It would seem Polyphony Digital’s claim that Gran Turismo is the world’s ‘Real Driving Simulator’ is well and truly under threat.

Quite why this wasn’t released as a budget title is a mystery, because while it is a good game, it’s not a particularly broad reaching or good value one.

The game is a giant leap in the wrong direction for the series.

By no means is the game a classic, but it is arguably a good tie-in that drawns from the movies’ strengths and doesn’t do anything in particular to offend.

Undoubtedly a valiant attempt by Monte Cristo to bring simplistic party games to the PSP, even if it falls completely flat on its face.

It’s nowhere near being a hellish failure and it’s possibly even worth a go when it’s cheaper, but on its own Infernal is little more than a good looking tech demo for Ageia’s PhysX cards, a fantastic endorsement for mittens, and the perfect gift for overly religious relatives.

We can appreciate what Ubi has tried to do, but most of us have gotten over the novelty of the fact that the PSP is ‘a bit like a handheld PS2’ and are looking for a lot more substance and enjoyablity in our games, no matter how many dozens of cars and miles of road have been packed onto the UMD.

The game is a real mixed bag of action and strategy that, while not quite recreating the magic of X-COM, gives a pretty good showing of itself.

Overall UFO: Afterlight provides a very worthwhile time investment as the reward you reap is a deep and intriguing strategy game with the kind of RPG elements that add a less geeky feel to it - a surprise hit with us.

The lack of offline multiplayer is a real shame as it would have been much easier to recommend, even if it meant having to constantly ask other players to avert their eyes. Still, Xbox Live Arcade is very much in need of more games like this and it’s well worth checking out.

More typical of the PS2 (so knock a point off), but more suited to the Wii – if only for the short-lived novelty value – Heatseeker is definitely a game for the already initiated into the genre.

More typical of the PS2 (so knock a point off), but more suited to the Wii – if only for the short-lived novelty value – Heatseeker is definitely a game for the already initiated into the genre.

Stargate Online TCG is easily one of the most complicated games of its type in terms of the number of modifiers in play at any given time, but a thorough tutorial and well-devised interface actually make playing a breeze.

The first half of Bright Side Of The Moon is reasonable enough, but the concluding portion (perhaps the dark side?) is a badly-designed anti-climax that’s rendered even worse by the fact that it’s following on from the magnificent Reality 2.0 – by far the pinnacle of the series.

With very little in the way of downtime and a seemingly endless stream of things to do and new things to see, the future is looking very bright.

A game that you’re going to like a lot or you’re not going to like at all, depending on your tolerance for genuinely challenging gun battles, genuinely unsettling creepiness and genuine-looking bland industrial environments.

Purely from a gameplay perspective, it works.

Ultimately Boom Boom Rocket achieves what it set out to do without any noticeably downsides – except, of course, that what it sets out to do is barely different from what has been done many times before; instead of a gimmicky peripheral, it entertains with mesmerising imagery.

It appeals to hardcore RTS players with its historical accuracy, as well as newcomers with its ease of play and focus on putting you in control of what’s going on.

Tacking on the motion controls has really weakened Enchanted Arms’ improved outing on the PS3, shoe-horning completely out of place and unfocused pad-shaking into an RPG and forcing players to accept it as necessary.

A flung together collection of sub “Now That’s What I Call Music!” tracks doesn’t really make for an enticing prospect.

Particularly welcome though is the increasing comfort Telltale are apparently gaining when it comes to handling the scripts and situations – it really is starting to feel more and more like the Sam & Max of ye olden days.

Even though the PSP and Wii versions weren’t great, the PS2 version of Metal Slug Anthology shows just how fantastic retro game collections can be.

The genre has moved on in terms of gameplay, presentation and even hardware, leaving Vanguard feeling like a relic from years ago rather than something to whet your appetite for EA’s next effort.

We'll happily put our hands up and admit to our slight over-reliance on the phrase “if you like Command & Conquer, you’ll like this” when reviewing the more arcadey RTS games over the years, but this time it’s a necessity. Fans of the C&C series will quite simply find this to be nothing less than absolutely essential.

Undoubtedly the expansion is better value on the PC, and you don’t have to worry about logging into Xbox Live in order just to play it, but both packages still represent good value at a solid 20-40 hours of additional gameplay.

