It's a pretty average and short-lived collection of immaculately presented mini-games that are shallower than a gnat's bidet.

A fully conceived, brilliantly designed, incredibly gorgeous and intricately varied city is yours to roam around at leisure, discovering shortcuts, taking down billboards and landing super jumps, shutting down rival vehicles to own them, revving your engine at junctions to enter a range of challenging events and hopping online for furious racing and co-op challenges with friends and strangers alike, all at the push of a button.

An excellent game and if you have the capability to play online and the time to learn the city inside out, it may well prove to be a title that keeps you enthralled for many months to come.

It may not be perfect, but No More Heroes is a great game that every action-loving Wii owner should experience.

Ship Simulator 2008 will only appeal to ship afficianados, but even they may find the lack of features a turn-off after a while.

It may not have the splendid story of BioShock or the incredible environmental detail of BioShock, or indeed the cool name of BioShock, but it's a real breath of fresh air in a gaming environment that has become stale with relentless shooting and violence.

As you've probably guessed by now, I love Advance Wars: Dark Conflict. It's yet another classic entry to the series and continues Advance Wars' proud heritage with all the ingredients that have made it so damn great since the original game was released.

These brave and new interpretations of familiar ideas are what sets Pirates of the Burning Sea apart from a great many other MMOs out at the moment.

Rail Simulator will immerse you in a world that, if allowed, has the potential to convince even the most hardened outdoor 'trainspotter' to fire up their PC rather than head down to their local station.

Not a good game by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not especially terrible.

But given the extreme budget pricing, the laugh-per-dollar ratio is astounding.

If you are a fan of 2D shooters then Omega Five certainly won't disappoint. For those previously uninterested in this classic genre of yesteryear, its unforgiving gameplay and old school sensibilities probably won't win you over.

The gameplay is fun and easy to pick up, just as you would expect from an arcade style sports sim, but the overall package doesn't seem to take itself seriously, due to the parody commentator and muted atmosphere.

Dodgy controls aside, there's little inherently wrong with Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, yet it's painfully average and just lacks the amount of fun that would warrant a purchase.

It does everything its competitors do, plus a little more on the side, with a decent amount of polish and enough charm to keep those who want to coming back for more, day after day after day.

The "evolved" angle isn't worth much, unless you really want the ultimate Warlords experience (which is admittedly awesome).

Despite the laundry list of problems that plague Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command and pervade this review, the game can be fun at times. That is if you're willing to fight through the frustration of playing through missions multiple times, either to cheat to find enemy positions or because you got smoked by an enemy tank off-screen.

It gets the job done.

Nothing about MX vs. ATV Untamed really sets it apart from other off-road racers.

Call me nostalgic, but even with Untamed's officially licensed music, the racing sponsors and celebrity endorsements, I'd rather play a round of Excitebike any day.

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.

A very mixed experience, showcasing some pretty impressive ideas with a largely woeful follow through.

A powerhouse of a game and a real boon for the PS3, which is in dire need of some fantastic shooters.

It is better than you could possibly imagine and it deserves all the praise that it has gained in its short life so far.

There really is a decent game in here somewhere - it's just such a shame that it is hidden beneath some awful glitches and some clearly unfinished gameplay mechanics.

Had the single player been up to scratch and had the online functions been open to all instead of the select few willing to pay the extra costs, Universe at War could very well have been one of the year's first great strategy games.

Buy the classic wooden blocks and spend the change on nachos and a beverage. Not only will you shell out half the money you'd otherwise waste on Jenga: World Tour but you will still have a soul afterwards and you might actually have a good time.

If you haven't realized by now, Godzilla: Unleashed fails on every level - the only thing I can credit it for is being just about playable.

Simply shocking; it is a poorly put together mishmash of ideas that never gels. Ugly, repetitive and painfully boring, its mercifully short length and rousing orchestral score are its only redeeming qualitites.

Ugly, repetitive and painfully boring, its mercifully short length and rousing orchestral score are its only redeeming qualitites.

With repetitive, tedious gameplay, poor graphics and generic level designs, The Golden Compass is a mildly enjoyable fantasy videogame for younger audiences only; anyone above their formative years will not find the depth or enjoyment of the books in what boils down to yet another uninspired action adventure translation of a great movie license that couldn't be more by the numbers if it tried.

Simply shocking; it is a poorly put together mishmash of ideas that never gels. Ugly, repetitive and painfully boring, its mercifully short length and rousing orchestral score are its only redeeming qualitites.

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.

An uninspired, unimaginative mess of a game full of gameplay that we've seen done before and done better.

