Only the truly dedicated RPG player will persist through to the bitter end of Risen, as there's a great deal of perseverance required to even make it through the first section without tearing your hair out. The combat really lets the side down and the 360 visuals leave a lot to be desired, but stick with it and Risen will eventually suck you inexorably into its uniquely absorbing fantasy world.

Ultimately, any truly dedicated Ben 10 fan is going to love grappling with Vilgax's evil forces and taking on infamous bosses from the TV show - conveniently ignoring the game's obvious shortcomings in favour of 'becoming' Ben and his portable armoury of alien heroes.

Its problems come far more from having not much else to show once you get behind the mask, no depth to engross you or rewards to entice you than through any real technical fault with the game that's actually on display.

If you are a parent who is looking for a game to play with their child that both of you can enjoy: this succeeds quite admirably. It even offers a multiplayer mode if you want to compete together, although this consists solely of mini-games rather than any co-operative sections within the game.

Overlord II is solid enough, but it doesn't go quite as 'over-the-top' as we'd have liked.

Overall this game just screams 'middle of the road': a good opportunity that hasn't been fully taken advantage of. Having said that, if you have a spare weekend free and fancy a game that doesn't involve too much brain power and won't take you long to complete, then this is the ideal rental, but nothing more.

The core mechanics are solid, but the challenges of putting out a licensed product - and starting with a company as fussy as the FIA probably wasn't a good idea - have clearly got the better of them. Though I imagine if you're a devout F1 nut you can add 10% to the score.

Overall, this is certainly a game that will get the family playing together this yuletide, but it is unlikely to see very much action on into the New Year.

This is a game (famed for its capturing of a hardcore following) that has been made much less palatable for its key demographic. What's worse is that the changes are entirely unsuccessful in convincing anyone but fans of the show that any of this really matters.

The problem is that while to the existing fan base the retro design and gameplay are all part of the experience newer gamers will probably view those same qualities in a far more negative light.

As a family game with a really low barrier of entry this game is a reasonable success. It does a great job of involving everyone in the room, as a part of the scenery if not in a starring role. Hopefully this isn't a flash in the pan and is a sign of a more healthy supply of games using the 360's previously dusty camera peripheral.

Unless you are a gymnastic puzzles enthusiast with sharp reflexes it's hardly worth the bother, but it beats playing on your mobile whilst sitting in a waiting room.

The developers at zSlide have tried their hardest to make it all seem original and fresh but it doesn't take long to work out they've really not done a whole lot more than attempt to slip an ill-fitting urban skin over gameplay mechanics borrowed wholesale from the Nintendo classic ["WarioWare"].

To use a musical analogy, rather than a true third album from a great band Guitar Hero Rocks the 80s feels far more like an unnecessary b-side compilation pushed out to fulfil a record company contract.

Ultimately though, Lost Planet 2 leaves a sour taste in the mouth as an immense disappointment, because it really should have been one of the year's biggest blockbuster action titles, yet it sadly falls some way short.

Folklore is a game that has extremely high aspirations both in terms of storytelling and ethical engagement. Although it is certainly a valiant attempt, I felt it never quite hit the nail on the head.

What's more maddening for this particular reviewer is that Japanese gamers seem to think the Western market is saturated with little more than banal first-person shooters, but then they flock in droves to the likes of Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors, lovingly embracing perhaps the most unrewarding and unchallenging gameplay mechanic ever created.

It succeeds in tracing classic-but now dated-gameplay structure while offering an instantly accessible social online aspect that may well offer an avenue into MMO not usually accepted by those with more of a penchant for more immediate titles. However, it fails monumentally to accept the next-gen baton handed up hopefully by its Dreamcast predecessor.

An underwhelming experience.

The basic gameplay appeal lives on in City Folk, but Nintendo's laziness is there for all to see.

It's not as bad as Shadow the Hedgehog (thank god) and is hopefully a step in the right direction for a character that continues to be stuck in a bit of a rut.

A resoundingly flat adventure that fails to inspire more than fleeting moments of touch-screen enjoyment that are never expanded upon. Running backwards and forwards across Hogwarts may admirably show the level of detail EA has invested in the game's environments, but it also clearly exposes the overall lack of content unfolding within it.

Untrustworthy artificial intelligence, hit and miss land plots for resources and graphics, though charming, that we're no longer all that impressed with are all quite substantial disappointments. There's enough here for authentic Roman wanabees, but for everyone else it's a case of been there, done that, bought and outgrown the t-shirt.

At times, you'll be fighting enemies who are off-screen behind the camera - or worse again, trying to clear jumps and obstacles you can't even see.

