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

Any golfer will be able to pick up and play in seconds, and the sensation of playing real golf is astonishing. Pity the software simulation is so drab.

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

Artfully designed for a young audience, Madagascar will keep kids constantly entertained by serving up a wide variety of fun activities. The amusing movie characters and dialogue also ensure plenty of giggles.

Online competition is sorely missed.

Unfortunately, the line-up is just as likely to annoy retro fans as please them, with many of these 20 games from the late '80s offering little more than curiosity value. Some were poor-quality clones when they were originally released and today are unplayable.

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

With super-satisfying combat and an ever-growing arsenal of weapons, powers and abilities, Rage 2 is one of the best-feeling singleplayer shooters around. Its inconsistent tone, ho-hum story and uninspired open world missions keep if from achieving true greatness, but it never stops being a whole lot of fun in the moment.

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

Interesting co-operative strategies and deep customisation sets this mascot racer apart, but it's not without its share of potholes.

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

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.

Raw and emotional, though let down by some annoying or wonky design issues, Sea of Solitude is a worthwhile and beautiful journey through loneliness and regret.

Lacking any innovation, the best this game offers has already been done.

Here's a game to sort the men from the boys. Just try not to grind your teeth away.

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.

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

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

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

The biggest grumble is that, once you have constructed a basic park, there is often nothing to do except sit back and wait for more money to roll in. Your zookeepers and maintenance staff take care of the park, and there is rarely a calamity that needs your attention.

A fun football simulation for newcomers and the best FIFA of recent years. Even so, competitor "Pro Evolution" still has the virtual World Cup firmly in its grasp.

Adapting one of Hollywood's masterpieces was brave, but it's a pity the game designers lacked the courage of their convictions, choosing to shoehorn Grand Theft Auto into the mafia setting.

The quality is uneven and there are no multiplayer tournament modes, but youngsters and Sega devotees will have great fun, particularly with the music games.

Fun for a few minutes, but destined to be substituted for something superior.

This joyful 21st century reintroduction for the Battletoads might be a bit too beholden to the difficult brawling action of the past, but it's also stylish, creative and funny in ways that so few 2020 games can match.

As beautiful as some moments in Fe are, and as vast and disorienting the forest seems, beneath it all is a very linear and basic game with ordinary platforming and a competent but forgettable story. Worst of all, it just doesn't seem like it has a whole lot to say. It gives all the signals of a game with an emotional story and a powerful message, but in the end it just doesn't communicate one.

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