Summit Strike does exactly what it sets out to do; provide a decent extension to the Ghost Recon experience and breathe new life into the franchise. And at 20 quid, it's a bargain package to tide you over until the release of Advanced Warfighter. [Official UK XBox Magazine]

If more time had been spent polishing the graphics, enemy intelligence, animation and, erm, just about every other aspect of presentation, the good ideas could've had a chance to shine. Sadly, instead what we have is just another bloody war game, and not even a very good one at that.

If you have Live then we can't recommend Black Hawk Down enough. Sure, it's no "Halo 2" (something it thankfully never even tries to be), but when you fire a screaming RPG into a chopper carrying a dozen or so enemies, you momentarily forget all about the terrible, stunted single-player experience. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

There's no doubt that as a casual tennis game, this is loads of fun. But if you're looking for the depth, simulation and total shot control, you might be left fuming that your little sister could beat you with random crazy shots. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

So in the end, Panzers Phase 2 is to Phase 1 what the Nazi invasion of France was to the Nazi invasion of Poland: effective, but relying on pretty much the same troops and tactics. [PC Zone]

Once you get going with the twin swords and start levelling yourself up, the urge to unlock bigger, sharper swords and kill more things quicker really starts to burn. It's certainly no "Soul Calibur III," but it's enough of a war horse to be worth a punt. [PSW]

Get FlatOut and prepare for the most fun you've had since that day you laughed so much you splurted milk through your nose. It's one of those driving games that tickles all your fun buttons at once, leaving you with a massive grin.

It's a shame, because the action can be hugely entertaining, but without a satisfying structure to hold it all together, FlatOut is at best a fun diversion. [PC Zone]

The ominous Willy Wonka himself, whether it was intended or not, looks and sounds disturbingly like Michael Jackson, and his army of Oompa Loompa slaves are no longer the orange-skinned and green-haired midgets we know and love. [PC Zone]

You could say FlatOut is a bit like your favourite page three girl. Great to look at, boasting accentuated physical attributes that sometimes defy gravity, yet underneath is a filthy minx who loves to get dirty with a group of mates. Fun, enjoyable and instantly playable. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

(Altogether now) Oompa Loompa Doompadee Dah, I'm stunned I bothered getting so far. You will live in misery too, if you play this Oompa Loompa Loompa Doompadee Doo. (Doompadee Doo.)

The art style is superb and there's something compelling about the simplicity of an extremely linear experience. [PSW]

The whole experience ends up falling a little flat. The main problem is that there's no great story to really pull you in. Yes, there are over 20 weapons to collect and upgrade, which is fun, but the narrative is sadly lacking. [PSW]

If you and a group of mates do enjoy blowing the sh.t out of each other, however, you'd be as misguided as 343 Guilty Spark to miss out on this. Fifteen quid to add another year's enjoyment to an already fabulous title, or eight quid for five spanking new ones over Live? Yes please to both! [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Battles are buzzy, entertaining affairs, full of energy and outrageous special moves, but as a complete package this falls way short of what we'd expect, especially when for the same money (thirty quid) you could probably pick up "DOA Ultimate" or "Soul Calibur II." [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

While The Bard's Tale is told amusingly enough, the disappointing combat fails to lift it from the upper end of mediocrity.

But it clearly screams console from every pore, mysteriously labelling keyboard controls as move icons in its frequent in-game hints, which engenders all manner of frustration. [PC Zone]

Graphically speaking, Fantastic 4 is tired and ropey and depressingly familiar to look at. There's plenty going on, sure - the game copes well with teeming armies of bad guys - but the character models are basic and the arm-through-wall style glitches and wobbly camera are just embarrassing. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Phantasy Star Online is jam-packed with special gaming touches all combining to create one of the most pleasing gaming environments around. [PC Zone]

It does an excellent job of expanding RCT3 - not only are there the nine new scenarios, but you can also use many of the new features in the existing scenarios, which is a nice touch.

Graphically it's stunning to behold, geographically vast to explore and whereas the first two games in the series were typified by the anarchic rushes for armour, BF2 promotes and rewards altruism and teamwork like no other.

Factor in a visceral shooter splattered with as much humour as the original, impressive graphics, innovative puzzles, and more importantly, a cracking script, and you've got two fantastic party games for the price of one. It's a corker and no mistake! [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

The countless in-jokes and references to other films, the mocking comment of NPCs on the American dream, and even the less-than-loving relationship between Crypto and his controlling superior... all the icing on the cake of an incredibly fun actioner.

