Most Wanted U holds the status of the best entry and furthers the accessibility of the formula in meaningful ways.

Prototype perfectly embodies everything you could want from a summer game. It’s exciting, beautiful, liberating, and most important of all, it’s tremendous fun.

Dead or Alive games used to be all about huge, bouncing breasts and overly simplistic, easy to pick up gameplay. No longer. DOA shall henceforth be known for huge, bounding breasts and a refined and deep fighting system.

3D Dot Game Heroes is challenging, but it's nowhere near as difficult as Demon's Souls - but it really doesn't need to be. The overall experience is relaxed and humorous, and the retro concept stays amusing for the whole ride.

This unpredictable tale will have players engaged until the excellent finale.

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.

Nintendo's draconian online service isn't a reason to dislike Mario Kart Wii in the same way that it's wrong to dislike a really beautiful woman because her husband is a complete tosser...As a Wii owner, we've got the definitive racing game on the console.

From Dust has a simple concept, executed exceptionally well. It's almost worth the price of entry to see the physics alone, but there's plenty more beyond that to make a purchase worthwhile.

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.

Slipping into their finest retro attire, Q Games has once again proven their ability to step into any genre and own it.

If you’ve played the first Brain Age title (and according to statistics, if you own a DS you’re about 90% likely to have done so), enjoyed it, but have since grown bored of it, then it’s a no-brainer that Brain Age 2 is the perfect solution to get your prefrontal cortex running smoothly once more.

VVVVVV's fusion of styles is exactly what lends it its endless playability; there's not a dull moment to be had in this tight, rewarding and above all blisteringly fun package.

The story might be lacking a bit and there are a few irritating objectives, but the whole game feels like it was cleaned up and rethought.

The swarmites are your people and you want to protect them. Maybe they're dumb, but spend some quality time with them though, and you'll find a lot to love, once you've come to cherish their eccentricities and predicament. Like any family they're a chore, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

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.

Although it can't quite sustain an initially interesting premise and refreshingly inventive ideas throughout the full length of its twenty half hour chapters, this is a Devil May Cry enlived with renewed assurance, nestled in more than capable hands.

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.

There’s nothing spectacular about what Virtua Tennis 3 has to offer, it’s very much a case of déjà vu throughout but the game is so accessible and so much fun to play that it doesn’t matter.

A detailed, consistent, artful slice of action adventure, bursting at the seams with the quality of the combat and visuals, optimised admirably by a developer who has learned the PS2 through and through – you wouldn’t want to miss out on that, would you?

Does such emphasis on multiplayer make it a bad game? Not necessarily. But solo gamers who've been spoiled with previous games may not appreciate the new gameplay style. Thus Viewtiful Joe's epic saga continues, with justice and style for all.

The style is vibrant and entertaining, and the overall presentation is lighthearted and easy to enjoy, regardless of your familiarity with RTS games coming into this bizarre take on the genre.

Though it might not be as great as "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2" in my mind, it's still a pleasure to play.

A great example of how licenses can work in videogames when given time and devotion, something that you can give in return for this brilliant piece of video gaming.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex Edition does have a few little niggles that bring the game down, but this is the best FPS on Wii and will have you hooked for hours on end, both online and offline.

It has a story done perfectly, and the action is slightly above tolerable, so most of the serious problems can mostly be overlooked. This game comes recommended, whether you like martial arts films or not.

The lack of any classic game mode will likely deflate many a player’s determination to persevere over an extended time period, which means this is one for the purists. Even in light of all all its shortcomings it’s all so easy to fall in love again.

It has a perfect price point at just £4.79/$5.99, and represents a worthy successor to Super Stardust HD as possibly the most addictive game on PSN.

Still when all is said and done, I’d rather pull this out in a tea break or in the evening than try to make sense of a sudoku puzzle.

Atlus seem to be masters of creating brilliant sequels without changing more than a few textures and a new script. Persona 4 was an example of this, and Devil Summoner 2 seems to continue that tradition.

It’s got gorgeous graphics, wonderfully detailed stadiums, professional commentary, and gameplay mechanics nearly as fine-tuned and realistic as those found in its acclaimed PS3 cousin. It is also extremely customizable.

Retro gaming is obviously an acquired taste, but with Sega Mega Drive Collection the legendary Japanese platform-holder-come-publisher have granted us a generous and varied journey into their almost unrivalled back-catalogue.

Combat Evolved remains every bit the essential, console-defining shooter it was ten years ago.

