A dark and textured tale of love, loss, and lore that's unfortunately over a bit too soon. [July 2018, p.80]

Ideal for beginners and intermediate, but probably not advanced.

Mega tough, mega mean, mega good. [May 2010, p.103]

Perhaps the most likeable cult oddity on XBox 360. [Oct 2006, p.98]

Enjoyable sim that we've seen before. [Christmas 2011, p.109]

A bit of a scattershot offering, but pleasantly non-essential for second-hand owners. If you've drained the main game, it's worth a go. [Christmas 2013, p.111]

There's very little new in Dead or Alive 5. It's built on tried, true and perhaps tepid fighting game foundations, but given the depth it's difficult to fault it for that. Fighting game players in search of something completely new might be better off holding out for Persona 4 Arena. But if it's just a solid, technical fighter you're after, Dead or Alive fits the bill.

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.

Looks flashy, and fun but ends up being a shallow, repetitive trawl.

Ultimately, the game's body count moves it away from the film and makes it more like a poor man's "GTA." [Nov 2006, p.96]

Great fun but over-the-top style can wear thin. [Oct 2009, p.93]

Probably cheaper to buy real gems. [Christmas 2011, p.109]

In small, controlled doses Prototype 2 is great, but it never really manages to do anything amazing. All of the rough edges from the first game are gone, but the formula we're left with feels baby-food smooth. It manages to cure all of the ills of the first Prototype, but not without unwanted side-effects.

Fun shooter with a strong voice, even if that voice could do with shutting up sometimes. [July 2016, p.87]

What this post-apocalyptic drive lacks in originality, it makes up for in execution and the ability to shoot harpoons into people. What a lovely game.

The isometric environments themselves are subtly beautiful. Dominated by piercing blues, robotic greys and icy whites, the whole planet gives off a pleasing sci-fi vibe, and every new area is just begging to be explored. With the world so interesting, it would be helpful to have access to a map, which is a feature absent from the game in another oversight. It’s little missteps like this that niggle at you whilst you’re playing the game, although they never come close to ruining what is a solid Souls-like experience. [Issue#187, p.82]

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.

Crude, confusing, but also charming, this creature feature's teeth remain sharp. [May 2018, p.90]

A grand idea, but needs deep pockets. [Nov 2013, p.94]

What My Friend Pedro does really well is offer a sense of variety in the weapons, the ways you can kill and the level design. While some missions may be more fun than others, no level is quite the same as the last. This makes every new encounter feel fresh and exciting. The ability to tackle each battle in a multitude of different ways means you’ll find yourself returning time and time again to see how much better you can clear them and achieve a higher final score. [Issue#187, p.85]

A decent Lovecraft puzzler that’s low on action but high on hallucinogenic plant spores.

Because it's so similar to the previous games, we can't recommend this as a Must Buy to all - despite all of its cracking quirks it is just that bit too familiar. But if you're a Potter fan and/or looking for a game that both you and your kids can enjoy together, look no further.

A great yearly update that doesn't disappoint. Kinect integration will entertain the less serious player, but the brilliantly precise and challenging new control scheme means the golfing hardcore won't need to give it a second glance.

The lacklustre graphics means that when the action is at its most intense, the game is still a bit of an eyesore.

Adventure fans point your clicker this way. [Christmas 2009, p.105]

It's the most accessible strategy game we've played on the 360. The downside of all this user-friendliness though, is that EndWar's not particularly challenging. The single-player game against the computer, while fun and easy to play, doesn't have the strategic depth to keep a man entertained for long.

Of all of Konami's retro games, this is the best. Contra is manically tough, and even Live co-op play doesn't make it that much easier. If you can get to the end without continuing then we'll salute you as a hero.

Going through the motions. [Jan 2013, p.86]