Your Shape provides decent replacements for both of these things, with all the arbitrary but absorbing nonsense of levelling up, medals and badges. This might be the first fitness game we'll use after reviewing it.

Where the second through fourth games were exceedingly well-padded, the fifth is SoulCalibur hacked to a sliver, with very little between you and that fiery core. Admirable as that may sound, the result is a dangerously light single player game that's hard to recommend to anybody save SoulCalibur obsessives - or newcomers in search of a populous (because it's recent) online fighter. Notoriously fleet of foot, the series needs to put a bit of weight back on.

Bound in Blood is like a Wild West theme park: corny, but at least there's constant gun smoke and plenty of bad guys being put to rights. It's not a must-buy by any stretch, but it is bearable.

Proof that big thinking PC-based RPGs can totally work on pads, and how not to implement the weighty interfaces that come alongside them - but trudge through this and there's much to love.

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]

Vast, occasionally beautiful, and absolutely loaded down with things to do, but rarely as magical as the numbered Scrolls games. Survive the first few hours and it's a memorable adventure.

Lego City hits the heights of the very best Lego games, with only a few of the lows. [June 2017, p.75]

Takes all comers in a stand-up fight, but somewhat flounders on the ground.

We can generally overlook a bit of going-through-the-motions in campaign add-ons, but not when the add-on in question mishandles the backstory of a trilogy that defined a genre. Though serviceable, RAAM's Shadow never does its own premise justice.

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 clever and satisfying experience that'll test your creativity and patience. [Nov 2017, p.82]

A slick, chaotic arcade driving/combat game too easily spoiled by lag. [Aug 2018, p.74]

Very tough but seldom unfair, Furi is an unyielding and tantalising taskmaster. [Jan 2017, p.91]

Magic Sword is merely a peculiar bonus: another side-scroller from 1990 that takes a swing at the fantasy genre. Its button-bashing core contains a few RPG fragments, as you can collect protective shields and rescue imprisoned allies who then serve as a support character, and it's a decent, if limited affair.

Glimpses of horrors can't save this horrifically frustrating experience. [July 2017, p.88]

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.

While the first half hour of Sonic Generations is jarring, it's really worth sticking with. There's a lot of fan love here, from showdowns with your rivals - Metal, Shadow and Silver - to revisiting some familiar but excellently reworked levels. But it's a scarring shame that the Sonic 1 emulation reminds you how smooth Sonic should be. And he isn't.

For 400 points the game's a steal - it's an enjoyable blast of a bygone era that we'll never see again. [Sept 2007, p.110]

Time powers are a fun step forward, but pacing issues keep the story firmly in the past. [May 2016, p.73]

Our favourite addition is the brilliantly insane Karaoke mode, which enables you to sing along to instrumental versions of the famous theme music. Less hilariously, but more usefully, there's support for eight players over Xbox Live to replicate the legendary showdowns that occurred at amusement arcades around the world in the mid-'90s.

Brilliantly simple. [Apr 2015, p.84]

Its sledgehammer subtlety is balanced by a genuinely good heart. [March 2015, p.76]

The exact antithesis of Titanfall. [June 2014, p.84]

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]

Very good, for the few who can take the pace. [Christmas 2011, p.105]

Telltale's reinvention of Minecraft captures the game's cosy vibe, but fails to get the blood pumping with its action and puzzling mechanics. [Dec 2015, p.85]

The best D&D experience on console. [Sept 2013, p.91]

By permitting Traveller's Tales to parody the movies to such an extent, they've allowed the developer to create something above and beyond the standard movie tie-in. [July 2008, p.86]

IF you're really itching to return to Arkham, it might be better to fire up your Xbox 360. [Christmas 2016, p.78]

Dull genre-bender with more features than fun. [Christmas 2011, p.110]

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]

Short and sweet, a throwback to the old days when you can pick up a game, play it and engage in some brainless, mindless fun. As a videogame, it has its flaws but as an example of big, dumb fun, you won't find any game that does it better. [Oct 2007, p.74]

You'd be mad to buy an electric guitar and not fork out for Rocksmith as well. [Dec 2012, p.95]

Though ponderous in places, there's nothing quite like this curious sandbox caper. [Jan 2018, p.90]

Joyous and colourful, it's a shame that the motion tracking can be off at times. [Xmas 2014, p.79]

Strategy fans will be in heaven, but thanks to the slick production, amusing cutscenes and accessible controls it could also get a few converts to the RTS cause. It's certainly a great place to start.

