Movie tie-in unable to flourish because of a by-the-books approach. [Jan 2007, p.94]

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.

More a case of sink than swim. [Feb 2012, p.91]

Its good intentions are sadly blighted by unacceptable performance issues. [June 2015, p.78]

We could almost believe that this was liberated from Shinji Mikami's bin in 1996. [May 2017, p.79]

The wobbly plot and hateful characterisation could be forgiven were The Cartel's shooting superlative. It's not. Guns feel flimsy, and enemies stick fastidiously to cover, hopping up and down and waiting to die.

It's a waste of some fairly pleasant graphics. [July 2012, p.105]

Sonic works hard, but looked better in the '90s. [March 2013, p.85]

The problem with this is that Spark is relentless at throwing a huge number of beasties your way, crowding you into a corner and ripping you to shreds. There's not enough breathing space for you to heal yourself and absorb energy to use it effectively as a defensive measure. To say this had us throwing the controller at the telly and cursing is an understatement.

Flesh and Blood is compelling in its own unhappy way, but this is far from a horror essential. [Issue#67, p.101]

Feels empty and faintly depressing. [Christmas 2012, p.93]

And it's a testimony to their patience and kind-heartedness that they didn't punch us in the face for wasting an evening of their precious, finite life.

This parasitic barnacle seeks only to corrode and cash in on joy. [Feb 2014, p.89]

If you can swallow the pad-mashing mechanics and wince your way through Silicon Knights' ham-fisted attempts at delivering back-story, there's a certain satisfaction to be had replaying to unlock new suits and powers.

Pointless - for the two minutes you'll bother. [Nov 2006, p.107]

More wet slap than knockout blow. [Oct 2012, p.101]

Fine in multiplayer, but endless tricking makes games against Xbox tiresome. It's slow-paced novelty basketball. [Aug 2006, p.66]

A grind in more ways than one. [Sept 2011, p.101]

Poorly executed, lacking personality and completely disrespects your time. Avoid. [Nov 2018, p.84]

Like the Transformers games, this is one of those shallow, mandated movie tie-ins. [July 2014, p.87]

If you want to spend that much time perfecting your balance and looking silly, you can buy a real skateboard for much less.

Frustrating and counter intuitive. [Dec 2012, p.101]

Fun in really, really short bursts. [June 2010, p.103]

Such a painfully dry business - especially with the new lack of multiplayer - that you'd be better off just getting on a bike. [Sept 2011, p.102]

Next-gen Sonic is awkward, dogged by awful levels and a terrible hub system, plus the basic action never gets that challenging. When you die, it’s because you couldn’t see, or you fell off by accident. It's hugely frustrating.

The Winter of our discontent. [Feb 2012, p.101]

A game that's playing very hard to get. [Feb 2011, p.99]

Fun for none of the family, sadly. [Christmas 2012, p.93]