So, to summarise, Mugen Kouro is an odd and unique mix of elements. The story holds the interest of the player even if the mundane battles don't. The customisation aspects provide a refreshing break and a more immediate goal. And the spaceships almost look like they're straight out of Star Wars! [JPN Import]

Toy Soldiers just tries too hard to be different, in the end.

Children will manage it, and Super Easy mode (where hitting any note counts) makes Rock Band accessible to the youngest generation yet.

Hakuna Matata is a unique title and as such will no doubt attract a cult following. There is a lot to offer those who can find the required time and patience required to gain the best from it.

Wet has a great story with some excellent voice acting from the main players – the people behind Pelham, Ackers and Rubi all manage to carry off that dark, menacing vibe without straying into comic book territory. It’s just that the game lacks any real staying power – the scoring mechanic isn’t strong enough and the inconsistent pacing will fail to draw many players back after the initial playthrough.

Squeezing so many items into the game and having each one act how (and beyond how) the player expects is amazing.

Mini Ninjas is an utterly cute and charming game that may not have the complexity and amount of content ‘hardcore’ gamers look for, but anyone who disparages Mini Ninjas for its simplicity is missing the point.

Battlefield 1943 is technically very well made, with high production values and a solid online infrastructure that can easily host 24 players without any problems. Great as this is for the first 3-4 hours, though, it’s not long before the monotony sets in. There simply isn’t enough variety here to keep you coming back, and being an Xbox Live Arcade release is no excuse.

The game is by no means great but is also certainly not bad.

Red Faction: Guerrilla knows it is a game about making buildings fall over and it doesn’t purport to be anything else.

Bionic Commando is a flawed game that suffers at the hands of engine limitations and tacked-on multiplayer. The game is immensely enjoyable for players who put the effort in to master the swinging and combat, but sometimes the frustrating sections threaten to overwhelm the rest of the experience.

HAWX does what it does admirably in most cases. It provides an enjoyable and entertaining diversion in a rarely explored genre with just enough content to keep gamers with friends busy.

Interpol was never a game that was going to set the world on fire, but it does offer the kind of experience that is becoming quite rare these days. It is a genuinely calming and relaxing title and when you consider how many levels you are getting here, is good value for money.

What is so frustrating about Endwar is that underneath everything, it is a brilliant game. The designers have just made it extremely difficult to get at this by wrapping the core gameplay with a number of ill-conceived modes.

Quantum of Solace is definitely of interest to more than just Bond fans – anyone looking for a varied, somewhat light-hearted shooter will derive a good degree of enjoyment from it.

The presentation and love put into the character designs and attention to detail carries the simplistic and overly easy gameplay further than it should. If you want a gentle introduction to the genre, this is absolutely perfect.

Trashy, vulgar and complete with a set of morals that are thin at best, Saints Row 2 is a fantastically stupid game that infuriates as much as it entertains.

There will obviously be another in the series, by which time Gearbox Software will have hopefully managed to tame both their engine and the irksome controls, and ultimately provide the game experience that this title should have been.

Warriors Orochi 2 is a divisive game and one that many will over-look due to the largely negative reviews circulating for it.

While not necessarily a bad game, Lego Batman scrapes through under the definition of 'fun'.

There is no doubt that Silicon Knights have failed to live up to their early promises regarding Too Human.

True tennis fans will probably find some mileage in Top Spin, even if only against similarly minded friends, but for most this will go down as a bland and ultimately disappointing game that takes realism a step too far and squashes any concept of fun in the process.

While not a complete success, Battlefield: Bad Company has many plus points, and provides a limited but fun single-player campaign that, while not wholly original, does have some memorable moments.

Sadly, it will not take you long to make your way through the stages on offer. Collecting the Calabash presents something of a challenge, and you are given a ranking after each stage which gives a touch of replay value to proceedings.

But, in the short time it takes to reach the end, it will have already become old hat and it doesn't hold up to repeated playing, even on the frustrating higher difficulty setting. This makes it only essential for the more hardcore Jason Bourne fan.

