Massively derivative and dated. [Issue#96, p.102]

The nuts and bolts of Tiger Woods 13 do more than enough to restore the golfer's digital reputation. [Issue#121, p.116]

One of those games where the satisfaction is drawn as much from exploring the world as it is from attaining absolute victory. [Issue#113, p.116]

Despite these drawbacks, The Banner Saga is still a solid tactical RPG with a charming art style and a story that, while initially daunting, eventually becomes manageable and memorable.

The story is not the main draw here. [Issue#154, p.124]

Sniper Elite makes headshots a grizzly reward that becomes addictive and, because the battle is always weighted against you, filled with air-punching satisfaction every time you make a connection. Bravo. [Nov 2005, p.96]

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

Those searching for an exact simulation of the sport should go for FIFA. Those looking to score spectacular goals, have end-to-end matches and play at a ridiculous pace should plump for Pro Evo. [Dec 2007, p.134]

An experience that simply plays well. Well, but not excellent, that is. [Issue#99, p.118]

There is a great game within, that in small ways perfectly shakes up the Quake/Unreal formula. Finding it though means pushing through several barriers to entry. LawBreakers plays great. It just feels like a game its developers don't want anyone, except a select few, to play. This fixation on niche has bred a singular shooter but might just kill the game before it can get started. [Issue#191, p.72]

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]

While the charming characters, stellar voice acting and cutscenes are all great, it's just not enough. [Issue#189, p.78]

When only a couple of challenges require you to break the million point barrier, only the weakest players will have trouble acing the game in hours. [Christmas 2005, p.107]

A videogame that, although still pleasant and enjoyable to play, feels more than a little stale and wholly regurgitated. [June 2006, p.123]

A stunning interactive storytelling experience. [Issue#190, p.76]

Rayman Raving Rabbids is a fun-size Wii title with universal appeal. It can’t be considered a serious gamer’s game by any stretch, though it will make you laugh a lot, and even has some staying power with the multiplayer challenges and extra modes to unlock. [Jan 2007, p.108]

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]

Strider fans and speed-run aficionados will get the most out of this but for everyone else, this is a solid, fast-paced platformer that never lets the pace dip long enough for you to become too bored. [Issue#146, p.104]

Enjoyable mostly for its Persona heritage. [Issue#168, p.99]

It's not particularly new or innovative in its core mechanics, but it marries the dependable and familiar with the not-so to create one of the year's most interesting titles. At its heart it's still a shooter, but at least it's also one with the brains to ask you to shoot something different.

The rebirth of true role-playing in games. [Issue#105, p.84]

The positives do make it stand out. [Issue#159, p.112]

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

Unless you despise puzzle games you can't be disappointed as this does what it sets out to do. It's a charming title and a good way to pass some time. [Christmas 2006, p.137]

So much more about Battlefront manages to impress than disappoint ' from the solid gameplay to the overall application of the Star Wars universe, which has been done with so much care and attention that even the most hardened fan will be satisfied. If only all Star Wars games could be made this way. [Nov 2004, p.100]

Silent Hill 4 is by far the most atmospheric of the titles to date, and if played under the right conditions will creep out even the most hardened survival horror fan. But being made to traipse over the same levels a second time seems a little lazy and really saps a lot of enjoyment out of the experience. [Sept 2004, p.113]

It's certainly not a good Suikoden game, but it's definitely a capable JRPG in its own right. [June 2009, p.130]

Each takes some getting used to, but we recommend that you finish the Dante/Nero campaign before tackling the others in order to properly understand how the core combat was originally designed to operate. All are worth playing, giving this package more replay value than most of its peers.

The faction system is a major disappointment. [Issue#140, p.92]

Rich in character while on minimum wage mechanically. [Issue#112, p.114]

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.

No amount of crystal-ball gazing can help Pirates Of The Burning Sea be anything more than a slightly above average MMORPG in the here and now. [Apr 2008, p.110]

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

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.

