The game is not too big and in fact can be finished extremely quickly but there is always the option of racing again in a new car or just watching the models strut their stuff.

Graphically City Crisis is nothing special and after a while the gameplay does become rather repetitive as you simply perform the same operations over and over again.

If The Bouncer had been cast with a little more of the freedom associated with the RPGs it borrows its visual flair from then this would have been a defining moment for the PlayStation2.

There are enough varied magical effects to keep the action interesting and fill the screen with the occasional burst of bright, explosive light effects.

Don't worry about what it isn't, just enjoy it for what it is – one of the few playable and, yep, fairly enjoyable superhero games out there.

In "Wipeout," when a missile is homing in on you, you are filled with a sense of dread and impending doom. In Drome Racers you just can’t help thinking “oh well, never mind”, which sums it up nicely.

The action itself is fast and fluid.

Ultimately, Vampire Night lacks the sparkle that the best examples of this genre display. It looks good, sounds okay (apart from some cheesy voice-acting) and whilst it lasts (not very long as it happens) it is quite entertaining.

Better visuals and a more complex conversation system would have made this a game to live up to the legendary magazines. Almost.

Hardcore RPG fans may find it a bit on the easy side and it's not a particularly long game, but there's definitely more to it than EA's effort despite not having movie clips throughout.

We just can't get that excited about Konami's latest venture. Maybe it's the annoying plot twist that happens halfway through the game - think "Ico" with a plaster cast - that essentially forces you to replay through all the frightening locations you've already visited.

It’ll certainly keep you busy, until the next FIFA game comes out (in a few months), just don’t expect to be too excited by it.

For all this complexity the cards can actually prevent you from really getting into the game.

The fact that you can't control the camera beyond a 'bring to rear' command is still very annoying when you've got enemies approaching from all sides.

It's such a shame that the missions don't use the area to its full potential and, unlike GTA, there's very little to keep you coming back once you've completed them all.

A quite shallow, but still rather fun game of combat that can be quick to play and is enjoyable for a short period of time but just lacks the depth that most commanders of armies would like to see.

Technically, everything about this game is average. The graphics are passable, the sound and speech are good (but hardly mind-blowing) and the gameplay is familiar.

It’s fun but, existing in the half-world between dimensions, it fails to satisfy either the lust for old fashioned action or the flexibility of the modern gamer.

Cumbersome at the best of times, it takes a lot more effort on the player’s part than it should to control the ball as they would wish. Not good for a fast-paced sports title.

It's all just a question of whether you like to take corners slowly, having someone talking about the corners and then getting angry at yourself because you messed up. So take you pick of the three: "Burnout 3," Colin, "RalliSport 2" - which is more fun? "Burnout 3"? Yep.

Certainly not the revolution in 2D fighting games that Arc System Works describe it as, or we were hoping for. We won't bore you with any more of the Greek myth or ornithology laboured analogy crap, we're sure you get the picture.

A game which while enjoyable at first, is neither all out brutal or skill–full enough a simulation to make you want to hone either your fighting or football skills for months to come.

But the puzzles are rarely that puzzling, the enemies aren’t frightening in either their appearance or their behaviour and only the game’s novel use of the ancient lock/key conundrum makes it stand out.

Jam just feels remarkably like the quickly cobbled together game it so obviously is, leaving it in the awkward position of being less balanced than "Alpha 2" or "Street Fighter III," less joyful than "Marvel Vs Capcom 2" and far uglier than "Guilty Gear."

This touchy-feely emphasis might not be to everyone's taste but if sheep herding, bowling, stroking a tiger's nether regions and teaching a chicken to breakdance is your idea of fun, then Creature's Isle is the creature feature for you.

Suitably colourful environments, arcade gameplay and a respectable targeting system are but three reasons to get this honestly-priced shooter that blends the thrill of first-person shooting against a slightly irksome joy of riding a bike.

The races are slow and one mistake can mean the difference between first and last, but that’s the addiction, and whipping your horse to a slight, nosed victory is a mighty satisfying feeling.

One of the major restrictions in Asheron's Call has always been the relatively limited skill system, and sadly the Dark Majesty expansion does nothing to improve on this.

You know if you like it already, and you probably know if you're going to buy it already. As for us, we like it, just don't expect us to know where to find it in two weeks' time. [Play UK]

The track design however is where Crash 'N' Burn gets let down. Visually it's a hit and miss affair but the actual track layout is about as basic as you can get.

It’s all very “out-there”. It’s all very stylish. And apart from the addition of some new and fairly self-explanatory mode updates and some stylishly presented menus this is really what makes Guilty Gear X2 stand out from the crowd.

Certainly a decent enough addition to the genre and less demanding race fans should find plenty to smile about.

Though plagued by a number of problems, not least the average nature of the gameplay, Fur Fighters on PS2 does attempt to invest some new life into the game and does better last year''s Dreamcast original. If you want to play last year’s games today, then you can do no better than Fur Fighters.

Basically a game that is split between repetitive combat and annoying pole swinging sections.

