In the same way that The Darkness can get away with coming on stage dressed in bright pink PVC jump suits, Rock N Roll Racing can get away with being a straight port of a fun, over-the-top and cheese-filled experience.

It does lose points for omitting variety within its multiplayer setup.

And, if nothing else, danger truly defines the lot of a Bounty Hunter; it truly feels as if the environment is somehow calculating your defeat (or insurgence).

And as long as you follow good online etiquette and choose good people to play with, this is possibly the best example of how the Xbox Live experience should be... exactly how you want it to be.

This is all about gameplay, and the open-ended structure is a welcome respite from the usual - the controls are responsive, the challenges perfectly pitched, and the various multiplayer games provide plenty of depth and longevity.

A game of this overall technical sheen that can really make you smile and take notice, doesn't come along every day... in fact it comes along every nine years. If you've not sampled it before, now is the time.

We'd not recommend an outright purchase solely for the deathmatch, but the multiplayer campaign mode is brilliantly done.

There is nothing to be learned or mastered, other than your own quick reflexes, and while it is unfortunate that so many of the games are too similar and don't offer enough gameplay variety, the actual experience of working through them is both challenging and original, with comedy value and lush visuals to boot.

The benchmark that other Xbox titles should strive for: a solid combination of gameplay, graphics and variety.

Looks good overall; those all-important cards are nicely detailed and the whole display is rendered in crisp resolution.

The main problem beyond the visual execution is the poor overall level design, which is one dimensional and linear.

Better graphics, sound, story, gameplay and style all add up to a brilliant action adventure with a touch of RPG about it.

The game's difficulty is well-placed, with early scuffles leading to increased mania.

Offers very little above the original Playstation 2 version.

Better than the original in every way, yet remains a perfect starting point for those new to the series - it's friendly, well presented and offers great value for both single player and multiplayer.

An average carnage based shooter, despite the strong designs and Star Wars origins. The improved multi-player options give this release a fresh impetus that raises it a notch, but no more.

Brilliant. It's hugely playable, graphically sublime and even more importantly, once again Treasure have raised the bar for top-down shooters.

Gamestyle found it laughable that this rogue superhero couldn’t jump onto a small ledge simply because it was deemed unnecessary – each time Wolverine was knocked back by an invisible force.

The story does finally wrap itself up nicely, and the way you meet up with and fight against your former selves is a rarity handled well. Not a classic game, but very solid nonetheless.

The graphics and overall feel of the game do not seem quite right.

When developers start stripping away essentials because the hardware cannot handle the strain, you must question the reasoning behind it. Was it really worth subjecting a world of gamers to this mess that barely resembles the original for the sake of a quick fare?

It manages to deliver new ideas and concepts, but ultimately fails to make the classic impact; hopefully the sequel can build upon the good work here.

Be it a comatose dinosaur that needs reviving, a fossil find that needs extraction, or research team that needs a project, everybody unfailingly 'needs' a little of your time.

To get any satisfaction from Primal takes a great deal of effort and compassion, and this price will be too high for some of us.

Without question a fantastic release, but not the glorious and blinding achievement that many have proclaimed.

The game design and detail is far beyond what other games offer, in fact it puts almost everything to shame.

Sure, the graphics are splendid (and the in-car cockpit view is tremendous) but with such a limited array of cars prescribed by the license and the sad truth that the game doesn't really offer anything new, Gamestyle is hard pushed to really recommend it.

Whilst its apparent lack of any revolutionary gameplay is a worthy of criticism, it doesn't stop the fact that this is still by far one of the most addictive and long-lasting games you could hope for on your Gameboy Advance.

Slight negativity aside, Sonic Advance 2 represents Sonic at its best - fast, slick, looking great and offering yet more of those bonus features (now unlockable, however). Whilst technically there have been better Sonic games, none have managed to quite capture the frantic essence of speed and style like this does.

For all the fun the game offers, and it is fun, it is brutally short... Admittedly there are a plethora of options to "unlock", but the game itself is all too brief. There is no versus mode either, something that would have added greatly to the replay value.

I loved playing Rayman 3, its fun, colourful and very funny... Just don’t be expecting either a major leap forward for the platform game genre or a stiff challenge as its lacking in both.

The experience was so bland, uninspired and lacking that high feeling of drama and action that surround F1.

Where Substance really comes alive is the various VR modes and alternative missions.

But perhaps the best measure of its success comes with the profound disappointment and anticipation felt as the spectacular conclusion fades and the prompt screen asks for confirmation - to save your party for use in the next chapter.

