You may squeeze some entertainment out of The Settlers in the early stages but its bugs and inconsistencies will eventually break your spirit.

The PSP has been crying out for a brand new classic Japanese RPG for a long time now. Dragoneer's Aria, as a wholly average expression of the genre that's of interest to super-fans only, is not the game to answer its melancholy call.

Some annoying quirks remain, but the all new tasks and fun multiplayer modes keeps More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? top of the class.

Operation: Vietnam doesn't win any bravery medals for its concept, but it's a well-trained, impressively executed idea that hits all the necessary targets.

Tedious, complex, and unappealing on a variety of levels, D&D Tactics may have authenticity in spades, yet it lacks a modicum of accessibility.

Simultaneously brilliant yet deeply flawed, Heroes of Mana brings novelty to DS strategy gaming. If only the path-finding was up to the standard of the rest of the game, this would be essential.

Rune Factory is an impressive advancement for the Harvest Moon series but you have to be committed to get the most out of the experience.

The crown prince of the American football game, Madden is showing no signs of weakness as he enters his eighteenth year at the top. It may not justify disposing of 07, but this is a great time for newcomers to join the party.

It's not without faults but thanks to an excellent multiplayer mode and a vast number of gameplay options, this takes the series to a new high on DS.

A happy coda in a symphony that had lost its flow, Anniversary cannily pairs the refinements of the last decade with the peerless excellence of the original Tomb Raider.

Providing both action-based and tactical gameplay, Glory Days 2: Brotherhood of Men brings a new, innovative experience to DS wargaming.

Picross DS isn't the most alluring game you'll ever clap eyes on, but it's startlingly addictive and will provide endless hours of utterly compulsive amusement.

It's too short, feels tired and repetitive – not unlike war, Fighter's Battle seems mostly futile.

Resisting the action-packed role-playing adventure awaiting you in Alien Syndrome is futile. While not terribly innovative, it's a solid title with flaws that can easily be overlooked in favour of a good time.

Unquestionably visually and aurally stunning, but in the end Final Fantasy II manages to somehow be simultaneously forward-thinking and painfully anachronistic.

Deal or No Deal is proof TV shows don't always make a good video game. Or even a mediocre one. This is simply terrible – there's not a single redeeming feature in this whole sorry affair.

A good tennis game for the dedicated player looking for a sim-like gaming experience. But for most, Virtua Tennis 3 is more appealing, accessible and, ultimately, fun.

Neatly presented, well thought out and with plenty of modes – multiplayer is especially good - Zendoku is a fun improvement on the basic Sudoku.

Far more than a cynical cash-in, this PSP version of Final Fantasy is the perfect opportunity to see where it all began.

An innovative collection of Breakout-themed mini-games, Nervous Brickdown is a well-designed and beautifully realised slice of DS pocket gaming.

While not quite worthy of a Michelin star, fans of the film and kids looking for fun will be thrilled. It might not offer the biggest of helpings but, while it lasts, Ratatouille tastes great.

Dogsbody fetch-and-carry wizardry that will only appeal to forgiving Potter fans. Hogwash for the rest of us.

The game of the film of the book has exploration, adventuring, action, and loads of mini-games but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ends up being a confusing mush of ideas.

From the outdated graphics to lackluster gameplay, the game possesses more shortcomings than strengths, making it impossible to recommend to anyone but the Transformer faithful.

The definitive handheld version, Transformers DS boasts decent gameplay, good presentation and clever online features that go beyond traditional movie-licensed fare.

So-so graphics, a poor saving capability and too few modes make SimCity DS a distinctly average version of what should have been a much more enjoyable experience.

The definitive handheld version, Transformers DS boasts decent gameplay, good presentation and clever online features that go beyond traditional movie-licensed fare.

An extremely testing puzzle game that demands on-the-spot logical thinking rather than gut reactions, PQ2 is an intriguing experience backed up with loads of content.