Undoubtedly the expansion is better value on the PC, and you don’t have to worry about logging into Xbox Live in order just to play it, but both packages still represent good value at a solid 20-40 hours of additional gameplay.

A neat combination of cool single player match options and a brave crack at doing cricket multiplayer that surprisingly works really well. As a sports simulation it does a respectable job of jazzing up a historically dull sport, but we doubt there will be long term appeal for anyone not already obsessed with it.

That the gameplay itself is not of classic status is a shame, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is still a game that anyone with am interest in first-person shooters or richly detailed, immersive game environments should seriously consider buying.

While Virtua Tennis 3 is undoubtedly a relatively mild updating of what has gone before, which is particularly surprising when the length of time that’s passed since the last full instalment is considered, it still manages to convincingly retain its crown as the king of the tennis roost.

While Virtua Tennis 3 is undoubtedly a relatively mild updating of what has gone before, which is particularly surprising when the length of time that’s passed since the last full instalment is considered, it still manages to convincingly retain its crown as the king of the tennis roost.

It’s a full blown advert for anyone doubting the need to upgrade and a serious slur on the series’ newfound "Unlimited" take on the racer.

There aren’t many space-based RTS titles doing the rounds, but the few that are already on the shelves are almost unanimously better than this broken fun-free nonsense.

Although describing it as the best submarine sim available could quite easily be a backhanded complement considering the genre’s paucity, SH4 is a genuinely absorbing and fun game that manages, largely successfully, to straddle the never-land between hardcore and arcade gaming.

Series veterans will love the endless customisation, four-on-four multiplayer battles and blindingly fast combat, but even the most loyal fan will wonder why Armored Core 4 couldn’t have been so much more than it is.

A refreshing, immersive, massive, satisfying and hugely impressive game.

If you are a fan of action RPGs the by all means give Silverfall a look. It certainly isn’t a bad game, but games like these are an acquired taste and are very difficult to recommend without first referring people to similar and ultimately better alternatives.

Fans of the series will find plenty to do in Shin Budokai 2, although ultimately there’s not been enough progress since the last instalment to make the game anywhere near recommended.

As point-and-click adventures go, Runaway 2 is a decent effort with good art direction and relatively high production values.

It’s brutal, beautiful and brilliant. God of War 2 gives gamers more of exactly what’s wanted: unashamedly blood-thirsty combat, an epic storyline and one badass anti-hero who doesn’t say anything without shouting it. You’re doing your PS2 a disservice if you don’t see it out with God of War 2.

A poor man’s version of Sid Meier’s Pirates, and seeing as the other game is probably on a budget label by now, or at least in a bargain bin somewhere, then it’s clear that this won’t even appeal to those who want some story with their pirating.

If you’re a dedicated enough player to have a nicely customised character with a reasonably full tech tree, or even just someone who enjoys a weekly dose of almost-massively multiplayer sci-fi FPS gaming without the monthly fees, the decision to get hold of Northern Strike will be an easy one to make.

The limited gameplay with an atmosphere that is completely spoiled by some deviously frustrating design and lazy pathing leads to an experience that for most will be flat and lifeless.

Worms feels more dumbed down than watered down, and 800 points is a lot for the novelty of playing an old game in HD. Still, if you buy it, people will most certainly come out to play, and ultimately the gameplay transcends the rather sparse contents.

Spectrobes is a suicidal endeavour by Disney, a fool-hardy exercise in boardroom cynicism resulting in little more than a way below par, under-funded attempt to cash in on Pokémon’s “Gotta catch ‘em all” legacy. Of what little enjoyment there is still left inside the DS cartridge, it’s left for the obsessive gamers who can stand the constant fruitless searching, endless digging, piss-poor combat, the rarity of finding something new, the barely existent storyline and even the feeble character designs.

If there’s one thing that can’t be doubted, it’s Wario’s credentials as a Master of Disguise – he’s managed to take a sub-par puzzle-platformer, and make it look like an inventive spin on a well-worn genre. Sadly, this particular disguise doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

Vice City fans might have fun with the game for a while, returning to familiar haunts one last time, but ultimately Vice City Stories is a great handheld game through and through, and this PS2 port does little more than emphasise the difference between the formats.

There are no huge technical leaps or jarring presentational changes, just eight-or-so hours of extra content and some convenient and entertaining additions to the core gameplay.

