The house of Doom delivers a masterful single-player shooter with top notch gunplay, let down by a disappointing final third.

More than anything else, it puts up a great fight. More immediate than its predecessors and certainly easier to get to grips with, SCV still retains the special flavour of the series - the weapons make its fights fast and deadly, the kind of battle where one slip ends everything. The mix of tension and frantic violence is more potent than ever. It never really went away, but Soul Calibur V feels like a comeback.

The best of its type on any console. Not for everyone, of course, but it's easily the best strategy title in a very long time. Shame about the crap visuals, though.

It can only be a matter of time before the first number one single created on a console goes top of the pops - MTV is that good.

Like its predecessor, Sid Meier's game effortlessly takes the best of every style of gaming and mixes it into a consistent and enduringly charming whole. Certainly there are games with more strategy, and others with more action, but few, if any, can claim to be as breathlessly easy to enjoy. [PC Zone]

This was a feature of the first game, but here you can turn even the most peaceable follower of the Light into a bitter and twisted receptacle of evil. Kind of. [PC Zone]

Simply put, Blood II is more of the same: more guns and more enemies. Although it's not quite as pant-browning as we would've hoped, it's a stunning achievement considering the time Monolith have had to put it together. [PC Zone]

So while we're disappointed with the misplaced innovation and the lack of advancement, we still can't deny that it's Rome, that it's raised our bloodlust and our hackles in equal measure, and that it refreshes those parts that other strategy games just won't reach. [PC Zone]

The game's skilful courses and challenging, inventive boss battles are a breath of fresh air amongst Wii's all-to-easy competition - and help DKCR remain a pleasingly faithful instalment in one of gaming's greatest ever series.

Kratos is on fine form, but still refuses to do anything other than tear things to pieces.

For the most part Sphinx looks amazing. It's super-smooth, very fast and some of the exterior cityscapes are breathtaking, although close up the textures are sometimes very plain.

Well, who'd a thunk it? Ubisoft's horrible jumble of body parts in a genuinely wonderful game. Better dust off those reflexes: 2D platforming is back.

Tribes: Vengeance just feels right. Its fun lies in simple movement - something overlooked in all other high-octane blasters, and it gives you such a feeling of fluidity, control and desire for self-improvement, that on a basic level it's extremely hard to dislike.

DICE has done enough to justify the status of sequel rather than expansion pack. It looks great, sounds funky and plays superbly. [PC Zone]

Had the melee combat been more refined, the engine used to its full capabilities and the niggles ironed out, then you'd be looking at perhaps the finest RPG of all time. As it is, it'll have to make do with the accolade of being one of the deepest, most engrossing and entertaining PC games of 2004. [PC Zone]

Luckily, it's dead simple. When it comes to squad-level infantry manoeuvres, tactics have changed little in the last 2,000 years (so we're told), and they're almost insultingly basic. [PC Zone]

One of the most impressive and rewarding expansion packs of recent years, matching and occasionally even outstripping the quality of its outstanding parent. But it could be a fully immersive VR porn sim for all you care - you'll still buy "Doom 3" instead.

One of the most addictive sporting experiences ever presented on a console.

The graphics are as beautiful as ever, the presentation is immaculate, the story keeps you gripped and your brain will appreciate the workout before you go back to killing it with beer, cheesy Wotsits and Hollyoaks. [PC Zone]

An immensely enjoyable experience and easily the most complete free-roaming action game we've played. We'd even go beyond that and call it the ultimate sandbox experience - it genuinely is a beast all of its own, building on the GTA formula rather than feeding off it.

Questionable stealth elements and repetition prevent Assassin's from achieving greatness, but the free-running system and beautiful playgrounds mean Creed is still worth your attention.

Spectacular from start to finish. It doesn't innovate (and no co-op is a cop out) but its visual prowess and insane action make Killzone 2 unmissable.

A deep and satisfying racing game that's accessible to all - but the sequel will have a clearer vision.

Chinatown Wars on PSP was always going to be a port job, and though it soils some of DS original's intuitive mini-games it maintains the inventive, thoroughly entertaining and built-for-handheld mission structure of the original - and that's what we loved most in the first place.

If you don't like this because it's not "realistic", get over yourself - it's not supposed to be and you're missing out on a huge amount of multiplayer fun and single-player addictiveness.

