While the individual parts of Mass Effect 3 aren't perfect, the whole is a remarkable achievement. It's an adage that's true of the entire series. Each game has its flaws and do not escape criticism as standalone titles. But the commitment to the long-game reaps its own rewards for BioWare, with five years of dedication from creators and players alike coming together for a suitably heart-wrenching end to arguably the finest video game series of this generation.

A decent, if somewhat hackneyed, co-op mode offsets the brevity of the main campaign somewhat. And it's to the game's credit that Digital Extremes hasn't crowbarred in a naff competitive multiplayer; something the first game did and suffered for. A well-judged decision that contributes to a game that is, both mechanically and narratively, one of the smartest shooters of recent years.

Catherine will mean different things to different people, a game that runs far deeper than its titillating surface might suggest. And the journey to finding out what it means to you is certainly one worth taking.

It's certainly not a title for those who prefer more traditional video games. Instead it's more an interactive exhibit, rewarding you for attentive observation and approaching its unique make-up with an open mind. Do so and you will find a haunting, thought-provoking piece of work.

Decent shooting enabled by those twin sticks impress, if perhaps lacking in range, while Vita specific features such as using the touchscreen to pinpoint grenade throws and tilting the device to fine tune your headshots should become Vita shooter staples.

The most disappointing aspect of WWE '12, however, is that an apparently meaty online component is completely borked.

Minecraft is by far one of the most fascinating and progressive games ever made, both in terms of its leanings towards procedural generation and emergent gameplay, and the way it has been so openly developed. In an era where the development of most games is a closely-guarded, PR-managed secret, millions were invited to buy and play Minecraft years before it was even finished.

Whether you love this iteration or not relies entirely on your tolerance of Mario Kart being Mario Kart. Unbalanced, flukey, stagnant even, but still managing to offer plenty of fun.

The Layton charm is undoubtedly still present, but it's not enough to carry the series by itself. Upon solving certain puzzles, Layton exclaims 'I love the thrill of a good solution'. So do we, Hershel, so do we. And in this Layton game, sadly, that thrill is all too rare.

It is a game that will make you happy whenever you think back to it, one where frustration is almost immediately replaced by a smile, and most importantly, it's a game that thrives on having fun.

Every moment is a joy. As Skyward Sword progresses, each new area or item feels like The Legend of Zelda shedding some of the trappings of its past. It never veers too wildly from its time-honoured formula, but in every sense this is the freshest, most contemporary Zelda game in over a decade. An ingenious collaboration of design and motion control, the only shame is that it's taken the Wii so long to come to such fruition.

This attention to detail and the recreation of a genuine park experience makes any shortcomings forgivable. When the Kinect controller (for space, light or other environmental reasons) takes a little time to get setup it's less frustrating because the end result is worth it.

Perhaps doesn't feel quite as fresh as its predecessor in certain ways, but in others it kicks everything up a notch. It's certainly a better game, just for those of us who played the last game to death, there's not quite as much here to wow us. But the campaign is by far the best of the three, and even with the reused Activities and slightly familiar feel, Saints Row remains one of gaming's best, most enjoyable and most ludicrous playgrounds. It's not big, it's not clever, but it sure is a huge amount of fun.

There's no denying that, as a piece of virtual tourism through the ages, the series has no equal. But today, with endless piles of side-quests, there's also a sense of ennui creeping in, a lack of focus that no amount of micro-improvements can disguise. As such, Revelations is a strong, assured conclusion to Ezio's storyline, but one that begs for a fresh start reboot in whatever comes next.

The charm, inventiveness and knowing nods to Mario heritage bring constant smiles, and it's not only a superb Mario game but a fantastic advert for the hardware it appears on. A perfect starting point for newcomers to the series, or a nostalgic throwback for Mario die-hards that still manages to be incredibly contemporary. Whichever category you fall into, one thing's for sure; handheld platforming simply does not get better than this.

