The only thing lacking in the game is the gameplay. Sure the Actions mini-events are fun to play, but the fact is, the game is rather slow paced compared to "Burnout3" or "Gran Turismo."

Far more polished and balanced than the original title, Mercury Meltdown is the game that Archer Maclean's Mercury should have been twelve months ago.

The emphasis on driving, the lack of scope in the side-quests, and the subsequent compulsion to complete the main mission, are definite weak spots in the game, the result being that players will all to easily get bogged down in the general repetitiveness of the experience.

It's neither the best management title on the market [nor] can it rival "The Sims 2," however it does throw up an enticing mixture, which can be enetertaining in doses.

The story mode does provide a challenge and will last most around the 15 hour mark, however once that’s past the game has very little to offer largely because of the fundamental online options.

While the combat is a bit of a letdown, the high bar for difficulty is certainly more addictive than it is frustrating, which compensates for the title's shortcomings and fittingly punctuates a solid piece of work.

Your overall sense of immersion with the game is broken occasionally by the tempo of the game, however Battle of the Gods seems to be played at a much faster rate that should please anybody turned off by the occasionally pedestrian pace of its predecessors.

A small section of gamers could well find Crash: Twin Sanity not quite offering enough new ideas to please but the majority will probably find this the perfect mix of all that is best with the platforming/action genre, especially the diversity in graphic sets, which must be applauded, along with the mesmerising sound effects and in game animations that move the game along!

At times it just doesn’t glue together which is a shame, this could have been an all time classic. But still a good little game.

Beatdown: Fists of Vengeance is a really strange game; a mixture of ideas that comes across as extremely hit and miss. The amalgamation of traditional beat-em-up gameplay and one-on-one works really well; but on the other hand the disguise system seems flawed, who wants to buy a beat-em-up when the aim is to avoid confrontations?

Like every Ridge Racer title, RR6 oozes that instant fun playability that attracts gamers of every skill to play a quick race or a marathon session.

In the same vein as last year's "Destroy All Humans" (also from THQ, but developed by Pandemic), Stubbs the Zombie is very much a one trick pony. Though there is a consistent vein of humour running throughout ever aspect of the game from the visuals to the soundtrack, the dialogue, and the gameplay itself, Stubbs does stuff a tad from repetitiveness.

Galaxies is Geometry Wars for the masses, though whether the 'masses' will be happy to part with their cold hard cash for what is essentially a bulked up game released for seven quid two years ago, remains questionable.

When you're battling against the biggest bugs the game has to offer, Lost Planet 2 can be a blast particularly with a few friends. It is however a fundamentally frustrating experience, with control issues and questionable design choices that reduces the overall enjoyment the game has to offer.

It’s not bad at all, but it doesn’t offer anything too different. If you are looking for a boundary pushing title, then this isn’t it.

Far more enjoyable than its predecessor, The Godfather II presents a sufficiently different take on the open world formula to make it worthwhile - just forget the fact its based around Coppola's classic.

EA went with the idea that if they put in the ‘freestyling’ option, everyone would love the game – this may set the game alight, but by no means does it make the game stand out from the crowd – there just isn’t enough quality in the rest of the game.

An original take on the rhythm/action concept and generally well executed on the Wii. Battle of the Bands nonetheless suffers from long-term issues that prevent this from being a must have.

The repetitive and monotonous action just simply doesn’t cut it by today standards, whilst hardcore fans might even find themselves let down by the overall production.

Behind the typically lavish gloss and high presentation, 2006 FIFA World Cup really is only for those that need every version of FIFA that EA can squeeze out. The complete lack of innovation in any shape or form results in a game that fails to captivate your interest beyond a handful of games.

A thoroughly unremarkable shooter, made slightly more memorable by a handful of sections and a strong physics engine.

I prefer a bit of depth and an element of skill to my racing titles, so it’s not for me.

With easy RPG dynamics, Sonic Chronicles is a title that will only really appeal to fans of the fastest hedgehog in the known universe or younger DS gamers.

