A game that doesn't credit you with much intelligence just isn't fun. [Mar 2011, p.95]

A faithful board game adaptation that lacks the depth to grab you in its power fist and not let go. [Issue#336, p.83]

The additions and breadth of ways to play earn that "Super" prefix, but the games are still the star. [Issue#336, p.80]

A fascinating combination of gaming trends that doesn't quite stick the landing. [Issue#336, p.68]

Lara's origin story ends in a lukewarm fashion. It lacks thrills and its early story potential is wasted. [Nov 2018, p.76]

Featuring the depth and feel of a muddy puddle, this so-so beat-'em-up relies on a sleazy hook. [Nov 2018, p.75]

Dripping with imagination, and with a great cat, but too slow to make the best of its undoubted gifts. [Nov 2018, p.74]

An underwhelming campaign mode doesn't ruin what is still a solid tactical strategy game. [Nov 2018, p.68]

Fighting for queen and country is all very well, but it's something you should do in a group. [Nov 2018, p.66]

Despite its beautiful art and promising gameplay, it's weighed down by poor pacing and storytelling. [Oct 2018, p.81]

While the limited amount of control can be frustrating, this mystery still manages to enthrall. [Oct 2018, p.77]

Combat is competent at best, and plagued by countless technical issues that sour the experience. [Oct 2018, p.76]

A pretty world, unique set-pieces, and promising story are ruined by unnecessary filler. [Oct 2018, p.60]

It is a lovely tale for two, designed to bring you together rather than tear you apart and perfectly paced thanks to the handy hint system. [Issue#333, p.81]

A promising, though flawed, effort from a new developer. It's compelling core falters in its last act. [Issue#333, p.79]

A lesser JRPG revival for Sega, though hardcore players will find depths worth exploring here. [Issue#333, p.75]

A combat-focused 4X is a great idea, but Gladius puts too many frustrations in the way of enjoyment. [Issue#333, p.73]

A fun diversion with a few neat ideas, but ultimately there's far too little substance to its battles. [Issue#333, p.72]

There's an incredible amount of familiarity here, yet it's still one of the best Lego titles to date. [Issue#333, p.70]

An impressive technical showcase for PS VR, but the game lurking beneath is uninspired. [Issue#333, p.68]

The Crew 2 spreads itself too thin and doesn't take enough advantage of its sprawling open world. [Issue#333, p.54]

You might just find yourself making a return trip before long. [Aug 2018, p.85]

It won't change the world, but it's still worth saving. [Aug 2018, p.84]

A beautiful bullet-hell with high-energy visuals and music that sometimes descend into chaos. [Aug 2018, p.82]

Held back by bugs and boredom, Martyr can still sometimes be fun - especially with three others. [Aug 2018, p.74]

Vampyr's social web is intriguing, but bland combat and a conflicting premise hold it back. [Aug 2018, p.70]

Knocks your socks off at first, then settles down in a humdrum management game with added dinosaurs. [Aug 2018, p.66]

Those looking for a fresh coat of paint over an old neighborhood will be satisfied. For the rest of us, this justice might be a bit too laboured to be worth the trouble. [July 2018, p.83]

Fascinating but alienating. [July 2018, p.83]

Funcom's game is more about planning and hoarding than the outright violence you might expect. [July 2018, p.77]

Creative storytelling, great design, and middling gameplay make a memorable, yet flawed, adventure. [July 2018, p.76]

A disappointing sequel - the new emphasis on repetition simply leads to frustration. [July 2018, p.68]

Decent ideas in need of a more coherent direction. And please, for your own sanity, play with a pad. [July 2018, p.66]

The core gameplay loop may grow monotonous, and a devilish slow of bugs threatens to disrupt it at any moment, but State of Decay 2 remains an entertaining vehicle for the emergent stories that materialise from its anomalous blend of zombie slaying, base building, and interpersonal drama. [July 2018, p.58]

A technical marvel with cinematic appeal, Detroit is another game brought low by ham-fisted writing. [July 2018, p.75]

Taken as a kind of tech demo of what the future of television could look like, #WarGames makes for an intriguing evening's entertainment. [May 2018, p.84]

A whole lot of colour and fun, with big things to smash, but it becomes repetitive far too quickly. [May 2018, p.82]

A stunning world of beautifully animated characters, let down by dated design and limited resources. [May 2018, p.80]

A novel adventure that fails to deliver on its dramatic aspirations. [May 2018, p.78]

There's solid gold to be found here... but so, sadly, is betrayal. Getting the right team is crew-tial. [May 2018, p.74]

An intriguing opening for a narrative series, with some of the most raddled faces we've ever seen. [May 2018, p.70]

A rare kids' game that lets younger players feel badass, but the post-sugar rush crash is steep. [May 2018, p.70]

A fun distraction with some word-based cleverness, but it's far less substantial than it should be. [May 2018, p.66]

An homage that shows bright potential. [Apr 2018, p.82]

A solid colony builder packed with complex systems, but the red planet feels a little too familiar. [Apr 2018, p.81]

Intermittently fun, but not consistently hair-raising enough to keep you glued to the steering wheel. [Apr 2018, p.80]

The core concept of Debris is promising, but the dull world and mechanics diminish the experience. [Apr 2018, p.75]

A tweaked combat system and open world are welcome, but more inspiration is needed. [Apr 2018, p.72]

A rather uninspired remake of a solid JRPG experience. It's still a great game, and a history lesson, too. [Apr 2018, p.70]

