Successfully plays on the strategy roots of the Socom series with impressive results. [Issue#109, p.96]

One for the rhythm-action hardcore crowd and those players who don't mind playing keyboard parts on guitar, then. [Issue#102, p.122]

It's the game's bare-bones approach (card battling, deck editing and very little else) that makes WCT 2004 so damn intriguing. Under the simplistic exterior lies a game so laden with strategy and tactics that it makes our brains hurt just thinking about it. [Apr 2004, p.118]

Handling and pop-up have been pretty much fixed, but in exchange we're greeted with a problematic multiplayer mode, some annoying graphical glitches and several other elements that perhaps wouldn't grate so much if Colin McRae 3 hadn't already tested the next-generation water. [Oct 2003, p.110]

A confused game, veering from System Shock-style psychological horror to classic Doom mass slaughter via Resident Evil-esque jumpy frights... It’s not until your arsenal is about half full that this begins to feel like the new Doom game you wanted it to be. [Oct 2004, p.100]

It still feels so right.. Sketchy music and coconut-sized pixels are a small price to pay for the chance to dabble with one of the finest two-dimensional beat-‘em-ups ever made. [Aug 2005, p.107]

The tragedy is that inFamous contains flashes of something approaching brilliance, yet when we finished all that remained were memories of the cracks in its surface. [July 2009, p.112]

There simply has to be some compromise between keeping the game world authentic and keeping it interesting. [Issue#109, p.106]

An interesting and complete fighter that deserves the attention of anyone who enjoys the delights of two-dimensional fighting. [Sept 2006, p.112]

A premiere stealth game, but it has lost some of that old charm that made its predecessors so appealing. [Apr 2007, p.129]

A fun medley of DW-style combat and strategy. [Issue#194, p.75]

Maintains most of the fun, but loses some style. [Issue#184, p.78]

If you have a PS4, want to kill monsters and have fun while doing it, look no further. [Issue#160, p.109]

Worms W.M.D captures all the things that make the series so much fun, especially in local multiplayer, and all those new bells and whistles certainly add a cute little twist, but you can’t help but feel that this really is the same game you played last year, and the year before that, and the year before that… Still, if you’re looking for a slice of classic multiplayer mayhem with a lick of current-gen paint, there are few better places to dust off that bazooka.

It's rarely been so good to be bad. [Issue#184, p.80]

Even a sadly lacking level of polish can't change the simple fact that busting - as you may have heard - makes us feel good. [July 2009, p.114]

This is the first time, apart from games such as Zoo Keeper and Meteos, that the DS’s capabilities have been used to good effect and - in some areas - expanded on to the point that we can see many developers in the future ‘borrowing’ ideas for their own games. [Aug 2005, p.100]

Heroes Of Might And Magic V has sufficient appeal to become an entry level into the genre for the mainstream player, at the price of not quite having sufficient subtlety and depth to completely satisfy its natural target audience: the lesser spotted geek. [July 2006, p.128]

A solid addition to the series that potentially offers plenty of additional scope due to its enhanced multiplayer component. [Issue#109, p.115]

Tiger Woods remains the most accessible golf game, but ProStroke is easily the title for those who find a lack of challenge in its competitors. [Oct 2006, p.124]

It's possible to sit through the game in one (admittedly long) sitting and this comes dangerously close to ruining the game. Fortunately, with five initial characters to play as and the typical Dark Alliance secrets, you'll still find yourself going back long after the main adventure is finished. [Feb 2004, p.100]

Pacific is too dry to ever become anything other than a passing diversion for all but the original game's fans. [July 2009, p.121]

Despite blinding us with pretty visuals and spot-on gameplay, there was always a nagging feeling that Inferno couldn't keep it up for long. And we were right … there's nothing to stop you tearing through this in a couple of hours. [May 2004, p.114]

Resident Evil is still a survival horror classic - this just isn't a classic re-REmake. [Issue#157, p.110]

There’s a good game at EA Sports UFC’s core, it’s just a shame that it’s not as seamless in its delivery as we’d hoped it would be.

