Players have no real interaction with the despicable duties beyond sending out waves of underlings who can be attacked without warning. Progress requires patience, juggling priorities and micromanagement. Fortunately, the flaws are softened by many clever ideas; it feels good to be bad.

The puzzles are clever and the variety is terrific, but it can be too tough and frustrating, particularly for the young audience the game would otherwise appeal to.

The puzzles are clever and the variety is terrific, but it can be too tough and frustrating, particularly for the young audience the game would otherwise appeal to.

That rock is the rocking arcade rally game "Rallisport Challenge 2," which offers better visuals, a more tangible driving sensation and arguably the best online support ever seen in a racing game. That hard place is "Richard Burns Rally," which has established itself as easily the most realistic (not to mention difficult) rally game. In the wake of these two triple-A titles, Colin McRae 2005 comes off feeling a little too tired to remain the pinnacle of rally gaming.

The 24/7 create-a-player mode is hugely addictive, letting you train your character and complete increasingly tough challenges. ESPN's weaknesses are a limited defensive game and shallow franchise mode.

Children should have a whale of a time with this approachable and enjoyable adventure, which offers a tasty smorgasbord of game styles served in bite-sized chunks.

Children should have a whale of a time with this approachable and enjoyable adventure, which offers a tasty smorgasbord of game styles served in bite-sized chunks.

The beginner's level is a breeze, but Konga later becomes deliciously challenging, with hilarity-inducing flustered panic as you start to fall behind and surprising levels of concentration required to clap instead of drum. Hysteria soon prevails.

Children should have a whale of a time with this approachable and enjoyable adventure, which offers a tasty smorgasbord of game styles served in bite-sized chunks.

Every couple of years a game is released that is so well crafted, so perfectly made, that it sets a benchmark for gaming quality. Rome: Total War is one of those games. We couldn't find a fault.

With friends, the sense of camaraderie and teamwork is fantastic. Working together luring monsters into traps is hugely satisfying.

Our hero is usually equipped with a sniper rifle, complete with a brilliant targeting scope.

The action can get a little clumsy due to that bane of third-person games, an uncooperative camera. Despite this the gripping storyline should keep players battling all the way to the finale.

Single-player is fun, but the game truly shines with four people in the mix. It's a little easier, but there's still about 20 hours of co-operative campaigning to be had.

Our hero is usually equipped with a sniper rifle, complete with a brilliant targeting scope.

Single-player is fun, but the game truly shines with four people in the mix. It's a little easier, but there's still about 20 hours of co-operative campaigning to be had.

Our hero is usually equipped with a sniper rifle, complete with a brilliant targeting scope.

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 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.

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.