Mass Attack is a game of invention, wit, and leftfield surprises, in other words, and it all adds up to a near-perfect send off for Nintendo's aging DS. Kirby may not be getting any cuter, but if he continues to star in adventures like this, he can be sure of his place alongside the likes of Mario and Zelda for years to come.

Modern Warfare 3 is a shining example of refinement and improvement. It's familiar, sure, but here familiarity doesn't breed contempt, just respect and reward for those who've dedicated so much time to the series. And for new players, it's the perfect starting point, more accommodating and encompassing than ever...A game which is undoubtedly going to be played for a long, long time to come, and deservedly so.

It isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and a couple of levels and challenges see Sonic slipping into some of his bad habits, but largely this is an enjoyable, breezily compelling platformer that captures some of that old magic that made us all fall in love with Sonic 20 years ago.

The single player game feels as if it has been specifically crafted to 'beat' another franchise. And, while it enjoys a number of memorable set-pieces and some incredible sound design, in tracing over the template laid down by Infinity Ward's series, it inherits all of the weaknesses as well as strengths of that game.

The biggest achievement here is managing to reach out to new or lapsed players, while still piling on new intricacy for long term fans. For them, this is a compelling tangle of improved, impassioned football strategy, bursting with detailed dealings, sumptuous stats and days out in Shrewsbury. And it's never been a better time to step into the dugout for rookie gaffers.

There are enough clever ideas here to mitigate for its shallowness.

A superb marriage of gaming tropes from various generations, it manages to carve its own path through the mire that is the modern FPS genre, and look lovely while it's at it.

The story mode is rather short, and can comfortably be beaten within 5 hours, but the coop mode adds a considerable amount of length to the game.

Naughty Dog have rediscovered an art that seemed lost with those Hollywood adventures. Conjuring a Spielberg-esque bounce and flow, sweeping you along for the ride and, in Nathan Drake, offering a hero that's neither emo, arrogant or Shia LeBeouf. Just cocky, vulnerable and a bit handy at climbing around and kicking people in the head.

Outside the novelty factor of its genuinely innovative tech, there's nothing especially memorable about Skylanders, but it undoubtedly fired the imagination of my little one, and I found it a perfectly pleasant time-killer.

Provides solid entertainment for kids big and small. It's bright, colourful and charmingly presented throughout, and makes smart use of characters that have a wide appeal.

The fact that Okabu is the work of just five people is remarkable: this is an ambitious undertaking for such a small team, but there's no denying that on occasion here it feels that Hand Circus has bitten off more than it can chew.

Much worse than a pipe in the face, though, is the fact that Shattered Dimensions' excellent structure also appears to have been a victim of cost-cutting.

A wonderful, startlingly complete package tailored for the single player. In these days of multiplayer crowbarred into any old game, it's a relief, a bold statement of intent that Rocksteady have created such a supremely focused but hugely expansive video game. It's a brave, committed, confident piece of work.

The improvements in AI and excellent online modes are a solid basis to continue re-building PES to its former glory, but the weird physics and newfound lack of weight are a concern. It still feels like PES just isn't 100% sure where it should be going.

It's an incremental jump over NHL11, then, and NHL12's newest periphery additions perhaps don't fire as they should. However, it's an incremental jump over a game that was ruddy marvellous in its own right.

At its best, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon hits a glorious balance of careful tactical play and explosive bombast. It's frustrating because it comes so close to perfecting the formula, only to throw it away by growing tedious when it has the opportunity to shine.

Renegade Ops is, without doubt, a fantastic amalgamation of the tongue-in-cheek comic world and the high score shooter, reminiscent of arcade classics such as Desert Strike. A bullet-fuelled adventure in which battles are vicious, bosses are silly and a great deal of fun can be had by all.

Welcoming, slick and meticulously built in order to give its audience what it most desires. Because whether it's the feel of the road, the fury of competition or good old fashioned wish fulfilment, Forza 4 really does have you covered.

