A pleasant surprise and proves to be one of the best strategy games on the market, with vast and epic battles complete with an impressive system that goes ten times further than the most.

The big improvement for me is that everything is a lot less linear then before; it really does feel that your actions directly influence Ryo’s progress through the adventure.

For a superbly crafted single player experience you probably won’t find many to touch it, everything combines to create such a cinematic experience that you can’t help but find yourself completely encompassed into it.

In a single-player campaign that goes a bit over-the-top at times, it's a relief to see that the action is scaled-back with Soap and Price often enough to ensure that these characters receive the billing they deserve. Elsewhere in the multiplayer, Infinity Ward was always going to have a hard time replicating the impact of its package from two years ago but it's managed a rock-solid, if slightly conservative offering for this difficult third album in the Modern Warfare series.

Quite honestly the first realistic shooter I've found myself completely enthralled within. It's cross between Medal of Honor/Call of Duty and Full Spectrum Warrior gameplay creates an experience that is fresh and compelling, while the multiplayer mode should make this one of the most popular titles around.

Crash Team Racing looks amazing. The sharp looking environments are clean and fully formed. With the exceptions of a few seam problems in the courses here and there, they are great looking.

A traditional FPS that’s been polished as far as they can go with the design limitations in hand, sure we’d have liked to have seen more freedom for the players actions and a half decent control system would have helped.

Pounding a guy in the head never sounded quite this good.

Too much repetition and the occasional dip into unoriginality does make it a grind in places, but the story did just enough to pull us through.

It looks amazing, its sounds amazing, and it succeeds in providing a wide variety of modes that will please average gamers and thrill Tekken fans.

A perfect example of a modern day AAA title with very little wrong in all areas of game design. So why isn't F.E.A.R. a perfect ten you ask? Simple, it all boils down to the fact that in order to enjoy the game to the fullest, players may have to spend as much as (if not more) on upgrading their PCs as it does to buy the Xbox 360. After all how many gamers have at least a 3-Gig processor, 1-Gig RAM, 256 Meg GPU powered machine?

There are so many subtle touches that only become apparent after many hours of play and the cunningly designed levels match anything Nintendo can offer.

The intuitive covering and tagging system working brilliantly, setting up an immediate sense of immersion greater than any previous instalment in the series.

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.

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.

This is case of refinement; Bizarre has continued to add and streamline their iconic franchise making it the best PGR yet.

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.

Although nothing new, the gameplay is polished and refined and even begin to warm to the charismatic characters.

There are some innovative features and these do really add to the experience and the overall package with a highly playable multi-player mode makes Red Faction a quality PlayStation2 game.

As if you ever doubted it, Call of Duty is still the best military shooter out there and by quite some margin. It seems its competitors can only watch from a distance and take notes as this juggernaut of FPS gaming ploughs a wide path towards the genre's future.

The single player mode is truly amazing and very gripping. The multiplayer side of the game sets a new standard in first person shooters.

I feel that I have been proven wrong once again by this game. It doesn’t have to [be] a true simulation to enjoy the game.

A strange contradiction of achievement and disappointment.

The new heist gameplay and co-operative sequences stand out in particular, and have been implemented with a level of execution that befits Sucker Punch.

Sadly there's very little to sustain your interest beyond the Campaign mode, so if you're looking for something beyond a frantic blast from the past you may want to look elsewhere.

The slick presentation, amazing visuals and authenticity do a great job of sucking you in, however those who’ve sampled the delights of "Pro Evo" will soon been yearning for the realistic and intuitive controls and gameplay of Konami’s match winner.

Being the Bomberman purist that I am, it’s the multiplayer modes that kept me hooked.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam is not DLC in the current-gen sense of the word. Instead, it's more like an expansion pack from the days of early-'Noughties' PC gaming; a whole new tack on the full game experience rather than a set of maps that only serve to intermittently prolong a game's appeal. For these reasons alone, it's worth the asking price.

