However, it’s most definitely a great step for the genre in terms of storytelling that will hopefully be properly mimicked and expanded by another developer or in a sequel.

There was never a moment when I was playing this game where I was annoyed or frustrated, even as I crashed back to the desktop. I just wanted more and more.

Even "Kingdom Hearts," arguably aimed at an even younger audience than this, offered more meat.

It's a little too comparable to other survival horror titles at times and although it's not exactly pushing the boundaries of the genre, it is still a worthwhile entry.

Though some of its concepts were probably lost or underappreciated by this reviewer, the game is sure to please fans of the growing card game genre, and pretty much anyone can fall in love with the story.

The major characters are all here and in full action, giving a decent variety of fighters to choose from. However, the bland, uninspired combat system leaves something to be wished, no matter how many Rave and Shadow Stones materialize onscreen.

A detailed, consistent, artful slice of action adventure, bursting at the seams with the quality of the combat and visuals, optimised admirably by a developer who has learned the PS2 through and through – you wouldn’t want to miss out on that, would you?

With such a memorable plot and some passable, yet unspectacular, gameplay, it’s a shame that the bugs are holding it down.

The gameplay has been honed to near-perfection, showing that a tactical approach doesn't necessarily lead to more complexity.

For all its annoying faults, inconsistencies and peculiar glitches, the game manages to provide a solid ten hours of thrilling, kick-em-where-it-counts, shoot-em-up action.

This latest installment of the series not only strengthens the franchise as a whole, but also offers so much to both longtime fans and fighting game fanatics alike.

Although Ys: The Ark of Napishtim isn’t the prettiest or most epic RPG around, it delivers with its fast-paced action and lack of a convoluted storyline.

Until K2 pull their finger out and bring the game engine into the 21st Century, Tenchu will be remembered as a Playstation classic with a load of all too similar sequels.

While certainly not perfect – the game is short and could have benefited greatly from LAN or online multiplayer support – there really isn't a more versatile arcade-style shooter for the GameCube system.

We’re just left with one more game that relies on frustrating elements to make a short game seem longer, and one more game that settles at just average.

The interesting decisions and the gripping characters still manage to hook their addictive claws into the player and almost make it easy forget about the game’s many shortcomings. In this case, “almost” is good enough.

Visually dated, but they are arguably two of the deepest 2D fighters that SNK has ever released.

Despite the bugs and flaws here and there, the idea behind making a magazine empire is quite compelling, and it’s actually pulled off well. Just be sure to proceed with caution.

It gives you immediate fun; the 6-minute challenge is perfect for when you are waiting for someone. The return of old school scoreboard gives it replay value. It's just pure and simple, unadulterated fun.

Gameplay usually isn’t the most important feature in an RPG, but in Suikoden IV it just drags an otherwise "great" RPG into the realm of "slightly above average."

I hate survival horror games. I've found them to be tedious and unnerving. However, there's something about Resident Evil 4 that draws me back again and again. Maybe it's the action-packed gameplay, the execution of the story, or even the wonderfully vivid presentation. Whatever it is, this game is something special.

Like many games, Sentinel’s gameplay isn’t its strongest point, but that isn’t a putdown. Instead, the stunning graphics and excellent storyline take the spotlight.

With all the lackluster console-to-PC ports in existence, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay absolutely towers over the competition. The fascinating commentary mode and bonus level improve what was already a stellar game.

If only more time were spent developing a more stimulating AI, or adding a better selection of mini games, then things may have turned out differently. But for what Ping Pals offers, you can’t escape the feeling you’ve been cheated out of your money.

One mighty fine addition to the series, as well as a quality platforming/action title in its own right.

Ridiculously absorbing and criminally addictive.

It is still a great game, with a well-developed and interesting plot, a great balance of action, exploration and character development and a great representation of the Star Wars universe, but I feel it's incessant similarities to the first game don't do it any favours and technically it could be a lot tighter.

