Overall, Battle Of The Bands proves a novel, if slightly cumbersome, addition to the rhythm-action genre. [June 2008, p.118]

The average gamer will find that they’re left with a game that fails to meet the standards set by Diamond and Pearl, and sticks far too rigidly to the ideas found in the original Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. [Sept 2008, p.123]

The average gamer will find that they’re left with a game that fails to meet the standards set by Diamond and Pearl, and sticks far too rigidly to the ideas found in the original Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. [Sept 2008, p.123]

While games like Jack Keane keep surfacing, the point-and-click genre will continue to defy those that have long since written it off. [Apr 2008, p.123]

Despite all of its faults, its lack of content and distressingly limited modding options, Gran Turismo Prologue 5 still feels a cut above the pack. [June 2008, p.112]

Settle into the initially jarring pace of the game and it eventually becomes the sort of RPG that you simply play for the sake of playing, immersing yourself in the world and discovering its many surprises as you go. [Sept 2008, p.108]

Let's hope Namco has a patch in the pipeline. [June 2008, p.124]

A rare game in which you really need to take an interest in all of its components in order to progress with any of them. [May 2009, p.119]

There’s plenty of fun to be had here, but we’re pretty sure you’ll forget all about it once Epic’s hugely anticipated sequel arrives later this year. [Apr 2008, p.120]

Obscure II doesn’t need reminding of its faults, because it wears them on its sleeve; it’s a guilty pleasure that, despite being technically unimpressive, still provides dollops of cheap entertainment. [Oct 2007, p.119]

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

You can comfortably sit back and settle into the sofa during your time with Opoona. [Aug 2008, p.102]

The immaculate structure and pacing of the game further exemplifies the developer’s intelligence, distilling the essence of the console experience perfectly. [July 2008, p.118]

Despite its flaws, it is one of the best-made experiences on PSP. [Aug 2008, p.104]

No concessions are made for anyone other than diehard real-time strategy fans and it does seem a little unfair that the difficulty is so high. [June 2008, p.117]

A distinctly average Worms game that will likely only be tolerated by exactly the opposite audience it hopes to enthral. [Apr 2008, p.114]

A dull, short-lived grind. [May 2008, p.123]

You can’t help feeling a proper Rainbow Six sequel, set somewhere else and given proper time to stew, would have been a far tastier prospect. [Apr 2008, p.106]

With this same level of investigating, the original would have birthed a classic horror videogame not a cult title. [Apr 2008, p.102]

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]

Dead good, but no "Ghost Squad." [May 2008, p.110]

It’s not the best Nintendo game of all time, but thanks to the sheer amount of polished content packed within the disc, it is definitely the ultimate one. [May 2008, p.98]

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]

Chains Of Olympus carries all the hallmarks that make God Of War so great, but it still feels somewhat diluted. [May 2008, p.104]

There are a couple of interface problems that mar this otherwise solid and entertaining DS title. [Aug 2007, p.117]

In main character Jimmy Hopkins’ quest to turn one of the worst schools in the US around, you’ll find Bully has a lot of heart. [Apr 2008, p.116]

Great stuff. Now how about a proper sequel? [Apr 2008, p.125]

As a catalogue of all the errors you can ever expect to see in a clunky first-person shooter Fall Of Liberty excels. [May 2008, p.120]

Patapon really feels like a new experience. The seductive façade is a clever mask for an enormously challenging game that requires a substantial amount of grinding and micromanagement to master. [Mar 2008, p.116]

The Wii Remote – while no substitute for the original Dreamcast controller – is extremely responsive, and it’s still immensely satisfying to land one of the bigger fish. [June 2008, p.120]

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]

The depth of play and excellent level design make up for any problems that you may have with the visual style. [Apr 2008, p.117]

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]

Had Capcom pout a little more effort into overhauling the gameplay and graphics, while also preserving the magic of the original cast, Apollo Justice would have been more than just another sequel. [May 2008, p.116]

A game that almost anyone with a love of music will enjoy. [Apr 2008, p.122]

Everything you need from a WipEout title is there in abundance. [Dec 2007, p.106]

It may not be the most perfect RPG you’ll ever play, but some will doubtless find Lost Odyssey among the most emotionally affecting videogame experiences of their lives. [Apr 2008, p.112]

Taken as a purely forward-looking puzzle game (with a well-told story, to boot), Layton provides DS entertainment in a unique fashion. [JPN Import; May 2007, p.112]

Clichéd, generic, bland, boring and infuriating. [Mar 2008, p.120]

