Ford Street Racing is a budget game with some high production values, like a reasonable reproduction of LA, some neat ideas in the Team Racing mode, a good range of handling types and convincing AI drivers. The problem is, it's limited and boring.

The Fast and the Furious will probably come off as unimpressive and forgettable - but if you've played Carbon as much as possible and you're still in need of your street racing fix then this will do you nicely for awhile.

All in all it's a fun and technically competent title but lacking in creativity and substance.

Indeed the whole game is just a bit lacking - it has a decent story and excellent battles, but there is little replayability.

The only problem I can find with Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2 is its timing - coming at the end of the Gamecube's lifespan.

The problem is, it's limited and boring - and with a whole proliferation of racing classics available for a budget price, you've really got to ask yourself - why bother with this when there's so much better on offer?

The gameplay is great fun and varies throughout with new themes, changing obstacles and introducing great new abilities for the minis at a carefully planned and gradual pace. It looks great, it sounds great and the WiFi functionality is a wonderful surprise that we're only used to seeing on the PSP.

Although not a huge amount has been changed from NBA 2K6, when a game is this good it's hard to care, especially when almost everything added works so well.

The one thing FSR does the best is prove once and for all that the budget car racer is the most pointless genre ever to be created, and the sooner developers realise this, the better it will be for all of us.

NBA 2K7 is an awesome game and has won my heart as my favourite basketball sim.

All in all, after playing this game I'm speechless. You've got to hand it to the good old PS2; just as the PS3 is coming out, the PS2 is producing some of the finest games ever seen.

It boils down to the combat system though. A good story is nothing without good gameplay to back that story up, but thankfully The Godfather delivers on all fronts.

As complicated as games can end up being, it's very nice to be able to pick up and play a simple, enjoyable game like Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime every now and then.

Open Season is one of this gaming season's most pleasant surprises - a game of a kids' CGI film that isn't a total sell out.

Danny Phantom: Urban Jungle for the DS has higher value and comes in a prettier graphical package than its GBA counterpart.

It's fast-paced, over the top and easy to pick up, but damn difficult to put down.

Urban Jungle fails in providing enough replay value to justify a definite purchase, its finely tuned fast-paced shooter gameplay at least makes it a worthy tie-in for fans of the show to take a gander at in anticipation of the debut airing of the like-titled special episode.

The unabashedly GBA presentation and flimsy integration of both Pokémon and the DS leave this game feeling boring and unexceptional.

It kept my sisters entertained for a while - they enjoyed how it looked and they appreciated the voiceovers, plus little spontaneous things, such as receiving text messages, but after a while I'd imagine they'd get bored.

While Nintendo DS owners may feel cheated at the poor second screen features, or may even feel violated by the graphics on their system compared to what they've come to expect, GBA owners can feel safe in the knowledge that this is one of the best looking on their system and that only one good screen, which is what the GBA possesses, is really needed to fully enjoy the gameplay.

It kept my sisters entertained for a while - they enjoyed how it looked and they appreciated the voiceovers, plus little spontaneous things, such as receiving text messages, but after a while I'd imagine they'd get bored.

For once, Company of Heroes feels less like a game attempting to sell itself on a popular theme that seems guaranteed to make a buck, and more like a great game that just happens to use a tried and tested point of history for its setting.

A decent enough, varied and often fun game that could and should have been more, but as it stands, while it strived for more ambitious goals, in the end it's just your typical RTS with killer looks and some nice, underdeveloped ideas.

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy goes out on a charm offensive and delivers on almost every level - you could argue that the gameplay is overly simplistic and repetitive, but with this much charisma and so much to explore and collect, it's hard not to be seduced.

With more meat than the last game, 100 levels of fun, unmatched co-op gameplay, the feature to make your own characters, the superb visuals and the funky Star Wars tunes, I simply cannot fault what's on offer.

An excellent gaming experience. Sure the load times are bad, and that is reflected in a lower score for this than I gave the PC version - but this is still an excellent game that owners of the PSP should definitely try.

This is the most pure fun I have had playing a game since... well, since the original LEGO Star Wars.

