You’d expect the first of a trilogy to be the most novel and at least as good as future instalments, but in this case we’re really hoping for a greater effort for the next outing. It’s worth noting that there’s no multiplayer and little replayability, but a Steam version of the original SiN has been bundled with it as a sort of bribe.

The combination of RTS and RPG works well, each having its very distinct place in the overall feel of the game. Throw in that multiplayer bonus and developer Phenomic is in danger of having a hit on its hands.

It never quite manages to be an excellent tactical shooter, nor is it the most action-oriented of titles, but by combining thoughtful gameplay with some simply brilliant and explosive set-pieces, Ubisoft has managed to create a compelling single player experience.

With a bit more clout in the technology and art departments, the lack of compelling gameplay could have been forgiven, but as it is Wild Earth remains more of a curiosity.

It’s not as heavy on the role-playing as a subscription MMO, and it’s not usually as instantly gratifying as an online shooter, but it strikes a great balance for the casual MMO fan and the achievement-oriented action fan alike.

The level of depth and historical accuracy is not going to sit easy with most gamers, but if you consider yourself a war-gamer or even a historian then this has your name written all over it.

The PS2 version of the game looks every bit as good as on the more powerful Xbox, and gamers would be hard pushed to distinguish it from the arcade version.

The game is simply a pleasure to behold and a joy to play; but be warned that it’s a simple pleasure – possibly too simple for some – and there is an element of nostalgia in effect here.

The break-up of the storyline as you switch from Felt in Belkhyde to Viese in Eden gets incredibly tedious over time, and the storyline – while incredibly naturally told and performed well – is rather uninspiring, but the game itself should give you a good 40 hours of gameplay.

The story is derivative, the aliens are clichéd and stupid and the gameplay is pretty bog standard for the most part.

Surely everybody knows the score by now: EA ever so slightly update FIFA. It gets new stats, new players, new kits and slightly better graphics whilst remaining pretty much the same game it always has been.

On the multiplayer side, things come together nicely, and the toing and froing that comes from the defender-biased jostling serves to keep possession roughly even between players who are similarly skilled, while giving more creative passers a definite advantage.

Ultimately this is a very predictable and flat feeling expansion that may have the hardcore few blowing the dust of their original game and reinstalling it, but will certainly not be bringing new players or those that may have passed after buying the first game in the series.

Surely everybody knows the score by now: EA ever so slightly update FIFA. It gets new stats, new players, new kits and slightly better graphics whilst remaining pretty much the same game it always has been.

Surely everybody knows the score by now: EA ever so slightly update FIFA. It gets new stats, new players, new kits and slightly better graphics whilst remaining pretty much the same game it always has been.

While more linear than the likes of the excellent Fahrenheit, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey is compelling enough to maintain your interest through to the conclusion, which itself is disappointing since the game comes to and end too quickly and fails to match the quality of the remainder of the story.

If you don’t care about frills and atmosphere then you’re probably better off with a less sophisticated poker game, but if you can put up with a little bit of waiting around, World Poker Tour has a lot to offer.

Don’t expect it to raise your IQ, but do expect it to kick off a long, long line in copycat titles.

2006 is an unforgiving time for online gaming, and a game as mixed up and inconsistent as this simply cannot make an impact, as hard as it tries with its meaty combat and awesome-looking vehicles.

Crystal Dynamics has finally made Lara into the female Indiana Jones she’s always threatened to be, and even managed to fill the game with memorable moments, such as an incident with a motorbike on the rooftops of Japan, swan diving off a high cliff into a lake, and even base jumping into the middle of a combat zone.

Crystal Dynamics has finally made Lara into the female Indiana Jones sheâ??s always threatened to be, and even managed to fill the game with memorable moments, such as an incident with a motorbike on the rooftops of Japan, swan diving off a high cliff into a lake, and even base jumping into the middle of a combat zone.

There’s nothing of note here – nothing thrilling or stirring, or any part fuelled with even a hint of passion for the sport it wants to portray. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The whole game just sticks far too rigidly to the over-worn gameplay of the originals. Without much of an effort to harness the PSP’s power or even stretch for a physics-based dynamic, it’s really surprising that this isn’t a straight-to-budget title.

Just like the game’s music, UberSoldier is annoying and depressing. Almost every aspect aside from the game’s visuals is amateurish and badly made, right down to the overactive physics engine, which allows you to explode the glass in windows and push heavy tables over by just brushing by them.

It doesn’t look as good as it could quite easily have done, and nowhere near enough progression from the first title has been made to justify it being referred to as a sequel. However, the engine is still solid enough to provide an enjoyable and often blister-inducing game of tennis.

While Kingdom Hearts II might boil down to button mashing, levelling up and some crap mini-games, the experience itself is second to none.

The rigidly linear levels with obvious trigger points, the failure to evolve the basic gameplay and the newly random nature of the effectiveness of cover all conspire to devalue what was a novel and rather fun original.

The rigidly linear levels with obvious trigger points, the failure to evolve the basic gameplay and the newly random nature of the effectiveness of cover all conspire to devalue what was a novel and rather fun original.