Rage is a game that would have benefitted from being streamlined, with additional FPS levels replacing the awkward driving. It should have been an id game. Instead it occupies this weird halfway-house between Borderlands, Motorstorm and Doom, not quite an RPG, not quite a racer and not quite an FPS.

No video game released this Christmas runs contrary to prevailing fashion as hard or fast as Dark Souls. And no video game is quite so exciting or exhilarating.

There may be teething problems in adjusting to its nuances, and there's certainly room for refinement, but FIFA 12 is unquestionably a change for the better. There's still potential for an even more improved game of football then, but this is a huge stride to fulfilling it.

Whether you're new to this unique pairing or you've played one or both before, this splendid collection is pretty much a compulsory purchase.

Connection issues aside, Resistance 3 really is one of the most enjoyable, memorable action games in years, on any platform. It has giant arachnids, constant action, and an awesome shotgun. It's visually stunning, artistically evocative. And most importantly, it's definitely got soul. And soldiers too, which is nice.

It's refinement rather than revolution for F1 2011, then. But Codemasters have made a plethora of improvements under the bonnet, polishing an engine that should prove a fantastic basis for the planned yearly iterations of their F1 franchise.

This is a game of refinement, not reinvention...Gears of War 3 has nothing new to say to its audience, only more lavish and breathless adjectives to throw our way. It is, at times, nothing short of spectacular, and there is a robustness and polish to every aspect of the game that makes it consistently enjoyable. But for the series and the studio that crafted it, it's time to pursue novelty once again.

This sensibly-priced curio is one of the best and most original Kinect games to date, and enormously entertaining in the short bursts of play the device is designed for. Perhaps most refreshingly of all, it can be played while seated; couch potatoes discouraged by the activity demanded by most motion-based titles may have just found their ideal Kinect game.

Space Marine can't compete with the genre leaders in terms of spectacle, budget and direction. And one has to question the wisdom of releasing in such close proximity to Gears of War 3. But for Warhammer 40k fans, or those who just can't wait to engage in a little alien slaughter, Space Marine's solid genre mash-up should prove a satisfying battle ground.

A lovingly-crafted update that can happily sit alongside Ocarina of Time 3D as a textbook example of how older games can benefit from a modern makeover.

It's all a bit laboured, a bit tedious, and it's the kind of co-op game that's more fun based on who you're playing with, than on what you're playing. It sits in this awkward middle ground between Borderlands and Left 4 Dead, never remotely matching either but never quite crossing into the territory where you should be avoiding it.

El Shaddai isn't perfect, then, but it's got a lot going for it because of the sheer energy that's gone into its construction: energy you can see in the focused poise of its combat, and in the game's astonishing desire to top itself with each new vista it flings before you.

It professes to be a reaction to overblown, scripted rollercoaster FPSes, but never manages to bring a whole lot to the table for itself. Bodycount even makes a fuss over destructible cover, which was done better by Battlefield Bad Company. Bodycount is not a poor game, just a confused and unremarkable one, even if those instant restarts really are wonderful.

Delivered with wit and panache, Driver San Francisco works because it's daft, rather than in spite of it. And if it proves anything, it's that having conviction in your ideas --any ideas-- can bring a refreshing new twist to an ailing series and genre.

The most disappointing aspect of Rugby World Cup, however, is just how threadbare it is in terms of modes.

It's a startlingly relevant piece of work, marred by the most benign and unnecessary of flaws. But in this age of scripted rollercoasters and linear bug hunts, the thinking man's freedom of Deus Ex provides a fabulous example of interactive entertainment, if not quite the revolution the title promises.

Cars 2 certainly doesn't lack personality and sheen, then, but there are some irritations that hold it back.

The Cartel is a calamity; an unfinished, unpleasant piece of dreck that even developer Techland got bored of before hoisting it out of the door. The Cartel's list of misdemeanours is lengthy and depressing, but the worst is how either Techland or Ubisoft can have the nerve to put this on the shelves and ask people to pay money --real money-- to play it.

