The campaigns are vast and varied, with interesting stories to hold you attention, while the three Legends Trails offer up even more varied missions with a much stronger emphasis on castle building and besieging.

Now, I won't lie to you: I wanted to rip this game to pieces! However, while Carol Vorderman's Sudoku is essentially a certified lesson in chronic needlessness and boasts aesthetic values on a par with a can of corned beef, it still does everything it promises to do - it provides a good, solid game of Sudoku, comprising almost endless puzzles for players of all skill levels, with plenty of different modes, going above and beyond the call of duty in that respect, providing game types and even multiplayer modes that you won't see in other Sudoku games.

Even though it is considerably harmed by the inane support of the Wii-mote to the point of the extreme, and the slightly boring battle system, the dull visuals and quite a lot of glitches, the game manages to sneak by as one of last year's best games in the genre.

Despite its faults, Tom Clancy's EndWar stands as a welcome departure from the quick and dirty reworkings that so many real-time strategy games have undergone in the transition from mouse and keyboard to control pad.

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's as if the producers stopped halfway through making it, decided to give it a different spin and forgot to bolster the audio department in the process.

Crash: Mind Over Mutant is a fun game, colourful and beautifully presented, with an engaging combat system that includes mutants to control, which deliver moments of pure satisfaction. The game is definitely too easy for more experienced gamers, and even younger ones will probably find the whole thing a bit of a doddle, but there's a lot to be said for a game that you can just pick up and play, while the combination of comedic elements that will have kids rolling around in laughter and the co-op mode makes this a winner.

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

Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy is an enjoyable adventure game in the classic mold.

Zubo is an entertaining rhythm-based game that manages to fuse several genres in an intelligent way whilst maintaining an easy to play approach. It is an ideal game to start with for youngsters who want to try a role playing game whilst at the same time there is just enough within to keep the rest of us adults playing it.

A worthy attempt at a football management sim and those with the tolerance to overlook a few poorly executed ideas will find an enjoyable title here, even if it cannot quite compete with the sublime brilliance of Football Manager.

Touchmaster will definitely appeal to fans of the puzzle genre, but while 23 games in one package sounds like a lot, they're not all going to be suited to your tastes.

Although I appreciate Sigma Star Saga bringing an original idea to the RPG realm, the execution of this idea felt more like I was getting it drilled into my head rather than actually enjoying it.

The sheer size of the game and the time it will take to play through should keep the average player occupied for months and it moves with a steady pace that should keep most players interested.

Despite the amount of complaints on the table, I still think World Poker Tour should be given a chance if you plan to take it online, because as far as I know, this is the only poker videogame that offers such an extensive online mode.

At heart, Puyo Pop Fever is an entertaining and downright addictive little puzzler, and therefore gets the stamp of approval for those after something refreshingly light-hearted.

There is a great story and a fine game in Yakuza 2, let down mainly by old technology and some stylistic choices that wouldn't have mattered half as much when it was first released in the East.

Fantasy Wars is an involving and satisfying game. Each side feels balanced if not dramatically different, the levelling system for every unit makes the game more addictive than it has any right to be and it hits the difficulty curve perfectly, being very easy to learn and incredibly difficult to master, especially at higher levels.

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.

With a slightly restrictive control interface and uninspired, downright samey minigames, the mature gamers looking for a slice of party fun (soggy jam sandwiches optional) may wish to seek the likes of Buzz! Big Quiz or Buzz! The Music Quiz. Put simply, this is one for the tots.

If you happened to have purchased or rented Cars in any of its previous incarnations, your first question is going to be "should I care about this version?" Most likely not.

In more ways than ever, Reckoning 2 feels like an afterthought for the Yukes team to get one last Gamecube wrestler out there before they go out with what appears to be a real winner with "SmackDown vs. RAW 2006."

The PS2 game is near identical to the PS3 version, but the lack of some classic Queen tracks puts a dampener on the whole experience.

Those expecting a fully featured console iteration of Advance Wars, one containing the same strategic might that the handheld titles possess, are bound to be as disappointed as a rather plump gentleman who can't lay his hands on a nice pie.

Those magnificent occasions when you're hovering at 2,000 feet above the ground on your parachute actually justifies playing it through.

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.

Great in short bursts and solving the main puzzles can be a real blast, however the game fails to deliver any serious replay value once you complete them and setting high scores will eventually become dull and tedious.

Whilst tunes are ridiculously easy to create and fiddle around with, doing anything worthwhile on them is difficult and gives you the feeling that a PC based tune maker is clearly the way forward.

The content is still pure gold, you just need to persevere through the presentation issues - besides, they do say that true love is loving the flaws as much as everything else.

Those who have played Tekken and Mortal Kombat to death they may find some enjoyment in this fairly simple but engrossing game, which might fulfil your beat 'em up cravings for a little while - just bear in mind that this is most definitely not another Tekken.

As much fun as swinging around the city and helping random people is, Spider-Man 2 could have been an absolutely amazing title had the developers spent a little more time crafting better missions and crimes to stop and actually giving the enemy some AI instead of patterns to repeat.

