If you’ve never played a God Of War game before, this is arguably the perfect place to start.

The fact that we're willing to consider this a genuine canon entry into the series (as was Konami - the game was originally called Metal Gear Solid 5: Peace Walker, after all) is as sincere a compliment as can be afforded a handheld game. [July 2010, p.108]

One of the most rewarding experiences on the PS4. [Issue#168, p.97]

Addictive, fully-featured and far more sure of itself than ever before, Infinity Blade II is as slick an offering as iOS currently offers. [Issue#118, p.100]

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 takes all of the divisive elements of its predecessor and runs with them. [Sept 2008, p.119]

It's a lean game. [Issue#137, p.117]

A must-play title - as much a part of videogaming as it is anything else. [Issue#118, p.102]

The creative skating and dexterity demanded keep Skate 2 from ever feeling dull. [Feb 2009, p.116]

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.

Brothers is exactly the length you want it to be, showing just enough of its hand when it comes to the tale of these two siblings for it to live long in the memory. [Issue#137, p.118]

Gears Of War 4 is a success, then, even if it does take The Coalition a little too long to find its feet in its single-player campaign.

Niggles aside, LostWinds is still relevant, and remains a genuine threat to the Wii's stagnating physical releases. [Christmas 2009, p.129]

Another superb feat of strategy gaming...and while the depth of "Disgaea" simply isn't present, there's more than enough here to please the more cerebral gamer. [July 2004, p.121]

It's a slow starter, then, but you'll struggle to find a game this year that offers quite so much as Terraria. [Issue#135, p.122]

Microsoft finally has the kind of property it has always sorely lacked – a game with a truly cross-generational appeal and striking originality. Buy it for the kids, and then don’t let them get near it. [Jan 2007, p.92]

The most replayable Civ yet, but the AI is a drawback. [Issue#181, p.77]

A hugely successful reshuffle. [Issue#195, p.83]

It’s unabashedly repetitive, cartoony and not as pretty as many would like, but it’s still the most beautiful journey yet. [Mar 2006, p.96]

Unique. [Issue#137, p.120]

The series' high point so far. [Nov 2011, p.114]

A welcome outlier in the genre. [Issue#167, p.91]

An unpretentious, sharp-edged thrill of a skill-based shooter. And we haven't said that in quite some time. [Issue#135, p.123]

A superb Battlefield game, then, and an unmistakable sign that downloadable games are ready to give retail a run for its money. [Sept 2009, p.121]

Simply refines the challenging gameplay armchair tacticians have come to associate with the Total War franchise. [Issue#107, p.92]

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.

Here's hoping that when the Wii U picks up steam, The Wonderful 101 is still around. [Issue#139, p.94]

It may sound strange but, where FIFA might be the better football game this year, there's an argument for PES being the better videogame. [Nov 2011, p.115]

A serious contender to the Voxel throne. [Issue#181, p.80]

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]

While the set pieces set within the present day offer an intense gameplay experience and an interesting twist on The Last Of Us’ combat, there’s a sense of obligation rather than the cohesiveness we’ve come to expect from the developer.

Changes are few. [Nov 2011, p.117]

A deep, rewarding and addictive experience. [Issue#181, p.81]

It’s rare that a strategy game should possess so many levels of complexity and that they should all be so rewarding...Variety is JTF’s strength and it flows to every corner of the game. [Nov 2006, p.122]

Simply said, Sorcery! is a wonderful release that should light a fire in the heart of any fan of an era long-gone; this is a welcome addition to any iOS library. [Issue#137, p.123]

Quite simply, there’s no alternative. [Dec 2006, p.118]

The battle mechanic is intuitive, but hides a tactical edge. [Nov 2011, p.118]

Yet further proof that real-time strategy isn’t a genre with nowhere left to go. [Dec 2007, p.120]

Those used to the drama of Pro Evo may well be put off by some often dull matches, but as a simulation, FIFA 08 stands as another EA Sports success story. [Dec 2007, p.121]

Within minutes you’ll be up to your old tricks, throwing drivers onto the pavement, beating up shoppers, jumping off buildings on motorbikes... the possibilities are once again limited only by player imagination. [Christmas 2005, p.120]

