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Hit the court in this unique entry in the lengthy NBA Live series, where the action never stops. Bursting onto the Wii this NBA Live entry didn't pull any punches when it comes to fast pace basketball action at break-neck speeds. You couldn't tell from first glance with it's complete NBA licensed teams, arenas and players, but this a arcade B-ball experience that can go toe to toe with the NBA Jams of old. What makes the experience even better is the use of the nunchuck and wii mote as the controls, everything is fluid and responsive and making plays is as easy as it is fun. This is your best bet for playing some b ball on the Wii, and an excellent entry in the now defunct series.

Take a spin on a Lego game that doesn't exactly play with the conventional blocks. Drome Racers is a decent racer for the Gamecube that doesn't offer much substance, but is a bit of fun while it lasts. The game looks beautiful on the Gamecube and it runs smoothly. Tracks look decent and the Dromes can get to some decent speeds. Worth a look if you like your Lego games without those pesky yellow block heads hamming it up.

Total destruction reigns supreme in this beautiful racer for the Wii. There is not much to it, pick from a few excellent modeled and vibrant colored monster trucks (more to unlock later) and take to the urban streets or muddy arenas to annihilate anything in your way to victory. Whether it's race mode or total anarchy in the arenas this is just an awesome game when you need to switch off and destroy some unlimited respawn-ing debris until you feel satisfied. The game is also one of the best looking racers on the Wii, and will catch anyone's eye as you take part in challenges across the career mode in to effort to unlock even more gorgeous looking monster trucks. Certainly worth adding to your Wii collection, if you like racing or just total anarchy in general.

Put a little bit of imagination and effort into this game and you will have a blast. Photo Dojo's concept, design and execution is robust and a potential for laughs all night long. Take photos of yourself or friends, really put the work in, record your voice and attack clips and stand back and play a decent beat-em-up that would put a smile on anyone's face. The possibilities are endless with this app, it uses the DSi/3DS camera to the best of it's abilities, and truly gives the beholder a tool to create magic. On top of the the game-play once you have created your fighters is pretty decent, special moves are easy to pull off, and fill your roster with a cast of characters and you will be hard pressed to tell this from the best beat-em-ups on the planet. Really inventive and made with a lot of effort, this is the best way to be in the game

Prizefighter is a game that never stood a chance, you can't go against a juggernaut like Fight Night and then put little effort into your fighter. The boxing this time takes it back to the old school, where face buttons control your uppercuts, jabs and hay-makers, which I have always prefer-ed. But there is nothing behind those punches. Mash the buttons and your boxer will stick out his arms and it's touch and go whether or not the game recognizes them as a landed punch. They all look unconvincing due to poor animation but it's up to the A.I whether they make it to not. Presentation has some potential, licensed music and fan fare makes you almost want to get pumped up for the fight if you didn't already know how things are going to turn out when the game-play kicks in. The game's main focus seemed to be a well fleshed out fictional documentary piece about your created fighter, but when it gets down to it, it doesn't matter how man C-list celebrities they got to record footage, if there is no solid game-play there is no point.

Before there was Arkham Asylum, it began on the PS2 with Batman Begins. Begins takes Batman into a realm he has never been before, this is a smart Batman this a wary Batman. He is only a man and he not going to jump into a fight with a bunch guys armed to the teeth, he will cut to shreds in seconds. And that is how you need to approach this awesome movie tie-in. This is the true game that uses fear over all other means. While recent batman games have used this mechanic they also didn't punish you if you got caught, you could still duke it out with little damage, Begins doesn't give you that luxury and it's a better game for it. Fear is the key and you need to get those heart-rates to the point of darkness. Whilst linear this 2005 streamlines they experience by setting you on a direct that has you cross Scarecrows thugs and having to survive the onslaught of the Gotham P.D. Things get tough and you have only your wits to get you through the night. With varied locations Begins really takes you on a roller coaster or survival where you are not invincible, but still deadly if you stick to the shadows. Also Begins gives you what you have wanted for the past 6 years and lets you cause utter mayhem in the Batmobile. Inspired by Burnout 3, you get to break up the levels by traveling between locals whilst taking down thugs and cops alike. Not as good as Burnout 3, but decent fun on the way to more stealth sections. Whilst it shares similar aspects with the modern Arkham series, it has a lot more stealth to keep you in the dark, it's all about survival and fear.