There's nothing quite like EDF's insane thrills. Simple, old-school, but oh so very good at what it does, Insect Armageddon is well worth a look. As long as you don't mind a bit of ant vomit, of course.

It's a game that offers few surprises then, but one that offers plenty of enjoyment. It has nowhere near the depth of Obsidian's last RPG, Fallout: New Vegas and in this case it suits.

Sadly we'll have to do with this for now, a bland, unimaginative shooting gallery that lacks the thing that matters most: magic.

Shadows of the Damned's erratic, slapdash nature leaves you slightly dazed. But despite some alarming dips in quality, despite the game never quite reaching the level of brilliance you hope for, you will be glad you played it.

Wonderland itself, the way it changes visually and the way it changes Alice, is the game's most important feature.

A good game that, on a few occasions, desperately feels like it's trying to be better than it is, but lacks the juice to succeed.

It delivers content by the bucket load and looks and sounds incredible.

It's a decent enough game to play through, but certainly one you'll forget in a hurry. It's the kind of game perfect for a lull in gaming when there's nothing else left, and you fancy something disposable but enjoyable.

A game that is a masterclass in stimulating the senses throughout. But its greatest achievement is making Kinect seem indispensable, allowing you to take centre stage and feel part of Eden's glittering landscape. An evolution of sorts, borne from the endeavour of creation.

I spent a lot of my time waiting, begging, willing the game to spread its wings and fly. But it never left the ground. A real shame.

One of the most important games I've ever played.

If Brink grabs you, it'll grab you hard. Even though the lack of polish is at times a disappointment, beneath the occasional annoyance is a fantastic and refreshing shooter that offers something different to the norm. It's standing on the precipice of true brilliance.

People looking for the next Halo will most likely come away disappointed, as will anyone hoping for a solid single-player experience. But those of you who are up for something a little bit different and more thoughtful will find a lot to appreciate in Section 8: Prejudice.

It's a game which is fun to play simply for the joy of playing, and when you throw in the ability to play through the story with a second person, along with some additional challenge areas designed exclusively for co-op play, Outland is highly appealing, highly enjoyable downloadable title.

Players waiting for their shot at the throne can watch fights in the theatre, with the lovely touch of having your Xbox avatar cheer along and even mark the winner out of ten at the end of a bout. Unfortunately King of the Hill can suffer from appalling lag at times, reducing its quirky appeal in comparison to the smoother one-on-one fights.

It's a work of masterful craft, mechanically constructed with military precision, artistically wrapped in a tremendous story and environment. Most impressively, its achievements feel effortless.

The uninitiated may peer into Kamurocho's kaleidoscope and wonder what on Earth is going on, but through the eyes of the converted, the view is as fabulous as ever.

Short, disappointing, and certainly not worth spending £40 on.

The fighting itself is the best, most tangible, its ever been, which is essential to the most battle-heavy title in the series since Lego Indiana Jones.

Now that time has caught up, it may not still be ahead of the curve but has at least aged gracefully and nonetheless remains a fun, genre-spanning sci-fi romp… with a bit of a dodgy camera.

Tiger '12 is the best PGA Tour in years and would be the last Tiger you'd ever need if EA didn't cleverly omit the caddy's off switch.

The third Motorstorm may have stripped away some of the class of its predecessors and replaced it with noise and bluster, but it has done so with a technical bravado that is, at times, astonishing.

But you'll plow through most of what the game has to offer to a single player pretty quickly. And while multiplayer could have been king here, WWE All Stars is also notably lacking in both online and off...But it does offer a silly, accessible and effortlessly entertaining brawler that will particularly appeal to lapsed WWE fans.

Beyond the poor dialogue, patchwork visuals and ridiculous interface of the console version, there is an interesting adventure game buried here.

