Games such as "Guilty Gear X" have shown what true next-gen 2D titles can look like, whilst other titles have more depth and a sufficiently more detailed fighting system for fighting fanatics.

EndWar is a real glimpse into the future of RTS titles on console, with an immersive experience thanks unquestionably to the voice command system.

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.

Battlestations: Pacific is much like its predecessor, a rewarding if somewhat flawed experience that will entertain those with unique and satisfying gameplay provided you've got a little perseverance.

It creates a superbly tense atmosphere that draws you in and completely immerses you, we can’t think of any other stealth game that’s managed this to such good effect. We also like to see developers stretch beyond the barriers and explore ways to touch the players’ emotions – this game certainly does that. But on the other hand the repetition soon becomes apparent and its lack of depth.

Highly imaginative and with a wicked sense of humour, Overlord's issues are easy to overlook when compared to the moments of entertainment it provides in between.

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.

The eeriness of the environments, even your room feels dingy, is captured brilliantly, and the tunnel effect is awesome.

Your own music, non-artificial intelligence and some of the most realistic recreations of real-life locations we've seen, and having it easily playable online through your television is a wonderful thing. We've been waiting for stuff like this for years.

It's exciting to see the Lego games attempt to innovate, and some of the battles can be truly epic, but all sense of awe and fun is destroyed by persistent issues across the board, leaving players confused and frustrated. The trademark Lego charm is still just about present but is quickly wearing thin.

Manages to take the web-crawler to new heights thanks to the great visual style, the variety in gameplay (which is certainly an improvement over Spider-Man 2), and a tweaked combat/control system. The game looks phenomenal and really does bring the characters out of the comic book and in the consoles successfully.

The only significant criticism we can make of Sports Champions is its limited number of sporting events. That said, having six sporting events that are nailed as well as they are in Sports Champions is infinitely preferable to ten sloppily designed ones. When all's said and done, it's the pick of Sony's launch line-up for PlayStation Move.

Epic without ever pushing boundaries for the series, Tomb Raider: Underworld is a game that fans of the franchise will no doubt relish.

There's enough car customisation capabilities for sense of progression together with a range of munitions that can obliterate opponents, and the narrative is exactly what you'd expect it to be in a Jak & Daxter game.

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.

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

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

It lacks the finer subtitles that recent FPS such as "MoH: Allied Assault" and "Wolfenstein" both have. However Westwood have done a fantastic job of recreating the C&C universe in the first-person perspective.

This is a game that will be either loved or hated by fans of both Lord of the Rings and the RPG genre in general.

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.

A rough diamond, beneath that stuttering framerate is a wonderfully innovative shooter that is a joy to play and brings some great ideas to the genre.

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.

Very rarely does a developer remake an iconic classic as well as Sega Racing Studio has Sega Rally. With the finest eye for detail, they've managed to remember everything that made the series great and translate it onto today's next gen machines perfectly. Not only that, but they've put their own unique stamp on the Sega Rally family with great aplomb.

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.

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.

Epic without ever pushing boundaries for the series, Tomb Raider: Underworld is a game that fans of the franchise will no doubt relish.

The story fails to ignite and it just felt like the developer of the game was trying to be really intellectual and those that did not see the real focus of the game, enjoy the engaging story and all the other subtle touches were either stupid or didn't appreciate the real value of what is being offered!

Regrettably Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland feels too much like a “by numbers” sequel; a tag that in some eyes has been hanging around the series for a while now, but most certainly manifests itself in THAW.

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.

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.

Really, the biggest thing letting down Medal of Honor is its lack of originality. This may irk the discerning gamer, who's concerned that the art form is being strangled by disreputable franchise clones, but if you're the sort of gamer who couldn't give two hoots then you'll find one of the best shooters of the year in Medal of Honor.

In no way is it a genuine Prince of Persia for this generation (we prefer to forget the 2008 title), but it does offer something that's a little more challenging on the mind and reflexes than the typical third-person action/adventure.

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.

For fans of the series this game is a must, it's the game that both "Soul Reaver 2" and "Blood Omen 2" should have been.

