If platform games are your thing, and you don't mind an adult spin on a cute furry red squirrel named Conker which has one heck of a hangover, then you'll find this game very playable.

It does become repetitive but the level design, mission structure and small variety of missions makes it easier to swallow, creating an overall decent third person action game for the fans.

It's no "NFS Underground 2" or "Midnight Club 3" but it is a worthwhile addition to any racing game fan's library with its unique features, strong career mode and easy pick up and play engine.

EA have successfully created a big match atmosphere with the game.

The level design can be a bit drab and boring but the visuals make up for it with futuristic neon lighting used in combination with Chinese architecture and urban environments.

The unique gameplay mechanics paired with a tried and tested style of play makes it one of the sleeper titles of the year and while its not a smash hit best selling AAA game, it's something that thinks otuside the square of normal gameplay and offers great fun.

The online play is an excellent addition to the already superb franchise and really anyone looking for a decent online fighting game, needs to check this game out.

If you like "Burnout" and like first person shooters, buy this because Criterion has done to FPS what they did to racing games, all over again.

Luxoflux have done a top job putting a realistic and interesting story together and the fact it's set in a real city that many can relate to makes it just even better.

NCAA 06 only sees release in the US, which is unfortunate because it is arguably the best gridiron experience on offer gameplay wise - the game feels alive and completely random, and while this can at times become a negative for realism sake, it still makes for some truly awesome gameplay.

The character models are incredibly detailed and again carry across the Western theme very well. The draw distance is miles and miles.

The game offers something for every gamer, from those who remember the games on the disc at the arcade, to those who just want to see what their parents may have played.

Pikmin 2 will probably join a growing cast of quirky Gamecube titles, thinking specifically of fare like Donkey Konga, Luigi's Mansion and Super Monkey Ball, that have their ardent fans but don't quite do enough to appeal to the broad mainstream.

The bongo kit which ships with the game is extremely sturdy and takes a severe beating without even giving a hint of breaking.

It hasn't lost much of its charm from the 2002 PC edition and they seem to have used the PS2 hardware in the best way possible.

Challenging gameplay is enough as far as I'm concerned but when you accompany this with a checkpoint save system which you can't directly dictate, forcing you to reload action up to 20 minutes ago and beyond, the annoyance level simply rises.

Many games in the past captured the essence of brutal fantasy gridiron nicely, but none could have dreamed up this much depth and detail.

One on one basketball can be fun but can also become monotonous so its really a case of needing to like the sport because the storyline and other modes really aren't going to keep you playing the game for a great deal of time.

As far as the controls go, I was left a little disappointed.

Those wanting a deep, story oriented game should definitely look elsewhere but if you want a game which you can pick up once every few weeks and have nothing to worry about other then destroying hordes of enemies, then Serious Sam: Next Encounter is definitely it.

A decent game, although it is not quite a memorable one.

While the level design is fairly basic, the levels are huge and offer some great moments and decent challenges for all ages.

The quick style of the game is quite suitable for portable action.

It's great that Live now has two decent fighters in one package for people to play but it's a shame the entire package wasn't overhauled.

AI can seem a bit like sheep at times just running towards the combat areas and the fact is you will probably take down about four or five before they manage to kill your character. This obviously unbalances the teams and can make the game incredibly easy but you don't buy battlefront for the single player, multiplayer is definitely the main focus.

A stepping stone to a better game and if EA continue to build on this engine and title they could possibly have the definitive Rugby game.

The game is at its peak in the first few hours of play, but after that is drops in freshness.

A platform game with lots of adventure, humorous elements and a ton of gameplay.

Reasonably basic improvements.

The inclusion of familiar characters is no doubt a bonus to the game and the way the developers have tried to move the gameplay from those games to a new medium was very ambitious and in some cases did not come off, but others like Samba De Amigo and Space Channel 5 can very easily be ported to a new control system.

If you simply need a game to continue the style of titles such as "Grabbed by the Ghoulies" then The Haunted Mansion will definitely suffice, but don't expect the same level of graphics quality or gameplay.

A decent game which is heavily pulled down by the lack of save points.

It may be a little cheaper but its worth forking out the extra for "Flatout" unless the modes unique to this game really impress you.

Possibly the best choice for those wanting a Sims game without having to do the house decorations and design, and for those who just want to be able to keep playing and playing without worrying to much about time management and having to deal with mundane tasks in an on going fashion.

