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.

Heritage of Kings isn’t a bad game, although it doesn’t offer a whole lot more then other resource driven real time strategies that are available.

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.

Nexus: The Jupiter Incident isn't for everybody, since there is just that "little something' missing that would have made this a GREAT game, but so long as you have the system specs to do the game justice it's certainly one for the Space-Based Strategy fan.

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 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.

With the ability to create your own missions and campaigns as well as pass them on to others ensures there is plenty to offer with this title and the difficulty making a game that should last hours per mission.

There is nothing like disembowelling some poor defenceless slave to help calm the nerves after a hard day at the office.

Do you really want to have to learn three pages of voice commands just so that you can sit in front of the computer and sound stupid?

Nothing more than a wannabe 'Sims' type expansion, and there's already enough of them about thank you very much.

The special interrogation is one of the nicest touches in the game.

The towns have a distinct Playmobil air about them, the facades of the buildings looking more Kloppa Castle than Windsor Castle, and the personnel hugely dated and childlike.

As it stands Black Monday just cannot compete with the truly impressive games released for the Playstation 2 this year.

Resident Evil has reclaimed the throne from not only the survival horror genre but it's possibly even become 'the' quintessential Gamecube game in the process. Totally flawless on the Cube, this is one game you simply can't miss out on.

PS2 fans: I imagine you’re just about done with "San Andreas" these days. If there’s not already enough blood on your hands, it’s time to head to North Korea. They have air strikes there.

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

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

The puzzles themselves are really very good, varied and challenging.

If Grissom really loves his insects he'll be at home here as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is literally filled with bugs. Problems with the mechanics made matching DNA and other samples an absolute nightmare.

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

The number of realms, the number of races and classes of fighters available will mean the game will take a long, long time to complete, and even then the fun isn't over.

What it does feature (in large amounts) is lazy, un-inspiring map design, shoddy AI and pathfinding and ridiculous infantry micro-management. Hardly the groundbreaking improvements that the paying gamer demands these days, and we certainly don't blame them.

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.

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.

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.

Graphically this is a first class show. The surroundings have a real feeling of depth and detail, and your interaction with it is fluid and realistic.

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.

I can't stress how great this game is. This is truly Blizzard's achievement. They have made a game that is fun for everyone and can not only appeal to the hardcore massively multiplayer online crowd, but to the casual gamer as well.