Taking the game around the Desert track delivers a massive nostalgic kick that will go straight to the core of anybody who remembers feeding arcade machines an entire tube of fifty pence pieces back in the day.

Nostalgia does play a huge part in why this is somewhat successful - if you were part of that era, the memories that’ll come flooding back make it almost worth the purchase alone.

Road Not Taken, ironically, feels like it’s stuck between two ideals. It can offer very interesting puzzle mechanics, but gets bogged down by over-complicating matters with enemy types that add frustration.

It's typically scattershot Suda fare, in other words. Some brilliant ideas rub shoulders with some pretty terrible ones, but it's almost unfair to criticise a game for trying too hard at a time when so many publishers are determined to play their safest possible hand.

This one's a brilliant weekend rental, just like the movies.

Skate It is better in theory than it is in practise. We can forgive the awful Wii Balance Board controls because you're not forced to use Nintendo's Wii Fit peripheral to play the game. But we just can't get away from the fact that EA's focus on creating a hardcore skater sim has resulted in a frustrating experience, for no other reason than the Wii itself isn't built for that kind of game.

A word of warning though: this game has the most annoying background music EVER, a jazz-style soundtrack that completely destroys the languid atmosphere of the gameplay. Play it with the sound off, or you'll find yourself being driven slowly mad.

This massive open-world is unfortunately full of dull objectives to complete that rarely vary from one to the next. There are some pretty sights in here, and it's more fun in co-op than solo, but that doesn't make Wildlands anymore than serviceable.

At its best, Code Vein 2 provides comfortable, anime-flavored escapism. It’s shallow stuff, but it's combat offers a reliable source of mindless fun if you’re willing to wade through the mediocre world and performance issues.

A bit more bang for your buck would have been great, but retro gaming still doesn't get much better than this.

The puzzles compel, while the narrative stalls, and there is something worthy in that mismatch. I only wish that breakup at its core yielded something worth holding on to.

It looks pretty simple, but it's got a cuteness that will appeal to a wide range of players, and enough mini-games to keep players interested for a good while.

While the tactical combat is still the best around, more casual gamers hoping for a military action fix may find it too frustrating, too inconsistent and too cold for their liking.

Remember Me is nothing more than an entirely forgettable tour de farce of archaic game design. Its horrific dialogue, sickening camera and regressive combat are major blips in a title that poses one major question: was this game worth releasing? ‘Dontnod’ is arguably the right answer.

For all its promises of representing a change from the usual (supposed) shoot-bang zeitgeist, Beyond is just as nonsensical as any Call of Duty. It's a thriller without any intrigue, a character study bereft of character, and a game short of actual gameplay.

The new control scheme is, for me, a change for the better. I for one wouldn't mind a similar system employed for SDvR10, although I'd imagine hardcore fans might not agree. At the end of the day, though, what's most important is that Legends does exactly what it set out to do, and that's provide a rose-tinted nostalgia trip down 80s and 90s wrestling.

Where the action comes alive is in the leaving behind of bodies altogether. Most missions involve breaking and entering, and the thrill lies in the absence of any breaking.

I would recommend the remake to anyone with a nostalgic thirst for the original, but so, too, to those that like their laughs with a dark bite.

And as fun as the game can be from time-to-time, after a few hours with Street 3, it's impossible to shake that feeling that you've played this one before.

I'd have liked the adventure to have been trimmed of fat, the combat is at times extremely irritating, and the art design far exceeds the technical prowess on show, but at its core Alice: Madness Returns is an imaginative romp through a world that's clearly been designed by some incredibly creative minds.

This is a Batman game where it's kind of more fun when you're not Batman.

Essentially, Metal Slug 7 is one for the fans, designed with an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. There's nothing here that revolutionises the series, indeed there's nothing here that looks remotely modern.

There are two campaigns to play through, an extra series of 50 brief assignments to complete, and a smattering of new items and artworks to unlock; to this extent, the game is quite generous, but I think that most players would have preferred less content and more room to manoeuvre.

A strong, compelling narrative that's only made better by great visuals and superb voice acting.

