Simple fun, but potentially annoying. [Issue#181, p.84]

For true "chillax"-based experiences, however, there are far less pressured examples available. [Issue#107, p.118]

There are no side missions, no conveniently placed ramps, and only a small handful of collectibles that work in harmony with the fiction. 2K Czech has invested serious time and effort into conjouring a peerless sense of time and place – we won't begrudge it for not encouraging players to shatter the illusion.

For or five mindless hours stretched to more than double that. [Issue#154, p.127]

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

When we say that Red Dead is a great little game, the emphasis is as much on the 'little' as it is on the 'great'. [June 2004, p.102]

It's tight, focused and despite its flaws is easily the best shooter to arrive so far this year. In this sense, we can't help but wonder why EA has not made a bigger deal out of Syndicate.

Patience with Atelier Iris, however, comes with its own rewards as the game manages to open up in more creative ways (besides the mastery of the simple but solid fighting system) once you begin amassing Mana and mana. [Sept 2005, p.106]

SSX Blur is a genuine triumph and fits in perfectly with the series. [Apr 2007, p.104]

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]

It feels as though Techland has always had this game inside of it, like it’s been waiting to bust out this technically proficient outpouring of destructive fun. Dying Light is a class apart from its typical output, and a class apart from most zombie games too. A shining beacon in a sea of grisly rotting death.

A great concept that doesn't realize its potential. [Issue#179, p.84]

With an entire ark full of animals on offer and a chapter-based story mode to dive into as well, there's a constantly evolving roster to play around with. It might be bonkers in its concept, but in execution Tokyo Jungle is solid, addictive and best of all, different.

Despite some skinniness in the core mechanics, this is a strong game with a consistently charming aesthetic and challenging progression-based system: if you’re enduring enough to live through the first week or so, you’ll meet a slew of survivors, and you’ll uncover a glimpse of America that’s still celebrated.

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]

Not only does this look nigh-on identical to the PC version, it still feels as though the two analogue sticks used to control your operative are but a placeholder for the mouse/keyboard combo that shot Counter-Strike to fame. One for Live players only. [Jan 2004, p.112]

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]

Outlaw Golf 2 is actually a great game, but wading through the cut-scenes and commentary is hard work unless your sense of humour stopped developing when you were 15. [Jan 2005, p.115]

An imbalanced but often enjoyable RPG rogue-lite. [Issue#200, p.82]

A couple of lines of dialogue can often be all you’re given before being plunged into whatever mundane task is expected of you; rare are the significant characters and even rarer are the ones you care about. It just doesn’t maintain the same depth of exploration or profundity that the series is known for, leading to a much quicker-paced Elder Scrolls experience.

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

The laboured cut-scenes could be replaced by a title card that simply says 'Whatever'. [July 2010, p.116]

A remake in all the wrong ways. [Issue#179, p.85]

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]

A good-looking game that offers inoffensive, simple gameplay that's likely to suit the tastes of most gamers. Due to knowing exactly what you're meant to be doing at all times, it loses the complete immersion that games like "Beyond Good & Evil" and a few others in the genre have managed to accomplish, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. [Feb 2005, p.110]

For those moments of genuine excitement and exhilaration, it’s a game that will put a smile on your face. [Dec 2007, p.132]

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]

It is possible to learn the delicate demands of each event of course, but that can often take close to an hour of practice for each one – hardly the mark of a casual-interest game. [July 2008, p.125]

EA has grasped a marginal victory from the jaws of defeat here, and it’s nearly all thanks to the brand-new Arcade mode; a setting that picks up the solo campaign’s corpse and resurrects it as an enjoyable on-rails shooter. [Apr 2008, p.124]

The final package then is mixed, but the bottom line has to be that Super Mario Maker is still an insanely fun game. It’s one of the best 2D Mario experiences out there and plays great on 3DS. It’s not as complete as we might have liked, but it’s certainly not bad.

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]

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

Killzone: Shadow Fall is so full of influences, struggling to balance so many different ideas across the eight or so hours of single-player that it fails to settle cohesively. Even worse, nothing here feels particularly new. Killzone: Shadow Fall is an immensely enjoyable shooter but one busy distracting itself from being anything more.

In the end, the fact that Battlefield: Hardline could easily have been Medal Of Honor: Hardline or Need For Speed: Hardline is entirely moot. Visceral has played an ace, and it’s a bona fide thriller.

