The fact that you are left trying to finish off each level just to see what happens next as the conspiracy unravels is a testament to the game’s producers.

Improvements in the level of detail on offer from the damage modelling to the multi-layered audio, continue to present the game with ever greater realism, and no-one could ever accuse the developers of a lack of variety in the vehicles.

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???

Super, big and awesome (to quote one of the film directors), Stuntman: Ignition is one of the most original driving games around, packed full of explosive fun and action.

It may not be hugely original, or indeed faithful to the franchise but, with a deep combat system and some excellent boss battles, Lords of Shadow claims a place near the top of the action adventure list and is terrific value for money.

While LittleBigPlanet 2's main campaign is something of a disappointment, there's no denying the impressive scope of the new creator. Media Molecule has provided gamers with a formidably deep tool-set that still manages to be fairly accessible, which is fortunate really as it's almost entirely down to the users to create compelling experiences this time around.

May not have changed a lot since last year, however the small changes to a more predominant focus on combat results in an immediately enjoyable title that’s hard to resist.

The amalgamation of Tony Hawk's and "Jackass" is the videogame equivalent of a match-made in heaven, and certainly makes a marked improvement upon the weak story of its predecessor.

It may not be hugely original, or indeed faithful to the franchise but, with a deep combat system and some excellent boss battles, Lords of Shadow claims a place near the top of the action adventure list and is terrific value for money.

It's fun to play but more importantly captures the Wallace & Gromit spirit perfectly.

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.

A strange contradiction of achievement and disappointment.

The progressive nature of the game will test the skilled player and you soon find out that the support soldiers you choose, the way you equip yourself, is very very important. Bet on Soldier is hard but then again presenting a challenge worth fighting through makes it even more appealing.

If like me you've waited a long time for this, ignore the final score, sit back and enjoy every wonderful cut-scene that Guns of the Patriots has to offer. For MGS fans, Kojima-san has delivered a masterpiece, but it's certainly an acquired taste, now more so than ever before.

We loved it from start to finish and, when we finished, we just carried on fighting online and against our mates to keep the fun alive. Naruto: Rise of a Ninja is the incredibly well balanced and varied game that the Naruto universe has been crying out for.

Rockstar have done exactly what you’d expect them do: break down the movie into it’s core elements, expand upon the origin story, add a range of side-missions that add an extra incentive to progress through the narrative, get the visual and audio ambience of the film, and throw in that special Rockstar polish.

It certainly offers one hectic and frenzied gaming experience, which has to be the main element of any Sonic game and something that was sadly missing in the recent titles.

A funny game; the opening phase is likely to put off most gamers as it’s too long-winded, slow, frustrating and just not exciting enough; however persevere and you’ll be rewarded with a decent action/adventure title with ludicrously high production values.

It's quite honestly an astounding achievement in terms of the implementation of the physics, which should garner the franchise (and BugBear) further success. It's giant step forward from the original title of 2004.

I find myself spending the same amount of time in the paint shop as I do on the track. With the option to spend hours designing cars and selling them in the Auction House, Forza 2 provides a welcome break from the racing action with something that provides plenty of rewards and satisfaction.

There may be a balancing issue between the Story missions and the free-roaming fun of bounding across the environments, but Hulk is definitely the most impressive interpretation of a comic-book character's adventures yet.

Undoubtedly a stylish and engrossing variation on the Sci-Fi shooter theme, the novel touches ensure Prey is a worthwhile experience; but, it's probably still not enough if you're tired of the premise and haven't enjoyed id Software' most recent efforts.

An absolutely essential purchase for fans of the original, expanding upon the foundations laid by its predecessor and enforcing its position on top of the RTS genre.

One of the most enjoyable multiplayer games we have played in a very long time...[but] the lack of any decent single player mode leaves us feeling a little unhappy!

Certain aspects of the game work brilliantly although (such as the ecology) with the world of Skull Island coming to life quite naturally. It does tend to drag a bit in places and the pacing can be less than consistant but overall its a good title.

I do like this game, and I feel that if a few problems are fixed, it could rank up there with the Tony Hawk’s, and the Aggressive Inline’s of the extreme world.

The idea of creating your own world is welcomed, and the graphics are good at times, but do falter at certain stages especially throughout the dungeon levels.

A real creepy game that unnerves you at ever turn. The story will keep you hooked to the end and leave wanting more.

Lemmings remains as brilliantly simple yet deviously addictive as it was 15 years ago, easily creating one of the most enthralling experiences you'll find on the PSP.

Part of me is screaming at the lack of analogue support and the frustrating nature of pre-rendered environments. However once you get past that and slaughter your first wave of demons you can’t help but get sucked into the game.

Too Human easily reaches the standards set by Silicon Knights' previous work. Merging the addictive qualities of Diablo with a thoroughly innovative and entertaining combat system, Too Human offers an engaging blend of instant gratification and long-term depth despite the occasional failing.

