Blasphemy! It's still amazing, but feelings of over-familiarity are starting to creep in. [Christmas 2016, p.87]

An unusually exotic cake. [Aug 2014, p.93]

If you've got the Xbox 360 version, there's little reason for you to trade up. [March 2015, p.77]

Another great slice of comic book action.

Not overly ambitious, but rather charming. [June 2009, p.94]

A classic old-school adventure whose story and characters are strong enough to overcome the terrible action parts. [July 2006, p.68]

Whilst missing some of the violent intensity of the opening episode, Smoke and Mirrors keeps things interesting with a deepening mystery and plenty of nice character beats.

Full of imagination, but you'll need a will of steel to get through its toughest trials. [Aug 2016, p.80]

This is what happens when Dragon Ball Xenoverse goes Super Saiyan. [Christmas 2016, p.88]

A comprehensive bike sim that benefits massively from its new management mode. [Sept 2017, p.88]

Astroneer is both gentle and brutal, and which you see more of depends on your own play style. Occasionally, though, you might wish it just had picked a side.

A decent but forgettable kart racer that’s lacking the variety of All-Stars Racing. [Issue#179, p.83]

Solid proof that roguelikes can be accessible without sacrificing the genre’s spark. [Issue#186, p.77]

The studio shows a clear love for the source material and a devotion to creating the most faithful adaptation, however the experience is marred by too many poorly executed parts. Ardent fans will, of course, be able to overlook the game’s disappointments to appreciate the story and combat – this is the most impressive way to experience the DBZ saga, after all. As an action game, this would be fine, but as an RPG it hasn’t quite scratched that itch just yet. [Issue#187, p.77]

A Diablo clone that still has plenty of its own character, and is great in couch co-op. [Issue#179, p.78]

Not the biggest Destiny expansion, but certainly one of the most confident and classy. [Dec 2016, p.72]

Sure, the levels are all much of a muchness, and despite the variety of game modes, it can get samey. But the persistent online game - a fight for Dark Matter between Paladins (humans) and Valiants (aliens) - adds long-term appeal, and once you've mastered its quirks, it's an absolute blast in small doses.

Earthworm Jim HD is a brilliant example of how games should be remade and remixed on XBLA.

A refreshing change, if not very thrilling. [Dec 2007, p.102]

Hard to put down – but even harder to pick up, thanks to inscrutable controls. [Issue#181, p.83]

Good ideas are drowned out by a confusing story and frustrating controls. [Sept 2017, p.72]

I'd go as far as to say that Killer Instinct is my favourite launch title for Xbox One. With a little more content, it could seriously have been a killer app for the system. It might be only half a game so far, but what an excellent half that is.

A scrum-ptious morsel for Rugby nuts. [Oct 2011, p.100]

Small Arms is pretty blatant about copying the gameplay of Nintendo's "Smash Bros," but it's exactly the kind of frantic action suited for online play. [Jan 2007, p.97]

This isn't just another franchise game: it's the closest thing that you'll ever get to a sequel to the movies. It's not the cleverest game ever made, but there's certainly enough excitement, intrigue and massive explosions to keep you interested. [Oct 2008, p.74]

There's hidden depth beyond the ugly exterior. [Nov 2014, p.87]

Wickedly funny and not afraid to make you work, Yooka-Laylee is diabolically fun. [June 2017, p.69]

A classic game spoiled by the controls. [July 2009, p.96]