Test Drive Unlimited is occasionally excellent when racing against humans, yet remarkably pedestrian when simply going for a spin. [Oct 2006, p.116]

Lazy find-three-item quests are nowhere to be seen in this episode, instead there's a wealth of context-based conundrums and mini-games that showcase LucasArts-style adventure design at its best. [Dec 2009, p.128]

Blur's driving mechanics are excellent: markedly less realistic than PGR, but responsive and demanding in a way that games like Burnout and Split/Second don't have to be. [July 2010, p.106]

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

But don't let all this talk of management fool you, there's a real thrill to Rebellions real time battles, especially when you zoom in to watch the often impressive visual cacophony of lasers as droves of spaceships broad side each other or master the intricacies of its RTS rock, paper, scissors mechanics – and can use them to whip other players right back to their home worlds and bombard them.

With more variety and strategic depth than any of the previous AOW titles, there are plenty of reasons for fans and beginners alike to immerse themselves in Shadow Magic's world of adventure. [Oct 2003, p.119]

Many of the puzzles are somewhat straightforward in design, and while ensuring players are less likely to hit those infuriating brick walls typically found in the genre's great titles, your input into the proceedings once again tends to feel slightly shallow and less rewarding than before. [Christmas 2003, p.108]

A stunning work of interactive art. [Issue#199, p.83]

Boy racers will love Underground's edgy urban chic, otherwise you should stick with the less fashionable but ultimately more enjoyable "Burnout 2." [Christmas 2003, 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’re a massive fan of the original then you should be aware that this game is incredibly similar to the 360 instalment, but newcomers should consider this essential. [Nov 2008, p.114]

A lot like difficult classics like Mega Man or Ghouls 'N Ghosts in that the trials themselves are half the fun. [Issue#108, p.127]

Henry Hatsworth In The Puzzling Adventure isn't a bad game; it's two half-decent ones. [May 2009, p.126]

The new gameplay types easily dispel the lack of variety that blighted previous games. [Aug 2010, p.116]

A brave game that deserves recognition. Gladius rises above its initial shortcomings and delivers a lengthy and enjoyable experience. [Dec 2003, p.112]

The netcode is strong enough to encourage sustained online play. The title doesn't do enough to highlight the strides Final Showdown has taken for the series – particularly for PS3 owners, stuck with Ver.B of Virtua Fighter 5 as opposed to Xbox 360's later release of Version C – but it's a still complicated, technical beast of a fighting game, and more than ever worth the effort of learning.

Not a glorious end, but a great package. [Issue#204, p.78]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. leaves you no choice but to engage with story and character, deciphering between friend and foe, the truth and the lie. [Apr 2007, p.94]

The unrelenting, incredibly hard levels are in complete contrast with everything else on the market. [Dec 2008, p.127]

It's tangible magic that you can feel with every stroke of the brush. [Issue#108, p.104]

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]

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]

More of the same in the best possible way.

With friends is by far the best way to enjoy the game. [Nov 2008, p.111]

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]

It's far from perfect, but Marvel fans have been served well, and those who like their Gauntlet served with extra statistics will have a game they can place just behind the last Dark Alliance. [Dec 2004, p.109]

It's far less intricate than a regular squad-based game, yet it retains all the elements that make them fun - as opposed to a title like Brute Force, which had none of them. A fine display of IO's creative talent. [Oct 2003, p.116]

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]

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]

Lead character Garrett slides effortlessly from the shadows in order to pick a lock (or pocket) before silently dropping out of sight. It's an effect you simply never tire of, and it's why it never feels stupid to be hiding three inches away from a patrolling guard without being seen (as is so often the case in "Splinter Cell"). [July 2004, p.104]

A worthy addition to an already great franchise. [Issue#193, p.78]

It's simple work. [Issue#139, p.116]

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]

Yes, it's bigger and more beautiful, but it's ostensibly more of the same; better executed, but unlikely to win many converts. [Christmas 2006, p.120]