Roogoo is one of those games you need to be either on drugs or a zen master to truly appreciate, but regardless, many will find it addictive and possibly infuriating in a cute kind of way.

Fun and frustrating in equal measure, Twisted Dreams blends (rather than borrows) elements from Super Mario Bros., Sonic, and the essentials of many classic platformers that makes the experience feel fresh in an era when the genre has lost its bite.

If there was ever a game that deserved to be played, Muramasa is it.

All of the games retain their arcade-based charm, sans the small fortune of quarters you’d have to spend after getting killed for the twentieth time.

Quite frankly Zombie Apocalypse isn’t stellar in any of those categories but what it does allow you to do is a get a great deal of entertainment out of some mindless, arcade-style shooting. The amount of amusement that it offers is certainly worth the price of admission.

Although Ys: The Ark of Napishtim isn’t the prettiest or most epic RPG around, it delivers with its fast-paced action and lack of a convoluted storyline.

No game juxtaposes so many stunning, grand moments as it does with as many smaller quiet touches, such as Gabriel crossing himself at the sides of his fallen comrades. It is a dark, somber game and a promising new beginning for the Castlevania legacy.

It's not CAVE's best effort, but does further showcase their ability to nail a niche genre with near pixel-perfect accuracy, ensuring that those who grew up with similar titles aren't left with only nostalgia and a trusty Megadrive in storage for when the time calls to dust it off and bang in an indestructible copy of Thunderforce IV.

Stacking doesn't strike us as a game focused on difficulty. It's a game for those interested in creativity, humour and fun - a toy box full of variety and imagination that rewards playfulness and exploration.

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure may have seemed a puzzling combination of gameplay elements, but it came together with wonderful grace.

While this game not necessarily the most difficult game in the GBA library, it's still packed with solid and challenging gameplay.

It’s got all the addictive puzzle solving that made the first game so awesome. The switch to 3D made things far more interesting; rather than relying on a grid, you’ve got to rotate the entire puzzle and search it piece by piece to figure everything out.

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

It might look like a daunting game to dive into, but stick with it and you'll find one of the most engaging and addictive strategy experiences available.

Nintendogs is more like one of those squishy stress balls than an actual game. Both are tools to ease some of the strain of everyday life, and both are at peak effectiveness when used in short bursts.

If you are in the market for a portable brawler, consider this one of the best options currently available.

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

While bloodless and far from a definitive version, it’s a still a fun and challenging game that any action fan worth their salt should play.

In just a few minutes the last painstaking levels were worth the time it took to get there.

inFamous 2 doesn't make many missteps. It may lack the polish and big name license of the recent Batman games, but for a solid and dependable superhero videogame, there aren't many more enjoyable and more consistent than this excellent superpowered romp.

A true diamond in the rough.

Vigil Games has created a superb protagonist here, as Darksiders proves that its brawn isn’t a world away from the excellence of Bayonetta.

The inclusion of the early Doom games with multiplayer is a great perk which really increases the longevity of this package, which is pretty important because this game is pretty short.

Most definitely one of the most inventive games on the PS3. It blends a number of genres into a great package topped off with some great humor.

As with any episodic content, We Negotiate with Terrorists ends on a cliffhanger, a most amusing one at that.

Few poorly-implemented gimmicks aside, the game is a solid enough title for DS owners to look into. The game is far from perfect, but it works.

On it’s own, it’s the best stealth game on the PC by a good distance, with "Thief 3’s" lack of features trailing some way behind. But as a sequel, it’s painfully under-developed.

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.

There's also no doubt in my mind that the game will be supported with great DLC and amazing user generated content, but as a player who fell in love with the original's level design, as well as it's infectious personality, this sequel never quite met my admittedly lofty expectations.

Though the new gear is lackluster, the path opened to the level 35 cap and new perks is fair compensation.

No More Heroes joins the ranks of other video games that were too smart and/or bizarre for their own good. Gamers who enjoyed the head trips that were "Metal Gear Solid," "Katamari Damacy," and "Persona" will feel right at home with No More Heroes.

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.

Despite its rougher edges, Tales from Space: About a Blob is a genuinely fun – and funny – romp through classic sci-fi tropes. The feeling of piloting a gelatinous character is more than enough to set the game apart from its sidescrolling brethren, but, it's the unique gameplay and sense of style that truly absorbs you.

Though racing purists may not get as much out of it, arcade racing fans won't be able to put this down.

