Fans will be satisfied with the good, even mix of challenging combat and the platforming which made the original game so successful. Yet those select few who enjoyed the darker tone of Warrior Within will find the Prince’s darker side and black humour a welcome addition to the game.

A fun, engaging, thoughtful and compelling game in its own right, and a definite purchase for those entranced by earlier iterations.

Whilst the idea behind Eyetoy Kinetic is brilliant, the execution is flawed, with the technology requiring detailed setup that many people may not be able to achieve.

Even more irritating are the recoveries that actually need to be manipulated. One requires you to shout into the microphone to wake your character up, and another to blow into the microphone to clear the screen of fog.

Being story-driven, the game was also broken up into short chapters, sometimes exceedingly short. With a load required between each one it could mean playing for possibly a few minutes before needing to load the next level.

Double Trouble, like previous games in the series, is a good 12-15 hours long on the first play through. However, this time repetition sets in far quicker than before with quite a few of the later levels becoming quite laborious for all but the most determined of gamers.

RR6 is perhaps best thought of as a succulent appetiser, foretelling of the potential of what a full blown next-gen Ridge Racer game could be like if Namco truly set their minds to it. And for now, this is enough. Just.

Both superb and a mess, a console FPS that feels fun, tactical, exciting all at the same time as feeling frustrating, backwards and in places amateurish.

It doesn’t quite reach "Fatal Frame," "Silent Hill" or "Siren" (Japanese version) as a complete package, but with Condemned, Monolith have created one of the most shocking, frightening, atmospheric, unrelenting and involving games in recent memory.

It’s a shining example of how the arcade-racing genre should be done, and it is an essential purchase for all gear heads with an Xbox360. In fact you probably already own it.

Let it be made perfectly clear, FIFA 06: Road to the World Cup is the Xbox 360’s turkey.

A chilled-out, whacked-out gem of a game and one that demonstrates that games can do ‘funny’ and ‘more accessible’ and pull it off with style.

Those who are not immediately drawn to it or enamoured with its subject matter will doubtless find very little to sway their mind towards purchasing or maintain their interest, with Infected's repetitive nature and lack of longevity doing little in the way of making it a standout title.

The story is compelling, the characters interesting, well developed and likeable, and it’s all gelled together in an environment that rewards the player for exploration, as well as being an enjoyable experience just to roam about and take in the countryside.

With the fast and furious gameplay of old once again rediscovered, it’s only the odd moments of glaring level-design error that cause the kind of dismay that a selection of the 3D titles offered up.

MKDS is a classic reminder that Nintendo created the character-based racer and is still leagues ahead of competitors when making them.

Tecmo have done an excellent job in creating a truly epic storyline that, while original, also binds together with the other titles in the series.

Despite what others may have claimed, this is not "Star Fox Adventures" for the new generation, this is something so much more exciting - Rare back on form.

The game plays brilliantly, the controller is sturdy and durable, the songs are facemeltingly great.

By far the most worthy of mention, though, are the Dark Illusions. These are giant setpiece traps which cause horrifying damage in even more horrifying ways, and have secret (and often bloody obscure) conditions for their activation.

An appalling game. In fact it's THE appalling game, that legendary one that the kids drinking Bubblegum 20/20 down the park talk about.

An exhausting, exhilarating ride which will hold you captivated 'til the very last second of the last mission.

GSH carefully sidesteps out of the shadow of its imposing ancestor and manages to be one of the most addictive and unadulterated blasters on Nintendo's handheld.

As ever with GTA, the flaws and problems can be overlooked for the sheer amount of things which do work, though what Liberty City Stories shows more than any other recent title in the series, is that this can’t go on forever.

Fuse Games has managed to mould an inspiring example of how to beautifully blend an already existing genre with an established and cherished franchise.

While certainly not flawless, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is the perfect game for followers of Lovecraft's work, but the title also offers an intriguing and involving adventure for those who aren't and just want something a little different from a normal first-person game.

The towering giants aren’t the meat of the experience – it’s the beguiling landscape which proves itself to be the biggest colossi of them all. Sprawling, mystical and dream-like, it can never quite be laid to rest or overcome.