In a single-player campaign that goes a bit over-the-top at times, it's a relief to see that the action is scaled-back with Soap and Price often enough to ensure that these characters receive the billing they deserve. Elsewhere in the multiplayer, Infinity Ward was always going to have a hard time replicating the impact of its package from two years ago but it's managed a rock-solid, if slightly conservative offering for this difficult third album in the Modern Warfare series.

If you're a social gamer that enjoys playing games against friends then chances are you'll enjoy the improvements made on the pitch. However if you're the type of gamer that prefers to experiment with the single-player modes you'll likely end up feeling a little underwhelmed.

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.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam is not DLC in the current-gen sense of the word. Instead, it's more like an expansion pack from the days of early-'Noughties' PC gaming; a whole new tack on the full game experience rather than a set of maps that only serve to intermittently prolong a game's appeal. For these reasons alone, it's worth the asking price.

While Criterion appears to rest on its laurels throughout much of the 'Racer' side of Hot Pursuit's gameplay, effectively producing a quite bland recreation of Burnout in the process, ultimately it's the 'Cop' side of the action that saves the day. From that perspective, Hot Pursuit proves itself worthy of the name with some of the best cop chase gaming of recent times.

The combination of the brilliantly designed World Tour mode, Wi-Fi connectivity and the PSP hardware itself creates an experience that proves to be a killer-app if you’re considering a purchase of Sony’s new handheld.

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.

It will take over your body and soul when you take it to new heights by playing on-line.

It is the best version around, but it’s because the game is just so much fun that people should pick this one up. If you’ve own the PS2 version or have played it before, there’s not much point.

If you're an obsessive fan of the series who's played all the other Burnout games to death and you need a new challenge, then you'll probably still enjoy this one (although you're also likely to be very disappointed).

Doom3 really takes the original game and expands upon it exponentially. Even though visually the game is obviously much improved, it still feels like Doom.

Football Manager's new Touchline Shouts feature and Match Analysis Tool may not quite match the razzle-dazzle of Champ Man's new additions this year, but a streamlined new interface that invites gamers into the depths of FM's management options and a more refined match engine ensure that FM2010 keeps up the pace of improvement that we've come to expect of Sports Interactive's benchmark series.

Although Rallisport 2 meets all expectations and is more forgiving than a certain Codemasters title and everything is perfect there is still something missing and it is hard to put a finger on that ingredient! Perhaps it's the fact that aside from some excellent Xbox Live! support, Rallisport Challenge 2 doesn't try too hard to establish any new ideas to the franchise.

Driving around Tokyo is something that some Midnight Club gamers will have never achieved thanks to the challenge that was Midnight Club 2, so it's rather helpful of Rockstar to package the city into Remix for all to enjoy from the off.

Quite simply brilliant. I have not been held by a game like this for a long time, it is addictive, compelling and quite marvellous to play.

Vast improvements to the action on the pitch and the game in general means that FIFA 09 is certainly PES' equal this year, and we'd be inclined to suggest it makes significant strides beyond Konami's effort in many ways.

If Codemasters' long-running rally series suffered something of an identity crisis with its transition to the DiRT name, then DiRT 3 has put that crisis to rest. The publisher has found an amorous new bedfellow in Ken Block and successfully built a game around his invigorating style while also managing to retain what made the series great in the first place.

The undisputed heavyweight champion of the world as far as boxing sims are concerned and arguably the most visually stunning sports game on the market. While a distinct lack of content in the single-player game and some fairly repetitive boxer AI does tarnish an otherwise faultless offering, it's still a must have for boxing fans and well worth a punt for anyone else with a passing interest.

Heavy Rain is a rare experience that can be enjoyed by a watching audience and not just the person with the control pad. It's also one that you'll certainly want to play through at least one more time just to see what you missed and perhaps reach a better outcome.

This truly is the sneakiest game available on the PC, and is also one of the best designed and most enjoyable releases of the year so far.

