The PES series has always been about realistic football simulation rather then hi-octane arcade action. [Dec 2005 p.85]

It's a far tighter package than Empire was. [Apr 2010, p.98]

Top-drawer felon-neutralising action that will have you hooked for ages. [June 2005, p.99]

Fascinating, infinite possibilities, but it's rough around the edges. [Feb 2005, p.84]

Immense fun, very addictive. [Apr 2011, p.104]

Everywhere you look there's another cute animation and another cool gadget. Combine this with an addictive research tree and a challenging campaign, and you have yourself a great combination of "Dungeon Keeper" and "Austin Powers" - just not a very long one. [Oct 2004, p.94]

From the ridiculous to the sublime: one for fans of undersea combat. [June 2005, p.98]

It's as accessible and charming as any Pixar creation, and it's completely won over this reviewer's heart. [Christmas 2009, p.95]

A little bit lightweight for hardcore tactical shooter fans but still an action-packed, top-class game in multiplayer mode. [Feb 2007, p.54]

An outstanding experience. It manages to create a constant sense of threat, includes some stunning set-pieces, and introduces a cast of breathtaking beasts, all within a combat system that is one of the most versatile and violent we have ever seen. [Dec 2006, p.98]

A visual and aural feast. [Dec 2009, p.98]

An example of British resilience, striving on against daft AI.

Running sideways in slow motion, blasting the head off a commando provides absurd visceral splendour, especially when you've just shatter his legs wtih a sliding kick. Some people worry about violence in games. We do too: we worry that it usually isn't this good. [Nov 2005, p.84]

Unbelievably intense and absolutely beautiful on a high-end PC. [Christmas 2005, p.93]

Barbarian Invasion doesn't devalue the achievements of its precursor. This isn't a great triumph or a fall, just a gentle decline. [Nov 2005, p.95]

Hard as nails, and cute as kittens. [Oct 2006, p.102]

Games this good are extremely rare things, and as such they should be applauded. [Dec 2005 p.80]

Gloriously fun and deeply silly, it's the happiest platform game of all. [Oct 2006, p.98]

The king is back on top, on the modding-friendly PC at least. [Christmas 2009, p.93]

Stuff the storyline and just play the game.

Not a massive leap forward from Advanced Warfighter, but it's definitely a worthy addition to any tactical shoooter fan's collection. [Aug 2007, p.58]

easily the best instalment yet – it looks great, plays great, and has oodles of expansion potential. The only downer is that even on higher-end machines, things can really chug in crowded areas. Still, that’s the price you pay for freedom.

Crisp, sharp, bike-racing fun. Could use more real-world marques though. [Oct 2005, p.96]

An absolute bargain. [Nov 2009, p.101]

There are game that cost five times as much that don't come close to its levels of satisfaction and perfectly-formed miniquests. [Issue#246, p.100]

An excellent FPS, and easily one of the year’s best. It’s varied, funny, imaginative, challenging (on anything other than Easy mode, which you could complete blindfolded) and has a lot to offer. However, despite all this, it lacks its predecessor’s spark of genius and genuine originality. If we sound a little on the negative side, it’s only through mild disappointment that it’s merely a very good game rather than a repeat performance of a genuine classic.

I'm thoroughly impressed with Blood Bowl. [Oct 2009, p.99]

It graphically depicts some very horrid things, and on a fundamental level, trivialises the kinds of international, cultural and religious issues which affect us all. Apart from that, it’s ace.