Madden NFL is a series which feels like Pro Evolution Soccer did in its peak. It’s a game which every year you wonder how they could improve it in any way other than basic graphical updates and the odd new mode, however unlike the former, Madden is a series which on its twentieth anniversary is still taking large strides every single year.

Picross DS isn't really a traditional video game. Despite this, if you like puzzle games, Picross DS is one of the best non-games you can pick up.

Essential, easily worth both the time and monetary investment not only to your own gameplay experience but also to that of your character. Besides the raised level cap, new traits, arsenal and items, once completed, the Big MT can be revisited at will. And unlike other DLC, this is one you'll actually want to revisit again and again.

Mutant Blobs Attack has the right amount of charm and variety of gameplay elements especially considering its price.

Resistance 3 stands as a whimpering end to a franchise that never quite found its stride. With a little more risk and less reliance on the successes of its peers Resistance 3 could have become the jewel in Sony's crown.

It provides a familiar formula wrapped in the guise of another familiar formula, and succeeds at picking the best parts of both.

Started as a project at the University of Southern California, Winterbottom has traveled a long journey to make his debut on Xbox Live Arcade. Although it has a few small issues, it is an otherwise stellar first offering from the promising folks at The Odd Gentlemen.

PSP fans, rejoice. This is the killer-app that you have been waiting for; the game which will send PSP units worldwide flying off the shelves - just like what Final Fantasy VII did for the original PlayStation.

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

Trine is one of the most playable and likeable downloadable ‘full’ games of the last few years.

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

David Cage and the team at Quantic Dream have accomplished what they set out to, producing a game that integrates narrative and gameplay so tightly that they almost seem inseparable... Undoubtedly one of the finest adventure games of this or any generation.

Some stealth games end up solely being about moving from one shadow to another, but Monaco has a good balance between fast paced action and careful planning. That’s what makes it successful in the end, despite its – at times – confusing and cluttered visuals.

Unless you value multiplayer competition, Pac-Man’s latest effort is one that is worthy of attempting, and may just allow you to become infected with ‘Pac-Man Fever’ once more.

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.

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.

As a console exclusive, it delivers a great campaign with unique features that set it apart from the majority of first-person shooters on the platform.

The Scorchers is a fine way to re-familiarise yourself and extend the run-time of this under-appreciated throwback shooter.

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’s a game that instantly endears itself to all who strap on the Wii Remote providing fun in short bursts and while the games main character is on the slightly chunky side, WarioWare: Smooth Moves regrettably doesn’t carry as much weight.

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.

Just another pretty good game.

Carrying the influence of several ex-Blizzard executives, some having oversight in the development of the first couple Diablo titles, Torchlight comes into its own as a recommended purchase and a good placeholder for Diablo III.

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.

For hardcore racing nuts, Race 07 is probably equal to a second coming. It's detailed, intense, has multiple racing league licenses, and features racing both online and off. However, gamers who are used to having their disbelief suspended for a bit while their Ferrari does 250MPH down a city street and drifts perfectly around the block are in for a bit of an ass-kicking. The difficulty level in 07 is brutal.

A good game, and executed well in terms of in graphics technology, system implementation, and gameplay. If only the main quest was a bit longer and the difficulty balanced throughout, this game would be a classic.

Rhythm Heaven Fever is a late, essential pick-up for the Nintendo's fading console, coming in at an attractive budget price with an exceptional amount of polish.

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.

The game is incredibly repetitive. You get the standard different worlds of jungle, sand, sky, etc. but other than the colour palette and decor there wasn't anything unique about any of them.

It’s great to see that well-made games that are entirely capable of kicking our asses can still be made and here’s to another 20 years of Contra-ing to come... hopefully.

It speaks to so many things fans love about Nintendo and their products. The game shows off both the simplicity and complexity of DS, but more importantly, Rhythm Heaven is an insanely good time.

The Finnish developers have built a believable universe surrounded by a strong narrative, impressive storytelling techniques and enjoyable combat with a unique twist. It has its flaws with repetition, linearity and some poor presentational issues, but this is a world ripe for a sequel to improve upon every single aspect.

