'Be a Pro' is interesting, but far from reaching its true potential. FIFA 08 is like many a top team’s season; plenty of the sublime, but some glaring errors hold it back from greatness.

ModNation Racers' is a huge beast of a kart racer with a never ending list of fun and challenging things to do.

The gameplay may not be completely new, then, but this kind of chemistry certainly is. There's no denying it - Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is the best escort 'game' ever made; a spritely little cracker with a lot of heart.

Despite the lumbering campaign mode, Halo Wars is a brilliant addition to the series and, more importantly, to the RTS genre.

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

You get back what you invest into this series. And whilst the story has taken a turn I knew it would, there was a true involvement by the end. I won't lie: it got very emotional.

A great game taken in the spirit of an extreme sports hybrid, that's also partially grounded in reality.

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.

What it inherits from the original are often its greatest strengths. It’s the inconsistencies that do it harm. They’re so close to something truly special here, and I’m confident that 4A Games’ next will be something to behold.

It's a perfect game for handhelds, combining the simplicity of puzzles with the addictive nature of RPGs. Even though it sounds like the result of an executive meeting gone horribly awry, Puzzle Quest is actually a great piece of synergy.

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

It is all so persistently delightful to experience, so charmingly quirky that Botanicula has the power to melt away any frustrations resulting from the occasionally poor section of gameplay.

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

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.

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.

There’s an adherence to old design tropes throughout much of Broken Age, but there’s also a yearning to find a way to tell this fun story.

Hustle Kings is one of the most enjoyable and sizeable PSN games in a long time, and quite possibly the finest pool or billiards replication ever committed to a videogame.

The gameplay is fun, the animations are great and there’s a lot to do both online and off. However, this is really HSG5, and the omissions from previous HSG games leave the package feeling somewhat hollow.

The multiplayer action is fast-paced and furious, just like Quake multiplayer should be and the single-player campaign feels just like it should, even if it is linear.

The dark, gritty atmosphere is captured perfectly. I can’t get over how great texturing looks on the Xbox 360. Tile looks dirty. Graffiti on walls looks genuine. The texturing effects in this game are beyond awesome. The lighting is also incredibly detailed.

Fun as it may be, what makes Battleheart a tremendous success is the uniqueness of its formula.

It has a much better sense of itself than previous entries, and instead of shoving touted features in your face, it simply presents them to the player and lets them loose.

It takes the best parts of MK but refuses to rest on its laurels, building on a solid blueprint to create a fighting game with its own identity and unique fighting system. It remains accessible but manages to retain a hidden depth, making for a complete package that’s fun to play no matter your skill level.

If you're into having your tears tugged at, this will definitely be a change from nights spent curling up on the couch spectating those romance flicks that no one else gets. If you're someone who winds up stuck with the aforementioned individual, originally promised beer and tricked into the awkward Kleenex duty, no guilt will be harbored from missing out.

Painkiller is like a cold drink on a hot day; refreshing.

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.

Runic have created a highly-accessible dungeon crawling game that's highly competitive with the best of the genre.

Even with all of its issues Bomberman Ultra! can still be a blast if you have a bunch of like-minded friends nearby and six extra DualShock 3s, but for those potential online bombermen and women out there, better wait for a patch or the inevitable sequel.

Renegade Ops came out of nowhere. It's one of the most stress-free, funny and downright playable titles of the year.

Better than "Grand Theft Auto"? From what I’ve experienced, both games focus on entirely different concepts of crime, so much so it’s almost a treat to flick backwards and forwards between each series. GTA is far more high flying, with huge drug raids and mafia troubles and I found Saints Row to be more down to earth, focusing on petty crimes and taking over gang turf.

LSWII crams a whole lot of single and multiplayer fun into a game built- no pun intended- around Lego bricks and lightsabers.

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.

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.

Certainly a huge step up from Honest Hearts.

This really typifies the message which From Dust projects. The natural world is unfathomably more complex and diverse than man can comprehend and so fighting against it is like holding sand – eventually, it'll slip though your fingers.

Though some of its concepts were probably lost or underappreciated by this reviewer, the game is sure to please fans of the growing card game genre, and pretty much anyone can fall in love with the story.

