Beautiful, but hampered by lackluster storytelling. [Issue#203, p.76]

It's frantic, satisfying, very challenging and full of the sorts of explosive set-pieces, generous destruction and screen-filling sprites that made the original such an enormous success. [Christmas 2005, p.113]

Prey is a masterpiece of design, but there are a few niggles that slightly mar the overall experience rather than the immediate game. It’s likely that you won’t even notice them until you’ve finished playing and are debating its merits with friends. [Aug 2006, p.106]

While Underground tried to seamlessly mix its diversity, humour and gameplay, it was always obvious when you were being dragged away from the combo system at the heart of the series. Thankfully, THUG2 makes a much better fist of keeping classic Tony Hawk's gameplay at the heart of the tasks. Even when skating as Benjamin Franklin or a shrimp vendor, the focus remains on skateboarding. [Dec 2004, p.102]

An outstanding reinvention of a classic brand.

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

It's an open world that's not open, a Zelda game with no wit or brain power, and a God Of War clone without bite. [Feb 2010, p.122]

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]

Eidos Montreal needed to build on the success of Human Revolution, instead of merely trying to replicate it wrapped in difficult politics. Instead of being the revolution we so hoped it would be, it’s simply left us divided.

You get the impression that "The Sands of Time" was just a warm-up for the main event, a game that's familiar at first but soon reveals a level of imagination beyond that of the original, and displays as little room for error as one of the Prince's most daring acrobatic leaps. [Christmas 2004, p.100]

A yarn is only as good a s the characters knitting it. This is perhaps the most valuable lesson Level-5 has learned from "Dragon Quest VIII." Progressing the game just to see the characters talking has never felt more fun. [JPN Import; Mar 2006, p.124]

A short, sharp tinge of static electricity rather than the unrelenting shock of high-voltage conductors. [Issue#111, p.104]

It’s cute, and a bit silly, and extremely easy to play and enjoy. It’s a relatively new sort of videogame, and one whose premise doesn’t have much to do with hours of play or complexity. [Nov 2005, p.122]

The closest the fighting genre has come to recapturing the spirit of ye olde classic Capcom vs SNK 2, in that this feels aimed directly at the hearts of fans rather than at their wallets. It's the closest any series has come to a 'best of' album, and is a fitting tribute to the legacy of the series thus far.

DICE offers a brief taste of a Battlefield game driven by story and characters, where the completion of objectives signifies more than reaching a dot on the radar without dying, but delivers a product that leaves you feeling much the same as any of its ancestors. [Aug 2008, p.94]

A true original. [Issue#102, p.124]

So a superb solo experience that can be shared with ease is what’s really on offer. Whereas the addition of better multiplayer options would have seen the title become essential, what’s featured is more than enough. [Jan 2007, p.112]

What’s the eventual goal here – watching an entire 90 minutes from the dugout? Clearly, a compromise must be struck, somewhere along the line. [Jan 2009, p.124]

That’s the real achievement here: that you can play it however you like. By removing any elements of linear progression, Slightly Mad has proven that players are smart enough to come up with their own direction through a game like this. Long may this approach to design reign.

A season of fun ideas and great presentation. [Issue#206, p.76]

It admirably builds on that already impressive accomplishment, and makes for a solid entry in the series.

Just another day at the office for Layton and chums. [Issue#117, p.121]

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

It’s cute, and a bit silly, and extremely easy to play and enjoy. It’s a relatively new sort of videogame, and one whose premise doesn’t have much to do with hours of play or complexity. [Nov 2005, p.122]

It feels like the developer has come to an apex of open-world design, and while the game makes some missteps along the way in its story and characterisation, it all makes up for it in the exploration of the world. [Issue#196, p.82]

It's a nice, clean package that delivers enough hi-octane chases and enjoyment to warrant a purchase. [Christmas 2005, p.121]

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

That none of these extra-curricular activities can stack up to the base thrill of simply lobbing Kat into the abyss and seeing where she might end up a few gravity shifts down the line is no slight on the optional stuff on offer, though – it's simply testament to the captivating power of so novel a central mechanic.

Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire is an almost perfect game, held back only by the selection of creatures available during the 20-hour long main quest and some post-game elements that didn’t make it through since X/Y.

