Classic Worms gameplay is still an option in Worms: Battle Islands, but there's nothing else to justify buying it if you've already done so 19 times before. [Issue#105, p.118]

What’s most aggravating about Remember Me is that there’s a weapons-grade masterpiece buried somewhere inside it, and for all of its many flaws, it’s still difficult not to root for it.

The detailed town is fun to explore, the dialogue is witty and consistently funny, and the Yo-Kai designs are wonderful (not to mention brilliantly animated). There are just too many occasions where you’ll feel like a spectator and, yes, wish you were playing Pokémon instead.

The key word here is definitely 'more'; more weapons, more gadgets, more planets and plenty more instances where the platform-based exploration takes a back seat in favour of what can only be described as mini-games that try desperately to integrate themselves into the rest of the game. [Dec 2003, p.117]

A distinctly Japanese curio that will find a moderate audience, but certainly not the console-defining experience the PS Vita is still desperately searching for. [Issue#136, p.104]

It could be worse. Hugh Jackman could be in it. [Christmas 2011, p.120]

While it might be bought for the kids, it'll be enjoyed by everyone. [Christmas 2011, p.122]

Some neat additions, but they're spread far too thin. [Issue#177, p.74]

It's a party game, so save it for a party. [Christmas 2011, p.123]

Spider-Man 2 emerges as not only a movie licence that eschews the ‘fast-buck’ approach, but as an enjoyable game in its own right – which is chiefly a testament to just how compelling it is to have superpowers and a vast city in which to show them off. [Sept 2004, p.118]

It seems like it was made for an audience of gamers over a decade ago, brimming with try-hard references and cringe-worthy jokes. Penetrate the skin, and you’ve got a serviceable game at the core. But a ten-hour journey to the centre of what makes Sunset Overdrive good feels more like a voyage to the centre of the earth.

Pretty much no frills, but good fun with friends. [Issue#190, p.81]

Everything is so vibrant and colourful that no matter how frustrating or repetitive it all becomes, you simply won't be able to put that pad down. [Christmas 2003, p.117]

Halo 5: Guardians exists only because it had to. It isn’t a bad game, it’s just a catastrophically uninteresting one.

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.

It is hilariously awkward to control. [Issue#136, p.111]

It's certainly not a good Suikoden game, but it's definitely a capable JRPG in its own right. [June 2009, p.130]

Good, but may leave you thirsty for more. [Issue#190, p.82]

Strong premise, mediocre execution. [Issue#177, p.82]

Second Sight’s fair share of nice touches (such as weapons handling and level design) demonstrate terrific attention to detail. It’s a shame, then, that these minor good points seem to be offset by the game’s failings in several more important areas. [Oct 2004, p.110]

Great fun with friends. [Issue#105, p.80]

Moments of beauty upended by uneven pacing. [Issue#189, p.72]

It's certainly fun while it lasts. [Issue#136, p.113]

While the Walking Dead demonstrated the potency of interactive fiction, there are times here where Telltale struggles to dispel a disquieting notion: that The Wolf Among Us doesn’t necessarily benefit from the player’s involvement.

EA has turned it into a story about gain. Whereas the motive of violence was once to illustrate Michael's downward spiral, here it is merely a tool with which to boost your bank balance. [May 2006, p.118]

Despite the bright colours, cute simians, jolly music and overarching joyous abandon, Super Monkey Ball Adventure is a tremendously difficult videogame. And phenomenally frustrating to boot. [Aug 2006, p.130]

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]

Between the variety, the playability and the great feeling of accomplishment that comes from completing one of the many tasks, FMX is really quite good fun. Overly ambitious but fun nonetheless. [Oct 2003, p.115]

There's next to nothing for solo brawlers to do. [Issue#120, p.108]

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]

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]

Solid beginner game, but perhaps too casual. [Issue#105, p.85]

While the charming characters, stellar voice acting and cutscenes are all great, it's just not enough. [Issue#189, p.78]

Second Sight's fair share of nice touches (such as weapons handling and level design) demonstrate terrific attention to detail. It's a shame, then, that these minor good points seem to be offset by the game's failings in several more important areas. [Oct 2004, p.110]

