Intense shmup-ing but overpriced. [July 2012, p.107]

Strong, frequently brilliant fun, but it's still only GRID 2.5. There's variety compared to its predecessor, but it never escapes the feeling that it's just a stopgap for whatever's coming next.

More of the same goofy, eccentric zombie-killing action Dead Rising fans love, sprinkled with Capcom callouts. [Sept 2014, p.96]

Nothing to write home about, but the maps are solid and the Zombies episode is the best yet. [Oct 2015, p.90]

Makes Elite's vast sandbox richer, deeper and more varied, but missions still need work. [Aug 2016, p.87]

Decent in single-player but thrilling in co-op, this is a fine upgrade of a good Resi outing. [Sept 2016, p.89]

Intentionally slow pacing is admirable, but it derails an otherwise enrapturing game. [March 2018, p.84]

Loads of appealing content for MotoGP fans, but it’s sluggish and all-too familiar. [Issue#180, p.89]

Hindsight be damned, these games are still fantastic.

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.

Not quite the epic journey into the unknown we were hoping for, mostly thanks to poor writing and a reliance on XP farming, but a treasure trove of single and multiplayer adventures nonetheless.

Pleasure and pain in a single package. [Mar 2011, p.105]

A lighter experience than perhaps the developer intended - which is a bit of a shame.

A ravishing journey across a magical landscape. It's kiddie, but quite irresistible too. [Jan 2017, p.86]

Panorama-baitingly addictive. [Mar 2011, p.103]

This year's instalment still provides enough fan-service to make the hardcore throw their money into the ring, but it doesn't offer enough mass-market appeal.

A pleasing fusion of brawler and bullet-hell, this is a co-op game brimming with personality.

Frontlines feels like an unfinished testing ground for excellent ideas that would have shone in a superb FPS game. Unfortunately, as there's not enough game modes, not enough maps and a weak single-player campaign, this is not a superb FPS game. [Mar 2008, p.88]

An entirely shallow addition to the fighting franchise, but it's slick and stylish nevertheless. [Dec 2013, p.87]

When Battlefield 3 received a set of heavy armour maps and another set of close-quarters infantry maps, that was a revolution. Black Ops 2's Revolution is a step in the right direction, but a small one.

Scratch beneath the surface and there's a deep game that gives out as much as you're willing to put in. [Christmas 2015, p.79]

If you long for the carefree carnage of Destruction Derby and you're happy to ply the bulk of your trade online this is well worth a look. Otherwise you'll probably want to write this one off.

That rare thing: a film tie-in that's not bad. [Sept 2008, p.87]

The best puzzler on Xbox Live Arcade. [Jan 2008, p.98]

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

Great parts, sloppy construction. Will take you to the moon, but maybe not back again. [Oct 2016, p.104]

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.

If you're stuck for a Devil May Cry substitute, give this a whirl. It's a little too scanty to qualify as God's gift to action gaming, but it's definitely going to heaven when it dies.