Kessen III manages to prove that strategy and fun aren’t mutually exclusive in the war sim genre. The series still needs to find the right balance between depth and instant fun, but this is proof that Koei is getting closer to the elusive formula with each sequel. [May 2005, p.106]

Patapon really feels like a new experience. The seductive façade is a clever mask for an enormously challenging game that requires a substantial amount of grinding and micromanagement to master. [Mar 2008, p.116]

It soon becomes clear that not only is this a deep, well-crafted and carefully balanced RTS, brimming with features, but also that the developer is desperately trying to encourage a wider audience than the core strategy crowd. [July 2006, p.114]

There's a great game waiting to burst out of the chest of this one, not least with the addition of a proper co-op mode, and we sincerely hope that Team17 gives it another shot in the future. [Issue#104, p.117]

Cohort's game clearly isn't designed for the po-faced shooter fan, and holds more than enough character to enable most players to see past its more quibblesome design weaknesses to the light, throwaway fun it represents. [Christmas 2010, p.113]

Micro Machines V4’s only genuine problem is its overbearing similarity to "Mashed," a game that can be bought for a third of the price. [Aug 2006, p.120]

An adventure that anyone but the most black-souled gamer will feel compelled to see through to the end credits. [Christmas 2010, p.114]

Probably the best console RTS that we’ve ever played in terms of flexibility and control, but it will still prove frustratingly slow and awkward to seasoned PC and Mac users. [Aug 2006, p.116]

It’s jarring mechanics are a little too unnecessarily complex, but those who often find themselves drawn to the subtle puzzles of similar strategy and simulation games will have plenty to chew on here.

Imitating a swing with the analogue stick is still as satisfying as ever, and the balance between control and room for error is nigh-on perfect. However, it would have been nice to see a few more changes to keep the experience fresh. [Oct 2003, p.122]

It's the level design that saves Sonic The Hedgehog 4 and elevates it above the more recent but inferior 2D entries like Sonic Advance. [Christmas 2010, p.116]

In contrast to an industry dominated by the posturing of 70-hour epics, its geniality makes for a nice alternative afternoon of gaming. [Sept 2009, p.115]

If you're going to play a simulation of something so easily done in the real world, then you might as well do it in the company of the funniest characters in gaming. [Issue#104, p.117]

Charm shines through in a rough and modest RPG. [Issue#206, p.77]

Excellently constructed and just addictive enough to encourage players to make it through to the end. In multi-player especially, it’s consistently enjoyable and occasionally compelling, if a little old fashioned. [Aug 2006, p.132]

Tactical and considered like chess, with violence. [Issue#206, p.78]

Ultimately, this offers little over the first Desert Storm other than a new campaign and several engine tweaks but given the game's setting, there's precious little more you could ask of it. [Oct 2003, p.126]

Terrific for getting a super party started. [Issue#206, p.80]

With only eight courses and a handful of ships per class, the real problem with Hurricane stems from the fact that you'll have seen everything the game has to offer in an afternoon. It's the gaming equivalent of having a bag of Haribo to yourself – it's colourful, enjoyable and great while it lasts, but before you know it there's nothing left, and you're left feeling a little bit empty inside.

For every awful moment in The Warriors, there are two great ones. The mix of story, nostalgia and out-and-out combat is a heady concoction and when it all clicks, it's thoroughly enjoyable. [Dec 2005, p.120]

So it's a flawed package then, but it's also one that contains some of the best graphics ever seen on a console, and is one of the premier multiplayer games in existence. [Christmas 2011, p.94]

Be prepared to get occasionally frustrated by a rather limited solo experience. [Issue#136, p.98]

By even allowing the choice between simple hack-and-slash gameplay and the more complex mix-up combos, LucusArrts has ensured that many will never view the title’s full potential. [Oct 2008, p.104]

Legend is the best Tomb Raider game that has yet been made. Despite the game’s few grating problems, that’s quite an accolade. [May 2006, p.102]

The first-person mode is a nice addition, but will probably work much better on graphically superior, newly-motion-controlled hardware, where the horizon is clearly visible. [Aug 2010, p.114]

Most notably, the level design in Kirby Mouse Attack is excellent. With three treasure chests to locate in each stage of each world, there is far more complexity here than a simple dash to the far right. In many ways the cavernous level design here is reminiscent of Super Metroid. [Aug 2007, p.112]

It is an enjoyable game, but if only Crystal Dynamics could have resolved its conflicts by focusing its attention on what Tomb Raider does best and cutting out anything that got in the way of that, it could have been something far more special.

