The first glimpse of a mighty colossus in this breathtaking adventure is awe-inspiring. Their size, fearsome power, deafening roars and otherworldly looks are both terrifying and fascinating.

Opponents cheat to keep every race competitive but it can be irritating, especially when rivals destroy your car within reach of the finish line.

There are a couple of perplexing flaws in the design, such as the inability to go prone or jump over low walls and fences, but suspend your disbelief and you'll be gripped.

It's a shame the innovative DS touch screen is hardly used here - play only requires use of the directional pad and buttons. The cat-and-mouse action is still as addictive as ever, but the new changes are not that innovative.

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

It faithfully captures tactics and the energetic pace, with speed and strategic use of cover of equal importance to shooting accuracy.

Retro in style and content, nevertheless this feels remarkably fresh.

With cutting-edge graphics, thumping surround sound and good design engineered to scare the willies out of you, F.E.A.R. is quite a dazzling experience.

Retro in style and content, nevertheless this feels remarkably fresh.

Unlike other games of this ilk, there's no movie presentation - you're never fooled into thinking you are taking part in anything other than a videogame.

But while there's little appeal in tackling Phoenix Wright's cases again, this is a unique, lengthy, deep and absolutely gripping game. Highly recommended.

Players really have the feeling of being in the midst of a huge conflict. But the lack of multiplayer options is baffling and the difficulty can quickly lurch between effortless and frustratingly tough.

It would have been good to see the game's accessibility for beginners complemented by combination moves for more skilled players.

It would have been good to see the game's accessibility for beginners complemented by combination moves for more skilled players.

As far as the multiplayer goes, it's nothing much more than Quake 3 with a fresh slap of paint, which is probably the biggest disappointment of all.

The first Serious Sam was tongue-in-cheek but this sequel crosses the line into obnoxiousness.

While conventional, Ty 3 is diverse family fun at a wallet-pleasing price.

The film's style has been perfectly captured but the fighting action is shallow.

Loading times and a clumsy menu system are disappointing, but building your ranking is satisfying.

There are a couple of perplexing flaws in the design, such as the inability to go prone or jump over low walls and fences, but suspend your disbelief and you'll be gripped.

There are a couple of perplexing flaws in the design, such as the inability to go prone or jump over low walls and fences, but suspend your disbelief and you'll be gripped.

There are many improvements, yet fans of the game's ambitious predecessor will miss its free-form nature.

The most flexible and feature-laden Conflict game yet, with a particularly tasty co-op mode.

The 3D view tends to slow the pace of the game as you struggle to find your targets, resulting in play that's not as frantic as it should be. But aside from this frustration, Worms still has a magic touch.

The most flexible and feature-laden Conflict game yet, with a particularly tasty co-op mode.

The 3D view tends to slow the pace of the game as you struggle to find your targets, resulting in play that's not as frantic as it should be. But aside from this frustration, Worms still has a magic touch.

The most flexible and feature-laden Conflict game yet, with a particularly tasty co-op mode.

The presentation disappoints. It seems bafflingly incongruous that fans have to endure the same simple and repetitive animations and sound effects from the handheld versions when playing on the technically superior GameCube.

Just when you become well-entrenched in the world of Eberron, the single-player campaign comes to an abrupt end. The only way to continue the fun is to get online and master the multiplayer side to the game, which is something that might not appeal to every adventurer out there.

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.

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.

Puzzles are wonderfully innovative, utilising the touch-screen and microphone. Solving such tricky conundrums is satisfying but there is little replay appeal.

Total Overdose may be another unashamed clone, but its amusing Mexican underworld storyline and crazy acrobatic moves make it a load of irresistible fun.

Total Overdose may be another unashamed clone, but its amusing Mexican underworld storyline and crazy acrobatic moves make it a load of irresistible fun.

If you can get past the dated graphics and sound in many of the games, you may discover that the gameplay is still as dastardly as ever.