A perfectly enjoyable card game, but one that struggles to keep pace with the heavyweights of the genre. [Apr 2018, p.68]

A dreamlike Metroidvania, but hampered by gameplay pests that are hard to sing about. [Apr 2018, p.67]

The love that's gone into developing KCD shows through its outer skin of bugs and bloody violence. [Apr 2018, p.66]

Captures all the pomp and ceremony of a prize-fight, but leaves you a little distant from the action. [March 2018, p.78]

A fun strategy experience, limited by some rough edges and far too much repetition [March 2018, p.76]

The perfect sort of game to play wile doing something else - unless you're a whale, of course. [March 2018, p.75]

A meaty turn-based combat system means this should satisfy your hunger for traditional JRPGs. [March 2018, p.74]

Although peppered with flaws, this is an interesting experiment that rises far above tech demo. [March 2018, p.69]

A game that seems to have plenty to say, but struggles to express itself clearly. [Feb 2018, p.81]

Entertaining but slight. [Feb 2018, p.80]

Fun, but often undone by its own structure, which can make the laid-back experience feel pressured. [Feb 2018, p.76]

This would be great if it were a free update to the game, but as a paid expansion it's severely lacking. [Feb 2018, p.72]

Flawed by facinatingly so, Doom VFR is a daring virtual remix that almost comes off. [Feb 2018, p.73]

Outcast hasn't improved on its accessibility enough to appeal to modern audiences. [Jan 2018, p.80]

A flawed horror game with few scares but plenty of B-movie appeal, it'll scratch an adventuring itch. [Jan 2018, p.79]

Subject matter that doesn't suit a party game, and writing that isn't worthy of a budget thriller. [Jan 2018, p.78]

It has lots of potential, but ultimately lacks focus and is home to some genuinely shoddy moments. [Jan 2018, p.77]

It's not Rocket's-manners bad, not mixtape great, just kind of stuck in the middle with you. [Jan 2018, p.74]

Your Star Wars fantasy made real, wrapped around a poorly-designed progression system. [Jan 2018, p.70]

Barely interactive, and fails to capture the suspense and nuance of superior games in the genre. [Jan 2018, p.65]

It doesn't build on the formula (ha!) much, but it's one of the best - if least technically stable - entries. [Jan 2018, p.62]

A fun yet flawed racer that runs out of steam prior to the conclusion of its uninspired narrative. [Christmas 2017, p.75]

Sonic Forces is messy, frustrating, and surprisingly basic, but there is fun to be had in perfecting a level. [Christmas 2017, p.74]

An often excellent, authentic wrestler, but the squared circle action deserves a better campaign. [Christmas 2017, p.73]

Some of the best multiplayer in the whole series is let down by a mediocre campaign mode. [Christmas 2017, p.66]

An uncompromising and varied simulation racer. The thrilling action is let down by glitches and unruly AI. [Nov 2017, p.62]

Masquerada's got heat - give it a chance, and it'll give you a wonderful world to lose yourself in. [Nov 2017, p.79]

Like Doctor Foster's puddle, Absolver packs a surprising amount of depth into a small space. [Nov 2017, p.72]

In no way is this horrendous - it's better than the first - but it's certainly not worth your time. [Nov 2017, p.68]

An uneven remake that rallies strongly to banish early disappointment - stick with it. [Nov 2017, p.67]

The ruthlessly satirical writing, though, is in another league altogether. [Oct 2017, p.81]

It's a Soulslike, sure, but likely due to the isometric angle and the simple controls it requires, a repetitive one that offers little beyond a surface-level challenge. [Oct 2017, p.80]

Fans of early noughties shooters will love this; others will probably find it frustrating. [Oct 2017, p.79]

Mayhem's slick squad combat is wasted on repetitive mission design and a soulless open world. [Oct 2017, p.76]

What initially feels like a celebration of the flow of combat becomes repetitive and frustrating. [Oct 2017, p.70]

That's You simply needed more questions to be an all-inclusive riot. [Sept 2017, p.81]

A charming but ultimately underwhelming experience. [Sept 2017, p.80]

High-octane it ain't, but if you're after something mellow to wallow in, fill your (space) boots. [Sept 2017, p.79]

There's fun to be had, but the choice and variety are as micro as the machines, limiting your enjoyment. [Sept 2017, p.74]

Like its protagonist, you're left feeling Get Even needed a little more love and attention to make its many ideas come together. [July 2017, p.83]

A beautifully recreated love letter to the early days of first-person shooters, it's fun but limited. [July 2017, p.81]

A unique twist on multiplayer combat, but niggling problems mean it's not a must-buy...yet. [July 2017, p.73]

A visually dazzling adventure in which navigating space feels almost as difficult as it would be in real life. [July 2017, p.72]

A novel but insubstantial shooting gallery bolted awkwardly onto a fun sci-fi story. [July 2017, p.69]

If it worked perfectly this would still be a pretty limited game, but with no way of fixing input lag, it's a huge disappointment. PaRappa deserves better. [June 2017, p.83]

Fun in short bursts, but ultimately hampered by tonal problems and balancing issues. [June 2017, p.81]

There's a brilliant little 15 quid multiplayer game here, but at its current price, it's only for fans of the franchises. [June 2017, p.77]

A unique and endearing game idea that isn't quite matched by the structure of its challenges or worlds. [June 2017, p.76]

A fantastic effort that mostly delivers on the promises made during its funding campaign. [June 2017, p.71]