The magic hasn't worn off yet. [Jan 2012, p.102]

Fast, frantic, furious and fun. [Jan 2008, p.99]

Still quality, but overpriced. [Aug 2010, p.111]

An exceptionally pleasant surprise. Assembled with a lot of care, a little flair and plenty of conviction. There's little you won't have seen before, but it's an invigorating romp all the same.

There's plenty to do and the sheer size of the city will keep you busy for weeks. But Carbon's new features don't stand out enough to make it warrant an immediate purchase if you've already raced through Underground 1 and 2, Juiced or Midnight Club.

Telltale make the most of what could have been a flabby third entry by piling on the pressure and ensuring you know that no-one is to be trusted. That said, the game's mechanics are clearly starting to show, which doesn't do the story any favours.

It's the most accessible strategy game we've played on the 360. The downside of all this user-friendliness though, is that EndWar's not particularly challenging. The single-player game against the computer, while fun and easy to play, doesn't have the strategic depth to keep a man entertained for long.

Totally gripping from start to finish.

It has the wind beneath its wings. [Dec 2011, p.103]

Enjoyable sim that we've seen before. [Christmas 2011, p.109]

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]

On its own, The Gunstringer might have been tough to recommend. As part of this bundle [with Fruit Ninja], it's a unique, funny, flawed and downright loveable Kinect experience. Buy it before your soul turns sour.

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.

The frantic 2D play, the limited movement options and the massed death from above make it a challenge even to twitch gamers. Throw in four-player survival, a boss battle mode and great co-op and it’s a must-buy.

Marred only by its own unreached potential. [Aug 2011, p.98]

A brilliant representation of a classic setting, and irresistible fun with four people. [Christmas 2016, p.84]

A flawed but still enthralling narrative adventure that's worth experiencing. [March 2018, p.82]

It's comfy like a pair of old slippers; before you combine them with bagels to make roller-skates, of course. [Nov 2015, p.87]

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]

As with much of the game the enhancements outweigh the frustrations, and while it's by no means a revolution of the franchise, the improvements in PGA Tour 2014 warrant fans giving it some course time.

F.E.A.R. 2 delivers some meaty combat, but fails to improve on the original. Where was the ambition to innovate or surprise? It's by no means terrible, but for such a major franchise, more was expected. This is still an enjoyable shooter, just not a particularly hair-raising one.

A genuinely atmospheric and often disturbing yarn that Ripper and Creed fans shouldn't miss. [Feb 2016, p.88]

The most polished WWE game for years, with MyPlayer mode a highlight. [Christmas 2018, p.88]

Same game, bigger map. [Mar 2011, p.103]

Lobsters should be invited to every party. [Dec 2012, p.7]

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

de Blob 2 feels like an amiable, almost therapeutic game, so one decision leaves us bewildered. For no plot-related reason whatsoever, every world is governed by an overarching countdown timer that spans all of the many missions.

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

As it stands, the interface is slick, the presentation is pleasantly simplified and chunky, and the unlocks will keep rewards flowing for a long time. It's one of the best poker games we've ever played - but until prizes are added into the mix it doesn't stop the whole concept of risk-free poker from feeling fundamentally pointless.

A fun, frenetic first-person shooter that suffers from a few frustrating flaws. [October 2018, p.86]

Given that FIFA 12 is crammed with modes and teams, FIFA Street feels lightweight, with only a handful of licensed club leagues on offer and a main menu bereft of choice. Still, if you're getting bored of FIFA and like your football a little more vibrant, this is a decent if not essential choice.

The brilliant thing is how carefully stage-managed this madness is... A bizarre but brilliant online brawler. [May 2012, p.98]

A great yearly update that doesn't disappoint. Kinect integration will entertain the less serious player, but the brilliantly precise and challenging new control scheme means the golfing hardcore won't need to give it a second glance.