Super Princess Peach is a forgiving and entertaining slice of a game that’s at its most successful when it evokes the same feeling as a two-dimensional Mario. [Christmas 2005, p.103]

Dead Rising 2 is a sequel that tries so hard to appeal to fans of the original that the rest of the gaming world might not find the mass slaughter of zombies quite so appealing. We loved it from start to (stupid) finish, though the many reasons others might not are plain to see and completely understandable.

Had Capcom pout a little more effort into overhauling the gameplay and graphics, while also preserving the magic of the original cast, Apollo Justice would have been more than just another sequel. [May 2008, p.116]

Despite the tremendous atmosphere and occasional chilling enemy, Origins never upsets and disturbs like Silent Hill 2. Its most obvious scares are left to cut-scenes. [Chrismas 2007, p.132]

A bombastic revival that shows great promise. [Feb 2010, p.120]

It doesn't matter how many explosions or missiles you cram into a mech game, it will still remain a product for a niche audience. Mechassault 2: Lone Wolf may have more to appeal to the mainstream gaming community than the average title in the genre but it's still a mech game. [Feb 2005, p.90]

It's certainly not high-art then, but Saints Row: The Third is a welcome distraction. [Christmas 2011, p.112]

Dead Rising 2 is a sequel that tries so hard to appeal to fans of the original that the rest of the gaming world might not find the mass slaughter of zombies quite so appealing. We loved it from start to (stupid) finish, though the many reasons others might not are plain to see and completely understandable.

Supreme Commander sticks pretty close to the template, and while it will eat up your time, it may not satisfy. [Mar 2007, p.70]

Is it worth it? In a word, yes. [Christmas 2011, p.116]

Ironically, the only reason for pedants to be unhappy is the game's placement on the GBA. Unlike "Advance Wars'" ability to make your GameBoy feel like a custom-built machine, Rebelstar feels like a port. [Dec 2005, p.99]

It is difficult to see MC:LA as anything other than a chance to reacquaint yourself with Grand Theft Auto IV’s miraculous engine. [Christmas 2008, p.115]

If "God Of War" never happened, Spartan: Total Warrior would have been a great example of a simple, gratuitous action game. As it is, it's merely a good one. [Nov 2005, p.124]

NBA Ballers: Rebound is difficult to actually fault – unless you plan to play for more than 30 minutes. [May 2006, p.120]

There’s plenty of fun to be had here, but we’re pretty sure you’ll forget all about it once Epic’s hugely anticipated sequel arrives later this year. [Apr 2008, p.120]

It succumbs to a bewilderingly dull selection of environments. This might sound like a minor criticism, but for a title that otherwise basks in its videogame status – never once seeking to be recognised as an immersive piece of storytelling or sophisticated art – the generic locales seem painfully jarring. [Mar 2008, p.114]

Eufloria is significantly more expensive than many games of this type, but it will eat into your life more efficiently than most of them. [Christmas 2009, p.114]

Small and imperfectly formed. [Issue#190, p.81]

This is the best way to experience Revelations, but it's too indecisive about its approach and not nearly polished enough to work its way into the must-play category for entrenched Resi fans. [Issue#136, p.109]

Persevere beyond the obfuscation and awkwardness of the opening act and everything begins to click into place: your finely-tuned vessel becomes a labour of pride, and deliberating how best to distribute tokens rewarded post-conflicts – the in-game currency used to build, staff and upgrade facilities – becomes genuinely involving.

