A game fraught with problems but recommendable nonetheless. When a game makes you smile this much it ‘s easy to forgive it its misgivings. And when the smile is as big as the one on my face, even more so. Now...high five!

If you can get past the technical glitches, or somehow manage to avoid them, then Sims 2 Nightlife is a fine addition to the growing Sims 2 franchise.

If you’re after something to play with your mates after the pub, or are looking for a short burst of knuckle-cracking violence, Urban Reign might be worth looking at if found going cheap.

Legends is easy to get started with and the concept of quick aggressive races is perfect for the PSP.

Even though there's a new, fancy interface (with decreased user friendliness, we have to admit), more finely tuned gameplay mechanics and a better AI, I can't help feeling that there's a bit of a lack of good ideas in comparison with "Burnout 3."

GripShift’s one of those marmite games. You’ll either fall in love with the weighty physics and adore the time based collection challenges. Or you’ll detest the numerous restarts, and missing out on progression by a mere split second.

I really like Desert of Flames but the new mob lock system really doesn't work.

There’s plenty of modern retro arcade games out there that don’t pander solely to misguided nostalgia for you to get coaxed into buying this.

It ceases to become an essential annual purchase.

One of the PS2’s better looking debacles. On a sheer destructive scale it’s a beauty.

If you’re after a simple and enjoyable hack and slash game, with lots of violence and blood, Blood Rayne 2 will be ideal, and yes, it’s worth playing, if only via a rental.

If you’re looking for a new conquest after finishing "FEAR" or "Call of Duty 2" then you’ll probably not find much in War World. If, however, you’re an old-school arcade fan and can manage a first-person shooter without much trouble, then I’d say War World is pretty much a must-have.

It's the best realistic shooter on Xbox Live and it's only real rival might be the forthcoming "Operation Flashpoint Elite," which may steal some of it's thunder.

The most telling point about the game is that it quite often made me want to throw the controller-S out of the window with anger due to missing shots I reacted well to.

Apart from the game giving our PC a bit of a rough time the story is the only other area where we have to mark it down. The story is there to guide you through the intense carnage however, and it doesn’t plead to be taken seriously. Which is a good thing because it clearly isn’t.

It’s a game that has ideas and refuses to be diluted by mediocrity. These days that’s a rare and brave thing to do.

The historical period is beautifully realised, and the included onscreen encyclopaedia is great reading. If you have an interest in this period, pirates, the age of sail - you'll find lots to enjoy, especially if you're a fan of the works of Patrick O'Brian or Alexander Kent.

The gameplay part unfortunately subtracts from an otherwise exciting experience – but Capcom deserves credit for releasing such an alternative game in times where most companies stick to the safe blockbusters.

MC3 works surprisingly well on a PSP, despite the grand setting and detail put into the original.

A great round of applause then for DICE for making a game that improves the concept and gameplay as well as Battlefield 2 does it.

If you like the humour in the game then I'd say it's a worthwhile purchase - I enjoyed the single-player adventure despite problems with pacing and some of the puzzles. However I found the online game initially maddeningly chaotic until I got to grips with the surprising complexity of the gameplay on offer.

A flawed, funny, likeable game that doesn't quite live up to expectations.

With such an accomplished and unique cinematic source, we really did deserve better.

But daylight racing is not enough to mark this game out from a crowd of games that while steadfastly sitting comfortably in their niches and not taking risks, ultimately are a lot more fun to play.

Casting morality aside for one moment, GTA: SA is a glorious thrilling ride of delinquency. It offers just enough freedom, and more than enough violence, to make for a truly epic game.

There's clearly a bright future for the franchise, though it's perhaps time EA let the team take a few risks - let more folks than just Americans play - perhaps give us a choice who we want to play as.

It's good, and will hold your interest, but with some slightly frustrating controls that aren't customisable, driving Duke owners to desperation, or a new controller S (effectively making it into a £55 game) it's only really slightly improved over the PS2 version.

Running away is a decent strategy, actually. If you see Dungeon Lords on the counter in your local games store, run away. Run as though your life depended on it.