A fantastic achievement for a first gen PSP title, it is immensely playable and arguably the best Ridge Racer on any console or hand-held to date.

With a fantastic selection of memorable catchy tunes moulded together with a simple easy to learn and addictive gameplay, Lumines is the perfect game for a handheld whether you have just ten minutes or a long two hours to kill.

It's fun in short bursts, which ideally is exactly what I’m looking for in a handheld game.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed is hardcore racing action. If you can handle it, you’re a god among insects. If not, say goodbye to any sense of feeling you had in your thumbs.

I'm genuinely struggling to overcome just how amazing WOP really is. To cram top-notch graphics, an enviably smooth control system, a soundtrack that would stand alone as a CD release and raw, unadulterated fun into a handheld game is beyond my comprehension.

The game is beatifully made even if we miss the possibility of smashing through a house with a tank, as one could in "Heroes: Soldiers of WWII."

There are a few moments in Musashi Samurai Legend that’ll raise a smile or even make you laugh out aloud, and it’s generally a fun game to play.

Quite simply the best submarine game ever, and it will provide months of entertainment.

It's a stunner to look at and genuinely scared us on more than one occasion. I'm sure Darkworks would take some comfort in knowing that. But in the end it accounts for nothing, because this turkey is well and truly cold.

Chaos League doesn't quite hit the mark because it fails to replicate what people most enjoy about sport - its unpredictable nature and the triumph of skill and control. By curbing its own ambitions, it's scored an own goal.

While it doesn’t exactly re-invent the adventure genre, The Moment of Silence is undeniably a well executed and solid title. So, if forced perspective backdrops, plausible puzzles and pulp fiction-like character and plot development are your bag, you could certainly do a lot worse than pick this one up.

The songs from the radio are nothing short of brilliant; they sound exactly like actual songs without being recognizable but they are of course in “Sim-ish”.

My only strong disappointment is the multiplayer aspects of the game. The CTF, Assault and Deathmatch games are fine enough, but the different trooper types were just crying out for some kind of class-based multiplayer action.

While there are deeper thrills to be found within "Virtua Fighter," Tekken 5 offers one of the most accessible and exciting entries into the genre.

At its worst, Nexus is painfully ponderous and distantly detached. At its best it's visually stupendous sci-fi spectacular with depth as well as style. The 2001 of Real Time Strategy if you will.

GT4 has more limitations than previous games on what you can and can't do, too many menus locked until you'll reached certain criteria.

It’s heritage only goes to highlight its pedigree as solider sci-fi we’re all a little familiar with. Another pint of Saturn’s finest, barman.

Four aside in tiny pitches, no matter how variable, loses its charm rather soon. So even if you get bored of the main beef of the game the prospect of throwing ten minutes into a friendly is a little out of the question.

With a full range of attack subs, surface vessels and the introduction of aircraft it's amazing that a simulation can remain so detailed and focussed.

There are times you want to be challenged, made to think, swept away by something unique and brilliant – and there are times where you just want to kick back and be entertained. For the latter, step up Project: Snowblind.

More troubling is the fact that, while it’s easy to aim your crosshair at any part of a locked-on enemy’s body, it’s much harder to switch between multiple targets be they men or explosive barrels.

Constantine the game is supposed to be in the horror genre just like the movie, but it simply fails to scare even just a little bit.

Fun. Frustrating. Gory. Cerebral. Engaging. Off-putting. Brutal and civilised. A thing of uneasily juxtaposed opposites, much like the Empire it's set in.

With around 50 hours (if you play both sides) of immersive RPGing and several different possible conclusions for both Dark and Light side players, you’re getting good value for money. Just try not to sweat the ending too much.

Quite possibly the best basketball game you can get right now on the PS2 and dare I say it, on any platform.

The pathfinding, especially in tight environments, can also be quite bad and the game is really in need of a lick of paint in just about every department except the music, which is an impressive mix of contemporary and classical compositions.

Fun though it is, the stalking, hunt-em-down-and-bring-em-in approach begins to wear thin – but just as it does, Stranger's Wrath...changes. It's not a twist, per se - it's pure Western convention – but it prompts a re-evaluation of the character and events of the game.

It's not that it does anything wrong particularly, it isn't adult enough to be an adult game and get the market that way, it isn't simulation enough to get that market and it isn't a good enough Sims clone to get at that market.

Part of Resident Evil 4's charm comes in recognising the various sources that have inspired Mikami throughout the development cycle. The initial stages of the game owe much to Tobe Hooper's horror classic "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," with the run-down houses and crazed psychotic villagers.

This is the perfect game for deep-thinking military strategists and an awesome ride for those who just like to blow stuff up.

Few will tire of the almost endless possibilites available to England, Germany, Russia and so on. There will probably never be a more realistic and detailed WW2 game for the PC, and if this is the sort of thing that floats your boat, go buy it now.

