys Starhawk for the offline experience.

An exciting first episode for what will hopefully - and after playing this game probably - be a great series. It captures that particular style we've come to know and love from the comics and manages to expand on the already satisfying story of the TV-series. A must-play for The Walking Dead fans.

A fine, if short, sequel to 2009's PROTOTYPE. We had quite a lot of fun playing this game, but an anticlimactic story, weak AI and the lack of a karma system keep it from becoming a masterpiece. Maybe PROTOTYPE 3 will reach the lofty heights Radical Entertainment is aiming for.

No, this is actually not a bad game. On the contrary, it's short but sweet experience everyone should try out… even if the price is a little steep.

With smooth controls, hundreds of detailed planes to fly in and an online co-op that will keep you playing for hours and hours, Birds of Steel is definitely worth a try. Just don't fly too close to the ground; your eyes might not like what you find.

A fun story, challenging puzzles, diverse levels and a charming atmosphere… A worthy successor to the well-received original.

A mediocre, but fun game. The main letdowns are the lousy production values in cutscenes and the sometimes clumsy touchscreen controls.

The amount of destruction, the very interesting City creator and overall smooth controls make Ridge Racer: Unbounded a great game for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

When will developers learn that it's not cool to keep forcing us to shut down the entire game if we want to switch titles? Other than that – and maybe the often annoying camera – these are still the great platform games we've come to know and love, only prettier.

Finally, Naruto's back on track. This is a great game for fans of the ultimate ninja, with a well-told story, smooth controls and a lot of variation. The awakening mode turns out to be an amazing addition to the established lore. A nice surprise overall.

The story's a bit unnecessary, but who cares? This is one hell of a game, chaotic and nostalgic fun for the whole family… well, now that you mention it, you might keep your kids out of reach.

A great fighting game, especially for Street Fighter fans. Tekken fans may end up disappointed though, since a lot of their beloved characters and moves have been omitted entirely. A rather large amount of online lag keeps the multiplayer from reaching lofty heights.

It may be a bit too accessible – even an unskilled player can perform the most awesome moves by randomly twiddling the right analog stick – but in the end this is one hell of a football game.

We've got a few minor complaints, but overall Bioware ends its epic space trilogy in style. Thank you, Commander Sheppard for making an incredible amount of our days in the last few years.

Now here's a nice surprise! A puzzle game with smooth controls, slick graphics and more than the necessary amount of variation. It's a little short, but don't let that stop you from buying it.

A cool story draws you into this game and won't let you go until you've seen how it all ends. Beyond that, Binary Domain is a sweet shooter with intuitive controls and a nice, Japanese atmosphere. It's not all gold though, since a lack of in-game depth and a lackluster online multiplayer keep this game from reaching the top.

Lumines as we've come to know and love it. Once a PSP system seller, now a Vita seller. Some things will never change (even though we would have liked some more content!).

A great handheld game with a few minor issues. In the end, there's definitely a lack of content and frankly, some minigames are flatout boring. But a great graphical presentation and incredibly smooth controls make this game rise above its shortcomings.

A few questionable design choices, like your inability to disable auto-aim and a camera way to close on your avatar, keep Unit 13 from reaching the absolute top. This is, however, a very solid shooter that will keep you playing for a long time to come.

This is what Mario on a Sony platform would feel like… without the groovy moustache (and limbs for that matter). It's a shame Ubisoft did not include the co-op though and why implement touch options when it's more practical to use the traditional control scheme?

A challenging fighter with smooth controls and stylish visuals. You won't find a story worth telling here, but we have yet to find a Blazblue fan who gives a damn. Buy this if you have a Vita and like fighting games.

Even though it's only two hours long, you won't forget playing Journey anytime soon. And more importantly, you won't regret it: this game is absolutely gorgeous, complemented by simple, but incredibly effective gameplay. If you're a gamer with some form of self-esteem, you'll pick this up as soon as possible.

Less trashtalking and more hustling would have been nice, but this is definitely the best handheld pool game out there.

It's been a while, but SSX returns with a BANG! EA Canada delivers in almost every way, giving us the best virtual snowboard experience yet. The lack of online multiplayer is the only real downside.

Virtua Tennis as we've come to know and love it... with very well-implemented touch controls. A must have for Vita owners with a passion for tennis.

A few framedrops here and there, a lack of music tracks and the fact that this is basically the same game as FIFA 12 may be drawbacks. But this is definitely the best football game on any handheld so far and the Vita touchscreen proves an ideal substitute for the normal button controls.

One of the best Vita launch games and the best puzzle game of 2012 so far, period. It's a shame the touch controls don't always work as well as they should, but overall this is a minor complaint.