A fitting miniature to end this generation. [Issue#143, p.106]

Second Sight’s fair share of nice touches (such as weapons handling and level design) demonstrate terrific attention to detail. It’s a shame, then, that these minor good points seem to be offset by the game’s failings in several more important areas. [Oct 2004, p.110]

The previous games were marred by simplistic, repetitive gameplay. Lego Batman isn’t entirely free from these flaws, but puzzles are more numerous, complicated and diverse. [Nov 2008, p.115]

The core gameplay is somewhat lacking. 'But it's for kids,' we hear you cry. Maybe so, but even kids - or those who are just young at heart - will no doubt want a challenge that lasts longer than it would take to watch the original trilogy. [May 2005, p.109]

An unforgettable few hours for gamers of a certain generation. [Oct 2009, p.122]

You can’t fault it in terms of artistic design, and although it’s no better than its predecessor, it’s certainly no worse. [Oct 2008, p.120]

You cannot earn standard boost with the button held down, so you are constantly having to battle with yourself to lift the finger off the trigger, constantly glancing down at the boost bar, and as a result, constantly snapping yourself out of that glorious Burnout zone. [May 2007, p.110]

Much like the recently released Street Fighter V, Pokkén Tournament is a fighting game that only really comes into its own if you plan on playing it in local or online multiplayer. Solo gameplay is fun in short bursts, but to get the most out of this one you’re going to need a partner to duke it out with.

The 'new' simplicity makes for a fun and fast game that, courtesy of the excellent passing system and decent AI, finds a firm balance between real football and the arcade fun of a five-minute kick about. [June 2004, p.120]

To continually repackage the same hackneyed take on real pain, real suffering, and real people in the mane of entertainment is a sure road to exploitation. [Nov 2008, p.112]

Simple, elegant and deceptively deep. [Issue#106, p.125]

It is a game that has been crafted with care, love and attention and is the perfect antidote to the usual mainstream fare of guns, graphics and gore.

It'd be right to call Castle in the Darkness difficult, perhaps even cruel, but so finely tuned it is that it never borders into anger territory. [Issue#159, p.105]

It's got the speed, but not the finesse. [Issue#174, p.74]

The atmosphere is electric, the sense of making tiny in-roads to solve a great problem as satisfying as it is frustrating... Spark never allows you to forget that outside the restrictive confines of the first-person viewpoint there’s a much, much bigger fight going on involving thousands of men. [Jan 2005, p.110]

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.

Disappointing after such a long wait then, even if Twisted Metal is still immensely good fun at its core.

The detailed town is fun to explore, the dialogue is witty and consistently funny, and the Yo-Kai designs are wonderful (not to mention brilliantly animated). There are just too many occasions where you’ll feel like a spectator and, yes, wish you were playing Pokémon instead.

It it had just managed to add a little more depth to this Windjammers update, it might have made something better than this nostalgic celebration. [Issue#192, p.81]

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

Its platforming sections won’t be troubling Super Mario 3D Land, but if you’re looking for RPG Mario at his modern best, you won’t go far wrong with this.

Unless Hothead Games can push the fighting mechanic while also ensuring that the comedy and adventuring take pride of place, this series could die out long before it’s ready to. [Aug 2008, p.114]

The dichotomy of play styles breathes new life into favourite stages as they're re-envisioned and redesigned for Sonics they were never originally intended for, while some genuinely imaginative and exciting level design recaptures that core thrill – of rolling a hedgehog around a colourful fantasy world – that endeared so many to Sonic two decades ago.

'Licensed' tunes feel somewhat out of place and are cover versions that veer violently from the decent to the offensive in terms of both selection and quality. Does anyone really want to play bongos along to Blink 182's 'All The Small Things'? Didn't think so. [Nov 2004, p.120]

Singularity contains the sort of smart, fun gameplay ideas we assumed first-person shooters had given up on. [Issue#99, p.120]

As a standalone DLC add-on, though, it's a great use of the engine. [Issue#162, p.98]

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]

Even though you might feel short-changed by this visually basic follow-up, charm and adventurous character design count for more than you might think. [June 2006, p.128]

If you recognised the clever retro nods in the visuals without having them pointed out then this will appeal. If not, scroll on. [Issue#117, p.119]

Those who scoffed at Phoenix Wright’s endless text conversations and backwards-looking point-and-click mechanics will find nothing to love second time out, but Justice For All wasn’t made for them; it was clearly put together with fans of the previous game in mind. [Jan 2007, p.91]

An interesting idea, but it's fundamentally flawed in its execution, with too much trust placed on trigger-happy gamers to overcome these barriers to play. [Issue#93, p.126]

Good, but may leave you thirsty for more. [Issue#190, p.82]

This year’s UFC feels like it improves in some key areas – overall quality, game modes and such – but not enough to really feel a great leap from the past.

It’s a shame that the driving, flying and underwater sections quickly become so dull. There’s a fun game hidden in here – if you don’t mind trudging through a vehicular challenge every now and then.

