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!)

A strong sense of black humour is prominent in the gameplay, the excellent story and the in-game banter, which keeps your interest in what would have otherwise been a run-of-the-mill third person adventure.

It's a compelling tale, which is more than backed up by some fly graphics, cool soundtracks and smooth gameplay.

And, if like the majority of the gaming community, you jumped on the Crazy Taxi bandwagon a few years back, then you've already seen pretty much everything the game has to offer.

When Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes to a close, it's really hard to hold a grudge or feel disappointment, as there is no denying the energy, dedication and money EA have put into creating the greatest Harry Potter game yet.

Despite being simple to pick up and play, Magical Starsign hides a complex game underneath. No doubt part of this simplicity is intentional in order to entice the younger audience that this title seemingly wants to attract. However, there is more than enough here to keep RPG enthusiasts of all ages entertained.

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

Alien Breed Evolution is a blast from the past, and for all of its graphical splendour and next gen licks of paint, it still feels ever so slightly dated.

The original classic has certainly found firm footing with the PSP and if you're tired of all the action oriented games of today then Myst on the go is definitely a palatable and refreshingly different cocktail.

The deep, twisting plot coupled with visuals that you thought you'd never see on a handheld refuse to let you go. However, when you've seen every single execution and discovered the mysteries of the plot (which should take around seven or eight hours), there isn't a lot of incentive to play through it again.

With the absence of "Tetris" on the PSP, PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient is a great puzzle game for your PSP.

Section 8 lies paradoxically somewhere between innovation and mundanity: it has its moments (zipping around the battlefield in overdrive mode is a good laugh and the orbital drops are simply awesome) but for all its good intentions, it simply can't overcome its eventually-boring gunplay.

The addition of more creatures gives it more depth and will keep you amused that little bit longer, plus the plot is amusing and explores the darker side of Eden, what with the undead running around all over the place and everything.

If you're looking for a game with legs and lifespan, Enchanted Arms is for you.

I don't care how much it hurts to say it, but I'm dropping out of this 'bonus' tour. There is no way I can stand up on stage and pretend to have fun playing Shakin', Radar Love and all the other bogus songs you put in front of a sold-out crowd who had no idea just what they were buying into.

Ducati Moto DS is more of a triumph for the industry than the consumer, because while it's great to see third party developers trying something a little risky, Ducati Moto just isn't strong enough to ward off the competition.

A title perfect for gamers of any age. It's safe for kids as there's only animated violence and it sports a simplified control scheme, yet it has enough content and challenge to keep experienced adult gamers entertained for quite some time.

WET promised so much but after years of development has delivered very little.

The major problem with this entry in the farming series however is that it's a sloppy conversion. From the controls to the fact that some people in the game refer to the R button on the Gamecube controller, there are too many things wrong with this version to recommend it to a Harvest Moon fan over the Gamecube and PS2 titles.

As a Wii game it's way beyond every other FPS on the system (other than Metroid ) in terms of controls and graphical fidelity, but when compared to the full breadth of the FPS genre, Conduit is more akin to TimeShift and Haze.

If you're looking for a full on sim of the sport then you might be better off with EA's latest iteration but if you're looking for a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play hockey game then this is right up your rink.

Rag Doll Kung Fu is fun. It's a laugh. And isn't that what gaming is all about? Sure, it is a bit of a five-minute wonder, but there are worse ways to spend your gaming time.

Quite how they've managed to take such a nice, concept-limited sport such as NASCAR and transformed it into a highly immersing videogame is unimaginable, but while this year's handling models and Sprint Driver Challenge mode will open its doors to newcomers and veterans alike, it's safe to say that NASCAR 09 remains a NASCAR fan favourite due to the nature of the sport.

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 never reaches the heights of "SSX" or the pure finesse of "Project 8" though, leaving Downhill Jam stuck somewhere between a rock and a hard place.

It has enjoyable missions, lovely graphics, great sound and is fantastic for kids. However, I think it lacks the depth needed to please the older gamer and it doesn't really offer a lot of challenge.

SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 might not bring anything particularly new to its now-outmoded platform, and there are certainly superior alternatives to most all of the games it collects out there, but as a confirmed crowd-pleaser and in terms of sheer bang for your buck, you'd be doing the gaming industry of yesteryear a disservice if you were to overlook it on those grounds.

Still, if you're a fan of Eastern RPGs this is likely to appeal deeply to you, whilst the more westernized gamer will probably steer clear despite the obvious Western influences that Softmax has bravely taken on board.