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

It's always refreshing to see new franchises succeed, and Renegade Ops does just that. [Issue#115, p.104]

Polished, involving and a great deal of fun, but current-gen in all but the smallest details. [Oct 2006, p.126]

Lumines II is a package no fan should be without. The sublime synthesis of music, light, sound and block manipulation is as fresh as ever. [Christmas 2006, p.123]

The five maps are great now, but they’ll grate if you’re playing them over and over again for weeks on end while waiting for new content. What’s here is undoubtedly clever and thoroughly entertaining, but it’s also limited and given Nintendo’s history with new IPs, be prepared for the possibility that its online community may have dwindled by the time the promised DLC makes up the fuller package envisioned.

The finest game Sports Interactive has released. Games released annually tend to feel incredibly similar year on year, but a lack of progress isn’t something that can be claimed here. Yes, at its core it’s the Football Manager we know and love, only this time it’s a treat for the eyes as well as the head.

Serious gamers after a good mixture of challenge, story and mechanics may be left wanting. [Issue#167, p.79]

Given the sheer time investment required to really do it justice only the truly committed will ever discover the deeper joys and wonderful complexities if the game. Then again, only the truly committed will give Phantom Brave a second look. [Feb 2005, p.104]

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is an excellent update to the already impressive Freedom 2 and features an unbelievable amount of new content and end-game potential. [Aug 2009, p.116]

This sequel has built upon Saints Row’s foundations no end and created an experience that stands alone despite the competition. [Christmas 2008, p.118]

Despite a veritable host of respectable changes and additions, this still can't live up to the standards of the original game. An improvement over the last console effort, but with so much more potential than is actually realised, Bustin' Out still disappoints a little. [Christmas 2003, p.126]

Absolutely Capcom at its best. [Issue#141, p.115]

If you play Call Of Duty online all year round then Christmas has officially come early. But if you’re a sucker for the ludicrous, globe-trotting, re-skinned James Bond adventures that constitute these games in single player, you’ve picked the perfect year in which to take a twelve-month break.

It’s important that The Witcher doesn’t take itself too seriously, because that’s what helps it stand apart from the rest of the pack. [Chrismas 2007, p.134]

A fun game. [Issue#144, p.115]

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

Episode 3 ups the stakes and takes narrative risks that we rarely get to see: it expands the game’s universe not only forward, but outward… and the very last scene makes you question every single decision you’ve made so far, even down to the random photos you’ve taken around the Bay. We say that without a hint of hyperbole, without a hint of drama. Chaos theory in action, indeed.

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.

A drama-heavy storyline adds to the already deeply tense, ER-style atmosphere, making this a must-have DS title. [Christmas 2005, p.117]

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]

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]

The pinnacle of the series’ handheld bloodline but also nothing that we haven’t really seen before. [Feb 2009, p.112]

Telltale has redefined what a LucasArts adventure can be, turning a comedy adventure into a comedy drama, and we're sure it will have a lasting effect on where the franchise goes from here. [Feb 2010, p.130]

Cold War's sense of fun is backed up with a more measured, rewarding battle structure. [Nov 2011, p.112]

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker may not be Nintendo Japan’s best work, then. But it’s testament to the consistently high bar that their platform developer’s internal teams have set over the past few years.

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's the strength of the stories that helps carry what would otherwise be a fairly linear and uninteresting concept. A niche title, then, but one that those looking for something unique should enjoy with relish. [Dec 2005, p.118]

The best episodic game out there right now. [Issue#168, p.94]

Full of humor and charm. [Issue#137, p.112]

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]

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]

Despite a veritable host of respectable changes and additions, this still can't live up to the standards of the original game. An improvement over the last console effort, but with so much more potential than is actually realised, Bustin' Out still disappoints a little. [Christmas 2003, p.126]

It's refreshing to be allowed this pace. [Issue#142, p.119]

It seems like it was made for an audience of gamers over a decade ago, brimming with try-hard references and cringe-worthy jokes. Penetrate the skin, and you’ve got a serviceable game at the core. But a ten-hour journey to the centre of what makes Sunset Overdrive good feels more like a voyage to the centre of the earth.

A plot slower than a walker. [Issue#183, p.81]

This politically moribund playground plays host to many guilt-free, brainless hours of insanity. Just be prepared to put the ground work in. You've got to learn to walk before you can run on the wing of a biplane. [Apr 2010, p.110]

Striding purposefully along the history of a genre it created, id has plucked the best ideas from four generations of first-person shooters and woven them into something not especially original, but truly exceptional nonetheless.

