Most will be happy with the 20-plus hours of entertainment they get from the expansion - it's more of the same and, for that, we're happy. [Issue#95, p.126]

Like no JRPG you've seen. [Issue#95, p.120]

Weirdly attempting to serve two masters, Supermini Festa tries to add both casual fun and hardcore depth to the original formula, with mixed results. [Apr 2010, p.130]

A time-sink that can devour more life than Monster Hunter and Disgaea combined. [Issue#95, p.118]

A time-sink that can devour more life than Monster Hunter and Disgaea combined. [Issue#95, p.118]

We struggle to see how this handheld version of Arc's brilliant new fighter could be much better without an arcade stick peripheral. Which would be stupid. [Aug 2010, p.123]

A very different Final Fantasy, then, but one that becomes more familiar by the end - and we're certainly not going to bemoan Square Enix for attempting and achieving something beyond the usual expectations attached to the genre. [Apr 2010, p.112]

If you just mindlessly consume the thing, it's not entirely unpalatable. But when you pick it apart and consider the ingredients, it isn't hard to see it as a bit of a mess. [Apr 2010, p.116]

Calling's biggest failing is that you never ever feel scared. [Issue#95, p.124]

Although Bad Company 2 sees a confident shift in scope to take in a wider-ranging conflict, DICE's big-budget spectacle isn't so impressive when placed alongside Infinity Ward's effort. [Apr 2010, p.106]

Such free-thinking touches recall a more experimental age when you could rightfully expect every other DS game to be crammed with esoteric concepts. [Apr 2010, p.118]

This is a purist RTS with old-school communists values, where there's power in numbers. [Issue#95, p.122]

It may be an unnecessary sequel but, unlike the umpteen other unnecessary sequels in the series, it's one that at least learns from the mistakes of the past. [Issue#95, p.127]

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]

Heavy Rain isn't the ultimate narrative-driven videogame but the first, a template that should inspire other creators and open up a genre as limitless as imagination itself. And we can't wait to see what stories we get to play next. [Issue#93, p.104]

Hardcore Total War completists are unlikely to be disappointed. [Apr 2010, p.128]

Mediocrity wins out. [Issue#93, p.124]

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]

Alien Vs. Predator does a few things right, a whole lot wrong, and somehow manages to feel inferior to a game that Rebellion made ten years ago. [Apr 2010, p.132]

On a next-gen console, Strikeforce is a far more humdrum expenditure of time that could be better spent elsewhere. [Issue#93, p.130]

Pretty much as good a console RTS as you're likely to play. [Issue#93, p.121]

Executed with the utmost intelligence. [Issue#93, p.114]

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

Visceral Games has lavished Dante's Inferno with polish and atmosphere. [Issue#93, p.110]

Ill-advised from concept to execution. [Issue#93, p.112]

Chime is a small game, but it's one with a big heart. [Issue#95, p.127]

It's still a little rough around the edges, but it's a real pleasure to return to the Zone. [Issue#93, p.122]

It's almost "ha-ha" buggy in the same way that Fallout 3 was, but at times can cause a great deal of grief. [Issue#93, p.108]

There's every chance White Knight Chronicles will start to shine in co-op. As a single-player experience, however, which is surely the main reason for anyone to invest, it's distinctly average, suffering from problems that are genuinely a surprise considering the brains behind it. [Apr 2010, p.124]

Despite all of the ways Mass Effect 2 is more engaging to play and explore, after 35 remarkable hours it was the characters that stayed with us… Game of the year in January? Oh, go on then. [Feb 2010, p.112]

Desperate Struggle's improved gameplay, streamlined structure and adolescent fantasy may not make the perfect mix of ingredients, but we love the way it tastes all the same. [Apr 2010, p.120]

Yet more evidence that no one makes them better than Capcom. [JPN Import; Feb 2009, p.126]

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]

Excels where it counts thanks to its imaginative and engrossing battles. [Issue#93, p.120]

Dark Void demonstrates promise that a sequel may realise, but as a spiritual successor to Crimson Skies it's in severe need of liposuction. [Feb 2010, p.118]

