In a single-player campaign that goes a bit over-the-top at times, it's a relief to see that the action is scaled-back with Soap and Price often enough to ensure that these characters receive the billing they deserve. Elsewhere in the multiplayer, Infinity Ward was always going to have a hard time replicating the impact of its package from two years ago but it's managed a rock-solid, if slightly conservative offering for this difficult third album in the Modern Warfare series.

If Codemasters' long-running rally series suffered something of an identity crisis with its transition to the DiRT name, then DiRT 3 has put that crisis to rest. The publisher has found an amorous new bedfellow in Ken Block and successfully built a game around his invigorating style while also managing to retain what made the series great in the first place.

In a single-player campaign that goes a bit over-the-top at times, it's a relief to see that the action is scaled-back with Soap and Price often enough to ensure that these characters receive the billing they deserve. Elsewhere in the multiplayer, Infinity Ward was always going to have a hard time replicating the impact of its package from two years ago but it's managed a rock-solid, if slightly conservative offering for this difficult third album in the Modern Warfare series.

It's still an arcade shooter that lacks the depth of the X-Wing/TIE Fighter series. However it's the rare case when the slick presentation just improves everything beyond belief.

You cannot help but be impressed by the level of [sound] quality, from the superb voice acting to the suitably epic score featured throughout; exceptional on all parts.

Balanced and refined with plenty of time having been devoted to the game mechanics and design everything is just immensely enjoyable.

Creates the most exhilarating sensation of speed in a videogame as well as offering the most comprehensive modification package in a street racing title yet.

While the core mechanics of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood are largely familiar, the game still brings fresh ideas to the table with some inspired secondary missions and meta-games. It's in the multiplayer that Brotherhood really beats its wings though, presenting what's arguably the best competitive stealth experience anywhere in gaming.

Using various gadgets the concept is handled impressively; Sci-Fi fanatics will lap up the way in which Wright and Maxis have captured the concept of colonizing planets and expanding your empire across the galaxy.

For a handheld, the AI of your computer-controlled opponents is surprisingly diverse and complex.

The range of driving skills required, the excellent combo Kudos system, the satisfying handling and range of unlockable extras ensure this is a game you'll keep playing.

It was slightly disappointing to see the visuals downgraded and no real thought into the conversion.

With a regimental programme of exercises broken up into mini-games and more 'traditional' moves such as squats and push-ups the title certainly offers those willing to take the plunge an alternative to the gym or impact sports. This is an EyeToy title with actual substance and far exceeds our expectations.

One of the best videogames ever created, something that should forever be remembered.

As if you ever doubted it, Call of Duty is still the best military shooter out there and by quite some margin. It seems its competitors can only watch from a distance and take notes as this juggernaut of FPS gaming ploughs a wide path towards the genre's future.

A really good beat-en-up that really absorbs players. Graphically the game is very well done, and the soundtracks enhance the whole hip-hop underground scene that the title is trying to represent and exaggerate.

Interestingly the PS2 version appears to have the edge over the Xbox version, sporting crisper textures that seem to feature more detail. Along with the fact that the Dual-Shock 2 controller was conceived for the Tony Hawk control system, making the PS2 version the superior out of the lot.

Although it's unlikely to rekindle the impact of Street Fighter II, there's little denying that Street Fighter IV is a return to the joyful simplicity of the game that spawned an entire era.

So from a game design point of view then True Crime is a rare refreshing change from the norm; thankfully True crime features strong gameplay to actually back it up with a number of improvements to the "GTA3" rulebook and a smattering of innovative ideas.

Special mention going to the sound effects and music which are superb, every blow and block is recreated whilst a thumping tune plays in the background.

One of the greatest racing games to come out in a long time, stacking up and in some areas surpassing even "Gran Turismo."

Without doubt Fable is one of the finest videogames yet that we've had the pleasure to play, in which your actions have a definite consequence to the progress of the game – it's all handled so naturally, that a lot of it passes you by without noticing.

Very much more of the same, with Obsidian rarely straying from Bioware's original formula. If you're a KOTOR fan then this is a must have, it's as simple as that.

Somewhat fittingly, this is the Fable to rule them all. Its revolutionary themes complement the series' trademark gameplay style exceedingly well, bringing a murkier side to crucial player choices that make impending decisions all the more engaging. It's still an RPG for the masses, but then it was always going to be really.

Perhaps the ultimate testimony is the fact that it left us longing for another sequel, something the original certainly never achieved.

