In a market where so many games seem based on the same set of ideas, Gun Battler Joe is a real breath of fresh air. Highly recommended.

Does exactly what it sets out to do, and as such it comes highly recommended to anyone with more than one controller to their name.

It’s overly confusing without even rewarding the diligent player with a satisfying payoff. There is no, and we mean NO, sense of satisfaction in victory.

When you could buy Tekken 4 for the same amount, why would you want this average contribution to the PS2 gene pool? Sometimes it can be fun, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before, and done much, much better.

That said, there is no doubt that this is a fantastic game that contains believable characters (surely a rarity in the world of RPGs) and although occasionally stuttering in a fit of lost focus, manages to both charm and delight with its fresh locales and gung-ho attitude.

A game of high scores, precision and unlocking further stages to then score high on. It’s a game that flies in the face of new fads like stealth modes, world-building sims and realism in favour of old-skool thrills and kills.

There's nothing about it that really makes us want to recommend it, or play it for any extended period of time. We think this is simply because by today's standards, it's very average.

RF II is, indeed, a good game, it just isn’t quite as great or ground-breaking as the first one was despite all its new bells, whistles and a slightly unnecessary squad system.

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.

Half-baked doesn’t even begin to describe this fodder – which is a shame because even with its clichéd eccentricity it could have won as an example of style over substance. It doesn’t.

The characters themselves seem to fight more like they have nagging arthritis rather than immeasurable mutant powers. And the FMV sequences would insult even PS2 owners.

A big yawnfest... None of these events offer anything that remotely resembles fun which ideally is exactly the experience you'd expect from a party-style game like this.

BloodRayne's dull gameplay, soul crushingly overbearing sexual innuendo and uninspired design adds up to a very below-par package that makes it hard for us to find it in ourselves to recommend it to anyone.

The mentality behind it is decidedly 32-bit, and this isn’t just limited to the models either.

Though the graphics and sound are fairly basic (aside from a few lighting touches and stylish cinematics, Sub Rebellion could be a PSone game), the gameplay packs a more detailed punch.

Fans everywhere can rejoice.

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.

The trouble is (and we can’t really expect anything different) that it doesn’t do anything above and beyond the call of duty.

Name almost any gaming cliché and Ty is making you yawn by using it.

The wisely balanced sim and arcade elements are combined with fantastic presentation to make for a very slick package that boxing fans will enjoy.

Another criticism levelled at last year’s release was the dodgy AI. This time round the CPU players are much more intelligent making for a more challenging, yet rewarding game.

A solid looking, solid playing basketball game that sits firmly in the ‘realism’ camp.

The most complete FPS we have ever seen. This is it. We have it now. We have a game that is as essential to your console happiness as a memory card, Dual Shock and big comfy armchair.

It is so good you’ll find it difficult to put down.

The Dreamcast may be dead and buried but Virtua Tennis lives on in this essential GBA purchase. Excellent!

Pure undiluted fun. After an hour or so of play any grudges with the control system or the textures are soon forgotten.

If you're looking for a realistic and fun basketball game, then NBA Live 2003 will not disappoint.

Fighting games are based on fast reactions and timing; this game doesn’t bother to interpret either of these fundamentals with fights being far less engrossing and hands-on than playing with plastic dinosaurs while making “grrroooar!” noises.