The most obvious flaw in Grandia II is the music. It's pretty unpleasant, and often incongruous with the on-screen happenings.

And even if the training mode was more fun and well thought out, it still all boils down to how good the main game is...and frankly, the main game isn't very good anyway.

Levels are brilliantly designed and there's always a mass of things for you to do when you first come into a new section of the game and you can approach the various tasks in whatever order you desire to some extent.

These niggles aside, there’s no argument about Knockout Kings 2002 being the most exciting, addictive and authentic boxing game on PS2.

Despite only having six main stages, THPS 3 is a game that will last for a surprisingly long time.

The key problem lies in the positioning of the four buttons on the right side of the pad’s upper surface... They are too close together and too hard to distinguish by touch for the precise control THPS3 demands. In fact, it bordered on the unplayable.

The sound is great, and with a Dolby Digital system you'll hear fire shoot from the exhaust across the rear channels every time you lift off the gas. Shame Microsoft went for the cheap option with the music, though.

One thing that has not changed is the game's unparalleled sense of atmosphere...But its faults cannot be overlooked, and though supremely entertaining, it has failed to carry the baton that its prequel held so loftily.

Anyone with more than a passing interest in the sport that was America's national pastime before Donald Fehr and Bud Selig screwed it up will find this to be one of the most absorbing sports games of 2002.

There's nothing really like it on the PS2, and it's a marvel to behold in full flow. Sega and Sony should be happy that the conversion has gone so swimmingly well.

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.

Imagine a long-time Trekkie's glee at being given the opportunity to walk around the original 60s set with the cast; Renegade is the virtual equivalent for the C&C fan.

The idea is good; a sort of modern weapons-based update to the old-school brawler genre, but the implementation is poor, riddled with camera and control issues, resulting in a less than enjoyable game.

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

TrueSwing is an unparalleled re-creation of what it's like to actually swing a golf club, and the visual touches provide you with nearly everything that a membership at a real-world club can offer. There is no finer simulation of golf.

Ultima may have been King of the RPGs once, but it has been standing still for too long in a world that moves at a million miles an hour.

While the courses are fairly long, there are not enough racers to make it eventful or as interesting as it could have been, providing periods where things are just plain dull.

To get anything out of it, you'll need to do a fair bit of thinking and studying. If you don't enjoy a program of mental weightlifting in your entertainment, steer clear.

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

The incredibly stupid AI is also a big problem since it is hard to overlook the mechanical flaws when the gameplay is only moderately engaging.

What makes the game worth recommending is that the mixture of so-so adventuring with so-so combat makes for a pretty good game that's addictive and more strategic than games that are strictly focused on adventure or fighting.

It's a great title for hardcore UFC fans who are looking for authenticity and stripped bare chuddies minimalism, but for gamers who have been spoiled by a sea of options, moves, and thrills this is far too... skinny.

The new Gamecube-only version improves on the experience with much better graphics, although the same underlying gameplay remains relatively unchanged.

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.

Simple, engaging and spot-on in terms of presenting controversial material in a humorous and tongue-in-cheek manner.

Featuring similar hack and slash gameplay, which has an uncanny knack of being addictive due to its frustrating nature, Maximo is a title that may appeal more to old-school gamers.

Racer Revenge isn't a bad game in terms of action when you're out there mid-gameplay, but it does nothing to add to the fun we had with Episode I Racer.

Although the two-player mode is entertaining, there's not enough variety to keep you going for long, and the quibbles with the camera and the music are the icing on an unsatisfying cake. Avoid.