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.

If you just want an interesting and slightly challenging way to pass the time then this is a bit too difficult so knock the score down a notch, but if you're a crossword pro then add a point or two - oh, and that six letter word was 'plague' just in case you're reaching for the dictionary.

Everything about it is unpolished (save for the bearable shooting), from the graphics to the lack of any comprehensible plot, demonstrating why you should just go and see the movie instead.

The thing that stops it short of the perfection it's aiming for though is that it's like a magic trick. Initially you'll stumble around, stunned and trying to take in how it all works, but as soon as you get it, you cross that invisible line from audience member to magician, and, while the pleasure of the ingenuity remains, the magic is gone.

There is no alternative that comes anywhere close to capturing the joy of virtual existence in Liberty City - and that's exactly why it deserves full marks, because it pushes the envelope for immersive, modern, virtual worlds further than any other game - that and the fact that it simply has to be played by anyone with an interest in videogames.

It's prettier, more detailed and more fun than ever before; it may have stuck to the same formula, but it's as effortlessly brilliant as ever.

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.

With a mediocre physics system and a severe lack of alternative modes, you can't help but wonder whether SouthPeak's creation would have found a better home on the newly-created WiiWare service, where simplicity and value go hand in hand.

The hardcore will love its every moment, but casual gamers looking for a gateway drug into the role-playing genre won't give it a second look; like an arthouse favourite or a good long book, it's slow to pick up but impossible to put down.

Be it the basic, largely pointless Story Mode or the by the numbers Multiplayer Mode, Battle of the Bands never ceases to feel like a missed opportunity and a huge disappointment.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time isn't a lazy game, it's just that the template it's based upon is far too antiquated to meet the needs of today's gaming audience, yet not enough to satisfy dungeon hack enthusiasts.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness isn't a lazy game, it's just that the template it's based upon is far too antiquated to meet the needs of today's gaming audience, yet not enough to satisfy dungeon hack enthusiasts.

Jack Keane is the most enjoyable point-and-click adventure I've played in a long time. It will appeal to almost every adventure fan, as the puzzles gradually get harder, while the game successfully reproduces the vibrant, humorous and slick atmosphere and antics of beloved classics of this proud genre, like Sam & Max and Monkey Island.

The slick look and easy to use feel of Europa Universalis: Rome combine with its astonishing depth and freeform style to provide a truly compelling and quite unusual game experience.

Graphically it's a huge step up not only from GT4 but from every racing game (and indeed most games) that we've seen so far, and I'm sure it'll look even better in the full game.

Okami is a beautifully presented, supremely playable, wonderfully original game that's well worth purchasing.

It is very good. Next time around I'd like to see a smidge more variety in the puzzles, perhaps a few more mini-games and maybe a multiplayer mode for some of those mini-games would be good - oh, and checkpoints in the longer levels!

You can actually download better items on the Sims Item Exchange on the official site for free, where talented fans make new items for the sheer buzz of a little bit of praise and recognition and not for your pocket money, so if you're hankering for a house makeover then I suggest you look there instead.

Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis is certainly a great addition for the currently somewhat parched adventure game genre, one that'll entertain both fans of the books and players who love to stretch their minds, keeping them busy for a while.

Hardcore gamers need not apply, but with terrific voice acting, marvellous controls, a sense of humour and a difficulty curve that refuses to patronise, this game will certainly find a place in the heart of every young - and young at heart - gamer.

If only the graphics were prettier, some better character customisation was included and the punishment for death had been significantly reduced, then Baroque could have been sitting smugly near the top of the Wii game chart, instead of floundering about in the lower regions.

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.

FlatOut: Head On looks a bit like a nice slice of cake, but in reality it's more of a biscuit. It's not even a particularly pleasant biscuit, either; the first bite or two is nice enough, but after an hour or so you'll begin to taste the bitter unfairness of the AI, or the stale mini-games, or the… well, you get the idea.

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!)

When you are attempting to implement two gameplay styles then you'd better be careful that there are no distractions or irritations to the player, or the tentative grip a game has to build upon will be lost. Stranger is still just clutching out with a gauntleted hand.

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.

Excellent implementation of an intuitive control system, an engaging storyline and the many tactical differences between the three factions on offer all add up to make Universe at War: Earth Assault a fairly good game.

It's no Resident Evil, and if you're new to the genre then really that's the place to start, but ObsCure II does provide a few scares and there are far worse ways to spend a few hours on a dark, lonely night.