It might not bring earth shattering extras to the table but this time SSX on Tour has managed to fix everything we hated about the series in the first place and has ultimately matured enough to be an essential purchase this time around.

The interface could have done with some tweaking, as it’s not immediately obvious what everything does, but aside from that there really isn’t any reason why you should give Factions a run.

A pretty compelling GBA cartridge with almost infinite replayability was exactly what the Nintendo handheld needed right now and both Cosmigo and Telegames have come up with the promised goods.

It's only real flaw is having to compete with one of the best RPG's of the last five years. If your neighbor Bill had to fill in for Jesus Christ for a week and got everything right except for the walking on water thing, you'd think Bill had done a really awesome job.

Falls short in one vital criteria. It’s a single player game. The prospect of a death match style arena with online support and 20 players tossing each other around with their powers of telekinesis would surely be great fun.

Character and game customisation will keep players amused and the amount of play modes, stunts and tricks on offer should easily keep gamers amused.

So much more than just another WW2 game.

I enjoyed it immensely and welcome the new angle that Team 17 has gone for.

F1 fans will enjoy this game without reservation. F1 fanatics will love this game and want to take it to bed, with the profound amount of customizability that may find Fernando Alonso scratching his head in places.

You might hit problems reading text on a standard television but that shouldn’t really spoil the game as even on a normal widescreen the game looks outstanding.

There are some suitably impressive graphics on offer and the career mode is probably one of the most impressive seen in the series to date.

While single player missions are very good, you will only have access to a third of what this game has to offer – and you should get Xbox Live!

Refreshing, fun and addictive.

There are some suitably impressive graphics on offer and the career mode is probably one of the most impressive seen in the series to date.

You really do need to care what is going on, and take an active interest in the story, rather than just seeing this as a room clearing zombie fest.

The graphics are what you would expect from a Mario franchise, colourful, loveable and damn right cute. From the initial opening movie to the closing credits your left in no doubt that this is pure marketing genius.

This is a top class game that deserves the credit and respect it has been getting.

When you strip away the meat from the bones you might be left with essentially Guitar Hero II 'deluxe' but for fans of the series we doubt many will be disappointed with what Neversoft have achieved.

Not only does the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack contain exclusive maps but it also updates your copy of Halo 2 fixing obscure problems and adding extra functionality for both online and offline multiplayer maps.

Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter 2 is one of the most visually impressive games we have come across, but it doesn’t end there, it’s also one of the most polished and satisfying games to play online.

The bottom line is that Republic Commando as a single player game is where the action is, the levels are well thought out and deeply atmospheric – exactly what we want from our games nowadays.

One of the most intense first person shooters to be released this year.

Nothing even comes close to matching the appeal of Test Drive Unlimited. You’ll be hard pushed to play a more involving, evolving and down right enjoyable racer this year. Eden have pulled out all the stops to make Test Drive Unlimited the most polished and realistic racer the Xbox 360 has seen to date.

Does what every sequel should do; it expands on the gameplay of the original and adds essential improvement upon it at the same time.

Silent Hunter III is not really my sort of game but I was totally immersed in it. It is as complete a Submarine Sim as I would think it’s possible to get.

One of the most enjoyable co-operative games the 360 has seen. Marvel fans should rejoice, this is probably the finest game to use the franchise to date.

A fiendishly addictive offline and online multiplayer title and even a larger review wouldn't do the game justice (we only briefly mentioned the nifty damage score system and upgrade labs for example).

The humour shines through, the base design and the battle against the agents will keep you occupied for hours and hours on end. Graphics, sounds and the whole gameplay looks smooth and solid.

The main advantage that Scrapland possesses is that it comes with a fully featured multiplayer portion straight out of the box.

Some will no doubt be disappointed with the lack of progression but everything that Codename Panzers did so well in the first phase has been brought forward so elegantly with Phase Two. If you want to see the best the WW2 RTS genre has to offer, then you really have no need to look any further.

With language fruiter than a Puccini cocktail, The Godfather is definitely not for the kids. The game will shock, however it should entertain, and if you don’t take it too seriously it’ll probably end up being one of the better releases this year.

When you strip away the meat from the bones you might be left with essentially Guitar Hero II 'deluxe' but for fans of the series we doubt many will be disappointed with what Neversoft have achieved.

This is a top class game that deserves the credit and respect it has been getting.

The game will shock, however it should entertain, and if you don’t take it too seriously it’ll probably end up being one of the better releases this year.

So, far-fetched and silly this is, but the important thing is its fun! It doesn’t re-write the platforming genre but it does provide you with a lot of laughs, and comic capers.

The Darkness offers up just about everything we have come to desire in a FPS and has wrapped the package up nicely with a few neat touches of its own.

