There certainly is an enjoyable experience to be discovered here – it’s just a shame that you have to work so hard to unearth it. [Nov 2007, p.128]

The single-player element is distinctly average, so play Frontlines: Fuel Of War for its online mode, as that’s what it will be remembered for. [Mar 2008, p.118]

Unoriginal. [Issue#165, p.96]

The percentage of actual game in Front Mission 4 is the best piece of mech strategy that you will play on the PS2. If only it was built just as a game and not to tell a story mimed by blathering idiots, we’d be looking at something very special indeed. [Sept 2004, p.108]

Mercury’s subtle combination of spot-on physics, obvious answers and hidden short cuts creates a game of continual perfection and frustration alike - what more could you ask for from a great puzzle game? [June 2005, p.104]

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]

Roundabout's story is ridiculous, funny, occasionally moving, even when it's over you'll want to keep going. [Issue#154, p.125]

The underlying controls are fun and fluid, but the lack of variety leaves the game - and therefore its player - wanting. [Issue#162, p.106]

Even with some customisation offered in the realms of online, the whole package still feels like a selection of disparate parts with no real core holding it all together.

Some might balk at the fact the main campaign can be completed in around five hours, but it feels a trifling thing to complain about when the varied generated missions offer so much replay value. And some of us don't even like Star Trek! [Issue#189, p.82]

Brian De Palma’s film was an indictment of violence and capitalist greed; here they are your primary goal – the developer is relishing in the brutality and profanity and severely missing the point in the process. [Dec 2006, p.123]

Considering the state of Platinum’s last licensed title, The Legend Of Korra, not to mention the clear budget and time constraints from Activision, Transformers: Devastation could have been much worse. But then again, it could also have been much, much better.

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]

The real joy of Darkwatch, however, is its simplicity. It's a pure, no-nonsense shooter, entirely focused on allowing the player to dispose of innumerable undead in ever more amusing ways. [Dec 2005, p.115]

Fun, but too annoying and limited to be anything more. It's technically impressive, but that's not all you pay for and, sadly, the gameplay can't cash the cheques that the visuals write. [May 2004, p.100]

While the card and strategy elements work surprisingly well, they don’t really fit the stealth side of the game for which the series is so highly regarded. [June 2005, p.112]

A game that's less concerned with making you think and more with making you feel. [Issue#113, p.106]

By far one of the strongest downloadable titles of the year so far. [June 2009, p.121]

Square Enix's least enticing DS offering thus far, a disappointment given the company's growing ambition in handheld development. [May 2009, p.120]

As with many Nintendo products, it's the 'feel' that sells this title. It's near impossible not to have fun while playing - even if you're determined to hate it - and it's one of those titles you've really got to play to understand. [Sept 2005, p.104]

Of course, any niggles relating to the quality of puzzles is alleviated somewhat by the quality of animation. [Issue#110, p.117]

To say the level of humour is an acquired taste would be an understatement. [Issue#110, p.118]

The brutality of the battles is Shadow Of Rome’s saviour, ensuring the joys of arena battles outshine the gloom of the needless padding and provide guilty thrills that little else can offer. [Feb 2005, p.95]

There's enough challenge in their three chord-heavy songs to keep you amused for a good few hours, but the overall product just doesn't feel as much a revelation as that which Harmonix achieved with The Beatles. [Aug 2010, p.112]

A wonderfully-executed musical masterpiece. [Issue#196, p.87]

The game's only letdown comes from the very occasional glitch whose presence is sadly amplified by the precise nature of play, but these minor flaws have to be put into perspective against the sheer quality and quantity on offer that makes H&D2 stand out from everything else in its class. [Christmas 2003, p.104]

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]

If you’ve not got half a lifetime to invest - or even if you have and you’re just up for trying something a little different - Stella Deus is an interesting and competent strategy title just waiting to rob you of over 40 hours. Good stuff. [Aug 2005, p.108]

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.