So we have a game that’s initially too easy, but compels extended play anyway – probably something to do with the ridiculously infectious music.

Although Tenkaichi does offer genuine enjoyment, if only briefly, it comes as small consolation for the relative merits of recent prequels, and while eager young gamers will be enthused, those looking for a more brain-busting and evolutionary experience shouldn’t expect too much.

A game that runs out of steam far too quickly for its own good. What begins as an intriguing and fun game rapidly goes downhill.

All in all there's an absolute ton of stuff to get through for the 100% completion fans. Couple this with a brilliant two-player co-op mode for the main game, and you have a super-violent, aurally pleasing, long-lasting piece of software. A labour of love and a splendid homage to a well-loved film.

More often than not there is no real feeling of threat from the various visions and flashbacks, the implementation and setting of which are continually reused. This gives the impression that figuratively speaking the player is doing little more than chasing ghosts and the result is them ending up very blasé about what is happening on screen.

The minor issues are nowhere near big enough to take away from a game that sucks the player in with its originality and keeps them well and truly locked in until the judgement is made in the final case. Simply put, it’s brilliant. [JPN Import]

While the graphics may not stand up to today's best on Xbox, and the level design may suffer from quite a few flaws, the sheer thrill of seeing the end-of-level kill total push its way into the hundreds after a hectic half-an-hour's blast can't be beat.

A vaguely solid effort, and strides ahead of most emetic licences, but still crushingly repetitive and disappointingly dull, considering the generally well-regarded imagination of the film.

It’s one of those games that shows off just what the PSP can achieve both graphically and the proof that the control system can work with a fast-paced game.

Perhaps it is time for the series to evolve again rather than looking inward, just as it did nearly a decade ago when SotN was unleashed on an unsuspecting world. [JPN Import]

Its extensive campaign is likely to be played and thoroughly enjoyed at least once, but any replayability has been sabotaged by its own shortcomings: the bugs, the enforced narrative and the lack of rewards.

Worms 4 Mayhem is the game that "Worms 3D" should have been. It is a much more polished product and even addresses some of the issues that have plagued Worms since its very first incarnation.

Entertaining, fun and well worth playing, but is over far too quickly to consider a definite purchase.

Lunar: DS really is held back by its design. Parts that should be kept simple have been made frustratingly complicated, whilst others that could use a little elaboration have been left far too basic, all these decisions seemingly being made for the sake of producing a game that’s a little different.

Putting aside its technical prowess, on the surface everything seems fine but, as with the featured island, delving into the thicket uncovers the game's glaring problems, some of which may be inexcusable to players expecting a bit more meat on their gaming bone.

Fahrenheit is a bold step in the right direction, and though not perfect, it has enough charm, polish and excitement to make it one of the most interesting titles of the year.

On the technical side of things, Ninja Gaiden Black has a problem that wasn't present in the original release. The game is prone to bouts of slowdown at impromptu moments and these aren't particularly hectic instances either.

Cases of repetitious dialogue occur far too frequently, as does the odd graphical glitch. Plus the somewhat childlike visuals and script may turn off those who fell in love with the more mature humour of the early LucasArts titles.

As a game, Ninebreaker is possibly the best in the series and it is because of this that the fact it lacks any online mode is verging on gaming sacrilege. [JPN Import]

It’s already been established that Legends is a ‘Best of’ rather than a fully-fledged sequel. Therein lies its greatest failing – in fundamental terms it offers nothing more than ‘Burnout on the go’.

Approach GripShift with realistic expectations, and a pleasant, if not revelatory, experience will be forthcoming.

Yes the omake material is lazy but the stuff that was actually made by the programming team themselves, the actual product you're paying for - every inch of it smells of a product where those in control knew exactly what to do with it. [JPN Import]

Thoroughly recommended and the campaign for a similar game on a more powerful platform begins now.

