It’s perfectly functional, neatly presented, and consistently enjoyable to play, but there’s nothing here to make it particularly memorable or great. [Oct 2008, p.106]

'Licensed' tunes feel somewhat out of place and are cover versions that veer violently from the decent to the offensive in terms of both selection and quality. Does anyone really want to play bongos along to Blink 182's 'All The Small Things'? Didn't think so. [Nov 2004, p.120]

Essentially you're probably going to hate Mario Smash Football if you enjoy football games. Conversely, if you were a fan of "Sega Soccer Slam" you'll love it. [Christmas 2005, p.108]

It might have started off as a joke, but the funny thing about Goat Simulator is that it’s a much better game than it has any right to be.

Breath of Life will have its fervent champions, but it won't go supernova. [Issue#159, p.113]

After several hours of increasingly punishing shoot/swing repetition, all the good ideas come at once in the last hour or so. [June 2009, p.108]

Unfortunately, the extras and vehicle customisation can’t change the fact that the actual racing feels very average. The tracks seem to be more winding than the last game, which detracts from the feeling of speed, and the handling feels very sloppy when compared to other recent games in the genre. [Christmas 2004, p.117]

This is EA’s take on NHL action as it’s always been, rejigged with improved animations and new moves so it’s inevitably the best version yet. [Nov 2004, p.119]

Broken up with vehicle and on-rails sections that aren’t nearly as horrible as tradition dictates they should be, Blood On The Sand is an entertaining action title with absolutely no imagination. [Apr 2009, p.102]

Good, but nowhere near Housemarque's best work. [Issue#191, p.78]

We were able to sit back and twiddle our thumbs more than we’d like – it all just feels a little dumbed down.

You’re essentially playing an endurance test in videogame form. It’s not terrible, but it is horribly annoying. If you’re aware of that before going in you may just love it. [May 2007, p.121]

Thrilling and fun, but deeply online-focused. [Issue#198, p.76]

You'll be jabbing the square button until fatigue eventually sets in. [Issue#102, p.106]

As a PlayStation 3 title, a distinct lack of longevity and a disappointing multiplayer game will see it land short of the hole. [Issue#115, p.111]

Forts Under Siege might have enough reward on offer but the series is still relying on gamers to meet it halfway by investing ample time and patience in learning its demanding intricacies. [Dec 2004, p.112]

The atmosphere is electric, the sense of making tiny in-roads to solve a great problem as satisfying as it is frustrating... Spark never allows you to forget that outside the restrictive confines of the first-person viewpoint there's a much, much bigger fight going on involving thousands of men. [Jan 2005, p.110]

Forts Under Siege might have enough reward on offer but the series is still relying on gamers to meet it halfway by investing ample time and patience in learning its demanding intricacies. [Dec 2004, p.112]

A beautiful world marred by irritating controls. [Issue#198, p.83]

The story, writing and the role-playing part of the game is distinctly previous-gen play, if not older.

You'll get most out of the game on Xbox Live. Working alone or with friends, Carve's online races are unique as the properties of water allow for some novel gameplay. By crossing in front of rivals you can create waves that make life more difficult for them - something that works particularly well when working as part of a team. [Feb 2004, p.120]

Sure, it's all beautifully put together, and you'll be hard pushed to find an adventure-lite world as well realised as here... However, despite all the creative effort Jak 3 is exactly the sum of its parts, and feels all the more underwhelming because of it. [Christmas 2004, p.118]

Rumours of am MMO Animal Crossing and even a dedicated Wii Channel had got us very excited about the sequel, but the reality comes as a crushing disappointment. [Jan 2009, p.100]

Beautiful, joke-filled, but ultimately a little empty. [Issue#191, p.82]

Infinite raises more questions than it delivers answers. [Issue#194, p.74]

An interesting idea, but it's fundamentally flawed in its execution, with too much trust placed on trigger-happy gamers to overcome these barriers to play. [Issue#93, p.126]

But as a full game in its own right, Ridge Racer 3D feels like a cold shell that is part of a larger, ageing franchise.

If the game left less to chance, perhaps we'd be somewhat more ready to join their ranks. [Issue#149, p.120]