Maybe it's because I just don't like the main character, maybe it's because the story is dafter than my opening paragraph, maybe it's because it's a third rate GTA wannabe. In any case, this one should be avoided unless you really liked the first one, although this is actually a step back from the original.

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

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.

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

SCi have done a marvellous job with the high detail, which comes across well in both the audio and visuals. In fact it's so detailed that it feels real.

If the game ran as smoothly and perfectly as I am sure it was intended to then it would have been superb, worthy of an eight or nine.

Obviously younger audiences are going to enjoy the game more than older players, but for any self-respecting Incredibles fan, the story and the teamwork gameplay is enough to warrant a look.

Get past the irrelevant filler and Sonic Unleashed becomes the game we all wanted - it's just a real shame that we have to work so hard to fully unleash it.

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.

The single player is very limited in terms of enjoyment, but open the game up to multiplayer, either online or with up to four players locally, and you will have a good time.

As a one player game it's filled to the brim with awkward controls and badly conceived gameplay, as a multiplayer title you may be able to convince a friend to take part in a few rounds, but don't expect them to thank you for it afterwards.

Maybe it's because I just don't like the main character, maybe it's because the story is dafter than my opening paragraph, maybe it's because it's a third rate GTA wannabe. In any case, this one should be avoided unless you really liked the first one, although this is actually a step back from the original.

Actionloop offers up a good amount of modes for fans of this format - more so than Zuma by far - but the setting really pales in comparison to similar titles out there.

Smooth animation, a fantastic soundtrack and plenty of variety in the use of combat and force powers make this a game that's engaging and fun to play through.

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.

I have always loved well-executed kids' games and hated games that pander to kids to make a quick buck. This is neither - it is a very mediocre and forgettable little budget game that isn't something I would recommend for any child or adult.

The mini-games are what holds this title together and you do get you focused for a short time because of them, but the rest of the game lacks options/choices in game play and rewards are poor for putting the time in to see your results.

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.

I understand that the slow-paced adventure gameplay isn't for everyone, but there is so much to love here that I firmly urge each and every one of you reading this right now to open your mind and try it for yourself.

It does have that 'just once more go' addictive quality to it, buried somewhere deep beneath its many flaws - a trait that all hack and slash action games seem to have regardless of their quality - but beyond that there's very little here to recommend.

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

If you are looking for something more - if you already have chess for a PDA or GBA and are hoping for solid play over the Internet or a great story mode then look elsewhere, because as anything other than a decent chess engine, Online Chess Kingdoms fails to deliver a compelling experience.

The games look and sound beautiful, and after the horrific tinkering Sega made with their classics to make them 'up to date', I'm glad to say that SNK have left everything intact.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is a weak effort that shamelessly cashes in on the popularity of our web-slinging hero, with the gameplay obviously geared towards the younger gamer. Yet there is little here to challenge even the youngest player, with only die hard Spider-Man fans likely to get much enjoyment from this repetitive title, and even they will almost certainly find the experience wanting.

The addictive hook that was there at the beginning no longer holds your concentration in the year 2009; even gods aren't immortal and while Populous will always have its place in gaming history, most of its worshippers have long since moved on to the more sophisticated simulations that resulted from Populous's bold and, at the time, groundbreaking design.

The main draw to Charlotte's Web is clearly its decently sized story mode and it absolutely delivers a fine family-friendly platforming romp for you and your kids to play and enjoy while it lasts.

Be it frustration at the difficulty level or just boredom at the lack of variety, your Urban Reign is pretty much guaranteed to be a short-lived one.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is certainly prince-like in terms of its presentation but pretty half-arsed when to comes to the gameplay experience.

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 fun really does lie in the multiplayer, because the drunken laughs my friends and I have had with this game have been fantastic and they went on and on into the early hours.