For the B-Movie enthusiast Destroy All Humans could be a worthy purchase, packed to the brim with an assortment of Sci-Fi references and replicating the style to good effect. As a game however the action just grows a little too thin, a little too quickly; there’s no real substance to the game, which will likely have you switching off far too quickly.

A stylish experience which fans of the movie will appreciate, but there’s just not enough substance let alone difference for the vast majority of action fans to warrant yet another first-person purchase.

There's no denying that Overlord II is an enjoyable expansion on the original idea, which will entertain the fans. Unfortunately, the frustrations seem to mount up as you get further into the game, making it plainly obvious that Triumph has failed to really address key issues that thwarted the original.

WarioWare Touched might not have quite the same ‘awe’ factor that it had when it first debuted on the GBA but it’s fun to play and will while away the hours away from home.

The game doesn’t offer enough depth to fans of the genre, whilst those new like me, would be better off with "Twisted Metal Black."

Despite its refusal to innovate, its blatant copying from the God of War rulebook, and its missed opportunities, Dante's Inferno is nonetheless a solid title. At the very least, it's an engaging prospect for Xbox loyalists who've never played a God of War game. However, with the likes of Darksiders and Bayonetta on the market (as well as God of War III in our sights), Dante's Inferno is the weakest proposition of the bunch.

Very much in the same vein as last year's effort, Legends II manages to make further improvements especially with the introduction of online functionality though it still fails to offer the level of immersion that perhaps shoudl be expected of an RPG title.

The original Blitzkrieg was excellent, Burning Horizon continued the brand building, but Rolling Thunder is somewhat drab.

Expanding upon Neo’s story could have been a compelling opportunity for any Matrix fan out there; unfortunately the haphazard approach to the design and storyline are likely to offend the fans the most, leaving a mildly enjoyable beat-em-up at exactly that.

There's little denying that the game lacks substance, however EA have at least ensured that what is here is representative of what the 360 should offer and thankfully not just an "enhanced port" of the current-gen FIFA 06.

With a host of smart ideas and plenty of depth to the game's multitude of features, it's disappointing that the charge of the main game fails to provide any real engagement and makes all of the good work largely redundant.

Despite offering a significantly compelling single-player story, there's little to keep you coming back once it's been completed.

You could not ask for more but the bottom line will be that this is a slow moving adventure game and will possibly appeal only and primarily to avid ‘adventure’ gamers!

Split/Second is an original concept made irksome by a lack of depth and highly questionable balancing in the gameplay. Nonetheless, we can't help but feel that there's a lot more mileage left in Blackrock's big idea.

With the most bizarre humour you're ever likely to see in a videogame, the same simple premise, the strangely hypnotic tunes and a functional stab at getting the basics right, Me & My Katamari is a thoroughly recommended title for fanatics and newcomers alike.

In fact, it's easy to see general casual gamers get into Lock's Quest, with its accessible learning curve and 'brain training' wall-building strategy.

It may not win too many original gameplay awards but the combination of distinctive visuals and interesting narrative makes Shin Megami Tensei stand out.

A fair attempt at a sea-trading title, which fans will enjoy; however the lack of any innovation could put off those looking for something new.

Though it can be an intense experience, Spartan does have a tendency to become quite repetitive at times. Having said that there is a solid combat system and enough variety that will please action fans.

The most authentic videogame adaptation that we've ever seen... [but t]he Career mode whilst engaging doesn’t sustain your interest for long enough, and like many boxing titles will have all but the most hardened fan switching off long before the belt is won.

Body Harvest ended up being a highly entertaining game and one that I would definitely recommend. Who knows, you might just discover that it is gameplay and not graphics that make a good game after all.

Tiberian Twilight is little more than a mish-mash of ideas from other RTS games, and looses C&C's identity in the process.

This is not the best RPG title to be released this year by a long shot, but for those who wish to get into the world of Middle-Earth, The Third Age will satisfy some of the desire to become immersed in the story to a deeper level than the previous LOTR titles allowed.

There’s no getting away from the fact that this is nothing more then a standard Mario Kart clone, albeit one with lots to do and lots of extras to uncover and one that captures the Looney Tunes license perfectly.