It has some wonderful graphics and animation, excellent sound effects and enjoyable voices to complement the fun and endlessly playable fighting action.

What more is there to say about Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords? Not much - other than a warning that it will ruin Bejeweled for you forever, because you will be longing for some consequences beyond just getting points! You will also quickly descend into 'just one more turn' territory until you make your way to the end, which will take dozens of hours.

This is a product developed as a labour of love for over a decade, with the core aim of bringing the RTS genre back to its roots, away from the glitz and glamour of 3D graphics and tacked-on RPG elements its creators claim have watered down the genre. Instead however, we end up with a half-finished product, brought to its knees by game-breaking bugs and the absence of key gameplay modes, which ends up looking considerably better than it plays.

That rare breed of game that stands up both to quick bursts and extended playing sessions, making it ideal for a handheld.

The longevity in single player is pitiful and only slightly better in multiplayer, but not by much, while the gameplay feels like a severely downgraded version of Burnout and the presentation is simply atrocious.

Game Party is one of those games that you will try your best to forget ever existed if you're unfortunate (or indeed stupid) enough to actually play it. All of the elements, from the god-awful controls to the disgusting character design, add up to create a game that no one should experience.

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.

Mass Effect certainly has a few flaws, but it's easily the most enthralling space adventure that's ever been created for a video game platform. It honestly makes the Halo narrative look like amateur hour!

Godzilla, Godzilla, Godzilla. How could you do this to yourself? Your gameplay - horrendous. Your graphics - atrocious. Your sound - there's sound? I can't stress enough how bad of a game, no, a poor excuse of a game, Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash actually is. It is broken and much like Godzilla himself, will make children run in fear.

Rock Band may not have changed the landscape of rock gaming to the level that, at times, it seemed like it would do, but it certainly altered the perception of what the ultimate rock party game should be.

This is throwaway fun that will only be enjoyed in short bursts and the novelty will wear off long before you unlock everything and max out the missions to their highest level.

The RTS gameplay may be different to the standard RPG found in the most Japanese entry in the series, but the light-hearted nature of the game and the fact that it is so different to the original, while still retaining many key elements, makes them feel identical.

Whether or not you're a hardcore gamer or a casual one, you will find some form of entertainment from Geometry Wars: Galaxies.

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.

Godzilla Unleashed is a latter-generation PS2 title arriving just in time for Christmas - it doesn't play well, it doesn't look good and it doesn't offer anything new.

A classic example of a great concept that doesn't live up to its potential; there are some very interesting ideas on display but, like the vastness of space itself, they remain largely unexplored.

Star Trek: Conquest has the look and feel of a free online-based RTS offering, but without the whole online part. The game's Achilles' heel, of course, is its complete lack of depth.

7 Wonders of the Ancient World isn't a bad puzzle game, it's just that there are so many more puzzlers out there that surpass it.

AMF Bowling: Pinbusters is nothing more than a well packaged mobile phone game. It is short, poorly executed, unbearably lazy and has no place in anyone's collection.

Its time-altering mechanics add a lot to what is otherwise fairly standard gameplay with standard weapons in a game world that's not particularly distinctive, and the end result is a game that's good but never quite rises to greatness, yet in some places comes tantalisingly close.

The most exciting aspect of Link's Crossbow Training is the price. For £20 you get the game and the Wii Zapper in a sleek white box. It's excellent value and helps you to overlook any shortcomings that the game might have.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune isn't a clone of other action adventure games. Yes, it borrows certain elements from its peers, but it combines them together into a wonderful package that's unlike any other game out there.

If you have more than one friend or family member to play Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 with then there are few excuses not to own it.

You're getting one fantastic game, two pretty darn good ones and one pretty poor one.

PopCap Hits! Vol 1 achieves everything that PopCap out to do with the likes of Bejeweled 2 and Astro Pop. They're very addictive games, yet their underlying concepts are so simple.

It's an instant classic and the perfect slice of fast twitch, shallow fun to give your gray matter a break from all that civilization building and warmongering.

Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle is a decent adventure game that I do recommend, even though the control system on the DS leaves a lot to be desired; there is room for improvement and I'm hopeful that the developer will take this on board for future releases.

It would be safe to say that Crysis, at least in the single player, does not manage to live up to the expectations that people had for it. Crytek's idea and shell for this game is superb, but falls a little short in the execution.

It pains me to score Assassin's Creed so low, as it is stunning in many respects and I want to convey the message that it definitely deserves to be played, even though it tragically falls short as a complete experience.

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.

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.

If you're a WWE fan (or only own a PSP) then you need to think hard before parting with your cash for this game - you're better off just picking up a copy of WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006, because it's so much better than this latest release.

