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.

The Witcher's quality emanates from the understanding CD Projekt have held on Sapkowski's work. Engaging and thought provoking throughout with a rich gameworld that is effortlessly layered, The Witcher matches the style and substance typically associated with a Bioware RPG - perhaps the finest recommendation we can make.

A drawn out and largely mediocre experience that's perhaps to be expected given TimeShift's difficult gestation, Saber Interactive's shooter nonetheless has some bright moments - but they're too little few and far between.

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.

Despite enjoying the continuity of an episode (or twelve) and the throwaway self-referential comedy that made the TV show famous, The Simpsons gets stuck with mediocre, generic gameplay, and confusion over who exactly the game is making fun of. One for fans.

The mix of modes, coupled with the strong simulation settings, create a challenging yet rewarding experience that fans of the sport will enjoy over the summer months.

Easily leapfrogging the performance of Guitar Hero II with room to spare, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock thrashes out a strong mix of classic and modern tracks, and is further enhanced with the online features its predecessor should have had.

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.

While boasting some uninspiring mechanics for a first person shooter, the biggest area that Jericho falls down on is its inability to produce a sense of atmosphere and suspense throughout its levels and, in a horror game, that's critical.

Demonically difficult, heart-shatteringly hard, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is a gamer's game. Solid in both respects of the word, Konami's elderly iconic franchise fits perfectly on PSP for some vampire killing on the move...even if you do feel like throwing the handheld into a wall at times.

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.

Given the series orientation towards multiplayer in the final chapters on the PS2, it's quite surprising to find Tools of Destruction a solely single-player experience. With a handful of mini-games Tools of Destruction can be rushed through over a weekend, with the only real replay value stemming from Insomniac's traditional selection of Skill Point challenges to achieve on every level.

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.

As an experiment to push the capabilities of downloadable content over Xbox Live, there's little to doubt Anniversary's originality - on Microsoft's console at least. However, a few extra touches to the lighting and a few soaked vests aside, the Xbox 360 edition of Lara's first outing will be more for the fans.

A solid debut for Katamari on Xbox 360, though the frame rate issue proves all too noticeable.

From a Wii-friendly point-of-view, Table Tennis succeeds as a hardcore title that lends itself to Nintendo's console with a clever approach to the control setup. It's slightly disappointing to find no new features beyond a mundane Training option, which leaves the long-term appeal slightly questionable. Nevertheless, Table Tennis on Wii manages to retain many of the qualities of its 360 predecessor, providing you've got a couple of Wii Remote's lying around.

Half Life 2: Orange Box is undoubtedly the best value videogame around. Admittedly it may not have the sheer numbers of the dodgy '200-in-1' packs found in car-boot sales across the country during the 90's, but you'll rarely find something of this quality and diversity wrapped in one box.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hot Pixel is the game for any PSP owners longing for some WarioWare action. It's credit to ZSlide that they've managed to emulate the formula so closely, providing the variety, addiction and weird elements that catapulted Nintendo's series to success.

Given the lower-end price of FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage and its obvious strengths, it's easy to look past the lack of imagination and next-generation refinement.

An evolution and refinement of 2006's offerings, Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow is an engaging adventure while it lasts, with a storyline deserving of a home console release let alone a handheld. Like its predecessor the game offers enough in the Campaign and multiplayer to keep players occupied, though the niggling AI can pull gamers out of the experience all too readily, dampening down an otherwise solid addition to the PSP's library.

A considerable improvement to the rushed "PGR3." PGR4 goes the extra mile with the inclusion of dynamic weather and bikes, it refines everything key element to the point of near-perfection, includes the low-end vehicles that fans cried out for, and most significantly injects a considerable boost of content.

Bringing the classic Zelda experience to the DS with a range of creative touches, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is an overwhelming success for the format. It may not have the sheer weight of the likes of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess, but it is nonetheless geared suitably for a stylish and entertaining handheld experience.

The fight might well be finished but like the end to any war, Halo 3 isn't pretty. One of the top multiplayer experiences available on any console (as expected) redeems a largely disappointing Campaign, but even that doesn't change the fact that the 'Xbox mascot' baton has passed to Fenix and his crew of COGs.

Not content with surpassing Tony Hawk with the first attempt, skate. smashes his board in two and promises the next ten years will be a little different. Providing the antidote to too many years of unimaginative Tony Hawk's sequels, skate's debut marks an overwhelming success of innovation, style, and fun.