Every other development studio that dabbles in movie licences should look at what High Moon has accomplished and take note. [Aug 2008, p.100]

The highlight is undoubtedly Motoi Sakuraba’s wonderful score, ranging from memorable, up-tempo tunes to serene orchestral numbers with just about everything you could ask for in between... But it’s the fundamentals that keep us coming back to Star Ocean night after increasingly late night. [Nov 2004, p.104]

The battle sequences display commendable ambition and technical brilliance everywhere except in the gameplay. [May 2008, p.102]

It's still hard to shake the feeling that this is DLC; it is padded-out content and it is, ultimately, a bit of a grind. [Issue#157, p.112]

A cerebral and unusual war game with issues that don’t, in the end, detract from its effectiveness. [Apr 2006, p.122]

Risk shots aside, though, this is a near perfect tennis game, making it even more of a shame that they’re so imperfectly implemented. [May 2006, p.110]

Charming, creative and stubbornly old-school. [Issue#175, p.81]

Lightning Returns has some genuinely great ideas as far as modern RPGs are concerned, and despite being let down by a shoddy story and some graphical issues, it remains a shining example of how dynamic battle systems and thoughtful character customisation can save an otherwise trite, lifeless game.

We can't help but have a soft spot for Defiance, if only because it not only looks impressive, but it kept us captivated right up to yet another tense climax; a rare combination for most recent games. [Christmas 2003, p.121]

A high mid-table finish. [Issue#194, p.84]

As good as your broadband connection... When everything in Dead or Alive Ultimate works, it's worth an eight, possibly even a nine. However, when it doesn't, you're looking at a five. [March 2005, p.98]

Rearmed boasts a level of polish rarely seen in downloadable titles. [Issue#73, p.116]

A great use of the Warhammer license. [Issue#175, p.83]

Conflict: Global Storm is such an improvement over the debacle that was Vietnam that it's amazing to think they came from the same developer. [Nov 2005, p.118]

If Telltale can build on these inspired touches while finding a way to shake off its addiction to repetition and recycling, then we may just have a five-star series on our hands. [Nov 2009, p.111]

The problems that are here don't detract from the fascinatingly hardcore option to leave the Career mode behind and create your own park in the Sandbox mode without constraints of time and money... And whilst it's immensely hard to get this right, it's massively satisfying when you do. [Christmas 2004, p.120]

There's little doubt that The Old Republic could have been a groundbreaking release, but it instead chooses to hew closely to the MMO formula, relying too much on the grind and outdated mechanics that don't gel with the Star Wars license. [Issue#119, p.110]

Polished, involving and a great deal of fun, but current-gen in all but the smallest details. [Oct 2006, p.126]

The Wii Remote is so responsive that you'd notice little difference if you wired electrodes to your cerebellum and played the game through force of will alone. [Christmas 2006, p.136]

If you've a passing interest in blasting chumps and don't fancy dropping 50 quid for the privilege, Blacklight: Retribution is a more than serviceable option. [Issue#143, p.105]

Charming and engaging. [Issue#119, p.118]

The game's lack of a two-player mode will be a profound disappointment for those gamers whose greatest Metal Slug flashbacks are fuelled by the showmanship and camaraderie of co-op play. [Oct 2008, p.123]

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a dynamic and visceral amalgamation of genre conventions, showcased in a wonderfully action-packed adventure game. [June 2009, p.125]

If you're unfamiliar with the series then the bombardment of characters and names that will greet you could be a little intimidating, but if you just push the veil of the complex storyline aside, it's simply a good, solid platform game like its predecessor and a fine example of the genre. [Nov 2004, p.121]

It doesn't strike a perfect balance between engaging gameplay and a compelling story but for a pig's tale it's still satisfyingly twisted. [Issue#140, p.108]

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

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]

For all its loveliness and in spite of its adventurous battle system, Chopin’s Dream is ultimately too restrained to be classed as revolutionary. [Sept 2007, p.122]

This is a sandbox first, and that's what you should base your buying decision on. [Issue#140, p.110]

Those who have been waiting for this port can relax. However, Konami has done little to improve on what is still a winning formula. [Christmas 2008, p.103]

Tiger Woods remains the most accessible golf game, but ProStroke is easily the title for those who find a lack of challenge in its competitors. [Oct 2006, p.124]

This is one of the few examples of real SEGA magic this generation. The classic 'Simon Says' gameplay has been only slightly tweaked... to give the game a better feeling of progression and variety. [July 2004, p.108]

The game has made an incredibly successful transition into glorious 3D. This lavish graphical overhaul brings the quaint village of Forget-Me-Not and its quirky residents to life superbly and exudes a hypnotically tranquil ambience that epitomises the ideology of the series. [May 2004, p.120]

Like the best iPhone puzzlers, this is a collection of original challenges, uncluttered by unnecessary extras. [Issue#119, p.119]

Ignore the discordance within its narrative and get your way past the incredibly dull opening stretch: Wolfenstein is a brawny, gratifying shooter experience – the likes of which you probably haven’t played in some time. Consider it a history lesson.