It does not do anything wrong but then it does not really do anything right, or to a noticeable degree. What could have been a killer IP for the DS, one that could have possibly rivalled Nintendo's own for some big sales, is not really flying or even "falling with style". It simply falls.

Even though I was astonished by the terrible controls, infuriated by gameplay and dismayed at the barrenness of game modes I did find myself playing this game more than was necessary to write this review. It did have a certain pull over me which I am somewhat ashamed to admit, considering the slapdash and cynical nature of the title.

As always, players who do find themselves trapped in an age of nostalgia when 2D gaming is concerned should give this game a try but they will find that it sadly does not live up to the original.

There are two types of people who will enjoy this game. People who like very accessible and simple to pick-up games, and people under the age of 18.

Space Empires V is a strange game, bursting with a massive expansiveness in terms of play, but let down by an unsupportive structure that newcomers to the series are likely to find off putting.

Ultimately, Lair is a game of two halves, one half is highly detailed with an imposing soundtrack that engulfs the player into the story (if you're a fan of mediaeval fantasy). The other half is full of predictable, repetitive missions that suffer from the control mechanism being too tricky to use in tight situations.

For all the work that's gone into Drakengard 2, it really isn't a great leap over its predecessor which is perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the game.

The lack of courses really hurts this title and their usual 'next gen' approach of upgrading the graphics and presentation slightly from the current gen versions and skimping on the content is hard to swallow considering the price tag.

Super Monkey Ball, it seems, just doesn't work as an adventure game.

A hackneyed title with a series of touch screen controls tacked-on. It feels like there's only one thing left to say: better luck next time, Rayman.

The gameplay itself doesn't really offer anything new but it is a refreshing change to have a futuristic shooter against humans rather than aliens.

Chromehounds offers nothing especially 'next-gen' to the mech genre and, apart from its in-depth customisation and online squad aspect, it really emerges as a distinct disappointment.

Scarface is a great technical achievement on the Wii. It looks the part and provides all the required controls via the Wiimote and nunchuck. However, it doesn't seem able to do what all great games in this genre need to do, it never becomes more than the sum of its parts.

What Airtight Games needed was more confidence: their pedigree with the flight sim genre would have probably been better served if they'd kept their game in the skies. Gears of War might be a popular game, but a sloppy imitation with tacked-on flight bits isn't going to win anybody over. Dark Void might want to soar, but it never finds a way to get its feet permanently off the ground.

The separate elements of the game each work well in their own right, although we were left wondering if they would ever come together to make sense of the game as a whole.

It's a shame that Playboy relies so heavily on such repetitive gameplay tasks. The setting is interesting even if you have a social life and have seen an actual naked woman.

I always new that it would never live up to expectations but I had hoped for something that would have a bit more character than just being an average shooter with Duke's face and humour plastered over it. Still, I can't bring myself to hate it or bash it vociferously. It could never be anything other than what it has been and actually, that's fine.

It's a shame that Playboy relies so heavily on such repetitive gameplay tasks. The setting is interesting even if you have a social life and have seen an actual naked woman.

Possibly the second most disappointing title on the PS2 to "Angel of Darkness," and I'm sure that's not the last time you'll hear the two mentioned together.

It does seem that the lower retail price of Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires is definitely necessary considering the lack of innovation and advancement in the series.

There's also been a lot of confusion in the gymnastics events where obscure controls seem to have alienated less experienced competitors from taking part at all.

If you find it cheap somewhere or fancy renting it then you'll doubtless have some fun with it. But can I hand on heart recommend anyone paying full price for it? Nope, not in the slightest, but I kind of wish I could.

If you are a gamer that still sheds a little tear for the long lost "Streets of Rage" or "Final Fight" days then this game might please you by bringing back some fond memories. My verdict would be that it delivers nothing new despite the claims and just becomes a little boring and repetitive too quickly.

It ticks a number of very basic and previously-defined boxes with unbending efficiency, throwing in a few commendable moments of surprising fun, drenched in the usual superficial fineries (the visuals, recognisable characters, plotlines, set-pieces, et al) with which many an EA game has plied its trade in the past.

Ultimately, size does matter - but only to the point where bigger is not always better and certainly no substitute for convincing gameplay.

The bottom line with Aliens vs. Predator is that its worth as a dependable first-person shooter is inexplicably linked to the fear and foreboding running through its Marine campaign, which leaves the Alien and Predator missions as surprisingly flat additions that quickly drain the fun meter by granting the player far too much power.

Sadly the lack of variety and repetitive nature of what's there does little more than throw the half hearted story telling and horrible voice acting into even sharper relief.