Fans of the series will probably find something to like in Growlanser: Heritage of War's forty or more hours of gameplay and selection of extras that include a battle arena and fairy contest; for the rest of us though, there is little to be found here other than an extremely average RPG that seems to do its best to exasperate its already lengthy list of shortcomings.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time isn't a lazy game, it's just that the template it's based upon is far too antiquated to meet the needs of today's gaming audience, yet not enough to satisfy dungeon hack enthusiasts.

While it's not the worst game every made, it's certainly not going to win any awards, and there are plenty of other puzzle titles on the DS that do what 7 Wonders II does only better.

With tons of content and a charm that is missing from many of today's more cynical releases, it's hard to judge Time Crisis 4 too harshly. Its attempts at reinventing the genre may be a bit hit-and-miss, and graphically it could have used a PS3 makeover, but there's enough here to keep the majority of gamers happy.

Mega Man Star Force Pegasus is the proverbial Yin/Yang. The combat - the true essence of Mega Man - is engaging and complex if you want it to be, and can best be described with one word: fun. The battle cards, albeit contrived, add a nice flavor to the game and building your deck to suit your style is quick and easy. But the other side, the story and accompanying cut scenes, have the ability to rip you right out of the game to look for something else to play.

With Ace Combat firmly established as the jet fighter series on the PS2, Heatseeker really needed to be something special. Sadly it isn't, and although it's fun for a little while, the target for this missile disappears from the radar long before you've reached the end, making it a game that Ace Combat could blow out of the sky with a single shot.

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.

An unusual idea and one with great potential, but unfortunately the dull setting and plodding pace of the game bog it down.

Clive Barker's Jericho is as run of the mill as you'll find in a next-gen game.

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.

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

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

While the graphics cause you to spend the first ten minutes of Need for Speed: Undercover in a mouth-dropped gaze, it really doesn't get an awful lot better.

Maybe it's because I just don't like the main character, maybe it's because the story is dafter than my opening paragraph, maybe it's because it's a third rate GTA wannabe. In any case, this one should be avoided unless you really liked the first one, although this is actually a step back from the original.

Of course, the odd SpongeBob appearance and the odd wisecrack from Mr. Krabs makes up for the otherwise abysmal tasting Krabby Patty of a game, but unless you really have an itch for a Sponge game, this probably should be avoided.

An unfortunate miss-fire from what appears to be a genuinely bright and talented new developer.

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.

I finished playing WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 feeling cold and dirty, like I'd been doing something I shouldn't have been. I'm shocked at how badly THQ have dropped the ball with this one - in fact, they've climbed all the way to the top of Mount Everest to drop said ball!

It's a good, solid game that has a tremendous visual appeal and is generally a ton of fun to play, but at the same time does absolutely nothing spectacular that hasn't been seen in any shooter before it and falls short of delivering a long-lasting playing experience that would justify it being a must have addition to your PSP collection.

For a brief play it serves a purpose well enough, but if you really want to get the most out of this exciting period of ancient combat then you'll want to wait until something more inspired comes along, because Ancient Wars is just a bit too spartan to give you the experience that you are hoping for.

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.

What you've got here isn't so much a game of football as a game of funball. The game is stripped back to basics and taken to the streets, the emphasis moving away from carefully practiced plays and detailed managing, towards looking cool and scoring goals as flamboyantly as you can.

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!

The unique melding of realistic golf simulation with MMORPG-style character progression, online community interaction, micro-payment economics and periodic tournaments and special events amounts to one of the most fun and rewarding videogame sports experiences I have played in a good while.

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.

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.

My Japanese Coach is a great idea that's well implemented and definitely worth investing in if you're trying to learn Japanese. Instead of carrying around a heavy dictionary or book, all you need is your pocket-sized DS, and of course a book can't pronounce words or record and playback your own speech.

Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires likes to think that's it's a massive, deep game - there's even an encyclopaedia of historical events included in the start menu, so you can brush up on the background to your mindless slaughter - but the problem is, whilst it is certainly massive, it's a long, long way from being deep.

A harmless piece of entertainment that might amuse those who are fans of the film and too young to really steep themselves in something complicated, but it's too obtuse and repetitive for older players.