It's a beautifully crafted game and the work Andamiro have put into it has to be respected. Rather than the same rehashed and reused background images over and over again there are polished, well-animated videos. [JPN Import]

With a fantastic clutch of Pac, two great shooters, Dig Dug, and the bizarre inclusion of THREE Rally X games, there's no way that any Namco fan is going to feel gypped out of the budget-level asking price. [JPN Import]

The tight platform skills and stylus control go hand in hand to create an intuitive, instinctive experience that challenges and entertains in equal measures.

Radical Entertainment have produced a game which is every Hulk fan's wet dream and even those with little more than a passing interest in this game will be unable to deny that it is fun to play.

Those anticipating another dose of what is possibly one of the most fantastically additive games of the past few years will be more than pleased by this installment.

Just get some bloody exercise and enjoy the lunacy – the brilliance – of Eye Toy Play 2.

If you are willing to forgive some of the niggles with the engine, then underneath lurks a program full of idea, invention, wit and life (although the motorcycle section seems somewhat out of place).

On its own, Makai Kingdom stands out as a solid and decent example of the SRPG genre managing to bring in the new elements of buildings and vehicles, but it is less strategic than "Phantom Brave," and the story isn’t as enthralling or interesting as "Disgaea."

It remains a thoroughly enjoyable, good all-round handheld shooter that's accessible to all ages and playing skills, with lots of replay value that demonstrates that, thanks to technology, good portable shooters are now possible once more.

Despite the fact some may find the concept of mouse gestures a little irritating at first, and the path-finding somewhat of a pain, those that persevere will be rewarded with some solid interactive entertainment.

The title's incredible atmospheric power is derived from how the presentation is conveyed through gameplay, and how the resulting simplicity helps strip the pacing down to a fine line.

It’s not for everyone, but those that want to try a game that mixes a bit of twitch with some brain-strain must step up and give Meteos the chance it deserves. [JPN Import]

As an RPG, Atelier Iris undoubtedly fails. As competently constructed as it is, as bright its script and characterisation may be, its principal design elements simply do not offer enough to consistently provide much beyond a standard role playing experience.

What was shaping up conceptually to have been the definitive Batman game to date, simply ends up being little more than a disappointing cash-in, complete with spoiler-laden (and bafflingly unskippable) clips of the movie between levels, film trailers, and even some unlockable costumes for good measure.

The subtle blend of old-school platformer and touch-screen control give it a unique flavour and one unlike anything sampled before.

As a complete package Still Life is a very enjoyable adventure game, its lack of engaging puzzles does sometimes make it feel more like an interactive novel than a game but that in no way detracts from the quality of the product.

The game ultimately feels anchored in a very traditional Capcom style, with its fixed viewpoints and the stalwart, somewhat clunky control system, though admittedly it is one of their better efforts.

With a much smoother front end and far more relaxing, sedentary backdrops in-game, visually, the game seems crisper and more vibrant with the overall quality of presentation a step up from the original. [JPN Import]

The ultimate Jedi action experience? It just might be.

Though the many tracks on offer (which amusingly take inspiration both from reality as well as other racing games), varying weather conditions and racing styles (including rallying, desert-crossing and touge racing) offer a lot of variety, the Enthusia Life format itself proves to be a little too simple and short, as reaching higher ranks does not involve as long a road as possibly it ought to. [JPN Import]

Overall, this can be a frustration, especially once gamers realise this fact by seeing just how inaccessible some of the later courses can be. [JPN Import]

Decent physics, clever AI, online racing: this is everything GT4 should have been and wasn't, and it's allowed Forza to take the GT trophy away from Polyphony, at least for the time being. Buy it.

In its favour, the battle system is easy to pick up and many happy hours can be lost in strategy; it has an addictive quality that makes you want to keep on playing, levelling up, customizing and battling the hours away.

It's a beautiful, magical experience, but at the same time it's one of the shortest console games we've ever seen - if you don't love it enough to play it to destruction, chances are it'll be back in the shop in a week. [JPN Import]

Only a must-play title for those obsessed with alien conspiracies, or those still hungry for more first-person horror after overturning the forces of Hell in Doom 3. For everyone else, the scariest thing about this game will be how quickly the credits roll, making it one title to be bought and thoroughly enjoyed essentially only on budget or rental.

