Where Beyond the Sword will really win you over is with the new scenarios and mods. There is some truly wonderful stuff in here.

One of the best console RPGs you'll ever play... The sort of masterpiece that could only be made by people with a preternatural insight into what makes gamers tick.

Where Gran Turismo is probably a little more graphically rich (mostly because of all the diverse locations), it's the actual racing experience that makes NASCAR 2002 Season a better game. Each race has its own story.

Offering a perfectly balanced mix of features, gameplay, and style, Wipeout Pure is one of those rare gems that fires on all cylinders.

The painstaking attention to detail, outstanding worldcrafting, and inspired AI make it a huge improvement; and there wasn't all that much wrong with "Morrowind" to begin with. Oblivion is a stunning game -- don't miss it.

Outstanding in every way. All of the story elements, fantasy fiction races, and winning design elements have been retained, albeit in greatly enhanced forms that make everything feel fresh.

The crisp sprites appear even better suited on the little screen, with the bright, colourful and incredibly well drawn, nicely animated cartoon-like sprites shining, even with GBA's legendary 'dark screen' problem.

The meat of the game is always in multiplayer, and Yuke's and THQ have handled that with finesse.

It's not the most glitzy-looking coin in the haul, but it's finely milled, expertly crafted, and has just enough hidden nicks to give it Old World character and a sense of adventure. It's addictive, and you will lose hours of your life.

And most importantly, the mixture of blistering speed, edge-of-the-seat thrills and explosive crashes works just as well as it ever did. The Burnout series gets better and better every time.

Between the supreme visual polish and deep, excellent play, this is the uncontested champ.

An excellent arcade-sports title that knows no equal on next-gen consoles. It's more user-friendly than ever, has a killer single-player mode, and the advent of its online play will only make you keep it cemented into your PlayStation 3 that much longer.

Although it's not as technologically proficient as "EverQuest II," World of Warcraft has a more pronounced sense of style...If you're looking for a new MMORPG, then the World of Warcraft is the very first place you should visit.

A lot like "Raw Superstar Umaga": It's an absolute monster, with tons of power while simultaneously possessing impressive agility.

This is one of the best stories in gaming since "Planescape Torment," and Zoe is one of the best leads, male or female. Her tale is as gripping as it is beautifully presented.

Guitar Hero III won't disappoint either diehard fans or people new to the series. This is the latest step in the stairway to heaven of home rocking.

While some preventative measures for hair-pulling and wall-punching may be necessary, the game has first-class production values, some of the coolest stealth techniques and gadgets yet, and fantastic level design.

While single-player is slightly lacking in innovation, its release still marks one of the best entrants in Xbox's first-person shooter line-up, and an absolute must-buy for any action gamer or Live fanatics that haven't yet experienced it on PC.

Although Square has clearly found the limits of the PS2, Final Fantasy's new, seamless approach to exploration and combat works beautifully, and comes with all the depth of plot, character, and gameplay that we've come to expect from the name.

It's perhaps not as innovative and certainly not as groundbreaking as its predecessor, but it's bigger, better looking, and most importantly, more fun.

A dramatic reworking of the horror-movie clichés beaten to death by "Resident Evil" and its army of clones, and as such is perhaps the first must-have release for Gamecube.

Packing serious star power, astounding production values, and surprisingly entertaining gameplay, Everything or Nothing delivers on all relevant counts, providing for a rousing escapade that ranks among the best to feature Her Majesty's finest.

DICE has done a praiseworthy job giving The War to End All Wars and the soldiers who bravely fought in it the kind of respect they deserve, while also delivering an amazing multiplayer game. If you’re a fan of shooters, or games in general, you’ll want to enlist.

By far the biggest game in the series. Gamers who aren't turned off by the nefarious and illegal activities will find this to be one of the most engrossing games ever produced.

Every bit as good as you’d hope... If any criticism can be found with Icewind Dale II, it's that it may be more than a little inaccessible to the non-"hardcore" role-player.

