This sequel is everything you'd expect, and not much else. Whether that's a good thing or not is down to your own judgement.

A decent action RPG that manages to be as good as Baldur's Gate, though not better than it, and so falls short of really offering anything new.

The real weakness of NFL Street, however, is the same criticism levelled at Madden just a few months ago - that completing a pass or finding a run through the defence is too arbitrary to judge.

Sadly, NFL Street feels exactly like a sub-game, and an extremely common one at that.

It's often the case with sports games, but this one is particularly geared up for some serious head to head potential. The over-the-top style is ideal for when you get the overwhelming urge to push a friend's face into a wall.

Each crevice is likely to hold trigger-happy snipers, each road blocked off with mortar crews. Fighting is far more intense this way and navigating the streets of Baghdad can be a nerve-racking experience.

Take a bowl of Capcom's Dreamcast title "Powerstone," add a pinch of Sonic then empty half of the mixture into the sink, and you have Sonic Battle.

The two things that platform games rely on the most - the level design and your degree of interaction with them are both massively flawed, and to add insult to injury the usual Sonic technical misgivings are all correct and present: good looking graphics, but prone to tearing and glitching.

AF does a better job with collision detection, though unfortunately damage balance is regularly far from perfect. Taking out an enemy as insignificant as a rat may only take a single punch, for example, though strangely it takes many more attacks with a metal bar.

The previous games in the series have all been relatively successful, and Defiance looked set to continue that tradition, until the poor camera angles and misjudged over-emphasis on combat scuppered things somewhat. As it stands, this is very much a game for fans of the series only.

The second [half of the game] - and arguably the more addictive - is the car customisation.

It looks loads better, has more objects and Sim-building options; it gives you more freedom and sense of neighbourhood. The trouble is that it's not the giant leap of gameplay that would warrant another £40.

Another annoying aspect of the game is that the Artificial Intelligence is hardly cutting edge, in fact, it couldn't cut butter.

Tweaked sounds and graphics make it look slightly better and sound slightly nicer, but it’s not really a sequel in the true sense of the word. The Sims Bustin’ Out adds logical improvements to an already winning formula without blowing us away with any stunning revelations.

One of the worst games we've ever played. Its badly designed, poorly implemented and an insult to Medabot fans. Our suggestion? Save yourself some money and stick to watching the cartoons.

By having multiple game styles - many of which are only additional to the main ones, as opposed to overpowering - helping enhance the overall experience rather than weaken it, Beyond Good & Evil is all the better for it.

Tecmo has effectively played it safe and delivered a game that while very good, does not offer the same enhancements to the genre that the original achieved. It's definitely worth picking up; just don't expect anything startingly original.

Looks, sounds and plays every bit as good as "Gran Turismo 3" while bringing some great new additions to the genre.

It's not significantly superior to 2000, but we defy any fighting game fan not to be totally entertained and impressed by the scope for astonishingly satisfying and complex battles in both titles.

A decent game then, but one let down by a lack of direction in a crowded genre.

The best accolade Philosopher's Stone can receive is that it makes the events of the first story (published way back in the twentieth century) seem fresh for the fans, while hiding nothing from the uninitiated.

You have to endure some horrendously annoying and monotonous commentary and cue-ball control is patchy at best. Nevertheless, you do get plenty of game styles (including snooker) and a trick shot mode, to keep things fresh - for a while.

Every member of the CUBE team was looking forward to this, and they all left the first session grumbling words like 'disaster,' 'bollocks' ad 'don't give up the day job Namco'. It's slow, dull and tedious. Don't get too depressed though, because there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

To play Operation Surma is to walk a tightrope between excited gaming tension and an overwhelming urge for self-mutilation.

The Curse comes in the form of a yellow mist. A yellow mist with some social problems, it likes to posses the dead, hence the zombies and also inanimate objects. So it's slightly different to Resi Evil and the zombies run fast, like in 28 Days Later. Ooooo. Sounds fascinating. It isn't.

Not the revolution we had expected, perhaps, but it's still got classic Revolution written all over it, and that's just about fine with us.

Far from terrible, this latest Dragonball offering may be among the best we've seen but it simply doesn't have either the widespread or lasting appeal to find the audience that the nature of the license means it once might have. C'mon guys - it may still be working for Pokemon...

It's always sad to see a good game be slowly dragged down by visuals and sound. This could have been great but a collection of small faults makes this yet another fairly average title.

This isn't just a disappointing sequel; it's a terrible game that should have never made it off the drawing board, mainly because someone should have spotted how bad it was going to be. Never mind killing off a classic license, this is more like a ritual execution.

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.

Visually and aurally, Prince of Persia is right up there with the best that gaming has to offer, although a good gaming-spec machine is required in order to appreciate the finer points of the experience.

