This is an essential purchase which is fit for burst play on the go and, control niggles aside, this is as charming and addictive as they come, with potentially staggering replay value as long as your imagination allows it.

A first class title. At points it becomes boring and many fans of the series won't see enough continuity to keep them happy, but it's got plenty of depth and style.

The gameplay is tried and true, not attempting to hide how simple the battle system really is.

With quirky graphics, familiar sounds, a nice variation in missions and tasks, a high level of interaction where jobs are concerned and some great new power socials, The Urbz is a worthy addition to most peoples' collection.

No first person shooter on any future system should feel like a gun mounted on a camera ever again!

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!

One of the best examples of how to build a compelling collection of arcade games for a handheld, one that works for both the gamer and the publisher.

Save for a few minor issues, Guitar Hero: On Tour is right on target and suits the handheld format wonderfully.

Bookworm Adventures: Volume 2 is a lengthy game that can be easily played in short bursts, but might become tedious during prolonged sessions - although progressing through the bizarre story and unlocking new treasures can be pretty addictive.

It's definitely something different and while it's not going to be the average gamer's best Christmas title, puzzle fanatics, horror fans and thrill seekers are really going to love this one.

While it won't end up on any 'game of the year' lists, it is a satisfying and fun experience that frames beloved characters and settings within a nice extension of the original story.

As an overall package, Mevo and the Grooveriders has a lot to offer - and even more content should become available in the coming months.

The controls are a problem, but if you can persevere with them there's an excellent game waiting to be enjoyed - and one where the only minimal thing is the number of degrees you are from reality.

In the end, there’s nothing particularly remarkable about the last of the Tales of Monkey Island, but, like the finest of the four chapters before it, Rise of the Pirate God stands as a faithful recreation of a world and a cast of characters many players have longed to return to.

There is a surprisingly fun multiplayer mode for up to four players to shoot it out or have a duel.

Whilst not presenting massive depth, should keep most gamers happy with something different until the next bout of heavily licensed footy games hit the shelves.

It's easy to pick up and play, it has the most absorbing and genuinely interesting narrative I've seen in an RPG for ages, there are so many quests to discover that it will give even the most hardcore completist many hours of play and it's rare to see an RPG that doesn't rely solely on grinding for experience.

For the sheer amount of fun that strategy fans will have with this XBLA offering, it's very easy to overlook its few imperfections.

Lost Magic is somewhat short for a role-playing game, taking probably a dozen or so hours to complete (even with the replaying based on difficulty), but the stories work well within that structure.

It's not one of those games you'll play forever, but I suspect that for many it will be one of those games that sits on the shelf so that any time you're feeling particularly evil or you've just had a bad day, you'll load it up and go eat some people.

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.

Possibly the best feature of Nightlife is its integration with University.

Despite the shortcomings in presentation and pruning in some aspects of the modes and play, what Wii Sports gets right it gets right with flying colors, showing that what may have appeared as a gimmick - the motion-reading controllers - is actually a revolution.

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.

A decent enough expansion that's worthy enough of the Battlefield name, while at the same time providing a different enough experience to avoid an overly familiar feeling.

An engrossing story that's backed up by excellent visuals and sound that immerse you within the game's setting and locations.

While not perfect, DJ Hero is still a worthy addition to the rhythm-action genre, bringing many fresh ideas to the table, but still not realizing its full potential through the absence of creation and freestyle elements.

A few technical glitches aside, it's a pretty great turn out from EA, and were Fight Night Round 3 to be a boxer itself, it wouldn't win by total knockout, but would definitely go the twelve rounds and come out on top.

Shrek SuperSlam is just like Powerstone, but with Shrek characters. I'm sure you remember how good Powerstone on the Dreamcast was, too. I remember those days well!

Despite the lack of evolution, I had a great time with LocoRoco 2. It's an improvement upon the original by most measures; bigger, better and more bad-ass, you might say, sacrilegious as it seems to apply Cliff Bleszinski's sales pitch to this sugary treat, but where Gears of War 2 delivered on its outlandish promises, LocoRoco 2 proves decidedly lacking.

An excellent treat for fans of the books and soon to be fans of the film. The game covers a lot of territory while doing a great job of bringing a decent amount of challenge and thrills to the masses.

It's not pushing any boundaries but the game still comes with the right mix of fun, humour and enjoyment that seem to be lacking in these days of hyper realistic action games.

With an involved and engaging RPG element, it sticks out above titles like "Final Fantasy Tactics" as being the best around.

It's fast-paced, over the top and easy to pick up, but damn difficult to put down.

Where King of Clubs really excels is in its humour and lifespan.

An old game in new clothing.

Although the style, or lack thereof, has seriously hampered The Club, it's still a brilliantly addictive title and one that will hopefully prove popular enough to turn this not so little experiment into a long running franchise.