Ultimately it's a dull, dated experience that needed to change a lot more than it actually did. [Feb 2010, p.116]

It's an open world that's not open, a Zelda game with no wit or brain power, and a God Of War clone without bite. [Feb 2010, p.122]

Ping-ponging from the sublime to the ridiculous with sass, style and a potty mouth, Bayonetta is a ten-hour journey into both the obscenely brilliant and the brilliantly obscene, but you'll still be playing it for its wealth of extras long beyond that. [Issue#91, p.102]

The minigames are the strongest asset. [Issue#93, p.118]

One of the most underwhelming rhythm-action games in some time. [Issue#93, p.132]

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

Crippled by unavoidable errors. [Issue#91, p.125]

So good that the old adage of "quality, not quantity" has never felt more appropriate. [Issue#91, p.111]

A beautiful but flawed farewell. [Issue#91, p.112]

A curious and original jaunt about the psyche whose quirkiness and atmosphere far overshadow its few faults and brevity. [Feb 2010, p.126]

Telltale has redefined what a LucasArts adventure can be, turning a comedy adventure into a comedy drama, and we're sure it will have a lasting effect on where the franchise goes from here. [Feb 2010, p.130]

It's a fine submission in a long run of fabulous games, but not one that will swing Zelda in a brand new direction. [Issue#91, p.108]

What would we change? Just about everything. Rogue Warrior isn't broken, but it is bland and characterless. [Feb 2010, p.128]

Any initial pleasure avatar offers is steadily eroded by gnawing repetition. [Issue#91, p.116]

The sequel to one of this generation's biggest disappointments has emerged as a strong contender for game of the year, and if you didn't see that coming, don't worry - neither did we. [Christmas 2009, p.122]

A testament to what the Wii is truly capable of in the hands of a skilled developer that understands the strengths and limitations of the hardware. [Christmas 2009, p.112]

What would make it better? If it had wheels. [Issue#91, p.118]

If you do already own and have played to death (excuse the pun) the original Left 4 Dead, the feeling that you've just purchased the same product again doesn't take very long to start tugging at your coat-tails. [Christmas 2009, p.110]

The true definition of a game that keeps on giving. [Issue#91, p.106]

The soul of the game ripped out. [Issue#91, p.120]

A socially driven experience that focuses on random party play at the expense of precision. It's not perfect, but it's still the best of its kind in a sub-genre that has yet to be mastered. [Christmas 2009, p.106]

Modern Warfare 2 is 'just' a videogame, and a damn good one at that, in terms of sheer, heart-thumping spectacle it'll deliver in spades; just don't expect the Second Coming. [Christmas 2009, p.98]

Maybe they should have just called it "Bike" instead. [Issue#91, p.127]

You often die for reasons beyond your control. [Issue#91, p.126]

Amazing highs marred by a few missed opportunities. [Christmas 2009, p.102]

Five years on from what was arguably the series' peak there has been no substantial development and no willingness to reflect the ambition of its own title - something we cannot abide. [Dec 2009, p.105]

This is pure BioWare, crafted with consummate fantasy fans in mind. [Christmas 2009, p.108]

It's a wholly entertaining romp filled with non-stop nonsense and inspired moments that set it apart from almost every other Wii game. [Christmas 2009, p.120]

The Trial And Execution Of Guybrush Threepwood has proved that Telltale has what it takes to equal LucasArts's best. [Christmas 2009, p.114]

Rockstar North hasn't lost its grip on its capacity to take the GTA template and invent interesting twists on its design, ensuring that every mission is as amusing and explosive as the last, right up until the bombastic finale. [Dec 2009, p.122]

It's happy faces all round when Tekken goes on. It's fast, accessible, varied and incredibly pretty. [Dec 2009, p.127]

When you're interacting with music in a way you never have before, you'll want to slap yourself for even giving the idea of emptying your wallet a second thought. [Christmas 2009, p.104]

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]

A rich, deep and insanely customisable world of strategy action awaits those brave enough to take on its steep learning curve and string of battles where a single mistake can lead to defeat. [May 2009, p.131]