While there is plenty in single player to keep the gamer coming back for more, the chance to play online would have lifted this into true classic status.

PC game-heads will be outraged at the dilution of this franchise by its console leanings, but there is still a great adventure and gripping story to be enjoyed.

There is enjoyment to be had here but it is so short lived that there is no point donating much more than one evening to the game. For a franchise that started out so well this does indeed seem to be the fall of Max Payne.

It's a good, solid adventure game with plenty of cool little touches along the way, but (and there's always a but) it's nothing worth getting frothy at the mouth for.

This game is quality. You don't so much play it, but experience it...Invisible War gives us a new vision and for that we are nothing less than extremely grateful. It's legend time, right here.

With controls that make accurate aiming tiresome and visuals that could be forgiven for being quaint, until they move, finding areas where this one should be recommended is akin to picking gnat shit out of pepper.

Few adventures out there give you a world as detailed and lush as Beyond Good & Evil.

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]

The backdrops, too, are marvellous and the ancient Japanese feeling is matched perfectly with a slow and unsettling score. Whenever you are ambushed, this is quickly replaced with an adrenaline-inducing rush of beats, and you'll find yourself dragon-punching in rhythm to the music.

Fans of all things noir will eat up this one with a sizeable gaming spoon, and anyone who loves a serving of violence with a side order of dirty words will also take plenty away from Max Payne 2.

A very strong contender for the most disappointing title of 2004.

A fantastically frantic, competitive, addictive and exhilarating racer that manages to take the XG series to a whole new level.

The pairing of two characters works very well, with certain levels requiring you to position one before switching to the other in order to hit switches and open doors - yeah, we've seen this all before but it is rare for a licensed product to bother with such game mechanics.

This really is the most onerous, excruciating thumb-mind-and-soul-numbing experience we've had the sorrowful displeasure of witnessing. To play it is as concerning as listening to a long, drawn out joke that you have to pay attention to follow, only to realise the that the punchline is embarrassingly racist. The devil would cry. This is embarrassing.

For a character torn between good and evil, Heaven and Hell, Spawn can be a pretty dull guy and so very, very average.

Spawn Armageddon is going to go down in the annals of gaming history as yet another licence squandered on a game which is unoriginal, uninspiring, and destined for the bargain bins. Disappointing.

It lacks the smooth edges and convincing action sequences of its Star Wars predecessors; KOTOR is still in a different galaxy.

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.

Lead characters aside, another element that makes Whiplash so amusing is Genron itself. Although animal testing is hardly a subject to be laughed at, the game gets away with making fun of it because it's the humans themselves that are portrayed as being dumb animals.

For all the niggles, gripes and irritations, XIII is a class act that has some supremely impressive aspects that you will thoroughly enjoy. This is a game that delights and infuriates in turn and our advice is to ration your XIII sessions so the frustration doesn't ruin what remains a standout title.

Manhunt is boring. Cash's standard walking pace is painfully slow, press R1 and his running speed is ridiculously fast. Navigating the game is therefore less than pleasurable and, should you not have anyone to dice up, a tedious experience.

Coming out of nowhere and with little fanfare, this is certainly one of the genre's better titles. The only problem is that it's hard to identify with a cute robot who makes other cute(ish) robots break apart.

As for the FFX initiates, you're going to like this a lot. Some parts may disappoint, some parts may even annoy you, but the experience as a whole is a good one, and you'll never question your purchase.

The voice acting and sound effects are all spot on and technically the game is far superior to the Xbox version that came out first. The graphics are smoother, the frame rate faster and while a huge Jedi battle can cause slow down, there isn't much to slow the game up from its moderate pace.

This is the very definition of a linear game. Ok, we can accept that. But if the game is going to be so particular, it would be helpful if it wasn't so restrictive and occasionally clumsy.

It really is something worth picking up if you want something that is bristling with its own attitude whilst managing to combine a lot of familiar elements together.

The missions vary between furious dogfights, bombing runs and escort duties, there's even a spot of stealth. The sound is stunning, and visually the game is equal to the best of the genre.

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.

There are just about enough moves to avoid repetition to keep the combat consistently exciting. The animation on all of the moves is superior to just about every other game of its kind.

In essence (online play) transforms it from being a non-descript hockey title, to the hockey game to own. What more can we say?

There's just so much in Metal Arms to enjoy. Sure, it steals elements from numerous other games, but Swingin' Ape Studios has added so much charm to the game that you can't help but be impressed. If you're looking for a visually striking, entertaining blaster, pick it up: you won't be disappointed.

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

We also love the fact that many of the in-world objects can be used as weapons (chairs, ashtrays, spades) and that you can take hostages, releasing them after a incapacitating squeeze to the throat.