Not implementing any kind of reward system at all is surely a huge oversight. [Dec 2007, p.133]

The best Star Wars game in almost a decade. [Issue#108, p.128]

Far too generic to be considered anything other than average. [Christmas 2005, p.114]

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

Put up with its farcical levels of misogyny and you'll find an approachable, satisfying fighting game that feels smoother and looks sharper than it ever has before. [Issue#160, p.100]

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]

Gorgeous, but sometimes laborious. [Issue#191, p.81]

Every Extend Extra is undeniably an ingenious game, but not easy to recommend for everyone simply due to being so different and very tough. [Nov 2006, p.107]

A life-changing experience for every Batman fan. [Issue#180, p.42]

The only real stumbling blocks are the mediocrity of the overall experience – something that’s only fully realised once play has ceased – and the repetition that has to be endured. [Mar 2007, p.120]

As simple and addictive a puzzle game as we’ve seen in recent years, Zoo Keeper’s transition onto a handheld platform like the DS couldn’t have been more of a success. Tetris for the next generation? It’s certainly a close call. [Apr 2005, p.94]

More than any other tweak, Costume Quest is in dire need of an alternate progression mechanic. Sure, ticking off all front doors is authentic, but lends the title a stale air. [Christmas 2010, p.120]

It's to Croteam's credit that Serious Sam II manages to stay interesting for as long as it does, thanks to the weird enemy design and tight levels keeping the pace from slacking. [Dec 2005, p.112]

If you like your games to tell an engaging story or to break new ground, Prototype 2 will probably make you vomit up your own pelvis through sheer outrage. If you're looking for powerful messages or the advancement of a medium, you'll likely be left with little but a sour taste in your mouth and the desire to write a strongly worded letter to Radical expressing your dissatisfaction with the whole experience. But if, on the flipside, you're someone that goes into a game armed with nothing more than a desire to be entertained, you'll struggle to find a more accommodating host than Prototype 2.

The game itself is fast, reasonably original and a great deal of fun. Trozei’s disadvantage is its complete lack of modes. [May 2006, p.126]

At its core, this is the same game we've played before. [Issue#135, p.112]

Unfinished, or at the very least, unpolished. [Issue#102, p.112]

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

One of those games that will engrain itself in the mind - it's a must-play. [Issue#180, p.48]

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]

The fun in Titan Souls is in finally overcoming what initially feel like an impossible battles. In that regard, it’s a celebration of gaming as it used to be in ‘the good old days’.

It may be a bit too traditional for those raised on the episodic hand-holders of recent times, but seasoned adventurers will love the stunning visuals, smart writing, and difficult puzzles. [Jan 2009, p.119]

It's hardly a stunning RPG or an essential purchase but Radiata Stories is a charming, entertaining and compelling adventure, nonetheless. [Dec 2005, p.104]

Only the hardcore fans will have to have it, and they’re the ones most likely to end up disappointed. [Feb 2005, p.116]

Shooters may have reached their peak according to Army Of Two’s lead designer, but as a co-op experience, Army Of Two succeeds only in adding to the pack – rather than leading it. [Apr 2008, p.108]

If you were piecing together the ultimate stereotypical PC game, our guess is that the end result would look a lot like Spellforce. [Christmas 2003, p.127]

The whole thing smacks of laziness - of the 12 missions, we count a total of four completely new ones...the annoying thing is that Contracts is an enjoyable game; that IQ had the cheek to crib from its previous work almost doesn't matter when the result is still worth playing. [June 2004, p.98]

It's one of those mixed-bag situations - flashes of genius and genuinely enjoyable moments of success, occasionally mired by unbalanced weapon damage, clumsy AI and the odd bit of unfair level design that requires astounding feats of memory. [Dec 2003, p.98]

Without the control confusion, this could have been a modern classic to rival Super Monkey Ball; instead it can only be recommended for people with a serious amount of patience. [May 2009, p.128]

All manner of multiplayer modes play out fairly well and even the single-player competitions are, while tough, as enjoyable as just about any other tennis title this generation…once you get to grips with them, that is. [July 2004, p.123]

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]

It’s a decent change of pace and allows you to wreak vengeance on maps whose obstacles left you seething with rage. Blackguards 2 has a lot to keep turn-based strategy enthusiasts occupied, though it fails to outshine the more complex games in the genre.

It’s tedious to keep referring to this latest F1 release with the words, 'as in previous versions', but unfortunately that’s the generic and clichéd approach that has been taken with the latest in the series. [Mar 2007, p.121]

An emotional if lopsided tale. [Issue#177, p.83]

This is not merely a sequel worth playing, it’s one worth consuming again and again until its every secret has been revealed.