It's a bit of a shoddy finish that doesn't marry up to the realistic bullet physics of the hardest setting, but this is still a sniper's Mecca, perfect for those that like to do their shooting from as far away as possible.

At once unforgivably terrible and accidentally brilliant, Deadly Premonition remains a gaming anomaly. And no amount of directorial cutting is going to change that. [Issue#135, p.115]

Our gripes about the game’s seemingly random cuts aside, we can’t deny this is the best party game available on the new consoles.

This slight variety might harm Greed Corp in the long run, but for now we'll happily sink another few hours into the dark side of capitalism. [Issue#95, p.111]

LEGO Marvel’s Avengers is about the purest and slickest LEGO game you could hope to play.

Gearbox should be applauded for taking the first-person genre in a bold new direction, but during the bulk of the game, players must be willing to sit back and let the developer tell the story. [Apr 2005, p.104]

It may be a straightforward game, but it’s also a fun one, and the imaginative presentation is very well accomplished. [Nov 2008, p.117]

Ultimately, the game's sloth-like progression of the first six or seven hours relies far too heavily on each player's patience. [Issue#120, p.99]

Sadly, despite such impressive scope, the difficulty level takes its toll on the playing experience. Only those with buckets of patience and strategic acumen will ever fully realise this game's awesome potential. [Dec 2003, p.110]

There is something oddly reassuring about a game that keeps its horizons narrow to get the job done well... A fun, smart and refreshingly uncomplicated experience. [June 2006, p.112]

Micro Machines V4’s only genuine problem is its overbearing similarity to "Mashed," a game that can be bought for a third of the price. [Aug 2006, p.120]

It's no Super Mario World, but compared to its predecessors this game is huge...finally, Kirby has a game he can be proud of. [June 2004, p.122]

Kudos to Ubisoft for not only recognising the differences between console PC and console gaming but developing Instincts around them. It's certainly the better game for it. [Nov 2005, p.106]

Siege, for all its strengths and weaknesses, is a quintessential 2015 shooter. Each round is short and to-the-point to avoid any trace of boredom; the whole thing is geared towards online play.

Art Style is one of the best uses of 3D we’ve seen in a puzzler and is a great start for Nintendo’s new brand. [Christmas 2008, p.121]

A highly polished action title with a Co-op mode that should provides hours of gameplay after completion. [Sept 2006, p.117]

An accessible glimpse at an obscure yet captivating sub-genre. [Issue#95, p.128]

An invigorating shot of speed and carnage that tops that of the original, even if it does fall short of the mighty "Burnout." [Aug 2006, p.121]

Given the constraints of the sport, SSX 3 does a great job of keeping the game as open as possible. If nothing else, the SSX series represents something of a benchmark for snowboarding games, a trend that continues with this instalment. No one title of this generation can claim obvious superiority. [Dec 2003, p.102]

One of the best Kinect games ever released. [Issue#177, p.85]

A cheerful snowboarding game which, once mastered, provides a great deal of wintry entertainment. [Mar 2006, p.114]

A game that transcends its weaknesses with the winning combination of pure fun and an unending desire to entertain. [May 2009, p.114]

There are worse ways to spend a weekend than playing through your own trashy western novel. [Issue#136, p.119]

Beyond Eyes isn’t going to take longer than a few hours for anyone to complete and the price doesn’t quite reflect the brevity of the experience.

But overall, Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate is a very difficult game to dislike. It was never intended to break the mould, it’s no kind of reinvention and it probably won’t win the series many new fans. It is resolutely more of the same, but robust and varied with it.

Electronic Arts has found a great balance between speed and technical understanding. The game’s tuning system is exhaustive, and given that the only way to acquire new cars is to win them, understanding the modifications and their effects offers greater rewards that ever before. [Chrismas 2007, p.118]

Genuinely good fun for all – A pleasant surprise. [Feb 2008, p.132]

It's ironic that a game about robots wanting to be human has so much heart, but is failed by technology that simply won't reach as far as its developer would like. [Issue#120, p.112]

If this is to be Irrational’s last hurrah then it’s a mixed but compelling swansong for a company that often took bold, divisive design and narrative avenues. It might not hit the highs of some of its best work, but it’s a fitting testament to the studio’s unbridled creativity and theatrical magnificence.

