Telltale has gained fans, and imbued Sam & Max Episode 2 with a greater depth of story, tougher puzzles and, most importantly, a funnier script. And although it re-uses some of the first episode’s models and locations, the overall experience is more satisfying. [Feb 2007, p.106]

A few less serious forms of racing would do a lot to improve to the experience and catapult it into the same realm as the greatest of arcade racers, but what’s on offer represents a commendable attempt at changing the way we think about how competition is served in a racing game.

Assassin's Creed Revelations, then, is a pick-and-mix of successes and failures. At its core, though, it's just as accomplished a game as Brotherhood before it. All that's required is to dig below the surface layer of frivolous pseudo-innovations to discover yet another classic Creed, and a top quality conclusion to an excellent story arc.

A life-changing experience for every Batman fan. [Issue#180, p.42]

It may be a bit too traditional for those raised on the episodic hand-holders of recent times, but seasoned adventurers will love the stunning visuals, smart writing, and difficult puzzles. [Jan 2009, p.119]

Don't be fooled – this is more than just an update. [Sept 2004, p.110]

A less enjoyable but more involving sequel.

About as hardcore and old-fashioned an RPG as you're likely to play. [Issue#96, p.101]

Year on year, the main modes in the THPS games have moved further away from traditional over-the-top skating to encompass more and more 'crazy' goals, something we're not entirely sure we approve of. One thing we are sure of, though, is that the core skating engine makes for by far the best extreme sports game of this generation. [Christmas 2003, p.98]

It's doubtful that anyone is hard-hearted enough to not instantly fall in love with the cylindrical, part-watermelon drum dog that acts as your host, and his equally bizarre pals all do a superb job of dancing around in a distracting manner as you attempt to pump out an amazingly complex drum solo. [Oct 2004, p.111]

A tense and intimidating shooter. [Issue#102, p.118]

So is it enough for Grid 2 to just be a great racing game? For many of you, yes. But it’d be remiss of us to not to point out that the game doesn’t really push either Codemasters or the racing genre in any particularly new direction, and from such a talented developer that’s a shame. There’s plenty of content to get through and on a mechanical level it is the perfect blend of arcade and simulation, but we need a little more to make it a must-have racer.

Perfect control, sound effects that make the best use of Dolby stereo, and combat that imbues the player with a genuine sense of urgency without sacrificing fun. [March 2005, p.104]

This is a superlative effort from Blizzard, but is it enough to change your mind if you’ve already decided against the instalment? Sadly, that’s not a question we can answer for you.

Ultimately, the way you play No Man’s Sky is going to have as much of an impact on how much you enjoy it as the quality of the game itself. Hello Games has talked about this being a ‘chill’ game and has questioned whether it should have made heading to the centre of the universe an objective at all since it distracts from the more fulfilling approach of simply being and existing in this world. If the old adage that the journey rather than the destination is what has worth holds true for you then you should find much to admire.

A gorgeous looking game. We’ve said it before, but it’s one of the few games where the promotional imagery doesn’t do it justice.

Bloody, brutal, sexy, and immersive - eventually. [July 2008, p.106]

One of the finest, most confident Metroidvania games we’ve seen in years. [Aug 2008, p.116]

Broken arms aside, Metroid on the DS is a smooth, attractive and compelling FPS that shows what the machine is capable of, cramming in a fulfilling multi-player mode to boot. [May 2006, p.106]

Rather than force you from one style of gameplay to another depending on which level you're on, BG&E blends the transitions together almost seamlessly. The additional styles never really encroach on the main crux of the adventure; they're always peripheral and therefore serve to enrich the experience, rather than dilute it. [Dec 2003, p.114]

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]

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

It has a tight, well-written and well-acted script. [Issue#119, p.90]

Brimming with character, with the power to shock you, make you laugh and send you into a testosterone-fuelled rage I just five minutes, it’s a genuine showcase for the power of 360 and the ingenuity of Capcom. This is next-gen gaming. [Oct 2006, p.108]

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

Captivating stories blend well with new gravity powers. [Issue#184, p.76]

A short but uniquely brilliant strategy shooter. [Issue#175, p.70]

A Final Fantasy spin-off with real merit. [Mar 2009, p.126]

There’s more new content than you’d usually find in a Special Edition. [May 2006, p.128]

SSX Blur is a genuine triumph and fits in perfectly with the series. [Apr 2007, p.104]

It's impossible not to want more, though. It's delicious. Coming as it does from two creative teams at the top of their respective fields, we expect nothing less. And it's expectations such as these that harm Ni No Kuni most of all – were it not for the near impeccable track records that cut through gloriously in the game's opening hours, the rest of it would shine far brighter than it does when eclipsed by that initial exciting explosion of potential.

