Games

2012's previous Lego game DC Super Heroes (reviewed here) left us feeling quite positive but hoping for 'something a little more innovative next time'. But, although Traveller's Tales has added some new wrinkles to the gameplay this time out– such as item crafting –  at the end of the day it's just more of the same, now wrapped up in cute Lego versions of characters from The Lord of the Rings.

The Hitman franchise is a curious thing. Strip away the glossy hi-def graphics and dollops of ultra-violence and you're left with a glorified puzzle game. And this fifth addition to the series is no different.

This next-gen reboot of the turn-based strategy game that made a name for itself on the PC back in 1994 has emerged as a strong contender for the title of the best videogame release of 2012. Not only does XCOM: Enemy Unknown transform a rather niche genre into something that can appeal to all gamers (including those who ordinarily would never touch a strategy game – such as Team HCC), it also succeeds in mapping the complex PC control scheme perfectly to a console gamepad – arguably a first for any developer.

It's been five years since Halo 3 left Master Chief drifting through space with the war against the Covenant finally finished. Although franchise creators Bungie are no longer involved, under the reins of 343 Industries this new Halo sequel feels like a seamless transition.

It's been a couple of years since the last Medal of Honor title hit the shelves. You might think this would have given the development team ample time to create a new game that could challenge Call of Duty for the first-person shooter crown.

Arcade racers are ten a penny on consoles, but it's a very different matter when it comes to genuine driving simulations. Like flight sims, these have primarily been the preserve of the PC gamer. That said, there are a couple of notable exceptions, the most obvious of which is Codemasters' official Foruma One series. Ever since it took over the license, starting with the excellent F1 2010, the develeper has been tailoring its games for hardcore racing fans. In the process it has created a one of the most authentic feeling racing experiences ever to grace a games console.

The past few years have seen the world's two largest football franchises undergoing something of a transformation. While Konami's PES series has been in something of a Liverpool-like freefall recently, EA Sports' FIFA brand has become the football game equivalent of Manchester City, delivering a level of tactical player and ability that nobody would have predicted several years ago.