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.

Massive improvements to the animation and the ball physics help to free the series, and make ever-increasing strides in closing the gap between it and Konami's Pro Evo Soccer. That said, there's definitely room for improvement, most notably in the number of leagues, the player models, and all-round audio.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

On the wider scale of things, it's perhaps not the most original title. That said, with additions like the expansive combat techniques and God Roulette, there's enough to keep it feeling fresh at times.

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.

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.

This is by far the most disappointing of the Revolution series to date. Whilst the changes made to the game have been done to accommodate the various features of the Nintendo DS, the fact is that it just doesn't feel like Rainbow Islands. Key elements are missing, including the all important strategy of the original.

Far more polished and balanced than the original title, Mercury Meltdown is the game that Archer Maclean's Mercury should have been twelve months ago.

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.

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.

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.

ParaWorld sets itself a high bar by taking on such a story driven campaign. It fails to deliver on this part and, unfortunately, all that remains is an RTS game that simply can't stand up to today's heavyweights of the genre.

It may not break any ground in originality stakes or provide stunning visuals, but it does revive the original facets of a classic genre for today's gamers.

Valkyrie Profile 2 is a hardcore gamer's game. With 2D gameplay reminiscent of numerous classics from days gone by and a general sense of sophistication and creativity, Square-Enix's latest provides plenty for fans of the original provided you can look past some of the questionable cuts.

It's a game that embraces the rich history of Japanese mythology with such ease and accomplishment, wrapping it up in one of the most entertaining and substantial videogames since Nolan Bushnell first put a virtual bat and ball onscreen.

There must invariably be a demand for this sort of title in the West otherwise it wouldn't be worth the expense of localisation, marketing, and distribution, but surely it's a case of having played one title in either Warriors series, you've played them all.

In most ways the game feels like so many European developed RTS titles that fail to connect with gamers that it's only the Direct Control function (and the well known logo of Ubisoft) that lifts it ever so slightly out of the crowd of other strategy games developed across mainland Europe.

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.

Despite a few random pluses, such as the ability to Game Share with up to three other players on a single UMD, Hudson's over-enthusiasm (and near pathological obsession) with messing with the gameplay, creates a rather dull and watered-down 'campaign'.

Nothing short of a revelation for golfing fans. Gusto Games have created a technique that defines innovation, and makes the other techniques feel archaic in comparison.

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.

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.

Brilliant in both concept and execution, LocoRoco is easily the best thing to hit the PSP since Lumines kicked the format off 18 months ago.