Coming off an excellent use of the license for the PS2 game, Scarface blunders onto the PSP with a UMD that has plenty of content just no game-play. Instead of condensing the sandbox game into perhaps a 3ps or a top down shooter, things go in a very sad direction. The developers would want you to believe there is a game in there something but there is not. press a few buttons and you might luck yourself through a pre-rendered shootout that has no challenge other than to know which pre-set categories to max out. Win the shootout and you will receive a clip from the movie, rinse, wash, repeat. They might of hit the nail on the head with the sandbox game, but they didn't even bother with the handheld version, this "game" is not worth anyone's time.

NeverDead is a hard game to review, it has so many good ideas that are fun while they work, but they get lost in a frustrating series of blunders that test gamer's patience to breaking point. Start off playing Neverdead and you will find a decent looking game with a cool lead character who is just about invincible, or so we think. There is fun to be had with blowing yourself to reach secret areas or unlock blocked passages. The guns work, and it's a lot of fun to strafe around your victim and cut him down to size. Then things take a turn for the worse, I don't know what went wrong in development but someone forgot to quality control some of the enemies' abilities. Fancied getting stuck in a corner after being blown up for the 15th time in a fight, or how about being swallowed alive as a broken quick time event game is the only thing to keep you alive. It's a shame because if there was some balance it could of been something special.

Sigma is one of those games that you get the sense it was something special when it came out, but re-releasing it years later after the genre has taken so mean leaps forward is just poor taste. In its graphics Sigma looks like exactly what it is, polished up decade old polygons that don't even try to test the PS3's potential, not even for 2007. Some games can hide it, but sigma fails. Sigma is lacking certain gameplay mechanics that are the standard for modern games of its genre. From the combat, to the camera, to map menu, to the check point system, it is ancient. Compare this to the awesome Gaiden 2 or the average Gaiden 3 and your looking at a game that should of been left in the past.

Heavy Rain is a polarizing experience that is one of the best games of the last 10 years. It may not be for everyone but there is something to be said about the amount of hate and love this game gets, it is truly something special. The story is gripping to the last second, and at times emotionally draining for the player as well. This is well written stuff that takes turns when you least expect it. Graphics and Sound are exceptional and were really able to be fleshed out due to it's unconventional game-play. Don't let anyone tell you that this is a quicktime fest, while games in the past have offered "interactive cut-scenes" were you essentially must click (X) to not fail, Heavy Rain makes every button press have weight and true consequences to it. In fight scenes you may have to press something that comes on the screen, but the way it is done makes you feel in the moment, analog presses and movements really make you feel like you are controlling limbs rather than simply button mashing. Also if you miss a timed button press there are actions other than "you fail try again", it's more **** than you might of heard. It's a bit more than an interactive movie, as you have at will the choice to bring up your characters' thoughts and ideas, motives and fears. You control how things play out in what order, even the script. Love it or hate it, it must be experienced.

A modern Sonic game has enough going against it without starting it off with a long series or mind numbing tutorial tasks that can zap the fun out of even the biggest Sonic supporter. While Sonic and the secret rings looks nice on the wii, It's hard to get past the ridiculousness of the strict tutorial that proceeds to make you relearn every game mechanic the has been created in the last 20 years. Combined that with a cumbersome menu system in the tutorial which instead of just automatically bumping you to the next lesson made you troll back and forward through unnecessary obstacles just to reach your next boring objective. Secret Rings could have been something somewhat decent if it wasn't for pure interface design choices that just drains any enjoyment to be had.

Samurai isn't the best action game out there, but it's home on the Wii makes for a decent experience. The game looks pretty good on the wii, colors are vibrant and the animation looks pretty fluid at times. What Samurai tries to bring to the Wii is a little bit of everything, it's beat em up style levels can get tiresome, but luckily using the motion controls can add a little bit of spice to the mix. Special moves are fun to pull off with some swift swipes with the nunchuck and wii mote, it really breaks up the action and adds a lot more excitement than if this was on any other console. Also being able to swap characters during certain checkpoints adds even more variety. Boss battles let you take full advantage of your Mechazoid, and even though they don't use conventional methods in defeating your giant opponents it is still satisfying to conquer them and take a break from the beat em up action. Power Rangers Samurai could of been a mind numbing brawler, if it wasn't for some neat design choices that break up the monotony and let you flex your control skills.

