While Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas isn’t the most novice-friendly game, once you get past the steep learning curve, you’ll discover one of the finest action games currently available. With sublime gameplay, smart A.I., slick presentation and a fully featured online mode to keep you playing, it’s hard to pass up.

It is ART, god damn it. And it’s wonderful.

The Secret of Monkey Island is still one of the greatest games of all time and this new Special Edition presents it to a new audience with its fantastic production values and hilarious dialogue.

Origin's charm makes it easy to forget that you're playing on a handheld and that is perhaps its greatest achievement.

The pick-up-and-play gameplay appeals to newcomers and veterans alike, with insane speeds and ample opportunities to pull of stylish moves, whereas the detail of the numerous cars and courses is just astounding.

The overall package might not topple Modern Warfare 2’s throne, but the multiplayer might have just surpassed it. Competition is always healthy.

As far as handheld RPGs go, it doesn’t get much more original than this.

Definitely a notable improvement over last year's offering and the new Home Field Advantage feature is marvelous, but the recycled visuals and mere handful of other additions may deter those who already own 2004 from purchasing the game.

It will keep you busy for months to come and is easily one of the most enjoyable games on the system.

And with this highly interactive, jiggling way to play - clearly the portable precursor to the modern innovative wonder known as the Wii - Wario serves up yet another delicious feast that gamers who are never satisfied with their high scores, or who prefer games that revolve around plenty of action and reaction, will no doubt enjoy digging into.

Changes both big and small across the board make Pokémon X and Y the most polished Pokémon game to date.

A port that respects its platform and audience, and was clearly crafted as carefully as possible.

The absolute pinnacle of PSP entertainment, with enough variety to appeal to a wide audience and comedy to outsell the legend Bill Hicks himself (well, maybe). Essential purchase? This should be tacked, taped and stapled to the forehead of every single PSP owner out there.

The Long Road Ahead continues The Walking Dead's fantastic storyline and presents a real case for episodic gaming on consoles via digital means.

Definitely a notable improvement over last year's offering and the new Home Field Advantage feature is marvelous, but the recycled visuals and mere handful of other additions may deter those who already own 2004 from purchasing the game.

It’s just a terrific experience, somehow managing to gratify with choices that seemingly mean nothing, achieving this feat with a phenomenal central performance, expert writing and ceaseless creativity.

The surprises aren't there and neither is the awe one feels the first time they booted-up their copy of BioShock and laid eyes on Rapture.

At $3, Rayman Jungle Run hits a nice middle ground in terms of price, but it's the quality of its content that makes this an invaluable gem.

My one major complaint is that the game never feels very difficult, especially on Normal. There are frustrating moments, hordes of baddies, and increasing difficulty levels, but the same feeling of utter defeat never really happens as it did in the past.

There's really only one word to describe Sid Meier's Pirates! and that's 'charming'. The excellent presentation, clever gameplay design and exquisite pacing mark it out as a unique and well thought out game. It's full of confidence and style, eager to impress and even if it won't keep you playing for months on end, is bound to provide an enjoyable experience while it lasts.

As expected, FIFA 11 plays a fantastic brand of football, but its depth and nuance is surprising all the same.

This is a game that fans will not be able to put down and though it may be a little sparse on game modes, it is an experience that racing fans absolutely cannot afford to miss.

While the wireless feature is one of the best things in Ridge Racer, the very best feature of Ridge Racer comes in the form of its gorgeous graphics engine... Ridge Racer looks freaking amazing.

Stand it beside Papa Sangre and they make a strong argument for design that begins with the technology first, refusing to force an idea onto it without contemplation - and this makes The Room feel necessary and unique, providing something unavailable elsewhere.

It's a smart, refreshingly dark take on RPGs, complemented by action-oriented and tactical combat with a surprising amount of depth.

This is a welcome new standard for sports videogames as a whole and with any luck, will generate interest in getting the audio right. There are only so many places left to make it new and NBA 2K13 has crossed another off the list.

So addictive, charming and entertaining that everyone could be converted to its cause.

It’s the atmosphere created by the outstanding people at id that makes Doom 3 standout from the crowd. The lights flicker on and off, enemies hide in the dark and wait for you, and you truly feel alone most of the time you’re playing the game, which is surprising considering there are other characters that you work with.

Halo 4 is another Halo game in every sense. It's a technically spectacular achievement that in isolation is a product to make the industry proud. Series fatigue is inevitable after six full-length titles and this prevents it from being genuinely essential. For many that decision will have already been made.

I’m against developers who churn out yearly updates with little improvement (LMA Manager, Pro Evolution Soccer), but with Football Manager 2010, it almost feels like it justifies another investment.

