The control scheme is still as intuitive as it was first time round, but it is now encased in a fun and rewarding experience that is a pleasure to play from start to finish. [JPN Import]

Black is great fun, to be sure – it's just not some divine revelation. Instead, it has nothing to show you that you won't see within two days, at the outside.

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.

While the ideas behind it may not be anything new, Exit is the sort of game that exudes a charm and style all of its own, helped considerably by its graphical front and jazzy musical accompaniment.

Despite the more comprehensive set of drawn out challenges, it doesn't have the long-term appeal and playability of that title, or the "charm" of "DOAXBV's" well-established character roster.

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."

Shining Force is only worth buying for those who like their RPG meals to be served in small helpings and without any fat. Those who are growing tired of the endless pages of stats and infinite battles that are currently in vogue will find a lot to enjoy here.

It is a good pool simulation, for extra realism you could add stale beer stains and fag burns to your carpet. It will take you a long time to unlock everything, but it’s not without its flaws. The length of time it takes the AI to make a shot grates, and the lack of solo practice annoys.

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

As with the first episode, The Great Cow race is still an immensely difficult title to rate. Though the same engine-based problems remain, the much more intriguing dialogue, and better flow of story and puzzles help culminate in making this second episode an even brighter prospect than the first.

The bottom line is that none of these games are new, but this is still a wonderful package that offers excellent value for money, and for Gradius fans it's a must-have.

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

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.

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.

It is ideal fun for both the serious and casual games player, and entertaining for those not taking part to watch the participants flinging their hands over the place.

For those who love score attack systems and shooting things then membership of The Club is certainly recommended.

For those fans captivated by the first instalment, buying this is an absolute must. [JPN Import]

Played as it should be, with minimum lives and maximum difficulty, Metal Slug can provide jaded gamers with a sublime and simple gaming experience. Unapologetically tough, Metal Slug will remind players of a time when all games set this frustrating a challenge.

The mix of strategy and shooting works quite well, and although there isn’t enough strategy here for Advance Wars veterans, shooting enthusiasts are well catered for.

It is one of the most perfect social gaming experiences that anyone can and probably could play. There is no significance to how good you are, or how much the game has been played in the past - these are mere irrelevances. [JPN Import]

There is nothing to recommend within this game cart to anyone who isn’t an uber-fan of the series, when there is much better fun to be had on both the DS and the GBA already – and for a much cheaper price.

Super Mario Strikers is an evolutionary step beyond Soccer Slam, and gives the small-team football game a new breath of life, trumping its predecessor and stamping other similar games such as FIFA Street into the ground.

Ultimately, The Room comes across as a game afraid of its own potential; not only afraid, in fact, but petrified. For what it achieves the game pays a heavy cost in bad calls, misjudgements and, above all, an uncharacteristically blunt edge.

Offline, the game is ordinary and without much originality to it. Online, though, it is another kettle of fish all together, and there are few games out there that can match it for thrills, chills, and spills. The variety of play is just incredible.

A massive, massive success as a launch title. Ignore the negativity you may have heard, and embrace this marvellous new bit of kit into your home.

While the game does have a few minor weaknesses, they don’t take away from the fact that this is the definitive Tomb Raider experience to date.

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.

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.

Umbrella Chronicles achieves greatness by being more than the sum of its parts. It takes the established Resident Evil genre, throws a dormant light-gun element into the mix, stirs it all together and still comes up with something that will amaze and thrill fans of both. This is an essential purchase for anyone who is a fan of Resident Evil, light-gun games or just action games in general. For devotees of all three, this is nothing short of gaming nirvana.

With Yakuza, Sega has once again shown the gaming world that, when it comes to establishing new concepts, they aren’t totally out of their element.

Just 6 very similar games and an unlockable racer.

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

Even with the limited themes, Worms has a lot of legs, or at least a lengthy slimy belly, and it’s a worthy addition to XBLA, especially as a multiplayer game over Live.

Beautifully created albeit slightly flawed, filled with some truly stunning gameplay moments and set pieces, it is a game shamefully overlooked by many, and is certainly worthy of greater recognition.

The game can be finished in a handful of hours if beating the lairs is all that is attempted, but there are a huge amount of subsidiary side tasks and gold treasure acquisition to complete otherwise. All in all, a polished game that deserves a delve to see if it appeals to you or not.

There is an element of luck involved however, likely to generate moments of frustration - but it isn't a flawed system.

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]

The inclusion of the entirety of the previous title, Rogue Leader, in co-operative multiplayer form is unquestionably a generous addition but, whilst great fun, it simply serves to highlight the fact that the slightly easier and less-focused missions of Rebel Strike are a step down from the earlier titles.

You should buy this game only if you like stabbing your hands with bits of glass like Batman does in Arkham Asylum. Either that, or you’re fairly confident the PSP’s build quality will ensure it surviving forehead-screen interface.

It's stylish, slick, appealing and wouldn't look all that far out of place dancing itself silly in an Austin Powers film. Everything is clean, pure cut and concise.

What could have been little more than an extended tech demo has actually turned out to be one of the finest Wii games to date and certainly the most novel and interactive.

Replay value is immense due to all the factors in play, and all the hidden aspects will take a long time to discover. A must-buy for old NES fans and a definite consideration to those new to the series.

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.