Quite frankly FarCry is the finest PC title we’ve played in many years...Every aspect of the game works brilliantly and combines to create one of the most immersive and captivating games we’ve ever played.

If a more methodically paced, realistic game is what you're after, then this is your game. But if you prefer more lenient physics and control, not to mention online play, then "NFL2K1" is your best bet.

Simply the greatest point-and-click adventure game to date, whilst it may seam a little strange at time hang on there you will be rewarded in the end.

Perhaps the only niggle that you can level at Metroid Fusion, is that the focus on strong story telling reduces the exploration aspect, an area that the Metroid series is virtually unrivalled in.

An epic game in terms of both visual execution and longevity...Campaigns can last for several hundred turns, so prepare for the long haul.

This is a class act that builds and extends the Star Wars game franchise and PC gamers are getting something their kindred XBOX owners loved to bits and will not be disappointed in any way.

Absolutely brilliant, the graphics are stunning the sound effects are outstanding, this game is top notch.

It's the multiplayer which has completely engulfed us; we've yet to play an Xbox Live! game which felt so refreshing, as we said towards the beginning, there's no reason why this shouldn't do for Xbox Live! what "Counter-Strike" did to PC gaming.

There's no denying Fallout 3 is little more than Oblivion in a post-apocalyptic setting. However that's more a compliment than complaint.

Overall this is a retina burning experience, the Xbox tricks of texturing and lighting are used to great effect here, the detail on the textures being of particular note.

Bringing the classic Zelda experience to the DS with a range of creative touches, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an overwhelming success for the format. It may not have the sheer weight of the likes of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess, but it is nonetheless geared suitably for a stylish and entertaining handheld experience.

It's full of charm and character, it’s fun to play and includes a wide range of gameplay styles, more importantly we can’t think of a single aspect that lets it down – truly "Jak2" is a perfect game.

Gears of War is a game of superlatives; it's a game so full of moments that are enough to bring you to tears; it is the next-generation. Focussing on delivering THE next-generation action blockbuster, it would be hard to describe Epic's effort as particularly creative or revolutionary; but it is a shooter of the highest quality - one to hold out on the 360 as being testament to what the system can achieve with a talented team and a $10 million budget - roll on Gears of War 2...

Utterly brilliant and everything that we could have hoped for. Team 17 have performed an excellent job of retaining the look and feel of 'Worms' whilst changing the scope of the game enough to make it feel fresh and new for everybody.

If there was one thing that I had to moan about, it would be the story which involves Humans and Dolphins travelling outer space in little bubbles, until an evil alien species invades the earth and it's up to Ecco to save the day whilst the rest our up in space...

It will take over your body and soul when you take it to new heights by playing on-line.

Last year's foibles have been successfully plastered over with a quite brilliant Career mode and improvements on the defensive side of the ball are nothing short of revolutionary.

The game uses a completely new 3D engine that allows for the rotation of environments so you can see where the enemy’s path is going to take them, in even more detail than ever before.

It's games like this that make the industry.

The inclusion of Michael Jordan, while it doesn't necessarily add anything to the gameplay, certainly improves the game in the eyes of most basketball fans.

Last year's foibles have been successfully plastered over with a quite brilliant Career mode and improvements on the defensive side of the ball are nothing short of revolutionary.

Quite honestly the first realistic shooter I’ve found myself completely enthralled within. It’s cross between Medal of Honor/Call of Duty and Full Spectrum Warrior gameplay creates an experience that is fresh and compelling, while the multiplayer mode should make this one of the most popular titles around.

Truly games such as this are a rarity these days; it’s a perfect blend of substance and style both in terms of visuals and gameplay, whilst the true testimony of the game is the fact that it’s still as refreshing, addictive and challenging as it was when it was released close to a year ago on the GameCube.

Very rarely does a developer remake an iconic classic as well as Sega Racing Studio has Sega Rally. With the finest eye for detail, they've managed to remember everything that made the series great and translate it onto today's next gen machines perfectly. Not only that, but they've put their own unique stamp on the Sega Rally family with great aplomb.

Improvements to the interaction with the environment and further polish to the overall look would have resulted in a perfect score, as it stands KotoR offers one of the most enthralling and rewarding experiences you're likely to have with a videogame for quite some time.