Its repetitive structure and bland storyline creates a somewhat shallow experience, yet at the same time there’s depth to be found in the combo combat system and the many side missions to partake.

Astonishingly accurate when it comes to historic characters, details, and setting, it's a shame that the repetitive, formulaic structure to the game diminishes any impulse that the intriguing storyline provides.

We loved every minute of House of the Dead: Overkill, but that's precisely the problem, it's a game that literally is, over in minutes.

If you're a fan of the movies this alone is largely enough to look past the game's failings, such as the repetitive gameplay and dated design.

Our only concern with the game is that we can see it beginning to grate after only a few weeks; sure the Xbox Live! functions add some replay value, however given the very nature of the title and its pick-up dynamics we can't see ourselves playing this for months to come let alone even till Christmas.

In many ways, it's the best Worms yet. There's a substantial amount of weapons, a gargantuan level of options and plenty of multiplayer fun to be had. However, it is just Worms, a game that's appeared on every format known to man for the last 13 years, and follows extremely quickly after last year's dubious handheld debut. Ultimately the question remains, how much Worms do you need?

Continuing the theme of simplification that was prevalent throughout Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft's attempt to reinvent the Prince of Persia series is considerably disappointing.

A WWII game with nice moments and a good storyline; but as a game it fails on a number of points and its distinct lack of innovation makes it hard to recommend to anyone but fans of the genre.

If you’ve got a new graphics card and want something to show it off, Unreal II: The Awakening is the perfect solution, but don’t go expecting a true next-generation experience; our advise would be to rent it as you’ll likely complete it in no time at all.

There's just enough in Urban Chaos that's different from the standard FPS title to entice players, thanks mainly to the implementation of the riot shield, which is used to great effect throughout the game.

Its repetitive structure and bland storyline creates a somewhat shallow experience, yet at the same time there's depth to be found in the combo combat system and the many side missions to partake.

Admittedly broken down into its individual aspects Crash Tag Team Racing comes up a little short, however the overall game gels the pieces together to create an entertaining experience for young and old alike.

It's not quite as well-rounded as its home console older brothers, there's certainly room for improvement, but it's a solid enough start...bring on Guitar Hero: Decades.

A fun title that perhaps tries a little too hard not to take itself seriously; those who prefer their sports titles to have an inkling of sophistication will quickly find the game on its way back to the shop, however if you're just looking for fun then Amped 3 does the job.

Everything that was in "EoN" is back albeit with a contemporary 1960s setting including the gadgets, yet there’s something distinctly lacking that fails to bring the game close to living.

Using exactly the same format as the original, Crackdown 2 is still an entertaining prospect and manages to provide an experience that is ultimately purely about having fun. The problem stems from the lack of ambition. Either at the bequest of Microsoft or not, Ruffian Games has taken a fairly lazy approach to the sequel, which makes it a little difficult to justify.

The game looks and feels out-dated.

I will continue to praise the open ended mechanics of the game though, as I said before, it’s sweet when you are not bounded simply because “you aren’t suppose to go there”.

Wipeout fans will find something to like about the latest instalment, it’s everything that Wipeout was, however that may in part be a cause of the problem, we’ve seen it all before and done it.

Space Invaders Extreme is perfect for the portable platform, providing pacey gameplay and enough touches to make the experience pretty fresh.

For children the simplified controls, strong characters and locations and the critically acclaimed THPS gameplay make for an ideal title to keep them happy.

The Campaign won't last long, and the multiplayer modes can be played in any first-person shooter; a short-lived title if it's not careful.

Despite the fact that the weapons fail to pack a punch, and the enemy AI is just as weak, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is fun with a level of frantic action that's emphasised by the addition of the hot-swapping functionality.

If you're looking for something fun and enjoyable to play then Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg’won’t disappoint, just don't go hoping for a radically new or innovative experience.

Scratch beneath the glossy visuals and you’ll reveal an uncomplicated affair that’s fun to play but may not appease the fighting purists.

It’s very much like a video game equivalent of the teen-horror genre - whilst it does make you jump in places, it won’t give you nightmares.

Fans of the comic series may appreciate this one, however even fans will become bored.