Simplistic in scope, but oh so satisfying to play. [Issue#182, p.83]

Psycho aside, it’s hard to be engaged by the narrative, and not only because it’s standard sci-fi fodder. Blatant clues as to the story’s direction mean most players will have pieced together the plot’s deeper mysteries long before they are formerly unveiled. Meanwhile, optional audio logs that dig deeper into the lore can only be played via a static menu screen, necessitating a break from the action to listen to a minute or two of laboured exposition.

Just a good game, and an incredibly impressive XBLA effort - one that, unlike many triple-A, big budget titles, introduces something wholly new and ambitious to gaming. [Issue#101, p.109]

While its an advancement on Hearthstone mechanically, if Hearthstone is the standard for the genre these days, then invariably Scrolls becomes one for CCG veterans only.

As it stands, this is a good example of how to do a DLC package.

With three difficulty levels. There are several weeks worth of challenge here, making TV Show King much better value than its disc-based competitors. [Aug 2008, p.119]

A great game hampered by a new model.

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

Family Ski comes highly recommended – even if only to soothe the pain of yet another blue-shell-related defeat. [May 2008, p.118]

There's an alarming lack of polish, with characters looking more like rough sketches than finalised art and only boasting a few frames of animation. The storyline is also hard to follow thanks to roughshod translation and there are difficulty spikes to test the patience of any gamer.

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

No masterpiece, but captivating. [Issue#172, p.88]

EDF has never been quite as spectacular, nor as charmingly wonky, as this. [Issue#146, p.121]

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]

There’s plenty to do, but you can’t rid yourself of the feeling that there has never been a release in this franchise more dedicated to a certain kind of player. If you’re part of that crowd, rest assured that you’re going to wholly entertained. Everyone else might want to think twice.

While we won't go anywhere near as far to say that this online facing side of the game is an afterthought, it doesn't carry with it the same sense of intense playtesting and meticulous detail as the solo campaign.

Tiger Woods remains the most accessible golf game, but ProStroke is easily the title for those who find a lack of challenge in its competitors. [Oct 2006, p.124]

An admirable attempt at melding physical activity with light-hearted play. [Issue#143, p.115]

With nine mostly identical levels standing between each boss and each change in style, the game can become rather monotonous when it could so easily have soared, had it changed styles a little more frequently. [Apr 2009, p.118]

Clever, unique, inventive but brief and repetitive. [Issue#172, p.91]

As long as you’re prepared to die over and over again, then Richter Belmont’s restored adventure should be considered a rare PSP treat. [Mar 2008, p.130]

There's a surprising amount of versatility to the characters. [Issue#143, p.117]

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]

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]

If your appetite for RPGs is insatiable ... then four-way multiplayer and online capabilities are excuse enough for a purchase. [Apr 2004, p.116]

Although it plods along at a steady pace with a passable story and solid combat, nothing about it feels particularly original, while visually it resembles a cancelled Tales game. [Issue#101, p.107]

If Tropical Freeze is your first Donkey Kong Country game, you’ll probably hate it from the start, especially if your idea of a 2D platformer is based on New Super Mario Bros. U or Rayman Legends. Enemies and obstacles are not lined up neatly along your path of destruction; they’re meant to inconvenience you and continually break your momentum.

Ultimate for fans, good for anyone else. [Issue#172, p.95]

All the same, this is by far the best of the franchise so far and if you’ve ever considered giving one of the Sherlock Holmes games a go there’s been no better option to start with.

Tiger Woods remains the most accessible golf game, but ProStroke is easily the title for those who find a lack of challenge in its competitors. [Oct 2006, p.124]

Infuriating and yet stupidly addictive. [Oct 2009, p.122]

Stick with it - it's worth the effort. [Issue#179, p.80]

A triumph in its own right and, on a wider scale, a huge step forward for sports games. If NaturalMotion decides to work on a sequel, there's a great chance that all the niggles can be ironed out and a true competitor will emerge. [July 2010, p.122]

Things haven't progressed enough and, it has to be said, "DMC4" is the better game. [July 2008, p.114]

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

Best with a team of heroes. [Issue#172, p.95]

If you are willing to look past its issues, then Type-0 is definitely worth your time, and it is far better than some of the other games in the Crystallis series. If we had to choose any Final Fantasy game that acts as the harbinger for the messiah that is Final Fantasy XV, then it would be this one, purely thanks to its markedly similar and stellar combat system.

After more than a decade at the top of its field, this may well be the best golf game released this year, but it isn't appreciably better than 09 or even 08. [Aug 2009, p.131]