The HD DVD player does require users to connect it to their Xbox 360 for playback functionality, but other than that it comes with everything you’ll need to get connected and ready for high-definition viewing enjoyment. Here’s a quick list of the contents of the HD DVD package:

• Xbox 360 HD DVD Player
• Universal Remote Control (Two AA batteries included)
• USB 2.0 Cable
• Power Supply with AC Power Cord
• Installation software and reference materials

Setting up the HD DVD player is a breeze, even for the technically challenged. The setup disc that comes with the package will install all the necessary updates to the Xbox 360 to bring the dashboard up to speed with the new features that support the HD DVD drive’s operation. Once that is done, simply connect the HD DVD player via the USB wire supplied and then connect the power supply to the drive. By powering on the Xbox 360, the HD DVD drive will also come to life and the eject button will light up letting you know it’s getting juice. When the dashboard loads up, the first thing you’ll notice is that the disc tray area of the blade now displays two options to select on the left side of the tray signified by a circle icon split in two halves. One is for playing the current disc in the Xbox 360 DVD drive while the other is for playing the disc in the HD DVD drive. You’ll know which option you have selected as the top half of the circle will light up and the tray displays the DVD logo while the bottom half of the circle will light up with the HD DVD logo.

The HD DVD drive connects to the X360 via a simple USB to mini-USB cable, which comes in the box. Don’t worry about losing the only rear mounted USB port on the Xbox 360 though, because the HD DVD drive gives you two more ports, leaving you one USB connector better off. Once you’ve connected the drive, the X360 will download the necessary update automatically. Once loaded you’ll be greeted with your usual Dashboard interface, but with one small difference. The Eject Tray icon at the bottom is now split into two sections – the top half will eject the DVD drive in the X360, while the bottom half will eject the HD DVD drive.

Also in the box is a full AV remote control – I say full, because it’s a bit longer and more comprehensive than the small AV remote that shipped with early X360 consoles. It’s a good bundle though, considering that even the Premium pack 360 doesn’t come with a remote control anymore.

The premise of Guitar Hero II remains the same as its predecessor. Using a custom five-button guitar controller (we’ll cover the various bundles later in this review), you imitate strumming and fretting guitar patterns as they scroll down the screen, racking up points as you play in time with the music. On the Easy setting, you’ll only need to use three buttons; on Medium, you’ll stretch out to four, and on Hard and Expert, you’ll need to juggle all five; don’t be surprised if you find your wrist in need of a rest after attempting a few Expert solos.

With its easy-to-learn, tough-to-master gameplay that deftly simulated the act of playing guitar like a rock-and-roll god, and its incredibly good soundtrack, Guitar Hero easily put itself in the company of the best rhythm games of all time upon its release last year. Now a sequel has arrived in Guitar Hero II. If you think about the features you wished that the original Guitar Hero had, Guitar Hero II probably delivers on the bulk of them. New mode additions like cooperative play (with rhythm guitar and bass tracks to play), as well as a fantastic practice mode to help you break down and learn some of the toughest solos in the game, give the game a great deal of longevity past its lengthy and addictive career mode. On top of everything else, the game is a whole lot harder than its predecessor, with a greater emphasis on speedier songs and thicker, more ludicrous solos. This does ultimately make Guitar Hero II less immediately accessible to newcomers, but odds are that even a steeper level of challenge won’t stop novices or veterans from getting their rock on.

There’s also a meter that shows how well you’re doing with the audience. Play well and you’ll keep the needle in the green, but miss notes and you’ll start driving it down through yellow and then into the red, where you’re at risk of having the song grind to a halt and you branded as a failure.

Successfully playing notes builds your score, and chaining notes also raises your bonus multiplier. Combos of certain star-shaped notes increase your “Star Power” gauge (and build even faster if you use your “whammy bar” during sustained notes) . Once you’ve earned enough, you can unleash Star Power by tilting your guitar upward (imagine any guitarist rocking out during a solo…though contorting your face doesn’t earn you extra points) or hitting the Back Button, which quadruples your bonus multiplier and boosts the crowd’s enjoyment of the performance.

The Nintendo DS Lite is slimmer and much sleeker that the original DS. The device employs innovative dual-screen and microphone-enabled gameplay as well as Wi-Fi multiplayer capabilities, allowing for a growing list of original and fun games that you can’t play on any other system. In addition, the system is backward-compatible with almost every GBA title. All these additions come without increasing the price or decreasing the features of the original DS.

When you compare the DS Lite dimensions to other electronics, such as Sony’s PSP and Apple’s 60 GB iPod photo, you see just how small it is. The smaller form factor of the DS Lite “fits in” with the PSP and iPod better.

The DS Lite designers should be commended for essentially starting over from scratch with the DS Lite case. It has paid off in every regard. From the smaller size to the materials used, everything has been improved.

he machine has slots for the DS games themselves, as well as a covered slot to plug in your old Game Boy Advance games too. Backwards compatibility should, in our view, be a must with all future consoles, simply as a common courtesy, not to mention being good business sense.

Priced at under £100 and with a software library that’s already featuring several must-have titles with the promise of plenty more around the corner, the DS Lite is a triumph. It’s not only cheaper by far than Sony’s PSP (which does have plenty in its corner, in case you think we’ve got a downer on it), it’s also got a stronger software base and generally seems to be a more intelligent piece of hardware.