Everblue 2 contains a strong sense of adventure, as you explore the unknown, but also fear of what you might exactly find out there.

The first few moments will have you rolling about laughing and you'll no doubt have a blast; after that, however, the monkey magic will drain and you'll be back to your Dreamcast with Capcom's more refined multiplayer brawler ("Powerstone") in the slot.

It’s just a really good fun game that does not take itself at all seriously and for fans of Dr Jones it is absolutely fantastic and I cannot recommend it high enough.

Problems aside though, Dark Chronicle is a truly captivating game. A great story coupled with decent controls, features and more extra bits than anyone could ever think of.

Judged on a visual basis SOS: The Final Escape is average and rarely rises above this level, thereby becoming immediately devoid of gloss, and lost amidst countless other Playstation 2 titles.

Unfortunately the gameplay is as uninspiring as the graphics.

There’s such a mind-boggling amount of options to choose from, that your head won’t stop spinning – 44 fighters (including 2 unlockables), 6 groove styles – with the option of making your own – and an incredibly ridiculous amount of moves to remember.

It’s all rather tiresome and disappointing in a release that promised something different. But what remains is a bog standard RPG, dressed up as something else but flattering to deceive.

A captivating experience.

While the story is complicated and filled with reprehensible creatures and people, it loses something in the retelling.

A stunning game with great graphics, sound and outstanding gameplay that adds up a top class fighting game.

The control system is well thought out with each button throwing a particular punch, but forget any tactical or statistical considerations before entering the ring.

A superb game, dragged under by some minor flaws, which could have been rectified given a bit more time and effort. But does suffer from time to value difficulties.

Whilst there's no denying that the entire experience is a splendidly beautiful one, with admittedly amazing looking graphics throughout the game, that eye-candy can only last so long. DoA XBV is inherently repetitive.

Unfortunately during this gargantuan effort, someone along the production line forgot to say this: Fackin’ hell, these control’s ain’t ‘alf fackin’ dodgy, guvnor!

While the overall idea is innovative, the gameplay itself isn’t. However, there are a lot of missions to get through - 26 standard missions and 16 branching ones - so you won’t be finishing this in a weekend.

The frame rate is solid enough, as is the draw distance, however the water effects leave a lot to be desired when compared to the excellent lighting.

Fights soon degenerate into a short-range melee where you slug it out with blows and the occasional throw move. There is no balance, and button-bashers will feel right at home as you soon realise there is little room for tactics or skill.

Repeated playthoughs are marginally less frustrating as you already know what's coming, but hardly counter for the sloppiness of level design.

Seek & Destroy will never make it into the best releases for any year, however for the measly sum of £9.99 you are guaranteed value and some enjoyment.

For those looking for an actual fighting game and not a license, I would suggest extreme caution because this one is quite simply for the fans.

Although A Link to the Past represents some of the most fabulous game designs you're ever likely to see, it also suffers from some criminally unforgiving sections that today's gamer-on-the-go is likely to scoff at. Not quite the vision of perfection that it once seemed to be.

While it's admittedly too easy and a little simplistic in structure (albeit with plenty of extras to unlock), it's nevertheless ideal for young ones or anyone looking for an easy-going few hours.

To date this is the best example of what the genre can offer and is an ideal starting point for those interested in the science of modern warfare.

The game is as ugly as the Neanderthal wrestlers in it. Despite this I’ve still noticed it slows down at times.

Scarier than "Silent Hill 2" and harder than a dozen "Genma Onimusha"s, this is simply amazing stuff.

In the end, it's only the star billing of Alba (by proxy) that can wilfully will a player to continue. Even her character model is unconvincing, with the obligatory "Lara mode" (ie, face player to camera, stand rigid and inspect geekishly for blemishes) and de rigueur costume change throughout levels, doing little to assuage.

There is certainly a lot to keep anyone occupied here, even if the main game is a little un-balanced, simply firing up a game of monkey bowling whilst sitting on the train makes it a worthy purchase.

Beyond the use of sound effects and architecture as seen in the film this does rank as one of the poorest film licenses I have endured.

For those unexcited by the prospect of actually being Bond, some problems, the most predominant of which is the games failure to engage or innovate on any other level than being an above average jaunt through an enormously exciting fictional world, may be too much.

Simply the best adventure game currently available on the Gameboy Advance. It's tough, but rewarding, plays extremely well and is not a simple port like so many other of Nintendo's releases before it.

