This game oozes perfection in its simplicity. Its ideas are well-executed and spot-on, the dialogue is witty and clever, and though it's often tricky, you're always willing to hop in for another blast.

The tantalising world and systems are fine in their own right, but shoddy car handling saps any desire to play beyond a few minutes at a time. Dock a point if you don't have likeminded pals.

If this was a bargain-bin title we might be inclined to be slightly more forgiving, but as it is, this is 35 pounds for a game you've likely already played a far better version of. [Xmas 2014, p.87]

Alas, the dancing is as spotty and unrefined as ever. [Xmas 2014, p.87]

Trust us: after half an hour, you'll be as sick of it as CJ is of Cluckin' Bell. [Xmas 2014, p.87]

Divisive ending aside, whatever choices you make in life should lead to you playing this. [Xmas 2014, p.87]

It's lovely, it's sweet, it's funny, but it's only a few hours long, even if you're taking your time. [Xmas 2014, p.86]

One of the best sports franchises just got... exactly the same. [Xmas 2014, p.85]

Feels surprisingly fresh. [Xmas 2014, p.85]

A rich sim that better captures football's unheralded midfield play. [Xmas 2014, p.84]

Platinum is great; this game is not. [Xmas 2014, p.79]

Joyous and colourful, it's a shame that the motion tracking can be off at times. [Xmas 2014, p.79]

It's too derivative and frustrating to contend for Dark Souls' crown. [Xmas 2014, p.78]

So good that it almost seems deceitful: like a CG trailer of what the highest level of fun might look like. After 17 years, it's incredible that the series still has such power to astound and excite.

Full of an overwhelming amount of stuff to do this is insane value for money and pretty to boot. Still, we can't help but feel a shake-up is needed for Far Cry 5 to prevent series fatigue.

Enormous, handsome and in love with the subtleties of world design, storytelling and class-based combat. The finest Dragon Age yet, and the most accomplished RPG so far on Xbox One.

Glosses over the changes and additions made in Black Flag, but it's more than deserving of recognition. The skill and attention to detail make this hugely accomplished, if flawed. It's a return to Brotherhood - but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Unapologetically rugged retro-romp where every inch of progress is cause to break out the celebration cake. Not for the faint of heart, but in the short term, it's a pleasing challenge for the faint of wallet.

Some of the most inventive use of Soulsian systems we've seen yet. [Dec 2014, p.91]

The phone is smart, but the story is dumb, and all the better for it. Just don't expect major innovation. [Dec 2014, p.90]

It's hard to overlook the lack of a killer hook. [Dec 2014, p.87]

Thankfully, the trusted combo-move heavy, cutscene-riddled one-on-one scraps also return. [Dec 2014, p.87]

It feels vague and unfocused. [Dec 2014, p.87]

A game that feels both very new and very old at the same time. [Dec 2014, p.87]

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 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]

It's beautiful, it's comical, but it's a shame that it feels so lacking in solo play. [Dec 2014, p.82]

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