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]

Rock Band Unplugged excels at demonstrating how the tight connection of input and music can provide strong gameplay without the need for a plastic guitar or snap-on peripheral. [Aug 2009, p.121]

A great blending of two franchises. [Issue#175, p.74]

Once the faction-balancing issue has been sorted – something bound to be in place before the Xbox360 launch later in the year – well, this is likely to be the most popular Command & Conquer ever. And it’s all thanks to accessibility. [May 2007, p.100]

A delightful surprise that'll warm your heart. [Issue#184, p.81]

Easier than the classics, but not without difficulty. We got properly stuck once and found the rest mildly challenging. [Sept 2009, p.112]

Skillfully executed, but is it Gran Turismo? [Issue#194, p.78]

Delivers a quality experience on par with, if not better than previous iterations. [Issue#119, p.98]

A tough tactical adventure. [Issue#175, p.78]

A bold shooter that never fails to entertain. [Issue#194, p.80]

Monolith has done great work in crafting a control scheme that feels completely without compromise and entirely suited to console, and has designed an accessible, familiar and extremely deep MOBA with the just as much panache as the games it imitates.

All that needs to be known is this is a beautiful, affecting and emotionally challenging title that acts as a truly fine love letter and monument to a lost loved one. It will open eyes and it will help people with their very real grief, and because of that it is a success.

Epic’s latest beauty was designed for the online world and that’s where it belongs, so make sure you take it there – the likelihood is that you won’t regret it. [Jan 2008, p.120]

A tough tactical adventure. [Issue#175, p.78]

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]

Unabashedly mocks you, itself and everything else. [Issue#194, p.82]

One of the most enjoyable strategy games to hit consoles in a very long time. [Aug 2008, p.110]

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

Classic golfing with a fun story, and few flaws. [Issue#194, p.83]

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]

The confines of boxing itself impose some limitation in areas such as variation but, in taking this genre from a dead end to the cutting edge of gameplay authenticity, Fight Night is an absolute triumph. [May 2004, p.104]

New traps and techniques make for some spectacular exhibitions of skill, and with game being significantly larger than anything previous, there's enough here to challenge even the most dedicated Prince Of Persia fan. [Christmas 2005, p.94]

If it weren’t for the fact that simply picking up the controller makes you by far the smartest racer on the course, GT4 would be perilously close to being the finest, most serious racing game ever made. [Feb 2005, p.8]

A charming yet brief little platforming gem. [Issue#194, p.83]

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.

That Pride mode is a doozy. [Issue#119, p.108]

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

A gripping first episode. [Issue#157, p.123]

There's nothing significant to complain about really. [Issue#140, p.104]

Thoroughly and unexpectedly wonderful. [Issue#146, p.102]

Beautiful, engaging, lacking in content. [Issue#175, p.84]

It works hard to scratch out a patch of ground to call its own, while reconnecting with the breathless sense of fun that made "GTAIII" so special. This is pure, playground satisfaction. [Mar 2007, p.94]

There’s no reason why sharpshooters shouldn’t like this version as much as any other. [July 2007, p.112]

It may sound like the weight of the game’s criticism lies too heavily on its story, but that’s where Obsidian has decided to focus its efforts. It doesn’t do anything to ultimately spoil what is a great classic-style RPG, and should be considered if you enjoyed Pillars Of Eternity but wouldn’t consider classic RPGs your typical sort of gaming experience.

It's one of those puzzle games that defines the term 'in the zone'; once you've found that special place where the rest of the world stops and all you can see are flowing lines of falling blocks and massive combos, you can't fail to appreciate what the game is doing. [Feb 2005, p.116]

For anyone looking for an affordable, thoroughly enjoyable, and long-lasting RPG unlike any other, Persona 3 FES delivers in spades. [Dec 2008, p.128]

Another iterative improvement. [Issue#182, p.81]

It is fundamentally not an innovative package, and hopefully Polyphony Digital will decide to make a few significant steps towards the future next time. But this is an enthusiast’s dream and very much the game that series vets have always wanted it to be. A slightly rusty old banger perhaps, but also the most reliable motor in town.

