GameCube by Steve Boxer
The GameCube is an attractive buy, costing less than £80, but this year it suffered from a dearth of new games in comparison with the Xbox and PlayStation 2. Still, you cannot go wrong with any of the following.
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Nintendo, £39.99
This new-technology version of the venerable kart-racing title featuring Nintendo's favourite characters is an essential purchase. The addition of an extra character on the back of each kart enabled a rather gimmicky cooperative multiplay mode, but the combination of tail-out powersliding, surreal circuits and wonderfully anarchic power-ups remains irresistible.
F-Zero GX
Nintendo, £39.99
Although another update - this time of the classic hover-racing title - F-Zero GX is so fast, responsive and swoopy that it has been known to induce motion sickness. It is state-of-the-art, futuristic fodder for speed-freaks, which is particularly good when played against your mates.
Soul Calibur II
Electronic Arts, £39.99
This fantastic-looking, absorbing beat-'em-up feels more grown up than its peers. It is available on other consoles, but the GameCube version is the best, as it is the only one that lets you play as Link, hero of the Zelda games.
WarioWorld
Nintendo, £39.99
Mario's evil twin has had a good year. After starring in the impossibly moreish WarioWare Inc on the Game Boy Advance, he was given his first starring role in a 3D platform game. WarioWorld is slick, agreeably weird and convoluted, and avoids the pitfalls such as bad camera-work which so frequently affect platform games.
XIII
Ubisoft, £39.99
Mixing stealth, first-person shoot-'em-up action and a modicum of puzzle-solving with surprisingly arty comic book-style, cel-animated graphics and a great conspiracy-theory storyline, XIII appeals to young and old equally.
PC games by Rhianna Pratchett
This Christmas, PC World and Dixons are running some great deals on 2.2-2.8GHz laptops with DVD/ CDRW drives for between £500 and £1,000. If you want to try your hand at building your own machine, then www.scan.co.uk and www.dabs.co.uk lead the way online, or you can push the boat out and go for the top-notch spec and sleek designs of the Alienware.
Call of Duty
Activision/Infinity Ward, £39.99
The second world war forms the backdrop for this first-person shooter. Call of Duty has an intense and immersive atmosphere as you play your way through British, Russian and German campaigns. There is a strong multi-player mode and a "kill cam" where you can watch the last five seconds of your death from your killer's point of view.
Star Wars: Knights of the old Republic
Activision/ Bioware, £39.99
A stunning role-playing game, set 4,000 years before Star Wars Episode IV. It revolves around fighting with light sabres, using the force and completing quests that allow you to clock up skills as well as grooming your character for life in the light or the dark side. Excellent graphics.
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Take 2 Interactive/Remedy, £34.99
The first Max Payne game was a triumph of style over substance. Max's second outing sees him falling for the charms of murder suspect Mona Sax. The familiar comic-style cut-scenes are still there, but the Matrix-style bullet-time has been polished to make it easier to take out large numbers of enemies. Impressive use of photorealistic graphics and rag-doll physics.
Empires: Dawn of the Modern World
Activision, Stainless Steel Studio, £34.99
If you would prefer to be refining the art of war than being in the thick of it, then put this on your wish list. Covering great military periods from medieval times to the second world war - and doing so with great flair - this isn't one for novices, as it assumes a fair amount of real-time strategy gaming knowledge.
Championship Manager Season 03/04
Eidos Interactive/Sports Interactive, £29.99
Championship Manager is one of the UK's more understated success stories, earning millions of fans for its unique, yet addictive, way of transforming the player into a manager. This season is harder than ever: Championship Manager seeks ball clubs it portrays, down to their financial plight. This version showcases teams from 43 countries.
PS2 by Mike Anderiesz
The PS2 still trounces the opposition on units sold and PS1 compatibility. However, it is the most expensive of the big three consoles with an online service that is currently no match for Xbox Live! On the plus, it is the only one that plays DVDs straight out of the box, and massive developer support ensures most games appear first on Sony's favourite format. Online prices are generally among the best - you can pick up a new PS2 with a DVD remote receiver for £129.99 at www.gameplay.com or a used one with games for as little as £90 from www.amazon.co.uk.
Pro Evolution Soccer 3
Konami, £39.99
EA's Fifa 2004 may have all the real names, teams and flashy sponsorship but this is the soccer game for playability and pixel-perfect passing, and the PS2 controller makes it the smoothest version to play.
Manhunt
Rockstar, £39.99
Definitely not for kids, this is graphically violent film-noir masquerading as a game. In turns hugely playable and genuinely unnerving. Interactive thrillers such as this are the future.
GTA: ViceCity
Rockstar, £39.99
Imagine Miami Vice meets Goodfellas played out on motorbikes to the sound of 80s pop and bullets ripping into cement. The PC version is arguably better, but this is still a powerful retort to any claims that the best developers are at Microsoft.
Eye-Toy: Play
Sony, £39.99
For novelty Christmas value this is hard to beat. Plug it in and watch the family kicking, punching and chortling at how the camera incorporates their drunken movements into a dozen simple arcade games. Add the new Eye-Groove disc (£29.99) and you have instant video karaoke too!
Tony Hawk's Underground
Activision, £39.99
Quality arcade action that rewards persistence. The novice will try it for 10 minutes and then reach for the Eye-Toy, the expert will be glued until January, perfecting a massive array of tricks, twists and secret bonuses.
Xbox by Greg Howson
The Xbox is the most powerful gaming console available. Titles almost always look their best on it. Combine this with online gaming via Live - and you have a powerful gaming proposition. On the minus side, it costs around £140 including two games and Live trial and still lacks a decent platform and soccer game.
Project Gotham Racing 2
Microsoft, £39.99
Offline this is an attractive driving game that rewards stylish and risky manoeuvres. Online takes it to another level as you compete against players from around the world.
Top Spin
Microsoft, £39.99
Easy to get into, tough to master, Top Spin is a tennis game to reckon with. The graphics are lovely but it is the subtlety of control that is the reason for its success. Risking a tricky shot in the middle of an online rally causes thrillingly tense encounters.
Crimson Skies
Microsoft, £39.99
Red sky at night, gamer's delight. An aviation combat game that mixes dogfighting with Indiana Jones and comes alive online.
