Bungie have succeeded in creating a world of characters that are impossible to care about. It turns from "Star Wars" into "Battlefield Earth" far too quickly, and even John Travolta would pass up on this one...The dominating storyline robs from what should have been a fantastic title, the atmosphere gets bogged down with drawn out cutscenes and then ultimately peters out. [Offline review only - includes multiplayer]

It's nice to see a revamp of a true classic that's been handled so well though.

All in all then, if you love the premise, you'll love the game - assuming you have the stamina to have a fair whack at it. If you don't like what the game represents, you'll be wondering why you've bought what appears to be a stuttering interactive cartoon and probably be put off RPGs for life.

Although the levels have been extremely well designed, and variety has been added, there's only so much variety that you can add to an arcade style air shooter and sometimes playing one mission feels very similar to the last, save for the difficulty and the added storyline.

There are no elements that stand out as revolutionary, however it’s rare something goes wrong. It’s impossible not to enjoy this title but those looking for a new challenge should board another tank.

It's the best copy out there. High praise, but damning with it; like the kid from the rich neighbourhood with the gold chains and stupid trainers who thinks he can rap, it might look the part but it's just not the real deal.

The only real problem with this expansion is finding the time to play it.

It's a bit of a shame that a game such as this has a flaw so crippling as a lack of tracks.

Even if you don’t intend to switch from playing some other MMO, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of a seven day stint in Faydwer.

It's surprisingly tactical and entertaining, but keep in mind you can't design your own plays, create an awe inspiring franchise or even win the Superbowl.

The attention to detail is amazing and combat animation has been given top priority.

Overall the differences between the two versions are slight and other than the inclusion of achievement points - usually rewarded for the successful completion of each level, as well as the completion of time trials and the collection of scattered artefacts – it’s literally the same game in a higher resolution with a few tagged on graphical effects.

The new interface may throw a few of the more institutionalised players off the scent, but it won’t be long before they settle down for another few years.

The multiplayer offers one of the most addictive and accessible experience since the EyeToy, everyone can play and have fun doing so.

Darwinia’s action can get repetitive, though no less addictive, and its AI issues can drag it down, but on the whole this is a refreshing game created with a pure love of gaming. Its unique interface and gameplay design set is apart from anything out there. The game’s appeal will no doubt be greatest with retro fans but its reach stretches to every gamer.

It’s not failing to reach dizzying heights of sophistication or refinement; it’s just going straight for the jugular and makes no excuses for doing that – so it can’t really be criticized for not being sophisticated or refined as a result.

It makes a welcome change from all the overcooked WWII games that just won’t stop coming out of the factories, although disappointingly enough, I didn’t catch a single whiff of Napalm. Probably not a good idea in the city. Probably.

Trimming the unnecessary features and focusing on a very specific style of gameplay, it appears to be aimed at a slightly more sophisticated audience than GTA - the oft mentioned "we know what we want" crowd.

There are a few bugs (of the game engine kind) and it’s far from perfect (it’s very short and slightly repetitive), but to experience something completely different that hasn’t been tried before or since is always worth the asking price.

RoboBlitz had the danger of being a tech demo but with a solid puzzle game behind it developer Naked Sky Entertainment has crafted a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

A well-executed and polished game marred by the fact it is so, so generic and (with the exception of the game save feature) everything is lifted from somewhere else. It’s also tough.

Even with all its letdowns and bugs it’s still an enjoyable and addictive game that you’ll be going back to again and again.

The game may look impressive, but given a play test we can't help but be a little disappointed.

What needs to be taken into consideration with Chili Con Carnage is that despite its lack of substance, and tendency to milk the ridiculous for all it's worth, it's the kind of game that can be turned on for a quick burst of action and then thrown aside until the next time it takes your fancy, something which a lot of PSP games have failed to do, and something that encompasses the whole concept of handheld gaming.

For what it is, Max Payne 2 is a successful game. It may be a tad on the short side but how long can a John Woo styled shoot 'em up last for anyway?