As stunning an Xbox conversion as it was a Dreamcast original.

The visuals are, if anything, more extreme than the previous version - the whole game is geared to slam your eyeballs through the back of your head. Not, fairly obviously, in a bad way, but in a crisp, well-defined and dazzling way.

It will reward the more dedicated gamer many times over.

An incredible technical achievement in visuals, depth and realism. CFS2 is a technically excellent game, though somewhat lacking in heart.

The ultimate laugh-out-loud party game.

Weird, funny, immensely playable, and has that nigh-unclassifiable thing we can only call charm.

Darwinia deserves to be remembered as one of 2005's most creative games on any platform.

Inventive table design, challenging play, and the incorporation of George Romero-style dialogue from the original series, combine to make it hard to put this one down.

Clearer, brighter visual presentation is the biggest difference between Harmony of Dissonance and "Circle of the Moon." Although the graphical quality is pretty much the same, Konami made everything bigger and went with a brighter colour palette.

A solid and compelling title, that can keep you riveted to the very end, even when play starts to border on frustration blowout. Sure, Homeworld has some warts, but these are generally hidden by the game being fresh and innovative, instead of a regurgitated old rehash.

With plenty of action, great visuals, lots of replay value and overall refinement, this is a winner both for newcomers and fans of the series. And while the game wraps up pretty cleanly, there's plenty of material for another adventure.

A deliciously cheesy romp into the giant monster genre.

It captures the atmosphere of the Aliens and Predator films perfectly, from the spot-on sound effects right through to the genuine feeling of actually being one of the starring species (pretentious as that may sound).

No other Star Trek quite captures the tone and feel of the license, yet does so in a way that the license isn't even necessary to make the game exciting and appealing to any gamer.

The most impressive aspect of Thief 2 is its massive and varied levels. The levels are truly huge and require hours to fully explore.

Even without the compelling multiplayer, Daxter is the best platformer available on the PSP, and a fantastic extra chapter for the series.

Unreal Tournament 2004 achieves that near impossible task in video gaming: It appeals to every online shooter fan without making compromises in quality.

It's gorgeous. The uniforms look like cloth (meaning they aren't shiny), while the ice and the plastic visors shine like the real thing. The physics are exciting and, because of the realism, the hits feel more devastating.

The new additions -- in particular the power-ups -- struggle to justify their inclusion, but they also keep the game from feeling like too much of a retread. It's unlikely that anyone will put this at the top of his or her list of favorite Mario games.

It's good because it offers some refreshing gameplay, lots of variety, and a sublime world in which to conquer or destroy. It may even represent the evolution of the role-playing game genre, which has needed a shot in the arm for years now.

It's common knowledge that Dame Nostalgia can be a cruel mistress. Her whip has lashed us more than we care to admit, and having our rose-tinted specs beaten off us one more time, especially in this instance, would be potentially devastating. Luckily, this version of Street Fighter is great. Storming, even.

Largely an upgrade on the original, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within is still one of the most polished and imaginative escapades we've played. Like a blockbuster movie, the tale delivers on almost every count from dazzling pyrotechnics to deft storytelling.

Best of all, AI plays the game well and playing as different kingdoms and religions makes for a different game each time you load it up.

On the PS2, you get the usual options, but Live is more interesting with support for Optimatch and Quickmatch, and dynamic scoreboards of other games currently taking place.

A seamless blending of the computer and real worlds, this is the game that we all dreamed about playing back in 1982. If you've never seen the film, Tron 2.0 still offers plenty to please, but you may miss out on some of the more subtle references.

Respawn went all out with this sequel, patching up its biggest hole, tightening its loose screws, and delivering the game I think we all hoped for when we first caught wind of the original back at E3 2013.

If you managed to afford that high-end system then treat yourself to a game that will keep you hooked for some time to come and that will have your friends' jaws dropping in awe. It's a fresh game and a deserved GDR Gold winner. The real-time ante has been well and truly upped.

