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.

FM2005 is a superb game in a stand alone capacity and will provide months of interest (years if you use the editor.) However a network game adds in the opportunity for winding your mates up in the process and stirring up the soup throwing tendencies in the best of us. Once perhaps viewed as a loner’s game, Football Manager 2005 is now the social event of the year.

Its main problem lies in the fact that it is a lesser version of two genres – action and RPG. If you want Asian flip around fighting action, Ninja Gaiden was pretty great; you should check it out. If you want a deep RPG set in an exciting new world, Knights of the Old Republic does that job just fine.

Despite the fact that people may find a level of fun has been lost under the layers of improvements and options, the majority will still find that nothing comes close to quenching that thirst for power that Football Manager so eloquently provides.

Simply put, World in Conflict is a blockbuster of almost epic proportions.

The only thing better than meat and potatoes is meat and meat (thank you Atkins), and that is exactly what this game does to gaming in 2004.

The depth of the game, the amazing eye candy, the attention to detail and the gameplay are all top notch. When you get into it it’s a hard game to put down.

So much more than just another WW2 game.

Even though the Playstation 2 may be drawing on its last breath, Namco have managed to squeeze every last ounce of gaming power out of the hardware. Tekken 5 is oozing playability and gameplay and is certainly a fitting continuation of the saga.

The Co-op play, the online multiplayer and everything associated with the single player campaign is more than worth the asking price.

If you have enough people around you'll find the [multiplayer] experience just as engrossing as the single player game.

A lot of time has obviously gone into creating just the right blend of brilliant sound effects and instrumental pieces.

"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.

With the more realistic commentary, exemplary graphics and much improved engine this one is difficult to ignore.

Occasionally though a title comes around that contains a graphic engine and audio design so revolutionary it shakes you from the ground up and refuses to let go until every last drop of the story is told. Play Doom.

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.

Elite Beat Agents is wonderfully original in its own right and features some of the best presented and lavish comic strip animations seen in some time.

Beyond Good & Evil is all solid, familiar adventure gaming territory, but it's all been wonderfully worked and beautifully presented so that it's an utter joy to play.

Refreshing, fun and addictive.

One of those classic games that could have only have come from Nintendo, and we loved every bit of it.

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.

Overall Gears of Wars is a cracking game, with the addition of some more levels, the multiplayer maps and the level designer there is a lot of extras for the PC owner, the question is, if you already own the Xbox version is it still worth the purchase.

If you own a Nintendo DS you simply must own Kirby’s paintbrush, it doesn’t get any simpler than that.

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

Infinity Ward/Activision have certainly shot themselves in the foot with this one. They will be very lucky if it can maintain online playability for as long as its predecessors in its current state.

If there's one core flaw to Resistance, it's that it just doesn't look like a PlayStation 3 game. Sure, the levels are massive and sprawling, and the architecture boasts some admirable detail from a distance, it really is what we were seeing on Call of Duty 2.

So Xbox fans: you finally have something to hold you over until "San Andreas" is released on the Box.

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).