Connected: Expanding the gameplay
Quad Damage: Mission mode allows up to four players to select a character and team up for a curious blend of co-operative and competitive action, with plenty of rewards to be earned.

Better than: Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Worse than: Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s inside Story - 9/10

Enhanced: Improving on the original
Next Step: The debate over whether this tops Superstar Saga will rage on, but Bowser’s Inside Story is a cut above Partners In Time proving the format can enhance the experience without sacrificing the basics.

Better than: Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time
Just like: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Ju-On: The Grudge - 3/10

Missing Link: What we would change
Controlling your fear: Wii’s motion contols have been poorly implemented. The camera often locks when turning, leaving you character wildly gyrating. Movement is also agonisingly cumbersome.

Better than: Silent Hill Play Novel
Worse than: Penumbra Overture

Dead Space: Extraction - 8/10

Fingerprint: what makes this game unique
Dead aim: Extraction is a new type of lightgun game - one concerned not only with shooting things and ranking up points, but also telling a good story in a consistent, atmospheric world.

Better than: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
As good as: Ghost Squad

Muramasa: The Demon Blade - 8/10

Fingerprint: what makes this game unique
Analogue attack: Muramasa’s combat is really innovative. Fluid and expressive, it captures the feeling of elegant sword fighting without motion controls. Rival devs could learn from Vanillaware.

Better than: Odin Sphere
Worse than: Viewtiful Joe

Tales Of Monkey Island: Lair Of The Leviathan - 9/10 (PC version reviewed)

Better than: Tales Of Monkey Island: Launch Of The Screaming Narwhal
Worse than: Monkey Island 2 Lechuck’s Revenge

You, Me, And The Cubes - 7/10