Preview

The world's most popular videogame mascot returns, this time exploring a series of miniature galaxies, each with a set of tiny connected planetoids for Mario to discover. Proffering a set of immaculately judged challenges, Galaxy's levels are perfectly constructed gems. Using the Wii-mote to spin Mario, throw things, sweep up collectable "star bits" and engage in numerous other diversions, this game also features the first 3D camera that just works. With a neat drop-in 2-player mode, the ingenuity of its puzzles means no two challenges are the same and its constant playful use of gravity is yet another new idea. In structure and sheer joy value this is unquestionably the best platform game ever made.

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Mass Effect
Xbox 360

From the makers of the Star Wars licensed role-playing series, Knights Of The Old Republic, Mass Effect is more of the same, but bigger, much prettier and with no lightsabers in evidence. Spanning dozens of solar systems, the action takes place on a range of alien worlds as your hero (or heroine) becomes the first human inducted into secret service organisation, Spectre. The beautifully executed conversation system lets you interrupt people mid-sentence and make rapid decisions as to whether to be nice or nasty - familiar from the light and dark side points system in previous games - and the action is now significantly more fluid and intense, making it easier to get your party slaughtered through incaution or lack of the right sort of firepower. While graphically staggering, the game isn't a vast evolutionary leap in playing standards, although that's not to say this brand of poker-faced space opera isn't also highly compelling.

ˇ Microsoft, £44.99

Kane And Lynch: Dead Men
Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Kane And Lynch: Dead Men is a narrative about a drugged-up psychopath caretaking a mercenary with days to live, in a brutal and swear-heavy, comedy-free double act whose only job is to carry out the wishes of shadowy organisation, The 7. This reduces to a series of blockbuster movie-style shoot-outs, car chases and, eventually, a trip to a full-on war zone. Made by IO Interactive, creators of the bestselling Hitman series, this game demonstrates some of the same quirky inventiveness as well as suffering all of its flaws and more: wobbly, irritatingly inaccurate aiming, an infuriating inability to take cover behind objects and frankly suicidal friendly AI. By the time you reach your 20th attempt to take out a helicopter gunship while your squad wanders blindly into its mini-guns, you're on a direct route to hypertension. Despite the good intentions, Kane And Lynch: Dead Men ends up feeling rushed, half-baked and, at times, gratuitously silly.

ˇ Eidos, £29.99-£49.99