Overall there's more to do and experience in Return of the King than in The Two Towers, but consequently this tends to frustrate more than please.

Amazing.

Koei certainly knows how to sell an add-on without leaving its consumers feeling cheated - basically, this is how expansion packs for console games should be employed.

In a complete reversal of modern trends, these are games whose visuals play second fiddle to the sheer wealth, diversity and involvement of tasks on offer, all the while playing on some very tongue in cheek moments and dark humour that even Hollywood's finest would have a tough time trying to rival.

Still, while mindlessly hacking away at guards, the player can at least enjoy the neat visuals, which are brilliantly authentic and effectively designed.

Insufferably bi-polar difficulty levels attacks that can't be repelled or escaped from no matter your skill and combat because your stuck on the ground in a death loops is something so lacking in grace that it numbs you.

Definitely an improvement on previous editions and it seems that EA is some way towards emulating "Pro Evolution Soccer" on the PS2. Unfortunately for Xbox fans, it hasn't quite got it yet.

Easily the best football game on the GameCube, even with the shortcomings of the AI and controls. It takes some getting used to, but once mastered, there's a great game in here.

If though you're after more than eye catching cosmetic gloss and an ear stroking cinematic score, if, in short, you're after a brilliantly playable game based on one of the most celebrated, loved and epic fantasies in living memory, then sadly this isn't what you're looking for.

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.

Possibly the biggest disappointment of the year. What could have been this year's "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" turns out to be a shoddily executed, clumsy and unrewarding experience.

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.

To be honest, the game is really quite enjoyable, but four-player Gauntlet-style fighting action would have been superb.

Add in the camaraderie and chat, the shouts of alarm and the odd comedy moment to lighten the tension and you have a cracking game that would be perfect if only there were a couple of branches down the very straight and narrow.

This isn't the most gratifying FPS game out there, or is it the deepest but it does have its place. You all know us, you know what we do for a living so you should realise that we really don't like saying that a game would make an ideal rental.

The big turn-off contained within Rogue Ops, however, is the control element, and more specifically the focus of Nikki during play. L1 moves into look mode, where your targeting reticule glows green if an item can be used.

Despite the straightforward levels, there's a lot of work to be done and when you're finished with the single-player side of the game there's plenty of multiplayer goodness to follow.

While the balance between shoot-'em-up action, stealth and puzzle solving makes Rogue Ops a treat to play, what we love most about it is its openness. To every problem or obstacle encountered there's nearly always at least two solutions, sometimes even more (see panel for more detail).

This one certainly needs to be sexed up if it wants to be taken off the shelf.

A tediously simple game, utilising all of two buttons and an analogue stick to do just about everything - which isn't much. This minimal depth repels any desire to want to return to this game ever again.

So you're looking at what, three nights of fun for £69. There are ladies here who don't cost much more than that, and ladies, as we know, have boobs.

Now we're finally over our initial shock, it turns out that Gladius is everything we expected, an interesting title that unfortunately misses its target more times than it hits...

The animations are perfectly complemented by the pixel perfect shadowing and some truly stunning effects, such as the player leaving marks on the clay courts as they skid across to reach for a shot.

Admittedly, if you liked the first game, then your going to love this to bits - but it'll be a bit boring for your average gamer.

Call us old fashioned, but shouldn't a game be tougher at the end than the start? Amped 2 does start to pick up after several stages, and once the methods have been mastered there is some serious enjoyment to be had.

The name is the game's only standout feature, and that's all the summing up you need.

It feels less than the sum of it's parts, and though we respect the fact it's aimed mainly at kids, Quidditch's magic seems to be little more than a couple of fast hand movements and a burst of dry ice.

Rogue Ops doesn't ever better what we already have, so why should you spend forty quid on it? Well the answer is you shouldn't. This is one stealth game that is largely unnecessary, unless you can't use your thumbs.

Overall, this is the most complete Smackdown game yet, with changes and improvements everywhere you care to mention and a fighting system that's such fun, knowledge of the WWE isn't even necessary to enjoy it.

Coupled with the unrivalled level design, the marriage of elements is a strong one... one that easily claims the extreme top spot and raises the bar that one notch higher.

You can happily blaze away all day were it not for those objectives, playing smart is the developer's desired way for you to play but its not as much fun.

An absolute must buy for basketball enthusiasts (football fans think of "Pro Evoultion Soccer 3," with a license and Live capabilities). For anyone else: this is as good as console basketball gets, so try it.

The real problem is - aside from the lack of speed - the awful handling and controls. It doesn’t feel like a motorbike and actually controls like a normal player character, in that you accelerate by pushing forwards with the left stick, and control direction with the right.