When we say that Red Dead is a great little game, the emphasis is as much on the 'little' as it is on the 'great'. [June 2004, p.102]

Despite its rather generic opening (that lasts for a good few levels),Voodoo Vince hides a surprisingly good game beneath the standard head slamming and general collecting of random objects inherent in so many others platformers. [Dec 2003, p.125]

A pleasant surprise. It certainly does not offer the same experience that "SSX 3's" genre-leading gameplay does, but because Avalanche is just as good for different reasons, it doesn't necessarily have to. [Christmas 2003, p.94]

The Urbz feels like a step back for the franchise; despite EA's efforts to bring gamers a 'console exclusive' there's not a lot on offer here. Fans won't find anything new, but newcomers may well discover the pleasure of the series and seek out EA's back catalogue of simulated lifestyles. [Christmas 2004, p.114]

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]

Avalanche’s greatest achievement is that it has created an open, vehicle-based videogame that does not feel like GTA in any way, shape or form, be it thematically or mechanically. [Nov 2006, p.110]

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

Media Molecule's sense of pure creation sits perfectly with the karting genre and we'd even go as far to say that players will find it easier to be both player and creator here than they would in the previous games. Just don't expect to find Mario looking over his shoulder anytime soon.

Despite Airborne offering more genuine fun than any of its predecessors, there are only so many ways you can approach the same handful of battles. [Oct 2007, p.108]

Many will no doubt dismiss Catch!’s simplistic gameplay mechanics, but to do so would be to miss the point entirely. The DS’s raison d’etre is to give gamers exciting new ways to play games, and in this respect Catch! succeeds admirably. [Apr 2005, p.102]

A knowing tribute to the games of yesteryear and a worthy counterpart to both the film and comic. [Issue#101, p.112]

An engaging, if brief, narrative adventure. [July 2018, p.84]

There's little reason for the lonely man to pick this up. [Issue#121, p.117]

Project Spark could collapse without a more robust curation system to highlight the creations that need playing. [Issue#154, p.118]

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.

In a perfect world all budget games would be of kill.switch's quality - that's where it would soar, that's where it would be ideal. As it is, it's almost exactly six hours of gung-ho entertainment from the moment you switch on your machine. But that's still just six hours. [Feb 2004, p.104]

The biggest problem with Colosseum is that you'll find it not only filed under 'mixed bag' but practically stapled to the sign itself... It seems that one man's inter-console collectathon finale is another's last ditch attempt to save the over-flogged horses of connectivity and Pokemon. [May 2004, p.116]

Baboon! ticks a whole lot of our boxes. [Issue#159, p.111]

Unless you’re a big fan of the Homestar Runner series of web cartoons, you’re likely to spend much of your time with the game scratching your head. [Oct 2008, p.114]

Unfortunately, the measures included to make the four-way fighting work - the inclusion of a ‘turn around’ button, for example - mean that with anything less than three players, Isuka is all but redundant. [Aug 2005, p.104]

Between well-designed dungeons, thrilling boss battles and a compelling hook in Elena's deteriorating condition, Pandora's Tower is a unique treat for those still loyal to the Wii.

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]

Narrowly surpasses its predecessor. [Issue#148, p.126]

The graphics are surprisingly impressive, movement is smooth and, despite the occasional feeling of repetition, the action is constantly fast-paced and compelling. [June 2006, p.118]

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

While it's not likely to satisfy anyone looking for deep fighting action, existing fans will be pleased with what's on offer. [Issue#152, p.123]

Difficulty aside, another significant problem is that the game's camera is an inexplicable blockhead. [Issue#154, p.108]

Overshadowed by the games that inspired it. [Issue#160, p.99]

It provides a bit of fan fare and not much else. [Issue#162, p.103]

When you reach a dead end, it's usually just a case of retrieving a generic puzzle item from a conveniently inconvenient hiding place before continuing. Cue several minutes of primitive platforming and beating up the undead with a functional combat system before the next 'mash the Triangle button until you find something interactive' session begins. [Nov 2003, p.126]

An engaging and pacey swashbuckling romp through the highs of an accomplished franchise that will delight Pirates enthusiasts and Lego fans alike. [Issue#110, p.120]

Some will label it contrived, others experimental. We’d call it flawed but engaging and ultimately entertaining irrespective of that. [Mar 2007, p.104]

This is RPG lite, Animal Crossing plus questing, and for some people that's absolutely fine. [Issue#153, p.124]

For the price point at which Never Alone is currently offered, we can’t argue it’s amazing value for money. However, we do believe it’s a new experience in gaming, and a stellar proof of concept for what the developer/publisher combo wants to do. If you’re after a biographical and socially relevant gaming experience, invest in Never Alone and you won’t regret it.

