A nicely remastered, pretty JRPG let down by a slightly dodgy battle system.

An entertaining, exciting game that looks simply stunning. It really does the genre, and the Xbox 360, justice. And you can't get a higher recommendation than that. [Dec 2007, p.88]

An old-school adventure that lacks new ideas but is beautifully put together. [March 2017, p.84]

Adults and older kids will probably vibe with the GTA-like open world a bit more, though the basic physics and challenges make it very 'GTA-lite', too. What's urgently needed, though, is a patch for the flight controls that make it a game best enjoyed from the ground, ridiculous as that is for a superhero game.

But the thing which pulls this down to a seven is actually its technical aspect - while diving in and out of the subgames would amuse, the constant loading pauses before most fracture its atmosphere.

This is imaginative and witty stuff. [Dec 2015, p.78]

From giant pandas to Streets of Rage-inspired brawling, this is the most complete fighting game available to-date.

Bulk can work to a game's disadvantage if there's nothing drastically new on offer, however, and Revelations' later stages are a bit of a slog. It's just as well this is Ezio's final hour, because enjoyable as the game undoubtedly is, the base mechanics were showing their age in Assassin's Creed 2. Recommended, then, providing you're not expecting a massive overhaul.

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]

So beyond the handful of menu options with flashing "NEW!" logos next to them, and the potential of the Story Designer to deliver some hilarious content, Smackdown vs. RAW 2010 doesn't do a great deal to progress the series. The sweat isn't even noticeably shinier.

It's still not as compelling as the show or the books, but The Sword in the Darkness at last has us intrigued for what future episodes will bring.

If you utterly exhausted last year's effort and are waiting for the revolution the series now sorely needs, keep on walking.

An all-out assault on the brain, a gruesome spectacle to behold. A horrific beauty has once again been born by Monolith. [Mar 2008, p.87]

That Ubisoft saw fit to make a shooter for laughs is enormously commendable, and a step that we hope others will follow. But its commitment to dumbing down means that this is a pure-bred B-game rather than all-star A-lister.

It's a turbo-powered drifty racer with a loveably fractured premise and a world that's full of challenges and stunts. It's better than it has any right to be.

Trine’s brand of puzzle platforming returns to form in this colourful yet challenging sequel. [Issue#184, p.87]

A light-hearted take on heavy-duty subject matter is no more than what we've come to expect from Travellers' Tales. In adding RPG features without shattering the returning mechanics, however, the LEGO team have arguably outdone themselves. You shall not pass this one up.

A tasty multiplayer morsel that tests eye-to-mouth as well as hand-to-eye co-ordination. [Oct 2016, p.96]

A magical evening in, and makes you think in a way that's novel and immensely rewarding. But be warned: the limited camera, the fineness of the controls and the tribal AI will occasionally annoy you, and it leaves you positively starving for more.

It's a great game in short spurts, but isn't good enough to play in the big leagues. [Apr 2007, p.95]

It may frustrate, but within its boundaries this is a riveting, intelligent mystery. [Nov 2016, p.90]

The smartest dumb game on Xbox Live. [Dec 2008, p.101]

Electronica genocide is RTS addiction.

It's one of the best shooter-stories we've seen in years - justifying its own ludicrous nature in interesting and unexpected ways. If the ending didn't feel like such a cop-out, The Darkness II could have been on par with BioShock. As it is, the gripping narrative and wonderfully empowering combat mean you'll be talking about it for months after completing it.

It's currently missing much of the content that will make it great - online multiplayer, and user-created tracks. But an Xbox One Trials fills a crucial gap in the next-gen lineup.

IL-2 feels like two separate games: one a solid, fun arcade flyer, the other a testing simulation of true aerial combat circa Hitler-times. It's inevitable then, that if you're at all interested in planes, or just want to embarrass yourself at a different altitude, IL-2 can hardly come more recommended.

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

With improved dialogue and pacing - and a handful of bold design choices - this is the strongest episode so far, with a finale you'll be desperate to discuss with friends. Bring on Episode 4.