Those who've been dying for a proper RPG on GameCube have just had their prayers answered. If you've never played through a game of this sort before.

There's a greater feeling of depth, life and narrative to the tale and the gunplay is satisfying even if we do have to reserve some criticism for the AI, which still shows itself to be rough around the edges at times.

A lot of last year's elements remain but this is ultimately a move away from sim and closer to classic PES on PS2. It's something PES fans will welcome with open arms but FIFA players will have no reason to defect.

A fabulously rewarding drive and the finest Forza yet, but one that comes with an Advisory Notice: more single-player focus and diversity will be needed next time out to prevent the franchise from suffering a potential misfire.

Adding some of Modern Warfare's gritty realism gives the Ace Combat series a shot in the arm, while its arcade accessibility and enjoyability remains intact.

All it needs now is a more advanced engine to power a sequel, a more involving sense of training and life in a pair of SWAT shoes... That, and a willingness to continue dealing with the dark underbelly of real world criminality without pulling any punches.

The focus on the single-player experience, along with Bioware's top-notch level design has created an expansion pack with great detail and atmosphere that's arguably even more immediately immersive than the original game. [PC Zone]

You get to use more weapons in Time Commando than in any other game I've ever seen, incidentally, because each time era (of which there are heaps carries its own unique selection.

In short, it's probably the best extreme sports game ever made, the only real caveat being that it's rubbish without a decent gamepad. [PC Zone]

For the brief stretch you spend with Riddick in the galaxy's most notorious correction facility, Escape From Butcher Bay will keep you imprisoned in your house and chained to your PC from start to finish. [PC Zone]

If you're a "Dawn Of War" fan, Winter Assault is absolutely essential. [PC Zone]

The Two Thrones is quite simply the best Prince Of Persia so far. It builds on what went before and adds a new dimension to the main character.

NBA Jam has been lovingly recreated by a team that clearly understood the appeal of the original. Get together with friends for this one.

At times, too creatively conservative - but an engrossing, cleverly realised shooter with CoD-beating multiplayer.

A great little game. It's original and funny, and although it is repetitive it packs enough challenge to keep you entertained long after you've nabbed the final piece of booty.

The story is great, the tension is real and if you like copious adrenal activity then you won't go too far wrong.

Red Dead's venomous cocktail of sassy action, swish visuals and sharp scenarios make it a fresh and ballsy alternative to most other third-person console blasters currently roaming the paddock.

It is a resource hog, let's make no bones about it. Any game that comes on two DVDs and requires 6GB of disk space isn't exactly appealing to everyone. But if you can find a way to accommodate the game, not just on your HD but in your hardened gaming soul, you'll find plenty to reward you.

Fog, rain and lightning effects not only look nice, but also affect how you play - especially when you try your first grenade attack in the middle of a thunderstorm.

There are a handful of games that provide greater economic depth, or are more immediate and spectacular on the field of battle, but few marry these two traditional aspects of real-time strategy so seamlessly and with so much charm. [PC Zone]

Yes, Empire At War boasts almost everything a Star Wars and RTS fan could hope for. There's innovation, excitement, intrigue and enough tension to give you an aneurism, but those pesky land battles just manage to sully an otherwise top-class piece of software. [PC Zone]

Let's face it, thanks to Codemasters spectacularly managing to squeeze an entire sporting genre onto one DVD, as well as the ability to take your skills online should you finish the mass of races on offer, there's some serious miles to rack up before tiring this game out. [PC Zone]

Buoyed by extra content, yet lacking a proper sense of real progression from the last outing, it nevertheless remains a well-designed foray that taps into parts of the gaming brain that habitually lie dormant. [PC Zone]

The best golf game currently on the PC and for once in EA Sports' history, not simply because of a lack of competition. [PC Zone]

The Darkness is all about the story and that's what you'll be buying this for. It does a great job of pulling you in to what's going on in the world. It's not often a game genuinely shocks you when something major happens but this will.

Conviction moves the series in a couple of new directions, with new elements that are well thought out and polished. It doesn't do anything groundbreaking and sometimes abandons these fresh ideas for much shallower out and out gunning, but it's consistently solid and satisfying throughout.

Overlook-able faults aside, Gearbox has delivered one of meatiest, most wholly satisfying hybrids yet.