This game simply wasn't ready for release and I think it is an affront to gamers that you have put LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy for the Nintendo DS on the shelves in such a clearly unfinished state.

It isn't the uber killer-app the PSP still so desperately needs to showcase what it is truly capable of as the powerhouse portable gaming device it is supposed to be, but regardless of that fact, there can be no denying that Bomberman is among the platform's most entertaining, long-lasting and downright addictive titles yet.

The wonderful presentation and tried-and-true game play will easily appeal to long time fans of the series who have yet to grow tired of what Capcom has to offer them. Everyone else maybe have trouble pushing through what is obviously a series in transition.

Action junkies looking for the next Resident Evil might find the pace a little slow, and the core gameplay doesn't do anything wildly different, but this is still a wonderful psychological thriller that will draw you in with its bizarrely compelling narrative, atmospheric presentation and thoughtful story-based gameplay.

With atmospheric presentation that really immerses you into the experience and a huge, deep challenge in single player, plus a variety of modes, offline and on, that are an absolute joy to play with your mates, this is well worth fifty quid of anyone's money.

With more meat than the last game, 100 levels of fun, unmatched co-op gameplay, the feature to make your own characters, the superb visuals and the funky Star Wars tunes, I simply cannot fault what's on offer.

I've been playing it for a few weeks now and can definitely report that it's the most accurate golf sim on the market to date.

With more meat than the last game, 100 levels of fun, unmatched co-op gameplay, the feature to make your own characters, the superb visuals and the funky Star Wars tunes, I simply cannot fault what's on offer.

Mario Hoops 3-on-3 will go down in the history of the Nintendo DS that's worthy of mention as the first game to push the system to a new presentational level developers that will be working to equal for some time to come.

If you're looking for a game that understands NASCAR and implements most of what people enjoy about it then you'll be happy with this offering - unless of course you played the last one.

If you're in the market for American-style speed and weeks of tough round the track action, this one has your name all over it.

if you're a 360 owner in the market for an awesome racing experience that truly lets you hit the open road and live the dream life, you've got nearly Unlimited possibilities with this latest Test Drive.

One of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I've had for a long time.

I'm just supremely disappointed that it failed to capitalize on its intriguing premise.

Loco Roco is a game that PSP owners simply must try; it's the type of unconventional and quirky gameplay that is infectious and addictive beyond rationality, and a game that you will want to keep playing and never stop - you will want to hear those songs again and again, and to see the different levels using different Loco Rocos.

I've been playing it for a few weeks now and can definitely report that it's the most accurate golf sim on the market to date.

If you're looking for a game with legs and lifespan, Enchanted Arms is for you.

Despite Dance Factory's innovative concept, Codies' flawed execution and iffy beat recognition make this somewhat of a missed opportunity to knock Konami's "Dancing Stage" from the top spot.

This really should be the retro release to please everyone - Capcom have taken a classic original, slightly enhanced the concept with modern features like the double jumping and magic, yet retained the core gameplay and style that made the original such a hit.

A proper next-gen update to the classic franchise is something I'd love to see, but with its myriad of flaws and questionable change in style, this game simply doesn't cut the mustard.

This is one Grand Adventure that you don't want to miss if you're a One Piece fanatic, and even if you're not, there's certainly more than enough pick up and playability to warrant a rental or purchase.

The deepest RPG I've ever played. There's so much going on under the surface, so much to do and find, so many characters to create and train, and so many, many battlefields to conquer, all of which adds up to one of the best value for money games you could ever purchase - that is if you're not put off by the clumsy dialogue, often daft story events and rudimentary presentation, which some will see as charming and others as just plain poor.

Like the PS2 and Xbox game from last year, 50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition still has some snags in its design, but in the process of completely revamping the gameplay structure with the PSP in mind, Vivendi and High Voltage have more than capitalized on the 50 Cent/G-Unit license to create an enjoyable gameplay experience.

It's even superior to the larger-than-life franchise in a lot of ways, but many redeeming qualities are lost because of the short and completely un-involving storyline, boring lead character (you can combine customization with an actual character, just look at San Andreas), and lack of features found as standard in the later incarnations of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Grand Adventure manages to outstrip the occasional chug in favor of all-out wild brawling action that's guaranteed to get even the crankiest face grinning; this is one Grand Adventure that you don't want to miss if you're a One Piece fanatic, and even if you're not, there's certainly more than enough pick up and playability to warrant a rental or purchase.

