The action is sensational and amazingly varied, and the world is totally immersive because of the game's somewhat unique approach to the visuals and environment, not despite of it.

The first game you should buy when you buy a Wii, if you haven't already.

It has a very Japanese style to it, it’s very arcade-like, and it's one of the best titles on Xbox 360 as a result. The bottom line, 360 gamers must play this game.

Situation Comedy again proves that Sam and Max is back and Telltale really is doing a fantastic job showing Lucasarts what they should have done a long long time ago, not in a galaxy far away. It's a bit short, but we still highly recommend this game to adventure game fans.

It has its problems and it's a bit of a let down considering the next generation console, but what Nintendo have done is used the Wii's strengths well with this game and that along with an excellent storyline, makes Twilight Princess a must have for early Wii owners.

Trackmania United really is a united gaming experience - even when you're not competing online, the online community elements are still there. Couple this with addictive and challenging "hot wheels" like gameplay, and you have a very complete, very "alive" arcade racing package.

Super Monkey Ball is one of, if not the best value for money games for the Wii launch.

One of the Wii's better launch games and the control system is unmatched at this stage.

When it comes down to it, Viva Piñata is a pretty basic strategy game in some areas that expands the strategy concept in other areas - areas you may not traditionally expect a game of this genre to expand.

Visually the game is stunning. You really need a HDTV to see this game the way it should be played but even at the lower resolution its better than anything on the console so far.

The storyline and atmosphere keep the game from getting old but those who want something new probably won't find too much of it here.

This is not a game you will play for hours and hours on end, but we can almost guarantee when friends are about you will pull this out for a game every once and a while.

Stunning graphics, awesome soundtrack and top notch story combine to make this one of the year’s must have titles and not just for the PSP.

While this game isn’t a must buy, it is a must play for RPG fans, especially those who own the X-Men Legend series of games.

Forces of Corruption, like most expansion packs, is not going to redefine what was already there, but it does put a reasonably interesting twist on what was an already interesting RTS.

If this is a reflection of the rest of the season then Telltale should be given some of the most deserved applause around because finally someone has had the guts to bring the two partners back for more.

It may not be GTA and it doesn't reach the heady heights of San Andreas in terms of crazy missions but for those who want the next GTA clone which is fun, look no further and swap your leather jacket for a school uniform.

Visually the game is stunning however we did have one problem when using lower settings to see how it looked. The game just isn't bright enough, we had to max our TV out with brightness before we could play the game properly.

While it is probably not as good as Battlefield 2, it's very hard to top what is seen as the number one multiplayer game.

If you rushed out and picked up 06 for the new console on release, there isn't enough here to make you upgrade unless you need some help on the course or just have to have the latest graphic features and online play as the 2006 edition will be retired from online play sometime in the future.

The most complete NBA basketball game made to date.

Lego Star Wars II takes a successful formula, enhances it ten fold and goes next generation.

Unfortunately, some elements leave the game somewhat short of what I'd call my personal "next gen" gameplay standards, but overall, NHL 2K7 is still a great game.

Driving around Hawaii with your mates really shows the online power of the system, plus the single player is enough on its own if Live is not enabled.

One aspect of the game which is a bit disappointing is that it is a little easy to complete. We managed to get through the game fairly quickly, but it does increase in difficulty as you complete levels...A crazy game that really shows when a developer sits down and comes up with an original idea, it can be fantastic.

It's a shame it has taken EA so long to finally give the PC gamers something to be excited over, but hopefully 07 is a sign EA are becoming a little more serious about their PC audience.

Tekken: Dark Resurrection PSP could have been better, but when the only notable problem with the game – its repetition - is a genre wide problem, then you know you have a winner on your hands.

The latest and best bike title on the PS2 and probably any console to date.

If you go in not expecting a brand new GTA you will find a nice cheap filler full of action and storyline to keep you going for a little while at least – easily a bargain for its AU$50 price tag.

Valve has once again proven that it knows its stuff when it comes to gaming. Half-Life is fast becoming one of the most legendary series of all time and Episode One only enhances this view.

Previous Hitman games have seen 47 glide around in a rather unrealistic fashion, and thankfully there's been a lot of work done on improving animation routines in order to impart a more lifelike feel to the game. It's not flawless, however.

GF should be recognised for trying to bring a DS game that uses all the features of the system while catering for the younger market, and for those with a DS and kids, this game is going to be the perfect fit.

For half the price of most 360 games, you get one of world’s most original games in a long long time and one of the best 360 games to boot as well.

Nintendo has really captured the essence and features of what makes the series so popular and why it is one of the most revered and well recognized game series ever made.