We actually find it hard to come up with any complaints about Motorstorm RC. On the contrary, we feel like we've stolen this game. An extremely low price for a visually strong and extremely addictive racing game? You won't find a better deal anywhere soon.

Syndicate is definitely one of the nicer surprises of 2012 so far. The graphics may not be on par with genre toppers like Battlefield 3, but the tactical gameplay and co-op options make for a very entertaining shooter.

A neat idea transformed into a nice, little game. Agreed, sometimes it does get repetitive and frustration lurks around most corners, but in the end you won't regret putting some money and effort into Puddle.

Shank 2 is definitely an improvement over the first game in the series, but the lack of innovation ultimately doesn't warrant a higher score.

It's definitely not for everyone, but Catherine is a unique and challenging game that will leave you impressed and wanting more, even though you will likely have experienced quite a lot of frustration by the time you reach the end credits.

If there's one thing this game suffers from, it's originality. Other than that, Kingdoms of Amalur delivers on almost every level. Overall this is a gigantic and well-developed RPG which will keep you playing for a long time to come.

The loading times are steep, but other than that we can't think of many flaws to this fighting game. Adding PRIDE to the mix turns out to be a good call, resulting in an impressive roster of 150 fighters. Overall there's a nice increase in depth and modi, making for a nice third entry in the series.

Who wouldn't like the powers The Darkness has to offer? Okay, maybe our priest wouldn't. The Darkness II provides even more gruesome and gory fun than its predecessor and is overall the better game. Unfortunately, the often underwhelming enemy AI and the insultingly short length of the campaign somewhat spoil the fun.

And again we find ourselves playing a Vita game without a necessary online component, in this case the option for one on one duels. Other than that, a lack of proper innovation is the only drawback. You won't regret buying this addictive, accessible and very content-packed handheld title.

If not for the irritatingly long loading times, this might well be the best launch title for the PlayStation Vita Sony has in store for us. The feeling of speed still provides a satisfyingly big wow-factor, while the cross-platform options turn this title into a handheld pioneer. A must-have for every Vita-owner.

This game is everything you would expect from an Uncharted game. It's a superb action adventure title, highly entertaining and almost without flaws. The unique features of the PlayStation Vita are the icing on the cake, fitting nicely into Nathan Drake's newest adventure. Now, if only the story had been a little bit less predictable.

The Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is a must have for fans of the series and newcomers alike. Did you really expect anything different?

This update does bring a lot of new stuff to the table. If you haven't bought the original game yet, this is a must-buy for fighting fans. And even if you have, you shouldn't hesitate to get this.

This is definitely a step in the direction of that old Final Fantasy feel we've come to know and love. It feels like what the original Final Fantasy XIII should have been.

It's not as deep as Street Fighter IV or the Mortal Kombat reboot and the story mode is just awful. There's still, however, a lot of fun to be had with this game and the character creation mode guarantees hours and hours of extra playtime.

Dungeon Defenders is actually a pretty good game. The game has easy controls, fun characters and the online multiplayer is a blast. The twist on Tower Defense is actually quite interesting and keeps the game fresh for a rather long time.

After a great succes on the Nintendo Wii, we can now dance on the PlayStation 3 with the PlayStation Move. The game isn't really deep and complicated, just fun and It works extremely fast and the PlayStation Move is also accurate. One of the finest partygames for the holidays.

Even though the visual aren't all that impressive, this is a great HD version of a superb fighting game, backed up by a demo that definitely raises expectations for the upcoming Tekken Tag Tournament 2. Tekken: Blood Vengeance is a spectacular movie, but it doesn't stay as interesting in between fight scenes.

WWE 12 is yet again a great fighting game, but the game suffers a bit from some annoying bugs, visual mediocrity and repetitive gameplay. If you're a fan however, don't hesitate: there's enough content here to keep you busy until next year's outing.

The graphics and audio are weak, but the core gameplay is still as solid as ever. There may be a lack of innovation to justify buying both The Sims 3 and this glorified expansion pack though.

Everything you've come to expect from a LEGO game. Nothing more, nothing less. Which means you'll be spending a lot of time smashing LEGO bricks around and have an incredible amount of fun doing so.

It's simple, it's fun, it's addictive. It's also quite challenging. And above all: it's brilliant.

This is by far the best game in the franchise. You will have a blast playing through Saints Row: The Third and the so-called funniest game ever delivers on its premise. The graphical mediocrity is a shame, though.

The new Need for Speed game is one hell of a ride, but a few annoyances keep it from gaining as much praise as its predecessors. A short singleplayer campaign, weak A.I., disappointing visuals and long loading times are the main setbacks.