With the budget this game had and the established competition it was going up against, it seems Pure Football was doomed to fail. But beneath the cheap box artwork and limited licenses, there is a soccer game that is fun and one of a kind. First of graphically the game is passable, player likenesses are a bit cartoon like and there is nothing exceptional about the locals you visit, but the presentation is surprisingly good, score a goal and see flags and player names fly past the screen, win a match and see your team run towards the camera celebrating their victory. A lot more work went into this than you would think. The biggest international teams on the planet are in the game, but if your looking for a small soccer nation you will be out of luck as only the top teams made the cut in this game. The career is a lot of fun, racking up players as you beat them and adding them to your super team, standard stuff that has been in other games, but still fun. Where the game gets really good is the game play, it's unlike anything to date, with a little practice, lobbing, passing and shooting can be expertly pulled off as the game slows down and lets you time your button press when the meter fills up a certain length. Get good enough at it, and you will be in the zone. It's never been done in any other football game and it is a cool mechanic. Don't pass this game because of it's budget looks, If you enjoy your PES, FIFA or FIFA Street, Pure Football can also hang on the pitch.

Since the Gamecube never reached the highs of the N64 before it, it is understandable how WWE WMXIX gets lost in the shuffle when people look back nostalgically at wrestling games from the past. XIX was the best of a seriously underrated series of games, and with the ability to play it on the Wii, it is a must have today to experience. The best thing about the early 2000s is that since there was a different WWE game on each console they all played differently and had their own strengths and weaknesses. The game play in XIX is almost perfect, arguably the best thing for it's generation at the time. Grapples and strikes are easy to pull off and seem to really pack a punch animation wise. Whether your having a classic tug of war kind of match between a friend, or destroying the CPU on easy mode, XIX is still fun to this day, and something a bit different. Content wise XIX shines, not only is there a packed roster with alternative outfits, but XIX has maybe the best array of weapons in a wrestling game ever. From glass bottles to steel chairs, this was the game to have if you want a varied assortment of tools to bloody up your opponent. Also XIX took a huge risk and added a cool beat em up story mode where you go from construction sites to shopping malls destroying all in your way to your main objective. it's the only wrestling game where you can throw someone off a construction site, and the only game where you can pull out a glass bottle from under the ring. Some WWE games can feel the same from year to year, but some are unique enough that they are worth playing just as much as WWE2k14 this year

If you need any evidence of how awesome the power of the PSP could be, just take a look at Fare Wars, a collection of two complete Dreamcast releases, all packed on one UMD with some extras just to spoil you even further. There is not much to say exactly about the Crazy Taxi games that haven't been said and they fit perfectly on the PSP, quick arcade session gameplay, try and make the most cash in 5 minutes, and then try again and again. Driving and cornering is as smooth as you can get and both games handle like their DC counterparts. Crazy Taxi has the best level design, but Crazy Taxi 2 adds in the boost feature that makes leaping over traffic a breeze, and making those huge jumps from freeway to freeway possible. It's hard to fault any Crazy Taxi game because the game play is just so good, but if your looking for representations of Tower Records, The Fila shop or KFC in the psp version, you will be looking for a long time, as those licenses expired years ago. Those iconic images are staples in the history of Crazy Taxi, but you can still have kick ass game sessions without them. Fare Wars is another PSP release that just keeps on giving, you might of played them before, but you cannot pass up playing them again, this time possibly in the back of a taxi yourself.

BMX Challenge is a mixed offering of hit and miss game-play, but there is no denying that on the PSP there a few alternatives, and this game does a decent job of keeping things tricky. BMX games have never reached the highs and acclaim of skateboarding games, but there is a niche out there who need something different and BMX challenge is a pleasant release for the PSP. The graphics aren't as defined as the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games available for the handheld, but this is due to the developer being a far smaller company with far tighter budget. It's a shame that the camera isn't a tad closer to the action, as the BMX looks tiny on the already small PSP screen, but it does make it easier to see where you need to go due to the game featuring racing events that haven't been seen in Activision's games at all. The racing can be very frustrating, doing tricks just seems to slow you down, and if you don't handle those corners perfectly you better get use to last place. The game play is still fun, but it would of been nice to have the other riders not be so dang perfect when hitting those corners. The racing levels are long and varied, a bit too long as they will hinder you in either 1 of 2 ways. Either you will mess up early in the race to badly, to make the long distance seem futile, or you will have a perfect run up until the last few moments that is equally if not more frustrating. The levels are sort of lap based, but they geographically change each lap, so there not the same each time, which means memorizing corners is also futile each lap. In between race events in the career mode is the trick events, these are better if you want to have a bit more freedom and finally get to use that sweet trick system. Tricks are easy and varied to master, and just like the best in the genre you can link up some perfect runs before you land to take all the points. The trick levels are also vast and varied, so there is plenty to trick off. Later in the career mode things get pretty tough in both events, but if you practice enough you will hit those perfect runs, and that make BMX Challenge a worthy addition to the genre