In terms of its game mechanics Duels of the Planeswalkers is a great conversion of the card game with an excellent interface in place, but unfortunately the heart and soul of the game have been torn out. What’s left is just a shell of the Magic experience; it looks and sounds like Magic, but has little of the depth, challenge and satisfaction that the physical version offers.

With all the changes and additions made, this is the most balanced game in the series, and undoubtedly the best. With around 70-80 hours worth of gameplay on offer, it won't suck you in the same way as Disgaea's all out design, however it does still prove to be the most engrossingly tactical strategy game for the PS2.

From the first notes of the opening tune ‘Katamari on the Funk’ to the sight of the King of All Cosmos gyrating, it’s clear this is Katamari Damacy and all fans of the franchise are sure to enjoy its first portable outing, even if the controls are not as fluid as in the previous incarnations. [JPN Import]

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.

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.

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]

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.

It is one of this year's stand-out titles without any question. The game play, interaction, and at times fairly dark storyline, really do add up to a superb little game.

An undoubtedly flawed, but fun experience - Agrippa’s combat is enjoyable, engaging, and exhilarating, whereas Octavianus’ stealth sections offer nothing new and are fairly limited.

The calmer style of platforming in Super Princess Peach will not appeal to everyone, but for those that found Sonic too intense to play all the way through, this has a lot to offer.

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.

The King Of Fighters XI is as easy on the eye as any version yet, and benefits from a playability overhaul and the inclusion of a majestic tag battle system. It is as frustratingly difficult to beat as ever, thanks to the joypad-smashingly evil bosses, but remains compulsive and playable. [JPN Import]

Both puzzler and shooter, Every Extend Extra’s tag line is 'Music in Your Mind' and thanks to its combination of simple but engrossing mechanics, captivating sound and visuals, and deceptively simple old-school charm, it really is an apt description for the feeling that will bring the player back time and again. [JPN Import]

A fun little game that transfers well to the format of the DS and gives new life and vigour to the genre by way of the touch-screen input.

Granted the game looks and sounds great, but it has no substance to it.

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.

Naruto 2 is a far more complete package than the original...If you watch the Naruto anime, this game is a must-buy.

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.

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.

Big Brain Academy is a lot of fun, but its ability to improve brain power is probably a little more contrived than with Brain Training.

Tourist Trophy is far from the real riding simulator it claims to be; it misses out on one of the most fundamental things of riding bikes: fun. There may be some hardcore racing fans out there that will get some satisfaction from this game, but for the majority it will be a very frustrating experience.

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.

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.

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 celebrates the perverse catharsis to be found in bringing quick justice to bad people, and the pride found in doing it well.

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.

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.

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]

With everything ultimately both bigger and better, with more destruction, and much more depth, Bugbear Entertainment are coming ever close to a winner. If the handling is tightened, and the rest of the game makes another healthy step forward, another sequel on the next generation of consoles could be the first certain winner.

An enjoyable, though fairly standard platformer, but one that has a great amount of charm to it. You’ll spend an average of 15 or so hours running around, collecting power-ups and items, jumping from high ledges to other high ledges, and fending off beasties along the way. That isn’t very long.

If you get your head round the fact that Avalanche is trying to do its own thing whilst still keeping to the spirit of N64 1080, it gives constant thrills and a slightly new slant on the snowboarding genre that will be returned to time and again until each course is rinsed.

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

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.

A hybrid of a game that, whilst doing nothing outstandingly original, is still enjoyable, especially when joined by a fellow human player.

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.

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]

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]

Episode 2 is comparatively short not only in terms of Episode 1 but in comparison to RPGs in general. Whilst its length seems well paced in terms of the combat and exploration aspects of the title, its narrative just doesn't quite do enough.

Here's hoping for a censorship-free translation to the US and PAL territories. Bravo Clover!

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.

Whilst Nexus is most certainly an Armored Core game, and very good with it, a lot has changed on how the game fundamentally plays. Is it the best in the series? Well, it comes stunningly close. [JPN Import]

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.

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.

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

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.

In an age where Nintendo feel it is fair to repackage individual SNES games and sell them as full price releases on the GBA, this anthology is undoubtedly fantastic value for money and is one of the most convincing arguments for owning a PSP yet seen. Utterly essential.

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.

It's more satisfying to play than "Devil May Cry," and allows players to pull off awesome chaining attacks much like "Shinobi"...However, the repetitive levels and tiresome enemies may be enough to put some people off what is essentially an incredibly competent title. [JPN Import]

Perhaps what sets Siren apart from such a large number cheap "Biohazard" clones and the kings of the genre, is how the general real-time gameplay is equally terrifying, if not more so, than any of the subtle scripted moments. For all of "Silent Hill’s" positive attributes, the atmosphere is largely all bark and no bite... For Siren, the player is always in danger, and the game will never let you forget this. [JPN Import]

The animation of the sprites is wonderful. There are minute details on sword and cape movement, something which changes when equipping different things. [JPN Import]

Once all areas of the map have been fully explored, the replay value is threatened by repetition, but amongst the violence and destruction found elsewhere in videogames, it will always be refreshing to sit back – cup of tea in one hand, a remote in the other – and simply just relax in the deep blue.

The one thing left nagging in the back of your mind is that it could have been so much more.

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.

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.

The game is a terrific piece of work that looks beautiful and plays well if you give it your undivided attention and concentration and overcome the flawed controls. [JPN Import]