A liberal splash of new ink and some gameplay innovation manage to revitalise this slightly over-familiar franchise. [Xbox World 360]

Winter Assault is an excellent add-on for an excellent game. While not enough to demand an immediate return to Dawn of War for those sated of its charms, devoted Imperial followers will enlist for this particular crusade. [PC Gamer UK]

Unique, and only the fact that it won't be every player's idea of fun (walking, listening, talking, mashing sticks...) holds it back. But to pass up on such a powerful experience based on preconceptions of 'boring adventure games' would be a very big mistake. [PSM2]

Fable's social systems are a masterpiece of design and, if the story and dialogue tend towards the prosaic, the compelling action and delicious presentation boost the experience far above the ordinary. [PC Gamer UK]

Superior visuals and enjoyable user-friendly combat make this one of the best adventure games on PS2. Onimusha fans will love it for sure. [PSM2]

Flawed though it is, any gamer worth their salt will want to master the game's impressive intricacies, and of course take their scheming strategies to the next level on Xbox Live... and to be honest, what more can you ask for in an Xbox game than that? Precisely. [Xbox World]

Tiger's undeniable quality has survived the tweaks. As impressive as ever but no great leap forward in evolution. [NGC]

Brilliant fun. An absolute blast from start to finish and, without question, the best action strategy game available. [NGC]

Far from the dodgy cash-in we expected, Kombat dwarfs the likes of Beat Down and offers genuine improvements in the formerly stagnant scrolling fighter genre. [PSM2]

If you love all things MK, you'll see Shaolin Monks as a special milestone in the franchise and a reward for your loyalty. Otherwise, it's just a fun brawling diversion with lots of gloopy blood and two unlockable characters. Either way, it's good stuff.

It looks pretty and the controls work well, but overall MediEvil lacks in excitement and is slow to get good. You'd only buy because there aren't any other decent action adventures around yet. [GamesMaster]

A funny, worthwhile and well made expansion, but let down by slow loading times. Until Sims technology changes in a fundamental way, Nightlife is going to leave all too many home on a Saturday night.

There's little chance to get bored, too, simply because of the volume of stuff to do in every race. Even a Bronze unlocks new stuff, but more obscure cars require specific goals like finishing a race unscathed or getting signature takedowns... Burnout's utterly, utterly brilliant. [GamesMaster]

A solid beat-'em-up. It's unbalanced and frustrating at times but, when the combat is flowing freely, Urban Reign is hard to beat. [PSM2]

The EA warhorse gets a much-needed injection of old-school cool. [PC Gamer UK]

If you can master the controls, you'll find a rich, rewarding racer here, one that gives a thrilling sensation of speed and as much edgy, adrenaline-filled action as you could ask for. [PC Gamer UK]

Although many of the older titles here, like Galaxian, Xevious and Rally X are undoubtedly dated, they're still faithful to the originals, which will surely please the misty-eyed nostalgia freaks among you.

There's little wrong with DOR2, but it's missing that star quality that puts you in the big leagues. [GamesMaster]

Almost the best superhero game on PS2, but let down by the fact that - when you get down to it - we've seen it all before. Still, you should definitely give it a shot. [PSM2]

Pac 'n' Roll is a really good, fun game. And with Pac-Pix already putting a smile on our faces, it seems that Pac-Man is turning out to be one of DS's biggest stars. [NGC Pocket]

It's the perfect way of working out if your flatmate's a robot - only a heartless cyborg assassin wouldn't love these fluffy little pups - but it's not for those that are easily bored of endless, patient training and failure. [NGC Pocket]

It's the perfect way of working out if your flatmate's a robot - only a heartless cyborg assassin wouldn't love these fluffy little pups - but it's not for those that are easily bored of endless, patient training and failure. [NGC Pocket]

It's the perfect way of working out if your flatmate's a robot - only a heartless cyborg assassin wouldn't love these fluffy little pups - but it's not for those that are easily bored of endless, patient training and failure. [NGC Pocket]

With amazing tactical possibilities and very simple rules and controls, Advance Wars is a fast, satisfying and brain-teasing epic that you won't be able to put down. [GamesMaster]

