Given the sports simulations that have decorated 360 so far, there’s an inescapable sense of yearning for what could have been. An evolution is no longer enough. [Dec 2006, p.110]

It’s still great, but next year we do hope EA concentrates on what’s in the game less, and more about what’s fun to play.

Like titles such as Yakuza and Forbidden Siren 2, it’s a late-era PlayStation 2 game that will likely be ignored by the masses and cherished by a bedazzled minority. [Sept 2007, p.116]

It's a very clever concept that makes for a poker-style of RTS, a real thinking man's strategy title, where getting inside the head of your opponent and planning several steps ahead of his game is much more important than straightforward land-grabbing and tank-busting. [Issue#100, p.130]

If there ever was a perfect MOBA ambassador for consoles then it was always going to be Smite. [Issue#166, p.88]

Ultimately, however essential we say this update is, it’s only relevant if you’re a Destiny sceptic and haven’t already upgraded. If this is you, pick it up – the price is steep but there’s a huge amount of content here, plus you won’t fall too far behind. If you’re a new player, thanks to this update this is now one of the best ‘shared-world’ experiences out there – one that you’ll find hard to put down due to its stellar FPS mechanics, enormous scope and undeniable progression.

It's a superb co-op action game in its own right. [Issue#187, p.76]

Successful because it dares to be different, and actually thinks about how to make narrative, gameplay and setting play off each other. Which, for a game that no one expected much from when it was taken out back and shot, is quite something.

It’s a nice mix of team building, draft tactics and instant gratification that shows off some of the best side of this area of the game.

Those who’ve played the first three might feel short-changed, especially with the omission of the two-player mode and online leaderboards from New Blood, but players pulling on those surgical gloves for the first time will be doing so with the best game in the series to date. [Oct 2008, p.112]

The handful of boss fights in Dead Space 3 are particularly forgettable, while the narrative occasionally lacks the courage of its convictions and the end-game reveal is a little too ludicrous to take seriously. However, where the new concepts work, they add to the solid core and are enhanced by Visceral’s excellent pacing and its impeccable audio and visual design work, not to mention what remains the best HUD design in all of video games.

Fatshark is more than filling the L4D void.

Take away the costumes and the lasers and you've still got an excellent example of how to produce multiplayer bedlam. [Dec 2005, p.110]

Animation still feels stiff and robotic and zoning might well be too strong as it is now but in most other respects, Injustice 2 is a clear success...Another cracking fighter from a studio still on the up. [Issue#188, p.72]

It's a Call Of Duty that feels incredibly focused despite a period in its development of massive uncertainty. Its campaign still toes the line between being smart and being stupid, but for Saturday night, popcorn entertainment, Modern Warfare 3 has the competition beat.

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 might not be Witcher III level of excellence, but for a first attempt from Guerrilla, it’s impressively close.

The games that play out as intended - courtesy of the twists that Relic has brought into the franchise this time around - well, those will stay in your mind as some of the most intense RTS games you'll ever have. [Issue#188, p.74]

This is a true multiplayer experience, which despite its accessibility, demands commitment and communication to enjoy to its fullest. It's also a game, though, that deserves to be loved.

A perfectly executed heist offers an incredible sense of achievement. [Issue#166, p.95]

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

An unexpected and unforgettable co-op gem. [Issue#199, p.77]

Another unpleasant but entertaining experience. [Issue#187, p.80]

For newcomers, it's a good starting point, but for everyone else, the series probably needs a rest or at least a graphical overhaul, because despite being a good-looking 3DS game with excellent direction during combat, we have an alternative handheld console in the Switch now, which can do far better visuals. Over to you, Nintendo. [Issue#188, p.76]

It may well be beautiful to look at, but the fighting engine, although improved, is so similar to that of Fight Night Round 2 that series veterans may feel somewhat aggrieved when faced with essentially the same videogame. [Apr 2006, p.112]

Shovel Knight is all about learning patterns. [Sept 2014, p.106]

The few features Neversoft has introduced are less than dazzling. They are what they are – nice additions. [Chrismas 2007, p.108]

An enchanting RPG...A claimant to the JRPG throne. [Issue#199, p.78]

Its simplicity is also its greatest strength. The combat is fluid and utterly engaging from the very first moment, leaving Remedy free to build atmosphere, drama and tension through the stunning game-world and its oddball inhabitants. Granted, by the end we were wishing for another dimension to the gameplay, but only in the interest of elevating the experience from very good to legitimate greatness.

This is by far the finest Hitman yet. The level design is superb, the enemy AI is decent, and the story is suitably entertaining, which all captures the feeling of being a cold-blooded killer wonderfully. [July 2006, p.120]

Fable is an intensely personal experience and one that's difficult to describe to someone else – you really have to allow yourself to become immersed within the boundaries of this twee little world to fully appreciate its magic and discover what it means to you. And, indeed, what it says about you… [Nov 2004, p.96]

It’s the new Raid that comes out on top, however, and it’s arguably the best one yet. Areas are large and ripe for exploration, jump puzzles are kept mercifully brief, every boss fight feels original and exciting, and there’s a laser focus on skill and coordination during encounters – plus the rewards it offers are largely excellent.