There is one thing that you need from a random sports title from a decade (or decades) ago that would make it relevant and worth playing years later, and that is intense battles. Whether your playing multi-player or against the CPU, if you give this game a chance and look past it's horrible attitude you will get some intense competition coming from a sport you would not expect. While the character designs and voice acting is grating and embarrassing, why I'm bothering writing a review for this game is that the game-play is spot on. You have the option to switch between both team mates on the fly, but where this game truly shines is getting the best out of your CPU team mate, making sure they are where they need to be, calling for the ball when the shot is perfect. It's this type or strategy the goes beyond what i think even the developers expecting out of this game. Your opponents will hold up their end too, they are tough and unpredictable which is a key in making a random sports game still relevant years later, you don't know what to expect at times, there is no learning curve that is going to protect you. Whether the sport is boring or not to watch in real life, when you have unpredictable A.I in opponents, and an A.I partner who you can shape and mold to be the ultimate set-up machine, this is the game to play when NBA 2k14 or Madden 14 become to easy and predictable to be fun anymore.

Need For Speed The Run joins the ranks of some great racing titles on the 3DS, but what it does best, is not exactly what it does new, but what it reminds us of. The Run feels similar to the console versions, but different enough that you can tell two different development teams were working on each version. And I'm talking about how the cut-scenes in the 3DS version are hand drawn comic panels, but how the game feels when you are behind the wheel. Graphically the game holds up compared to Ridge Racer Or Asphalt 3D, but where the game stands out is it's heavy influence with it's vehicle combat borrowed from Criterion's Burnout series. While EA in the last few years have even hired Criterion to work on it's home console versions, not even those games come as close as what this handheld version does to emulating classic Burnout titles. It's racing there's not much you can say about it, it's Point A to Point B kind of stuff, no laps but plenty of rival/cops to take care of, and this is where Burnout's influence stands out, takedowns are just as satisfying to pull off in this game as they were back 10 years ago when they appeared in Burnout 3. If you are looking for a game to calm those Burnout cravings while you wait for EA to pull their finger out, you can't do better than The Run for the 3DS.

Keeping in prospective that this was the first UFC game to be developed it's amazing how much it got right on it's first go. I hate to compere versions but while the PS1 game is impressive, the DC version of this game takes everything up a notch. Even though the gameplay feels the same, with the addition of better graphics and smoother animations, it takes a better than average experience into an excellent game. The roster is deep for the time, and the presentation is excellent, far better than any wrestling or boxing game at the time when it comes to looking like the product that you order on PPV. Compared to this generations UFC titles, the gameplay isn't as impressive as the visuals. But whilst you won't be having any technical bouts that go on for 5 rounds, you will have some intense brawls that could last from 5 seconds to 5 minutes, much like the original UFC events themselves, things get physical and brutal real quick. The Dreamcast was the king of arcade style intense quick fixes, and while UFC wasn't a DC exclusive it works best on the little white console.

Red Ninja is simply a horrible mess, it fails in it's concept and isn't even capable to pull of simple tasks that have been staples of games of the genre for over 10 years up until it's release. The game looks pretty good, and the violence is satisfying, it could of been a decent game if it was technically competent. The controls and camera in this game do everything in their power to make your life horrible. The camera has a mind of it's own and every slight movement sends the camera straight up your characters dress. Even the analog controls of the camera are flawed, even if you had the patience to re-position the camera every time you moved, it's a daunting process that would make anyone break their controller. The other main offender is the basic mechanics of the game, that just don't work. Jumping on a ledge, pulling yourself onto roofs or wall jumping do not want to work with you at all. These are simple mechanics that if they don't work, your game is just broken. It's a shame because when you actually miraculously position yourself for a stealth kill, the animations and gore are quite satisfying. It's just there is no hope for a good time when the basic movements of your character are broken beyond repair. But lucky enough if you do still try to plod on with the game, have no fear in being caught, as even with the broken controls you can usually outsmart and out run every enemy in the game, the only difficulty in the game is trying not to attract motion sickness from the camera or throwing your controller through the TV due to frustration. This is a real mess, from a company I expect better from, how this made it on shelves is a travesty.

