With its veneer of strategy, Empires improves on Samurai Warriors 2, but crowd combat should be more fun than this. [Apr 2007, p.91]

Laziness of the worst kind, this is a charmless shadow of the next-gen version. There are plenty of better shooters available on PS2. [May 2006, p.82]

Too many games that involve no skill. [Aug 2007, p.98]

Inoffensive and surprisingly nonrepetitive, this does exactly as the title suggests, but only an ardent fan will get any lasting enjoyment. [Jan 2006, p.111]

Frustrating, disheartening and broken in places: a perfect recipe for making kids cry. [Christmas 2007, p.95]

Same old Dynasty Warriors. New modes can't disguise the almost criminal lack of progress in this hack-'n'-slash relic. [Feb 2006, p.92]

An interesting fusion of two very different game types - it's just a shame they've been cobbled together so crudely. [Jan 2006, p.112]

All too familiar platforming action spoiled further by oversimplified, unpredictable controls and utterly dreary objectives. [Sept 2006, p.95]

Not an awful game by any means, but one totally devoid of anything to recommend it. [Mar 2006, p.106]

If you're going to buy a PSP poker game, get the other one ("World Poker Tour"). [May 2006, p.95]

There's little speed, skill or urgency to any of the platform/shooting action - making this another ignominous entry in Mega Man's CV. [Apr 2006, p.100]

But no matter how many features they throw at it, there's little doubt that KOF is ready for the knacker's yard. [Mar 2006, p.106]

Even ignoring the modernity of "Soul Calibur," "Marvel vs. Capcom 2" and "Guilty Gear" do the 2D thing so much better than this. [Nov 2006, p.107]

A raggedy-ass pointless cash-in that offers little to anyone and stinks like a fat biker's leathers on a sunny day. [Dec 2005, p.124]

The kids will not be impressed. [Christmas 2006, p.102]

A collection of mini-games and a couple of dreadful driving sections. Just watch the show and play "Need For Speed Carbon." [May 2007, p.82]

A boring, bland movie tie-in that is hard to recommend even if you're seven and you really loved the movie. [Dec 2006, p.107]

You get Sudoku in every paper, and books of the stuff cost less than a quid, but this costs 30 pounds, making it non-essential for all but the most hardened number crunchers. [Apr 2006, p.96]

Repetitive and dull retread of a once okay game. [May 2006, p.89]

A pointless game with hardly anything going for it. It's hard to believe that this is from the same company that brought us "Metal Gear Solid" and "Pro Evo." A travesty. [Christmas 2005, p.108]

You can actually feel your IQ drop as you play. A pretty-looking but otherwise feeble attempt at a political thriller. [Nov 2006, p.148]

Although once a trusty friend, Bomberman is too old and tired to compete on PSP. [June 2008, p.91]

Why would you play this when you have the Olympics of shooters on hand in "Call of Duty"? [May 2008, p.103]

A camera capable of making children vomit like lawn sprinklers. [Jan 2006, p.110]

A repetitive third-person action game. Dull combat and duller levels mean you should steer clear of this. [Christmas 2006, p.87]

A good idea lies somewhere in the middle of this wreck, tucked away behind the messy design and unenjoyable fighting system. Avoid like a debilitating disease. [Christmas 2005, p.106]

Very average RPG mechanisms, diabolical missions, non-existent storyline, monstrously difficult battles... it's a bleak outcome. [Sept 2007, p.107]

Wildly derivative and senselessly exploitative, SOE2 neither challenges nor entertains. Thug gaming at the very lowest level. [May 2006, p.81]