While the AI in "SFII" can be difficult, it was never unfair. UMK3 offers no such assurance. [Christmas 2006, p.108]

We'd rather pay a higher price and get the game proper than being told we'll have to shell out for at least two more packs upon purchase. [Christmas 2006, p.108]

Rupturing quality and oozing tension, this is stealth gaming of the highest calibre, full of imagination and augmented by an excellent two-way Trust system that leaves you pondering every choice you make and then having to deal with the consequences. [Nov 2006, p.8]

The gameplay itself has changed very little. [Dec 2006, p.82]

Button bashing by the numbers and very repetitive. Only superhero fanboys need apply to this Justice League. [Jan 2007, p.125]

Stylish, explosive, and funny. The destruction is awesome fun, but dull missions ruin the overall experience. [Nov 2006, p.76]

If you're a retro fetishist with a Jeff Minter costume, you might want to download this game, but we don't recommend it! [Jan 2007, p.96]

Attractive game reworked properly for the younger types. Help make Spryo truly famous once more. [Christmas 2006, p.125]

Still the best golf game out there, but a short list of new extras means it's not worth the cash if you already own "06." [Nov 2006, p.68]

A fantastic re-creation of the spirit of "Scarface," and a brilliantly in-depth urban game. A bit repetitive at times. [Nov 2006, p.60]

Sadly, the game's not much fun - you get bored easily and there's not much variety to be had waving your arms up and down. [Dec 2006, p.99]

FIFA 07 is fantastic. The reworked gameplay feels so right and its Xbox Live support is amazing. [Nov 2006, p.66]

As a game Family Guy is average at best. If you've never seen the cartoon, you won't get it. If you love the show then your patience will be tried by the mediocre gameplay. Either way, be prepared to have your willpower tested. [Jan 2007, p.124]

A delicious experience, containing some of the sweetest moments in any console game. The astonishing environment alone is enough reason to give it a shot. However, it's not quite compelling enough as an adventure to make you want to see the set missions through. [Oct 2006, p.82]

Still brilliant, even by today's standards. [Dec 2006, p.99]

Juggling impossibly huge gaming areas with varied, consistent, imaginative gameplay, it has managed to create a slice of Southern American comic violence that begs to be played. [Oct 2006, p.64]

While we love NBA Live 07's showy moves and new modes, the gameplay ultimately feels unfocused and unsatisfying. [Dec 2006, p.88]

NBA 2K7 doesn't have the looks, but its solid on-court action puts you at the heart of the match rather than on the sidelines, with quick-fire tactics that you'd expect to see on ESPN. [Dec 2006, p.88]

All these mode-switching features and momentum bars don't make the game any more fun, or more like playing the real thing. It just gives you more to think about. [Nov 2006, p.71]

The Vision Camera Game Face technology is well-implemented. [Christmas 2006, p.106]

Ultimately, the game's body count moves it away from the film and makes it more like a poor man's "GTA." [Nov 2006, p.96]

Open Season is definitely a good kids' game - nice to look at and very easy with it. However, adults will burn through this game in less than six hours with no real difficulty.

Dull and predictable gameplay. Avoid. [Oct 2006, p.90]

Pointless - for the two minutes you'll bother. [Nov 2006, p.107]

Star Wars fans, LEGO fanatics or lovers of the first game will be in ecstasy. A must-buy. [Oct 2006, p.94]

NHL 07's dual-stick control opens a new world of tactics, but "NHL 2K7" plays for pure fun and speed. [Nov 2006, p.98]

"NHL 07's" dual-stick control opens a new world of tactics, but NHL 2K7 plays for pure fun and speed. [Nov 2006, p.98]

Even when we're note marvelling at this marriage of plastic blocks and Death Stars, there's something incredible going on in this game, and it's all in the little details. [Oct 2006, p.68]

A highly playable golf sim with a fantastic control mechanism and an impressive Career mode. [Oct 2006, p.80]

Both games are great, but NHL 2K7 wins our vote because of adaptable gameplay that can be set up how you want it. [Nov 2006, p.70]

Despite slightly tweaked controls and a few other improvements over "06," it's still the same - for ice hockey fans only. [Nov 2006, p.70]

As good as we were expecting and hoping, it delivers on its promise to make an 'always on' Xbox Live race world, plus the car handling, sheer size of its island and the way you're left to make your own fun in your own way makes it a breath of pine-scented air in this world full of bland race games. [Oct 2006, p.108]

Aged, dated, decrepit and repetitive! [Nov 2006, p.107]

Perhaps the most likeable cult oddity on XBox 360. [Oct 2006, p.98]

Deals a very poor hand. [Aug 2007, p.84]

An amazingly limited game - so basic that you can't quite believe it's not free on Xbox Live Arcade. [Nov 2006, p.102]

Solid - but lacks the intelligence of "GTA"... Without a doubt, Saints Row's biggest contribution to the genre is multiplayer. This also happens to be the most fun part of the game. [Sept 2006, p.8]

With Xbox Live play, leagues and mini-games you're never going to be bored - unless you just don't like American football. [Nov 2006, p.100]

The big word this year is 'depth', and with 217 new and classic teams (yes, we counted), tons of new gameplay features and both an in-depth Franchise Mode and an all-new Superstar Mode, there's plenty here to keep fans happy until 08 inevitably rears its helmet-wearing head. [Oct 2006, p.74]

Beautiful graphics do not a good game make. [Oct 2006, p.104]

But Despite the artful simplicity of the game we just can't justify paying money for this. Throwback kudos and nostalgia value aside, the game involves too little skill in comparison to the likes of Joust or the aforementioned "Geometry Wars."

