The scope for customisation, combined with the excellent battle system, a beautifully drawn game world, and an engrossing (if somewhat cliche) story means that Grandia 2 easily rivals the likes of "FF."

Bigger and better than it's esteemed forebear, but not terribly different.

Zen-balanced succulent gameplay. Sublime in single-player, supreme with friends. [PSM2]

The best comic book game ever, but a bit too structured. [PC Format]

This is, in all possibility, the most stunningly attractive game the PlayStation has ever known.

As pleasurable to gaze on as Leia, as cheekily charming as Solo, and as ingenious as Lando's moustache. [PC Gamer UK]

Bungie really has outdone itself, and better than that, it's positively ushered in a glorious new era for the greatest multiplayer shooter on the planet. [Xbox World UK]

Should you buy it? Well, simply because of the quality we'd have to say 'yes' - but next time Nintendo, please, make the experience last longer. [NGC]

If William Blake made a videogame, it would be this. If that isn't a recommendation, nothing is.

The best Age game yet, featuring frightening fantasy units without all the bearded baggage. [PC Gamer UK]

Despite the split-screen, there's little discernible slowdown and the visual detail remains spot-on. Psygnosis used Sony's Performance Analyzer, which enabled them to squeeze every last drop out of the PlayStation, and the result is virtually no pop-up and the crispest visuals imaginable.

Another dollop of glorious GameCube genius.

Quite simply fantastic. The most universally appealing Dreamcast title yet.

At times this sense of freedom is overwhelming, and attending to the minutiae can be tiresome.

Despite average presentation and dire commentary, the ever-compelling Master League progression mode, training, unlockables and online play combine with moreish, realistic action to complete the winning line-up. PES just keeps getting better. [PC Gamer UK]

Few developers have the ability to craft a virtual world with the amount of depth and realism that SI deliver here. For football fans, there is no better place to lose yourself than Football Manager's deep, stat-filled realm. [PC Gamer UK]

Worth the wait? Hell yeah. It's another stunning RPG from BioWare that, while bringing little new to the genre, is an absolute joy to behold. [Xbox World]

The best console RPG since Squaresoft's "FFVII" on the PlayStation. Get ready for a monster phone bill.

So-so bonuses notwithstanding, there's just nothing else like this on the GameCube.

It might lack the polish to be genius, but there aren't many more enjoyable or expansive driving games. [GamesMaster]

A distillation and purification of an already dangerously potent liquor. Only its closeness to its parent prevents greater recommendation.

You'll actually want to play by yourself to unlock a slew of easter eggs. [XGamer Magazine]

And because much of the content streams directly from the servers, it is also endlessly flexible, completely modular and ripe for future developments. It's going to be one of the most important games of this year and years to come. [PC Gamer UK]

The most important action game yet made for the PC. Well worth the long wait.

Superior to the Xbox version in every way... Massively enjoyable yet enormously painful, Splinter Cell is a serious game whose brilliant realism should shake up a few complacent gamers. [PS2 MAX]

It can run a little slow and it's not without its niggles, but Football Manager 2006 is still the best for football and definitely this season's best footie sim. [PC Gamer UK]

Our one big reservation is that if you strip away the tacked-on extras, even the most dedicated fan will find it hard to tell the difference between Tiger Woods 2004 and "Tiger Woods 2003." [NGC]

While SA2 offers a wealth of gameplay styles, the freshness and depth which made Sonic Adventure so remarkable has hardly been improved upon.

Riddick is a brutally nasty game. From the opening neck-crack of the tutorial to the blood-soaked minigun shootout of the finale, if it's bordering on the pornographically violent, chances are it's included somewhere here. Rarely have we seen violence so shamelessly glamourised. [XboxGamer]

A truly relentless wrestling game that will smack your head into several metal posts before grabbing your feet, twirling you around and launching you several furlongs over empty space.

It's as thrilling a drive as it's has ever been and just unlocking the decent motors will take you days of play - then you'll never tire of trying to shave seconds from your lap times. GT4 occupies the same place in our hearts today as "GT3" did in 2001. [PSM2]

It might look old-fashioned, but Advance Wars 2 is incredibly satisfying, pleasingly intelligent and never less than tremendous fun, even when it gets horribly hard. [GamesMaster]

Galvanized by the well-implemented trust management system, Splinter Cell: Double Agent proves to be another great game in this venerable series. By delving further into the character of Sam Fisher, Ubisoft manages to keep the series vital, much to our delight.

Flawed, frustrating and contrived, but as an experience it's one of the most emotionally engaging games in existence.

