Some players might find themselves a bit miffed that the end of the game was essentially changed - or removed, rather, considering it now has no definite ending - but the fairly large amount of extra content added, as well as the overall change of mood throughout the Wasteland and the replay value presented, should be enough to keep gamers satisfied after dropping a mere 800 points.

With a single player campaign that lasts a good eight hours, with loads of replay value in the form of higher difficulty levels and places to explore or do differently, plus the multiplayer mode that supports 24 players online and a thriving community that love war games as much as you should, Call of Duty 3 is one hell of an experience.

To be frank, Tekken 6 features the most complete and rewarding fighting experience on PSP, and is a must buy for any fan of the genre.

Mario Kart Wii has more variety, more to do, and ultimately more to keep you coming back than any Mario Kart before it (and as a hardcore advocate of the SNES original, I never thought I would find myself saying that); but more than that, it is a flagship title for the Nintendo Wii. Not only is Mario Kart Wii the most important title that will be released on the format this year, but it will stand the test of time as one of the best games the Wii has to offer.

All told, the Sega Genesis Collection is the cream of the crop when it comes to old-school game compilations, rising above every other entry in the crowded genre to date.

It's intriguing and fun, the combat and mantra systems are not so overly complicated that beginners feel out of their depth, yet they have enough flexibility to keep the attention of the experienced RPGer. The story may be a little confusing, but the basic gist of trying to find a lost friend is easy enough to understand and working out what the rest of it means only adds to the puzzle elements.

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

The hugely substantial team based multiplayer, coupled with the headset support, is easily enough to warrant a purchase.

Offline players have an exceptional story mode to look forward to that, though short, is one of the best FPS single players I've played in a long time.

Those who love Kingdom Hearts will get a kick out of the combat and story arcs leading to the original games. As for everyone else, they'll find a fun RPG designed with the PSP in mind which ultimately lacks the certain je ne sais quoi that would make it something truly memorable.

A lightweight storyline is balanced out by a hardcore car creation mode (at least on the visuals front) and all this is backed up by the delectable Brooke Burke. It's fair to say that it beats neither Midnight Club or Burnout, but it comes a pretty close second.

What makes Sid Meier's Pirates! a game that every PSP owner should at least seriously consider purchasing is its sheer depth and replay value.

It's everything you ever wanted from the last couple of Hawk incarnations but these are things that were never included; a unique bobby dazzler of a story and loads of depth that promises to wow us all.

While Final Fantasy XIII is ultimately an enjoyable experience, the change in pace will throw off fans of turn-based battles or those who enjoyed the immediate grandeur of the twelfth installment.

Konami have done a great job of making Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on the PS2 a game that stands firm against the competition of its next-generation versions, and indeed is a cut above the rest in certain respects like the number of stadiums on offer.

Imaginative graphics and superb sound, a sprawling adventure packed full of neat touches and cool weapons, great humour and an accomplished multiplayer; Glitch embodies what games are really all about - challenge, entertainment and fun.

The differences from last year might only sound incremental on paper, but FIFA 08 provides all the polish of last year with some excellent new features with some additional flair and panache.

Although home to some of the longest load times since the Commodore 64, ModNation Racers is nevertheless a hugely entertaining kart racer and certainly the first major threat to the Mario Kart throne since Diddy Kong racing way back on the N64.

Halo Wars is an absolute triumph, every bit as well designed and beautifully implemented as the Halo trilogy; the only real downside is that it's so addictive that you'll find it hard to tear yourself away. Finished the fight? Time to start another one!

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift feels more like a refinement than a revolution, although given the success and quality of the original, this is hardly a bad thing.

Whether you're a fan of the genre or just curious, B-17 deserves your attention.

Stands on its own as a weird hybrid between RPG and puzzle games. Although the morphing process is not without its flaws, the final result is highly interesting.

It's going to last with its multiplayer online options, its diverse modes and course splitting gameplay - and all of these elements combined make the gameplay as fun as releasing a really bad fart in a really crowded area.

de Blob is fantastic fun that provides hours of enjoyable gameplay and will leave you tapping your foot and humming the soundtrack for weeks to come.

While perhaps lacking in real variety, base and resource management are at least handled in a way that prevents dragging the game down into tedium.

It's an epic experience from beginning to end, filled with dark humour, lots of action and most importantly the perfect blend of engrossing story and engaging gameplay. Throw in some sumptuous visuals and atmospheric sounds and you've got one of the best games of 2006 so far.

Bleach: Dark Souls is a great 2D beat 'em up for hardcore fighting fans but I can't see it bringing in many new converts to the genre.

The graphics are the best of any racing game bar none. The world is open in its architecture and you can drive anywhere, so you make your own destiny!