Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 (Xbox)

The latest Ghost Recon 2 game is much more better than the earlier versions. It's not as busy and complicated when you work through the menu for example.

The graphics are awesome and so too are the sounds. I loved watching the enemy advance above in a helicopter but they weren't there for long as I blew them clean out of the sky, spectacular!

I also played the game on LIVE as part of the day involved playing the actual developers. There was no lag whatsoever. There were various maps to choose from and I really liked the improved lobby system before combat which is similar to that on Rainbow Six 3 and Black Arrow.

Rainbow Six 3 and Rainbow Six 3 Black Arrow (also Ubisoft titles) are my favourites and Ghost Recon 2 will definitely play an important role like them. People have asked me is Ghost Recon 2 better than Black Arrow. Well it's hard to answer as they are different games. Black Arrow is more about running and gunning where as with Ghost Recon 2 you can lay down in the woods and pick the enemy off so it demands more tactical moves and thoughts - ideal if you play with a group of friends for example.

You can play the game as a first person shooter or you can change to third person view and see yourself as the soldier from over his shoulder. In first person shooter there is no gun on the screen so your view isn't blocked at all.

I asked UBI on the day which console the game ran best on. Some said the PS2, some said the Xbox. It's worth pointing out though that both games are different on each console. A friend who went with me tried the game on both systems but he said he preferred the Xbox version, especially because of the online play and voice capabilities.

This game is worth every penny. It will be up there with Rainbow Six 3 Black Arrow, Halo 2, PGR2 etc as one of the best.

It is one of the best games I've bought on the XBox.

Yes, the campaign level is very hard - but that's because you've got to be patient and work out where you're going to move to and how you're vulnerable. This really isn't a "charge around and shoot everything" kind of game - go and play HALO 2 if you want that. This is about working as part of a team.

Online it is spectacular. It is arguable that this game really comes into its own when you have a group of mates attempting to wipe out another team of people you don't even know ! There's nothing quite like that feeling online when the comms go quiet and you realise you are the only person left alive to face the enemy alone.

You will have to ignore the fact that the lobby areas are confusing and seem rushed design-wise, but get past that and you're onto a winner with no lag whatsoever.

Trust me - my standards are high with games like this and this one is very, very good indeed.