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.

If you played C&C3 and came away from it feeling distinctly unmoved by the experience, then Kane's Wrath certainly isn't for you. This is a game for diehard C&C fans or, alternatively, gamers who didn't get around to playing C&C3 last year and fancy a bit of fevered RTS combat over the weekend.

If you grew up with these games during the 80's then Capcom Classics Collection Remixed is an essential purchase, purely for nostalgic reasons but also to remember just how tough games were back then.

Despite being an impressive enough handheld title, the experience in the Northern Wastelands does become quite repetitive, thanks mostly to samey gameplay and storylines that are difficult to care about.

With touches of originality in its gameplay and a main campaign that presents enough variation to keep things interesting, HAWX is proficient, but it rarely manages to be much more than this.

Just another blip on the RTS radar and is not going to be one of the classics, but its your standard run of the mill nothing fancy RTS.

You cannot kill your fellow US soldiers...why? We’re not saying that it’s a good move to blast your support into oblivion, but it would be a consequence to taking a gung-ho, guns blaring approach.

A slightly suspect tempo and structure of the game leaves it feeling less enthralling then it could have been, whilst repetition sinks in to ensure this is one game best played in short burst; however these are small complaints over what is a thoroughly entertaining adaptation of a hilarious film.

Expanding upon Neo’s story could have been a compelling opportunity for any Matrix fan out there; unfortunately the haphazard approach to the design and storyline are likely to offend the fans the most, leaving a mildly enjoyable beat-em-up at exactly that.

Purely an unadulterated shooter that shouldn’t be thought of as anything more.

It does become too tedious too soon which is a real shame.

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.

Without getting too worked up, Turok delivers a solid enough reboot of the dino hunting franchise, even if it will upset some of the brand's more loyal fans.

Let down by a poor physics engine and terrible AI, Freekstyle just doesn’t cut the mustard – sure sometimes it has nice visuals, but this is at speed – I want to be able to sit back and look at the view, but there isn’t one.

Unfortunately, the overall experience is bogged down with too much dialogue despite its novel influences, and an unfulfilled demand for something to actually play.

Although the Agro system underpins the overall co-op gameplay sufficiently, the lack of imagination prevents the game from pushing forwards the co-op experience. Instead there's more satisfaction gained by the subtlety that EA Montreal has brought to the series; something we never imagined ourselves to say about the antics of Rios and Salem.

We were massively disappointed by the comical AI, which definitely has a substantial impact on the game – Serious Sam has shown that run-and-gun games can be fun, but this seriously detracts from the overall experience.

Between the excellent Midnight Club LA and the slightly disappointing Burnout Paradise, Need For Speed: Undercover unfavourably finds itself amongst some stiff competition.

The problem is that there’s not enough depth or variety in the missions, the only reason to carry on through the game is to see the next set of stunning visuals, which you have to say are reason alone to at least rent this.

A strong sense of style that stays close to the source material, Rogue Trooper isn't just one for the fans however; an intensive and sometimes intelligent shooter, Rogue Trooper is certainly one that could interest you if you're looking for a shooter that's a little bit different to the usual.

We’d like to have seen a lot more from this game in single player – not everyone wants to play multiplayer ALL the time and I think it’s important that the developers take note of this. Still, a stunningly addictive game in multiplayer.

It packs a good amount of depth through the wide selection of shots available and the Pro Tour mode is extremely enjoyable and well thought out, however it lacks that instant appeal and addictive qualities of SEGA’s landmark series.

Its repetitive structure and bland storyline creates a somewhat shallow experience, yet at the same time there’s depth to be found in the combo combat system and the many side missions to partake.

By eliminating many of the factors that we've come to expect Square-Enix has delivered a Final Fantasy XIII that is different, but also desperately attempts to cling on to some elements of the past purely to maintain conventions. Unfortunately, the biggest criticism is the fact that you're left with a feeling of playing for the sake of it, rather than savoring it.