If you've never played TrackMania before and you have even a slight interest in racing and puzzle games then it's well worth hopping into the driver's seat of TrackMania United.

Crash: Mind Over Mutant isn't the best title in the series, but it's the closest that anyone has ever come to matching the amazing games that Naughty Dog developed back in the day.

It does nothing amazing, but it puts some spring back into the step of the adventure game genre and hails back to the quality and humour of Lucasarts classics of yore.

Star Trek: Legacy is a fun game and a very good effort for a Star Trek space title, but controls that you will inevitably be fumbling with make things hard to get into.

Like a welcome blast from the past, taking us back into pure platform-filled levels with a great range of designs, all enhanced by the gameplay variation that the five transformations provide.

Sega Superstars will bring a tear to the eye of many gamers, especially the poor old Dreamcasters. Okay, so there's no great substance here and no multiplayer modes, but all those little extra bits add up to something of a surprise.

Although Vietcong 2 has a lot going for it - good level design, good pace, humanising the very enemy you spend half the game killing - it just doesn't quite feel as though it lives up to the expectations raised by the original.

I enjoyed 300: March to Glory because of its relative simplicity.

It's one of the few truly fun games I've played in a long time, and in an era when all that seems to be produced are stealth agents, pimped up cars and overly complicated sports sims, it's nice that for once we've been given a nice, simple dose of pure entertainment.

Adults will move through relatively quickly and may lose interest before the end but the cartoon graphics are so perfect and funny that the kiddies should enjoy it all the way through.

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.

I just can't help feeling that there are better racers out there however, which offer better controls, better graphics and simply better gameplay.

A solidly entertaining and enjoyable horror adventure that is fairly short but quite engaging while it lasts. The story is well told, even if it travels some familiar territory at times, while the setting, visuals and overall effect of the presentation of the tale make it worth experiencing, despite the poor control scheme.

Cars is a good game for kids looking for a fun and friendly title on the Wii, regardless of their stance with the film.

If you're looking for a top-notch brawler, Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble simply isn't for you.

Crackdown gives an absolutely exhilarating first impression, but in only an hour or two you'll have seen basically everything the game has to offer and from there on out the complete lack of structure and variety leaves the entire game feeling somewhat pointless.

A surprisingly fun, easy to pick up and enjoyable to master card game that, while not as deep as most other card battlers, offers a good amount of strategy and a different approach to the genre.

A move in the right direction in terms of gameplay elements, but the series needs to completely revamp the visual and technical engines backing it next time around. This is far from the best RPG you can find on the PS2, but easily the best Suikoden in a long while.

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.

Crusty Demons will definitely appeal to the beer-chugging frat boy side of your brain far more than the serious cycle sim side, but that's a good thing in this case. The super stupid excellence here does have a few flaws, but this is the sort of game that does extremely well the less you rationalize it as some sort of earth-moving gameplay experience.

Just a basic run-of-the-mill tactical RPG that, though certainly an excellent game, fails to blow you away like it should - instead it chugs along at a steady pace and fails to progress much, or offer anything that the genre has already featured for years.

When compared to the rest of the gaming world, Meet The Robinsons is merely a slightly above average title that copies more than it innovates.

If you want to take on the Germans once again on your PSP then Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 is a good choice.

Compared to the plethora of games that came after it, and indeed some that came before, Lost Planet: extreme Condition - Colonies Edition feels dated. But, at its bleak and frozen heart lies a rewarding experience.

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.

Draglade is a big, brash and bombastic game that wears its influences proudly on its matter-manipulating sleeves, but also isn't afraid to try something a bit different.

If you just want an interesting and slightly challenging way to pass the time then this is a bit too difficult so knock the score down a notch, but if you're a crossword pro then add a point or two - oh, and that six letter word was 'plague' just in case you're reaching for the dictionary.

It's too bad Fuu isn't playable, other than a wacky mini-game where she gets to speed-eat, but then again, you'd probably just be doing a different mini-game where she gets kidnapped anyway.

Superman Returns isn't a bad game, but at six hours gameplay it's far too short, as well as far too buggy and repetitive to enjoy to its fullest.

It's far from perfect, but it's still a great choice for RPG fans to grind through this summer, especially those who are looking for a more sociable gaming experience.

For all those thirty-somethings out there who want to relive their childhood through computer games, Disney's Aladdin is the title for them.

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!)

Zombie Studios should be applauded for what they have achieved with Saw. Although it has its fair share of problems, Saw’s mix of timed puzzles and atmospheric surroundings combine to create a game that truly captures the spirit, tension and horror of the series upon which it is based.

For Bleach fans, this will be a positive though, and for those people, this will be a worthwhile story led SRPG. For others, stick with the excellent Final Fantasy Tactics A2 or Disgaea DS for you SRPG fix.

The undeniable truth about Eye of Judgement Legends is that without the use of real life cards, the game simply doesn’t stand up on its own. Every element of the game has been carefully constructed, from the effective aesthetics to the longevity present; it’s a real shame that forgiving the game’s lack of depth is near impossible.

