For all the style and attention to detail that's been put into this game, it's a pity the bulk of your time is spent fannying around completing boring and what feel like irrelevant side-quests.

Don't expect too many surprises if you've played a Dynasty Warriors, a Kessen or a Samurai Warriors game before, but don't expect this to be complete and utter sh.t either. After 17 similar games, you should know what you're getting.

The game is simply unadulterated fun, and often what keeps you playing is the incentive of seeing how they'll interpret the next part of the film.

The story can weigh things down, but generally it drives the game along well enough. It's just a shame there isn't more to do in Tokyo itself.

There's incredible depth to how you strike the ball, which makes the overall game very satisfying. There's little in terms of game modes, and no online mode is a bitter pill, but as a pure golf simulation it's very slick indeed.

There's plenty of depth and subtlety to uncover in the fighting system, and the only niggles centre on the game's relative lack of fluidity. Everything else makes this a top PSP fighter. And yes, we know, you told us so.

Thankfully, the difficulty has been offset by the inclusion of regular checkpoints and some new moves for Arthur - the ability to hang from ledges gives some welcome leeway when jumps are mistimed, and a double tap on the D-pad makes him dash. It's great, simplistic, old-school adventuring, but fiendish with it. Crap gamers: you have been warned.

There's so much packed into this you'll be playing it long after you've completed the main story mode - and you can't say that about many PSP games now, can you?

The story is unchanged and the notion of unlocking tracks and videos also returns, yet even though his first outing on PS2 saw him get flamed by all but his most loyal fans, G Unit Edition is a surprisingly decent 50 Cent game. Westwood would be proud.

There's still that nagging feeling that, certainly on a few of the defensive plays, you could put down the controller and it wouldn't make any difference to how the action panned out.

It's not a radical departure from the original game, which is good, but thoughtful additions like hurling your crash-test dummies through the windscreen online and extra emphasis on exploring the many paths on offer in each track mean that FlatOut 2 is the perfect way to continue driving in high-speed wonky lines.

The charm factor is certainly still here in abundance. Ultimately though, it's simply far too frustrating for its own good.

Despite our low expectations, Miami Vice is competently made and surprisingly enjoyable. It isn't the most original of games and doesn't really push beyond the pattern established in the first mission, yet it does prove that PSP can 'do' shooting games and deserves some credit for that.

To get the most out of Super DBZ you need to be willing to spend hours and hours plumbing the depths of the combo system and mastering every character. Beyond that, there's just not enough to do here.

So ignore the significantly-improved-yet-still--not-quit-brilliant single-player mode and bear in mind that this is a game that demands at least two people of roughly equal ability, preferably more.

While the single-player game can be a total bitch, the multiplayer takes that frustration and turns it into actual excitement.

If you like your game with punch, this is as hard-hitting as they come. Varied missions and non-stop chaos make this a winner. [Issue 81]

The Alpha games feature special counter moves, and more characters and combos with each progressive title. The main question is: do you want to spend 20 quid on this collection when you've probably already got most of the titles in the loft?

The barrage of 'street'-speak, stupid player names (we want to punch the prick who calls himself '1/2 Man, 1/2 Amazing'), yawnsome hip-hop and seriously over-the-top commentary all becomes a bit much, though we guess it kind of comes with the territory. If you're after a more skilful alternative to NBA Street V3 then And 1 Streetball should be right up your, er, street.

It looks charming in an early-90s 2D sort of way and is well put together, but the benchmark this generic title has set will easily be smashed by the likes of "Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII."

So yes, it's yet another old-school shooter for PSP then, but if you prefer a sterner challenge to what's currently on offer, Gradius Collection could well be just the job.

The bigger picture is what Blood Money really thrives on. Ignore the control issues, and bear in mind instead the large scale setpieces that are second to none in terms of both scope and execution.

Original, fun and a fine test of the grey matter as much as it is of the reflexes. It's just a shame that there's not enough meat to make it a must.