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

As an FPS it's fun for a while with some entertaining quirks here and there but not enough to keep you interested all the way through.

Skilled players can probably blow through Story mode in a day or so, but the multiplayer modes make up for the brevity of that part of the game.

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!)

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

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.

How To Train Your Dragon does some things very well, and when you’re actually engaging in the battle sections of the game, it can be enjoyable. That said, this takes up a mere 40% of the experience, the rest being the titular ‘Training’ and upkeep of your dragon, along with all of the other menial tasks to get involved with.

A bit of a disappointing first attempt at a shooter, considering the power of the PSP. The sound is reasonable and the graphics vary between good and excellent, but the gameplay lacks somewhat.

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.

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.

Sonic Riders doesn't boast too many tracks, nor does it have an online mode, which is a shame, but a bit of unique futuristic racing with familiar faces is what I'm after these days, and Sonic Riders delivers on that front hands down.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness isn't a lazy game, it's just that the template it's based upon is far too antiquated to meet the needs of today's gaming audience, yet not enough to satisfy dungeon hack enthusiasts.

Despite its shortcomings, The Simpsons Game is actually pretty good fun. At times it's frustrating and at times it's so funny that you just don't care.

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.

If you want a racing game that's cheap and cheerful, easy to play and accessible, then The Legend Lives is the one for you!

Regardless of its shortcomings, the key selling point of ColorZ is the challenge it offers to the gamer, which, I hope I've already stressed, is present in considerable scale. So, if you're looking for a kick-back-and-relax experience, you can forget it.

It's not something you play, it's more something you journey through. There's nothing here that'll keep the mainstream masses entertained; this is one of those game for those who like adventures to progress without the troublesome orcs and goblins to kill or the daunting levelling up of statistics.

A solid platform action game that would be fun without recognizable characters. It's well balanced - easy enough for its core audience to complete while still being reasonably challenging - and the personality of the characters shines through.

Having said that, if you’ve played every other racer and are just gagging for more speed, you can’t go terribly wrong with Anarchy. Just be sure not to aim your expectations too high for a game that implements every other feature from every other racer to a slightly lesser degree.

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!)

A game with plenty of potential that's just devastatingly disappointing in every sense of the word.

If you're looking for a decent rally/off-road game on the go then you could do worse than MX vs ATV Untamed; it's just too bad that the only other offerings on the system for off-road racing games are in the same series and are just as decent if not worse.

And love it or loathe it, I get the feeling that Dynasty Warriors will be around for many years to come.

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.

The core concept of Line Rider 2: Unbound is solid and, for the patient among you, can provide hours of absorbing fun; however, the trial and error nature of the gameplay and some dubious collision detection in certain situations are enough to spoil the enjoyment on a far too regular basis.

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.

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.

The game has huge potential for the long term, even if a lot of it remains unfulfilled at this point.

Blade Kitten is, overall, a disappointing experience. While functional, it does little to impress and even though it may last a while, there is little impetus to play beyond the first level.

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.

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.

This is a puzzle game wrapped up in a failing license, garnished with shoddy movie tie-in controls and a brazen lack of bravery.

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

The camera for one makes clearing certain jumps next to impossible, while the heavy emphasis on combat makes for overly repetitive gameplay. The biggest disappointment though is the graphics, as this was set to be the best looking Spyro game ever but the technical flaws outweigh the positives, something that can be said for the game as a whole, as well as its visuals.

An above average online mode offers its true salvation however, delivering a genuine quality experience.

Even though there's loads to do, it doesn't alter the fact that this smelly port of Driver: Parallel Lines just reeks of lazy developing - simply put, it's hard to get into and a battle to play.

The need to freeze and break enemies, rather than just straight shooting of them adds an extra dimension to the game. The challenges that you meet later on also means some brainpower is required to negotiate the levels.

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

Be it the basic, largely pointless Story Mode or the by the numbers Multiplayer Mode, Battle of the Bands never ceases to feel like a missed opportunity and a huge disappointment.