MEDAL OF HONOR: EUROPEAN ASSAULT, Publisher: EA. Formats: PS2, Xbox. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Too much violence for younger children.

IT may be the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War but this is getting ridiculous. I've lost count of the number of WW2 themed video games we've had in the past 12 months. Still, EA pioneered the genre and despite a few dodgy offerings (be honest, did you really finish Rising Sun? If you did then I reckon it's you who needs a medal) this game marks a return to fine form.

Although it does nothing new, European Assault is a slick package oozing atmosphere and stunning set pieces. Interestingly, it isn't all set in France either. The first missions are in Saint-Nazaire on the (fast collapsing) Nazi western front but just as you're stifling a yawn, the action switches to North Africa, Belgium and Russia.

In fact, the French portion of European Assault is nothing more than a series of extended training exercises designed to ease newbies into the Medal... game world.

One new feature is the squad element wherein you get to control a three-man team. This is nothing new for devotees of shoot 'em ups (Brothers In Arms did it very well a few months back) and veterans will find the intelligence of your computer-controlled buddies a bit lacking at times, but it is a welcome new addition to the Medal... series.

Unfortunately, your pals are sometimes a hindrance to mission accomplishment rather than two people to rely on. Worse still, as you get further into the game, the Nazi intelligence becomes alarmingly cunning.

The bad guys also dive for cover effectively (not something that can be said of your team mates) and muster effective counter attack strategies.

At least the controls are straightforward and the smooth graphics won't slow you up too much.

Fans of this series will find plenty to enjoy in European Assault.

JADE EMPIRE, Format: Xbox. Publisher: Microsoft. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Age 15 and over.

MARTIAL arts movies are one of my guilty pleasures. It doesn't matter if it's Bruce Lee or Bruce Li, Cynthia Rothrock or Lilly Karate - a bit of oriental action is always a welcome relief after a hard day's work.

Jade Empire, developed by Bioware, a team famous for its role playing adventures, mixes martial arts mayhem with an RPG's sweeping storyline in such a way that fans of both genres will feel well satisfied.

Bioware has succeeded in slimming down the RPG trimmings without short changing the kind of gamer who loves to feel involved in their adventuring.

It's a harsh truth, but the majority of games players these days simply don't have the spare time to invest in a traditional RPG. They may be good value for money but many Final Fantasy discs are cast aside before the words "The End" pop up on screen.

Jade Empire cuts all the fluff out of the RPG genre (the often bewildering array of choices, the inventory management and the fights that sometimes feel as involving as rolling a dice etc) and gets straight down to business.

It concentrates on a system of combat that's as deep as you want to go. By the end of the game, you will be a master in martial arts, weapons handling, casting magic spells and switching from one form of attack to another mid fight.

Random button bashers won't get far. The monsters you meet are immune to certain types of attacks so a considered approach needs to be adopted. Mixing and matching attack types is the only way to beat the bad guys.You also go into battle with a secondary character. They can provide assistance or healing powers whenever you need them.

Some of the fights are brutal, with body parts raining down just like the infamous movie Shogun Assassin with its rivers of blood and crimson arterial sprays. The plot is as about as daffy as a typical Golden Harvest Bruce Li extravaganza about a martial arts student (you) who is thrust into a battle between man and gods.

The game benefits enormously from the movie-like cut sequences and the prodigious soundtrack - no subtitles are needed. Bioware certainly knows how to get the best from the Xbox graphics chipset. Jade Empire is packed with densely populated screens, fast moving characters and wonderful animation. The box sure gets a good workout but the on screen results are a joy to behold. Heck, fans of old school games even get the chance to engage in a Galaga-style scrolling shoot 'em up mini game - if you know what to do.

It's a shame Microsoft is moving so quickly to Xbox 360 as it seems developers are finally getting beneath the skin of its first console.

The year 2005 will undoubtedly go down as the best ever for Xbox software and, when the history of the big black brick is written, Jade Empire will surely rank as one of the greatest titles ever to grace Bill Gates' machine.

Published: 24/06/2005