Yes, you can find some bugs and glitches here and there, but that's to be expected. What you should remember is that this game will slaughter your personal life and won't let you go until you've explored every bit of its huge open world. Now go and buy Skyrim, you won't regret it.

Fans of the Lord of the Rings won't mind the slightly disappointing graphics, the confusing story and the many small flaws in gameplay. They'll be happy to fight their way through Middle-Earth once more, using more than decent combat mechanics alone or with up to two friends.

You won't find a lot of innovation here, but the same formula still stands its ground. Den defense is a bit underwhelming and the graphics engine starts showing its age, but nevertheless fans should not hesitate to pick this one up.

This is a return to form, a fact that Rayman fans will certainly appreciate. It's a little bit inaccessible, but once you're past that problem, Origins will keep giving you reasons to come back.

This is a great way to celebrate the twentieth birthday of a videogame icon. 2D Sonic still stands for a superb platforming experience, while 3D Sonic shows us yet again why this series has gone downhill.

Modern Warfare 3 still has the great, spectacular gameplay the Call of Duty series has become known for and Survival is a fantastic addition to an already very attractive package. It's just that Infinity Ward doesn't manage to surprise us anymore and graphically... well, let's just say that the engine starts showing its age.

This game is still one of the best games ever. Scary, memorable and revolutionary. Therefore it's a shame that the HD in the title doesn't at all translate itself into a noticeable graphical upgrade.

There's no Remix modus and that's a shame, but this is by no means a gamebreaker. NBA Jam: On Fire is an accessible and incredibly fun game which will stay in your PS3 for a long time.

The short singleplayer campaign is disappointing, but we've come to expect that from the Battlefield franchise. Online this third iteration is still among the best shooters out there, even though we feel like DICE has made too much changes in an attempt to attract hardened Call of Duty fans.

Even though it's fun to return to New Marais and battle vampires as the now extra powerful Cole McGrath, Festival of Blood feels to much like a last-minute afterthought to inFamous 2 to receive a higher score. Still, inFamous fans should not hesitate to buy this.

Is this the perfect sequel? Yes. Rocksteady takes the core experience from the already fantastic Batman: Arkham Asylum and expands on it in every imaginable way. This is how every superhero game should be. Action game of the year!

Crysis is still a fantastisch First Person Shooter, but it starts to show its age. The disappointing enemy AI, the sometimes problematic framerate and the amount of pop-up make for a game that doesn't score quite as high on console as it did on PC.

Burnout: Crash presents a radical change in both style and gameplay for the franchise, but that doesn't mean it's a bad game. It's fun, accessible and incredibly addictive, even though the controls aren't always as responsive as they should be.

The king is back! This latest iteration of the popular NBA 2K franchise improves on its predecessor in almost every way and is therefore undoubtedly the best basketball game so far.

The first Ace Combat game on the PlayStation 3 does not disappoint. On the contrary, Namco Bandai delivers an incredibly satisfying game with an engaging storyline, a lot of variation and most of all: a huge amount of equally spectacular and accessible dogfights.

Words almost can't describe a game that nears perfection. And that is exactly what Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception does.

Originality is the hallmark of a great game and while Eufloria has its flaws – it's rather repetitive due to a lack of variation – it more than makes up for it with its unique premise and ditto execution.

If not for the amount of bugs, the slightly disappointing graphics and the lack of a truly interesting story, this would have been the perfect sequel to 2009's frustratingly hard Demon's Souls. It's still a fantastic experience though... if you're up for it.

Rage is an amazing game, but we can't help but feel that it doesn't reach its full potential. While the shooting and the racing often works brilliantly, a rather weak story, repetitive missions and a lot of graphical errors ultimately make for a disappointing game.

While the 2012 iteration of the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise is definitely better than its predecessors, it won't even get close to EA's contemporary FIFA masterpiece. The main reasons are the hideously bad AI, the ancient game modes and yet again the lack of proper licensing.

If not for the often failing SIXAXIS controls, this would have been the perfect puzzle experience. Simple, yet challenging gameplay complemented by a great visual style and ditto soundtrack make Mercury Hg a continuation of form for Archer MacLean.

Oh sweet originality, how I have missed you. Children of Eden's unique style and exciting gameplay make for a fantastic, spacing experience. The short length and the lack of multiplayer options are the only downsides to an otherwise fantastic game.

Explosions, explosions, explosions… You either love them or hate them. If you belong to the first category, than this is your game. If not, well, then you're better off elsewhere.

This incredibly addictive, though often frustrating game is at its best when you're playing with friends. Which makes the absence of an online multiplayer mode all the more surprising.