An Average game, with a capital A. it has lots of things that are nice about it and some that are not great. In places it plays ok, in others not. It seems entirely right that the game has been set in ancient mythical China as the concept of Ying and Yang appears to be in full flow here.

With its blend of combat and fantasy Sudeki has certainly cast its spell on me, RPG fans rejoice – a new era is upon us.

If you after the game for its online mode, you’ll find that you’ll never play the same game twice and wonder what you had been doing for the past 5 years. If you after a ground breaking shooter, you won’t find it here.

Naturally, nothing can currently compete with the current industry leaders, but with a little time and a lot of bug spray, Vanguard will surely rise far enough through the ranks to challenge the titans for their crowns.

It’s good to look at, the humour in the script actually works, it’s fun to play for the most part and it will bring you back for more...but probably only if you’ve nothing much better to do.

Cyanide (the developer) has won an environmental award for recycling but I’m not sure if this is a good thing. Given time, Sudden Death is a game you’ll grow to like but the initial learning curve and interface issues might throw a lot of people off before the game can demonstrate its unique charms.

It’s a tried and tested formula with a slightly sinister twist, set to a familiar yet refreshingly different backdrop. Its characters boast a true individuality and the story is an involving – if not a touch slow to begin with – affair, that is let down only by an imbalance in gameplay and minor camera issues.

A highly enjoyable title to while away at, offering a unique blend of "Syndicate" and "Drug Wars."

All the zingy features in the world can't disguise the simple clear room, move on level construction that forms the majority of the game, and I can't help but think that Prey was designed by a big committee who were never really quite sure what they wanted to do.

Aside from a few minor flaws in gameplay mechanics and AI, which Ubisoft is rectifying, Faces of War is a fresh take on an old classic.

A title that by nature seems much better suited to the PC - on the Xbox it never really endears enough for players to persevere and get past the initial awkwardness, and the strategy control schemes are just a bit too long-winded and cack-handed to pull off well on a joypad.

This game is a bit like an infomercial. Initially you’ll flick over instinctively, but given a chance, it will grab you and before you know it, you’ll be the proud owner of a manual food processor and a lateral thigh trainer. I’m glad I gave it enough time to settle in.

A game that tries many things in a small space.

Overall, Tiger Woods 08 is a very enjoyable game that's brought (slightly) low by a few niggles and the fact that if you already own one of the previous T. Woods games, then you're not really going to find that much more for you here other than a few play refinements and tweaks.

All in all then, it's almost there, but not quite: a good game, a good edition to the genre and a sound purchase - especially for driving game fans, but not an essential one quite yet.

Move over "Silent Hill" and "Resident Evil," there's a new kid on the block - and they supplied me with a spare set of boxers too. It's really that horrifying.

The graphics and sound are phenomenal as always, but the gameplay is still lacking that killer touch. The gimmicky selling point actually works for once this time, the pace and flow of the game is much faster and there are a number of other funky additions that go a long way on improving the general gameplay.

It's a stunning looking, fast-paced and enjoyable beat 'em up, but it lacks much of the depth and balance of its peers.

The graphics are beautiful and the interface easy to use. It’s humorous in a Benny Hill fashion and if your idea of a perfect afternoon is picking from twenty different flooring types then it’s definitely for you. All told, the perfect grown ups dolls house and yes, its got boobs.

As a confectionery item, Sid Meiers Pirates lasts about as long as a packet of Cadbury buttons or an Easter egg in the hands of a 10 year old. Like too much chocolate, you might get sick of it after a while, but you’ll come back to it sooner or later.

What this game lacks is substance. The missions, the plot and so on are as easily thrown together as they are to complete. The quick bursts of fun to be had here are indeed intense, and are partially flanked by excellent graphics, but there’s no longevity in a paper-thin premise. Arcade gaming yes, just not in the maddeningly addictive sense.

The good is the über detailed physics accurate star systems, the bad is the interface and the ugly isn't visible because this is a good-looking game hampered by really small text.

If this had come out 3 years back it would have been a top-scoring revelation, but that’s its main problem – it just feels like an older, less refined, game. There are some sound ideas in here, but simply not enough polish to really rate it.

