It pains me to speak so harshly about a product that has the delightful Simon Pegg attached, but Spare Parts is down there with Yaris as one of the worst XBLA has to offer.

Even if there are new levels or characters added as DLC down the track, it's difficult to view Raskulls as anything but a short-term injection of fun and nothing more.

The Dragon Knight Saga may be a little rough around the edges and seem like a poor man's Oblivion, but there's enough here to interest fans of Western RPGs and, although it can be totally frustrating at times, it's the sort of game that draws you back in to see just what that next cave around the corner might have in the form of enemies and loot.

Visceral Games have used all of the source material to, yet again; expand upon the Dead Space universe, crafting the sequel the original game sorely deserved.

Kinectimals is adorable, cute and endearing all in one neat package. Despite a repetitive selection of mini-games, it remains the most efficient use of Kinect technology in crafting a game for children and casual gamers, who are the main demographic for Kinect at this stage.

If you like fast paced arcade shooters be it with patchy Japanese sci-fi story with utterly forgettable characters and dialog, Vanquish is your bag.

In essence, it's a poor man's FIFA.

Apart from Alan Wake, it hasn't been a stellar year for survival-horror titles, but that doesn't mean you need to bring yourself to the level of playing through this sequel.

If anything, Crazy Taxi is a nice history lesson in gaming and shows a new generation where a mechanic that has been used in several games the past few years originated from. It's furious fun in small doses, but only leaderboard nuts will still be playing it after a few weeks.

It really should have come as an add-on for the original game, and not as a full priced, stand alone product.

I wish I could say that Fable III exceeds expectations and blows predecessors away, but sadly some bizarre development decisions from Lionhead Studios have marred what is otherwise a terrific fantasy tale where industry and darkness threaten the city you are destined to rule.

Blood Stone is true to the Bond spirit, but it does nothing to innovate or push the 007 game forward. It's polished and worth sinking a couple of hours into, but there's not enough content here to keep even the most avid Bond nut interested for long.

While the single-player is laughably transparent and Sam Worthington makes me want to punch a kangaroo; Black Ops still offers one of the generation's very best online modes, vastly improved from previous ventures – we've got a new juggernaut, kids.

Brotherhood manages to stand out as one of the better games in a year that has been fairly lacklustre for sequels. A game once feared to be a mere expansion not only manages to do everything Assassin's Creed II did; it brings a few tricks of its own to the fray.

When I first played the original DJ Hero, I was floored by how addictive and entertaining it was, and while the sequel doesn't hold with it that same essence of surprise it is a vastly improved outing.

Lords Of Shadow is the revitalization Castlevania needed and deserved.

As the multiplayer king that it is, it is safe to say that the machine has, again, risen. All I can say, in the end, is kudos Bungie and thanks for the memories; I have loved Halo.

If you've played through the game previously on another platform then it's dependent on how much you love the game as to whether the console upgrade is worth it. However, if you're someone who has never experienced the humble joys of a Popcap gem such as this then it's a more-than-worthy purchase.

R.U.S.E is by no means the greatest game you'll play. It's campaign in slow, the battles can take too long, and after a certain point all the games against the AI play out the same. And if you're simply not into RTS games, then there's nothing here to change your mind. However, if you are a fan of RTS games, you'll definitely find one deep, lengthy and engaging game to sink your teeth into.

If you're a lover of comics, or just third-person brawlers that show respect to fans with a carefully crafted product, then you'd do well to at least rent this.

In the end, though, for the now below-average cost of 800 Microsoft Points there is enough to love about Scott Pilgrim vs. the World to make it a worthy addition to your XBLA collection.

I cannot recommend more than renting Mafia II unless you have a particularly strong affection for the subject material. Mafia II is not broken nor does do any one thing particularly badly; the overall experience is just a real disappointment and I would rather swim with the fishes than play it again.

A triumph for independent game development, which manages to transcend all that came before it without having to re-write the genre.

Crackdown 2 still feels rough and unfinished. In fact, it feels even more so than the first, especially when viewed as a single player experience.

Singularity won't win any end of year accolades, nor does it re-write the book on how shooters should be made; but it does stand up and is noticed in the winter period we often expect very little from in our industry of game.

War for Cybertron is a fairly basic corridor third-person shooter than draws comparisons to the Gears of War games; though, it lacks a cover system, which I found to be unfortunate as it feels the game could have benefited from one.

Alpha Protocol does many things right and succeeds where it count for an RPG but falls short elsewhere.

The fun of Blur is unparalleled in any other recent driving game. It could have been simply Mario Kart in real looking cars, but Bizarre Creations have looked hard at what is fun about racing games, what is fun about competitive play, what is fun about online gaming, and worked out how to get all of that in one game and more importantly, get it to work well and remain fun.

Superior storytelling, audio and graphics all come together to create one of the most enjoyable games in years.

The game creates an excellent and believable sense of ‘reality', as much as a video game horror story can. You'll suspend your disbelief for the most part, and there are some very cool and spooky moments early in the game that will really put you on edge.