Whilst the other games offered smaller updates to the main game, On Holiday brings in an entirely new location with a whole stack of new features and objects you can interact with.

It tries too hard to be so many different things and ultimately falls flat on its face, very disappointing after the success of the previous title in the series.

The AI within the game will tax most gamers, event the fight fans among you.

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.

We Love Golf grafts a golf swing onto the Wii's motion controls exceptionally well but, apart from that, the game's substance is very run of the mill.

The little inaccuracies can be forgotten by all but the most die-hard of Star Wars fans, whilst there are enough cosmetic touches to differentiate this from "AoE2" and allow you to submerse yourself in the Star Wars universe.

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.

Represents a number of things to us, firstly it’s perhaps SEGA being at their most creative best and quirkily original for the last few years; secondly in our opinion the game utilises virtually all that the Nintendo DS has to offer.

Mafia II refuses to follow the crowd of open-world games by putting authenticity at the head of its agenda instead of sheer scale and off-the-hook action. The fact that it tells you what to do rather than asking what you'd like to do is somewhat counter-intuitively what makes the game feel so original and immersive.

An engaging entry in the overcrowded shooter genre, Frontlines: Fuel of War does enough sufficiently differently to warrant interest from anybody looking for something a little complimentary to CoD and Halo. Little more than linking the traditional checkpoint structure, the frontline dynamic nonetheless instills a sense of originality throughout the game and certainly something we'd like to see further developed in a sequel - and it only gets better in multiplayer.

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.

Although rough around the edges and unspectacular in a traditional GTA sense, the strategy and excessive violence behind reclaiming Tony's empire provides a compulsive and entertaining drive that shouldn't be missed.

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.

Forgetting the somewhat forgettable Multiplayer experience in Darkwatch, the core Story mode is full of intense gun battles that will satisfy an FPS fan's lust for action.

The controls and camera cause frustration, the visuals severely disappoint, whilst the combat begins to grate after a short time and leaves very little to carry on with.

PES 2009 on PSP is much the same game as last year in terms of gameplay with the odd improvement where required.

Admittedly, the PS2 is never going to be home to revolutionary ideas at this stage (particularly a PSP conversion), but even at a budget-price you have to ask yourself whether the appeal of the story and returning to Vice City is worth stepping back in time to a game that's the equivalent of a straight-to-DVD release.

Playing as the Centurion turned gladiator Agrippa is quite fun at first but very quickly becomes repetitive, whilst the sections of the game where you play as Octavianus are just plain dull to begin with.

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.

Vector Unit has certainly succeeded in its mandate of "big games in small packages" with Hydro Thunder Hurricane, and for that alone it's hard not to recommend. Despite its shortcomings Hydro Thunder Hurricane is ultimately a fun game to play and a worthy XBLA purchase.

One for trading cards fans that have large wallets, Eye of Judgment is an entertaining and unique experience, but one that lacks any genuine substance to make it worthwhile for anybody else.

It's exciting to see the Lego games attempt to innovate, and some of the battles can be truly epic, but all sense of awe and fun is destroyed by persistent issues across the board, leaving players confused and frustrated. The trademark Lego charm is still just about present but is quickly wearing thin.

Whilst the production values of GUN are high in every possible way, it's let down by a short campaign and an overly structured dynamic of side-missions. The truth is that for a game that should have been GTA: Wild West it's far too restrictive an experience and one that will disappoint those expecting it to deliver wholeheartedly.

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.

The fact is, Sonic 4's first episode is so much fun that it makes you forget about the world and think of nothing but the game. It encapsulates the pure thrill of gaming that many contemporary titles seem to comatosely forget.

A strong control system combined with high quality presentation and humour, results in one of the most entertaining titles of its kind on the handheld format.

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.

Battlestations: Pacific is much like its predecessor, a rewarding if somewhat flawed experience that will entertain those with unique and satisfying gameplay provided you've got a little perseverance.

Very much the title that the first invasion should have been, we're looking forward to what Pandemic could do with a possible third outing for the stubby Furon.