Perhaps the biggest letdown is the driving levels featuring the Batmobile. These commit the worst act of plagiarism since Oasis began ripping off themselves from their third album onwards. [PSW]

Live is included as part of the deal, and further downloadable characters, stages and moves are promised. Which will make the purists squeal, though they may be the only parties really interested in this blast of rose-tinted nostalgia. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

It's good. Clichéd nonsense, but good. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

The driving itself is seriously good fun and that really is the most important thing. This is a great game made even greater by its protracted stay in the developer's waiting room.

Juiced has come a long way since the fall of Acclaim. It's still a huge undertaking, full of masses of depth, but it now plays and looks a damn sight better too. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

A competent and rewarding game worthy of a couple of days blasting. [PC Zone]

There's a mind-boggling amount of stuff to do.

A definite improvement on "Rising Sun," but the squad control has been done better in "Brothers in Arms," and "Call of Duty" provides the same level of intensity. Instead of being a standout title, European Assault is really just another WWII shooter. [PSW]

With a lot of unforgivably repeated gameplay areas and almost zero replay value, this is a brief blast of fun that can't go the distance.

For a series that started the whole World War II shooter experience, Medal of Honor now finds itself occupying a strange middle ground, neither floundering as it so obviously did with "Rising Sun," nor presenting any kind of serious challenge to the innovative "Brothers in Arms," or even "Call of Duty."

It's way more savvy than most movies about gang violence.

In all, KOH is a studious and elegant RTS that benefits from a smooth interface and a balanced system of game mechanics. But sadly there's only one way to play the game: slowly. It's really quite a sedate experience, in fact too sedate, and after a few plays, only the committed will want to stay with it.

Right now it is compelling, but riddled with so many problems that if you part ways with your cash for it, you're entering into a pact that will give you as much frustration as entertainment. [PC Zone]

Bereft of tension and riddled with lazy animations, ER is far from infectious, though it does have an underlying charm that might dazzle the more clinically inclined (or failed medical students).

The combat quickly becomes repetitive, simply involving mouse-clicking on-screen to shoot at the blindingly stupid enemies blundering towards you, retreating if they get too close, then shooting again, maybe using a barrel of explosives for a bit of a change.

Surprisingly enjoyable stuff while it lasts, and just as amusing as the film. Short and easy, but only because it's primarily aimed at the kind of people who still having trouble fastening their shoes (and we're talking about the Velcro ones here). [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Has a forbidding atmosphere (beginning on a ship and moving to an oil rig), violent blood-letting and superb environmental effects. However, we've seen the same kind of lame puzzles (sodding keycards anyone?) and storylines a billion times before. [PC Zone]

The option to use realistic damage will reward all that time spent in the single-player game nailing head shots too. Those of you with a Multitap will have great fun here. [PSW]

Not a terrible game, but shoddy, rudimentary presentation and basic gameplay means this is one for the purists only. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

To be fair, Capcom is pitching Haunting Ground as 'psychological' horror rather than a straight-ahead survival horror, but that's hardly compensation when the supposedly terrifying lead baddie looks more like 'Sloth' from The Goonies after a bad makeover. [PSW]

The title simply appears to have been rushed out without any testing, which is a real shame because underneath its problems, Dungeon Lords is a solid and enjoyable, if not ground-breaking RPG. [PC Zone]

There's no denying that SWG is hardly in the best of health right now and something drastic needs to be done to restore balance to the force. Certainly something more than a simple expansion pack, that's for sure. Help us Lucas-Wan, you're our only hope.

So despite a slight lick of paint, especially in the newer areas, AC2 still sports one of the ugliest interfaces in MMO history and has game options that are insultingly simplistic. [PC Zone]

The game can and will entertain, but both myself and its creator were clearly expecting better, brighter and more narratively-coherent things. [PC Zone]

The real fun is to be had in multiplayer, with a civilised round with up to four of your mates available via Wi-Fi and plenty of challenges and tournaments to compete in.

The single-player campaign, though over too quickly, is immensely enjoyable, and the relentless action never becomes monotonous thanks to the brilliant array of weapons. Multiplayer is a riot.

