It's fun to play and has a fantastic script but the annoyances are too blatant to ignore. [Sept 2007, p.78]

The surprise smash hit of the winter? We hope so, as this puzzler is one of the console's very best games. [Dec 2008, p.78]

The best Mario Kart game yet with an online platform that'll keep you racing for years.

A fantastic start to the Wii U's more mature library, this is grim, gritty and, most importantly, hugely enjoyable to play, especially if you're a Zelda fan.

Essential for Metallica fans and GH experts, but everyone else should stick to World Tour. [June 2009, p.82]

Great fun for pretty much everyone, hardcore and casual gamers included. [July 2008, p.88]

As long as you don't mind it being effectively a fancy remake of past Pokemon adventures, Diamond and Pearl provide a fantastic experience with great Wi-Fi features. [July 2007, p.70]

A must-play for Final Fantasy veterans. It won't gain any new fans though. [Oct 2008, p.80]

Providing you're up for the challenge, this is the high point of the DS Castlevania series. [Feb 2009, p.92]

Fast paced, challenging and totally mental, this is a pumping update of the ancient shooter. [Aug 2008, p.87]

Superb golf. [May 2011, p.93]

The series continues to entertain and the twist at the end of this one is a cracker. [Feb 2010, p.85]

Tiger 11 gets the balance between a full-on sports sim and playful swingabout spot on. Disc Golf gets an online mode and there's also a new mini golf mode which adds a selection of wacky putting courses for you to navigate. This is great fun in multi-player mode.

This is how yearly updates always be handled. [Apr 2009, p.64]

An astonishing technical achievement, and a cracking full debut for the series on Wii. [May 2010, p.57]

Brilliant physics puzzles that force you to think on your feet, fun co-op and a huge, gorgeous quest for just over £10. Trine 2 is eShop gold.

One of the most stylish, offensive games on the Wii. [May 2010, p.63]

A great sequel that fully lives up to the high standards set by the original adventure. [Oct 2009, p.71]

This is the perfect way to enjoy five fantastic Bit.Trip games (and Bit.Trip Core) in one place. [Apr 2012, p.102]

An aesthetically pleasing wonder for the eShop. It might be a short game, but it's definitely worth the asking price. [July 2014, p.82]

If this had been a real NES game back in the day, it'd have been one of the best. [May 2010, p.88]

Mixes trademark difficulty and accessibility with surprising finesse. Not just a brilliant entry in the series, but a benchmark for other games of its type.

It may be 17 years old, but this may just be the best RPG on the DS. You need this.

Simply fantastic. It re-creates the Star Wars world brilliantly then adds a quirky twist to it. Easy to play and immense fun from the word go. Essential. [Oct 2006, p.86]

An amazing amount of thought has gone into this; in an industry dominated by scattershot excess, this is a perfect exercise in honing a single strength.

Struggles to capture the creative spark of its NES/SNES ancestors, but this is rock solid platforming elevated through a renewed focus on skilled play.

A strategy game that anyone can get into and enjoy, Swords & Soldiers is the best WiiWare game of the year so far.

Picross 3D doesn't quite have the personality of its 2D predecessor but it's still a compelling puzzler. [Mar 2010, p.85]