Total Overdose may be another unashamed clone, but its amusing Mexican underworld storyline and crazy acrobatic moves make it a load of irresistible fun.

The difficulty level accommodates younger players, thanks to effortless controls, but new Master Thief challenges will test even experienced bandits.

Combat against dim-witted goons can become repetitive but missions offer diversity.

It's about halfway through Fahrenheit that the wheels start to wobble. The game begins to veer away from its complex murder-mystery beginnings into the realm of pure fantasy, with a final chapter that can be hard to stomach.

It's about halfway through Fahrenheit that the wheels start to wobble. The game begins to veer away from its complex murder-mystery beginnings into the realm of pure fantasy, with a final chapter that can be hard to stomach.

It was a difficult task translating the refined Xbox controls to mouse and keyboard, but the system works flawlessly. Combat is basic yet fun, demanding timing.

The way the scale changes seamlessly is incredibly cunning with areas becoming accessible and later off-limits again according to the size of your flotsam-encrusted orb.

Combat is instantly gratifying, reminiscent of the spectacular fight scenes in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Simple controls let players concentrate on timing, with extravagant moves unleashed as countermeasures to clumsy enemy advances.

Navigating the menus and many options can be seriously intimidating for the uninitiated, thanks to some complicated design features.

It's about halfway through Fahrenheit that the wheels start to wobble. The game begins to veer away from its complex murder-mystery beginnings into the realm of pure fantasy, with a final chapter that can be hard to stomach.

Navigating the menus and many options can be seriously intimidating for the uninitiated, thanks to some complicated design features.

Navigating the menus and many options can be seriously intimidating for the uninitiated, thanks to some complicated design features.

Strict time limits seem an unfair way of extending the game's lifespan but replaying levels as quickly as possible is surprisingly enjoyable.

Some levels are ridiculously arduous, such as negotiating tricky leaps in a hurricane.

Surprisingly, there is plenty of freedom for tactical experimentation. An occasionally wayward camera and the inability to save mid-mission can annoy but the reward of new firepower and the chance to improve your mission grades keep you playing.

Most of the game is set on a moving train, ensuring the locations are very limited but your fellow travellers are intriguing.

If you like your games fast, then strap yourself in for a white-knuckle ride, because Burnout Revenge is relentlessly intense.

Ferocious opponents and brutal unblockable attacks ensure the challenge is punishingly difficult, but there is little reward for investing the necessary time to master the fighting system's nuances.

If you like your games fast, then strap yourself in for a white-knuckle ride, because Burnout Revenge is relentlessly intense.

Collecting stars, dashing to the finish line within strict time limits and hunting for tokens are satisfying goals thanks to clever level design.

This is a very random game of poker that wouldn't stand up to any real scrutiny. Thankfully, you can play human opponents online.

This is a very random game of poker that wouldn't stand up to any real scrutiny. Thankfully, you can play human opponents online.

Fans of racing games should look at picking this up, regardless of how many wheels they usually prefer to race on.

Fans of racing games should look at picking this up, regardless of how many wheels they usually prefer to race on.

The mammoth battles are not really suited for such a small format. However, developer Koei has managed to deliver a fun and addictive action game that also requires some tactical nous.

Dull mini-games are also available, with winnings used to buy items to improve skills. Each stadium has wacky hazards but the selection of parks is limited.

The "rubber-band" rivals, where opponents appear to slow down or speed up depending on where you are positioned in the race, ensures clever driving skill is rarely rewarded.

The "rubber-band" rivals, where opponents appear to slow down or speed up depending on where you are positioned in the race, ensures clever driving skill is rarely rewarded.

Causing havoc behind the wheel of a big rig is fun but the novelty quickly wanes and the unsubtle gags often fail to amuse, especially when they are endlessly repeated.

The only thing more fun than watching Hulk cut loose is actually being the one controlling his every outburst. Ultimate Destruction is a rare comic-to-game adaptation that perfectly captures the Marvel comic style.