It has quite literally everything you can think of to take advantage of the touchscreen.

Powerful, easy to use, and loaded with potential, it could become the flagship computer title for train enthusiasts.

A thorough, solid, funny and raunchy wild-side take on the beach-movie sport of choice that offers great graphics, lowbrow humor, funny locales/extras, and -- gasp! -- a ton of real, no-kidding volleyball.

Subsistence is easily the greatest same-gen remake ever, besting the Xbox GTA ports, "DOA Ultimate," "Ninja Gaiden Black," and even "Metal Gear 2: Substance."

What it does best isn't the way it adds a creative, original third side to the classic two, nor the decent added campaign or the extra units all round. No, Forces of Corruption's best feature is exploding Ewoks.

Easily the best and most important flight simulator available. FS2004 fulfils the expectations of even the most curmudgeonly sim fanatic. For 20 years, we've been waiting for hardware that can deliver a flight simulator this good. Now Microsoft has given us the software.

As a simple enough idea, the unwieldy concept of a medieval trading/intrigue/court politics title has grabbed us by the short and curlies and refuses to let go for the near future. In a nice way, if that's possible.

If you liked the previous Spider-Man outings but wanted more fluidity and flash, you're gonna dig this game. If you're only so-so on your Spider-Man fandom and care more about a solid, intuitive experience than comic-styled minutia, you're still gonna dig this game.

Assassin's Creed is a solid enough game to overcome its awkward plot device. It doesn't much matter why you're in the situation you're in. What matters are those wonderful moments when you're sitting on a tower overlooking one of the most gorgeous cities you've ever seen in a game, and you know it's all yours to play in.

With GM mode, arguably the best season mode in wrestling, and expanded online play (four players in one match), it's basically impossible not to recommend Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 to any grappling gamers.

The graphics are slick and shiny, the soundtrack is diverse and compliments the eras you fight through and the action is fast, frantic and undying.

An excellent arcade-sports title that knows no equal on next-gen consoles. It's more user-friendly than ever, has a killer single-player mode, and its online play will only make you keep it cemented into your Xbox 360 that much longer.

If Rise is a game you still play, suffice it to say Thrones and Patriots makes the experience much richer and more satisfying.

An eye-opening, awe-inspiring psychotic arcade racer with addictive, high-energy and often hysterical gameplay. EA and Criterion really hit it out of the parking lot with this one.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker may ultimately be another Nintendo port, but it’s an extremely entertaining, polished Nintendo port that offers millions more players the opportunity to experience a game that languished on the undersold Wii U. That’s clearly a win for Nintendo, but also a win for puzzle-loving gamers, too.

This is the game that fans of simulated modern combat and Clancy fiction have been waiting for.

Offers players the biggest, uninterrupted, free-roaming modern urban environment that console gamers have ever seen...Here is a game that manages to make even the most basic tooling-around-town a rewarding, engaging experience.

With the introduction of clinching, the innovative punch system, the deep tournament and career options, the graphics and realism, the improved presentation, and most of all, the obvious love of boxing infused into the game, Fight Night Round 2 is the best representation of the "sweet science" that gaming has ever seen.

Truckloads of fun. The adventures in SAIS may be strange, but they are wonderfully entertaining and thoroughly addictive.

The combination of several dozen professionally designed levels, competitive bots, and entertaining game modes will be hard for DM enthusiasts to resist.

With unparalleled visuals, a deep franchise mode, and tons of new and improved features, "Madden" is facing a 4th and very, very long this year.

It not only completely satisfies the wants of any eager strategy player, it also covers those who like more action in their games, and then appeals to practically everyone in between. If you don't have Command & Conquer, buy this immediately.

EA's latest is a touch harder, comes with a reworked swing system that's a great compromise between finesse and simplicity, and includes a smooth new career mode. What's not to like?

The game does really offer some great gaming moments, addictive hard-to-put down levels and some great boss fights.

