Strikes a near-perfect balance and is likely to appeal both to fans of the genre and those fixated with the source material – perhaps the first time we’ve been able to say that about a videogame adaptation of Warhammer.

Criticisms aside, GRAW2 does manage to improve over the original, with a more stylish grasp on creating atmosphere and ensuring the action and intensity seldom drops. There's few next-gen titles out there that portray the ferocity that GRAW2 effortlessly achieves; whilst it's a short-game, it's one you'll be racing through without taking a break.

Too much repetition and the occasional dip into unoriginality does make it a grind in places, but the story did just enough to pull us through.

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.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam is not DLC in the current-gen sense of the word. Instead, it's more like an expansion pack from the days of early-'Noughties' PC gaming; a whole new tack on the full game experience rather than a set of maps that only serve to intermittently prolong a game's appeal. For these reasons alone, it's worth the asking price.

There's a sense that in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, i.e accessibility, Ubisoft has appealed to the lowest common denominator. We enjoyed the Splinter Cell series for its complexity, but like Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six before it, such elements have been removed completely.

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.

Driving around Tokyo is something that some Midnight Club gamers will have never achieved thanks to the challenge that was Midnight Club 2, so it's rather helpful of Rockstar to package the city into Remix for all to enjoy from the off.

The new abilities, and the introduction of the Speed Kill system, has meant that the title still feels fresh and exciting.

A game that’s as near to perfection as any other game in the genre.

Easily leapfrogging the performance of Guitar Hero II with room to spare, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock thrashes out a strong mix of classic and modern tracks, and is further enhanced with the online features its predecessor should have had.

Fight Night Champion does so many things right. Online multiplayer has been expanded while the new Champion Mode adds some much needed variation and dynamism. In many ways, it accounts for the shortcomings of its predecessor and provides solutions. If it wasn't for the infuriating changes to an otherwise perfect control system, it would be a hard game to fault.

Although Midnight Club II is no match for the mighty "Burnout 2" it is worth a purchase if street racing is your thing. There is a nice selection of missions and cars to choose from and the urge to keep trying again is present in most of the levels.

A great game and worth buying, however don't expect to be playing it in a months time.

With the random track generator, the smooth visuals, the awesome multiplayer & the comic-book atmosphere, this game becomes a must-by.

The storyline is perhaps one of the most compulsive yet, which is reinforced by the mechanic of working for both the security services and the terrorists at the same time. That said, the Trust mechanic doesn't quite work as well as it should, but it's hard to see how else it could be improved without pushing frustration to the limit.

Instincts very much builds on the foundations laid down by the original title thanks to the integration of Feral abilities and the tweaked storyline. There's a very strong combat control system, though the vehicular control system isn't quite as intuititve.

The US version of Tekken Tag Tournament is without flicker, or as some people call them: "jaggies".

A fitting tribute to the popular trilogy, granting fans everything they could hope for.

It’s hard for me to say how guys are going to react to the way this game does feel quite female oriented, if even just in presentation, it’s success in Japan suggests that it won’t pose a problem. Just to be safe though they put half naked chicks in it.

A refreshing blast from the past, Tiberium Wars crushes any concerns surrounding the closure of Westwood Studios, with a surprisingly faithful addition to the series. Fast-paced, action-orientated, gameplay with a strong storyline and presentation, still provides the same sense of engaging gameplay and immersion as its predecessors.

The sense of immersion is superb, whilst the scope of what you can actually get up to is unparalleled. Thankfully this realism doesn’t come at the cost of the gameplay, as the controls are instinctive but comprehensive.

The counter/block system seems to be over-refined with a fine line drawn between whether a counter move is successful or not, and once an opponent is on a roll of combo attacks, players might as well put down the controller and let them do the damage because trying to escape proves to be exceptionally difficult.

Whereas Turok struggled in the murkiness of blandness and unoriginality, PURE offers a mud-slipping, cliff-jumping thrill ride that has come out of nowhere.

Despite the new gameplay features failing to change Soulcalibur's gameplay, Soulcalibur IV still manages to provide one of the most engaging and rewarding fighters around - plus Darth and Yoda aren't entirely that bad.

You’ll be particularly impressed with the recreation of the Disney characters, it seems as though they’ve been translated to videogame characters without any compromises.

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.

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.

An evolution and refinement of 2006's offerings, Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow is an engaging adventure while it lasts, with a storyline deserving of a home console release let alone a handheld. Like its predecessor the game offers enough in the Campaign and multiplayer to keep players occupied, though the niggling AI can pull gamers out of the experience all too readily, dampening down an otherwise solid addition to the PSP's library.

A truly fantastic game and quite possibly one of the greatest games of all time...it really must be seen to be believed. Get your shoes on, buy yourself a good supply of new pants (underwear for our American readers) and pick this one up today!

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.

On one hand it feels as though the game doesn’t push the franchise far enough, mainly because the story isn’t tied into the gameplay strongly enough, but on the other hand THUG offers far more then previous Tony Hawks titles and is still as enjoyable as it was in 1999.

