The trouble is, the learning curve's more of a spike, so with no real variation in the gameplay, and an extremely rigid mission-structure, every few missions you'll get hopelessly, tooth-gnashingly stuck.

A sensory assault of the highest calibre with gameplay to match. It's brilliant, plain and simple. Cock your leg over the saddle and forget those four wheel zimmer frames.

The PS2 version doesn't have any extra features that might make up for the lack of certain technically impossible bits and pieces.

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

It's worth playing for its grueling gunfights and beautiful, combustible environments; just don't expect anything earth-shattering.

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

One of the goriest, sweariest action games out there but with some nice touches and a decent combat system. [GamesMaster]

More of the same might not necessarily be a bad thing, but we'd be lying if we said we hadn't hoped for better. [Import]

Just like with Doom 3, RoE works best if you're afraid of the dark, but sadly most of us have outgrown that fear long ago.

Perimeter blows most traditional RTS games out of the water. There are so many unexpected options for attack, more ways to defend, more ideas to experiment with than you'd think possible. It's an enormous, gloopy toolkit of war. And we love it. [PC Gamer UK]

If there's a nit to pick with Gun, it's that it's short. Depending on how much you poke around, you can beat it in anywhere from six to ten hours. To us, that's no problem; we'll take a short amazing game over a long lackluster one any day.

Good, daft, surprisingly tactical fun. No set-pieces to match Halo, but all the sniping and destruction you could ever hope for. [GamesMaster]

These supermen are capable of feats ordinary Battlefield grunts could only dream of, wielding 12 new firearms and racing across eight huge new maps in 10 new vehicles. Them's a lot of numbers, but then this is definitely no ordinary game. [GamesMaster]

Desperately trying to be hard-boiled but actually has more in common with action rubbish like "Minority Report." One for very forgiving fans only. [NGC]

The best DBZ game yet? Definitely. Likely to appeal if you don't know what Potaro earrings do or who Gogeta is? Probably not. [GamesMaster]

A very good tribute to an unquestioned classic, and well worth owning if you're a serious fan of role-playing games.

Essential if you're the analytical, disciplined type, but the lack of action will put off anyone seeking immediacy and action from the go. [PSM2]

It doesn't offer the same free roaming play of "Tony Hawk's," nor does it offer the high speed thrills of "SSX Tricky," but it is fresh, original and damn good fun. [XGamer Magazine]

The AI of Lara's assailants is markedly improved, the level design is ambitious (sometimes overly so) and there are a number of small, yet notable additions to the TR repertoire.

Ultramix 4 is one of the best in the series thus far. The balanced music library - complete with song-packs you can download from LIVE for $5 a pop - the great party games, decent quest mode and downright beautiful character graphics, there's not much a fan could ask for.

Tales of Phantasia is a solid RPG. It doesn't have the story chops of the last classic to hit GBA - Final Fantasy IV did a much better job of making its cast and its quest worth caring about.

It may be the last game anyone will ever play on the original Xbox, and it does the Madden name justice with its smooth play, wide range of features old and new, ridiculously in-depth franchise options, and online games.

Slick, professional and realistic, but punctured by familiarity and frustrating controls. [PSM2]

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

So while it doesn't break new ground, Scarface: The World Is Yours is one of the best sandbox crime games for the current generation consoles. It's a slick, well-executed and gritty title that'll keep you busy for over 20 hours.

The 42 campaign missions themselves use events like Pizarro's destruction of the Incas and the War of Independence as context, and are generally enjoyable, but they lack the attention to detail and narrative energy of the genre giants. [PC Gamer UK]

Another brilliant PS2 first-person shooter. Boasting realism, originality and variety in equal measure - it's the premium choice for Medal of Honor fans this year. [PSM2]

Frighteningly entertaining and remarkable in multiplayer. [JPN Import; NGC]