If you want "Project Gotham 2" with more depth, or "Gran Turismo 4" with less tedium, Forza Motorsport's a fantastic mid-range choice. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Guild Wars is all about the gaming experience and that experience is one of absolute pleasure from moment to moment. [PC Zone]

Empire Earth II may not be the best historical strategy game on the market, but it is bloody good all the same, and points to a bright future for the RTS. [PC Zone]

Suffice to say, even Resident Evil-loving broadband-obsessives will struggle to wrestle any fun from what is, essentially, a second detour down a dead end street. [PSW]

Faithful to the films in terms of character, the game is a victim of its own ambition - too clumsy to be a stealth 'em up, and too generic and monotonous to be a credible actioner. Shame. Now, where's that thermonuclear device...? [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Neither scary nor particularly engrossing, Area 51 is an exercise in keeping the trigger pressed and the aliens streaming out of the screen. The truth, it is sad to say, is still out there. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

More bungling thief than Entrapment-esque vixen, this is a criminal excuse for a stealth 'em up. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

A slow, moderately discomforting wheelbarrow ride into an Xbox-green sludge-pool of grump-making mediocrity. [PSW]

Missions are equally dull - blow up this and collect that, nothing you haven't seen before. You can have a mate join the killing in co-op mode, but that's only fun for an hour. After that you'll have exhausted most of Raze's Hell's potential - apart from its potential as a makeshift frisbee. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Dazzlingly clever and way left of field - if you want a platformer where collecting 99 gems for an extra life actually means drilling through someone's psyche to their darkest secrets, you're in for a treat. Bizarre, but beautiful. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Inconsistencies such as the out-of-date player roster (why are Jazz and Nidia still there, yet characters like Heidenreich, William Regal and Torrie Wilson aren't), the fact that only four wrestlers are ever allowed on screen at once (why not six, or eight?), and that the list of unlockable legends is limited to say the least (no Hulk Hogan!) [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

It's all perfectly meaty, well-constructed stuff, and there's little you can fault, other than the fact the subject matter isn't particularly engaging. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Overall, there's no standout reason to upgrade from previous editions. But if you're new to backside-blistering fun on four wheels, Fury 3 is worth a blast. [PSW]

While not a universally terrible effort, the tense stand-offs and tight urban combat is let down by the weak interface and poor consistency in your squad's AI.

There are a handful of games that provide greater economic depth, or are more immediate and spectacular on the field of battle, but few marry these two traditional aspects of real-time strategy so seamlessly and with so much charm. [PC Zone]

This new shooter in town didn't just impress us, it blew us away with its gorgeous looks, balanced weaponry and unbelievably fun gameplay. We're now scarred by this illicit encounter, and no FPS experience will ever be the same again. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Dead to Rights II feels like a stripped down, budget version of the first game but at a top-whack price. It's content to retread old ground, which wasn't all that solid to begin with, and fails to bring anything genuinely new to the series. [PSW]

The sheer accessible quality of Jade will grab the huge portion of mainstream gamers introduced to the role-playing genre by KOTOR, and drag them kicking and screaming into a sumptuous, surreal world of elephant demons and ancient lore - a considerable achievement for a new franchise. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

In MC3 everything is real big. Customisation real big, vehicles real big, racing real big, online real big, adrenaline real big.

Chuck in the countless car-tweaking and customising options and brilliant multiplayer modes, and it easily slipstreams ahead of the other modding racers around. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

For most it will be a tall order to overlook the crude graphics, let alone forgive the punishing difficulty levels and total exclusion of Skirmish options. Sure, it's nice to be offered a new historical setting for our RTS pursuits, but it's hardly a good reason to choose this game over one of the many better options cramming the shelves.

Once you get used to the controls you'll be fine... but all too often levels seem like chores rather than challenges. [PSW]

Sure, there are a few problems too, most notably some cringe-worthy graphical oversights - weapons spinning in mid air for example - and the fact that you can't climb over low walls or fire through higher, thinner ones when enemies are using them for cover, but ultimately, this is a game of huge quality and entertainment. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

All it needs now is a more advanced engine to power a sequel, a more involving sense of training and life in a pair of SWAT shoes... That, and a willingness to continue dealing with the dark underbelly of real world criminality without pulling any punches.

