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]

Lots of variety, good use of the touch screen. [May 2008, p.73]

As complete a racing game as you could hope to play. [Christmas 2011, p.54]

The perfect package for Metallica fans, though putting together a full set of instruments could be costly. [July 2009, p.90]

The best puzzle game on Wii and one of the most satisfying things we've played in ages. Smashing stuff is good. Very good. [July 2008, p.54]

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

A brilliantly made challenge, but rarely much fun. [Jan 2009, p.64]

It's brilliant, compelling, and the Wi-Fi score stakes are high. [May 2008, p.65]

Lacking only an RPG mode and the option to wander off into the woods and play a Duck Hunt minigame. [Apr 2011, p.55]

A brilliant portable fix for PC Peggle-heads and a treat for newcomers to the world of peg-toppling. [June 2009, p.63]

Fully featured and complex, this could well keep you busy until next year's game. [July 2010, p.64]

FC Konami deliver another excellent game of football. The additions and on-pitch improvements mean this is well worth forking out for. The lads done good.

A deep, dark role-playing title with an unusually excellent story. [Oct 2009, p.65]

Adds brains to action fans' brawn, and brawn to obsessive collectors' brains. Ignore the first few clunky hours, and get ready to enjoy the next 300.

A Suda51 game anyone can enjoy. [Mar 2010, p.44]

If you can crack our ultra-difficult score riddle, this is definitely a game for you. [Nov 2009, p.61]

A stern memory and reflex test. [Nov 2011, p.69]

Another strong offering for RPG fans to sink their teeth into, with some great graphical updates, but be warned: this is two parts work, one part play.

Builds (hoho) on the brilliance of its predecessor with improved flying, busier levels - and all the best bits from the only Star Wars trilogy worth bothering with. Pure gaming. [Oct 2006, p.52]

The extra dimension brings more generalised puzzling, but the game is more satisfying all round. Three-dimensional nonogram? Yesyesgram, we think. [Feb 2010, p.64]

A daring reinvention of a hero too long on the subs bench. [Apr 2012, p.85]

Like the Wii, none of it should work, but like the Wii, everything does. Brilliantly... No More Heroes is a love letter to videogames that never grows old, tired, or dull. All games deserve to be designed with such lunacy. [JPN Import; Feb 2008, p.56]

Like a supercharged Ace Attorney, Ghost Trick positively thunders forwards with an awesome narrative drive. Dead clever. Dead pretty. Dead good.

You'll get your money's worth if you put in the hours, but some would say that life's too short. [Dec 2008, p.73]

Gives you the freedom to keep the game going indefinitely, if that's your thing. [June 2008, p.60]

Works really well within the sometimes frustrating limitations of the DSi, providing reasonably user-friendly access to a set of fun, creative, flexible animation tools. [July 2012, p.106]

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]

A hefty online-enabled super-retro collection. [Dec 2006, p.38]