On first sight, Bodycount's gameplay pillars are inviting: with arcade shooters being few and far between this generation and destructible environments remaining surprisingly underused, there's some real potential for compelling gameplay here. Unfortunately, Codemasters hasn't executed either of these features particularly well and unforgivably lacklustre design elsewhere cripples the game.

Perhaps with more development time, The Cartel would have been a more compelling experience but, with a game engine that's showing its age, a confused new identity and a fair few technical issues, it falls sadly short of most FPS fans' high expectations.

Perhaps with more development time, The Cartel would have been a more compelling experience but, with a game engine that's showing its age, a confused new identity and a fair few technical issues, it falls sadly short of most FPS fans' high expectations.

While it may initially grate, and the writing definitely misses more than it hits, Shadows of the Damned is a solid, snappy third-person shooter that retreads old ground with a... erm... unique style.

While it may initially grate, and the writing definitely misses more than it hits, Shadows of the Damned is a solid, snappy third-person shooter that retreads old ground with a... erm... unique style.

The revamped World Tour mode adds a touch of freshness and Move support has been dutifully applied to the PS3 version (albeit with a lack of content to leverage it) but nonetheless, at its heart, Virtua Tennis 4 is wearily familiar.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River lacks polish, refinement, and optimisation. The addition of a discernible narrative structure also fails to impress. Nonetheless, gamers looking for something different in an FPS and fans of military realism might find themselves a very rough diamond here.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River lacks polish, refinement, and optimisation. The addition of a discernible narrative structure also fails to impress. Nonetheless, gamers looking for something different in an FPS and fans of military realism might find themselves a very rough diamond here.

It's exciting to see the Lego games attempt to innovate, and some of the battles can be truly epic, but all sense of awe and fun is destroyed by persistent issues across the board, leaving players confused and frustrated. The trademark Lego charm is still just about present but is quickly wearing thin.

It's exciting to see the Lego games attempt to innovate, and some of the battles can be truly epic, but all sense of awe and fun is destroyed by persistent issues across the board, leaving players confused and frustrated. The trademark Lego charm is still just about present but is quickly wearing thin.

It's a thoroughly decent representation of the sport with a good range of modes and some fairly neat ideas, particularly in the career. That said, it's dangerously close to being the same package that last year's game was and, until the free 2011 season update arrives as DLC, it's hard to find a reason why gamers should pick this one up over a discounted copy of MotoGP 09/10.

It's a thoroughly decent representation of the sport with a good range of modes and some fairly neat ideas, particularly in the career. That said, it's dangerously close to being the same package that last year's game was and, until the free 2011 season update arrives as DLC, it's hard to find a reason why gamers should pick this one up over a discounted copy of MotoGP 09/10.

As the FPS genre marches towards a Call of Dutified heat death, it seems success is based more on the strength of a brand than any semblance of innovative game design. Homefront is only adding to this growing mass of homogeneous goo but at the very least it's a solid game with moderately entertaining mechanics; completely generic but generally agreeable nonetheless.

As the FPS genre marches towards a Call of Dutified heat death, it seems success is based more on the strength of a brand than any semblance of innovative game design. Homefront is only adding to this growing mass of homogeneous goo but at the very least it's a solid game with moderately entertaining mechanics; completely generic but generally agreeable nonetheless.

At times, everything that is great about video games. Rewarding gameplay, smart visuals and a decent attempt at innovation combine to create a game that can be great fun. However, the modest challenge and increasingly repetitive gameplay conspire to highlight other flaws, meaning most players will soon tire of the saccharine charm of de Blob and his surprisingly adult revolution before the monochrome regime can be toppled.

At times, everything that is great about video games. Rewarding gameplay, smart visuals and a decent attempt at innovation combine to create a game that can be great fun. However, the modest challenge and increasingly repetitive gameplay conspire to highlight other flaws, meaning most players will soon tire of the saccharine charm of de Blob and his surprisingly adult revolution before the monochrome regime can be toppled.

While the original Force Unleashed managed to surprise us with something that was more stimulating then the tech demo we feared and nicely introduced a new plotline, the sequel fails at virtually everything it attempts. The plot feels like a cheap way to extend the series and never delivers any twists, while the game itself is mediocre at the very best of times. A hugely disappointing experience that even the most ardent Star Wars fan will have a tough time enjoying.

While the original Force Unleashed managed to surprise us with something that was more stimulating then the tech demo we feared and nicely introduced a new plotline, the sequel fails at virtually everything it attempts. The plot feels like a cheap way to extend the series and never delivers any twists, while the game itself is mediocre at the very best of times. A hugely disappointing experience that even the most ardent Star Wars fan will have a tough time enjoying.

Disney Epic Mickey is undeniably the disappointment of the year for us. It was a concept that promised so much when it emerged last year but has ultimately ended up falling far short of the mark. What's more troubling than all of this, though, is that it feels like a game that's been held back from reaching its full potential; you do get the sense that it's perhaps not Junction Point's lack of talent but its lack of creative license that's led to these disappointments.

Despite its Master Chief and Marcus Fenix guises, Vanquish is ultimately much more Japanese in its orientation than it is Westernised. Unlike MadWorld and Bayonetta though, it just lacks the poised gameplay balancing that could've made it a much more addictive experience.

Despite its Master Chief and Marcus Fenix guises, Vanquish is ultimately much more Japanese in its orientation than it is Westernised. Unlike MadWorld and Bayonetta though, it just lacks the poised gameplay balancing that could've made it a much more addictive experience.

Beyond missions that are a touch more variable and slightly better attuned to the story, it's hard to see where HAWX 2 improves over its predecessor. The first game struggled to rise above its own monotonous gameplay and this tedium is only amplified by a sequel - mired in the same monotony - that's been released only a year-and-a-half after the original.

Beyond missions that are a touch more variable and slightly better attuned to the story, it's hard to see where HAWX 2 improves over its predecessor. The first game struggled to rise above its own monotonous gameplay and this tedium is only amplified by a sequel - mired in the same monotony - that's been released only a year-and-a-half after the original.

With a new linear focus and emphasis on large-scale boss battles, Shattered Dimensions represents a new direction for a series that has never quite lived up to its potential. However, despite some thrilling set-pieces, a lack of variety prevents this from becoming the definitive Spidey title.

With a new linear focus and emphasis on large-scale boss battles, Shattered Dimensions represents a new direction for a series that has never quite lived up to its potential. However, despite some thrilling set-pieces, a lack of variety prevents this from becoming the definitive Spidey title.

Although an improvement over the original, Dog Days - like its predecessor - is a game of two halves: a disappointing single-player somewhat rectified by enjoyably innovative and strategic multiplayer modes. We wouldn't have too many problems with the duration of the campaign if Dog Days packed every hour full of unforgettable moments, but as it stands it quickly degenerates into the chasm of forgettable, derivative Gears clones.

Although an improvement over the original, Dog Days - like its predecessor - is a game of two halves: a disappointing single-player somewhat rectified by enjoyably innovative and strategic multiplayer modes. We wouldn't have too many problems with the duration of the campaign if Dog Days packed every hour full of unforgettable moments, but as it stands it quickly degenerates into the chasm of forgettable, derivative Gears clones.

Vector Unit has certainly succeeded in its mandate of "big games in small packages" with Hydro Thunder Hurricane, and for that alone it's hard not to recommend. Despite its shortcomings Hydro Thunder Hurricane is ultimately a fun game to play and a worthy XBLA purchase.