Red Faction Guerrilla is a refreshing and very enjoyable sandbox game that offers an alternative to the Saints Rows, GTAs and Godfathers out there. Don't expect anywhere near the insight and polish found in GTA IV, but do expect a rollicking good time.

The short-lived campaign doesn't quite reach the highs of Modern Warfare, but the ever-solid shooting and multiplayer mechanics make this a great shooter.

Great package for the price but the feeling that it's all been toned down leaves a sour taste in our mouths. If you never played the original though, that won't matter, because you'll love this to bits.

It has its frustrations and we miss burning around in a car or the rumble of some good old-fashioned gunpowder, plus we think "Crackdown" pips it in the open-world action game league. But that won't stop you having a very amusing 25 hours of gaming (play it through twice, once good and once evil, and it's even longer).

Still in second place - but the best PES in a long time. Fans will feel like an old friend has finally returned.

At heart, Killzone 3 is still a ridiculously good looking thrill-fest that challenges little more than your reaction speed - and your visual expectations. She's not marriage material and eventually, her charms will wear thin. But we can at least guarantee that shooter fans won't regret spending a fair few evenings alone in her company.

A generally stunning package in features and presentation. New mechanics work well but stamina and punch power is inconsistent.

This brand-new version takes the gripping plot of Metal Gear Solid and splices it with the new gameplay systems from the sequel. You really are getting the best of both worlds here.

You might be bored in a week, but it's perfect for bringing your family around when they complain that games are turning you into a violent social outcast.

So the story will get in the way at first - Reflections is obviously a bit nervous about introducing its zany Shift concept without narrative explanation - but, once you're behind the wheel, you'll realise that San Francisco is definitely a long-overdue return to form for the Driver series.

An abundance of recycled gameplay sours what is otherwise an entertaining, imaginative and memorable end to Ezio's story.

If BioWare can get over their identity crisis and make TOR increasingly more unique with future updates, this could be one of the best MMOs ever. For now, it's 'merely' excellent, and a bold experiment in bringing a worthwhile story to an online experience.

The Firaxis tweak-stick has hit the main campaign big-time and if you're a veteran returning to Civ III, you'll find the main game more finely tuned and balanced than ever before. [PC Zone]

A truly terrifying adventure that, while certainly not perfect, still brings a real sense of panic and dread back to the weary survival horror genre.

A thrilling and beautiful RTS that sucks you into its world of war and carnage, shakes you up with its intensity, plot-twists and booming aural assaults, then spits you back out into reality as the end credits roll. It's by no means a masterpiece, but it is one of the most tactical, rewarding and entertaining RTS games money can currently buy.

Like Austin Powers it adopts the faux-Bond villain theme very well, without becoming too camp or dampening the challenges. Above all, it's hugely entertaining and manages to keep dishing out the surprises all the way through.

Once upon a time there was a boy called Colin who liked cars. He liked them so much that when he grew up he drove them at high speed under strict competition conditions. Perhaps driven by rage at his unfortunate choice of name, he drove so fast that he was crowned Champion of the World.

For an arcade game, it's even surprisingly playable with a steering wheel, with near misses causing no small amount of amateurish flinching. If you can't afford to attach largely pointless gadgets to your otherwise moribund vehicle, this is the next best thing. [PC Zone]

One quibble comes with the ugly texturing of the player models - perhaps a hangover from the console versions, or maybe just misjudged artistic direction. Either way, they need fixing. And that's about that. [PC Zone]

Takes the old-school RTS formula and enriches it in countless cool ways, using the lessons of the past decade to create a single-player campaign that's as valid and exciting as anything else in the genre. [PC Zone]

By far the most extraordinary feature of Blood has to be its sound effects. They are nothing short of incredible. 'Manamax and spear books,' the cultists shriek, alongside something not dissimilar to the word 'bollocks'. The zombies endlessly crow about 'Brainssssss'. Set a fanatic on fire and he screams like a girl: 'It burns! Oh god it burns,' before melting into a heap of steaming entrails accompanied by the appropriate popping and sizzling effects.

