Trying to shut and eight-year old up for ten minutes? Tell him Santa doesn't exist instead. He'll still hate you, but there'll be less long-term psychological damage. [Jan 2006, p.110]

Those in search of family-friendly thrills should pick up the last "Sly" game instead. [Mar 2006, p.85]

Ambitious gameplay is marred by lazy design, leaving this wallowing in mere decency when it could have been devilishly enjoyable. [Feb 2006, p.96]

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]

Like all the best entertainment, it's simple, undemanding and enjoyable. [Dec 2005, p.102]

Not got broadband? You may want to lop off a point. [Nov 2005, p.82]

You'll be asleep before you've clocked mission four. [May 2006, p.89]

Combining frenzied conflict with Hollywood blockbuster production values, this is one of the most explosive war games around. [Christmas 2005, p.102]

The problem with Trapt is that its randomness means you don't really feel satisfied when a masterplan pays off. [Mar 2006, p.96]

Does a pretty good job of capturing the spirit of the film and provies some mindless laughs. Kids will love it too - trust us, we checked. [Jan 2006, p.109]

Battlefront II marches onto PSP without losing its keep strategic edge or its blaster-happy action. [Christmas 2005, p.110]

Ripe with early frustration, but put in a bit of hard work and Harvest Moon does deliver a bumper crop of fun. [Feb 2006, p.90]

Hampered by unsuitable controls and a total lack of design flair, Stand Alone Complex is average through and through. [Apr 2006, p.96]

We like SpongeBob, but teaming him up with his Nickelodeon pals has resulted in a generic platformer with precious little originality or energy. [May 2006, p.94]

Given that there are flash games that do pool just as well, the loading times are unforgivable - much like the rest of this horror show. [Christmas 2006, p.103]

All the style of the series so far plus a maelstrom of new shocks, twists and challenges makes this the best survival horror game ever. [Nov 2006, p.104]

Mythological hack and slash epic. [Jan 2007, p.106]

Calibur makes every other fighting game feel outmoded. Only our reservations over the new strategy element prevent a perfect score. [Dec 2005, p.114]

Combat was always the star of Ratchet games, but with barely a sniff of exploration, Gladiator's destruction feels a little one-note. [Apr 2006, p.94]

It's not much return on your 20 quid investment. [Nov 2006, p.140]

Too easy and too short but Shrek Superslam still manages to continue the current happy trend of film conversions - or in this case, "inspired bys" - that are less than terrible. [Jan 2006, p.107]

An unashamedly entertaining surprisingly strategic shooter. [Nov 2005, p.112]

A brilliant extension of the GTA series, and the new yardstick against which every future PSP title will be measured. [Christmas 2005, p.72]

Filled with neat innovations and bringing a real focus to its story-mode gameplay, The Sims 2 is the best console God sim yet. [Nov 2005, p.88]

An enjoyable underwater escapade with plenty of nice touches. It's aimed at youngsters, but even the over-nines will get some enjoyment out of it. [Apr 2006, p.109]

Hardly deep, but an entertaining set of party games for your younger brother or sister that you may just get a kick from too. [Jan 2006, p.109]

While the racing is good rather than great, see it as just part of the game's charm and CTR makes for a fun family treasure box. [Apr 2006, p.100]

Huge and beautiful, but hopefully not as doomed as its beasts, Colossus deserves to sell ten times what "Ico" did. [Jan 2006, p.94]