When it all comes together and just works the challenges Theatre of War 2 provides can be exhilarating to overcome, the battles can often awe you with their scale and sense of achievement as you guide your motley crew of familiar soldiers through each mission is a reward in itself.

It's definitely worth trying though, and you may very well find yourself hopelessly addicted. With thousands of online challenges, as well as a rampant moding scene, you'll be playing this for awhile.

Provided you can make it through the disappointing introduction and swallow your outrage every time Kaine makes a show of bending over, Nier is a classic action RPG with some refreshing elements and a reminder that streamlined gameplay need not mean a restrictive experience due to its minimal but innovative weapon and ability upgrade system.

There will be some gluttons for punishment out there who will love Silicon Studio's tribute from end to end, and more power to them for their perseverance against all good reason, but the vast majority of gamers in this day and age will find that 3D Dot Game Heroes wears out its welcome all too soon.

If you’re a huge fan of anything AvP then it’s sure to be a definite “Yes”, as the game pays the kind of homage to the franchise you might expect it would. If, on the other hand, you’re a devotee of one or more of its’ many components – Aliens, Predators, sci-fi or first-person-shooters – then you’ll need to give the decision much more serious consideration.

Until Battlefront 3 arrives (Hopefully!), Elite Squadron will keep you happy for a while, but overall you won’t be interested for too long. A decent attempt, but it’s not what I wanted personally from a Battlefront game.

It’s simplistic, it’s fun, and it’s hectic to a degree that’ll alienate anybody who’s mind isn’t at least vaguely superhuman at some subconscious level – but if you’re willing to push yourself to the limit, to click and think faster than you’ve ever thunk before, then you’ll find a surprisingly deep and intense passtime.

All in all Dante’s Inferno slowly falls into dangerous territory – it goes from being an excellent hack and slash into a mediocre hack and slash far too quickly, and when it’s not being repetitive it’s being relatively annoying.

And it's the fact that the game is free that makes it hard to criticise. Ultimately all you'll be loosing here is time, but then again, there's no shortage of cheap, budget racing games that have more content that World currently showcases.

Alien Swarm is a free game and has been updated regularly to try to iron out the remaining bugs (excuse the pun). All things considered, as it stands the game is a little disappointing and falls short of its true potential.

Taken as a whole, F1 2010 is a maddening experience as, in spite of the numerous flaws it undoubtedly has, it is capable of throwing up some of the most intense, exciting racing moments you are likely to find in a game.

It’s like a favourite toy: well-loved, and good for a quick blast of nostalgia now and again, but nothing else.

It’s still polished, still clever – shame it isn’t anything particularly special.

Ultimate Spider-Man may look very stylish and visually capture the essence of a comic perfectly, but the gameplay feels like a swing backwards in almost every department.

Escape From Paradise City is an odd game, a hybrid of different styles with some interesting ideas all thrown together that just don't seem to gel.

If this was an Xbox Live Arcade title, then the score would be a little bit higher than it is, but as a full price release, there's just not enough content, and too many problems, to bump GI Joe up into the higher brackets.

Fundamentally the game is broken, and so any set dressing, from the squeaky tones of Toad, or the way that Knuckles reacts when he wins a race, this is a game that Wii owners should avoid.

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.

Given the fun factor, ten dollars seems reasonable value and if you're a big fan of Fallour 3 then it's definitely worth a look.

It fails because it's an undemanding game that lacks of anything remotely challenging or memorable, to make it one that you'll easily forget.

For a game that splits between two different dimensions, Crush ends up feeling a little one-dimensional. However, the concept is undeniably ingenious and it is my sincere hope that a sequel will emerge to take it to the next level and produce a true gaming classic.

It's not all bad with L.A. Rush, as the storyline's pretty engrossing, well written and well acted, so that part will keep you amused.

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.

Fans of the new TV series and even older fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will enjoy this title, provided they can ignore the skateboarding and other driving sections of the game.

Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is a decent attempt at bringing the Dragon Quest series to a new, much younger or more casual audience while trying to cater for long-time fans.

After two failed games it might be too much to ask for an excellent follow up, but a playable one would have been nice.

If you like the look of this, you're much better off getting it on PC or Xbox, where you can take it online.

If you're ready to step up to the challenge and spend the hours needed to get good at this, or if you're a fan of the culture, then this may well be the game for you - but for the rest of us, there are definitely better urban sports sims out there.

If you own any console that Meet The Robinsons has hit (which is most of them) then picking it up for that is definitely the better option.

Behind all the gloss and polish lurks the shadow of a game that shows little novelty in today's already swamped third person action adventure market.

Commandos: Strike Force does have some unusual ideas that it brings to the war first person shooter, such as peeking through keyholes and sneaking around strangling Nazis while dressed as one of them, but it's simply not enough to earn it a promotion through the ranks, not with so many great shooters out there.

A mixed bag of imperfection and rather jagged diamonds that should seriously be weighed up before purchasing.