Although the game offers little in the way of innovation, Hijinx Studios has refined the traditional SRPG with great success. The fact that it has the words 'Vandal Hearts' in the title really doesn't do it any favours though; if this was a new IP, free from the shackles of the series and the scrutinising eyes of its fans, the game could have reached much greater heights.

Vampyr serves delicious ladles of angst and drama with a hearty slice of excellent, morally grey choice system that will genuinely surprise you, all wrapped up in a wonderfully gloomy London. It's just a shame the combat turns a bit sour.

A well-produced sequel to the original that manages to repeat many of its problems. It's still fun, but it's a shame Ubisoft Romania feels little inclination to challenge its established mould – doing so could have yielded a far more interesting end product.

If you don't have a big interest in bikes or MotoGP, this isn't for you. There's nothing here for casual bike fans or anyone who might be on the look out for something accessible in the bike racing genre. It's an incredibly solid package, though, and one that fans will get a lot out of.

Below’s moody gloom and atmosphere is spoiled by mechanics that really cramp its central quest.

There's enough material within Homefront's concept for it to spiral into something more interesting, and with plenty of talk about a sequel it's clear that's what THQ and Kaos is looking for, but this first crack of the whip falls far short of the competition.

Despite the fact that all the evidence suggests Virtua Tennis is a series stuck in a rut, Virtua Tennis 2009 is still great fun, especially in multiplayer.

Fe is all very lovely and (literally) harmonious, with fun layers of platforming. Coloured flowers and singing is a nice enough way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Shadow Warrior isn't a classic, but it's a game that exists in an area that we rarely see these days, and is great fun to mess about with.

If you squint, you could be playing Outriders—with less satisfying shooting, granted, but with a superior world grafted onto the action.

Compared to "Saints Row" on the Xbox 360, The Godfather feels pretty dated. It just doesn't have the variety or presentation to match THQ's made for next-gen offering, with the driving being the biggest disappointment.

It was clearly forged from a love of Solitaire, and even its failures feel like restless, riffled expressions of that love.

The way they interact with each other, the way they can eat, watch TV and chat about underpants or spaceships at the same time is a marvellous technical achievement that puts the rest of the game, with its missing pools and open worlds, into context. I wish we could have it all in the same package – perhaps The Sims 5 will – but for now, I’m happily and frankly unexpectedly willing to trade those bells and whistles for characters that feel, well, real.

It's a good time to be an Assassin's Creed fan. I just wish my console could run it properly.

Oversights, like not being able to access downloaded GH:3 tracks, are baffling and the number of covers for non-Aerosmith tracks is disappointing. For die-hard GH and Aerosmith fans it's a no-brainer, but everyone else might want to save their money for World Tour.

Some will enjoy this, but for most the game won't keep their attention long enough to justify forking out full price. WET is good fun for a couple of hours but ultimately it's a classic case of style over substance.

You shouldn't buy Thrillville Off the Rails for the mini-games - there are much better social video games out there. But as a theme park creator it's not bad, and has literally hundreds of options to tweak and manage.

A wonderful upgrade of one of the most derivative and dull titles in the series.

Even with annoying problems in larger supply than the sand itself, the game is often thrilling.

So, as with the last round of DLC, it's the Extinction episode that stands out. Players have to make their way through the depths of a large boat, fighting off alien hordes and the aforementioned kraken as they do so. Far more enjoyable than the other maps, it's a bright spot on an otherwise uninspired pack.

Ultimately, Homefront's threadbare campaign is like a beautiful, sweeping piece of music being awkwardly recited by a child on a recorder.

Despite the fact that all the evidence suggests Virtua Tennis is a series stuck in a rut, Virtua Tennis 2009 is still great fun, especially in multiplayer.

The ideal family game. It's quick and simple, but has charm, character and inventive little puzzles galore.

Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues was always going to feel a bit desperate, making the most out of a small amount of new content, but Traveller's Tales has done a decent job.

There's enough material within Homefront's concept for it to spiral into something more interesting, and with plenty of talk about a sequel it's clear that's what THQ and Kaos is looking for, but this first crack of the whip falls far short of the competition.

