One of the most refreshingly racing games in a long time and the clear, concise, interfaces and controls make it a delight to spend time with - especially if you're playing alongside some mates in the split-screen mode. It's awesome stuff. [Xbox Gamer]

Catching new 'recruits' is as addictive as ever, and the range of missions is impressive - whether retrieving stolen Pokemon or saving friends from the extra dimension, XD always feels fresh and exciting. This is the Game Boy classic fully reborn as a top Gamecube RPG. [GamesMaster]

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]

This new ability to duel on demand is sure to please fervent fight-fans and is a very useful training tool for those wanting to prepare intensively for an on-line rumpus.

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 interlocking level goals in the career mode ooze intelligent design. [Xgamer Magazine]

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

The single-player campaign doesn't cover much new ground but the multiplayer takes no prisoners. [GamesMaster]

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

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.

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]

An underwhelming conversion can't quite obscure its brilliance. [XGamer]

A genuinely amusing game, with plentiful dialogue from the show and fresh contributions from the cast, and for the fan there's a wealth of in-jokes and references (such as the Stonecutters' secret tunnel, or the burning pyre of tyres). [GamesMaster]

Quake 4 has set-pieces to knock your jaw off, provides flawless, timeless multiplayer and the Doom 3 engine does the business with the graphics, but the lack variety means the earth won't quite move for you. [GamesMaster]

It's something different, a fighter that refuses to succumb to more worldly pretentions, but one that feels so right. [Xbox World]

A fun romp that stays interesting no matter how you play it. It has its share of flaws, but for fans, this is the first Star Wars game to have it all.

A genuinely good third-year romp for Harry. Accomplished and absorbing, it's not quite magical but it's certainly no muggle either. [GamesMaster]

You've almost got to love Mortal Kombat if you like gaming. It's big, it's brash, it's bloody and it's not in the least bit ashamed. Fatality! [Xbox World]

Repetitive in the long-term. But, as a gaming experience, it can't be beaten by anything else on Xbox or other games machines. [Xbox Gamer]

Thanks to the easy-to-use controls and smooth action, it has set a high benchmark for others to try to reach. [PSM2]

It's also undoubtedly Harvest Moon's high point, expanding the freedom of play while retaining the bright, simple aesthetics and pantomimed emotion that have defined the series.

If only the machine's best game actually showed off the possibilities of the touch screen rather than highlighting its lack of an analogue stick. [NGC Pocket]

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]

A very decent strategy-RPG that scores extra points for being the only full-on PSP role-player available so far. Add five marks if you're a massive LotR fan. [PSM2]

While it may look awfully similar to the first, don't be fooled: Origins tests negative for sequelitis.

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.

There are tons of classics in here, from Super Monkey Ball to Nights. All have been converted as well as you could expect. [GamesMaster]

In a game where individual acts of heroism are as important as a coherent plan, one brilliant feature is the rewards system. [XGamer]