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]

Even though stellar work has gone into making the game as accessible as possible, there's no escaping the fact that Civilization games are for Civilization fans. And fans won't be dissapointed with Civilization IV. [Dec 2005, p.96]

It's frustrating, rewarding, addictive and entertaining in almost equal measure, and as much as you'll rant and moan when your lead is snatched away on the last corner, you'll keep going back for more. To call it the best original game on 3DS might be overstretching the meaning of the word 'original' but, all the same, this is something that no 3DS owner should be without.

The slow pace can make it less tempting to try again right away with a different tactic, but perhaps that’s for the best.

It won't ever be a classic, but Outlast does enough to be an important inclusion in your collection all the same. [Issue#140, p.113]

New traps and techniques make for some spectacular exhibitions of skill, and with game being significantly larger than anything previous, there’s enough here to challenge even the most dedicated Prince Of Persia fan. [Christmas 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]

An addictive game from a passionate team. [Issue#182, p.84]

TxK is Minter's best game, an experience that understands its form, and takes great pleasure in letting you know that. [Issue#146, p.116]

It is a game that has been crafted with care, love and attention and is the perfect antidote to the usual mainstream fare of guns, graphics and gore.

Tetris is an excellent puzzle game and, especially if you’re into the Nintendo presentation, it’s a very good value, well-constructed title. [May 2006, p.127]

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]

Massive, overwhelming, engaging and brilliant. [Issue#201, p.78]

Most disappointing of all, as hard as it tries (and it sure does try), it's just not funny.

Like Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, its influences are too obvious for it to transcend the medium, but they are so tastefully and skilfully referenced that it feels like rediscovering an overlooked gem. [Dec 2008, p.98]

Rather than force you from one style of gameplay to another depending on which level you're on, BG&E blends the transitions together almost seamlessly. The additional styles never really encroach on the main crux of the adventure; they're always peripheral and therefore serve to enrich the experience, rather than dilute it. [Dec 2003, p.114]

There's really nothing else like this on Sony's handheld right now. [Issue#140, p.116]

While little has changed on the surface, it’s fair to say that Infinity 3.0 improves on both of the game’s core pillars without really wobbling either.

Give it just the briefest of opportunities and it will manage to keep you hooked for hours. [Issue#143, p.114]

Sound Shapes will ultimately live or die by its community, which at the time of writing is in dire need of a sonic boom in terms of both users and quality levels. With support, it'll grow into something glorious. But even without, it's yet another novel and wholly entertaining reason to get a Vita. But you probably still won't.

While Hyrule Warriors might want for modes and options compared to recent entries, it more than compensates with the variety of its roster, subtle refinements to its systems, and that extra layer of Nintendo polish. Against all odds, it works beautifully. [Issue#152, p.102]

Spend time mastering the figting system, powering up your various attacks and revisiting stages to improve your combo scores and the game becomes so much more than just a basic hack-and-slash romp - it's a feast of replayable swordplay. [Apr 2004, p.100]

Ultimately, it’s the set pieces that linger in the memory. It never seems more than five minutes before Resistance 2 throws another leviathan at you. (…) There are moments to savour in every one of the game’s ten action-packed hours. [Christmas 2008, p.92]

An outstanding reinvention of a classic brand.

There’s an awful lot to like about Tomb Raider. It takes the gameplay Uncharted has used to such great effect (which was, of course, nicked from Tomb Raider in the first place), and replaces wise-cracking gentleman-thief Nathan Drake with this new damaged Lara Croft, one of the most involving characters seen in a computer game to date.

The feeling of accomplishment that that emerges from the wake of a particularly tough challenge makes all the hair-tearing worthwhile. [Aug 2004, p.104]

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

Swing as it might between different genres and gameplay styles, Wrath Of The Dead Rabbit never dips below brilliant. An inventive and entertaining big-budget debut for Arkedo, and one that confirms its ability to deliver both on the indie scene and the main stage.

A thoughtful experience with great gameplay. [Issue#172, p.94]