The grognards out there will find much of value in Desert Rats, and I recommend it to them. Other gamers may want to think long and hard before investing their cash in a major niche title such as this.

The game appears to be a little confused as to what it is. Action, adventure, stealth and puzzles all play an equal part in The Angel Of Darkness. Core seems to getting unsure what to do with the franchise, either that or the developer is simply trying too hard.

For everything Sonic Heroes gets right there's a massive fault ready and willing to ruin the hard work - a less than stellar framerate, especially in two-player mode, numerous glitchy moments and - dare we say it? - graphics that are actually inferior to the Dreamcast Sonic iterations.

It's a shame some of the effort wasn't pushed in the direction of the second half of the game.

The weird and wonderful world of Jim is well suited to the GBA – fast-paced and addictive, with enough challenge to get the little grey cells working – but this disappointing port hasn’t done its slimy hero many favours, and GBA owners will find much better elsewhere.

It can't quite match the sheer excitement of NHL and the lack of an online mode is unforgivable, but this is still great fun and is well worth checking out.

It can actually be quite a laugh in a very basic sense - but the fact remains that there are better example of both genres, albeit independently.

Whilst Castlevania is by no means a poor game, it's a world away from the franchise it's supposed to be representing and instead will be seen as yet another above average "Devil May Cry" clone. Oh, how the mighty have fallen...

Freakiest of all though, are those sunken-eyed ghoulish geishas that pop up every five minutes - more chilling than any slathering zombie. Brrr.

Sadly, the decreased scare factor makes the game's backtracking much more of a chore, as you endlessly trawl back and forth to find items that open doors to other items.

The unnecessary complications lie in the sheer volume of convoluted commands crammed onto the DualShock for use throughout the game.

The main character is nothing special and a character-based platformer needs to have a very strong lead to even stand a chance. In this day and age it takes a lot more than just being 'a nice game' to get anywhere, and Kya is just that: a nice game.

The lack of endearing characters dosen't help the cause either – there is no empathy on your part as your character comes across as an extremely nasty person...a large slice of fun, but nothing special.

Underneath the gloss and overblown script, behind the limited tactical use of the Legions, Chaos Legion is an old-fashioned hack ‘n’ slash adventure. Just like "Devil May Cry 2," the next-gen visual wizardry and slick character design hide a game that isn’t quite as original as it thinks it is.

Falls closer to mediocrity than it does greatness. The basic gameplay is sound enough -– the screen scrolls very quickly and the controls are responsive, but after a few plays you'll notice that the cars all follow the same pattern and this is one of many flaws in the overall AI.

An acquired taste, and well worth renting for a weekend's test play.

A great idea, until you realise that the levels are quite linear and the animal interaction fairly basic. This is a great game to buy for your kids, but if you're buying it for yourself expect to get bored very quickly.

Although entertaining, MX Superfly lacks that consuming compulsion to see, perform, and unlock everything, but it is worth a rental if the words ‘Yamaha’ and ‘Honda’ excite you.

A game of two vastly differing stories. One tells of the awesome technology and design work that has gone into constructing the game world. The other is about a failure to utilise that game world into making a cohesive, fun and rewarding videogame experience. Driv3r is glitchy, unfinished and, as we've already stated, fundamentally flawed.

If you love old-skool challenges and want to test your SF skills against the world's best, then this is the perfect collection. If only it came with a stained cigarette holder to clip onto the Xbox the retro feel will be complete.

All in all, it may only be one for the fanatics but there is a lot of fun to be had with Channel. Some of the better parts had us in stitches and while the game itself may be fairly linear and restricted, it makes up for it in terms of sheer amusement. [JPN Import]

Shadow Hearts has some intriguing elements, but disappoints with its battle dynamics and some terrible scripts.

The only problem is, just as the visual style has been ramped up and reduced to looking like an episode of an anodyne Saturday morning cartoon, the gameplay has been reduced to fit.

For all its good intentions and car modifying appeal, there's a real lack of exhilaration under the bonnet that cripples the game the moment it leaves the starting line.

But once you've completed the new missions you'll be looking for further challenges - this is where the online features come in.

The engine is slick and the action thick... Just know that the gameplay mechanics throughout fail to present the depth needed to truly engage long-term.

If you're after a decent platform adventure game for a gamer between the ages of three and nine, Carmen is perfect. Straightforward gameplay, varied graphics, a memorable villain and a slice of science will satisfy anyone in that age group.

It's certainly not bad, but several annoying points prevent it from being truly great.

Thanks to the half-decent camera you can also get right down into the action to appreciate the slaughter even more. It’s worth getting Operation Genesis for this opportunity alone.

One for the novice, or those more interested in ‘larger than life’ gaming than the real sport.

An average game that may be backed by superior bonus modes and challenges, but which at heart offers nothing new and, taken at face value, fails to deliver a truly thrilling experience.

A slight update of a decent game but with other similar titles making significant additions to their gameplay itís in danger of stagnating.

So while this may not offer the same level of ingenuity as the original Blood Omen, it’s certainly more varied than the Soul Reaver games.

