There's no doubt that this game is a great investment for any casual poker player looking to push their game to the next level, and it's certainly one of the very best poker titles available for your PC.

It's safe to say that if you've never enjoyed the sedate pace of the Harvest Moon formula then Neverland's latest simply isn't for you - but if you're a fan of the series who's looking for a unique twist on the usual procedure then you need look no further than Rune Factory.

If you're willing to put in the effort and push past the unforgiving difficulty and slightly rough edges, you will find an extremely deep racing experience that few other games can match.

Features some tremendously rewarding moments when you finally get the kill. Getting there however can be a frustrating and repetitive business.

It's not a bad game, but casual gamers, and possibly hardcore-traditional-football fans, may get bored of pulling tricks rather than pulling skilled corners back on the real pitch.

Graphical oddities aside, the gameplay is thoroughly entertaining, if a little limited by the repetitive nature of the missions (shoot down enemy biplanes, shoot down enemy balloons, shoot down enemy bombers and, did I forget to mention, shoot down enemy biplanes).

I'd say Digimon beats Lego Racers, but only just.

It looks and sounds great, but the lack of a tutorial is a major letdown, as the game is just too complex not to have one. Even the first few missions of the campaign are quite difficult and don't ease you into the game as they should. The simplistic AI also hurts the gameplay in the campaign mode too.

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.

The Don should have done us all a favor and brought this game out for a budget price, because no matter how great the gameplay continues to be, yet another port of a game that has its mind and eyes clearly focused on 2005 makes for a poor excuse of a full-priced, next-generation title.

Secret Of The Lost Cavern is an interesting and inspiring environment with stunning visuals, but sadly there is very little gameplay hidden beneath these lovely looks, which is after all, the crucial aspect of any decent game.

EXIT DS is a flawed classic in the puzzle game genre but there's definitely enough here to be worth checking out if you haven't played any of the other versions in the three years since the game's original release, you don't mind hair-tearing frustration, and you have the patience to get to grips with a control scheme that should be far more intuitive than it is.

A nice, fluffy Bomberman clone, which despite being fun at first, is worth it only for the multiplayer side.

Your traditional runaround platform adventure game.

The game may be over before you know it, but for as long as it lasts, it serves up an enjoyable, extremely polished adventure that younger gamers will simply adore.

Assassin's Creed had the potential to be something amazing but falls short due to a lack of direction in terms of game design. I get the feeling that with another six months of development this game could have lived up to its hype, but as it is, it's lacking.

All football games will always suffer from Pro Evolution comparisons. World Tour Soccer 2 is a good attempt at a slightly alternative football title, but as all of us footie fans know too well, form is temporary, class is permanent.

Platformer lovers who are also fans of the license are likely to get a kick out of Curious George for the short time that it lasts, and I don't think anyone can discount the game's beautiful presentation, but in the end I think going with a weekend rental is about all that most gamers will get out of this.

I would like nothing better than to stamp My Frogger: Toy Trials with a must-have recommendation, because it does contain a number of creative game concepts and gameplay that is generally fun and rewarding, but in all honesty I can't go quite that far with my praise due to the often frustrating trial-and-error level design and tricky, counter-instinctive control scheme.

If you're a clubber or even have a mild interest in mixing some tunes then this is surely worth a few hours of your time.

Even if you never touch the new maps or vehicles or game modes (which you will), the skill advancements and extra items for each specialization alone are a tremendous reward that is available for the standard game modes and maps. What this doesn't do is address any core technical issues with the game.

I'm not a huge fan of skating games, but I really enjoyed Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, from the many great graphical touches to the old-style gamer in me wanting to beat my current high scores.

NHL 08 is the finest hockey game on the PS2 to date, although the versions on the next-gen consoles are preferable if you have the choice.

If you don't complete it far too quickly, you may become bored of the missions or the story.

More originality would have been greatly appreciated, as this formula is growing tired, but for what it is, Rare has done a great job and this is a solid addition to any GBA player's collection of cart racing games.

Zen Pinball looks and sounds very authentic, taking everything that makes one of gaming's oldest traditions so much fun and successfully translating it into virtual form, all wrapped in a neat, tight package.

If you're a big basketball fan, go out and buy NBA 2K6, because it's a must and officially it's extremely accurate.

Older gamers may find Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness simply lacks the challenge that they're used to in an RPG, meaning that this is a title best left for those youngsters that were toddlers (or not even born yet) when the series first made its mark on Japanese shores.

Bad writing, average graphics, poor sound and gameplay with seemingly no direction and little resemblance to the Bikini Bottom world combine to bog down a really good storyline concept and what could have been a good platform adventure game, but instead feels like sections of platform adventure jumbled with poor flying and racing.

Amnesia is a very difficult game to sum up. The best way to describe it is the slow, spooky, chilling, atmospheric train ride to Hell rather than the insane, kill all monsters action game concept usually associated with the Land of the Dead.

Personally, I enjoyed the gameplay and story and upon completing it I was left with both satisfaction and the want for more.

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.

A misunderstood and sadly unappreciated diamond in the rough.