TNA impact on the home consoles was a solid effort for the first time wrestling game developer, while limited it did contain some of the best graphics for the genre at the time, and excellent animation. Cross the Line came out sometime later, and nothing of note was put into it during the time between the games. Graphically the game looks superb on the PSP, and the animations look as fluid as the console version, it actually is one of the best console-to-handheld comparisons out there visually. But other than those two features the PSP version doesn't hold up at all. It's mainly due to the controls, with the absents of two shoulder buttons and a missing analog stick, the game really suffers. Gone are the fluid transitions between moves or the ease of springboarding of the ropes. Even finishers are more complicated to pull of due to the limited amount of buttons to execute them. Technically the game is perfect, sound, visuals, animations all transition well, but the controls really hinder the enjoyment to be found compared to the home console version. Couple that with the fact the no budget was given to the game, so no new wrestlers are modeled so instead of replacing the wrestlers who had left the company in the last year, they are simply removed, limiting the already small roster. If you love your wrestling games, this is still worth having alongside the Smackdown Vs Raw games, but just be wary that with the lack of controls on the system, the gameplay has been compromised for the handheld version.

It's easy to shun Ghost Rider as a lazy movie tie-in game that steals from other games to get any substance. But on closer inspection Ghost Rider is one of the best hidden gems out there on the PS2. Technically the game is excellent, you can tell a lot more work went into this than the usual tie-in game. Graphically the game is one of the best on the system for the action-adventure genre, excellent frame rate and art design make this a perfect example of how much more could be milked out of the PS2's capabilities long after the PS3 and X360 had stolen away many gamer's attention. There's no hiding it, Ghost Rider takes a lot of inspiration from God Of War and Devil May Cry in it's action sequences. But unlike some sloppy knock offs in the past, the developers actually make it just as good as those games but unique enough to cater to the license. Also on top **** that is almost spot on with those classics, Ghost Rider adds on a fully fleshed out driving mode, that does not fill tacked on and actually is as fun as the action sequences. Add on some challenging boss fights, and no long distracting cut-scenes and you have yourself not only one of the best movie licensed games in existance, but one of the unsung heroes of the later period of the PS2's lifespan.

If you think this version of Fifa Street is just a stripped down version of the annual Fifa games, you have got another thing coming. Unlike earlier releases in the series, this time things are a bit more strategic. As the street environment shrinks down the usual soccer pitch, it also makes more a tighter more strategic game and unpredictable matches the can come down to the last second no matter what difficulty you choose. Because the arenas are so cramped, scoring isn't as easy to pull off by traditional methods, instead you need to work your opponent, work the goalie and tap in the ball with very little room to spare to make a mark on the scoreboard. Matches can get pretty heated as instead of perfect shots being the ones that get passed the goalie, it's usually pot luck when you can actually manipulate the ball and the goalie into letting one pass. Shots can be blocked 10 times in a row and still deflected, and others can just creep through the goalie's legs if you work the right moves. Again this makes for very unpredictable games and satisfying goals creeping past when you had almost lost all hope in catching up to the opposing team. Since there is only so much you can do with this type of game, the developers put a lot more work this time into the sound department. Players talk constantly to each other, calling for passes and apologizing to their team mates when they make mistakes. All this is done in the respective accents of the nationalities of the players, it makes for a very realistic experience. Couple that with top notch player likenesses and EA have really taken the series to the next level. There was only so little room for evolution I thought for the series to progress, but tightening the controls and gameplay as well as putting extra effort with sound and visuals to make everything feel real, makes this the best "street" sport game to date.

Rumble Roses on the PS2 is a game that if given a chance could satisfy both those after a decent wrestling game and those who just want a game to get reactions out of there friends. Whilst being bizarre and overly sexual the game still had some depth and solid mechanics that made it perfect. Dropping the well established developer for this 360 sequel really put the death sentence on this game. It looks better has a few added modes to have a laugh about with your friends, but gone is the core gameplay that made Rumble Roses more than your cheap wrestling knock off. Not only has the legitimate move set been stripped down, but the controls are horrible. Even if you could forgive that the actual wrestling moves are gone, you would have no chance to fully comprehend how to actual play the game. It's a case of instead of adding nice visuals and few more features, for what ever reason any playability from the original was stripped down (no pun intended) to leave a game that couldn't possibly appeal to anyone looking for a playable wrestling or even fighting game.