Very much worth your time and money if you can't get enough RTS gaming, it's just a shame it wasn’t more than yet another solid RTS.

A fantastic handheld game and really shows why some games belong on handheld more than consoles.

This is the best World Cup licensed game ever produced and EA has made a huge effort to give us a slight glimpse at what FIFA 2007 will look like on the next generation consoles.

While you'd think the Tomb Raider style of gameplay would have expired by now, Legend really rejuvenates the series back into the realms of play-ability.

A brilliant game that no 360 gamer should ignore.

Top Spin 2 is a title that impresses beyond our expectations on the DS. PAM may have had a tough time on the 360 and making a truly next gen game, but in terms of handheld, they have created the best tennis game available for portable systems. It may not innovate that much compared to the other two TS games, but it does what it set out to do well, and that’s what matters most.

In the areas Essentials does well, it excels, but what it doesn't do well keeps it from the must buy list for all but the most hardcore Sam Fisher fans unfortunately.

There are sections of the game where you hit invisible walls -- presumably to make way for more expansion packs, although at the time of writing the only expansion available for Xbox 360 owners is some rather expensive downloadable horse armor -- and some wacky bugs that'll sometimes see you floating on air when you dismount a horse.

The developers have really put an effort into getting an original game and storyline on the system and it has really paid off.

The author is rather fond of really hard games with simple premises, and Mega Man is exactly that-- the game mechanics themselves are quite archaic, but work exceptionally well due to good original design.

Everything up until now has been impressive, but nothing compares to the impact this game will have in terms of what you expect from your game playing experiences.

The development team has done an excellent job in combining fast paced racing gameplay with a unique game mechanic and a bit of action thrown in as well.

If you like "Burnout" and like first person shooters, buy this because Criterion has done to FPS what they did to racing games, all over again.

Codemasters have produced one of the finest and complete racing games ever made and even if you don't like the V8 Supercars (Are you Australian?) then you will find something to like in this huge plethora of racing series. Absolutely positively must buy title!

The developers have done an excellent job bringing the game to a system with less power and fans of the series will obviously pick this one up, but it’s also an excellent introduction to the crazy world of the super monkeys for new comers.

Even with the high level of detail, and destructibility of the levels, the framerate doesn’t fault even once.

It is a game that doesn’t take much time to play making it perfect for traveling and short trips.

Although the initial storyline is a little confusing, especially if the gamer is new to the series, the overall flow of the storyline and game work very well.

One of the best uses for the Eyetoy yet and one of the most enjoyable exercise games you're likely to find.

A title that anyone making a movie tie-in should study very carefully, as it solidly creates a new standard for such titles.

It does have a sense of familiarity about it and the developers could have been a little more original and innovative but to deliver a game so complete, which such good graphics and so playable for launch was a feat in itself.

Hopefully for 2K7, however, 2KSports can start to take stability and bugs slightly more seriously, as it is an issue seen in many of their games of late.

EA has succeeded in taking the game back to its roots, but in other ways not as far as some may have liked.

Luxoflux have done a top job putting a realistic and interesting story together and the fact it's set in a real city that many can relate to makes it just even better.

A must have game for the Nintendo DS and is possibly even good enough to make you go and buy a DS unit for it.

The Movies isn't so addictive that it will likely cause you to lose sleep like some management games, but the time you do spend with it will probably prove to be some the most enjoyable "tycoon" style gameplay you've had in 2005.

The character models are incredibly detailed and again carry across the Western theme very well. The draw distance is miles and miles.

It’s hard to explain in words why the peripheral works so well and why you actually feel like you’re the next Dire Straits.

While some areas could have used more polish, particularly the AI which is a tad disappointing, the experience the game has to offer is unmatched.

High quality gaming, perfect for traveling and the rumble pack for future games - you really can't go wrong with this one if you're a fan of bouncing balls.

An RTS that does feel a little dated bar a few bells and whistles, although the fans of the series will likely feel right at home.

If Shadow Of The Colossus were a movie, it's pretty clear that it'd be Orson Welles' best known work, "Citizen Kane." Not that it's in black and white -- although it's not the most colourful of titles -- but simply because it's a masterpiece of a game in terms of artistic direction and scope.

The Warriors is brutal, and part of what it gets right when it comes to brutal is in accurately showing and depicting large scale gang wars.

While some of the horror elements to the storyline may seem a tad cliché, the game's almost perfect fundamentals and solid extra's makes it an instant nominee for 2005 PC Game of the Year.