EA proves yet again that FIFA is the best football game series. This year's installment tops the previous one with an new physics engine, improved defensive mechanics and a more elaborate career mode. Kudos!

Although F1 2011 is visually rather underwhelming and suffers from excruciatingly long loading times, this is still the best F1 game yet.

Being God is always fun, period! Challenging gameplay and a unique atmosphere make for a very addicting experience, but control issues and plain stupid AI keep it from reaching the absolute top in the genre.

It's a shame Dead Island does not live up to the hype. Granted, the game is a lot of fun and Banoi makes for an entertaining and extremely atmospheric playground, but a lack of story and a lack of depth keep it from becoming an instant classic.

Even though NFL 12 doesn't exactly outclass its predecessor, It's still better than NFL 11. Improved drafting and the new collision system are fine additions to the NFL legacy, but some more changes would have been nice.

EA does it again and overthrows its previous masterpiece by crafting an even greater ice hockey experience. It's not perfect, though: the Be A Legend mode, unlike the rest of the game, does not yet reach its full potential.

Both ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are fantastic games which will be remembered as such for many years to come. If you haven't played them before, you owe it to yourself to pick this collection up as soon as possible.

All the shooting, hacking and slashing in the Warhammer universe make for a long and very enjoyable experience. However, a few small issues, like the rather boring way in which the story is told and online connection problems, keep it from receiving a master score.

Fighting the Chimera has never been this much fun. Resistance 3 delivers with a strong atmosphere, expertly designed weapons and an engaging story. By far the best entry in the series yet.

Now here's a nice surprise. This may not have been the most hyped game out there, but it delivers in almost every way. A fresh and original style, interesting gameplay… El Shaddai does everything right, except for the way it tells its story.

This is a big game, both on- and offline. A memorable and challenging singleplayer campaign is made even greater by its engaging story, while the shifting mechanic makes for some truly unforgettable moments. Here's one purchase you won't regret!

Kratos' PSP adventures are superbly ported to the PS3. It's a little short and those who've played both games on the handheld won't find anything new here, but other than that it's right up there with Kratos' previous PS3 adventures.

The combination of the social aspect, the hacking, the action and stealth makes Deus Ex: Human Revolution a unique game. The visuals look stunning, the soundtrack is fantastic and the gameplay is brilliant. Great variety and there are alot of different ways to play this game and that makes it fun to play time after time. In other words, one of the best games of this year.

There are a lot of different puzzle games at the PlayStation Network and Puzzle Dimension is within the genre a new kind of game. The gameplay is pretty complicated to explain in one sentence, but when you love to play different and pretty hard puzzle games, than Puzzle Dimension is a fine choice.

Limbo is a game with a great atmosphere and a fine style. The gameplay is original and different than usual and also challenging. The puzzles are really simple, but it can be hard to figure out what the solution is. The game is also a bit short.

Street Fighter IV is still one of the best fighting games, but where Super Street Fighter IV was a upgrade with some new DLC included, Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition is a simple upgrade of Super Street Fighter IV. There are some subtile improvements and a few new fighters. But when you have Super Street Fighter IV or Street Fighter IV, than this isn't really worth it.

Hamilton's Great adventure is a fine and relaxing puzzle game with a couple of fun elements. The game contains sixty levels with different puzzles that are all fun to play but the atmosphere can be a bit childish. When you're looking for something different and fresh, this would be a good choice.

A game that was a surprise. The gameplay is very variable and you can play this game for more than 25 hours. Strong gameplay, good cut-scenes, and a great offline multiplayer. You can also play the game online, but there aren't a lot of people and the game also has a issue with the loadingscreens as they are way too long.

Remember Carmageddon? Armageddon Riders does really look like that classic game, but of course with good graphics, a lot of zombies instead of people and fine gameplay. The game can be a bit repetitive after playing a while, but overall it's a great PlayStation Network game!

The world of White Knight Chronicles has a whole new story and the first game is also included! The gameplay is like the original game, but the fightingsystem has been improved and the multiplayer is really good and gives you hours of gameplay. Only we don't like the use of older environments from the first game instead of completely new ones and the story can be a bit lengthy.

Go underground and shoot some aliens in Red Faction Armageddon. The gameplay has gone back to the roots but it is lineair and the singleplayer is a bit short. The multiplayer modes are cool, but you won't play them for a long time. Red Faction: Armageddon is a fine game, but there are a lot of things that could have been a lot better.

This new F.E.A.R. game is supposed to be scary, but it actually isn't. But the new features you can find are great. This time you can also play with Paxton Fettel, there is a nice to play multiplayer and the co-op works great. The story on the other side disappoints and that also counts for the graphics.