Whilst many developers think that shmups have no place in modern gaming, that there is no demand for full release games with graphics made from the ground up rather that just polishing some old sprites and slapping HD on the box, Under Defeat really sets the standard for Shmup releases in the future, and not only that shows that the genre when done right has a demand in today's video game market. Under Defeat looks amazing, a lot of effort has been put into the visuals to make it feel in place in 2012. This isn't a downloadable version of a 20 year old game, some real love has gone into it. Gameplay wise you couldn't ask for anything better than Under Defeat for today's modern shmup fan. Intense and challenging sum up a session of this polished shooter, and it is rewarding to keep coming back for more. Other than being another bullet hell shooter lost in the shuffle, Under Defeat really offers some layers to how to keep your helicopter alive in a relentless assault that doesn't back away easily. It may break some controllers, but in a good way, if that is a thing. The standard bearer for a shmup release in this decade.

The spiritual successor of Bushido Blade keeps it's memory alive with it's unconventional take on the fighting genre. This weapons based 3D fighter really packs a punch, with heaps of fighters and some intense battles to be had. When a duel can be over in a few seconds from a well placed strike, you need to keep on your toes for this one. You cannot afford to take any shots, because anyone could be that slash that takes your life. Kengo has a washed out graphic style that may not making it the flashiest PS2 fighter but it works with the game to make the blood pop out. In this game when you bleed it means something bad, it means you are in trouble and the fact that the blood stands out even more by contrast just really tips the intensity of this fighter. Strategic and violent, Kengo will keep you on your toes whether in survival mode going through waves of swordsmen trying to get the highest tally, or between two friends on multiplayer. The fights might not always last long, but the impact lasts forever.

Mostly overlooked the Microsoft Studio's series of games really offered something different to the market, and they are more worthy of going back for a second look than that year's EA Sports Title. NFL Fever 2003, is a fun arcade approach to the sport, and the game looks gorgeous with vibrant colors and beautiful models, you really forget how impressive the console was at the time until you go back and compare the visuals to today. The commentating team from NBA Inside Drive is here and they do a decent job, even throwing a few lines about mixing up which sport they are actually calling. The sound & graphics really set this apart from the vanilla Madden games at the time, and it's a shame there weren't more of these games out there. Gameplay wise, Fever is a touch more arcade-like than the Maddens or NFL 2Ks of it's time, and it's a joy to play. Navigating plays feels tighter than Madden at the time, and the CPU is more balanced. Usually sports games get surpassed year by year and are not worth going back to, but if you missed out on playing this one, or you haven't played it in a decade it is a fun sports game that is unique enough to go back to.

Wet borrows from the best, and adds on some originality to keep it intense from the first mission to the credits. Using parkour athleticism crossed with a helping of bullet-time, Wet really keeps itself from being just another one of those games that over uses slow motion. The story is horrible, but the cut-scenes are skippable, just get to the point where you are either locked in an arena before you can slaughter hundreds of goons with acrobatics and bloodshed at your leisure, or get to the point where you can speed run through roaming levels whilst slicing and dicing through anyone who gets in your path. If you like brutal violence, that only gets better with a variety of ways to leap,jump,swing,glide and slide into it, Wet delivers. Maybe not a game you want to tackle all in one go, but a perfect game to pick up and run through a level where the only limit to the ways to inflict pain is up to your co-ordination and imagination.

If all you expect from a racing game is pure fun, Blur's arcade gameplay and destruction is enough to satisfy your cravings. It's not the deepest of racers, but there is nothing better on the console if you are after quick and intense races that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the last second of each lap. Blur borrows from arcade weapon base racers from the past but does it with not only a beautiful visual style but adds extra elements to make every move count. From switching between collected weapons on the fly, to storing up 3 of the same item to really put a hurt on your opponents at the right time to secure your victory, Blur really takes a formula that has worked for decades and turns it up to 11.