Novices, however, should start with simpler fare such as the Baldur's Gate games, which are easy budget pickups these days, or the excellent X-Men: Legends for that matter.

The problem with A&A, besides the negative points brought forward above, is the WW2 and RTS genres of gaming are two very prestigious genres, and it doesn't do enough to top what else is out there on offer.

The huge amount of vehicles makes the repetitive nature of the game not such a big problem and the physics of the game keep it in the realism side of things, but also offers pick up and play.

It's a decent game but it’s by no means the AAA title the original game was.

If you go in with a mindset of finding a 2D version of GTA3 with a few small problems you will probably enjoy the game.

A game that won't appeal to fans of traditional role playing games but is very much suited for those who want to get into the genre without being defeated because they didn't use a particular style of armor or haven't leveled enough.

It's not the best game for Xbox Live, but its by far not the worst either.

The new additions probably aren't enough for owners of the PS2 version to shell out the full asking price again for the Xbox version but for those new to the franchise it offers a decent experience which should keep fans of ninja games happy for a while, despite its flaws.

Just why multiplayer was left out really will be never known, but it is a mistake that Brian Fargo, a reknowned game developer, should not have made.

Really only for the die hard Bond fans and those who just can't wait to get some Xbox Live 007 action.

The game for the most part works quite well, but the repetitive nature, boring levels and lack of variety in mission objectives keeps this from being as impressive as a "Rainbow Six" game.

While the gameplay is well supplemented with the ability to control time and space in certain aspects, the problem is these aspects are too scripted, and even when the game isn't telling you exactly what to do and how to do it, it is still too obvious what works where, basically creating predictable and unimaginative gameplay.

It features a great variety of modes and decent gameplay mechanics but when it boils down to it the different modes are built around the same engine just with different attributes such as length of time, tasks at hand etc.

Whilst the game does have camera issues and the combat can be clunky at times, if you're looking for something to keep you going after a game like "Pandora Tomorrow", then Alias offers some decent action based gameplay.

The online play keeps the game from being a complete 'once-n-shelve' title but if you're only a casual gamer without the online ability or an interest in the franchise from the past there is better tactical action games already available on the market.

Despite the easy style of the game, it can be enjoyed by both adults and children.

Only a single player game with not much to offer in comparison to better known platform franchises.

The visuals are simply amazing, particularly for a title from this genre, and the depth of the units isn't too shabby either, however it lacks that finishing polish and precise execution that would have made it that much better.

Although the single player campaign is fairly in depth in terms of adding parts to your cars and offering quite a number of tracks, the fact you only have four cars to choose from really hurts the game in the long run as does the way the game becomes relatively hard very quickly.

Once you look past the fairly average and repetitive gameplay between puzzles, some decent gameplay can be found and the storyline is something which really helps the game remain interesting once the repetition begins to hit.

It is a shame that the storyline wasn't fleshed out a bit more with unique levels as it would have made it a far better game but really, only the comedy saves this one from becoming an average title.

There isn't much wrong with Downhill Domination other then the fact that the source material doesn't make for a great video game in terms of length or replay value.

If you simply can't get enough of street racing games then SRS will suffice, but for those owners of other games of this nature, there is nothing new on offer here.

If you're after a game where the rules are almost as basic as shoot anything that moves then Kill.Switch will appeal to you, but for a more in depth storyline and military experience, its best to look elsewhere.

The driving sections of the game are superbly executed and feature some great gameplay but the on foot sections can cause a great deal of frustration.

The RPG elements keep the game from getting overly repetitive but at the very basic level, the game is a monotonous task of defeating enemies to progress further.

One of the greater traits of this game is the sound which replicates perfectly the wacky over the top 70’s effects.

The problem we have is that the PSP version looks better than the PS2 game and that really displays a lack of effort for the PS2 game.

It may not be the best KOF game around, but its the most technically efficient and offers a decent fighting game for those who want the latest graphics and technology in your fighting games.

The action is fast and furious but repetitive and really it adds up to only an average game. Sega can definitely do better.

What makes this game worthy also makes it hard to recommend to anyone but strategy first gamers.

You may not have heard of Starshatter but if you're a space combat fan you really should have.

Basically, if solid gameplay without much in the way of innovation is good enough for you, Heroes of Annihilated Empires is certainly worth a look.