Of course, it's still a bit of fun - silly, mechanical and repetitive perhaps, but fun nonetheless. There's enough ultra-violence here to entertain the young and forgetful, and the new weapons, if not a revelation, do improve the game. [PC Zone]

Groundbreaking in graphical and audio terms. It's just that the combat and the mission pacing come across as slightly dated and they're two very important factors. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

The perfect rental title. Brilliantly playable, beautifully detailed and choking with charisma, it's also linear, too easy and a shallower than a midget's beret.

Don't change the style - we may already have mentioned once or twice that the style's perfect. Just make more of it. Make it harder, more of a challenge, more of a game.

Maybe if Japanese development team Tranji had spent less time trying to show off Kurenai's posterior and more time tweaking the basic mechanics Red Ninja could have been a half decent alternative to Tenchu. As it is, much like Kurenai herself, this is one game that may look nice from a distance but turns into a right horror show when viewed up close. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

The presentation is also seriously top-drawer. You can see the standard of the graphics with your own eyes, but what you can't see is the triple-A voice-acting and the dirty, groove-laden soundtrack delivered by Amon Tobin. [PC Zone]

Likening Full Spectrum Warrior to a game of chess is more accurate than you might think.

Gorgeously lit levels create some amazingly atmospheric - and realistic - shadows to lurk in. The cod liver oil's been doing the trick too, as Sam's slinky, cat-like movements are animated in a stunningly believable way. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

And what is it with the cut-scenes? They've roped in all the voices from the film, so why can't they make sure that the figures look better? It's a mystery even Spidey can't solve.

Certain hardcore gamers may look down on God of War: it's short, it's linear, it's showy and it's accessible. But it's also a towering achievement of game design and attention to detail that even manages to make recent hits like Devil May Cry 3 look rusty in places. [PSW]

It feels like The Matrix Online was released six months too early, with an avalanche of bugs and glitches (inaccessible revolving doors, crap camera, malfunctioning mission goals), compounded by poor presentation and somewhat repetitive gameplay and locales.

An impeccably presented hour gobbler and we love it all the more for that.

Offers lots of cars to unlock, and plenty of challenges and game types to keep you amused - it's not by any means the worst driving game ever made, and it's a snip at 20. But, much like the Ford brand itself, there isn't really much in the way of glitz or glamour to it either. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

With a potentially unlimited number of user-designed maps that can be shared over Xbox Live and even user-generated stories with scripted AI events, this game has the longevity of Rasputin and should spawn one of the liveliest online communities yet. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

The widescreen beauty of the PSP is entirely compromised by the fact that the action takes place in a TV shaped box to the left, while maps and stats fill all that lovely extra space. It's nice to be able to see where you're going, sure, and we appreciate not having the action cluttered by displays and icons, but it kind of takes a way the whole point of having a screen the size of Kansas, doesn't it? [PSW]

There's a lot to like about Brothers in Arms, and the tactical element is much more than just a tacked-on gimmick. But with below-par visuals and unbalanced gameplay, we're left with a somewhat sticky and unappealing shooter with a lot of unfulfilled potential. [PSW]

Takes the old-school RTS formula and enriches it in countless cool ways, using the lessons of the past decade to create a single-player campaign that's as valid and exciting as anything else in the genre. [PC Zone]

There's a smattering of good ideas in Samurai Legend, but they're quickly crushed under the obesity of mindless combat and poor design. One to avoid. [PSW]

There's a difference between paying homage to and simply recycling old material, something this game fails to appreciate. The graphics might be up there with the forthcoming "Resident Evil 4," but the gameplay owes a huge debt to the first Resident Evil game. [PSW]

The AI puts up a good fight at the higher realism settings, and should you wish to throw caution to the wind and try manual torpedo solutions, you'll either be in maths heaven, or find your brain oozing from your ears (or both). Don't worry - it's a lot more fun than it sounds.

Forts is probably not for everyone, but those of us with hearts as squishy as the loveable mud-chewers themselves will be in seventh heaven. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

It's just a bit too flawed in its execution and weak in the storytelling department to make it anything truly terrifying. A reasonable effort, just don't expect it to give you really horrible nightmares. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

The simple tracks and handling might not be all that far removed from NFSU 2, but it's still a game that seems better suited to PSP. If you're after more than the pure thrill of breakneck speed, get this over "Ridge Racer." [PSW]

A more than decent game.

Luckily, it's dead simple. When it comes to squad-level infantry manoeuvres, tactics have changed little in the last 2,000 years (so we're told), and they're almost insultingly basic. [PC Zone]