It might seem like the most complete Mario Kart experience yet, but in reaching for a wider audience, Nintendo may have lost sight of what made the series great in the first place. [May 2008, p.112]

The fact that as much work's been done under the bonnet as on the gloss of the visuals is an impressive feat, and one that makes Split/Second one of the most highly-recommended alternative takes on the genre in years. [Issue#96, p.108]

With all those map layouts and bosses to hunt down, you'll still spend hours in the Gungeon pushing yourself with a stupid, maniacal grin on your face. [Issue#174, p.72]

Challenging and dynamic. [Issue#139, p.107]

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]

A faithful recreation in every sense of the term. [Christmas 2011, p.96]

Child of Light is incredibly adept at guiding the player to the place they need to be without them knowing it. [Issue#148, p.104]

Gearbox should be applauded for taking the first-person genre in a bold new direction, but during the bulk of the game, players must be willing to sit back and let the developer tell the story. [Apr 2005, p.104]

Almost exactly what we wanted it to be. Story mode and single-player antics are diverting enough but the game excels in multiplayer, offering fast-paced thrills that only the highlights of the "Unreal" series can really contest. [March 2005, p.122]

There’s a lot to love, really – it’s just marred by clumsy controls, one of the worst cameras in recent memory and some odd design choices. Provided you can form a strong enough bond with Trico that the curtain never drops to reveal the rusty old cogs that make the game tick, The Last Guardian is a beautiful and unique experience. But the second anything causes that curtain to budge, it becomes clear that it just isn’t very good at the fundamentals of videogame mechanics, and the beast is slain.

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.

Aesthetically, Myst IV never fails to impress, but hunting for a switch or puzzle clue among the beautiful environments often comes down to simply sweeping the disembodied hand down the screen in the hope of finding something rather than relying on initiative and logic, fundamental aspects of the series that seem strangely absent outside the game's core puzzles.

The new features ensure an involving - not to mention time-consuming - experience and the darker, more mature theme is a welcome change from the Technicolor characters that most games in the genre spew forth. [Aug 2005, p.102]

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 might not appeal to everyone, but Ether One is an exceptional example of what can be done with simple game design. It has a quality not commonly seen in smaller indie titles, and the courage to do things a little differently.

We struggle to see how this handheld version of Arc's brilliant new fighter could be much better without an arcade stick peripheral. Which would be stupid. [Aug 2010, p.123]

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]

For out money, however, the battles are all too often a test of patience rather than an examination of your ability to strategise efficiently. [Sept 2008, p.121]

We're already anticipating the next chapter in this fantastical fable. [Issue#142, p.112]

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]

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]

The scale of LittleBigPlanet's achievement is more deserving of admiration, but ModNation Racers is so much easier to love. United Front Games should be delighted with the compromise.

It feels almost like a full sequel. [Issue#150, p.122]

Enslaved's satisfying blend of narrative and gameplay is bang on the money. [Issue#102, p.111]

Fatshark is more than filling the L4D void.

It’s fan service, definitely, but not ill-conceived or exploitative in any way. [Mar 2009, p.96]

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

We finally have the game we hoped we were getting a year ago. Just. [Dec 2008, p.105]

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

Stunning, but undermined by microtransactions. [Issue#205, p.82]

After all those years of lamentation, the gamers, who truly remember finally get their dose of neat virtual snowboarding. Meanwhile, the series' newcomers will finally get why there was this legend status of "winter Tony Hawk" in the olden days - in a few hours of playing they are going to spread those legends too.

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

4A Games wear its influences on its sleeve, creating a first-person shooter of robust standard. Yet it gives little consideration to progression – in both terms of furthering either the genre or its own formula. Many of the mechanics that have survived the original game return stripped back in a misguided attempt to placate complexity criticisms, rather than exploring methods that retain strategy and heighten the overall immersion.

