An invigorating shot of speed and carnage that tops that of the original, even if it does fall short of the mighty "Burnout." [Aug 2006, p.121]

To anyone who knows their Kitty Ns from their Knittys, Technic Beat is a simplistic delight that constantly surprises with quality and entertainment far beyond what its budget price would suggest. [Sept 2005, p.116]

Between well-designed dungeons, thrilling boss battles and a compelling hook in Elena's deteriorating condition, Pandora's Tower is a unique treat for those still loyal to the Wii.

None of Mario Golf World Tour’s changes are revolutionary – ten years away has brought surprisingly few new ideas – but the core gameplay is as fun and attractive as ever, so if you’re looking for a golf game for the 3DS this will do just fine.

Yet another canny elaboration of what continues to be a deeply beloved series of videogames. [Issue#159, p.108]

At times, it can be too clunky and a little finicky, but while The Swindle is undoubtedly a great idea, games of this ilk can’t suffer missteps like infuriating controls – and sadly that does hold this game back.

What would otherwise be a pretty bog standard platform game is elevated by the workshop option. [Issue#159, p.109]

Building on what it achieved with Pneuma: Breath Of Life, The Turing Test is a far more robust, captivating and fulfilling experience. It’s not breaking ground, but it explores some fun ideas and challenges you to follow them. As a sign of Bulkhead’s growing confidence and ambition, it’s a fantastic step.

Granted, it may be the thick vein of very British humour running throughout the game that takes some credit for holding frustration at bay. However, Elixir has learnt much from the overly-ambitious Republic and, as such, everything about this title feels far more rounded and polished. [Nov 2004, p.112]

It’s fan service, definitely, but not ill-conceived or exploitative in any way. [Mar 2009, p.96]

Impressive visuals aside, Maiden Of Black Water is unashamedly last-gen in design. It’s creepy enough to give you sleepless nights and the story’s better than that of previous games, but you’ll have to put up with occasionally clunky controls if you want to enjoy this tale. It’s just about worth it.

Although it would have been nicer to see Nintendo pick one of two directions rather than offer something that perches on the fence between platforming thrills and RPG depth, Sticker Star is nonetheless a beautiful and eventually engrossing adventure, once it hits its stride.

Sure, Chapters might be technically temperamental and occasionally get itself tangled in the threads of the series’ narrative, but it is also intelligent, crafts its world skilfully and has an admirable commitment to themes and design principles that make it stand out. We’re left eager to see where it goes next.

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]

Smart, sketchy but pacy, Q.U.B.E: Director’s Cut is more than worth the price of admission, regardless of format.

Taken as a purely forward-looking puzzle game (with a well-told story, to boot), Layton provides DS entertainment in a unique fashion. [JPN Import; May 2007, p.112]

Like no JRPG you've seen. [Issue#95, p.120]

A pleasant surprise. It certainly does not offer the same experience that "SSX 3's" genre-leading gameplay does, but because Avalanche is just as good for different reasons, it doesn't necessarily have to. [Christmas 2003, p.94]

The GBA does a great job of keeping up with the arcade version. Graphically it impresses, with tons of sprites and gunfire lighting up the screen (a bonus for non-SP owners) although the sound can be a little squelchy. [Jan 2005, p.100]

It's not revolutionary by any means, nor is it particularly long, but thanks to some clever creative control the game delivers a funny, engrossing and downright weird experience unlike most other platform adventures. [July 2005, p.104]

Given the constraints of the sport, SSX 3 does a great job of keeping the game as open as possible. If nothing else, the SSX series represents something of a benchmark for snowboarding games, a trend that continues with this instalment. No one title of this generation can claim obvious superiority. [Dec 2003, p.102]

It’s the touches like the resulting wounds and bloodstains from each swing of a blade or the limb damage that really keep you playing. Indeed, attention to detail is excellent throughout and Colosseum does a great job of creating and maintaining a consistent game world. [Sept 2005, p.108]

Canyon may well become the definitive version of this smile-inducing stunt racer, but unless you're already a veteran it may be worth waiting a while before taking this sequel for a drive. [Issue#115, p.100]

Legend is the best Tomb Raider game that has yet been made. Despite the game's few grating problems, that's quite an accolade. [May 2006, p.102]

For the price point at which Never Alone is currently offered, we can’t argue it’s amazing value for money. However, we do believe it’s a new experience in gaming, and a stellar proof of concept for what the developer/publisher combo wants to do. If you’re after a biographical and socially relevant gaming experience, invest in Never Alone and you won’t regret it.

Baboon! ticks a whole lot of our boxes. [Issue#159, p.111]

Single-player falls down only by virtue of the fact that repetition of missions is crucial to progress, although with such a clear multiplayer focus, it's no surprise that this is the highlight. [June 2009, p.120]

There is a great game within, that in small ways perfectly shakes up the Quake/Unreal formula. Finding it though means pushing through several barriers to entry. LawBreakers plays great. It just feels like a game its developers don't want anyone, except a select few, to play. This fixation on niche has bred a singular shooter but might just kill the game before it can get started. [Issue#191, p.72]