Feels archaic, despite the additions. Best wait for Koei's PS3 output. [July 2006, p.84]

There is fun to be had in the classic setting, and the XCOM-like progression, but we found ourselves bored long before the end of our first campaign. [Jan 2016, p.81]

You'd be nuts to pick this over "Warcraft" - there's just no contest. [May 2006, p.80]

Beyond unlocking the suits and leveling up your fighter to unlock "power ups" there's very little depth beyond its primary use as a brief distraction for the kids. [Christmas 2011, p.94]

A glorified art gallery. [Sept 2011, p.91]

What should be an epic race with huge scale and freedom is short-lived, disjointed and linear. [Jan 2012, p.64]

Staggeringly lazy and a bit cynical. [Feb 2010, p.77]

The racing simply isn't good enough. [Christmas 2015, p.69]

Fairly empty, bland adventuring for kids. One for fans only. [May 2007, p.85]

Attempts some RTS elements but misses the mark. [June 2012, p.79]

Frustratingly long load times. [Aug 2016, p.82]

Hardcore platforming action that doesn't bring anything new to the series. [Mar 2011, p.98]

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

A great addition to the Naruto series if not so much the world of games. [Nov 2008, p.84]

As a game it's meaningless bilge. [Nov 2013, p.73]

Not quite so bad it's good but not so bad it's awful either. It's worth a rent, but just for laughs. [Aug 2009, p.82]

It pales next to Vigilante 8 Arcade. [July 2010, p.91]

Hardly the ointment Ninty needs to soothe its Wii U woes. [Apr 2014, p.79]

Stupidly steep difficulty spikes will upset all but the most unfeeling robo-brains out there. A shame. [June 2011, p.85]

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

Dodgy controls don't convince in this otherwise mediocre stealth outing. [March 2014, p.85]

A fun premise for a game spoilt by clumsly controls and gameplay. [Sept 2006, p.82]

The Wii version wasn't a proper TH game, and on PS2 the flaws are glaring. [Sept 2007, p.85]

Myriad barriers sour the experience. [July 2013, p.84]

A muddled budget WW2 flight sim. It's kooky but there are better alternatives out. [Oct 2011, p.96]

Full of odd novelty that, while funny, doesn't really outweigh the stinking games. [May 2009, p.83]

Fans will get a kick out of it, but anyone else would be advised to try the glorious cartoon instead. [Jan 2014, p.83]

Entertaining enough but high-speed dot-to-dot can only last for so long. [Nov 2008, p.84]

It's all a bit shallow for anything long-term. [Christmas 2014, p.78]

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

The world's most average shooter, doused in a hundred gallons of blood and gore. [Feb 2008, p.64]

Gooey looks hide a mean old-school heart. [July 2011, p.91]

It's certainly not worth losing weeks to. [June 2013, p.75]

Dense JRPG that lacks the humor and storytelling of other Nippon Ichi titles. [Sept 2010, p.104]

Instantly irritating. [Sept 2013, p.73]

Thinking-free fun, but just too shoddy to stab our hearts with the flickknife of love. [May 2006, p.55]

Like Rey Mysterio taking on Khali, this one's brave but ultimately doomed. [Dec 2007, p.46]

In short: nice trousers, crap game. [Issue#231, p.97]

Bomberman needs a refresher course in high explosives - or a holiday. [May 2008, p.85]

A unique VR experience - but seriously lacking in substance. [VR Tested; May 2016, p.80]

The world is wonderful but the activities layered on top of it are awful. Wasted potential. [Feb 2015, p.74]

Incredibly simplistic, it works poorly with a pad and grows tiresome all too quickly. [Sept 2012, p.101]

Average, simple and very non-Wii - this takes the extreme out of extreme sports. [Oct 2007, p.72]

Too skill-less for adults, too random for kids, Mario Party hangs on its largely uninspired minigames. [May 2015, p.79]

It's a messy and repetitive interface. [Apr 2013, p.86]

Rather lacklustre. [Sept 2011, p.87]

Despite its solid foundations, a lack of variety and a dull visual palette dilute this shooter's aim. [Sept 2014, p.78]

Intelligent Sixaxis use and fine characters make this a strike. [Mar 2008, p.84]

Further damning evidence that this Eastern atrocity needs to commit 'seppuku' - and fast. [Sept 2007, p.76]

