The price is hard to fault, the work put in is outstanding, and the games themselves are damn-near essential. [Issue#152, p.117]

For a game to strike a good balance between eeriness, traditional FPS action and straight-out frights is astonishing, and F.E.A.R. has managed it in style. [Nov 2005, p.92]

All in all, Trackmania DS is a very worthy addition to both the series and the DS's catalogue of racers, and its multiplayer mode while sadly unable to support Wi-Fi, still allows for some heated competition among friends. [Dec 2008, p.]

As the greatest and most enjoyable recreation of the sport since the 16-bit era, NHL 06 deserves to sit alongside the likes of "Pro Evo" as a sporting highlight that any gamer can enjoy. [Nov 2005, p.111]

In fact, it will suit many tastes better than Blizzard's epic WOW - and crucially, magically, incredibly, it is still free of subscription fees... Honour this innovative and pioneering franchise with your hard-earned money, and you will not regret it. [Christmas 2006, p.100]

City of Heroes is the shot in the arm that the genre so desperately needed. Thanks to some extremely accessible gameplay it's a title that appeals to old hands and newcomers alike. [Aug 2004, p.116]

It looks fantastic and boasts a story worth telling, but perhaps the most satisfying thing about this update is that it offers both long-term fans and new recruits the same thing: a solid, rewarding and relevant space RTS that belies its significant age.

In main character Jimmy Hopkins’ quest to turn one of the worst schools in the US around, you’ll find Bully has a lot of heart. [Apr 2008, p.116]

The sense of mortality, tension and sheer scale makes for a truly stunning experience. [Christmas 2005, p.110]

A tactically rich and rewarding space-merch-mech-sim. [Issue#201, p.86]

This really is one of those great games where you're constantly thinking 'I wonder if I could do that…' only to discover that in most instances (and usually with a huge grin filling the majority of your face), you probably can. [Sept 2004, p.104]

Sets a new standard for not only visuals but licences games in general. And we never thought we'd hear ourselves saying that. [Sept 2004, p.102]

Even when the game begins to repeat itself, it never ceases to be fun. The initial wonderment may wear off slightly, but the engine is so solid and the gameplay mechanic is so enjoyable that SSX On Tour never drops below stellar status. [Dec 2005, p.102]

Capcom has provided a sequel that surpasses its predecessor in every way. There are few games that are as stylish and playable, and this is tough enough to challenge even the most dextrous gamer. In short – Viewtiful. [Jan 2005, p.96]

A survival game that embraces adventure. [Issue#201, p.88]

It admirably builds on that already impressive accomplishment, and makes for a solid entry in the series.

Forza Motorsport 3's most notable achievement, however, must be its unique ability to make simulation 'fun', not a word you'll often hear used to describe the likes of Race Pro or Gran Turismo. [Dec 2009, p.108]

Nothing like it has been done on console before, and we have to respect Bungie – and Activision – for that.

It's definitely the best home-console game in the series, and the extra depth and involvement that it brings to the table will be irresistible to Harvest Moon fans. [July 2006, p.126]

It might not be the longest or most polished game you'll ever play, but for half the cost of a regular PC release, you'll be treated to more charm, ingenuity and bravery than most full-price releases can muster. [July 2009, p.128]

Despite the inclusion of new gadgets and stunning visuals, the series is starting to decompose; playing the same thing over and over is beginning to wear a little thin. It's a good job the multiplayer experience continues to blossom. [Apr 2005, p.90]

As the greatest and most enjoyable recreation of the sport since the 16-bit era, NHL 06 deserves to sit alongside the likes of "Pro Evo" as a sporting highlight that any gamer can enjoy. [Nov 2005, p.111]

Ridge Racers emerges as the consummate package as far as PSP launch titles go – true, it cribs from every other game in the series instead of offering real originality, but that’s a small price to pay for the amount of quality that’s packed into the game. [Feb 2005, p.116]

New players will struggle at first but for those willing to invest the time, Total War: Attila’s deep pockets repay that investment with a varied and deep campaign and a plethora of additional content.

