The greatest challenge in the game is really overcoming the controls and camera though, so if you are the kind of person who is easily put off by unconventional control schemes, perhaps you should look elsewhere for buried treasures.

The game is plagued by faults in the control setup and AI deficiencies as well as a limited online modes.

Sudeki is a unique blend of dazzling, frantic combat and high adventure, albeit a short one.

The decision to take out LIVE compatibility is a major downer, but don't let that prevent you from playing one of the most superb NFL games on the market.

One thing's for sure though: Samurai Warriors has massive potential for refinement and improvement.

The fairly repetitive and shallow missions, the dreary presentation of the film plot, and the uneven sights and sounds are normally sufficient to warrant a 'fans need only apply' status.

The shoddy on foot action and the terrible AI, the bugs, including bad pop up, bad collision detection and glitches in animation both in cut scenes and in game, the terrible mission design and trite story add up to a really average game.

Powerdrome doesn't improve on the genre as much as I was hoping.

A few interesting urban levels, cinematic cutscenes and kickass surround sound aren't enough to save Shadow Ops from being decidedly mediocre. It isn't horribly bad, but it isn't good either.

While the graphics aren't up to what Xbox owners expectations may now be, the game still looks great and ultimately, its 'fun factor' easily lifts it up into borderline gaming greatness.

It doesn't stray much outside the established action/adventure genre, and while not particularly challenging, it is quite fun to play and would be particularly well suited to those who like their games to be quite cruisey.

Full Spectrum Warrior has clearly been simplified and made more ‘gamey’ with the intent to appeal to the broader gaming community. Unfortunately the level design suffers from being too restrictive and players are encouraged to search for the intended solution with little opportunity to think outside the square.

The immersion factor is off the chart and is easily the best looking Xbox game yet.

Hardcore fans will be shattered to learn they are limited to using normal and easy modes due to the glitch with the A.I. although it isn't a complete loss.

Much like a fireworks display: it shines very brightly and provides a big hit of enjoyment, only to fizzle out all-too-quickly and leave you with little besides fond memories and a hole in your pocket.

It combines easy to play arcade racing with brilliant graphics, loads of variety and game play time, realistic sound, excellent multiplayer support and in depth car setup for those who wish to use it.

The Off the Ball feature is absolutely incredibly hard to come to terms with and emphasises how EA are still struggling to come up with gameplay features to match its main competitor "Pro Evolution Soccer."

It’s fast paced, stylish, and genuinely fun to play. However it is held back by sub-par visuals and a decidedly short single-player campaign with only bare-bones deathmatch multiplayer to keep you hooked.

If there’s a few small complaints to level at Shrek 2 it’s that the humour is kind of flat and doesn’t feature the witty satire, or any of the more mature in-jokes that the movie had.

Check it out if you liked Hitman 2, but just remember, you are basically paying $100 (Austrailan) for 12 new levels of the same game and when you consider that Hitman 2 had around 20 levels, Contracts looks even less attractive.

If you are after a guns-out shooting fest then you better get your stealthy ninja mate to play through the first two thirds of the game for you as you will quickly tire of the games slow pace and relentless punishment of mistakes early on. If you are looking for an original well designed devilishly dark gaming experience and can deal with all the gore and swearing then Manhunt is highly recommended.

With the Holden and Fords, as well as loads of Aussie tracks, V8 Supercars 2 has the local edge over the other big Xbox racing games. While the career mode is a watered down, user friendly part of the game with no real car tuning available, its loads of fun and features plenty of full on action.

Fans of the third person/action genre have seen everything that Alias has to offer before in the form of "Buffy" and "Indiana Jones" and except for the CIA/hi-tech storyline the game doesn’t really present gamers with anything new.

It appears as all the effort of Fight Night 2004 went into the boxing controls, and the career mode was added as an afterthought. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing.

The "real world" scenarios and plot in PT gives the game an edge that is frighteningly real and believable. The graphics and levels are better than the original, the audio is simply perfect and if it wasn't for the difficulty level would be almost flawless.

Those who persist will experience a truly breathtaking example of exceptional storytelling and original gameplay ideas. The rest will dismiss it after a few hours as not their bag and/or too hard.

Even with new levels, added extras and a new multiplayer mode with Xbox Live support, it really doesn’t scrub up and match the polish of some other recent titles.

