It’s totally super awesome. And stuff.

Thomas Was Alone’s greatest strengths are in its storytelling and character. In this it fully exceeds, keeping me playing past the point of growing over familiar and dreary of the oft-repeated mechanical themes. But due to this it can be expected that many who start the adventure will never finish it, though, which is certainly a shame.

It takes the idiosyncrasies of its source material and crafts a videogame around it, working just as viably as a completely independent property with its own sense of identity and adventure.

So really it depends on whether you’re willing to fight through the classic mode to try and justify your purchase. Those that do will enjoy R-Type Dimensions despite it’s horrendous difficulty level.

Great visuals and exciting gameplay warrant an eye out for a reduced price, but annoying AI and linear levels keep this title from the borderline of must-have-ness. A difficult one to rate, this; not superb, not average. Just in-between. And a credit to movie tie-ins.

Depending on your patience, Blacklight could be the best fifteen bucks you've ever spent on a game, or a frustrating waste of cash.

Alien Breed is a solid twin stick shooter that, while not providing the challenge of the game on which it’s based, is a great game to play when you have a few minutes to spare, perfect for those looking to take down the alien menace on the go.

Lazy Raiders is totally worth a try for fans of strange facial hair, Avatar haters, and gamers wondering what Super Monkey Ball on a tight budget looks like.

You can’t help but feel that H.A.W.X. is a little too tame for its own good. While it’s certainly an enjoyable air combat game, it lacks the edge that other Tom Clancy games so evidently possess.

Sure, it’s got one of the most horribly cliched and overused plots in existence, but it’s saved by a wonderfully implemented spell casting system that will leave you experimenting and developing your character’s capabilities long after the Story Mode has gone stale.

It’s good and esoteric in an entirely worthwhile way.

For what House of the Dead: Overkill lacks in diversity or prudence, it more than makes up for it in style and a sense of humour that dances on the boundaries of acceptability, and at times downright moves it around whilst insolently shouting “na na na na na na”.

It’s a simple, stylish, enjoyable romp that will satisfy most anyone looking for something new to shoot. Or throw boomerangs into.

Perhaps that doesn’t sound like the most enthusiastic endorsement, but Amped 3 is one of those games that has so many peripheral pleasures that it must be looked at in terms of the whole package rather than the score gameplay (which is polished even if it’s easy).

Despite its flaws the platforming and cover-based shooting are on par with its console peers. There is fun to be had with Uncharted: Golden Abyss, regardless of how badly it fumbles with its new technology.

I haven't got bored of it yet, but it has all the hallmarks of a game that I will be getting bored of in another week or so. Still, two weeks worth of playing time isn't bad for a puzzle game. Not bad at all.

The 'just one more go' addictiveness is still there. Knowing that, if it wasn't for the hand cramp, you could do better, right? It just requires a little quicker thinking, better planning, more accuracy, risk taking.

Even though I was put off by the stealth sequences and the occasionally high difficulty level, it's impossible not to admire how frightening and intense this game can be.

This War of Mine is a soul crushing thing to consider as entertainment. It is going to make you feel bad and absorb the consequences of your actions. It exists as a piece of indie expression that shows the actual grayness that is inherent in all conflict. There is no winning.

While it solely focuses on only one type of loot and isn't as big as Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty, Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage is another solid addition to the Borderlands 2 experience.

Sure, the game places plenty of emphasis on the DS’s touch screen gimmick, but at least it executes it well. If you’re looking for a fun and lighthearted game to keep you busy, look no further than this game.

You PS2 owning FPS junkies are no doubt going to love this beast, and the rest of you will have some fun with this game too, just don’t be disappointed when you realize that Killzone's not the ground-breaking experience I think we were all expecting.

Not the best fighter on the Gamecube, but it still has enough gameplay elements and unlockables to keep you busy. Besides, there's no better way to vent some stress than to dish out a few fatalities.

Although one could classify Wario: Master of Disguise as a platformer, I'd say it has more in common with a puzzle-genre game. Apart from the boss encounters, there isn't a lot of action here.

Few games can boast some of the best controls that the Wii has to offer.

The thing holding it back isn’t the length, but rather it’s the lack of anything different that sets it apart.

Dead or Alive: Dimensions has some great things going for it, but neglects everything else.

Characters, styling, story, modelling, puzzles, conversations, setting - all fantastic, but infuriating let down by design and play constraints.

Dirt Showdown, is a curious deviation for the series, and one I happily experienced, but I was left hankering for what came before.

The gameplay is mostly involving and the graphics are impressive. Though the game is far too short and the lack of variety in the enemies is disappointing, I can’t help but recommend this game.

It's not perfect, but it's a great action game with a unique setting and cast. PC gamers looking for a game that doesn't require an upgrade or a rebuild should definitely check it out while they're waiting for their DX10 video cards to arrive.

A throwback to the classic games that created the genre. It comes bundled with a strange, obscure narrative and a flawless paint job, but the homage to the old lies there, in plain sight, beneath the sparkle.