It’s far from perfect, with issues such as the crazy swings in player AI and overall lack of finesse and skill required; but for the most part we’re more than willing to forgo them in the name of fun – in multiplayer bouts particularly, FIFA Street throws up some highly frenetic yet engaging, competitive fun.

The main problem is that we’ve seen it all before and done it all before, something that you’ll not be able to overcome.

A relatively short gaming experience, ObsCure II is nonetheless an enjoyable sequel to one of 2004's lesser known sleeper hits. Perhaps it pays a bit too much homage to the teen horror movies at times, but it does offer a surprisingly solid experience...while it lasts.

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.

Forgetting the somewhat forgettable Multiplayer experience in Darkwatch, the core Story mode is full of intense gun battles that will satisfy an FPS fan's lust for action.

It’s very much like a video game equivalent of the teen-horror genre - whilst it does make you jump in places, it won’t give you nightmares.

There’s no doubt that this is an absolutely great game for multiplayer, but we’re upset that HAL didn’t really put their all in with the visuals or on making a more streamlined game.

The slick presentation, amazing visuals and authenticity do a great job of sucking you in, however those who’ve sampled the delights of "Pro Evo" will soon been yearning for the realistic and intuitive controls and gameplay of Konami’s match winner.

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

There's enough car customisation capabilities for sense of progression together with a range of munitions that can obliterate opponents, and the narrative is exactly what you'd expect it to be in a Jak & Daxter game.

The switch to first-person view for the longer ranged weapons works better than we'd expected, and the battles run pretty smoothly – quite unlike the standard fare. The storyline is strong.

By any other name, WET is Kill Bill: The Video Game. WET gives everything it has to offer in the first ten minutes. Nevertheless, the score/health system that lies at its core keeps it compelling with a strong dynamic that lends the urgency and pace third-person shooters desperately require.

The single-player game starts off well enough but becomes grating and tedious as it progresses. It's a great shame because the multiplayer offerings truly are unique and, with the exception of some flagging visuals, the game could've been great with a better main campaign.

A satisfying blend of Sim and RTS - strategy fans, medieval groups and jousting wannabes alike should make sure to check this out as soon as possible.

Filling the current void of click-click RPGs with a lengthy and absorbing campaign, high production values and enough loot to keep even a "ninjalooter" happy; whether or not such qualities are enough to look past the game's lack of creativity, however, very much depends on whether you've spent the last five years waiting for "Diablo 3" or not.

Fans of the genre and hip-hop alike will enjoy 187: Ride or Die and there's no reason why it shouldn't become a hit for Ubi. Take a little bit of Burnout, add a sprinkling of Twisted Metal and a lot of bad attitude; the result is Ubi's latest, explosive release that maintains the French publisher's commitment to quality.

It tries too hard to be so many different things and ultimately falls flat on its face, very disappointing after the success of the previous title in the series.

Very much in the same vein as last year's effort, Legends II manages to make further improvements especially with the introduction of online functionality though it still fails to offer the level of immersion that perhaps shoudl be expected of an RPG title.

The most authentic videogame adaptation that we've ever seen... [but t]he Career mode whilst engaging doesn't sustain your interest for long enough, and like many boxing titles will have all but the most hardened fan switching off long before the belt is won.

MotorStorm Pacific Rift retains the same charms that MotorStorm offered but, as with the original game, there's just not enough variation in the single-player campaign because the race modes on offer are fairly rudimentary.

Far more enjoyable than its predecessor, The Godfather II presents a sufficiently different take on the open world formula to make it worthwhile - just forget the fact its based around Coppola's classic.

It may not break any ground in originality stakes or provide stunning visuals, but it does revive the original facets of a classic genre for today's gamers.

Nevertheless, a Battlefield-lite experience with the Frostbite engine will be an appealing prospect for many Xbox 360 and PS3 owners and likely to become a popular online title in the most played lists.

