Pity the game lacks GTA's mischievous sense of humour and fun distractions.

Although the platform-leaping action is easily criticised for lacking originality, levels are inventive and varied.

Serviceable entertainment for kids, but you'll have more fun watching the DVD.

Serviceable entertainment for kids, but you'll have more fun watching the DVD.

Pity the game lacks GTA's mischievous sense of humour and fun distractions.

Serviceable entertainment for kids, but you'll have more fun watching the DVD.

Serviceable entertainment for kids, but you'll have more fun watching the DVD.

Variety is lacking, ensuring replay appeal is limited to the fun multiplayer modes only.

To maintain the level of immersion, even the loading screens have been replaced by stunning helicopter rides, delivering you to the next mission where the action continues seamlessly.

Streamlined controls make performing outrageous stunts easy. But car handling is overly rigid making tight bends are difficult to negotiate.

The hellish enemies may be fearsome, but the one true villain here is the stubborn game camera that tends to pan away from whatever it is you want to look at. Apart from that one flaw, this is an absorbing tale.

It's not exactly taxing on the brain, but it is strangely compelling.

Little strategy is required for each stage, with abundant health packs and aggressive opponents of little intelligence. But there are many strategies and the use of cover is vital.

If you're happy to pay the fees and have no trouble socialising online, a fun alternative existence beckons.

Newcomers to the trials and tribulations of Jack Bauer are unlikely to be impressed by this game's generic shooting and driving action. But fans of 24 will be quaking, thanks to the authentic atmosphere and gripping story, set between season two and three of the TV series.

Little strategy is required for each stage, with abundant health packs and aggressive opponents of little intelligence. But there are many strategies and the use of cover is vital.

It's a sedate, relaxing and simple platform-jumping quest suited to young gaming newcomers.

Car handling is impressive. You can really feel variations in surfaces and the car losing traction if pushed too hard. Passing in heavy traffic takes skill and patience.

Car handling is impressive. You can really feel variations in surfaces and the car losing traction if pushed too hard. Passing in heavy traffic takes skill and patience.

Car handling is impressive. You can really feel variations in surfaces and the car losing traction if pushed too hard. Passing in heavy traffic takes skill and patience.

A sluggish camera is annoying when speed is required but completing the 100 stages is still very satisfying.

Victories are initially too simple and training dull but professional bouts hugely engaging. Patient defence, careful countering, well-timed combinations and conserving stamina are crucial.

Empire at War hits all the right notes if you're a Star Wars fan, but be prepared to grind out your victories.

A big selection of different events suggests variety but the action soon becomes repetitive. Full Auto's main competitor, Burnout, offers significantly more diversity in its challenges.

A good mental workout that can prove to be addictive, despite its punishing quirks.

It is inventive, creative and strangely compelling, but the more difficult tasks can be frustrating and its lasting appeal is limited.

Great games never really die, they just get reanimated.

Sweet, simple fare that children will fleetingly enjoy, but play soon becomes work in a sweatshop.

This official "game of the Games", however, makes it about as exciting as lying in an empty bath and pretending it's the luge, or sticking your head in the freezer and singing Advance Australia Fair.

This official "game of the Games", however, makes it about as exciting as lying in an empty bath and pretending it's the luge, or sticking your head in the freezer and singing Advance Australia Fair.

This official "game of the Games", however, makes it about as exciting as lying in an empty bath and pretending it's the luge, or sticking your head in the freezer and singing Advance Australia Fair.

At first it seems too easy to post sub-par scores, but once the more difficult courses are unlocked - along with stiffer winds, constantly undulating topography and tight fairways - the game is a more satisfying and enjoyable challenge.

Ape Academy's pace is languid. Frequent, lengthy loading delays frustrate, and many of the 50 challenges suffer from clumsy controls, ambiguous instructions, or are just dull.

Terrific fun for youngsters, while amusing pop-culture satire will also have older players giggling like chimps.

It's glitzy, ditzy and full of glam, but it will also leave you battered and bruised.

Pinball may seem like an anachronism on the high-tech PlayStation Portable, but it can offer short bursts of fun wherever you go.

Unusual and delightful. You know you are hooked when you cannot wait to see what your furry friends are up to, or spend hours crafting letters or building the museum collection.

Computer-controlled opponents offer a solid challenge and matches are often tense and exciting.

The game is immediately likeable. The presentation is cheerful and anyone can pick up the joypad and have fun.

One of the best new features is the Speed Kill, a stealth attack that requires timed button presses for successful take-downs - a brilliant addition to the already exhilarating game play.

One of the best new features is the Speed Kill, a stealth attack that requires timed button presses for successful take-downs - a brilliant addition to the already exhilarating game play.

One of the best new features is the Speed Kill, a stealth attack that requires timed button presses for successful take-downs - a brilliant addition to the already exhilarating game play.

One of the best new features is the Speed Kill, a stealth attack that requires timed button presses for successful take-downs - a brilliant addition to the already exhilarating game play.

Only role-playing addicts and fantasy aficionados will see the value in this title.

While equally entertaining, Partners in Time inevitably lacks its predecessor's impact.

A pale imitation of an age-old PC classic that tries to innovate but fails to grasp what was great about the original.

With a rather abrupt final sequence it does seem to rush to its climax, but despite its brevity, this is an unforgettable trip through the realm of Kong.

With a rather abrupt final sequence it does seem to rush to its climax, but despite its brevity, this is an unforgettable trip through the realm of Kong.

