Few games are as successful as God of War II in making a player feel like an invincible warrior. This is an absolutely thrilling adventure and a clash of the titans you are unlikely to forget soon.

Bizarre glitches tend to mar the experience at times, such as all the architecture vanishing in a blur or suddenly finding yourself stuck on the corner of an object for no obvious reason. Some missions also tend to have the odd bottleneck where you find yourself getting killed remarkably easily.

Not what you might expect from Disney, Spectrobes is initially refreshing but quickly becomes dull.

Spectacular visuals, ruthless opposition and gritty, tactical gunplay make this intense entertainment for solo soldiers and a hoot to play online with friends.

Apart from being tediously simple and lacking variety, the challenges have absolutely no tension, because failure just means you have to try again.

Fortunately, if you are an F1 purist, you will discover a comprehensive and challenging simulation that offers long-term appeal.

Patient players, prepared to persevere will be happy with Blur, but those expecting the same level of intuitiveness and accessibility as other Wii or SSX games are likely to be very frustrated.

Fantastic animation, incredible art design and an intensely challenging fighting system ensure Virtua Fighter 5 is a game PS3 owners will be proud of for months to come.

A few dozen mediocre party games let up to four friends compete in unimaginative tasks such as paddling boats or shooting balloons but add little depth to the package.

And whether you are tooling around with a giant bowling ball or bringing a mob boss to justice in record time, Xbox Live support lets two friends run riot side by side.

Even on the Easy setting, the artificial intelligence is unflinching in its desire to win. If you're up for the fight, victory is sweet.

Deliberately lacking ambition, this is an encore that will please patient fans, but also reminds us why the point-and-click adventure is now an endangered species.

Owners of an Xbox 360 have a right to feel a little miffed that their version isn't identical to the PS2 but Pro Evo 6 is still top of the table.

Life Stories is very successful in widening the Sims audience even further. Just remember that experienced Sims players should look elsewhere, as they will romp through the challenges with ease and sorely miss the depth of customisation options and add-on packs of The Sims 2.

Many kids will have fun whizzing around the colourful courses, but some will be frustrated when the difficulty rises sharply after the initial races. The highlight is wirelessly competing against up to eight remote friends.

Battlestations: Midway has the potential to blossom as a multiplayer game, primarily online. With everyone free to jump between units, it can become chaotic, but that's half the fun.

Battlestations: Midway has the potential to blossom as a multiplayer game, primarily online. With everyone free to jump between units, it can become chaotic, but that's half the fun.

Having to wait until the game lets you solve a riddle even though you have grasped the solution long ago is particularly galling. Players too often feel like passengers on a scripted ride, rather than individual auteurs directing their own unique experience.

Bonus mini-games have the most long-term appeal, particularly a sublime version of darts.

Eye-opening entertainment that's like stepping inside an explosive sci-fi film.

Good graphics and intelligent level design help to make this a worthy enough companion to Arthur's elaborate adventures on the big screen.

Good graphics and intelligent level design help to make this a worthy enough companion to Arthur's elaborate adventures on the big screen.

Hand-held technology may be perfectly capable but this game has little of the humour, adventure and excitement you would expect from that galaxy far, far away.

It's a gas tank full of frustration that could leave you fuming, but Full Auto 2's explosive graphics help to keep it on track.

Hand-held technology may be perfectly capable but this game has little of the humour, adventure and excitement you would expect from that galaxy far, far away.

Frantic battles with thieving rodents conclude each level but soon become repetitive and don't add much to the package. Nor do the small collection of simple multi-player mini-games, which include food gobbling contests and a shooting gallery.

A trip to Thrillville takes you on a long, unnecessary detour through Dullsville.

Imaginative and masterfully designed, Twilight Princess is every bit as good as the best Zelda adventures. It is hugely rewarding and absolutely essential for new Wii owners.

Online competition is sorely missed.

Highly approachable and hugely entertaining for all ages, Wii Sports serves as a great introduction and advertisement for the innovative Wii motion-sensing controller.

It's pitched at a younger audience than the usual Tony Hawk games, so the frantic, no-frills racing may only be fun for casual gamers.

An accomplished shooter providing many fun online modes, engaging solo missions and superb weapons.

A quirky, colourful and catchy music game that is great fun while it lasts.

Magic may be coursing through Eragon's veins but it's exactly what's lacking from this dreary hack'n'slash affair.

Magic may be coursing through Eragon's veins but it's exactly what's lacking from this dreary hack'n'slash affair.

Magic may be coursing through Eragon's veins but it's exactly what's lacking from this dreary hack'n'slash affair.

Magic may be coursing through Eragon's veins but it's exactly what's lacking from this dreary hack'n'slash affair.

Breathtaking in scale, Medieval II will keep you glued to the screen.

Yoshi's Island is a paradise of platforming pleasure and the perfect holiday destination this summer.

It's hard not to fall in love with Ridge Racer all over again now that it's looking so good. Online play will compel you to race on past the use-by date too.

As long as you're not too distracted by the superb graphics, you will discover that Gears of War is a classy, imaginative shooter with plenty of gritty action.

A psychedelic puzzle-shooter with serious old-school appeal. It'll be lapped up by the cool crowd but it's a little too basic for its own good.

Discerning gamers will find that this third excursion to the frontline is enjoyable but a little unpolished. It is, however, the best-looking 360 game to date.

There are more trick-based challenges than ever, but aside from the new slow-motion control, Tony Hawk is skating through the same old territory.

There are more trick-based challenges than ever, but aside from the new slow-motion control, Tony Hawk is skating through the same old territory.

There are more trick-based challenges than ever, but aside from the new slow-motion control, Tony Hawk is skating through the same old territory.