Sure there’s problems, but the game does just enough right to suck you into the story, into the character and into each location to ensure you’ll keep playing.

Remaining credible to the works of Tolkien, EA LA have adapted The Lord of the Rings into the mechanics of an RTS with some success, though there are one or two niggles that stop this from being a classic.

This is a game that will be either loved or hated by fans of both Lord of the Rings and the RPG genre in general.

To say I was pleasantly surprised by PotA would be a considerable understatement, whilst not bringing any new ideas to the genre, it is a well refined title that impresses with tight controls and good gameplay.

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.

A stylish experience which fans of the movie will appreciate, but there's just not enough substance let alone difference for the vast majority of action fans to warrant yet another first-person purchase.

A small section of gamers could well find Crash: Twin Sanity not quite offering enough new ideas to please but the majority will probably find this the perfect mix of all that is best with the platforming/action genre, especially the diversity in graphic sets, which must be applauded, along with the mesmerising sound effects and in game animations that move the game along!

The game does have quite an "old-school' feel to it that some may not like, but it's a definite foundation for the franchise to develop over time.

Very much in the same vein as last year's effort, Legends II manages to make further improvements especially with the introduction of online functionality though it still fails to offer the level of immersion that perhaps shoudl be expected of an RPG title.

The more we played, the more we felt like we were being pushed down an inch wide pipe till we got to the end – it wasn’t a nice feeling and it spoilt the feel of the game.

It does make use of the almost bare and gloomy surroundings to conjure up a feeling of despair.

The most authentic videogame adaptation that we've ever seen... [but t]he Career mode whilst engaging doesn't sustain your interest for long enough, and like many boxing titles will have all but the most hardened fan switching off long before the belt is won.

Expanding upon Neo's story could have been a compelling opportunity for any Matrix fan out there; unfortunately the haphazard approach to the design and storyline are likely to offend the fans the most, leaving a mildly enjoyable beat-em-up at exactly that.

A strong sense of style that stays close to the source material, Rogue Trooper isn't just one for the fans however; an intensive and sometimes intelligent shooter, Rogue Trooper is certainly one that could interest you if you're looking for a shooter that's a little bit different to the usual.

Very much the title that the first invasion should have been, we're looking forward to what Pandemic could do with a possible third outing for the stubby Furon.

A pleasant surprise. While not a groundbreaker, or a technical marvel this game did what it set out to do quite well.

It's very much like a video game equivalent of the teen-horror genre - whilst it does make you jump in places, it won't give you nightmares.

By eliminating many of the factors that we've come to expect Square-Enix has delivered a Final Fantasy XIII that is different, but also desperately attempts to cling on to some elements of the past purely to maintain conventions. Unfortunately, the biggest criticism is the fact that you're left with a feeling of playing for the sake of it, rather than savoring it.

Undoubtedly the most enjoyable game to be based around Wolverine (but that's probably not saying much), X-Men Origins: Wolverine offers fast-paced, brutal, brainless action by the bucketload.

It's neither the best management title on the market [nor] can it rival "The Sims 2," however it does throw up an enticing mixture, which can be enetertaining in doses.

Whilst there’s no doubts about the multiplayer fun to be had with this title, we have to question it’s ability to perform in today’s market, the simple fact is games have moved on and gamers are a fickle bunch.

Despite being a deep RPG that delivers a lot of scope for fans of the hack 'n' slash genre, Sacred 2's 16-player online multiplayer is its only real stab at originality.

The game introduces some really original ideas, but the lack of team AI, and broken gameplay let it down.

Visually it’s hardly stretching beyond what a GBA could offer and the scratchy music begins to grate after a short time.

Virtually caving people's skulls in with a crowbar or snapping their necks is brutal and the game wholly deserves its 18 certificate from the BBFC. Having said that the gameplay is quite repetitive with seemingly endless searches for the correct blunt instrument does get a bit tiresome.

