It’s just a great game tying to be even better. In some cases it works, in other cases it doesn’t. But, ultimately, if the idea of playing a superior version of one of the best games of all time appeals to you (and why wouldn’t it?) then this is a more than worthy excuse for a double-dip.

GTA V is funny, genuinely laugh out loud funny – and not in a ’shoving a ten-inch purple dildo up your arse’ funny – the humour is told through situation, through incredibly clever writing and wonderful sense of place. Really, that says everything you need to know about GTA V. Rockstar has spent five years, and an insane amount of money, building a game that is not only bold enough to step away from expectation, but brave enough to revel in its combined history as well.

BioSchock is amazing. Not only are its visuals, music, sound, gameplay and plot superb, but it's highly polished and runs beautifully on the 360 without any noticeable drop in frame rate. [Issue 23, p.70]

The Orange Box offers more value for money than any RPG package in history. Valve and EA could have charged through the nose, but wisely kep it honest. It's the best ?50 you'll ever spend. [Issue#25, p.39]

Both an astonishing RPG and confident shooter, Mass Effect 2 is daring, shocking and often awe-inspiring in its use of choice. This is the future of storytelling in videogames. [Issue#, p.85]

Easily in line for a game of the year nod and one of the finest adventures this generation has seen. [Issue#79, p.64]

RDR isn't perfect: there are some control issues to navigate, and sometimes it is unclear what exactly you have to do next...But these are minor quibbles. [Issue#59, p.82]

A truly spectacular sequel that reaches previously unthinkable heights. Portal 2 is an experience to be cherished and already a strong contender for the best game of 2011. [Issue#72, p.78]

A fantastic stealth action game that offers an insane amount of ways to play, just don't expect it to feel like your typical Metal Gear experience.

A Batman game like never before. Fans will feel like they're dreaming, whereas everyone else has an incredibly large and in-depth world to enjoy and engage with. It doesn't get much better. [Issue#78, p.80]

Unsullied by over-complication and masterfully focused, Gears of War aims to offer the most bang per buck yet seen in a videogame, and we're glad to say it does just that. [Issue 14, p.72]

An absolute triumph that shows how ambition and verve combined with next-gen technology can create an absolute monster of a game. The one game every Xbox 360 owner must try. [Issue#5, p.76]

The game is bloody marvellous, but we'd rather have a finite number of enemies if it's all the same to you. [Issue 26, p.70]

Single-player is too similar to what has come before to earn perfect marks, whereas all other aspects are worthy of such commendation. [Issue#25, p.72]

A must-have game for more than than the multiplayer. [Issue#53, p.82]

Quite simply another brilliant title in concept and design. [Issue#67, p.100]

Ultimately, though, no matter what you read elsewhere, its perfection, or lack thereof, will boil down to your own ability either to forgive, or to be blind to a few inarguable flaws: a slow start for an FPS, an ending that doesn’t feel earned, and too big a contrast in your behaviour versus Elizabeth’s reactions to it.

You can't put a price on innovation. [Issue#34, p.116]

Don’t let the lack of a third dimension fool you. Street Fighter IV is possibly the best beat-’em-up ever made. A must-have.

Vast, epic, engaging, absorbing, terrifying, horrific, amusing and thoroughly brilliant. Fallout 3 is easily one of the best games ever made and one that deserves and needs to be played.

A masterclass in design. Brutal, epic, beautiful and harrowing in equal measure, Gears Of War 2 announces Epic’s reign as the king of the action videogame. Absolutely essential.

Mass Effect 3's job is one of refinement, and BioWare polishes its ideas to a mirror sheen. [Issue#83, p.72]

Despite our concerns, Rock Band 3 amazes through its sheer potential. [Issue#66, p.74]

Trying disgracefully to squeeze every last penny out of 360 gamers, but nonetheless close to the most fun you can have by playing a videogame. [Issue 18, p.90]

A dream come true for music fans and gamers alike. If you've recently won the lottery, it's a must-buy. [Issue#29, p.88]

Lacking a little in polish and bizarrely ordered though it may be, Forza Motorsport 3 nevertheless delivers gaming's most authentic racing experience. Fact. [Issue#52, p.76]

A well-made and mostly fun interpretation of hte Batman universe, Arkham Asylum lacks evolution and can wear thin, but it stands up admirably in a very competitive genre. [Issue#50, p.84]

A masterclass in how to tell stories in games. [Issue#94, p.80]