It's surely the best-looking traditional real time strategy game out there at the moment, and more importantly it's a real blast to play. Boom! [PC Zone]

Basically more of the same game, with the addition of slightly improved graphics, analog stick passes and special moves, pucks that can bounce realistically and injure players, and a tweaked create-a-player function. [PC Zone]

By all means, enjoy the single-player game, marvel at its visuals, groan at its clichés and enjoy its firefights. However, I can guarantee that six months from now, as you fly through the air firing rockets and screaming in rage in an attempt to take out that railgunning bastard who's just fried your brains five times in quick succession - while all around bodies explode into a thousand blood-caked giblets - you'll have forgotten all about it. [PC Zone]

Ultimately, Standard Tetris is still the best of the bunch on offer here. However, with all the high-quality additions and strong multiplayer options, Tetris DS offers serious value for money.

This game, while it lasts, is crazy genius and, as we've already said, will be the one you come back to when you've got a full house.

Not the rally sim fans will expect, but despite a more arcade-like take, its huge selection of races and high-speed thrills, DiRT is fantastic fun.

Another brilliant online feature - and by far our favourite - is the hilarious Hall of Meat challenge, which dares you to wipeout around the city causing as much damage to your skater as possible. All this bone snapping is accompanied by an X-ray score sheet showing, yep, your broken bones.

The game is so diverse that it'd take months, maybe years, to see everything.

The brief playtime and lack of innovation might put you off. Still, Metroid rocks so hard, if Samus promised you a night of intergalactic canoodling, you'd be happy if all she put out was a quick grope in the shrubbery.

What makes BG&E really fun is the way you use your camera to gather information and earn cash. It works very much like Samus' Scan Visor in "Metroid Prime," but it's faster and, if anything, easier to use.

Painkiller abounds with sublime touches, such as the boxes full of postcards that flutter down around you when shot and the fireworks that send multi-coloured sparks whizzing in all directions. I've said it once, and I'll say it again - there's nothing wrong at all with violent videogames. Disagree, and I'll send you to hell with a wooden stake through your eye socket.

The game we were expecting eight months ago, with bots so intelligent they make your average online player look like a baboon who's been dropped at birth. It's like playing CS in the good old days.

Yep, King Kong is one very slick package and certainly the best movie tie-in game since The "Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay." If only they'd thought to slap a wig and roller-skates on the big monkey fella, we could've been looking at a classic. [PC Zone]

The AI puts up a good fight at the higher realism settings, and should you wish to throw caution to the wind and try manual torpedo solutions, you'll either be in maths heaven, or find your brain oozing from your ears (or both). Don't worry - it's a lot more fun than it sounds.

Definitely the best Skate effort yet - but more of an update than a truly worthy sequel.

It's Crackdown 1.5. Lower your expectations, then you'll have a fantastic time with an update of one of the most enjoyable open-world games around.

A rich, substantial fight engine that will suit some players and make others pine for the UFC.

A brilliant tracklist, excellent multiplayer modes and Freestyle elements are a hit, but single-player could still be improved.

It's a shame that the bosses require little more thought than simply chucking back what they throw at you, and it hardly qualifies as a platformer at times when you can just fly everywhere.

Are we too battle-hardened to sense the full impact of Vin's Xbox debut? More likely the game isn't packing quite the dynamite as its potential suggested.

More funny than any free game has a right to be, but it's free for a reason. There's basically just one play mode and you need four people to make it worthwhile. If only you didn't have to suffer R: Racing to get it.

Superb - and cheap - HD update for a criminally ignored, highly original action game.

There are moments of clarity when you become almost ashamed at what you're doing, such is the senseless waste of time and effort. But the fact that it can actually make you care is a definite achievement. And while we fully expect to grow to hate it - and the inevitable flurry of hateful expansion packs - for the time being we're hooked.

Leave "Ultima Online" for a couple of months say, and you could be looking at the biggest download since Pamela Anderson's home-video was leaked on to the Internet. [PC Zone]

Derivative but fun and the EyeToy support is a great bonus. Won't win over Harry-haters but fans will be willy, er, wand-waving into the wee small hours.

It might be a whole lot of fun and it might be the best golf game you can buy, but unless you create your own courses, there's very little challenge here.

It's just the actual racing itself that lets the whole experience down a little. It's not bad by any means; it just could have been much more exciting, especially if the AI had more personality.

A fantastic test of skill and patience and a huge package that'll keep you going for ages. Essentially the same as the PS2 game, and no multiplayer is a shocker.

Single-player lacks the original's polish, but two diverse faction additions mean multiplayer's even more addictive than before.