A fascinating game. Through the seemingly endless collisions and alliances between the game's factions, you constantly find yourself placed into unplanned yet unique situations, and forced to make unpleasant choices.

The cats don't have the same level of interaction that the dogs have, generally just sitting around the house with general disinterest, regarding you with mild disdain and plotting world domination. Just like real cats then.

The cats don't have the same level of interaction that the dogs have, generally just sitting around the house with general disinterest, regarding you with mild disdain and plotting world domination. Just like real cats then.

The cats don't have the same level of interaction that the dogs have, generally just sitting around the house with general disinterest, regarding you with mild disdain and plotting world domination. Just like real cats then.

A game that keeps you strangely grounded, when it should be making you soar.

The AI is one of Crysis 2's biggest problems. It's utterly atrocious, to the point of parody at times.

At launch, in the here and now, it's a satisfying celebration of Ridge Racer's breezy ubiquity at getting the best out of shiny, new hardware.

"Committed" sums up Super Street Fighter IV 3D rather well. Ok, so it's yet another update of a two year old game, and there's no way it could ever be the definitive version, but it's a conversion built with such skill and pride it's hard not to fall for it all over again.

While it has some nice ideas, Dood's Big Adventure is far too basic and scrappy to be worth your time.

uDraw Studio isn't everything it could have been. But as a solid, entry-level art studio, it's a welcoming canvas. Ideal to encourage children to get creative without scribbling on the carpet.

It's a shame that Homefront's gameplay is so blunt and creatively barren, as the world Kaos has built around their (ludicrous) premise is superb.

Despite being slightly on the easy side, PvZ is an absolutely stellar package, overflowing with so much charm and charisma that It's almost impossible not to be swept up in this wonderfully zany world.

Without doubt, my favourite iPhone game of 2010, and the best use of touchscreen controls I have ever played with.

A fantastic port of an already exceptional game. With Independence FM making it unique and a price tag that is less than a third of its hand-held rivals, there is no reason not to get downloading this app which is sure to keep you entertained far beyond your journeys to and from work.

If you haven't played Broken Sword before, its delightful -if occasionally idiosyncratic- puzzling and terrific script should send it hurtling to the top of your 'must download' list.

Fruit Frenzy is, for want of a better word, uninspired. It lacks both the originality and the imagination needed to make it stand out from the crowd nor makes use of the iPhone's touch-screen capabilities in any meaningful way.

Here's hoping that the quality of all future Fable DLC lives up to the new standard set by Traitor's Keep.

A fragmented kaleidoscope of elements that finally form a rich, if imperfect, vision once everything is aligned. Some may find the apparent simplification disagreeable, but it's more a concentration of focus that allows BioWare to tell the more personal story of Hawke, and add polish to the world they have built around him. And noone builds a world like BioWare.

It is, however, a considerable improvement on the existing template, to the point where it's hard to see how the series can avoid a fairly notable change in approach. This could – and perhaps should – be the swansong to the Pokémon formula we're accustomed to, but if it is then it'll go out at the very peak of its existence: teetering on the edge of feeling too familiar, sustaining an incredible feat of balance, but nonetheless still standing tall at the very top of its game.

It is, however, a considerable improvement on the existing template, to the point where it's hard to see how the series can avoid a fairly notable change in approach. This could – and perhaps should – be the swansong to the Pokémon formula we're accustomed to, but if it is then it'll go out at the very peak of its existence: teetering on the edge of feeling too familiar, sustaining an incredible feat of balance, but nonetheless still standing tall at the very top of its game.

Players who simply wish to drink in the dreamy visuals and enjoy the cute characters will find Kirby's Epic Yarn a breezy and attractive way to while away six or so hours of their time.

Make no bones about it, this is Rocky retold in digital form. But however familiar the punches, it's how they are thrown that makes the difference between victory and defeat. Champion executes its game-plan with a skilful touch, weaving the enjoyable yarn around a deep and tactical boxing sim.