I think Battle out of Hell is a fresh coat of paint for an old car that has a lot of unattended problems under the hood.

A surprisingly engaging golf game that’s great value for money and is perfect to appease those post-pub blues.

There's really only one word to describe Sid Meier's Pirates! and that's 'charming'. The excellent presentation, clever gameplay design and exquisite pacing mark it out as a unique and well thought out game. It's full of confidence and style, eager to impress and even if it won't keep you playing for months on end, is bound to provide an enjoyable experience while it lasts.

And that's the problem with Atari Anthology - it just gets boring really quickly, which is no surprise considering how old the games are.

AH doesn't quite live fit comfortably into the 'great shooter' garb I've seen it masquerade about in on the net--those clothes fit noticeably loose. Still, it's fun with a friend, a decent way to spend a few frantic hours, and one can't help but appreciate what was attempted here.

It’s an amazing game, easily one of the finest in the Metal Gear family. Even if this weren’t a MGS game, it would still be one of the greatest currently out on any of the consoles.

Though the game lacks the kind of epic presentation that Ikaruga fans enjoy, the levels are still something worth looking at while you’re dodging unfriendly fire.

As excellent as the storyline is, you could completely ignore it and still have an amazing experience.

Sure, the game places plenty of emphasis on the DS’s touch screen gimmick, but at least it executes it well. If you’re looking for a fun and lighthearted game to keep you busy, look no further than this game.

The game’s combat system needs an overhaul, the levels lack inspiration, and the presentation will make your eyes water. When compared with its contemporaries, this game lacks the shine and polish that gamers are expecting when they try out their DS for the first time. This is shameful way to start the new batch of DS games.

An awesome game. It takes everything fans loved about the previous installment, and amplified it ten fold to create another vivid adventure for one of Nintendo's most celebrated characters.

Halo 2's Campaign mode is a luminous experience and testament of Bungie's rare talent for mixing gorgeous cinematics with captivating and fun gameplay segments, but it also serves as the concrete foundation for the game's multiplayer, making simple deathmatches, team skirmishes and CTF games that much more engaging.

The only thing missing from it is a larger player base and it’s going to take a lot of work to get diehard World of Warcraft players to give this a shot.

Pacific Assault will turn heads because of its fancy graphics and original settings, but inevitably it’ll frustrate you beyond belief for a few game ruining missions.

There is a slightness about Scrapland that actually appeals in this day and age.

You PS2 owning FPS junkies are no doubt going to love this beast, and the rest of you will have some fun with this game too, just don’t be disappointed when you realize that Killzone's not the ground-breaking experience I think we were all expecting.

There’s isn’t much realism, most of the graphics and attention to detail are poor and you won’t be feeling the wind rush through your hair anytime soon, but for sheer multiplayer fun you could do a lot worse than give this a go.

Technic Beat also provides some of the best two-player action around.

It has all the right characters, tons of style and amazing imagery, and a fast-paced fighting engine unlike anything ever seen in a 2D fighter. However, the uninspired arcade and customization modes leave little to be liked, with only a decent beat’em up minigame to salvage them.

If you love old school gaming, and old school Sonic in particular, the game is a decent deal, and as such, an attractive prospect to the Sonic collector.

Disney and Pixar have a cash cow phenomenon on their hands that is well deserved. This is what makes the game’s mediocrity all the more infuriating. Aside from the authentic look of the title, and perhaps also the jazzy and bombastic tunes, The Incredibles disappoints on every other level.

The GBA can't make a game that looks anything like the sensational film, and clearly using a Double Dragon engine from the 8-bit era, and giving us lots and lots of uninspired action against swarms of clones in recycled backgrounds isn't the solution to the hardware's glass ceiling. This effort isn't worthy of the license.

It has such an enormous amount to offer (did I even mention the two player option?) and carries everything off with such confidence and style that it's hard to fault.