Taking the Devil May Cry formula and enhancing it with accessibility is a masterstroke from Capcom. Hopefully this slight tweak in the formula will lure many new fans to the series and more will sample one of the finest brawling series’ available. [Mar 2008, p.110]

Solar Empire doesn’t force players to choose between giant locales, depth of gameplay, and explosive real-time space battles, it simultaneously provides them all. [May 2008, p.106]

Due simply to its own mediocrity, this is another Bomberman that fails to make a bang. [June 2007, p.114]

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

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]

A core mechanic that can be understood within minutes but refined and appreciated for hours. [Mar 2008, p.134]

The question of how much an open city suits Burnout is soon replaced by how well Criterion makes the game work within one. And, thanks to a number of odd decisions on how players progress, the answer is: sloppily. [Feb 2008, p.114]

We’re tempted to say that there are few Wii games as deserving of your attention as No More Heroes but then there are few games as good as this on any platform. [Mar 2008, p.124]

The greys and browns might be offputting to those born and bred on Nintendo red, but don't be fooled. Advance Wars hasn't lost its true colours. Superb. [Mar 2008, p.122]

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]

The downside of Boogie Bunnies comes only from the vast number of titles it’s up against. [Apr 2008, p.117]

If this review was written in 1995 then we’d probably have filled six pages with screenshots to point out every touch of genius that makes this one of the best shooters we’ve ever played. We don’t have that luxury, but the sentiment remains the same. [Mar 2008, p.134]

Repetitive tasks have a history as a means of punishment that goes back to ancient myth. Kingdom Under Fire: Circle Of Doom seems keen to emulate this for reasons known only to its sadistic creators. [Mar 2008, p.128]

Think long and hard about whether four hours of hilarious gaming is as valuable as 15 hours of the humourless equivalent. Games TM’s verdict lies in Birdman’s favour, though it’s far from a unanimous decision. [Mar 2008, p.132]

Yes, it’s bright and character-filled, but with such bewildering mechanics and erratic difficulty, there won’t be many youngsters that will tolerate it for any great length of time. [Mar 2008, p.135]

A very accessible game for all to play, and a pretty decent way to spend a few pounds and a couple of hours of your time. [Nov 2007, p.109]

The Sixaxis presents both a problem and joy for Toy Home. On one hand it’s a hindrance as you’ll never go in a straight line. On the other, successfully boosting and drifting around corners is great fun. [Feb 2008, p.135]

Moments that recall the sparkling brilliance of NiGHTS Into Dreams are, of course, scattered throughout this Wii sequel but they are buried beneath so much filler. [Feb 2008, p.126]

As a starting point for those who want eccentric characters to get stuck into without being overwhelmed by the gameplay, this is as good as the genre offers. [Dec 2006, p.126]

Let’s just hope that if the team release a second shoot-‘em-up they look for inspiration from current Japanese shooters and not an ageing Amiga blaster that wasn’t particularly impressive in the first place. [Feb 2008, p.128]

For its price and satisfying-yet-asinine fun, it’s difficult not to recommend unless you’re the kind of person who takes everything seriously. [Feb 2008, p.135]

Despite sharing a name, Galaxies is a very different experience from Retro Evolved and in its own more considered way, it is every bit as appealing. [Jan 2008, p.118]

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]

The time we spent with Mass Effect ranks as one of the most rewarding experiences we have had this year, and with the medium in such rude health that is quite a compliment. [Chrismas 2007, p.102]

Hopefully the innovation and effort that have been put into every area of this title will shine through, and the fact that the setup is worth every penny will become apparent to all. [Feb 2008, p.120]

With so many ways to customise your experience, and the addictive allure of the online high-score tables, Ghost Squad is a game you’ll return to long after more epic adventures have been and gone. [Feb 2008, p.124]

The game is still fun to play, and never becomes frustrating or dislikeable, but it never quite achieves the potential it so obviously holds. [Apr 2008, p.118]

You will finish the game having experienced sporadic moments of fun, but your money would be far better spent elsewhere. [June 2008, p.114]

More of the same with some nice extra touches that don’t quite fulfil their potential. [Feb 2008, p.118]

Epic’s latest beauty was designed for the online world and that’s where it belongs, so make sure you take it there – the likelihood is that you won’t regret it. [Jan 2008, p.120]

The franchise’s virgin release on the DS does little to mend the flawed reputation of its forebears, but nor does it represent a step back. [Jan 2008, p.133]

