If you already have "Soul Calibur II" then it’s a much harder call. You’ll get a few new characters, a create-your-own character mix-and-match style feature and, basically, almost exactly the same fighting game as before.

Very much a Ratchet & Clank game, just tweaked, refined and in some cases streamlined.

If you’re really keen on an officially sanctioned and more importantly legal nostalgic journey – especially if you’re fond of scrolling shoot-em-ups – then the Namco Museum 50th Anniversary collection does have its merits.

For anyone with the inclination to be educated in how games used to consist of pure gameplay magic, or for those who wish to revisit their gaming pasts, Taito Legends is a superior collection of titles, some of which are truly classics in the absolute sense of the word.

It’s hard to describe every facet of Civ IV’s gameplay without writing an epic, but suffice it to say, this is everything Civilization fans could hope for.

GFH will be an absolute boon for anyone who has fond memories of its MegaDrive predecessor, but it's still the kind of game that'll upset people who don't take kindly to frustration. In other words, if you were pissed off by games like "Ninja Gaiden," you'll get pissed off with this.

For anyone with the inclination to be educated in how games used to consist of pure gameplay magic, or for those who wish to revisit their gaming pasts, Taito Legends is a superior collection of titles, some of which are truly classics in the absolute sense of the word.

It’s odd, but Modern Combat is a much better single-player game than it is multiplayer.

While the single player game may have taken a couple of steps backwards, it’s still a big deal to have a game like this on a handheld, and an even bigger one to have a fully realised multiplayer mode.

The dual screens provide a perfect medium for the genre, and the inclusion of the rumble pack, which is compatible with the likes of Mario & Luigi at the moment and should feature in future releases, is a neat and thoughtful inclusion.

There is little atmosphere and it’s about as immersive as playing one of those silly Osama Bin Laden-killing flash games in your web browser.

The sound of Jack's shallow breathing as he becomes increasingly frightened is very effective, and there is nothing quite as unnerving as hearing the growls and mutters of your pursuers as you hole up in some dark corner.

It's odd, but Modern Combat is a much better single-player game than it is multiplayer.

There are hours and hours of RTS fun to be had in Age of Empires III, but the problem is that we’ve all come to expect more over the years from our real time strategy games, and you can’t hide a lack of progress with shiny graphics and lovely physics-related cannon exploits.

If you have a PS2 and don’t purchase and play both ICO and "Shadow of the Colossus," you’ll have done the gaming equivalent of going to a five-star restaurant and only eating breadsticks. It’s essential stuff.

As a non-serious racing game that manages to combine Wipeout and Burnout in carting form, Jak X has a lot to offer – at least if you don’t already own a dozen or so such games.

It’s still the most complete virtual poker experience you’re likely to come across, but it falls short of what it could have been. Cool ideas like the ability to change your player’s facial expression are all but pointless, and the online play doesn’t really seem to have taken off.

It’s novel, it’s a good fighting game and it’s extremely well presented, but Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi is still one for the fans.

It's too short, too easy, way too repetitive, and the level design is left wanting.

As a movie tie-in, we can say with no authority whatsoever that it’s totally authentic and sure to please fans (in all seriousness, the production values and treatment are extremely respectable).

Technically the game stands up well, but feels a bit rushed in places, leading to some rather uninspired level design.

As a movie tie-in, we can say with no authority whatsoever that it's totally authentic and sure to please fans (in all seriousness, the production values and treatment are extremely respectable).

The decent visuals and mainstream theme do help things a little, and the underlying complexities of hex-based warfare are pretty well masked, but in the end this is still a game for those who prefer to spend long nights, manual in hand, working towards a distant reward.

If it’s a great story with likeable characters (with the notable exception of Phoenix’s slightly annoying assistant he picks up shortly into the game) you want, then Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney will sink its claws into you and not let go until the judge’s hammer comes down on that final case.

A very competent online shooter with some excellent features that can be extremely fun if you play it with the right people. Once again though, we must stress that we can’t recommend this game on the basis of its offline content alone.

Despite the step-down in charm, the game underneath it all is splendid.

Good-but-unremarkable, lacking any significant problems, but equally any real innovation.

A competent and enjoyable blaster and a great way to while away some time with friends. It's far from sophisticated, but does strive – and largely succeeds – to keep things fun.

Despite the step-down in charm, the game underneath it all is splendid.

Despite the step-down in charm, the game underneath it all is splendid.

Forget tennis elbow – the only tennis-related injury you’ll be complaining of from now on is Virtua Tennis thumb.

It’s essentially the same game as before, only played from a different angle.

How much you get out of Trauma Center really depends upon your tolerance for difficult, sometimes unfairly so, puzzle/reaction games.