If you can put up with the technical issues, and don't mind downloading moderately sized patches to fix a so called retail game, then Boiling Point is worth a look, but I'm afraid many gamers probably won't be as forgiving as this.

You may have noticed that we commented that every game does not hold your interest for very long and that is the main problem with this package.

The graffiti probably could have had a bit more work done to it but they probably wanted to retain the same character and feel of the original games.

A great advertisement for the DS, and a solid way to spend short bursts of hyperactive gaming time.

While it is no Sim City, the simplified interface and game mechanics will appeal to some, but it also remains the game’s biggest downfall. A little more variety could have had this one a real winner.

It does feature beat em’ up mechanics and quite a bit of depth but can get repetitive and doesn't really do anything unique and new to put it above the pack meaning the reliance on the movie license is just a bit too much.

It’s also a title that allows you to pick up the PSP, play two minutes, and turn it off without losing too much progress.

Unfortunately though, some key design decisions mixed with gameplay that, whilst solid, is very repetitive produces an experience that the casual gamer will probably struggle to fall in love with.

Top Spin PS2 has come across quite well but really, if you have both consoles, then the Xbox version is the better bet.

Each game takes twenty seconds if that, but the ‘just one more time’ mentality may have you missing you bus or train stop many times over.

The Chronicles of Narnia does have its problems but it also succeeds bringing the movie across to a fairly decent and playable game.

While it's not as fully fleshed out and doesn't offer as much of a challenge as the PS2 version, the developers have put a huge emphasis on making this game as pick up and play as possible and shortened the missions to accommodate play on the go, which it does very well.

Perfect Dark Zero was the big game for the 360's launch and while it’s probably as good as the original Halo, it still doesn't stack up which shows just how much gaming standards have changed in the five years since the Xbox was released.

While Viewtiful Joe did not turn out to be the best PSP game around we have to credit the developers for at least trying to make a portable style game out of something which really belongs more on the home consoles.

Wireless multiplayer is good and the interaction between PS2 and PSP is a good idea but the biggest problem, the loading time, is one that can't be ignored and is so bad some people may choose to switch off rather than wait. Fun, but not for short travels.

It’s action all the way with this one and it will provide at least a few hours of fun gameplay.

A good choice for those who want to learn how to play the game properly and also are sick of making mistakes and not being able to rub out pen marks.

With one eye on GT for PS3 its easy to see why Tourist Trophy is not as good as GT4 but considering this is the game that bike fans would have been hanging out for, its a shame that it doesn't live up to its older brother.

This isn't a run-n-gun type of FPS, it is an FPS that will have you creeping around quietly and cautiously, while you nervously check your anemic ammo supply around every corner, looking swiftly behind you to see if that rolling tin trash can was the result of an oversized rat, or a stalking drugged out psycho planning an attack, even if you as the gamer has no idea why it is everyone wants to kill you.

X-Men: The Official Game was built for fans of the X-Men and the movie but also offers some excellent third person action for the more casual fans of the series. It does have a lot of fan service and fans will be able to look past many of the games flaws, but for those who aren't fans per se, the flaws will become glaringly obvious quickly, especially on the 360 edition.

Those new to the franchise will find a truly superb game in GUN, but for anyone coming back for a second helping, chances are you will be disappointed.

Ace Combat: Skies of Deception is an ok PSP game, it’s just a shame it also happens to be one of the few flight games found on the PSP, so while it is only moderately impressive, you’re probably not going to do much better if you want airborne action on the go Sony style.

The single player campaign is too short and doesn't throw you into the ‘whole navy vs whole navy' action quickly enough - the main appeal of this game is definitely the Live features. To sum up, Midway is innovative, but it ultimately doesn't go far enough.

The game itself is very well structured and is pick up and play, but it just does not have the impact we expected for the next generation.

NFS Carbon as a game on its own is extremely well done but in the context of the previous two games, it simply doesn't separate itself enough.

It’s just a massive disappointment that EA has decided not to update the PC title to the Xbox 360 engine, leaving that until next year at the earliest.

A very high standard game but considering the series' lofty expectations it just doesn't go far enough to keep us happy.

Rather than having to find a save point or complete a level to save the game, Crash will update the save every time after a mini game which makes it perfect for a quick game while on the go.

Overall the graphics of the game are quite impressive and despite the fact that some enemies appear like a blob of pixels, many others are highly detailed and easily viewable.

