Puzzling fun at its best.

It is for the multiplayer, and probably the multiplayer alone, that you'll be playing Ridge Racer DS for quite some time.

The customisation options add depth and variety for those players willing to invest the time, and the immense, sprawling storyline will keep you playing for literally weeks, with the fact that it's a prequel surely giving fans of the series even more reason to play it to completion.

It's inevitable that More TouchMaster will be compared to "42 All-Time Classics", which unfortunately is where it falls down.

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

The controls work, but should have worked a lot better and offered more customization, considering they are the main selling point.

The Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack is exactly what its titles suggests; it in no way expands the main game but simply offers you more cosmetic options when it comes to creating the creatures that populate your evolving civilization. It's overpriced, but it still offers a reasonable amount of appealing new content for the Creature Creator and so is worth the investment if that's an aspect of Spore that you really enjoy.

If you're looking for a fighting game that uses the DS in innovative ways then you need to look elsewhere, but if you simply want the classic game you know and love to play in the palm of your hand then snap this up and battle away!

There's work that clearly needs to be done, and if Monte Cristo pull out all the stops over the next few weeks Cities XL might approach something closer to it's true potential than what is currently on offer. As it stands, in it's current state, there's still not enough that justifies repeated visits once the free 7 day trail expires.

A good game, but not a great game. If this had been released three of four years ago it would have been heralded as a real contender for PC game of the year. However, as times have moved on and 3D RPGs such as Oblivion have taken the gaming world by storm, top-down RPGs like Titan Quest were always going to suffer.

One major plus point in Obscure II is the inclusion once again of co-op play, still a feature that remains unique to this series and one of those things that has you wondering why developers such as Capcom haven't implemented team play into their own survival horror games.

A generic adventure gaming bolstered by a decent plotline.

It feels very much like a collection of lots of mini-games pretending to be an immersing simulation.

Excellent implementation of an intuitive control system, an engaging storyline and the many tactical differences between the three factions on offer all add up to make Universe at War: Earth Assault a fairly good game.

Then there's the mostly drab level design, the 'who cares' story and the often repetitive gameplay.

Spore will most likely appeal to those who don't expect much from it. It's a curious step in the evolution of games artistry that will take its place amongst games like Black & White that, although interesting and innovative, never quite live up to their potential and promise.

Juka and the Monophonic Menace could have been much better, had the puzzles been more challenging and more variety inserted into the world around you.

A good, solid shooter that has a lot going for it but fails to achieve greatness, lacking that often indefinable sparkle that makes for a classic.

It's not the deepest strategy game ever made, but it does provide a few hours of lightweight strategic fun here and there, even if most of what it does has been done better elsewhere.

Like other game's of its' ilk, Vempire's greatest strengths are the simplicity to its' fast paced, concentration demanding play, which make it ideal for short bursts of action; while the inclusion of the artifacts and minions add the opportunity for some deeper moments of thought.

My problem with Luminous Arc is that underneath the boring story, poor jokes, religious mumbo jumbo and endless button bashing to skip it all, there's a little gem of a game trying to break out.

Mirror's Edge is an intriguing and appealing concept that is wonderfully implemented in some respects and poorly so in others.

I would love to be sitting here writing about how great this unique game is, but after creating such a cool concept the developers let the rest go and forgot to add the things that truly make a shooter great, like good AI, freedom of approach and a gripping story that progresses in interesting ways.

A missed chance at an iconic franchise that literally shoots wide of the target, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men will be enjoyed by a select few, so try it without expecting too much and you might just find yourself won over.

The sheer frustration of actually finding a match and then trying to communicate with all your buddies to win by using effective teamwork almost renders the multiplayer unplayable at this point.

Frustration creeps in at points when the camera goes AWOL and you can't target anything for toffee, but once you get on top of the not-too-intuitive control system, life in the gloomy future becomes easier and you can get down to enjoying Redemption for what it is - a solid title that belongs firmly in the brighter, more affluent world of Above.

Fatal Fury deserves its place in the higher echelons of videogame culture and it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the other greats that we all know and love. It's a shame that this release has come at the end of the PS2's life, when a lot of people have gotten rid of their console for bigger and better things.

A solid survival horror game that takes the classic formula and adds a couple of cool innovations. It's more of an upgrade than an evolution, but the American high school setting feels fresh and is very well put together, with smooth graphics, a nice balance of shooting and exploration and a story that, while very generic, just about holds your attention.

As much fun as Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney is, it's just not the big leap forward that the series should have taken, as a number of little niggles conspire to lower the score slightly.

For the game's younger target audience there is a fun, easy going action-RPG and light-hearted storyline waiting to be discovered in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and one that lasts at least a good six to eight hours with plenty of optional side quests, mini-games and unlockable content.

A solid survival horror game that takes the classic formula and adds a couple of cool innovations. It's more of an upgrade than an evolution, but the American high school setting feels fresh and is very well put together, with smooth graphics, a nice balance of shooting and exploration and a story that, while very generic, just about holds your attention.