Along with some colourful new graphics, the alien formations are faster, more elaborate and even include the odd boss monster to test the limits of your reflexes.

While the battles can get exhaustingly repetitive, most players will have monstrous fun.

The only thing more fun than watching Hulk cut loose is actually being the one controlling his every outburst. Ultimate Destruction is a rare comic-to-game adaptation that perfectly captures the Marvel comic style.

A glorified Tamagotchi, but infinitely cuter and more appealing.

A glorified Tamagotchi, but infinitely cuter and more appealing.

A glorified Tamagotchi, but infinitely cuter and more appealing.

The cute Japanese animation belies the tactical intricacy.

Fast-paced, epic and accessible, Microsoft's hack'n'slash sequel will entertain role-playing novices but disappoint veterans looking for more depth and innovation.

The sequel to Australia's favourite game last year will get everyone off the couch. The 12 digital camera games offer more depth, diversity and longevity, with a wide variety of challenging and amusing stages.

The solo campaign lacks the pizazz of other military shooters, but decent multiplayer options prevent it from feeling pilotless.

The solo campaign lacks the pizazz of other military shooters, but decent multiplayer options prevent it from feeling pilotless.

The outrageous characters, puerile gags and crass commentary provide chuckles but the jokes soon become stale. Player reactions after each point also quickly become tiresome.

Armchair generals will find little innovation in this hasty sequel to last year's sadly overlooked World War II strategy game, but Phase Two is another absorbing challenge.

The handling is remarkable, and the fact the tracks are littered with obstacles that bounce and crash realistically makes it all the more fun. Throw in excellent damage modelling and it's plain to see that this game has nailed the core mechanics of an addictive racer perfectly.

The handling is remarkable, and the fact the tracks are littered with obstacles that bounce and crash realistically makes it all the more fun. Throw in excellent damage modelling and it's plain to see that this game has nailed the core mechanics of an addictive racer perfectly.

The handling is remarkable, and the fact the tracks are littered with obstacles that bounce and crash realistically makes it all the more fun. Throw in excellent damage modelling and it's plain to see that this game has nailed the core mechanics of an addictive racer perfectly.

The brilliantly stylised comic-book visuals are extraordinary. However, many will tire of the lengthy loading times and protracted dialogue but the script includes clever pop culture references and political commentary.

Larger levels featuring multiple vehicles are also hugely entertaining, but the best map is a sniper's haven with tight urban streets.

Perfect for a hand-held, Meteos provides an engaging challenge even during brief sessions.

This frustration is compounded by the choppy, stuttering frame rate of the 3D visuals, making the already convoluted controls feel twice as sluggish. Even the menu screens seem slow to respond - a sure sign that the DS is being pushed beyond its capabilities.

The action can get intense, highlighting one of the game's main issues: the unwieldy camera angle that requires constant attention.

The action can get intense, highlighting one of the game's main issues: the unwieldy camera angle that requires constant attention.

The action can get intense, highlighting one of the game's main issues: the unwieldy camera angle that requires constant attention.

Owners of the latest tycoon title can expect a wealth of fresh features from this timely expansion pack.

Playing with dozens of real-life comrades is exhilarating.

No long-term thrills unless you have lots of friends with the same consoles.

The potty humour will not be to everyone's taste but many films are hilariously lampooned.

The freedom to create chaos is terrific but some missions lack variety.

While this rises above its predecessors, its true potential is hampered by restricted game mechanics.

Batman smartly accommodates beginners and never frustrates, but it forgets that much of the pleasure derived from gaming is freedom. Too often you feel you are going through the motions because you can only fight at predetermined positions.

While this rises above its predecessors, its true potential is hampered by restricted game mechanics.

Juiced is instantly approachable but has depth.

Kirby's use of touch-screen technology provides a fresh and engaging game.