For all its inventive turns and standout moments, however, much of Alice's return feels a little too templated for it to truly embrace the nonsensical.

A true 'thinking man’s shooter', then, and one that can be enjoyed by all those capable of engaging their brain before pulling the trigger. [June 2005, p.109]

Do not underestimate Little Ninjas; it is worthy of everyone's time - a beautifully conceived product by all accounts. [Nov 2009, p.116]

A very accessible game for all to play, and a pretty decent way to spend a few pounds and a couple of hours of your time. [Nov 2007, p.109]

An unusual, occasionally powerful, must-play game. [Issue#189, p.79]

For those who thought splitting monsters across two carts was a bit rude originally, this is surely the ultimate swindle. For anyone else, there's a healthy slice of monster hunting to be had. [Nov 2004, p.118]

Fans of adventure games who don't find block-pushing and switch-flipping tiresome will enjoy a long-lasting challenge, as will fans of the original. Everyone else, however, should approach with caution. [Aug 2005, p.118]

Serious gamers after a good mixture of challenge, story and mechanics may be left wanting. [Issue#167, p.79]

It might be derivative in many ways, but there's a certain charm to the low-rent Futurama antics of the Ratchet & Clank universe: it knows its audience and panders to it without shame, scooping up a disparate medley of platforming/shooting tasks and weaving them all into a quietly epic narrative framework. [Christmas 2004, p.106]

No concessions are made for anyone other than diehard real-time strategy fans and it does seem a little unfair that the difficulty is so high. [June 2008, p.117]

Merely a pretty decent game. Which, to be fair, is better than some might have expected.

It's a gorgeously constructed fusion of puzzling and subtle storytelling with a final stage that hints at the complexity KO_OP might achieve if it ever gets around to making a sequel. [Issue#189, p.79]

Killzone: Liberation has considerable depth that really manages to please. [Dec 2006, p.130]

It’s easy enough to ignore the terrible story and get on with what Defiance does best: letting you bask in the glory of marauding through a vast open world with an army of players sitting (silently) by your side.

As far as free-to-play goes, this is deeper than most and will become quite the time sink if you have the patience to master it. [Issue#167, p.82]

It may sound like a bad idea, but the surprising truth is that this mixture of genres works very well indeed, and there are plenty of inventive and unique features in Chaos League to silence those who bemoan the lack of innovation in modern gaming. [Sept 2004, p.120]

It'd take the most hardcore of fighting fans to put together an argument that this wasn't a decent fighter at its core and they'd struggle even harder to claim that it wasn't at least entertaining. On a base level, though, it's business as usual. It's a beat-'em-up loaded with increasingly damp and dirty scantily clad ladies whose breasts defy physics and one that has an Achievement for watching every questionably shot, moist, groaning defeat pose.

At its heart, HW2 is a console RTS that does what it needs to fit the broader appeal of the modern console generation. On PC its approach to game design will keep it off most GOTY lists, but on Xbox One its seamless gamepad control scheme and hefty selection modes make it a must for Halo devotees. Look past the shortcuts and you’ll find the best effort yet to light the real-time strategy fire on console.

With many games feeling hampered by a desire to try and blend authenticity with sensationalism, Battlefield 1 is a hell of a lot of fun – a visual powerhouse and a fine return to form for DICE that’s sadly hampered by stretches of extreme frustration caused by the studio’s desire to take one step too many into the past.

Enjoyed for what it is, this is bold and compelling – it draws from the traditional and the contemporary to deliver a uniquely modern and elegantly told adventure. [July 2006, p.131]

It doesn't bring much at all new to the table and can feel derivative at times, even old. Also, while rarely unfair as such, that doesn't stop it from being frustrating at times – and the shooter sections, while fun, do feel a bit overplayed.

You can’t help feeling a proper Rainbow Six sequel, set somewhere else and given proper time to stew, would have been a far tastier prospect. [Apr 2008, p.106]