As it is, there’s not enough right with it to grab the interest of an ice hockey rookie like me. The graphics look a bit dated, the sound is ok, the controls are smooth, comfortable and as simple or as complex as you want to make them.

The franchise's future looks - ahem - brighter, but we'd be best advised to withhold assent until the second extra episode, The Writer, is released later this year.

Thomas Was Alone does a stellar job in doing what it sets out to achieve. It uses simplistic visuals and basic gameplay to convey a sense of wonder and tell a very personable, well written and well realised story of isolation and companionship.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold misses a few beats, but the overall composition is wholly loveable. Unfortunately, it's also obscenely short.

Whilst it doesn’t revolutionise or significantly evolve the series in any meaningful way, a purchase will bring a considerable amount of value in both quality and quantity; change isn’t always for the better.

Dead or Alive 5 is just as unique as it is awkward. On the surface it still wants to be the kooky, over-the-top brawler that is known more for its breasts than it is its fists. However, underneath that façade is a high-quality fighter still struggling for acceptance within the fighting game community.

Though not flawless, Capsized combines a unique style with classic gameplay to produce a unique and memorable experience.

For a cerebral experience like no other and a simple, addictive gameplay setup, Covenant of the Plume is an excellent choice.

Mega Man & Bass takes us back to the old gaming formula, away from the RPG elements that now dominate the series. It's a welcome blast from the past, the lost gem of the Mega Man GBA series.

It's plain as day that Tank Universal is not a professional game - the basic animation, the chunky graphics, the lack of any voice acting whatsoever - but it clearly has heart.

Patient gamers who enjoy more tactical shooters will likely appreciate its strong points and look beyond the bugs and glitches. Those that prefer to run and gun should probably steer clear.

It may lack substance in the long-term, but it provides an experience which is admirably oriented towards pure intuitive fun, presented in a way which is great to look at and humorous in tone.

As solid as ever and the best it’s been in quite a while. I just won’t be holding out hope for next year.

It may be nearly devoid of the exploration aspects that older fans appreciate, but it is still a game that all GBA owners can cherish.

Trine 2's a fun physics-driven platformer worth playing both for its involving co-op and vivid use of color. It doesn't present any hugely substantial leaps forward beyond the original formula but if you're looking for more Trine and have a group of friends looking to join in, it's sure to provide a more than sufficient experience.

Clocking in at roughly eight hours, it's a pretty short ride – padding and all. The constant backtracking became quickly annoying, but the solid mechanics and attention to detail won me over in the end.

It’s got a vast roster of characters, each with their own signature attacks. The technical aspects of boxing remain prevalent throughout the extensive gameplay modes, ensuring that you’ll have to do better than just random button mashing. However, the tedious cutscenes and overall lacking presentation might make a few gamers shake their heads in disdain.

Judgment is a worthy addition to the franchise, but it’s a shame the campaign falls short of the high standard of those that preceded it.

There's plenty of style to go around, with an excellent foundation. Unstoppable Gorg provides a fresh new twist on the expected system; however, its limited selection of combat mechanics keeps it from truly taking off.

It gives gamers a small taste of what the WiiMote can do for their gaming experiences and a reason to keep playing the new system, but nothing more. Its appeal and flaws lay with its simplicity.

Just make sure people nearby don’t hear the topless maidens cry out “My clothes! Where are my clothes!” every so often.

For those of you that have yet to experience the Fatal Fury series, give this collection a chance. It may not be the best out there, but it still gives you a taste of better things to come.

Like many sequels, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise excels at adding additional content to an already workable premise, but fails at properly expanding on the core experience beyond the original.

It may take a while to get used to and not have the longevity that other racing games offer, but its frenetic arcade gameplay is a blast to play and makes a change from the simulations on the market.

For those who are fans of the fantasy action genre and who overlooked this almost-classic first time around, I would strongly suggest you not let the negative criticism keep you from missing you on this incredible ride.

I get the feeling that Raven Software rested a bit too much on their laurels instead of giving gamers a refreshing new Jedi Knight experience.

A great online-enabled emulation of a so-so fighting game (plus a lame puzzle game) which looks rather anaemic now that violence in video gaming is nothing to rave on about.

This is a very well realised first attempt by EA and one that won't require much tweaking should there be any subsequent additions to the series.

The sort of game for which the journalistic cliché “hidden gem” was invented.

The only real problems Lead and Gold faces are because of its net code. You'll often be kicked back to the menu, the game may even crash on occasion and there are some issues finding enough players at times, particularly if you're searching for specific game modes.

Though this isn't quite it, Sonic Generations provides indisputable evidence that Sega is in fact capable of making the Sonic the Hedgehog title we've all been waiting for.

These poorly implemented QTE sections cripple the intent of presenting an interactive storytelling experience.

It really boils down to what you want from your Grand Theft Auto games; fans of San Andreas will likely despise this game for its simplistic style, while others will appreciate this game for what it offers. Don’t buy this game expecting it to be something revolutionary or amazing.

The frustration of the platforming and stealth in Billy's levels is too much to go unnoticed, but thankfully the villainous Uncle Ray saves the day with his rootin' tootin' shooting action.