None of this is entirely new. [Issue#141, p.122]

Between gamers' potential lack of patience and the people needlessly dismissing the title after half an hour simply because it's 'trying too hard', many are going to miss out on one of the most unique and rewarding gaming experiences of the last few years. [Aug 2005, p.120]

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]

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]

It’s stringent, stripped back and sometimes a chore, but when things click for The Escapists it can be a delightful challenge to overcome.

The controls occasionally feel clunky. [Issue#141, p.117]

It seems content to re-tread worn ground without ever pausing to innovate along the way...As a result, Game Republic’s opening gambit is left feeling plod-through tired before the credits have run. [Sept 2005, p.114]

An evocative exploration of the art of storytelling. [Issue#198, p.78]

Wait for the sequel rather than invest in this slightly dumbed-down version. [Sept 2006, p.120]

While Worms 3D essentially delivers what it says on the tin, in surrendering its intuitive interface the concept has evolved into a far less attractive proposition. A shame. [Dec 2003, p.126]

We expect good gunplay and loot from a Borderlands game, and we still got that with The Pre-Sequel. But by expecting a little more, we seem to have set ourselves up for disappointment. Strewth.

It's just a shame the combat side of Capsized is hampered by something the developers can do little about. [Issue#138, p.115]

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

For the most part this is an excellent strategy game with plenty of mileage. [Issue#112, p.128]

Stubbornly quirky, unashamedly inventive, strangely relaxed and only a little bit broken, Steambot Chronicles is a game quite unlike anything else out there at the moment. [Aug 2006, p.122]

Regardless of the fact that the game doesn’t quite replicate the sheer precariousness of hurtling down a track at breakneck speed to the degree it should, the refreshing risk/reward balance merits the perseverance of anyone willing to give it a go. [May 2006, p.108]

Anyone buying a Ridge Racer game knows exactly what they’re getting and won’t be disappointed with this shiny and seemingly unending racing bonanza. [Christmas 2005, p.129]

What it lacks in exactness it more than makes up for in whimsy and, indeed, the decision to focus on Kinect more as an aid to deepen an immersive, tactile experience than to promote competition with friends is commendable. [Issue#104, p.116]

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

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]

Fun, heroic stuff, especially for younger players. [Issue#195, p.74]

If you ignored it before then you were missing out on one of the most enjoyable beat-‘em-ups the genre has. [Nov 2006, p.120]

Once the contentment of seeing the impressive 'ultimate'look of the Spider-Man characters has faded and the comic book flair has become old news, it's still going to be a very bitter pill to swallow. [Dec 2005, p.118]

Destroy All Humans! 2's scope should win a few converts, while providing enough originality to sate the fans. [Dec 2006, p.131]

A disappointment, there's no two ways about it. The scares just aren't there – we live in a post-Amnesia world, so we know it's possible for FPSs to terrify – and the rest of the action is so utterly standard it strays into boring territory more than we hoped it would. A more interesting co-op mode and the competitive, point-based leaderboards covering both single and multiplayer drag it out of average territory, but generally speaking we fear this is a missed opportunity.

Sadly, the adventure itself is far too linear; there's little in the way of side-quests, and you have no freedom over where you go or what you do. If you can overlook this, though, The Third Age does mix a neat battle system with a great franchise to provide a surprisingly enjoyable adventure. [Dec 2004, p.107]

This is a game for the fans, paid for by the fans, and limited only by its budget. The music won’t be to everyone’s taste, and of course doesn’t include any pop classics, but the precision and excitement of the moment-to-moment musical action has never been stronger.

There's room for much improvement in The Secret World, as there often is with any new MMO launch, but this has far more promise than anything Blizzard or EA have had to offer recently.

There are better RPGs out there, there are better RPGs on DS, but better Sonic Adventures? You’d be hard pushed to find one. [Dec 2008, p.114]

If you own any of the three previous Bomberman DS titles – or indeed any Bomberman game since the first SNES Super Bomberman – then the only new experiences on offer here are found in the mini-games and story. [May 2008, p.122]

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]

Those able to get a feel for the menu-heavy gameplay will revel in the kind of breathtaking depth and infinite scope you simply won't find in any other console title. [Apr 2004, p.120]

Shining Soul II doesn't really pack enough charm to distinguish itself as anything other than a solid yet unspectacular RPG. It even struggles to differentiate itself from the first game, looking and playing almost exactly the same. [Apr 2004, p.101]

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]