One can’t help but think that Namco slightly rushed the title to get it out in time for "Virtua Fighter 4," the visuals aren’t exactly eye dropping but the gameplay is fast fluid and consistent. [Import]

Manages to entertain initially but begins to dwindle after a few weeks have passed and the tracks perfected. It's an experience that should be seen and needs to be played by all, but one that is hard to recommend as absolutely essential given the novelty nature of the game as a whole.

I urge you to try it out. I did, and found a worthwhile experience that can be slow and frustrating at times, but ultimately puts a smile on your face and gives you a sense of achievement.

Perhaps the only viable way to bring Banjo and Kazooie onto the Xbox 360, Nuts & Bolts is nevertheless a thoroughly entertaining and rewarding video game, deserving of its place in the popular series despite its apparent changes.

Vice City Stories is a much richer and well-rounded experience than its predecessor, though the addition of Wi-Fi Infrastructure mode is something that the series is crying out for.

Improvements in the level of detail on offer from the damage modelling to the multi-layered audio, continue to present the game with ever greater realism, and no-one could ever accuse the developers of a lack of variety in the vehicles.

Yet another strong and original title for Nintendo DS, Trauma Center provides an addictive and tense experience for players, though it's worth remembering that just because you managed to perform surgery on a multi-lacerated thoracic cavity (it's in there), don't expect to called into a real OR anytime soon.

At times claustrophobic, with intensely quiet and loud moments, this is a game that fans of the series will welcome.

With such an emphasis on tactical team play, the fact that additional inroads into the battlefields can't be achieved with - for instance - the strategic placement of an explosive charge on a wall leaves Quake Wars feel slightly dated around the edges.

The amalgamation of Tony Hawk’s and "Jackass" is the videogame equivalent of a match-made in heaven, and certainly makes a marked improvement upon the weak story of its predecessor.

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.

A great game, it just doesn't break any new ground.

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.

Nothing but a serious disappointment... It just about manages to cover all the criteria but nothing feels as though Croteam have stretched the barrel – in many cases they feel surprisingly weaker then its predecessor.

A game that will keep anime fans very happy, and offers enough little features to keep gamers happy too.

The most original and ambitious racer for years, Eden's first title for Xbox 360 is sure to have gamers demanding more in the future. Hopefully the patch won't be too long in coming either.

The fact that you are left trying to finish off each level just to see what happens next as the conspiracy unravels is a testament to the game's producers.

Despite the disappointment of there being no co-op play in Mini Ninjas' campaign, the game does enough to keep players entertained through well mixed gameplay, loveable characters, stylistically beautiful environments, and good humour. The Japanese story is finely applied and a wide audience will enjoy this title, meaning that it fulfils its remit and then some.

We could [have] really enjoyed this game however after a while it just gets too repetitive and frustrating to play for more than 30 minutes.

What really marks CRC as excellent value for money is not the endless mods that you can make to the cars, nor the exacting tuning of the car you can work on, not the many game modes which all distinguish themselves, not even the fact that the AI is spot on with the challenges it offers, neither the great attention to scenery details, car deformation, which it is presented in a polished and stylish way. It’s the sheer joy of having so much on offer, real quality stuff, nothing flash, the real essence of you verses the elements, along with some really tough competitors.

The new abilities, and the introduction of the Speed Kill system, has meant that the title still feels fresh and exciting.

The challenges offered in terms of beating your opponents were well tapered; the more you play the better you get and winning some dosh and opening the sub games, which were equally enjoyable, really topped the experience.

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.

The whole gambit of interesting locations from Normandy to an entire Russian campaign offers the strat player a real mind throbbing treat as you can play and assume a number of sides.

Repetitive, yet strangely addictive, The Sims 2 has a style that furthers the original in every way. Graphically and audibly, the game stands out and the unique gameplay means that it really is a genre defining title.

All in all a nice little title which will keep most gamers amused.

Fortunately even though the single-player mode feels as though Ubisoft may have stretched it all a little too far, much like the original, Vegas 2 is all about the online multiplayer.

Improvements have been made throughout the game and it retains a strong sense of fun throughout, something that has only been accentuated by the inclusion of the various customisations.

An exceptional title; pure, simple, fun, brilliant - I simply can't lay enough superlatives around the game.

The 'instant gratification' test from Flatout is very high which is always a good marker. Flatout does not profess to be anything but an out and out 'revving foot on the pedal and try to waste the opposition' game.

One of the finest series of fighters has been compiled with due care and respect, and will instantly bring back memories for those that recall shoveling coins in the arcades, challenging any pretenders to the throne.

It’s not perfect and it’s not quite the sole reason why we should be ditching our pads for stylus; however we’re becoming increasingly confident of Nintendo’s new stance.

It’s great fun to play, controls are an absolute dream and there’s nothing better than shooting some headless freaks to bits.

GripShift is a portable game designed to near perfection, it's Super Monkey Ball crossed with Geoff Crammond's legendary Stunt Car Racer; a unique concept that fully utilises its format, resulting in one of the most frustratingly addictive titles on the PSP to date.

The modifications that Appaloosa have made may sound simple but they enhance the game beyond recognition, tightening up the gameplay to what is now a extremely polished and well focused adventure title.

