A dull game. Even if you've always wanted to know what managing a casino might be like, Casino Tycoon will likely fail to keep you occupied for more than a couple of days, even counting the game's challenge mode.

Unfortunately, the frequency of the random encounters means the relative simplicity of combat can make it tiresome and repetitive at times.

A slapdash and deeply disappointing GBA makeover that will do nothing to win over new Mortal Kombat fans and will enrage hardened aficionados hoping for handheld heaven.

It seems to be improved for being on a console - third person games have always worked better with a decent gamepad, and this one is no exception.

Scratch below the surface, however, and the game reveals its suspect paint job with the actual degree of variation in gameplay terms proving very limited.

A fantastic game.

It's original, foreboding, action-packed and full of dark humour, uplifting surprises and plenty of serious shooting for you to get to grips with.

One of the most thrilling games to hit PS2 since its launch.

Underneath the innovative touches and solid graphics lies a fundamentally unoriginal RTS with crap AI, boring missions and comedic value on par with Norman Tebbit in a clown costume.

It is fair to say that had Legends of Wrestling possessed the wealth of options present in the aforementioned "Smackdown," it would be the ultimate wrestlefest.

Even above and beyond its top multiplayer action, SSB:M's chief asset is its tremendously varied gameplay.

The game is an odyssey, a huge epic that has the ability to swallow your gaming time in a terrifying and seductive manner.

Set in a rich and charming world with a host of great characters, it's beautifully paced and challenging enough to make you want more, yet simple in both its control interface and concept.

The most glaring problem is that all the tracks are inside the confines of generic stadiums instead of the open road.

All of this adds up to a game that is, by turns, compelling and frustrating, innovative and derivative. At the final bell, there is little in qualitative terms to separate Ecks vs. Sever and "Doom."

This is fast. Seriously fast. Brain-crushingly, mind-numbingly fast. Probably faster than anything we've ever played before. It's not fast like "Wipeout" is fast - sure, "Wipeout" is fast, but not this fast.

The locations are truly stunning, especially in Venice and New Zealand and the pounding music score perfectly complements the daredevil speed of the races.

What if those mists could be lifted to reveal the full extent of the battlefield, with catapults and battering rams laying siege to castles in the distance?

Never more than a cheap imitation of something great, thanks to a host of technical problems and an overall lack of polish.

Everyone wants to be an X-Wing pilot, don't they. It's one of the things that sets man apart from the animals.

For every imaginative, interesting and appealing puzzle, there's one long, drawn out, dull key hunt. For every awe-inspiring graphical vista, there's a boring, black, featureless tunnel. For every sparsely spread save point, there's a (or rather, many) long plummets to unexpected insta-death.

Our expectations have been comprehensively destroyed by what is a truly mediocre title. Save the world from a race of parasitic aliens? We'd rather have a nice cup of tea, thanks all the same.

It's just unfortunate that technical problems and repetitive audio samples cause annoyance throughout.

One of the best role-playing games of 2001. With just a few tweaks, Piranha Bytes could have given us one of the best role-playing games of all time.

The developer's first baby possesses a real joie de vivre and handles like a dream.

There is a certain "been there, done that" feel that weighs everything down. That, plus a few significant design miscues, make for a game that comes up a wee bit short when compared to the often outstanding original.

Where the multiplayer side is concerned, RCTW's instant appeal and immensely addicting gameplay is one of the best team-based FPS games to release this year.

An entirely enjoyable experience. It's not ultra-weighty gaming, and that's a good thing. It's easy to get into, easy to control, and easy to enjoy.