Anyone willing to overlook the boring cut-scenes, dated graphics, and god-awful main character will find dozens of hours of fairly generic JRPG value in Tales Of Symphonia: Dawn Of The New World. [Jan 2009, p.112]

Its puzzles are unlikely to engage your intelligence or imagination at a particularly deep level, but that might not matter, as Escape Plan's personality might just win you over anyway. [Issue#120, p.114]

With a little more substance it could have achieved something greater, but as it stands we’ll be looking to Far Cry 2’s release later in the year to satiate out non-linear jungle needs. [Nov 2008, p.108]

Despite its good ideas, Nuclear Dawn's rough edges, particularly on the FPS side, mean curious players will check it out, but they might not stay for long. [Nov 2011, p.104]

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]

Battlefront II is fan service and little else; much respect to the craft, the attention to detail and the wealth of content, but sadly it just isn't enough. It's starting to feel as if Star Wars simply isn't a franchise suitable for this type of sprawling, large-scale multiplayer experience. It doesn't have it in its bones, and if DICE can't find a way to make it work, we're fearful nobody can. [Issue#195, p.72]

It’s easy to see a new franchise in Ryse; one that could potentially rival God Of War if it maintains the momentum of the latter half of the campaign. However, the gameplay is so rote and uninspired that it merely hints at a more robust and rewarding experience that it fails to deliver. Ultimately, it makes for a few hours of passing entertainment, but it’s certainly not one for the history books.

While it may only just escape mediocrity, Deadly Creatures is entertaining enough to keep you playing until the end. [Mar 2009, p.122]

Even with its overly ambitious new 'Off The Ball' interface the FIFA series is still a long way from capturing the true essence of the beautiful game. [Dec 2003, p.127]

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

While the game mechanics are solid enough, the Street methods and ideals simply don't work when transferred basketball to American football. Gamebreakers are now far too effective, basically giving guaranteed points rather than the more balanced advantage of "NBA Street." [Feb 2004, p.117]

There's something wrong with a genre where self-parody is interchangeable with inspiration. [Issue#96, p.120]

While the sequel doesn’t exactly surpass the original, it’s at least a fair crack at the boxing genre…Shame it’s still not as good as EA’s "Fight Night." [Nov 2004, p.119]

A fun game marred by bizarre design choices. [Issue#168, p.93]

This isn’t the best Mega Man game ever made, but those with the patience to tolerate the game’s flawed attempt to add depth to the series will find an enjoyable shooter underneath. [Aug 2007, p.122]

It’s a game that will fit in at any party or family home, but it’s a shame that because of the simple fact it isn’t packed in with the console it won’t necessarily find its audience. For those that pick it up, that first time through, with new people – it’s genuinely magic. After that, there’s little left.

Above all, Remix suffers from many of the same issues that ail all but the PS2 versions of the Tony Hawk’s games - there just aren’t enough buttons. [July 2005, p.110]

The main problem with Karaoke Revolution is one of range, and the list of over 30 songs throws in only a few old favourites among a lot of curveballs. Nevertheless, the technology that drives this is absolutely spot-on and, save for a few niggles, this is a unique gaming experience that shows promise for the future. [Jan 2004, p.121]

It’s a shame that the driving, flying and underwater sections quickly become so dull. There’s a fun game hidden in here – if you don’t mind trudging through a vehicular challenge every now and then.

Beneath lies a pretty average shooter - one that with a little more thought and ambition could have easily been something more memorable. [Nov 2011, p.111]

Four-player superhero co-op is as fun as it sounds, but ultimately Alliance is a fanboy’s game and little else. [Apr 2007, p.131]

There's a lot to like in BioWare's latest, but the sad truth is that even before the halfway point you'll have seen pretty much everything the game has to offer, several times over in many cases. [Issue#107, p.86]

Despite a veritable host of respectable changes and additions, this still can't live up to the standards of the original game. An improvement over the last console effort, but with so much more potential than is actually realised, Bustin' Out still disappoints a little. [Christmas 2003, p.126]

Too much show and tell, not enough to do. [Issue#168, p.100]

If you long to command your own ship (and its admittedly well characterized crew) then there's fun to be had here. Just don't expect an easy, or thrilling, ride. [Apr 2010, p.108]

It not only becomes increasingly repetitive as it nears the climax but also puts a significant strain on players' patience as Nihilistic injects enemies with a higher HP and more powerful weapons, rather than finding a more engaging way to challenge players. It's a jarring difficulty spike that almost undermines everything the game has so far accomplished as it impressively leaps from one set-piece to the next.

