With a highly improved and immersive questing system, a new profession to master, a largely PvP focused zone, a level-cap of 80, and a devious new class to play, fans of World of Warcraft will be greeted with a multitude of new reasons to sell their souls and their time to Blizzard’s outrageously successful online RPG.

The match engine is a return to form and it feels somewhat relieving knowing I’ll have a football game to enjoy this year, but the entire thing looks thrown together and basic when compared to what a certain other developer is getting out of the same development kit.

An entertaining romp.

But for every bit as brilliant Mirror’s Edge is, it’s also equally as frustrating. For every time you exclaim in joyful accomplishment by nailing a series of jumps and lifts, you’ll lament missing a ledge by the width of a fingernail for what feels like the hundredth time, just as much.

It has some great moments in gaming, but most of the time there is only frustration awaiting you at every turn. While it could have been a great start for a new franchise, DICE should have made the game more friendly and open.

Facebreaker shows some promise at the start; it’s plucky, full of spunk, and mildly charming. But play it more and it becomes apparent that it’s nothing but a one tricky pony. That charm and dazzle soon withers away along with your enthusiasm, and Facebreaker ends up punching itself in the face.

Again, what the game aims to achieve is what leads to its downfall, resting securely in the shade of its predecessor's success and achieving some value in that way, without ever coming out to mark its own territory.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and I feel like it could be forgotten in the winter rush, but Nuts & Bolts is an excellent game - and original as well, even for a sequel.

As a lover of the PES series, the time has come to see a complete overhaul to the engine and structure of this ageing formula. With a host of new gameplay modes, and a selection of problematic features, this version of PES will only appeal to the hardcore.

It’s too much like its predecessor. For a lot of people this will be a great thing, whilst others may find the formula wearing a bit thin. It’s an enjoyable experience but may leave you wanting something more.

Having created an excellent Russian campaign, it’ll be interesting to see where the development team heads from here.

Just another pretty good game.

This deserves pride of place in a gaming museum, but sadly not in your DS.

As a sequel, you’d be hard-pushed to track down a game that is as brilliantly structured, nurtured and evolved as Gears of War 2. With a ruthlessly enthralling pace and variation of set pieces, this is an effortlessly superb package. I haven’t enjoyed a game as much as this since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which is surely one of the greatest compliments a title can get.

It certainly isn’t greatly superior to its predecessor, but it is an overall better experience and is easily one of the best RPGs on the PS3. I wait patiently for the inevitable third demolition of my home.

Exit DS is an incredibly frustrating title because at its most basic core it's fun and incredibly well designed. It’s an absolute shame that Mr. Escape’s adventures are marred with imprecise controls and one insidious game design choice.

What it will do, however, is allow you blast through ten or so hours of adrenaline-pumping scripted sequences with plenty of impressively rendered mythological beasties.

Valkyria Chronicles is a long, sweeping epic of a game that every PS3 owner should play. Its rich story, unique premise, and reimagined sense of strategic role-playing shouldn't be missed.

Despite its shortcomings, Resistance 2 remains one of the most complete shooter packages on the Playstation 3. There is always something waiting to be killed, no matter which mode you choose to do it in.

Red Alert 3 doesn’t do anything particularly innovative in the RTS genre, but its familiar and addictive gameplay shines through, aided with a ridiculous plot and colourful cast.

A big game that is worth sinking your teeth into, even if you have to close your eyes and hum every time you're reminded it's called Fallout.

I hesitate to say, at this early stage, that this is actually a better game than either Fallout 1 or 2, but it very well may be; at the least, it is game-of-the-year material.

With a greater sense of brutality, speed, and gut-wrenching track design, the franchise is really beginning to take off.

The overall approach is fairly simple, but the level design is well thought out and offers a substantial challenge for gamers of all ages. It’s also a meaty package, presenting players with a sizeable single-player experience and both single and multi-card, multiplayer gameplay. Ninjatown weighs in as: highly recommended.

One of the best gaming compilations on the PS2. Period.

However, look past the briefness of what’s on offer and there’s a richly entertaining game to be had.

LittleBigPlanet is much more than simply a game or even a tool, it’s an experience. The sack people are an infectiously charming bunch and as soon as you’ve settled in you’ll want to stay for the foreseeable future.

A missed opportunity.

It’s just pure puzzling with some excellent modes and few other frills. Sometimes that’s all you need.

The impressive sounding music studio is a bit of a disappointment - being overly complicated and only producing ringtone-type songs - but a decent set list, enjoyable, and improved, guitar duels and a wealth of celebrity appearances make this a complete package.

With £17.99, you could buy a bucket of paint, throw it all over your bedroom walls and watch it dry. For a game packed with so many so-called “celebrities”, Celebrity Sports Showdown is a big non-event.