We played with hardcore and casual rockers alike, all of which had loads of fun regardless of what songs we were playing. Whether you want a good time with friends or a tense battle of the bands, Guitar Hero: World Tour offers an unparalleled experience. Just check your ego at the door.

The only downside to the heavy reliance on the achievements of VF4 is that the graphics engine is beginning to age.

Recent releases have seen plenty of tweaks, but they merely nudged the gameplay. This year's implementation of a quarterback's cone of vision really changes things by rethinking the foundations of passing the ball.

Rise of the Tomb Raider’s only real flaw is that it follows the template of the first game a tad too cautiously, right down to the tough-to-kill supernatural foes that populate its final act. It also completely jettisons the notion that Lara is reluctant to take human life, a decision that makes for grittier action at the cost of some heart and soul. But as only the second installment in Lara Croft’s reinvigorated career, there’s still plenty of time to explore new territory. The tomb raider has risen. Let’s see where she goes next.

It achieved something that is very rare in gaming: well-developed and believable characters. That, in itself, is no mean feat, but mix it with the game's delightful combat, varied design, and admirable coherence of style and creative vision, and you have something very special.

It’s massive and compelling and at times boneheaded, but usually brilliant. Stylish, deep, story-driven, tactical, action-packed: Few if any games manage to be so many things at once, and despite some hiccups, Fallout 4 turns the end of the world into a real blast.

Episode One is the work of a team at the top of its game, and its level design, pace, visual style, and audio are practically beyond reproach.

The incredible number of tricks to execute, along with the ten huge levels, the level editor, all the hidden characters and sections to unlock, and some highly entertaining multiplayer modes mean you'll easily get your money's worth out of the game before it becomes even remotely boring.

It's both a parody and tribute to the four-color pages of yesteryear when spandex heroes fought against world menaces, using a mix of brain, brawn, and unrestrained hyperbole. The game captures this with a wink, but also a great deal of love.

An engrossing game. It's strength lies in its portrayal of a cut-throat business environment, with the "train set" element of the game playing second fiddle, albeit a gloriously rendered second fiddle.

All the best bits you'll see in commercials for the game -- bits likely to make viewers think, "Wow, that looks cool, I gotta have it!" -- aren't merely climactic moments of one-off boss battles... they represent the vast bulk of the gameplay experience.

It’s hard to come up with nice new things to say about this series every year, so I’ll just say that yes, they’ve done it again, and yes, it’s worth a buy. Just be ready to put in the time if you want to turn pro.

This is almost certainly the best release in the history of the NHL series and one of the most authentic action-oriented sports games currently on the market.

"FIFA" may continue to entice football fans who live in action-adventure mode, but for the purist and realist, there's no better footie than this.

This is almost certainly the best release in the history of the NHL series and one of the most authentic action-oriented sports games currently on the market.

Flawed though it is, Mass Effect is a tremendous ride. Sure, it overreaches from time to time, but better that than a game that toes the same, tired old RPG line. Nothing's sufficiently amiss here to prevent you from enjoying Mass Effect's class-leading gameplay, and it deserves to be remembered as the first truly great role-playing game of this generation.

The combination of vastly improved graphics and working air traffic control have added a depth to Flight Simulator 2002 that it's been lacking in its last couple of incarnations and has certainly rekindled my interest in the title.

Challenging and visceral, Lost Planet is one of those games that keeps you coming back, even when you're swearing up a storm after dying.

The top-down 2D look of Four Swords Adventures seems anachronistically simple -- and yet, it's still among the very best Nintendo games, and certainly the current high-water mark of GBA connectivity.

Spore takes so many risks and introduces so many new concepts, it's far more than the sum of its parts; it's video game history in the making. Join in.

The original Metroid is also an unlockable bonus, which provides a great demonstration of how far video games have come in just under two decades.

Complete in nearly every way and is a good bet for casual fans who just want to slap a few balls out of the infield and diehards who will settle for nothing less than a full career simulation.