It doesn't look as spectacular as other RPGs and does little to win over newcomers, but fans of epic turn-based quests and strategic battles will greedily gulp down every last drop of this heady brew.

The whole game feels a bit slow at times. There are moments when the action chugs along slower than a milk float, particularly when you're being chased by the police.

Niche, but a true work of art and one that only a video game could achieve. It's marred by a lack of content, but what's there is like nothing else we've seen and will force you to come back at least a few times.

You're not going to find another MMOG that's anywhere near as welcoming as this. While the whole PlayOnline front-end interface might initially seem a cumbersome folly, it's not long before you're wishing all your online games could be handled through such a console-style browser.

The big downer is that both games have some animation censored (no bouncing boobies), and no blood.

While overall you have a typically slick Square-Enix production, fighting is too simplistic, with only one button to perform most attacks. Also, despite the enemies themselves looking terrific throughout, the backdrops for the aerial battles are no match for "Panzer Dragoon Orta."

It is, however, an ambitious, pioneering effort that has plenty to offer the dedicated real-time strategy player. If you appreciate its ultra hi-tech scenario, you'll find plenty of enjoyment here.

The game can and will entertain, but both myself and its creator were clearly expecting better, brighter and more narratively-coherent things. [PC Zone]

It might not be the super-villain game of our dreams (that was probably "Evil Genius"), but given the nature of MMOs, it's probably the best we're going to get until someone decides to really push the online genre to its very limits. [PC Zone]

Fast, furious and gorgeous to behold... Ultimately, it's the visuals rather than the strategy that will endear Warhammer to the interactive generation, and it isn't stretching things to proclaim Dawn Of War one of the best-looking strategy games we've ever played.

Phantasy Star Online is jam-packed with special gaming touches all combining to create one of the most pleasing gaming environments around. [PC Zone]

The only ice hockey game worth giving a flying puck about.

Overall however, we're rather taken with Nexus. Its mixture of tactics, mouse-control and combat-orientated gameplay is suitably different from both "Homeworld" and traditional space-combat games like Freespace, delivering something unique and yet familiar enough to appeal to fans of either game. [PC Zone]

Shallow and simple design means that there's nothing to obstruct the fun of smashing demon skull. But it also means it's shallow and simple.

More like an FPS than a racer, The Run lacks the performance and depth of Gran Turismo and Forza, but delivers on insane speeds and nail-biting arcade thrills.

Deimos or human, if traditional role-playing games rock your world, Arc will draw you in and hold you spellbound. The gameplay basics may adhere unashamedly to the tried-and-trusted RPG formula of exploring, talking, levelling up and shopping, but if it works, why change it just to be clever? Why? WHY!!??

The kind of game where you'll be on the phone for your mates to come round and see the next amazing scene. It's all very linear, but sometimes you have to realise this is a good thing.

There are off-line games equally or even more spectacular in immediate scenery or character models, but what game can offer such outrageous landscapes on such a grandiose scale? It's not just the sheer footslogging size of it, but the way the environment is realised to enhance this impression of immense vista and truly epic proportions.

But it's the wrestling side that has really been beefed up. A new control system finally makes the action flow back and forth like only wrestling can. Plus the controls are easy to learn and get you into the thick of the action fast, pulling off fancy moves.

The driving itself is seriously good fun and that really is the most important thing. This is a great game made even greater by its protracted stay in the developer's waiting room.

Grumbles are few. There's a bit too much to-ing and fro-ing between your hideout and each objective, especially when you're forced to backtrack from one end of a level to the base in order to switch to another character. [PSW]

Littered with a variety of anomalies which can cause the unwary to explode and other delightful stuff, mutant doggies, deserted buildings, weather effects, real-time day/night cycles etc. etc. - it creates a deliciously unique atmosphere.

What you get for your money is an exceptionally solid RPG with plenty of life in it, but one that doesn't do anything particularly different to anything else on the market, and for that reason alone it guarantees one of our shiny new Recommended awards, but nothing more.

Yes, that's what it is: it's Second World Warcraft.

This is a quality game, in terms of both presentation and design. It's traditional, but within its genre it represents a considered and intelligent take on those traditional rules. [PSW]

Empire Earth II may not be the best historical strategy game on the market, but it is bloody good all the same, and points to a bright future for the RTS. [PC Zone]

It's beautifully simple, but also brings an element of tension as there's always a few seconds between issuing commands by tapping the left mouse button, and seeing them carried out on the battlefield.

