Guy Cocker

DS, Available now, £29.99

Mario Hoops is a basketball game starring the portly Italian plumber, but apart from having two nets and a ball it doesn’t have much in common with the real sport. The game is controlled via the DS touchscreen, with an emphasis on making choreographed runs to the net to score extra points. The single-player game is easy and unspectacular, but the game comes alive in multiplayer, where you can share a variety of games from one cartridge. It’s also the best looking game on the DS, even if the touchscreen doesn’t quite offer the required precision.

Originally appeared in the November 2006 issue of Hotdog magazine.

Xbox 360 (version tested), PS2, Available now, £39.99

If Grand Theft Auto and Far Cry got drunk and horny, Just Cause would undoubtedly be the lovechild. The main point of the game is to topple the corrupt government of San Esperito, but half of the fun is exploring the fictitious island and taking part in the side missions. You can parasail from any vehicle thanks to a grapple hook, and if you get bored you can become a prominent member of a drug cartel. However, as with many games this ambitious, there are a mountain of bugs, and it just isn’t as much fun as the games that inspired it.

Originally appeared in the November 2006 issue of Hotdog magazine.

PS2 (version tested), Xbox, PC, GameCube, PSP, Nintendo DS, GameBoy Advance. Available now, £29.99-£39.99

The FIFA series may sell by the truckload, but it has long been chasing Pro Evolution Soccer as the critics’ football game of choice. This year, EA Sports is genuinely approaching Konami’s masterpiece, with a superb new first-touch control system that makes the game more realistic without ruining the fun. If you’re online, real-world football updates are delivered in-game, and you can mirror the season by playing weekly fixtures against people from all over the world. Add in the option to manage your favourite team and transfer your season to a PSP, and this is without doubt the best FIFA to date.

Originally appeared in The Telegraph, 11th November 2006.

Xbox 360 (version tested), PS2, PSP, Nintendo DS, PC. Available now, £29.99-£49.99

The arrival of a new Pro Evolution Soccer game is almost as important for football fans as the start of the season itself. The sixth in Konami’s series is the first for Xbox 360, but those expecting a next-gen overhaul may be disappointed. Graphical improvements are minor, and the main difference in gameplay is a slower pace and a need for more accurate passing.

There is online play over Xbox Live, although it often suffers from lag, and a lack of licensing leaves most teams with incorrect names. But while PES6 could certainly do with a bit more tweaking, it’s still the definitive football game, especially when played with friends. Originally appeared in The Telegraph, 18th November 2006.

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