The dual analogue controls could have been a hit-and-miss affair, but EA have pulled them off and it makes for a fantastic game that focuses on realism and is a great debut for EA's hockey series on the Xbox 360.

Check out the demo if you're on the fence, but episodic gaming is here to stay, and there's little doubt Penny Arcade Adventures will be one of the best of the bunch.

Providing all the features of its predecessors and more, NHL 2K8 serves as a worthy purchase for any lover of ice hockey.

The graphics are great with plenty of detail, you are never fighting the controls, the speed effects and weapons are great and the storm drain levels rock. There are parts of this game that almost make you feel like you're in the middle of some Jerry Bruckheimer movie.

Coupled with the great collection of multiplayer modes and mini-games, there's something here for almost everyone.

I would have liked the building and object acquisition to be a little more worthwhile than it is, as that is a big aspect of the original and brings out the interior decorator and architect in all gamers.

A worthy successor to the MechAssault crown, building successfully on every single aspect of the original. However with that said, singleplayer is still incredibly weak, and two years on, this even more painfully obvious for the sequel.

It's a great game for fans of the films as it represents a high-quality and faithful replication of some defining film moments, as well as for gamers with a craving for violence, extortion and gangster shenanigans.

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.

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.

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 environments look gorgeous (both single player campaign and multiplayer) and those yet to experience the game or Xbox 360 for that matter should enjoy this title as a solid first encounter.

One part strategy, one part fighting, with a tasty dressing of polished design. Ageing PC enthusiasts have seen similar in Arcon Ultra and similar games, but for everyone else Wrath Unleashed is an envigoratingly fresh title with a unique look and epic feel.

I loved every minute of Advent Rising and haven't been sucked into a sci-fi game like this since the original "Halo" game.

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.

Pure, unadulterated, shooting fun and offers a fresh coat of paint to a tired genre.

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

Eets: Chowdown is about as unusual an Arcade title as you can get.

Naruto: Rise of Ninja is not the kind of title many gamers would pick up from the shelf and give it a look, because let's face it – those anime titles tend to be a bit rubbish unless you love the show. Thing is, this is a game that stands on its own as a worthy action-adventure or fighting game.

The AI is especially tough, but never so much so that it becomes frustrating, and unlike previous FIFA games I never felt that the AI scored against me by using cheap shots or cheating.

A deep, engaging and somewhat varied experience, Race Driver: GRID should offer something for most players.

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

Represents a solid game that provides near limitless gameplay for those that take the time to enjoy it and offers great value for money if you're a Sims fan.

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.

A solid action-adventure game that offers the exhilaration of participating in a series of intense and large-scaled melee conflicts.

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.

Really, your enjoyment of Evolution will hinge on whether you enjoyed the original game. If so, then this expansion represents another 6 or so hours of shooting fun.

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.

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

Those who persist will experience a truly breathtaking example of exceptional storytelling and original gameplay ideas. The rest will dismiss it after a few hours as not their bag and/or too hard.

Approach it as a puzzle game, not a driving game and you should be fine.

The graphics and presentation have had a thorough overhaul ultimately resulting in Cinemotion and the fantastic new camera system. However, the gameplay hasn't had an equivalent change which is understandable.

It’s fast paced, stylish, and genuinely fun to play. However it is held back by sub-par visuals and a decidedly short single-player campaign with only bare-bones deathmatch multiplayer to keep you hooked.

Some questionable story elements aside, the game is enjoyable and manages to maintain a fairly consistent pace throughout.

Blue Dragon is wading into a difficult market; any veteran Japanese RPG player will feel like they've seen and done it all before – better too – while newcomers will likely be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of what is on offer.

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.

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.

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'.

The violence in The Punisher game is over the top, like the comic it is based on. It never seems overly disturbing like in the game "Manhunt," and you never feel that you are playing anything other than a comic based game.

Something about it just feels too clinical, too rehearsed and at the end of the day this is a sequel in the strictest definition of the word. It doesn't take any risks, it doesn't give players new, exciting or exotic flavours and it tends to focus more on the multiplayer side than the single player experience.

A pretty addictive action game with a rather dark sense of humour that actually works well most of the time, and good comedy in video games can be very hard to come by.

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.

The humour may wear thin pretty quickly, but underneath it all is a compelling, enjoyable golf experience that will appeal to newbies and golf nuts alike- the scantily clad women help too!

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.

Overall, The Sims 3: Pets on the Xbox 360 is a fun and addictive game where the time will fly by and you will not notice it. A few bugs do affect the gameplay from time to time but do seem to be rare.

A massive improvement on the lacklustre 'Finest Hour', and provides a solid, highly enjoyable singleplayer campaign.

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!

Omega Five is the kind of game that if you stick with, will reward you with some sense of accomplishment when you take down a boss or just get better as you replay levels.