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]

The tongue-in-cheek Cold War-era humour is preferable to Cities XL's hard-faced exterior, but Haemimont's skill in masking the behind-the-scenes mechanisms pales in comparison to Mote Cristo's effort. [Dec 2009, p.118]

A football game as good as - if not, somewhat controversially, better than - Pro Evo in its prime and as tight a sports title as you'll play this year. [Dec 2009, p.104]

Acquire has included little structure to complement the story's broad narrative scope or offer a sense of attachment, leaving it trapped somewhere between a Kung-Fu style wanderer's chronicle and a point-to-point adventure-lite that simply features too much wandering. [Apr 2010, p.109]

The big question is, can this sequel offer enough for anyone who has already played the original to death. And the answer is a resounding yes. [Nov 2009, p.130]

Niggles aside, LostWinds is still relevant, and remains a genuine threat to the Wii's stagnating physical releases. [Christmas 2009, p.129]

Remakes and IP revivals may be raking in the big bucks at the moment, but this artistically unique original is the game that really deserves your love and respect. [Nov 2009, p.106]

It may have its flaws, but at least those mistakes were made in the course of trying to do something new. [Dec 2009, p.100]

It's tempting to brand this the watershed moment when we stop saddling narrative-driven games with blunt, inelegant descriptors like 'first-person shooter', 'platformer' or 'puzzler', and simply honour the mood. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an action comedy - nothing else fits nearly as well. [Dec 2009, p.94]

While the shortcomings are obvious, this is a cut above most Wii-based mini game fare. [Christmas 2009, p.126]

There's just no thrill to the combat and no spark to the characters or story, which ultimately makes Magna Carta II a step backwards in an already static genre. [Dec 2009, p.103]

There's simply not enough material here to justify the asking price, and the small amount on the disc is sub-par entertainment on almost every level. [Dec 2009, p.111]

Each stage is a trial-and-error affair, which is good for longevity but may put some players off. [Christmas 2009, p.129]

Approached with acceptance of its limitations and a willingness to cede true freedom, Afrika can still be a remarkable, memorable experience. [Dec 2008, p.121]

Never have we played a game that punishes so much while constantly providing a reason to keep pushing on and see what brilliance lies beyond the next hurdle.

As an extra disc to a six-film box set its existence is just about justified, but placed against a slew of superior titles it offers nothing more than an evening's mild distraction. [Christmas 2009, p.128]

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]

The unfocused nature of the single-player feels cursory in comparison to the depth of its predecessors, making this a notable but certainly not extraordinary racer. [Dec 2009, p.98]

Extraction is one of the best looking, well polished and expertly choreographed mature titles we've played on Wii, and one of the finest lightgun games full stop. [Dec 2009, p.120]

If muddy textures and a somewhat garish palette are the trade-off for involving track design and vehicular carnage, then it's a compromise we're happy to accept. [Dec 2009, p.102]

Offers little new but still manages to entertain with its blend of reanimated allies, intense action and slapstick humour. [Issue#93, p.128]

It's rare for a portable spin-off to come this close to the quality of the games upon which it is based. [Dec 2009, p.106]

Lazy find-three-item quests are nowhere to be seen in this episode, instead there's a wealth of context-based conundrums and mini-games that showcase LucasArts-style adventure design at its best. [Dec 2009, p.128]

Drift Mania can be a reasonably fun and nostalgic racer. Just not a great one. [Oct 2009, p.127]

The one aspect that raises its head slightly above 'ordinary', and ventures into 'quite good, actually' territory is the Campaign mission design, which is both varied and well-balanced. [Dec 2009, p.125]

In the absence of a compelling plot to compensate for the muted thrills, ODST's claim to 'must-buy' status looks very shaky. [Nov 2009, p.102]

Gameplay is standard stuff, and very little imagination seems to have been given over to making the mini-games feel engaging. [Nov 2009, p.120]

Good for the franchise, but still not great. [Nov 2009, p.125]

For some, the act of simply throwing little computer people around will remain its most compelling feature. [Dec 2009, p.128]