An uninteresting matching puzzler that's slotted into a structure big on monotony, Cradle of Rome demonstrates game concepts shouldn't be built in a day.

Few games stand the test of time like Chrono Trigger. A role-playing classic, it's one of the very best the genre has to offer.

While not totally divine, Age of Empires: Mythologies offers solid turn-based strategy with a wealth of options and online multiplayer.

Absolutely not a video game in any shape or form – but something that's more immediately useful than Brain Training and its ilk.

Although it has a few rough edges, Skate It nevertheless ollies over the competition and triumphantly kick-flips its way to the top of the DS skateboarding pile.

Nice face, shame about the legs. Despite some great locations and visuals Underworld's gameplay will feel a bit on the bland side for regular pocket gamers - the more casual crowd should love it, though.

Metal Slug 7 provides great action, but unless you're a total completist, it's far too short an experience.

Saddled with poor visuals, ineffective controls and a complete lack of engaging content, Tony Hawk's Motion is a crushing disappointment .

The worst PSP version of Need for Speed to date, Need for Speed Undercover feels like a muddled attempt to revive the spirit of past glories.

Need for Speed Undercover should be a thrilling no-holds-barred ride but the wheels fall off early on.

On Tour Decades brings better songs and a slightly more comprehensive Guitar Hero experience to Guitar Hero on DS. There are still issues with the comfort and practicalities of its guitar fret peripheral, but the most rousing songs are still a lot of fun to play.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance provides everything required for highly polished Star Wars experience, but there's not quite enough depth for a real Jedi adventure.

One the series' die-hards only. Everyone else should bite the bullet and accept that for this season at least, FIFA's leagues ahead.

Seamless first-person shooting action with a healthy sprinkling of innovative touchscreen side missions - this is one of the best war-mongering affairs on DS.

Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia is the Pokémon series at its most professional and polished, but non-fans will find it as linear and repetitive as ever.

Much like its predecessors, WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2009 possesses plenty of breadth but precious little depth. A fun but dated take on the sports-entertainment franchise.

A step in the right direction after the previous entry, but THQ really needs to shelve the touchscreen control for the inevitable 2010 version.

What's there is fine, but Princess on Ice's rhythm-action is far too repetitive and the dressing-up elements and difficulty-tweaking surrounding it too superficial to provide much in the way of longevity.

Some nice ideas and a relatively fresh approach to the Bond franchise, but there are just too many rough edges to the core action to recommend a purchase.

If you're interested in making music, the KORG DS-10 is a robust and powerful tool. But those looking for a more accessible DS sonic experience may struggle to make the most of it.

Obviously inspired by Advance Wars, EndWar adds enough interesting elements of its own to make it worthy of consideration.

While the lack of official licensing continues to dent the mainstream appeal of Gameloft's soccer series, this is a solid update and the intelligent inclusion of touchscreen control is genuinely engaging.

A charming, easy-to-play Dungeon Keeper clone with features that include cooking up captured monsters in soups and stews to level up your party of characters. It's simple but lengthy fun for all ages, but falls short for its limited dungeon building and too much repetition.

Yes, it's sweet, but look beyond the cute visuals and you'll discover a slickly produced, deeply enthralling strategy game, which combines tactical planning with edge-of-your-seat scrambles.

There's a nice idea in the eye of this storm, but Tornado's harsh time limits and general repetition rip up its reputation.

The Legend of Spyro trilogy finishes on a high note. It's imperfect, but highly enjoyable, lacking only polish and length.

A marriage of new variety with classic action yields a worthwhile union.

From negotiating the labyrinthine levels to cracking heads, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows brilliantly captures the essence of Spidey.

Almost nothing to do with Transformers but a reasonably decent action puzzler nonetheless.

LA Remix is as polished as the bonnet of a freshly-waxed Lamborghini Murcielago and almost as fun to drive thanks to tight controls and enjoyable wheel-to-wheel racing. Sadly though, the ride is ultimately marred by a distinct lack of variation.

A bit more entertaining than reading a textbook, only not as effective. Stick to Minna no Nihongo and Japanesepod101.

It's been a long hard road but DS owners finally have a football game that they can be proud of – FIFA 09 is this season's most improved player.

The best handheld football game by a country mile. A must for anyone who loves football.

