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.