At the end of the day, The Urbz is not "The Sims" and although similar in some respects, Sims fans may not like everything they find in this game, especially some of the major changes such as far less emphasis on home building and practically all emphasis on popularity.

Despite some linear missions the game tends to ooze replay value in the form of freedom and variation.

The gameplay however is a little slow and involves far too much back tracking for its own good and things often get tedious.

It doesn’t offer as much input into the game as university does but its still worth having and adds a load of new features to stretch the games fun-life out that little bit further!

Despite being a massive fan of the franchise I couldn’t help but feel that the whole thing is starting to get old, despite the new features the games structure is basically the same.

It does a lot to build on the tactics focused gameplay found in the original game with improvements in the enemy AI, this bundled with the difficulty and size of the missions should provide plenty of intense strategy action despite the complete absence of a multiplayer mode.

One of the very few management games that actually allow players to get up close to the action and you can really feel part of what is going on.

This game is the game that the original Japanese release was supposed to be and anyone who has been waiting in anticipation should be satisfied with the finished result.

It seems ironic that in Square Enix’s attempts to make a game appealing to fans of two genres they have actually created a game that features pretty standard gameplay and may not attract its intended audience.

While the characters and story maybe a little cliché the game some how manages to pull off a creepy atmosphere.

One of the better tennis games to grace the PS2, and is by far the truest representation of the sport.

A decent game with realistic if not frustrating driving sequences and an intriguing storyline.

While the game is by no means the easiest racing title around it’s fair to say it’s a no nonsense racing simulation that offers a hardcore racing experience for hardcore racing fans.

In all fairness it’s a title that is probably geared towards the more experienced MMORPG gamer who should get a lot of enjoyment from the title, while more casual gamers or those new to the genre may find the experience a little daunting.

Replay value in Conflict: Vietnam is pretty much non existent, largely due to the game not been Live enabled.

A bit of polish wouldn’t have gone amiss here.

Whilst the game can offer a certain joy of ownership for a fraction of the cost, those who are not passionately interested in motoring in general won’t want to put the required effort in.

There are some things I loved about the game and equally the same amount of things I found irritating. It’s hard to recommend to fans of third person shooters in general. But, fans of the movies and story driven games will definitely find the game more appealing.

Despite its problems it does generally provide a fun experience and fans of the first game will love the new ways of spreading chaos.

The Sims 3: Ambitions adds just a little more depth to gameplay and fans should find enough here to keep them playing until the next expansion pack comes out.

If you liked Dead Space or simply enjoy playing first person shooters then Extraction is definitely worth a look.

An undeniable classic somewhat ruined by a terrible, terrible (though unavoidable, really) control system, accompanied by a few fun extras showing off what the console can do.

Overall this is another highly impressive gaming package from the seasoned professionals in the golf game trade, which is enjoyable if you’re not put off by the tough learning curve to begin with.

If you own either the Xbox 360 or Ps3 and are a keen football fan then the Wii version isn’t the right choice for you. However, if you’re more of a casual gamer, which most Wii owners tend to be then FIFA 10 on the Wii may just be what you’re looking for allowing for instantly accessible games that most will be able to simply play from the off.

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, may not offer the most compelling single player racing experience but does feature a good level of variety.

A solid game set in a beautifully created world brimming with life and atmosphere. Starting off pretty easy to break you in gently the game soon starts to challenge even the most experienced players and the varied quests and side min-games are enough to keep you interested until the very end.

Green Day: Rock Band has a more rock feel to it than The Beatles game did and provides fans of the band with a mostly solid set list to play through. It doesn't introduce anything new to the Rock Band formula we've come to know and to sum up all I can say is, it does what it say on the box. Gives fans of the band access to their songs.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a solid shooter that requires players to take a more tactical approach then some other recent releases. However, it can also be an extremely frustrating experience due to the very unforgiving AI which may have the less hardcore shooter fan struggling to stick with it.

Green Day: Rock Band has a more rock feel to it than The Beatles game did and provides fans of the band with a mostly solid set list to play through. It doesn't introduce anything new to the Rock Band formula we've come to know and to sum up all I can say is, it does what it say on the box. Gives fans of the band access to their songs.

Green Day: Rock Band has a more rock feel to it than The Beatles game did and provides fans of the band with a mostly solid set list to play through. It doesn't introduce anything new to the Rock Band formula we've come to know and to sum up all I can say is, it does what it say on the box. Gives fans of the band access to their songs.

Overall, for all its bizarre dialogue, crazy stories and weird looking characters with strange voiceovers it works this game is amazingly entertaining and slightly addictive!

Metro 2033 may not be the most innovative survival shooter to ever have graced the genre, but that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed in the blink of an eye. The game serves up an unforgiving world with gameplay that at times matches it perfectly.

This version of Tiger Woods seems to have become something of a victim of its own success and the result is that the game is very, very similar to that of last years game.

This version of Tiger Woods seems to have become something of a victim of its own success and the result is that the game is very, very similar to that of last years game.

This version of Tiger Woods seems to have become something of a victim of its own success and the result is that the game is very, very similar to that of last years game.