The greatest triumph is that it'll make you laugh and go 'wow' for the entire seven hours and then some. [Oct 2006, p.8]

If you've a nostalgic bone in your body that needs breaking, this is the game.

FlatOut 2's a more interesting racer than most, one that's smooth, nice looking and as easy to get into as a really big hole. It's not exactly moved on in any way since the original FlatOut, but if you missed out on that one, or really loved it and want more of almost exactly the same arcade racing insanity, go for it.

The problem that this and indeed any retro shooter has nowadays is Bizarre Creations 2D tour de force, Geometry Wars. Still one of our Xbox Live download favourites, Galaga by comparison is a poor substitute.

A generic shooter at best. [Oct 2006, p.76]

It's nothing we haven't seen done before with more energy and enthusiasm in countless other mech games. [Aug 2006, p.91]

On occasion, what no doubt seemed like a crazy-cool idea down the pub just didn't work well in practice (spirit death-defying in particular) and fun has taken the edge off challenge, but you'd have to be an extremist alien sympathiser not to thoroughly enjoy Prey from the moment it sucks you into its viscera to the moment it squeezes you out again.

Our main gripe with BMEII? The battles aren't big enough. Though the unit sizes have been increased from the previous PC version, they're still pitifully small. [Aug 2006, p.8]

In spite of its unspectacular style and its translation-glitch quirks, Over G is a little weird, but lots of fun. [Aug 2006, p.92]

A no-nonsense shooter that combines brutal violence and utter pandemonium with clever and varied mission objectives. [May 2006, p.74]

If you're a fan of the series then that will either be enough for you or it won't. We suspect that it will, because stability is as important as progress in those sports updates that already lead their field, and hey, the addition of some serious next-gen sense-candy doesn't exactly hurt.

Fine in multiplayer, but endless tricking makes games against Xbox tiresome. It's slow-paced novelty basketball. [Aug 2006, p.66]

So, no major surprises then, and ultimately Cars is a mediocre racing game for anyone over the age of about 13. But taken on its own terms, as a game geared towards pre-teens and fans of the movie, its flaws and shortcomings don't matter one bit and will probably pass young 'uns by quicker than Lightning McQueen himself.

Hitman: Blood Money is a unique and hugely enjoyable experience. Sure, it's violently amoral and the controls aren't fantastic, but what really makes it is a palpable sense of freedom.

A lot of people were disappointed with the last Hitman game. This one's better. Not by much, but it's more user-friendly, has had a slight visual upgrade and the plot and game settings are a big improvement over the lacklustre "Contracts." [June 2006, p.52]

Jaws Unleashed isn't a terrible game, but it's riddled with control, camera, and difficulty issues that take the fun away. [Nov 2006, p.74]

This is solidly built, quality gaming, made by a team that's put a lot of care into adapting the license. [June 2006, p.62]

While the polish is there, the Rockstar sense of humour and typical depth and complexity of experience are both sadly absent. [July 2006, p.80]

If you're a newcomer to the phenomenon of all this Jesus-themed, impossible code-breaking malarkey you'll find parts of The Da Vinci Code pretty bloody annoying. However, you'll find more to like as you explore, especially if you enjoyed Broken Sword.

It's fun for a little while, but is precious more than a weekend's worth of entertainment. [July 2006, p.86]

It's flawed, sure, but it doesn't stop the game from being fun, and it's certainly above the typical standards of movie-licence games nowadays. The game challenges your finger-mashing skills, not your puzzle-solving ability, though, so as long as you don't expect a deep, involving cranium workout, you won't be at all disappointed.

Over the Hedge isn't anywhere near perfect, but it's still reasonably entertaining and not quite bad enough to be dismissed as a 'cash-in' (aren't most games made for cash?). [Aug 2006, p.62]

An old-fashioned shooter in both looks and gameplay, but done with enough conviction that you can be forgiving. [June 2006, p.58]

If you know anything about good games, you'll love it as much as we do. [April 2006, p.70]

It looks great, it's easy to play and there are plenty of game modes to get through. But the loose and clumsy gameplay still has some way to go before it can match the ongoing king of football games, "Pro Evo."

What FIFA does well is give you time in possession. Play a through ball and get yourself in the opponent's penalty area and you're allowed to control it.