Its biggest flaw, no doubt, is its unoriginal gameplay; the few twists on the light-gun formula are minor and largely inconsequential, giving the impression of original gameplay rather than actual original gameplay.

It is like a beautifully handmade plasticine set with cameras lined up, musical and vocal talent at the ready - and then Arnold Schwarzenegger stands on it, comes up with a cheesy one-liner and ruins the whole experience.

Spore: Galactic Adventures is, like the original game, a qualified success.

NCSoft have produced a fine game but, in the end, it's simply too little, too late.

The constant optimism of the characters, the bright and breezy sounds and sights and the constant urge to retry a battle over and over with different chips makes it one to come back to many times.

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.

On the plus side, what's there is competently done and is flecked with powerful moments of brutality. On the downside, these spots of overt anguish aren't dealt with particularly well and lead to a reduction of the overall effect.

An extremely fast-paced, easily accessible fighting game that any Dragon Ball Z fans will get a real kick out of playing.

If you're a fan, importing Mr. Driller Ace is a must, though luckily if you're unable to do so this title at least carries a budget price.

Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans is filled with important (and child-pleasingly gory) facts and does to a certain extent succeed in making learning fun. The mini-games are enjoyable overall and well put together, with only some suffering from irritating controls and the game is well aimed at young children, forming almost a love letter to the fans of the original books, although it is quite text-heavy, so don't expect your children to forsake Mario and Zelda for it altogether.

Undertaking such a vast venture as it does, Earth Empire III requires plenty of the very element it is emulating: time.

If you can get past the technical issues, Neverend is a very good entry in the RPG/Adventure genre that's best suited for those who play games to experience new worlds, not new technology.

The dungeon building is fun and will bring you back, which is a credit to the quality of the gameplay. I hope that if the developers decide to make a sequel, they can focus on the combat - now that would make for an incredibly addictive experience!

It has enjoyable missions, lovely graphics, great sound and is fantastic for kids. However, I think it lacks the depth needed to please the older gamer and it doesn't really offer a lot of challenge.

It's a very authentic reproduction of the TV show that fans will love, but a few flaws in the combat system, stealth continuity and frequent gameplay breaks prevent it from reaching its potential.

Merely a good version of a great product.

In the future, when people look back on this period in videogame history, Hell's Highway will stand as a fitting memorial to some of the best work that developers were accomplishing in the WWII genre, even if its dream of a perfect synergy between story and gameplay may have been a bridge too far.

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 Sims 2: Pets isn't for life - it's just for Christmas… this Christmas!

It's sometimes strange to consider how quickly the two main performers in the world of football videogames have changed their styles. FIFA is now the American Smooth of the genre, classic, elaborate and elegant, while PES is like a Cha Cha Cha; faster and livelier but also seen as somewhat outdated.

Blacklight: Tango Down isn't going to set the world alight – it suffers from a few too many annoying design choices, is lacking any form of serious innovation and can't quite stand toe-to-toe with the big boys of the genre. What it can do though is offer up a largely enjoyable online shooter with a huge array of options at an unbelievably low price.

s always, it's tough to compare SingStar Queen to other games in the series, but for Queen fans this could well be the Game of the Year. The reason why the score above is that bit lower than the SingStar ABBA review is that the best of these songs have been knocking around on the SingStore for months.

When Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes to a close, it's really hard to hold a grudge or feel disappointment, as there is no denying the energy, dedication and money EA have put into creating the greatest Harry Potter game yet.

No Xbox exclusive features have been added that enrich the gameplay.

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.

Mad Tracks is an excellent little game. Though it's short, it offers a whole lot of fun, especially in multiplayer mode where I can almost guarantee you'll be either badly humiliated by you friends, or you'll humiliate the heck out of them.

Telltale Games have created a charming little adventure – a rare low budget gem tucked away amongst the PSN dross.

Unfortunately the thought just hasn't gone into the gameplay itself and although I have to concede that children and fans of the film may enjoy it, there isn't enough here to keep this title from going extinct in a short period of time.

It all looks lush and the gameplay is surprisingly enjoyable despite the frustration, but it's not one for the casual gamer.

If the AI was up to scratch and provided you with a challenge, then the game could have been contender.

Funcom has done something quite dangerous by consciously releasing a less than feature complete offering into the market. Unfortunately, it's this incompleteness and the sheer number of deep-rooted problems that ultimately defines your Hyborian Adventure.

It just goes to show that a great party game can indeed survive on multiplayer gameplay alone.

The action is as intense as it ever was and there are set pieces that are the staple of all the past Quake experiences. However, the feeling is marred by the lacklustre sound effects and graphics that try to emulate two styles but don't really hit the spot for either.

I can only imagine the lengths required to achieve the three camera perspectives and you have to say that they have pulled it off very well.

Will you enjoy it? Yes - when you get the hang of the gunfights and the cover mechanic. Will you play it twice? Not on your life - unless you're a gamerscore-whore. Will you come back if Techland make a threequel? Almost certainly, if only to see if they can finally iron out the little niggles that still manage to hold this game back even after ironing out the little niggles that held back the first one.