This sequel may go beyond the portals, but does little to go beyond its predecessor. A decent game, even if it's only marginally better than the first.

With its cracking fighting mechanics and excellent multiplayer options, Bleach: Dark Souls lives up to the very high standards of the beat-'em up series on DS.

Repetitive, ugly and very, very simple for most of its lifespan; Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant won't frustrate, but he won't entertain for long either.

The problem with the game is that it plays to none of Sonic's strengths while simultaneously underlining all of the franchise's most famous faults. You're ultimately left with the conclusion that actually a Sonic The Hedgehog role-playing game probably isn't a very good idea. That said, BioWare has done the best it could with a difficult brief.

A point-and-click detective adventure which is a touch too linear and not particularly daring with its plot or characters. That said, murder mystery fans will enjoy the gradual whittling down of suspects through evidence gathering and problem solving.

A polished remake of a retro classic, Pipe Mania's extra features build on the challenging core gameplay while the broad selection of modes provides hours of enjoyable pipe positioning fun.

Despite some pacing and loading issues, this is a game with a good, solid and inventive soul that offers a unique and enjoyable take on rhythm gaming for the persevering gamer.

A truly forgettable driving game that neither offers the intensity of a true sim or the fun and thrills of an arcade racer.

Sega's latest DS effort is ebullient and eye-catching but sadly the entire experience is mired by a questionable combat mechanic and a thoroughly disappointing lack of new ideas.

Disgaea DS is one of the finest strategy titles in existence - strategy role-playing fans should snap it up immediately.

A clone of the PS2 version down to the last detail – except the one that actually matters.

Even Two-Face wouldn't leave this choice to chance - LEGO Batman delivers a now familiar adventure, but one that is packed with fun characters and provides much long-term enjoyment.

It feels almost wrong to give such a polished game a downbeat review but there's no avoiding the fact that Buzz! Master Quiz is a case of concept and hardware being lamentably mismatched.

Sim City goes all Bill and Ted's Awesome Reconstruction Adventure. Quite simply the only regional administration simulation you need to own.

An entertaining new chapter in the LucasArts saga, but one that could have used a bit more time to fix silly technical flaws before being unleashed.

The Dark side of the Force unleashed: unresponsive controls, plain combat, and rudimentary graphics choke an electrifying story.

The attempt to make Line Rider into a DS game fails thanks to fiddly controls and the fact it's not as fun or convenient as the web version.

A solid traditional RPG married to a refreshingly modern narrative, shot through with a lovely sense of humour.

Supremely addictive and utterly charming, Viva Piñata ranks as an absolutely essentially DS purchase.

Despite appearing to be a story-driven detective game, Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir is a simple puzzler that isn't interesting enough to hold anyone's attention.

Hugely ambitious and quietly innovative - only a few rough edges stop this short of potential all-time classic status.

Not the cheap cash-in you might have feared and yet still a portable game that runs contrary to all the aims of the PC original.

With a group of like-minded friends PictoImage is worth its weight in gold, but sadly the single player portion of the game is far less essential.

Despite some control issues, Fading Shadows is an exceptionally imaginative puzzle game that will offer a long-lasting challenge and plenty of fun marble-based exploration for any PSP owner.

Another DS classic in the offing - N+ is pure video game brilliance, unsullied by needless distractions.

Shorn of many of last year's features and lumbered with an awkward control method, Tiger Woods 09 singularly fails to improve on its predecessor and in many respects is a definite regression.

Graphically gorgeous and showcasing remarkable depth, Ferrari Challenge is truly a thinking man's racing game. It's regrettable that online play wasn't incorporated, but then there's always the sequel.

A considerable improvement on the first DS iteration, but still not the definitive Harvest Moon.

It may initially appear to be somewhat basic and the pesky language barrier presented by this Japanese import is a shame, but Bangai-O Spirits remains an unmitigated blasting brilliance that every DS fan should indulge in, and one of the strongest DS titles we've encountered so far. [JPN Import]

Playable and polished as always, Madden NFL 09 doesn't gain the franchise any yardage and fails to address some old control issues.

Twenty years at the top and Madden is faltering badly – this 'update' offers little in terms of new content and should only be considered if you've passed on the previous PSP instalments.

A game that pushes the DS to its limits and though it's a simulation in nature, GRID always puts fun ahead of cold accuracy.

