MotorStorm [PS3]

The original E3 trailer for Sony's off-road racer gave the impression of a chaotic, high speed title with incredible visuals. The great news is that, for the most part, that's how the game turned out. Though the in-game graphics aren't quite up to the level of that initial glimpse, they're still impressive. There are some truly large tracks, taking place around and on top of the buttes of Monument Valley, Arizona, and the integrated environmental footage is really quite spectacular.

The gameplay is based around a burning-man type festival, where you compete in various groups of races, using one of seven vehicle types from motorcycles and ATVs up through buggies and trucks to big rigs. Naturally, this makes for some chaotic moments on the track as vehicles of varying speed and weight boost and bump each other into obstacles or off cliffs. The physics come into play more than in most games, as your vehicle reacts to the varied terrain and jostling from other racers. Crashes are commonplace as well, as players collide with boulders or other obstacles, resulting in a rain of parts scattering the track while a flaming chassis flies through the air.

A racing game based around a desert festival naturally has to have some decent music, and though the tunes are mostly from various hard rock bands, there's enough diversity for players to find a good selection they enjoy. The game also features online play for up to twelve players, and though the implementation is pretty bare, it gets the job done. There's no two-player offline mode to go head-to-head, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a great game and another solid new property for Sony. [4/5]

Dance Dance Revolution Universe [360]

DDR makes its way onto the Xbox 360 with generally the same array of modes and options as previous versions, plus the added ability to take on challengers via Xbox Live and work your way up the leaderboards. Danceable tunes are a given, but the tracklist has more of a pop/rock feel that the usual light techno sounds. The various skill levels don't progress as smoothly as previous versions, so less hardcore players may find themselves struggling to keep up. Fortunately, the game allows you to tweak the speed and types of steps considerably. [3/5]

Virtua Fighter 5 [PS3]

The father of modern 3D fighting games comes to the next generation of consoles. Newcomers Eileen from China and Mexican wrestler El Blaze bring the roster up to 17, not including boss character Dural. The gameplay remains largely unchanged, aside from feeling slightly faster, but the graphics seem to be a nearly perfect recreation of the arcade machine. The standard Arcade, Versus, and Dojo (training) options are joined by the Quest mode that mimics various arcades where you can pit your customized character against computer-controlled opponents. Unfortunately, the development team still aren't convinced that online play would work well, so it isn't included. Still, it's a must for serious fighting game fans. [8/10]

GTA Vice City Stories [PS2]

Of all the regular GTA games, Vice City has been my favourite so far, so I was looking forward to spending more time in the cheeky, 80's-inspired city. This time around, you play as Vic Vance, a regular joe at the local army base with bills to pay. After taking some bad advice, Vic is out on his ass and needs to build up his own empire if he's going to survive.

The game follows the usual drill, with short quests at the beginning that get more compicated and take you to more locations and more violent interactions with local gangs as the game progresses. All the over-the-top elements that made the original Vice City a blast are here, from the rampant drug use, to the cheesy radio DJs. The game does feel scaled down in some ways though, as the graphics definitely don't have as much polish, being a port from the PSP, and there are generally less people and cars around.

The game is still fun, though it's simply not as substantial as the original. If you did play the PSP version, there's no reason to bother with this one, but players who haven't been to Vice City for a few years should certainly consider a return trip. [3/5]

Lumines Plus [PS2]

The killer launch title for PSP owners finally comes to the PS2. The basic idea is to stack two-by-two patterned blocks and make them disappear while listening to techno music and trying not to get distracted by the trippy visuals in the background. The play area should take up more of the screen though, and internet play would have been nice as well. It's definitely starting to show a bit of wear after four versions in only two years, but is still a must-have for puzzle game fans. [4/5]

Formula 1 Championship Edition [PS3]

The presentation is a bit sparse, but all the official tracks and drivers are here. The game uses the 2006 roster though, which may irritate serious players who've been waiting five years since the series' PS2 incarnation. Before jumping into the substantial five-season Career mode, players can take on the Grand Prix Weekend or World Championship, which simulates one racing season. Casual racers will likely find the learning curve quite steep, making the Quick Race and Time Trial modes mandatory for getting up to speed. It's a shame the PSP wing mirror feature didn't make it into the final game, but the racing action is solid, with realistic weather effects and excellent engine sounds. Radio chatter from your pit crew is generally good, but the announcing gets repetitive straight away. Online play can accommodate up to eleven human players in a twenty-two car race and the game supports several steering wheel controllers. [7/10]