Most will likely find it a fairly inoffensive time-consumer. But it is a new low for the series. [Issue#139, p.90]

Fun and frantic, but soon grows tiresome. [Issue#181, p.78]

Interesting political jaunt, but can feel repetitive. [Issue#170, p.96]

The series still doesn’t quite work in 3D; you’d need a lot of patience and considerable tolerance to truly enjoy this game. [Aug 2005, p.112]

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]

A fine option for those on PS4 craving more strategy. [Issue#167, p.93]

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]

Perhaps the most telling criticism of all is that Apocalypse manages to render the sight of an entire city's ongoing death as interminably dull. [Issue#107, p.95]

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]

Wasted potential. [Issue#139, p.98]

A solid - albeit flawed - RTS. [Issue#167, p.96]

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]

The shameless cash-grab approach does a huge disservice to what is a surprisingly accomplished card-based strategy title. [Issue#118, p.107]

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

Lack[s] that killer hook of the season's intro. [Issue#161, p.88]

Superb when everything comes together, hugely frustrating when it doesn't. [Issue#107, p.96]

Well below the standards we've come to expect from Nintendo's inventive, silly franchise. [Issue#137, p.123]

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

King Kong is perhaps a redefinition of the cinematic videogame – entirely based on peaks and troughs of excitement, and devoid of any sense of choice. Just like a movie, but interactive. [Christmas 2005, p.98]

As good as The Belkan War is, it’s nothing but more of the same. [Oct 2006, p.125]

There's no question that Death Tank has the potential to be a lot of fun. It's just a pity Worms has already done it better and for a third of the cost. [May 2009, p.131]

It feels particularly cumbersome in the wake of Need For Speed Hot Pursuit's simple yet ingenious social features. [Issue#107, p.100]

Feels like a game that mistakes activity for fun. [Issue#95, p.112]

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

Anarchy Reigns is far from perfect, but despite being less visually striking than the developer's past titles, it nevertheless embodies much of that Platinum Games spirit, blending energy, humour, transforming robots and hammer-wielding cyborg bulls. There's real character here, and at the back end of this generation, there are too few games that can truly lay claim to such praise.

This is EA’s take on NHL action as it’s always been, rejigged with improved animations and new moves so it’s inevitably the best version yet. [Nov 2004, p.119]

It’s good facile fun, but we feel, with a little more depth and tweaking of movesets, something greater could have been achieved. [Christmas 2008, p.122]

A smaller game than FIFA 10. [Issue#96, p.111]

Battles soon take their toll on your controllers due to their frenetic nature and generally lack the strategy or refinement of many other mechanical adventures. [July 2004, p.110]

Best consumed with an uninterrupted hour of your time and a pair of headphones. [Issue#161, p.102]

King Kong is perhaps a redefinition of the cinematic videogame – entirely based on peaks and troughs of excitement, and devoid of any sense of choice. Just like a movie, but interactive. [Christmas 2005, p.98]

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 isn't nearly as awful - no, indeed, as hopelessly generic - as it might first appear. [Issue#111, p.100]

The story and characters are excellent and the game is enjoyable, but the open world detracts from the experience rather than adding to it. [Issue#257, p.62]

Unfortunately, the extras and vehicle customisation can’t change the fact that the actual racing feels very average. The tracks seem to be more winding than the last game, which detracts from the feeling of speed, and the handling feels very sloppy when compared to other recent games in the genre. [Christmas 2004, p.117]

It's extremely rare that a game would be better with less gameplay. [Issue#118, p.113]

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

The core game is as playable and entertaining as any platform game to have been released since the original Ape Escape, and despite control issues there’s still a whole lot of monkey’s to be caught and a whole lot of fun to be had doing it. [June 2005, p.102]