The character development system seems a little basic and unfinished and the amount of bugs in the game really is unacceptable.

Guitar Hero Van Halen may not feature the greatest selection of tracks that will appeal to general fans of the franchise. However, it does provide those looking for a more interesting challenge, giving you access to one of the most intense collections of songs to grace a Guitar Hero game for sometime, definitely one just for hardcore Guitar Hero’s.

Lazy Raiders is solid, but never really progresses to essential.

Aliens vs. Predator may not have met my expectations or fond memories of the 1999 original and I can’t help feel a little disappointed in this game which feels like it needed more time to refine and think out some core ideas.

FUEL is a very good addition to open world and off-road racing genres. But despite the overall enjoyment I got from the game, I can’t help but feel that it lacks the competitive elements that have enabled so many racing games to succeed.

Adults or experienced gamers however might find the game a little repetitive and easy concluding that if you belong to the right audience, you’ll love Shrek 2.

Metro 2033 may not be the most innovative survival shooter to ever have graced the genre, but that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed in the blink of an eye. The game serves up an unforgiving world with gameplay that at times matches it perfectly.

Guitar Hero Van Halen may not feature the greatest selection of tracks that will appeal to general fans of the franchise. However, it does provide those looking for a more interesting challenge, giving you access to one of the most intense collections of songs to grace a Guitar Hero game for sometime, definitely one just for hardcore Guitar Hero’s.

IL2-Sturmovik is a solid aerial combat game that is accessible enough for anyone to pick-up and play, whilst still offering hardcore simulation fans the option to play the game in a fashion they feel comfortable with.

One of those games where even though you keep getting killed you can't help but go back for more just to progress that little bit further.

FUEL is a very good addition to open world and off-road racing genres. But despite the overall enjoyment I got from the game, I can’t help but feel that it lacks the competitive elements that have enabled so many racing games to succeed.

If you enjoyed the no nonsense co-op shooter action of the original game than Army of Two: The 40th Day with its enhancements and extra polish maybe a worthwhile addition to your games collection.

As a single player experience Madballs isn’t a terribly exciting offering, serving a pretty much run of the mill gaming experience we’ve all seen before. However, it’s multiplayer component more then makes up for its shortcomings providing one of the most fun and frantic playing experiences I’ve encountered lately.

The game is challenging enough without been overly difficult and thanks to the random re-generation of the castle and its contents predictability is kept to a minimum.

Brutal Legend serves up a strange mix of action adventure gameplay and heavy metal that even more bizarrely works quite well.

IL2-Sturmovik is a solid aerial combat game that is accessible enough for anyone to pick-up and play, whilst still offering hardcore simulation fans the option to play the game in a fashion they feel comfortable with.

The action is fast-paced and easy to get to grips with, but my major gripe is with the lack of modes on offer and the rubbish rewards for completing the main Arcade mode.

There are some changes I feel would be beneficial before release, mainly to the battle system. But it looks as if East India Company is shaping up to be a solid strategy title.

Killing Floor isn't the most polished first person shooter on the market. However, it does offer one of the better co-op experiences, with excellent shooter mechanics, intense action and a good community that will keep you coming back for more.

Clearly aimed at youngsters and families Kinectimals isn't going to appeal to the masses. But kids will most definitely love the on-screen pets and with the mini-games and amount of variety, Kinectimals has something for everyone.

So, what is it really like to be an evil genius? Well you can have a fantastic lair, hordes of loyal workers and tons of money but to be honest, it can be boring at times, you see, the truly evil one never gets to do any of the dirty work, they just sit and watch; and what makes it worse is workers that don’t seem to have much between their ears making the ‘watching’ a frustrating task.

I'm not sure whether the series should be criticised for repeating a formula that has proven so successful up until now, but I'm equally unconvinced that Ghost of Sparta is worthy of a great deal of praise.

If you enjoyed the no nonsense co-op shooter action of the original game than Army of Two: The 40th Day with its enhancements and extra polish maybe a worthwhile addition to your games collection.

The shape shifting abilities of the games protagonist are fun to experiment with but the story campaign has an all too familiar feel to it.

A solid board game conversion.

The game is ultimately let down by similar bugs that plagued the previous two games.

For the hardcore fans, the recycled taste can be a bitter pill to swallow, especially paying out twice for the same songs, but for newcomers this is a good compilation of the previous Guitar Hero games.

Brutal Legend serves up a strange mix of action adventure gameplay and heavy metal that even more bizarrely works quite well.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a solid shooter that requires players to take a more tactical approach then some other recent releases. However, it can also be an extremely frustrating experience due to the very unforgiving AI which may have the less hardcore shooter fan struggling to stick with it.

Despite its problems it does generally provide a fun experience and fans of the first game will love the new ways of spreading chaos.

At first glance, Etherlords II looks pretty much like an RPG title, but take a few moments to play and you’ll soon discover an absorbing turn based strategy game similar to "Magic: The Gathering."

