What’s here right now is thoroughly engaging. With more time it could have done a great deal more and found more depth that would serve it well for the future, but what it has done is impressive and most importantly and lot of fun to play.

Although the formula is very similar to the first title, the sheer number of extra elements makes it fun to collect all those piñatas again. [Nov 2008, p.98]

BitTrip Beat certainly makes for an atmospheric, pulse pounding experience, but it's not one that comes easily. [June 2009, p.128]

Prey is a masterpiece of design, but there are a few niggles that slightly mar the overall experience rather than the immediate game. It’s likely that you won’t even notice them until you’ve finished playing and are debating its merits with friends. [Aug 2006, p.106]

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

A meaningful and memorable text-adventure. [Issue#192, p.84]

It’s debatable whether or not this is worth buying if you own last year’s game…it comes down to how rich you are and how much you like golf. [Nov 2004, p.118]

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]

This is a game that’s all about innovation, and this is the only way in which Konami’s dancing games could be bettered. Dance Factory is a superb product that deserves to be noticed, and as such Codemasters should be commended. [Oct 2006, p.115]

Initially some of the decisions surrounding SimCity’s mechanics may seem frustrating, especially for diehard fans of the series, but give it time and you’ll realise – in spite of all of this – this is actually the best SimCity game yet.

While its story doesn't quite have the emotional heft it could have had with more character development, it nonetheless gives players a drive, and a reason to persist through a harsh world. [July 2018, p.73]

If you’re not remotely interested in logic brainteasers, then Picross DS is unlikely to change your mind. But Nintendo’s effort is the most complete version yet of this fearsomely addictive pastime. [June 2007, p.122]

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]

It’s debatable whether or not this is worth buying if you own last year’s game…it comes down to how rich you are and how much you like golf. [Nov 2004, p.118]

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]

No, it's not just an Origins knock-off. [Issue#206, p.70]

It's a more immediate and instantly gratifying variant of the classic game than any that have come before, but you have to wonder if all this pyrotechnic pizzazz doesn't come at the expense of long-term score attack potential. [Issue#104, p.123]

Though Codemasters' dedication to the many details underneath the simple, blocky exterior, Onrush ends up being much more than just Overwatch for petrolheads. It's an innovative resurrection of the arcade racer. [July 2018, p.76]

Different for everyone, yet still fantastic. [Issue#164, p.100]

A very different Final Fantasy, then, but one that becomes more familiar by the end - and we're certainly not going to bemoan Square Enix for attempting and achieving something beyond the usual expectations attached to the genre. [Apr 2010, p.112]

A season of fun ideas and great presentation. [Issue#206, p.76]

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]

Luckily, the core concept coupled with that gorgeous and impactful art style is enough to warrant our recommendation. Your time with Superhot may be fleeting, but you’ll find every second exhilarating.

This is God Of War exactly as you know it. Which means that whether or not you enjoy the nine hours Ghost Of Sparta offers is almost entirely dependent on whether you can stomach another God Of War. [Christmas 2010, p.101]

Solar Empire doesn’t force players to choose between giant locales, depth of gameplay, and explosive real-time space battles, it simultaneously provides them all. [May 2008, p.106]

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]

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]

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]