The controls in this game are nothing for you to write home about, although they get the job done. The graphics in Syphon Filter are a mixed bag.

The lack of improvements or additions upon the PS2 version really hurts it

What should have been a solid enough third-person action title is ultimately let down by game design glitches and AI bugs, not to mention an over-reliance on the glaive that cheapens the experience.

This is a fun and thoroughly enjoyable family-friendly game that will surely follow the same successful path its cousin titles from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away have already walked down.

Between the excellent Midnight Club LA and the slightly disappointing Burnout Paradise, Need For Speed: Undercover unfavourably finds itself amongst some stiff competition.

The main issue is that the emphasis on action means that the tactical side often falls by the wayside; ultimately you’ll find yourself sticking to a power character such as Tex or Brutus and just wade in guns blaring to destroy everything.

Though it can be an intense experience, Spartan does have a tendency to become quite repetitive at times. Having said that there is a solid combat system and enough variety that will please action fans.

A seriously surprising entry into Star Wars canon, the storylines is largely strong, and whilst there are several issues with the gameplay, The Force Unleashed is not the Phantom Menace we thought it would be.

A solid debut for Katamari on Xbox 360, though the frame rate issue proves all too noticeable.

As with most 3D platformers, R&C3 is certainly not original ' but then again, the developers weren't trying to be groundbreaking.

Whilst the game won’t be winning may prizes for originality or longevity, it is a very solid action title with good gameplay and a level of physics that has remained elusive in other titles.

Whilst it has no major failings there is nothing to mark Pirates: Legend of Black Kat out from the crowd other than the merging of the two styles of play.

Although it has everything you'd want from an intense, action-fuelled open-world title, the overall feeling with Prototype is that it tries a little too hard.

Whilst the game won't be winning may prizes for originality or longevity, it is a very solid action title with good gameplay and a level of physics that has remained elusive in other titles.

The problem is though that once you start getting into it, the game is over. A typical gamer would probably have this licked within 2hrs, and unless you’re a huge virtual pet fan there’s not a lot to go back and see.

One particular issue of the PSP version not featured in the home consoles is the intrusive load times that inhibit the pickup-and-play nature of the game, almost detracting from the seamless blend between both aspects of the game.

We Love Golf grafts a golf swing onto the Wii's motion controls exceptionally well but, apart from that, the game's substance is very run of the mill.

A solid rhythm/action game, there’s just not enough of it.

The sheer simplicity of the game is likely to affect the duration of the game, but while it lasts LEGO Star Wars is enjoyable and has an understanding of the Star Wars brand above many others.

This is not the best RPG title to be released this year by a long shot, but for those who wish to get into the world of Middle-Earth, The Third Age will satisfy some of the desire to become immersed in the story to a deeper level than the previous LOTR titles allowed.

A drawn out and largely mediocre experience that's perhaps to be expected given TimeShift's difficult gestation, Saber Interactive's shooter nonetheless has some bright moments - but they're too little few and far between.

Although the Agro system underpins the overall co-op gameplay sufficiently, the lack of imagination prevents the game from pushing forwards the co-op experience. Instead there's more satisfaction gained by the subtlety that EA Montreal has brought to the series; something we never imagined ourselves to say about the antics of Rios and Salem.

Offering a slice of diversity to the DS' already wide and varied catalogue, Soul Bubbles is an intriguing prospect let down by the lack of any genuine challenge or long-term value.

The sheer simplicity of the game is likely to affect the duration of the game, but while it lasts LEGO Star Wars is enjoyable and has an understanding of the Star Wars brand above many others.

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.

Whilst the Campaign offers a slice of the action away when you're away from a Wi-Fi access point, the fact remains that Field Commander's strength is in its online functionality. More specifically it's the fact that by implementing an Infrastructure mode, players don't have to scour the locality for a second player in order to enjoy some Human vs. Human warfare.