OK, the price does elevate our opinion on the game but conversely it plays well, is exceedingly fast and there is a load of rampaging to excite action buffs and at £13 it’s a steal!

Really, the biggest thing letting down Medal of Honor is its lack of originality. This may irk the discerning gamer, who's concerned that the art form is being strangled by disreputable franchise clones, but if you're the sort of gamer who couldn't give two hoots then you'll find one of the best shooters of the year in Medal of Honor.

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.

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.

It does an excellent job of tying together the fragmented series that includes the Hunter and Saviour variations, resulting in a must-have for anybody who’s enjoyed the titles from the past.

From the story angle alone Hitman: Contracts is a worthy addition to the series, and will particularly entertain fans of the franchise who’ve played both the predecessors. That said it’s certainly time for some innovation.

RPG fans may find this one a little boring, however novices to the genre may be captivated by the lush graphics and simplistic gameplay.

Vietcong strays down the path between arcade shooter and tactical war simulator perfectly, resulting in a game that you’ll find hard to put down.

It packs a good amount of depth through the wide selection of shots available and the Pro Tour mode is extremely enjoyable and well thought out, however it lacks that instant appeal and addictive qualities of SEGA’s landmark series.

It represents a welcoming step away from the masses of clones, while its serious tone, portrayed in equal doses of graphic brutality and absurd comedy will keep those willing to persevere hooked on the edge of the seat awaiting the sounds of cackled laughter.

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.

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.

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.

Whereas Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training managed to defy the odds and prove us wrong with its compulsive drive, Big Brain Academy completely misses the point and is hard to recommend as a result.

A perfect balance between authenticity and accessibility. It probably won’t appeal to the hard-core sim fans, whilst those that like their action immediately up front will probably also be deterred.

Visually, it's impressive for the PSP. The cars are the highlight of these nice visuals with smooth models and, while the textures of the tracks/backgrounds look slightly jagged in a typically PSP manner, they're still nice looking for the system's capabilities.

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.

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.

Despite it’s rather shallow feeling and the such, it’s still pretty damn addictive and you’ll be dying to complete each and every course.

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.

Fans of the original won't find much more here to interest them, but hopefully, like with me, it'll relight the flame and at least spark up their interest in the game itself once again.

Manages to take the web-crawler to new heights thanks to the great visual style, the variety in gameplay (which is certainly an improvement over Spider-Man 2), and a tweaked combat/control system. The game looks phenomenal and really does bring the characters out of the comic book and in the consoles successfully.

Very much the title that the first invasion should have been, we're looking forward to what Pandemic could do with a possible third outing for the stubby Furon.

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.

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.

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.

But there's no point in denying that Kazunori-san and Polyphony Digital have succeeded in bringing the GT experience faithfully to the PSP without having to condense or cut out anything that made the series what it is.

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”.

If you're looking for nothing but action, you won't find it here. But if you want to fly a REAL plane (or as close as it's possible to get on a console), then get this game.

The variety of characters offers a wide range of style to play the game, whilst the sheer size is guaranteed to impress fans of the genre.

At times, everything that is great about video games. Rewarding gameplay, smart visuals and a decent attempt at innovation combine to create a game that can be great fun. However, the modest challenge and increasingly repetitive gameplay conspire to highlight other flaws, meaning most players will soon tire of the saccharine charm of de Blob and his surprisingly adult revolution before the monochrome regime can be toppled.

A complete recreation of the original's depth of races and modifications (and high speed fun) with allowances made for the smaller screen, DUB looks set to enjoy a new lease of life in the portable world.

Mafia II refuses to follow the crowd of open-world games by putting authenticity at the head of its agenda instead of sheer scale and off-the-hook action. The fact that it tells you what to do rather than asking what you'd like to do is somewhat counter-intuitively what makes the game feel so original and immersive.

The problem is that there’s not enough depth or variety in the missions, the only reason to carry on through the game is to see the next set of stunning visuals, which you have to say are reason alone to at least rent this.