It's too easy, too repetitive, and worst of all, doesn't have that classic Butch Harman sense of humour. [Apr 2007, p.70]

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]

We don't care for the source material and this is too chaotic to actually play. Throws so much silliness around you can't appreciate it. [Feb 2007, p.73]

A loveless port of a timeworn platformer, which lacks any artistic or creative reason to exist. Do we even need to tell you to wait for Mario 3DS?

A lot of puzzles but for a hell of a lot of money. [July 2011, p.64]

The feeling that it's all a bit slapdash never really goes away. [March 2012, p.107]

Although it has a good stab at open-world platforming, this soon turns into a chore. [Nov 2009, p.58]

Thumbs up for the two-player co-operative system that's perfect for mum or dad and the kids. [Aug 2006, p.66]

Technically clumsy and laughably silly, but it's still oddly endearing. [Jan 2008, p.56]

Ignore the pong of rotting flesh and dive in. [Oct 2011, p.76]

A zombie-infested mall doesn't make much sense without zombies to infest it. Poodles and parrots are among the most irritating substitutes imaginable. [Apr 2009, p.50]

A competent golf game, but also a fussy, bland and entirely forgettable one. [May 2012, p.108]

Not really innovative, but at least the range of uninspired minigames is broad. A bit like having to pump up a tyre using a weasel. [Mar 2007, p.70]

A finicky port of a great game which is still good, but if you're a Splinter Cell n00b, you're wasting your time. And Sam's. And he's a guy you really don't wanna cross. [Feb 2007, p.66]

Stylish but cliched presentation hides a flimsy boxer. [Feb 2008, p.71]

The levels are action packed, but it gets too samey too quickly. [Dec 2011, p.64]

A flawed but enjoyable shooter you can play with one hand. Pretty much on a par with Operation Vietnam, funnily enough. [Apr 2009, p.69]

The most interesting thing from the PC original put into a simple platform game that's marred by some unexciting minigames.

The more you enjoy your cars, the more you'll get out of it. [Jan 2008, p.36]

An unexceptional entry in a prolific series. [May 2012, p.99]

"Trauma" heads may want to rent but it's too light to consider buying. [Feb 2009, p.76]

Competent. [July 2010, p.71]

You'll think you've snagged a winner to begin with, but reeling in boot after metaphorical boot reminds you that this is the same old Rapala. [Dec 2008, p.63]

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.

We want the fancy controller. [Sept 2008, p.70]

It's a rather cute create-a-friend-to-play-minigames-with cart, sadly it's just a little short on the games. [June 2008, p.71]

Our relationship with IM is similar to the one we have with our grandparents - kudos for giving us life, but pardon us if we don't want to play with them. [Sept 2007, p.70]

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

It's basically a history lesson meets the X-Men, and every bit as goofy as that sounds. [Apr 2011, p.70]

It will likely spend more time on your shelf than in your Wii, but this is one of the better mini-game titles. However, only consider it if you need a new remote.

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]

Great games (well, some), cynically recycled. Unless you can find 50th Anniversary for a couple of quid or less, this is the worst value on GameCube. [Aug 2006, p.63]

For non-Bakugan followers this is, quite literally, balls. [Christmas 2009, p.70]

A cute enough attempt to perk up the Mama franchise but a mere change of scenery isn't enough to disguise the same old gameplay. [July 2009, p.74]

Pokepark is largely unchanged since the last time we visited. there are a few new attractions, but the same camera and control annoyances. That said, it's still a very hard game to hate. [Jan 2012, p.107]

The whole concept of Helix is better encapsulated in one of "Rayman 3"'s minigames. Alas, Helix isn't even remote-ly fun or entertaining. [Dec 2008, p.74]

The real downer is the price, which is ludicrously sky-high for something so simple. [Feb 2010, p.73]

It's just too mentally tricky, with all the up and down between screens, for genuinely enjoyable gameplay, but it's a must-have for any serious fans of the series. [Oct 2006, p.67]

Plenty of typically interesting Wario ideas in another original and amusing platformer, but it's spoiled by a deeply uncomfortable and annoying control system. [Apr 2007, p.54]

A nice idea, and a solid story, undermined by a predictable structure and low-budget feel. [Christmas 2011, p.73]

It soon gets highly repetitive. [Mar 2011, p.72]

The map-making function is a stroke of genius, but this curious title is neither big nor clever enough to steal our heart. [July 2009, p.75]

Save your wrists and steer clear of this in favour of "Guitar Hero." [Jan 2009, p.65]

The whole game feels a bit incoherent, but there's enough charm to carry it through. [Winter 2009, p.70]

Looks nice and is actually challenging, but repetitive goals and fussy controls are a downer. [Christmas 2009, p.60]

As a pinball game, it's up there. As entertainment, it stares blankly at you and occasionally farts. Concrete-proof pinball belongs in the arcade.

