It's obvious that this was a rushed attempt at getting some software ready for the PS2's launch and it's a shame.

There's strong overtones of strategic gameplay but sadly, they're never properly realised. As Roy Walker from TV's Catchphrase might say, Away Team is good (ish), but it's not right.

A complete and utter waste of time and money for anyone who isn't a die-hard shoot 'em-up junky.

I do think that the developers are guilty of trying to please all the people all of the time, but for all that Tomb Raider Chronicles is eminently playable.

While the lack of a light gun will disappoint some, and gamers looking for depth are barking up the wrong tree, Silent Scope offers some of the most stupidly pleasurable shooting action to be found on PS2 (or anywhere).

Fans of gun games would be far better served grabbing a copy of "House of the Dead 2" + Sega's gun.

The most fun you'll have with this one will come from the first few tries - after which familiarity will rapidly breed contempt.

Without the thrills you got when you started playing the first game, a lot of the impact is lost - so in some ways, this isn't as good as the original.

As an excellent variation on the throw away RTS culture of the moment, especially for it's potential longevity on my play list and for some pukka explosions!

Beyond an hour's playing it looks grim.

Slow paced, repetitive and with a weak storyline, DV is unlikely to please the usual RPG gamer, and will probably only appeal to the most ardent of Dungeons & Dragons freaks, and to players who just want a bit of mindless orc killing to occupy ten minutes here and there.

For all it's flaws, you get a sense of achievement from this game. You do want to see what's coming next, and the exploration bits where you have to avoid a hazard by inching across a ledge or ducking under an obstacle are still absurdly enjoyable.

The graphics aren't quite as good (as "Rustin Parr"), it' not as scary or atmospheric, the movement is less believable, the AI is poor and the dialogue isn't up to the same standard.

The music's jaunty, the sound effects "zappy"; it looks okay, it plays okay, and it's all perfectly diverting for a few hours or so.

As something of a year round Grinch myself, I enjoyed this game immensely, and its simple but entertaining action will satisfy both the younger player as well as more learned men (and women) of the world like you or I.

If the design document for Sonic Shuffle contained anything more than the sentence "Make a clone of Mario Party but with Sonic characters" I'll be very much surprised. (But) Sega HQ left out the all-important instruction of: "Make sure you don't leave out all the good bits".

Light years ahead of the competition? Well, no, but the kids may enjoy this one.

One wag referred to this game as the Timothy Dalton, rather than the Sean Connery, of Bond games. Balderdash. This is the George Lazenby - no, wait, the Woody Allen, in that crappy Casino Royale 007 spoof, of Bond games. Licensed to kill? On this evidence, James shouldn't even be licensed to drive.

Some people will be happy enough with mowing down people and fans of the series may like what they get but whether it will convince the non-believers is questionable.

While "SSX" may well be the best game on PS2, Surfing H30 is surely the worst - that's some claim.

Resident Evil fanatics will probably hate it and call it a travesty, but remove the Resident Evil tag and it's a damn good zombie shooter with a revolutionary control system.

It's just Duke being Duke - stupid but fun. For a while.