Quibbles aside, Gamestyle would be hard-pressed to name a better RPG it has experienced on the current crop of consoles.

Phantagram has gone for sheer strength of numbers, which means draw distance and animations have suffered. Not a major loss, but it does diminish the high-gloss presentation.

With fast paced, realistic players, FIFA delivers a more enjoyable experience than previous entries in the long running series.

The words 'a mixed bag' tell you everything you need to know about Midway Arcade Treasures 2. For every classic like "Mortal Kombat" there's a travesty like "Pit Fighter" - so this one can only be recommended for the purists.

The learning curve is well judged, and, due to its charm, should appeal to a wide variety of Nintendo gamers, but in the world of video games at the moment that is, sadly, a minority.

Convincing voice-acting and a humorous (if puerile) script cannot do enough to disguise the fact that this is an utterly vacuous game.

A brilliant attempt at creating a completely engaging and interactive 'living' world. It is clear that an awful lot of care and attention has gone into sweating the details.

Imaginative and meticulously-produced, but its flaws are too numerous to recommend over superior pinball titles. For a first-party Nintendo release, this is a poor showing indeed.

Full completion of the game takes time, and whilst there are some nice extras on the DVD to unlock, you can't get around the fact that it's time that could be spent doing something far, far better.

Sitting uncomfortably between "Rallisport Challenge 2" and "Richard Burns Rally," in terms of visuals, game length and handling integrity, Colin McRae 05 is too fussy to be an arcade game yet far too simplistic to be classed as a true simulator.

Yet again the Shadow Hearts series delivers, and really you’d be a fool not to try out this original and captivating series. As for now this is the finest RPG on the Playstation 2.

The range of songs is highly impressive, despite being covers rather than the original songs.

If Gamestyle can offer any reason for playing Headhunter: Redemption then it can only be for the story and satisfaction of overcoming the above design and difficulty issues.

There is an addictive quality to Monster Hunter as you push your character to new levels and wonderful weaponry. Yet it relies too much on management of items and combinations that take up more time than the quests themselves.

Shame then that the actual game itself does not contain much inspiration to match the source material.

Yet the beauty of Katamari Damacy comes not from fighting, exploration or trading, but from rolling a ball (known as a katamari) that captures anything within its path. A brilliantly simple idea, and one that's perfectly executed.

Both parts of the game are excellent, highly addictive and original, and if you’re looking for a different kind of game (albeit a slightly annoying one at times) or you just want an entertaining, well-constructed experience, Second Sight demands your attention.

It lacks the vital spark to set it apart from others already on the shelf. And, despite the best efforts of its marketing gurus, Blood Will Tell looks set to remain indistinguishable at retail; no doubt inviting but ultimately middling.

There's absolutely no question as to the somewhat obfuscated way in which the learning curve charts itself. Still, when you finally do get to grips with the controls, there's the subtle and atmospheric visuals, a Richard Jacques score and genuinely thrilling narrative to commend it.

An exceptionally balanced game. FRD have managed to combine elements of pretty much every third person action game without it ever feeling contrived or forced, and they've selected all the best bits (stealthy kills, plenty of weapons, good storyline) and discarded those ideas that didn't work in other games (no camera control, steep learning curve).

While it may not stand up to the 'Final Fantasies' of the genre it's still worth considering - especially if you're after a quick RPG fix before the next big release.

It is the very definition of average. There are some nice ideas lurking within and if they had been implemented better then the title could have been far more enjoyable.

As an experience, as well as a smartly-written and smartly-presented game, A Dog's Life is a great example of off-beat European software. Gamestyle greatly enjoyed being Jake for a while, and hopes that more imaginative titles will come around.

Doesn’t do anything to attract new followers to the genre; it knows its market and is more than likely content with its piece of the pie. Those who love such themed releases will be satisfied with Gradius, but some of us wanted more, or at least a new plateau in shooters.

Where has all the publicised “groundbreaking” technology gone – into the hills for safety? For all the size there is really only one route through each mission, as each goal offers the only save checkpoint; and these (as you soon learn) are too far apart.

It’ll challenge you to the point of frustration but is saved by that just-one-more-go factor, and like a lot of music albums it is sometimes left wanting in the middle but starts and ends well. It’s above average, but falls short of greatness.

Just remember, Fable is not "Project Ego." What it is, though, is a redefinition for RPG's. It takes out all the frustrating elements of the genre, and instead puts in a heap of fun options and possibilities. This is why; despite its disappointing conclusion, Fable is one of the most gripping and enjoyable games that has come to grace the console scene.

Racing games have now changed forever, and entirely for the better - for that there can be no higher recommendation. It's that good.