Once the zenith of controversy, survival horror has seemed tired recently. PlayStation2 (also available for PC, XBox), £39.99 Konami/Konami *** It may lack some polish - the single player plot is wafer-thin nonsense - but Star Wars Battlefront is highly recommended for console owners who can go online. But it is the heat of combat that makes this such fun. There is some strategy involved each side aims to control various parts of the map which then allows reinforcements to be brought in. Likewise, it's hard not to smile while commanding an Imperial Walker and blasting Ewoks and Rebels. One player then pilots the vehicle while the other attempts to fire the tow cable round the legs of an AT-AT walker, just as in The Empire Strikes Back. There's nothing like shouting at a mate and dodging laser fire before jumping into a snowspeeder. Both sides, Empire and Rebel, have different soldiers and vehicles, all with specific strengths and weaknesses. Taking famous set pieces and planets from the movies, this is a blast for Star Wars fans. Replace these bots with humans - 24 on Xbox Live, 16 on PS2 - and Battlefront comes into its own. Running around blasting computer controlled opponents, or 'bots', is fun, but only for a while.

Released in the same week as the DVD of the original films, Star Wars Battlefront is a hugely entertaining affair with one large caveat: if you don't have online capabilities for your Xbox or PS2 then subtract a couple of stars from the total.

Xbox, PlayStation2, £39.99 Pandemic Studios/Lucas Arts ****

Battlefront 2 tow cable