More of what you love. [Issue#194, p.74]

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]

A game that anybody can, and will, enjoy. It's like Wii Music never happened. [Issue#121, p.109]

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]

A meaningful and memorable text-adventure. [Issue#192, p.84]

With just as many levels where you'll pray for it to be over than where you're actually having fun, the game turns out to be a mixture of styles that don't meld together as solidly as they should, as well as having several frustrating joypad-throwing moments and often demanding extraordinary feats of memory from the player. [Mar 2004, p.114]

The combat is as fluid as ever and there's nothing more satisfying than combining your ski and jetpack abilities to gracefully glide over an enemy's head and launch a grenade that robs him of his last wedge of health, forcing him to watch the rest of the match from the sidelines.

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]

Its stylus control is one of the tightest on the system. [Christmas 2011, p.117]

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.

It may have its flaws, but at least those mistakes were made in the course of trying to do something new. [Dec 2009, p.100]

Different for everyone, yet still fantastic. [Issue#164, p.100]

A more solid, playable and visually splendid grappler than this will be hard to come by... If it weren’t for the fact that you can easily clock Story mode and unlock everything in a weekend, we’d have a much easier job recommending Fight For New York. [Nov 2004, p.108]

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]

It’s cute, and a bit silly, and extremely easy to play and enjoy. It’s a relatively new sort of videogame, and one whose premise doesn’t have much to do with hours of play or complexity. [Nov 2005, p.122]

The best game in the series. [Issue#142, p.115]

A clever, but not seamless, mix of genres. [Issue#201, p.90]

The increased level of challenge will be welcomed by those already "done" with the main game. [Issue#152, p.116]

You get the impression that "The Sands of Time" was just a warm-up for the main event, a game that’s familiar at first but soon reveals a level of imagination beyond that of the original, and displays as little room for error as one of the Prince’s most daring acrobatic leaps. [Christmas 2004, p.100]

There's a ridiculous amount of content here. [Issue#113, p.104]

CS: GO stands as a glowing reminder that quality game design is rewarded in longevity and variety. Valve has not only updated the shooter but has completely outclassed its contemporaries. This is Counter-Strike, whatever the format you choose to play it on, and there isn't a higher recommendation than that.

A superb update to an already great game. [Issue#153, p.114]

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]

It's definitely the best home-console game in the series, and the extra depth and involvement that it brings to the table will be irresistible to Harvest Moon fans. [July 2006, p.126]

The hidden depths of the franchise remain mind-boggling, battles taking the form of a super-complex, multi-layered version of Rock Paper Scissors driven by more hidden and adjustable values than even the most hardcore MMO can boast. [June 2009, p.110]

No, it's not just an Origins knock-off. [Issue#206, p.70]

If Tropical Freeze is your first Donkey Kong Country game, you’ll probably hate it from the start, especially if your idea of a 2D platformer is based on New Super Mario Bros. U or Rayman Legends. Enemies and obstacles are not lined up neatly along your path of destruction; they’re meant to inconvenience you and continually break your momentum.

A less enjoyable but more involving sequel.

A no-nonsense, honest-to-goodness platformer. It knows what it wants to do and presents things in a way that looks good and works well. But despite being sturdily put together and instantly enjoyable, it's hard not to think that it loses the impact it once held in the face of the latest batch of fresh and technologically impressive titles in the genre. [Feb 2004, p.106]

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]

Every time you’re about to put the controller down, there’s always something to keep you playing – even if it’s just to see another astoundingly gorgeous area or one more gargantuan enemy boss. [July 2007, p.106]

Highly entertaining and, above all, fun. Despite being filled with all manner of videogame cliches, Metal Arms somehow feels refreshingly new and not at all like the cobbled together title that it so undoubtedly is. [Christmas 2003, p.103]

The only thing we could criticise? Put in the hours, and you’ll quickly begin to understand how the level tiles work – think Carcassonne: you know what’s drawn from the bag, and how to counter each piece. That’s the only thing that dilutes it, if it bothers you, bump up the difficulty and it’ll feel like a new game.