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...

To put them in order we'd say that TC3 is better than TC2 but both of them still hover behind Titan. This is an excellent lightgun game that just misses being truly great and goes on to kill an innocent bystander.

Every silver lining has a cloud and for Crimson Skies this cumulus comes in the puffy form of some occasionally-forgetful frame rates and geographical detail that really doesn't want you to get too close.

This is one of those infamous games that you'll pick up long after completion just for the fun of it.

TMNT certainly looks good but the simplistic gameplay of TMNT will leave any mildly serious gamer with a few hours of fun at their fingertips but possibly no more than that.

Indeed, it's only once you've actually sat down and experienced every element that SSX3 has to offer that you can see how much more complete it feels against all the other snowboarding games that focus purely on one style of gameplay.

There's no denying that Amped is a far more accurate depiction of snowboarding as a sport, but if it's fun you want you can't go far wrong with this.

The repertoire of tricks has been massively expanded. There are now rail Ubers and hand plants to experiment with but, most interestingly, you can now perform a board press to link combos together for big points.

And yes you did read that right, there are just six measly levels. Which disappointingly explains the reason that tasks (or rather chores) such as mini- bosses and end of level fights can be extremely tiresome and the wrong side of difficult.

While certainly nothing for the self proclaimed 'hardcore' to worry about, those looking for some light fun will be more than content with Tak and his shit-eating grin.

The main problem that Tak And The Power Of Juju has is persuading gamers that it is not a game aimed merely at a young audience and that there is plenty of challenge here whatever your age.

The action itself is fast and fluid.

It does two things badly, when we'd rather it did one thing well.

This is the evolution of platform games that we've waited nearly ten years for, which is great news for everyone.

Tragically, Haunted Mansion is mercilessly short, and combined with the singular solution to each room ensures a frustrating experience, especially as it's so completely linear.

NBA Live 2004 has to get the nod over "NBA Jam" due to the deeper gameplay, sexier looks and fresher soundtrack.

In short, there are no clear delineations in skill level. Whilst this is one way of making Virtual On more inclusive, it also removes much of the game’s innate charm. To make matters more complicated, Marz lacks a TwinStick peripheral.

There's no skill involved at all as it's more a test of thumb durability than cagey fighting tactics.

We are loathe to diss it completely as it is fun for a while, but you really cannot justify paying forty quid for it. Rent this, grab some beers, unhook your brain and you'll have fun - but don't think about paying full price for it, there's just not enough here.

Doubts aside, if you're after a quality shoot-'em-up that's as filthy as you like then Roadkill is for you.

In this day and age, a game can't carry itself on its licensed soundtrack alone and so ultimately Roadkill disappoints. It may be fun for while, but we all know that this sort of thing has been done better elsewhere.

Despite the huge amount of secrets to unlock we can't envisage this lasting too long and it might be just too sugary for a lot of people. But if you're looking for something to play with the whole family, or with a lot of friends then this is perfect. [Import]

Limited, repetitive and tediously gratuitous.

As far as a war game goes, Conflict: Desert Storm II is fun and easy to play and it manages to be realistic without getting bogged down in its own intricacies. However, we did find the much vaunted AI to be flawed, which soured our overall enjoyment of the game.

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

This imaginatively titled sequel is far from a massive step up, but all of the changes and new additions make that small step seem so much bigger than it really is.

Such a riotous explosion of colour and astounding visuals tied to a brilliantly useable control system that there’s little in the videogame world (or anywhere else for that matter) that compares to the sensation of playing it. [Import]

Even when you take into account some other minor disappointments on top of the AI though (such as the mess of a multiplayer mode and some annoying graphical glitches that occur on occasion), there’s still no denying that Freedom Fighters is a fairly impressive effort and a fun game to boot.

This game is a tasty piece of eye candy. All the environments are not only huge, but extremely detailed. It runs on the Same engine as Hitman 2, but looks much better.

It’s worth playing through the game a few times to find varying routes through the levels, but after that all you’ve got left is the split-screen deathmatch, a feature that not only plays badly but really isn’t needed.

A good third-person, team-building, shooter for the GameCube. But it needs more depth to the AI, longer levels and less linear missions.

Unfortunately the handling can leave a lot to be desired and often you can find your self weaving along the straights and spinning out around the sharper bends.

There's no doubt that Hitz Pro is the best hockey game of this year, though a lack of online play in the UK and no option to play classic Hitz gameplay will disappoint fans.

Overall, this is a decent, efficient addition to the genre, with a few good additions here and there for hardcore fans while the game's accessibility makes it a fine starting point for newcomers.

