Truly one of the XBLA must-haves, Limbo sets its tent up alongside Braid but, at the same time, is more than original enough a proposition to stand entirely by itself. From the artistry of the setting to the pace and fiendishness of its puzzles, Limbo is a perfect example of what can be achieved when inspiration rather than monetisation is the prime motivator.

Using exactly the same format as the original, Crackdown 2 is still an entertaining prospect and manages to provide an experience that is ultimately purely about having fun. The problem stems from the lack of ambition. Either at the bequest of Microsoft or not, Ruffian Games has taken a fairly lazy approach to the sequel, which makes it a little difficult to justify.

If yearly sports games are like fine wines, then Tiger Woods 2011's vintage is a good one. It may not be a great year like FIFA 10 or Madden 2003, but it does follow a run of very mediocre years for the series and for this reason it's well worth a look.

If yearly sports games are like fine wines, then Tiger Woods 2011's vintage is a good one. It may not be a great year like FIFA 10 or Madden 2003, but it does follow a run of very mediocre years for the series and for this reason it's well worth a look.

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.

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.

There’s certainly a feeling throughout the experience that what the game gives you with one hand, it quickly takes away with the other. Ultimately though, the survival-horror genre is in desperate need of a new poster boy, and Alan Wake just about fills that remit.

It offers the qualities we've come to expect from Rockstar in abundance, but just slips up short of GTA IV in delivering an experience that transcends the remit of a video game. Not quite a genre-defining experience, but one that offers a whole heap of entertainment for your money.

It offers the qualities we've come to expect from Rockstar in abundance, but just slips up short of GTA IV in delivering an experience that transcends the remit of a video game. Not quite a genre-defining experience, but one that offers a whole heap of entertainment for your money.

Split/Second is an original concept made irksome by a lack of depth and highly questionable balancing in the gameplay. Nonetheless, we can't help but feel that there's a lot more mileage left in Blackrock's big idea.

Split/Second is an original concept made irksome by a lack of depth and highly questionable balancing in the gameplay. Nonetheless, we can't help but feel that there's a lot more mileage left in Blackrock's big idea.

In no way is it a genuine Prince of Persia for this generation (we prefer to forget the 2008 title), but it does offer something that's a little more challenging on the mind and reflexes than the typical third-person action/adventure.

In no way is it a genuine Prince of Persia for this generation (we prefer to forget the 2008 title), but it does offer something that's a little more challenging on the mind and reflexes than the typical third-person action/adventure.

When you're battling against the biggest bugs the game has to offer, Lost Planet 2 can be a blast particularly with a few friends. It is however a fundamentally frustrating experience, with control issues and questionable design choices that reduces the overall enjoyment the game has to offer.

When you're battling against the biggest bugs the game has to offer, Lost Planet 2 can be a blast particularly with a few friends. It is however a fundamentally frustrating experience, with control issues and questionable design choices that reduces the overall enjoyment the game has to offer.

A slightly cringe-worthy 'Two-Button Control' system will no doubt help to attract the uninitiated to 2010 FIFA World Cup, but this isn't just a game for 'prawn sandwich' footie fans (to quote the affable Roy Keane). It's a game that'll appeal just as much to hardened FIFA veterans who've just about squeezed everything they can out of FIFA 10 and need something to tide them over until FIFA 11.

A slightly cringe-worthy 'Two-Button Control' system will no doubt help to attract the uninitiated to 2010 FIFA World Cup, but this isn't just a game for 'prawn sandwich' footie fans (to quote the affable Roy Keane). It's a game that'll appeal just as much to hardened FIFA veterans who've just about squeezed everything they can out of FIFA 10 and need something to tide them over until FIFA 11.

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.

It's a feminist's nightmare wrapped up in the plaything of a horny and naive adolescent boy, with some underlying gameplay dynamics reminiscent of The Sims. Truly, it's confused.

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.

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.

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.

Tiberian Twilight is little more than a mish-mash of ideas from other RTS games, and looses C&C's identity in the process.

Just like the God of War games that precede it, this final installment in the trilogy isn't quite faultless even though it's excruciatingly close to a perfect score. However, it forms a trilogy that's greater than the sum of its parts.

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.

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.

There's no denying the appeal of Bad Company 2's multiplayer. DICE is still expertly nailing down what it pioneered all the way back in 2002, and the experience remains far from stale. However, poor design in the single-player makes for a campaign that's not only lacklustre throughout, but cripplingly buggy at times as well.

There's no denying the appeal of Bad Company 2's multiplayer. DICE is still expertly nailing down what it pioneered all the way back in 2002, and the experience remains far from stale. However, poor design in the single-player makes for a campaign that's not only lacklustre throughout, but cripplingly buggy at times as well.