This game is all about customization. You get everything you need to create a park right out of the box, but you can design your own scenarios, park guests, fireworks shows, and buildings. Incredibly, none of this is particularly challenging to figure out as long as you put five to ten minutes into tinkering, with the only exception being the fireworks creator.

At least know this: I didn't enjoy my crime spree nearly as much as I should have.

Exactly how a console flight combat game should be. Dogfights are intense and hugely satisfying, the handling is spot on, the graphics are detailed and it all runs very smoothly. The story is surprisingly well crafted.

Dave Attell, the famed comedian and host of Comedy Central's "Insomniac" show provides the color-commentary, and while it does eventually get repetitive, it's pretty funny. He fits the game nicely.

The transition between the Gun del Sol and the multiple weapons is decent, implementing a slew of new features necessary to see you through the game unscathed.

But if there is something to be salvaged in the personality department, amidst the corpses of loveable gesticulations from the old guard and anything at all outstanding from the new - it's kitsch.

It doesn't know whether it's a hack and slash game or a tactical masterclass, and although it attempts to combine these, it doesn't do so convincingly.

It looks great and the core gameplay mechanic is solid, but you just can't help thinking we've seen most of this before. It's certainly easier to play than "The Sims" and it features better A.I., but it doesn't feature as much depth as EA's title.

The game is £20 and does have an online mode, but why bother? There are better FPS's out there, better robot transforming games out there (like Robotech: Battlecry for instance) and better games with bikes in.

There's clearly been a lot of effort put into the presentation, authenticity and lifespan of the game, but it falls down in its appeal to newcomers to the genre. A tutorial may be present, but the steep learning curve and tough difficulty level will put many off.

Behind the poor soundtrack, outdated visuals and general lack of presentation is a beat-em-up with rock-solid gameplay mechanics and ample multiplayer appeal.

If you've already got the 04 version, then all you're really paying £40 for is the online mode, and whether that's worth it is debatable. If you're new to the series, then by all means spend the money on what is a superb rally game.

As far as sequels go, Shadow Hearts: Covenant gets everything right by improving upon nearly everything. As far as RPGs go, the quality of the game is obvious.

It has so much depth and aptitude that you'll find yourself drawn in for hours, which will quickly turn into days, months and, dare I say, years. There's been so much effort put into every single aspect of the game that it's hard not to admire the hard work of the developers behind it.

While other games coming out might be flashier and bigger and badder and all that crap, what it really comes down to is good strategy and in that aspect Kohan II really nails it.

The noise of Earth can be scary. Hectic and pulsing. Enough to make even the bravest of Princes turn to syrup.

It’s got a wonderfully dark an original story, which is complemented with dynamic (if not slightly cliched) characters. The gameplay is straightforward and to the point; fans of action games will have their hands full with small armies of ghouls and 48 bosses to defeat. On the other hand, the combat is incredibly shallow and the game has little difficulty to speak of.

This isn't anything new for players to experience. It's the same old formula in a new package, with a new name and new ways to animate the whole process.

Plays much faster with no noticeable slowdown.

Throw in cool rapport between Kim and friends Wade and Ron, fairly good tunes, and a turn playing as a naked mole rat (ooh, provocative!), and you've got a winner.

Naturally, mediocre graphics can be overlooked if the gameplay is there, but some considerable problems hinder this aspect of the game as well.

A flawed effort which will seem amazing to hardcore fans. Everyone else will be genuinely thrilled with the larger-than-life fantasy scope at times, suffocating unhappily under the monstrous enemy forces at other times, before it's all over, in no time.

It re-establishes the game's hold on the WWII shooter sub-genre and although it may not be worth a purchase for the singleplayer alone, the multiplayer makes it a worthy addition to any collection.

Fable doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does offer an enjoyable and focused modern gaming experience which is both streamlined and accessible to all. It may not be the best RPG ever, but it's certainly one of the best.

A 2D fighting game fan's dream come true. It's got all the flash and pizzazz of "Marvel vs. Capcom," the finely tuned balance of "Street Fighter," numerous unprecedented gameplay enhancements that push what we expect from the genre and some of the best hand-drawn graphics to ever grace a videogame.