If you wore out your copy of the bewitching original you may need to question whether new songs are enough to get you playing the same game again.

Those looking for something unique to enliven a dull commute should definitely call on the Elite Beat Agents.

Building farms, mines and warehouses, converting resources into goods, blazing trading routes and watching your settlements grow into prosperous cities is very satisfying.

Children of Mana is beautifully presented but it's too childlike to satisfy serious gamers.

Beautiful, involving, impeccably designed and outstanding value, this is a grand game that is difficult to fault. It will captivate even those who have been immune to Final Fantasy's spell.

Role-playing addicts won't be disappointed by the scope of this fantasy romp but a certain level of perseverance is required if you are unfamiliar with the intricacies of D&D.

A smart and challenging blend of action and strategy.

The loading times on the PSP may test your patience, but this is a game entertaining enough to make it worth the wait.

The new hands-on capture system is not enough to make this an essential Pokemon adventure.

Far from perfect but Dark Messiah has entertaining fantasy action. Dispatching foes in imaginative ways is the highlight.

Some locations are dreary trudges through dull space-station corridors, but others show more imagination, such as giant pinball tables and underwater in Atlantis.

Some locations are dreary trudges through dull space-station corridors, but others show more imagination, such as giant pinball tables and underwater in Atlantis.

Some locations are dreary trudges through dull space-station corridors, but others show more imagination, such as giant pinball tables and underwater in Atlantis.

Magnificent on the Xbox 360, this could be a contender for game of the year.

A minor improvement over the original, with just as many silly sci-fi shenanigans.

The arcade-style fist fights can get a little repetitive but DC Comic fans should get a thrill out of teaming up their favourite characters.

The Xbox 360 version Icon tested features 12 beautifully recreated courses, astonishingly realistic player animation and convincing crowds that even react when you hit a wayward drive in their direction.

The arcade-style fist fights can get a little repetitive but DC Comic fans should get a thrill out of teaming up their favourite characters.

A minor improvement over the original, with just as many silly sci-fi shenanigans.

Aussie expertise has produced the best Spyro game in many years, but the action gets repetitive and some old fans might be dismayed by the emphasis on combat.

Like a bizarre mixture of WWE Smackdown and Benny Hill, God Hand is one of the quirkiest, silliest and funniest games to come along in some time.

Aussie expertise has produced the best Spyro game in many years, but the action gets repetitive and some old fans might be dismayed by the emphasis on combat.

Aussie expertise has produced the best Spyro game in many years, but the action gets repetitive and some old fans might be dismayed by the emphasis on combat.

A value-packed collection of infinitely replayable and hugely enjoyable classic card and board games.

Like the film, Scarface is brutal and often ridiculously over-the-top. It uses the GTA template effectively but may feel too familiar for Vice City veterans.

Like the film, Scarface is brutal and often ridiculously over-the-top. It uses the GTA template effectively but may feel too familiar for Vice City veterans.

Like the film, Scarface is brutal and often ridiculously over-the-top. It uses the GTA template effectively but may feel too familiar for Vice City veterans.

Overall, this is a pleasant surprise best suited to gaming newcomers and fans of the show.

With such clumsy controls, the limited intelligence of both friends and foes, and a lack of mission variety, most players would have a lot more fun with "GTA Liberty City Stories."

Convincing physics have been brought into play to improve the feel of passing, crossing and shooting - a feature that brings FIFA more in line with the current simulation champ, "Pro Evolution Soccer."

Convincing physics have been brought into play to improve the feel of passing, crossing and shooting - a feature that brings FIFA more in line with the current simulation champ, "Pro Evolution Soccer."

Convincing physics have been brought into play to improve the feel of passing, crossing and shooting - a feature that brings FIFA more in line with the current simulation champ, "Pro Evolution Soccer."

Sloppy vehicle handling, some bugs in the design of the missions and the endless travel means it doesn't hit the same high notes as GTA and others, but the mindless action is still good dumb fun.

Sloppy vehicle handling, some bugs in the design of the missions and the endless travel means it doesn't hit the same high notes as GTA and others, but the mindless action is still good dumb fun.

Sloppy vehicle handling, some bugs in the design of the missions and the endless travel means it doesn't hit the same high notes as GTA and others, but the mindless action is still good dumb fun.

Sloppy vehicle handling, some bugs in the design of the missions and the endless travel means it doesn't hit the same high notes as GTA and others, but the mindless action is still good dumb fun.

Using the Nintendo wi-fi connection service, users can then send their designs to friends to solve, bolstering the game's long-term appeal.

It's a solid poker package, but with plenty of low-cost competitors on the market, Tournament of Champions struggles to offer enough new features to warrant its price tag.

The game is epic in scale and length, but its fascinating plot, characters and dialogue (impeccably translated from Japanese) ensures players will devour every second.

While ploughing through the dungeons becomes repetitive, following your character's evolution and steady growth in skills becomes addictive.

While ploughing through the dungeons becomes repetitive, following your character's evolution and steady growth in skills becomes addictive.

One of the best strategy games yet: intense, atmospheric and tactically deep.

A wonderful game that rewards experimentation and co-operation.

A wonderful game that rewards experimentation and co-operation.

A wonderful game that rewards experimentation and co-operation.

The action can be hard to follow, but fans will appreciate the realism.

The action can be hard to follow, but fans will appreciate the realism.

The action can be hard to follow, but fans will appreciate the realism.

A lot of fun but unlikely to satisfy your gaming appetite.

A wonderful game that rewards experimentation and co-operation.

The action can be hard to follow, but fans will appreciate the realism.

A wonderful game that rewards experimentation and co-operation.