No matter which side of the gaming coin you come from, this whole new universe of planets is the most inventive, exuberant and, yes, fun set of challenges and diversions yet seen in the platform game genre. It miraculously outclasses a game that many believed could not be bettered, and once again leaves us wondering just how close Nintendo's bar has come to reaching its theoretical peak.

Nintendo has crafted a platform game that, while not as technologically pioneering as its grandfather, is, level for level, more fun to play than "Mario 64." [Dec 2007, p.128]

Sam Houser compared the making of Rockstar’s epic to the troubled production of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, and in some ways the same result has been met: a product that represents the peak of the blockbuster triple-A form, that realises grand ambition without visible compromise.

Breath Of The Wild delivers a huge world, and one that is interesting to explore even when such escapades prove fruitless. It comes good with satisfying combat and dozens of reasons to carry on playing after the credits. For all of its issues, it’s a game that manages to reinvent itself, comfortably, effortlessly, in a space dominated by the industry’s triple-A heavyweights. This is one of the most creative and engrossing open-world games in quite some time.

We don't give out tens lightly, but we have to ask, what more could we have wanted from this game? What could it have offered that would have made it better? The answer is not much. Playing Super Mario Odyssey is to experience pure joy. We couldn't wish for anything more than that from this series or from Nintendo. [Issue#193, p.64]

In the vast majority of games, and particularly first-person shooters, quality is entirely dependent on minutiae such as weapon choice and enemy variety. In Bioshock these are merely details, adornments to a far deeper and more complete experience than any game since "Half-Life 2." [Oct 2007, p.104]

It's tempting to brand this the watershed moment when we stop saddling narrative-driven games with blunt, inelegant descriptors like 'first-person shooter', 'platformer' or 'puzzler', and simply honour the mood. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an action comedy - nothing else fits nearly as well. [Dec 2009, p.94]

From start to finish, Resident Evil 4 exudes class and polish. Capcom has seemingly stopped at nothing in the crafting of every aspect of the presentation, from overall feel to a staggering attention to detail, and the result is not only one of the most beautiful GameCube games to date but one of the best-looking titles of this generation. [March 2005, p.92]

Despite all of the ways Mass Effect 2 is more engaging to play and explore, after 35 remarkable hours it was the characters that stayed with us… Game of the year in January? Oh, go on then. [Feb 2010, p.112]

A picture-perfect playground designed to engender pure love in those willing to lose themselves within it. [Christmas 2011, p.90]

Xbox gamers have been granted superior versions of two of the best mainstream games of this generation. [Christmas 2003, p.124]

Your legacy will be as twisted, as exciting or as brutal as your imagination will allow... San Andreas is an experience as unique as you are. Sometimes, it’s okay to believe the hype. [Christmas 2004, p.98]

We may have seen level creation before, but LittleBigPlanet is a stirring glimpse of the future. It manages to be both curring edge and classic simultaneously, with neither quality stifling the other. [Issue#76, p.110]

Bungie has managed to whittle away many of the elements we felt uncomfortable with in the original game (specifically some dull level design and unappealing multiplayer), as well as adding enough polish to make Halo 2's gameplay shine... As a sequel that's good enough to convert even those who didn't enjoy the original title, we doubt anyone could have asked for anything more. [Christmas 2004, p.122]

It’s the relationships that really make The Last Of Us. It’s a technical marvel, a true triple-A with best-in-show production values, but it’s the beautiful combination of performance and story that elevates it clearly above the competition.

While some are sure to brand it 'stale', Twilight Princess succeeds in being not only a superb game, but also one that can appeal to both new and seasoned Zelda players at the same time - something we feel time will show to be a very difficult thing to achieve. [Christmas 2006, p.116]

While Rockstar San Diego may find some difficulty in filling its open expanses with interesting and emergent play, it does imbue it with a stark beauty and compelling narrative that makes Redemption more than just an allusion to cinema, but a piece of work that can confidently stand next to it. [Issue#96, p.94]

From gloriously glib opening to predictably musical finale, Portal 2 is a genuine delight and a game of rare quality. A well-judged sense of humour meets with some truly ingenious puzzle design to create a gaming experience that will linger long in the memory.

A beautifully presented, elegantly constructed puzzle game that draws you in with its charm and personality, then keeps you playing with its addictive, inventive level design. [Christmas 2008, p.121]

It's a game of two halves, God of War. For the first dozen or so hours you may find yourself frustrated by the slow levelling up, a bewildering map system, and perplexing storyline stuffed with gated areas and treasures. Stick with it, though; the more you do, the more of the realms you'll open... and that's where the fun REALLY begins... Like Kratos, this game gets better with time. [Issue#200, p.70]

At its finest, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the pinnacle of the war genre, mixing cinematic flair with rock-solid gameplay, but when it reverts to type and simply throws waves of enemies in your direction, its symptomatic of a series that is bordering on stagnation. [Chrismas 2007, p.106]

Arkham City handles its side-stories gloriously. [Christmas 2011, p.102]

Gears Of War couldn't feel more vital. Some will see the future, some will see the past; we just see a truly great game. [Christmas 2006, p.96]

It's heavily steeped in RPG tradition, however, its appeal stretches far beyond the hardcore RPG demographic thanks to its ease of play, boundless ambition and focused attention to detail. [May 2006, p.112]

Infinite is as lavish as it is cerebral, as difficult as it is accessible. It’ll be many different things to many different people, and it will be discussed, dissected and deified for many years to come...So, when will gaming have its Citizen Kane moment? Forget that. When will anything else have its BioShock Infinite moment?

Combat refined. Combat perfected. But not Combat evolved. [Nov 2007, p.98]

It's heavily steeped in RPG tradition, however, its appeal stretches far beyond the hardcore RPG demographic thanks to its ease of play, boundless ambition and focused attention to detail. [May 2006, p.112]

Despite the inclusion of new gadgets and stunning visuals, the series is starting to decompose; playing the same thing over and over is beginning to wear a little thin. It's a good job the multiplayer experience continues to blossom. [Apr 2005, p.90]