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 motion controls add of the Blackhand Edition are a nice touch that provide the Wii with something exclusive, and they do add extra interaction into the gameplay, once you've got the hang of them.

The free flowing, goal stuffed fantasy matches are a long way from the often cautious, stop start nature of many real European encounters, and for this reason UEFA are probably more than happy with the finished product.

As the final whistle blows and FIFA 08 stumbles off the pitch, bruised and battered, legs like jelly, a glance up at the scoreboard reveals the final result; a two all draw.

If you already own one or more of the previous Buzz! Junior titles then (unless your kids are absolutely nuts for dinosaurs) there's not really enough new content to justify a purchase; there's only so much you can do with four colours and a big red buzzer.

Despite the issues I mentioned, I had a blast playing Top Spin 2 - and so did my kids!

A few little hiccups along the way could easily be resolved in a patch or two, and even though the game is published via Steam, Speedball 2: Tournament an essential purchase for those who fancy a trip down memory lane, while those who have never experienced the delights of the original would do well to pick up a copy and give it a try.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows isn't a perfect game; there's too much grind and the first act is badly realised.

Mechanic Master is a fantastic concept but one that hasn't realised its full potential. It's undoubtedly a fun game and one that I really enjoyed playing through, but it's a little too easy and the selection of items could do with expanding, to increase the complexity of the puzzles.

Predator: Concrete Jungle does a fair job of putting a console face on the galactic big game hunter as well as offering some genuinely fun moments, but unfortunately the linearity, ropey camera and basic fighting mechanics don't make for a particularly long lasting experience.

A good game that offers a well-executed, fresh approach to football.

Skate 2 isn't a bad game, it's just inconsistent.

The Bigs on Wii is the very definition of fun-but-flawed gameplay.

Just as soon as I was ready to sing the praises of the game from my rooftop did the debilitating graphical and gameplay flaws begin to rain down on my happy-go-lucky concert, soaking down my scores.

For Xbox owners who want an intellectual battlefield challenge that falls somewhere between "Advance Wars" on the GBA and one of the "Close Combat" series, this is probably one you should enjoy.

The game as a whole is very forgiving - too forgiving in fact. If you're an experienced gamer, or even an adult who plays occasionally, you shouldn't find the puzzles, bad guys, bosses or exploration too much of a hindrance and will probably complete the game in about 10 hours.

EA are improving things, slowly but surely. However, the problem is that they are also degenerating in certain areas too, in their efforts to balance gameplay issues. And there is a deeper problem too - earlier versions of FIFA are actually more enjoyable!

If you have both consoles, go for the Xbox version, as the difference between the two consoles is clearly displayed with Invasion. Despite some perfect tunes and wonderful weapon effects, the PS2 version is at times choppy and at others just plain ugly, having something of a PSOne feel about it.

A good platform game and for a licensed game it's great; if you miss the glory days of jump puzzles then it's worth checking out, and if you love Kim Possible then it's an easy recommendation for a youngster... or yourself!

A fine example of a traditional adventure game, with an engaging storyline, challenging puzzles and visuals and sound that combine for a good atmosphere. It's without a doubt the best point and click game I've played in a long time, despite its flaws.

With an engaging story, a wealth of puzzles and a beautifully realised, fully 3D world to explore, this is a definite must for fans of the "Myst" series and a definite maybe for everyone else.

It has interesting features and plenty of action and intense shootouts to keep you entertained (especially when you get your grubby hands on the gatling gun) but between these parts you're left wandering around a dull environment with very little to keep you occupied.

It's unfortunate to have to say that Makai Kingdom falls down when compared to its close cousins.

There's a lot of enjoyment and variety to be found here, and Nightfall certainly adds enough for fans of Guild Wars to make the purchase, while the fact that there's no monthly fee is enough of a plus point to recommend this to MMORPG fans who haven't tried Guild Wars before.

Unfortunately the thought just hasn't gone into the gameplay itself and although I have to concede that children and fans of the film may enjoy it, there isn't enough here to keep this title from going extinct in a short period of time.

Realism in games isn't necessarily a good thing, as most players tend to be trying to get away from realism and into a fictional world.

Europa Universalis III is a game for those of you who love complicated micromanagement, for those who feel that the likes of Civilization lack depth and realism, and who want to be in complete control of their nation.

Unlike its more strategic predecessors, Brothers In Arms DS is an out-and-out shooter, and the fast action, the usefully wide-angled over-the-shoulder camera, the intuitive controls and the short missions all combine to make this a brilliant handheld game. Make no mistake - shortcomings aside, this is fantastic.

Predator: Concrete Jungle does a fair job of putting a console face on the galactic big game hunter as well as offering some genuinely fun moments, but unfortunately the linearity, ropey camera and basic fighting mechanics don't make for a particularly long lasting experience.

It won't win any new fans nor will it disappoint the market it was aimed at. Worms: Battle Islands is a thoroughly addictive game and must be played amongst friends to truly enjoy it.