The reality is that longevity is limited to how much the player enjoys swooshing down the snow in the solo game and for some this isn't going to be enough. A beautiful experience, while it lasts.

Definitely the type of game to park your brain in neutral, play and enjoy without expecting too much from it.

Despite the repetitive and fiddly combat - which de-harmonises the experience and impacts on the enjoyment factor somewhat - ardent, die-hard fans of the series will have a fulfilling and fun time with the revisited universe.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is a let-down in as much as it caters for its target audience, but does little to refresh or invigorate the series as a whole.

Overall, Condemned 2 starts off brilliantly and has much potential, but ends up a crushing disappointment. Not only does it pail into comparison to its predecessor, but it also fails to stand up against other games in the FPS genre.

They need to elevate PES to the next stage of its life that it so deserves, and the only way they can do that is to give players more of what they want rather than take from them.

It's great fun in the two-player mode and, like any other lightgun game, is a good laugh for post-pub blasting. It's just a shame that Sega didn't make more of an effort with this release.

Patapon is one of the PSP's more original and interesting titles of late.

Despite these small problems, however, this is still essential playing for long-time fans, and for new entrants: buy this game, play it, and then get the others.

Shooters are quite thin on the ground for the DS, so fans of the genre will find enough here to keep them going for a good while, particularly in the quest to attain gold medals for each and every planet in every galaxy.

Despite its quality it won't set the world on fire like it did back in the Eighties, but it's a poignant and subtle reminder of how games used to be written and how wonderfully brilliant games back then could be.

There is a superbly realised first third of a game there, but the combat and linear mission structure, coupled with the awful storyline help to undermine the quality apparent elsewhere.

Soldier of Fortune: Payback is not a bad game, it's just not one with universal appeal.

As a monster-collecting game, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker isn’t in the same league as Pokémon. As an RPG however, it’s a big success.

A great game with a group of friends, and one which could help shift a pound or two, but the necessity to unlock events for multiplayer and the near-vertical difficulty curve for later circuits are hard to overlook.

Add to that the fact that each level also has a set number of collectables and the overall result would require someone with the talent of being able to reduce their body state to near-hibernation in order not to die from the boredom of it all.

With the furore objectively moved aside, Manhunt 2 is left a game which has tremendous atmosphere but that unfortunately counts for nothing when hampered by sloppy controls and poor implementation.

Battalion Wars 2 is a good game with some minor issues that do not detract from its overall quality or enjoyment.

Deep down, Jericho clearly has the right idea. However, the implementation - which feels half-hearted at times - really lets it down.

Obvious flaws and blatant plagiarism aside Conan isn’t a bad game by any stretch, offering a lot of throwaway entertainment and a real challenge on anything above the normal difficulty setting.

While it’s great to see it on the newer generation of systems (and on a Microsoft system at that), it doesn’t feel like it’s progressed very much at all since its first iteration, a problem that dogged even We Love Katamari, but which feels even more apparent here.

While it won't take long to finish the game, and bar one or two extras there isn't much in the way of replay value, while it lasts, Folklore is a bedazzling, enchanting title.

It may not be the definition of next gen, but it is solidly old school in its delivery. It’s not often that a title comes along so devoid of hype and once again many gamers may pass this by, but if you have yet to sample the delights of the series, you could benefit from effectively three games worth of development that has honed a rough diamond into something getting closer to perfection.

It’s difficult to be too hard on Spiderman: Friend or Foe because of its targeted age group. Even with its highly repetitive and simplistic nature, it ultimately wins out over the drivel of Spiderman 3 (the game) with its photography and bomb diffusing missions and boring plot.

In the end, Eternal Sonata is let down by its failure to take advantage of the story it sets up for itself.

Heavenly Sword turns out to be a short experience, and one that isn’t going to challenge even the cerebrally impaired.