A rare example of a video game treating its comic book source with due respect.

While the single-player campaign occasionally gets a little repetitive, up against human competition the game becomes almost Chess-like in its intricate strategies. Completely immersive and utterly compelling.

Lemmings is one old friend we're more than happy to welcome back, and one who's ageing charms have made it across to PSP pretty much unscathed.

With PSP PES proving just a tad disappointing, this was the perfect opportunity for FIFA to mount a serious challenge. While the commentary and visuals are fantastic, the gameplay is far too shallow and imprecise to please those who take their digital football seriously.

A very solid mutant romp, with some cool levels, varied gameplay and pretty sweet graphics to boot. It's certainly better than the average movie tie-in, although we'd advise you not to rush into buying unless you have at least a mild interest in the X-Men universe.

But what it does well it does very well. It gets the feel of the book bang on, offering plenty of new locations, puzzles and setpieces to play through for fans. Newcomers will find a meaty mental test awaiting them with each new problem proving infuriatingly addictive.

It's rare that a PSP game can truthfully claim to be an enhancement of its PS2 forebear, but NBA Ballers Rebound comes pretty close.

Once you've witnessed the beauty of the courses, felt the perfection of the sliding feel and mastered the art of flicking your Ferrari from one powerslide into another, you won't want to go back to any other boring old driving game. OutRun 2006 shows that when it comes to making games you want to play over and over again, realism isn't as important as sheer fun, colour and character.

OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast has everything. It's two thrilling arcade machines reproduced in incredible style, it's a vast collection of all-new driving challenges, plus it's an online racer - and one that connects to the PS2 version to unlock exclusive stuff for those who buy both games.

It's like video gaming's very own Rio Ferdinand: it looks the part, but aside from one or two promising moments, the way it plays is totally unremarkable.

The career mode is well structured though, offering tangible rewards as you progress from the smallest table to the high-rollers, but it doesn't stop you thinking you'd be better off with a real pack, a few mates and a sun visor.

The more advanced physics engine adds some welcome variety though, as objects can be manipulated more naturalistically. For instance, there's a bit where you need to get a box onto a raised area, something that can be done by dragging it onto the end of a glorified seesaw and jumping on the other end, propelling the box through the air.

At its core, Tourist Trophy is a very nice game but it's totally bogged down by ripping off too much content from "Gran Turismo 4" and not going far enough with the riding simulation.

The Aston-driving sections are literally a blast and the atmosphere of the film is nailed. But the main event - running and gunning with Mr. Bond - is a real letdown.

A very good game, but it's so close to being something completely out-of-this-world that you can't help but feel just a little short-changed by how strangely bereft of challenge it is.

Ten Hammers is as close as a game has come to representing the genuine battlefield experience. It may have more strategy than you bargained for but damn, it's painfully addictive.

The PS2 game was never going to compete with the Xbox 360's graphics, and neither did anyone expect it to. What we didn't anticipate was a completely dumbed down version that doesn't seem to know whether it's a straightforward first-person shooter or a tactical war game.

The online mode, featuring co-op play and deathmatches for up to three other players, almost salvages the game, but the sheer tedium of the rest of it sinks it.

The only thing that has changed is a slight improvement in looks. Please Koei, stop. We give in. Chinese water torture has nothing on this.

Pitching all the characters into a frantic, objective-based free-for-all, and dressing it up with the visual panache that developer Clover Studio does so well means Red Hot Rumble is a unique and superbly enjoyable button-mashfest.

There's enough quality here to keep retro-heads entertained for some time.

A blatant homage to San Andreas, it even extends to upgrading your character in true CJ style. Against the odds though, it actually works.

The problem with the game lies in the fact that something so fresh 18 months ago suddenly feels a little crusty around the edges and suspiciously soft in the centre.

