As a single-player experience, it's every bit the quality of a full-priced shooter. [Christmas 2011, p.97]

Just Cause 2 is undoubtedly an improvement on the first game. The grappling hook is still enormous fun - even more so this time around - and there's generally more variety in the missions. Sadly, it still follows its predecessor in regularly reaching points where none of the challenges on offer seem even remotely interesting.

For ten hours, longer than many entire games, RAGE feels massive, open and beautiful. It's crushing to discover that it's all smoke and mirrors, but while the illusion lasts, it's brilliant.

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]

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

EA's touchdown sim gets plenty right, and leaves behind some fallow seasons. [Nov 2018, p.83]

At first it’s novel – and funny – to hear cats and warthogs spouting the usual high-fantasy nonsense about prophecies and world-eating serpents, especially as some of the voice acting is a bit off. But as the hours go on that all fades away to leave a well-realised setting. Along with the central mystery, it all makes for a compelling tail. Sorry – tale. Okay, perhaps we haven’t quite forgotten this is an animal kingdom. [Issue#180, p.87]

Vampire Smile is the product of just one man. Everything, from the slick lo-fi graphics layered with intense lighting effects, to the urgent, industrial music, is by James Silva....Don't be too quick to be jealous.

One of the finest console strategy games ever. [Jan 2013, p.96]

An extremely satisfying and often hilarious campaign.

The longer you spend in Terraria, the more you discover that the Minecraft comparison, while obvious, isn't fair to either. Compared to Mojang's all-conquering virtual Lego set that encourages creativity, Terraria is more of a "game" with definitive goals, rules and progression that deserves to stand on its own merits.

A must-buy game that offers several hours of intense fun. Get blinded by the lights. [Aug 2018, p.90]

When it works, Project CARS is unbelievably good. But overly-aggressive AI, odd collision physics, imperfect pad controls and several bugs mean it's just shy of greatness.

We can't wait to see what next year holds. [Dec 2012, p.97]

The core puzzling itself is horribly addictive. Poker Smash isn't going to make you want to eat ice cream-topped pizza but it is the perfect way to kill a few hours.

Monaco is a stylish and considered game that's all the more remarkable for being the work of just one man. It's absolutely worth your money.

Midnight Club: Los Angeles is most successful when it keeps things simple. The game's checkpoint events and time trials are the best we've seen, and the option to create circuits from scratch adds the potential for some truly epic contests. For slick graphics, intelligent design and pure arcade fun, this is the racing game to keep your motor running this winter.

The minimal animation style underscores that this is the deepest strategy and most hardcore game on Live Arcade, if not on the Xbox 360. [Jan 2007, p.96]

As valiant an attempt as its name suggests, but ultimately this is a story simultaneously too big and too personal for the tappy trappings it's been couched within.

If you want all the moves, entrances, costumes and storylines you know and love perfectly rendered, then this is a consummately crafted experience tailored just for you. Yet for the beat 'em up fanboy or non-wrestling fan - newbies beware! - this is going to be very short-lived entertainment.

Accept its slow pace, and Cities: Skylines will reveal depth and drama you couldn't plan. [July 2017, p.90]

Still, there's no denying that Ninja Gaiden II has tons going for it, and when the combat works, which it does for most of the game, it can be a beautiful ballet of blood and steel with you at the centre, devising and scrapping split-second plans as you rip your way from alamo to alamo. If you've got the stomach for it, Ninja Gaiden will reward you. They just could have been a little less mean.

A great retro RPG, but a few niggles make it tough to enjoy by modern standards. [July 2018, p.76]

It's slicker than a blood-drenched balcony and the dev's best fascist-smasher yet. [April 2017, p.82]

Charming and jam-packed with content, but lacks a compelling narrative. [Issue#225, p.90]

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

Prince of Persia may not be a world-changing nine, but it is a fantastic eight. The look, the feel of the game, is one one that turns back time and makes what was once the waning memory of an ailing genre fresh once more. [Christmas 2008, p.58]

If you don’t mind being killed by the odd nuke – how anyone can score 30 consecutive kills is beyond our tiny minds – PvP could swallow your damn life. Pair it with a gutsy (if insensitive) campaign, and this tonally conflicted series continues to stay relevant thanks to the best guns in the biz. [Issue#184, p.68]