A socially driven experience that focuses on random party play at the expense of precision. It's not perfect, but it's still the best of its kind in a sub-genre that has yet to be mastered. [Christmas 2009, p.106]

It’s the game that makes the entire franchise as relevant as it was in Nineties and early Noughties and it has fulfilled the destiny Square Enix wanted for it in that it has created a new platform from which even better things can be expected from it in the future. Without question, Final Fantasy is once again a giant within the RPG world.

An unforgettable journey. [Issue#187, p.81]

It’s a small package but there’s a wealth of value to be found in the creative gameplay that’ll spur you through many hours of gaming.

If you've been flirting with the idea of buying an action-RPG but fear the time commitment, The Lightning Kingdom might just be the compromise you're looking for. [Issue#187, p.82]

It takes a lot for a falling block puzzle game to impress today, but Puyo Puyo Tetris succeeds thanks to its comprehensive set of opinions and satisfying skill-based game design. [Issue#188, p.81]

Beautiful, fun and Kirby's best game. [Issue#176, p.78]

An unhappy marriage of horror and narrative exploration, but - by the end of the satisfying story - you'll be glad you stuck it out. [Issue#166, p.97]

Such free-thinking touches recall a more experimental age when you could rightfully expect every other DS game to be crammed with esoteric concepts. [Apr 2010, p.118]

Not only the best NFL game yet on a next-generation platform, but also one that could even rival the best in the series. [Oct 2007, p.122]

It’s debatable whether or not this is worth buying if you own last year’s game…it comes down to how rich you are and how much you like golf. [Nov 2004, p.118]

An exceptional strategy game, but needs more variety. [Issue#199, p.80]

It’s polished to the nth degree, the set pieces come together nicely, and the mix of freeform and linear play works well, but there’s nothing here to distinguish it from the original. [Nov 2008, p.100]

A brave, different twist on the survival genre. [Issue#176, p.80]

Every moment spent with Echochrome is a refined and edifying one. [May 2008, p.109]

A game that's still unique, impactful and wholly entertaining despite containing every FPS cliche conceived since Halo and Half-Life. [Issue#108, p.98]

An imaginative and engrossing game. If the least of its worries is that it allows too much player choice, then that’s really no worry at all. [Mar 2009, p.123]

5th Cell has managed something very difficult: creating a game that's at once simple and also incredibly complex, and doing so with such composure and charm that you'd be doing yourself a great disservice not to give it a go. [Nov 2009, p.104]

This generous package will sustain and deepen the competitive side, but Legacy Of The Void also does enough not to scare away the casuals once the closing credits role and multiplayer beckons.

Sniper Elite makes headshots a grizzly reward that becomes addictive and, because the battle is always weighted against you, filled with air-punching satisfaction every time you make a connection. Bravo. [Nov 2005, p.96]

So while Age Of Wonders III doesn’t really offer much that you can’t get elsewhere from the 4X genre, it feels fresh and distinctive enough – it has been over a decade since the last Age Of Wonders, after all – that strategy fans will have something to get their teeth into all the same. Hopefully next time won’t be quite so far away, and a little more consideration for the city management screen wouldn’t go amiss.

To be honest, we spent the majority of our time just cruising around the county, drooling over the views and picking off random racers that happened across our patrols.

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]

Blizzard deals best in the subtle, and there's never any doubt where the focus of Diablo III lies. Even after the final battle is completed and the credits roll, your warrior is still there, ready for the next difficulty level. As such, the balance between the classes, the skills, and the loot get the bulk of Blizzard's attention, which is for the best.

The best game of its kind currently available. [Aug 2004, p.110]

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.

It ramps up brilliantly and is nicely paced too...It might not have the intense insanity of a "Keep Talking," but it's up there with some of the best implementation of PSVR we've seen to date. [Issue#188, p.82]

We wish that Santa Monica had focused more on the epic scale that the opening of the game promises with such conviction, rather than relying on those elements of design we've already played through twice on the PlayStation 2. [Apr 2010, p.102]

Both wit and genre-expectation emerge almost unscathed. [Issue#99, p.112]

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.

A great game, despite the gimmicks and déjà vu... Those familiar with earlier GBA incarnations may be appalled at Konami’s flagrant re-use of almost every sprite from the last game here, with almost no changes at all. [Nov 2005, p.94]

As the greatest and most enjoyable recreation of the sport since the 16-bit era, NHL 06 deserves to sit alongside the likes of "Pro Evo" as a sporting highlight that any gamer can enjoy. [Nov 2005, p.111]

And though the final hours are somewhat trite and contrived in the way they weave seemingly unrelated threads together, L.A. Noire won't be remembered for its slightly disappointing finale – it'll be remembered for its pioneering technology, its adept fusion of genres and the respect and talent with which it opens a window on the past.