Appealing presentation masks a litany of awkward microgames you'll never play again. [Apr 2017, p.64]

Despite a wonderful premise and talented developer, the borked execution leaves this running out of puff. [June 2015, p.60]

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

Short-lived fun that will only appeal to the most devout enthusiasts. [May 2008, p.84]

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

There's nothing here that you haven't seen before. Expect more from your PS3. [Apr 2007, p.59]

Another non-game for the DS that leaves us slightly puzzled. [Mar 2008, p.84]

A simple but clever game too shallow to offer any long-term enjoyment. [Dec 2008, p.84]

Predictable action game that fails to excite or exploit the great characters at its disposal. [July 2006, p.74]

It's just mental arithmetic, not a game or entertainment. [Apr 2008, p.85]

This weak effort 'peys' the price for its dazzling dullness. [May 2007, p.85]

A novelty, but if you're after a sim buy Skate; if you want stunts, find Tony Hawk. [Issue#232, p.91]

Nasty motion blur and a dismal career mode. It offers little to NFS fans. [May 2008, p.82]

A compilation of winter sports events that feels too thrown together together, too difficult to control and too random in the difficulty level stakes. [May 2009, p.84]

Good idea but it's not as clever as it likes to think. No one likes a smart arse. [July 2008, p.82]

Sadly, the gameplay is drab and badly paced, with lots of fetch quests and a few uninspiring puzzles. [May 2012, p.89]

There's a reasonable amount of potential for some multi-player monster fun, but all that impromptu city demolishing action all gets old real quick. [June 2006, p.79]

As an entry-level game for younger skater enthusiasts this is great, as a balance board game it's merely okay. [July 2009, p.82]

A vast improvement on Spider-Man 3, but a few fatal flaws are holding him back. [Jan 2009, p.82]

Though it can pack a punch, this lacks the finesse to tell the subversive war story it's aiming for. [Sept 2014, p.74]

A real disappointment. [Jan 2015, p.78]

The pick of the formats, but this is still mediocre. Shrek the turd, more like. [Aug 2007, p.73]

Enemies run towards you and you shoot them over and over until they die. Shallow and dull. [March 2013, p.79]

After Broken Steel and Point Lookout, this is a regression. Makes Anchorage look fun! [Oct 2009, p.77]

A fairly unappealing prospect. [Dec 2011, p.96]

Oh so ordinary FPS. [Jan 2014, p.81]

It's just more of the same, but worse. [Mar 2009, p.76]

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

"Quotation Forthcoming"

Awkward design and stiff controls make Dark a royal pain in the... [Sept 2013, p.70]

Frustrating and unrewarding crime solving surrounded by inconsistent gameplay systems. [Aug 2014, p.62]

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

A royal pain in the ass. [June 2013, p.83]

A list of technical issues really let down what could otherwise be an enjoyable, if simplistic, RPG. [Jan 2016, p.74]

An irritating experience that unfortunately has to go down as a Marvel disappointment. [June 2008, p.68]

One for virtual tourists only. [Dec 2016, p.83]

They still haven't worked out how to go beyond button-mashing without breaking people. [Aug 2008, p.75]

Pretty as it is, Koi isn't polished enough to make any waves. [July 2016, p.80]

Too cheap and nasty by half. They used to crusade against this kind of thing. [Aug 2011, p.91]

Short and repetitive, this is basic stuff for a pretty basic price. [Aug 2011, p.93]

A blend of XCOM and Tropico that boils down to shallow strategy in a Goodfellas skin. [Apr 2013, p.78]

The combat can be entertaining but the occasional nice idea falls flat through some poor presentation and execution. [Christmas 2011, p.94]

A cut-down package that feels super stingy, despite the entertaining action between the ropes. [Jan 2015, p.76]

Don't get this - go seek out last year's War For Cybertron game instead. [Sept 2011, p.88]

Long-term Ape fans will be disappointed. [Sept 2011, p.92]

Don't get this - go seek out last year's War For Cybertron game instead.

Interesting license and competent combat, all made redundant by mindless repetition. [July 2007, p.67]

This is one Worms game that should be left to float off in space. [Apr 2008, p.76]

The ability to switch between classic and HD visuals is a brief curiosity, but nothing more. [May 2013, p.81]