If you're after a game to show just why the DS has been such a huge success, look no further than Touch Darts. Its perfectly tuned gameplay is hard to resist and if it weren't for a lack of true multiplayer we'd probably be looking at the best sports game on the handheld. Sadly, Touch Darts is a game that you'll love for a week and then forget about.

A lacklustre story, the complete focus on dull space combat and a lack of checkpoints makes Legacy a game that simply didn't live up to its potential.

Uprising's decent value at £15, but without any multiplayer features it lacks longevity and feels at odds with the original game. It introduces some nice new units and successfully makes a move into the dungeon crawl arena, but ultimately it's an underwhelming experience that never hits the spectacular heights of the game that fathered it.

The designs of Elizabeth’s family aren’t so much foreshadowed as foreshouted, and the plot soon wavers off-key and winds up shipwrecked. But something about it hangs around, like the hum of an unsettling tune.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey replicates the fumbling, trial-and-error progress of evolution, which often isn’t fun, but there are monkeys in the game, and that is brilliant.

Frontier ultimately stands as a fun, polished motorcycle game bloated by its own free-to-play filler. It has plenty to offer – including some brilliantly spectacular visuals. Things are a little too repetitive, however, and something special is lost through Frontier’s particular capitalist make-up.

WRC 2 is a minor improvement on last year's game, but that isn't good enough. Other than the official WRC license all the game has going for it is a decent (but not brilliant) driving model. Everything else here feels dated and pales in comparison to numerous other games in the genre.

Fun can be found in the simplest of things, and Wheelman nails car combat to the extent that it carries the whole game on its wheels. There are clear issues, with re-spawning enemy drivers causing a whole heap of hassle at times, and the aforementioned on-foot combat is forgettable at best, but for the most part you'll want to stay behind the wheel.

As a harmless game for kids to play together, Micro Machines V4 serves its purpose, but a bit of flair and a larger scope could have made it the ultimate party racing game.

Ultimately, C&C4 is a curiosity, one that succeeds in moving the RTS genre forward and is at times brilliant fun, but it fails as a fitting finale to one of the most loved science fiction tales in gaming. In 1995, Westwood popularised the RTS genre with a landmark title. It seems unlikely that history will judge Tiberian Twilight quite so fondly.

After EA's recent run of quality, it came as quite a shock that Undercover simply doesn't feel ready. The in-game performance is frankly terrible and one of the main event types is deeply flawed. We can't deny that there's still fun to be had here, especially in the highway battles (and with some of the dialogue), but we simply can't recommend a game that performs so poorly that it's at times unplayable.

Even clearly noticeable repetition and developer laziness can't fully erase what is in essence an almightily addictive and emergent base structure.

In terms of gameplay Midway is off to a solid start, putting together a control system that's both easy to grasp and hard to master. With more variety in the roster, an improved move set and more game modes future TNA games could take the wrestling belt, but for now it'll have to make do with being a very worthy challenger.

It's totally devoid of game modes other than the core team-based play, so forget about it unless you plan to play with a group of friends fairly regularly. If you do, then this party game offers enough new ideas that aren't seen in every other family Wii title to make it worth adding to your collection.

A disappointment but perhaps my expectations should have been lower in the first place. It's short and lacking in gameplay depth, but has moments where you'll be fooled into thinking it's all right. Visually it at least has style if not technical excellence, but underneath is a fairly typical licensed title.

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.

This isn't a game that demands your undivided attention, though; it can be played sporadically, either on your own or with a few friends and some beers. It can become monotonous – mindless even, if you let it – but with the right frame of mind, there's a remarkable amount of fun to be had here.

Dead Island Definitive Edition is a great example of how a previous gen title can be improved on current-gen. Techland has done more than required in porting the games over to PS4 and Xbox One, resulting in a package that is tremendous fun and technically up to par. That's a sentence I never thought I'd be saying.

The game delivers non-stop action from start to finish, constantly throws new enemies at you and gradually introduces new abilities. It won't be everyone's idea of a good time, but leave your brain on the installation screen and you're likely to have plenty of mindless fun.

It's not a bad game by a long stretch - just a game that's over in a flash and almost entirely devoid of any memorable moments.

It looks great and has more character than any sports game I've ever played, but its gameplay is too shallow and unrewarding to provide long-term entertainment.

On paper, Alpha Protocol sounds incredibly alluring, combining the best elements of the role-playing and action genres with a refreshing concept. In executing that concept, however, the game falls apart at the seams.