Yet for all its minor flaws, Infernal fills a gap that has been filled on consoles by games like "Resident Evil" and "Gears of War."

I think the real problem here is not that anything is bad per se, but that it really has all been seen before.

There is something captivating about The Guild 2 that makes you put up with the bugs, the bad animations and the memory leaks.

It has a fine mixture of humorous moments, special effects and seemingly random solutions that are sure to make it a cult classic. All you need to get through it is a few old episodes of MacGyver, a spare mouse and a Nancy Drew mystery novel.

Has a great shelf life offering plenty of single player modes as well as an excellent multiplayer, so much like a round of golf this is one game that is likely to last for hours at a time.

The ability to completely control the terrain may not appeal to everyone, but you have to admit it’s a great idea. Together with the nanomorphing, Perimeter has enough innovation to turn heads and sell copies.

The additional bells and whistles of FlatOut 2 suggest enough difference to legitimise its existence, but ultimately there is nothing substantially new here.

A welcome surprise, a combination of strategy and combat in a genre that is typified by hack and slash.

You’ll need a very forgiving attitude to begin playing Sword of the New World, because it still needs quite a bit of work.

I like this game. It’s solid RTS and the graphics are fresher than ever. Aside from the odd typo, misnamed texture (did the testers get to the dwarf caves?) and sprite collision, it’s all top quality stuff.

It isn’t 2001 anymore and what once seemed fresh is now starting to whiff a bit; the play mechanics are beginning to creak with age and consequently you may ultimately find yourself more irritated than terrified.

If you stick with it, though, and you don't mind your games on the slow but strategic side, you should find a fun and inventive title hiding under all the faults.

If you loved H&D 2 but are wondering if there’s any point buying this – the co-op feature makes this well worth the purchase and will see you take up your addiction once again.

Short, cute, enjoyable games created with simplicity in mind and offset by a few bugs and an ultimately empty feeling. As it is you will find much to like here, just don’t expect it to last.

The real selling point of the latest LOW release is that it is obvious it was developed by wrestling fans for wrestling fans, Acclaim has even gone so far as to get Kevin Kelly to write commentaries for the official website.

The graphics are superb and has audio to match but is let down by dodgy path finding and to a lesser extent the humorous voice acting. As it stands it is a competent if somewhat flawed RTS in a very competitive genre.

For 99% of the game, each and every puzzle feels absolutely wonderfully worked, giving you the right amount of pleasure, for just the right amount of thought and work required. But this concentration on the puzzle aspect has only served to the detriment of the storyline, which is alarmingly simplistic and lacking on that depth that the likes of Still Life and Fahrenheit have in abundance.

Gothic 3 is a game that punches above its weight. To a certain degree it holds out well against competing RPG games but with so many bugs and lingering issues, it would be wise to hold off for a while until the dust settles.

Like its predecessor, X2 is still lacking in cohesion. Its scope has vastly improved and this is a very immersive title, but it doesn’t invite you in. You have to work for its love and get past its many ugly points – just how can you willingly subject a player to those cut scenes?

A victim of its own ambition, and one that can probably be finished during a rental – we can only hope the inevitable sequel provides more substance.

With nineteen missions on offer and an Xbox Live feature that there is enough here to keep you going until Bungie's latest effort comes onto the marketplace.

Solid. It’s neither here nor there, it’s not trying to do anything radical over the original Kohan and it doesn’t mess up any of the advances it does make. An overall well-realised RTS.

A welcome break from the many killing spree FPS titles available, it will make you wonder why Valve bothered with a crowbar when they could have used an umbrella.

A lovely idea. There's a lot of fun to be had, but the game itself seems poorly executed, and the package provides little in the way of incentives to keep you playing.

It won’t start a second coming. What it does is showcase what the DS is capable of for this genre, and does it very well indeed. It’s also a very fun, if short-lived, experience and a very satisfying one. Just don’t be disappointed when you finish it in less than six hours.

Short, cute, enjoyable games created with simplicity in mind and offset by a few bugs and an ultimately empty feeling. As it is you will find much to like here, just don’t expect it to last.