Of course, being Tetris, the gameplay is as addictive and enjoyable as ever, and there's no danger that you won't enjoy it if you get it, but this version just isn't nearly as well presented or feature-rich as it should have been.

It's the kind of game you could've bought three years ago for the same price, same graphics and same gameplay.

Due to its unique gameplay though, if you have the opportunity to rent this title you should definitely do so, but there's just not enough content here to justify a purchase, unless you decide you really want to collect all of those gems.

It is certainly fun, but doesn't really grab the attention for more than short bursts of a few hours at a time.

I can't say that I found anything drastically wrong with DK: King of Swing, but the tricky-to-learn controls and somewhat repetitive and short-lived gameplay make it hard to recommend as a priority purchase.

It is not terribly long by adventure game standards, yet I found myself quite disappointed when I knew I had hit the end of the road, and as the epilogue suggested some further adventures, I was hopeful that this was a false-ending and there was more to come.

With the absence of "Tetris" on the PSP, PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient is a great puzzle game for your PSP.

For all the pros and cons of this type of game, Sim City 2000 has the stamp of quality. It is very well presented graphically although it doesn't have quite the feel of a bustling city the PC version has.

An adaptation of a popular game format rather than anything particularly new and innovative.

There really is a wealth of options for all types of gamers to get stuck into, be it the accessible but hugely fun mini-games or the incredibly in-depth Franchise mode.

There have been no improvements made to the shoddy multiplayer implementation in the intervening year, which is still rife with disconnect and synching issues - long before you get to the complexities of unit balancing.

It won't appeal to everyone, but those who like adventure games and vampire mythology should feel right at home here.

The Pinky and the Brain mini games are hilarious and break up the action, and while the story is almost none existent there is an overall goal to find all the Edgars and really that's all a small mind needs to be burdened with.

It's a decent attempt, but it lacks what it used to have, and if you own the 2004 or 2005 version then just stick with them and trade the appropriate players to the correct teams.

The insistence on maintaining the frequent random encounters as an integral part of the gameplay drags the experience right down, and the fact that you can't save whenever you like is not good either.

The excellent story and the way it is stylishly directed and presented, proves that there is still life left in this ancient genre.

The limited playing areas and the auto targeting do detract from the gameplay, but hours could be spent simply customising your mech, let alone unlocking all of the machines that the game holds!

You don't have to shun your precious sporting affections, just widen them enough to see Chaos League: Sudden Death standing at the touchline, waving a meat cleaver in your face.

Definitely one for gamers with a lot of patience and determination, but it's certainly refreshingly different enough to keep you hooked for a while - if you can get past the unfriendly difficulty curve and often frustrating gameplay that leads to replaying the same level over and over until you finally get it right.

AMF Bowling: Pinbusters is a great bowling game that delivers an effective control scheme with lots of options.

The graphics are functional when it comes to the large playing areas but exemplary when it comes to the rather bone-crunching despatching of the opposition.

It reinforces the fact that one of the consequences of Sony's making their handheld almost as powerful as the PS2 is that its become a machine that is often home to replication rather than innovation.

If it hadn't tried to be so cutesy and cartoon-like it would have been more gripping. It's by no means a bad game and it is quite endearing and strangely addictive in its own way, but with so many truly great console games coming out at the moment, this seems a little out of place.

Tak: The Great JuJu Challenge takes a fairly average platforming formula and puts a unique turn with it, making each level a race against the clock where speed is of the essence, but so is exploration.

It's also not a game with much depth unfortunately - some added features would have made a solid enhancement to the already excellent gameplay.

If you're looking for an American Football game that you can pick up and play without worrying that you don't know your quarterbacks from your quarterpounders then this is the game for you!

I'm not a fan of the random spawn features, the shoddy AI or the boring map geometry but the overall atmosphere is very well done and as a horror fan I did have more than a little fun playing through Nosferatu.

If you are a fan of tactical shooters then it is a great alternative to the norm of clichéd tactical shooters; everyone else may want to try before you buy however, as the limited nature of the gameplay and the speed at which you can complete the single player campaign might not be enough to keep the average gamer entertained for very long.

While exhilarating during combat, you feel led by the hand when traversing levels, with only one or two path choices to make - and in a gaming industry that currently endorses exploration as a key element, this feels a bit limited.

Star Wars: Episode II: The New Droid Army had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the developers have managed to spill most of it, leaving this game only a little better than mediocre.

A good DS racing game and at the time of this going to press, it's the only DS racer worth having.

Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars is a game of two extremes. On the one side you have the competent and safe but largely forgettable gameplay, and on the other you have the superb visuals, outstanding art design and unforgettable audio.

Uninspired and unoriginal, but not entirely without merit.

The difficulty settings, responsive controls and some nice visual download content to boot make Crystal Quest stand out from a slew of other dual-stick control games.

