As it stands, it's just another indie game lost in the noise. [Issue#139, p.119]

Unfinished, or at the very least, unpolished. [Issue#102, p.112]

While it may not be anywhere near the calibre of the PC titles, it does become a perfectly playable action RPG (with the emphasis on 'action') after the first trudging hour or so. [Apr 2004, p.122]

Nowhere near the shallow quality those infernal Miis would suggest. [Issue#102, p.114]

It’s unfortunate that the design aspect is so much more entertaining than the game itself but that’s not to discredit the actual adventure – it’s still a perfectly enjoyable action RPG title that just suffers from being a little simple. [Nov 2005, p.120]

Childish, bright and gaudy - but great fun! [Issue#149, p.127]

There’s an overriding feeling of novelty, however, and as much fun as the game can be, it’s hard to shake the impression that your interest will eventually wane. [Aug 2006, p.131]

First Light struggles to display any new ideas. [Issue#153, p.120]

Definitely worth a look, but for anyone familiar with the rest of Nippon Ichi's output, Atelier Iris 2 will dazzle and at times almost insult with its simplicity. [Sept 2006, p.124]

Unfortunately, this ‘puzzle’ system doesn’t have as much depth as you’d want – especially during later levels, with things finishing before they’ve really gotten started. There’s a good idea here, presented in a way that is silly enough to be charming, but not dim-witted.

A fine, yet lukewarm, RPG spinoff. [Issue#193, p.85]

Limited gameplay appeal. [Issue#102, p.116]

If you put any value in the game mechanics that have arrived over the last 20 years with a mind to prevent tantrum-inducing frustration, you might want to steer clear.

While the card and strategy elements work surprisingly well, they don’t really fit the stealth side of the game for which the series is so highly regarded. [June 2005, p.112]

Wii has plenty of other titles that offer a few hours of undemanding fun. The abandoned potential of Road Trip is proof of what a wasteful approach that can be. [Christmas 2008, p.103]

It's a mile-long love letter to the fans. [Issue#148, p.120]

Between the reworked note charts that often don't feel quite right, and the barebones structure of Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits, a full-price release seems optimistic. [Aug 2009, p.119]

The series still doesn't quite work in 3D; you'd need a lot of patience and considerable tolerance to truly enjoy this game. [Aug 2005, p.112]

This is RPG lite, Animal Crossing plus questing, and for some people that's absolutely fine. [Issue#153, p.124]

The downside of Boogie Bunnies comes only from the vast number of titles it’s up against. [Apr 2008, p.117]

In order to get any challenge or satisfaction from Rebellion’s dustbowl shooter, it must be tackled on the hardest difficulty setting right away; only then will Black Hawk Down demonstrate any of the depth or well-implemented tactical elements it has to offer. [Sept 2005, p.110]

It is strong when it comes to emulating cricket, and gameplay mechanics are better than anything we've seen from cricket games over the last few years. However, the so-called "budget" feel that permeates the title detracts from an otherwise decent effort. [Issue#148, p.125]

Ultimately, this is a run-of-the-mill dating sim that, while fun, is a hard game to love. [Issue#153, p.125]

Fun, but too annoying and limited to be anything more. It's technically impressive, but that's not all you pay for and, sadly, the gameplay can't cash the cheques that the visuals write. [May 2004, p.100]

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]

All three groups will merely be content, not delighted. [Issue#160, p.96]

If only Ubisoft Montreal had felt more confident in its wild gambit – if only it had gone further with the Stone Age concept – and we could have been looking at something special. Instead, we have a Far Cry game that feels fun in its familiarity, but is sadly lacking in many integral ways.

A lack of interactivity makes playing Flower, Sun, And Rain an experience not unlike listening to a favourite album, letting images wash through the mind for their own worth. [Dec 2008, p.119]