That said it creates a tense and chilling experience like no other videogame we’ve played, which certainly provides the main allure for the game.

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.

A joy for the hardcore to behold.

The US version of Tekken Tag Tournament is without flicker, or as some people call them: "jaggies".

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.

The satisfaction of memorising a Sonic stage and playing by instinct at supersonic speeds has finally come to fruition, Sonic Unleashed is exactly what we've been waiting so long for.

Spartan is extraordinary from the perspective of any old warhorse of a strategy player. It has graphical polish, longevity and some well crafted ideas that other developers should take note of!

TrackMania’s name really depicts the real essence of the game, different tracks, different challenges but most times you will find yourself driving like a loon and everything is so over the top you can’t imagine how this can be topped.

A definite attempt at evolving the MMO genre after a decade of gameplay clones and the unmitigated success of WoW in the last three years, Tabula Rasa feels like the baby steps towards the next stage. It doesn't have the same 'wow' factor of Blizzard's mighty MMO, but it's a pretty solid foundation from which Destination Games (and Richard Garriott) can build upon.

A genuine highlight in the FIFA series, FIFA 07 is perhaps the most refined and complete offering likely to appear on this generation of consoles.

An absolutely brilliant game to play – really enjoyable, really addictive and instantly playable.

Soccer Slam has achieved a very good consistent cartoon style with some very impressive animation that accentuates the excellent characterisation and coupled with the audio provides a memorable experience.

Certain aspects of the game work brilliantly although (such as the ecology) with the world of Skull Island coming to life quite naturally. It does tend to drag a bit in places and the pacing can be less than consistant but overall its a good title.

Insanely intense action, a fantastic control setup and decent missions, make for a thoroughly entertaining PS3 exclusive - apparently the format's first in the sandbox genre.

Although Tourist Trophy has some real substance behind it with a wide range of bikes, licensed accessories and the particularly neat "Rider Form" feature, motorbike fans would be advised to wait for THQs "MotoGP 06" which promises to offer a more conclusive experience on the actual track.

Developing and expanding the concept of the original, Fable 2 is a worthy addition to any Xbox 360 owner's collection.

An awesome achievement in originality for the gaming industry. Sure it has it’s frustrating points, but it’s not “bad game” frustrating, it’s more of a “hard game” frustrating.

This one requires a little more brainpower and I warn you now, be prepared to get frustrated. Lots!

Having sat down for 12 hours solid to play through the game in one sitting it would be hypocritical to criticise the game too harshly, it certainly has that Lionhead charm by the bucketload and manages to immerse the player in the world of Black & White effectively.

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).

The storyline is perhaps one of the most compulsive yet, which is reinforced by the mechanic of working for both the security services and the terrorists at the same time. That said, the Trust mechanic doesn't quite work as well as it should, but it's hard to see how else it could be improved without pushing frustration to the limit.

Call of Duty 3 continues the heritage of the franchise to great effect. The new structure builds towards a steep and shell-shocking climactic crescendo, and shows a clear unravelling of events that precipitated one of the most important battles of the Normandy Breakout, making the experience much less fractured than perhaps it's been in the past.

An exceptional title; pure, simple, fun, brilliant - I simply can't lay enough superlatives around the game.

The gameplay is painfully repetitive and uninspired, and a vast majority of the mini-games just aren't fun; they say that your schooldays are the happiest of your life - but whoever said that couldn’t have been taught at the Ape Academy.

Instincts very much builds on the foundations laid down by the original title thanks to the integration of Feral abilities and the tweaked storyline. There's a very strong combat control system, though the vehicular control system isn't quite as intuititve.

A slightly cringe-worthy 'Two-Button Control' system will no doubt help to attract the uninitiated to 2010 FIFA World Cup, but this isn't just a game for 'prawn sandwich' footie fans (to quote the affable Roy Keane). It's a game that'll appeal just as much to hardened FIFA veterans who've just about squeezed everything they can out of FIFA 10 and need something to tide them over until FIFA 11.

Tying elements of survival/horror and adventure games to an enjoyable effect, Black Plague provides a surprisingly satisfying affair packed full of suspense for anybody willing to contemplate such a low profile release - although we wouldn't advise forking out 30 quid for it.

On the next-gens, FIFA 08 really is a step forward. Much improved graphics and gameplay, as well as the application of many new features. On the previous-gen formats, it's a continuation of a recent trend which has brought more depth and realism to the FIFA series.

Without doubt extremely enjoyable for fans, simply because controlling Spider-Man has never been executed so well. There are problems with the main game, there’s problems with its presentation; however we still find ourselves loading up the game just to swing around New York again.

Technically the game is superb, whilst the graphics may not seam that impressive for a Dreamcast game, they do create that comic book atmosphere.

Undeniably about as brilliant as a band specific music title can get, The Beatles Rock Band easily outstretches the confines of just being a music game into something that guarantees great times for all - provided of course you're not one of the strange type of folk who just doesn't like them.

Its identical nature to "Jak 2" may leave a nasty taste in the mouth, especially given that this is the send-off to the comical pair.