A decent enough kid's game that certainly does a fair amount to distinguish itself, but in the end it is just another Pokemon style challenge.

Sniper Elite 3 has its moments, but they are too few and far between. Every so often you'll find yourself enjoying it, but that soon fades as you enter a pattern of shooting hundreds of dudes until you can move forward and snipe again.

About as good as I could imagine a game in the series being on the PSP, but that doesn't automatically make it an excellent game. Control issues to do with the use of a manual camera, the PSP's lack of horsepower and a series of missions that focus almost entirely on killing make this an Assassin's Creed game that lacks the quality seen in the console games.

The other major problem is that the game as a whole is pretty short: You can get through the game in about 10 to 12 hours, maybe less if your work swiftly, and once you're done there's really not much left to play for.

It looks great and has more character than any sports game I've ever played, but its gameplay is too shallow and unrewarding to provide long-term entertainment.

Credit must go to Bloober Team for setting a different course for its sequel; it's just a shame that it didn't bring the chills and scares that littered the last outing.

A weighty Xbox Live Arcade game, even if you have to pay 800 Microsoft points for it. For those of you who downloaded the game in the first two days, you already know you've got yourself a bargain.

Maths Training won't make you smarter, but it will make you quicker at solving simple sums. If that sounds like something you'd like to add to your CV then pick the game up. But don't expect anything more - maths isn't fun. It's just maths.

It's hard to hate a game that doesn't do anything particularly badly, but Wii Music also fails to do anything especially well.

A foray into the beat 'em up genre isn't exactly straying too far from Joe's roots, but the game hasn't been pulled off with the same high level of polish that the other Joe titles exude.

A novel take on the beat-'em-up that is accessible and engaging.

One frustrating game. While playing you'll more than likely go through spells of loving what Treyarch has done, but you'll want to throw in the towel at numerous points too. The camera and combat system are most to blame, with the two working against you far too regularly for Spidey's next-gen debut to be considered a classic.

Sadly, Red Steel is nothing more than a rushed launch title that will inevitably end up in bargain bins across the globe, and that's unfortunate. Why? Because Red Steel has a ton of potential.

With so many high quality shooters on the market already, each trying to offer something that the others don't, all Confrontation really has going for it is its low price tag. For what was such a well respected series, that's really not good enough.

Considering the game combines the talents of both Mistwalker and tri-Crescendo - two incredibly experienced studios when it comes to JRPGs - Awakened Shadow can only be considered a major disappointment.

On one hand it's a near-broken video game, packed full of so many gaming no-nos that it ought never to be spoken about again, but on the other it's original, atmospheric and sickeningly good fun.

The Station is futuristic sci-fi puzzling delivered with polish, but the trouble is that what you receive doesn't feel very new.

Ultimately, Gothic 3 is like getting into a cold bath on a hot day - it's refreshing, but somehow painful, and no matter how much you love it, you have to admit that it isn't much fun to do.

You only have to see the opening cutscene to realise that Pac-Man World 3 isn't a game for adults. As a children's game it's not bad at all, with some 3D platforming gameplay that treads a familiar path, and plenty of variety to keep things interesting.

Occasional glimmers of hope with Blood Stone are killed by an unwavering torrent of mediocrity - I haven't even mentioned the throwaway multiplayer mode, for instance, and I think that's for the best.

With the strategising gone, all that's left is a poor narrative and mediocre shooting.

There are fleeting moments of fun to be had in this six hour campaign, and the two player offline co-op could make for an agreeable game for parents to play with kids. But Scarygirl is simply a functional platformer-come-brawler that's almost entirely devoid of distinction. With so many better adventures on XBLA, there's little reason to shell out for this one.

What ProStroke delivers is the most in-depth control system I can imagine working on a standard console controller, but the game that's built around it simply isn't exciting enough to sway Tiger fans over to a new series.

On one hand it's a near-broken video game, packed full of so many gaming no-nos that it ought never to be spoken about again, but on the other it's original, atmospheric and sickeningly good fun.

It’s a shame, because there are parts that are genuinely excellent, like one level where Sonic is a giant snowball; awkward controls, a clump of dreadful levels (including insta-death grind-rail nonsense) and some horrendous, unfunny boss encounters, though, make you wish he’d genuinely get lost.

