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

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.

The graphics are top notch, the score is captivating and the sound effects are realistic but subtle enough not to irritate.

Without the hulking form of GT4 on the shelves next to it, Enthusia Professional Racing would be a worthwhile purchase. Unfortunately however, it falls short of the behemoth in almost every aspect, leaving you with little choice but to dismiss it as a capable but ultimately second-best title.

NHL 08 is the finest hockey game on the PS2 to date, although the versions on the next-gen consoles are preferable if you have the choice.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Flat Out's graphics are nothing short of outstanding, surpassing most other racers out there and with the detailed physics surrounding both the courses and the vehicles, the graphics gets a big thumbs up.

The dungeon building is fun and will bring you back, which is a credit to the quality of the gameplay. I hope that if the developers decide to make a sequel, they can focus on the combat - now that would make for an incredibly addictive experience!

Overclocked: A History of Violence is an excellent game - if you're looking for a mature adventure that will get your heart pounding then this is definitely for you.

Almost an amazing game; with a little more variety and a few extra game modes, this would have been a real classic. However, for those of you looking for a very entertaining arcade game that's great fun alone or with a friend, this comes highly recommended.

As for the on-screen display, it's top notch - everything you need to know is on the screen - boost and unwreck bar, speed, a handy map showing the road layout and locations of competitors, your weapon availability (complete with an overheat display, which if filled up causes the weapon to jam for a few seconds before you can use it again) and your armour display.

The Legend of Kage 2 won't be to everyone's liking due to its 16-bit sensibilities and challenging difficulty level, but if you're eager for something more like a traditional game than Yet More Bloody Brain Training* and nintendogs: The Lady and the Tramp Edition*, Taito's return to an era of skilful, fast-paced, unforgiving gameplay will seem like a godsend to many disenchanted gamers this Christmas.

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.

Gripshift usurps Ridge Racer as the PSP's greatest racer. In terms of fun, longevity and value for money, it even beats Mario Kart DS into submission - and that's really saying something!

A good platform game and for a licensed game it's great; if you miss the glory days of jump puzzles then it's worth checking out, and if you love Kim Possible then it's an easy recommendation for a youngster... or yourself!

The meat of the mode sandwich for 2K8 is again the Franchise Mode.

Saying whether Rogue Trooper: Quartz Zone Massacre is worth picking up is tough, as while I undoubtedly had fun with the well executed controls, which utilise the best aspects of the Wiimote and nunchuck to their full potential, the game just doesn't have that overall polish that is needed in such a competitive genre.

A wonderful surprise for GBA owners and fans of the film looking to take the experience home.

If you don't complete it far too quickly, you may become bored of the missions or the story.

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.

Spore: Galactic Adventures is, like the original game, a qualified success.

I can't say that I found anything drastically wrong with DK: King of Swing, but the tricky-to-learn controls and somewhat repetitive and short-lived gameplay make it hard to recommend as a priority purchase.

Grand Adventure manages to outstrip the occasional chug in favor of all-out wild brawling action that's guaranteed to get even the crankiest face grinning; this is one Grand Adventure that you don't want to miss if you're a One Piece fanatic, and even if you're not, there's certainly more than enough pick up and playability to warrant a rental or purchase.

It's graphically stunning, the sound effects and music immerse you into a tense and exciting atmosphere of total chaos, a strong story compels you through a long single player campaign full of variety and challenge against tough enemies and the fully online multiplayer mode can be played split screen with a bunch of bots for those without a network adapter.

My problem with Luminous Arc is that underneath the boring story, poor jokes, religious mumbo jumbo and endless button bashing to skip it all, there's a little gem of a game trying to break out.

This really is nothing more than lazy emulation of a much loved series.

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.

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.

Realism in games isn't necessarily a good thing, as most players tend to be trying to get away from realism and into a fictional world.