Hardcore Total War completists are unlikely to be disappointed. [Apr 2010, p.128]

Table Tennis really shines as a videogame representation of the long-neglected sport that’s both authentic and extremely fun. [July 2006, p.116]

It demands skill without being overly realistic and is challenging without being overly frustrating – an ideal combination that forms the backbone of an incredibly enjoyable game. [JPN Import; Feb 2005, p.116]

A few localisation issues aside, Kingdom Under Fire is an absorbing and resplendent fusion of genres further improved by a selection of online modes that will ensure the game remains fresh and enjoyable even after the world has been saved. Again. [Oct 2004, p.112]

There's just not enough to do besides the main tasks to justify stealing the GTA concept ... the distinct lack of content reduces the amount of enjoyment you'll get out of it. Better than you'd think, but still very basic. [Nov 2003, p.118]

Despite a veritable host of respectable changes and additions, this still can't live up to the standards of the original game. An improvement over the last console effort, but with so much more potential than is actually realised, Bustin' Out still disappoints a little. [Christmas 2003, p.126]

Even when the game begins to repeat itself, it never ceases to be fun. The initial wonderment may wear off slightly, but the engine is so solid and the gameplay mechanic is so enjoyable that SSX On Tour never drops below stellar status. [Dec 2005, p.102]

Watch Dogs 2 wastes its incredible, realistic world and believable characters by leaning on boring gunplay, basic cover-shooter mechanics and tonal-inconsistencies that upend every part of it. Watch Dogs 2 has the opposite problems to its predecessor then. Acts of aggression (in whatever form they may have taken) made sense for vigilante Aiden Pierce, his mission thrived on it; and oh god now Watch Dogs 2 is making us defend and justify the existence of the blandest protagonist in videogames. But that’s Watch Dogs 2, a game that will make you question everything you thought you knew about open world game design, because clearly something needs to change.

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

Fun monarch simulator that's almost too witty. [Issue#196, p.89]

It retains the proven mechanics and then adds tiny touches that make the old formula even better. [Jan 2007, p.106]

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]

There’s a wonderful nugget of a game in Spirit Of Justice. The writing, as always, is gripping and clever – even if the puns aren’t – and the series hasn’t looked this special since the intricate sprite art animations of the first three games. It’s a shame that it’s wrapped up in what feels like nervousness – the worry that a visual novel can’t compete with the big boys.

A short, simple showcase of artistic talent. [Issue#200, p.79]

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.

It does a superb job of replicating the sensation of playing your memory of a decade-old shooter, even if it does so by basically being a decade-old shooter. [Christmas 2010, p.126]

Though its main campaign may be a little on the short side, Vampire Smile squeezes more clever gameplay detours, edge-of-your-seat encounters, knowing nods to the wider world and hidden goodies than most full price retail releases.

While it's huge and complex in many of its systems, it still feels as if it is caught in 2014. [Issue#194, p.68]

Between its wonderful style, superb boss fights and chaotic carnage, Madworld is evidently a magnificent and unique title. [Apr 2009, p.117]

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]

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.

The problems that are here don't detract from the fascinatingly hardcore option to leave the Career mode behind and create your own park in the Sandbox mode without constraints of time and money... And whilst it's immensely hard to get this right, it's massively satisfying when you do. [Christmas 2004, p.120]

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]

A thoroughly compelling strategy game. Quirky too, playing to the video game retro-chic and tongue-in-cheek humour that's popular especially among XBLA and digital games today. Despite the slightly overblown frills, there's plenty of depth to Skulls Of The Shogun that will instantly engage any type of strategy gamer.

It may be a technical marvel, a beautiful game of staggering scope and scale, but its gameplay is narrow, linear and never changes. [Chrismas 2007, p.122]

Playful proof that the classic RPG isn't dead. [Issue#174, p.76]

Its series of interconnected systems are well balanced and while some of them will feel disappointingly familiar to series veterans, there’s sufficient diversity and flexibility here to feed the series ongoing evolution.