Sadly, this is a curiosity and nothing more. Sonic CD isn't bad but the others make us feel, well, uneasy. [NGC]

A superb game that'll only alienate those who don't really get American football. As that's loads of people, we're unfairly knocking off a point. [Xbox World]

It may be for hardcore fans and sadists only, but this is still a rewarding race. [GamesMaster]

Fans will love it, newcomers will be entertained, but those yearning for something mind-blowing or wholly original will be disappointed. [Xbox World]

The missions are challenging and detailed; there's combat aplenty; and the old paper-scissors-stone mechanic still works. But the action fails to really inspire any excitement. [PC Gamer UK]

A gorgeous, character-packed curio that combines strategy and arcade action with great aplomb. An essential purchase for nostalgics. [PC Gamer UK]

The structures of some encounters can lead to repetition, but the freedom and unpredictability of the adventure makes it indispensable. [Xbox World]

Totally devoid of fun for any age. Non-existent level design and about three ideas repeated endlessly. Steer clear. [NGC]

A game whose characters and storylines are far more engaging and confrontational than any number of big-balled third-person grit-'em-ups, presenting subjects like domestic abuse, politics and grisly execution without getting bogged down in them.

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]

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]

Unfortunately the addition of the excellent multiplayer modes and the surprisingly well executed DS conversion aren't enough to make it a must-buy. [NGC Pocket]

A great entry point for newcomers to the series and 3D is welcome, but definitely not a game you should feel too bad about missing out on. [Xbox World]

A flawed tie-in that breaks no new ground, provides little entertainment and feels like a hollow companion to the film. Your standard rushed out film licence. [PSM2]

Your pride in your ride will keep this as addictive as it ever was. If you already own it on PS2, then multiplayer is the only new draw, but it's still a cracking game. Get it. [PSM2]

A wet and wild expansion pack. Fans of the original will be inspired. [GamesMaster]

It's exactly what you'd expect but DS makes it classic multiplayer stuff. [GamesMaster]

A joy to play, a social-life-threatening venture into the ever-appealing (and for once, original) world of virtual war, and a game bursting with strategic action the like of which is absent from 95% of online Xbox games. [Xbox World]

An original take on the shooting game and a subversive take on US paranoia executed with character and style. Destroy All Humans is hard not to enjoy. [Xbox World]

Batman Begins feels more like work than fun. Look at Spider-Man 2 to see how superhero games should be done. [NGC]

Juiced fails to find a balance between the sweet and the sour, so will be a turn-off for those who like a guaranteed reward. But to others it'll be a tangy throwback to the old days, and for that we can't justifiably condemn it. [PC Gamer UK]

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]

A fun and original back-to-basics action RPG full of stuff to do and unlock. If you can forgive the awful camera and slowdown, this is definitely worth playing. [PSM2]

Your three-man team cover, flank and suppress impressively at first, but later on in the game they become more of a bind than a blessing. [GamesMaster]

What does make it great is that it actually delivers on nearly everything it promises while still being fun to just pick up and play.

More ambitious than a junior MP, but buggier than a swarm of locusts. So long, gringo! [GamesMaster]

If technical difficulties like a choppy framerate and a maddening enemy targeting system didn't get in the way, this would be one of the year's best games. As it stands, however, it's a darn good one.

Kids will probably have a blast with this, but anyone else will find it brain cell-destroyingly tedious. But we'd like more games with Zebras please. Zebras are ace. [PSM2]

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]

The encouraging thing about IG's niggles is that they're patchable. In a few months players should be positioning troops with confidence and dispensing orders on a far more regular basis. Without these improvements, however, IG will remain annoying and silly. [PC Gamer UK]

Cold Winter ticks every box on the 'perfect FPS' checklist - except for the one marked 'lasting challenge'. Good, but it should have been so much better. [PSM2]

The sparse menus aren't up to Nintendo's usual standard and the game is lacking in an abundance of minigames, but with a storming collection of songs covered and fun and challenging gameplay, Donkey Konga 2 is perhaps the best party game ever. [NGC Pocket]