If arcade racers are your bag, I can highly recommend Split/Second and with its split-screen multiplayer it would be a great one to keep the kids entertained. Longevity will vary based on your personal tastes and attention span but Split/Second will be a blast while it lasts.

Skate 3 sadly fails to take the leaps and bounds that Skate 2 made; it's not as progressive or original. However, it is still the undisputed king of skateboarding games, and if you're new to the franchise, you'd do well to pick it up.

By adjusting the control scheme and difficulty to suit your skill and experience FIFA World Cup South Africa is capable of simulating an extremely realistic and entertaining game of soccer.

Splinter Cell Conviction deviates from the original series in quite a substantial way, but keeps its soul is intact.

In my opinion all the games shortcomings are well and truly made up for by what the game does right. The world of Metro 2033 is painstakingly constructed with design elements skilfully integrated with the gameplay.

The single player campaign is action packed and – yes we admit it – could still be improved upon but it is better than BC1 and worthy of repeated play-throughs. The multiplayer is absolutely phenomenal and the ‘Battlefield moments' you experience in almost every online game make Bad Company 2 an extremely fun multiplayer game that would give the competition a big double shotgun blast to the face – if it supported akimbo weapons – which thankfully, it does not.

And with story aside, BioShock 2 improves on the original in every way. It's a far more solid experience that is a blast to play from start to thrilling conclusion.

Dante's Inferno could have offered more. It's heavily influenced by God Of War, but never seeks to do anything to differentiate itself from its influence beyond a superficial weapon development tree that has ultimately no impact on the game or the story.

The story does waver when it matters most, and the planet-scanning and other hacking mini-games are quite the bore, but aside from that Mass Effect 2 is a game that doesn't seem to put a foot wrong. Riveting use of characters and your involvement in their stories really make this one you can't miss.

It's not a perfect game, the 360 version has rather bad vertical sync issues and the controls take some time to master. However, the game's engaging gameplay and addictive exploratory momentum more than make up for its few failings.

Playing Assassin's Creed II, one can't help but think Ubisoft really did listen to the criticism of the last game. Everything has been expanded upon and improved.

Modern Warfare 2 is undoubtedly the single biggest release this year; not only in gaming but in entertainment, period. It delivers in a lot of areas; it has a campaign marinated in grandeur (even if it is to short) and a deep, engaging multiplayer facet (even if it is littered with connectivity issues).

It takes itself seriously, but presents a much more laid back sensibility to the player, giving them a chance to have a bit of fun in between the gritty reality of gangsters and money.

This is not a game, it is just a bunch of barely interactive episodes of the show and as such, is only suitable for die hard fans and people in need of a quick gamerscore boost. Everyone else should steer well clear as there is precious little fun to be had here and the whole thing soon gets mindlessly repetitive.

The art style is great, the co-op is a blast, and while it's far from perfect, Pandora is a planet well worth exploring Borderlands is a fun – if not a tad simplistic – shooter that will appeal to the gear junkies and RPG heads as much as it will FPS fans.

However, if you want to play soccer, want to cross, pass tackle, slide and score against the computer or against a real life person, then you're not going to get better than FIFA 10.

If you don't like heavy metal music or Jack Black's humour, chances are this one isn't for you. But if you do, then Brutal Legend will be like you've died and gone to the hallowed halls of Valhalla while a dude with long hair plays a power-solo and a valkyrie in a chain-mail bikini slays a dragon with an axe.

When ODST impresses, such as during moments when massive things go boom in the distance, it certainly gives your heart a bit of a jump, but then it yanks all hope of an epic experience away and quickly returns to the rut of re-used assets and recycled gameplay ideas.

WET is easy to recommend as an overnight rental, but chances are it's something you don't want hanging around the morning after.

Need For Speed: Shift is a welcome entry into the world of track racing and a step back in the right direction for the series. The biggest problem is the game doesn't do too much to distinguish itself from the other excellent racing games available lately.

In the end of the day, it's still Guitar Hero, the uglier, sometimes less pleasing brother of Rock Band.

It may seem like the average price of games on the XBLA is increasing without any correlation to quality, but rest assured, Shadow Complex is worth every Microsoft point you pay.

Trials HD is quite easily the most underrated of this Winter of Arcade promotion as it appears to have been trumped by the likes of ‘Splosion Man and Shadow Complex.

Okay, so I'm being slightly facetious here, but I honestly don't think it's good enough to release such a boring product onto XBLA. Where are the extras for fans? The new game modes, extra levels, character bios, unlockable cartoons? Anything!

In the end, I find it too hard to recommend this game to anybody that isn't either a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, or a parent in search of a simplistic experience to keep the little ankle-biters busy.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is a hardcore 2D fighting game with a few concessions to open it up to beginners. The quirky sci-fi anime style and presentation is bang on the money and the graphics look fantastic in HD.

Fight Night Round 4 is a solid game, different enough from its predecessor to warrant a play through, but I'm not completely convinced there's enough to make someone who loves Fight Night Round 3 rush out and grab it.

If you're a diehard Guitar Hero, then you're probably going to buy this regardless (much like I did), but I fear you'll be disappointed with the easy, watered-down experience Greatest Hits is.