The best Arcade game currently [10/19/06] available for download. It’s still good value; even if it’s one of the highest priced Xbox Live arcade out there, and with the additional content planned, it’ll be a while before you drain all the enjoyment out of this one.

The Darkness offers up just about everything we have come to desire in a FPS and has wrapped the package up nicely with a few neat touches of its own.

GTA: Vice City Stories might be more of what we love, but at least love is still the operative word here. And love it you should.

So, far-fetched and silly this is, but the important thing is its fun! It doesn't re-write the platforming genre but it does provide you with a lot of laughs, and comic capers.

In terms or sheer gameplay and polish we think the crown this year firmly belongs to NBA2K7.

The game will shock, however it should entertain, and if you don't take it too seriously it'll probably end up being one of the better releases this year.

An atmospheric, intelligent and original shooter that is sure to be harshly overlooked by the majority of gamers, which is a pity considering the quality gaming on show. It's enjoyable, challenging and exquisitely designed but is only let down by minor camera troubles and a difficulty level that may be a bit too hard.

So, far-fetched and silly this is, but the important thing is its fun! It doesn't re-write the platforming genre but it does provide you with a lot of laughs, and comic capers.

It has an amazing soundtrack, decent enough story and a pretty compelling fight engine. Some novices may find the experience daunting at first but with a little perseverence they'll also find the experience ultimately rewarding.

The game will shock, however it should entertain, and if you don’t take it too seriously it’ll probably end up being one of the better releases this year.

The best retro collection currently available, and if you can ignore the lack of surround sound and advanced shadowing you’ll have just as much fun with these gems as you will with some of the blockbusters of today. Simply an essential purchase for retro fans.

"Port Royale" was the closest that anyone has come to the original Pirates, until now. All hail Sid Meier, the master of the computer game.

We found the frantic gameplay, gorgeous graphics and downright scary soundtrack was right up our street and Painkiller, and its newly released expansion pack are more than worthy contenders to that elusive list of brilliant FPS.

Ultimate Spiderman has certainly joined our list of most impressive PS2 games this year, and easily so.

The game is brutal, yes, but bloody? No. Maybe it's because everything seems to happen so fast you don't need to see it, I don't know.

For now DiRT is the only serious rally experience on a next-generation box, fortunate for us then that it’s also pretty damned good as well.

Only the Nintendo Wii could pull off a game like this with such style and grace.

From the whacky colour schemes to the weapon effects and character detail, this game couldn’t look any better and makes other comic book games look like a Thunderbirds set (the Blue-Peter one).

While it may be relatively short overall, it's definitely one for people that like to solve a mystery, rather than just run through a game without taking anything in.

The best retro collection currently available, and if you can ignore the lack of surround sound and advanced shadowing you'll have just as much fun with these gems as you will with some of the blockbusters of today. Simply an essential purchase for retro fans.

For now DiRT is the only serious rally experience on a next-generation box, fortunate for us then that it’s also pretty damned good as well.

Tremendous value for money.

With its well-written futuristic plot, unique locations and sci-fi graphics this particular gem doesn't deserve a moment of silence, it just demands to be played.

Japanese developers need to bring more class games like this to our markets to remind us that not every game needs to be western in origin, ideas, and style.

This game is one HUGE, never-ending game of Final Fantasy with plenty of life in it. It left me continuously wanting to come back for more. [Review of FFXI & Chains/Zilart Expans.]

The only real concern, and unfortunately it really brings the whole thing down, is the camera work. It seems inverted (which I couldn't change) and gets caught behind things and tends to face the wrong way in annoying scenarios such as near-death. Certainly not enough of a problem to get me to dissuade you from buying it though.

Without any huge leap forwards in the graphics or gameplay it isn't going to blow your mind, however if you enjoyed the first instalment then you will certainly not be upset with Opposing Fronts.

When you get bored with the story mode and other bonus modes the single player serves up you’ll always be left with the brilliant track editor and uploaded tracks from the community – and that is GripShift’s strongest pull.

It's not going to win any awards for its storyline, but when viewed as a series of standalone missions, it's a blast, and I believe that what it’s supposed to be.

The only real concern, and unfortunately it really brings the whole thing down, is the camera work. It seems inverted (which I couldn’t change) and gets caught behind things and tends to face the wrong way in annoying scenarios such as near-death. Certainly not enough of a problem to get me to dissuade you from buying it though.

And even though the characters in Astro Boy: Omega Factor come and go so fast it's still hard to ignore just how beautiful Osamu Tezuka's creations really are.

We certainly haven't encountered a graphics engine portray an environment as realistically as this. Obviously rocking boats, crashing waves and rain are bad combinations and it's actually possible to find yourself going overboard if you fail to watch your step. That's right, a graphics engine that can virtually knock you off your feet!

