This is a dodgy game, even as fishing titles go, and really not worth the effort. [Dec 2007, p.70]

Very edutaining for the under-eights. [Dec 2007, p.70]

"Wii Play" fans will like this inconsistent bunch of around 25 minigames, with competition mode keeping it lodged in your Wii for longer. [Christmas 2007, p.58]

A tidy little package. [Oct 2007, p.70]

It sets the standard for Wii golfing controls but is barely any different from its predecessor. [Dec 2007, p.48]

Good, this. [Dec 2007, p.70]

Retro take everything they've learnt over the last two games, strip out all the bad bits, and deliver a nigh-on perfect Metroid experience. And the controls are just magical. [Nov 2007, p.32]

Whatever nuance there is to swing control is lost in the five-hour bowler animation. [Dec 2007, p.54]

The new challenges are fun, but there's not really enough different stuff here to make it a must-have purchase if you've already got the first one. [Aug 2007, p.60]

An enjoyable little blast through the sweaty jungles of Vietnam, with a gung-ho storyline and knowingly cheesy, Rambo-esque phrases. [Dec 2007, p.69]

Not exactly the most thrilling RPG, and the user interface is quite irritating, but it might be of interest. [Dec 2007, p.65]

A frustratingly slow pace and the sad realisation that a humdinger of a plot is zooming over our heads are the only problems here. Otherwise one of the best RTS games on DS. [JPN Import; June 2007, p.54]

Very fun indeed. [Dec 2007, p.62]

An improvement on last year's release in almost every regard, but don't think EA's push to bring families to the game will help you convince your mum to play sift through the huge play book. [Nov 2007, p.52]

Musical employs changing colour wheels that collectively conspire to do your ever-shifting eyes an injury, and not layout that's more shotgun splatter than musical matter. [Nov 2007, p.73]

A strong action RPG title that, due to a meticulous and inflexible storyline, is sadly at times as impenetrable as a remake of "Van Helsing" cast by the Goons from "Popeye." [JPN Import]

A strong action RPG title that, due to a meticulous and inflexible storyline, is sadly at times as impenetrable as a remake of "Van Helsing" cast by the Goons from "Popeye." [JPN Import]

A strong action RPG title that, due to a meticulous and inflexible storyline, is sadly at times as impenetrable as a remake of "Van Helsing" cast by the Goons from "Popeye." [JPN Import]

Boogie has its moments, but the game lacks fluidity, the karaoke lacks cool tracks and the rhythm sometimes just lacks, full stop. [Oct 2007, p.62]

It's nice to see someone trying something new, but they're overreaching. Not so great action and not so great strategy gets you this confusing pile of not so great stuff. [July 2007, p.69]

File under hexagonal-puzzler duds next to "Honeycomb Beat." [Nov 2007, p.72]

You turn on the DS at 5pm. Next thing you know, it's 11:30pm and the stylus has worn a bloody groove into your finger. Forget The Matrix: it's Picross's grids that'll enslave us all. [JPN Import]

Short of game modes, reliant on powerups, sweatily frustrating at times. But it exerts a strange pull that will draw you back in, assuming you haven't smashed your remote. [July 2007, p.40]

We've never met Josh or Drake, or even seen their TV programme, but after enduring this awful mess of a game we wish we were still completely ignorant of them. [Nov 2007, p.72]

We applaud the return to nature, but outside of a few icky moments there really is nothing to recommend Necro-Nesia. Go throw a spider at someone; it's a whole lot more fun. [JPN Import; Mar 2007, p.52]

Easy, brief and lacking variety. A better DS version of this may arrive one day, but this remains strangely addictive all the same. [JPN Import; July 2007, p.51]

Like an awful movie shown in the graveyard shift during a sleepless night, you'll hve fun, but only because there's nothing else going on. [Oct 2007, p.56]

This is the kind of beast your mum wold describe to get you back in the house before curfew. [Oct 2007, p.77]

The target game in Wii Play is miles better and more challenging. [Oct 2007, p.69]

It's a perfect fit for the dual screens, and the simultaneous two-rabbit control works well:: each half on its own would be too simple, but playing them together is interesting. [Oct 2007, p.73]