Your personal affinity to the game will largely depend on whether you prefer to be led through an engaging and tailored adventure or to just be given a set of powers and make your own fun.

If you enjoy third person shooters and wish to experience destruction to a level not yet seen in gaming, RFG is definitely worth grabbing.

But if you like a challenge, love RPGs and have the time to really get stuck into it, Sacred 2 is a game you should definitely take a chance on.

If you're just curious, then renting might suffice, but given how niche a title Aces is, finding it for rent may be extremely difficult.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is that rare gem of a movie-companion game which manages to elevate itself above the source material.

Load Runner is certainly a unique and well put together game. It is challenging to the point of frustration but includes a significant amount of content not to mention a level editor.

If you liked the first Godfather title, there's enough here to keep you hooked for a good ten hours, and that's before you try and rob all the banks and crack all the safes.

Ninja Blade isn't going to be for everyone, with its many flaws apparent to anyone who plays it. But like a greasy fast food meal, it's difficult to care about them when the overall experience is so scrumptious and filling.

The bottom line is, if you're a Metallica fan, you're going to buy this.

Wheelman isn't going to win any awards at the end of the year, I wouldn't think. But it does the most important thing casual gamers look for, and that's ‘be fun'.

Whilst it's not a terrible game, and there is some fun to be found here, it gets repetitive fairly quickly.

Halo Wars is such a good RTS because it does so many things right. It nails the Halo look and feel through its cut scenes, environments, units and even that distinctively saturated Halo colour pallet.

I'll go ahead and say it, Street Fighter IV so far is the defining moment in the beat ‘em up genre this generation. Its technical brilliance is supported ably by a display of visual excellence and an abundance of things to do.

The Lost and Damned is a commendable effort from Rockstar and kudos to Microsoft for having the foresight and market power to bring us an Xbox 360 exclusive of a game franchise that was once the jewel in the Playstation's crown.

F.E.A.R. 2 turned out to be a game that both succeeds and fails with equal amounts of spectacle.

Skate was such a technical masterpiece; it was always going to see a bunch of sequels. And Black Box has done very well to ensure there were no backward steps.

It's definitely not a game for everyone, but it's one of the more unique experiences on the Arcade if you're willing to just let go of the rules and regulations and build for the sake of building!

Lips does a good job at being a Karaoke simulator. The problem is it's not very good at being a game, especially compared to the other music games available.

Nevertheless, Mirror's Edge remains one of those games that everybody should try for themselves, so go on...take a leap of faith and pick it up!

It is a solid and streamlined sortie through the RTS battlefield, if a little flawed in parts. I have to mention again how impressed I was with how easy it was to pick up and play.

On the other hand Konami have seemed to rest on their laurels, and for possibly the first time have dropped the ball and seen FIFA take the win.

It is a good World War II shooter that a lot of people are bound to enjoy, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I feel it doesn't have enough of its own identity to really win me over from continuing to play COD4.

It improves on the original in almost every way, and maintains its legitimacy with an engaging and lengthy single player story.

A must buy for fans of teamwork and tactics but if you are an impatient online gamer you may want to give End War a miss.

Quantum of Solace is a solid, above-average game that does the two new films justice without really pushing the envelope.

It isn't quite perfect, but no game of this size and scope ever really will be, and ultimately nothing can prevent Fallout 3 from being one of the greatest role-playing experiences on the console to date.

Movie buffs should get a real kick out of it but it can readily be enjoyed by almost anyone and best of all, there's a surprising amount of replay value.

Provided you aren't expecting an in-depth, stat-heavy RPG, Fable 2 can be a wonderful experience, and it's exactly the sort of game you make it, which is exactly what the developers want it to be.

Far Cry 2 is without doubt one of the best FPS games currently available on the Xbox 360.

Midnight Club Los Angeles is a decent game in all respects apart from the insane difficulty.

Let's get serious; Beast Rider is a game to be avoided.

And while the graphics may not be the best around and the game may be a little rough around the edges, when you factor in the great cooperative play and the ridiculously frantic multiplayer, Saint's Row 2 is a criminally good game.

Despite being a new and untested property from a publisher most known for iterative and licensed games, Dead Space has surprised us by emerging a fully formed title with refined mechanics, enjoyable gameplay, and outstanding presentation.

If you're a past FIFA player who hasn't liked the direction the game has been going, or feel its just the same old same old, pick it up and I guarantee you'll be impressed with the depth and the way the game plays.

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is a great sequel to an already rock-solid franchise.

There aren't many racing games that kept me interested long enough to aim for first in every event but PURE was one of them and comes highly recommended.

LEGO Batman is new territory for the team at TT Games, with no memorable film scenes to recreate or iconic moments to build out of bricks. The results are surprisingly great, with detailed levels and three fun episodes of vexatious villainy for Batman to foil.

As long as you're prepared for that you'll enjoy a great Star Wars story with incredible graphics and a bunch of ultra powerful Force Powers at your disposal.

Facebreaker is only for gluttons of punishment and definitely a game to avoid or give to someone that you do not really like for Xmas.

It really is a crying shame that Infinite Undiscovery turned out to be exactly the sum of so many disparate parts that don't even work on an individual level.