Clever cloning leads to some of the most inventive puzzles we've seen in a long time. Master its mad logic, and you'll find an excellent puzzle platformer. A really pleasant surprise.

As an exercise in carrying triple-A bloat gracefully, however, it's among Ubisoft's finest efforts. Fisher might look like the world's grumpiest, most grizzled ninja, but he's proving quite the crowd-pleaser.

Indie fun that jumps through all our hoops. [Dec 2012, p.79]

Reminds us how great shooters were before Doom and Wolfenstein were rebooted. [June 2017, p.72]

If you want more of the same but shinier, and slightly more serious Tony Hawk action, this is the best skate game for some years.

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.

A lack of decent advanced tutorials keeps the bats firmly separated from the boys and the likelihood of extensive replay fairly slim. But for fans of the DCU, it's show-stopping fun. It's the game we deserve, if not the one we need right now.

Looks so pretty but plays just the same. [Jan 2008, p.90]

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]

This game oozes perfection in its simplicity. Its ideas are well-executed and spot-on, the dialogue is witty and clever, and though it's often tricky, you're always willing to hop in for another blast.

Simplified controls. [Nov 2013, p.97]

Very difficult to get past the button-bashing stage, but persistence pays dividends. [Sept 2017, p.68]

Loses [10 points] for being essentially the same game as on last-gen, but this is nonetheless a unique adventure that tugs on the heartstrings as much as the analogue sticks. [Nov 2015, p.78]

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]

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

Treyarch may not always hit its targets, but this remains a genuinely fresh take on an old sub-series in an even older franchise. A game as well-oiled as its cyborgian characters. [Christmas 2015, p.60]

Provides tons more fun and cool stuff to do in an already quest-packed fantasy RPG. [Sept 2018, p.74]

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

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]

Kevin Spacey might take top billing, but it's the array of powerful PMC tech that's the real star of the show, making the stalest formula in contemporary videogames feel remarkably fresh.

Yarny's co-op adventure is a wickedly inventive devil in sheep's clothing. [Sept 2018, p.80]

It's Virtua Fighter 5, only tarted up. [Sept 2012, p.105]

A Bowie-esque reinvention. [Christmas 2015, p.75]

The best sports game on Xbox Live Arcade. [Feb 2008, p.103]

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]

Though disappointingly short, Untitled Goose Game offers an evening of entertainment unlike anything else out there. If you have Xbox Game Pass, download this goosey gem ASAP. [Issue#187, p.79]

This Middle Eastern adventure is one of the most beautiful cinematic games ever devised, but not one of the most rewarding to play. It's also one of the most mature, thoughtful games of recent years, challenging you with ideas and concepts that are far from clear cut. But where is the freedom of choice? Unless you count the difference between the dagger or the sword, there really isn't any.

Strong, simple concept, executed beautifully. [Mar 2011, p.102]