A very disappointing release and to only marginally improve on a title that was already a huge disappointment is almost criminal.

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!

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.

Rayman's Raving Rabbids 2 is a game with a sense of humour and a lot of customisation, with plenty to unlock to customise your Rabbid throughout the Adventure and Score modes, but the lack of variety and low difficulty in the mini-games will fail to satisfy most players in their teens and above.

The one thing that stands out about Need for Speed ProStreet is that it just doesn't feel like Need for Speed. By taking it out of the city and stealing elements from simulation racers, it loses its distinctive identity that fans have loved over the years.

Sadly, it seems that Sim City without Maxis is like a pub with no beer - frustrating, disappointing and not worth a visit.

There is no need to attempt to cater to tastes when a game is this well put together. After the relative disappointment of Neowave and the simply appalling 3D Maximum Impact series, SNK: Playmore have finally come good with one of the finest 2D fighters around. If you are a fan of the genre, or even slightly curious, then you simply must pick up a copy of King of Fighter XI just as soon as you can.

The developers of Jenga World Tour have done pretty much all they can to make the game reach its full potential - it's just that it never had much to work with. Single cartridge multiplayer would have helped a great deal, but even that wouldn't have lifted it into the average category.

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

I guess my main issue with Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem is that it's simply a bad game and also that it's just so disappointing.

Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends is much like its predecessor - it is perfectly tuned for non-hardcore gamers and therefore frustrating to those used to evaluating games designed with that audience in mind.

An expansion pack - nothing more, nothing less. If you don't own the original then you can still find some enjoyment, but to get anywhere online you'll have to suffer through the criminally plot-free Infinity Mission.

Mario Galaxy is a recipe you'll love and it's good for you too, in the sense that it'd be good for you to play a proper title for a change, one that should stay fresh and in your collection forever.

It looks great, plays great, sounds great and works well online, yet never pretends to be better than it is. It will slip under the radar of many gamers, but for those who are a fan of the genre it comes highly recommended.

If it wasn't for the frustrating, limited camera view, Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command would have been a must-have PSP purchase for all. As it is, it's recommended for Warhammer fans and turn-based strategy gamers alike, with a warning that you'll have to put up with the camera to really enjoy yourself.

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!

It's a real shame that for every flicker of promise Boogie shows, there are twice as many setbacks just around the corner. For a karaoke/dancing merger, this is nowhere near as fun as it should be and for all the noise it makes, EA's Boogie just doesn't have the substance to succeed.

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.

After some time playing Avencast: Rise of the Mage, I discovered that sadly it's not the wizard experience I was hoping for, with all its talk of ditching maths for more shooter-style gameplay - both of which it achieves to varying degrees.

Hilarious, well structured, brilliantly acted and lovingly constructed. It's also easily the longest episode in the series so far.

A very addictive and innovative gameplay experience awaits anyone willing to part with their precious Microsoft points to purchase Switchball, although a little bit of patience is required with some of the harder levels, which some gamers may find tough to get to grips with.

Word Puzzle is a nice title for those looking for a decent word search experience in videogame form and the added modifiers such as bomb timers and stringing words together for extra points is a nice idea to bring in a wider audience, but the constricted playing space that's just completely unwarranted really hinders the gameplay when you get to the later stages of the game with larger board types.

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 you want hollow button mashing then pick up the latest Dynasty Warriors, but if you are after something with a little more depth, breadth, scope and originality then give Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War a try; you might just be pleasantly surprised as it smashes away your preconceptions like so many scattering infantry.

Where Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker really surprises is in how different it manages to be to Pokémon whilst still maintaining the addictive gameplay mechanics that made the latter so damned popular in the first place.

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

Don't expect complex gameplay or much in the way of new gameplay features, but the formula works brilliantly and provides plenty of fun, whether you're revisiting the games or discovering them for the first time.

It seems that for every minor flaw that can be raised against LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, the game has a positive point to counter it.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance takes everything that was great about the original and makes it better; it also takes all of the issues with the original game and does some amount of work on them.

To a big DS gamer the title might feel a bit empty the whole way through, but for the casual market it's aimed at, it really is exactly what they need and want.

Many gamers and young girls in particular, who dream of having their own horse or indeed actually do have one, will really enjoy the simulated feel of owning and taking care of their very own faithful companion, and Horse Life does this better than any others out there at the moment.

As a departure for the series, the idea of a tactical SOCOM game is a great one and is executed mildly well. I say mildly, as without the annoying camera, cheap deaths, lack of story and lukewarm audio, the game would be a lot of fun to play.