The gameplay itself is still in relatively good health, and with a good deal of thought and tweaking could be as enjoyable as it ever was, but if Worms is to once again be a post-pub game of choice, it needs to regain its sense of humour.

A competent if unspectacular stealth game.

While obviously not for those seeking an arcade fix, Another Code is an absolute must for those who are always on the lookout for a decent adventure.

The most immersive and beautiful FPS yet to appear on a console. The single player has great pacing, challenge and satisfaction, while the multiplayer is accessible and fun.

A competent if unspectacular stealth game.

When combined with solid, focused, accessible gameplay and handy features such as the ability to ping objectives so that you don’t get lost, or automatically rewind time Prince of Persia style when you inevitably cock something up, Sly 3 represents the cream of the genre.

The reason not to like it, namely that it’s a compromised version of a two year old game that itself was a pretender to Virtua Tennis’ crown, is pretty strong too.

Some of NBA 2K6’s updates are incremental, while others show a continuing commitment towards maintaining the best NBA video game on the market.

Some of NBA 2K6's updates are incremental, while others show a continuing commitment towards maintaining the best NBA video game on the market.

While it undoubtedly falls short in certain key areas – the imperfect controls, the repetitive side missions, the slightly bland engine... – it will certainly be more than adequate for any Spidey fan feeling the need for some web-slinging.

While it undoubtedly falls short in certain key areas – the imperfect controls, the repetitive side missions, the slightly bland engine... – it will certainly be more than adequate for any Spidey fan feeling the need for some web-slinging.

While it undoubtedly falls short in certain key areas – the imperfect controls, the repetitive side missions, the slightly bland engine... – it will certainly be more than adequate for any Spidey fan feeling the need for some web-slinging.

While it undoubtedly falls short in certain key areas – the imperfect controls, the repetitive side missions, the slightly bland engine... – it will certainly be more than adequate for any Spidey fan feeling the need for some web-slinging.

Overall Legend of Kay is a decent quality platforming title that successfully combines several entertaining ideas. It is let down a little by poor voice acting and slightly linear RPG elements, but at least benefits from a mid-range price-tag.

It’s simply a superbly put-together RTS which, while lacking in the all-out strategy of "Rome: Total War," excels in traditional "Command & Conquer"-style action.

A truly extraordinary game, and easily one of this year’s landmark titles. Evocative, unique, original, atmospheric and gripping – most contemporary releases struggle to lay claim to just one of Fahrenheit’s strengths.

A truly extraordinary game, and easily one of this year’s landmark titles. Evocative, unique, original, atmospheric and gripping – most contemporary releases struggle to lay claim to just one of Fahrenheit’s strengths.

Fable was, and still is, a cracking and practically beard-free role-player. Maybe in five years from now, we’ll see a sequel that actually resembles what we were initially promised.

You just want to continue and roll up a one and half kilometre katamari, picking up the White House, the Sphinx and Big Ben in the process, and listen to the incredible soundtrack again and again and again.

Solid at its core and deft in attack, Genji is still a swipe or two away from being something seriously special.

Its simplicity is its strength, and its weakness – while traipsing around looking for annoyingly hidden items and backtracking is almost completely avoided, the limited direction of the game reduces its chances of holding your interest for long enough to play it all the way through.

Its simplicity is its strength, and its weakness – while traipsing around looking for annoyingly hidden items and backtracking is almost completely avoided, the limited direction of the game reduces its chances of holding your interest for long enough to play it all the way through.

With a steep learning curve, fiddly controls and some tough levels, Heroes is not for everyone.

A truly extraordinary game, and easily one of this year's landmark titles. Evocative, unique, original, atmospheric and gripping – most contemporary releases struggle to lay claim to just one of Fahrenheit's strengths.

Its simplicity is its strength, and its weakness – while traipsing around looking for annoyingly hidden items and backtracking is almost completely avoided, the limited direction of the game reduces its chances of holding your interest for long enough to play it all the way through.

Its simplicity is its strength, and its weakness – while traipsing around looking for annoyingly hidden items and backtracking is almost completely avoided, the limited direction of the game reduces its chances of holding your interest for long enough to play it all the way through.

Had the puzzling been of a more engaging nature, then we may have warmed up to the game considerably, but even at a budget price there isn’t much to recommend.

To Avalanche Software’s credit, The Great Juju Challenge represents a valid step towards a final acclimatisation.

To Avalanche Software's credit, The Great Juju Challenge represents a valid step towards a final acclimatisation.

To Avalanche Software's credit, The Great Juju Challenge represents a valid step towards a final acclimatisation.

Technically solid throughout, the game provides a severe test for those dedicated enough to see it through.

An incredible amount of raw fun to play, remaining so similar to previous titles yet being so fundamentally different.