The story and puzzle solving elements work really well, but Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is badly let down by this insistence on making some clues as obscure as possible.

Formula One Championship Edition is a weak debut for F1 on PS3, trying to hide its complete lack of progress and innovation behind a high-def exterior; but it’s not all bad.

The nucleus of a good game is there, but its ambition is married to an apparent lack of expertise with the result that, like a crudely cut gemstone, it has few if any redeeming features.

If you’re not offended by constant references to burritos, fajitas and, erm, chickens, then Chile Con Carnage does demonstrate how a third-person shooter can be fun on the PSP in spite of its controller deficiencies.

We want a full-on SSX game for the Wii – one that feels like "SSX 5," not just a very competent spin-off. Blur will just about do until then, though.

If this was on a PS2 (which it is) it would look dated. On an Xbox 360 it’s a travesty. If the game was actually any good, the flaws might be just about forgivable, but with gameplay that’s so loose it’s practically dangling off the screen, and a main mechanic that becomes so deeply tedious you almost want to use surrender as your main strategy so you don’t have to go through yet another button mashing hack-and-slash session, this really has very little to offer.

Jade Empire is non-linear in the most magnificently linear way, and well worth it for those who missed it first time around.

One of the better RTS games we’ve played that at least tries to avoid the clichés that have riddled this genre for so long. Kudos goes to the developers, if not huge profits.

It is definitely lacking in the accuracy department and suffers from the same style of tactics working time and time again, with the AI never seeming to learn, which will spoil it for more experienced RTS players. But hey, if Blitzkrieg 2 lit your fuel depot then this expansion certainly won’t douse the fire; it just fails to recruit the necessary reinforcements to entice in new players.

While still not perfect, if you overlook the slow start and the cheap puzzle we mentioned, Abe Lincoln Must Die! marks out an extremely welcome return to form for the series.

An amateurish mess with a painful campaign mode and only a few novel ideas to be proud of.

The PSP port in itself is not perfect, but with 6 and a bit full games, all of which are pretty damned well polished side-scrolling shooter experiences, it comes pretty easy to recommend to anyone looking for a bit of classic coin-op action.

The irony is, despite Meteos: Disney Magic being an inferior update, it’ll probably sell more purely due to the fact that the Disney licence is there. The fact that said licence has been wasted is hugely disappointing, as is the mishandling of some of the updates to the thankfully still-good gameplay.

Virtua Fighter 5 is, quite simply, about the art of fighting. Not destructible environments, super power moves or jiggling breasts, but technique, speed and strategy. As such, this is a game you have to be willing to work at to enjoy, and certainly won’t enjoy if you don’t.

Crackdown rips up the rulebook and invests a much needed bout of innovation into methods of play.

The DS simply doesn’t need games like this, especially with no touch-screen control.

An RTS that’ll be remembered for years to come. It’s ambitious and challenging, yet rewarding...The depth and involvement required to play mean it’s just as demanding on your ability to manage, and indeed micro-manage, as it is on your PC’s ability to cope with all the action.

M.A.C.H is a sad waste of potential that feels like no one actually cared to deliver anything innovative or even competent.

Sadly, like most other movie tie-ins, this is marketed at fans of the film, not at gamers, and like Johnny Blaze himself, the whole thing feels a bit soulless. If only it also had the same level of flair.

Sadly, like most other movie tie-ins, this is marketed at fans of the film, not at gamers, and like Johnny Blaze himself, the whole thing feels a bit soulless. If only it also had the same level of flair.

To put it simply, The Angel of Death is an exceptional 2D point and click title masquerading as a fairly good 3D counterpart. There is simply no reason why George now resides in a new multi-dimensional world, bar entertaining its weakest element – its physical challenges.

The best 3D scrolling beat-em-up ever. And did we mention it’s a near-perfect port with a budget price?

The extreme banality of the package which would only just about hold the attention of the seriously young members of your family for any length of time can’t be ignored.

For £20 we’d hope for a few more games, with greater variety and a slightly slicker presentation. Definitely one for Capcom nostalgists.

If you can live with the fact that there are no expansions aside from a minor collection of downloadable extras, and that, unless you’re somehow immune to the boredom which strikes after playing any instalment of The Sims for more than a week, it probably won’t last you very long, then Life Stories might make for a decent introduction to one of the most over-exposed series of all time.