Yes, you could probably sniff up an old Flash game built on roughly the same premise, but it wouldn’t have the same production values as Castlestorm has.

With all of the new technology implemented within the game, it feels like a mediocre game from the future. The camera is rubbish, and the controls are hard to wrestle with thanks to that; and of course, let's not forget that the level design tends to hover between infuriating and boring in some places. Still, there's nothing else quite like it on the market.

In a generation of finely tuned animation and seamless open-world environments, a cheeky taste of days gone has more appeal than simply nostalgia. Now pass me a quarter.

A nifty little gaming card of good-old addictive goodness, and a bargain bin must-have if I ever saw one.

The lack of unique modes is disappointing, as is the lack of focus on newbies.. Hardcore “dancers” will be in heaven, but everyone else will find themselves left in the dust.

It seems that with the aid of their superhero counterparts, Mortal Kombat is back, and in better skull cracking shape than before.

As a concept, .hack is a great one, but perhaps one which should not have been stretched past two games at the most.

As it is, the story must be commended for tackling the horrors of war and the effect it has on the human mind, and the techniques it deploys to accomplish this. It tries things no other modern military shooter has even come close to, boldly stating that shooters don't always have to be wrapped in mundane and convoluted storytelling, and that's quite the accomplishment considering the oversaturation of the genre.

Like good frosting on a slightly stale cake. It's good and it's sweet at times, but it's awfully dry and hollow.

The Darkness II is the ideal rental game. It's a fun shooter with a decent amount of combat variety and has a fast pace that guarantees players won't be bored any time soon, but it lacks lasting appeal and can be beaten within a weekend easily.

A workable contender in the Live Community, Biology Battle is a worthy addition to the shmup library, but whether or not players will want to throw down 800MS over other Live titles could keep this quirky shoot 'em up from the ranks inhabited by better games.

AH doesn't quite live fit comfortably into the 'great shooter' garb I've seen it masquerade about in on the net--those clothes fit noticeably loose. Still, it's fun with a friend, a decent way to spend a few frantic hours, and one can't help but appreciate what was attempted here.

With a decent array of modes and a charming exterior, you could do a lot worse for your money than PictoImage.

In the end, Pure still tastes fairly good but you know it’s been diluted.

Its brevity is the main cause for concern with a limited number of modes and a faltering online community, but it's not quite enough to detract from the amount of fun garnered from its brand of outlandish wrestling action.

Primordia will enchant its guests, leaving a deep impression that will have you wanting more. And no matter what your craft may be, it unquestionably has a way of getting those creative juices flowing.

All things considered, Mirror of Fate is still a decent game, one that is merely injured by some elements of poor design. It’s a unique approach to rebooting a franchise, one that doesn’t seek to reestablish the rules, but instead utilize them as a guide, thus allowing this new version to travel its own direction.

It’s a huge improvement over its DS predecessor, treating gamers to a new and darker storyline. Not only does it have the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man doing what he does best, but it also lets you step into the claws of one of the hero’s most amazing and deadly enemies.

Air Traffic Chaos is by no means a must-have game, but more a quirky one at that which should provide a worthwhile distraction from the heavyweight titles such as Advance Wars and Zelda.

Disney Universe is the most enjoyable LEGO game I've played; it's fun and funnier than it often has any right to be, and it does a lot with the Disney licenses included.

When you look past the flashy presentation, you’ll realize that this game is simply a decent, fun, and challenging vertical shooter. Nothing more, nothing less.

Anomaly Warzone Earth is not going to revolutionise the strategy genre for home consoles. It does however provide an ideal place to start for those who are somewhat sceptical or intimidated by the genre.

The score at the bottom is almost irrelevant, because I expect almost anyone reading this will already know whether they will enjoy this game or not.

For fans of serious stealth, the title is a must buy. Less hardcore gamers will probably be better off with something more mainstream, but if you're trying to understand what "cult classic" means, Tenchu is probably a safe bet.

It excels in some unlikely areas, with lovely presentation values and intricately detailed backdrops. It's a fun diversion and while it's not entirely up to par in terms of mechanics, it also doesn't make itself redundant by centralizing all the focus to the one area that's already been perfected.

The single-player/co-op mode is underwhelming at best. With poor AI and thematic blurring, even the easiest difficulty – Aspirin – will leave you with a throbbing headache.

With such a memorable plot and some passable, yet unspectacular, gameplay, it’s a shame that the bugs are holding it down.

For straight up action, this is definitely one of the better iOS titles available.

Sure it didn’t make sense but it ends on such a satisfactory note that it’s hard to look down on the eager greenlit kickstarter upper that only meant to be fun. And for the short while that it lasted it was.

Moon executes the basics of first-person shooting incredibly well; the touch screen and stylus controls work wonders in terms of accuracy and speed. It’s just a shame that everything else didn’t get as much attention.

Football Manager joins the rest of the sports titles this year in flogging a dead and diseased corpse to milk yet more cash from its demanding fanbase.

The fact that it is built upon completely ordinary tasks may seem pointless, but it's all the more believable for it.