Even though Wings over Europe has a lot of stiff competition from other games, I can’t seem to get the odd ‘leaning at 90 degrees’ sensation out of my head. There’s always a new trick or manoeuvre to attempt in a different mission in a different plane. Maybe someday I’ll figure out how to drop bombs.

Kult may shake up a few areas but doesn’t change the formula, it’s like using a slightly deeper shade of purple and nobody notices. There’s a good storyline in here and if you’re up for some RPG action, Kult should be on your mind. Just don’t expect anything new.

It might not be a slam dunk, but NBA 2K5 is as sweet as the swish of any three pointer.

Though there’s supremely little that the developers have brought to the genre in Ankh, merely having the guts to present to us something in a genre that’s seen as ‘boring’ by the vast majority, means that we have to heap praise upon Ankh’s talented developers. But the way that everything has been put together outweighs the lack of originality in the gameplay and pushes Ankh towards classic status.

A curio for fans with money to burn only, I think.

Issues of graphics aside, Wild Earth: Africa’s strengths lie in the way it manages to convey information in a friendly and intelligent manner, while still holding onto a solid (if very unremarkable) gameplay system.

I can't really be too harsh on Pirates as it does do exactly what it sets out to do; it's a huge game, looks pretty enough with it's mix of cartoon animation and overhead map-views, and it doesn't sound too bad either to boot.

The problem is the blatantly obvious lack of effort that went into this game.

Pros for Lineage 2 include the good graphics, castle sieges and the sound. Cons include the interface, the blatant lack of interesting quests (especially for low level characters/delivery boys) and the soul sucking experience grind.

Falling stars was obviously designed with children in mind and I can happily say it's a fine game for them. The only problem is that one day, inevitably, a college art student will see it somewhere and it will spawn a cult, the likes of which we'd be a lot better off without.

Overall this game can’t really decide whether it’s strategy or arcade and consequently doesn’t really work as either, being too generic and limited as a fighting game and with not enough depth to be a really good turn-based strategy game.

But sadly, with the advent with more realism comes the responsibility of not indulging in the arcade-style fantasy that made games like this so memorable in the past.

Comparing NFL Street to Madden is like comparing "Redcard" to "Pro Evolution Soccer," besides the fact that both games are played with an oval pigskin ball there is little else in common.

Despite these crippling flaws, Racing Gears Advance has that rare quality of being addictive.

A good all round game. If your games shelf were a loaf of bread, Blitzkrieg would be the 17th slice down. It may not be as fresh as the others, but it’s great for toast or frying.

If you like your puzzlers and/or have a soft spot for Japanese/English curios, then you'll probably quite enjoy this. But as a full-price PSP game it does leave a bit to be desired.

Overall the game offers an in-depth experience with plenty of missions and lots of action to keep all the wannabe Biggles fans out there happy. So slap on your goggles, start your engines and take to the sky for some high flying action, Wings of War proves to be a rip-roaring ride in the skies.

It’s still far from perfect – poor graphics, camera problems, AI all take their toll – but they took a bold step and it largely paid off.

Painkiller Overdose is definitely for fans of the series. Frantic blasting action might not suit everyone but you can't really knock it until you've tried it.

This is one of those great but flawed games; if you’re up for the challenge then tackle it head on, you will be rewarded.

Could have been an excellent point and click adventure, instead it leaves a taste of unfinished development work in your mouth. Regardless, a mostly enjoyable romp and probably one of the best adventure games this year ' genre fans will love it.

A bit of a mixed bag. A half-decent tennis sim crocked by middle of the road graphics and an infuriatingly stupid and poorly implemented career mode.

Couple the ropey gameplay to the lousy load times, endless splash screens, mediocre graphics, repetitive nature of the sometimes awful levels (parts of the Vegas-esque one look like you’re driving through a giant lower intestine) and game mechanics straight out of 1996, and I’m afraid we have a real turkey here.

What this game lacks in manners it makes up for in depth, what it makes up for in depth it almost gets taken away from in the AI’s incompetence. Almost. As is, Space Empires V is terrifying in its scope and utterly absorbing if you can get through the maze-like issues it comes with.