Killer Instinct has grown into a real contender. An essential part of any Xbox library. [June 2016, p.80]

Who knew agony could be so much fun? [Dec 2008, p.100]

It's possible someone who doesn't buy into the Saints Row universe with such enthusiasm will find Saints Row IV exhausting and boring. Might we suggest those people attend a local museum, where the paintings of flowers might be more to their taste. If violent psychopathy is the price we have to pay for a world of awesome harmony, sign us up.

It's simple what Bethesda's done here - it's taken Oblivion's engine and design ethos, and applied it to a fresh franchise. The results are truly impressive, and we've no hesitation in slapping on a Must Buy badge, but you can't help but notice that for every problem it's fixed from Oblivion, a new leak's sprung.

As wonderfully addictive as ever. [Oct 2008, p.94]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

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

Crackdown 2 looks sharper, the action is fiercer and the increased number of players pays dividends. Despite all this, we can't shake the feeling that it isn't the monumental sequel that the series deserved. The over-familiarity of Pacific City and the cropping of key features like the gangs and transforming vehicles will leave some Agency veterans feeling a little bit disappointed.

It all works together to make this the funniest and most thoughtful expansion of the Season Pass. Whether you've got the energy to go back and blow the cobwebs off your old gun hoard is up to you. We'd definitely recommend it.

Its also frustrating that a game that can give so much on the pitch has very little to offer beyond it.

As precisely made as it ever was on handheld, with both the perks and drawbacks of being blown up for the big screen, OlliOlli becomes one of the purest - and best - skill challenge games on Xbox One.

Both its strengths and its weaknesses are the result of a vision of how the experience of slaughtering tunnel-loving bogeymen should be, and while the results aren't as spectacular or generous as we're used to, they put up a damn good fight.

A leaner, meaner breed of Resi that, despite flaws, puts the series back on track...Resi VII has carved itself a seedy, resolutely icky place in our cold, blackened hearts. [March 2017, p.73]

With wit and spot-on style, this is nearly one of Teltale's best, but prioritising action over dialogue means it falls just short of the story-led brilliance we're used to. [Jan 2015, p.83]

Finer than a hundred pieces of eight. [Sept 2009, p.90]

Escalation feels less like a map pack as a theme park for Vietnam veterans, not just contested territory but an environment you'll want to explore - rooting under the crust for the inevitable Easter eggs. Black Ops has never felt fresher.

A great, witheringly tough retro platformer that will amuse/abuse fans of Super Meat Boy and the Sonic series.

We couldn't help but be slightly disappointed with the main plot - it feels flimsy compared to the huge journey the previous instalment treated us to, and the only truly impactful storytelling occurs when you leave Ezio behind. In spite of this, the sandbox is more complex and there's easily as much to do here as in the previous titles.

Not the biggest Destiny expansion, but certainly one of the most confident and classy. [Dec 2016, p.72]

In its natural habitat, with two players sitting on a sofa together, this evokes the best of the '90s 2D fighting boom. It may lack the glossy finish of recent Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Tekken releases, but it still feels slick and rapid enough to stand by its polygonal brethren. If you like your fighting games with a dash of nostalgia, this fits the bill beautifully.

An atmospheric trip that makes us pine for such amazing characters in all the games we play. [Dec 2016, p.73]

United Front has created a version of Hong Kong packed with things to do and the excellent combat and driving ensure it's always fun. If you've not played it, we're a bit jealous.

An intelligent and self-aware sequel, this successfully shifts the tone of the series' debut. [Jan 2017, p.80]

Full of an overwhelming amount of stuff to do this is insane value for money and pretty to boot. Still, we can't help but feel a shake-up is needed for Far Cry 5 to prevent series fatigue.

Well designed and addictive. [Aug 2008, p.95]

Resident Evil 5 has to unfortunately go down as one of the biggest gaming disappointments in recent memory, simply because it's merely great rather than unbelievable. It lags behind 2008's better games in each and every facet it seeks to excel in - Dead Space is scarier, Left 4 Dead is a superior co-op experience and Gears 2 is still the best third-person, cover-based shooter money can buy.

