The melee combat adds such a difference it almost feels like you're playing a new genre of game.

It seems like a seed has been planted for Champion mode and it's exciting to think of where EA can take the franchise in the future. There's definite potential for the development of a story that's on par with what Rockstar Games delivers and even if you don't like watching cut-scenes and playing along with a story, there's enough freshness here to keep fans of previous Fight Night installments satisfied.

The story is great, the double agent dynamic is unique and engaging, and the set-piece levels and accompanying ‘next-gen' graphics are second-to-none. But with all that said, Double Agent's drift from the stealthy core of Sam Fisher's past travails will no doubt displease many hardcore fans, and this is arguably the simplest and least challenging game in the series.

The streamlined gameplay and tight narrative are worlds removed from the original game, but it will leave you feeling like this is the way it should always have been.

An argument could be made that Continuum Shift only offers true value to those who missed out on the 360 release of BlazBlue the first time around.

MotoGP 3 is a technical tour de force - stuffed to the brim with content, boasting tight controls and the definitive online multiplayer experience.

It really is a beautiful game, truly 'next gen' in appearance if not gameplay.

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.

The amount of characters and styles is huge but, the Story mode is greatly lacking, and the other modes can be incredibly frustrating at times.

Big Blue Box and Lionhead chose to water down the original vision that was Project Ego; a daring, ambitious project set to revolutionize the way we role-play. The consequence is Fable; a shallow, superficial experience that pales in comparison to its potential and promises.

It is no secret that I loved Forza 4, I gave it perfect score and still play it regularly so what does a Forza fan think of Horizon? Forza Horizon looks gorgeous, feels great and really is a fun game to play. It is easily one of the better arcade racing games on the market, but I lost interest very quickly. There is no way that I will be playing Forza Horizon in 12 months, I will be lucky to be still playing it in 12 days! That is not to say that you should not try it for yourself, just do not expect it to hold your interest for months to come.

Patience and slider adjustment is the key though and depending on your stress threshold, you may actually end up loving it. Be warned, this is not one for those seeking instant gratification.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds is probably one of the best fighting games I've ever played, and it's a nice change to see a fighting game be so accessible to newcomers while still having the depth that all those more hardcore players can appreciate.

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

Hands down, Dead Rising is the most polished game I have played yet on the Xbox360. It has inventive gameplay, an entertaining if predictable story, superlative presentation, a good helping of humour, and a whole lot of depth beyond just killing zombies.

TTT wraps up the series in a sincere and compelling way that is genuinely rare in the gaming world.

UFC Undisputed 3 is a bit of a weird one. On one hand, the developers have done a good job and made a clear effort to improve everything that was wrong with previous games. But on the other hand, a lot of the improvements are too minor to warrant any extraordinary amount of merit. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad game, in fact it's probably the best one thus far out of the series. But the real problem here lies in the game's general structure – the career mode is sorely lacking and in need of a complete overhaul.

It appears as all the effort of Fight Night 2004 went into the boxing controls, and the career mode was added as an afterthought. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing.

Too varied to be comfortably squeezed into the beat-'em-up genre, The Warriors will have you laughing in pleasure and wincing in mock sympathy for your on-screen victims.

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

The well-paced horror elements coupled with some of the most satisfying and stylish gunfights in a FPS make this game well worth your time, especially if you managed to miss it when it was initially released on the PC.

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

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.

I absolutely loved Crysis 2 from start to finish. The game looks amazing, sounds amazing and plays like a dream. The singleplayer campaign was a satisfying 10 hours and left me wanting to play it again at a higher difficulty setting. Multiplayer borrows a few ideas from other games but overall is a unique and highly enjoyable experience even if it does force you to put in the time to get the most out of it.

Follows closely in the path carved out by its predecessor, and the result, while not offering anything new, is an engaging and exceedingly creepy game that probably shouldn't be played alone.

Top Spin 4 is definitely one of the best sports games I've ever played, and obviously a great tennis simulation.

Every FPS game has its place but if you loved Battlefield 2 and Battlefield Bad Company 2 and sunk hours into the multiplayer of those games, then be prepared to sink another few hundred hours into Battlefield 3.

Assassin's Creed III is a pretty damn fine game. It loses none of what makes the series fun with the translation to another time and continent, and creates a whole new set of experiences which define the franchise. The biggest issue, if there is one, are the small technical issues, but these niggling technical issues only seem worse because everything else is such a great experience.

Outland is a great platformer that brings together a unique artistic visual style with well-crafted and perfect feeling gameplay. It's just a little bit of a shame that it feels a tad shallow compared to other titles on the market. Still, at 800 points, this is an absolute steal that every platforming fan should pick up.