Fast, varied and exacting, although its near-scientific dedication to perfection leaves it empty in the heart. [PC Gamer UK]

If there were a few more minigames on offer then Everybody's Golf would've been even better. Never mind. The level of sheer fun means this game will appeal to even the most ardent of golf haters. [PSM2]

Once you get around the surface misgivings you'll find a punchy, one-time thrill ride of a game. With multiplayer added it's indispensable. [Xbox World]

A great sim but not a perfect game. It suffers from too few tracks and a complete lack of soul, but the basics are spot on - and it's massive too. [Xbox World]

Pokemon's winning concept refuses to crumble with age, and Emerald is as much fun as our old friends Red and Blue were back in 1998. [NGC Pocket]

Plays a great game of basketball and is entirely entertaining. The only problems are the loss of a few moves from the PS2 version and a lack of extra game modes. [PSM2]

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]

While Empire Earth II may not have the sense of character that a more era-focused RTS brings to the party, it scores big for its naked ambition. If you've got the staying power, it will reward you with months of sabre-rattling goodness. [PC Gamer UK]

The best missions are better than the first Outbreak's but the others are too similar. Wait for the UK release to get the best of all words - online and fresh levels. [JPN Import; PSM2]

The sheer originality and inventiveness of Pac-Pix inevitably wins through, making this one of the most memorable games you'll ever play. [NGC Pocket]

Fast and riotous, with plenty of crud-faced mutants to shoot down, but the moment the chaos stops, so does your grin. [GamesMaster]

It had the potential to be one of the best titles on PSP, but it's marred by a dodgy control system. Agonising loading times and graphical glitches mean this is for undiscerning footie nuts only. [PSM2]

It's a Zen-like stealth game busted by wibbly AI, making it an ambitious take on the genre, but one that's too flawed to fulfil its sizeable promise. [Xbox World]

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

"SmackDown" owners will laugh at the lack of options, but WWE Wrestlemania 21 is still the best grappler on Xbox. [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]

Whether you want to follow the story-driven campaign, or simply reconstruct the motte and bailey delights of Dover Castle, you'll be hard pressed to unearth an RTS that plays for keeps quite as well as this. [PC Gamer UK]

An idea with the potential to get boring but that, in practice, is satisfyingly addictive. The puzzle mode offers fiendishly tricky logic problems which are in fact, pretty tricky. Tough but great value and worth the effort. [NGC Pocket]

It won't be for everyone - but the melee combat brings something fresh to the genre and the online games are absolutely cracking. [Xbox World]

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]

What MC3 lacks in grace and polish it more than makes up for with its raw power and sheen of cool.

This is a game that rewards care and attention by making you part of a brutally efficient machine. Other games give you a crusade, but SWAT 4 gives you the job itself - only without the hazard pay or sudden bullets to the face. [PC Gamer UK]

Brilliant but too short - you need to play this, if only to see Hayden Christiansen outclassed by a virtual toy. [GamesMaster]

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]

Add 20 to the score if you absolutely love this stuff. But for casual hack 'n' slash fans, DW5 is unremarkable, slightly lasy and a grave missed opportunity. Sorry. [PSM2]

Some exciting new combat ideas are sadly marred by sloppy execution and a feeling of similarity in some areas. Pleasingly bloody, though. [Xbox World]

If not for the board game pain, this would have been OK. But as it is, it's just another lifeless Mario Party to sling on to the slowly growing pile. [NGC Pocket]

Ultimately, Chaos Theory leaves the player stunned, excited and thoroughly satisfied. A landmark achievement in stealth gaming. [Xbox World]

It's hard to imagine anyone splashing their moolah on Ninty's new handheld and being happy to entertain themselves with pedestrian ports of antique titles such as Rayman DS.

Handsome in motion but PSP's D-pad stops it being more than a pretty face. [GamesMaster]

Not as good as the PS2 version, sadly, but still just the sort of game you'll love on lengthy coach trips. It could do with a bit more polishing next time out, though. [PSM2]