By no means a classic, and the online multiplayer modes aren't quite as instantly gratifying for Halo 2. But it's a very good solid game that offers value for money and a chance to get involved with a prolonged war online.

This version of Puyo Pop feels like nothing more than a last ditch attempt to squeeze some money out of a game that has been converted to every platform available in the last two years. It adds nothing - unlike the 8 player mode offered by the DS.

Planning your offensive and defensive attacks plays a massive role and is essentially where the fun lies.

I have to say that for all the minor bad points, and they are minor, I am really enjoying this title and EA has turned out a well presented game which will keep you amused for hours on end.

The lack of decent opposing AI and a distinct lack of strategic options makes for and uninspired and often, well boring, experience.

Even better than the excellent Xbox version. While it may not have the high profile of "Half-Life 2," it really is one of the better FPS titles you'll play this year. Take the chance, you won't be disappointed.

Too lightweight to be a truly great RTS. Instead it's an amazing looking diversion that won't tax an intelligent player very much. A missed chance at something very special.

With around 50 hours (if you play both sides) of immersive RPGing and several different possible conclusions for both Dark and Light side players, you're getting good value for money. Just try not to sweat the ending too much.

Something of a one trick pony. It’s all done competently, and there’s certainly enjoyment to be found here, but it lacks character; that exciting spark or polish that distinguishes the truly great RTS games. Once the novelty of the dual layer system wears off you’ll pine for a fresher, less workman-like, experience.

For an action adventure it's the almost the complete package; great graphic design, attention to detail, excellent controls and camera and well thought out levels and encounters.

The actual gameplay itself is pretty good and does reward skill unlike EA Sport's recent golfing output.

There’s always a hesitation in giving something 10 since you are essentially saying that it’s perfect but as things stand now that’s exactly what World of Warcraft deserves.

A few bugs here and there as well as some obvious yet simple features that seem to be missing add frustration to playing the game.

Sid Meier and his crew have managed to update one of the major classics of gaming so that it is now a worthy example of the fact that good gameplay never goes out of fashion.

After playing these games for what feels like an unholy amount of time (even just in the past week) I have to wonder what it is with all of the retro feel that games companies are instigating merely to show off their back catalogue.

Everything about RA is average: the weapons, the levels, the graphics, the controls. In fact, this game should be the new benchmark for average.

Plaster up your thumbs, buy a new control pad, call in sick and lock up your family because this little extraterrestrial is going to take over your life.

Certainly not perfect, but it provides an unrivalled single player experience.

A game designed to excel in all areas with one goal ' making the player feel at the centre of the action and in control. The level of interaction with the world is breathtaking and heightens the sense of danger and the rewards for success.

Those with an interest in White Wolf's property may find that it remains truer to its inspiration than the first game, and as an example of the action RPG sub genre it's definitely one of the finer titles to emerge in recent years.

A wasted opportunity.

But the problems with the game can be summed up in a mission to defend a factory, where failure meant game over rather than the continuation of the battle from that point on.

The changes made could have easily spelt a disaster in the GR series, but they've been skilfully handled and form the basis of a good, solid shooter that's entertaining and tough without being overly difficult.

It never even gets close to matching the presentation and gameplay of the PS2's Sly Raccoon and Jak and Daxter and even Voodoo Vince, the other Xbox exclusive platformer, knocks Blinx 2 for six half the time.

With age, tends to come more gaming aptitude, which will mean you’ll make quick work of Lemony Snicket’s and a yearning for a bit more of a challenge. By all means though, give it to your toddler and they’ll go wild.

Unless you happen to be a die-hard wrestling fan or a female equality activist, I’d go and play a more sincere wrestling game that doesn’t try exploit the good ol’ sex sells idea and is considered less of a gimmick for the deprived.

Overall, it doesn't stray far enough from the parts of "Jak 2" that made it a let-down and, while tolerable, it's a bit of a shame.

If The Urbz was marketed as ironic social commentary it may have raised a wry smile, but the frivolous manner in which it tries to appeal to the cool-set eventually becomes irritating.

Halo 2 online is not total perfection, but it's miles better than anything out there right now, by a long long way... It's a genuine milestone in online console gaming. [Multiplayer Review]

It provides the classical Simmer gameplay, with minor changes to accommodate the hand held format, but do not hold your breath while searching for any major innovations with regards to the DS side of things.

The game is by no means perfect, but it's a wonderful evolving experience that it's a pleasure to be part of.

The lack of variation with the missions, and with very few things we haven’t seen before, Scrapland tries admirably, but fails just short of the mark of being fully recommendable.

R&C3 is not really a challenging game nor does it try to be, it places key emphasis on being fun and fast paced.