Although the AI is good having a human wingman can be a great help. It's just a shame that this can't be extended onto live.

On purely a technical stand point it stands out as looking and sounding like a remarkable achievement but just millimetres below the surface you'll see arguably the most ingeniously crafted game modern consoles have had the pleasure to run.

The story has been used to make a highly entertaining game and once you get involved in the action you only want to blast all the aliens and save the planet.

Playing NFSUG is like driving through the West End at midnight wearing Vaseline smeared sunglasses. Quite how a game can look both polished and blocky is beyond us, but that's exactly what EA has managed here.

An excellent package and a true treasure.

It may not be a startlingly original game but Need for Speed: Underground is an enjoyable one, and for racing fans, it's a must.

Easily one of the best multiplayer racers ever made.

It does improve the longer you play it and there's something enticing about blagging the next new piece of kit to slap on your car. Unfortunately the racing itself simply isn't fun enough.

If there was an award for best grenade launcher sound effect in a game, Rainbow Six 3 would win. The bass-filled 'thwooomp' as it launches (and the room-shaking explosion that follows) make up just one of many Guns-N-Ammo-erotic moments. [XBM]

The rewards to be reaped are well worth ignoring the occasional glitch or repetitive section, as haunting musical tracks, and some wonderfully Geiger-esque environments make this game one of the best presented on the console, even if it sometimes lacks a little bite.

We're in this dream of a game right now and we don't want to wake up and start again- it has to continue and any interruption is akin to a fire alarm going off in a cinema during your favourite fantasy movie. Lovely stuff.

It's a shame because The Hobbit recreates the atmosphere of the book quite well, only to bugger it all up with clichés, a wayward camera and maddening difficulty level.

The career mode really doesn't make up for this cookie cutter title, and compared to Weapons Master mode of SC 2 it just cant compare.

Playing T3 was a joyless experience, and only our loyalty to the Big Man kept us playing.

The end result is that we get another decent Medal Of Honor Game set in the same Medal Of Honor mould when everyone knows that if your going to survive in the jungle you're going to have to adapt to survive.

Despite being a fun, polished and highly stylised game, Ratchet & Clank 2 feels like it's playing catch-up in a crowded genre, a feeling made all the more real considering its running on a year old graphics engine.

If you like the idea of an RTS but never manage to get the hang of all the complicated tactics and procedures this is the perfect game for you. It's got some good ideas well implemented, it's fun to play and essentially it plays like an introduction to the world of RTS.

CNK offers nothing new at all, failing to really improve even on its prequel, which even back then, was pretty standard fare.

In fact, every element of Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown kinda loses its comedy sheen over time, inviting the doubts to creep in and fester in your mind: Could it be that Capcom aren't actually having a laugh? Are they serious about this game?

The ridiculous handling makes these additional modes practically impossible to play.

GC's controls have been optimised for the Xbox's pad and as you are never more than a button press away, you always feel in control unlike some early conversions of the Command & Conquer series, which all results in a fun accessible RTS.

It's just plain bad. What's worse is that either the developer or the publisher is fully aware of how atrocious Rise Of The Machines is. This is of course complete speculation but...

There's just nothing new on offer to hold your interest for longer then a few races.

Far from perfect: a few choice annoyances ensure this. But in terms of enjoyment, there is a sizeable chunk of hours to play through, with or without the story sequences.

As with "Amped 2," it looks like the developers have sidelined the game feel in favour of faithful sporting recreation, and all things considered, the game benefits greatly.

It may be simple, often slow, and quite basic, but the novelty value alone makes it worthwhile.

Half-baked at best, parts of the game appear only half-finished, with sections of polygons not actually meeting, despicable clipping and some truly stone-age AI.

A beautiful, skilful, tactical and intense experience that will test you in many different environments, each demanding a different approach if success is to be achieved. Occasionally you have to rely on a little luck, but that's war, and this is cracking game.

Playing Sands of Time can't help but bring back memories of when games cut the crap and gave you simple games that stood out despite lo-fi graphics and painfully synthetic sound. At its heart is everything that made Prince of Persia '89 such a hot property.

Acceptable character animation and slightly angular backgrounds, decent combat and imaginative puzzles make for a warm gaming experience that's heavily undermined by a total lack of voice acting.

It's certainly slick and professionally done, and those who find platformers to be their favourite genre will find this very enjoyable. However, if you like your gaming to be different then all you'll get from this is a distinct feeling of deja vu.

It's not terrible, just rather pointless.

And if they've seen the film - all the better, though you should really read them the books and put on funny voices. They'll appreciate that more.

If you don't have your PlayStation2 online you're going to be missing out on a large slice of the gaming fun to be had with SOCOM II.