Every step of the way, you'll feel the classic Nintendo touch. [Issue#96, p.98]

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

Gears Of War: Ultimate Edition definitely belongs in that upper tier; its campaign no longer carries the industry-shaping impact it once had but it remains tremendous fun, while its multiplayer is still dramatic, unique and engaging, perhaps even more so now given the final touches The Coalition has added. As was the case back in 2006, come for the campaign and stay for the multiplayer – you’ll be glad you did.

Legend is the best Tomb Raider game that has yet been made. Despite the game's few grating problems, that's quite an accolade. [May 2006, p.102]

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]

Remains an entertaining and refreshing action RPG. Not bad when you consider its venerable age. [Issue#144, p.119]

An esports-ready success needing a sizeable audience. [July 2018, p.81]

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

If you're buying Kinect anyway then Dance Central should be your first port of call, but its limited lifespan for more grizzled gamers means it shouldn't be a reason alone to splash £130 or more.

Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire is an almost perfect game, held back only by the selection of creatures available during the 20-hour long main quest and some post-game elements that didn’t make it through since X/Y.

Builds on an already brilliant indie hit. [Issue#175, p.82]

Extraction is one of the best looking, well polished and expertly choreographed mature titles we've played on Wii, and one of the finest lightgun games full stop. [Dec 2009, p.120]

The best console racer of this generation. [Issue#193, p.82]

Each confrontation is generally exactly the same and victory is sometimes dependent on whether the irritating catch-up AI decides to beat you or not. [Oct 2004, p.120]

The best and most human FM to date. [Issue#195, p.77]

Handheld editions of big console titles often feel like straight to video sequels – looking the part but lacking the polish – and Revelations is no different. It nails the atmosphere in its hybrid design, but those crucial sparks of brilliance that make the series so great, no matter which of its eras you prefer… they're as rare as a single use rocket launcher.

Luckily, the core concept coupled with that gorgeous and impactful art style is enough to warrant our recommendation. Your time with Superhot may be fleeting, but you’ll find every second exhilarating.

Will it make you rethink how you see strategy games? Don’t be daft. Will you enjoy playing it? Almost certainly. [May 2005, p.88]

What a tremendous piece of work. [Issue#146, p.100]

Compulsive. [Issue#156, p.114]

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

Best combo of ideas and execution the NFL has seen. [Issue#179, p.79]

ZOE2 really is a beautiful game. With its unique mixture of clean-cut robot models, cel-shaded smoke and manga FMV cut-scenes, the whole thing just oozes style in a way that most other games just can't approach. [Oct 2003, p.108]

Although the formula is very similar to the first title, the sheer number of extra elements makes it fun to collect all those piñatas again. [Nov 2008, p.98]

A memorable indie title that shines in company but falters without. [Issue#167, p.87]

There's certainly nothing game-breakingly bad about Shift 2, and generally it is a polished, high quality, nice looking product. But it does fail to provide a more engaging alternative to the admittedly quite clinical driving experiences offered by the Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo series. Underneath its fancy aesthetic effects Shift 2 is also rather on the dry side, with no especially compelling reason to pick it up if you already have one of the aforementioned console racing giants in your collection.

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]

Legend is the best Tomb Raider game that has yet been made. Despite the game’s few grating problems, that’s quite an accolade. [May 2006, p.102]

Trenched lacks the usual amounts of Double Fine secret sauce. [Issue#112, p.116]

Metanet once described N++ as being a game they hoped would be so refined and so complete that “there’s no need to make another one.” We’re inclined to agree.

It may be a little rough around the edges, but it's still better than most contemporaries that are polished to a shine. [Issue#108, p.130]

PES is stronger than it’s ever been, but it still has a way to go.

Our worries about monotonous dungeon-crawling have proved unfounded as Obsidian has given this integral part of the game a good shake up, ploughing surprises and intrigue into every dark cave and ancient ruin. [Jan 2007, p.98]

Most will have already seen what this particular version of Mega Man has to offer, however, there’s still certainly enough here to warrant a purchase if you’re craving some quality platform action for your little Sony friend. [Apr 2006, 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]

For all its tight gameplay and superb visuals, this is simply Treasure by numbers and if you’ve played any of its past games you’ll find nothing here that you haven't seen already. [Oct 2004, p.104]