There are no truly wrong instances in this game that jump out, and many of the problems are just minor enough that they can be easily forgotten about after you actually get into the game and begin to enjoy it.

Though Citadel Action News rarely provides an editorial stance, we believe that all citizens across the galaxy should support Commander Shepard and his mission.

The progression system certainly encourages multiple replays, as do three endings based on your final decision.

As a first episode, Rain Slick succeeds in leaving you wanting more, and anxious to drag your party and stats on into Episode 2. Sure at its core, it’s an extremely light weight JRPG, but if you’re playing this game for ingenious game design then you’re missing the point.

For shooter fans craving something with a little more substance, Binary Domain is definitely the ticket. Behind its hokey yet self-aware characters and stereotypical premise is a hugely intelligent shooter, one that packs just as much heart as it does brawn.

One mighty fine addition to the series, as well as a quality platforming/action title in its own right.

I was literally crying with laughter when I pulled this out of the post bag at the office, waiting to rip it to pieces and label it as a glorified sex toy. Well it is, but there’s some damn fine gameplay there too.

There's only on thing that irks me though. All of these characters have distinct voices and wonderfully rich attitudes. The voice acting is superbly done with so much clarity and excellence. But despite all of the quality, the characters' cel-shaded lips don't move.

Having played both the 2K and EA hockey titles extensively this year, there is no doubt in my mind that 2K7 pips NHL'07 to the post as the title of choice again.

Renegade Ops is a fairly conservative game, in terms of scope and originality; where it succeeds is in its execution of a well-worn game type and by transporting its players back to a simpler time.

Perhaps the best thing about Risk: Factions is how quickly matches move.

Once the excitement of the 3-D match engine dies down, and it will, the reality that you’re playing the exact same game that you played two years ago, albeit at a slower pace, ruins the experience. As stated in last years review, Si Games have rarely deviated from the successful formula, and if it ain’t broke then by all means don’t fix it, but Football Manager needs rejuvenating as well as a rocket up its backside.

With two characters and a fairly lengthy story, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a great game for fans of westerns and fans of shooters alike.

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

Besides this awesome little cartridge, the drama of Metro City is limited on this generation of gaming machines. Maybe it's the dying out of beat 'em up games and general that has lent to this game's obscurity.

The fully realized Adventure Tours makes a great introduction for players picking the title up for the very first time, and the breadth of modes and extras should extend the life of the game for a good, long while.

Even after you’ve finished the extended campaign there’s plenty to go back to with the new level cap, including a way for all you dog lovers to bring Dogmeat back from the dead - Awww.

There is a huge, jaw dropping world to discover at whatever pace you desire. Along the way you're free to author your own story, defining your unique character and experience through whatever style of play you prefer. When you're lost in its rich landscape and enthralled within its fiction, Skyrim thrives, and is truly unparalleled; it's when you take a closer look, you can't help but discover the seams holding this tapestry together.

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

A triumphant game. It's wonderfully complex and detailed, and vibrantly decorated with historical trappings that will satisfy anyone with a passing interest in military strategy. While the presentation and multiplayer are a little rough around the edges, there's more than enough content to make the game a more than worthwhile experience.

What limited time you do have with Garfield is actually surprisingly entertaining, and though it doesn’t really use the source material very well, this is still a good 2D platformer that platforming fans should check out, whether they like Garfield or not.

All the best things about the movie made it into the game.

A satisfying, occasionally exceptional romp through half of New Marais. In a lot of ways it's the best aspects of inFamous 2 without the fuss of karma decisions, experience points or tedious side-quests.

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

All criticism aside, this is a title that winds away the hours and, for the most part, is a joy to play. What I first considered to be a silly, childish story turned out to be a true portrayal of what most players will go through learning the ways of Peggle, in that you have to be patient, disciplined and sometimes lucky, too.

Ghostbusters old and new, rejoice. Your time has come.

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.

Catherine justifies its unique premise with unique gameplay, and works wonderfully.

For curious fans of the new Persona games, and people who enjoyed the mangled port for what it was, this PSP edition is a must-play.

Fable doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does offer an enjoyable and focused modern gaming experience which is both streamlined and accessible to all. It may not be the best RPG ever, but it's certainly one of the best.

Despite the lack of exhilaration, it's a haunting, beautiful journey. The music is perfect. The water is inviting. Lulls in the action are filled with fascinating dialogue and plot development.

It all culminates in an ending that will probably become one of those iconic gaming moments - similar to the ending of Fez, it provides a great sense of closure while also making no apparent sense whatsoever.