It's a brief ride and the action can become repetitive, but the sharp humour keeps you smiling.

With a rather abrupt final sequence it does seem to rush to its climax, but despite its brevity, this is an unforgettable trip through the realm of Kong.

With a rather abrupt final sequence it does seem to rush to its climax, but despite its brevity, this is an unforgettable trip through the realm of Kong.

For all its bells and whistles, Perfect Dark Zero is a solid yet unremarkable comeback.

Frights are common as disturbingly psychopathic vagrants lunge at you from the shadows. The violence is raw, barbaric and unsettling.

Despite Gotham's obliging nature, high-speed thrills and gorgeous graphical sheen, it's hard not to feel that we have seen its best tricks before.

Amped 3 is a big success. The physics are realistic, the controls are excellent (and a challenge to master) and the sprawling snowfields provide many hours of fun. No matter what your skill level, there's a lot of fun to be had here.

The switch to third-person perspective is unwelcome as Goren awkwardly lumbers and can even become stuck, marching on the spot. Other frustrating technical glitches abound.

Rollicking old-style zombie-blasting action, but with only limited thrills whether played alone or with infected buddies.

The system of character progression is elegantly simple but players still have freedom to choose weapon and magic specialties.

The action is also largely mindless, with a poor targeting system and a game camera that never quite follows the action the way you want it to.

The addition of smart and relentless police pursuers has reinvigorated this popular driving series.

The addition of smart and relentless police pursuers has reinvigorated this popular driving series.

Most missions follow a monotonous pattern of car chases and shoot-outs against dim-witted opponents that lack the variety of the GTA series.

Exploring as Sonic or new character Blaze the cat is rewarding, even if enemy placement can be stupidly punitive, demanding rote memorisation or lightning use of the dash attack to avoid calamity.

Most missions follow a monotonous pattern of car chases and shoot-outs against dim-witted opponents that lack the variety of the GTA series.

The action is also largely mindless, with a poor targeting system and a game camera that never quite follows the action the way you want it to.

The addition of smart and relentless police pursuers has reinvigorated this popular driving series.

Most missions follow a monotonous pattern of car chases and shoot-outs against dim-witted opponents that lack the variety of the GTA series.

The action is also largely mindless, with a poor targeting system and a game camera that never quite follows the action the way you want it to.

The addition of smart and relentless police pursuers has reinvigorated this popular driving series.

A decent start to what will inevitably be a games series.

A decent start to what will inevitably be a games series.

Four-player online races are smooth and fiercely competitive.

What initially seemed a rather mundane movie/ game tie-in, is actually quite fun, and will captivate kids with its simple gameplay and colourful graphics.

Enthralling.

The highlight is a brief but thrilling broomstick chase against a fire-breathing dragon. An underwater interlude is less successful, although it provides variety.

The highlight is a brief but thrilling broomstick chase against a fire-breathing dragon. An underwater interlude is less successful, although it provides variety.

Sony has accomplished its mission. This is the best shooter yet for the PSP.

Computer opponents aren't too stupid and each player is represented by an on-screen character.

The slow pace may not be to everyone's taste but this game is a must for horror buffs.

The highlight is a brief but thrilling broomstick chase against a fire-breathing dragon. An underwater interlude is less successful, although it provides variety.

Activities such as poker tournaments, capturing felons, gold mining, animal herding and hunting provide variety but their appeal is short-lived.

The highlight is a brief but thrilling broomstick chase against a fire-breathing dragon. An underwater interlude is less successful, although it provides variety.

This is the most family-friendly 360 launch title, offering an entertaining fantasy adventure with plenty of secrets and varied powers.

A two-player mode is included, and few games are more fun with a crowd. It's pricey, but a euphoric experience.

But youngsters will need help completing some tasks as it's not always clear what to do next. Boss battles can also be demanding, requiring both button bashing and touch-screen scribbling.

But while young fans will enjoy this brief two-player adventure, the underground environments and robotic opponents lack variety and imagination.

Space conflict complements ground-based action beautifully and jumping into the cockpit of an X-wing or TIE fighter is thrilling.

Some of the bombing runs in the solo campaign can prove quite arduous, but the dazzling pyrotechnics and adrenaline rush of flying your P38 Lightning through anti-aircraft fire make it easy to press the restart button if you fail your objectives.

A turn-based strategy mini-game called Chronicles of the Sword is a little dry, yet hypnotically addictive.

This exhilarating and atmospheric World War II action game does little to advance the run-and-gun genre, but it is a memorable experience.

Veterans may feel it is overly familiar but Gladiator is a quality action game.

It is infinitely replayable, incredibly balanced and faster-paced. Combat has been improved, with the addition of both depth and simplicity, while peacemaking and cultural supremacy are more viable options.

Dramatic battles against mythological monsters test your skills, but the occasional badly placed checkpoint can be frustrating.

A fast-paced and accessible combat game, far superior when enjoyed online with players working together during epic, frenetic battles.

Everything you'd expect from the PS2 game has somehow made it intact, lending credence to Sony's claims that the handy portable is almost as powerful as its big brother.

These pinball tables are well-designed, the ball action realistic with familiar Metroid elements smartly integrated.

But despite a wide assortment of challenges and overly generous rewards, the brief campaign is a shallow appetiser to the magnificent multiplayer action.

Not only will it keep the younger ones occupied for hours, but they'll be getting exercise.