Unapologetically rugged retro-romp where every inch of progress is cause to break out the celebration cake. Not for the faint of heart, but in the short term, it's a pleasing challenge for the faint of wallet.

Despite the fact that Shadow Planet is an exploration game that doesn't have enough to explore, the charm of the visual style, the ambience of the world and the silent communication itself makes the short journey completely pleasurable. Just be aware that you're dropping a tenner on something pretty that won't fill an evening.

Crysis 3 might be a victim of this love-blindness. You'll never be bored during the campaign, and certainly not during the excellent multiplayer. But Crysis 3 feels like a retread of entertaining ground, with a frustrating glimpse of how good it could actually be.

It's taken a long time to get to us, but Stoic's engrossing strategy adventure is worth the wait, conjuring a rich, wintry atmosphere in a world as handsome as it is hopeless.

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.

More than any other Pro Evo, this one spits in your face and laughs at your pathetically predictable attempts to play it, again and again, until your old ways are eventually stamped into the dust...It still plays a beautiful game. [Dec 2007, p.80]

As it stands, it's a polished outing for a much-loved pile of robots, and though it costs twice as much as the second film on Blu-Ray, it's about seven times as enjoyable. The maths speaks for itself.

A third-person shooter packed with thrilling set-pieces that tries to make you think about why you are doing the shooting. It's utterly bleak, occasionally gruelling and falls just short of the thought-provoking masterpiece it was aiming for, but it's still a relentlessly compelling experience if you've got the stomach for it.

With an excellent soundtrack, and beautiful [if simple] art direction, The Bridge is a sensory treat. [Christmas 2013, p.103]

It may not be as sprawling as The Phantom Pain, but this is one of Xbox 360's greatest sneakathons and plays as well as it ever did. If you didn't buy it before, reach for your wallet immediately.

The ambition is worthwhile on the whole, however, and if you'll frequently throw down the pad in fury, you'll just as frequently snatch it up again for another try.

Unique, entertaining but over all too quickly.

Some great stories reside within, and Vvardenfell is excellently recreated. [Sept 2017, p.74]

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

Karaoke strong, but guitar weak. [Jan 2010, p.109]

A commendably well crafted re-release that doesn't rest on its laurels. [Sept 2015, p.96]

An understated slice of retro-excellence from Double Helix, Strider leans just heavily enough on its 1989 forebear before catapulting itself into its own uniquely spectacular style of energetic and fast-paced side-scrolling platformer.

There's very little new in Dead or Alive 5. It's built on tried, true and perhaps tepid fighting game foundations, but given the depth it's difficult to fault it for that. Fighting game players in search of something completely new might be better off holding out for Persona 4 Arena. But if it's just a solid, technical fighter you're after, Dead or Alive fits the bill.

A fully featured, officially licenced rally simulator, but it lacks flair and personality. [Issue#183, p.90]

Great fun but over-the-top style can wear thin. [Oct 2009, p.93]

As good as fighting games get, with great mechanics, and visually a knockout. [Issue#225, p.68]

Despite this being one of the best 3D fighters of a generation, it's hard to recommend SoulCalibur II HD Online due to a silly price tag and some seriously poor online multiplayer implementation. The SoulCalibur name deserves more than this.

If all you want is to gun down wave after wave of enemies set to the pleasant Southern drawl of its narrator, hang up your spurs and have at it. If however, you demand a little innovation with your arcade shooters, then much like Silas himself, tales of Gunslinger's greatness may be greatly exaggerated.

Another generous helping of horror. Occasionally frustrating, but more often tense, inventive and satisfying. [July 2015, p.84]

Stylish, competent, but a bit too familiar.

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]

A gimmicky but fun mix of fan service. [June 2013, p.103]

Replay value is immense too, thanks to open tactics, large maps and good Xbox Live modes including Co-op.

It's a graphically functional, perfectly playable plug-in for those who want a quick game of chess. Nothing more, nothing less. Just chess.