If you must bring elegance into your neighbourhood, or you must own every Sims release, or you have a partner who is crazy for Sims and you'd like to purchase them a reasonably priced gift, then The Sims 2 Glamour Life Stuff might fit the bill - but with so many snobs in real life, surely you'd be glad to escape them in the virtual life?

Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle seems to be generally lacking in polish, leaving a rather unprofessional and rushed out for Halloween feel.

Single player has never been deeper and more varied, while the online and multiplayer play is just as wonderful as it has always been.

It's a great game that will keep you busy for many hours across several months, offering tons of options and replay value; yet there are plenty of quirks and load time frustrations, and some things could use more optimization.

It's a great title for children - provided their standards aren't too high and their attention spans aren't too short, Pac-Man World Rally won't get into trouble with the younger market.

There is a bit of fun to be had, but unless you pick up the console version with its more accessible multiplayer, you'll end up paying over the odds for a game that can be finished in a single weekend.

As an introduction into the world of shipping and sailing it's not a bad effort, but as an in-depth and richly detailed simulator, it's something better left alone until Ship Simulator 2007 comes along and adds the much needed features that are sorely lacking here.

If you let it, Sword of the Stars will consume your life. You'll forget you have a girlfriend or a job, you'll rush home from school (or simply not go) to carry on playing and that's exactly what a great sim should do.

This game should not disappoint fans, it is different for sure, but it is also an excellent, very well executed shooter, which still retains the elements of FF we all love - the complex plot, upgrades, EXP, and even a chance to discuss chocobos if you just find the right girl to chat with!

Regardless of the glaring omission of a complete lack of multiplayer, Ninety-Nine Nights is a great deal of fun for those that stick with it long enough to uncover its hidden depths.

There is plenty of replayability, if you like the basic game, but that's where we get back to the duality - some will love Deep Labyrinth and others will hate it.

Right now drift racing has the potential to be the next big thing, so you may as well try something that emphasizes the extreme difficulty it takes to gracefully glide around curves.

With excellent sound, superb graphics, an intriguing and entertaining storyline and a very solid fighting engine, Dead Rising is a great action title with some very odd choices in game structure that will likely infuriate you, but shouldn't stop you from playing what is otherwise a great game that's pushing the genre, and the power of the Xbox 360, in a diverse number of unique ways.

LarryBoy and the Bad Apple will only take older kids a few hours to complete on easy mode, but it is pure fun from start to finish.

It is just a bit more of the same, but lacks much of what made the original compelling. It is also too short in length and drab in appearance, providing little incentive to get from battle to battle.

It's a perfect blend of easy, moderate and hard achievements - every gamer can get some of these, but it takes real effort to get them all. Great job, Capcom!

Qualms about plots and frustrating moments aside however, Safecracker has undoubtedly achieved what it set out to do. For people who either don't like or can't play fast action games, Safecracker offers a challenge that will tax the brains of even the most dedicated puzzlers. If you enjoy puzzles and have a keen mind and plenty of patience, this is one game I can thoroughly recommend you crack open.

The game is still brilliant and the second coming gives another chance to all those people who wished they'd played the first - but there's something a little too familiar about it, and if you were refreshed by my change in approach, then you might find the lack of change in FlatOut 2 somewhat repetitive.

The open ended gameplay, the mini games and a mobile phone to call my own all contribute to a good time, especially if you've seen me in the film beforehand.

The open ended gameplay, the mini games and a mobile phone to call my own all contribute to a good time, especially if you've seen me in the film beforehand.

It may not be quite in the same league as Burnout, but it certainly has enough charm and variation to be considered a real contender, one that may begin to catch up with the market leader given a next generation sequel and a little more time to iron out the creases.

There could have been a lot more in the Barnyard to keep my entertained, sometimes I get tired of helping people.

It is as most games aim to be - easy to learn yet wickedly hard to master, in a way that keeps you coming back time and time again.

