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]