Even with the addition of downloadable content via Live (more than likely roster updates), and some inventive cheat modes that can be acquired such as big heads, big feet and various gameplay enhancing modes, NBA Jam is unlikely to be at the top on anyone's shopping list.

This is certainly one offbeat character we wouldn't mind seeing again.

It's true that NHL 2004 is a tougher game to get involved with compared to past versions of the franchise. But, with more leagues (including elite world clubs), more players and new enhanced moves, there is plenty here for fans to enjoy, if you have the stamina to master it all, that is.

This is still the best choice for gamers wanting to batter a hard white ball around a park but anyone returning to the series will be disappointed with the slender changes.

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.

Ever played "Secret Of Monkey Island," "Day Of The Tentacle," "Full Throttle" or "Sam And Max Hit The Road"? Then you’ll love Neighbours From Hell.

It's supposed to be fun and with this it has no problem, and no equal. If the first game was ‘hole in one’ perfect then Tiger Woods 2004 doesn’t even need to take a swing – it's cool enough already.

The customary mid-game fighting seems a little pointless, but for a game with such a wealth of strengths, this isn’t really a problem. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by this title.

Far more complete and polished than the last Tiger Woods. There's so much in there that it will take months to win everything.

If you want the most comprehensive and thorough hockey game/management sim, then NHL 2004 is the place to turn.

The entire game is full of references to the TV series and the scripting/voice acting is perfect. It's mainly this reason that Hit And Run is so much fun to play, it's also why we're more than happy to ignore the GTA style.

Boundless disappointment is perhaps the best way to describe the gut feeling Dino Crisis 3 elicits in the player. Vast empty spaces on the ship manage to create a real sense of isolation, but at the same time, the game's emphasis on backtracking turns any feeling of exigency into tedium. [Japan Import]

Grumbling aside, Hit & Run is a decent stab at doing something different with a The Simpsons game, but it still can't help being very, very unoriginal and dragging everything down to the lowest common denominator - collect stuff!

Although it's wonderful to drive around a fully realised 3D Springfield at breakneck speed in Otto's bus, we can't help but feel that things are a little formulaic.

Another disappointment is the hardcore matches, where instead of the huge selection of weapons we were looking forward to using and abusing, we were presented only with a couple of chairs.

With the bonus of a simple-yet-effective track editor, your ‘stunted’ growth is only limited by your imagination and patience, making this a game that will appeal to those inclined towards all things extreme.

Fine visuals, excellent sound and a level of presentation currently unrivalled in any sporting product - what more could you want?

Assuming you have friends then you're in for an average time too. Are these levels atmospheric or just murky? Murky.

This is a game about a partnership between play styles, and one that wouldn’t seem to work on paper, but like all good buddy relationships, like Starsky & Hutch themselves, it comes through in the end.

The linearity of both the mission schedule and chase routes gives the feeling you’re just been led by the hand through a series of essentially lame set-pieces.

The question on everyone's lips though, is whether all of this is enough to take it up to the heights of Ace Combat? Well sadly no and we get the feeling that this is never going to be lethal enough to take on the Namco shooter.

Who would want to admit to buying this? We’d certainly be too embarressed to show this to any of our friends, enemies, neighbours, random strangers off the street, pet cat...

If you can look past this failing though, P. N. 03... is massively enjoyable game. Each room is another challenge, asking you to think on your feet while being attacked from all angles, and strangely, it never gets too frustrating.

The nail in the coffin for Wrestlemania XIX has to be the decision to include the completely horrible Revenge mode as the main single-player option, as opposed to any kind of Career mode.

Frankly, this an ugly piece of game that hopes its strategic heart will cover up meathead combat and disgustingly short draw distances. Not for this money, no way. Strictly for fans only, and we mean that.

To say that Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure has the worst soundtrack of any game EVER, is an understatement.

It's engrossing and amazingly, imparts a deep, genuine love for numbers.

The intelligent tactical basis should certainly make this a massive hit with hard-core strategists, but the average gamer may struggle to be inspired by the map-based gameplay action and heavy subject matter.

The Quest mode is too loose and culminates in boss battles that do away with the puzzle element completely, in favour of random dice turning. The result is a game that's great with some friends, but fails to ignite when played alone.

If you feel that your love for games is diminishing, play this and be welcomed back to a Technicolor world of total obsession. If this game was a person, we’d stalk it, search its bins and collect snippets of its hair. [Import]

The gameplay just isn’t up to scratch. Hack, slash and float is the basic premise, and that is about the extent of it. All the shopping for new weapons and random character level-ups don’t appear to have any effect on the meat and bones of the gameplay, and the repetition soon leads to boredom.