Battles are spectacular, thanks to the detailed animation of units, and provide instant feedback on your progress.

The various combatants are well-balanced and there is a huge variety of vehicles and aircraft to pilot, including X-wings, TIE fighters, speeder bikes and hulking AT-STs.

The fact that it's got the deepest story ever seen in a fighter simply adds to the realistic feel of the brutal combat within.

Best of all, the ball physics and controls are excellent.

A masterpiece. As you guide your endearing digital denizens to health, happiness, fame and fortune, you may become so addicted that your own life suffers.

Your trooper is a dexterous bloke, able to lean around corners, crouch behind cover and even lay down to steady his aim. However, the prone position is next to useless because you have to hold down the prone button.

It would have been nice if the developer's willingness to include controversial subject matter had extended to exciting gameplay.

The dazzling presentation mimics Saturday morning cartoons and the charming cast bursts with personality. There is a wide repertoire of moves, many fun gadgets, and the controls are effortless.

For fans of CoD online, the enhanced multiplayer experience alone is worth the admission price. We'd go so far as to say it's shaping up to be one of the year's best multiplayer games.

Even just interacting with villagers is enjoyable, particularly when they bow down in fear, applaud your courage, or swoon at your handsome looks.

The artificial intelligence controlling both your teammates and the enemy isn't anything special; they usually just remain firing in one position until you manage to take them out, leading to repetitive fire fights.

Squeezing the Desert Storm games into the currently fashionable Vietnam setting was a mistake. Open landscapes are replaced by claustrophobic jungle, eliminating tactical freedom. Players edge along narrow paths, progressing from one firefight to the next.

Squeezing the Desert Storm games into the currently fashionable Vietnam setting was a mistake. Open landscapes are replaced by claustrophobic jungle, eliminating tactical freedom. Players edge along narrow paths, progressing from one firefight to the next.

One of the most disturbing games of the year. In a good way.

The focus on opponent "takedowns" was a smart, natural evolution for the series. The gorgeous environments and detailed cars whiz past at amazing velocity, and the fender-bending carnage is spectacular.

A complete makeover is overdue, but Pokemon remains as engrossing as ever.

A complete makeover is overdue, but Pokemon remains as engrossing as ever.

One of the most disturbing games of the year. In a good way.

Every lap is terrifying...Polished to perfection, Burnout 3 is faster and more thrilling than any previous racer.

The levels are so big and detailed that it's a wonder they don't bring your console to a crashing halt.

The levels are so big and detailed that it's a wonder they don't bring your console to a crashing halt.

The levels are so big and detailed that it's a wonder they don't bring your console to a crashing halt.

Outsmarting enemies is not difficult when they are so myopic and stupid. Often just shooting adversaries, then hiding until the hullabaloo ends, is as successful a strategy as implementing a complex and cunning plan.

Tactical combat on a grand scale, but of questionable value to owners of its predecessors.

The game's biggest weakness is the lack of multi-player options.

Although there is no online play, deep and lengthy modes such as Season, Franchise and Dream Team will keep you busy.

The game's biggest weakness is the lack of multi-player options. There is no split-screen dogfighting or the Xbox Live online battles that made its competitor "Crimson Skies" so compelling.

Captain Olimar is now joined by larrikin Louie - a clever addition that allows efficient multi-tasking, more complex puzzles and absorbing two-player action.

Controlling the wild camera often proves the trickiest exercise of all and there is little freedom to explore.

The best realistic shooter on the Xbox, at an outstanding price.

So tense that it doesn't fit the typical definition of fun: it's actually a very stressful experience. But the gameplay is so compelling you will be forced to keep scaring yourself senseless until you make it to the final scene.

Apart from the obvious flaw of a kids' game with enough violence to command an M15+ rating, this is an inexcusably formulaic and tedious shoot-'em-up.

The sultry character may offer a mesmerising, hip-swaying walk and spectacular feline acrobatics, but the game is frustrating, thanks to imprecise, unintuitive controls and a dreadfully wayward camera over which the players have no control.

Despite the game's terrific combat, Sudeki is sadly let down by a plodding story, clumsy dialogue and forgettable characters.

The sultry character may offer a mesmerising, hip-swaying walk and spectacular feline acrobatics, but the game is frustrating, thanks to imprecise, unintuitive controls and a dreadfully wayward camera over which the players have no control.

The sultry character may offer a mesmerising, hip-swaying walk and spectacular feline acrobatics, but the game is frustrating, thanks to imprecise, unintuitive controls and a dreadfully wayward camera over which the players have no control.

If you'd like to play a game that'll stretch your brain cells while taking you on a fantastic journey, Uru Complete Chronicles won't disappoint.

We all know that war is hell, but this game often forgets that games need to be entertaining. At times the missions are just too frustratingly difficult, with your soldiers facing near-impossible odds.

A great Megaman introduction for beginners. But owners of its forerunners will struggle to find enough new features to warrant upgrading.

A great Megaman introduction for beginners. But owners of its forerunners will struggle to find enough new features to warrant upgrading.

Pool Paradise is one of the best budget games in years. This is an addictive, near-faultless pool simulation, with the various games played in the surrounds of an idyllic tropical beach resort.

Unfortunately, the network code controlling everything is poor. Players and vehicles warp all over the place, making it next to impossible to hit anything.

It may lack the depth of console heavyweights such as Tekken and Virtua Fighter, but the playing options are terrific, with alternate stories and multiple forms of each pugilist to unlock.

This tense, strategic driving simulation is hampered only by the sport itself. All the tracks are oval and essentially the same.

Pool Paradise is one of the best budget games in years. This is an addictive, near-faultless pool simulation, with the various games played in the surrounds of an idyllic tropical beach resort.

Pure, mindless action hindered by a couple of dud rounds.

Our favourite move isn't actually documented in the game's manual but if you do a little net search you'll find a way to force your foes to turn their rifles on themselves.

Our favourite move isn't actually documented in the game's manual but if you do a little net search you'll find a way to force your foes to turn their rifles on themselves.

Many clever obstacles, opponents and switches demand co-ordinated effort.

Some may complain that the game is too short and lacks multi-player features, but grumbling seems churlish. Don't miss it.

But the game demands that players spend too much effort in the drawn-out process of base construction, which gets repetitive.

A hilarious, inexpensive and highly competitive party favour.

What was to be one of PS2's flagship online titles is now an embarrassment for Sony.

But while the adventure is lengthy, the feeble multi-player modes will not sustain interest.

While Samurai Jack is an enjoyable adventure for youngsters, it is also wearingly generic and disappointingly brief.

While Samurai Jack is an enjoyable adventure for youngsters, it is also wearingly generic and disappointingly brief.

But once you realise that you barely need to look at the screen to win a melee, you may wonder why you are bothering to play.

One of the finest games ever crafted, Ico is a unique and memorable experience, and hauntingly beautiful.

Pool Paradise is one of the best budget games in years. This is an addictive, near-faultless pool simulation, with the various games played in the surrounds of an idyllic tropical beach resort.