It’s the depth and flawless execution of this vision, matched only by Capybyra Games’ majestic Superbrothers: Swords and Swocery, that makes Year Walk something of a rare treasure within the realms of iOS gaming. It’s a simple, beautiful, if sometimes confusing puzzler, whose original premise and disturbing atmosphere will linger in your mind long after its brilliantly suggestive end-sequence.

Fortunately for everyone, Street Fighter’s core gameplay still prevails and that is really all fighting games are about.

The story is lengthy and surprisingly well-written, and the voice acting is stellar. The combat mechanics are a solid combination of combo and tactical options, with a dash of insane supermoves for good measure. While there's a nice variety of gameplay modes and unlockables, the online multiplayer is what will keep you coming back long after you've gotten through everything. The presentation sets a new standard for 2D fighting games; no other fighter can pull it off with the same kind of style.

A well-crafted game. It has plenty of polish, an absolute ton of things to see and do, and plenty of spot-on references to past games in the series (the combat text is still the best in the business).

For the first time in a long time, Pokémon has taken a real step towards pushing the series forward.

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.

Guacamelee takes a tried and tested formula, and puts its own sheen onto it, in the process crafting one of the best titles, downloadable or otherwise, available for Playstation Vita.

The game is accessible while still retaining great depth and with dozens of excellent tracks and a huge fleet of cars spanning five decades of racing, there's a ton of content to keep players interested.

It may be hard to swallow, but this former iPhone exclusive is easily the best puzzler found on the PlayStation 3.

It's a safe house for the trigger happy but also an engaging tale, told with the sort of introspection missing in other games: Max is letting you in on his darkest secrets, and these are secrets to cherish.

The new and improved mechanics are fantastic, adding some much needed depth and strategy to the game and combining it with intuitive controls that anyone should be able to get to grips with.

Its depth and flexibility are great for letting a player define their own experience but are also part of a laundry list of features that will discourage the new strategy player from exploring this universe.

It’s frustrating but satisfying at the same time, and I can’t think of any other game that represents the genre so well.

The game allows you to interact with its rain-drenched world, shaping its development in ways that you’ll never expect until it’s too late. The clunky movements and awkward controls kill some of the immersion, but the gorgeous graphics and emotionally assaultive scenes will keep you mesmerized.

If you’re looking for a new FPS to play through, there’s not much that can compete with Half-Life 2: Episode One, even if it is essentially an incomplete experience.

You’ll get to control one of the most skilled, dangerous, and downright spunky heroes to ever grace the PS2. There will be tons of intense fighting, a wide assortment of weapons and abilities at your disposal, and an incredible amount of challenge all wrapped up in a wonderfully presented package.

A great showpiece for the PSP. It has action, impressive visuals, a solid muliplayer component, and above all, a workable set of controls.

The absurd number of things to do after the main quest has been completed almost makes the adventure feel like a side-mission to a much grander story that unfolds as you dig deeper into the goodies that lie buried after the first 8 badges.

Visually and acoustically pleasing, easy to control and with a future update bringing a multiplayer mode, Infinity Blade is incredible. This is one iPhone game you need to have. Whatever you do, don't skip the end credits.

Falters where others have persevered, the weak link in the trio that make up the Castlevania GBA series.

The story is laughable; one could argue about the themes of escapism and loss of innocence, but a group of kids getting sucked into a book pales in comparison to what this game's predecessor showed off.

Sceptics will have their own reasons for shaking their heads and walking away, but those who make the investment will find a rewarding experience, with oodles of depth, hours of playtime and, yes, an abundance of menus.

Regardless of its shortcomings, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is easily one of the best titles on the system, and an impressive addition to the series. Saving the princess just got fun again.

A blend of entertainment and fun. Forget about epic RPGs that force you to endlessly level up your characters. Take a break from that puzzle game you’ve been drooling over for the past four hours. Never mind the platformers, the action games, and anything else that you happen to have in your DS right now. Despite its crazy concept, this game is a force to be reckoned with.

It brings back a style of platforming that hasn't been seen in over a decade, and it pulls it off with a great assortment of well-designed levels.

Takes the well-trodden city-based 'sandbox' path, adds plenty of it's own style and originality and comes out with a pleasing, well-rounded and well-developed game.

With solid single player and multiplayer components, Call of Duty: Black Ops is easily the best game that Treyarch has ever produced.

Tearaway may not be the best first-party game currently available on the Vita, but it certainly is beautiful, ambitious and worth a look, if you’re willing to weather the foibles mentioned above.

If Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure leaves any lasting legacy once the dust has well and truly settled, it’s that there is a need for something different. That simplicity and charm go a very long way in this industry clouded by games boasting hyperrealism.

It may not be a huge leap over last year’s game but its satisfaction is almost endless.

It's easy to see why everyone in Europe was importing this from the US; there is simply nothing else like it.