This looks a bit lightweight when you think it's this or "Galaxy" for the same price, but it's a decent addition to Sypro's post-PlayStation gameography. [Christmas 2007, p.62]

Barely a game at all. [June 2011, p.65]

Funny and frustrating in equal measures. [January 2007, p.77]

This version offers nothing that regular puzzle-players won't have seen before, bar some cute animation. [July 2008, p.73]

The sad effects of aging in all their glory. Populous used to crack top ten games lists in 1990. Populous DS isn't even one of the top ten games this issue.

The bulk of the beast is a poorly programmed platform game, with a useless jump, lamely linking itself to the book/film's story with unlocked Story Pages. [Feb 2007, p.82]

We'd struggle to recommend it. [Feb 2010, p.74]

A C64 platform game in 3DS clothes, and not very convincing ones at that. [Dec 2011, p.79]

A lovably scrappy puzzle game that's brimming with ideas but hampered by clumsy execution. [June 2010, p.56]

It's worse than the last game in almost every way. Except potions. Making potions rocks. [Sept 2009, p.64]

A big fat thief, but it's a big fat thief with a heart of hold. [Aug 2010, p.70]

It's a decent compilation of games, with lovingly emulated coin-ops and a genuine modern classic in the mix, but for this price it should feature a lot more stuff.

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]

The only mystery is why anyone would buy into something so lazy. [Aug 2008, p.66]

This is too creaky to forgive. [June 2008, p.55]

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]

The combat is pedestrian and repetitive. [May 2010, p.69]

Physics-based puzzle mazes with a slightly duff hero and a very slick control method. [Oct 2008, p.69]

Sadly there's no wireless mode, which is about as dumb as you can get. [Apr 2007, p.71]

Ignore the fighting's mechanical edge and this is about as good a shot as wrestling has at reaching a wider audience. But wrestling fans, beware - this probably isn't for you. [Christmas 2007, p.60]

A lazy, ugly, soulless, cheeky and cheap rip-off. But just about competent with it. [Nov 2011, p.77]

Despite a selection of new courses and modes, this feels dated. The tournament mode is enjoyable, but with no multiplayer you'll struggle to have a reely good time.

Good graphics, thoroughly boring gameplay. [Issue#56, p.60]

The makings of a great sim let down by terrible AI and scrappy graphics. [Christmas 2011, p.75]

Some of the monkey animations are cool, though. [Oct 2008, p.77]

As tie-ins go it's really not that bad. [June 2011, p.66]

Cuter than it is fun. The Squeeballs need more time in the toy factory before they're unleashed on gamers again. [Winter 2009, p.62]

Dull, repetitive and almost embarrassing in the way it fails to entertain, despite the basics of an enjoyable game being in place here somewhere. [May 2010, p.65]

It's no longer a game for the hardcore, that much is for certain, but what audience is this aimed at? We're not sure who's going to get full value from Step & Roll.

A rigid Lego step in the right direction. [May 2011, p.68]

It's surprisingly well made and it's nice to see that the developers have put a bit of effort into putting it together, but the big problem is that it's too easy by half. [July 2011, p.70]

This is a game that rewards patience and routine. [June 2008, p.63]

The only mystery is why anyone would buy into something so lazy. [Aug 2008, p.66]

Courses are angular and riddled with pop-up, and the impression of speed is created by what looks like dandruff flying off your car's roof. [Feb 2009, p.76]

A lovely bit of fan service. [Jan 2010, p.75]

It seems that even the future has minigames, but even the future can't convince us that there's any serious alternative to the Wii Sports games.

The presentation will attract younger gamers but unless you're adept at this gaming lark The Chase could prove frustrating. [May 2009, p.78]

Ignore, ignore, ignore. [Aug 2007, p.70]

It's brain-achingly huge. [Christmas 2007, p.71]

Great characters, great value, an addictive story and loads of furious fighting fun. [June 2008, p.51]

A simple but enjoyable blaster that costs way too much. [May 2010, p.73]

The trouble with Line Rider 2 is that while it's not short of options, the core idea can wear tin quite quickly. [Dec 2008, p.81]

Bleach fans will dig the story, but they'll also hate the weak writing. Everyone else should stick with Fire Emblem. [Feb 2010, p.65]

It's fast and competent, but rounds last too long, descending into tedium. [Christmas 2011, p.79]

An addictive, inventive action game. [Feb 2012, p.107]

It's a really simple fighting game with a low difficulty level, plenty of cool moves, great characters, rubbish enemies, and a good dose of cartoon style. [Christmas 2007, p.57]

The Wii doesn't have a great history with skating games, but that's no reason to settle for a boring, charmless title such as this. [July 2009, p.72]

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 should be WiiWare. [June 2011, p.64]

It's good while it lasts. [Apr 2011, p.48]

This is a love letter to 16-bit RPGs, albeit written in really messy handwriting. [Sept 2009, p.73]

The tunes aren't great and the gameplay is lifeless. [July 2008, p.58]