While we can’t look into the future to predict how Vanguard will turn out over the coming months, the early signs are promising that this could be more than just the real next generation of "Everquest."

While some of the set ups and situations are undoubtedly quirky and amusing, there’s nothing this time around to compare to the idiosyncratic psychoanalysis dream-sequence or the sitcom filming from the first and second instalments respectively. And in a game so straightforward, this is a problem.

Civ has the glitz and the glamour, while EUIII has huge depth and enough gameplay options to ensure that the game is never going to play the same way twice.

The combination of varied mini-games, relatively short and highly replayable campaigns, a save anywhere feature and an addictive 4-player ship battling mode make it a near-perfect fit for the system.

An unmitigated disaster. Terribly designed both technically and in terms of gameplay, it’s a miserable, useless, joyless experience entirely bereft of fun.

MMOs are not for everyone, but this is certainly the closest they get and this new expansion just cements that fact.

The humour from the original game returns in full flow, too. A lot of the dialogue is laugh out loud funny. [JPN Import]

The single player mode will likely only last you a short time, and once the novelty of the various games (as fun as they are) wears off, you’ll be left wanting something a little more substantial, especially from the multiplayer mode.

Graphically sublime and with well-paced and refined gameplay throughout, Inafune’s second ode to the 360 is one that cements Capcom’s rightful reputation as the format’s premier publisher right now, as well as adding another title of real quality to the console’s second wave.

An unmitigated disaster. Terribly designed both technically and in terms of gameplay, it’s a miserable, useless, joyless experience entirely bereft of fun.

A slight improvement on the first episode which comes highly recommended if you’ve already enjoyed "Culture Shock." And it’s still less than a fiver.

Certainly improves on the original PSP game and in many ways ends up being a better game on the PS2. While it comes much closer to fully capitalising on the ingenuity of the core concept, there’s still a feeling that the series is not quite there yet, with the PSP version lacking refined controls and the PS2 version requiring a little more depth for a home console game.

Although RotWK certainly doesn’t justify rushing out and purchasing the original if you don’t already have it, BfME2 fans who can put up with the micromanagement and fancy some new challenges will find plenty to love here.

At less than £1 a game, there’s plenty of opportunity to get your money’s worth, although don’t expect to be bowled over by the gameplay – this is still strictly a package for nostalgics and those with a keen interest in gaming’s history, in the books for which Capcom certainly deserves a second chapter.

The beauty of the game, as well as the depth of the immersion and the fun of the gameplay, is still here in abundance. Knights of the Nine is an essential addition for any Elder Scrolls fan.

The beauty of the game, as well as the depth of the immersion and the fun of the gameplay, is still here in abundance. Knights of the Nine is an essential addition for any Elder Scrolls fan.

Superman Returns: The Videogame is an embarrassment to video games, not to mention the Superman franchise, and is a new low for the quality of movie tie-ins.

For many, Rainbow Six will have finally reached the giddy heights of classic-status gaming, with Vegas retaining the series’ tactical edge but opening it up to a wider and more accepting audience. Ubisoft has taken a gamble, but ultimately it has paid off.

Superman Returns: The Videogame is an embarrassment to video games, not to mention the Superman franchise, and is a new low for the quality of movie tie-ins.

It’s not perfect and there’s no real reason to prefer the Wii version over the Gamecube’s, but The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is every bit the masterpiece gamers have been craving for, and proves there’s life in the old wolf yet.

It’s accessible, addictive, and an excellent tech-demo for the Wii-mote, not to mention an obvious choice to whip out when you want to show off your new purchase.

We can see some hardcore puzzle addicts playing this (and probably being very good at it), but for the average gamer it represents little more than a curiosity with little long-term appeal.

Trackmania United doesn’t essentially bring anything new to the table (perhaps the sandpit is a better analogy), but it is yet another example of a developer at the top of its game in a field where it is most certainly in pole position.

A series of unlockable wardrobe items do little to massage the questionable value for money factor of what is ultimately a short game that puts an interesting, er, ‘spin’, on the classic Sonic gameplay, yet fails to live up to such past successes.

With plenty of unlockable extras, a strong line-up of games and virtually faultless emulation, Sega Mega Drive Collection is easily one of the finest retro collections in years.