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.

The new abilities, and the introduction of the Speed Kill system, has meant that the title still feels fresh and exciting.

Like its predecessors, Marvel vs Capcom 3 is a game that's largely about having fun with one of the best crossover casts in existence. There's plenty on offer to keep the hardcore fanatic entertained and does more then enough to satisfy such long harboured pleas and demands. But at the same time the concessions and general insanity should keep even those who don't know the difference between a Crossover Assist and a Crossover Counter mashing buttons and generally having a good time.

An incredibly enjoyable and clever game that will appeal to Mario fans new and old, Super Paper Mario may not have been originally built for Wii, but it nonetheless shines as one must have title for the Nintendo console.

The main issue is naturally the control which brings up one or two occasionally frustrating moments, however we’d personally liked to have seen a game that made more of the “innovative” features of the DS – how about Mario’s face on the title screen responding to comments you make to demonstrate the voice recognition features Nintendo???

The game is so much more then the button-bashing romp that it initially appears to be, concealing a game with a surprising amount of freedom but one with a great sense of urgency and structure.

The new abilities, and the introduction of the Speed Kill system, has meant that the title still feels fresh and exciting.

It has set the standard for racing as did "OutRun" and "Hang On" before it.

A refreshingly new and enjoyable experience, Boom Blox is exactly the type of game that deserves to do well on Wii.

Far Cry 2 is a slog for the first few hours of gameplay, but you've got to stick with it because it soon turns into one of the most revolutionary FPS games of the decade.

It may not be hugely original, or indeed faithful to the franchise but, with a deep combat system and some excellent boss battles, Lords of Shadow claims a place near the top of the action adventure list and is terrific value for money.

It's a surprisingly long game, with plenty to do away from the main story; Thief will consume you for months on end.

Rockstar have done exactly what you'd expect them do: break down the movie into it's core elements, expand upon the origin story, add a range of side-missions that add an extra incentive to progress through the narrative, get the visual and audio ambience of the film, and throw in that special Rockstar polish.

The sad reality is that just over a year on, F.E.A.R. is desperately showing its age. Hard-edged shadows, bland textures, and some gloopy-looking water effects make the First Encounter Assault Recon experience look quite tired, especially in light of the Goliath that is "Gears of War."

This one requires a little more brainpower and I warn you now, be prepared to get frustrated. Lots!

Continuing the theme of simplification that was prevalent throughout Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft's attempt to reinvent the Prince of Persia series is considerably disappointing.

An absolutely essential purchase for fans of the original, expanding upon the foundations laid by its predecessor and enforcing its position on top of the RTS genre.

Those who lost interest in this genre a long time ago won’t find the experience here to regenerate their faith. It’s a shame because the actual storytelling and directing is a work of genius that demands to be witnessed, whilst the visuals are quite possibly the best you’ll ever witness on a Playstation2.

The amalgamation of Tony Hawk's and "Jackass" is the videogame equivalent of a match-made in heaven, and certainly makes a marked improvement upon the weak story of its predecessor.

Insanely intense action, a fantastic control setup and decent missions, make for a thoroughly entertaining PS3 exclusive - apparently the format's first in the sandbox genre.

Not content with surpassing Tony Hawk with the first attempt, skate. smashes his board in two and promises the next ten years will be a little different. Providing the antidote to too many years of unimaginative Tony Hawk's sequels, skate's debut marks an overwhelming success of innovation, style, and fun.

Far Cry 2 is a slog for the first few hours of gameplay, but you've got to stick with it because it soon turns into one of the most revolutionary FPS games of the decade.

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.

It’s a game that has almost unlimited replay value and depth, whilst the tutorial section does an admirable job of introducing you to the genre if you’re new to this type of game.

Most importantly the game’s gradual learning curve, handy tutorials and simple interface is immediately accessible, yet there’s still plenty to learn and discover when it comes to the subtleties of filmmaking 30 hours later.

There was no doubt that Virtua Tennis World Tour would appeal, but the developers have accomplished to create a game that does strike a balance between short and long-term play.

The game plays incredibly well and allows beginners as well as pros to enjoy the game effortlessly.

Whilst the actual game can’t compete with the fluid and brilliant motion of "Pro Evo 3", it has to be said that the outstanding visuals, attention to detail and correct licenses certainly provide a brilliant compliment to Konami's effort.

The look of C&C: Generals is uninspiring, tired and lacking spirit, miles behind the charismatic approach employed by Blizzard with "Warcraft III."

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

An unusual experience, an action title packed with clever touches, depth and plenty of variety.

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.

A real creepy game that unnerves you at ever turn. The story will keep you hooked to the end and leave wanting more.

The first thing that will hit you is the stunning visuals in SW:S, everything is crystal clear, even with the speeds that you'll reach in the game nothing slows down, the action remains at a constant fast pace.

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.