Those who've already tasted the Prince's heady delights might be a little disappointed - this feels like a collection of new levels and bosses rather than an honest to God sequel. Like we said, call it a remix. [PSW]

Well, we hate to say it, but DMC3 is still no "Devil May Cry." The world has moved on, folks, and a lot of that game's sheen is now standard issue in gaming. [PSW]

Forget buying three DVDs of crappy movies you're only going to watch once and buy Fahrenheit instead. It's longer, boasts more action, costs the same and offers far more crash for your cash than many a movie. [PSW]

In truth there wasn't much wrong with last season's ESPN NHL Hockey, and the minimal changes aren't enough to justify buying NFL 2K5 as well. [PSW]

Although the game is hands-on, all your troops display a remarkable level of intelligence and can generally be relied upon to act on their own in a discerning manner. No more straying into the wilderness, taking on enemy divisions single-handed or walking backwards into a swamp.

The difference would appear to be in the detail, and it's not merely cosmetic, with a new hard steer function lessening the reliance on the handbrake.

While it's still a great game, the basic flaws of last year's V2 version haven't really been addressed and the new menu system is laborious and unfriendly. [PSW]

The perfect rental title. Brilliantly playable, beautifully detailed and choking with charisma, it's also linear, too easy and a shallower than a midget's beret.

There's just something weird and catchy about Getting Up. It feels so different. It's more relaxed and laid back than most wannabe 'gangsta' games. [PSW]

In terms of sheer hold-on-tight entertainment, this is film-to-game perfection. Beat your chest with joy. [PSW]

Likening Full Spectrum Warrior to a game of chess is more accurate than you might think.

The mighty "God of War" is a little more deserving of your action cash if you've only got the funds to buy one game where you run around killing stuff. But Shaolin Monks is a very close second-best in the heaving action sector, thanks to its good looks, decent play and a gory, blood-soaked style that's well in keeping with the Mortal Kombat legacy of pain. [PSW]

The real fun is to be had in multiplayer, with a civilised round with up to four of your mates available via Wi-Fi and plenty of challenges and tournaments to compete in.

For every fault there's another brilliant set-piece or fight just around the corner to make up for it. The game captures the essence of the films, including all the most memorable set-pieces. [PSW]

It's a game that you'll want to keep playing to find out what happens next, which is always a good sign. [PSW]

SOCOM 3's brilliant online gameplay is what makes it. Zipper Interactive has played to its strengths, making the internet experience the best that it can possibly be. However, the franchise's core weaknesses - juddery graphics and a dull single-player mode - have only been partially addressed. [PSW]

For an action packed take on the ever popular Roman hack and slash genre, Spartan is the most spectacular example yet. [PSW]

Getting more Burnout is always a treat - like getting more cake or pudding! - and although it'd be easy to whine about the lack of innovations, it's easier still to fall back in the routine of having amazing fun bouncing Car A off Car B and watching the whole world blow to pieces at warp speed. [PSW]

A great game even though there's little else to do than run around and blast things that get exponentially huge from planet to planet, but it's blasting in such a smooth, quality style your brain has no time to get bored of it. Quality shooting. [PSW]

A great all-round package with a definite edge over the PS2 version. And how often do we get to say that? [PSW]

The forgiving handling and a near-Burnout level of speed make Jak X arcadey, but there's strategy too.

It looks good, the combat is easy on the thumbs and if you're after some brainless combat or endless winner-stays-on retro fighting action, Urban Reign is a great choice. [PSW]

Replete with buckets of sometimes stupid-sounding skills and a new, massive quota of really loud shouty-rock, On Tour is the nearest you'll come to snowboarding without getting a) frostbitten or b) snow-blind. [PSW]

The combat system is wonderful, the characters are as compelling as ever and there's a running theme of incest amongst the upper classes. You couldn't ask for much more from an adventure game, really.