Its control system isn't perfect, but it's workable and makes for a fun game. Everything is over far too quickly though, and the mini-games and the game's relation to the movie have to be questioned.

The Order is a beautiful dud. Instead of building the core mechanics and then wrapping everything else around it, instead it appears Ready at Dawn made a movie and wondered how to put a game into it. By all accounts it still hasn't worked it out.

Alone in the Dark is a considerate reimagining of a pioneering classic, weaving together nifty puzzles, edge-of-your-sofa combat, and clever scares.

It's easy to pick up, good fun to play and features some impressive battle scenes which - storyline aside - must be the biggest draw of the movie.

Given that the game fundamentally relies on fast reactions and impeccable timing, The Shadow and The Flame is a nightmare to try and enjoy because it's the equivalent of driving a forklift truck after downing a packet of medication despite the 'Warning: Causes Drowsiness' precaution.

If you're hungry for an old-fashioned platformer, one with a tongue in its cheek and a spring in its step, you could do far worse.

Pneuma's appeal lies in its successful creation of a world that inspires at least some curiosity as to exactly why you're there, openly challenging the various incongruities of game design and world-building in its discussion of the player's role.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is one of the most visually unique titles I've ever played, glossing over a fairly by the numbers third-person shooter. The deranged duo's return is worth experiencing and is far more accomplished than its predecessor, but the gameplay on offer still doesn't match the quality of the characters IO has created.

A harmless and charming racing game.

Bladestorm does provide and incredibly well structured action-strategy game, and it juggles depth and accessibility with panache.

Personally, I'm a bit mystified about why this game even exists. The concept behind the Star Wars Battlefront games is sound, but I can't see why anyone would think that the PSP could be a good platform for this kind of outing.

It's clear that Ubisoft had some big ideas for Shaun White Snowboarding, but many of these have been hampered by an overly difficult control scheme, cumbersome navigation, a terrible map, too much collecting and a disappointing frame rate. The recreation of the four ski resorts is excellent, the online functionality is well thought out, and at times the views are magnificent, but the game just isn't as much fun as it should have been.

Insomniac’s initial plan has devolved into a conglomerative representation of the military-shooter market’s complete saturation, a blueprint of a lack of imagination. Although fun with friends, the developer’s first step away from PS3 exclusivity is just one more time around the world of this generation’s most habitual design choices.

Despite well-written central characters that, at their best, radiate charm and intrigue, Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is an overstretched affair darkened by the shadows of its own limitations. Those looking for a well-realized vampire fantasy will find part of what they’re looking for here. However, should they stray from the central story or look too closely at The Chinese Room’s Seattle-by-night or the systems that underpin it, they will find themselves disappointed.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions’ simplistic gameplay and barebones content are fun for a couple of hours, but provide little more depth than it likely would have as a minigame in Hogwarts Legacy.

Despite the lack of originality, Vanguard has drawn on a wealth of experience, meaning that thanks to some great level design and a wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack, there is no need to rely on the wealth of triggered animated events that overwhelm Call of Duty 3 at times.

KOFXII's biggest problem is that the fighting game bar has been raised considerably in the last 12 months, with the release of Street Fighter IV in particular showing how reboots should be done.

There are some choice moments across Arrival's duration, but it's just a shame that Mass Effect 2's final piece of DLC is undoubtedly its weakest.

It's a game that is so hell-bent on being realistic that it's forgotten to be fun.

The controls and lacklustre level design are the biggest problems you'll have to overcome in order to enjoy Revenge of the Fallen.

It will be an incredibly dividing game though, with many people unable to forgive its considerable flaws, others completely taken in by the technology and others unsure what to think either way. We certainly felt the earth move but not in the way we'd hoped.

Call of Cthulhu's atmosphere, especially early on, is delicious, but it's let down by wayward pacing and plot and some muddy graphics.

As well as being unresponsive and technically broken, it's simply not as much fun as its non-HD sibling.

Unfortunately Islands of Wakfu only currently supports two difficulty settings, Initiate and Goddess Mode – the latter of which removes the threat of death altogether.

This is a typical launch title in many ways - by no means as good as it could have been, but a solid effort no doubt developed under the strictest of time restraints.

As an arcade blaster it does a reasonable job, but repetition ensures that even the ridiculous-but-fun Ace Kills get old quickly.

The main quest is totally underwhelming and can be completed in a fraction of the time it took to complete last year's full game. When combined with some severely dated visuals and an almost thrown together storyline, there's little reason to pick this up.