Beyond Good & Evil HD remains a triumph of exploration and adventure. Sure, it's wildly imperfect by current-gen standards, but it can still teach today's powerhouse blockbusters a thing or two in terms of gameplay design and the creation of immersive worlds.

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.

There are only a couple of issues that hold back F1 2010 from a perfect score and they're not major gripes at that. The F1 license is finally back in the hands of a publisher that's willing and able to create a realistic depiction of the sport and this is a remarkably good first attempt by Codemasters Birmingham.

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.

Fight Night Champion does so many things right. Online multiplayer has been expanded while the new Champion Mode adds some much needed variation and dynamism. In many ways, it accounts for the shortcomings of its predecessor and provides solutions. If it wasn't for the infuriating changes to an otherwise perfect control system, it would be a hard game to fault.

The sheer emphasis on action, coupled with the dated gameplay mechanics and inability to show any advance beyond the Resident Evil 4 blueprint is possible to overlook if you're happy with state-of-the-art visuals and zombie slaying.

Whilst not as compelling as the main 'Standard' mode, the other five gametypes do at the very least add a certain level of variety to proceedings though they are far from being the main focus of the game. Shame it doesn't come free with the DS really.

The new abilities, and the introduction of the Speed Kill system, has meant that the title still feels fresh and exciting.

Top Spin 4 preserves the series' signature depth, ensuring that it remains the most advanced tennis experience available to gamers. Its easy to learn, hard to master control system is a triumph, and manages to retain overtones of simulation while simultaneously executing accessibility. Even without Virtua Tennis' sense of silliness and whimsy, Top Spin 4 is still a real hoot and, apart from one or two niggles, it's perhaps only limited by the repetitive nature of the sport itself.

Red Alert 2 is THE game that fans of the genre have been waiting for a very long time.

An amazing multi-player experience with the added bonus of a rather compelling one-player mode that provides a nice respite from the hectic online games.

Improvements in the level of detail on offer from the damage modelling to the multi-layered audio, continue to present the game with ever greater realism, and no-one could ever accuse the developers of a lack of variety in the vehicles.

Your girlfriend will still dump you, the cat will still die because you forgot to feed it, and the boss will still fire you because the game is installed on your office computer. Football Manager remains as addictive as ever and continues to delve deeper into minuscule details, but it's also been too many years since the series has teed up a game-changing new feature.

Whilst it's undeniably a heart-pounding action feast from start-to-finish, the criticisms and slightly dated design lead us to hope that Capcom will contemplate a bit of a shake-up for the next DMC - we're not talking "Resident Evil 4" here.

There may be a balancing issue between the Story missions and the free-roaming fun of bounding across the environments, but Hulk is definitely the most impressive interpretation of a comic-book character's adventures yet.

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.

A fantastic adventure game, (though) at certain points you may find yourself a little frustrated with the game's camera angles.

We love our Colin McRae at TVG and truly believe that it offers one of the finest racing experiences ever created. That said, it’s a hard purchase to recommend unless you’re a rallying fanatic or didn’t pick up last year’s version.

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

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.

Like its predecessors, Marvel vs Capcom 3 is a game that's largely about having fun with one of the best crossover casts in existence. There's plenty on offer to keep the hardcore fanatic entertained and does more then enough to satisfy such long harboured pleas and demands. But at the same time the concessions and general insanity should keep even those who don't know the difference between a Crossover Assist and a Crossover Counter mashing buttons and generally having a good time.

Killzone 3, like its predecessor, is in no danger of pushing any boundaries (despite the inclusion of Move and 3D support). Indeed, it feels very much like a game which has been created with a good knowledge of the competition and at times it threatens to lose its identity. However, there's just about enough top-notch shooting action in the single-player game to keep the franchise fans happy while the multiplayer genuinely feels like a step forward for the series. It's still Killzone, folks. Just about.

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.

A dark mix of revealing narrative and gun-toting, sword-swinging, demon slaying action that works well with a result that's certainly satisfying.

It does trip up on the lack of impact that a connect punch delivers, and the obvious inclusion of health/stamina bars, but for gamers not yet tainted by the phenomenal experience of Round 3 on Xbox 360, this won't be something that they'll worry about.

Chocked full of insane action and plenty of creative opportunities, and knows that ultimately it's all about having fun. It's a brash, no-brainer experience that gives everything you want from a sandbox game, but lets make sure the combat ramps up a notch in the next title.

It's challenging and immersing (especially if you use the voice communicator) and at the exceptional price tag of £19.99, you really can't go wrong.

Despite our concerns over the lack of a full 3D engine, Sim City 4 is a beautiful game to behold.

The graphics are fresh and the water effects are fantastic. You’ll find it hard to get bored of this title.

Soccer Slam has achieved a very good consistent cartoon style with some very impressive animation that accentuates the excellent characterisation and coupled with the audio provides a memorable experience.

Friends are the key to the fun factor of San Francisco Rush 2049, so don't expect much if you play it alone.