An A-grade platform adventure romp that is enjoyable for anyone regardless of their age. It’s a bit too easy for veteran gamers, and the scenery pop-ups can distract, but neither detracts from the top-notch experience.

It's truly a wonder that they managed to cram so much into the 50MB limit placed on Xbox Live Arcade games, and while it isn't something you'll come back to time and time again, RoboBlitz is a lot of fun while it lasts.

It may not be perfect but it is a significant step in the right direction and has breathed life into a series that had all but died.

Yes, it's basic, yes, it's repetitive, but Jetpac Refuelled looks, sounds and plays great, and is well worth the 400 MS Point price-tag, unlike most ‘classic' titles on the Arcade.

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.

A fantastic kid’s game and truly is a breath of fresh air…Er, water for a genre usually plagued by below average cash-ins. It has substantial long-term appeal, as gaining an Elite rating on all chapters is an all but impossible task and there are heaps of extras to unlock.

While some may fault it for only including a single map for the asking price, this XBLA iteration remains the cheapest way to enjoy the full Ticket to Ride experience!

It is a solid RPG that looks the tits but does not do anything amazing to elevate it to a class of its own. I enjoyed my time with the game and found it refreshing to play an adult game with adult themes without feeling like the developers vision was censored in order to protect my fragile mind.

Prototype 2 is a great open world action game that manages to take everything that made the original game so great and streamline it to the point where it was more enjoyable to play without compromising any features found in the previous game.

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.

Marred only by a few broken glitches and repetitive NPC cues, Call of Cthulhu will captivate the dark side in all who dare journey its perilous trail.

NBA Live 2008 is a considerably decent basketball game. EA's efforts this year are much more noticeable than previous outings, as the game reeks of realism.

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.

The career mode, with its leveling system and the way you're forced to collect various vehicles, is enthralling, that is until you realise that it's only elongated through extra laps and slightly longer course variations.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a great platformer / twin stick shooter hybrid game that I can safely recommend to anyone who has a fine appreciation for great artistic design and competent gameplay design.

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!

There is no doubting that Alien Hominid HD is one of the most challenging and difficult games you will ever play, but that is an integral part of its charm.

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.

Its faster-paced take on the Gears of War formula, coupled with the novelty of the bladed glaive mechanic, pull Dark Sector above the mire of mediocre shooters that it could so easily have become.

Everything from the graphics, audio, animations and commentary have all been vastly improved from last year. Unfortunately there's no Xbox Live support.

It's cheaper than the PC version, and when you take into account the challenging story mode, enhanced visuals and features, as well as a slew of other options and robust multiplayer, it's hard to not recommend Heavy Weapon.

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.

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.

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.

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

Through the humour you grow to like the characters, and because of this the experience feels a lot more enjoyable than many other titles aimed at the younger market.

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 you are after a guns-out shooting fest then you better get your stealthy ninja mate to play through the first two thirds of the game for you as you will quickly tire of the games slow pace and relentless punishment of mistakes early on. If you are looking for an original well designed devilishly dark gaming experience and can deal with all the gore and swearing then Manhunt is highly recommended.

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 go into Human Revolution expecting an RPG you will most likely be disappointed. Human Revolution is a light RPG at best but more accurately it is a FPS with the odd conversation and some choice in how you go about things.

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.

An exceptionally well made game that smacks of style and polish.

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.

This is not a game for the faint of heart; you may throw your controller at the television screen, but this game is a classic, and it was bound to find its way on the XBLA collection list, next to games such as Sonic 2, Golden Axe & Bomberman.

If you're looking for another post-apocalyptic shooter that offers an interesting take on both the racing and shooter genre, RAGE is the place to look. Though I understand why some may be disappointed after such a long wait with no real revolution here but instead a continuation of what id Software are known for.

It's a shame North Korea couldn't have been a bit livelier to look at, but the endless stream of things to blow up more than makes up for the limited colour palette.

For some, Bully has a few minor glitches and hitches, for others, the game is virtually unplayable and broken. But if you're lucky enough to only get a mild dose of this, Bully's view of the world through a child's eyes will amuse and entertain you for hours.

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.

The Simpsons Game is easily the family's best outing yet: genuinely clever and with a devilish ability to spot gaming's weak spots and exploit them for massive laughs, it's the kind of game that will appeal to fans and gamers of all ages.

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.

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.

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.

The perfect consumable for those seeking some "Deadwood"-esque action. It's lewd, crude and, well, something that rhymes with those two words.

Fans of the original will probably love it, newcomers will probably divided, but either way it's a faithful sequel to one of the Xbox's favourite sons.

While Battlestar Galactica is incredibly difficult to master with unclear objectives, lethal enemies and challenging (read: long and unsaveable) missions, the game still manages to hit all the right notes.

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.

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.

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.

If there’s a few small complaints to level at Shrek 2 it’s that the humour is kind of flat and doesn’t feature the witty satire, or any of the more mature in-jokes that the movie had.

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.