A classic old-school adventure whose story and characters are strong enough to overcome the terrible action parts. [July 2006, p.68]

A by-the-numbers budget shooter with very little in the way of spark. Not a total stinker, but hardly worth your cash either. [June 2006, p.69]

The done-to-death concept and boring missions don't do the game any favours. [July 2006, p.67]

At the end of the day, you'll be left feeling warmer and happier than if you were in the heaving bosom of Lara herself. That's got to be worth the asking price. [May 2006, p.70]

Though the single-player provides some feasible outcomes to the what-if scenarios posed by the desperate fiscal, military and political interests of the superpowers in Kazakh oil, the multiplayer provides a more realistic answer to what might happen - endless, bloody, war.

It's amazingly easy to play, user-friendly, good fun and looks great throughout, but you may still find yourself completing it in a couple of sittings... A classy game that's a joy from start to finish. [Apr 2006, p.54]

Commandos Strike Force achieves the impossible - it's a wargame that's innovative and interesting to play. Switching characters in the middle of a battle keeps the pace high, while the solo chapters use each fighter and their skills to their fullest.

Jaw-droppingly beautiful to look at, no worse to play than its excellent originator, but not really that much of a step forward. New balls, please!

If you've never played Far Cry before and don't mind your eyes recoiling into your sockets every time you see another monstrously rendered native, pirate or insurgent, then this is a good deal.

It's simple and quite fun - especially if you're a depraved and drooling pervert - but the extremely basic, traditional wrestling action and lack of any lasting challenge sinks Rumble Roses down to a disappointing A-cup of a game.

The lacklustre graphics means that when the action is at its most intense, the game is still a bit of an eyesore.

A very competent expansion, albeit one that's way too brief. Story mode can be finished in around six hours. It's also one of those add-ons where you rarely feel the developer has stretched itself creatively. [Apr 2006, p.67]

The dogfights in the skies are a lot of fun, but they fly a fine line between tense standoffs and frustration. Achieving a five-star rating and a better designation of your flight rank just doesn't have the same sense of achievement as other games out there.

The fantastic visual detail and easy controls make it immersive and challenging, and if you're into flight sims or WWII games will really enjoy it's sinister atmosphere, powerful score and deeply satisfying explosions when the bullets hit home. But everyone else will quickly grow tired of the repetitive missions, and once the game's finished there's very little replay value. [May 2006, p.72]

As clones go, The Godfather is one of the better ones. It's got a unique atmosphere all of its own, due largely to the quality period setting, and manages to stay faithful to the film while carving out some interesting takes on classic scenes. [April 2006, p.80]

Simply put, Oblivion is a game where the story never ends. The story of your exploits in any other game would have natural gaps, but here you can just keep telling it, with every yarn feeding logically into the next.

A genuine and triumphant return to form for the Driver series, and even shows the mighty Grand Theft Auto franchise a few cool new tricks along the way. [April 2006, p.65]

A well-polished movie tie-in that will keep undemanding kids amused for a weekend or two. [April 2006, p.88]

Relic's game achieves so much, almost creating a new console genre, combining the shoot-'em-up with the RTS. While it fails slightly in not being tactical enough (at least in Campaign mode) or quite compelling or consistent enough as an action shooter, the range of game modes and levels on offer means you get plenty of bang for your buck.

If you think you can handle the pressure, deal with the pain and put in the hours, then you'll find this one of the most frenetic, tactical and rewarding squad-based shooters ever made (despite a few annoying foibles and glitches), one that will grip and enthrall you for weeks on end - and justify the outlay for your Xbox 360 setup. [Apr 2006, p.15]

GRAW is brimming with atmosphere, has brilliant, open levels and challenging AI that will put your shooting skills to the test. [April 2006, p.74]

Burnout: Revenge is so achingly pretty that this is one of the few occasions where it's actually worth buying all over again. Seeing it in action makes you proud of your Xbox 360 and what it's proving capable of.

An idiotic, stupidly playable romp from beginning to end, with such baffling diversions you can't help but love it. [April 2006, p.72]

Football without rules equals a mess. Add some crap gameplay and annoying animations and it's a complete joke. [April 2006, p.94]

For pure boxing realism, Fight Night Round 3 takes the crown. The way you can bust out little jabs and finish off with a crunching uppercut, or bat away a badly timed hook and follow through with a breath-stealing gut-punch is spot on. [April 2006, p.78]

Overall, though, with its fundamentally flawed handling, glitchy physics and a tendency for the game to just play itself, Sonic Riders is a huge disappointment. [April 2006, p.84]

But if you want a staggering multiplayer fight game that looks better than anything else on Xbox 360, get this.

Respectable though its faith to the old-skool way is, it's not going to satisfy the modern gamer. If you and your three mates still adore the original arcade game you'll get a kick out of playing this prettier version, but everyone else will be snoozing within the hour.

But at the end of the day it's intuitive and makes for a highly playable game. We just wish they'd realized that when they killed the crosshair.

The combat isn't as good as it should be, which sadly lets down what is otherwise a solid acrobatic platformer with cunning puzzles, set in a dazzling futuristic world.

A quality party game, so it's a real shame that the biggest new feature - the Quest mode - is so poor. And good though it is, it's only worth getting if you missed the previous one or you're an obsessive completist. [April 2006, p.86]