The Pitt just isn't satisfying enough in any area to truly earn a recommendation for any reason other than it's more Fallout 3. [June 2009]

Delivers a quality experience on par with, if not better than previous iterations. [Issue#119, p.98]

When Runner hits its stride, you'll end stages wanting to high-five the dev team and probably yourself as well. [Aug 2010, p.120]

Chain Of Memories' biggest problem is the repetitive nature of most of the rooms. In order to build up anything that even resembles a decent set of cards you'll need to repeat fights countless times to earn Moogle Points and experience, and the relatively limited number of different Heartless in each area can make this something of a chore.

A very good game for children of all ages. [Issue#99, p.124]

An improvement over its predecessor, but falters just enough to stop it from becoming an integral strategy title. [Issue#167, p.96]

Perhaps if there was something more interactive about the exploratory portion of Rhythm Thief, the low frequency of rhythm-action action wouldn't be so galling, but plodding through the streets of Paris, no matter how amusing the dialogue of its citizens, feels like a cheap way of stretching out the game length. Which was actually an unnecessary trick if you ask us.

Unfortunately, the difference between what Crystal Dynamics wanted to do with Snowblind and the finished product is a crevasse that good intentions fall well short of bridging, leaving the game lying in a Wile E. Coyote-style could of dust at the bottom. [March 2005, p.110]

One the one hand what’s already here is enjoyable and compelling, for the comparatively short amount of time it’ll take you to play through it, but the promise of more makes me feel like Shadowrun Returns is only going to grow in value as time goes on. If the players really latch onto the capabilities of the editor, it’s going to be an incredible rich offering, and one that could theoretically never stop giving.

It’s intuitive to the extent that you’ll quickly stop looking at the touch screen and instead play from instinct. It feels perfect. [Oct 2006, p.114]

The plea of distinction City Life enters ultimately fails due to tactical elements so facile they might as well not exist. [June 2006, p.120]

Enjoyable to play, but derivative and badly-written. [Issue#194, p.76]

As a download release, it has exactly the same flaws. [Issue#109, p.118]

Judged as an Xbox Live Arcade game, American Nightmare has the production values but the novelty soon quickly wears off. [Issue#120, p.105]

Although Nintendo has introduced a few new features since release, Super Mario Run still feels like it’s missing something. It looks and feels like a proper Mario game, but it can quickly become so tiresome that we no longer play. It’s all too easy to exhaust Tour Mode and the Kingdom has no staying power. The free tier will be plenty for most Super Mario Runners, and for the full investors, you’ll soon be reduced to a few daily Rally runs.

A great foundation, but sadly a giant misstep. [Issue#200, p.78]

The purpose of a review is to help the reader to decide how best to spend their money, and there is little in Undertow’s familiar mechanics that can’t be found better executed elsewhere. [Jan 2008, p.130]

It might not sound like much of a change, but the shift of focus into multiplayer territory is quite enough to make Wario Ware appealing all over again. [May 2004, p.108]

Thoroughly and unexpectedly wonderful. [Issue#146, p.102]

I never falls too far from chaotic fun. [Issue#155, p.122]

A thoughtful experience with great gameplay. [Issue#172, p.94]

The lack of any online modes coupled with the still very prevalent frame rate issue means Tony Hawk’s Project 8 is a weaker PS3 game than it is on 360. [Apr 2007, p.131]

Smart, sketchy but pacy, Q.U.B.E: Director’s Cut is more than worth the price of admission, regardless of format.

Lots of polish and some truly laugh-out-loud moments. [Issue#107, p.113]

This isn't what you'd call a 'non-game', however. Art Style: Light Trax has a deep set of mechanics that challenge and reward in equal measure, and make its gameplay as satisfying as the presentation is beautiful.

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

Story Of Seasons can be laboriously repetitive at times, but it somehow manages to keep you playing anyway through a combination of charming dialogue and the eventual satisfaction of a farm you’ve sweated buckets to bring up to scratch.

It could be argued that Pandemic's extra-terrestrial effort is a little on the simple side, but in terms of sheer playability, scale and freedom - albeit within fairly limited areas - Destroy All Humans! is a class act indeed. [July 2005, p.96]

Beneath lies a pretty average shooter - one that with a little more thought and ambition could have easily been something more memorable. [Nov 2011, p.111]

Evolve stands as a champion of forward-thinking game design that embraces risk and originality. For that alone, whether you end up enjoying it or not (but play with friends of a similar skill level and you surely will), Turtle Rock deserves respect.