Unfortunately, the whole experience takes a nosedive when you start to play. Without the excitement of shooting down other planes, or the challenge of a regular flight sim, Pilot Academy would struggle to hold your interest on a flight to Europe.

Roam around Tokyo, find some bad guys, see some load screens, a couple of cut-scenes, some more load screens, press some buttons in fight mode and so on.

As any gamer knows, frustration is part of the joy of gaming, but this level of unresponsiveness is something not even the training mini-games on the title can prepare you for. Put that together with poor level signposting and you have an unengaging experience.

As any gamer knows, frustration is part of the joy of gaming, but this level of unresponsiveness is something not even the training mini-games on the title can prepare you for. Put that together with poor level signposting and you have an unengaging experience.

As any gamer knows, frustration is part of the joy of gaming, but this level of unresponsiveness is something not even the training mini-games on the title can prepare you for. Put that together with poor level signposting and you have an unengaging experience.

This is little more than a random compilation of one long movie trailer, countless tedious game trailers and 20 music tracks.

Although the bikes are fast during the races, they are overwhelmingly underpowered when pulling off at the start of a race. Twist the throttle all you like, but lift-offs provide all the G-force of a gnat.

A clutch of the titles have stood the test of time surprisingly well, but most — particularly the side- or vertical-scrolling shoot-em- ups — are so far past their prime it’s laughable, and many are very similar.

The game becomes more strategic as it progresses, I am assured by fans of the ten-year-old series, but by then it is very hard to care.

Without an auto- targeting feature, this game is so challenging that you’ll be hurling your controller to the floor in no time.

Mind-bogglingly shallow.

The result in single-player mode is a messy, unresponsive mass of button-pushing and frantic joystick-twiddling that evolves from impossible to challenging to repetitive and dull in less than an hour.

The result in single-player mode is a messy, unresponsive mass of button-pushing and frantic joystick-twiddling that evolves from impossible to challenging to repetitive and dull in less than an hour.

The result in single-player mode is a messy, unresponsive mass of button-pushing and frantic joystick-twiddling that evolves from impossible to challenging to repetitive and dull in less than an hour.

The game suffers from sluggish load times, with little Pietro frozen as each fight boots up. In contrast, he moves around his castle home and the surrounding landscape with lightning speed.

Sega seems to be lazily exploiting a franchise that appears way past its sell-by date. Reinvent the character by all means, but give him back his sharp edges.

Sega seems to be lazily exploiting a franchise that appears way past its sell-by date. Reinvent the character by all means, but give him back his sharp edges.

Sega seems to be lazily exploiting a franchise that appears way past its sell-by date. Reinvent the character by all means, but give him back his sharp edges.

It's still not enough to stop my tame ten- year-old tester pronouncing it Project: B.O.R.I.N.G.

It’s still not enough to stop my tame ten- year-old tester pronouncing it Project: B.O.R.I.N.G.

It's still not enough to stop my tame ten- year-old tester pronouncing it Project: B.O.R.I.N.G.

The fact that the graphics are so impressive, and the road maps so brilliantly extensive, only adds to the disappointment of the overall experience.

The fact that the graphics are so impressive, and the road maps so brilliantly extensive, only adds to the disappointment of the overall experience.

A classic case of style over substance, being little more than a glossy advertisement for the film.

A classic case of style over substance, being little more than a glossy advertisement for the film.

Wrestling fans will be disappointed by the vagueness of the controls, while Streetfighter types have far more fast-moving titles to choose from. An interesting failure.

The flaws really hit home: the senseless randomness of matching DNA data and the unchallenging routine of tracking down clues.

The graphics are terrible. They tried way too hard to make the people look as they do in the animated series, but the result is that it all looks pretty flat. Even the first Budokai had more depth. People tell me that I judge the game too much by the graphics. I agree; but this isn’t right. Seriously.

Fine in short blasts for anyone looking for some mindless tension-busting target practice. However, those seeking something that challenges the grey stuff will need to look elsewhere.

Fine in short blasts for anyone looking for some mindless tension-busting target practice. However, those seeking something that challenges the grey stuff will need to look elsewhere.

Fine in short blasts for anyone looking for some mindless tension-busting target practice. However, those seeking something that challenges the grey stuff will need to look elsewhere.

Fans of the series will have plenty to be happy about, but you can’t help feeling you’ve been here and done that in the previous games. That’s the real horror here.

Fans of the series will have plenty to be happy about, but you can’t help feeling you’ve been here and done that in the previous games. That’s the real horror here.

Fans of the series will have plenty to be happy about, but you can't help feeling you've been here and done that in the previous games. That's the real horror here.

The challenging combat does spice up proceedings, but the ubiquitous camera problems associated with these types of game and uninspiring graphics will soon make you want to turn your sword on yourself in true samurai fashion.

The weapons are interesting, the settings dull and the graphics excellent (although Soldner is a real system hog — don’t choose this game if your PC is beginning to creak). But in a market crowded with similar titles do we need another war shooter?

If there’s a chronic cheat in the family, then the automated die-rolling and question-reading features offered by the game may be just what you’re looking for. If not, then dust off the box containing the real game and choose a category.

The trouble is that once you have got the hang of the swordplay, throwing stars and bow and arrow, it all becomes a bit repetitive, while the problem-solving element to the game provides little challenge.

Mafia on the PS2 is a very pale imitation, especially with regard to the graphics, which were resplendent on the PC, and the handling, which I’ve mentioned already. And the load times? Don’t get me started, buster.

The fighting is realistic but dreadfully unimaginative, and there's only so much fun you can have kicking someone endlessly in the shins.

The weapons line-up is too predictable, with just a pistol, sniper rifle and explosives at your disposal, and the automated targeting arrangement means that even when you do take folk down, there is little satisfaction to be had. The graphics are flat, the voice characterisations plodding and the whole experience way too sterile.