Unfortunately, Frontline: Fields of Thunder offers little in the way of diversity. Not only with it's own linear-nay-similar gameplay, but from the tried and test formula of RTS games of old.

Ultimately, what we have here is collection of mini games that range from the dull to the sublime with unfortunately slightly more emphasis on the former.

Ultimately though the shallow game play means that this is one present that, unlike the puppy, is just for Christmas.

By making the start of the game so poorly balanced and infusing the whole experience with the control scheme from hell, Monte Cristo ensured that it took a certain amount of will power to play through far enough to get to the good bits which surely isn't good enough.

It ticks a number of very basic and previously-defined boxes with unbending efficiency, throwing in a few commendable moments of surprising fun, drenched in the usual superficial fineries (the visuals, recognisable characters, plotlines, set-pieces, et al) with which many an EA game has plied its trade in the past.

Eventually the grind is going to get you.

It's inferior to developer Cing's own Hotel Dusk and occasionally rather dull, but as far as Wii titles of this ilk are concerned, Code: R is your best bet.

It just lacks passion for me. It all feels very, very functional; much like a slice of white bread in fact. You may eat a slice of white bread and there is nothing wrong with it but you would never think it was the best food you had ever eaten; it'd just fill you up until something better came along. Codename: Panzers - Cold War is the white bread of the RTS world. It is perfectly adequate, it'll keep you occupied while there's nothing better to do, but you'd never choose it over the chocolate of the RTS world, Dawn of War 2, or the cake: Empire: Total War.

The models and textures are very low rate, the enemy AI knows only to attack or run and the gameplay - despite having added a couple of additions - is very stale.

It's a sparse game, and after you've sunk about ten hours into it you'll feel suitably empty, too. It's not rewarding, satisfying or endearing.

Despite a genuinely well designed central character and a delightfully surreal sense of humour it's now two failures out of two for the Death Jr series.

With the exception of the combat nearly every part of Saw the Game works in isolation. The visual styling is an excellent reiteration of the sets, and the recreation of the movie ordeals is handled well, including such classics as bobbing for a key in a toilet full for syringes or going swimming in vats of liquefied pigs guts. However, as soon as the player is forced to repeat the trials and traps over and over, down identical grimy corridors, pestered by identical combat instances, the excellent head start is blown and what started as a smartly made, genuinely scary experience degenerates into unimaginative straight-to-DVD splatter, gorily painting by its own repeated numbers.

Superb controls aside, when properly assessed by the FPS genre's merciless yardstick of quality, The Conduit echoes the same linear design disappointments as Resistance: Fall of Man and finds itself languishing uncomfortably close to Turning Point: Fall of Liberty in terms of dour quality.

As a full-price purchase Mini Ninjas is hard to recommend to anyone other than those keen to snap up some easy Achievement Points by rushing headlong and unimpeded through its lacklustre adventure - for which a rental would be best advised.

As it stands this is an interesting development in the struggle to divine a way forward for the blue hedgehog. But unfortunately it's an experience that isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds.

It is cheap and cheerful but it ultimately fails to do itself justice on the PS2.

At the end of it all, Dragon Ball Z has a solid fighting mechanic behind it. The controls make sense and are responsive. However, I always felt that I was missing out by not being a fan of the show.

Weapons of Fate does a perfectly serviceable job in continuing the film's story, delivering decent enough in-game likenesses and equally accomplished voice acting, but the end product just doesn't boast the level of polish we had hoped for.

If there's one thing that pisses me off without exception it's a full-price retail tag slapped shamelessly onto a distinctly half-arsed product. Now there's a quote for the box.

Impressive visuals and physics don't make up for frustrating controls and a sense that the game is lacking a certain congruency. I'd rather be playing one of the old SSX games to be honest.

As a game to stick into your DS and play from time to time, Mini-Land Mayhem will not disappoint. It really does the basics right - very right in fact. Keen puzzle-goers, though, may feel that if it had the charm of Mario and the simple touch controls stripped away, then the game would be a bit too forgettable.

Completists might get a kick out of collecting every last item and Pandorapedia article, but everyone else might find themselves getting very bored, very quickly. Still, as far as movie titles go, you could certainly do a lot worse.

This kind of open-ended, creative gameplay is theoretically what people want "these days", but I think many gamers will be disappointed and not really know what to do with the game. Wii Music has been crippled by a disappointing song selection (mostly nursery rhymes or Nintendo theme tunes) and will probably only appeal to much younger gamers or really musical types.