If you're after a basketball game for the Santa stocking though, NBA 2K7 is by far the best choice this year.

Everything a hack-and-slash should be and then some. Sadly it falters with repeated level design and a moderately troublesome camera; but in the grand scheme of things, these are only minor flaws. Devil May Cry 4 delivers an experience that is second to none on Xbox 360, so far. Held together by a solid narrative, it makes your blood boil with every fight you encounter.

As an action brawler, Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction absolutely succeeds in being a wildly entertaining and challenging game and I cannot think of a single reason not to recommend it to anyone with the slightest interest in the action genre or have ever wished to possess superhuman strength.

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

Civ: Rev is a great game, and I think most people will have a great time with this game, both online and offline.

It's addictive with plenty of high speed, high flying racing action and having bikes is a great drawcard as well.

It's the most unique, charming take on the common puzzler since Portal – a must buy.

Everything in Black Arrow comes together almost perfectly. The single player campaign, the weapons, music and the online modes are all top rate. Special mention must be made of the games audio as it's excellent as well.

The only concern for buyers is the overall lack of content. There are certainly enough modes, but sadly the two that matter weren't fleshed out quite enough.

A solid sequel to a solid debut...it makes smart, incremental changes to the gameplay without messing with what made it work so well.

The game may not be a technical marvel nor does it masterfully tells a compelling story but as a fun action game, it excels. If you are looking for a fun diversion and are not easily offended, I highly recommend that you check out Saints Row: The Third.

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.

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.

The graphics are a little basic and the controls can be a pain, but the enjoyable story and movie-like action sequences will suck you into the world of Fahrenheit, and if you look past the few minor shortcomings, you'll be treated to one of the finest adventure games on the console.

The graphics and sound are some of the best on Xbox.

By combining the same addictive button-mashing core of its predecessor with better visuals, better level design, more dynamic gameplay (thanks to the scripted events that drive the levels), and a multiplayer co-op mode, Return of the King is an exceptionally well-produced game.

If you have any interest in intelligent multiplayer puzzle games at all then Clash Of Heroes is well worth a trial. The more you delve into its mechanics that more rewarding it becomes. Just don't think this is a game that can be played in short, casual bursts.

Fortunately Child of Eden has arrived, and it's a game that completely absorbs you when you're playing it. A game which makes you laugh for no reason when playing it. A game which expresses pure joy at simply being a game. And it's brilliant.

Full Spectrum Warrior has clearly been simplified and made more ‘gamey’ with the intent to appeal to the broader gaming community. Unfortunately the level design suffers from being too restrictive and players are encouraged to search for the intended solution with little opportunity to think outside the square.

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.

While the graphics aren't up to what Xbox owners expectations may now be, the game still looks great and ultimately, its 'fun factor' easily lifts it up into borderline gaming greatness.

Death's escapades make for one hell of a sequel that, for a while there, I thought would never bloody end. There's a whole lot of bang for buck here that Vigil have managed to squeeze in; where the story may lack replay value, the wave-defense Crucible mode should ensure you hold onto your disc for that little while longer.

Overall, the multiplayer options are a fantastic addition to the series and make N+ an even better value buy, especially if you've got a couple of mates who also dream ninja dreams.

A game to convert even the unworthy to boxing, Fight Night Round 3 will have you quite literally thumbing your way to heaven.

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.

DiRT does plenty right and features the most realistic forest and desert environments ever seen in an Xbox racing game.

Character models are another stand out point. The characters look fantastic and perform animations brilliantly.

Not having played a fighter since the first iteration of Street Fighter IV probably did me favours in making this mash-up of cosmic proportions appear fresher than it will for others, but if you're a fan of either franchise there's a whole lot on offer bound to intrigue and satisfy.

This is not to say it's a bad game, it's just not different enough from previous Call of Duty titles. The story isn't memorable, the maps and weapons aren't any different to what we've previously experienced, the gameplay is near identical to previous games, and when it's not identical it falls flat and fails to impress.

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.

As a whole, however, Need for Speed: Most Wanted comes across as extremely polished and very fun.

Builds on the great gameplay elements from "The Sands of Time" but lets itself down with too much backtracking and a weak script. The level design in the game is amazing, at times breathtaking and the addition of Boss battles is great.

It's a shame that the game is fairly light on other activities, rooftop foot or street based races are the only two, because after all the action stops and the explosions settle, you really do wish that there was a bit more to do in the game.