In terms of pure, unadulterated fear, Condemned is practically beyond reproach... The most notable problem is a lack of variety in the all-too linear gameplay, as well as the disappointingly small selection of enemy types. [Official UK XBox Magazine]

Despite Quake 4's many merits, it fires too many blanks for us to believe that it'll be unopposed for long. The game haemorrhages action in a way that few other blasters can match, but the series relies on too many outdated FPS conventions. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

Enemies are now far more intelligent. Less likely to be hemmed in by your squad's suppressing fire, they themselves will try to sidle down the blindside of your position and take pot shots at you. [PSW]

But make no mistake, the single-player game isn't where SOCOM excels. The gameplay is linear and basically involves moving from one checkpoint to the next, with the strategy required being fairly minimal. It's more like a prolonged training mission for the real action found in the superb multiplayer mode. [PSW]

No other console WWII game has ever produced such a technically stunning or emotionally involving experience. Big Red One has been polished to perfection. [PSW]

You still won't bother with the walking bits, but with two-player cooperative Classic levels, online play and a smart new version of LA to open up and tear apart, this is a return to form for the Hawkster. [PSW]

A refreshing diversion that'll provide you with weeks if not months of entertainment and gaming intensity - whether you're already a hockey fan or just stepping onto the ice for the first time.

A welcome newcomer to the tumbleweed-strewn Wild West genre, with its big vision, good looks and explosive temperament. A little more free-roaming woudn't have gone amiss, but it's still a rip-roarin' ride. [PSW]

It's certainly not earth-shattering fare, but as an immersive golf title full of Pringletastic depth, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 is simply the best around. [PSW]

Those with sausage digits may want to stick to the more arcadey "Everybody's Golf," but otherwise Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 is in every way the superior golf game. [PSW]

Ultimately, this is just as stylish as the PS2 version, sporting the same cool sketchbook-style animation, weird selection of menus and hip soundtrack. You won't be missing much at all if you choose to participate in this portable tour instead of its bigger brother. [PSW]

Once you enter the realms of multiplayer, Ape Academy really comes into its own, with enormous pleasure to be gained from events like the one metre dash, dodge ball, scissor, paper and stone or Geronimo. Ook - drink deep from the banana inspired mayhem.

Fiddly control issues aside, Star Wars Battlefront II on PSP is a miniature miracle. [PSW]

It's the undisputed court king, sure, but alas, also just a mere hefty 'nudge nudge, wink wink' of what we can expect in months to come. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

That's the thing about The Sims, if you want a gigantic, long term game that you can learn to love over many months and aren't fussed about a few flaws, this is approaching perfection. A great game for people who like tidying up and washing their hands 100 times a day. [PSW]

With a great system of matching symbols in order to chat and flirt and a world in which a different life can be dictated for your Sim each time you start a new game, The Sims 2 is great fun and game that'll last you ages.

SingStar '80s is a natural progression for the series and a more light-hearted alternative to the aggressive post-pub fare of Pro Evo and the like. If you've always yearned for an excuse to dig out those pink leg-warmers, then this is for you. [PSW]

Ludicrous, exaggerated fun, and for the most part glitch-free. It's one of those games, like the recent Burnout Legends, that'll have you bumping into strangers on the bus as you dodge through virtual traffic in short sharp bursts of pure gaming bliss. [PSW]

Even without online support, this is a supremely enjoyable game and despite being the fifth Ace Combat sequel to arrive on PS2, it still feels refreshingly different in a release schedule crammed with racing, fighting and shooting clones.

It's a superb shooter with a great plot, innovative gameplay and some really brilliant moments that will surprise even the most seasoned of gamer. It's a decent length too, with a good 15 hours of play in the main mode. But some control issues and patchy inconsistencies (mainly in the physics and level design) pull it short of earning that juicy [90] score.

It doesn't shake-up the genere, but C&C3 delivers a solid and well-polished RTS experience that also provides the smoothest and most comprehensive game of the series to date.

A classic-style Sega arcade racer - no complications, just the open road and a fast car. The AI can be a bit too tough, but master the handling and there's loads of fun to be had with Sega Rally.

Call of Duty 3 is, even without multiplayer, undoubtedly a better game than "Red Steel" mostly thanks to its greatly superior controls, more varied gameplay, better AI and constantly more intense action from start to finish. The lack of multiplayer stops it from getting a 9, but consider its score to be the highest kind of 8 there is.

It's a solid shooter that ticks all the boxes and is fun to play. Just don't expect it to blow you away or give you a good idea about what PS3 can do.

If you're short of games to play on your shiny new PS3, RR7 is a solid choice. But be warned RR fans - you'll have seen almost all of this before on PSP and 360.