It could have been a bit longer, maybe lasting more than fourteen days to represent The Fourteen Stations of the Cross, and the combat system could have been better, like the outstanding fight between Jesus and temptation for forty days and forty nights in the desert - but this game could be the closest thing to witnessing the turning a good film into a good game miracle, much like Jesus turned water into wine.

A stylish RPG that authentically represents Middle Earth from the book and the film trilogy. Whilst the gameplay is both enjoyable and addictive, it is also very traditional in style and does nothing at all to further the genre.

Even though it might be over too quickly for platforming veterans, those who like action from the word go will find their long lost pal in Kao the Kangaroo 2. With an enormous and linear breath of fresh air feeling, this game puts the cool back in old school and will have most gamers jumping for joy for as long as it lasts!

Perseverance is key though, because this is not a game you rush into.

It's a very exciting and fun single player experience and great in multiplayer if you've got some buddies willing to play. If only they'd put it on Live…

It may not be quite in the same league as Burnout, but it certainly has enough charm and variation to be considered a real contender, one that may begin to catch up with the market leader given a next generation sequel and a little more time to iron out the creases.

It's definitely a game to play casually when you need to pass a bit of time, but don't expect to be addicted to it like you may have been to "Animal Crossing."

Test Drive Unlimited is about having the ability to race amazing fantasy vehicles around an amazing fantasy island - and that core element works extremely well.

Point Blank DS's only minor drawback is that its play modes are all essentially the same thing hidden behind different premises that really aren't any different and because of this the gameplay doesn't hold up for extended play sessions.

The game looks fantastic, and sounds impressive to a degree that we have come to expect from 2K Games.

Wacky creatures, traditional fantasy settings and simple controls are a delight in this ultra-serious age, and the Fable style accents top off the silliness.

While Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 still suffers from a few of the glitches and lazy development that plagued its predecessors, the hugely innovative and perfectly implemented additions to the tried and tested Tiger Woods framework makes Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 very easy to recommend.

It's nothing new, it's nothing that's going to set the worrls of RTS gaming alight, but for a time it's as pleasingly enjoyable as Stormregion's other past offerings.

A tequila-fuelled, high octane, explosive game that combines frantic gunplay and stylish combo moves with a distinctive and perfectly realised Mexican theme to produce a very entertaining and funny experience.

Despite a few issues, the gameplay experience in Battlefield 2142 is overwhelmingly positive - this is a rock solid shooter that requires your twitch skills as well as strategic planning and extensive use of group tactics. The sense of immersion is enthralling.

It's a tribute to the developers that, despite its rock hard nature, ageing graphics and sound, all of the games in Metal Slug Anthology have been so carefully and lovingly created that you always want to go on to see what's coming next, because you know it's going to be big, packing more weapons than a Mafia family Christmas and it's probably going to kill you.

The top class game that the original should've been and ultimately an impressive sophomore effort for a series I'm increasingly psyched to hopefully watch grow and evolve in the years to come.

The gameplay is a bit watered down by comparison to titles past, but for a dungeon crawler this is actually really engaging and enjoyable.

Folklore is something of an acquired taste; it won't appeal to everyone, but those who do take a liking to it will find an absorbing adventure filled with unusual gameplay ideas that have been implemented very well - the engaging dual story played from different perspectives chapter by chapter, a fresh take on fairies and the afterlife, and the concept of capturing over fifty enemies to unlock a multitude of varied attacks.

Don't expect Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories to be as good as San Andreas and you'll be happy, that's the bottom line.

Great value in terms of quantity and quality - unlike some retro collections that surround one or two perfect games with several bad ones (think EA Replay), this is not the case here.

The platforming side is mostly fun with only a handful of irritating sections that are a challenge to complete, and while the difficulty is refreshing, at choice points it borders on the frustrating due to a dodgy combat system and the annoying absence of a compensating gap between the action as you move from bottom screen to top screen.

The uniquely quirky presentation, brilliantly conceived storyline, excellent cut scenes and tremendously varied gameplay all combine for a totally refreshing and fun game experience.

The game is a lot of fun, makes great use of the license, will definitely appeal to the children (although the aiming system will be a bit hard on them at first) and is even enjoyable for older gamers out there who want a light-hearted platform adventure with an enjoyable story, setting and concept.

The developers have clearly thought long and hard into what would make Raze's Hell more than just a shooter. The best thing about this title is killing Teletubbies.

It is very cute and the humour is silly and childish but it is incredibly endearing and just plain good fun.

The inclusion of local multiplayer and leaderboards to compare your stats against other players is also an added bonus that can motivate some to keep playing until they're at the top of the list.

It's essential for all fans of the original and those of you who missed Metoes the first time again should not make the same mistake again!

An impressive title and the involving storyline means that before too long you're playing it well into the night and forgetting to eat, work, or even make it to the bathroom.

The levels add further dimension to the film, depicting Neo's journey in detail that the movies never could have gone into and also help you to understand the films and the overall plot of The Matrix much, much better.

I have absolutely fallen in love with Destroy All Humans! 2 - it's fantastic fun to play, even when you're not engaged in missions but just wandering the streets messing with the humans.