Mafia II is a near perfect sandbox game that whilst following genre trends, keeps it in it's own distinctive style that separates it from the rest, but being an awesome experience at the same time. While the driving is slow, clunky and boring, the combat is terrific, really feeling like a full on 3PS experience instead of feeling loosely tacked on like other sandbox games. In Mafia II you have to think, you have to hide, the shoot outs are brutal, and not to be taken lightly. Everything feels gritty and realistic. Shotgun blasts will destroy you or your enemies, they wont be simply shaken off by a quick jog behind a dumpster. Mafia II doesn't joke around with it's subject manner, from it's storyline to it's brutal shootouts and contract kills, you don't feel like your playing the average glorification of a crime sim. This is deep stuff and it benefits from it. There are no wacky characters or weapons, this is the real thing, and while it could be slow and plodding for some, it is engaging to the end. An excellent take on a genre that follows suit one to many times.

Out of nowhere comes a game full of action sequences and fun gimmicks, that it is almost possible to forgive the poor design of this 3rd person shooter/driver hybrid. Wheelman really throws some interesting stuff in front of you when you are behind the wheel. Unlike any game before it has there been so many options to take out rival cars or shake pursues off your tail, from leaping from a car that is about to explode it any second, to shunting a cop car into a pile of rubble, Wheelman really delivers the satisfaction when your speeding down the freeway. Where Wheelman stalls is the awful third person shooting sections that are average at best and at times game breakingly frustrating. Also while having some unique special moves to target pursues with your gun whilst at high speed chases, some of the missions can be awfully unforgiving when trying to navigate the road and pick off targets with your gun when you do not have said special movies locked in. So many cool concepts and so much average/frustrating gameplay keeps Wheelman from being the sleeper game that could of really come up from behind.

Red Faction steps up from a FPS, to a sandbox game that contains some of the best destruction seen in a video game. The storyline is weak, the missions aren't special and the land is barren. But it comes down to the gameplay in how you tackle each mission that sets Guerrilla apart from anything else on the market. From using a sledgehammer to destroy enemies, or sticky bombs to detonate tall structures, there is so much variety and fun to be had in the mission objectives, that it us a must play for those who need a few different ways to take out an objective rather than only one option. There are still fetch quest missions and escort missions that aren't very imaginative at first, but when you realize that instead of shooting a guy in the head you can sledge him 10 feet into the air, or instead of using a sniper to pick off a tower guard, you can destroy the whole tower beneath him from the ground in seconds, you will start to feel the true wealth of options you have at your disposal.

Instead of going down the usual route of sandbox games these days, L.A Noire implements some unique features and ways to tackle your objectives that whilst not satisfying the cravings of those wanting GTA set in the 1950s, makes for one of the most unique games that came out for it's generation and one that we most likely will not see ever again. Not everything is perfect, clues and questioning suspects can be deep and rewarding if you really pay attention to every detail, but the game still wanders into the same direction if you succeed or fail. It can zap some of the fun and reality out of the situation when you come to realize after your second failed interrogation, that you do not really "fail". The ending result remains the same whether or not you picked up ever clue or noticed every tell in a liar's face. Whilst the environments are beautiful in the game, finding every clue can be a hassle as use of highlighted sound whence near a inspect-able object isn't perfect, but it works enough to give you a sense of accomplishment when you gather enough evidence to have a reasonable idea of how to tackle your next witness or suspect. The formula stats to wear thin after a while and the action sequences aren't enough to bring the level of excitement a shootout in other sandbox games would normally deliver, but the game is unique enough that it is worth playing, and the achievements of creating almost next gen like visuals on a 5 year old console is a must see.

Undead Nightmare is a lengthy add on that would be substantial enough as a stand alone release of one of the best games of it's generation. The theme of the game (the supernatural) takes an already epic experience to new and crazy levels, implementing much loved game mechanics from the original release in exciting ways. From random encounters to the missions, everything feels just a polished as the original but spun with supernatural themes makes for a different experience that is an excellent fully fleshed out companion piece. Those who struggled with the limits or the law in the full release will dwell in the fact that the law is nowhere to be seen, so there are no bounties or punishment from full out violence sprees spanning the entire map intact from the 2010 hit. And there are plenty or undead targets across the representations of the United States and Mexico to appeal to those who want to perfect their skills before tackling the abundance of full length missions in the game. Rockstar again sets the standard for DLC/Add on releases giving those who couldn't get enough, much much more with a unique take on the Wild West.