With games like "Final Fantasy XII" pushing the genre forward, it’s disappointing to see a game with so much talent behind it not attempt to try anything new. [JPN Import]

The final half of Wild Arms 5 is incredible. The story, dungeons and battles all come together to create a game that is as good as traditional RPGs will ever get. If only the same could be said about the initial slog, it’d be a classic.

The controls are heavenly but the game isn’t.

The idea that More Brain Training will elevate anyone to Einstein intelligence is perhaps a bit far fetched, but it’s clear that working your brain regularly is as essential as getting enough exercise; more neurons, less flab.

A very good game, terrific fun, ideal for the purpose, and just a big winner in multiplayer online or off. It is not going to set the world alight in single player, but we hope that Nintendo can see how favourably it has gone down with the online crowd and plan for the future accordingly.

It retains the feel of McRae, but not the subtlety or precision. The car doesn’t feel different enough across the various surfaces, while the ability to stop almost instantly in the majority of cars on any track is a sign that they are not interacting with the ground as they should. They feel loose, almost distant.

This isn’t a high-def interactive movie or a massive leap forward for all things Marvel – but it is a fun distraction and perfect for a casual or younger, superhero-mad gamer.

Combining last-generation visuals with next-generation control is never going to result in a satisfactory outcome.

Although the draw of online leaderboards and achievements is compelling, unfortunately for Pinball FX, the table designs all feel a little mediocre and lack the features of truly great pinball tables like The Addams Family and Star Trek TNG; maybe the future downloadable content will be better. That said, it is a solid pinball simulation that portrays the ball physics with some degree of finesse, and so it's definitely worth checking out the trial game at least.

The most interesting feature though, has to be the inclusion of the "Double Play" mode where it's possible to play a 2P game whilst controlling both ships - a technique made famous by a skillful Japanese Ikaruga player, and now here it is entering the mainstream as a proper play mode. [JPN Import]

Another excellent and approachable leaderboard-chasing romp through colourfully lit cityscapes with an upbeat tempo soundtrack. Though it's perhaps a little short-lived due to the limited tracks currently available, it's a lot of fun while it lasts.

However, the game ultimately stands or falls on its ability to remain fun and dynamic. For a two year old game, that to all intents and purposes feels like a poor man’s God Of war in places, it does still hold-up pretty well.

On the face of it Chocobo Tales appears to be aimed at a younger audience; however the game has a delightful charm that will appeal to anyone who’s a fan of the Final Fantasy series.

If nothing else, Vanguard serves as a pretty good indication of how well suited the Wii’s control setup is for this kind of game and one can only hope that future releases, most notably Metroid Prime 3, will succeed in adding what Vanguard lacks – a decent videogame to back up the inventive controls.

Kororinpa isn't a massively deep game - we're talking more like swimming pool than Marianas Trench - and as such it certainly won't take most people very long to plough through to the credits, but when compared games of this ilk there's still plenty to come back for.

Wario's a greedy so-and-so, and he goes to a lot of trouble to get what he wants. Master of Disguise is an enjoyable diversion which some will enjoy, but you have to question whether Wario's elaborate scheme was really worth bothering with in the first place.

As lacklustre as Vice City Stories is, there’s no denying that it effectively replicates the core genius of the GTA series in a way no other sandbox action title can. Presumably the last GTA on the PS2, you’ll leave it thinking that it was a missed opportunity rather than a poor experience.

Bullet Witch gets by on the fun nature of the physics and occasionally spectacular setpieces (the Up in Flames at 10,000 Feet boss encounter on the back of a jumbo jet, or downing multiple enemy Chinooks with a Tornado) but the incessant dourness and spartan environments can become rather depressing simply on an aesthetic level without bringing frustrating game mechanics into it.

It's cheap, it's easy, there’s no death, severed limbs or even blood, it's great for wowing hammered friends with a motion sensitive controller. In fact, it's simply ornamental.

