But don't let all this talk of management fool you, there's a real thrill to Rebellions real time battles, especially when you zoom in to watch the often impressive visual cacophony of lasers as droves of spaceships broad side each other or master the intricacies of its RTS rock, paper, scissors mechanics – and can use them to whip other players right back to their home worlds and bombard them.

There's a major flaw in actually controlling Mario, as the physics just don't seem to act as they should - aiming at specific targets can be extremely tricky at times, making completing some tasks more infuriating than challenging. It's a shame, because everything else about Super Mario Ball is so impressive.

Just another day at the office for Layton and chums. [Issue#117, p.121]

It's to Croteam's credit that Serious Sam II manages to stay interesting for as long as it does, thanks to the weird enemy design and tight levels keeping the pace from slacking. [Dec 2005, p.112]

Gorgeous, but more frustrating than fun. [Issue#174, p.77]

Catalyst has some wonderful ideas and there are times where it’ll make you feel truly free, but it fails to maintain its momentum for more than a few minutes at time.

A great foundation, but sadly a giant misstep. [Issue#200, p.78]

VR done right, if you've got the stomach for it. [Tested with Oculus Rift; Issue#174, p.80]

It's a shame that these excellent physics and novel weapons haven't been given a better showcase. [Issue#112, p.112]

A very sensible card-battling system with a theme that should be pleasingly familiar to seasoned gamers. [July 2007, p.120]

When only a couple of challenges require you to break the million point barrier, only the weakest players will have trouble acing the game in hours. [Christmas 2005, p.107]

Five years on from what was arguably the series' peak there has been no substantial development and no willingness to reflect the ambition of its own title - something we cannot abide. [Dec 2009, p.105]

Rich in character while on minimum wage mechanically. [Issue#112, p.114]

With its roots firmly planted in the mobile space, EVE: Gunjack is proof that virtual reality often works best when the experience is built around short pick-up and play sessions. [Issue#180, p.48]

What you’re left with is a short slice of horror that’s got a few genuinely brilliant ideas up its bloody sleeve, but one that dulls the edges of its own experience with a lack of subtlety.

On the occasions when the game flows it’s possible to produce some breathtaking football, but all too often the game slows to a crawl and it’s extremely difficult to produce anything like a constructive passing move. [Nov 2005, p.116]

Battlezone will quickly feel routine, but it’s also fun – not to mention an interesting window into the possibilities and pitfalls of virtual reality.

By not setting impossible standards, and despite its derivations from countless other better shooters. BlackSite has achieved that most important of objectives: it is entertaining from beginning to end. [Jan 2008, p.129]

It seems content to re-tread worn ground without ever pausing to innovate along the way...As a result, Game Republic’s opening gambit is left feeling plod-through tired before the credits have run. [Sept 2005, p.114]

If you're in dire need of a new Remote, at least now you get to try and skim a stone over an island for a few quid extra. It's totally worth it. [Issue#112, p.118]

Paraworld stands perfectly well on its own as a solid, if a little plodding, RTS game with some neat touches, particularly in the selection and development of units. [Nov 2006, p.114]

The game is still fun to play, and never becomes frustrating or dislikeable, but it never quite achieves the potential it so obviously holds. [Apr 2008, p.118]

An imbalanced but often enjoyable RPG rogue-lite. [Issue#200, p.82]

An enjoyable if obvious knock-off, then, and a refreshing new direction for a stagnant franchise, but hardly the kind of revolution that would worry the Templars.

Outlaw Golf 2 is actually a great game, but wading through the cut-scenes and commentary is hard work unless your sense of humour stopped developing when you were 15. [Jan 2005, p.115]

While games like "Twilight Princess" entice players with familiar settings and gameplay elements, Tools Of Destruction force feeds them. [Dec 2007, p.104]

The sound is unusually quiet, consisting mostly of ghostly bell chimes, only coming to life when battle begins. It's wonderfully atmospheric and gives OTOGI a distinct, mystical feel that's almost as important as the gameplay. [Oct 2003, p.127]

The repetitive nature of the majority of missions soon takes its toll, and the primary motivation for progressing soon becomes the desire to see how nice the next level looks, not the love of playing the game. [Apr 2006, p.110]