From the looks of things the formula is still going strong and is in no real danger of becoming stale any time in the near future. [Feb 2009, p.113]

It’s intuitive to the extent that you’ll quickly stop looking at the touch screen and instead play from instinct. It feels perfect. [Oct 2006, p.114]

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]

Yet more evidence that no one makes them better than Capcom. [JPN Import; Feb 2009, p.126]

This was the episode that made us fall back in love with Telltale. [Issue#161, p.88]

Sandbox silliness at its best. [Apr 2009, p.123]

A genuinely feel-good example of what adventure games could be if only they'd think outside the box a little more. [Issue#167, p.97]

What we’re left with is a wonderfully polished sequel that you will enjoy every minute of and then wonder why all you can think about is how it felt to play its predecessor. [Mar 2009, p.112]

Its world isn't as evocatively rich as Skyrim, it's action-oriented combat doesn't have the killer appeal of Dark Souls, and it's single-player focus is completely at odds with the co-op-centric Monster Hunter. However, as Capcom's first foray into the open-world RPG this is a worthy achievement, and further proof that the East-West divide should be breached more often. And not just by dragons. [Issue#122, p.94]

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]

One of the better multiplayer shooters to have been released in the last year or so. [Nov 2007, p.134]

Morally bankrupt but creatively rich beyond the wildest dreams of most games. [Issue#107, p.104]

Like illustrious forebears in the score attack/total frustration genre, Joe Danger: The Movie will annoy as much as it delights. Don't be fooled by the cutesy graphics and sound; Hello Games wants you dead and the levels it built are happy to oblige.

The switch to consoles has weakened the presentation of the game. [Issue#139, p.108]

It's this fine balance between freedom and linearity that will keep you playing. [Issue#118, p.111]

The N64 predecessors are, whether we like it or not, relics of a time when everyone seemed happy just to riff on Super Mario 64, but Nuts & Bolts is a long-overdue move away from that style and a great one at that. [Christmas 2008, p.84]

Glowing reflection of the past. [Issue#107, p.106]

We can't help but be wary of the fact that the game requires direct sunlight in certain situations, as it restricts when and where you can play. However, a skilful player can negotiate much of the game without the need for sunlight so we can't be too negative. [Nov 2003, p.115]

The best-made golf game on the system. [Aug 2008, p.106]

For all its complexity, this is a game that remains virtually open-armed in its inviting accessibility.

We'd happily champion Shift as the game to fill the gap that's been left by the absence of Project Gotham Racing. [Nov 2009, p.128]

While die-hards might still prefer the more expert-friendly features of HeartGold and SoulSilver, the fresh approach and fiercely impressive visuals, draped over a tried and true frame of addictive, highly nuanced battle and customisation, make Pokémon Black/White the defacto catch-all solution to monster collecting on the venerable DS.

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]

On a straight fighting level, SoulCalibur has never been better and although it might be a little anorexic for lone warriors, the multiplayer side offers more than any Soul title since the original Calibur made the Dreamcast a must-have. Which, in and of itself, provides irrefutable proof that Namco Bandai has given SoulCalibur a clearly defined genre once more. Welcome back, Stage Of History.

While die-hards might still prefer the more expert-friendly features of HeartGold and SoulSilver, the fresh approach and fiercely impressive visuals, draped over a tried and true frame of addictive, highly nuanced battle and customisation, make Pokémon Black/White the defacto catch-all solution to monster collecting on the venerable DS.