You shouldn’t need double-jointed thumbs nor the kind of patience required to endure its faults. As it is, I can only recommend Mafia to those that for one reason or another cannot play the game on the PC. It isn’t a bad game, it’s just not all that it could be.

It's low level of frustration, great controls and creepy atmosphere are almost certain to please survival horror fans.

The combat is challenging but fair, and some of the physical puzzles may call for numerous attempts, and none of it is impossible.

It's a solid game with a lot going for it and a safe purchase if you go in not expecting anything revolutionary.

Sure, the game does hold its fair share of problems - average graphics, an unoriginal story, a tendency to become monotonous and the occasional cheesy comment or two, but there’s enough solid content in the game to keep both old and new Pitfall fans happy.

The awesome production values put into EON easily make it the best modern Bond game yet and even without Xbox Live support is still definitely worth your money.

One part strategy, one part fighting, with a tasty dressing of polished design. Ageing PC enthusiasts have seen similar in Arcon Ultra and similar games, but for everyone else Wrath Unleashed is an envigoratingly fresh title with a unique look and epic feel.

Silent Scope Complete would have been a wonderful package for fans of light gun games, only it’s let down by an intrinsically flawed calibration system.

Disappointing.

The ability to create items and the differences between the playable characters adds loads of depth to what is essentially a linear adventure and co-operative mode adds even more re-playability.

At the end R:Racing is not a terrible game, but nor is it even a good game, it should probably come with a sticker on the front saying Rental only, and then only if you’re desperate for a new racing game.

The story, while involving, mainly because of the excellent character development, plays out quite linearly and this makes it feel as you’re playing an interactive movie.

Pure, unadulterated, shooting fun and offers a fresh coat of paint to a tired genre.

Whilst this is Microsoft’s first venture onto the ice, it does quite a respectable job at recreating the action, speed and excitement of the game of hockey.

The strategy is basic at best, while the audio-visual presentation is tepid and uninspired.

An exceptionally well made game that smacks of style and polish.

It's button-mashing at its best: not too simplistic, but not too complicated either. The RPG and adventure elements add a nice twist to things, though it isn't really enough to warrant returning for a second swing.

By combining the same addictive button-mashing core of its predecessor with better visuals, better level design, more dynamic gameplay (thanks to the scripted events that drive the levels), and a multiplayer co-op mode, Return of the King is an exceptionally well-produced game.

With two huge expansions and dozens of fixes and updates, GOTY takes the bar Morrowind raised and propels it to unbeatable heights.

Just plain average. It’s not a terrible game; just that this has been done so much better in many other games.

While Battlestar Galactica is incredibly difficult to master with unclear objectives, lethal enemies and challenging (read: long and unsaveable) missions, the game still manages to hit all the right notes.

The game is a little on the easy side. Ok, a lot on the easy side if you’re good with puzzles but not too hard for kids and of course it suffers the fate of all puzzle games; When you’ve solved them once, there is no challenge in solving them again.

It’s fun to play, but the dull missions and average graphics make it the kind of game you’ll probably enjoy for a week and then let gather dust on your shelf.

If you enjoyed the original, the sequel is basically more of the same, just a little more refined.

ESPN however has a certain appeal that comes from its brilliant presentation and easy to grasp controls, the addition of the crib makes this one of the best sports games available for the Xbox.

This is one for the kids and as such a generic plot, comic voice acting, simple puzzles, below average graphics, and a general lack of nuance may be acceptable.

It’s actually one of the more enjoyable arcade racers available on Xbox. It looks good, plays well and is stacked with options.

Unlike many other movie based tie-ins Jk2 does capitalise extremely well on the Star Wars franchise and has been well executed.

Primarily a nostalgia piece, and while it is an extremely faithful recreation, therein lies the problem. What it does well has been done before, and the attempts to innovate the series for the most part fail.

A game of surprise, stealth, patience and dexterity. Add to this a fantastic emphasis on story, detail, and cinematic scope, and you have a great alternative to the traditional stand ‘em up, knock ‘em down pistol whipper that many of us have become accustomed to.

It really is one of the easiest games I’ve played. The problem is there is nothing in the game that’s quite spectacular enough to make up for it either.