Almost impossible to fault. Its bizarre split personality of serious golf-sim vs crazy-in-the-face 'attitood' is the only half-slug in a perfect sporting sandwich. [PSM2]

It's tricky. Plunge in with the right attitude though and this will keep you happy for months.

More action-packed than the original was.

Realistic missions and tactics plus a superb squad system make this a must-take tour of duty.

Gung-ho and trigger happy, Frontline is horrifically good war-mongering fun. [GamesMaster Magazine]

It's safe to say that UFC is bloody hard, in all senses of the word.

A return to form for one of PlayStation's elder statesmen - glorious visuals and tight fighting make this essential. It'll be Tekken over your life in no time. [PSM]

I swear, for the first five hours FEAR was on its way to a "Half-Life" sized score. The favourable comparisons were many and various: the thoughtful and dangerously accurate guards, the beautifully designed levels... but FEAR never upped the ante. It stayed almost exactly the same from start to finish. [PC Gamer UK]

One of the most brilliantly twisted and charming adventures of recent years, featuring gameplay that's on the verge of going stale.

Tribes 2 could have been the ultimate on-line game that stood for years, but its slightly uninspired weaponry, occasionally bland level design and a control method that needs a whole world of tweaking, leave it open to much (if only slight) criticism.

With solo modes consisting of time trials, endurance tests or battles against virtual players, and wickedly competitive multiplayer games, Meteos is the most compellingly perfect puzzler we've played in years. [NGC Pocket]

The repetitive training mode and fiddly defence let it down a little but, if being the main protagonist in a civilised man's most uncivilised sport rocks your world, look no further: this is a supreme sequel. [Xbox World]

A challenging single-player, stupidly addictive multiplayer and a whopping great lifespan. [NGC]

It's still the best original platformer on GBA, mind. Stitch that Mario! Waaaaaaa! [GamesMaster Magazine]

Despite this being the fourth UK instalment and despite the core concept being one of the simplest things since Tetris, Wario Ware Twisted feels utterly unique. [NGC Pocket]

An essential, and long-lived, purchase. This is one shooter that you're going to want to savour.

We could still do with more Campus Legend mode and fewer ho-hum drills, but this is nonetheless an excellent sports game, with all the thrills and dynamics of real college football.

Despite some flaws and an overall feeling of deja vu that might alarm series veterans, Liberty City Stories is still an utterly irresistible and hugely enjoyable addition to the GTA family and an instant PSP treasure.

The levels are beautiful and are packed with things to do, but controlling Sly feels mysteriously cumbrous, and as a result the rest of the game suffers. [PSM2]

It may not be as innovative as "Half-Life 2" but it's the perfect console game and is by far the best looking game on Xbox. Doom 3 is FPS butchery in its purest form. [GamesMaster]

This update has refreshed our love of the game, bringing a new physicality and violence to online shooters. CS:Source is essential. [PC Gamer UK]

The trading, the pirating, the sailing, the dancing, the political ramifications of targeting one nation's gubernatorial and military traffic to the advantage of another... it all swims in the shallows. But as shallows go they're as clear and blue as babies' eyes. [PC Gamer UK]

An instant classic with the best multiplayer mode of any console title. [XGamer]

The best Japanese PSP launch title and a fine showcase for the handheld's capabilities. It's fast, looks great and is packed with classic Ridge tracks. And the lag-free eight-player WiFi races are breathtaking. [JPN Import]

If it wasn't a Blizzard title, Diablo II would be dismissed as the bimboesque bit of frippery it actually is, and gain no more than a passing interest from most folk. Be warned.

Empathy is the game's strongest suit, with tension coming a close second... As a whole the game's a classy, polished package.

This year it's so big, most players with full-time jobs and social lives will never see more than half of it. You almost need a map to find your way through the menu options. [NGC]

Initially disappointing, but once you get how it's using the darkness it's very hard not to love Doom 3. Great-looking, scary and a delight to play - id have delivered again.

Immersive, dramatic, exciting, detailed, never dull, challenging, extremely good looking and worth hooking up to broadband for. [PSM2]

The best thing about it is the sheer lunatic speed of it all. Stick on the bumper view, slam on the throttle and see the world at a crazy pace. [GamesMaster]

It all adds up to a breakneck racing experience that offers a lot of fun (especially when you consider the online modes) for a little cash.

Bizarre Creations haven't done much but develop Metropolis Street Racer, mapping out San Francisco, Tokyo and London in fantastic detail for what I can safely say is the best racing game that I've ever played.