PES 2010 may not have been able to topple FIFA as the leading football game but it’s clear the series is getting back on track and obvious improvements have been made over last years game.

Section 8 for me is something of a mixed bag, technically it’s a pretty solid title with some of the best A.I I’ve ever encountered However, it’s heavy focus on multiplayer action means that those looking for an immersive single player campaign will have to look else where and only the most hardcore multiplayer gamers will want to stick with the game for any length of time due to the super tough A.I bots.

The shape shifting abilities of the games protagonist are fun to experiment with but the story campaign has an all too familiar feel to it.

For the hardcore fans, the recycled taste can be a bitter pill to swallow, especially paying out twice for the same songs, but for newcomers this is a good compilation of the previous Guitar Hero games.

Worms: Battle Islands brings the classic Worms experience to the Nintendo platform and introduces a range of features that while not initially useful do enhance the playing experience when played with friends. What makes the deal better, is that it is available at a budget price.

This, possibly, is Axel & Pixel’s greatest success- anyone can play it, and most would probably enjoy it if they did.

That said, there is no denying that NHL 11 provides an enjoyable recreation of ice hockey, which manages to be both accessible to newcomers and packed with content to entertain more dedicated fans.

Overall this is another highly impressive gaming package from the seasoned professionals in the golf game trade, which is enjoyable if you’re not put off by the tough learning curve to begin with.

That said, there is no denying that NHL 11 provides an enjoyable recreation of ice hockey, which manages to be both accessible to newcomers and packed with content to entertain more dedicated fans.

Overall, for all its bizarre dialogue, crazy stories and weird looking characters with strange voiceovers it works this game is amazingly entertaining and slightly addictive!

The football side of things is fairly solid, but sadly the game includes too many duties that simply aren’t part of being the manager of a football club. Then there’s the personal life aspect to deal with and coupled together they really stop the title competing with rival games. Often leaving you overwhelmed and spoiling the playing experience on offer, which is a shame as it will probably drive football mad gamers else where.

While it offers many unique race types that will provide short periods of fun the game fails to captivate you for long periods of time and as a result the it quickly loses its appeal despite the amount of variation it offers!

Whilst fans of previous series entries will doubtless drag plenty of enjoyment from having such a revered title in portable form, players less influenced by rose tinted memories of GT’s past may find it harder to forgive the limitations of the game structure and the similarly limited reasons to progress.

The mix of strategy and survival shooter works surprisingly well, some niggling flaws however stop this XBLA title living up to its full potential.

Unfortunately the strict timing required can lead to a lot of frustration and as a result the game can quickly start to feel repetitive.

On the whole, this is an enjoyable, beautifully presented and well-planned reinvention of a classic game, that retains the fun of the original but also caters for today’s modern gamers and casual gamers, especially with the obvious and liberal use of the big signs that tell you which transformation you need to use, thankfully these are not over-used allowing some experimentation.

PES 2010 may not have been able to topple FIFA as the leading football game but it’s clear the series is getting back on track and obvious improvements have been made over last years game.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a solid shooter that requires players to take a more tactical approach then some other recent releases. However, it can also be an extremely frustrating experience due to the very unforgiving AI which may have the less hardcore shooter fan struggling to stick with it.

Repetition and the simplicity of the gameplay may put off a few gamers but on the whole the game is good enough to go back to more than once enhancing its replay value with a good selection of unlockables.

Quite brutally it’s old school that just doesn’t meet the modern grade.

With a clever plot and some impressive visuals the game could be appealing and addictive though tiresome at times. Unfortunately, if you have seen the film and you already know exactly how the plot unfolds and you have already seen those most surprising, awesome scenes, this game has little thrills.

On the audio side the game has done an excellent job of bringing the individual personalities of the characters from the movie into the game with good voice acting and dialogue.

Does what it intends to do and that is to provide players, specifically younger players with an addictive but classic style platformer immersed in gorgeous graphics and a mix of unique features.

Delivers a fresh approach to the RTS genre and with its great detail, addictive gameplay and excellent replay value it is definitely worth a look for any RTS game fan.

Whilst a little slow paced the game does offer a little variety in the form of puzzles and although the path through the game seems very ‘forced’ it is still intriguing to play through if just for short periods of time.

Too much repetition, too many boring cut scenes and lack of variety make this game a very average playing experience.

Trouble is, most of the minigames aren’t entertaining on an individual basis; the enjoyment resides in not knowing what is coming next. While it lasts.

The storyline is full of old school clichés and the adventuring part of the game, with its basic puzzles is quite frankly boring.

Dodgy controls, annoying cameras and repetitive gameplay (think obsessive scanning!) makes the game get tiresome very quickly.

While The Saga of Ryzom is probably more simplistic then most MMORPG's its a lot more approachable to those new to the genre, however this is likely to deter those looking for something to challenge them.

It doesn’t really excel in any one area or instantly grab your attention.

Unfortunately though for the less patient among us, The Silver Earring makes detective work a boring job, the witnesses have nothing interesting to say half the time and tend to babble on in the most boring manner and the quiz at the end of each chapter is enough to make you want to give up completely.