If Codemasters' long-running rally series suffered something of an identity crisis with its transition to the DiRT name, then DiRT 3 has put that crisis to rest. The publisher has found an amorous new bedfellow in Ken Block and successfully built a game around his invigorating style while also managing to retain what made the series great in the first place.

Plays brilliantly thanks to the control system, Dark Mirror is far and away the best action title on PSP to date. Quite honestly it wouldn't look out of place as a PlayStation2 title.

It was slightly disappointing to see the visuals downgraded and no real thought into the conversion.

Behind all of the surface gloss is a very shallow game that will disappoint fighting fans, there isn't a lot to go back to once you've completed it and the end feeling is slightly cheap.

It's full of charm and character, it’s fun to play and includes a wide range of gameplay styles, more importantly we can’t think of a single aspect that lets it down – truly "Jak2" is a perfect game.

A near-perfect example of the rhythm/action genre on the DS. Elite Beat Agents is stylish, fun and engaging from start-to-finish, and a highlight in the DS unique catalogue.

Although the game is slightly disappointing on a couple of levels, the truth is its Mario Kart, who couldn't love it. The actual races are absolutely brilliant particularly in multiplayer, however the Battle Mode is surprisingly weak.

Overall this is a retina burning experience, the Xbox tricks of texturing and lighting are used to great effect here, the detail on the textures being of particular note.

A game caught in confusion, in one aspect Smilebit have tried to speed up the gameplay and streamline it, yet in removing the time limit and cops that said immediacy is completely lost, what’s the point in whizzing around all of the levels if you have all the time in the world.

Forget the controversy, Canis Canem Edit is fun throughout and a reminder of just how entertaining videogames can be.

As if you ever doubted it, Call of Duty is still the best military shooter out there and by quite some margin. It seems its competitors can only watch from a distance and take notes as this juggernaut of FPS gaming ploughs a wide path towards the genre's future.

Quite honestly the first realistic shooter I’ve found myself completely enthralled within. It’s cross between Medal of Honor/Call of Duty and Full Spectrum Warrior gameplay creates an experience that is fresh and compelling, while the multiplayer mode should make this one of the most popular titles around.

We’d like to have seen a lot more from this game in single player – not everyone wants to play multiplayer ALL the time and I think it’s important that the developers take note of this. Still, a stunningly addictive game in multiplayer.

It's certainly not perfect and isn't for everyone; however if you're looking for something suitably different, something that you can just whack on and enjoy for a few hours here and there and more importantly something so Nintendo, then you may just end up devoting your life to Animal Crossing.

For just £11.99 Wipeout HD represents great value for money and should be an essential purchase for fans of the series, or anybody that thinks videogames have got a little too easy in recent years.

Sports Interactive once again overcome any initial scepticism with a multitude of little touches and new introductions combined to make Football Manager 2007 an essential update - just that little bit better then before.

Gears of War has been faithfully ported to the PC and Epic has also provided a nice range of exclusive features, most notably a 'lost' act in the single-player campaign. It's well worth a purchase for PC owners who haven't yet experienced the brilliance of Gears.

A strong and engrossing single-player campaign compliments the huge array of online options, and despite some frustrating moments, Resistance 2 is truly worth a purchase for any shooter fan.

Gt Interactive has hit a sweet spot with this must have title of the year.

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.

With a change in design, Dark Crusade captures the emphasis on strategy and combat that the Dawn of War series provides. Admittedly it's beginning to look a little rough around the edges, which isn't helped by the awkward path finding and dated visuals; but it is easily the most expansive, balanced and entertaining offering in the series to date.

Quite simply the conversion to the PS2 is magnificent, it seems as though there have been very few sacrifices from the Xbox version, particularly the fluid water effects and dynamic lighting have survived the translation perfectly.

Undeniably hard to get into, Kingdom Hearts II is very much a sequel and does lean heavily on knowing the storyline and the cast of characters.

