So I've had Guitar Hero III since Thursday, and it's rather fantastic. I made the somewhat silly decision to buy Mass Effect today; silly because I've got a bit of a gaming backlog and because of university assignments that are due before Christmas. Anyway, I've got three staff reviews up on the site now. I hope I'm doing a good job!

Gemini Rue is an adventure game that doesn't care to hide its influences. The title screen – set to the sight and sounds of the rain-stricken planet of Barracus – evokes the feeling of a grim, desperate dystopia that takes a cue from the likes of Blade Runner and Cowboy Bebop.

On occasion, the tributes to its inspirations are a bit over-enthusiastic and the frequent fourth-wall breaking can be obnoxious, but the vast majority of this game is well written and funny.

Bar Oasis is a far more enjoyable experience if you think of it as an interactive story rather than a game... And that’s surprising considering how mundane this tale is.

The trappings of the adventure genre conspire against Hector on numerous occasions, paperclip fishing with a condom and investigating the Exotico returns box spring instantly to mind.

The story begins with you – Guardian of Earth – standing trial at the Galactic Council of Space Justice for allowing the planet to be invaded. It isn't particularly deep - it doesn't need to be - but the trial scenes that intersperse the levels are well-made and humorous.

The titular hero – a cube of meat that tracks blood everywhere he treads – is in love with Bandage Girl. Unfortunately, the dastardly Dr Fetus hates Meat Boy and kidnaps her. This marks the beginning of Meat Boy’s perilous quest to rescue his love and defeat the unborn baddie.

Puzzle Quest brought together two genres – puzzle and RPG – and made them work so well that we all asked “why hasn’t this been done before?” Three years and a poorly received spin-off (Puzzle Quest: Galactrix) later and the big question is whether or not the formula holds up. It does, but rather than refine what the original offered and streamline the experience, Puzzle Quest 2’s real improvement is in its presentation (which ironically creates some new problems).

Charity and video games might seem like an unusual combination, but it's one that works if Chime is anything to go by: no less than 60% of the five pound/400 point charge goes to various charities around the world. But don't be fooled into thinking this is a forgettable experiment to bring goodwill and gaming together.

As a game and an experience, Peggle succeeds tremendously in what it set out to achieve. You might say, by that measure, it’s perfect.

Dragon Age: Origins is grand in every sense of the word. The land of Ferelden and its associated legends and lore create a strong, if slightly predictable, high-fantasy setting that will quite easily consume in excess of forty-hours. As the land prepares for an imminent blight – an invasion of twisted creatures known as darkspawn – your character is recruited into the legendary order of the Grey Wardens, warriors from all walks of life who have came to the world’s aid in blights past.