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]

The best Assassin's Creed experience in years. [Issue#194, p.69]

This is a shining example of what can be achieved on Wii when thought and developmental talent combine. While the 360 version will be better for the purists, the sheer exuberance of playing the game on Wii is unmatched. [Feb 2007, p.114]

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

The game is still fun to play, and never becomes frustrating or dislikeable, but it never quite achieves the potential it so obviously holds. [Apr 2008, p.118]

On a straight fighting level, SoulCalibur has never been better, and, although it might be locally anorexic, the multiplayer side offers more than any Soul titles since the original Calibur made the Dreamcast a must-have. [Issue#118, p.94]

Adjectives are a big deal for this sequel; we were amazed how many actively altered the objects we were summoning. Living houses, broken TVs… bust out the dictionary and get creative. [Christmas 2010, p.107]

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]

It's fair to say that Deception remains true to the series in that it delivers much of what you'd want from it, though this only means it's a reasonable fighting game with plenty of blood and some grisly deaths... Kould have been much better. [Dec 2004, p.110]

It’s a fantastic game; an echo of the past that simultaneously feels (in the most part) contemporary, and a game made with such a clear love, passion and vision behind it that you can’t help but feel its 26-year gestation period actually helped.

In an age where choice of avatar often means nothing more than trivial personalisation, it's great to see a game like Muramasa come along and use that choice to offer twice as much game. [Dec 2009, p.124]

Between the pitch-perfect length, a case of cheeky characters you just want to pinch and a distinct visual style you'll be left with a lasting fond impression. Short, sweet and filled to the brim with charm, you won't want to drop this one in a hot minute. [Issue#200, p.80]

It is the limited content that is Jamestown's biggest letdown. [Issue#111, p.110]

The stealth mechanics are so pure. [Issue#136, p.110]

It is difficult to see MC:LA as anything other than a chance to reacquaint yourself with Grand Theft Auto IV’s miraculous engine. [Christmas 2008, p.115]

Moonlighter builds good will, even in the face of some of its design choices. The grind from lowly dungeoneer and shopkeeper to an adventurer in your own right is enjoyable and, thanks to the gorgeous pixel art, you won't want to take your eyes off it. [July 2018, p.82]

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

Worthy of your time, despite being predictable. [Issue#199, p.74]

Exploring the lost village is a terrifying experience that's enhanced by a greatly improved graphics engine and a well-structured soundtrack. Tecmo's latest effort may be flawed and far from innovative, but it's still an enjoyably scary experience. [Feb 2004, p.114]

A game that combines the best of both worlds - Pokemon and pinball - while putting aside a lot of the elements that usually put people off. The pinball aspects win out over the extensive wandering, random battling and other RPG bits of the Pokemon series which, if you're not a fan, can only be a good thing. [Nov 2003, p.124]

By 'refocusing' the game to concentrate on the more realistic side of the sport, Hitz Pro takes the series down a new path that loses any sense of identity that it might have made for itself. [Dec 2003, p.124]

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

Culture Shock retains the snappy humour of its predecessor, ensuring that long-suffering fans of the detective duo will no doubt love the game as much as the original. [Dec 2006, p.113]

A refined, smarter version. [Issue#153, p.122]

With far too much new content to list here, it offers a brilliantly rejuvenated experience to die-hard fans and a reason for the wandering flock to return. [Oct 2007, p.118]

Canyon may well become the definitive version of this smile-inducing stunt racer, but unless you're already a veteran it may be worth waiting a while before taking this sequel for a drive. [Issue#115, p.100]

If you’re after a fair few hours of well-presented violence combined with a surprisingly interesting history lesson, then look no further than Dawn Of Dreams. [Apr 2006, p.118]

It's fair to say that Deception remains true to the series in that it delivers much of what you'd want from it, though this only means it's a reasonable fighting game with plenty of blood and some grisly deaths... Kould have been much better. [Dec 2004, p.110]

For those who thought splitting monsters across two carts was a bit rude originally, this is surely the ultimate swindle. For anyone else, there's a healthy slice of monster hunting to be had. [Nov 2004, p.118]

Players now react quicker and more like their real-life counterparts when handling the first touch of the ball. And first touches are generally smoother now, with players being able to flick on, trap or kick straight away on receipt. In practice, however, it’s not such a massive advancement and the player movement and control is still fairly sluggish. [Nov 2004, p.121]

Taking out several Stormtroopers with one sweeping flash of neon is a gratifying sight, but the fun really starts as more and more Saber-wielding Dark Jedi are introduced into the fray and the scene becomes awash with multiple blades. [Nov 2003, p.116]

Things haven't progressed enough and, it has to be said, "DMC4" is the better game. [July 2008, p.114]

The main game strikes enough of a balance between accessibility and challenge that it'll likely keep you shooting away the hours without you noticing them pass. [Issue#113, p.114]

It doesn't matter how many explosions or missiles you cram into a mech game, it will still remain a product for a niche audience. Mechassault 2: Lone Wolf may have more to appeal to the mainstream gaming community than the average title in the genre but it's still a mech game. [Feb 2005, p.90]