It successfully manages to humanise a bunch of polygons in ways that few games can. The inclusion of your dog, the accessible combat system and the trail are all things which make it enjoyable to play, but it's the humour and way in which your hero interacts with the rest of Albion which will really keep you coming back for more. Fable II is ambitious and inclusive, but this time Lionhead's audacity really has paid off.

It’s a supernova of colour, particularly on a HD setup.

It’s just a shame that the game is so utterly short; even with so much post-game stuff to do, there’s always that lingering feeling that there could have been more. Regardless, Order of Ecclesia is the most engaging Castlevania game in ages. Pick it up if you want something good.

It is a beautiful, vast and incredibly well-presented game, with a small number of nonetheless extremely detrimental design decisions. It’s undoubtedly worth trying (if only to marvel at the technical and visual wizardry) but there’s a lot of unfulfilled potential here, and here’s hoping Ubisoft are paying close attention for the next entry in the series.

If you can stomach a little two-dimensional West coast gangster arrogance, Midnight Club: Los Angeles is the ride for you.

Despite a lopsided difficulty Midnight Club L.A. is quite enjoyable, especially if the previous installments hit home.

While it doesn’t really change the genre, even on the PSP, Midnight Club L.A. Remix is a worthy racer for fans of the street racing genre. With all the different options in the arcade mode and the unlockables, it has a lot of replay value, though the lack of online multiplayer is a downside, especially for a game in 2008.

A good example of refinement over innovation.

Some might call Wii Music a waste of time, but in reality you need to understand what Nintendo was going for. It’s fun and basic. It’s not trying to be Guitar Hero or Rock Band, and really it does its own thing.

Many won’t like having to put the hours in to nail down a good strategy and have a chance of putting themselves on the leader-board and as such Tetris Party is only likely to be played by those who know what’s involved.

As you attempt to cut through your enemies in grisly fashion you’ll recall a simpler time, where you rode a purple chicken and kicked gnomes in their fannies.

The combat can be fun, but ultimately it’s rather boring and uninspired, the beasts are sluggish and unresponsive, and the defence is just plain annoying.

If this game was being judged purely on potential it would be certainly critically acclaimed. However the flaws certainly have to be considered and in this case they keep Confrontation from being in the upper echelon of tactical shooters.

For sheer, adrenaline-fuelled entertainment, this game is hard to beat. So, whether you love or hate GTA IV, whether you previously dismissed Saints Row as a tired wannabe, or if you simply long for the “glory days” of Vice City, Saints Row 2 is well worth your entertainment dollar.

It creates a creepy, disturbing atmosphere that is often unnerving, and combines that with a deep and engaging combat system that is simply one of a kind.

Its refined gameplay is at the heart of a title brimming with confidence and its multiple modes will keep you playing for months.

FIFA has definitely caught up in the title race, and I would imagine many Pro Evolution Soccer players are converting over to EA’s franchise. It’s going to be interesting to see who winds up the winner of this hardly contested match-up.

If there was ever a game that demonstrated quality over quantity, this is it.

Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars is one of those “what if” games. What if the controls weren’t a mess? What if the multiplayer mode wasn’t riddled with bugs?

The Legend of Kage 2 may have missed its mark, but we can always hope for something better next time.

Nobody is suggesting that such a marriage of styles and boundary pushing storytelling shouldn’t be attempted in gaming, and in that Hell’s Highway is incredibly brave, but arguably any effort to be both an enjoyable first person shooter and stony-faced anti-war tale is doomed from the outset. Something must be compromised, it’s just a shame that in this case it happens to be the whole package.

By trying to match up to juggernauts such Gears of War and Halo, Fracture ultimately becomes a prisoner shackled by predictability and poor design.

It’s still one of the best fighting games on the DS. While that might not be saying much in that context, it’s still got plenty going for it.

The whole game feels like a bland and unambitious platformer with a Crash Bandicoot skin stuck over the top to increase sales. It’s shamelessly repetitive and predicable and collecting mojo feels even more pointless than Wumpa fruit did, but none of that truly matters when playing.

It’s a game whose flaws consistently work against its plusses. The atmosphere is brilliant as always, the scoring and sound effects magnificent (better than ever, perhaps) – but with this latest effort, which definitely falls short, I wonder if it isn’t time for Konami to consider an overhaul of Resident Evil 4 proportions.

Silent Hill: Homecoming feels tired. The series is past its best and is in need of a complete re-work.

It’s a bit formulaic in its design, but levels are a nice slice of gaming on the go that require almost no level grinding.

While a bit basic, Bomberman Blast is all you really need at the end of the day to enjoy the series’ signature gameplay.

It truly is a great game worth picking up if you want ‘a balls to the wall’ racer for the PS3, and at its low price there’s really not a reason that I can think of for not checking it out; fan of the genre or not, it’s still worth a test drive.