With a license that seemed tailor made for the video game treatment and a competent developer (Grin, makers of the PC GRAW titles and the forthcoming Bionic Commando) in charge, there was a chance this would be something really rather good. What we ended up with is a perfectly passable, often enjoyable game, but not something that will be remembered once you've beaten it over the course of a few evenings.

Resident Evil Zero is a well designed survival horror game that offers more scares than Resident Evil 4 and 5 combined, but its dated gameplay will turn away many.

Despite fun combat and characters, Agents of Mayhem becomes repetitive and grinding. In trying to chase the popularity of Saints Row, it misses having an identity of its own.

The skills and experience system may not be new but they don't get anything wrong either and if you make it to the end then you'll find that Silverfall is a satisfying nut to crack.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is one of the most visually unique titles I've ever played, glossing over a fairly by the numbers third-person shooter. The deranged duo's return is worth experiencing and is far more accomplished than its predecessor, but the gameplay on offer still doesn't match the quality of the characters IO has created.

In terms of gameplay Midway is off to a solid start, putting together a control system that's both easy to grasp and hard to master. With more variety in the roster, an improved move set and more game modes future TNA games could take the wrestling belt, but for now it'll have to make do with being a very worthy challenger.

Anyone with an established affection for roguelikes (apparently there are a lot of you) and even the slightest liking of Pokémon will really enjoy this. And ultimately, I did too - played one mission at a time, Mystery Dungeon's old-fashionedness in the context of the adorable setting is charming, and you can't fault it for a lack of longevity.

With the core gameplay being dull, the mini-games uninspired and the presentation severely lacking, this is a game that only the most die-hard Nintendo fans will find any worth in.

With its most obvious original appeal – 'real' Ass Creed on a handheld – gone, Liberation's appeal is diminished. While it does have some interesting ideas, which the main series itself would benefit from trying to integrate, this is the same old Creed, with the same old problems.

Disintegration poses interesting questions about how we will define the human experience in a recognisable future. It's not going to answer those questions, sadly, but the gameplay is so creatively rewarding and satisfying. Plus, cool robots.

With a license that seemed tailor made for the video game treatment and a competent developer (Grin, makers of the PC GRAW titles and the forthcoming Bionic Commando) in charge, there was a chance this would be something really rather good. What we ended up with is a perfectly passable, often enjoyable game, but not something that will be remembered once you've beaten it over the course of a few evenings.

Each cutesy character is matched by a plodding task.

This rough port simply can't compete with the original PS2 games.

The story is brilliantly told and it's great to see some of the gap between season 2 and 3 being filled in. Sure, it should have been a better game, and it's not exactly a challenging game to play through, but if you're a fan of the show it'll keep you hooked from start to finish.

But by attempting to generate its cash by making progression a slow grind, by repeating the same boring levels over and over again until you a) delete the whole thing, b) use real money, or c) die, Glu Games has made sure you'll likely choose the former and latter before you open your wallet.

If you're hungry for an old-fashioned platformer, one with a tongue in its cheek and a spring in its step, you could do far worse.

Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires isn't terrible, it's just totally uninspiring.

It looks okay, it plays okay, it has some nice touches, but it lacks the spit and polish required to elevate it above the rest in an already crowded genre.

Out of all the Pixar and Dreamworks games, it is absolutely among one of the best, and would make for a brilliant Christmas present if you're looking to satisfy the kids over the festive season.

While We Happy Few's story contains some genuinely wonderful twists and turns once it gets going, it's dragged down by frustrating survival systems, shoddy combat, and an empty world.

An outstanding little game, and one that's well suited to the handheld. I fully intend to while away many hours of travelling engrossed in this little gem, and I can heartily recommend it to puzzle game fans everywhere as an example of what video games can be when someone puts a little thought into trying to come up with something original as opposed to churning out just another sequel or licence.

It's a cohesive party experience with a plethora of activities tied together in a fantastic hub world. While there's not a whole lot of depth to it, it does what it does very well.

ProStreet isn't a bad game, it simply doesn't hold a candle to its competition, and Need for Speed fans will be left wondering where all the fun has gone from the illegal, turned legal, street racing series.

Retro gamers might not be able to resist the lure of a jazzed-up version of such a revered title but I'd recommend the average DS owner sticks to the more user-friendly thrills of New Super Mario Bros and lets this old bird rest its tired wings.