Whether you're negotiating platforms (made simple thanks to a camera that pans down) or involved in the final climatic battle with Metroid Prime, you always feel as if you're at one with the game. And surely that's what gaming's all about, isn't it?

An outstanding improvement on a stale series. There’s still room for improvement; a few more fatalities would have been nice, and more detailed arenas to fight in would take the game up a level.

The game camera despite offering several possible views is like a stubborn sheep – refusing to do as its told and turning slowly in confined spaces.

Sometime Wreckless is too chaotic for you to properly digest it. There can be too much onscreen action and it blends into one big mess.

A totally underwhelming experience.

The ‘zap’ system and the loss of item chests (the main difference in this episode) is a welcome addition indeed and makes Resident Evil 0 a definite purchase to any fan of the series.

It offers everything good about next-gen sports games: smooth, fluid game play; atmospheric sights and sounds; arcade to reality; options galore; a potentially unlimited lifespan.

Completing Shinobi is not an issue, but doing it with the style deserving of the series certainly is. Achieving those impressive A rankings will keep the dedicated occupied for the foreseeable future. Given the lack of alternative modes and the shortness of the main game, this fact will probably be lost on those who prioritise completion over mastery.

Lost however is some of the speed and flow of the previous games; a little too much in the way of exploration involved for a Sonic game (if you want to find all the bonus level entrances anyway).

It’s not in the same league as "Jak and Daxter," but is it still head and shoulders above everything else currently available on the Playstation 2.

Whilst Sons of Liberty and "Splinter Cell" offer huge, all encompassing adventures; there is no quick fix. With Substance the mission structure allows quick access and it soon becomes very addictive.

Sure, it may look and sound decent, but only the most hardened of masochists will ever see the later stages, let alone complete them.

It isn't a terrible game, it's just repetitive, flat, murky and rushed out for Christmas.

The sound of GTA Vice City is glorious.

Technically, the Xbox conversion of Shenmue 2 is a pot-pourri of highs and lows. Visually, it's two notches above its DC brother (AM2 have attached light sources to EVERYTHING - moreso at night, where neon bathes you in its "afterglow") but two notches below what the system is capable of.

The near-perfect control and competitive game dynamic makes this one of the most compulsive games I've played.

Sixty hours is barely scratching the sun beaten and twisted surface of this game. Sixty hours in PSO is nothing.

A great game, steep in challenge and offers very little but repetitive running and shooting, you will know if you are going to like it from the box, what you wont know is if you have anywhere with the required lighting to be able to play it.

An average game, which could have been improved with better mission structure, variety and additional modes.

Whilst extremely generic, it offers huge amounts of fun for the first few hours. Get past that however, and you soon realise that beneath the low brow gags and goofy gifts, there’s not a lot left to make it stand out from the crowd.

Its sheer difficulty will put off all but the most hard core of gamers (and even then it’s gonna take a lot to convince.)

Maybe like American Football and Baseball, Whacked is simply going to become another title that many English gamers will simply not get. I know this one didn’t.

If you love hoops, then this is a great simulation that will last until the next iteration, but Gamestyle feels that the real fun is to be had out on the blacktop and not in the comfort of your La-Z-Boy.

It definitely has an "Atari-esque" feel about it. But, unfortunately the rest of the game just isn’t up to scratch.

Unrewarding, derivative, insulting and just plain dull, and worse of all, shamefully ignorant of the huge leaps forward in level design, characterisation and game structure and in the last decade, and as such is best avoided.

A charming game, as you’d expect from Natsume but one that won’t attract anyone new to such a bizarrely implemented concept.

If you want a game to be realistic but not so real you need an MOT, buy this game. If you feel that games should offer boundless enjoyment and make you smile like a ten year old at Christmas, buy this game.

A must have for fans of the series, or lovers of mechs, but a definite avoid for pirates, and people with two fingers.

How such a raft of glitches and mistakes and bugs got through the test phase (perhaps the testing team was a group of trained gorillas?) defies reason.

The main downfall comes with the closing areas of the game; they seem rushed and are indicative of the sale of Rare to Microsoft, but don't let that prevent you from thoroughly enjoying one of the best videogames of this year.

Very little has changed since when it first graced home consoles on the Super Nintendo and that is no bad thing.

The camera system is utterly dreadful. If you can handle the camera and enjoyed the Terminator movies then Dawn of Fate will entertain you.

Composer Yoko Shimomura (his first Square title since Legend of Mana) creates a very impressive score that alternates between filling you with excitement as you start your next battle to pulling at the heartstrings when some of the game’s more poignant scenes are onscreen.