Puzzle Quest’s battles demand so much and give so much in return that players will find themselves hunting down every optional fight and undertaking each side quest in order to squeeze every last drop of gameplay from this utterly absorbing adventure. [June 2007, p.110]

What continues to impress on our second time playing through Treasure Tracker is the quality of the level design. The addition of stages based on worlds from Super Mario Odyssey is yet more evidence that these little dioramas are a rich format for creativity. [Issue#203, p.86]

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]

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

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.

After so many years of trying, EA has, with the exception of a few little missteps, finally gotten player AI right and created a fast, fluid football experience that looks and feels like the real thing. This will go down as the year that EA finally ticked all the boxes.

It may be a straightforward game, but it’s also a fun one, and the imaginative presentation is very well accomplished. [Nov 2008, p.117]

The sheer scale of some of the battles is awe-inspiring, and with the same resource collection and unit creation system as the popular C&C games at the core of it all, there’s little fuss and you’ll be confidently laying siege to Helms Deep after just a few hours. [Jan 2005, p.109]

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]

A simple setup that gives way to complexity the more you experiment with the game’s higher levels of play. [Apr 2009, p.120]

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

A cut, thrust, and parry above. [Issue#175, p.80]

So much more about Battlefront manages to impress than disappoint – from the solid gameplay to the overall application of the Star Wars universe, which has been done with so much care and attention that even the most hardened fan will be satisfied. If only all Star Wars games could be made this way. [Nov 2004, p.100]

This is only Act 1, of course, as an agonising cliffhanger reminds us, and as such this can only be regarded as a very promising start.

While WildStar might not be nearly as 'big' or brash as it would like to think it is, the beauty of potential is that one day it may well end up that way. [Issue#150, p.109]

A fantastic reimagining of arcade racing. [Issue#203, p.83]

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]

The single-player may have all the visual trickery and neat little scripted sequences, but in terms of sheer heart-pounding action, the multiplayer wins hands down. [Dec 2005]

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]

It may be an unnecessary sequel but, unlike the umpteen other unnecessary sequels in the series, it's one that at least learns from the mistakes of the past. [Issue#95, p.127]

It may short as hell, but it’s a sweet, scary treat for horror fans and never pretends to be otherwise. [Christmas 2005, p.122]

Project 8's career mode charts the ascension of your boarder from nobody-about-town to skateboarding royalty, but does it with minimal cut-scenes, plot or Steve-O. In Tony Hawk's Project 8, all that matters is skill. [Christmas 2006, p.132]

Volition needs to plan its next steps carefully, or run the risk of losing the fan base it has worked so hard to claw away from those that didn't quite click with GTA IV. [Issue#139, p.86]

There's a good fighting game here, one that'll support drunken post-pub scraps as well as tournament play, but Injustice: Gods Among Us doesn't quite match up to its stellar NetherRealm predecessor. [Issue#135, p.104]

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.

It is no masterpiece, but Battlefield 4 is a good starting point for the genre moving into the next generation. And boy, is it pretty. [Issue#142, p.94]

With completion of each level winning you a new totem for your pole, undecorated logs for a low score and gold totems for maximum, there’s a quantifiable excuse to go back and learn the perfect pathways through each. In this case, however, the journey itself is its own reward.

It's a game that deserves a meatier and healthier package than the one Bandai Namco has given it, but even so, the online play will see Tekken 7 endure as one of the best fighting games this generation. [Issue#189, p.70]

Quadrilateral Cowboy is a puzzle game unlike any other, but it’s not quite substantial enough to establish itself as a bonafide classic.

But Hellblade is so well executed in so many ways, so committed to its mission and has integrated concept and design so well that we found it easy to look past these things to enjoy it immensely...Intense, powerful, important and very well done. [Issue#191, p.70]

As a celebration of the FPS genre's base instincts, Painkiller crosses the finishing line in first place; anything more than that and it doesn't even make it out of the blocks. [June 2004, p.100]