X certainly has its merits but when all is said and done only it feels like a game that is specifically tuned towards series veterans or those who are invested in the online community.

This game is clearly supposed to be played with friends and in those circumstances, it can be hugely enjoyable.

THQ have held the WWE licence for a long time now, so to put out a game that feels so broken, with poor collision detection and a large number of bugs are something I'm struggling to accept.

Generally, Assassin's Creed III delivers most of the things that fans want. It's a fresh new setting wrapped around the familiar core mechanics. We've lost the less engaging elements that they experimented with in Revelations while adding a couple of new tricks to the range of gameplay.

The game can be incredibly frustrating but this pays off with a huge sense of achievement when you finally nail a level.

Though there are issues with Killzone HD, it should be remembered that this is an HD port of a last gen title, not a complete remake, so some bugs should be expected. For fans of the Killzone franchise, or FPS fans on a tight budget, this is well worth playing.

Banana Splitz is a decent game, and it's certainly up there with recent attempts to get the Monkey Ball series back on track, but it's becoming a little long in the tooth now with the developers not really pushing the title forwards enough to really recreate the magic that the first couple offered.

Of Orcs and Men has so much potential and when you get into the game you'll experience flashes of brilliance, but those flashes are gone as quickly as they come, leaving behind a game that came out before it was ready.

NBA 2K13 is a brilliantly fun basketball game and one for all basketball fans to pick up. Casual sports game fans should also pick this up as it's good to play against others. Sure there are a few things 2K can improve, like the menu interface and the inclusion of a tutorial, but once you get a hang of it NBA 2K13 is a great experience.

The other key element in increasing that tension is the fact that each death is a real problem for the XCOM initiative that you're in control of.

Tragic, powerful and thought-provoking, but also intelligent, witty and beautiful - Giant Sparrow's debut is begging to be played.

Mugen Souls is the very definition of a 'good' game. Whilst it'll never blow you away, and there are certainly a number of issues, there's also plenty to do and a varied cast of characters to escort you on this bizarre adventure. If you're after an RPG that isn't quite the norm, then Mugen Souls is worth a look.

Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise is a much better effort than its predecessor. By adding in the costumes system, 505 Games have managed to give the game a layer of depth previously missing. However, whilst repetition doesn't entirely spoil the party, it certainly takes the shine off after a while.

Perhaps the most striking thing about Dishonored is the way the later stages of the game change, depending on how you've approached earlier missions. If you go through killing everyone and blowing things up, you'll invoke a lot of chaos in the game world and later missions will be darker and more difficult to navigate stealthily.

A joyful experience, full of humour and character. It manages to walk the fine line between silly base humour and a more intelligent wit too, which is something almost unique in videogames. With a narrative that expands on the original storyline in every conceivable way and so many ways to play, different characters to build and so much cooperative fun to be had, it's hard to see a downside.

PES 2013 has made huge strides forward in how it plays over last year's game.

That the lead character is a Pomeranian in a baseball cap ceases to be an issue once the compelling gameplay hooks you. Even when you're randomly eaten by a surprising tiger eight generations into an animal's lineage, you'll still be watching a tiger eat a pomeranian in a baseball cap. And that's brilliant.

We're not saying that the story mode here is any worse (or better) than previous titles in the series – it's easily on par, but it's also rather stoic in its mechanics and a few more diversions would have elevated it beyond its PS3 contemporaries. But as a platform for your own imagination (and one generously compatible with much of LittleBigPlanet 2′s DLC) it's unmatched, and as limitless as you'd want it to be.

Retro/Grade is a stunning take on both the rhythm and the space shooter genres – both of which haven't had much innovation in recent years. With solid mechanics, fun gameplay and excellent presentation, this could just be the best, and certainly the most unique, downloadable game this year.

It's fun, cohesive and meaningful yet suffers from a lapse in replayability and all-round polish.

Whilst Death's entry in the Darksiders series certainly has better gameplay mechanics and a better style than War's, the story fails to make a mark and the game, for as big as it is, can soon become monotonous at points.

Sleeping Dogs isn't original in most of its mechanics and narrative but the little things that differ from genre staples are enough to warrant your attention. The combat system is a joy and the focus on unarmed combat, rather than firepower, is quite refreshing.

The lack of balance between platforming and tower defence coupled with a handful of under-featured game modes and unstable online multiplayer prevent it from being a "must have."

Functional yet heavily flawed, No Man's Land is certainly a step forward for PlayStation Home though, regrettably, a step in the wrong direction.

Sound Shapes has emerged as one of the Vita's finest games, seemingly out of nowhere. It's deep and complex enough for the hardcore whilst remaining accessible and fun for those that just want something a little bit different.

LEGO Batman 2 may have suffered from the series' collective fatigue in a few places, yet still stands as one of the best, most enriching puzzle platformers to grace home consoles.

It's not clear what really happened here. Ice Age: Continental Drift the videogame is a poor reflection on the series, feels underdeveloped and – given the limited amount of actual game on offer – overpriced even at a 'budget' rate of thirty notes.

For most of the time Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles fails to impress. Whilst it's certainly not the worst game out there, it struggles to rise above average, and I wonder if it would sell at all if not for the Resident Evil name behind it. If you're a fan of the franchise there's a good chance you'll get a kick out of this, but for everyone else I struggle to recommend it.