If you long for those days then Splinter Cell Essentials is right up your street. Not only do some of the missions recall Sam's early years, the game as a whole is one long flashback to the hardcore stealth of old.

You do get the feeling that Sony has gone all out with Dark Mirror. It looks lovely, but more importantly you won't feel like switching it off in order to play a 'proper' console version.

Overall this is a big improvement over "Driv3r"...Now, if only they'd make the next game 100% driving. As it stands, Parallel Lines can't help but come across as a pale imitation of "GTA: San Andreas."

A very good platformer - It's not kid's stuff, yet kids will love it just as much as the 20-somethings who wistfully look back to a time when all platformers were as much fun as this.

The multiplayer mode is almost enough for us to recommend parting with your cash a second time, but we realise that many UK gamers just aren't bothered about playing PS2 online.

Ultimately this is a game that knows what its fans want and delivers it to them in spades with plenty of style and confidence. It isn't as difficult as the prequels, but makes up for this with a surprisingly deep and flexible character upgrade system.

If this wasn't a portable game it would get very dull, quickly. But it is, and developer Koei has taken advantage of that by producing a game that's very good at providing short, sharp bouts of mindless carnage.

PSP is blessed with quality fighting games at the mo', leaving Dragon Ball Z somewhat in a no man's land between average and great.

Immediate, accessible, explosive and hugely satisfying, Criterion's competitors are going to have to raise their game immeasurably to get anywhere near the majesty of Black.

Being able to play as Jack Bauer and do all the stuff they've seen him do in the show is the most important thing to them, and on those basic terms, 24: The Game is an unqualified success.

Despite the tweaks to the game and some definite improvements, at the end of the day, Gary, it's a stop-start, often infuriating experience which just makes us appreciate proper football games even more.

It looks really pretty, but it's too hard for kids, too childish for 'da yoof' and too much like a bad acid trip for anyone over 25. Even the most diehard Sega fan will find Sonic's latest a bitter slap in the chops.

A more intelligent, defensive-minded and strategic boxing game than previous Fight Nights. The easier defence system and stance-switching give you more tactical options, while the crazy squelching brain effects make it more of a laugh when you put someone down.

Drakengard 2 is decent enough, but ultimately looks a bit cheap and doesn't really pull off its ground or aerial combat with great conviction. It mutters 'average' from the first minute to the last.

If you've resisted the temptation to give it a blast in the past, there's never been a better time, since this Special Edition is a fiver cheaper than the Platinum re-release. As a time-waster until "Devil May Cry 4" on PS3, it's worth a squirt.

It's bright, easy to play and no one's going to get offended or upset by the events portrayed. It's a fun game for kids, or larger adults who want a big, stupid thing to have a laugh with.

Extreme Battle? Extreme tedium, more like.

It's full of numerous, wonderful touches you'll remember long after the game's end - a cheeky little devil's Sultry Dance attack, which cause your party members to dance uncontrollably; the way the blue slimes do deadpan better than Bill Murray; even the way saving your game requires a trip to the church to confess.

Yes, the atmosphere is thicker than Pete Burns' lippy, and sure, this is fantastic hairraising fare, but it is hard to shake the feeling that the bare bones of The Tormented - spooky exploration mixed with shadowy combat - has been done much better elsewhere, and this feels antiquated and cumbersome and in comparison.

This is exactly what video games are all about: putting us into the shoes of people with abilities we only wished we had. Guitar Hero offers the chance to become exactly that, kidding you into believing that you could jam with Hendrix if only you put your mind to it. And if he wasn't dead.

Exploring each level often results in the timer reaching zero, while rushing straight through means you miss out on the chance to score bonus points, so many levels must be replayed to get the minimum points.

Many of the games feel very unfair and almost calculated in the way they contrive to make you lose. Trying to outwit opponents by bluffing is a big no-no too, since there always seems to be one character that doesn't want to play ball and fold a hand. It just never feels like you're playing real poker against real people.