In many ways, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is the biggest and most confident game Kojima has ever made, but you can’t escape the fact that while it’s certainly an immaculate world that has been created, it’s just a small fragment of something much larger we’ve yet to explore.

An interesting but limited spin-off. [Issue#201, p.84]

We can't help but have a soft spot for Defiance, if only because it not only looks impressive, but it kept us captivated right up to yet another tense climax; a rare combination for most recent games. [Christmas 2003, p.121]

If Birth By Sleep's twee story fails to impress, fans will be delighted to learn that it features the best combat in the series to date. Fast, fluid and featuring a variety of interesting mechanics, it's a huge improvement over past instalments. [Issue#101, p.122]

Dead good, but no "Ghost Squad." [May 2008, p.110]

This is all about the actual experience and arcade thrill and there’s nothing more exhilarating than flying through a screen of explosions while desperately dodging enemy missiles. [May 2007, p.113]

A solid and welcome return. [Issue#179, p.82]

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage has been aimed squarely at those who are sick and tired of fluffy and generous racing games. Indeed, this is harsh, uncompromising, over the top and at times incredibly frustrating. This feels like the point-blank shot in the face that racing games so sorely need. [Aug 2007, p.123]

A clever, but not seamless, mix of genres. [Issue#201, p.90]

It's a wholly entertaining romp filled with non-stop nonsense and inspired moments that set it apart from almost every other Wii game. [Christmas 2009, p.120]

Nier is so burdened with poor design choices and outdated mechanics that some won't be able to see the ingenuity through the fit of technical hiccups. [Issue#96, p.124]

In many ways The Sims 4 is a beginning, its core foundation of functions playing their parts beautifully. But in others it feels like a step back, like a set of systems designed around future expansion in mind and not providing the necessary wealth of options from the start.

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]

Stubbs deserves to succeed, just to prove to publishers and retailers that new IPs and obscure ideas aren't something to fear. [Mar 2006, p.118]

Overall, you're getting two full games here, both involving and complex - if not a little dated - and well worth your money. [May 2009, p.104]

Those searching for an exact simulation of the sport should go for FIFA. Those looking to score spectacular goals, have end-to-end matches and play at a ridiculous pace should plump for Pro Evo. [Dec 2007, p.134]

A knowing tribute to the games of yesteryear and a worthy counterpart to both the film and comic. [Issue#101, p.112]

It's such a tough sell, as it's so short and so little of its running time can actually be defined as 'gameplay'. It's such a maverick, though, and such a bananas way to spend eight hours, that it's almost certainly something everyone should experience. Just don't go expecting the Earth. Asura's already smashed it to pieces.

Its numerous annoyances prevent it from enjoying ‘must-have’ status but if Nintendo’s promised patch eliminates its most irritating one, it could be great rather than merely good like it is now.

In a game so clearly reliant on tension, ambience and atmosphere, it's almost unthinkable that somebody at one of the largest entertainment companies in the world would not choose dubbing rather than subtitling in such an Eastern title but, worse still, green-light the appalling finished dub which may well have permanently damaged our ears. [Mar 2004, p.94]

It’s cute, and a bit silly, and extremely easy to play and enjoy. It’s a relatively new sort of videogame, and one whose premise doesn’t have much to do with hours of play or complexity. [Nov 2005, p.122]

Digital Extremes should be reasonably proud of Pariah, even though it falls short of being the be all and end all of the genre that the developer claimed it would be. [May 2005, p.90]

Electronic Arts’ decision to free the series from simply being one man on a very direct mission by creating a virtual battlefield is a wise one but one that hasn’t quite reached as far as it could. [July 2005, p.106]

Action-packed, but with thought behind it. [Christmas 2005, p.106]

Once you crest its steep learning curve, it becomes subtly addictive. [Issue#145, p.114]

Despite the backtracking issues, Secret Rings remains an altogether more satisfying platform game than many of its peers. [Apr 2007, p.116]

Beautiful, but hampered by lackluster storytelling. [Issue#203, p.76]

For what it is and on its own merits, it's the ultimate version of the world's best online game, period. However, we can't escape the fact that this is little more than Counter-Strike 1.6 with decent bots - a game we've been playing for years and for free. [May 2004, p.118]