Ultimately, Intelligent Systems is giving Fire Emblem fans precisely what they want: more (much more) of the same. [JPN Import; May 2007, p.106]

As with previous games, these songs do mostly turn out to be quite good fun to play even if they’re not so great to listen to. [Sept 2007, p.124]

Just as unique and innovative as the original ever was, and now's the time to get involved. There's something special here, you just need to look underneath all the copies of Call Of Duty to find it.

It may all sound a little base, but Black is a game that reminds you that, at your core, you love things that go bang loudly – it’s a good feeling to suddenly realise that you’re just like everyone else. [Mar 2006, p.104]

While you will unquestionably be embarrassed by the low budget visuals and wish the combat mechanics were tighter, you'll also experience some incredible moments that can't be found in any other videogame. [Issue#101, p.114]

It's refreshing to see Ubisoft applying such creativity and depth to what other developers would typically fashion as a mindless shooter. [Issue#101, p.120]

It's far less intricate than a regular squad-based game, yet it retains all the elements that make them fun - as opposed to a title like Brute Force, which had none of them. A fine display of IO's creative talent. [Oct 2003, p.116]

We can't wait until the next few months of extra content and improved networking herald clear blue skies of gaming joy all the way to the heavens. [June 2009, p.114]

Sands of Time is very much a 21st century product - sumptuous visuals, intuitive control and many unique ideas. Buy it, play it, love it. [Dec 2003, p.92]

Everything you can do here is positioned to celebrate Spider-Man's abilities, and that means everything you can do makes you feel like Spider-Man. [Issue#205, p.69]

The sheer scale of some of the battles is awe-inspiring, and with the same resource collection and unit creation system as the popular C&C games at the core of it all, there’s little fuss and you’ll be confidently laying siege to Helms Deep after just a few hours. [Jan 2005, p.109]

When a horror story is told and paced this well you really don't need the bloody edge of graphics technology to keep you pinned to the edge of your seat. [Issue#101, p.110]

A smartly designed and beautiful puzzle exploration game. [Issue#185, p.81]

Ambition at the expense of excellence. [Dec 2008, p.116]

Shadow Wars could be criticised for not making any genuinely innovative steps forward in the strategy genre. But what it does do – integrating just about every conceivable feature of turn-based strategy into a single cohesive whole – is enough to make it one of the best handheld titles of its kind in years, and a surprising jewel in the 3DS launch line-up.

It's an outstanding start for a trilogy, and one that we can't wait to see to its end. [Issue#145, p.116]

The single-player may have all the visual trickery and neat little scripted sequences, but in terms of sheer heart-pounding action, the multiplayer wins hands down. [Dec 2005]

With its array of improvements and considered removals, Portrait Of Ruin feels like the best Castlevania in an age. Its slick 2D gameplay has been honed to perfection through the last five handheld instalments, leaving every 3D incarnation hanging its head in shame. [Feb 2007, p.110]

If you enjoy looking beyond the familiar and putting a bit of time in, you’ll find that Galak-Z is a well-crafted game that stands apart from its inspirations.

Friends of Mineral Town is an absorbingly deep and enjoyable game, even if it does turn out to be little more than a 2D remake of the PlayStation's "Harvest Moon: Back To Nature." [Mar 2004, p.112]

Stunning on the field, awful everywhere else. [Issue#205, p.76]

Proof that VR needn't be a solitary experience. [Issue#180, p.46]

It’s a frustrating reality, but one Ubisoft is already working diligently on a fix for. Like Siege, For Honor is in the beginning stages of becoming something truly unique and brilliant. If you’ve ever struggled to get into fighting games, are eager for a new multiplayer game to try your hand at, or are simply interested in what happens when Ubisoft diverts its resources out of populating open worlds with content and into an experience that thrives because of its nuanced design, then try For Honor – you won’t regret it.