Super Swing Golf offers the best of both worlds - the fantastical setting for those who loathe real sports, but the physical demands of a game that continually pushes you to improve. [Mar 2007, p.124]

Capcom’s writer-translators have crafted a cast of believable characters to root for, two utterly detestable villains, and a script so dramatic and humorous that you’ll wish every game had this much care poured into it. [Dec 2007, p.116]

Offline play is especially satisfying. [Issue#154, p.113]

Electronic Arts has once again proved it is the king of American sport, and its constant drive to innovate is something to be commended and rewarded. Roll on next year, we say. [Nov 2007, p.120]

It's unabashedly repetitive, cartoony and not as pretty as many would like, but it's still the most beautiful journey yet. [Mar 2006, p.96]

Addictive and frustrating, cute and challenging, lovable one moment and the very embodiment of hate the next. [Issue#111, p.110]

Never has an off-road racer felt so compelling, so necessary and so thrilling... The finest arcade racer since "Burnout Revenge." [JPN Import; Feb 2007, p.100]

Anyone willing to immerse themselves in the wonder that is WarTech: Senko No Ronde’s complex and varied gameplay mechanics will feel that the price is perfectly justified. [July 2007, p.114]

Its overall challenge is both lasting and addictive. [Issue#122, p.109]

Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture is a brave experiment, and one that’s paid off for The Chinese Room. If you’re a console-only gamer, it’ll be unlike anything you’ve ever played before – we say that with admiration.

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

Thoroughly engaging and original. [Issue#107, p.117]

Vice City Stories, for all its frustration and lack of genuine originality is a sterling piece of work. If this is Grand Theft Auto III's swansong, then it could not have received a more fitting send-off. [Christmas 2006, p.102]

Is it enough to warrant a purchase should you own 2K7’s predecessor? Probably not. However...NBA 2K7 is still the number one name in basketball. [Dec 2006, p.112]

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’.

That the development team has been able to retain the mechanisms of play together with the depth of the content in the face of a breed of gamer whose capacity to consume is unrivalled, is perhaps the game’s biggest achievement. Now all Bethesda has to do is keep up the pace.

The big question is, can this sequel offer enough for anyone who has already played the original to death. And the answer is a resounding yes. [Nov 2009, p.130]

It may all sound a little base, but Black is a game that reminds you that, at your core, you love things that go bang loudly – it's a good feeling to suddenly realise that you're just like everyone else. [Mar 2006, p.104]

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

It’ll be the online community that makes or breaks Sunrise. Given the way the support for the first game surpassed even the developer’s expectations, we’re inclined to think that this superior sequel should have no trouble in getting fans to rally behind it. [May 2005, p.94]

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]

A vast experience, and a refreshing lesson in substance over style. [Issue#107, p.120]

The atmosphere in the game really is fantastic - it plays very much like a stealth shooter but the action is fast and brutal when it does happen. Along with the headset, this consistent tension offers an experience that you simply will not find with any other squad-based shooters, regardless of format. [Christmas 2003, p.96]

This is pure BioWare, crafted with consummate fantasy fans in mind. [Christmas 2009, p.108]

Even with many of Rare’s most loved classics missing on account of licensing issues – GoldenEye 007, Donkey Kong Country to name a couple – Rare Replay is still an extraordinary exercise in value, and a fantastic celebration of one of gaming’s most accomplished and innovative developers.

How does PES 2013 compare to FIFA 13? It's still very much an apples to oranges comparison, even with PES 2013 finally matching its long-term rival. FIFA excels in control, presentation and licenses while PES 2013 has depth, unpredictability and speed.

The true triumph for Media Molecule is that none of the ‘extra-curricular’ controls or feel forced or unnecessary. On the contrary, each and every one feels natural and works just as you would expect to it should.

It’s hard not to think of Space Giraffe as one of the best value games currently available. [Nov 2007, p.126]

A beautifully presented, elegantly constructed puzzle game that draws you in with its charm and personality, then keeps you playing with its addictive, inventive level design. [Christmas 2008, p.121]

It’s an elegantly detailed and calculated puzzle-adventure that throws players into an office-clerk nightmare of pie charts and statistics with the only means of escape is some good ol’ fashioned thinking. It’s a strong contender for the best puzzle game of the year so far and, if nothing else, will leave you marvelling at the sheer beauty of its unified ambition.

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]

Underwater combat, despised by many, has thankfully been removed from this latest entry. [Issue#159, p.96]

A reliable, friendly and sumptuous romp through another beautifully built Nintendo world, and yet another great reason to own a 3DS. It’s the machine that keeps on giving.

The kind of racer nobody else seems to want to make these days. [Issue#186, p.79]