Let down by money-grabbing that manifests in entirely unsubtle nudges towards buying new characters. [Dec 2014, p.79]

Eurocom's recycled but robust offering might have been worth it if Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 weren't stealing the limelight this Christmas. Golden Eye Reloaded is fun, but fails to square up to the FPS big boys.

Despite this being one of the best 3D fighters of a generation, it's hard to recommend SoulCalibur II HD Online due to a silly price tag and some seriously poor online multiplayer implementation. The SoulCalibur name deserves more than this.

We can't wholly recommend its gameplay, but as a vessel for an endangered culture, it's a worthy project. [Jan 2015, p.88]

A jarringly inconsistent first poke at next-gen hockey. Makes bold leaps forward in terms of game day presentation, physics and AI, but large swathes of it seem unfinished. [Dec 2014, p.82]

Perfect for quick blasts of fun. [Jan 2010, p.112]

Tries to juggle too many balls at once, ends up dropping most of them and hoping you won't notice. [Dec 2014, p.83]

A throwback party game that's clearly aimed at a very specific audience.

A light, breezy and immediate racer that's perfect multiplayer party fodder. [Jan 2015, p.89]

Not bad if you can bring the skills. [Nov 2009, p.95]

An average game made viable by its low barrier to entry - but outperformed in almost every way by the giants of its genre. One to dabble with, but think before committing real money.

Performance problems spoil a slick city-builder with a lot of potential. [Sept 2017, p.82]

They've proved themselves capable of better than this.

Colourful but uninspired. [Aug 2013, p.87]

They need to start working on their polish and QA. [May 2014, p.91]

Summer Athletics gets off to a good start with a generally competent control system. It's a shame that its lack of features means that it can't quite go the distance, and ultimately ends up coughing, wheezing and spluttering after just four or five hours of gameplay.

A fast, scrappy FPS with gorgeous art that’s sadly much less than the sum of its parts. [Issue#179, p.76]

A well-made and exceptionally pretty poker game, but we're not entirely convinced Pure Hold'em's show-stopping looks justify the price of entry alone.

Lone players need not apply: an offline campaign proves useful for learning the maps and the nuances of play, but the focus is firmly with the online game. And either way, we'd advise spending a little extra buying Awesomenauts instead.

Occasionally thrilling, often banal, this cricketer may stump you. [Issue#179, p.80]

A strategy romp that's as much hit as it is miss. [Nov 2008, p.84]

Tons of Nazis to shoot, but still mediocre. [Aug 2007, p.80]

NHL 07's dual-stick control opens a new world of tactics, but "NHL 2K7" plays for pure fun and speed. [Nov 2006, p.98]

Ultimately, the repetition and rough edges do hurt the expeience, but Earth Defense Force's wacky charm will certaily keep you entertained for a while. [May 2007, p.90]

A darkly poetic homage to horror cinema, but one that lacks its own identity. [Issue#179, p.89]

Ultimately, in being unashamed, obnoxious, immature and insane, Deadpool is Deadpool alright - for better and for worse.

Not an especially great game, but an enjoyable nostalgia-trip nonetheless.

While it's a quick-fix burst of fun, the fact SkyHeroes is a kids' game isn't an excuse to be this shallow. [Issue#66, p.98]