Genuinely good fun for all – A pleasant surprise. [Feb 2008, p.132]

Both the combat and exploration are hugely satisfying, but that warm sense of nostalgia eventually gives way to the feeling that there really should be something more. [Jan 2008, p.110]

Electronic Arts has found a great balance between speed and technical understanding. The game’s tuning system is exhaustive, and given that the only way to acquire new cars is to win them, understanding the modifications and their effects offers greater rewards that ever before. [Chrismas 2007, p.118]

An exceptional game that will remain a pleasure even when the graphics begin to spoil. [Chrismas 2007, p.112]

It may be a technical marvel, a beautiful game of staggering scope and scale, but its gameplay is narrow, linear and never changes. [Chrismas 2007, p.122]

Consistently entertaining until its final third. [Chrismas 2007, p.110]

When played with real humans, and mainly in singles matches, Smackdown! Vs RAW 2008 is the closest a Western wrestling game has come to greatness since the Asmik AKI efforts on Nintendo 64. [Dec 2007, p.112]

One of the most complete lightgun experiences you’ll see on a home console, with a wealth of extras and a lot of replay value. Slightly better controls would have made this a near classic. [Jan 2008, p.126]

Fun but equally frustrating. [Jan 2008, p.132]

WayForward Technologies has successfully managed to create that old-school arcade experience in the palm of your hand. And if that doesn’t impress you, you may as well stick to "Brain Training." [Jan 2008, p.117]

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]

Nintendo has crafted a platform game that, while not as technologically pioneering as its grandfather, is, level for level, more fun to play than "Mario 64." [Dec 2007, p.128]

By not setting impossible standards, and despite its derivations from countless other better shooters. BlackSite has achieved that most important of objectives: it is entertaining from beginning to end. [Jan 2008, p.129]

Despite Telltale’s reluctance to evolve Sam & Max further, this opening to Season 2 is still one of the best point-and-click games of the year and remains the benchmark by which all other episodic adventures will be judged. [Chrismas 2007, p.133]

Despite the tremendous atmosphere and occasional chilling enemy, Origins never upsets and disturbs like Silent Hill 2. Its most obvious scares are left to cut-scenes. [Chrismas 2007, p.132]

Mario & Sonic brings with it the return of the dreaded ‘Nintendonitis’. Play for more than an hour, aiming to break the world record on each event and it’s likely that your arms won’t forgive you for the rest of the day. [Chrismas 2007, p.128]

Though the pace of the game is appreciated, it would have been nice to see more than a simple sequence of questions with little in between. [Chrismas 2007, p.133]

With Extraction Point, TimeGate has lost sight of what its predecessor did so well, creating something truly average. Which is why it’s so surprising that Perseus Mandate is so great. [Jan 2008, p.124]

Ultimately, Intelligent Systems is giving Fire Emblem fans precisely what they want: more (much more) of the same. [JPN Import; May 2007, p.106]

At its finest, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the pinnacle of the war genre, mixing cinematic flair with rock-solid gameplay, but when it reverts to type and simply throws waves of enemies in your direction, its symptomatic of a series that is bordering on stagnation. [Chrismas 2007, p.106]

This is exactly the sort of thing Diablo fans have been waiting for and although there’s little chance that it will change your life, there’s every possibility that it will consume it. [Chrismas 2007, p.126]

There are very real concerns over the game’s staying power, but with six separate difficulty levels as well as a co-op mode both online and offline, how much of a problem this is will depend on the individual. [Jan 2008, p.130]

It’s an original and fun game that will influence the scene, it just lacks the expected Garriott magic. [Chrismas 2007, p.130]

It’s important that The Witcher doesn’t take itself too seriously, because that’s what helps it stand apart from the rest of the pack. [Chrismas 2007, p.134]

Only the mere prospect of reversing a grenade, or shooting a missile in slo-mo will save the gamer from feeling completely brain-dead at the end of the game. [Dec 2007, p.102]

The non-existent friendly AI combined with the relentless assault of dull attackers makes The Simpsons an almost depressing experience. It doesn’t feel quite right to be laughing when you’re not enjoying yourself. [Chrismas 2007, p.120]

Rather than providing the knockout punch they are intended to give, the comic extremity of the executions tends to diffuse the tension the game so effectively manages to build. [Aug 2007, p.106]

Few games offer such an entertaining mix of action and strategy, and we’d recommend Battalion Wars 2 to all Nintendo Wii owners looking for a quick fix between the really big first-party releases. [Jan 2008, p.116]