Puzzler Collection does exactly what it needs and no more – a host of puzzles wrapped up in a frustrating interface.

Typically shabby movie tie-in that will have you running for your mummy.

Gorgeous presentation and an astonishingly complete online element help New International Track and Field overcome its relatively minor issues and ascend very close to the top step of the podium.

But lying at the heart is the same solid gameplay that was popular in the nineties - unforgiving at times, but a shining example of what makes the series great.

Compared to some movie tie-ins it's a virtual masterpiece, compared to anything else though it's still only just above average.

Subtle, hugely addictive and massively fun, this is a rare strategy title that manages to be as accessible as it is deep.

A weak collection of badly implemented mini-games, you'd be better off paying out for a seaside Punch and Judy show than a session with Carnival Funfair Games.

Too easy and too slow, aside from the wonderful visual design, there's very little in AMF Bowling Pinbusters! to sustain your interest. Lack of touchscreen play only serves to add to the disappointment.

Clean, efficient and smooth to play, Ducati Moto just doesn't have the thrill or long-term appeal to make it a winner.

While we certainly weren't expecting The Science of Evil to reinvent the wheel, nothing could have prepared us for this hopeless, shambling mockery of a game. Avoid as if your very soul depends on it.

WALL-E doesn't annoy or offend, but looks terrible and doesn't entertain either, and that leaves it only fit for landfill.

While it doesn't try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to gameplay, Wall-E is nevertheless enjoyable and engaging - while it lasts. Just like its subject matter, this movie tie-in has lots of heart.

An incredibly slick fighting system and top class presentation make this a must for anyone seeking an alternative to the usual one-on-one fighters.

Not a game but an interactive exercise manual. My Health Coach: Weight Management might help shed the pounds if followed to the letter but it won't do very much to entertain you along the way.

The perfect beginner's strategy role-player, even if it's one you'll eventually abandon for better and more involved alternatives.

Minor improvements make Cake Mania 2 better than the original, but the difference is negligible. Lacking depth and issues with the touch controls make this casual treat a relatively tasteless affair.

With only one game out of the five on offer being anything more than average, we really couldn't recommend this as a worthwhile purchase at full price. It's worth grabbing from the bargain bin for Block Breaker Deluxe alone, though.

Though suffering from weak visuals and slightly ponderous pace, Top Spin 3's tight controls and involving career mode see it challenging at the top of the DS tennis rankings.

You won't want to rock and roll all night with this hand-cramping game that doesn't have the right tunes to back up an inventive slate of multiplayer modes.

Despite a wave of innovations manages to be less enjoyable than the near decade old GBC version. Less of the Wacky and more of the wack.

Space Invaders may now be the unfashionable side of 30 but it's still able to mix it up with the best modern gaming has to offer. This is a superlative modernisation of a classic game.

Far better than it has any right to be after all these years - but just lacking that killer flair that would have made it a new age classic.

The ability to play Arkanoid online is extremely welcome but ultimately this somewhat lightweight DS instalment fails to improve on previous versions of Taito's classic Breakout clone.

Like a martini with too much vermouth, Secret Agent Clank throws in more than its fair share of bizarre levels and mediocre stretches of gameplay for it to be a refreshing experience.

Infuriating and compelling in equal measures, this is the very definition of niche gaming.

Refreshingly original bubble-guiding game. Slow and sublime but also deviously tough, with lots to see and find. Don't let this one float away.

Likeable, fun rhythm game that uses clips from Warner Bros' most famous cartoon enemies to spice up the action. Bit simplistic and lacks any outstanding features, but it is universally playable.

The Incredible Hulk isn't actually a bad game, but it's a shame that, despite shaking them up a little, it's not quite good enough to HULK SMASH! our preconceptions.

Beautifully designed and a joy from start to finish - DS gets possibly the best version of Lego Indy of them all.

X marks the spot for this portable treasure that loses a little lustre with long loading times, but shines with great levels and plenty of replay value.

Highly polished, finely-tuned, practically flawless - and that's just the golf balls. Open Tee 2 delivers the best portable golf game ever exclusively to PSP. Robust multiplayer tops a long list of reasons to pick up this hole-in-one.

A rough draft for what could become a masterpiece, Bakushow is messy, unfinished and not yet worth the money.

A real European Champion. If only we could say the same about England.