You play "Forza" for the modding, community stuff and realism; you can play Colin because it's a bloody good, old-fashioned arcade rally game. [July 2007, p.96]

AvP is well worth your time and, with the unique online offering as well, there's plenty to get your teeth, claws and wristblades into. [Mar 2010]

Glosses over the changes and additions made in Black Flag, but it's more than deserving of recognition. The skill and attention to detail make this hugely accomplished, if flawed. It's a return to Brotherhood - but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Like its heroes, Revelations 2 is a mix of elements weak and strong. But what a team they make when they're mixed together.

One of the best family games out there. [June 2008, p.78]

Alan Wake is a strange beast - a great story, told clumsily and strewn with odd characters saying vaguely unbelievable things in an earnest way that might or might not be a joke. However, as baffling as it can be, it really does hold its own, keeping you nervous, excited and rolling your eyes indulgently so regularly that it simply won't occur to you to stop playing.

Established missions are still there - loverlorn villagers still need perking up, and there are races a-plenty - but much more on offer besides. And alongside flashier fights, a more helpful HUD and gorgeous new locations, it helps build the ideal sequel for every budding Hokage. Believe it.

Inventive and original, this is retro done right. Another success for Pac-man. [Dec 2016, p.87]

What takes all of this simple arcade fun and elevates it, of course, is Lionhead's flair for detailing, whether the design team's throwing in nods to the rest of the Fable series via the locations - which range from the sunflower meadows of Millfields to the sandy wastes of Aurora - or tossing in classic enemies, including bobble-headed reinventions of hollow men and balverines.

The most realistic football simulation yet: PES' depth and control are simply stupendous. [Dec 2016, p.88]

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]

Dust will see you past ten hours easily, and may last you past 15 if you're serious about completing all the fetch quests and finding all the hidden goodies. It doesn't quite have the repertoire to justify the second figure, to my mind, but the 1200 MP outlay shouldn't give you pause. This is a labour of love for a bygone era that will be remembered just as fondly.

A lovely, surprisingly clever reinvention of Plants vs Zombies for shooter fans of all ages and persuasions.

Strong characters entertain throughout the game's uncharacteristically involving story, with sheer imagination turning those limited core systems into something just that little bit more magical. There are tears, laughter - and most importantly, the first successful stab at Kinect-enhanced immersion - as Fable: The Journey gallops toward its epic conclusion.

This is a truly entertaining game. There's no pretension - just enjoyable mayhem. It doesn't claim to be the Messiah, but it is a very naughty boy. Volition has tapped into nearly every wanton act we'd want to commit in an open world and more besides. [Nov 2008, p.67]

If we have one complaint, it's the fact you have to waggle the thumbstick for a few seconds to blow up the thing you're occupying. You're not using B or Y, guys. But otherwise this is an intelligent and modestly-priced puzzler that'll lovingly abduct an evening from your life.

A Diablo clone that still has plenty of its own character, and is great in couch co-op. [Issue#179, p.78]

A comprehensive bike sim that benefits massively from its new management mode. [Sept 2017, p.88]

The phone is smart, but the story is dumb, and all the better for it. Just don't expect major innovation. [Dec 2014, p.90]

Surprise attack from some chopsy 'copters. [Aug 2013, p.91]

Some of the most inventive use of Soulsian systems we've seen yet. [Dec 2014, p.91]

Technically superior in every way to plain Diablo III and still as ruinous to your everyday life as ever before. The hearty challenge remains beyond the credits, making it definitely worth your time.

It's a delightfully tricky exercise in plate-spinning, complicated further by the need to keep every instrument up to speed to maximise your score.

It's just too easy to forgive Payday 2 for looking shonky though. This game isn't about appearances; it's about the tension and excitement and thrill found in the heat of a moment. It's about hard work and co-operation and a well-placed bullet coming together to pull off the perfect crime. If you've got a tight team of four bank-busting buddies ready and raring to go, and you can overlook some below-average scenery, you're in for a hell of a time. Mask up.

A totally unique surveillance experience impressively set in a compelling alien world.

Unique, stylish and addictive.

The NES trilogy and 16-bit sequels are still hugely challenging and worth a look. [Issue#179, p.90]

Its difficulty will put off those who want an easy ride, but for the hardcore, those who want something different from their games, it's the Holy Grail on wheels. [Apr 2007, p.96]

A beautifully fettled, deeply tactical XCOM-alike that has a shot at cult-classic status.

