The deckbuilder and the soulslike accommodate each other well, even if Death Howl is initially too busy killing you to show its best hand.

This deep off-road sim delights in giving you a hard time, but every victory is all the sweeter for it.

Rarely has the rally ethic been so faithfully re-created, with careful attention paid to the endurance-intensive realism of off-road competition. [Apr 2002, p.80]

The most exciting new feature for many Capitalism II players is its multiplayer game. [Apr 2002, p.80]

A brilliant mix of high skill and low comedy, and the best medieval combat game out there.

At times the difficulty and dreary landscapes are enough, but overall The Ringed City was one hell of a soft note for Dark Souls to go out on. As a surface level thematic experience, the finale is a fitting way to end the series, leaving the faintest glimmer of hope amidst all the ash. I had fun descending through a visual collage of the series’ history—it's much more interesting than Ashes of Ariandel—and I can appreciate the symbolic significance of its ending, but this is Dark Souls design at its most uninspired.

Essentially more of its predecessor but with a more consistent quality of levels. Which is fine: its predecessor was great.

While the learning curve might be steep at first, Xenonauts 2 offers incredibly rewarding tactical action for those willing to ascend it.

An excellent extension of "City of Heroes" with a too-mild mean streak. [Jan 2005, p.80]

A handsome and brutal strategy sequel that benefits from a range of intelligent improvements.

Deeply silly and all the better for it, the missed political targets really don’t matter.

A delightfully monotonous chore sim that tweaks the original powerwashing formula just enough.

The quintessential football management sim is back with its most ambitious undertaking in years.

Wonky mission design and technical issues drag down a solid stealth game that still has enjoyable multiplayer.

Overboard's more complex follow-up is another great evil detective game.

Rosewater tells an engaging Western story despite a well-worn formula.

Effortlessly stylish, perhaps to the detriment of substance. But Superhot isn't one to miss.

The setting of Onomichi proves that the long-running series still has some tricks, making Yakuza 6 a worthy finale for its main protagonist.

Each of the game's three sides is incredibly well-balanced. [June 2005, p.60]

A smart, blisteringly fun experience at its core, Tekken 7’s limited singleplayer campaign and poor tutorials marr an otherwise resounding win.

A deep, customisable fighter that just happens to include the best video game movie never made.

All in all, this episode doesn't quite reach the pinnacle of excellence that episode four managed, but its gags and puzzles are as clever as ever. [June 2007, p.71]

A near-ultimate meat-and-potatoes meal for naval simmers. [Apr 2005, p.68]

A fine balance of polished gaming and addictive new modes. The world's most compulsive puzzle game just got even better. [Feb 2011, p.77]

A far simpler game than many veteran fans were hoping for. [Feb 2003, p.62]

<i>Legends</i> boasts plenty of new elements, including a grappling hook fro swinging from lamp posts and cornices, interactive cutscenes that require fast reflexes to spare Lara being squished beneath a rock, and clever physics-based puzzles. [July 2006, p.54]

A fitting end to a hilarious trilogy. Frog Detective, you will be missed.

A triumphant remake of Yakuza 2, full of fun diversions and featuring one of the series' best stories.