Nice locations, lots to unlock, nice moves, loads of variety, in fact GOOD solid design, although not overly inventive but enjoyable!

It's more than equal to any of the console "Medal of Honor" titles, although we're desperately hoping that developers will now give it some time to truly shake up the genre a little and bring some new ideas to the table.

If Rugby 06 is anything to go by, then future iterations of the franchise will only continue to get stronger and better, since this is by far the best rugby game to date. The flow of the game is more realistic than ever before, with the introduction of offloads, and quick penalties/line-outs working together to bring the game closer to the modern sport of rugby.

With a new linear focus and emphasis on large-scale boss battles, Shattered Dimensions represents a new direction for a series that has never quite lived up to its potential. However, despite some thrilling set-pieces, a lack of variety prevents this from becoming the definitive Spidey title.

The "Full Monty" in terms of the era it covers and it has all the jets! Although a lot is thrown at the player at the start of the experience, with carefully reading the manual, as well as going through the training mission and taking in all you are told will pay its rewards. This is a game you can't rush!

With only eight chapters Mirror's Edge is a particularly short game and the only thing that extends this is the trial-and-error gameplay. You're constantly left feeling as though Mirror's Edge needed something else to sustain it.

With a new linear focus and emphasis on large-scale boss battles, Shattered Dimensions represents a new direction for a series that has never quite lived up to its potential. However, despite some thrilling set-pieces, a lack of variety prevents this from becoming the definitive Spidey title.

If you played C&C3 and came away from it feeling distinctly unmoved by the experience, then Kane's Wrath certainly isn't for you. This is a game for diehard C&C fans or, alternatively, gamers who didn't get around to playing C&C3 last year and fancy a bit of fevered RTS combat over the weekend.

If you grew up with these games during the 80's then Capcom Classics Collection Remixed is an essential purchase, purely for nostalgic reasons but also to remember just how tough games were back then.

Despite being an impressive enough handheld title, the experience in the Northern Wastelands does become quite repetitive, thanks mostly to samey gameplay and storylines that are difficult to care about.

With touches of originality in its gameplay and a main campaign that presents enough variation to keep things interesting, HAWX is proficient, but it rarely manages to be much more than this.

Just another blip on the RTS radar and is not going to be one of the classics, but its your standard run of the mill nothing fancy RTS.

You cannot kill your fellow US soldiers...why? We’re not saying that it’s a good move to blast your support into oblivion, but it would be a consequence to taking a gung-ho, guns blaring approach.

A slightly suspect tempo and structure of the game leaves it feeling less enthralling then it could have been, whilst repetition sinks in to ensure this is one game best played in short burst; however these are small complaints over what is a thoroughly entertaining adaptation of a hilarious film.

Expanding upon Neo’s story could have been a compelling opportunity for any Matrix fan out there; unfortunately the haphazard approach to the design and storyline are likely to offend the fans the most, leaving a mildly enjoyable beat-em-up at exactly that.

Purely an unadulterated shooter that shouldn’t be thought of as anything more.

It does become too tedious too soon which is a real shame.

There's a sense that in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, i.e accessibility, Ubisoft has appealed to the lowest common denominator. We enjoyed the Splinter Cell series for its complexity, but like Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six before it, such elements have been removed completely.

Without getting too worked up, Turok delivers a solid enough reboot of the dino hunting franchise, even if it will upset some of the brand's more loyal fans.

Let down by a poor physics engine and terrible AI, Freekstyle just doesn’t cut the mustard – sure sometimes it has nice visuals, but this is at speed – I want to be able to sit back and look at the view, but there isn’t one.

Unfortunately, the overall experience is bogged down with too much dialogue despite its novel influences, and an unfulfilled demand for something to actually play.

Although the Agro system underpins the overall co-op gameplay sufficiently, the lack of imagination prevents the game from pushing forwards the co-op experience. Instead there's more satisfaction gained by the subtlety that EA Montreal has brought to the series; something we never imagined ourselves to say about the antics of Rios and Salem.

We were massively disappointed by the comical AI, which definitely has a substantial impact on the game – Serious Sam has shown that run-and-gun games can be fun, but this seriously detracts from the overall experience.