You won’t want to play through the game more than once, but once you’ve done it you’ll have all the cut-scenes and access to everything you’d ever want from the game – aside from the odd spot of ‘kick Sam into the bottomless pit’.

Namco has created a capable fighter and dressed it in some especially uninspiring clothes. To put it plainly, Urban Reign appears to exist purely because it can. Despite its skill, no forward steps are taken or advancements made in the genre.

An ‘original’ title based on previous games. Think of it as "Burnout 3+."

An incredible amount of raw fun to play, remaining so similar to previous titles yet being so fundamentally different.

They're all fun and all eventually devolve into button mashing murder, so is Dynasty Warriors 5 worth buying over Dynasty Warriors 4? No. Is the Xbox's version better than the PS2's? Not much.

As a game it’s fairly average, but the presentation is top notch.

What it boils down to is the fact that there are better racers and better puzzle games already on the PSP.

As a game it's fairly average, but the presentation is top notch.

As a game it's fairly average, but the presentation is top notch.

The downsides don’t trash what is basically a fun and frantic experience that manages to combine realism on the ice with arcade action.

It’s still above average and the multiplayer modes are worth investing time in if you’ve enjoyed them before.

Unlike the innovative "Rainbow Six 3," Lockdown doesn't introduce a great deal new to the franchise aside from some miscellaneous aesthetic improvements.

The downsides don't trash what is basically a fun and frantic experience that manages to combine realism on the ice with arcade action.

The pinnacle of the sub-genre and while not the "Forza" or "Gran Turismo 4" of biking, is currently about as good as it gets.

It’s not like Ubi to release such a generic and obviously flawed game such as this, but it’s not unprecedented either and we can only hope this unfortunate blip is the worst that we’ll see for a while.

The storyline, despite being written by former Hulk writer Paul Jenkins, isn’t particularly strong or well told, despite the fact that it’s more than faithful to the Hulk’s comic strip roots.

The storyline, despite being written by former Hulk writer Paul Jenkins, isn't particularly strong or well told, despite the fact that it's more than faithful to the Hulk's comic strip roots.

Nintendogs is comparable to "The Sims" in the respect that it’s all quite engaging and entertaining at first, but then everything just becomes an aimless chore.

Nintendogs is comparable to "The Sims" in the respect that it’s all quite engaging and entertaining at first, but then everything just becomes an aimless chore.

Nintendogs is comparable to "The Sims" in the respect that it’s all quite engaging and entertaining at first, but then everything just becomes an aimless chore.

It’s a nice game, but not an outstanding one. Try it with that in mind and you won’t be disappointed.

It does manage to offer a good balance of tweaks as well as new content. If you never managed to make it through Sacred, then it has to be said, Underworld probably won’t be enough to rekindle your interest, while if you’re a hardcore fan then it should go without saying that this is a worthwhile purchase.

Sonic CD is a title worth purchasing on pure merit, and whatever their standard, the sheer number of games on the disc make Gems an economical acquisition.

Advent Rising is not unenjoyable, but it simply doesn’t make much of an impression, being overtly unoriginal and not nearly as ambitious in its gameplay as in its story.

As great as it is to be sliding down a banister firing off both guns before holding out your blades to slice into two anyone unlucky enough to be standing near the bottom as you pass, the sloppy controls and quirks in the design do prevent BR2 from being anything more than a reasonably-decent third-person action-slasher.

If VT's controls are too simple for you, then Top Spin is waiting in the wings to take your money.

By bringing forward all the great aspects of its predecessor that worked so well before, giving them a change of scenery to warmer climes and adding in a few new choice features, Codename Panzers: Phase Two has managed to maintain the quality of the first instalment.

Even with the game being relatively enjoyable and short enough to be replayed a few times, the lack of variety is unjustifiable. The Emperor’s thumb is most certainly down for this one.

Nanostray is great fun to play. Unfortunately, the “nano” part of the title seems to be indicative of it having the lifespan of a gnat, and the gulf between the extremely easy (but great) Adventure mode and the overly-hard Challenge mode (which will put off all but the most ridiculously hardcore) is baffling.

There is a lot of great stuff in Asheron’s Call, period. There is an enormous landmass populated with hidden dungeons, strange creatures and mysteries begging to be solved once more.

We’re left with a fairly annoying RTS title full of niggling and frustrating bugs, poor design decisions, and pathfinding that has dripped directly from the nose of Satan himself.

FlatOut is a fun racer in the vein of Destruction Derby that just about manages to carve a niche for itself. If you’re looking for a physics-heavy racer with some demanding courses then its worth checking out.

Budget release or no, this is a pretty disappointing effort and a waste of time for most.