The whole package fails to do the actually racing justice. You'll be bored of the small number of courses within the first few hours and, unless you have a decent number of friends who own copies, the multiplayer mode won't ever get enough use to make it worthwhile.

It's got some nice touches, like the tiny d-pad mini-games used when tackling booby traps and the authentic 1967 soundtrack, but with the likes of "Call of Duty" and "Day of Defeat" out there, Shellshock is simply too easily forgotten.

You can see the core of a decent game in here if you ignore the problems, albeit one that would be let down by uninspired mission design and a dodgy plot.

SOCOM Confrontation is a game that will get a select few very excited indeed; the unforgiving nature of its hardcore multiplayer action will prove to be exactly what they've been looking forward to. The rest of the gaming masses however can cite the near vertical learning curve, lack of any real multiplayer originality, drab visuals and unfriendly interface as reason not to join the party.

Ultimately though the shallow game play means that this is one present that, unlike the puppy, is just for Christmas.

The sad thing is that Guitar Hero has actually done more than enough over the last few years to deserve some kind of back slapping celebration of it's success, it's just a shame Activision have decided this quick and easy cash in is the best way forward.

The Saboteur could have been excellent. It has presentation, usually solid mechanics, characters that you are at least interested in if not actually engaged by, and things look pretty when they explode. However, the simply unforgivable control and climbing mechanic is justtoo hard to get past - constantly interfering with your game to the point of swearing and projectile gamepads.

Overall, the game is good for a quick blast of stealth action on the go, but the game is not really deep enough for anything much more.

The gameplay has its strengths, but as a whole it's hard not to be irritated by the ineptitude on display at times.

There's also the point that you'll need to put the disc in every single time you play, whereas if you grab each game from the Marketplace, it sits on your hard drive and can be booted sans-disc.

There is a lot of potential in Resident Evil The Mercenaries 3D. The actual concept and implementation of the mercenaries mode is great, but, as it stands, only as an addition to a more complex game. It simply didn't make the transition from mini-game to full game successfully; more attention was needed to bring it up to the high standards players expect.

Laid bare, Broken World isn't much to phone home about. If anything it casts a dreary shadow over Dungeon Siege II, a game that while far from perfection was solidly put together and worth recommending. This expansion on the other hand doesn't really offer enough either in terms of single-player, or the unchanged multiplayer features.

A largely unremarkable point-and-click offering that's unlikely to spawn a radical revival for the genre or lure PC gamers away from the (still) superior mouse controller. Wii owners looking for a richer, more modern gaming experience that comes packed with charm and convincingly tests grey matter would be well advised to seek out the criminally unappreciated Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure.

Shrek the Third isn't fundamentally broken or inescapably unplayable, but its sheer middle-of-the-road laziness in every contributing aspect makes it all-but impossible to recommend to anyone accept blinkered Shrek / Dreamworks fanatics and those with a bizarre penchant for shoehorned Hollywood dross.

As it is - in this unfinished state - Kane & Lynch's all-too obvious lack of Q&A follow through makes it impossible to recommend for anyone other than hardcore shooter fans willing to trawl through hours of mediocrity in return for minutes of unfulfilled promise.

As it stands it offers pretty good value. But when put alongside other games, it starts to look pretty tired.

As an extension to the Tony Hawk's brand it's an interesting novelty, an admirable attempt to try and broaden the market a little. But as an investment for your hard earned cash there's really nothing to recommend it ahead of the piles of other engine powered racing games on the PS2.

While I can appreciate the attraction Wii-owning Shaun White fans might feel when faced with the latest entrant in Ubisoft's burgeoning snowboarding franchise, there's simply not enough new and worthwhile content in World Stage to justify me doing anything but twisting consumer shoulders towards last year's offering instead.

UberSolider lacks online play and offers an average, ageing, gaming experience - "Counter-Strike" does the opposite. Sure UberSoldier is a budget release, but sometimes you pay for what you get... and sometimes true quality deserves spending a few more notes.

Yet another example of the dangers of one publishing company gaining a monopoly over a particular genre. The experience becomes homogenised and the resulting games become soulless products devoid of any indication.

Believability takes a hit right from the off when you can unload a clip in your drill sergeant's face without even causing his eyes to water.

The gameplay is too simple, the levels uninteresting and the repetitive music, annoying. In a sentence it's all right for a quick blast, but nothing that holds any major draw.

Revenge of the Fallen is exactly what we were expecting. No more, no less.

The most depressing part of the game, presentation aside, is in the way that it always backs off from its potentially challenging, thought-provoking route and pitches you a rather rudimentary series of multiple-choice answers.