Handheld gaming is designed for brief sessions and, in bite-sized chunks, Daxter is a very tasty proposition. [May 2006, p.116]

There are too many AI quirks and tic to make offline play a useful or even enjoyable tool for learning the ropes, so despite some promising advances, Unreal Championship 2 is just another game to file under the 'buy it if you have Xbox Live' sub-division of the FPS genre. [May 2005, p.86]

As beautiful as it is barbaric, and as technical as the player wants it to be. [Issue#107, p.90]

Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition could arguably be the best portable version of the core series yet produced, but this is testament to the severely limited nature of what came before rather than any standout success on this game's part.

City of Heroes is the shot in the arm that the genre so desperately needed. Thanks to some extremely accessible gameplay it's a title that appeals to old hands and newcomers alike. [Aug 2004, p.116]

Whether you’re a hardened Pokemaniac, an open-minded person with a love of great games or even an impressionable child, you’ll struggle to get better value for money than you will find in this glimmering pair. [June 2007, p.124]

It's the co-op multiplayer that really allows Guardian of Light to shine. [Issue#100, p.136]

A true 'thinking man’s shooter', then, and one that can be enjoyed by all those capable of engaging their brain before pulling the trigger. [June 2005, p.109]

Instead of progressing videogame stealth action, it’s a game gone into hiding – cowering behind a shroud of misguided pseudo-innovation and unbelievable difficulty. [Dec 2006, p.106]

If this is what Square Enix can do when they outsource the Final Fantasy property (even spiritually) we hope to see the core series go down this route, too; it’s a damn sight better than the numbered entries’ recent efforts.

Kudos to Ubisoft for not only recognising the differences between console PC and console gaming but developing Instincts around them. It's certainly the better game for it. [Nov 2005, p.106]

So it's a flawed package then, but it's also one that contains some of the best graphics ever seen on a console, and is one of the premier multiplayer games in existence. [Christmas 2011, p.94]

That Onimusha 3 is the final chapter is a shame, given its stellar mix of action and puzzles. Combine this with a new control system and it's clear that the series is only just hitting its stride. [July 2004, p.102]

While the core game is strong enough to hold its own in the Final Fantasy universe, the dress-up combat and whimsical approach could easily deter less patient or open-minded players. Even for the more easygoing gamer, there are times when the 'you go, girl' attitude can grate a little. [Jan 2004, p.102]

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 great addition to any GBA collection...While there may be instances where the lack of a vertically scrolling screen can unfairly get you killed, the quality of the game's other elements is ample compensation for this annoyance. [Nov 2004, p.117]

It's only let down by a lack of fresh blood, but in terms of where the hammer falls, it still bangs the nail in cleanly. [Issue#102, p.117]

With its sense of fun, complex tools, and balance of enjoyment and depth, World Tour contains the ability to both teach and entertain. [Dec 2008, p.94]

If you’re looking for a new experience then there are few multiplayer games as well balanced and enthralling as Rocket League. This could well be a contender for one of the best games of the year.

A handheld game that pitches the balance between pick-up-and-play fun and engaging gameplay exactly. The clever level design and artistic merit are an added bonus. [Jan 2009, p.129]

A game that's still unique, impactful and wholly entertaining despite containing every FPS cliche conceived since Halo and Half-Life. [Issue#108, p.98]

This is easily the best Soul Calibur package to date, though there is a niggling feeling that things may not have moved on enough. [Sept 2008, p.114]

When a horror story is told and paced this well you really don't need the bloody edge of graphics technology to keep you pinned to the edge of your seat. [Issue#101, p.110]

Fable is an intensely personal experience and one that's difficult to describe to someone else – you really have to allow yourself to become immersed within the boundaries of this twee little world to fully appreciate its magic and discover what it means to you. And, indeed, what it says about you… [Nov 2004, p.96]

GTR is a truly awesome racing game that will have petrolheads in raptures. However, the extreme nature of the game is intimidating, even for the hardened racer. [Apr 2005, p.106]

You’ll see and hear a lot of things your senses weren’t prepared for and revisiting a more traditional RPG afterwards is like walking out after an all-night party and going straight to the local library... A wonderfully pleasant and refreshing surprise. [March 2005, p.112]

Don't be discouraged by Sacred Stones' similarity to the previous Fire Emblem game; we wouldn't change it for the world. [Aug 2005, p.116]

It might not be the greatest example of the current generation’s power, nor is it an exercise in reinvention and uniqueness – but when you’ve sunk 50 hours into Inquisition and hardly realised, and you still want to play it for another 50 hours, then you know you’re onto something good. This time the fans get what they want – and apparently what they wanted was very good indeed.