It looks fantastic and boasts a story worth telling, but perhaps the most satisfying thing about this update is that it offers both long-term fans and new recruits the same thing: a solid, rewarding and relevant space RTS that belies its significant age.

It lacks the sheer personality of Puzzle Quest or the exciting dynamism of Meteos, but it’s every bit as hypnotic. [Aug 2007, p.110]

There's a creeping sense that [the game] cares less about the player, and more the clinking in their coffers. [Issue#138, p.111]

Combat is razor-sharp and stuffed with combo potential, just as you'd expect from a Devil May Cry game.

As a standalone adventure, The Lost Future can't help but disappoint once its bite-sized, unimaginative nature begins to show through. [Issue#102, p.120]

While Dance Central 2's selection of tracks still lacks the eclectic feel (and silliness) found in Ubisoft's Just Dance, it still offers dozens of fine danceables.

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]

If it weren't presented with such craft and imagination, Bastion would be just another XBLA also-ran. But that's not a criticism, not should it be. [Issue#113, p.98]

Ultimately this all amounts to - hold on to your trousers, because this'll shock you - a genuinely good Sonic the Hedgehog game. Yes, in 2017. That this exists at all after so many failed attempts is impressive, but the fact that it's really good is a bloody miracle. [Issue#191, p.75]

The expense of having to use four GBAs, each with their own link cable, can't be avoided if you want to experience the game as it was intended; however, doing so gives you access to a world that proves that connectivity is more than just a gimmick - done properly, it can offer a wealth of new gameplay experiences. [July 2004, p.106]

If you can't find at least one thing you love about this deceptively deep arcade game then you're probably not a gamer at all. [Aug 2010, p.118]

It's through the amount of details, distractions and other additions to the more obvious elements that Symphonia builds itself up from what starts as an above-average RPG into one that'll stand as a benchmark in future. [Oct 2004, p.102]

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]

It's certainly been a while since a title has had us dumbfounded with pure, unbridled gaming joy and, to be honest, you can't get a much better endoresement than that. [June 2004, p.112]

This overall approach to MMORPGs is far more social and interesting than anything that has preceded it. [July 2007, p.104]

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]

Clever, unique, inventive but brief and repetitive. [Issue#172, p.91]

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

It’s the sheer epic nature of the single-player campaign that will leave you craving more. [May 2007, p.104]

Ultimately, none of the story beats or polish mask the fact that Max Payne 3 is very much a refinement of an old formula, and if you're looking for something brand new or revelatory it just isn't here. However, what is amazing is how Rockstar has fallen back on its trademark production values and sublime attention to detail to update the franchise in a compelling way. Factor in some impressive multiplayer offerings and it's still head-and-shoulders above most of its trigger-happy ilk.

EA has given birth to a franchise that simply demands to be played and replayed, and a game that makes the still-excellent Tony Hawk’s near redundant. The king is dead. Long live the king. [Nov 2007, p.102]

Repelling an invasion from an opposing faction or collectively scoring enough objectives to seize control of a territory offers a sense of achievement that only endgame raids of rival MMOs can match. [Nov 2008, p.120]

Resident Evil VII is exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. It’s a brave and bold move for Capcom, feeling quintessentially classic while still feeling fresh and adventurous in its ambitions. Ultimately, Resident Evil VII is a breathtaking return to form for a series we long thought had abandoned any hope of redemption. [Issue#184, p.73]

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

It is an enjoyable game, but if only Crystal Dynamics could have resolved its conflicts by focusing its attention on what Tomb Raider does best and cutting out anything that got in the way of that, it could have been something far more special.

The greys and browns might be offputting to those born and bred on Nintendo red, but don't be fooled. Advance Wars hasn't lost its true colours. Superb. [Mar 2008, p.122]

PUBG lives up to its monstrously large reputation. [Issue#197, p.74]

There’s a depth of content here that matches the game’s undoubted class, and ensures Playground Games is a genuine powerhouse in the world of digital racing. Forza Horizon 2 is a gorgeous, confident and relentlessly gratifying drive, and easily the best first-party exclusive on Xbox One.