Novel controls that take some mastering, but are quite effective. The cheap feel prevents it from developing into anything great. [Mar 2007, p.71]

The thrill of using logical reasoning to kick someone's arse is a phenomenal experience. Single player's a good laugh, too. [May 2007, p.61]

A dream come true for '80s kids. But where's the game? [Oct 2007, p.66]

This is brimming over with smart and snazzy ideas, but it fails to deliver simple gameplay thrills. [Sept 2007, p.62]

No shortage of ideas makes this one of the better licensed titles, but its schizophrenic nature disguises sloppy gameplay. [Oct 2007, p.68]

Utterly tiresome. [Oct 2007, p.76]

The closest thing to GTA on Wii, featuring great vehicles, okayish missions and a colossal city to drive around in. [Sept 2007, p.51]

It's baseball designed for a pad and buttons rather than a motion controller. [Oct 2007, p.67]

An expensive and entirely cosmetic companion to the DS games. [Jan 2008, p.50]

The terrible presentation and the tiny icons won't endear themselves to the crusty purne-eyes belonging to their target audience. [Aug 2007, p.71]

Far too hard at the beginning, even on Easy mode, and all poorly explained. One for the only the hardiest strategy fans. [Sept 2007, p.63]

Lots of places to go but not much to do when you get there. [Sept 2007, p.42]

Running is done clumsily with the D-pad, while the stylus is only used in minigames. [Sept 2007, p.70]

A full console game intelligently squeezed into a handheld. [Sept 2007, p.58]

It looks fairly nice, the city is big and there's plenty to do. [Sept 2007, p.64]

Just what the DS should be doing. As long as it's done right. Which it is. Ropey disaster minigames and the odd niggle aside, this is right up our street. [May 2007, p.62]

RIP boredom. A Resi package that melds ace visuals, controls and features into a fine Wii game. If you've never played before there's simply no excuse not to. [Aug 2007, p.42]

It looks fairly nice, the city is big and there's plenty to do. [Sept 2007, p.64]

Not bad at all. [Oct 2007, p.77]

Tiresome nonsense. [Sept 2007, p.40]

The whole game looks like it was hastily moulded out of plasticine. [Sept 2007, p.70]

Ultra-violent shooting, satisfying driving and a slightly strange business management sim, mixed with some admirably creative swearing. Not so clever but very big and enjoyable.

Instantly forgettable. [Sept 2007, p.66]

It's exactly the same as the GC game. [Sept 2007, p.41]

Nifty use of the pointer like nobody's business, but the WiiConnect24 stuff is deeply uninspired. [Sept 2007, p.44]

Pretty damn ugly, but will make a little girl happy somewhere. [July 2007, p.70]

Predictable but okay. [Sept 2007, p.50]

Mario Party has never dazzled but this is the dullest it's ever been. [Aug 2007, p.48]

Cuteness doesn't make up for the lack of an enjoyable game - we hope this only serves a short term in office. [JPN Import; Mar 2007, p.60]

The Wii handles violent OTT theatrics like no other console, but a fresh game would have been much appreciated. [July 2007, p.48]

A clean, logical layout and superb handwriting recognition - we're sure crossword aficionados stateside are having themselves a grand old time. [Aug 2007, p.70]

It's very little fun to play, and since you can play a limited version online for free as a Flash game, there's no good reason to put it in your DS. [June 2007, p.70]

Glimmers of good ideas are squished under the boot of boring. [Aug 2007, p.66]

Cripes, there's a lot of rules and regulations to take in here. [Aug 2007, p.70]

Far too simple to satisfy as an anime fighter and too bitty to enjoy for any length of time. [Sept 2007, p.71]

The safety of brand outweighs the desire to innovate. Sword fighting doesn't work with the remote. [Aug 2007, p.47]

Lumpen stuff partially saved by nifty duelling sections. [Aug 2007, p.70]

Makes you feel like a daring aventurer making progress, but at the expense of in-your-face thrills. [Aug 2007, p.63]

It's going to sell by the bucket-load to the younger fans of the film, and most of them will find it a diverting enough adventure. Just a shame that it throws away such a knowing premise.

