Medal Of Honor: Rising Sun (Electronic Arts) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

From the attack on Pearl Harbor to the jungles of the South Sea islands, Rising Sun is a must-play.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds (Sierra) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

It plays like an interactive episode of the vamp-tastic TV series. Essential for fans, but not quite in Resi's class.

Jak II: Renegade (Naughty Dog) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

The rarest of videogame animals - an epic treat with quality that soars throughout. You need this game.

Bomberman Kart (Hudson) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

The only kart this game conjures up is one that's driven by men in orange overalls and filled with rubbish.

Hunter: The Reckoning Wayward (Danger High Voltage) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

A satisfying blend of hack-and-massacre gameplay and decaying minions. Not perfect, but gratifying.

Finding Nemo (THQ) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

A cracking story and oh-so-cute characters, but the wet wanderings are far too simplistic for our liking.

The King Of Route 66 (Sega) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Wears its arcade origins with pride but the lack of a chunky cabinet leaves limited appeal.

Breath Of Fire: Dragon Quarter (Capcom) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

A respectable outing for the veteran series, but there are far superior examples of the genre on offer.

Freaky Flyers (Midway) (PlayStation 2 (US Version))

The mini-games are cool, but it's not quite enough to justify such a big chunk of your hard-earned cash.

Hardware: Online Area ()

One idea, but a good one. Its success rests firmly in the online arena. See you on the battlefield.

Chess Challenger (Play-It) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Despite a lack of thrills and presentation, Chess Challenger manages to be cheap and rather cheerful to boot.

Motorsiege: Warriors Of Prime Time (Play-It) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

A pleasant surprise. Original it ain't, but there's plenty to like and at a tenner this is virtually a risk-free deal.

Everquest Online Adventures (Sony) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

EverQuest offers perhaps the purest role-playing opportunity in gamedom - so what's not to like?

Reel Fishing III (Natsume) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Of course it's not a patch on the 'reel' thing, but Reel Fishing III does land praise for its detail and gentle atmosphere.

My Street (Sony) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

A larger scale to the online activity and more mini-games would have helped to raise this above the bar.

Club Football (Codemasters) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Lacks some depth in gameplay but still a must-buy for non PES-loving fans of the teams involved.

Rugby 2004 (Electronic Arts) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Sloppy work from the masters of presentation, and as hollow as an over-inflated ball.

AtTheRaces Presents Gallop Racer 2003 (Zoo Digital Publishing) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Simply too dull. Even the most dedicated horse-heads will have trouble staying in the saddle for long.

Cool Shot (Phoenix Games) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

There aren't any other pool games for £9 on the PS2. But that's no reason to buy this.

Home Run (Phoenix Games) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

An awful baseball sim. Even rich people with lots of £8.99's to burn shouldn't buy this.

Road Rage 3 (Atlus) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Seriously low rent 'racing'. It's bloody cheap, but in more ways than one.

Alter Echo (THQ) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

However pioneering certain aspects are, the good work is lost in a distortion of crass visuals and sheer linearity.

Wallace And Gromit In Project Zoo (Bam Entertainment) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

This won't win any awards, but bigger games should take note of the simple, effective characterisation.

Yu-Gi-Uh! The Duelists Of The Roses (Konami) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

A worthy addition to the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! and a must for fans of card games. We personally prefer Top Trumps.

AFL Live 2004 (Acclaim) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

It's niche for sure but it's a fair dinkum adaptation of this Antipodean oddity.

Bionicle (Electronic Arts) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Bionicle fans may get a kick out of this, but they, and us, deserve a tighter platformer.

Boxing Champions (Midas) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

It's not Rocky or Knockout Kings but as a budget bruiser it's worth a punt.

Bust-A-Bloc (Midas) (PlayStation 2 (EU Version))

Basically a tarted-up Super Breakout clone that goes in to bat with some aplomb.