If you’re one of the lucky few who haven’t [played the PC original], do yourself a favour and pick up one of the best games ever created.

The game uses a completely new 3D engine that allows for the rotation of environments so you can see where the enemy’s path is going to take them, in even more detail than ever before.

Nothing short of a hardcore gaming masterpiece.

A stunning game in its breadth and scope, and one that (if your PC can run it) shouldn't be missed.

No game will freak you as much as this game, and I truly believe you will enjoy it no matter what genre you're into most. If you don't have this game, buy it, and while you're there, pick up a set of briefs. You'll need em'!!

Any Burnout fanatic needs this in their collection and it’s a must-have for PSP owners looking for the finest arcade racer available; thrills, spills, crashes and carnage it’s got it all, what more could you possibly ask for???

The undisputed heavyweight champion of the world as far as boxing sims are concerned and arguably the most visually stunning sports game on the market. While a distinct lack of content in the single-player game and some fairly repetitive boxer AI does tarnish an otherwise faultless offering, it's still a must have for boxing fans and well worth a punt for anyone else with a passing interest.

It makes no attempt to move the genre forwards and is largely a routine run and gun shooter from start-to-finish, albeit an intense one at that.

Onimusha is one of the first ‘must have’ games for the PS2, if you enjoy the survival horror genre then this is a must have. But this is also a top title for action freaks alike.

An unusual experience, an action title packed with clever touches, depth and plenty of variety.

The implementation of the city coupled with the numerous improvements to the game flow and customization, makes The Sims experience much more rewarding and enjoyable than its predecessors. Undeniably the best Sims yet, the extension beyond the home is wonderfully natural and helps to focus on the bigger things than getting caught up in the basics.

At the moment Xbox owners have a pleasant choice between "Midtown Madness 3" and Midnight Club II, and we feel that the latter just about gets the edge, 'cause of the one-player.

Very much more of the same, with Obsidian rarely straying from Bioware's original formula. If you're a KOTOR fan then this is a must have, it's as simple as that.

The storyline, as well as tasks in hand, all work in perfect synergy, which gives this game its uniqueness. The puzzles in themselves may not be overly taxing, nor some of the stealthy actions, but as far as pure unabated storytelling and immersive interaction goes this works a treat!

Perhaps the only real disappointment is the game's inability to make use of the DS touch capabilities.

Combines excellent fighting action with innovation; packs plenty of content and rightfully holds its place in a series that still burns in many fans heart – check it out now.

A game quite unlike any other, a game that is wonderfully Nintendo at heart; Animal Crossing: Wild World will either leave a lasting impression, becoming part of your daily routine or have you questioning what the fuss is all about right from the start.

Do not expect too many changes, think of it as an expansion pack with more levels, more weapons and even more Nazis to shoot down.

Everything about We Love Katamari oozes simplicity in the best possible way, from the concept to the execution, the control system to the level design; it's a game that's just fun, fun, fun to play.

It's another year and another Football Manager. When good things are this consistent we often forget how lucky we are to have them. That said, this year's game is particularly thin on new features, but it's still the same great package that's been re-jigged slightly to keep us interested.

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 shame that the actual design of the game can't make the most of the action, and so it's questionable whether Round 3 will sustain any longterm interest beyond impressing your mates on a Friday night.

Accessible to everyone and extremely addictive to anybody who picks up the pad. It’s a meltdown of different sensations and probably the type of videogame you’d pick to generalise exactly what ‘Playstation’ is all about.

If you are an avid ... aficionado [of the sport], the included course designer makes Links worth more than its $55 retail price.

Once you get past the initial phase of disappointment UT2003 delivers everything you’d want from a FPS. The action is intense, the presentation flawless and more importantly it just feels great, definitely packing that ‘oh yeah’ factor in spades.

The improved Burnout system really adds some much needed depth to the gameplay, whilst those graphics are going to astound you.

Everything you could have wished for and more.