Wonderfully horrible. [Issue#180, p.47]

Lumines II is a package no fan should be without. The sublime synthesis of music, light, sound and block manipulation is as fresh as ever. [Christmas 2006, p.123]

Sumo has realised that for all their outstanding visuals and exhilarating gameplay (which OutRun 2 has in spades), games also need to be fun, and we defy you not to have a huge grin on your face as you take your third corner in a row, or nail that perfect racing line. [Nov 2004, p.110]

Not since 2004’s Richard Burns Rally has there been a rally game that has approached the sport with the goal of definitively portraying it as it exists in reality: cars that require significant practise to master, terrain as difficult to memorise as it is to slide across, weather that makes ‘white out’ literal and opponents that punish even the slightest hesitation.

A fantastic reimagining of arcade racing. [Issue#203, p.83]

It’s most definitely aimed at those who were enamoured with last year’s masterpiece – there’s nothing so radically different it could alter any opinion. [June 2007, p.108]

A thoroughly engrossing puzzle game. [Issue#180, p.47]

It’s no longer a culturally significant event, and even Lara’s charms are beginning to lose their edge. But make no mistake, it warms our hearts to see Lara back doing what she does best. [Christmas 2008, p.98]

Stunning, but undermined by microtransactions. [Issue#205, p.82]

While Retro City Rampage does make several missteps, it manages to get so many things right. The end result is a fitting tribute to the halcyon days of gaming and an entertaining game in its own right.

Fallout 4 feels more like a Fallout 3.5: an improvement on Bethesda’s last game but a compromised one that loses some of the core appeal of the series.

What continues to impress on our second time playing through Treasure Tracker is the quality of the level design. The addition of stages based on worlds from Super Mario Odyssey is yet more evidence that these little dioramas are a rich format for creativity. [Issue#203, p.86]

While some may argue that Factions is ‘more of the same’ and nothing greater than a hefty expansion, the sheer amount of fresh content easily makes the title a worthy purchase. [Aug 2006, p.124]

Alien Hominid is a joyful experience, an unashamedly simple game that makes you want to play until you can't feel your hands anymore... The perfect budget game. [Jan 2005, p.104]

While not without its problems and questionable design decisions, Street Fighter X Tekken is miraculous in that it even works at all. It simply shouldn't.

Don't be discouraged by Sacred Stones' similarity to the previous Fire Emblem game; we wouldn't change it for the world. [Aug 2005, p.116]

Don’t venture into Hohokum hoping to understand what it’s all about, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Despite being far lighter on content than its PSP predecessors, Tri always feels like it has plenty more to offer. [Issue#95, p.106]

Its series of interconnected systems are well balanced and while some of them will feel disappointingly familiar to series veterans, there’s sufficient diversity and flexibility here to feed the series ongoing evolution.

It might not be the greatest example of the current generation’s power, nor is it an exercise in reinvention and uniqueness – but when you’ve sunk 50 hours into Inquisition and hardly realised, and you still want to play it for another 50 hours, then you know you’re onto something good. This time the fans get what they want – and apparently what they wanted was very good indeed.

With an engaging plot that's as much a commentary on consumerism as it is a tale of morality, Forgotton Anne's inspired narrative is backed up by some solid and engaging gameplay. [Issue#200, p.74]

When a single small arms shot can finish your game, the disconcerting staccato of an M4A1 Carbine or the bass of an exploding grenade somewhere in the distance is enough to create a palpable and exciting atmosphere on its own. [Dec 2009, p.112]

A game aware of its shortcomings and eager to prove its worth in other areas, Chinatown Wars manages to retain much of the classic Grand Theft Auto feel even without some of the series' lynchpins. [May 2009, p.102]

A triumphant mix of masculinity and pastiche, an excitable exercise in action gaming that moves the genre forward into exciting new territory, by taking the sim side out of the equation and focusing on the most important thing: action. It's ridiculous in every sense of the word, from the controls to the combat, but it remains an undeniable thrill throughout.