The multiplayer gameplay alone makes this a sports title worth owning.

Not much has changed for the third Guild Wars release but that’s not necessarily a bad thing either – especially when you look into some of the less talked about refinements.

Anyone new to the genre can certainly make this a choice without expecting to get in too deep and losing their way, while seasoned MMORPGers can have a blast playing out their superhero dreams.

What it does have is quality rather than quantity though and the excellent Croft Manor level will add hours of fun to the value.

Overall the open sandbox style of gameplay and allowing you the non-linear gameplay to complete the mission in your own way works very well.

My biggest gripe with the game is that the 17 levels aren’t very long. You can whip through them pretty quickly and even though you can move between them once completed, trying to better your comprehensive stats, who really wants to once you know the story?...[But] very much worth your attention.

There are far more offsides than I was used to (negating the through ball), the foul count is horrendous – a whistle every few seconds till you wise up, and passes go astray from even the best of your talent.

Overall the open sandbox style of gameplay and allowing you the non-linear gameplay to complete the mission in your own way works very well.

The game can be difficult to master though, so new people to the genre might struggle at first but patience should be used because this could become the classic start to this engines long use in games.

It’s Civilization IV, only better. The inclusion of new nations, including the welcome return of the Zulu’s along with a general tweaks for the others adds to the overall strategy of the game.

The enemy AI has been tweaked and this helps to make the title a little better and just that bit harder too. Plus placing the emphasis on General Patton takes you through several important WWII battles. Not a true classic, but one to get especially if you like the Blitzkrieg series.

A trading game with some aspects of RTS added, so for the armchair empire sim fans it will probably rate at least a look, and probably an outright purchase, but the game probably isn’t for everyone since the steep learning curve could well put some people off, but perseverance will pay off for sure.

EA will have their work cut out to even approach what Take2 have got here, if you want a hockey game and have the Xbox 360, there is no real choice, you just have to get 2K7.

The map and radar are easy to read and use, and the environment nicely detailed. Combined with a soundtrack that still gives of a distinctly ocean going whiff, it adds up to quite a quality audio-visual effort, and puts this title into the upper echelons of the fleet.

After countless releases Rayman has finally got a foothold in our hearts. It might become largely forgotten once we finally get our teeth into "Wario Ware: Smooth Moves" but for now it’s the party game of choice only slightly bettered by "Wii Sports" and "Super Monkey Ball" for sheer enjoyment on the Wii.

So there are a few niggles that stop this game being a classic. The game does nothing radically new, but it does take some good bits from other games and blend them together pretty well.

If you’re into all things Egypt then this one if for you, even if your not there’s still a few hours of your life to be lost to (in our opinion) one of the better city building games currently available.

Developers SuperVillain has taken the educated decision to make the series more accessible to the PSP, and while they may make a few enemies along the way, the real winners are the ones that give the title the chance it deserves.

"Spartan" took the turn-based strategy genre to the next level, well with Gates of Troy Slitherine have just reinforced that position.

This murder-detective mystery from the Adventure Company is every bit as gruesome as it is enjoyable, and it certainly had us all engrossed until its eventual conclusion.

Those prepared to give Kao the love and attention it deservers will find a more than capable adventure waiting inside.

This murder-detective mystery from the Adventure Company is every bit as gruesome as it is enjoyable, and it certainly had us all engrossed until its eventual conclusion.

If anything, Destroy all Humans is well presented. All the menus are a joy to navigate and hold some pretty decent bonus material.

Ultimately Colin McRae still remains an infuriating game for the novice rally driver and we really see no reason why this should change. Practice, as ever, brings rewards and when you finally succeed nothing feels as good especially when you take into consideration that the game has always been geared towards a simulation rather than a quick arcade blaster.

Anyone with even a passing interest in rhythm action titles who missed out on PS2 original simply owes it to themselves to pick up one of the finest games the genre has ever produced.

It’s a space sim, it’s a text based adventure, it’s a 3D shooter, and it’s a trading game. And it comes with the original game as well. A very impressive package with something for everybody.

This difficulty will possibly put some off, but for the people that continue on regardless there is a title to be found that will take an age to play, plus a game that will give a lot of satisfaction once you complete.

Using diplomacy as the first line for your empire expansion adds a nice twist to the usual RTS.

If you are sick of the countless WW2 RTS games on the market today you’ll be a fool if you let Earth 2160 pass you by. With four campaigns and an extensive multiplayer mode we can see this one lasting well into the development of "Earth 2170."

The fact of different groups and their interaction adds another dimension to an already neat idea. Budding Mayors will love it.