There is a somewhat dated feel to the action that will be felt most firmly by those used to elaborate team-based shooters, but for fans of the best of the series, and those who want a shining example of the epitome of first wave third-person-shooters, the latest Syphon Filter is an essential purchase.

Please Eden, next time just focus on the driving.

The games themselves are the real stars here, only really let down by lack of 60hz support.

EA Sports UFC is simply ok when it should have been great. Considering how long it's been in development, and the breadth of content at EA's disposal, I can’t help but be disappointed by what’s on offer.

EA has managed to produce a competent virtual version of the classic board game, but we still can't recommend it over buying the real thing. You get numerous boards and the questionable Get Rich Quick mode, but you lose so much by not being able to play the way you want.

Tokyo Dark is an enjoyable supernatural mystery that holds your attention up until the end, which makes the disappointing execution of the SPIN system a real shame.

A thoroughly decent piece of DLC, and even if it does make me yearn for a feature-shifting boxed version, this is probably the better solution for tie-in games in the long run.

It's only marginally different to the previous games, and more or less features the same issues that have plagued the series from the beginning (the peripheral itself being the biggest problem), but the track list is good and the multiplayer should provide hours worth of fun. It's getting a bit too samey, but fans will likely lap it up.

There's not much variety to be had, and you can wade through it in a couple of decent train journeys, but Predators keeps itself sharp enough for you to chop until it stops.

It's a fun game, with an impressive sense of speed and the official license fans want, but there's undoubtedly something better coming next year, on platforms that can do the sport justice. This is a perfectly competent racer, one of the best on the Wii, but it's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination.

It's amazing when you sit down with a game that you had the lowest of expectations for, only to find an incredibly well put together experience.

Blair Witch is great at building tension and letting you get lost in its unforgiving forest, but sometimes it takes that too literally. It mostly overcomes that, however, thanks to your magic camcorder and superb pooch.

Essentially Wild ARMs 4 is an average RPG that half-heartedly tries to add a couple of new ideas, but these additions aren't done well enough and don't change the RPG formula enough to warrant much attention.

Combining simple magic tricks with the DS is a great idea and young kids will get a real thrill out of performing in front of their friends.

Speed Racer is a movie that assaults your eyes with colour and the game does its best to bring that to gamers.

The Fall is at times rewarding but, unfortunately, often frustrating. It’s certainly ambitious and a step towards progression in mobile gaming, intending to deliver a comprehensive blockbusting experience. Ultimately, it falls short of the mark.

If you want a transporting reverie, a game you can slip into as if you had closed your eyes, then here it is. No trek required.

It's not without its problems, is far too simple and lacking in features, but as sports games on the DS go, it's one of the best.

It's a fun game that has enough novelty value for gamers to look past its flaws. Not for adults, but kids will enjoy the mix of real world and virtual world gameplay.

Gentle and frustrating in equal parts, on the whole Kororinpa is a worthy addition to any Wii library, presuming that you bought the console as you weren't interested in a constant supply of macho shooters and driving games.

After a lacklustre start, things began to pick up as focus was put on the Garcia love triangle. But redundant flashbacks and an annoying child make A New Frontier the most topsy-turvy season of The Walking Dead, yet.

If humanity ever builds a time machine, once we've finished debating the ethics of killing Hitler and so on, we should use it to go back in time and make the first season of The Walking Dead all about Michonne, before the zombie thing got boring. Right now this miniseries will have to pull some serious surprises out of its hat in the next episode to make it worth buying the whole lot.

And therein lies the game’s real issue. Whereas Dishonored (which does feel like Thief’s more charismatic and popular older brother) and Mark of the Ninja have toyed with established hide-and-seek mechanics and shown that there are still ideas to mine in this genre, Thief just sticks to the shadows.

Annoying puzzles aside, Song of the Deep is an excellently put together Metroidvania with a sweet tale to tell.

Badman isn't bad, it's just unnecessarily difficult, too complex and seemingly has a mind of its own.

