Technical issues aside, the main problem is that each set of games is not a random selection from a larger bunch but the same set of five every time. As such, you'll experience all the game has to offer in less than five minutes. [June 2009, p.129]

While the deviant design maintains the unsympathetic difficulty, here it feels cheap and archaic within the context of such plodding action. [Christmas 2011, p.107]

The huge, sprawling levels, multiple routes and breadth of choice on offer may be countered by awkward controls and uninspired vehicle sections, but there's a modicum of entertainment beneath the obvious design flaws if you look hard enough. [Aug 2009, p.114]

For hardware nuts, Final Fantasy obsessives and PS3 owners, FFXIV does offer a fairly distinctive MMO experience. [Christmas 2010, p.94]

Neo Contra sees the series willing to move into a brave new world, but on this evidence it hasn’t put it’s best foot forward. [Feb 2005, p.92]

The core gameplay is somewhat lacking. 'But it's for kids,' we hear you cry. Maybe so, but even kids - or those who are just young at heart - will no doubt want a challenge that lasts longer than it would take to watch the original trilogy. [May 2005, p.109]

For games so wholly focused on delivering key emotional beats and complex narratives, the presentation and optimisation leaves a lot to be desired.

Nowhere near the level of 2K's NBA productions. [Issue#168, p.90]

There’s no getting around the fact that it’s often more tempting to run past the majority of enemies and complete the game in a couple of hours, than it is to actually brawl your way through. [Apr 2009, p.113]

Bland gameplay and weak narrative implementation. [Nov 2011, p.106]

In the most competitive genre in gaming Bodycount just doesn't measure up, and certainly doesn't get anywhere near the brutal brilliance of Epic and People Can Fly's Bulletstorm. [Nov 2011, p.108]

There's the hollow shell of a game. [Issue#137, p.116]

We were disappointed when "Frontline" failed to take advantage of its World War II settings, but it's galling to see that EA still hasn't got it right with Rising Sun. If there's ever a case against World War III, then surely this is it. [Christmas 2003, p.100]

An infuriating slog hurt by its own structure. [Issue#195, p.80]

While SFII itself is obviously still brilliant, there's nothing about this bare-bones package that even nearly does Capcom's classic justice. [Issue#189, p.83]

Capcom may well have delivered a game that can offer an online experience like nothing else currently available, but it's presented in such a haphazard fashion that many gamers will grow frustrated with the connection problems and simply go back to their other online titles. [May 2004, p.106]

It should have been a cause for celebration that an EA Sports game review has forced us to abandon the well-worn ‘It’s like last year but slightly better!’ template, yet Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is like two years ago but significantly worse. Not nearly good enough, especially for a game whose slogan is ‘golf without limits’.

As a game, it's an unfocused, erratic, undeniably loud but ultimately hollow franchise entry where an excess of energy has been mistaken for excitement. [Issue#195, p.84]

You’ll likely find that the motions are easily confused and unresponsive, with some situational moves, such as weaving, next to impossible to pull off with the degree of consistency that would make their inclusion worthwhile. [Apr 2009, p.122]

A poor script and worse voice-acting. [Issue#107, p.94]

Switching from an open threat such as the desert to the enclosed dangers of the Vietnamese jungle has caused Conflict: Vietnam to effectively cut out much of the need for having a squad in the first place; instead of having more freedom and creativity in taking down your enemies, your team become more like fish trapped in a jungle-shaped barrel. [Oct 2004, p.108]

What's truly disappointing is that there are seeds of greatness here. [Issue#161, p.94]

The Sixaxis presents both a problem and joy for Toy Home. On one hand it’s a hindrance as you’ll never go in a straight line. On the other, successfully boosting and drifting around corners is great fun. [Feb 2008, p.135]

It is without a point. It fires its Uzi rounds aimlessly and manages to hit nothing. It’s not bad, it’s not horrific, it’s not reprehensible and it’s not memorable either.

You'll have a few hours of fun but by the time its YouTuber-friendly novelty factor wears off you'll have decided it's far from the best thing since sliced bread. [Issue#161, p.104]

Hasn't soured our memories of the original completely. [Issue#139, p.114]

It's a shame the buggy controls make fighting through it a chore. [Issue#139, p.115]

A gutless turn for a franchise that prides itself on being the exact opposite. [Issue#118, p.115]