Unshackled from the limitations of ‘vertical-only’ movement, this update is more intuitive than its predecessor and turning the DS ninety degrees is a wonderful touch too.

Trioncube’s mesmerisingly spartan yet compulsive gameplay, married to the charming presentation, indelible soundtrack and reward trail, often confect to make this feel like a honeyed breath of fresh air. [JPN Import]

They need to elevate PES to the next stage of its life that it so deserves, and the only way they can do that is to give players more of what they want rather than take from them.

Further hampering the dungeons is sheer repetitiveness. Most contain only a few combinations of enemies to fight and the battles are such that you can use exactly the same strategy, for exactly the same result, every time.

Diddy Kong Racing DS is still a compulsive challenge and for sheer content and variety, it wins outright. But it’s not a fully convincing reinvention, and equally it’s changed too much to feel like a reassuring old friend.

The core mechanics have barely changed since the days of Symphony of the Night and as we pointed out in no uncertain terms when we reviewed Dawn of Sorrow , the format is growing stale now.

Most importantly, ExciteTruck is massive fun to play, which is still the most vital of aspects in any game.

Despite the limited number of tracks, the combination of different game modes and difficulty ratings make PocketBike Racer entertaining when it's taken for what it is - an unashamed Mario Kart clone intended to advertise Burger King.

Sneak King is undeniably fun for a while and certainly a guilty pleasure, but its main failing is that it quickly becomes repetitive.

Unless you can afford to have your own backing band or cough up for a proper karaoke machine and CD-G discs, SingStar Rocks represents the best you can do if you like (mainstream) rock music and want to sing along to it, it is that simple.

Sheer enthusiasm is what carries this product though and, when played in the right environment, it’s absolutely hilarious.

Trauma Center Second Opinion feels like exactly what it is: a port of an existing game that should have stayed on its original platform. Lack of extra content once finished also leaves it feeling very lightweight.

It won't be heralded a classic but it is certainly a welcome return to form for a franchise that was beginning to appear languid and certainly promises a lot for Crystal Dynamics' next game which is a reinvention of the original Tomb Raider.

After a few hours' play, the game infects your consciousness, as solutions to previously impossible levels suddenly present themselves on the toilet, or ideas for stage designs pop into your head walking down the street.

Lumines II shows that the game has lost none of its appeal since its initial release, and the music videos really do feel like the next-step and part of a natural progression.

Whilst the combat system might not suit everyone, it by no means detracts greatly from the overall experience. The strong narrative and cast mix well to the addictive levelling of strengths and powers, leaving the player more than satiated.

Ends up feeling distinctly average in terms of design and implementation.

It is just a crying shame that the online capabilities of the console were not properly harnessed, and that there is a shocking lack of any real extras for those who already own the original versions.

Those looking for an RPG-lite experience to ease them into or even help them return the world of RPGs, or looking for a chunk of throwaway fun, will no doubt enjoy Contact as an easygoing romp.

While single player offers enough to keep things new, the same cannot be said for multiplayer.

Fans of the original will no doubt like it more simply because it's based on Rainbow Islands and shares many of its virtues, but newcomers may find it somewhat lacking. [JPN Import]

DEFCON’s main issue is the lack of depth.

Fun, then, in moderate doses and more a tantalising promise of things to come rather than an essential early entry in the 360 canon.

The controls are intuitive and simplistic with those small details, such as the marine looking around or grinning gleefully when you pick up a new weapon, present and correct. Doom is good value at 800 points and well worth the purchase.

Rocket Slime is a game which was largely overlooked on release, a shame given that, despite its younger target audience and the departure from the typical Dragon Quest RPG stylings, it’s shamelessly entertaining.

On the one hand SNK Playmore should be applauded for attempting to develop the King of Fighters series beyond its traditional 2D heritage and to take it somewhere new, but on the other it is difficult to see exactly who SNKP expects actually to buy the game.

A massive disappointment to hardcore fans of the series.

LSW2 is a quality title, but it suffers the same problem as the films it parodies.