The last push and final confrontation are a union of repetition and frustration, overstaying its welcome and almost undoing the good work. Bookended by a flat beginning and ending, it's the entertaining centre of this adventure that is its strong suit.

Great fun but far from perfect, mainly due to a handful of little niggles.

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.

To take a game that was supposedly complete and yet seamlessly expand it in such a way is laudable, and overall, this is a bravura performance.

Defeated levels give you points to use in the mall, a shop for unlocking everything from concept art to an exclusive theme of the game. Did you succeed in acquiring the hidden pair of shoes? More points to spend!

For all of you Castlevania followers out there, be prepared for yet another intriguing story of vampires, the undead, and the supernatural.

If you missed Diamond and Pearl or you just find yourself shaking in anticipation every time word of a new Pokémon release reaches your ears, then don’t miss out on Platinum, as it acts as a small step up from the package that the 2007 titles delivered.

If you’ve never played a Tony Hawk game before, this is the most complete out of all of them and it’s worth a purchase.

A truly different experience in many respects, but the repetition is frustratingly similar to that of countless other games.

It's limited in many regards, but it's also a near-perfect fit for the handheld space.

But at the end of the day, taking down a handful of terrorists through meticulous planning with the snake cam and order issuing is as rewarding as ever.

Surprisingly, it has a lot of life to it. For a game built largely around the “blow sh.t up” gimmick, you’d expect it to lose steam after a few hours, but Guerrilla stays entertaining through most of the game, only tapering slightly toward the conclusion.

All in all SingStar is a great game, instantly accessible with nothing to unlock, but plenty of downloadable content available online.

Why couldn't Midway just have added the option to play full court two-on-two as well as the one-on-one? It just doesn't make sense.

Blacklist isn’t a revolution for the Splinter Cell series but a refinement of everything that came before, enticing new players and welcoming back those who enjoyed all of Sam’s previous escapades.

There's enough content and variety here that it serves the purpose of party-oriented multiplayer well. The truth is – in the right setting – YDKJ can be light fun, but it never goes any further than that.

I’ve uncovered a marvelous new gaming world that I love immersing myself in and now my nephew and I can talk with equal zest about our various Poké accomplishments.

It seems inappropriate to label any game a 'classic' on such a novel platform, but if such a term is allowed, then The Incident qualifies emphatically.

While not a groundbreaking game, it's interesting on its own merits, with a good setting and a colorful personality to match.

However, it’s most definitely a great step for the genre in terms of storytelling that will hopefully be properly mimicked and expanded by another developer or in a sequel.

It’s everything that we could come to expect from a game; it has an excellent storyline, a cast of remarkable characters, intense gameplay melded with style, and a presentation so vivid and brilliantly executed that you’ll feel right at home.

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.

A quality game, but one lacking in longevity and incentive for those already invested. It would be difficult to justify a purchase for existing FIFA 10 owners.

But the bottom-line reveals that Bejeweled 3 does nothing unexpected. It is the same game that you've played before, with a fresh coat of paint and a couple of new modes.

Despite being an oh-so-easy-to-dislike game of movie, King Kong is a strong effort, and although it never reaches the pinnacle of the sub-genre alongside the likes of the legendary Goldeneye or The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, it can proudly sit on the next tier beneath them.

Trenched follows a well-worn formula with dustings of humor and a self-aware annoyance at its own conformity. That gives it an edge. What it loses out on is the creative soul of past projects, the manic energy of something like Psychonauts.

It's decidedly old-school, but if instant-gratification action is what you're after, don't hesitate to pick up the 360 version of UTIII.

Gemini Rue is equal parts tense, thoughtful, and surprising; it's the single best, most compelling adventure game I've played in years.

Dyad walks that fine line between artistic evocation and arcade addiction, emerging in a blinding euphoria of brilliant light at the end of its tunnel.

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.

