There is nothing fundamentally wrong with Myst V but then again we’ve seen it all before and the story alone this time just wasn’t enough.

The game does have quite an 'old-school' feel to it that some may not like, but it's a definite foundation for the franchise to develop over time.

Rugby 08 was never going to revolutionise the 15-man code's representation in videogaming, but it wasn't intended to. Instead it throws a sliver of new gameplay to appease fans of the series in the run up to the World Cup.

As the FPS genre marches towards a Call of Dutified heat death, it seems success is based more on the strength of a brand than any semblance of innovative game design. Homefront is only adding to this growing mass of homogeneous goo but at the very least it's a solid game with moderately entertaining mechanics; completely generic but generally agreeable nonetheless.

There's no avoiding the fact that HAZE is a huge disappointment.

Yes, the jets look stunning and at a great distance, so do some of the landscapes. Get closer however, and Ace Combat 6 doesn't hold up to scrutiny, with both its visuals and gameplay coming up short.

As the FPS genre marches towards a Call of Dutified heat death, it seems success is based more on the strength of a brand than any semblance of innovative game design. Homefront is only adding to this growing mass of homogeneous goo but at the very least it's a solid game with moderately entertaining mechanics; completely generic but generally agreeable nonetheless.

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.

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.

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.

Pirates of the Burning Sea has perhaps one of the steepest learning curves in an MMO to date, but with its strong implementation of dynamic economies, sea combat, and swashbuckling, it provides more than enough reward for player perseverance.

The main problem is that it lacks the razzmatazz and everything that makes EA BIG’ games so fun to play, and is certainly a case of seen it all before.

Lone Wolf does build upon the original game's foundations and does start off as a decent Mech game, sadly it quickly degenerates into a standard blaster and becomes forgettable.

Shadowrun isn't the tech demo that it could have been, thanks to the wealth of magic and gadgetry on show, but the restricted gametypes and lack of a Campaign means that it ultimately comes up short.

The attention to detail evident in the presentation will please fans and provide a number of chuckles, however it's doubtful whether that much amusement comes from the actual game.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River lacks polish, refinement, and optimisation. The addition of a discernible narrative structure also fails to impress. Nonetheless, gamers looking for something different in an FPS and fans of military realism might find themselves a very rough diamond here.

Having such a wide collection of super heroes to choose from certainly lifts this above the likes of X-Men Legends, and it's storyline (and the underlying question of a traitor in the ranks) certainly offers something quite engaging.

Warlords Battlecry III is devoid of gimmicks and posturing but offers up good, old fashioned, SOLID, strategy gameplay – which to many is how it should be!

It does trip up on the lack of impact that a connect punch delivers, and the obvious inclusion of health/stamina bars, but for gamers not yet tainted by the phenomenal experience of Round 3 on Xbox 360, this won't be something that they'll worry about.

By any other name, WET is Kill Bill: The Video Game. WET gives everything it has to offer in the first ten minutes. Nevertheless, the score/health system that lies at its core keeps it compelling with a strong dynamic that lends the urgency and pace third-person shooters desperately require.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River lacks polish, refinement, and optimisation. The addition of a discernible narrative structure also fails to impress. Nonetheless, gamers looking for something different in an FPS and fans of military realism might find themselves a very rough diamond here.

Once you look past the clichéd plot, production and associated oddities (where does that parachute go?), there’s a small amount of intense fun to be had with Just Cause. It is a shame that Avalanche didn’t take the absurdity a little further and develop a deliberate sense of humour to the game and Rico Rodriguez, other then the strong suspension of disbelief you will need to get going with the game.

A strong, if slightly unremarkable, addition to the Star Fox series, Star Fox Command capably takes the shooter onto the DS, with a handful of good ideas, adequate use of the DS capabilities and a strong sense of design.

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.

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.

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.

A highly original, yet niche, offering from Eidos, let's hope that their Hungarian studio is given a chance to develop a truly next-generation sequel in the future. Certainly a pace of gaming that we're not used to on Xbox 360 to date.

Personally we're not too keen on the change to bigger maps, it's made the experience feel more like ever other tactical/shooter available.

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 most RTS titles, the biggest fault with Panzers is that the gameplay is rather samey. True, the progressing storyline adds some interest to the game, but because missions are usually ‘capture this bridge’ or ‘secure this town’, the missions can blend into one another.

There’s a huge amount of content featured within the game with a wide variety of famous courses and licensed pros to compete against.

Unfortunately there is one major stumbling block; the game is too short and the average gamer will have it licked in no time at all.

It's a thoroughly decent representation of the sport with a good range of modes and some fairly neat ideas, particularly in the career. That said, it's dangerously close to being the same package that last year's game was and, until the free 2011 season update arrives as DLC, it's hard to find a reason why gamers should pick this one up over a discounted copy of MotoGP 09/10.