Yes the story has weak spots – having to actually play through some of the cut-scenes can be annoying when all you want to do is get back to the action – but much of it is as absorbing as you'd expect from an RPG... More than worthy of the Nintendo name. [Christmas 2004, p.108]

SCEA Bend has done an impressive job of making the transition, and Sony can rest assured that its valuable first-party property has survived intact. [May 2009, p.130]

A relaxing, engrossing experience that is bound to attract those who have the mindset and patience. A subtle work of art. [Jan 2007, p.113]

Does what all great remakes should - it improves the game in a way that complements the original design, making you more aware of the gameplay's inner workings and helping you appreciate a classic even more. [Issue#106, p.104]

It delivers a touching story and wraps it around a compelling puzzle platformer. [Issue#166, p.99]

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]

It's two games for the price of less than one. [Issue#99, p.117]

Football Manager 2015 is the best version in a series that has been peerless for many years. It’s not the kind of overhaul that suggests players of last year’s game desperately need to upgrade, but the hardcore will not be dissatisfied. And if you’re a lapsed fan, then we’ll see you in your suit come cup final day.

Square Enix has created a great title in its own right, made better by the inclusion of some of the most memorable and popular faces from the world of entertainment. [Mar 2006, p.110]

Lost Planet delivers exactly what you’d expect of a quality Capcom title – a challenging, atmospheric, well thought out videogame experience. [Jan 2007, p.86]

If you seriously want to leave an impression on the checklists and charts, we're talking hundreds, if not thousands of hours play. Taking into consideration the multiplayer elements and potential for repeat plays there's probably more to do than you ever actually will. [Oct 2003, p.112]

It is a fantastic package, no doubt. Despite the single-player’s unfortunate lack of length, and the ease with which many will speed through it, New Super Mario Bros. is everything one could want from a return to 2D Mario. [July 2006, p.118]

Sure, PES 2017 may once again rule the play through the midfield, but FIFA 17 has so much to offer off the pitch that it’s difficult to not be satisfied. As long as you can get your head around the possession-focused style of play in FIFA, you’ll have no qualms with its gameplay, but it’s everything else that really sells it this year.

The best realistic boxing title we’ve played, and few fight fans will be disappointed. [Apr 2005, p.114]

This is certainly what we want to see from Bethesda and our hopes are soaring with regard to what the newly announced installments could contain. [July 2009, p.131]

Whether you've somehow never played a Pokémon game, you've only recently dived in or you've been around since the start, the vast world of Unova welcomes you equally.

A brilliant game, one that offers something for both the experimental gamer and the mechanical player who wants to 100 per cent every Archive. [Issue#110, p.102]

Works around the limitations of motion control, bringing the Punch-Out!! Series up to date without losing any of the charm that made it a fan favourite in the first place. [July 2009, p.106]

It's a good-looking DS game as well, slick new presentation and more emphasis on cut-scenes and 3D visuals making this an obvious transitional title on the series' inevitable march towards the 3DS.

Well worth importing for anyone ready to experience the highest point the visual novel genre has experienced in decades. [Issue#106, p.115]

The concept needed to evolve to stay relevant and Taito has achieved that by tailoring the gameplay around the strengths and weaknesses of Apple's hardware, creating a revolutionary Space Invaders in the process. [Oct 2009, p.127]

It's not the most technical or the deepest fighter you'll ever play, but you'll struggle to find something so skillfully designed to complement its platform in any genre. [Issue#110, p.106]

If we have to make a criticism, it's that The Witcher 2 leaves you wanting more than it offers. [Issue#110, p.110]

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

Most will be happy with the 20-plus hours of entertainment they get from the expansion - it's more of the same and, for that, we're happy. [Issue#95, p.126]

A killer prequel that almost tops the original. [Issue#197, p.73]

Conversations shared between Juliet and Nick are among the funniest videogames have to offer, and the range of pop-culture references Gunn weaves in (including an unexpected nod to Michael Bublé of all people) make this the most western-friendly game to come out of the studio without sacrificing its brand of lunacy. Which is something definitely worth cheering about.

Despite the inclusion of new gadgets and stunning visuals, the series is starting to decompose; playing the same thing over and over is beginning to wear a little thin. It's a good job the multiplayer experience continues to blossom. [Apr 2005, p.90]

Sega Rally is the most ambitious racing game in some time and a brilliant return to form for the series. Overlook it at your own risk. [Nov 2007, p.110]

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]

The best realistic boxing title we've played, and few fight fans will be disappointed. [Apr 2005, p.114]

Rocksteady Studios has produced a game as ravishing as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and as compelling as Dead Space, one that very nearly lives up to its own hype. [Oct 2009, p.122]

It's the instant gratification of fireworks and classical music that comes with victories so addictive that you see entire evenings wasted on a game in which you seemingly do nothing at all. [May 2009, p.124]