Transformers PS2

Based on the recent Armada toy line, rather than the 80s toys remembered by twenty and thirty-somethings, the main characters still have familiar names such as Optimus Prime, Megatron and Starscream. The game itself takes obvious influences from Halo, of all things, as you roam a series of superbly rendered landscapes fighting off hordes of enemy robots. You only have one basic weapon for each of the three playable characters but you can augment this by finding one of the large range of Mini-Cons within the game. These smaller robots offer extras such as shields, infra-red vision and even a hang glider. You can only equip four at a time though, making for some tough tactical decisions.

You can, of course, also transform into a vehicle at any time and this is made absolutely necessary by the sheer size of the levels, which seem to stretch out for miles. So forget the licence (or not, if you're a fan) and check out the best thing to happen to the PS2 for ages. --David Jenkins