If you can cope with the obvious limitations that a remake has in following its source material (although the sticky movement – Mega Man not moving for a millisecond when you command him to from a stationary pose – could have been done without), Powered Up is the ultimate bang for your buck.

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.

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.

Despite the story at the start of game urging you to be the best and beat everyone else, Test Drive: Unlimited is more about relaxing, having fun and enjoying the scenery than getting in a sweat at completing every challenge.

Even a dip in quality towards the end can't abate the feeling that Tales of Monkey Island has found a second wind in its sail.

Football Manager Live is a wonderful and addictive game and a must have for any armchair manager. The depth of the gameplay is still unrivaled and any little niggles and annoyances the game contains are small fry compared to the successes the game has achieved.

The apocalypse could’ve been more.

Truly a different game, and it’s different enough to warrant a spot in your collection.

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

It's a massive chunk of more of the same, basically. If that's what you're looking for you'll be more than satisfied, but lapsed players shouldn't expect anything intriguing enough to drag them back in.

Run Roo Run is one of the most enjoyable experiences you can have on this particular platform, and probably the best dollar you'll spend for a long, long time.

A great game for fans and on the whole, but a handful of the features it boasts come accompanied by disappointing sacrifices that are particularly painful to those who have come to love and expect so much from the series.

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

Joe Danger 2 feels more coherent and varied than its predecessor. Where the first seemed like a loosely connected set of tracks, this one found the identity the previous game lacked. It’s as immediately fun too.

If you don’t import, you’ll never get to experience one of the best retro shooters on the DS. You’ll never get to experience the joy of taking down the ridiculously huge bosses. Or get lost in the chaos of the streamlined mini-games. Or get the rush from successfully pulling off a Bingo Combo and unleashing your mightiest weapons. [JPN Import]

Brutal Legend’s multiple gameplay styles are competent enough on their own, although I feel the RTS elements could have been explored more during the single player.

Despite the numerous glitches and eerily similar gameplay to its predecessor, Fallout: New Vegas is a quality game through and through with lots of replay value and slight improvements made to the formula.

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.

In the end, it’s a little disappointing that Butcher Bay is the better game included in the package. Dark Athena is by no means bad, but it’s a bit like coming on after Bill Hicks at an open mic; no matter how good your set was, the performance in front of you set the standard.

Stands as a stark contrast to this normal guns-a-blazin' attitude, due to its meticulous stealth-based gameplay that demands patience, strategy and more than a little ingenuity on the gamer's part. This uniqueness of gameplay combined with great presentation and engrossing story makes Deadly Shadows a true gem.

For the short time that the game does last it is an example of how Live Arcade titles should be done and how an old game can be refurbished, yet still retain a nostalgic edge to please all types of players.

It's levels and puzzles have little if any appeal. Its continual emphasis on completing tasks and finding items seems more of a tedious job than some fun gaming.

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.

While I would prefer to do my shooting in a well-written comedy or a dark drama, the opinion that Bulletstorm fails at both doesn't invalidate the fact that its creative gameplay is new, refreshing, and a total blast to play.

Call of Duty 3’s unique ideas aren’t enough to separate it from the rest of the pack and it doesn’t maintain the incredibly high standards set at the start of the game.

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.

It may have its problems with repetition and unfair AI, but there's no doubting the joy to be had engaging in its phenomenal action.

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.

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.

Despite showing its age, Stranger's Wrath HD is still a wholly original, refreshing title when compared to many modern offerings.

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

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

For Pirates! on the go, it's a very good effort and brings to the masses a franchise that was once only available to a select few with a decent spec PC, however the limits of the handheld market may annoy some.

With Tiberium Wars finally correcting so many of the problems that have beset the genre since its console inception, it would be hard not to recommend this as a purchase to any 360-owning strategy fan.

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

Rather than just being a typical add-on, Blood Dragon exists more as a complimentary stand-alone experience to Far Cry 3’s tale of survival and savagery—it’s an insanely fun, ridiculous ode to the bygone era of games that got by on having great action gameplay and a title that sounded cool.