The good driving mechanic and excellent presentation found in Parallel Lines are only let down by some rather mundane missions.

While the core mechanics of Order of the Phoenix are verging on excellent, the game that's been built around them is basically a series of chores in disguise.

A distinctly underwhelming game. There's some fun to be had with this Wii action game, but it's far from good and certainly not what you should be expecting from Nintendo.

Magical Starsign offers nothing particularly original or special to appeal to the RPG fan that doesn't have a particular interest in this cute eastern subgenre, but for the casual gamer and RPG newbie it is a gentle and well-crafted introduction to a rich and complex area of gaming.

Fingers crossed Episode Two shakes Alien Breed Evolution up a bit.

Colin McRae Rally has limited appeal for those who aren’t nostalgic hardcore racers or rally aficionados.

The lack of a proper single-player experience (it's an extended multiplayer tutorial and nothing else) and the poor graphics will prevent Section 8 from achieving huge success and high review scores, but the core multiplayer gameplay should ensure a healthy and loyal following for a while at least.

With a cursory wireless mode that lets you share the famous landmarks you have unlocked with other players, and a number of new buildings and concerns, this is definitely worth the money for anyone with an interest in simulations.

Despite the fact that it is clearly being marketed at children, Enchanted Folk is a surprisingly deep game. Fans of Animal Crossing may feel that this is a little too similar for its own good, but other young gamers should have plenty of fun with their magical studies. The slow pace won't be for everyone, but kids who do like this will probably play it for a long time.

The biggest disappoint is how pitiful the narrative is.

It's not a bad game by any means, but it is a disappointing game that simply doesn't live up to its potential.

Speaking of destruction, every building in the game can be destroyed - something which was quite a surprise at first, after a stray missile missed its target and downed a building a few hundred metres in the distance. This combined with the complete bombardment of enemies makes for a game that constantly brings a smile to the face of players.

Ride 6 continues the series’ unbeaten track record of providing the most realistic-looking and feeling motorbike games on the market. However, while the multitude of new bikes, cameos from iconic racers, and intricate riding physics may prove its passion for the sport, it often struggles to communicate that passion to its audience.

Some will enjoy this, but for most the game won't keep their attention long enough to justify forking out full price. WET is good fun for a couple of hours but ultimately it's a classic case of style over substance.

Nothing more than an occasionally attractive run of the mill FPS, backed up by a decent multiplayer mode that stands out due to the relative weakness the Wii has in this area.

NASCAR 09 isn't going to set tills on fire in the UK, but it's a solid racing game that offers something a little different to the likes of GT, Forza, PGR and GRID. It's not the most exciting of games to look at, but in the middle of the hustle and bustle of a race you need to be on your game if you're going to succeed.

Downhill Jam isn't an awful game; it's just a game that uses the Wii's new controller in completely the wrong way. Games that would work better on a standard controller have no reason to exist on the Wii, and when they're released with awkward controls and unimpressive presentation you have to wonder what the publisher and developer involved were thinking.

So, there's little doubt that Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge is a superior game to Ninja Gaiden 3, but in a console market that's about to be assaulted by Dante, Raiden and even Kratos, it's seriously lacking in precision and balance. And considering the subject matter, you'd think that would be paramount.

A wonderfully tense and oppressive atmosphere let down by the restrictions of live action interactivity.

So, Star Fox Zero is a pleasant return for Fox McCloud and his merry squadron, albeit one with a few flaws that stops it from sitting alongside the Wii U's best.

Man of Medan's story and characters fail to reach the heights of Supermassive's homage to the slasher flick, Until Dawn. The Dark Pictures Anthology isn't off to the greatest of starts.

But for those of us who have never played the original NiGHTS, Journey of Dreams is a fun and cheerful game that fits perfectly within the Wii's casual gaming philosophy.

Just another half-hearted port, albeit one that's been released at a relatively low price point.

Fundamentally, this is a very satisfying puzzle game, and one that manages to stay surprising throughout by keeping things incredibly tight. It escalates from the start and doesn't stop, providing more than enough reason to spend a couple of hours pushing around brightly covered blocks.