The combination of a compelling plot, plausible characters and a stunning world to explore means that, while rather brief, this is one of the more memorable experiences on the Xbox 360 this year.

If you don't already have the previous games, then this is essential.

Addictive, frantic and a worthy sequel. [Nov 2008, p.100]

One of the best exploration games ever, thanks to a small but perfectly crafted setting. [Issue#179, p.85]

A special experience for a certain type of gamer. Try it if you're brave.

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.

The only downside is that at £100, it's asking you to put your wallet on the line for an experience that offers the same thrills as GH, but still represents a big gamble if you didn't get on with that series. It's just a fraction too expensive for our liking.

It looks the same, plays the same, feels the same and, praise the lord, actually is the same. Maybe a bit too 'the same' if you've played it every year for the last five years, but still. It'll do.

This is gaming's equivalent of a B-movie. It might not last long, but with no plot, no fuss and no gimmicks, it's a guilty thrill that will live on in pub conversations, impromptu blasts with mates and the knowledge that if you ever want to sit down and enjoy some carnage, all you have to do is reach for this brilliant twist on survival horror.

Truly climactic entertainment.

It can't match up to its predecessors, but Andromeda is a thrilling adventure nonetheless. [May 2017, p.73]

This isn't just an excellent introduction to the series, but a great expansion of it to keep veterans interested. Without Xbox Live you'll miss out on some of the really cool stuff, but for everyone else 2009 is definitely the year of the Tiger.

Its enhanced framerate, more responsive controls and extra gameplay modes mean it's the most complete gridiron experience on the console. It's just...didn't we play this last year? [Oct 2007, p.94]

It's the fights that really count, and they're crazy fun. [Issue#225, p.71]

While it tries too hard at times, it's difficult to deny D4's zany charm. There's something irresistible about a game where you have literally no idea what's coming next. We're stoked for the next instalment.

Hindsight be damned, these games are still fantastic.

I you can't enjoy its over-the-top charms, there's precious little hope for you.

Inconsistent but entertaining, packed with likeable, iconic characters. [Issue#225, p.72]

Gorgeous and impressively focused for its scale. Ubi's best open-world in years. [May 2017, p.83]

More than anything, it's a game that, even after completion, we want to keep returning to again and again, adding different ingredients to the freeform formula and seeing what kind of explosions we can create. We can guarantee you won't have played an FPS quite like this on Xbox 360, but now that one's arrived, you certainly should. [Nov 2009, p.84]

A wonderfully versatile character creator powers and imaginative, wide-ranging adventure. [Christmas 2016, p.91]

The thinking man's dispute-settler. [Nov 2007, p.107]

Hardly a far cry from what's come before, but still surprisingly enjoyable. [Issue#225, p.74]

Transferable save games, unlimited fast travel access and 100,000 rift crystals to spend might help swing the deal. For those on the fence however, the full game with hours of new content should be all you need to hop off. We wouldn't be surprised if this is the best budget release all year.

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.

Peggle 2 is exactly, but not enough of, what we wanted. When you make something this addictive, you gotta supply, man.

A traditional but beautifully crafted, memorable shooter with loads of personality. [Issue#225, p.78]

A refreshing alternative to the darker platformers of the last few years.

An engrossing mix of sci-fi strategy and simulation - but this is a lesser version. [Issue#225, p.80]

An extremely polished, utterly playable update.

A charming and atmospheric RPG, with varied by underwhelming card battles.

Playing Lost Planet is like battering "Ghouls and Ghosts" for the first time. You simply won't believe how stunning it looks. But more imortantly, it's one of those games that pits you against incredible odds and satisfies by making it just about possible to beat them! [Jan 2007, p.8]

Despite some control issues, the game could have been a full retail game rather than a Live Arcade title; it's graphically superior to any xbox or PS2 game, it's not short and it features some innovative mechanics.

Other open world games dabble with the undead, but none of them do it on such a scale. Dead Rising 3's technical shortcomings mean that it isn't a game that easily justifies the purchase of an Xbox One, but it absolutely won't cause you to regret it.

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.