An enjoyable experience, especially over short periods of play. Flawed when it comes to the 'basic' game of football, it nonetheless give players a mix of gamemodes offline, before taking the football experience online via the Ad Hoc and Infrastructure modes.

The look of C&C: Generals is uninspiring, tired and lacking spirit, miles behind the charismatic approach employed by Blizzard with "Warcraft III."

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.

There's no denying the appeal of Bad Company 2's multiplayer. DICE is still expertly nailing down what it pioneered all the way back in 2002, and the experience remains far from stale. However, poor design in the single-player makes for a campaign that's not only lacklustre throughout, but cripplingly buggy at times as well.

It's a thoroughly decent representation of the sport with a good range of modes and some fairly neat ideas, particularly in the career. That said, it's dangerously close to being the same package that last year's game was and, until the free 2011 season update arrives as DLC, it's hard to find a reason why gamers should pick this one up over a discounted copy of MotoGP 09/10.

There are some fantastic moments and some really great ideas that action fans will love, however the flaws and the insistence on trial-and-error approach will infuriate everyone who plays it.

X-Men fans are likely to gain some enjoyment playing through the story mode and unlocking the vast range of unlockable content, but for fighting fans Next Dimension simply isn’t good enough.

Because of its predecessor's innovation and creativity, you can't help but feel that The Rub Rabbits is more of the same and lacks that essential factor on this reason alone. Stylish, fun and endearing, The Rub Rabbits should however be in your collection if you consider yourself a serious DS owner.

Although it’s an arcade title, the floaty physics and complete lack of any weight to your car, results in one of the most unsatisfying racers I’ve played.

Fans of the original may find the changes made have 'dumbed' down the game whilst casual gamers will find it still too complex for an engaging experience.

As expected Doctor Kawishima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain is a wildly different type of "game" to those that typically adorn TVG pages. What you should know is that Brain Training is far more entertaining and addictive then we initially thought.

Whilst the developers may boast about the improvements, there’s no getting away from the fact that this feels like an expansion pack.

A game of several frustrating elements and simplistic gameplay that somehow manages to immerse and entertain. The condensed retelling of the trilogy is genuinely amusing (unless you've never seen a Star Wars movie before), whist the many, many secrets and unlockables provide a compelling hook to the largely simplistic romp.

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

Although PDC 2008 will undoubtedly have darts fans jockeying to the oche, the fun will probably be relatively short-lived for everybody else. With no Mii options and limited Party modes, it's also hard to imagine PDC World Championship Darts 2008 appealing to the Wii Sports crowd. Nevertheless, at least it finally makes a darts videogame seem ever so slightly less pointless.

The various parts come together to create an entertaining experience, although not quite well enough to create an entirely engrossing one.

The family friendly visuals and aesthetic feel of Chocobo's Dungeon successfully manage to mask what is otherwise an in-depth accomplished RPG that requires strategy, tactics and persistence.

The game does offer much more than the previous game did however there is nothing especially new, which we would expect.

If this is your type of game then Rainbow Six 3 won't disappoint, but if like us you're beginning to grow a little tired of these games then best to look elsewhere.

If you’re into MMORPG’s, it’s likely that the flaws combined with issues such as server lag and uninspired level/quest designs will leave you cancelling the subscription after a few months; while those bored of The Matrix and have no interest in this genre, would be well advised to leave this one of the shelf.

As a compilation of all things SEGA and great we love SEGA Superstars Tennis, so it's quite a disappointment when the actual gameplay stumbles like Sonic on a banana skin.

The type of game that could only have come from an independent studio, Defcon presents a distinctive experience that captures the concept flawlessly. The lack of substance however sits at odds with the idea of a boxed release, and there is some questions as to whether there's enough long-term appeal to justify even the budget-price - one if it piques your curiosity.

After playing for too many hours you are left feeling as if Square want you to purely sit down and watch the game rather than play the game.

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.

Fails to transfix gamers as it should. The two flaws in the gameplay (camera and recurring streaming issues) really affect the level of enjoyment and betray the Prince of Persia franchise.

The sad reality is that just over a year on, F.E.A.R. is desperately showing its age. Hard-edged shadows, bland textures, and some gloopy-looking water effects make the First Encounter Assault Recon experience look quite tired, especially in light of the Goliath that is "Gears of War."

Dungeon Siege II will certainly please fans of the original game, although the simplistic combat system does mean that criticisms about a repetitive experience are bound to fill forums in the forthcoming weeks and months.

Since BGS took over the Champ Man series they have improved their game from a sure-fire relegation favourite, to a middle of the table side which is knocking on the door of European football. If these improvements continue, next year's game will be sure to bring home some silverware.