The PS3 version of Sega Rally has managed to stay true to its roots without seeming too dated or ruining the formula completely, and also sports huge graphical improvements since its last outing, but it isn't quite as exciting as some of the competition and doesn't quite capture the essence of rallying.

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.

The most important factor here is price and, thankfully, I Spy: Fun House is very cheap. Its RRP is £19.99 but because of the disastrous title and the fact that the packaging makes it look like one of the worst games imaginable, I guarantee that it'll be hitting the bargain bins very soon.

For all its flaws, terrible graphics and Wii friendly gameplay mechanics, Jambo! Safari is still an extremely enjoyable experience.

Limited in engrossing gameplay and adult content; there is barely anything here to justify that 18 rating and it would have been more interesting if the game had taken more risks, showing more of what really goes on at the Playboy Mansion (and it's more than just photo shoots!)

I'd happily blow a couple quid on this game down at the amusement arcades, so why not pay a bit more and own it? It's a good catch, all things considered!

It's fun for a bit, and fans of Lara will welcome the new addition as a breath of fresh air.

Medal of Honor: Airborne is ultimately made for those who can make it through the lacklustre first half of the game. Persevere and you will be rewarded with some of the best action that WWII shooters have had to offer in a long time.

If you're willing to really master one of the many control schemes on offer, and you don't mind losing out to the odd technical difficulty, then you might just find a familiar game with enough difference to make this a worthy purchase for the avid Need for Speed fan.

Majesty 2 is definitely a game you should play as it changes the way you approach a real time strategy game.

The Pinky and the Brain mini games are hilarious and break up the action, and while the story is almost none existent there is an overall goal to find all the Edgars and really that's all a small mind needs to be burdened with.

Brutal Legend is a conundrum, a game I wanted to love with all of my heart, that starts off on one path at an exhilarating pace, but then jumps off, and gets bogged down in ideas and concepts that it didn't need to trouble itself with.

Despite realistic graphics and sound, DDO simply falls short of expectations when it comes to providing accessible gameplay for solo or group play, meaning that you have to sink a large portion of your time into the game to get the most out of it.

Experienced gamers aren't likely to find enough depth or challenge here to interest them for very long, and the lack of multiplayer in any capacity and the less-than-creative Wii-specific mechanics are disappointments. However, for the game's younger target audience, there is a fun, easy going action RPG and lighthearted storyline waiting to be discovered.

Simply put, Time Crisis: Razing Storm isn't going to win over the doubters.

It's never going to win any awards for best game but it's fun while it lasts and you can't put a price tag on those nostalgic twinges you get whilst playing it.

Restaurant Empire II is an engaging enough management sim that can be enjoyable and even occasionally challenging at times, and with the wealth of options available offering huge variety in the gameplay, if you become hooked then it will last a while.

Apart from the disappointing lack of a single-cart download option for multiplayer, it's a solid and enjoyable puzzle game that challenges and frustrates but never for reasons that detract from the game's appeal.

It's when the day/night cycle kicks in while you're amid a minefield of anomalies in the Red Forest and you realise that that the next hour of playtime will be by an impotent beam of torchlight; the monsters are still waiting for you and now they can see you coming.

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."

Speed Racer the Videogame, much like the movie it's based upon, is a resounding victory of style over substance.

If you can forgive the AI and path-finding issues and overlook the slightly decrepit graphics and lack of imagination in the story, then there is some fun to be found in Besieger.

Bleach: Dark Souls is a great 2D beat 'em up for hardcore fighting fans but I can't see it bringing in many new converts to the genre.

A fun little game for anybody who doesn't get easily frustrated and any kid who wants a challenge.

A genuinely fun game that only misses out by virtue of low production values. A multiplayer would have been fun, but apart from that it's got everything you could ever wish to encounter in a budget shooter.

The PS3 version is still a must play for PS3-owning Marvel fans and those looking for a game to rock with four players, but if the choice is there, you are only hurting yourself by skipping over the 360 version, because this one is a couple of heroes short of an Avengers team.

In the end or in the beginning if you like, Batman Begins is a good game, just falling short of great due to the linearity.

FIFA multiplayer matches have always been great fun and this new instalment is, thankfully, no exception.

Like a decent enough war movie then, it's something that you can sit and occupy yourself with on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but not something that's going to last for long as a truly memorable experience.

There are some minor problems; the graphics are debatable and the size of the game means you can often loose track of what's happening. On the other hand, if you love realistic, complex and thorough space-based real time strategies, purchase this game right now as it is an aspiring space commander's dream.

It gives you loads of controls and option, drops you into some amazing situations, but then makes some things too easy and some things too hard - balance is a real issue, especially later in the game.

If you're looking for a full on sim of the sport then you might be better off with EA's latest iteration but if you're looking for a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play hockey game then this is right up your rink.

Spaceforce: Rogue Universe isn't revolutionary, but it does feature some interesting and varied gameplay mechanics, even if they are staples of a well-established genre.