Not since 2004’s Richard Burns Rally has there been a rally game that has approached the sport with the goal of definitively portraying it as it exists in reality: cars that require significant practise to master, terrain as difficult to memorise as it is to slide across, weather that makes ‘white out’ literal and opponents that punish even the slightest hesitation.

A fantastic reimagining of arcade racing. [Issue#203, p.83]

It’s most definitely aimed at those who were enamoured with last year’s masterpiece – there’s nothing so radically different it could alter any opinion. [June 2007, p.108]

A thoroughly engrossing puzzle game. [Issue#180, p.47]

It’s no longer a culturally significant event, and even Lara’s charms are beginning to lose their edge. But make no mistake, it warms our hearts to see Lara back doing what she does best. [Christmas 2008, p.98]

Stunning, but undermined by microtransactions. [Issue#205, p.82]

While Retro City Rampage does make several missteps, it manages to get so many things right. The end result is a fitting tribute to the halcyon days of gaming and an entertaining game in its own right.

Fallout 4 feels more like a Fallout 3.5: an improvement on Bethesda’s last game but a compromised one that loses some of the core appeal of the series.

What continues to impress on our second time playing through Treasure Tracker is the quality of the level design. The addition of stages based on worlds from Super Mario Odyssey is yet more evidence that these little dioramas are a rich format for creativity. [Issue#203, p.86]

While some may argue that Factions is ‘more of the same’ and nothing greater than a hefty expansion, the sheer amount of fresh content easily makes the title a worthy purchase. [Aug 2006, p.124]

Alien Hominid is a joyful experience, an unashamedly simple game that makes you want to play until you can't feel your hands anymore... The perfect budget game. [Jan 2005, p.104]

While not without its problems and questionable design decisions, Street Fighter X Tekken is miraculous in that it even works at all. It simply shouldn't.

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]

Don’t venture into Hohokum hoping to understand what it’s all about, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Despite being far lighter on content than its PSP predecessors, Tri always feels like it has plenty more to offer. [Issue#95, p.106]

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 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.

With an engaging plot that's as much a commentary on consumerism as it is a tale of morality, Forgotton Anne's inspired narrative is backed up by some solid and engaging gameplay. [Issue#200, p.74]

When a single small arms shot can finish your game, the disconcerting staccato of an M4A1 Carbine or the bass of an exploding grenade somewhere in the distance is enough to create a palpable and exciting atmosphere on its own. [Dec 2009, p.112]

A game aware of its shortcomings and eager to prove its worth in other areas, Chinatown Wars manages to retain much of the classic Grand Theft Auto feel even without some of the series' lynchpins. [May 2009, p.102]

A triumphant mix of masculinity and pastiche, an excitable exercise in action gaming that moves the genre forward into exciting new territory, by taking the sim side out of the equation and focusing on the most important thing: action. It's ridiculous in every sense of the word, from the controls to the combat, but it remains an undeniable thrill throughout.

2K wasn’t exaggerating when it called Beyond The Sword the biggest Civilization expansion ever, but it failed to mention that it’s also its most innovative and entertaining expansion too. [Sept 2007, p.112]

We’re also happy to inform fans that HD Remix is one of the tightest, lag-free online fighters we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. [Jan 2009, p.104]

With this same level of investigating, the original would have birthed a classic horror videogame not a cult title. [Apr 2008, p.102]

By far the most pleasing aspect of Super Mario 64 DS is the consistent quality of the new mini-games, with the bombs and the catapult game adding something to dip into alongside the lure of the main adventure itself. [Jan 2005, p.121]

At its cold, frostbitten heart, Frostpunk is a game of decisions, and what makes it so satisfying is they all matter. [Issue#200, p.75]

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]

Like it or not, the Final Fantasy series has come of age and this new approach to the genre is a breath of fresh air. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.108]