Once you complete the game you will feel as if it had been slapped together with quickset glue and the storyline, whilst adding to the game, is the biggest disappointment of all, primarily because of the way it ends.

A decent game but like the first one is too firmly focused away from party games and more on being a golf game.

Spark took hold of the project to completion and while the game is fairly decent, it is a shame they didn't have the spark to polish it as much as the PC version.

While Metal Slug 3 does not offer the most gaming around, it does offer some fantastic gameplay. The additional extras extend the games longevity a little bit but really this is a game you buy to play over and over again every so often.

A decent game that perhaps relies on the license it is built on a bit to much. When you take that away you have quite an average boxing game and really only boxing fans or those who love the Rocky series of movies are likely to enjoy this title.

It's just a shame that when put together it's only an average game.

For now European Assault is only for the truly hardcore MOH fan or someone who just hasn't got enough of WWII games already.

Personally I would've liked some variation on the route and have control of what weapons and when to use them, but with all the different array of weaponry at your disposal it is a minor consequence.

Whilst the game doesn't look bad, it is still a very average title in terms of visuals.

The game becomes quite boring and repetitive quickly.

Overall UFC isn't the worst wrestling/fighting game around and does a good job in feature many different disciplines of fighting but lacks the polish to push it from moderate game to decent game.

The gameplay is good at times, but buggy, tedious and repetitive at other times.

It is a game probably aimed at the female market but despite its dating simulation style, offers a fairly decent adventure game and can be hard to put down.

Features some cute graphics and decent soundtrack and effects but doesn't really push past the moderate game spectrum.

They may not have used the swap system as well as the Pokemon games and collecting cards is no where near as desired as getting new animals to play with but they have done a solid job with Spyro Fusion.

Fun to play in small doses. Once the repetition sets in during long stints the game's flaws become more and more apparent and it can lose the action packed feel which comes across during early stages.

The repetitive and boring gameplay, amongst other issues, unfortunately overshadows the realistically unique brutal nature of the game, which is a shame because it really does a good job in its portrayal of what war really is about.

A niche title that some people may enjoy but the target market being fans of Naval warfare games may see the alternate universe storyline a bit much and the fact the ships handle unrealistically well as well.

The main problem with the game is also one of its strengths. The fact that it has only Corvette cars will definitely turn people off the game, but also attract a niche market of those who can't get enough one of the most famous American muscle cars.

It's not a bad game, but its no "Mario Party."

It's a bold move forward for the series, but it's ultimately a move into blandness that robs the series of much of its earlier charm.

An almost direct arcade port that will last a maximum of two or three hours first time through.

One for the puzzle fans but unless you absolutely want to just draw lines all day, "Zoo Keeper" offers a much better gaming experience and has a lot more features.

Given that most gamers will be able to plough through the game's challenges in only a couple of day's worth of light play, leaving only the time trial option to keep them amused, you can't help but feel that more should have been made of the concept - especially considering the game's sparkling visuals.

Wings of War works very much on the pick up and play philosophy employed in Crimson Skies and while it doesn't have the polish and the online play, its still a moderately solid game.

It is just disappointing to see half baked ideas churned out which could have been full baked masterpieces if the effort was applied.

Sadly this is another title that suffers from a lack of replay value.

Works for young players looking for an easier version of games such as "Prince of Persia."

As a collection of a famous game system it succeeds but whether it’s a good value purchase is up to the player.

One area which is great about the game however is the ability to play co-operative multiplayer on the same console.

It's relatively easy for the most part, making it a game that some gamers will clear in less than ten hours, which also impacts on its total value.

But if you are looking to regain a genre that has been mostly lost to the PS2 until now you need to grab this game (and a joystick), take the phone off the hook and get yourself reacquainted.

The problem with Spiderman 2 is its lack of depth.

There's no doubt that AntiGrav is better than Monkey Mania, and as an indicator of future game ideas, it's quite good - but the number of gamers with the necessary physical skills and patience for AntiGrav itself will probably be very small indeed.

This game itself would be fine if this was 1998 but considering Tenchu: Fatal Shadows sits between games with a similar mission and a more up to date feel I would say leave it on the shelf.

A reasonably original take on the 3D RTS genre and it does offer some good gameplay, but some of the more technical aspects let it down - such as the visuals, the engine's performance even on lower settings and the somewhat disappointing battles.

The repetitive nature harms the game quite a bit and as such it can only be recommended to Star Wars fans or a rental for the casual fans.