Simply beguiling, a must-experience game, which will firmly cement itself in the mind of the player long after the system has been switched off.

The pickup-and-play nature of the Checkmate mode lends itself perfectly to the portable medium, but it's no more than a simple puzzle experience that can be found on millions of Desktop PCs. [JPN Import]

What will sell Jade Empire (and something it has in spades) is Oriental charm; from the story to the environment, the fighting to the character interaction, it's all very enjoyable and immersive; which is exactly how an RPG should be.

Extremely fun to pick up and play with now and then, but ultimately somewhat limited; its final destination gathering dust in a cupboard next to Hungry Hungry Hippos is all but assured.

The pinnacle of both stealth and Tom Clancy games, and is light years ahead of its peers. The changes to the gameplay structure accompanied with the very open-ended levels make for a simply brilliant single-player game.

It is a shame that what is a very solid launch title was marred by a few technical niggles. The control method and loading times must have deterred a number of gamers at the time, and thankfully Capcom and other developers such as Namco and Sammy are now able to work wonders with the hardware, even providing their own sticky D-pad thingies with releases.

This is by no means the definitive Tony Hawk, but if you’re yet to play THUG 2, it’s certainly a solid enough arena to start.

Sadly, God of War is rather short and capable of being completed in around 10 hours. However the game packs so much excitement and roller-coaster thrills in that timescale, it really does feel like a much longer experience and is certainly worthy of a replay.

The graphics are very attractive but there are much better games of this style such as Sega’s own "Shining Soul II." Shining Tears is one for the die-hard fans and 2D enthusiasts only. [JPN Import]

The sheer thrill of being able to play better-than-arcade versions of the Rave Racer tracks (probably some of the best in the series) in the palm of your hand is almost worth the price of admission alone... The best Ridge Racer game to date? Without a doubt. [JPN Import]

Two things ruin it though; the first is that the seeming blank refusal of the designers to refit the game's format so that it works as a card game. The second is that it's simply dogged by so many wincingly schoolboyish mistakes that it would be unconscionable to score it higher than that "Buy by all means but be forewarned" number six. [JPN Import]

It’s a stylish and remarkably addictive title that blends gameplay with relaxing tunes, and fits perfectly on its home platform. Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s latest game appeals to everybody who samples its future-retro vibe. Luminescent. Luminous. Lumines. [JPN Import]

There lies the juxtaposition within Wipeout Pure: on the one hand, it's fan service of the highest order, returning to the roots that helped them fall in love with the series in the first place, while also suffering from rife conservatism intent on keeping the structure and handling of the play predictable.

The only gem left to shine through the rubble of this collapsed concept is the character Clochette. The desperate melodrama in her voice fits this prissy madam perfectly and she, along with the plot-twist that her arc of the story entails, provides the only real highlight of the story.

As fantastic a game as it ever was. It's one of those rare games which are so good they feel genuinely ageless; pure, uninhibited pick up and play genius with not one button to press.

In its current form the game is an enjoyable and visually accomplished, but ultimately forgettable experience which plays like little more than a prequel to the next in the series.

There is a limit placed on the skills you can develop, where speed and multi-tasking are the only real requirements, after which there isn't much else to explore.

Jungle Beat was never going to be a bad game but the innovative control scheme and the deep combo-mechanic have elevated it to a genuinely excellent one.

Everything that fans of the original have been craving and much more besides as it surpasses "DMC1" in pretty much every conceivable way. [JPN Import]

It's disappointing that a bad engine and rushed execution detract from the overall experience, leaving it with nothing really remarkable.

Lamentably, it takes too long to reach said moments of getting going fully for it to supersede the more accomplished likes of the Halo series.

In fact the only mode notable by its absence is online play and it’s a shame Tekken 5 didn’t take the opportunity to introduce an online function for players to battle across the Internet. [JPN Import]

But lost among the vast raft of offerings is a game that has grown, but barely improved, certainly not at the rate gamers really deserve. In so many cases it will be irrelevant, with those that have waited for its arrival so eagerly lapping it up, and being washed away with all its new twinkling extras.