How well this game has aged is truly a testament to the series. It’s only regrettable that we may never get a true sequel to one of the most iconic entries in gaming history.

While it lacks the graphical finesse and multiplayer modes of its peers, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway outshines them with a brutally honest portrayal of war and one that you won't forget.

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

Although the title is easily accessible, well-decorated and simply constructed, there is very little here to justify a full price tag.

A game that just sort of ‘exists’. Dinosaur enthusiasts and fans of the card game and TV show are sure to love the cartoon shenanigans, but for everyone else, it’s most likely not worth your time or your dinosaurs.

It amazes me how Koei can get away with releasing the same game every year, without even attempting to fix the problems that have plagued all their past entries. There’s nothing worth investing in here.

Despite Buzz! Quiz TV’s shortcomings it is a very competent game. It’s not often that a title can appeal to everybody and for it to be easily played by everybody.

It’s a punishing game but rewarding in equal measures, and will draw you in like no other racing game quite has managed so far this generation - bring on BAJA 2: World Tour.

It’s a punishing game but rewarding in equal measures, and will draw you in like no other racing game quite has managed so far this generation - bring on BAJA 2: World Tour.

It may be a repetitive task too far to be truly great, but it shows that a little bit of colour certainly goes a long way.

Everything that made the original Super Star has, for the most part, survived the journey, and luckily, most of the additions truly add to the game, rather than bloat it.

If you can look past the difficulty and dig the new (old) style, then by all means download this sadistic game that will no doubt have you hooked, regardless of how bad you are.

While it’s lacking in singleplayer content, Multiwinia is fun, simple, and addictive.

For fans of Warhammer, the strong presentation could be enough to warrant a subscription. For hardcore MMO players, however, it boils down to this: what can I do that I can't do in all of the other MMOs out there? The answer is, not that much.

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.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is an entertaining romp through the Star Wars universe; just don't expect something of The Empire Strikes Back brilliance.

The game is nothing more than a poorly veiled series of connect-the-dot challenges.

Value matters, and though the game doesn't give the completely non-linear gameplay I was hoping it would, the excellence of the early game makes Crysis: Warhead an attractive title for those who enjoyed the original.

For a game where the sole mechanic is to draw lines, it’s ironic that not long after starting, you’ll feel like the ink is already starting to run dry.

For players who don’t mind the overzealous translation, this game is a gem; for longtime fans of the series, it could be a bitter disappointment. What you get out of this game depends on what your expectations are going in.

I would have really liked a level editor, but the game is still just as addictive as the original. It is difficult to understand why it's so fun and engrossing, but I suggest that you don't worry about the "whys" and just start playing. That's what I'm going to do.

This game is as good as it gets for most RPG fans on the PC, and The Witcher is sure to give you an enjoyable experience despite the pacing issue.

Strong Badia the Free takes the episodic series from a shaky opening and brings it onto solid ground. I still think that there's a lot more that they can do with the series, but I feel like the game is now a serious part of the Homestar Runner universe, which will lead to hopefully some really great stuff.

While it inevitably outstays its welcome a little too soon, Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition is a charming little game that commands respect for not ending up as another dreadful spin-off that relies entirely on its cover-star, and not the actual gameplay.

While nothing terribly new has made its way onto the new disc, the amount of songs more than covers the price of admission. And you won't even have to sit through any putrid local opening acts.

Yakuza 2 is more than worth your attention. The writing is often sharp and witty, the cast of characters are wonderfully realised each with there own intricate back-story and the story is deep enough to throw off even the biggest of cynics.

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.

It’s a game that rewards you if you stick with it, and one that you’ll have a hard time leaving.

Some practical design choices, along with a host of inspired gameplay ideas, make this a title well worth checking out. There are a ton of missions and a local multiplayer option for when the single-player journey comes to an end.

The chronic lack of depth in the middle stages is an injustice to a brilliant start and finish which should have been the crowning moments but instead serve only to hold the game up above water.

As it stands, the “athletes” in Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball look like people lost in a vast sea.

Infinite Undiscovery is never particularly awful or broken. The music is excellent, and overall the presentation is pretty solid. It’s just that this is one of those games that seem to drag on even though it’s a relatively short game.

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.

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

Being the Chosen One is a tall order to drop on anyone, but The Last Guy makes it one of the most addictive downloadable games available on the PSN.

Thankfully, we have games like Castle Crashers to remind us how fun simplicity used to be. The beat 'em up gameplay and unique presentation go a long way, and for lack of a better explanation, the game is just damn fun.

If you have any interest in challenging platformer gameplay, you need to play this. Period.

Disgaea 3 is a fantastic addition to both the PS3’s consistently improving catalogue and the strategy JRPG genre. With a lengthy story mode and a near enough endless number of abilities and characters to level up this game may just about take over your gaming life altogether.