Total Overdose is certainly fun if all you're after is a quick blast and something that doesn't tax your mind meat, but it isn't nearly as multi-faceted as it thinks it is. [PSW]

But on its own merits, TO is brash, energetic, none too taxing and more than capable of providing some solid midtable entertainment, while GTA and the like get on with battling it out at the top of the tree. [PC Zone]

So while we're disappointed with the misplaced innovation and the lack of advancement, we still can't deny that it's Rome, that it's raised our bloodlust and our hackles in equal measure, and that it refreshes those parts that other strategy games just won't reach. [PC Zone]

It may not always be pretty, and some online play would've been nice, but for older gamers looking to revisit their misspent childhood down the local arcade, and younger gamers searching for a lesson in gaming history, this is worth snapping up.

Big, brash, unashamedly daft in parts, this is Stephen Dorff's best role in ages, but he's still upstaged by the beautiful scenery and teeth-grinding action of this masterful shooter. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Sure, the action could be seen as mindlessly repetitive, but then to an extent you're only limited by your own creativity. Just kick back and lap up the theatrical gunplay in this sizzling shooter, and you won't get burned. [Official UK XBox Magazine]

It's almost as if Midway has run out of retro games to repackage, apart from some crappy old driving titles it found in the back of a filing cabinet that weren't good enough to make the first two Treasures titles.

It's fair to say there's spectacularly little that's actually new in the game, but for a different slant on the snooping genre and some well-executed shadow-hopping, you can't go far wrong. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

But savour these one at a time rather than devouring them all in an afternoon, and you'll find this to be another pleasant trip to retroville. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Sadly, despite this commendable attempt at innovation and the lush graphics, Bet On Soldier's combat and (non-linear) story doesn't engage on the same level as the real shining lights of the FPS genre.

It's a game that you'll want to keep playing to find out what happens next, which is always a good sign. [PSW]

The frustrating controls haven't been improved much, and Sly's movement is nowhere near as smooth as we'd expect.

Game-starved Xbox owners raved about Top Spin a couple of years back, but don't let that fool you into thinking this is anything special. [PSW]

EA's new graphics engine makes a difference too. Things are noticeably sharper and more free-flowing, meaning that the frenetic on-court movement of players doesn't get lost inside your PS2.

Those with sausage digits may want to stick to the more arcadey "Everybody's Golf," but otherwise Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 is in every way the superior golf game. [PSW]

When all's said and done, this is an old game - an excellent old game and a beautiful old game - but an old game nonetheless. But if you haven't played it before, now's a great time to do so. [PC Zone]

Ties That Bind offers the best kind of horror in gaming, because it never cops out and tries to put you at ease. Surreal Software really doesn't care if you're disgusted, offended or just plain horrified by what you see. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

NBA Live 06 does take a step into slightly more appealing arcade territory with its star player system. Essentially, certain players now possess 'star' powers in particular fields (shooting, blocking, three pointers and so on), which adds a nice strategy element with respect to building up a well-rounded team in Career mode. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

NBA 2K6 also has full Live support, something that mysteriously disappeared from "NBA Live 06" just before it was released. Take your pick. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

It's great when it sticks to the story, but too often it gets caught up in a seemingly pointless loop. Even so, it's still the best looking Spider-Man game yet. [PSW]

Don't get me wrong though, even though the end product is useless, creating your own game is fantastic fun - just don't expect to become the next Carmack. If you want to do that, start learning binary now. [PC Zone]

It plays like a giant, interactive comic-strip, and with Treyarch's 'Comic Inking' (that's cel shading to us) so tastefully illustrating the whole shebang, you'll wonder what the appeal of the first two Spidey games ever was in the first place. [Official UK XBox Magazine]

If you're a "Dawn Of War" fan, Winter Assault is absolutely essential. [PC Zone]

Forget buying three DVDs of crappy movies you're only going to watch once and buy Fahrenheit instead. It's longer, boasts more action, costs the same and offers far more crash for your cash than many a movie. [PSW]

It's the Versus mode which stands out - hurling streetlights and taxi cabs at Captain America is no end of fun. [PSW]

You'll be hard pressed not to play this with a cheesy grin on your face and your tongue sticking out (the controls are a little tricky to get to grips with). We Love Katamari - you'll love it just as much as we do. [PSW]

Genji is such a shallow and easy game to complete that it won't keep you busy for more than six or seven hours. And that's only if you can stomach the long-winded cut-scenes. [PSW]

This is one for the fans, since the complicated gameplay and ultra detailed stats make it intimidating for nonenthusiasts. It's a quality game, but it may test your easy-going nature. [PSW]