Round the houses with the 360

Perhaps a review of the Xbox 360 is entirely academic given the acute shortage of units in the shops. But in today's paper, I give it a shot anyway. The bottom line is that unless you're a rabid fan with a heavy-duty TV, there's no harm in waiting a month or two anyway. On an ordinary screen, the graphics look better, sure, but it takes a €1,000-plus TV for the full effect. And you don't have broadband, there goes another major selling point.

That said, it's a fine machine - capable of hooking up to iPods, cameras and computers to play back music, video and pictures - and the launch games are good without being great. If you can find a 360, make sure it's the €410 fully fledged version, not the runty €310 one missing some key features.

In games, King Kong (360/PC/PS2/Xbox) sets a new bar for movie tie-ins, an intoxicating blend of atmospheric scenery and headlong action. Capcom Classics Collection (PS2) stuffs 22 top-notch coin-op classics into one little disc. Maybe you're not old enough to remember Ghosts'n'Goblins or Commando, but at this bargain price, this is an acquaintance you'll be delighted to make.

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (PS2/Xbox) can't hold a candle to the PC team-based shooter on which it's based but considering the limitations of the consoles it's a fair effort. Finally, X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse repeats the action RPG formula. And repeats. And repeats.