There's only one downside to an otherwise overwhelmingly successful transition for Infinity Ward and Call of Duty. As with many classics, it's all over before you really want it to finish. If you're a veteran of tackling the Nazi invasion in past Call of Duty titles then you'll probably rush through Modern Warfare in less than 10 hours.

One of the most controversial games for the Playstation has created a bigger, better, badder, and more f***ed up sequel.

Being the Bomberman purist that I am, it’s the multiplayer modes that kept me hooked.

Every aspect comes together to create a gaming experience that is one of the most polished and perfected we’ve ever seen, regardless of genre – you simply need Burnout 3: Takedown now.

Indeed the closest contemporary for the game would be "Metal Gear Solid" as it is one of the few games like Max Payne that offers a completely impressive experience from beginning to end, wrapped up in sumptuous presentation and production values.

Packed full of rewarding and entertaining features, Saints Row 2 is an unadulterated videogame that makes no attempt to rival GTA4. Instead, it's quite content to offer plenty of fun and set itself as a worthy alternative to Rockstar's opus.

It's a game that embraces the rich history of Japanese mythology with such ease and accomplishment, wrapping it up in one of the most entertaining and substantial videogames since Nolan Bushnell first put a virtual bat and ball onscreen.

It's both a genre leading racing sim and a mass market EA game at the same time, which is a particularly difficult balancing act to pull off. Shift is easily the best driving game so far this year and will certainly be in amongst the likes of Forza 3 (and possibly GT5, if it emerges) when the brake dust from 2009 settles.

Fantastic presentation, highly addictive intense gameplay and plenty to play – racing games just don't get any better then this, make sure to check it out immediately.

Modern Warfare 2 ticks all of the right boxes: varied gameplay, immersive story, engaging gunplay, superb multiplayer, and the list goes on... If we're being really nitpicky, then we might suggest that there aren't many innovative features in the game. However, MW2's Spec Ops mode is fresh enough to ensure that the overall package isn't a stale one, while the long-term appeal of adversarial multiplayer will stretch out until the next Infinity Ward release with ease.

Quite honestly the first realistic shooter I've found myself completely enthralled within. It's cross between Medal of Honor/Call of Duty and Full Spectrum Warrior gameplay creates an experience that is fresh and compelling, while the multiplayer mode should make this one of the most popular titles around.

A stunning game in its breadth and scope, and one that (if your PC can run it) shouldn't be missed.

Away from the online Mario Kart DS is the biggest game in the series with a huge range of new and classic tracks, battle mode and all-new missions to conquer.

A brilliant unique game that has appeal stemming from every nook and cranny. Drop any preconceptions about a game that you may have from its box-art and visual style, Viva Pinata is one of the most rewarding, refreshing and important games to find its way onto the Xbox 360 this year.

Sky Odyssey brings all sorts of elements from "Pilot Wings" and packs them together with a fligh-based adventure, making this a fresh original title that you must have.

It may not be the most original game in the world, but the fact that it offers a level of fun that is certainly unparalleled in the genre more than makes up for that.

Vast improvements to the action on the pitch and the game in general means that FIFA 09 is certainly PES' equal this year, and we'd be inclined to suggest it makes significant strides beyond Konami's effort in many ways.

It's simple, Pro Evo IS football and the latest version makes enough enhancements to continue the series onward march to perfection. If you're a footie fan you need this, casual fans however might not necessarily appreciate the subtle modifications compared to previous titles.

As a pure videogame there's nothing on Microsoft's next-generation format to touch it in terms of instant accessibility, rewarding depth and immensely entertaining and addictive gameplay - maybe it's not a sports sim, but more a spiritual successor to the legendary PONG.

A streamlined sonic that’s nearly as good as the originals but not quite.

Quite simply the conversion to the PS2 is magnificent, it seems as though there have been very few sacrifices from the Xbox version, particularly the fluid water effects and dynamic lighting have survived the translation perfectly.

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders literally takes this genre to new heights; the amalgamation of action and strategy is the best we've seen in a game of this type to date, and creates an enticing experience that is very hard to put down.

A considerable improvement to the rushed "PGR3." PGR4 goes the extra mile with the inclusion of dynamic weather and bikes, it refines everything key element to the point of near-perfection, includes the low-end vehicles that fans cried out for, and most significantly injects a considerable boost of content.

A good game, but better on the consoles.

Slick prentation and excellent gameplay.

Those who won’t look at a game unless it’s got big guns and lots of mindless goons to destroy will likely detest Fahrenheit and wonder what the fuss is all about; however those who’d like to glimpse how videogames can become an effective means to telling stories and interacting with them will find one of the surprising contenders for Game of the Year.