Shrek SuperSlam is just like Powerstone, but with Shrek characters. I'm sure you remember how good Powerstone on the Dreamcast was, too. I remember those days well!

It's more of the same plus one - you've just got to stick with it for a while until the action really picks up.

One of the best platform offerings to hit these systems in a while, plus a quality children's game for which the competition is extremely limited.

Although by no means perfect, Cars certainly raises the bar, and hopefully the public's expectations of what a video game tie-in should be. For this more than anything, Rainbow Studios should be applauded.

You should base your buying desicion on the songs; everyone that has ever enjoyed the brilliant karaoke of SingStar in the past should pick up either of these games, with you final choice depending of you personal preference in music

Its most distinguishing feature is the quality that permeates the experience; a light-hearted-but-engaging romp in a fantastical world of alchemy and demonic teddy bears, Mana Khemia is a testament to the flexibility of RPG design - and it's a lot of fun (except that damn theme song!)

People who are looking for a fast sports game can't go wrong with this, but those wanting to upgrade might want to rent it first to see if it's worth their hard earned pennies.

It's by no means a killer application but Monopoly is a faithful reproduction of a timeless classic.

Dark Sector may not be original and it may not have a great story, but if you are looking for a solid action game to spend a dozen or so hours with then you can't go too far wrong.

A game that should be played with all the lights out, on your own, with the sound turned up loud. It really is a scary, atmospheric game and a definite "Silent Hill" beater.

As long as you have a Gamecube pad, or ideally, the Classic Controller, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core can go down as an essential purchase if you have at least a passing interest in the 2D fighting genre. It's fast, slick, easy to pick up and difficult to master, with mechanics that rival anything else currently on the market.

Finest Hour may deter the novice of the gaming world, but those who love a challenge will find piles of enjoyment here.

While the combat mechanics of the underlying Doom 3 engine are not up to the level of "SiN Episodes Emergence" or "Half-Life 2: Episode One," this is a solid shooter that adult fans of the genre should definitely check out.

It provides an experience that is simultaneously old school and fresh feeling, making it an easy recommendation for fans of the genre.

Though the super hero genre of MMORPGs is definitely a deviation from the usual medieval or fantasy styles that we've become accustomed to, whether or not you'll enjoy this game is largely dependant on whether or not you cared for "City of Heroes."

This is no Final Fantasy but so long as you approach it with reasonable expectations, Tales of Vesperia should have no trouble finding a place to call its own in the affections of every discerning JRPG fan.

Shrek SuperSlam is just like Powerstone, but with Shrek characters. I'm sure you remember how good Powerstone on the Dreamcast was, too. I remember those days well!

I thoroughly enjoyed Micro Machines V4, probably because of the heavy dosage of nostalgia that it administered to me, but also because the developers obeyed the golden rule of retro game reiteration: provide the gamer with a modern day standard game whilst maintaining the elements they loved from the original, something that is not at all easy to do.

People looking for a good side-scrolling game will enjoy it and Sonic fans everywhere will be delighted at another chance to return to the old-school roots that made Sonic so great back in the day.

It is not often I would judge a game on what it doesn't do, as opposed to what it does do, but RACE: The Official WTCC Game just does not provide anything new from "GTR 2," apart from the setting.

Smash Court Tennis 3 smashes the idea that tennis games have no longevity.

With over seventy levels and a multiplayer option, there's enough in Archer MacLean's Mercury to keep you going for a fair while.

Imperium Romanum ticks all the right boxes; with an intuitive and easy to understand interface, a varied mix of scenarios to play through and a substantially improved graphics engine, there's a lot to like about it - but it isn't perfect.

Shrek SuperSlam is just like Powerstone, but with Shrek characters. I'm sure you remember how good Powerstone on the Dreamcast was, too. I remember those days well!

Although there is not much substance to the single player game, it's fun for a while and hearkens back to the days when games didn't have to be too clever or in-depth. It's the online aspect that most people are going to be drawn to, which is immensely satisfying, even with the lag and communicator issues.

The cutsey graphics and outrageous effects enhance the title past the ordinary and in conjunction with the graceful combat mechanic, it's hard to put any downers on it.

A pleasing new addition to one of the best city builder franchises around and while it doesn't quite surpass its predecessors, it's still an enjoyable and accessible management game with enough challenges to keep fans of the series and the genre building away for weeks to come.

It is the most complete title of the Mortal Kombat series, with every character (including one who is Wii-exclusive) and worth buying if you are a fan just for this.

It makes a real change from many of the other puzzle games out there for the Nintendo DS and if this crowded genre is going to survive, we're going to need a lot more innovative games like Picross that try something different - and succeed. Simple and harmless fun, Picross is definitely worth a look.

When it works, TimeSplitters: Future Perfectis a highly enjoyable and addictive title. The times when we were able to get good online games going without any problems were absolutely fantastic, a real reminder of great blazing fast arcade shooters from years past like Quake and the classic "Unreal."