A great example of what an expansion should be - fix problems with the original game, add a lot of features that makes the original game more interesting and sends you back to replay it even more, while also adding new and unique content that challenges you in different ways to the original game. Warlords executes all of this beautifully.

Problems like the poor camera angle and dated graphics are sure to put off a lot of gamers, while feeling like a clone of Caesar will probably dissuade most fans of city builders from getting properly into the game.

Your traditional runaround platform adventure game.

If you're a Quake fan or crave a seriouser Serious Sam, this is one trip to hell you'll certainly want to take again and again.

The fact that they're still getting mileage out of the awesome Unreal engine makes me smile quite a bit.

Buy it, enjoy it, love it and make it a success - Cloning Clyde, in any of his many guises, personifies what Xbox Live Arcade is all about, and we need more games with the same originality, sparkle and fun factor as this one.

Quite simply, WarPath is a mess. With terrible gameplay, bland graphics, forgettable sound, a whole host of technical issues, and a lifespan shorter than the manhood of a poorly equipped midget, there is little to savour from this game.

It's just a shame that the single player is so darn repetitive - run, STOP, and gun, the AI is also pretty shabby and the game isn't particularly long either, if you can endure more than two levels without getting bored of the same old mechanics.

Despite the porting issues, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is a positive and challenging experience that remains unique more than six years after its initial release.

If the rest of the game was half as well thought out and interesting as the crafting and combat systems, then Blade Dance: Linage of Light would easily be the best role-playing game for the PSP - but after a while it gets tedious, and neither the crafting nor the combat can save the experience from sinking into mediocrity.

The only thing holding it back from a full 10 is the lack of online play.

Like many movie games, it lacks the shiny coat of polish that major game productions bring to the table, but for its intended audience, Monster House rises above much of its competition to deliver a fun game that is faithful in every way to its license.

The graphics and sound are well put together, the license is put to great use and the gameplay itself is both original and a homage to retro shooters.

Like many movie games, it lacks the shiny coat of polish that major game productions bring to the table, but for its intended audience, Monster House rises above much of its competition to deliver a fun game that is faithful in every way to its license.

While the combat mechanics of the underlying Doom 3 engine are not up to the level of "SiN Episodes Emergence" or "Half-Life 2: Episode One," this is a solid shooter that adult fans of the genre should definitely check out.

Absolutely every aspect of the gameplay design and presentation is simply dripping with quality - the look and feel is totally unique, and the altered gravity, portals, alien weapons and spirit walking all combine to create the finest 360 shooter since "Perfect Dark Zero" at the console's launch.

We can see what the developers had in mind when they designed the concept, and on paper it was a glorious scheme. But in practise it does start to tear at the seams, and soon becomes a rather forgettable experience.

Sure, the camera can be a pain and the map isn't in any way natural to use, but you get used to these quirks and they don't get in the way of the very engaging gameplay, while very authentic renditions of every aspect of the LOTR world, both visually and aurally, are spread across the various campaigns and multiplayer game modes.

Juiced: Eliminator should be fun to play, but it isn't. Maybe it's the fact that you can't corner without crashing, maybe it's the fact you can't bang your car more than twice without causing serious damage and thus rendering your car useless, maybe it's the fact that once you are overtaken you will never ever catch up again, or maybe, just maybe, it's the fact that if you lose more than three races in career mode, you might as well just restart.

Sure, it has a few nominal quirks, but when push comes to shove, this game puts on an entertaining show with value that far exceeds its budget pricing, thanks to a sizeable campaign and a fun selection of eight unlockable arcade-style mini-games.

Despite some AI issues, dated graphics, cheesy music and roughly translated voiceovers, its still a challenging, but most importantly different, RTS game, and while this expansion doesn't really expand in many new areas, it does manage to provide a good few hours of additional enjoyment over "The Napoleonic Wars."

At best it is a mediocre few hours of play and at worst it is a slap in the face of Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64.

I thoroughly enjoyed Micro Machines V4, probably because of the heavy dosage of nostalgia that it administered to me, but also because the developers obeyed the golden rule of retro game reiteration: provide the gamer with a modern day standard game whilst maintaining the elements they loved from the original, something that is not at all easy to do.