Gears of War 2 improves in every area over its blockbuster predecessor, delivering a solid and engaging storyline that goes far deeper than gamers will expect. Throw into that with an expanded multiplayer that will no doubt rule the roost of the Xbox Live most popular list for months to come, and Gears 2 rightly becomes an essential Xbox 360 title.

The strides forward over last year's game really do place Codies' F1 series amongst the most dynamic sports series in video games today, ensuring that if you played and enjoyed last year's game then you'd be mad not to get in on the ground floor of this year's improvements.

The strides forward over last year's game really do place Codies' F1 series amongst the most dynamic sports series in video games today, ensuring that if you played and enjoyed last year's game then you'd be mad not to get in on the ground floor of this year's improvements.

Truly a must-have XBLA game, From Dust can hold its head up high amongst the likes of Limbo, Braid, and Super Meat Boy – much like those platformers, Eric Chahi's long-awaited return has brought back a sadly forgotten gaming genre and given it a fresh breath of life. It's been a long time coming, but with any luck a god gaming renaissance is upon us.

It is the best version around, but it’s because the game is just so much fun that people should pick this one up. If you’ve own the PS2 version or have played it before, there’s not much point.

Empire: Total War continues the franchise’s legacy, simply a masterpiece in the strategy genre.

Perhaps the most impressive part of NBA2k2’s presentation is not the graphics, sumptuous as they are, but the audio. The commentary in this game is wonderful, the best in any sports game to put it simply.

Quite honestly the first realistic shooter I’ve found myself completely enthralled within. It’s cross between Medal of Honor/Call of Duty and Full Spectrum Warrior gameplay creates an experience that is fresh and compelling, while the multiplayer mode should make this one of the most popular titles around.

I found the game very deep and rewarding even with just one license. With over 70 cars to choose from, there really is quite a variety in driving styles throughout the different models over the decades.

There is a vast collection of challenges for you to try, some simple, some stupidly difficult.

Retains a feeling that we haven't felt from playing videogames in a long, long time; perhaps it's the sheer difficulty challenge, a key component to many long-forgotten classics; perhaps it's the fact that gameplay prevails over story and character development, something sadly missing from many of today's games; perhaps it's just the fact that Ninja Gaiden is just a damn fun game to play.

God of War II just seems to go on and on, without ever resorting to needless padding or levels for the sake of it. It's one of those few games that you just don't want to finish, and surprisingly never seems to come to this climax.

Its frustrating gameplay could have easily become tiring, but they’ve got the balance just right to ensure you carry on playing, knowing that you can get that little bit further with a little bit of practise.

Simply put Chu Chu is sheer simplicity yet devilishly tough gaming perfection.

World at War also sees the implementation of four-player co-operative gameplay online, and two-player split-screen, with options for a meta-game or just regular co-op. Despite its smooth running, the co-op isn't the most effective we've seen - getting further in the game on co-op won't unlock those missions on Solo - which seems a bit backward compared to other titles.

The game can be used a classic example of great game design, everything from the levels to the control set-up to the actual game structure is as near to perfection as we could have hoped for.

Blur is to racing games what Modern Warfare was to shooters. It easily combines the solid racing action we've come to expect from Bizarre Creations with power-ups that provide plenty of depth and options in the game. More significantly its the multitude of layers to the game, in terms of extra challenges and multiplayer, that creates the most absorbing arcade racing action we've had since Burnout Revenge. Simply a must-have for racing fans.

One of the most groundbreaking titles around... a truly unique ‘game’ and of the finest Sega created titles ever, one that everybody can play yet it’s individuality will divide gamers into those that love it and those that don’t.

This is a game that you must own - even if you think that you don't enjoy the franchise thus far, the fact is that like Ridge Racers, the THUG2 experience is very complimentary with the whole ethos of PSP.

A must get for any serious RPG gamer. Looks great sitting next to Final Fantasy VII.

The big improvement for me is that everything is a lot less linear then before; it really does feel that your actions directly influence Ryo’s progress through the adventure.

If Dead Space 2 were a sci-fi character, it would be the cigarette smoking man from The X-Files: dark, mysterious, sinister, and intense. If you're a survival horror fan then look no further - Dead Space 2 provides the genre master-class on current-gen systems. The one major detraction is a disappointingly shallow multiplayer experience.