The game is just too ambitious for the aging PlayStation 2. The frame rate, control and save game issues make the game a hard unforgiving slog rather than fun at times. But despite that there's a lot to be admired about the game.

There is tactical depth, but it’s more busywork than anything else, given that despite your choices, the game is still relatively easy.

An enjoyable but ultimately routine sequel.

San Andreas' greatest success is that it gives us more space for our imaginations than most other games do, and ties together the edges neatly with a well-crafted story and missions, adding up to a whole that few games can compare to.

Tecmo has once again shown other developers how much graphical splendour can be squeezed out of the Xbox.

If you can summon up the courage to try a flight game for the first time, Ace Combat 5 - Squadron Leader will be a great place to start.

So Sabre Squadron is preaching to the converted, playing on the strengths of its predecessor but without trying too hard to smooth its rough edges, edges that are starting to look a little rusty now.

The question remains as to whether any Vietnam based game can be actually highly entertaining and satisfying as a game, while keeping true to the spirit of conflict. Men Of Valor provides us with a little food for thought in this regard, at least.

The entire game runs on the well-known Unreal Engine, which has been extensively modified, and is now called the Vengeance Engine. Player models sport lots of detail, and the landscapes are both pretty and varied.

Mostly resembles a "Dead or Alive" version for the poor.

When you look at KUF:TC objectively, it seems to be very much more than a sum of its parts. The audio is flawed, the graphics can be dodgy, the plot is thin and the controls are iffy, yet it still proves to be a very compelling and accomplished little action/strategy game.

If you liked the original, or love games like Prince of Persia or Ninja Gaiden then it is definitely worth a look at.

With an RRP of a mere £14.99, and I’ve found it for under a tenner, it means that you could theoretically have one credit on each game and pay for the same experience of walking into an arcade with the same amount of money.

A technically and graphically stunning port of a game that was already pretty damn good, with the potential to deliver bigger and better things in future. And you can’t complain too much about that.

And there are some hilarious one-liners, but most of the time it is a lukewarm mix of outdated pick up lines and dialogue which tries to be funny, but fails. And again there is too much repetition.

There's little imagination, little independence inside their tiny minds and this makes looking after them a joyless activity. Micromanagement leaves no time for voyeurism.

The phrase fan-service has never been so apt.

If we had a penny for every bug or piece of glitchy physics we’d seen we would have a pretty hefty penny jar. In the end what could have been a potentially potent mix of gaming genres has turned out to be a below average hotchpotch of half-baked execution.

It's a casual approach to the genre, but that doesn't hurt gameplay at all. If anything it improves it.

It doesn’t take too long to get the hang of things, and while more professional moves will take practise, feeling like each match relies on you isn’t too far away.

A fantastically deep strategy game. This is good news for fans of this genre and particularly for fans of Europa Universalis. However, it brings little new to the genre and re-uses an old and tired engine.

The final levels positively encourage you to achieve zen-like levels of concentration as you determinedly edge your way carefully through without losing a life because failure means having to play it all again and the rage meter bubbling over.

The satisfying conclusion does go far to wrap up everything brought up in the game and reminds you of things you may have forgotten.

It fails as a boxing sim and it fails as an arcade fighter. It succeeds excellently as homage to the Rocky films and should please fans of the movies.

CMR2005 is a competant and at times exciting game, but it has two better rivals in "Rallisport Challenge 2" for Xbox owners and the excellent "WRC4" on PlayStation 2.

A funny little gimmick and quite a good party game, but that is all. In itself, it quickly wears out its welcome, even if multiplayer does stand the test of time somewhat better.

It's scrubbed up good, it's smarter and it's more varied, but it's fundamentally the same as the first Kohan game. Fortunately for Timegate, that means they've still produced an entertaining, rather individual game.

It’s always a shame when a game arrives perfectly playable and pleasant enough to glide through without too much in the way of frustration, while at the same time being devoid of actual thrills or jaw-dropping moments.

Relentless, exhausting and unique, although Full Spectrum Warrior is certainly one of the most innovative strategy games we’ve played for some time, it’s not always a wholly satisfying one- it often feels too much like hard work. Good, but not quite the classic it could have been.

Despite appearances it’s mostly a methodical stealth game, and a sniper’s bullet is often more effective than the powers of the mind.

Although experienced players will probably find the game too easy the new features, inclusion of legendary players and ten new courses will make it difficult for fans of the series to avoid purchasing it and a must for anyone looking for a console golf game.

You even get to see the coaches of the respective teams geeing-up their players and remonstrating about decisions and player misdemeanours which all adds up to the great overall presentation of the game.

The bugs in the gameplay make it difficult to recommend and the graphics make it unpleasant to watch.

One of the main things that has kept the franchise going strong is the community and The Sims 2 does nothing to reverse that; quite the opposite. Almost everything can be created or modified now.