It's still the same game it always was...for better or worse...and the core experience- the mechanics, the visuals, the sound, the ego- remain entirely unchanged. Make no mistake: this is just Fable, with a fancy subtitle and some new content.

The fairly repetitive and shallow missions, the dreary presentation of the film plot, and the uneven sights and sounds are normally sufficient to warrant a 'fans need only apply' status.

After 5 years the gameplay is getting a little stale, and whilst the game isn't ho-hum, it's not exactly mindblowing either.

Lords Of Shadow is the revitalization Castlevania needed and deserved.

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.

Battlefield Bad Company is a great game and continues the excellent fun found in every game in the Battlefield series that I've played so far.

The pursuit mode stands out as the best feature, which sadly is not incorporated into multiplayer, which not coincidentally is the weakest aspect of the game.

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.

The awesome production values put into EON easily make it the best modern Bond game yet and even without Xbox Live support is still definitely worth your money.

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.

The story mode is new and refreshing offering a narrative to the events from a side of the story that we've experienced, but never on a personal level such as this and this was the most enjoyable part of the game for myself.

Despite taking the safe road Tomb Raider Legend is still a really good game and a solid return to form. The only bad thing is that it is extremely short. Lovers of long, intricate puzzle games may be left wanting here.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 is a great game. It captures the Rainbow Six ‘feel' and delivers high intensity gameplay both on and offline.

If you didn't enjoy the first Viva Piñata, then Trouble in Paradise isn't going to turn you around on the matter. However, if you were an avid fan of the original, there's every reason you'll still be in love with this series.

The main reason that I cannot put the game down is the overwhelming sense of immersion that I get from playing it. It may not be the most anal simulation of driving available but as a simulation of the exhilaration of racing, Shift 2 Unleashed has no equal.

Trenched is, at the most basic of explanations, a tower-defense game crossed with a third-person mech shooter. But that's a pigeonholed description that doesn't do it justice because it's so much more.

There simply is no other game that comes as close to not only recreating a film, but also making you feel like you're in control of the action rather than just a part of it.

With an absolutely wonderful presentation and a refreshing take on the first-person-shooter genre, it easily ranks as one of the most engaging and accessible single player action games on the Xbox 360.

A thoroughly enjoyable, deep and challenging experience (particularly because of the online instant challenges against other XBL opponents), with more cars than a, well, car yard ... Test Drive Unlimited is one of the best examples of true online integration and a fantastic car game to boot.

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.

It's not quite a perfect game but I found it to be of extremely high quality. Any gamer who loves the satisfaction of a meticulous plan gone right will get a bang out of it.

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.

It manages to provide not only an extremely satisfying hack'n'slash experience, but also a solid story and non-combat component that adds a little depth to the usual shallow, button-mashing gameplay.

Hardcore fans will be shattered to learn they are limited to using normal and easy modes due to the glitch with the A.I. although it isn't a complete loss.

Neither revolutionary nor even remarkable when viewed as part of its franchise, but for fans of WW2 action or first-person shooters, there's a lot to love here, particularly in multiplayer.

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.

If it wasn't for the stupid Kinect features and lack of the original multiplayer, Halo CE: Anniversary would be perfect. Even considering this, I loved every second with Halo CE: Anniversary and just know that I will be going back to it time and time again. For an aging Halo fan, it does not get much better than this.

The presentation is smooth, the enemies are fun and varied to take on (and the dismemberment feature adds some dynamicity to the battles) and the boss battles are absolutely superb. This is a ridiculously fun ride, even if it does delve into the ridiculous at times. But it wouldn't be a Japanese action game without that.

As it is, FIFA 08 is a football title that has plenty going for it, but also plenty of annoyances and offers a realistic experience that further breaks the mold of FIFA's past poorer efforts from the last few years.

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.

Condemned: Criminal Origins is one of the finest horror games to date, managing to mix the traditional scares with action-packed, enjoyable combat. The atmosphere is palpable, the audio downright chilling, and the storyline is compelling and well executed.

Truth be told, I became bored with the game rather quickly, and being the fan of the series I am, this rather disappointed me.

Put all the flaws aside though, and you've got a very competent dungeon crawler that has been almost perfectly optimised for a console – and that's something I have to admire the developers for. Just don't expect to be playing this one with your friends.

It puts its mark on the ‘next-gen' in a way that will finally have Rockstar's venerable series being measured against something else as opposed to itself.

It's tough to recommend the Xbox 360 version over the much cheaper Xbox incarnation despite the enhanced graphics and performance, but Jedi Gamerscore-whores will no doubt pick it up for the fairly easy 1000 points it offers.

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.