The benchmark has been well and truly raised; Top Spin should be your tennis game of choice.

The original Advance Wars was a great game and it will enhance your enjoyment of this sequel when you eventually buy it. And you will. It's that addictive.

One of the most instantly likeable games you're apt to play this year, with bags of charm, but there's also real substance, as well as many, many bizarre extras to keep you coming back for more.

The main thrust of the gameplay is thoroughly mesmerizing, and there's a bundle of replay value here too. Despite glitches, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven is ace.

My only gripe with Max Payne 2 would be value for money - it's a short game. Nevertheless it's slick, well made and you'll rarely have time to catch your breath from start to finish.

An instantly accessible, visually stunning and technically impressive tour de force. It's also immense fun to play.

Die hard Metroid fans will find little cause for complaint here, while gamers who are new to Samus' charms will surely be impressed.

For those of you embarking on your first mission as Solid Snake this is compelling stuff to complete and cherish.

Captures the epic corniness of classic old-style comic books without ever scrimping on the gameplay.

An impressively large and deep strategy-RPG... Not for the faint hearted, but a pocket masterpiece nonetheless.

A cross between "Motocross Madness" and the "SSX" series... if you’ve ever dreamed of doing 50 miles an hour down a shingle track or jumping an impossible 250-foot chasm on a push-bike, then this is for you.

The need to command troops might not suit everyone, or the slower, more measured approach to combat. But if you want a unique war game for your console, Ghost Recon is your only choice.

A fine addition to the series and a perfect complement to "Splinter Cell" and "Ghost Recon" in the modern tactical warfare stakes.

The need to command troops might not suit everyone, or the slower, more measured approach to combat. But if you want a unique war game for your console, Ghost Recon is your only choice.

Capcom knows a thing or two about learning curves and each victory is extremely satisfying, even if death scenes last longer than German operas and bosses always do something nasty before they keel over.

All-in-all, a great game. But you must realize what you’re getting into - despite the gloss and the big name it’s still a repetitive hack ‘n’ slash adventure with RPG leanings.

Like my love life, needs a little more action and a little less messing about to be truly excellent.

Hidden & Dangerous 2's real strength lies in its multi-layered approach. With Lone Wolf and Carnage modes for action addicts, and team control for the more thoughtful player, its depth and emphasis on stealth means that it's yet another quirky classic.

Invest any time in Dog’s Life and you’ll soon notice you’ve invested more than you originally intended.

Runs like a beauty, but it hasn't got a lot of personality.

A 3D platforming game set over a multitude of levels, there are lots of nifty ideas at work here... enjoyably offbeat and unexpectedly impressive.

An exceptional game, especially on Xbox where the original didn’t exist, but its eclectic plot could prove too much for novices while its AI vices and repetitive gameplay devices will likely annoy the hardcore PC fraternity.

Not the brightest tool in the shed, but if it’s top multiplayer action you’re after it’s sharp as hell.

When you throw in the graphics, the jokes and the ever-changing landscapes, you're left with something that's impossible to dislike.

An exceptional game, especially on Xbox where the original didn’t exist, but its eclectic plot could prove too much for novices while its AI vices and repetitive gameplay devices will likely annoy the hardcore PC fraternity.

Describing it as the "Ultimate Racing Simulator" is perhaps a little too enthusiastic, but it's a damn good game anyway, and more than worth the bargain-bucket price tag.

Seat of the pants gameplay makes it a winner. Despite difficult segments, it's still rather short... but like the Two Towers it's almost as much an event as a game.

For some it will be just a bit too much of a mindless button-basher, but for those with a bit of imagination it's a compulsive, if short-lived, fantasy world come alive.