2K wasn’t exaggerating when it called Beyond The Sword the biggest Civilization expansion ever, but it failed to mention that it’s also its most innovative and entertaining expansion too. [Sept 2007, p.112]

We’re also happy to inform fans that HD Remix is one of the tightest, lag-free online fighters we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. [Jan 2009, p.104]

With this same level of investigating, the original would have birthed a classic horror videogame not a cult title. [Apr 2008, p.102]

By far the most pleasing aspect of Super Mario 64 DS is the consistent quality of the new mini-games, with the bombs and the catapult game adding something to dip into alongside the lure of the main adventure itself. [Jan 2005, p.121]

At its cold, frostbitten heart, Frostpunk is a game of decisions, and what makes it so satisfying is they all matter. [Issue#200, p.75]

It's far less intricate than a regular squad-based game, yet it retains all the elements that make them fun - as opposed to a title like Brute Force, which had none of them. A fine display of IO's creative talent. [Oct 2003, p.116]

Like it or not, the Final Fantasy series has come of age and this new approach to the genre is a breath of fresh air. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.108]

It may well be beautiful to look at, but the fighting engine, although improved, is so similar to that of Fight Night Round 2 that series veterans may feel somewhat aggrieved when faced with essentially the same videogame. [Apr 2006, p.112]

There’s more new content than you’d usually find in a Special Edition. [May 2006, p.128]

Keeping on top of the ever-evolving demands of Radiant Historia's combat makes for one of the most engaging and rewarding battle systems since Final Fantasy XIII and renders any flaws in the narrative design an unfortunate but ultimately innocuous sideshow.

There's an evident focus on the five-buttoned six-string as you reach the higher end of the difficulty spectrum. [Nov 2009, p.108]

On the whole, Worms Revolution proves that there's life in the old worm yet, its enhancements giving the franchise a fresh set of… uh… legs? The revolution will not be televised, unless you've got Worms.

In terms of value, Gearbox has created an extraordinary package - one that will offer subtly different rewards regardless of how you approach it. [Dec 2009, p.114]

It's never unfair. [Issue#100, p.124]

It sounds simple and on paper we’re sure it looks to have more than a little in common with Catch! Touch! Yoshi!, but we’re pleased to report that it actually has far more depth. [May 2005, p.112]

There's a serious case to be made that Disgaea has never been better. [Issue#117, p.124]

Playstation VR's current MVP. [Issue#180, p.180]

Space Invaders Extreme’s nearest contemporary is Ikaruga. But even Treasure’s superb blaster is unable to match the sheer intricacy that Taito has managed to pack into this diminutive shooter. [May 2008, p.125]

Between the pitch-perfect length, a case of cheeky characters you just want to pinch and a distinct visual style you'll be left with a lasting fond impression. Short, sweet and filled to the brim with charm, you won't want to drop this one in a hot minute. [Issue#200, p.80]

Our dissatisfaction comes in the finding that the Princes adventurous new gameplay elements simply don’t play to his strengths, resulting in an experience that often wavers between intense highs and irritating lows. [Jan 2009, p.94]

Still addictive, but lacking the original’s impact. [Apr 2009, p.121]

New traps and techniques make for some spectacular exhibitions of skill, and with game being significantly larger than anything previous, there’s enough here to challenge even the most dedicated Prince Of Persia fan. [Christmas 2005, p.94]

The unrelenting, incredibly hard levels are in complete contrast with everything else on the market. [Dec 2008, p.127]

A sequel that ticks all the right boxes. All the original’s most important facets remain intact. [Jan 2007, p.115]

A glorious assault on the senses. [Issue#180, p.43]

To experience it at its best requires an investment of time that some will be unwilling to commit but for those that are, there are months if not years of entertainment scattered throughout its star systems and the opportunity to make good on those childhood dreams of being a space cowboy.

That it’s the same game as before – albeit with new levels – isn’t that important; that you can take it with you wherever you go and enjoy it at virtually any time is. [JPN Import; Mar 2006, p.108]