The sea battles are awkward, the prices jump far too quickly during trading and the learning curve is too steep to begin with.

I had tremendous fun with Arena Wars; its fast paced action and tactical warfare proving to be a godsend after endless struggles and yawns on various RPGs.

Conflict: Vietnam earns another medal for a split-screen co-operative mode for up to four players. When your friends are controlling each person in your squad the game becomes much, much more enjoyable.

But I think it's safe to say that when a game is both a retread and short, there's definitely something wrong with it. Silent Hill 4 is such a game.

This game takes the tried and true racing game formula and refreshes it with a system that rewards you for bad driving and poor sportsmanship. You can drive into oncoming traffic, cause accidents on purpose, and mess with anything that tries to get in your way.

The one thing that would have made this game a true gem would have been some online play, but the multiplayer is so entertaining that it’s easy to overlook.

This game was built to appeal to both the veterans of the series and the new folks just itching to give Pokemon a try. It's a fair bet that the fans will get this game without much hesitation.

This game was built to appeal to both the veterans of the series and the new folks just itching to give Pokemon a try. It's a fair bet that the fans will get this game without much hesitation.

Great visuals and exciting gameplay warrant an eye out for a reduced price, but annoying AI and linear levels keep this title from the borderline of must-have-ness. A difficult one to rate, this; not superb, not average. Just in-between. And a credit to movie tie-ins.

With tons of new levels, characters, and treasures, this game will have you coming back for more, even after you've paid off that debt. They've taken everything that we've held dear about the original, and expanded it throughout, making a more complete game and creating something that is a pleasure to play.

The thought of turning epic Gundam combat into a fighting game is quite awesome, but Battle Assault falls far short of its potential. The story and characters are almost non-existent, giving you a game with little personality.

It’s the atmosphere created by the outstanding people at id that makes Doom 3 standout from the crowd. The lights flicker on and off, enemies hide in the dark and wait for you, and you truly feel alone most of the time you’re playing the game, which is surprising considering there are other characters that you work with.

Its large cast of likable characters and engaging, swashbuckling story go a long way in redeeming the game as a whole despite its several niggling problems.

There's no attempt here to take a risk and try something new, which may have turned the whole series around...If they couldn't be bothered to make the effort and create a decent game from the plastic soldier concept, why should we be bothered to play it?

If only the game had more challenging foes and made better use of the randomly generated levels, things may have turned out differently. But hey, at least you’ll have plenty of eye candy to ogle. That’s got to count for something.

Whilst I prefer the simplicity of EA Big's title, ESPN has got me hooked on the professional side of football, if not only to fill up my virtual house full of football clobber.

KumaWar doesn’t succeed at being a great game, but the fact that the levels are based on such recent events is a compelling reason to at least try out the game.

Definitely a notable improvement over last year's offering and the new Home Field Advantage feature is marvelous, but the recycled visuals and mere handful of other additions may deter those who already own 2004 from purchasing the game.

Definitely a notable improvement over last year's offering and the new Home Field Advantage feature is marvelous, but the recycled visuals and mere handful of other additions may deter those who already own 2004 from purchasing the game.

Definitely a notable improvement over last year's offering and the new Home Field Advantage feature is marvelous, but the recycled visuals and mere handful of other additions may deter those who already own 2004 from purchasing the game.

There's only on thing that irks me though. All of these characters have distinct voices and wonderfully rich attitudes. The voice acting is superbly done with so much clarity and excellence. But despite all of the quality, the characters' cel-shaded lips don't move.

The maddening difficulty level of this game destroys it. If you’re truly patient, then maybe, just maybe you might be able to get something out of it.., but if you’re like me who plays games to be entertained, I think you’re going to find yourself wanting to return this one.

It's far too long and tedious, allowing us to save along the way, when its old school appeal would have been better served by fewer levels, no saves and less repetition.