It's in full-on four-player mode that Power Stone 2 attains genius status. As long as you've got three mates up to speed on the game, you literally won't be able to put your joypads down.

Souped up and ready to go, bloodying the noses of "Heavy Gear" and "Starsiege" en route . Once again Mechwarrior leads the way for the genre.

It's not quite as solid a package as the original, but the refinements and additions still add up to a worthy game. [NGC]

Morrowind will please both serious role-playing fans as well as anyone looking for a technically stunning adventure that will hold their attention longer than your average hack-and-slash title. This is the good stuff.

Thankfully, the whole thing is also infinitely better-lit than previous outing Circle of the Moon, which means that playing it without industrial-strength lighting overhead is now an option. [NGC]

Challenging, cerebral, and maddening. Hitman 2 keeps you coming back but there just aren't enough saves in the game. [PC Format]

It's fine, spectacular, stunning, in a thoroughly ordinary fashion. It thrills, but will leave those who've previously visited the series contented rather than elated.

It's a fan-frikken-smabulous game. It's the kind of game that'll feed your gaming needs and desires no matter what level you enter it at... The best platform... sorry, character action game on PlayStation 2 to date? You bet your spring loaded arse it is.

Although it can get repetitive and lacks variety, this is incredibly deep and a welcome return for Final Fantasy to a Ninty console. [GamesMaster]

An enchanting adventure in Mario's familiar world, with excellent fighting and a brilliant script. [GamesMaster]

We say it's the best Mario Kart ever and if you disagree we'll just have to humble you at battle mode until you cry real tears. [GamesMaster]

Entertaining and largely compelling fantasy adventuring of Tolkienesque proportions.

As your handling becomes more intuitive, the detail melts into the background and, with just a tiny eye-blur, you get that huge photorealism kick. [XGamer Magazine]

I've been playing Bangai-O for a week now, and I still don't know what the hell is going on half the time...Look, you'll either love or hate Bangai-O, and either way, it's extremely unlikely you'll ever understand it.

JSFR looks better than any game around but, being a bit too easy and slow, it doesn't involve or engage you as it should. [GamesMaster Magazine]

But here it's sickeningly addicting because it's completely yours, a customizable hub of adorable animal shenanigans.

If you intend to play it properly, you'll discover that it's enormously complicated. Frighteningly so. And that's what makes it so good.

An essential purchase for anyone who's ever enjoyed being on the right end of a shotgun.

On one side, beautiful graphics, superb notes, great handling and sexually arousing Group B driving. On the other, inconsistent obstacles, inauthentic modern cars, a confused brand and a small evolutionary step means that, to many, it quivers towards Yet Another Rally Game. [PC Gamer UK]

More missions, more fun and more laughs. It's just a shame it hasn't taken advantage of Xbox's capabilities. [GamesMaster]

Inspired, delightful and at times bordering on the insane. Psychonauts is mind-blowing, however it's tricky at times and definitely not for kids. [PC Gamer UK]

Packed to the rafters with ticklish problem-solving, as you have to complete your goals and collect bananas. [GamesMaster Magazine]

If you're new to the series or a Greek aficionado then this is an excellent place to start, but if you stopped playing one of the earlier games after a few levels there's nothing that'll inspire you to play any more of this one.

Eat your hearts out David Soul, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood.

One of those games that you switch on intending to have a quick blast, then find yourself staring square-eyed at in the early hours.

We've marvelled at the luscious visuals, wept at a tragic twist in the plot (true), slaughtered untold numbers of evil minions and after 60 hours of adventuring, still haven't tired of it. [GamesMaster]

Now you're talking perfection... incredible graphics and first-person shooter action, with one of the best, most elaborately orchestrated videogame plots ever seen.

They've created the first game featuring a comic book hero that doesn't disappoint.

Despite the 12 years since his debut, it's as captivating, exciting and, more importantly, as fun as it ever was - but of Sega, we'd expect no less. [GamesMaster]

"Moto GP" was already nicely buffed - this one positively sparkles. Well worth a mention is the gorgeous rain effect - you just have to see it in action. [GamesMaster]

Touch! Kirby has replay value, it uses the touch and double screens brilliantly, it constantly plays with its own elegant control scheme, and, as the icing on the cake, is not only impeccably presented throughout (the backgrounds and soundtrack are truly magnificent) but it also comes with a nice pink stylus. You can't argue with that. [NGC Pocket]

Nothing radically new but 30 missions of the most furious, vibrant, relentless, utterly insane war your can imagine. [PC Gamer UK]