In terms of TV series adaptations, it's incredibly faithful, nailing the look and feel of the series, and big fans of the series will want to add the game to their collections pretty sharpish. Gamers, on the other hand, would be better suited to renting the title, as (aside from the annoyingly stupid driving sections) it's not that hard, and the replay value is suspect.

This game is fast, furious and a lot of fun. If the non-stop destruction doesn’t get you, the humor will.

It should go without saying that if you already own one of the home console versions of X-Men Legends II: Rise Of Apocalypse, then you can almost certainly live without the PSP version.

There comes a point in playing Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams when you realise that it's been somewhat lengthened via regrettably cheap tactics -- things like recycled game bosses, repetitive game sections and even some backtracking for the sake of making each of the game's chapters longer.

There's no doubting that Prey looks the part of a modern FPS, but, as always, looks can be deceptive. It's a fun game, but it's no great breakthrough in the science of what is undoubtedly a very crowded genre.

BFME 2 presents a visual spectacle that's quite engaging, as long as you're playing it through a high definition display. Drop it down to a standard definition TV, and you'll find yourself looking at tiny units and blurred text.

It's annoying that it's not a better port of the PC version.

A decent FPS, but it is a very basic one that lacks attention to detail. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it takes a certain type of gamer to really enjoy this type of mindless, systematic FPS gameplay.

While the game does have some originality and unique features, ultimately the repetitive nature and button mashing feel to the game kills any thoughts of being a top quality title.

Sony made a fatal mistake in excluding a tournament style game mode and restricting “proper” soccer to exhibition games, but even so what they have put together still has a lot of fun.

The game is so unique and original that DS owners have to play it, but the fact it’s so short makes it not worth coughing up the cash for.

The problems with Catwoman don't really show themselves until an extended period of play but once they do they become frustrating and bring the game down heavily.

The repetitive nature harms the game quite a bit.

Fans of the original two games may be disappointed but if you can look past the flaws, you will find a fairly accomplished and stable racing game to play. It's just a shame it's so hard to get started in.

It works well as a team based action game, with quick gameplay online and the single player experience is probably the most in depth you will find from a game of this style, with its only competitor being games such as Counter-Strike from Microsoft.

With a game relying on Live so much, neglecting the offline gameplay quality only makes matters worse because if people don't buy it there aren't people to play with online. Double edged sword Sega, learn from it.

It's a shame because under the skin of absolutely stupid game modes, there is a fairly accomplished wrestling game.

Spider-Man's been done much better - even on the lesser GBA hardware - than in this obviously rushed and not terribly inspired game.

A game that should have been on the PSP. It's perfect for the portable market and there is no reason why Circle shouldn't now port this. However on the PS2 it doesn't work at all because console games need to have deep, long levels with an interesting storyline, neither of which this game has.

The worst strike against Pac-Pix is that the charm and shine wears off very quickly indeed.

All you really get from Vietcong 2 is an FPS that is well behind the times and generally not up to scratch with what you'd expect.

80 Days is a reasonably unique title in the sense it targets a genre you probably haven't dealt with in a while, but it fails to offer anything other than a quick fling as the technical issues and the storyline are a let down.

If any publisher wants success with Beijing 2008, they really have to start work on it now because as has been proven time and time again, rushing Olympic games does not work.

Those who yearn for a return to yesteryear will find little solace in the game's so-called "classic" mode, which isn't an emulation of the 8-bit original, but simply the original game's layout structures and objectives within the new game's visual style.

This is a waste of money on the developers part to whack a mixture of poorly thought out ideas, bad visuals and sound, in the hope that a few people will somehow be tricked into buying it.

While the concept of Soldner: Secret Wars is valid, the execution ends up coming horribly short.

Collision detection is extremely sloppy, and there's some inexcusable stuff, like ranged weapons that fail to register solid hits because they're still busy registering the previous shot, and a camera that's very mercurial in its performance.

At the casual level you're more likely to be wowed by the visuals and less likely to notice the omissions and gaffes; still, it's hard to overlook the fact that the older Madden games for the Xbox/PS2 actually offer more than this supposedly "next generation" title.

A port of a decade old PC game which really does not impress. There are many titles on the DS better than this, and also a lot more original.

It's the kind of game you should pick up in the bargain bin a few months down the track and even then just for a laugh rather than a serious game experience.