Fast and fun, but not one for the hardcore who expect balanced play mechanics as a matter of, ahem, course.

It just feels slightly light, the locations feel slightly claustrophobic and there is an overall feeling of tightness in it. It's a slightly good game!

Just when it all sounds so promising it all falls apart as the boxing itself feels rigid and restrictive, while the punching animations don't feel nearly as convincing as the original Rocky game, with certain animations seemingly failing to connect for no reason.

Despite lacking in the depth found in more established fighters, Bloody Roar: Primal Fury is a complete blast to play.

It is hectic fun that's packed with (largely mindless) violence... It soon gets repetitive though with most missions involving similar enemies and following a similar structure. It is a good blast however.

While this certainly isn't for everyone, it is a good game that will bring you hours of entertainment if you're prepared to put the work in.

Combat is a fluid, nippy affair more in keeping with 2D fighters like Guilty Gear than Tekken and includes a fine array of attacks that can be learnt and built on.

For today’s player, Shinobi will quite simply be too frustrating to see it through to the end. Sad but true. Making this one for the masochists of yesteryear.

Through four years of massive commitment and seasonal hell with over 300 vehicles and 600 infantry types, this a game to challenge the serious gamer.

Surprisingly, it's this split between the game's determination to showcase new elements while reintroducing more traditional gameplay that makes Sonic Advance 3 such a success; there's something here for everyone, no matter which era of Sonic you prefer.

The prison camps are all highly detailed and full of things for you to find, figuring out the breakout is fun, some of the scrapes you get into with the guards are a laugh and, if you can handle the sheer frustration of getting constantly caught, you’ll find an in-depth and interesting adventure. But we do rather feel it could have been much better.

Simply put if you do not have Live or do not intend on getting Live there is zero point in wasting money on Counter-Strike. This should have been a Christmas must buy but now it's nothing more than a stocking filler.

The main problem with Star Trek: Away Team, however, is the enemy AI. Whichever skill setting you play on (there are only two) you will find yourself confronted by some of the most stupid opposition ever found in a video game.

Nothing groundbreaking, but if its fun with guns you’re after then few current squad based titles provide it better than this.

There's the excellent AI, providing plenty of intense situations wherein you must outwit your enemies. The intelligence of the game’s often tricky challenges make their completion all the more rewarding.

It’s an average gun game that fans of the under-supported genre who are tired of "Time Crisis 2" will get some fun from, but it’s no classic.

Sure, you can dress your fighter in all sorts of swish gear and blinging jewellery and Henry Rollins is on hand to teach you new 'Blazin' moves and generally improve your tactics, but once you've taken away all the gimmicks, you're left with what is still a very niche title.

It isn't a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, and it's lovely to see some of the old Pitfall elements back after such a long hiatus. But some dodgy level design causing a multitude of unfair deaths means that we quickly became frustrated.

Although battles and conversations make up a big part of the gameplay, aimless wondering makes up even more.

Other mech shooters like "Steel Battalion," "Phantom Crash," "Gun Metal" and even "Robotech" featured a new approach to the genre. Sadly, this isnít the case here. But if you're after some mindless action then this is the place to come.

The artificial feel of the game hampers its campaign to become one of the best shooters of its kind, and (as we’ve seen time and time again) the main gimmick has sold the rest of the experience short.

The one aspect of the presentation that does warrant attention, however, is the camera, which true to third-person shooter form, manages to make the game far less enjoyable than it really should be. Where action is concerned, this isn't such a problem, but when solving puzzles the camera can prove a greater enemy than Dracula and all his undead minions combined.

Freekstyle is a solid and often fun game that is sadly plagued by some niggling faults and the knowledge that both in terms of the genre and game style, this has been done better before.

An excellent sense of humour that manages to make the older gamer chuckle without offending the kiddies.

Though Dino Stalker features all the relevant gore and shocks of Capcom’s classic survival horror games (and is proud to say so) the slow gameplay, limited freedom and short lifespan puts the survival of Dino Stalker in doubt.

While there's no doubt that it's a solid golf game that’s engrossing and fun to play, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 just doesn't feel like a true sequel.

And play through you will as the repetitive nature of the game offers very little challenge despite the inclusion of boss battles, secret areas and herding puzzles. At one point you will have to guide a giant lobster into a cave and seal it with falling stalactites.

Ultimately, Whiplash is a hilariously funny platformer that manages to cruise by on sheer charm and its ludicrously over-the-top soundtrack.

Smooth and fast, the sensation of participating in a race is actually very good, though the overall design quality tends to waver somewhat from track to track.

Minutes turn to hours turn to days of play but all of a sudden, a revelation hits you. ‘What am I doing?’, ‘What’s the point in this?’ – you start to question why you’re putting so much time into a practically endless game.

Imagine, if you will, Dynasty Warriors with magic spells, a weirder and more convoluted story, and boss fights, then shrink if all down and add a heavy dose of Anime style. What you end up with, more or less, is Mystic Heroes.