The sheer simplicity of the game is likely to affect the duration of the game, but while it lasts LEGO Star Wars is enjoyable and has an understanding of the Star Wars brand above many others.

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.

It’s just a shame that the game is too easy, a little more time perfecting the enemy AI and level design would have seen this scored much highly, but in the end this is a good game for action fans and those wanting their next Bond fix.

Its emphasis on fun football gameplay with a heavy dose of Mario power-ups including Koopa Shells, Stars, Mushrooms, and BobOmbs ensure that the title (and the player) never takes itself too seriously. It has instant playability.

Tony Hawk's purists may be put off by more of an arcade style and the wacky racing dynamic to Downhill Jam, but the game still has its strengths and provides a simplistic thrill for skating fans.

A game that fighter pilot wannabes will love, although it’s not quite as enthralling as perhaps it should be.

Halo Wars is a solid enough Real-Time Strategy experience from Ensemble, with a campaign that's just about challenging enough on the harder difficulties, and multiplayer features that has everything you'd would expect from any example of the genre.

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.

Undoubtedly the most enjoyable game to be based around Wolverine (but that's probably not saying much), X-Men Origins: Wolverine offers fast-paced, brutal, brainless action by the bucketload.

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.

An enjoyable mix of puzzles and platforms, Arthur & The Invisibles is better than perhaps expected, thanks to that level of variety. Certainly one for fans of the animated movie to go through as they wait for Arthur to arrive on DVD in a few months time.

At its heart it's the PC version, which didn't exactly set the world alight either, so coupled with its glaring shortfalls, Quake IV just doesn't cut it like it should.

For fans of the series Nival has achieved the ultimate courtesy in that HOMMV retains that same spirit of its 3DO predecessors, but with a visual upgrade, and should put this revamped franchise in good stead for future instalments.

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.

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.

Colin McRae Rally 2005 Plus is a great port of the home console version and if you're a fan of the series and a PSP owner then get it - just be aware that you'll have played it all before.

Unlike the control system (on Wii at least), the camera is far from responsive and ultimately becomes one of the letdowns of the game, nullifying all of the solid work EA UK has managed to do with the gesture-controlled spells.

Fun and addictive in short bursts with enough depth to sustain your interest to longer sessions.

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.

The focus on creating a "game" out of the franchise is commendable and makes for a worthwhile purchase if you're a GBA owner looking for something to keep you busy on the bus.

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 fun and entertaining game especially if you're a strategy fan; however on or two quirks, a lack of passion and an generally clunky feel deter from the overall experience.

It's frustrating to find the overall Donkey Konga experience restrained by some basic flaws in the design of the game; the fact that a group of you can't really enjoy it unless you've got multiple bongos is just crazy.

Some gamers will complete the campaign mode fairly quickly, but thankfully the addition of the Infrastructure modes and the voice chat lift the game to a strong comparative position to its PS2 cousins.

A game of little steps as opposed to giant strides; it's a game that ultimately fails to push open-world, free-roaming games onto the next-generation, but is, nonetheless entertaining and worthwhile.

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.

Take a little bit of Burnout, add a sprinkling of Twisted Metal and a lot of bad attitude; the result is Ubi’s latest, explosive release that maintains the French publisher’s commitment to quality.

It's the same Traveller's Tales Lego experience once again. Apart from the fact that Batman is now the subject matter, very little is new here and the gameplay is far from fresh.

If you're looking for arcade hockey or you're into simulation games, FaceOff 2001 delivers both packages fairly well with all sorts of customizable options to tweak the game to your liking.

If you’re not the biggest adventure fan in the world (like myself) then the various puzzles will often have you slamming the DS shut in frustration, but for some strange and unapparent reason I kept coming back for more.

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.

It's hard to imagine why gamers would opt for PES over FIFA this year unless they are such stubborn fans of the series that they'll never let go. FIFA betters Konami's offerings more or less across the board this time around, while PES' continued lack of substantial gameplay innovations (even without any comparisons to FIFA) is becoming quite worrying to say the least.

Very much a by-numbers title that regurgitates most of the gameplay (and indeed, Pokemon) from previous instalments in the long-running franchise.

For those who like this type of game and would like to see a change from falling blocks this game will entertain you for many hours.

Although it has everything you'd want from an intense, action-fuelled open-world title, the overall feeling with Prototype is that it tries a little too hard.

The detailed and distinctive visuals are a highlight on the system; the instant entertainment provides quick blast satisfaction; the control system takes full advantage of the DS capabilities.

Although the storyline and the graphics are still up there, the fact that the control system seems to be insistent on gamers using a keyboard/mouse combo does actually ruin the responsive feel that a console/PC controller gives you.