It makes chess look like [a] snap and will make children cry. [Sept 2007, p.71]

Uninspired missions, repetitive gameplay, bored-sounding voiceovers, ugly graphics, painful controls. [July 2007, p.46]

Way too over reliant on the D-pad diagonals. [July 2007, p.71]

Fast as you like, fun to control and a mindless diversion for military fetishists. Difficult, even on the easiest setting, but if you're up to the challenge you'll get loads of value from it. [May 2007, p.46]

This strives for nothing and doesn't even make it that far. A poor game for a poor franchise. [JPN Import; Aug 2007, p.54]

Where's Wi-Fi? RPG mode? Not a total wash-out, but it is limited. SNK should have spent more time combing the rules and less combing Dante's hair. [JPN Import; Mar 2007, p.73]

A must for Bionicle fans and decenet, trashy fun for everyone else. But the controls are poor. [May 2007, p.52]

With Wi-Fi battles and Global Trade, D/P is essential. [Sept 2007, p.81]

With Wi-Fi battles and Global Trade, D/P is essential. [Sept 2007, p.81]

Offering simultaneous play for eight players (four on nunchuks and four on remotes) with everyone playing on the same game screen, it's certainly a tempting idea. Unfortunately after five minutes with even just a couple of players, all the ball action becomes totally confused, empty and aimless.

Zendoku is much, much better. [Aug 2007, p.65]

Potent Mario magic, and, by God, that 2D-3D idea is brilliant. But it's got what we call the Pikmin effect: the sense that it'll take a sequel to really bring the concept to full fruition. [July 2007, p.36]

There's no close-up work, only abstract coarse plotting between cookers and customers and, as such, it's a bit tedious. [Christmas 2007, p.70]

It makes the right moves but doesn't quite scale the heights. And you can be the GameCube version - without Ubisoft's half-hearted Wii controls - for around 20 pounds. [June 2007, p.38]

Irritating and irrational, Magic Picture Book treats you badly. Yet one flash of those choco-puppy eyes and your heart will flutter. The DS equivalent of Stockholm Syndrome. [JPN Import; Mar 2007, p.76]

At times as delightful as prancing down a beach with the girl of your dreams. At others, like lunching at Satan's table. Not really a game you love, more a game you grudgingly respect.

Has more love in its bones than Konami's usual dead-horse-floggers - and it's great value at the current dollar-pound exchange rate.

Despite the clumsy controls and a tendency to keep throwing the same bits at you over and over (and over) again, this is recommended to all. [June 2007, p.46]

One of the not-at-all-interesting ideas, though, is that there's no tutorial. At all. [June 2007, p.70]

Not entirely convincing, and far less smooth than Nintendo's unnamed dog-related game. But it's well put-together feline fun with minigames. [June 2007, p.68]

With what we expected to be the main selling point - the parachuting - reduced to an introductory mission gimmick, Vanguard's bringing up the rear when it comes to WWII shooters. [May 2007, p.60]

There's so few games, and it gets so madly repetitive, that you may as well spend your pennies on the site itself. [June 2007, p.70]

Fairly humorless, and mostly done with button not stylus, but a good play. [Aug 2007, p.70]

Awkward and oh so frustrating - it's WWII through and through. [May 2007, p.48]

Cute and fun minigames, for the most part, but lacking drive or motivation for the player, with different tasks getting repetitive quickly. [JPN Import; May 2007, p.50]

"Zoo Keeper: The RPG." As barmy as that might sound, that's about the best way to describe PQ: CTW. [June 2007, p.71]

A bit empty in places but worth a go if you enjoys yer killin'. [May 2007, p.42]

Kororinpa wowed us with its lithe 3D flexibility, but it lied about its depth. Now we're stuck: we can't ever go back to "Monkey Ball," but know we've been cheated. Life is so hard. [JPN Import; Mar 2007, p.48]

This is by no means the car crash of a game that Ubisoft's withholding led us to expect; it's more of a severe car scrape against a bollard. [June 2007, p.42]