Newcomers to the genre may be put off, but the ethically ambiguous questions faced do present a certain kind of draw.

Its narrative is compelling, its writing thoughtful. The mechanics may be little more that a delivery mechanism for its story but Kentucky Route Zero's mysteries leave you wanting more. Fortunately, there's more to come.

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.

People may turn their back on this thanks to its 2D visuals and oddball soundtrack, but not sampling this small nugget of gold for yourself, for those reasons alone, would be not be sensible at all.

A slam-bang action ride that never lets you off the edge of your seat.

What makes this game stand out above the others is that it is a perfect example of how to implement the stylus and touchscreen in to a game.

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.

It's a fun experience while it lasts, even if that might not be as long as you'd like. Still, this is a marked improvement, and even as a kind of iteration, is a reminder of Signal Studios' potential.

Assassin’s Creed is quite possibly the coolest game I’ve ever played. Not only is it satisfying to play, but it looks incredible and is easy to control. Each city is alive with activity, designed with care and attention to detail. Assassin’s Creed may not be perfect, but it offers one of the best singleplayer experiences you’ll play this year, and that’s saying a lot.

ilomilo is a complete joy from start to finish; exactly what XBLA needed; and exactly what's needed after fighting some non-cuddly alien maggots with a size 13 boot.

Whilst technically not as polished as recent 2D successes like Trine 2, Rayman Origins and Super Meat Boy, it has a strong enough USP with its Fluros to stand out from an increasingly-crowded yet creative genre that shows no signs of losing momentum.

It might be a little stiff, but the game is just plain fun to play thanks to some outstanding writing that’s just plain lacking in many other games.

With a handful developers, Blue Wind has crafted one of the best pure action games on the iPhone. The graphics are gorgeous, the game is fun, and while the brief cutscenes are rife with dubious usage of the English language, it doesn't matter.

If you treat Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning as a shorter, story-driven experience, you'll have a much better time of it than the completionist who chases every single side quest.

Borderlands has a lot of growing to do. The concept is strong, but in execution, it just doesn’t work very well.

Once I started playing, it was hard to stop. Sometimes I just needed to be reminded about all the great ways that chaos can be caused. Other times, I just had to sit back and watch the sunset. Panua, after all, is a paradise.

It's a beautiful pretender; but ultimately, beauty is only a surface attraction.

If you’re a fan of Fallout 3 and also a PlayStation 3 owner there really isn’t much reason to pass on Broken Steel.

It doesn't know whether it's a hack and slash game or a tactical masterclass, and although it attempts to combine these, it doesn't do so convincingly.

Even before I really understood why the things on screen were doing the things that they were doing, it was clear that the developers had done a fine job of coupling the visuals with just the right sound.

A truly great platforming game.

As a whole, Rochard is a mixed bag. If the story wasn't so prominent and terrible, if the characters weren't so unlikable, this could have been an amazing little experience. As it stands, it remains a mediocre representation of what could have been.

The combat and level design can become repetitive during long sessions and its difficulty may put some people off. But when it plays so well, looks unique, is filled with zest and the fun doubles in co-op, it's ultimately a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

The camera and targeting mechanics are bad, almost game-ruining awful. What really kills this game’s appeal is its brevity; since you can beat this in only a few hours, the high price tag might not be justified. However, it’s still one of the most fun, entertaining, and unique titles on the Wii. Who says violence in video games is a bad thing?

This game is all about customization. You get everything you need to create a park right out of the box, but you can design your own scenarios, park guests, fireworks shows, and buildings. Incredibly, none of this is particularly challenging to figure out as long as you put five to ten minutes into tinkering, with the only exception being the fireworks creator.

It’s a solid, fun experience that will keep you coming back for one more turn.

The new setting and enemies offer a refreshing change of pace, and the comedic writing, characters and pop culture references are as good as ever.

Still, it's a very well-designed game that harkens back to the arcade era which adds a few new twists to what could've been a very dull game. Fans of brick-breaking titles will find much to enjoy with Wizorb. It adds a new wrinkle to gameplay with its magic elements, and its mimicry of the bygone NES days will charm the pants off anyone nostalgic for that era.

Already played Plants vs. Zombies? Yeah, so have I. Playing the DS version, though, has gotten me hooked all over again. In terms of gameplay and features, PvZ on DS edges out ahead of pretty much any other version out there.