Our only major gripe is that much of its content, i.e. gameplay modes, many of the tracks, and of course all the characters, are from previous SSX games. With the usual selection of half-pipe, racing and trick modes, there's not a great deal of new content in here for SSX veterans to discover, outside of mastering the new control system.

But it's the same story as all the other Ghost Recons online, you need to be a ninja at the game to stand a chance of actually having some fun. That or you could just round up your mates who aren't as hardcore as most of GRAW's following.

One of Motorstorm's big successes is that it demands of you things that other racers don't even bother to ask. You'll have to learn every nook and cranny of the terrain before you can drive around courses with confidence. [JPN Import]

If you played the original to near death, then forgot about it, Shivering Isles is the perfect stepping stone back into what's essentially an incredibly involving adventure game.

Powerful and accessible music maker that's NOT a game.

Not a massive improvement on the PS2 games, but Beautiful retains all the humour and joy you'd expect. For 360 owners, especially, Beautiful Katamari is a refreshing change of pace.

All in, Dark Athena delivers an outstanding FPS bundle for your money.

Any tedium is overcome by the beauty of the game. It seems like PlayStation 3 has its first gem.

The full Bomberman experience with a ton of options and addictive online mode. XBL Silver members approach with caution.

The sequel packs the same punch as the original but it's just not different enough.

A short but challenging and surprisingly addictive score-based bash. It's great for the price, but proper multiplayer and online scoreboards would have made all the difference.

Not all of Dawn of War II's bold changes pay off and fans of traditional RTS games might feel left out. But we're glad it made them because at the single-player game's peaks, its a highly strategic and very satisfying experience.

While falling short of hand-break turning, spring-bouncing and rocketing the series into a whole better direction, Nuts & Bolts will be remembered as a unique and enjoyable - if sometimes repetitive - spin-off to Banjo's platforming routes. It'll be interesting to see where Rare takes him next.

Resistance 2's single-player is a patchy mix of some rather spectacular set pieces with otherwise underwhelming, run-of-the-mill shooting action that just doesn't rise to the standards set by today's best shooters. But it has to be commended for its massive multiplayer games and efforts in co-op.

A bloody, entertaining - but short-lived - action game.

A very entertaining game that'll have you sniggering and giggling from start to finish. The main campaign can be beaten in a few hours but you'll come back and play some more to earn cash for all the weapons and upgrades, as well as extra collectible goodies that lie in wait. A warning though - don't play it near anyone that doesn't find repeated use of the F word funny as f**k.

A great display of how motion-controlled gaming can work. Bigger and better than Wii Sports too.

You have to appreciate Heavy Rain for what it is; a fantastic and absorbing narrative, and a bold new venture in interactive storytelling. Not Shenmue.

This is a solid game with solid platforming, fun gunplay and well thought-out puzzle design, with bags of character. But it suffers, we think, mainly from the progression that games have made over the past two years.

A solid 2010 upgrade for an excellent multiplayer game and slightly aged solo experience. Worth both a revisit and a new plunge.

A decent shooter with smart time powers and enough atmosphere to keep you hooked for the duration.

Too much of GT5 relies on past glories, building on the success of the series without shaking free of the design quirks that are holding the series back. High expectations are justified when a game has been in development so long and GT5 has more than a faint whiff of disappointment about it.

A polished FPS with great multiplayer and plenty of reason to keep playing.

Battles can take upwards of an hour and the micro management can take as long as you're prepared to invest. It's all about longevity and depth, and only you'll know if this is for you.

The crowning glory is a co-operative multiplayer game that's every bit as thrilling as the GBA's "Four Swords." It's hardcore, but accessible.

The one problem with the game is that cycling through the Brothers' many different moves and skills with the shoulder buttons isn't very streamlined.

The genius of it, though, is that Rambo tactics will just get you killed.

The Advance Wars series provides a more polished and super-slick strategy experience than Rebelstar. But for that pure X-COM vibe and the utter joy of a turn-based plan coming together, Rebelstar Tactical Command has twenty hours of love on offer to those who want to spend their AP wisely.

The game takes the proverbial pants off every other GBA shooter, and leaves them flailing around their ankles.

The simple, pick-up-and-play aesthetic that Nintendo oozes from its sweaty pores will soon have you thwacking the balls around the court like Roger Federer on Sunny D.