The sheer amount of gameplay modes, unlockables, and superb online multiplayer will keep you coming back time and again. If you have any interest in fighting games, get this. BlazBlue is finally back.

If you own a DS, and you agree that touching is good, then The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is for you, and anyone looking to embark on a casual quest that looks and feels good will feel right at home here.

The absurd number of things to do after the main quest has been completed almost makes the adventure feel like a side-mission to a much grander story that unfolds as you dig deeper into the goodies that lie buried after the first 8 badges.

But even when you huff and puff and bemoan its wrongdoings, Little King’s Story bounces along with an insatiable charm and letting it get the best of you then seems pointless, because it has such confidence in what it does right.

I had pretty high hopes for the title, and ultimately, I was let down more than a kid who got socks and underwear for Christmas. If you're in the market for an FPS game, go pick up "Painkiller." Same type of gameplay, much less headaches. [June 2004]

It re-establishes the game's hold on the WWII shooter sub-genre and although it may not be worth a purchase for the singleplayer alone, the multiplayer makes it a worthy addition to any collection.

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.

They’ve taken what’s essentially a big database and made it come alive in ways you’d never imagine, and you’ve got to give them credit for that.

It's exactly what a sequel should be; it takes an established formula and improves upon it in every way.

Spelunky is a game that you can finish, but one that you will never complete, and that's why I have played it for 15 hours: The finely tuned mechanics, addictive algorithmic based level design and provocatively challenging, magnificently creative difficulty represent tough videogame design at its finest. Spelunky isn't a game for the casual, or faint of heart, but if you can't stand the heat...

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.

Flower may not be for everyone but if you go into it with the right mind-set then you’re guaranteed to witness something exceptional.

Despite Paradox’s best efforts, it’s still not a game that everyone will be able to love, but for those that can, it’s a juggernaut of a title that will keep them occupied for the duration of the Hundred Years War.

Pikmin 3 would be something of a rare gem in any console’s library, never mind the fledgling Wii U’s.

PixelJunk Shooter combines the best aspects of old school shooters with its own unique brand of environmental puzzles to create a shooting experience unlike any other.

GRID isn't a hugely deep game, but it has an impressive array of small features and presentation pieces that serve to make it feel bigger than it really is.

If you enjoyed the original Kingdom Hearts you'll find some enjoyment here too, but sadly it is not the classic it could have - and probably should have - been.

The gameplay is some of the most impressive and slickest action on the console. With so many attacks, crazy summons, multiple weapons, and some amazing controls, it’s easy to come up with tons of intricate combos.

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time’s likelihood of appealing to you is nearly as infinite as the universe it takes place in, but a few disappointingly expected plot turns and some finicky camera controls will make the universe seem a tad smaller.

Shooting yourself in the head never looked better.

PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe has charisma, content, clarity and a cracking heart.

An excellent game. With amazing graphics, a steady framerate and keyboard and mouse support, the PS3 version of UT3 is a worthy companion to its PC counterpart.

Bastion doesn't need gameplay gimmicks to feel innovative - instead, it plays with presentation in clever ways, and ends up feeling incredibly fresh, despite essentially being action RPG lite.

Similar to its more experimental bretherin, Proteus and Dear Esther, it’s a triumphantly successful demonstration that narrative doesn’t need to be funnelled down the barrel of a gun, balanced on the edge of a blade or relegated to a background cut scene for the sake of gameplay. Instead Gone Home actively embraces the unique possibilities of interactivity, laying out a breadcrumb trail of fascinating trinkets that leads to its touching crescendo without ever withholding control.

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

If anything, Kirby's Epic Yarn definitely lives up to its name.

With a loveable hero, incredibly technical handling, and a truckload of features all wrapped up in a wonderfully stylish presentation, Kirby: Canvas Curse not only brings a breath of fresh air to a seemingly stale handheld gaming world, but it also steals the spotlight with its undeniable quality.

The vast majority of iPhone fans probably won't get it. People who care about the gaming industry, however, definitely will.

It’s not the best racing game on the system (a title I still contend is held by "Ridge Racer"), but it is probably the one that’s going to keep you entertained the longest.

Football Manager, enjoyable as it still remains for the most part, is beginning to enter the Heskey years of its existence: it still does its job more effectively than any other striker on the market, but the tired formula is beginning to show.

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.

Maybe I was a victim of my own expectations, but I really think it comes down to the fact that this game is essentially Call of Duty with a few bells-and-whistles.

Even after a few years, Onimusha: Warlords is a decent game with some truly impressive qualities. Sadly, it’s also impressive how short this game manages to be.

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.

While the campaign is nothing to keep you entertained after a couple of play-throughs the well put together online mode will have you playing for much longer. Resistance will fit snugly in any PS3 owner’s collection.

All in all, The Last Chapter is quite easily summed up: it's an even more refined chunk of an already great gem of a shmup.