It may not be the best possible way to play Terraria, but taken on its own merits the Xbox version is still a triumph.

If you are a Hatsune Miku fan… well, you already bought this game. If you’re a fan of rhythm games in general, this is one of the best around and very much worth recommending.

LostWinds reeks of wasted potential.

The combat mechanics are easy to pick up, but the advanced techniques ought to be more than enough to keep things interesting. Regardless of its shortcomings, Soulcalibur V is still a fun and engaging game. That's all what really matters.

The game would have benefited from a bit more freedom. Don't let that stop you, though. Super Scribblenauts is a fine game. Give it a chance and see what your imagination can do.

Significantly flawed.

That's what Sonic 4 is all about: trying to be new while recapturing those fleeting moments of brilliance from the old Genesis titles.

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

If you’re ready for some fun multiplayer action and don’t mind a single-player side not as robust as some other puzzlers, Poker Smash is ready for you.

A fun Shmup that remembers to keep things simple. The appeal here is in the core action – never becoming confused with any half-baked mechanics or over-used ideas.

Black Ops is an excellent entry into the series, even if it is fairly inconsequential.

While other games coming out might be flashier and bigger and badder and all that crap, what it really comes down to is good strategy and in that aspect Kohan II really nails it.

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

Metal Gear Online has a lot of potential for an online-only game, but it just seems incomplete at the moment in regards to content.

If you like adventure games, you’ll like Culture Shock. The storyline does feature some truly funny moments that I won’t spoil for you (this is a short game and I want you to enjoy as much of it as you can before you have to pay for the next episode), but being that I’m not a huge fan of puzzles, I didn’t really get a lot out of this game.

Rage is a quality shooter and a bunch of other things but above all else it stands as a technical benchmark for the generation, showing just how far we've come since Wolfenstein 3D.

Retro fighting game fans, don’t pass this up.

This game was built to appeal to both the veterans of the series and the new folks just itching to give Pokemon a try. It's a fair bet that the fans will get this game without much hesitation.

Ninja Gaiden II does have its faults, but the combat is good enough to keep the game entertaining and engaging, providing one of the best action titles on the 360.

Although it’s DLC, Dragonfall is an improvement on the base game, Shadowrun Returns, in every aspect. The campaign is superior, the narrative more engaging, the characters well fleshed out and the quests more compelling.

The premise may seem downright ridiculous and this is reinforced by the witty, pun-filled dialogue bursting with enough memorable and laugh-out-loud quotes to inflame one's haemorrhoids. The actual cases themselves can, however, be quite sombre and very touching at times – sure, you will laugh, but you may also shed a tear.

This game was built to appeal to both the veterans of the series and the new folks just itching to give Pokemon a try. It's a fair bet that the fans will get this game without much hesitation.

It’s retro comebacks at its finest.

Whether you're on the go with your PSP or if you need something to greatly occupy yourself between paychecks, we can be thankful for the fact that the option of killing space cretins is available as an alternative to spending the evening hitting up the drive-thru window.

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.

A charming little tower defence title with a decent story and challenging gameplay.

There's clearly been a lot of effort put into the presentation, authenticity and lifespan of the game, but it falls down in its appeal to newcomers to the genre. A tutorial may be present, but the steep learning curve and tough difficulty level will put many off.

Never does it come close to touching Sands of Time in terms of majesty, and what you’re left with is a beautiful looking piece of art, masking a depressingly above average adventure.

It's colorful, requires strategy, and there's a lot of stat-building for those into it along with a decent variety of maps and challenges. However, there are serious drawbacks such as the repetition, difficulty curve, and less than ideal control scheme.

Despite whatever disagreements may come from its adjusted gameplay, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 can still be a fun game, and even more so with its amended online components.

The classic Civilization quirks still remain - completely illogical backstabbing AI players included! - but the game now provides a much richer toolbox for budding conquerors.

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.

Here we have a game that borrows too heavily from others – entertaining as those mechanics may be – robbing it of its own unique identity. The hacking rectifies this somewhat, providing that differentiating hook, but even that’s not enough to elevate Watch Dogs above the sum of its derivative parts.