Once the realisation hits that the game not only requires the bear minimum to progress, but subconsciously encourages it, it begins to take much of the fun away.

This is all about the actual experience and arcade thrill and there’s nothing more exhilarating than flying through a screen of explosions while desperately dodging enemy missiles. [May 2007, p.113]

While I-Ninja has borrowed ideas from practically every classic platformer, it's been done with such wide-eyed innocence that you can't help smiling. [Mar 2004, p.119]

Well crafted, but lacking depth. [Issue#199, p.82]

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]

A little perseverance will reap great satisfaction from this polished RTS, and considering there's around 25 hours of gameplay per faction on the campaign missions alone, this is a title that deserves recognition. [Christmas 2006, p.111]

Upgrades and changes make it a worthy upgrade over last year's, but while it might be an easy race for Milestone to win it still needs to put a little extra work in the garage to turn the series into a must-buy. [Issue#150, p.126]

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

There’s plenty of content to be found in Tri Force Heroes, with a healthy set of stages that – despite its clear multiplayer leanings – are still fun to play through on your own. It’s blatantly never going to rival the Ocarinas or Wind Wakers of the world, but as a game for Zelda fans to get stuck into while they wait for the next main event, it’s an excellent stop-gap.

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]

Rumours of am MMO Animal Crossing and even a dedicated Wii Channel had got us very excited about the sequel, but the reality comes as a crushing disappointment. [Jan 2009, p.100]

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]

There’s a fun story to be experienced here, but it’s constantly halted by the lack of progression. Any notion of pace, suspension of disbelief or immersion is constantly shattered by obtuse puzzling, aimless wandering and wooden, static performances. [Nov 2006, p.104]

The good does outweigh the bad, because as a horror game it successfully horrifies. It’s also one of the darkest games we’ve played since the original "Silent Hill." [Apr 2007, p.106]

Nothing if not affable. This is highly polished, confident and competent stuff. It may not be as expansive as recent iterations, but Traveller’s Tales does not make bad videogames, and this is absolutely no exception.

Virtua Tennis's motion control satisfies with a trademark pick-up-and-play experience that nevertheless mirrors the sport to an authentic degree. [Sept 2009, p.127]

There is a greater sense of physicality present. [Issue#148, p.106]

Another predictably mediocre basketball game. [Feb 2008, p.130]

Winter isn't quite here yet. [Issue#164, p.100]

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

The concept is better than the execution, but that doesn’t stop this being a good game that provides more than enough choice to justify its price tag. [Dec 2007, p.108]

It is strong when it comes to emulating cricket, and gameplay mechanics are better than anything we've seen from cricket games over the last few years. However, the so-called "budget" feel that permeates the title detracts from an otherwise decent effort. [Issue#148, p.125]

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]

You'll have fun, but the flaws are too great to ignore. [Issue#168, p.91]

Always Sometimes Monsters again shows up that ‘game’ is a word whose time is done. There is nothing playful about this experience – it’s a mixture of repetitive tasks that riddle your fingers with despair and increasingly-depressing plots. This then is a ‘life failure’ simulator, like Cliff Harris’s sandbox Kudos 2. Like that, it’s compelling, enlightening and moving – but hard to call ‘fun’.

Beautiful, joke-filled, but ultimately a little empty. [Issue#191, p.82]

On the whole, Worms Revolution proves that there's life in the old worm yet, its enhancements giving the franchise a fresh set of… uh… legs? The revolution will not be televised, unless you've got Worms.

A challenging and fresh take on Sci-Fi. [Issue#188, p.84]

The opportunity to play it all over again, along with the unconventional Metal Slug 6 (in its home debut), makes this collection a joy to play through and exceptional value for money. If only its controls were perfect. [Feb 2007, p.120]

To call Samurai Warriors one of the brownest games ever would be no word of a lie - the lack of colour is arguably the game's weakest area and this, coupled with the repetitive nature of this style of game, can make it feel that much more tedious at times. [July 2004, p.109]