The problem with Quake 4 is that, for the most part, the single player mode suffers from the same simplicity as "Doom 3" - random shooting through a maze of "appeasing-at-first, but-boring-after-the-100th-time" environments.

Absolutely positively one of the best football games ever made and shows that EA is serious about competing with "Pro Evo Soccer."

Much of Cold War is not exactly new - it feels a lot like Splinter Cell in many regards - but where Cold War separates itself is the execution.

It's not "GTA4" nor is it trying to be but it does borrow some elements from the game to create one of the cheesiest and most playable games of the year so far, its just not as fully realized as it could have been.

The visuals of the game are nothing short of stunning. We don't think we're being overly optimistic in saying this game is one of the best looking games you will ever play.

What Freestyle Superstar really does is give NBA 06's players a real identifiable personality and court persona that matches the actual player and brings a more realistic gameplay to the virtual hardwood.

Unfortunately, while Fable: TLC does feature a nice open ended single player experience, you're likely going to be done with the game entirely once you've finished it.

Where X-Men Legends 2 shows its franchise roots is in the fact that it genuinely isn't that much of a visual step up from last year's model.

Somehow Burnout 4 has managed to be faster than "Burnout 3," and while it is not a huge jump it is a very noticeable one. Once you play Burnout 4, you just wont' be able to go back to "Burnout 3" as it feels like your driving a snail.

Moto GP 3 continues Climax tradition of superb motorcycle racing games and gives the PC possibly the best racing game of the year for the platform, ironic considering it’s not a car game.

The one thing about 187 which surprised us is the variety of gameplay.

Madden 06 PC remains a great option for NFL fans now, but for how long the PC is a realistic option for the latest in NFL gaming technology is anyone's guess.

Bugbear Entertainment have put together some truly challenging tracks, a great amount of fictional cars and also added a bit humour to the mix with the lack of seat belts and great mini games.

NCAA 06 only sees release in the US, which is unfortunate because it is arguably the best gridiron experience on offer gameplay wise - the game feels alive and completely random, and while this can at times become a negative for realism sake, it still makes for some truly awesome gameplay.

People are crying out for new styles of gameplay, which Psychonauts delivers, but we have a feeling that even if we tell you to go out and buy or at least try, most people will find themselves tempted by a more mainstream title, which is a shame.

In all areas it has the credentials but the bugs all point towards another EA title that has been rushed out the door... Its squad based tactics are rewarding and the overall game does have the right fun factor to go along with the diverse gaming options.

If there was a criticism of Bomberman to be made, it's that aside from little tweaks -- a few new powerups here, or a multi-screen layout there -- nothing much has changed in the Bomber world since he made his NES debut many, many years ago.

If platform games are your thing, and you don't mind an adult spin on a cute furry red squirrel named Conker which has one heck of a hangover, then you'll find this game very playable.

The unique gameplay mechanics paired with a tried and tested style of play makes it one of the sleeper titles of the year and while its not a smash hit best selling AAA game, it's something that thinks otuside the square of normal gameplay and offers great fun.

It's no "NFS Underground 2" or "Midnight Club 3" but it is a worthwhile addition to any racing game fan's library with its unique features, strong career mode and easy pick up and play engine.

While it’s not going to revolutionize the genre nor is it even a AAA title, it’s by no means a poor game and the ongoing action will really be music to the ears of FPS fans.

It has the same impressive depth and ability as the highly acclaimed PS2 version.

Rockstar have captured the lifestyle of the streets perfectly, adding a few colourful characters along the way, humour, plenty of cars and things to do, making this a must have title.

It manages to further establish the series as one of the PC's most playable games to date. If you liked the original then you will love Sunrise.

It's an easily accessible golf game that should suit all but the most stiff-necked golfing enthusiasts, while still appealing to the mass market.

If Vanessa Williams sang 'Save the best for last' about Microsoft, it would be about this game.

There is no doubting Cossacks II is a great RTS, however its overwhelming difficulty and, at times, overwhelming complexity, make it one for the "hardcore fans" only - whether that be the hardcore fans of this war era, or hardcore fans of RTS games who are looking for a serious challenge.

Mad Doc have done what many may have thought they couldn't, taken another developers baby and produced one of the finest RTS games you will play this year.

The original Delta Force was cutting edge at the time and while Xtreme is a bit of a mission pack, it’s cheap and offers excellent offline and online gaming for under fourty bucks.

It’s stylish enough with its heavy metal soundtrack and graphics to hold its head up against those ultra fussy techno-tappit-head driving games (the ones that make you choose what type of screws hold the suspension together before you are allowed to leave the pits) but it’s easy enough to be fun and challenging at the same time.